Darby Borough.

that sixty feet of leather hose had been procured, for which $40.45 had been paid, and that twenty-five feet of gum-elastic hose had been ordered, but was not finished ready for delivery. A reel-carriage for the hose had also been purchased. At the October meeting in 1834, the committee on hose reported the gum-elastic hose could not be had, and they had purchased leather hose in its stead. At the same meeting Capt. James Serrill, Isaac Bartram, and Abram G. Hunter were appointed a committee to procure "a situation and to erect thereon a suitable House for the safe keeping of the Engine and Hose." At the following annual meeting this committee reported that they had not "performed the duty assigned them," and they were continued a committee "for the purpose and are directed to use more diligence than heretofore." But the following years the report was not of a more satisfactory character. On Jan. 23, 1837, the committee reported that they had procured "a situation and erected a house sufficient for the engine and hose and that they were removed to it, the cost of which amounted to one hundred and six dollars." At the following annual meeting, Capt. James Serrill was appointed to have the words "Darby Fire Engine" painted on the front of the engine-house. In 1840 the roof of the ladder-house was so much out of repair that a committee was appointed to have it repaired. At the meeting on Nov. 27, 1851, a committee was appointed to "ascertain whether the owners of the engine in Paschallville will place it under the direction of the company." With what success does not appear in writing, the minutes of the meeting not being transcribed in the record book after that date. The companies were, however, consolidated and took the name "Darby and Paschallville Fire Company."

The company preserved its organization until 1871, when the borough authorities decided to institute a paid department, and on Nov. 6, 1871, Council elected Enos Verlenden chief engineer. On Jan. 1, 1872, a room was rented at the mills of the Verlenden Brothers for three years, in which to house the engine, and the "old machine," after a half-century of service, in good repair, is ready, at any moment, for use when required.

Licensed Houses. - Darby, one of the earliest settlements after Penn acquired title to the province of Pennsylvania, grew more rapidly in population than any locality within the limits of the present county of Delaware, and must necessarily have been largely supplied with houses of public entertainment to accommodate the constant stream of emigration flowing thitherward. The first notice that had been found regarding taverns there is the extract from the proceedings of Darby town-meeting, held in 1715, quoted by Dr. Smith, which sets forth:

"That travellers having nothing to defray their charges at the public Inn, shall be allowed ten pence a night (if they are first allowed by the overseers of the poor)."

Who it was that then held the license has not been learned, but it is presumed it must have been John Tests, for Aug. 28, 1717, he was granted "renewal of license to keep a public house in Darby," and in 1719, Margaret Tests, in all likelihood his widow, was also favored with like consideration by the court. Although long previous to that date Wood kept a tavern in Darby, as appears from the evidence in a trial for an assault a few years after the first arrival of Penn in the province.

On Sixth month 30, 1720, Edward Smout made application to be permitted "to sell all sorts of Liquors, and to keep a house of entertainment" in the dwelling he then occupied. The petition being favorably acted on, Smout remained there until 1724, when he having removed to Chichester, Thomas Pattison seems to have succeeded to the business, and continued it until 1734, when his petition is indorsed "cannot be allowed." Among the old records at West Chester, as of August court, 1734, is a letter from Catharine Pattison, addressed to Joseph Parker, the clerk of court, asking him to intercede for her in her application for license for the house. "My husband," she says, "has been gone from me near a week, nor have I anybody to take Care of my business, nor do I expect he will Come again." Her application, however, was rejected, and Nov. 26, 1734, Richard Parker petitioned for license in Darby, alleging that "one publick house being not sufficient," a view of the case which seemed to impress the judicial mind so strongly that they adopted Parker's conclusion as the correct one.

The "one publick house" mentioned in Parker's application was that kept by Thomas Pulford, who had presented his petition Aug. 30, 1721, in which be requested the court to confer upon him the right to "Sell all sorts of Liquors" in Darby, which leave was granted, and annually extended to him up to and including the year 1734. However, one year after license was first granted to Pulford, in 1722, Abel Pearson was also allowed the like privilege, and on the bond given that year by Pulford, Abel Pearson appears as the surety, while on that given by Pearson, Thomas Pulford is the bondsman. Pearson had enough of tavern-keeping in one year, for in the latter part of 1738, Pattison was licensed, and the same pleasant agreement of two of a trade is noticed again, inasmuch as Pulford and Pattison became security one for the other.

The Ship. - In 1735, Benjamin Davis petitioned for and was allowed to keep a public-house in Darby, which place in all probabilities was then known as it was in 1770, and for thirty odd years in the present century, as the "Ship."

In the same year in which Davis found favor with the court (1735) John Lee, or Lea, petitioned for license at the house where Thomas Pulford lived in the village. Joseph Need and twenty other residents in the neighborhood, in anticipation of this request, on the last Tuesday in May presented a remonstrance, which