Upper Darby Township.

Marshall's Mill. - John Marshall owned two tracts of land above Naylor's Run, on Cobb's Creek, - one of sixty-four acres, surveyed May 3, 1689, the other (adjoining to the south) of one hundred and fifty acres, surveyed Jan. 7, 1692. Marshall died in 1749, and by his will, dated October 1st in that year, devised his land messuage, "with the saw-mill," to his executors, with directions to sell the estate and distribute the proceeds among his children. This mill was purchased by Thomas Marshall, who changed it to a fulling-mill, which he was running in 1762, and was there until 1779, when James Marshall operated it until about 1800. A John Marshall, probably a son of John, was running a grist-mill in 1766. The mill was located on the Marshall road. The race which supplied the water to this mill extended higher up on Cobb's Creek, and now forms part of the race-way of the Cardington Mills.

Millbourne Mills. - Samuel Sellers, the original settler of this family, located at the site of these mills in 1682, but the two tracts of land - of seventy-five acres and one hundred acres - which he at first purchased were not surveyed to him until 1690-91. He later made other purchases of lands in the neighborhood, as did his sons and grandsons. He was a weaver, and is said to have erected the first twisting-mill in America. His son, Samuel, and grandson, John, were also weavers. The latter was born in 1728, and died in 1804. He invented the process of weaving wire cloth, and also manufactured Dutch fans. The first record of a dam at Millbourne is found in a deed from John Sellers to other parties, dated Aug. 27, 1752, in which the dam is mentioned as being on Cobb"s Creek, in the township of Darby. He was much interested in utilizing the water-power of Cobb's Creek, and caused to be developed six of the sites along that stream and Naylor's Run, which were afterwards used by his descendants.

John Sellers died in 1804, and devised his estate to his sons, Nathan, David, John, and George, to the latter of whom he gave the greater part of the farm lands. The grist- and saw-mills he devised to his son, John, who was born in 1762 and died in 1847. These mills were evidently built before 1749, the date when the dam is mentioned. In 1766 they were owned by John Sellers, the elder, and were operated by James Steel, who continued there until 1805, when he was succeeded by his son, Thomas Steel. In 1814, Thomas Steel purchased the Darby Mills, in the village of that name, and removed thither. In that year John Sellers erected the old part of the present mill, and his son, John, who had learned the trade of a miller with Thomas Steel, took charge of the new mill. In 1782, John Sellers also owned a tan-yard, which was on the Wayside farm, now owned by the estate of his son, John. On a little stream which empties into the dam supplying the water to Millbourne Mills, in 1800, was an oil-mill, which was continued until subsequent to the year 1848. The old grist-mill stood above the present mill, and in 1820 was used for grinding gypsum, and had been so employed for many years. As late as 1830, Augustus C. Jones was operating the old mill in grinding logwood, spices, etc. Soon after that date it was discontinued. The new mill, built in 1814, was placed under the charge of John Sellers, Jr., and was fitted with all the improved machinery of that time. In 1820 there was manufactured 8572 bushels of merchant wheat, 3366 of grist wheat, 4367 of rye, 3784 of Indian corn, 1168 of buckwheat, 843 of oats, making a total of 22,100 bushels of grain. In 1825, 12,000 bushels of merchant wheat was manufactured at these mills. Additions were made to the mill from time to time, and the latest improved machinery constantly added. In 1868 the large addition was built to the original stone structure, four stories in height from the bed of the creek. A turbine-wheel was used at that time to run the mills, and in 1876 auxiliary steam-power was added. John Sellers (3d) died July 20, 1878, his sons having had charge of the mills prior to his death. In 1879 the "new roller process" was adopted, and at present two hundred and fifty barrels of flour are daily produced. In June, 1884, 22,552 bushels of wheat was ground and 4764 1/2 barrels of flour was made. In the year 1883, 256,663 bushels of wheat were purchased and 53,125 1/2 barrels of flour were produced. The Millbourne Mills are now owned by William, John, and Nathan Sellers, grandsons of John Sellers, who erected the mill in 1814.

The Sellers family is one of the oldest in Delaware County, and we append the following sketch.

I. Samuel Sellers, emigrated from Belper, Derbyshire, England, in 1682, and settled in Darby township, Chester Co., Pa. (now Upper Darby township, Delaware Co.). He took up a tract of one hundred acres, and carried on his trade (weaving) in connection with farming. In June, 1684, he married Anna, daughter of Henry and Helen Gibbons, who came from Parividge, Derbyshire. They were the first couple married in "Darby Meeting," which was then held in the dwellings of its members, as no meeting-house had been erected. They "passed meeting" May 2, 1684 (O. S.). Samuel died Sept. 22, 1732, and his wife, who survived him, died Nov. 19, 1742. They had six children, the third being:

II. Samuel Sellers, who was born Dec. 3, 1690, and married, Aug. 12, 1712, to Sarah Smith, daughter of John and Eleanor Smith, from Harby, Leicestershire, England, died June 3, 1773. They had seven children, the youngest being:

III. John Sellers, who was born Sept, 19, 1728, died Feb. 2, 1804. He married, at Darby, Feb. 26, 1749 (O. S.), Ann Gibson, the daughter of Nathan Gibson and his wife, née Ann Hunt, daughter of James Hunt. They had, among other children, Nathan, David, John,* and George.

IV. John* Sellers, who was born Dec. 1, 1762, died May 12, 1847. He married, April 27, 1786, Mary