Upper Darby Township.

aged two years; and Mary E., wife of Dr. Ellwood Baker, who resides with her father at the old homestead. Mr. Plumstead was in politics a Whig, and later indorsed the platform of the Republican party. He was for many years active in the public affairs of the township, having filled the position of county commissioner, together with other minor offices. He was educated in the faith of the society of Friends, and with his family worships at the Friends' meeting-house in Darby. Mr. and Mrs. Plumstead celebrated their golden wedding in 1879, on which interesting occasion a numerous concourse of relatives and friends assembled to do them honor. The death of Mrs. Plumstead occurred on the 15th of August, 1883, in her seventy-ninth year. She was interred at the Friends' burial-ground in Darby.

Edgmont Township.

Edgmont was named from the ancient royal manor of Edgmond, in Shropshire, in England, from whence came Joseph Baker, one of the earliest settlers in the township.

The English spelling was used in ancient deeds, but since its origin was lost sight of, the orthography has been attended with some uncertainty, sometimes being spelled Edgment, but generally Edgemont, under the erroneous supposition that its name was derived from the Edge family.

The residents of Edgmont have almost entirely devoted themselves to agricultural pursuits. Although Ridley Creek passes through it, and Crum Creek forms the eastern boundary, the water-power has not been developed for manufacturing or mills to any great extent. The only hotel is at Howellville, where the Rising Sun existed in former days. The President, kept for many years by Hiram Green, on the West Chester road, when that was the great highway from the West, passed out of existence with many others on the road to Philadelphia when the iron rail supplanted the old-time Conestoga wagon.

On the southern line of the township of Edgmont, in the early history of the county, was a wedge-shaped tract of one hundred and fifty acres of land, known as "Cumberland," which had been set apart to George Willard, July 24-25, 1682, and was then included in Middletown. On March 1, 1687, Roger Jackson became the owner of the estate, and on 3d day of 1st week, Tenth month, 1688, the court "Ordered that Roger Jackson's one hundred and fifty acres of land, formerly Included in Middletown, be from Henceforth taken into y^e Township of Edgmond, and be therein Included." This was not the only reference to the township line, for in 1739 a dispute was had between Thornbury and Edgmont respecting the boundaries betwen the two municipal divisions. The petition on behalf of the Thornbury claimants is not of record, but that of Edgmont set forth:

"To the Honorable Justices of the Court of Quarter Sessions to be held at Chester the last tuesday in May, 1739:

"The Humble Petition of the Inhabitants of Edgmont Sheweth that there hath of late been, and still remains, some uneasyness About the Divissions between the Townships of Edgmont & Thornbury, Although the part now in Dispute hath been Deemed to be in Edgmont for more than Sixteen Years past, and taxed as Such, Therefore we Humbly Crave of this Honorable Court to appoint a Number of Judicious and Indifferent Men of the Neighboring townships to Divide the said Townships to the Least Damage of y^e Inhabitants on boath Sides; and your petitioners, as in Duty bound, shall ever pray.

The court decided in favor of Edgmont, for the foregoing document is indorsed "the petition for division is set aside."

The "Edgmont Great Road," as was formerly termed the highway from Chester, entered the southern boundary of the township at its western part, and following a northwesterly course, almost across Edgmont, entering Thornbury a short distance south of the Chester County line. At the court held "Dec. y^e 11^th, 1687," the grand jury in its report stated:

"Laid out a Highway from Edgmond to y^e Kings Highway in Chester being a Sixty foote road by virtue of an Order of Court bearing date y^e 4th of October 1687, laid out by us whose hands are under written as followeth (viz.)

"Beginning att Joseph Bakers fence of his cleared land thence through y^e land of y^e said Joseph Baker thence crosse William Lewis land thence Crosse Howell James Land thence Crosse Jacob Simcock's land thence crosse James Kenerly, thence crosse a parcell of vacant Land then crosse Roger Jackson thence crosse vacant land thence crosse John Boweter land thence Crosse David Ogdens land thence Crosse John Hodgkin land thence crosse George Smedleys land thence crosse Wm. Edwards land thence Widdow Musgrove's land thence Crosse Robert Burrowes land thence crosse John Maylens land thence Crosse John Bowetters land thence Crosse Joseph Cooksons land thence Crosse Jeremy Carters land thence Crosse Richard Barnards land thence Crosse John Worrells land thence Crosse Thomas Taylors land then Crosse Richard Crosbyes land then Crosse John Marten's land then Crosse John Hastens land.

At the same court "John Worrell Petitioned against y^e road laid out by y^e Grand Inquest from Edgmont to y^e King's Highway in Chester." The justices seem to have met this objection promptly and decidedly, for it was "Ordered that y^e road be made by the Petitioner's fence."

With respect to this road Dr. Smith says, "There is a tradition that in laying out the road from Chester to Edgmont, or more likely in a review of that road, Henry Hollingsworth, the surveyor, caused an apple-tree to be planted at the end of every mile. The surveyor happened to be at variance with Richard Crosby,