Haverford Township.

"The Gover^r Directed them to withdraw, and putt what they had to say and Could depose into writing; they went forth and brought in their severall attestations following, w^ch were read, viz.:

"'I, John Blunstone, as in relation to y^e Devision of Chester County ffrom Philadelphia, doe thus testifie, that a ffew days before Gover^r Penn left this Province, that vpon y^e bank by John Simcock's house, I moved him to Deside this matter that had been so long Discoursed, who then, before me and Others, Did Declare that y^e bounds Should thus runn ffrom the mouth of Bow Creek to Mill Creek, w^ch should be y^e bounds until it come to y^e Land of Herford, and then to take in the Townds of Herford and Radnor; from thence to the Skoolkill, and take in his mannour of Springtowne, by w^ch our Pattents Holds: then I asked him if he would be pleased to give it under his hand, to avoyde ffurther Trouble, who answered he would if any of vs would Come the next day to Philadelphia in order thereunto: one was sent, but what then obstructed I am not certaine, but y^e Gover^r Departed about two days after:

"'Was signed John Blunston.'

"Randall Vernon sayeth that some time since W^m Howell of Harford Signified vnto me, and gave it vnder his owne hands, y^t some time after they there settled that he asked y^e Gover^r to what County they should be joyned or belong vnto, & The Gover^r was pleased to answer him that they must belong to Chester County:

"Was signed 'R., the mark of Rand^ll Vernon.'

"Our Proprietor and Gover^r, being pleased to grant to me a Commission to be Sheriff of the County of Chester, was pleased some time after to express himselfe to me to this purpose: Thomas, I perceive that the Skoolkill Creek Comes or runs so vpon the back of Philadelphia, that it makes y^e City almost an Island, so that a Robbery or the like may be there Committed and y^e offender gitt over ye Creek, and so Escape for want of due persute, &c., therefore I intend that y^e bounds of Philadelphia County Shall Come about 3 or ffour miles on this side of the Skoolkill, and I would not have thee to take notice or to oppose that Sheriff in y^e Execution of his office, about Kingses, or the like, but I intend to enlarge this County downwards to Brandywine:

"Assertained by me, Thomas Vsher.

"Some of the members of the Prov^ll Councill asserted the Substance thereof, and that y^e same was agreeable with the mapp of the Province.

"The Survey^r Gene^rlls Deputy was sent for, who showed the bounds of the County from the mapp, and being asked by y^e Gover^r by what order it was sett out, answered it was so ordered by y^e Gover^r and Provinciall Councill, as would appear by y^e Coppy of y^e minutes of their proceedings, w^ch he produced.

"The Gover^r Directed that the minutes themselves might be serched, & Comparing the same Coppy with the Entry, ffound them agree in Substance.

"'Twas observed by y^e Gover^r and Councill that y^e mapp of The Province was the work of Thomas Holme, Survy^r, Gene^ll; that it was dedicated to y^e Proprietor by y^e Publisher; that many Coppys had been published in England and here in this Province, by w^ch y^e same was made notorious to all men's observations and Knowledge, without Controll or Question, and that 'twas likely many Conveyances of Lands might have been passed, Expressing the situations to lye in the Respective Countys; as they were therein Expressed, and that to Disallow thereof, for y^e Boundary's, might be of ill Consequence on that acco^t. 'Twas asserted that y^e Welsh Inhabitants had Denyed themselves to be any part of The County of Philadelphia, by refusing to bear any share of Charges, or serve in office on Jurys, and the like, as to y^e County of Chester.

"That the pretence thereof was they were a distinct Barony, w^ch tho' they might be, yet that severall Baronys might be in one and y^e same County.

"The Gover^r, and most of The present members of Councill Declareing themselves satisfied Concerning their being a part of Chester County upon y^e ground alliged and proved as aforesaid, yet ffor as much as Thomas Lloyd had desired they might be heard before it were determined, Sam^ll Carpenter was desired to acquaint him that if he, the said Thomas Lloyd, should think fitt so ffarr to Concerne himselfe therein as to appear in their behalfe, or any other, to shew cause why they should not be Declared to be of the County of Chester, (as the Proprietor had promised) they might have liberty to do before the Gover^r, and Councill to-morrow, between 9 & 10 in the forenoon, otherwise the Evidence seemed so ffull as that they should proceed to Declare their judgment therein."

The following day Thomas Lloyd and John Eckley appeared on behalf of the Welsh, and claimed that the proprietor had given them grounds to expect they should be made a county palatine; but having no written evidence thereof, the Governor and Council by a vote decided that the former division line should be confirmed. Samuel Carpenter and William Yardley dissented on the ground that the Welsh people should have had more time to make their defense.

The Welsh troubles were then transferred from the Provincial Council chamber to the Chester County court. The court made an order appointing John Jerman constable for Radnor and John Lewis for "Hartfort" (Haverford), but these gentlemen did not come forward to be qualified into office. At the following court it was "ordered that warrants of Contempt be directed to the Sheriff to apprehend the bodyes of John Lewis and John Jerman for their contempt in not entering into their respective offices of Constable (viz.), John Lewis for Hartfort and John Jerman for Radnor, when thereunto required by this Court."

At the same session, which began on the "3d day of 1st week, 3d mo., 1689," David Lawrence, who had been returned as a grand juror from Haverford, failed to attend. He was presented by that body and fined ten shillings. The grand jury also presented "the want of the inhabitants of the townships of Radnor and Hartfort, and the inhabitants adjacent, they not being brought in to Joyn with us in the Levies and other public services of this county."

At the June court of 1689 the commission of William Howell, of Haverford, as a justice was read and published, and "he did afterwards subscribe to the solemn declaration, prepared by the 57th Chapter of the great law of this province." At the same court William Jenkins, of Haverford, served as a juror, and at the December court John Jerman was attested constable for Radnor. This was the first official recognition by any of the inhabitants of these townships that they were subject to the jurisdiction of Chester County. They then seem to have given up the idea of a barony, and with as good a grace as possible submitted to the authority they were unable any longer to resist. By the close of the year these townships were supplied with a full set of township officials, who were the first appointed and to serve within their limits.

During the year 1693 a provincial tax was levied of one penny per pound on estates, and six shillings per head upon freemen. The list of taxables in Haverford township at that time is interesting as showing who were then its citizens. The original list, for Chester County, is in possession of the Pennsylvania Historical Society.