Nether Providence Township.

In 1683 he was appointed the first constable of Providence, although it appears he did not live in the township. This plantation, beginning on its northwestern limits, a short distance above the present bridge on the Providence road, ran on a straight northeasterly line across the township to a point a short distance below Strath Haven, on Crump Kill or Crum Creek. In Twelfth month, 1684, Nossiter conveyed this land to Walter Faucett, who was an eminent Friend and an early tavern-keeper in Ridley.

Above the Faucett tract, Nossiter had also two hundred acres, which extended from Strath Haven in a southwest course directly across the township to Ridley Creek. On Sept. 12, 1682, Nossiter conveyed this estate to John Sharpless. The latter came from Ratherton, in Cheshire, England, accompanied by his wife, Ann (they were then in middle life), and their children, landing at Chester on the 14th of Sixth month, 1682, two months prior to the arrival of William Penn. The family history, published in 1816, states that they settled on Ridley Creek, about two miles northwest from Chester, "where they fell a large tree, and took shelter among the boughs thereof about six weeks, in which time they built a cabin against a rock, which answered for their chimney-back, and now contains the date of the year when the cabin was built, viz., 1682, in which they dwelt about twenty years, and where they all died, except the mother and three sons, in which time Joseph learned the trade of house-carpenter, and when of age built the dwelling-house, which is now standing, and occupied by one of their descendants. Part of the original floors are still in use, being fastened down with wooden pins of about an inch in diameter instead of nails. It is a sizable two-story dwelling, the walls of stone." On Thursday, Aug. 24, 1882, the descendants of John and Ann Sharpless, to the number of two thousand seven hundred, held a bi-centennial reunion at the old homestead. Among the distinguished visitors was the venerable Bishop William L. Green, of Mississippi, who was then in his eighty-fifth year. He was the eldest (while an infant daughter of Amelia M. Hoopes, then six months old, was the youngest) descendant of John Sharpless at the old homestead on that occasion. Immediately above this tract John Sharpless took up one hundred and eighty acres of land, in three parcels, under his purchase of one thousand acres from William Penn, which he had bought before leaving England. These three tracts extend from Ridley Creek to Providence great road. Above the last-mentioned land of John Sharpless, Joshua Hastings took up three hundred and ninety acres; but the lower part, containing one hundred and forty acres, was taken by John Sharpless. The upper part, extending from Ridley Creek to Providence road, on May 19, 1702, was purchased by Robert Vernon, who conveyed it, November 24th of the same year, to John Vernon and Sarah, his wife. Robert Vernon came from Stoke, in Cheshire, England, and conveyed this estate to his son, John, at the time designated. Above this tract was a plot of two hundred and fifty acres, surveyed to Thomas Vernon, Tenth month 16, 1702. He came from Stanthorne, county palatine of Chester, England, in 1682, accompanied by his brothers, Randal and Robert. Thomas Vernon was the grandfather of Nathaniel Vernon, the noted Tory sheriff of Chester County during the Revolution. The property of Thomas Vernon extended on the Providence road a short distance above Hinkson's Corners. Randal Vernon settled on a tract of two hundred and ninety-eight acres lying north of Thomas Vernon's land. Todmorden is at the lower end of this plantation, and the south branch of Vernon's Run is almost entirely within its boundaries. He was from "Sandyway," Cheshire, England. In 1687 he was a member of the Provincial Assembly, and died at this plantation in 1725, in his eighty-fifth year. The homestead passed to Joseph Vernon. Above Randal Vernon's land Robert Vernon took up, Seventh month 23, 1682, three hundred and fifty acres, which extended along Ridley Creek to Upper Providence line, its eastern boundary being the Providence road. On the tract was the main stem of Vernon Run, and almost all that part of Media borough in Nether Providence is located on the original Robert Vernon estate. Early in 1709/10, just before his death, he conveyed the homestead tract and the brick messuage thereon to his son, Jacob Vernon.

At the extreme northern line of the township, east of the Providence road and extending to Crum Creek, was a tract of three hundred and eighty acres, which land Thomas Minshall purchased from Penn before he came to the province, and it was assigned to Minshall, March 21-22, 1681. He was a brother-in-law of Randall Vernon, his sister Elinor having married the latter. His dwelling was near Providence Friends' meeting-house, the land being given by Thomas Minshall to the society to erect the latter building on. The farm of William L. Green is on the original homestead, and the estate of Edgar Farnum, J. Howard Lewis, and others, including the bend in Crum Creek on which is the paper-mill of J. Howard Lewis, are located on this tract. Directly south of the Minshall tract, and extending from the Providence road to Crum Creek, was surveyed to Joseph Powell, Second month 9, 1682, one hundred and twenty acres. The plantation subsequently passed to John Sharpless by purchase in 1700. Directly south of this lot, and extending to Hinkson's Corners, John Sharpless took up three hundred and thirty acres, Eighth month 24, 1682, part of his one-thousand-acre purchase, which in 1696 was conveyed to his son, James Sharpless. South of this plantation Thomas Powell received one hundred and seventy-two acres, part of his purchase before leaving England. He was a Friend, but became a member of the Church of England, and by will gave lots in Chester "lying over against the church" for a parsonage. The present