Nether Providence Township.

Kershaw dwelling now is. The Hinkson family owning all the land there, the name when given was certainly appropriate.

Briggsville. - Isaac Briggs in 1849 kept a store in Providence below the southern line of the borough of Media, and subsequently in the house where Isaac Miller now dwells. After the county-seat had been removed to Media, Isaac Briggs established a brick-yard near the proposed town. In time a large number of defective and unsalable bricks accumulated in the yard, and with these he erected a double row of tenement houses on his land, from which fact the locality became known as Rotten Row, or Briggsville. In 1856 he built a brick church thirty-six by forty-five feet, which was free to be used by any denomination, sect, or for any form of worship. It was occupied at various times for religious services by clergymen of various denominations, and Sunday-school was also held there until 1870, when it was abandoned for that purpose. About 1874 the church building was changed into dwelling-houses. A brick school-house has been located by the directors of Nether Providence at Briggsville.

The Cavana Case. - In 1851, Nelson W. Cavana, a tailor, carried on business in a shop on the Providence road near Briggsville. On December 15th of that year he came to Chester, and was seen alive late that evening, after which time he disappeared. His mysterious absence alarmed his family, and search was made for him without success. In the mean while it became rumored that he had been made the victim of a practical joke, which had resulted finally in Cavana's death. The excitement in the country was intense; a public meeting was held at Media, and a reward offered to secure the arrest and conviction of those criminally concerned in the matter. The result was that Edward R. Crosby, Charles W. Raborg, and Benjamin B. Pearson were indicted for an assault and battery on Cavana. The trial began Monday, Feb. 23, 1852. The commonwealth was represented by Hon. Edward Darlington and Joseph J. Lewis, and the accused by Robert E. Hannum and William Darlington. The evidence was that on the afternoon of December 15th Cavana was in Chester sober, but at six o'clock he was intoxicated. At half-past ten o'clock that night he entered the oyster cellar of David Wilson, at that time under the Penn Buildings. His face was then blackened with burnt cork, and he wore a black dress-coat and a high silk hat. The defendant, Crosby, began to joke with Cavana, and talked about a "swallow-tailed coat" the latter had made for Samuel N. Leiper, of which Cavana was boasting. Charles W. Raborg thereupon poured some hot liquor on Cavana's head, then sprinkled some pepper on his hair, and finally threw flour in his face. Crosby jestingly inquired of one of the bystanders whether he had seen the swallow-tailed coat Mr. Leiper had on the Sunday previous, and asked if any one could tell him what botch of a tailor made it. Cavana thereupon took off his coat, declaring that was a personal insult, and he proposed to resent it, whereupon Crosby, taking the coat, turned it wrong side out, and put it on Cavana in that way, while Raborg caught hold of the tails of the coat and tore it up the back. The latter then took Cavana's hat, cut in it holes for his eyes, nose, and mouth, after which he put it on the former's head and drew it down over his face, made it fast under his chin by the rim, which was partly torn off. In this act Crosby assisted Raborg. Cavana left the oyster cellar shortly before midnight, and when last seen was walking down Market Street towards the river. The case occupied three days, and terminated in the conviction of Crosby and Raborg and the acquittal of Pearson. The court fined the defendants fifty dollars each and cost of prosecution. On March 6, 1852, the body of Cavana was found in the Delaware River, and on the 15th of the same month a coroner's inquest was held. The jury found the following extraordinary verdict:

"That the said Nelson W. Cavana came to his death from his having come to Chester on Monday, the 15th of December last, about 3 o'clock, perfectly sober; that he first drank strong liquor at I. Hamson Hill's tavern, about 5 o'clock, by invitation of Edward R. Crosby; drank at Hill's several times previous to 8 o'clock in the evening with different persons; had his face blackened while at Hill's tavern. He entered the oyster cellar of David Wilson about 10 o'clock, drank ale and eat oysters with Charles W. Raborg, Edward R. Crosby, Edward H. Engle, and others. He took his coat off, Edward R. Crosby turned it inside out and put it on him so, and afterwards tore it up the back. A pepper-box was shaken over, and ale was poured on, his head by Charles W. Raborg, his hat, which was placed on his head by Edward R. Crosby, with his face looking out of an aperture cut in the front, the rim was drawn down under his chin. Afterwards he complained that his eyes smarted, and then Edward H. Engle wiped his eyes with a handkerchief. He was suffered to leave the cellar alone about half-past eleven o'clock, in the condition above described, being very much intoxicated; and was seen going down the street towards the River Delaware alone, the weather being at that time extremely cold, with snow. He was found drowned, near Chester, on the 6th of March inst., his hat and coat worn on him as above described."

Media Lodge, No. 86, Knights of Pythias. - This lodge was instituted at Hinkson's Corner, June 19, 1869. The charter members were John Sykes, P. C.; George Sykes, C. C.; Edward L. Morgan, V. C.; Philip Afflick, G.; James E. Campbell, K. of R. S.; James P. Wheatley, M. of F.; Francis Taylor, M. of E.; Abraham Taylor, I. G.; Samuel Taylor, 0. G. The lodge soon after changed its meeting-place to Media. In 1878 a lot was purchased at Hinkson's Corner, and the present hall erected. The lodge has at this time forty-eight members. The present officers are Harry Brooks, P. C.; John B. Brook, C. C.; Louis C. Martin, V. C.; Jesse Plumley, P.; L. Scott West, M. of E.; George Sykes, M. of F.; Fred. Schmaelzley, K. of R. S.; Samuel Taylor, M. at A.; George Latch, I. G; William Taylor, 0. G.