Radnor Township.

"Wentworth"
Residence of Edward H. Williams,
Rosemont, Delaware Co., Pa.

David, 34; John Thomas, 40; John Morgan, Jr., 24; Richard Richards, 24; David Jones, 20; Jenkin David, 36; Thomas Thomas, 60; Owen Evans, 36; John Jarman, 36; David Powell and land in Brandywine, 36; Gabriel Davies, 28; John Jones, 32; Howell Powell, 14; David James, 24; Thomas Lewis, 20; Caleb Evans, 36; Joseph Williams, 16; Hugh Wilson, 16; John Morgan and land in Whiteland, 54; John Samuel, 10; Edward George, 32; Edward Jones, 24; Evan Evans, 20; David Evans, 16; Evan Stephens, 14; David Thomas, 15; Joseph Jones, 34.

To and including the early part of the year 1748 the following-named persons had received patents for lands in Radnor, at times and in quantity as here shown:

During the "old French and Indian war," which continued from 1754 to 1763, a number of the able-bodied men of Radnor joined the provincial forces, and performed service in the armies commanded respectively by Braddock, Forbes, Stanwix, and Boquet. Among them were eight young Friends, or Quakers, who, upon their return "from the wars," and as a recompense for the patriotism and courage displayed by them, were disowned by the Quaker fraternity, and prohibited from enjoying any benefits within the society for evermore. It is to be presumed, however, that these brave men survived such proceedings, and during a later period - the Revolutionary war - were again found enrolled, perhaps as commissioned officers, in the Pennsylvania Line. Col. Evan Evans, an early justice of the peace, and one of the most prominent American officers in Chester County during the Revolutionary struggles, was, we believe, a native and resident of Radnor, and it is quite probable that he, being the son of a Friend, was one of the disowned, as above mentioned.

In 1758, when Gen. Forbes was organizing his expedition for the capture of Fort Du Quesne, the authorities of the several counties in Pennsylvania were required to furnish wagons, teams, and wagoners for the transportation of army supplies. Hence, of those who went out to represent Chester County were Thomas Legitt and Hugh Wilson, of Radnor. Following are the accounts of these men, as rendered at the close of the campaign by Roger Hunt:

"Radner, - Thomas Legitt to his majesty:

"Mem. The above named was the first man that agreed for a bounty in Chester County.

"Hugh Wilson entered a wagon Oct. 25th.

"Credited by 7 bbls. flour from Carlile to Bedford; mileage for 215 miles; settled Nov. 14."

Hugh Wilson, it will be observed, was a resident of the township as early as 1722.

At the beginning of the war for independence the taxable inhabitants of Radnor numbered ninety-eight. Hence, by estimating five inhabitants to each taxable, its population at that time amounted to four hundred and ninety, or more than one-third as many people as it contained one hundred years later. During the same year (1775) the tax levied upon the township, at the rate of "two pence in the pound upon estates and six shillings on single freemen," amounted to seventeen pounds thirteen shillings and sixpence.

As explained in the general chapters of this work, also in the history of Haverford township, soon after the battle of Brandywine (in which the British were victorious) Gen. Washington, with the yet undaunted American army, marched out from Germantown over the old Conestoga or Lancaster road into and beyond the limits of Radnor, for the purpose of again engaging the invaders and despoilers of this region, but a heavy and prolonged rain-storm coming on, Washington was compelled to countermarch his forces, and retire without forcing the enemy to a conflict, which doubtless would have resulted in victory for the Americans. Finally, the enemy obtained possession of Philadelphia, and thereafter, during several months, British soldiers, under orders from Gen. Howe and Lord Cornwallis, committed innumerable depredations in Radnor and the adjoining districts. Hence, at the beginning of the winter of 1777-78, these shameless marauders left many families wholly destitute of their live-stock and provisions, and carried away all the clothing, household goods, kitchen furniture, plate, etc., upon which they could lay their hands.

At the close of the war, in pursuance of an act of the Assembly adopted in 1782, the inhabitants of Chester County were called upon to make statements of the losses sustained by each, at the hands of the British in 1777. Thereupon, the following-named inhabitants of Radnor rendered a statement of their losses. These statements may be relied upon as accurate, for they were made under the oaths or affirmations of the sufferers: