Radnor Township.

ably considered. David Evans, however, who it appears was a cooper by trade, in 1745 was licensed, his place at that time being on the Conestoga (now Lancaster) road.

Richard Barry, from the date above given, was yearly accorded license until 1765, when David Reese became the landlord of the Plow Tavern, and so continued until 1768. The following year the tavern seems to have passed into the control of James Barry, who, as he in 1769 asked for renewal of license, in all probability had the house the year previous, when Reese's name disappears finally from the records. During his (James Barry's) occupancy the inn enlarged its title, and was known as the Plow and Harrow. In 1775, Peter Mather - evidently a man strongly in favor of popular government, as is shown by his application that year, wherein he gives the name of the house as the "John Wilkes" - was licensed. Paul Shannadon, who succeeded Mather, in 1782 informed the court that the title of the old hostelry was then the John Wilkes, but formerly it was known as the Plow and Harrow. In 1786, Mary Ring received license for the ancient stand, after which it no longer appears as a tavern.

In 1747, James Miles presented his petition that "he has lately built a house on Conestoga (Lancaster) road, near Tredufrin" (Tredyffrin), and desires that he may have license for a public-house there. This location clearly indicates that this was the ancient tavern known to the last generation and to the older inhabitants of that part of the old county of Chester as far back as 1769, as the Unicorn. In 1747, however, the application was rejected; but in the following year license was granted, and continued to Miles until 1750, when his petition is indorsed "disallowed," and the name Aubrey Roberts marked thereon, as if to the latter the court had extended its favor at this place; but this may not be the fact, for at the February court of the same year license was allowed to Miles, and his name appears until 1752, when James Miller was licensed at that place, to be followed, in 1755, by Thomas Tucker, who in 1761 gave place to Jonathan Pugh, who was followed in 1766 by Samuel Pugh, and he in the following year by Richard Barry. In 1769, Samuel Johnson obtained a license for the "Unicorn, that ancient and noted tavern," and was succeeded as its landlord by Samuel Pugh in 1773, who continued thereat until and including the year 1778. For the three following years there are no records respecting the granting of license in Radnor; but in 1782 Robert Kennedy was the landlord of the Unicorn, and when Delaware County was created he continued to receive license until 1801, when Thomas Mason became the landlord. In the latter's petition, in 1805, he states the then name of the old inn as the "Farmer's." In the next year John Righter made application for the license at this house, and sets forth that "the Unicorn has been licensed ever since the first settlement of the country." This statement seems to have been more than Robert Kennedy, the owner, could permit; hence, in 1807, he made personal application, and in his petition says "the Unicorn has been licensed these sixty year," which was historically true, since James Miles had received the first license therefor in 1747. In 1816, Adam Sliffer became the landlord of the old inn, and the following year Levi Wells was the landlord. He in 1818 designated the house as the "Commodore Decatur Inn;" but Benjamin Smith, in 1819, restored the time-honored name, Unicorn. The latter was followed in 1823 by J. Hassan, who in 1827 gives the title of the tavern as the Black Bear. But the next year, 1828, John Smith superseded him in business, and the Unicorn once again became rampant on the sign. In 1834, Joseph Atkins had the license, and it continued to be granted to him until 1847, when he died. In 1848 his widow, Margaret Atkins, received the court's approval, and, later in the year, Robert K. and Richard Atkins had it transferred to them. In the fall of 1848, Hon. John M. Broomall was appointed trustee to sell the real estate of Joseph Atkins, deceased. Benjamin Kirk was the landlord of the house during the years 1849-50.

Thomas Ives, in 1759, and Mordecai Taylor, in 1778, were also granted licenses to keep tavern in Radnor township, but the location of the houses managed by them have not been ascertained.

About the year 1756 the vast immigration setting westward to Lancaster County and the territory beyond that limit, required numerous wayside inns to accommodate the number of wagoners and travelers who journeyed along the old Conestoga road of that day. Hence about that time we find a new petition in Radnor, presented by Aubrey Harry, who found favor with the court, and was continued thereat until and including 1764, when his name, for the last time, appears on the list of approved tavern-keepers. In 1765, Michael Stadleman made his application for license to keep a public-house in the township, which was granted to him, and he continued yearly to receive that privilege until 1775, when he disappears from the record. In 1778, Jacob Waggoner was granted license, and in 1782, John Witmar, in his application, designated the house as the Sorrel Horse, as also did his successor, John B. Webster, in 1784. The latter in 1788 was superseded at the old stand by James Elliott, who continued thereat until 1810, when his widow, Sarah Elliott, received the license until 1813, at which date Christian Himes became the landlord, remaining there until 1815, when the house was vacant. The following year John Dever had license for the Sorrel Horse, after which, for four years, the place appears not to have been used as a public inn; but in 1821, George J. Stackers made application for license there, which was granted to him. In 1824 he gave place to Eliza Thomas, and she, the following year, to Robert R. Rowland. He for eleven