Radnor Township.

years was "mine host" of the old tavern, to be followed in 1836 by Alexander Brooke who in turn was succeeded by Rowland again; he, however, in 1839, once more gave place to another landlord, this time John Mullin. The latter remained until 1840. Philip Kirk then purchased the property, and the following year (1841) Benjamin Kirk, a brother of Philip, became the landlord of the Sorrel Horse, remaining there until 1849, when Philip Kirk, its owner, assumed control, and conducted the house until his death, in 1851. He was succeeded by his widow, Eliza, who kept the house open until her death, which occurred in February, 1877. During the following year, Rachel, daughter of Philip and Eliza Kirk, served as proprietress. On the 1st of April, 1878, John and Alfred Worrell, as lessees, obtained license and remained one year, when George W. Murray, the present lessee and proprietor, took possession. It is the only licensed house at this time in the township, and is still owned by children of Philip Kirk.

In 1769, Adam Ramsower (formerly of Pikeland township, Chester Co., where he kept a tavern at Yellow Springs) made application for license for a stone house, forty by thirty-three feet, situated on the Lancaster road within a mile of Jonathan Pugh's tavern, which he, Ramsower, had built. The lands attached to the house comprised one hundred acres. In 1772, Jacob Hinkell petitioned for the right to keep the inn which now appears under the well-known title Spread Eagle. The following year David Hinkell became the landlord, to be superseded, in 1774, by Jacob Hinkell, who continued there until 1778. In 1782, Alexander Clay was "mine host" of the Eagle, and continued as such until 1787, when Adam Siter obtained the license, and he, in 1791, was followed in the business by John Siter, who, in 1812, gave place to James Watson. Two years later, in 1814, Edward Siter became the landlord, to be followed in 1817 by David Wilson, Jr. The latter, in 1823, was superseded by Zenas Wells, and in 1825 Edward W. Siter kept the Spread Eagle. Stephen Horne had license for this tavern in 1836, and the next year Richard Millerson, to be followed, in 1839, by John Chrisman. Mordecai Worrell purchased the property in 1841, and had license for several years. In 1846, Elisha Worrell did the honors of the Eagle, to give place to Mordecai Worrell in 1848, and to assume them again the next year. In 1851 the property was mentioned as the estate of Mordecai Worrell, deceased, situate on the Lancaster turnpike, and offered for sale. It was purchased in 1851 by Benjamin Kirk (formerly the proprietor of the Sorrel Horse and Unicorn Hotels), who remained as its owner and landlord for eight years. He then sold the property to John Todd. Under the latter's ownership Jacob Rieser, as lessee, officiated as "mine host." Subsequently Charles Arthur became the owner of the Spread Eagle, and he in turn gave place to David Crumley, who, as owner and manager, kept the house open until within a recent date, when it was purchased by George W. Childs to stop the sale of liquor near his bailiwick, - the new town of Wayne. The building and grounds have been neatly fitted up, and are now (summer of 1884) in use as a country home for the young Indian wards of the Lincoln Institute.

In 1749, Bartle Bartleson presented a petition to court setting forth that he had a house, known as the Sign of the Buck, which was located half-way between the Sign of the Buck (Jonathan Miller's tavern, Haverford) and the Spread Eagle; "that he has been at a great expense in building a commodious house for the purpose, and desires license hereat." His application was successful, and yearly thereafter until 1812, when he was followed in business by John Taylor, who changed the name of the tavern to the Fox. In 1814, Frederick Lowdon obtained license for the house under the same title. The following year Isaac Sharpless leased and managed the house. In 1816, Ann Bartleson, the widow of Bartle, kept the inn, and continued there until 1824, when Mark Bartleson, her son, succeeded to the business. In 1830, Joseph Hassan rented the Fox, and after his death, in 1832, Mary Hassan continued there one year. Joseph Thornburg followed her, in 1833. Then came Mark Bartleson again, in 1836, who continued until 1844, when the house ceased to be one of public entertainment.

Elisha Moore, in 1807, prayed the court to grant him license for his house, located on the Philadelphia and Lancaster turnpike road, near the eleventh milestone. He says that he is "nearly three miles above Jonathan Miller's tavern (Haverford), about one-third of a mile above Bartle Bartleson's tavern, and nearly three miles below Edward Siter's and Robert Kennedy's tavern. Between the first and the second last-mentioned taverns, on the old Lancaster road, there is now two taverns, and was there perhaps for forty years prior to the turnpike road being made (1792). The traveling since has vastly increased, and is generally confined to the turnpike. And as your petitioner lives in a very eligible situation for the accommodation and convenience of travellers, and has been at a considerable expense in the erection of buildings for keeping a public-house, which he will endeavor to merit by keeping good order, if your Honours will please to grant him a recommendation to his Excellency the Governor for a license for the same." The court acted favorably on his petition, and thus was established the White Horse Tavern. In 1814, Moore was followed by Jonathan Morgan, and the latter, in 1815, gave place to William Sheldrake. However, Elisha Moore returned to the tavern in 1816, and remained there until 1827, when Joseph Miller was the landlord, to be the next year followed by Elisha Moore, who continued to have license granted to him until 1838, after which date the White Horse Tavern disappeared from the records of the county as a public-house.