Thornbury Township.

Joseph Webster, the grandfather of the subject of this biographical sketch, who was of English descent, married a Miss Kester, and had children, - Rachel, Mary, Ruth, William, and Joseph. The last named was born in Delaware County, where he was actively engaged in farming, and married Susanna Duncan, daughter of Aaron Duncan. Their children were Charles, Rebecca, Aaron D., Susanna D., Lydia (Mrs. John Gilpin), and Joseph. The youngest of this number, Joseph Webster, was born April 15, 1814, in Chester County. Having been left motherless in infancy he was placed in care of his maternal grandmother, and remained with her until six years of age. He then returned to his father, and, after enjoying such advantages of education as the common schools afforded, he became, on attaining his seventeenth year, an apprentice to the trade of a wheelwright in the township of Sadsbury, Chester Co. On the completion of a term of service, embracing a period of four years, he abandoned his trade for the more healthful pursuits of a farmer. He was on the 25th of April, 1839, married to Sarah, granddaughter of Caleb and Phoebe Yarnall, and daughter of Caleb and Hannah Yarnall, of Middletown township. The children by this marriage are Mary M. (Mrs. A. W. Sloan), Charles N. (deceased), M. Rebecca (deceased), Thamzin R. (Mrs. Jacob Kimes), Hannah A., and Joseph, Jr. Mr. Webster rented for some years after his marriage, and in 1861 purchased, a farm in Marple township, where he resided for four years. On effecting an advantageous sale of this property, he became the owner of the farm in Thornbury township, which is his present home. He has since been engaged in its cultivation and improvement, though the more onerous duties it involves have been assumed by his son. Mr. Webster has always been either a Whig or Republican in politics, and has held minor offices in the township. In 1872 he was elected and served one term as sheriff of Delaware County, the duties of which responsible office were filled with entire acceptance. In religion he espouses the faith of the society of Friends, both Mrs. Webster and he being members of the Chester Monthly Meeting.

Springfield Township.

The township was not recognized until after 1684, for at a court held Fifth month 1, 1684, "James Kenela" and "Randolfe Vernome" were appointed collectors for "Ridley and in the Woods," clearly showing that the locality subsequently known as Springfield was too sparsely settled to be recognized as a municipal district. The first appearance of the township as a distinct municipality is in 1686, when Peter Lester was appointed constable for Springfield; and at March court, 1687/8, among "the names of y^e Constaples Chosen to serve y^e next ensuing year" for Springfield "James Lounes is attested as above." The name of the township, we are told by Galt, in his "Life of Benjamin West," was given to the locality because Thomas Pearson, the maternal grandfather of West, in clearing the first field on his estate, discovered a large spring, and when the township was erected that fact was remembered and determined the title of the new district made from the lands lying "in the woods." This traditional account may be the correct one, for although Pearson settled and died in Marple, his lands extended to the boundary-line of Springfield, and before any definite limits were given to the several districts his plantation might easily have been regarded as within the township to which his spring may have given the name. Unfortunately, however, there is another claimant for the honor of godfather to Springfield. The tradition in the Maris family is that the township was named because of the large spring near the dwelling of George Maris. The latter was a judge of the counts in 1684, and his influence was such that as he had voice in the name adopted, the tradition among his descendants is doubtless correct. On Holmes' "Map of the Improved part of Pennsylvania in America," the district is marked as " Springfeild."

This township is separated from Nether Providence on the west by Crum Creek, and excepting at its southeastern end from Upper Darby, and at its extreme northeastern limit from Haverford by Darby Creek, while Ridley lies to the south and Marple to the north of the township. Beginning at the dividing-line between Ridley and Springfield, on Crum Creek, a tract of land extending eastward to the present village of Morton, and continuing along Crum Creek to a point about half-way between Wallingford bridge and the Wallingford Mills, including all the territory between lines drawn at right angles from the places named, comprising eight hundred and fifty acres, was surveyed to Henry Maddock and James Kennerly, March 21-22, 1681. Henry Maddock, of Loom Hall, Cheshire, in connection.with his brother-in-law, James Kennerly, purchased in that year, before leaving England, from Penn, fifteen hundred acres of land in the province. Henry Maddock located on this plantation, and represented Chester County, in 1684, in the General Assembly, but he subsequently returned to England. The eight hundred and fifty acres in Springfield came to the possession of Mordecai, the eldest son of Henry Maddock. Mordecai was in the province in 1690, but returned to England, where he married, and again came to Pennsylvania, arriving here for the second time, March 30, 1702. The grant included the present Swarthmore College, and extended almost to Lownes' Free Church. Just above the Maddock land, lying