Springfield Township.

Maris was the landlord, and continued yearly thereat until 1769, when Jesse Maris having died, the license was given to John Maris until 1774. In 1775, Thomas Moore had the privilege of keeping the public-house there, and the following year Michael Stadleman took his place, while in 1779 Edward Horne was substituted in the latter's stead. In 1785, Matthias Tyson had the license, and was followed the next year by Rodger Stayner, and in 1787 by Charles Sankey, who continued annually to receive the favor of the court until and including the year 1789.

In 1790, immediately after the creation of Delaware County, Charles Sankey kept the tavern in Springfield, followed, in 1793, by John Wright.

In 1797, Isaac Cochran received license for the inn of that name. In 1803 a remonstrance was lodged against the continuance of the house, but it appears not to have received much consideration, for in 1806, when Frederick James made application for the license at the house, although he had twice before (in 1804 and 1805) been recommended to the Governor for license, his petition was met with a remonstrance, calling attention to the fact that a like paper "was put into the hands of the clerk of the court in order to lay before the court in the 2d mo., 1803." That as the license is continued, "and as we - the remonstrants have not been informed that the former remonstrance ever came before the court," they attached a copy of the paper alluded to. The old remonstrance, thus resurrected after slumbering three years, set forth that the signers "apprehend there is very little occasion for the inn," that the direct roads from distant parts leading to Philadelphia "do very little communicate therewith, and the surrounding ways, in almost every direction, appears to be sufficiently supplied with Public-houses within a moderate distance of each other," and as "the profits arising from such a situation" must be "inadequate to the expense, without indulging neighboring unguarded people to the injury of themselves and grief of some of their families," they hope that the court after "being informed of the true situation, so as to judge of the inconsistency of admitting license to any persons at said place," will refuse to recommend the petition to the Governor, and the court thereupon withdrew its approval. Frederick James, however, was not prepared to quietly submit to the loss of his special privilege, hence at the next Quarter Sessions he again appeared with a petition for license. The court's approbation thereof was attempted to be carried by a strong flank movement, as appears by the following remarkable documents:

"Petition of the Commissioned and staff officers of 65th Regt. Penna. Militia to the Court of Quarter Sessions for their recommending Frederick James to keep a Public-House.

"To the Judges of the Court of Quarter Sessions to be held at Chester for Del. CO. on Monday the --- day July, A. D. 1806.

"The Petition of the Commissioned and Staff Officers of the 65th Regt. of Penna. Militia in the said county of Del. Respectfully sheweth: -

"That your Petitioners have heard with regret that your Honors at the last Court of Quarter Sessions omitted or refused to grant the prayer of Frederick James, who petitioned the said court to recommend him as heretofore to the Governor to obtain a license to keep the Tavern in Springfield he now occupies, called the 'Blue Bell Tavern.'

"Your Petitioners are fully persuaded (in their humble opinion) that a Pubilic House of entertainment is absolutely necessary for many reasons.

"That this Tavern is about the centre of the bounds of the said Regt. and that the Regt. hath met to exercise near the same for upwards of Twenty years past, and will meet there in future; at which Tavern the officers hath been well accommodated, and is desirous of being so in future.

"That the Militia law enjoins the officers to meet four times in each year, exclusive of the days of their meeting in Regt., and on adjournments of the Board of officers, when this house (from its central situation) hath been the usual place of meeting to transact business.

"That if the said Tavern be abolished, and no house Licensed near to it, there will be no place for your Petitioners to take shelter from the inclemency of the weather, or get any refreshment on days of exercise or business, for the Said Law prohibits any ardent spirits from being sold at the parade by subtlety, and also the Regt. from exercising on any person's land without the permission of the owner.

"And that the License should be taken from this house, there will be no place of entertainment for strangers on the Springfield road from Darby to Fox's Tavern, a distance of about ten miles.

"For the foregoing reasons and many others that might be advanced, your Petitioners earnestly request the Court to recommend the said Frederick James to his Excellency the Governor as a suitable person to keep the Blue Ball Tavern in order to obtain a License for that purpose, or for the ensuing year at least, as at the expiration thereof our commissions will expire and appointments by their own limitations.

"And your Petitioners will with pleasure acknowledge your attention to the public good.

"Wm. Litzenburg, Major; Joseph Dicks, Major; Wm. Brooke, Brigade Inspector; J. L. Pearson, Lieut.-Colonel; Jonathan Worrall, Captain; Michael Ketts, Captain; Levi Garrett, Captain; George Martin, Capt:; John Deals, Capt.; James Morgan, Capt.; John Hall, Capt.; Thos. Wall, Lieut.; John Caldwell, Lieut.; Joshua Wood, Ensign; James Hunter, Lieut. and Commanding officer of Company; John Frothill, Quartermaster; Wm. Black, Adjt.; Samuel Pennell, Capt. of Troop; Andrew Lindsay, 1st Lieut. of Troop; Wm. Moors, 2d Lieut. of Troop."

The court, notwithstanding this charge in column, manfully held its ground, and Frederick James was again repulsed.

The following year, 1807, Emmor Eachus stated to the court that he occupied the house where Isaac Cochran, and latterly Frederick James, formerly dwelled, which was known as the Blue Ball Tavern, and desired license therefor. A remonstrance was presented against the petition, stating that the house is one "which hath been repeatedly remonstrated against with good effect," and then the remonstrants followed word for word the form of the remonstrance which had such "good effect" in 1806. This time it had become an old story; at any rate the judges smiled benignly on Eachus, and recommended him to the Governor as a fit man to keep a hotel.

Old Lamb Tavern. - On Aug. 26, 1740, Benjamin Maddock petitioned the court for license, stating that he "has lately built a house on the Cross Roads that leads from Darby to the Back Inhabitants where the Palintines has of Late much frequented with wagons, likewise to the Grate Road that leads from Chester to Schuylkill." Although thirty-five persons indorsed his petition, - among them Abraham Lincoln, - the court declined to grant the application of the petitioner.