Springfield Township.

dence township, on the ancestral land which was the birthplace of many members of the family. His education was confined to the neighboring schools, after which he became interested in the employments of the farm. He was, on the 21st of November, 1822, married to Maria Massey, daughter of James and Mary Thompson Massey, whose birth occurred Sept. 15, 1797. Their children are Joseph, Mary T. (Mrs. Joseph M. Worrell), Sarah P., Susannah M., Lydia M. (Mrs. M. C. Taylor), Elizabeth L. (Mrs. P. L. Hill), Priscilla P., and Emma. Mr. Bishop, on his marriage, removed to a farm adjacent to the homestead, which he cultivated until he became owner by inheritance of a farm in Springfield, where the remainder of his life was spent as an agriculturist. He was in early life a Whig in politics, and on the formation of the Republican party embraced its principles. Though seldom figuring in the ranks of the active political workers, he served as treasurer of Delaware County, and held less important township offices. He was a director of the Delaware County Bank, of Chester. He was in his religious faith a Friend, and a member of the Friends' Meeting of Springfield. He was a man of unimpeachable integrity, and respected for his purity of character and influence. The death of Mr. Bishop occurred May 27, 1879, on the homestead, now occupied by his daughter, Mrs. Worrell.

Elisha Worrell, the father of David, was born on the 9th of November, 1739, and died Dec. 27, 1829_ He married Mary Maris, and had children, - Jemima, born in 1766; Maris, in 1768; Joseph, in 1770; Mordecai, in 1773; Owen, in 1775; Anne, in 1777; Margaret, in 1779; Rebecca, in 1781; David, in 1783; Elizabeth, in 1785; Mary, in 1787; and Betsey, in 1789. The birth of David occurred in Springfield township Sept. 22, 1783, where his whole life was spent. On acquiring the rudiments of learning at the school immediately near his home, he at once turned his attention to farming, and, on the decease of his father, inherited the farm, to the cultivation of which his life was devoted. He married Sarah, daughter of Joseph Gibbons, of the same township, and had children, - Jane G. (Mrs. William Bittle), Elizabeth (Mrs. John C. H. Morton), Sarah, Joseph M., Lydia (Mrs. William Johnson), Elisha, Mary, David, Rebecca (Mrs. Emory E. Levis), and Deborah (Mrs. Edward S. Barber). Mr. Worrell was a Whig in politics, and participated actively in all matters involving the interests of the county and township. He filled various positions in the township, and at his death held the office of county commissioner. His integrity and discernment led him often to be chosen as the guardian of momentous trusts and the administrator of estates. He was energetic in all business matters, well informed on the general topics of the day, and possessed a genial nature, which attracted numerous friends. He adhered in his religious views to the worship of the society of Friends. Mr. Worrell was a lieutenant in the Light-Horse Cavalry and much interested in the success of this company. His death occurred Jan. 24, 1847, in his sixty-fourth year.

George Maris, the progenitor of the family in America, sailed from England for the New World in 1683, and soon after his arrival settled in Darby township, Delaware Co., Pa. He was granted a patent of one thousand acres of land in the above county, four hundred of which lay in Springfield township. On this tract he erected a dwelling known since by his descendants as "Home House," which was bequeathed on his death, with the land, to his son John, whose son George next became its owner by inheritance, and retained it during his lifetime. He built, in 1822, the larger portion of the house now known as the homestead, and at present occupied by the subject of this sketch. Jelu, the son of George, born in 1736, then came into possession. He married Jane Humphreys, of Montgomery County, and had children, - John, born in 1779; Ann, in 1781; Asa, in 1783; Lydia, in 1784; George, in 1786; and Ellis, in 1788. John, the father of George, was born on the 28th of December, 1779, at the ancestral home, and married Martha Ann Bonsall, of Darby. Their children were George; Isaac, born in 1825; Lewis, in 1827; Humphrey, in 1829; Joseph Powell, in 1831; Rebecca, in 1834; Susannah, in 1835; Ellis, in 1838; and John, in 1840. George, whose birth occurred on the 23d of October, 1823, still resides upon the family estate. He received a rudimentary education at the centre school, near his home, and early acquired a knowledge of the labor of the farm. On the death of his father, in 1841, he inherited a portion and purchased the remainder of the estate. He married, on the 19th of October, 1870, Caroline L., daughter of John and Sarah Worrell, of Springfield. Their children are Rebecca, born Jan. 4, 1873, and Emma P., whose birth occurred Feb. 16, 1874. Mr. Maris has avoided the exciting scenes of political life and the allurements of business apart from his daily routine of labor, believing that his path of duty lies rather in the quiet sphere of agricultural industry. He is in politics a Republican, though formerly Democratic in his political predilections. In religion he is a member of the Friends' Meeting of Darby. The bicentennial of the landing of George Maris was held at "Home House" on the 28th of August, 1883, on which interesting occasion many hundred descendants of the pioneer were assembled and agreeably entertained.