Ridley Township.

recent years. The old structure still remains, bearing the mark of great antiquity. "The figures 1698 are carved on the inner side of the mantelpiece of the northwest end of the building, and no doubt indicate the date of its erection. It is built of white-cedar log, flattened. Between this end and the other wooden end there is a space built up with stone. Through this space, and between the two wooden ends of the present building, the road formerly passed to the ferry."¹

In 1733, Adam Archer applied for license for a house at another location, which he designated as on the King's road, and about midway between Chester and Darby, mentioned in the history of the White Horse Tavern. On Feb. 25, 1734, he again came before the Court, stating that he "wishes to sell Beer and Cyder to travellers, and especially to those who come to buy fish," which was allowed, but on May 28, 1734, a remonstrance was presented against the license, setting forth that Archer "had formerly kept A publick-house, but after several complaints was set aside, since which time there was more peace & quiet." This paper was signed by Andrew Morton, Hans Forten, and other Swedes, as also by Peter Dick and several Friends, who in the document strongly objected to the term "Worships" as applied to the justices. The remonstrance is indorsed "Granted to ye petitioners."

Archer, however, seems at a subsequent session to have procured the license, for Aug. 26, 1735, he informed the court that he had the right to sell beer and cider, but now desires the justices to permit him to "keep publick-house as formerly." But the stern tribunal shook their wise heads and declined to accede to his desires.

On Aug. 28, 1744, John Hendrickson, of Amosland, "upon Darby Creek, where Great number of Travellers, as well by land as by water, daily resort," made application for license to sell liquor at his house, which was allowed him. This location, I am told, subsequently became the Darby Ferry-House, although I do not learn anything about "the ferry across to Tinicum Island from Darby Creek" until 1786, when John Hoof petitioned to have license for a house of entertainment there, and also to keep a ferry across to Tinicum Island from Darby Creek. I am inclined to think that this is the site of the dwelling already mentioned where Adam Archer, in 1729, first received license "on the banks of a large navigable creek leading out of the said river Delaware." The Amosland road, it should not be overlooked, was laid out in 1688, and was an important thoroughfare in early times. John Hoof continued annually to receive license until 1801, when George Gill, who had petitioned vainly the year previous for license in Chester, obtained the privilege for the Darby ferry, and continued there the year following. In 1804, Philip Morris became the landlord and ferry-master, and from that time the place became known as Morris' Ferry. Here he continued until his death, in 1826, - excepting during the year 1806, when Charles Lloyd had the license, - when his sons, George and Amos Morris, succeeded to the business, and continued until 1830, when George Morris became the landlord. He received license annually without objection until 1842, when a remonstrance was urged against him, in which it was argued that his location was in an out-of-the-way place, with little or no traveling public to entertain, and that he conducted the business to the injury of the neighborhood, since intemperate people for miles around would accumulate there, and for days together indulge in a drunken frolic. The court, however, permitted him to continue there, but in the following year (1843) the license was for the last time given to the hotel.

The White Horse Tavern. - Adam Archer, on Feb. 24, 1729/30, applied for a license, in which he informed the court that he lived on the King's road, about midway between Chester and Darby, and asked that he be permitted thereat to keep a public-house. In addition to his petition, his aged father memorialized the court as follows:

"To the Right Worshipfull his Majestie's Justices of peace sitting in the Court of Quarter Sessions for ye Burrow and County of Chester, the twenty-sixth day of February, Anno Domi 1733/4.

"The Petition of John Archer, of Amosland, in the said County Humbly sheweth that y^e Petitioner having lived upon y^e Bank of Darby Creek in Amosland Afores^d (for ye term of forty years and upwards), A place Conveniantly Situated for the Importation and Exportation of such things as y^e publick have had occasion to Receive and Deliver there, And likewise for such people as have business to go Across or up and down y^e sd Creek with Boat Cannoe or otherwise, and also y^e place which yearly at y^e time of fishing the people doth chiefly wate till they can be supplyed with such quantity of fish as at such times they had occasion for, In all which Cases y^r petitioner hath from time to time for many years past been very helpfull to y^e publick with his Cannoes and Assistance whensoever thereunto Required, And when any were obliged to wait long, then y^e petitioner made them welcome to the Entertainment of his house without any other Reward than y^e pleasure and satisfacsion he took in being usefull to y^e public therein. But for as much as y^e petitioner is now grown very Antiant, and of late hath been very sorely afflicted with sickness and y^e infirmaties of old age so as to be Confined to his Bed for the time of sixteen months, and not able to help himself But by y^e assistance of his wife and Children, he having but one son left with him, which for y^e reasone aforsd heath Rendred your petitioner much less Capable to serve ye publick than in time past, And that very Noise of a Concourse of people, though ever so well behaved, is a further addition to y^e Calamities of y^r petitioner, who for his own ease, the benefit of the publick and the entertainment of travilers, Humbly prayeth that y^e petitioner's son Adam Archer may obtain y^r worships' Recommendation to our Honourable Governour for his liscence to keep a house of publick Entertainment According to y^e prayer of his petition and as the Certificate of ye publick thereunto Annexed doth set forth, And y^r petitioner as in duty Bound shall pray.

The justices held the matter under advisement, and Aug. 28, 1733, a remonstrance, signed by Thomas Tatnall and eight others, was presented, declaring that Adam Archer then kept a public-house in Ridley (at Morris' Ferry), and his petition was refused. On Aug. 26, 1735, the "insatiate Archer" petitioned again, with the declaration that he "hath for several years Last past obtained your honors' Lycence to Keep a