Ridley Township.

Hendrickson, of Amosland, stated in his petition that he having built a new house "upon the great road from Philadelphia to Chester," desired to keep public-house therein. His petition was recommended by a number of the "Inhabitants of Ridley who have known him from his infancy," but the court refused to grant him a license. In 1767 William Smith had license, and in 1771 he gave place to Benjamin Richards, and the following year, 1772, Henry Shivers was the landlord. In 1780, Isaac Culin had license, and in 1782, William Price, and in 1796, Abijah Price succeeded to the privilege. In 1800 license was refused to the Plow, and after that date the dwelling ceased to be a public inn, doubtless because it came in competition with the "White Horse," both houses being then owned by Joseph Pearson. About 1765, John Morton, the signer of the Declaration of Independence, purchased the property, which at his death passed to his son, Sketchley Morton, and the latter, in 1785, sold it to Joseph Pearson, who, in 1803, bequeathed it to John L. Pearson. It has been stated that it continued a tavern until 1820, when John L. Pearson moved into it and took down the sign, an assertion which is not sustained by the records of the Court of Quarter Sessions of Delaware County.

Leiperville Mills. - Prior to 1764 a grist-mill had been built on Crum Creek, near the site where subsequently the locks of the Leiper Canal were located. In that year John McIlvain owned and was operating a grist-mill at that place, which was situated about two hundred yards below the present cotton-mill. The grist-mill was used until 1794, when a saw-mill was erected, and continued until it was sold about 1827 to George G. Leiper. A tan-yard was established by Jeremiah McIlvain in 1794, which was continued by him until his death, and by his sons, John and Jeremiah McIlvain, until some time subsequent to 1835, at which time a bark-mill was on the property, when it was purchased from them by George G. Leiper. The tannery had forty vats and four leaches. In 1837, George G. Leiper enlarged the bark-mill by erecting one and one-half stories to the old stone structure, which he leased to James Campbell. The old mill extended along the post-road. So successfully did Campbell operate the factory that in the fall of 1846 Leiper erected a three-story stone factory in addition to the old one, which extended along the canal. In the Delaware County Republican of Aug. 6, 1847, is the following description of the mills:

"The factory is owned by Judge Leiper and occupied by Mr. James Campbell, one of the most industrious and enterprising men engaged in the business in this county. We found the factory in full operation, and the hands busily at work on the different branches connected with the business. The building is of stone, three stories high, and filled closely with machinery from the ground-floor to the attic, some of which is of the most approved character. There are in the mill one thousand and eight spindles, eleven hundred and four throstles, and seventy-two looms. We observed a mule of four hundred and fifty-six (a self-acting mule) spindles, which was an entire new piece of machinery to us, and, we believe, the only one of the kind in this country. It is similar to those used in the large manufacturing establishments in England, the pattern of which was recently brought here by Mr. Campbell. One of the looms was at work on a beautiful and substantial article for table-cloths, which needs only to be seen to be admired. The principal articles manufactured are ticking, table-cloths, and bagging, or tent-cloth, of which sixty thousand yards are turned out monthly. There are sixty-five persons employed in the different departments, and the whole moves with the precision of clock-work. The wages spinners receive is thirty dollars per month, weavers, eighteen dollars. The females appear happy and contented, and exhibit bright and pleasant countenances. Mr. Campbell is a practical manufacturer, studies the wants and comforts of those about him, and his presence in the mill, lending a helping hand when required, endears him to those in his employment. The various departments of the mill are superintended with skill and judgment. Samuel Turner has charge of the cloth-room; J. W. Dobbins, of the looms; William Price, of the throstles; and Jonathan Taylor, of the card-room."

At this time the saw-mill was operated by Thomas M. Smith, and was then employed in cutting ship-timber for the United States government. On Dec. 8, 1848, the dry-house at Campbell's mill was destroyed by fire. A young son of Richard Garsed, of Frankford, was then visiting his aunt, Mrs. Campbell, and the child was so alarmed and excited by the fire that it caused brain-fever, which terminated fatally in a short time thereafter. The dry-house was rebuilt, and was again destroyed by fire Oct. 23, 1850. After Campbell purchased the old jail in Chester and changed it to a cotton-mill, he continued to operate the mill until 1855, when he removed the machinery.

About 1848, George G. Leiper erected an axe-factory below the saw-mill, which was operated by William Beatty for some time, the tilt-mill being supplied by the water from the canal. The demand, however, for power was so great at the cotton-factory that Campbell finally rented the tilt-mill, which was abandoned, the water being used for the cotton-mill. After Campbell removed to Chester, Michael Buggy became the tenant of the mill, and conducted the factory until it was purchased by Daniel Lees, Aug. 2, 1869, from the executors of George G. Leiper. It was conducted by him until July 21, 1883, when the two-thirds interest was sold to Frank J. Taylor and Oliver Holt, who operate it at present. This mill was destroyed by fire Feb. 19, 1878, at which time it was employed in spinning yarn, occasioning a loss of thirty-five thousand dollars. It was rebuilt in 1880. The new mill, which was a stone structure, one hundred and four by fifty feet, and two stories in height, was again destroyed by fire in the fall of 1881, and for the third time rebuilt.

Peter Hill's or Hickman's Grist-Mill. - About a mile north of Leiperville, near the Springfield road and Little Crum Creek, in 1774 Isaac Davis had a grist-mill, which prior to the battle of Brandywine had become the property of Peter Hill, for subsequent to that date the flour at the mill and the teams of the miller were impressed for the use of the army, but afterward the United States government made full compensation by a patent for five thousand acres of land near Clarksburg, Lee Co., Va. It is probable that the mill was burned at the time when some of the foraging parties of the enemy swept through Ridley township. Certain it is that in 1795 Hill was assessed only on a saw-mill, and in 1799 he was assessed