dwelling place back in old England. The exact number of inhabitants recorded in the early settlement of the township is not generally known. However, the tax list of 1776 shows that there were 60 persons taxable who paid a total tax of 13 pounds, 15 shillings, and three pence. Allowing five persons to one taxable, the average home number, a conservative estimate of the population at 300 would be in order. Today, many decades later, the population figure is drawing closer to the predicted population high-water mark of approximately 34,000 persons, based on the present high residential zoning standards.

Many of the early settlers are buried in the ancient Quaker Burial Ground, located at the intersection of Old Sproul Road, or as it was known in colonial days Chester Road, and Springfield Road. Given to the Quakers by Bartholomew Coppock, the younger, in 1686, the two-acre tract contains a possible 5,000 burials, and while few of the graves are marked today with headstones, those that are marked bear the names of families appearing on the early land-grant lists. The first meeting house of the sect was probably of logs and erected by the worshippers. It was constructed in 1701 and destroyed by fire in 1737. A second meeting house was built of durable Delaware County stone from local quarries and used until 1851, when the present structure was erected using much of the stone in the new building. During the construction of the present Meeting House the ancient date marker from the previous house of worship disappeared and to this day the search for it continues. Legend has it that it somehow found its way into the sturdy rock wall surrounding the property and eventually the stone may be found. Springfield Meeting was known as the "Backwoods Meeting" in Quaker circles because of its isolated location. This situation has been changed in nearly three centuries. In keeping with the great interest of the "Society of Friends" in education, a school was maintained on the site on several occasions and the small frame building on the grounds today was built in 1835 for the maintenance of a school and library. Because of the great historic significance of the school the "Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Museum and Historical Commission" has furnished the official metal marker granted to authentic historic sites and the location will be recorded in the state guide book. An ancient white oak located in the burial grounds is probably the oldest tree still standing in the township and is a reminder of the dense virgin forests of yesterday that clothed the hillsides.

While the meeting site was a center for township activities of a religious and intellectual nature, for years it was also identified with the name of Benjamin West, the Quaker artist, who attended there for a time as a boy before journeying to Europe. Born in a dwelling, now located on the campus of Swarthmore College, in 1738, West traveled to Europe and finally settled in England, where he became a founder of the Royal Academy and attained great fame by his numerous religious and heroic action canvases. It is estimated that his works exceed 3,000 in number and would require a gallery 800 feet long, 50 feet broad and 20 feet high to contain all. In 1873 fire destroyed the interior of the