THE LANDING OF

PENN AT CHESTER.

[ILLUSTRATED BY A PLATE.]

THERE are several facts of interest connected with the ancient town of Chester; none more so, than the landing there of William Penn, and the hospitable reception himself and friends received at the "Essex house," then the residence of Robert Wade. His house, at which the scene of the landing is laid, stood about two hundred yards from Chester creek, near the margin of the Delaware, and on a plain of about fifteen feet above tide water. Near the house by the river side stood several lofty white pines, three of which remain at the present day, and thence ranging down the Delaware stood a large row of lofty walnut trees, of which a few still survive.

Essex house had its south east gable end fronting to the river Delaware, and its south west front upon Essex street; its back piazza ranged in a line with Chester creek, which separated the house and farm from the town of Chester; all vestiges of the house are now gone, but the facts of its location and position have been told to me by some aged persons who had once seen it. The iron vane once upon it was preserved several years, with the design of replacing it upon a renewed building once intended there.

Robert Wade owned all the land on the side of the creek opposite to Chester, extending back some distance up that creek; the Chester side was originally owned wholly by James Sanderland, a wealthy Swedish proprietor, and extending back into the country a considerable distance; he appears to have been an eminent Episcopalian, and probably the chief founder of the old Episcopal church there of St. Paul, as I find his memory peculiarly distinguished in that church by a large and conspicuous mural monument of remarkably fine sculpture for that early day; the figures in fine relief upon it is a real curiosity, it represents him as dying in the year 1692, in the 56th year of his age. None of the family name now remain there.

On the same premises is a head stone of some peculiarity, "in memory of Francis Brooks, who died August 19, 1704," and inscribed thus:

"In barbarian bondage and cruel tyranny
Fourteen years together I served in slavery.

After this, mercy brought me to my country fair;
At last, I drowned was in river Delaware."

In the same ground stands a marble, commemorative of the first A. M. of Pennsylvania, to wit:

Here lieth Paul Jackson, A. M.

He was the first who received a degree

in the college of Philadelphia,—a man of

virtue, worth and knowledge."-Died, 1767, aged 38 years.

I might add respecting him, that he was the ancestor of the present Dr. Samuel Jackson of Philadelphia, had been a surgeon in the Braddock expedition, was a brother-in-law of the honourable Charles Thomson, and one of the best classical scholars of his time. The brick house is still standing, now a cooper's shop, owned by John Hart, in which, it is said, was held the first Assembly of Pennsylvania. It is a one and a half story structure of middle size, close by the side of the creek. The oaken chair, in which William Penn sat as chief in that Assembly, is said to be now in the possession of the aged and respectable widow of colonel Frazer,a chair to be prized by us with some of that veneration bestowed on the celebrated chair in Westminster Abbey, brought from Scone to help in the investiture of royal power.

At the mill-seat up the creek, now belonging to Richard Flowers, was originally located, near thereto, the first mill in the county; the same noticed in Proud's history as erected by Richard Townsend, who brought out the chief of the materials from England. The original mill is all gone; but the log platform under water still remains at the place where the original road to Philadelphia once passed. The iron vane of that mill, curiously wrought into letters and dates, is still on the premises, and is marked thus:

W. P.

S. C. C.P.

1699.

The initials express the original partners, to wit: William Penn, Samuel Carpenter, and Caleb Pusey.

Close by the race stands the original dwelling house, in which it is understood that Richard Townsend once dwelt, and where he was often visited by the other partners; it is a very lowly stone building of the rudest finish inside, and of only one story in height. Such was their primitive rough fare and rude simplicity; yet small as was this establishment at the head of tide water, it was of much importance to the inhabitants of that day.

Not far from this at Ridly creek mills is a curious relic-an engraving upon a rock of "I. S. 1682," which marks the spot

against which John Sharpless, the original settler there, erected his temporary hut, immediately after his arrival in that year.

The Yates' house, now Logan's, built about the year 1700, was made remarkable in the year 1740-1, (the season of the "cold winter,") for having been visited in the night by a large black bear, which came into the yard and quarrelled with the dog. It was killed the next day near the town.

There is in the Logan collection at Stenton a large folio volume of manuscript court proceedings at Upland, chiefly respecting lands along the Delaware, at Shackamaxon, &c. while under the Duke of York's patent, and subject to the New York Governors.

The original expectations of Chester were once much greater than since; they once thought it might grow into a shipping port. In an original petition of the inhabitants of Chester of the year 1700, now among the Logan collection, they pray, that Whereas Chester is daily improving, and in time may be a good place, that the Queen's road may be laid out as direct as possible from Darby to the bridge on Chester creek." This paper was signed by ninety inhabitants, all writing good hands. Vide the original in my MS. Annals in the City Library.

Besides this, Jasper Yates, who married Sanderland's daughter, erected, about the year 1700, the present great granary there, having the upper chambers for grain and the basement story for an extensive biscuit bakery. For some time it had an extensive business, by having much of the grain from the fruitful fields of Lancaster and Chester counties; but the business has been long since discontinued.

When the first colonists, (arrived by the Factor) were frozen up at Chester, in December, 1681, and these being followed by several ships in the spring of 1682, before the city of Philadelphia was chosen and located, they must have given an air of city life to the Upland village, which may have well excited an original expectation and wish of locating there the city of brotherly love. It was all in unison with the generous hospitality afforded at Wade's house and among all the families of Friends previously settled there from Jersey; but Chester creek could not compete with Schuylkill river, and Chester was rivalled by Philadelphia; "so that it seemed appointed, by its two rivers and other conveniences, for a town."

At this late day it is grateful to look back with "recollected tenderness, on the state of society once possessing Chester. My friend Mrs. Logan, who once lived there, thus expressed it to me, saying, she had pleasure in her older years of contemplating its society as pictured to her by her honoured mother, a native of the place. Most of the inhabitants, being descendants of the English, spoke with the broad dialect of the North. They were a simple hearted, affectionate people, always appearing such in the visits * The road below Chester was called the King's road.