History of East and West Brandywine Townships (1881); Chester County, PA Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Sandra Ferguson . *********************************************************************** USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: Printing this file within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. http://www.usgwarchives.net/ *********************************************************************** from THE HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA, by Futhey and Cope (1881); The township of Brandywine was erected from the northern part of East Caln twp in 1790, and extended northward to the southern line of springton Manor. It received its name from the stream by the 2 branches of which it was bounded respectively on its east and west sides. It was divided into East and West Brandywine in 1844. In 1853 a small part of the southern end of West Brandywine was taken in the formation of Valley twp, and in 1859 the line between East and West was altered in a part of its course so as to include in West Brandywine a part of East Brandywine. In 1860 West Brandywine was enlarged on the north by a considerable addition to it from the SE corner of Honeybrook and the western part of Wallace. This addition included the Presbyterian church commonly known as Brandywine Manor, which had theretofore been in Honeybrook. The name Brandywine Manor being borne in common parlance by this church, and there being also a post office of the same name, has given the impression that there was a manor of that name. This, however, was not the case. There never was a manor created by WM Penn or his heirs bearing the name of Brandywine. The church above referred to its situation upon lands which formed part of the manor of Springton. This manor embraced the greater part of what is now Wallace twp, and also a part of the present twp of West Brandywine, and perhaps of other twps. The church above referred to has been ecclesiastically known from the earliest period of its history to the present time as the "Forks of Brandywine," and being located on manor-land, it became popularly known as the "Manor church", to which Brandywine, from the name of the church , would naturally be added. It is commonly spoken of, even at present day, by those residing in the vicinage, as the "Manor Church.: On the north line of the 2 twps a survey was made in 1714, for George Claypoole, of 1820 acres. South of this William Branson, of Philadelphia, held 1275 acres. In 1799 the number of taxables was 193.