History of Thornbury Township (1881); Chester/Delaware County, PA

Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Sandra Ferguson <ferg@ntelos.net>.

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from THE HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA, by Futhey and Cope (1881);
 
Thornbury twp was named from Thornbury, in Gloucestershire, England.  One of the 
earliest and most influential inhabitants of this township was George Peirce, 
whose wife was a native of Thornbury, in England, and the township was named in 
compliment to her.  It was organized in the year 1687 by the appointment of Hugh 
Durborrow as constable, when not more than 5 or 6 families had settled within 
its limits.  It was surveyed in right of the first purchasers.  This township, 
and Birmingham an and Westtown are the only townships within the present limits 
of Chester County which were organized before 1704.
    When Delaware County was erected in the year 1789, the townships of 
Thornbury and Birmingham were divided.  Thornbury in Chester county contains but 
about 1/4 of the territory of the original twp, and is one of the smallest 
townships in the county.