History of Westtown Township (1881); Chester 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);
 
Westtown was probably so named from its location, relative to Easttown.  It 
forms a rectangular parallelogram, about 5 1/2 miles long by nearly 1 1/2 in 
width, the longer axis bearing E.N.E.  In the majority of early surveys, on the 
east side of Brandywine, and south of the valley, the lines were run E.N.E  Prio 
to 1700 the land east of Chester Creek had passed into other hands and about 
that time permanent settlements began to be made in the township.  In 1697 David 
Hoopes had purchased 300 acres in the eastern portion of the twp, and 175 more 
in 1689.  He was the first constable for Westtown, which office he filled in 
1700, and was doubtless one of the earliest settlers.  Aaron James became a 
land-holder in 1700, as also did Benjamin Hickman.  John Bowater, of Middletown, 
purchased land in 1704, and by his will appears to have been living there at the 
time of his death in 1705.  Isaac Taylor resurveyed the land in this township in 
1703, and made a return of the following tracts; Wm Swarfar, 237 acres, Daniel 
Hoopes, 470; Benjamin Hickman, 230; Aaron James, 208; Richard Whitpain's heirs, 
1918; Richard Collett, 1090.  Taylor appears to have had the oversight of 
Collett's 1000 acres, at the western end of the township.