The Town Chester (1802); Delaware County, PA

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

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from CHESTER by John Hill Martin  1877;


  This is from THE TRAVELERS' DIRECTORY, Philadelphia 1802;    
    "Chester, the county town, is 15 miles from Philadelphia, and situated 
between 2 creeks, Chester and Ridley, on the west side of the Delaware.  It was 
incorporated in Dec., 1795, and is governed by 2 burgesses, one high constable, 
one town clerk and three assistants.  The limits of this Borough extend 2 miles 
from the shore westward.  It contains a Courthouse, a Jail, an Episcopal church, 
a Friends' meeting house, a market house and a long brick school-house.  The 
first dwelling house in Pennsylvania was built on the site of this town; and the 
first Colonial Assembly for the Province was convened at this place, on the 4th 
day of December, 1682.  A part of the old wall of the room remains.  The bed of 
the river has been evidently diminished by the marshy lands having been banked 
and dykes cut, which have converted them into rich and valuable meadows.  This 
town is much resorted to by companies from Philadelphia, in the spring and 
summer seasons."
                            (Chester is now in Del. Co)