AREA HISTORY:  Founding of Manchester Township, York County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Kathy Francis

Copyright 2006.  All rights reserved.
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History of York County, Pennsylvania.  John Gibson, Historical Editor.
Chicago: F. A. Battey Publishing Co., 1886.
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FOUNDING OF THE TOWN – Page 615

The land upon which the town stands was taken up under a land warrant issued to John 
Nickey about 1740.  William Resser purchased a considerable tract in 1814, on which 
was then two or three small houses; York Haven Company had just been formed; the 
York & Conewago Turnpike road had recently been completed; Eib’s Landing and New 
Holland lumber and fishing interests were then in their zenith.  All these made this 
a central point of the different thoroughfares to these places, and led the new 
owner to follow the example of a number of other adventurers about that time, to 
found a town.  He secured the services of Gen. Jacob Spangler, of York, who surveyed 
and made a plan for a town in 1814, the original of which is now in possession of 
Jacob Mohr, son in-law of the founder.  The inscription on it reads as follows:  “A 
plan of the town of Liverpool, situated in Manchester Township, on the York and 
Conewago Canal Turnpike road, including the Junction of the road leading to the old 
town of Manchester.”  The original plan of Liverpool contained 100 lots.  Tickets 
were sold at $100 each one of which drew a lot.  The drawing took place, July 30, 
1814.  Founding a town by lottery was a common custom about that time.  The 
ingenious founder it is said cleared $4,000 by his venture, and in 1816 built the 
large brick mansion at a cost of $5,000, on the angle formed by the union of the 
“old road” and the turnpike.  Here he lived until the time of his death, a few years 
ago, having reached the advanced age of four-score and two years.  His widow, 
Elizabeth Shelley Resser, survived him but a few months.