History

HAVERFORD TOWNSHIP HISTORY

The Original People

For some 15,000 years the Lenni-Lenape, an extensive indigenous nation, lived along the East coast from Delaware to Massachusetts. The name means, “Original People,” a most appropriate name. The Europeans called them “The Delaware.” In Pennsylvania the Lenni-Lenape lived along the banks of the Delaware and parts of the Schuylkill. There is no clear evidence of a settlements along Cobb’s Creek or Darby Creek. The Lenni-Lenape were an agricultural community. The men tended to hunting and fishing and the women tended the traditional companion crops of corn, squash and beans, a trio called “the three sisters.” When Penn arrived he made a treaty with the local tribes and purchased land from them.

On August 16th, 1683, Penn wrote a letter to the Free Society of Traders, a stock company that invested in his colony of Pennsylvania. In his letter, Penn describes a council that he had with the Lenni Lenape Indians, in what sounds like it could have possibly been the Great Treaty:

"I have had occasion to be in council with them (the Indians) upon treaties for land, and to adjust the terms of trade. Their order is thus: The King sits in the middle of an half moon, and hath his council, the old and wise, on each hand; behind them or at a little distance, sit the younger fry in the same figure. When the purchase was agreed, great promises passed between us of kindness and good neighborhood, and that the Indians and English must live in love as long as the sun and moon give light; which done, another made a speech to the Indians in the name of all the Sachamakers or Kings, first to tell them what was done; next to charge and command them to love the Christians, and particularly live in peace with me, and the people under my Government; that many Governors had been on the River, but that no Governor had come himself to live and stay here before; and having now such an one that treated them well, they should never do him or his any wrong. At every sentence of which they shouted and said Amen in their way." http://www.penntreatymuseum.org/penn.php

Penn’s governorship of his land in America did not happen without preface. Penn already held land in New Jersey as a result of earlier dispositions. On June 1, 1680, Penn made a petition to the Lords of Trade and Plantation for territories in the New World where he might establish safe haven for his fellow Quakers. Penn intended to call his province, New Wales.

William Penn's "Silvania."

Penn’s acquisition of his colony resulted from his need for funds. Penn lived well but not wisely. Prior to his American adventure Penn was in serious debt: some £10,000 or in today’s currency well over $1,000,000. To relieve his financial situation Penn petitioned Charles II to repay a debt owed to his Penn’s father. His father had supplied the king with needed resources during the Dutch War of 1665-1667. Penn knew that to ask for cash would have been pointless. Instead Penn asked for land in the English territories of the New World. With proper management he could sell the land for development and with the revenues settle his fiscal needs. But there was another element in requesting land rather than money. Penn sought to advance the cause of his newly adopted religion, Quakerism.
Charles II granted Penn his charter on March 4, 1681. Penn planned on calling his land “Silvania.” Charles, however, insisted that he call it “Pennsilvania.” Penn began promoting his land offerings immediately. “Some Account of the Province of Pennsilvania” laid out the benefits of the new land and the type of colonists that would best serve it. Penn’s initial offer was £100 for 5,000 acres. To encourage less venturesome investors, he then offered 250 acres at £5 and 500 acres at £10. To make the offer even more appealing those who purchased a portion of the first 500,000 acres would receive a tract in his new capital city. Deeds from the early years often indicate that the owner held farm land in the counties and also property in the city. But there was also a small catch. To secure a continual income after the land was sold Penn required an annual rent of one shilling per hundred acres. Penn also required that the farmers use his mills to grind their grain. Those that did not were taxed. The mill tax would eventually become a point of controversy.
Penn arrived in his new province on board the Welcome on October 27, 1682. Troubles in the province and in England oblige Penn to return to England on August 12, 1684. After various troubles in England over his association with disputing political factions Penn returns to his province on September 7, 1699. In 1701 Penn is again in debt. Questions arise that threaten to return the province to the crown. Penn is compelled to travel back to England.
Despite Penn’s attempt to use his new province to resolve his financial problems, in the end this was not to be the case. Penn continued to incur debts. In 1707 Penn was sent to debtors’ prison and was obliged once again to borrow money to pay his dues. He was released in 1708.

March 4, 1681

Charles the Second, by the grace of God King of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, defender of the faith, &c., To all to whome these presents shall come Greeting. Whereas our Trustie and well beloved Subject, William Penn, Esquire, sonn and heire of Sir William Penn, deceased, out of a commendable desire to enlarge our English Empire, and promote such usefull commodities as may bee of benefit to us and our Dominions, as alsoe to reduce the Savage Natives by gentle and just manners to the love of civill Societie and Christian Religion hath humbley besought leave of vs to transport an ample colonie vnto a certaine Countrey hereinafter described in the partes of America not yet cultivated and planted. And hath likewise humbley besought our Royall majestie to give grant, and confirme all the said countrey with certaine priviledges and Jurisdiccions requisite for the good Government and saffie of the said Countrey and Colonie, to him and his heires forever. Know Yee, therefore, that wee, favouring the petition and good purpose of the said William Penn, and having regard to the memorie and merits of his late father, in divers services, and perticulerly to his conduct, courage and discretion vnder our dearest brother, James Duke of Yorke, in that signall battell and victorie, fought and obteyned against the Dutch fleeter commanded by the Heer Van Opdam, in the yeare One thousand six hundred sixtie five, in consideration thereof our special grace, certaine knowledge and mere motion, Have given and granted, and by this our present Charter, for vs, our heires and sucessors, Doe give and grant unto the said William Penn, his heires and assignes all that tract or parte of land in America, with all the Islands therein conteyned, as the same is bounded on the East by Delaware River, from twelve miles distance, Northwarde of New Castle Towne unto the three and fortieth degree of Northern latitude if the said River doeth extend soe farre Northwards; but if the said River shall not extend soe farre Northward, then by the said River soe farr as it doth extend, and from the head of the said River the Easterne bounds are to bee determined by a meridian line, to bee drawn from the head of the said River vnto the said three and fortieth degree, the said lands to extend Westwards, five degrees in longitude, to bee computed from the said Easterne Bounds, and the said lands to bee bounded on the North, by the beginning of the three and fortieth degree of Northern latitude, and on the south, by a circle drawne at twelve miles, distance from New Castle Northwards, and Westwards vnto the beginning of the fortieth degree of Northerne Latitude; and then by a straight line Westwards, to the limit of Longitude above menconed.

William Penn's Pamphlet
Some Account of the Province of Pennsilvania

The Woods are furnished with Store of Wild Fowl, as Turkeys, Phea∣sants, Heath-Cocks, Patridges, Pidgeons, &c. The Earth well Watered with Springs and Rivers, and the Rivers stored with Fish, as Sturgion, Sheepsheads, Drums, Cat-fish, Shads, Ecles, and abundance more: With Fowl, as Swans, Gray and White Geese, Duck, Mallard, &c. The Corn of the Country used by the Indians, produceth four hundred fold, is Good and Hearty, both in Milk, and made into Bread; the price two Shillings six pence the Bushel: There is also good English Corn, as Wheat, Barly, Rye, and Oates; Wheat under four Shil∣lings the Bushel, Barly and Rye, under three Shillings the Bushel, Oates about two Shillings the Bushel: There are also very good Pease, and Beans of seve∣ral sorts. The Beef is good, but Pork is very Sweet: The Beef at three pence, the Pork at two pence half-penny the pound; Batter at six pence a pound, Peaches to Eat, or make Drink of, at eight pence the Bushel; a Cow and Calf about the Spring of the Year, at five pounds, a pair of Oxen at ten pounds, a good Breeding Sow at thirty Shillings, a Young good Breeding Mare, at eight pounds.* But it is to be Noted, that these foregoing prises and sums, are to be paid with one half of the Value in English Goods, at the Rates they are bought at in England; for example, four pounds English paies for the Breeding Mare, that is Rated at eight pounds, the like with the rest.
The Country also abounds with several sorts of Wild Creatures, as Elkes, Deer, Beavers, Racoons, Mincks, Martins, Wild Catts, Otters, &c. some of which are good Food, and Cheap, as a Fat Buck at two Shillings, English Goods, others of them considerable for their Furs: The way of Traffique, is to send to the Southren Plantations, Corn, Beef, Pork, Fish, Sider, and Pipestaves; the Skins and Furs for England. The Conveniency that belongs to the Province in point of Navigation, is two fold; the one through Chesapeak Bay, and the other Delaware Bay, by which Ships of great Burthen may come and Trade to the said Province.

The Welsh Barony

In 1681, a group of Welsh Quakers purchased a 30,000-acre tract in the hopes of ensuring their religious freedom and preserving their language, customs, and laws. Settling in the area of Merion, Bryn Mawr, and Haverford, these settlers began arriving in advance of the proprietor.
https://www.jstor.org/stable/986501?read-now=1&seq=3#page_scan_tab_contents

Whereas divers considerable persons among ye Welsh Friends have requested me yt all ye Lands Purchased of me by those of North Wales and South Wales, together with ye adjacent counties to ym, as Herefordshire, Shropshire and Cheshire, about forty-thousand acres, may be layd out contiguously as one Barony, alledging yt ye number already come and suddenly to come, are such as will be capable of planting ye same much wth in ye proportion allowed by ye custom of ye country, & so not lye in large useless vacancies. And because I am inclined and determined to agree and favor ym wth any reasonable Conveniency and priviledge: I do hereby charge thee and strictly require thee to lay out ye sd tract of Land in as uniform a manner as conveniently may be, upon ye west side of Skoolkill river, running three miles upon ye same, & two miles backward, & then extend ye parallel wth ye river six miles and to run westwardly so far as this ye sd quantity of land be Compleatly surveyed unto you.—Given at Pennsbury, ye 13th Ist mo. March 1684

TRANSCRIPTION: The "y" is the old letter "thorn". It is read as "TH."

The question of establishing a Welsh Barony occupied several sessions of the Court at Chester County in 1689. Before his first return to England in 1684, Penn gave verbal assurance of the establishment of an independent Welsh settlement of 40,000 acres. (Some records say 40,000.) The Welsh, escaping the persecution of Quakers in Wales, arrived with the hope of a world of their own governance. To avoid the city of Philadelphia they moved to the forests across the Schuylkill and established Merion, Radnor and Haverford (also known as Hartford or Harford). Their hopes for their barony soon came to naught. In 1685, the Chester County court, drew a line that incorporated Radnor and Haverford into Chester County. Since there was no written charter to secure Penn’s original promise, Chester had the upper hand. The court records note:

'Twas asserted, that the Welch Inhabitants had Denyed themselves to be any part of The County of Philadelphia, by refusing to bear any Share of Charges, to serve in office, or Jurys, And the like as to ye County of Chester. That the pretence thereof was, they were a distinct Barrony, wch they might be, yet severall Barronys might be in one and ye same County."

Several protests ensued including a vote by

black and white beanes in a hatt.

Pressing the issue, the Chester court recorded

Ordered that John Jerman be Constaple for Radnor and John Lewis for Harfort for ye next ensuing year.” When neither man appeared at court to take their positions under Chester we read, “Ordered that Warrants of Contemp be Derected to ye Shreife to apprehend ye Bodyes of John Lewis and John Jerman for their Contempt of not entring into their respective offices of Constaple (viz) John Lewis for Harfort and John Jerman for Radnor when thereunto required by this Court Ordered that Morris Lewellin be Suppervisor.” At the same session the records relate: “Ordered that Morris Lewellin be Suppervisor of ye Highwayes for ye Township of Harfort and Richard Armes for ye Township of Radnor for ye next ensuing yeare. ….. dated ye 19th day of ye 4th moneth 1689.”

When neither man appeared at court to take their positions under Chester we read

Ordered that Warrants of Contemp be Derected to ye Shreife to apprehend ye Bodyes of John Lewis and John Jerman for their Contempt of not entring into their respective offices of Constaple (viz) John Lewis for Harfort and John Jerman for Radnor when thereunto required by this Court Ordered that Morris Lewellin be Suppervisor

At the same session the records relate:

Ordered that Morris Lewellin be Suppervisor of ye Highwayes for ye Township of Harfort and Richard Armes for ye Township of Radnor for ye next ensuing yeare. ….. dated ye 19th day of ye 4th moneth 1689.”

By 1689 we read that the Welsh submitted to Chester County rule. John Jerman becomes constable for Radnor, William Howell a justice:

William Howells Comission for ye Peace was read and Published dated ye 29th day of ye 2d moneth 168 f and did afterward Subscribe to ye solemne Declaration prepared by ye 57Chapter of ye great law of this Province.

The Welsh had submitted to the inevitable.

The Welsh of Haverfordwest : Hwlffordd

What's in a name?
The Welsh name for Haverford West is Hwlffordd.
What does it mean?
From the English site "Historic Place Names":

Dear Dr Morinelli,

Thank you for your enquiry. Hwlffordd doesn't technically mean anything at all. South Pembrokeshire was colonised by English speakers very early on, with the result that most, although not all, of the place names are English in origin, Haverfordwest being one of them. What you then get is the Welsh speaking population Cambricising/mispronouncing these names into Welsh. Hwlffordd is one of these, representing a monoglot Welsh speaker's attempt to pronounce an unfamiliar, English name. There's a similar example in the north east, in Flintshire, where the original English name Whitford was rendered as Chwitffordd when the area became Welsh speaking again.

Ironically, Haverfordwest does have an original Welsh name, Caerelen (Helen's fort), named probably for the Welsh wife of the Roman Emperor Magnus Maximus, who was popularly supposed to have built many of the Roman roads in Wales, but the name has fallen out of use, even in Welsh.

Best wishes,
James January-McCann
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From another source.
Haverfordwest is the county town of Pembrokeshire, Wales. The name of this ancient market town means “ford used by heifers” (heifer-ford) from the Old English hæfar (heifer) meaning buck or he-goat and referred to the fact the town was the safest place to bring animals across the Western Cleddau. (Wales Online https://www.walesonline.co.uk/lifestyle/fun-stuff/how-welsh-place-live-name-11278650
Tudor kings originally called it either “Harford” (after local dialect) or “Hereford or Hertford in the West” in order to differentiate it from Hereford in Herefordshire or possibly Hertford in Hertfordshire.
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Haverfordwest Today
BBC's "Brick by Brick," ran this program on the restoration of a stone house in Haverfordwest. It provides some very interesting views of the town where the founders of Haverford came from. It is also interesting to see how they preserve a building not unlike our neglected Powder House.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GiWz7cIxJpo

Haverfordwest Castle

William Penn's
Frame of Government of Pennsylvania
May 5, 1682

To all Persons, to whom these presents may come. WHEREAS, king Charles the Second, by his letters patents, under the great seal of England, bearing date the fourth day of March in the Thirty and Third Year of the King, for divers considerations therein mentioned, hath been graciously pleased to give and grant unto me William Penn, by the name of William Penn, Esquire, son and heir of Sir William Penn, deceased, and to my heirs and assigns forever, all that tract of land, or Province, called Pensylvania, in America, with divers great powers, pre-eminences, royalties, jurisdictions, and authorities, necessary for the well-being and government thereof: Now know ye, that for the well-being and government of the said province, and for the encouragement of all the freemen and planters that may be therein concerned, in pursuance of the powers aforementioned, I, the said William Penn, have declared, granted, and confirmed, and by these presents, for me, my heirs and assigns, do declare, grant, and confirm unto all the freemen, planters and adventurers of, in and to the said province, these liberties, franchises, and properties, to be held, enjoyed and kept by the freemen, planters, and inhabitants of the said province of Pensilvania for ever.

Penn’s experience of the persecution of his fellow Quakers engendered his liberal view of the privacy of religious belief and produced this innovative article in his constitution.