The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1878-04-20
For III" IHCI WIZ.
Historical Researches that Quilp Made
as Bohemian.
CHAPTER XXI.
NOTTINGHAM.

The Friends were among the earliest set
tiers in the southwestern part of our county,
which the reader will remember originally
extended in a southern direction to the
Chester river. Here they erected the first
house of worship of which we have any
account in the early history of the county
1t was registered in 1908, in compliance
with an act of Parliament, in reference to
houses of religious worship.
These Friends were visited in 1872 by
the illustrous George Fox, the founder of
the society, who spent some time in mis-
sionary labor among them. One of his
meetings lasted four days and was largely
attended. In all probability it was the
germ of the Baltimore Yearly Meeting
These pioneers of the then new and pecu-
liar faith were also visited by William Ed
| munSon in 1915. These Friends remained
in the southern part of the county for at least
a century after this time. John Church
man, the distinguished Quaker preacher,
speaks of visiting them III 1867. Their
meeting house was some where in Sassa-
fras Neck, and they were known as the
" Friends in Cecil Nottingham being
regarded as part of Chester county till
after the Revolutionary war. Churchman,
in his autobiography, speaks of the con
version of John Browning, who then lived
in Sassafras Neck and who was, no doubt,
a son of the John Browning who quarreled
with Augustine Herman about his land
nearly a century before. Browning had pre-
pared tomb stones for his parents graves,
but when near his death he requested his
wife to have the people that attended his
| funeral place them for hearth. stones in a
new brick house which was not quite fin
| ished. But these Friends have long since
disappeared and have left no visible marks
of their soiourn in the southern part Of the
county (at least within its present limits,
and it is probable that they removed at an
early period to other and larger settlements
elsewhere.
Nottingham was the outgrowth of the
settlements on the Delaware around New
Castle, which, at the time of the settle.
ment Of the former place, was second only
to New York in commerce and population.
The pioneer settlers of Nottingham were
two brothers, James and William Brown,
who, on pack horses, boldly started out
| from New Castle into the wilderness to
make for themselves home. They were
said to have been influenced in their opinion
of the fertility of the soil by the great size
of the forest trees with which it was COW
cred. They stopped near large spring
which is yet to be seen on the north side of
the road leading from the Brick Meeting
House to the Rising sun and short dis
lance east of the road which forms the
boundary between the Sixth and Ninth
! Election districts. 1t is on the farm now
owned by William Cameron. Near this
spring was a favorite camping ground of
the Indians. Their trail from the great
| valley of Chester county to the head Of the
| bay. whittier they were accustomed to re-
sort for fish and also to trade at the post on
Palmer's island, led directly past it. Here
the brothers Brown unladened their weary
horses and went to work telling the forest
trees and clearing the land for the double
purpose of making room for dwelling houses
and also for agricultural purposes. The
small amount of provisions brought with
them was soon exhausted and they We're
obliged to return to New Castle for fresh
supply. Other Friends accompanied them
on their return TO Nottingham, which is
said to have been in the Autumn Of 1902,
and by the next Spring they had accommo
dations for several families. The first house
erected by William Brown is said to have
been built on the site now occupied by the
house of William Cameron. This is the
traditional story of the first settlement in
Nottingham that has been handed down
from generation to generation of their de-
| scendants, some of whom yet occnpy part
of the land upon which their forefathers
| settled.
| 1t is very probable that the brothers
| Brown preceded the other settlers short
| time, and that the others were acquainted
with them and admired the fertility of their
land and the beauty Of the location, and
the privilege of taking up the Nottingham
lots. This name was applied tC Noting
ham township after the revolutionary war
by the Legislature of Maryland, in an act
| for the relief of the owners of the land,
which, though granted by Penn, was found
to be in Maryland when the dispute be
tween him and Baltimore was adjusted in
| 1868 The township was divided into thirty
| parts, hence the name " Nottingham lots
| In compliance with the provisions of this
| act of Maryland, which was passed in | SO,
the then proprietors of Nottingham, in or
der TO show the validity of their title, pro
cured copies of the minute of their applica
ton to the Commissioners of Property of
| PENNSYLVANIA and also their warrant for
the survey of Nottingham, which they
caused to be recorded among the land rec
ords of Cecil county. The minutes of the
Commissioners, like all the writings of the
Friends, is so laconic and concise that we
feel sure the reader will pardon us for quot
ing it.
| " AT q session Oh tne NOWi!l!sSloutiS 1T
Philadelphia, 14th of the 18th mo-, 1901.
Present-Edward Shipper, Griffith Owen,
Thomas Story, James Logan, Sec. Cor
nelus Empson, for himself and several
others, to the number of twenty families,
chiefly of the county of Chester, propose
| to make a settlmt Oh Il tract of land about
halt way between Delaware and Susqne-
hannough, or near the latter, being about
twenty miles distant from New Castle, on
| Oherar0e river, in case they may have
grant of twenty thousand acres in said
place, at bushel of wheat per 100 acres,
or five pounds purchase, to be after at shill
ing sterling per annum, which being duly
considered and the advantages that might
arise thereby, by rendering the adjacent
lands more valuable and encouraging We
settlement of Susquehannough river. It's
proposed that they shall have Il or 90, Goo
acres at Spounds per 100 acres. or at bushels
of wheat rent per annum, the first year fol
their encouragement to be free of rent, or
one year credit to pay the purchase money.
He agrees to the price of purchase or to a