WEST CHESTER, PA — A remarkable discovery at the Chester County History Center has extended the historical record of land ownership in Chester and Lancaster Counties. A long-lost document, prepared by Chester County Deputy Surveyor Isaac Taylor in the early 1700s, has surfaced, revealing new insights into the early settlers of the region.
The document, a small booklet presented to the Justices Grand Jury in support of a 1718 property tax law, describes surveys conducted in 1710 in what was then Conestogoe Township of Chester County, now part of Lancaster County. This revelation not only adds nearly a decade to the historical record but also introduces new names of pioneers who settled along the Pequea Creek.
The document was found in a box that had likely been unopened for half a century and has since been transferred to the Chester County Archives. This discovery is detailed in Christopher Scott’s new book, Chain of Title: An Adventure to Uncover the 350-Year Legacy of the Old Grist Mill. The book chronicles the author’s journey in tracing the ownership of a grist mill property from the time of William Penn to the present day. Scott emphasizes the importance of primary sources in historical research, revealing how archives can challenge and correct long-held beliefs derived from secondary sources.
Scott’s book not only recounts the discovery of the Taylor booklet but also weaves a narrative of the mill’s history, highlighting the experiences of early settlers who endured hardships to forge new lives in America. “The great American rags-to-riches story is captured as illiterate refugees succeeded because of their hard work and fortitude,” Scott writes, illustrating the enduring legacy of these pioneers.
This discovery at the Chester County History Center invites us to reconsider our understanding of local history and inspires curiosity about other historical treasures waiting to be unearthed.
For history buffs and scholars alike, the unearthed document and Scott’s compelling narrative offer a fascinating glimpse into the early days of land ownership and settlement in the region.
Christopher Scott resides in Chester County’s old Conestogoe Township and his book, Chain of Title: An Adventure to Uncover the 350-Year Legacy of the Old Grist Mill, is available on Amazon.
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