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115-665: In some sources, William and Elizabeth are referred to as Amos Wilson and Harriot Wilson . However, the historical record leaves no doubt that the Hermit and his sister were named William and Elizabeth. The origin of these "alternate" names has never been fully explained. Many key elements of the Wilsons' saga are documented in the records of the Chester County Courts and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. However,

230-580: A 2007 estimate). Males had a median income of $ 51,223 versus $ 34,854 for females. The per capita income for the county was $ 31,627. About 3.10% of families and 5.20% of the population were below the poverty line , including 5.10% of those under age 18 and 5.50% of those age 65 or over. The region was originally occupied by the Lenni Lenape people, who greeted European settlers in the seventeenth century with amity and kindness. British settlers were mostly English, Scotch-Irish and Welsh in ethnicity. From

345-544: A State Senator whose district includes northern Chester County, carried the county by a slim margin of 50 votes ) Emphasizing its Democratic shift even further, Joe Biden defeated Donald Trump by 17.1 points in Chester County in the 2020 election; Trump's percentage of votes was the lowest for any Republican since 1912. Such a major shift in the county was a major factor in Biden's success in flipping Pennsylvania back into

460-409: A constant 52 °F (11 °C) temperature. It was, however, subject to flooding. There is a natural ledge, reputed to have been William's bed, beside which stands a stalagmite that bears marks attributed to the rope ladder used to reach the ledge. There is a large recess near floor level which, according to legend, was used by Wilson and others as a 'natural fireplace'. However, it vents back into

575-818: A county-wide basis. Accordingly, the commissioners are responsible for the management of the fiscal and administrative functions of the county. Currently, the Democrats hold a majority on the board, with Commissioners Josh Maxwell and Marian Moskowitz holding two of the three seats. County law requires the minority party to be represented with one seat, which is held by Eric Roe of the Republican Party. As of December 30, 2023 : As of December 30, 2023 : As of January 3, 2023: As of January 3, 2023: As of January 3, 2023: As of January 3, 2023: School districts include: The Chester County Library System in southeastern Pennsylvania

690-426: A few instances in which an individual did not take the oath of office until the day following his election. Section 40 of the 1776 Constitution stipulates: "Every officer, whether judicial, executive or military, in authority under this commonwealth, shall take the following…oath of office before he enters on the execution of his office," meaning that an individual could not assume the duties of his office before taking

805-407: A local resident and might be expected to have been better informed regarding the basics of local geography. Hermit includes some of the earliest instances of the 'aliases' Amos and Harriot , and might be the source of those names. The book often appears more concerned with providing moral instruction than with presenting a factual account; The Life of Amos Wilson contains the passage, "You see by

920-647: A major part of the county's economy, and the number of horse farms is increasing in the county. Mushroom growing is a specialty in the southern portion of the county. Chester County is the only county to border both Delaware and Maryland . Elevations (in feet): High point—1020 Welsh Mt., Honeybrook Twp. Other high points—960 Thomas Hill, Warwick Twp; 960 Barren Hill, West Caln Twp. Low point—66 Schuylkill River, Chester-Montgomery county line. Cities and boroughs: Coatesville 314; Downingtown 255; Kennett Square 300; Oxford 535; Parkesburg 542; Phoenixville 127; Spring City 114; West Chester 459. Lanchester Landfill, located on

1035-415: A pamphlet, much like the original published in 1839, appears to have surfaced. The cover of the pamphlet is gray and contains inside three distinct parts. The first part is the story of Elizabeht (Harriet) Wilson and her ignominious death. Part the second is the manifesto of William Amos Wilson titled The Sweets of Solitude. The third part is a new addition to the original publication and is titled 'A Legend on

1150-462: A red cover. It is titled the same, but features a fourth appendix that only takes up one page. It seems that in 1945 or so, an amphitheater was to be built, with a capacity of 10,000, that would bring people far and wide to "hear the great acoustics of Echo Dell." In the mid-19th century, a Chester newspaper printed an account of William's tale that made no mention of his time in the cave and stated that he died in 1819. Another made repeated reference to

1265-461: A route approximated by US Route 322. In 1802, William came to the place that would be his home for the last nineteen years of his life. The cave (today known as Indian Echo Caverns ) where William set up residence is located at the foot of a high bluff, or "palisades," at the head of a horseshoe bend on the Swatara Creek , approximately 6.2 miles (10.0 km) upstream from where it meets

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1380-664: A series of east-west streets named in honor of Pennsylvania's presidents and early governors. Moving south on South 25th Street are Wharton, Reed and Dickinson Streets. (Bryan, never officially elected to the office, is omitted.) The next street south of Dickinson appears as Franklin Street on Barnes' New Map of the Consolidated City of Philadelphia, 1855 . A city ordinance of 1858 changed the name of Franklin Street to its current name, Tasker Street. Moore Street, out of sequence, follows after one intervening street (Morris). Moore

1495-515: A session or of any counsellor's term. Rather, new counsellors appear to have begun their terms whenever they were able to reach Philadelphia following their elections. The general election at that time was held on the second Tuesday in October and most counsellors took office in late October or in November. In most instances it is easy to fix the date on which a particular counsellor's term began, as

1610-419: A single source their authenticity must be viewed skeptically. The cave where William Wilson spent the last 19 years of his life has been known as Wilson Cave, Hummelstown Cave, Stoverdale Cave, Giant's Cave, and Indian Cave. When it was commercialized in the late 1920s it was renamed Indian Echo Cave. It has more recently been known as Indian Echo Caverns and remains open to the public. Today, William Wilson

1725-547: A small blue stool on which William, as a boy, had carved the initials "E & W." Predating Charles Foster Kane's Rosebud by a century, the stool served as a reminder of a more innocent time as Elizabeth awaited execution. Another version claims that after William arrived at Benjamin Franklin's home, Franklin immediately convened a special late-night session of the Executive Council and all necessary work related to

1840-430: A spectral horseman galloping across Chester and Delaware Counties and up to the old jail. This story became well known after William became a recluse—but long before he actually died. When trees were cleared to make a parking lot for Indian Echo Cave, it was said that the newly opened space revealed Elizabeth Wilson's wandering spirit. This ghost story is unusual in that, while living, Elizabeth never set foot anywhere near

1955-634: A wood about 3 km (1.9 mi) west of the town, then killed the children and swore Elizabeth to silence. The confession was signed by the witnesses. William presented it to the Supreme Executive Council on 6 Dec 1785. The president of the Council was Benjamin Franklin , and its vice president was Charles Biddle (1745–1821). Biddle's journal includes a brief discussion of the Wilson case and, in addition to court and Council records,

2070-445: Is The Sweets of Solitude, or Instructions to Mankind How They May Be Happy in a Miserable World , and is purported to have been written by Wilson himself. Having been published by an alleged friend the book is often assumed to be an authoritative account of Wilson's life. In actuality, the book contains numerous errors in chronology and geography and is often dramatically at odds with the historical record and with most other accounts of

2185-427: Is considered by the Commonwealth to have been a full-fledged governor of Pennsylvania, perhaps due to the length of his term as acting president.) Several figure prominently in the history of Pennsylvania, but none more so than Dr. Benjamin Franklin. His presidency was one of his last acts of public service, and he died less than two years after leaving office. Franklin was also the longest-serving president, having held

2300-569: Is followed by Mifflin Street, McKean Street, and Snyder Street (the latter being Pennsylvania's second and third governors under the 1790 Constitution). Wharton Street borders Wharton Square Park , although it is not clear if the park is named after Thomas Wharton or another member of his prominent family. Dickinson College and the Dickinson School of Law , both in Carlisle, Pennsylvania , were named after John Dickinson. Similarly,

2415-546: Is located in the Delaware Valley region, located in the southeastern part of the state. As of the 2020 census , the population was 545,823. increasing by 7.1% from 498,886 in 2010 . The county seat is West Chester . The most populous of the county's 73 municipalities, including cities, boroughs, and townships,) is Tredyffrin Township . The most populous boroughs are West Chester and Phoenixville . Coatesville

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2530-409: Is one of the more reputable sources regarding the matter. The Council ordered that the execution be postponed until 3 January 1786, in order to allow them more time in which to consider the case. In the meantime, William went in search of his sister's erstwhile lover, but when he found him on a New Jersey farm he denied ever having known Elizabeth. William then began to seek out witnesses who could link

2645-442: Is particularly large and accessible. The natural entrance is approximately 26 feet wide and was well known to local residents from the earliest times. The "room" that became William's primary living quarters was over 98 feet (30 m) inside the cave and around a "corner." Although natural daylight often reaches that area, particularly late in the day, it is not directly visible from outside. The cave provided shelter and maintained

2760-665: Is perhaps better known in Dauphin County than in Chester, as his story is still heard frequently at Indian Echo Caverns, where it provides a dramatic conclusion to the guided tours presented daily. For many years the Caverns exhibited a table and chair that had supposedly belonged to Wilson; these were removed some time ago and were almost certainly not authentic. The Wilsons' story inevitably inspired several ghost stories . For many years local residents claimed to see and hear

2875-490: Is the only municipality in the county that is classified as a city. Chester County was one of the three original Pennsylvania counties created by William Penn in 1682. It was named for Chester , England. It is part of the Philadelphia - Camden - Wilmington , PA- NJ - DE - MD metropolitan statistical area . Along with southwest Delaware County , eastern Chester County is home to many communities that comprise part of

2990-712: The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania was framed by a constitutional convention called at the urging of the Continental Congress . The convention began work in Philadelphia on July 15, 1776, less than two weeks following adoption of the Declaration of Independence . The Constitution was adopted September 28 of the same year. The document included both A Declaration of the Rights of the Inhabitants of

3105-627: The Episcopal St. Mary's , St. Paul's , and St. Peter's churches, and Washington Memorial Chapel . The First Presbyterian Church of West Chester , Coventryville United Methodist Church , which is part of the Coventryville Historic District , and Beth Israel Congregation of Chester County , a Conservative synagogue in Coatesville, a site of Eastern European immigration in the 20th century, are located in

3220-702: The Lincoln Highway and later U.S. Route 30 . This road is still named Lancaster Avenue in most of the Chester County towns it runs through. The first railroad , which became the Pennsylvania Railroad , followed much the same route, and the Reading Railroad progressed up the Schuylkill River to Reading . Industry tended to concentrate along the rail lines. Easy transportation allowed workers to commute to urban jobs, and

3335-551: The Philadelphia Main Line western suburbs of Philadelphia. As of 2020, the county had the highest median household income level in Pennsylvania, and the 35th-highest in the nation . Philadelphia , Bucks , and Chester were the three counties created by William Penn on August 24, 1682, in the colonial-era Province of Pennsylvania . At the time, Chester County's borders were Philadelphia County to

3450-399: The Schuylkill River . Many of the soils are fertile, rich loam as much as twenty-four inches thick; together with the temperate climate, this was long a major agricultural area. Because of its proximity to Philadelphia, Chester County has seen large waves of development over the past half-century due to suburbanization. Although development in Chester County has increased, agriculture is still

3565-528: The Susquehanna River at Middletown . It is on the western boundary of Derry Township , less than .62 miles (1.00 km) southwest of Hummelstown and approximately 8.7 miles (14.0 km) east of the site of the present-day State Capitol in Harrisburg . It is approximately 3.7 miles (6.0 km) from the modern town of Hershey . There are many caves in that area, but the Hermit's cave

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3680-515: The U.S. Census Bureau , the county has a total area of 759 square miles (1,970 km ), of which 751 square miles (1,950 km ) is land and 8.7 square miles (23 km ) (1.1%) is water. The topography consists of rolling hills and valleys and it is part of the region known as the Piedmont . Watersheds that serve Chester County include the Octoraro , Brandywine , and Chester creeks, and

3795-478: The Vice -Presidency—at least officially—even after leaving his seat on the Council. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania reports that Biddle's vice-presidential term extended to October 31, 1787, at which time Peter Muhlenberg succeeded him in that office. However, Biddle's term as counsellor from Berks County ended eighteen days earlier, on October 13, when he was succeeded in that office by James Read. Furthermore, Biddle

3910-462: The Welsh Tract was in eastern Chester County, and Welsh place names, given by early settlers, continue to predominate there. The fourth county in the state, Lancaster County , was formed from Chester County on May 10, 1729. On March 11, 1752, Berks County was formed from the northern section of Chester County and parts of Lancaster and Philadelphia counties. The original Chester County seat

4025-446: The 104 drug overdoses recorded by the coroner, an estimated 77 percent involved the presence of fentanyl. One of the reasons for the decline in overdose deaths was "the saturation across the county of Narcan , the anti-opioid nasal spray that can revive someone suffering an overdose." In 2019, any resident of Chester County could obtain a free Narcan dose at community training events across the county. Supreme Executive Council of

4140-412: The 1776 Constitution. The official minutes of the Council contain no indication that the president in any of these situations (Moore, Dickinson and Franklin, respectively) had formally left, relinquished or been removed from office; nonetheless during these periods the president was absent from council meetings, which were thus overseen by the vice-president. This suggests that any "interim administration"

4255-417: The 2010 census, the county was 82.1% White Non-Hispanic, 6.1% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American or Alaskan Native, 3.9% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian, 1.8% were two or more races, and 2.4% were some other race. 6.5% of the population were Hispanic or Latino. As of the census of 2000, there were 433,501 people, 157,905 households, and 113,375 families residing in the county. The population density

4370-664: The British occupation of Philadelphia in the fall of 1777—the last meeting in Philadelphia took place on September 23 and the first in Lancaster on October 1. The Council returned to Philadelphia June 26, 1778. The Council was replaced by a single governor on December 21, 1790. Seven men served as president of the Supreme Executive Council. (One, George Bryan, was never elected to the position, but today

4485-450: The Commonwealth and a Plan or Frame of Government . The latter includes 47 sections, several of which deal with the formation and function of the Supreme Executive Council. Section 3: "The supreme executive power shall be vested in a president and council ." Section 19: "For the present the supreme executive council of this state shall consist of twelve persons chosen in the following manner..." The city of Philadelphia and

4600-530: The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania The Supreme Executive Council of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania was the collective directorial executive branch of the Pennsylvanian state government between 1777 and 1790. It was headed by a president and a vice president (analogous to a governor and lieutenant governor, respectively). The best-known member of the Council was Benjamin Franklin , who also served as its sixth president. The 1776 Constitution of

4715-558: The Council and the General Assembly (the state legislature), usually held in November. Section 20: The Council and its president were given power to Additionally: The 1776 Constitution stipulated that the Council meet at the same time and location as the General Assembly. In practice, the Council sat year-round: there was no formal cycle of sessions (e.g. 110th United States Congress ) and no specific date for

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4830-525: The Council set to be dissolved in December 1790, a provision of the new state constitution allowed counsellors and council officers whose terms would have expired that autumn to remain in office until December 21, rather than hold elections for new counsellors who would sit for only one or two months. Also, a review of the dates on which a particular county's counsellors began their terms will reveal several instances in which more than three years elapsed between

4945-630: The Delaware Valley; it is one of the fastest growing in the entire Northeastern section of the United States. In keeping with its colonial history, Chester County is home to a number of historic Quaker buildings, including Birmingham , Birmingham Orthodox , Bradford , Caln , Old Kennett , Parkersville , Westtown , and Uwchlan meeting houses . Other historic religious buildings include St. Malachi Church , southeastern Pennsylvania's oldest active Catholic mission church, and

5060-544: The Democratic column. On November 8, 2017, Democrats made historic inroads in Chester County by winning their first county row office seats in history, picking up four row office seats. On November 5, 2019, Democrats swept the county row office seat elections and took a majority on the Board of Commissioners, both firsts in the county's history. In both the 2021 and 2023 elections, Democrats followed up with another sweep of

5175-532: The Extraordinary Life of Amos Wilson was published. It is a twenty-four page pamphlet in two parts. The first, titled The Life of Amos Wilson, &c. , is a brief telling of the Wilsons' story. The writer describes himself as William's friend and claims to have visited him the night before he died; he is generally assumed to have been the farmer who lived across the Creek. The second part of the pamphlet

5290-675: The Indian Queen Tavern. In early 1784, Elizabeth was seduced by a tavern guest who soon after disappeared, leaving her pregnant. As her pregnancy became increasingly obvious her presence became too great an embarrassment, and she was made to leave the Indian Queen. She returned to her parents' home where she gave birth to twin sons. In October, 1784, Elizabeth disappeared while traveling to meet her erstwhile lover in Newtown Square . She reappeared several days later but

5405-471: The Minutes of the Council will note that on a particular date a particular gentleman was administered the oath and admitted to his seat. Many counsellors had sporadic attendance, and several were absent for a year or more at a time. This was particularly true of representatives from the distant western counties, although the phenomenon was certainly not limited to those gentlemen. Some counsellors simply sat out

5520-410: The Philadelphia area and was told and retold in local papers throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. Only two days after Elizabeth's execution, a printer in Philadelphia published the first version of The Faithful Narrative of Elizabeth Wilson. By the end of the year, at least three (and as many as six) other editions were published. Additional versions were published as late as 1807. Although Elizabeth

5635-781: The Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney , by a very small margin of 0.2%, or about 500 votes. In 2016, despite Pennsylvania voting for a Republican presidential candidate for the first time since 1988, Chester County voted more Democratic than in 2012, with Hillary Clinton leading Donald Trump by over 25,000 votes or 9.4 percentage points; a 9.2 percentage point swing from 2012. The only two statewide winners in 2016 to carry Chester County were U.S. Senator Pat Toomey (R) and Pennsylvania State Treasurer Joe Torsella (D). Republican candidates John Brown and John Rafferty carried Chester County, though both lost their races for Auditor General and Attorney General, respectively (Rafferty,

5750-577: The Revolutionary War-era pontoon bridges spanning the Schuylkill had been destroyed by an earlier flood in 1784 and the ferry was the only means of crossing the river in that area. William pleaded with the ferryman for several hours but could not persuade him. Finally, in desperation, he drove his horse into the icy water. The animal struggled against the current but was struck in the head by a chunk of ice or driftwood just fifty feet from

5865-538: The Swatara.' The Swatara is of course the creek that runs in front of the cave and emanates north of the cavern, or dell. The indication in the text is that the third part was transcribed from an oration given by a LeRoy O. Holler in 1903 in Hummelstown, PA. In 1945, the final publication seems to have emerged. This is a similar publication to the 1929 edition, which features a gray cover, but this edition features

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5980-682: The Wilsons' ages. Some indicate that William was born ca. 1764, and his sister two years later, while others suggest that Elizabeth was born ca. 1758 and that William was her younger brother by an unspecified period of time. There is no record of other siblings, and some accounts specify that William was his parents' only son and Elizabeth their only daughter. William was said to have been born in Lebanon , in present-day Lebanon County , although in every other instance he and his family are linked to Chester County. (Prior to 1789, Chester County included all of present-day Delaware County , and Chester City

6095-427: The Wilsons' story. For instance, it reports that William was born in 1774 and his sister in 1776, meaning that Elizabeth would have been approximately nine years old when she was hanged, and William eleven. It tells that she gave birth to a single child whom she killed immediately after birth; in this version, her jailhouse confession was simply an acknowledgment of her guilt and sinful nature. It also reports that William

6210-427: The age of 18 living with them, 60.50% were married couples living together, 8.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.20% were non-families. 22.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.15. In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.20% under

6325-440: The age of 18, 7.90% from 18 to 24, 30.40% from 25 to 44, 23.80% from 45 to 64, and 11.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 96.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.10 males. The median income for a household in the county was $ 65,295, and the median income for a family was $ 76,916 (these figures had risen to $ 80,818 and $ 97,894 respectively as of

6440-616: The appointed representative of the monarch or the Proprietor , rather than to an elected official.) The executive branch of the state government has been headed by a governor since that time. The 1790 Constitution made no provision for a lieutenant governor. Upon the death or resignation of the governor the office would be assumed by the Speaker of the State Senate . (This position no longer exists.) The office of lieutenant governor

6555-473: The area she was alleged to haunt. More poignant are tales from East Bradford Township of a female spirit walking through the woods where (according to some accounts) the bodies of Elizabeth's children were discovered, looking for something lost beneath the leaves. While early storytelling focused on Elizabeth's saga and the moral implications of her actions, the current focus seems to be on the sensational aspects of William's ride and Elizabeth's execution and on

6670-833: The border of Chester and Lancaster Counties, captures methane which is sold for renewable natural gas credits, and piped to seven local businesses. This reduces the county's methane emissions , and provides an alternative to fracking for shale gas . In addition, several companies have their headquarters or a major presence in the county including Bentley Systems , EBS Healthcare, Main Line Health , Lavazza North America (formerly Mars Drinks), Depuy Synthes (part of Johnson & Johnson ), Metabo , QVC , Hankin Group, Axalta Coating Systems , CTDI, Pactiv , Ricoh Americas, Blinding Edge Pictures , J.G. Wentworth , The Vanguard Group , and Victory Brewing Company among others. As of

6785-664: The cave from across the creek than to scale the cliff.) William made grindstones, which he traded with the farmer in exchange for supplies. On 13 October 1821, the Harrisburg Intelligencer ran the following notice: As was the case with his sister, the details and location of William's burial remain unknown, although it is often assumed that he was buried somewhere on his friend's farm in Lower Swatara Township. The tragic, lurid tale of William and Elizabeth Wilson quickly became familiar throughout

6900-500: The children were nowhere to be seen. Their bodies were soon found hidden in the woods nearby and Elizabeth was quickly arrested. She was charged with "the murder of her Two Bastard Male Children." In October, 1785, she was found guilty of murder in the first degree and was sentenced to hang. The date for the execution was set for 7 December 1785. Throughout the trial and the preceding events, William Wilson remained at work in Lancaster, unaware of his sister's predicament. But when Elizabeth

7015-486: The children were still young the elder Elizabeth died. Their father later remarried, but his second wife did not care for her stepchildren, and she encouraged their father to send them away as soon as they were of age. At sixteen, William was apprenticed to a stone carver named Fahnestock 50 mi (80 km) away in Lancaster County . Elizabeth went to Philadelphia and became either an employee or patron of

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7130-452: The completion of his term as President . For example, Redick's supposed acting presidency spanned the final three weeks of Dr. Franklin's presidential term. Franklin's three-year term as counsellor from the City of Philadelphia was to expire on or around October 17, 1788—two weeks before the conclusion of his final one-year presidential term on October 31. The 1776 Constitution is not specific on

7245-433: The county row offices, along with retaining their majority on the Board of Commissioners. Chester County is administered by a three-person Board of Commissioners who serve four-year terms. Elections take place in the odd-numbered years that precede U.S. presidential elections, with the next election scheduled for 2027. The commissioners have selective policy-making authority to provide certain local services and facilities on

7360-589: The county. Chart of Voter Registration As of November 18, 2024, there were 396,404 registered voters in Chester County. Chester County has historically been reliably Republican at the county level. After voting Democratic in 1856 for Pennsylvania native James Buchanan , it only did so three more times in the next 160 years—in 1912, 1964, and 2008. In recent elections, however, the county has been trending Democratic, although not as overwhelmingly as its fellow Main Line counties of Montgomery and Delaware . It remains

7475-549: The eastern portion of the county separated and formed the new Delaware County in 1789 with the City of Chester as its county seat. Much of the history of Chester County arises from its location between Philadelphia and the Susquehanna River . The first "road to the West," a reference to Lancaster County, passed through the central part of Chester County, following the Great Valley westward; with some realignments, it became

7590-593: The eleven counties existing at that time each elected a representative to sit on the Council. These eleven counties were Philadelphia (at that time a governmental entity distinct from the City of Philadelphia), Chester , Bucks , Lancaster , York , Cumberland , Berks , Northampton , Bedford , Northumberland , and Westmoreland . Seats were added for Washington , Fayette , Franklin , Montgomery , Dauphin , Luzerne , Huntingdon , and Allegheny as those counties were established. Many of these counties occupied considerably different and often much larger territories in

7705-697: The following table is based on the 2020 census of Chester County. † county seat Chester County has four distinct seasons and has a hot-summer humid continental climate ( Dfa ) except for some far southern lowlands and areas along the Schuylkill River which have a humid subtropical climate ( Cfa ). The hardiness zone 7a except for 7b near the Brandywine Creek in Birmingham Township. [1] In both 2018 and 2019, deaths from drug overdoses in Chester County declined. Of

7820-438: The foregoing pages the gradation of evils dependent on a departure from...dignified modesty," and admonishes readers to "(t)urn your attention to those houses of debauchery where Vice reigns triumphant, and on whom poor mourning Virtue sheds a tear of pity." As such, its author may have changed the names of his lead characters in light of their questionable relationship with the historical figures of William and Elizabeth. In 1929,

7935-423: The formal election of a successor. Franklin, for instance, was succeeded as counsellor for the City of Philadelphia by Samuel Miles on October 20, but his presidency officially did not end until November 5. If Franklin did indeed continue to exercise the office during those final weeks not only would he have been presiding beyond the end of his term as counsellor but also beyond the three-year term limit established by

8050-415: The last several months of their terms, their names disappearing from the Minutes by late summer or early autumn. Thus, the following list of counsellors generally notes only the day on which each began his term; unless indicated otherwise it is assumed that each term extended to the beginning of the next, regardless of the incumbent's actual attendance. Counsellors were accorded the title of Esquire . With

8165-537: The late 18th century than they presently. Counsellors were elected to three-year terms; the terms were staggered so that one third would be contested each year. ( Counsellors is the spelling used in the Constitution itself, although the word is also rendered councillors , counsellors , and councilors in other documents.) The president and vice-president of the Council were chosen from those twelve counsellors, elected to one-year terms by an annual joint ballot of

8280-483: The late 19th to early 20th century, the industrial areas of the region, such as Coatesville, attracted immigrants and job seekers from Germany and Ireland, Eastern Europe, Italy, and the American rural South, with both black and white migrants coming north. Later Hispanic immigrants have included Puerto Ricans and, most recently, Mexicans. Long a primarily rural area, Chester County is now the fastest-growing county in

8395-455: The line between Chester and the easternmost point of Lancaster County, just east of New Holland . He was said to have disappeared into the "Conewaga Mountains," perhaps referring to Conewago Hill on the west side of Mount Gretna . And he was known to have made grindstones and traded them for supplies in "Campbellstown" (most likely Campbelltown ). All of this is consistent with a westward journey from Chester County to Hummelstown, perhaps along

8510-478: The listing of former governors). None of these men (including Bryan) was given the title of acting president during his time in office—each continued to be addressed as Vice-President and was titled Acting President only after the fact. (And, regarding all but Bryan, the honor is strictly unofficial.) During George Bryan's "term" as acting president, the office of president was, in fact, vacant—Thomas Wharton died May 23, 1778, and an election to choose his successor

8625-420: The man with the city of Philadelphia and with his sister. He was successful in compiling a list of several people, but he became ill around Christmas and spent some time recuperating at a friend's home in Philadelphia. Upon his next visit to the Chester jail, he was horrified to learn that Elizabeth's execution was scheduled for the following day. During his illness he had lost track of time and believed that it

8740-451: The matter, but as the president and vice-president were chosen from among the members of the Council, it appears that most presidents chose to leave that office, or were replaced, prior to the expiration of their term as counsellor, rather than have an executive preside over a body of which he was no longer a member. Thus, these "acting presidencies" may have spanned the period between the de facto end of one presidency (due to term limits) and

8855-477: The members of the Executive Council were sympathetic towards Elizabeth and intended to grant a full respite. With Biddle's pardon in hand, William began the 24 km (15 mi) ride to Chester. He rode down Market Street and approached the Middle Ferry across the Schuylkill River . Heavy rain had made the river dangerously high and choked it with ice and debris; the ferry was not in operation. The last of

8970-406: The most conservative of these three. In 2000, George W. Bush defeated Al Gore in the county by almost 10%, but in 2004, John Kerry cut Bush's margin of victory by over half, to just 4.5%. In 2008, Chester County voted for Barack Obama by 9%. In 2009, with a smaller turnout, Republican candidates swept all county-row offices, winning with an average margin of 20%. In 2012, the county voted for

9085-447: The necessary oath. Cross referencing the election dates above with the preceding listings of terms in office will thus reveal several slight discrepancies, all resulting from a delayed administration of the oath: No reasons for the delays are noted in the minutes of the Council. Neither set of dates involved a conflict with the sabbath . There were other instances that involved re elections of men who had already been sworn into office at

9200-651: The north, the ill-defined western edge of the colony, located approximately at the Susquehanna River to the west, the Delaware River to the east, and Delaware and Maryland to the south. Chester County replaced the Pennsylvania portion of New Netherland 's upland in New York , which was officially eliminated when Pennsylvania was chartered on March 4, 1681, and ceased existing in June of that year. Much of

9315-437: The office for slightly over three years. There is some question about the de facto end of his term, suggesting that the aging Franklin was not actively involved in affairs of state toward the end of his presidency. (This is certainly not a consensus view, as other sources report that all actions of the Council during his term had Franklin's approval, even if that meant convening the Council at Franklin's home.) The shortest term

9430-458: The office of Vice-President of Pennsylvania is analogous to the modern office of Lieutenant Governor . Of the ten men who held the office, two succeeded to the presidency (the first—Bryan— de facto , the second—Moore— de jure ). The longest vice-presidential term was that of George Bryan; he served over two and a half years, although he also served as de facto acting president for six months concurrent with his vice-presidential term. The shortest term

9545-549: The opposite shore. William swam the rest of the way, and by the time he reached dry land he was approximately 3.5 km (2.2 mi) downstream from where he'd entered the water, beyond the area of Gray's Ferry. William found another horse and continued the ride to Chester, along what is today the Chester Pike (US Route 13). Meanwhile, officials in Chester began preparations for Elizabeth's execution . The sheriff of Chester (given as either Ezekiel Leonard or William Gibbons)

9660-432: The pardon was completed within minutes; this is dramatically at odds with the details provided by the vice president of that Council. Several sources also include dramatic, extended quotes attributed to both William and Elizabeth. Again, these passages sometimes seem to have more to do with reinforcing a rigid, traditional morality than with relating the factual story of William and Elizabeth Wilson, and as many exist only in

9775-555: The popular election (held the second Tuesday in October) in which counsellors and Assemblymen were elected by eligible citizens. Routine elections involved a joint ballot of the Council and the General Assembly. Several other elections were held to fill vacancies resulting from resignation; these involved only a vote by the Council rather than a joint ballot with the Assembly. More often than not, records do not list contenders (other than

9890-444: The popular image of a Johnny Appleseed or Davy Crockett . The following is a synthesis of numerous sources from both genres and is best regarded as historical fiction. Little background information has survived regarding the Wilson family. Some early accounts report that William and Elizabeth's father was a farmer named John Wilson. John's first wife, and the children's mother, was also named Elizabeth. Sources are divided regarding

10005-611: The rise of the suburbs followed. To this day, the county's developed areas extend along major lines of transportation. During the American Revolutionary War , the Battle of Brandywine was fought in the southeastern part of the county. The Battle of the Clouds and the Battle of Paoli both took place in the northeastern part of the county, along with George Washington 's encampment at Valley Forge . According to

10120-495: The room rather than to the outside and any large fire would have quickly filled the room with smoke, making it unlikely that it would have seen much repeat usage. William's possessions were few: a straw mattress, a table and stool, some cooking implements, a Bible and other religious books. He wrote frequently, generally on religious topics, and numerous manuscript pages were scattered among his possessions. He kept his clothes and his body clean but would not shave, and in later years

10235-420: The rope and tried frantically to revive Elizabeth, but it was too late to save her. Varying accounts state that William arrived anywhere from mere moments to twenty-three minutes too late to deliver Biddle's pardon and save his sister's life. According to legend, when William rose from the mud beneath the gallows tree his hair had turned prematurely white and his face was marked by the lines of old age. His speech

10350-895: The start of successive terms. It is uncertain whether the seat technically became vacant after exactly three years or if the incumbent's term extended to the start of his successor's, even if this meant exceeding the three-year term limit imposed by the 1776 Constitution. City of Philadelphia Philadelphia County Chester County Bucks County Lancaster County York County Cumberland County Berks County Northampton County Bedford County Northumberland County Westmoreland County Washington County (erected 1781) Fayette County (erected 1783) Franklin County (erected 1784) Montgomery County (erected 1784) Dauphin County (erected 1785) Luzerne County (erected 1786) Huntingdon County (erected 1787) Allegheny County (erected 1788) A constitutional convention

10465-597: The start of term of councilors or council officers. The Supreme Executive Council formally convened March 4, 1777. The first president and vice-president were elected the following day. The Council sat in the Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia, now known as Independence Hall . It met in what had been the Governor's Council Chamber during British rule. The Executive Council, along with the General Assembly, moved to Lancaster, Pennsylvania , ahead of

10580-399: The start of their previous term and which thus caused no delay. These are not noted here. Counsellors were elected to represent each county in Pennsylvania as well as the city of Philadelphia. They were elected to three-year terms. Many served less than a full three, while others appear to have served slightly more. The Council sat year-round and there was no specific date set for the start of

10695-481: The story quickly became a part of local folklore and was embellished by generations of storytellers. It is often possible to note which elements of the tale are a part of the historical record and which might be considered suspect. However, the story of the Pennsylvania Hermit might best be considered historical fiction , as the familiar tale incorporates elements of both history and fiction, not unlike

10810-404: The strange circumstances of William's life in the cave. As such, the story is sometimes resurrected by local media in connection with Halloween observances or as part of "strange but true" features. Chester County, Pennsylvania Chester County ( Pennsylvania Dutch : Tscheschter Kaundi ), colloquially referred to as Chesco , is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania . It

10925-597: The townships, and usually only have the same names as the municipalities for the cities and boroughs. The names used by the post office are generally used by residents to describe where they live. The following cities, boroughs and townships are located in Chester County: Census-designated places are unincorporated communities designated by the U.S. Census Bureau for the purposes of compiling demographic data. They are not actual jurisdictions under Pennsylvania law. The population ranking of

11040-521: The winners) or vote tallies, saying simply that a particular gentleman was duly elected president and another vice-president. Presidents and vice-presidents were elected to one-year terms. They could be reelected, but their term as president or vice-president could not (in theory) extend beyond the end of their three-year term as counsellor. Throughout the history of the Council it was standard practice for newly elected presidents and vice-presidents to take office immediately upon election. However, there were

11155-465: Was 1 January, rather than 2 January. William rode to Franklin's home to request another postponement of Elizabeth's sentence but had to wait several hours to see him. Franklin felt that it was improper for him to act and referred William to Vice President Biddle. William found Biddle at the State House. Biddle wrote the order, "Do not execute Wilson until you hear further from Council," knowing that

11270-665: Was 573 inhabitants per square mile (221/km ). There were 163,773 housing units at an average density of 217 units per square mile (84/km ). The racial makeup of the county was 89.21% White , 6.24% Black or African American , 0.15% Native American , 1.95% Asian , 0.03% Pacific Islander , 1.35% from other races , and 1.06% from two or more races. 3.72% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 18.0% were of Irish , 17.3% German , 13.1% Italian , 10.1% English and 5.6% American ancestry . 91.4% spoke English and 3.7% Spanish as their first language. There were 157,905 households, out of which 35.10% had children under

11385-487: Was born in the city of Lebanon, in Dauphin County. Lebanon City was indeed a part of Dauphin County from 1785 through 1813; however, when William was born it was still a part of Lancaster County, and by the time of his death and Hermit' s publication that territory had long been a part of Lebanon County. While this might seem to be a trivial matter, it must be remembered that the book's author claimed to have been

11500-469: Was called in 1789 and a new state constitution was adopted the following year. The 1790 Constitution did away with the Supreme Executive Council and vested supreme executive power in the office of governor. On December 21, 1790 Thomas Mifflin, the last President of Pennsylvania, took office as the state's first governor. (The title of governor had been used during the Colonial era, although it referred to

11615-757: Was certainly the focus of most early accounts, some of which make only passing references to her brother, William was also the subject of several sensationalist publications. In hermit lore, The Pennsylvania Hermit is believed to have been published very shortly after William died in 1821; however, the earliest known printing was in 1839, eighteen years later. As with The Faithful Narrative, several editions were published in various northeastern cities. William had refused to allow anyone to read his manuscripts, let alone publish them, as he did not want society to benefit from his work. However, he supposedly requested that one item be published after his death. At some time after William's death, The Pennsylvania Hermit: A Narrative of

11730-614: Was condemned to death William mysteriously announced that he was needed in Chester and would have to leave his job. He arrived at the jail on 3 December 1785. After recovering from the shock of seeing her brother so unexpectedly, Elizabeth was finally willing to relate the details surrounding her children's murder. William hastily assembled a group of respected officials, including Judge Atlee, to witness Elizabeth's confession. Elizabeth explained that her seducer had agreed to meet her in Newtown Square. However, he unexpectedly met her in

11845-414: Was elected secretary of the Council on October 23, a clerical position that likely would not have been assumed by one who was also an officer of the Council and a high state official. The first election of a president and vice-president of Pennsylvania took place March 5, 1777, the day after the Council first convened. Thereafter, leadership elections took place in the fall, generally in November, following

11960-519: Was established quietly and " off the record ". A similar situation occurred at the end of Joseph Reed's presidency. Reed was succeeded as counsellor from Philadelphia County by John Bayard on October 16, 1781 but ostensibly remained president until William Moore took office on November 15. Yet no claims of an "acting presidency" have been made for Moore, who held the Vice -Presidency during this interim period, immediately prior to his election as president. Similarly, Charles Biddle appears to have retained

12075-429: Was given and the cart was pulled from beneath Elizabeth Wilson's feet. She did not die outright but showed little sign of struggle. Several long moments passed before the crowd noticed white flags waving along the road from Philadelphia. William rode to Hangman's Lot calling, "A pardon! A pardon!" His horse reared at the sight of Elizabeth's body, throwing him to the muddy ground beneath his sister. The sheriff quickly cut

12190-448: Was not held until December 1—due perhaps to the Council's evacuation to Lancaster during that time. At over seven months, Bryan's tenure was such that today he is considered a full-fledged governor by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The situations of the three other "acting presidents" is less clear, although there are some similarities. In each instance the president was replaced—or due to be replaced—as his county's Counsellor before

12305-438: Was noted for a long, flowing, white beard. Despite his desire to separate himself from society, William's hermitage was not particularly isolated. It sat half a mile from a long-established town and was well known to the locals long before his arrival. While there is no evidence that local residents were ever abusive to William, it became a challenge to visit the cave and to catch a glimpse of its famous occupant. However, William

12420-500: Was one of the many who had come to believe that Elizabeth was innocent and who, following her confession, suspected that she might be pardoned. He stationed flagmen at intervals along the Queens Highway (4th Street), leading from Philadelphia, who could signal if William were coming with a pardon. Those assembled watched expectantly for a signal but none was seen. Noon arrived, and by law the sheriff could wait no longer. The order

12535-489: Was organized in 1965. It is a federated system composed of a District Center Library in Exton and sixteen member libraries. The system provides materials and information for life, work and pleasure. Under Pennsylvania law, there are four types of incorporated municipalities: cities , boroughs , townships , and, in at most two cases, towns . The post office uses community names and boundaries that usually do not correspond to

12650-433: Was reduced to gibberish. After several months in a state of delirium, William returned to work as a stone carver. However, he had lost all interest in society and eventually abandoned it. He began to roam westward across southeastern Pennsylvania, interacting with others only when he needed to negotiate for provisions. He was known as the Hermit of Welsh Mountain, suggesting that he spent some time on or around that ridge on

12765-493: Was so familiar with the cave's topography that he was generally able to avoid curiosity seekers by retreating to hidden areas known only to him. His only personal acquaintance was a farmer who lived across the Swatara Creek in present-day Lower Swatara Township . (The land on the western side of the Creek slopes gently to the water, and before stairs were built for tourists in the 1920s it would have been easier to approach

12880-419: Was that of George Bryan, who served as acting president for just over six months. Although these men may be referred to properly as Presidents of Pennsylvania their office is analogous to the modern office of governor , and they are often included in lists of those who have held the latter title. Presidents and vice-presidents were styled His Excellency . The neighborhood of South Philadelphia contains

12995-403: Was that of Matthew Smith, who served for twelve days in October 1779. At least one source credits four vice-presidents with having served as acting presidents : With the exception of Bryan, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania makes no such distinction, and its listing of the state's early governors includes neither Potter, Biddle, nor Redick. (presidents of Pennsylvania are sometimes included in

13110-413: Was the City of Chester , a center of naval shipbuilding, at the eastern edge of the county. In an effort to accommodate the increased population of the western part of the county, the county seat was moved to a more central location in 1788; in order to mollify the eastern portion of the county, the village, known as Turk's Head, was renamed West Chester . In response to the new location of the county seat,

13225-610: Was the county seat. Chester City then served as the seat of Delaware County until the seat was moved to Media in 1851.) The Wilson family lived in Chester County, most likely in East Bradford or West Bradford Township . Theirs was a farm family of modest means but solid reputation. During the American Revolution they sided with the British , and much of their property was confiscated by American forces. When

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