HISTORY OF DELAWARE. 1609 - 1888. BY J. Thomas Scharf, A.M., LL.D., Author of "History of Maryland," "History of the City of Philadelphia, Pa.," etc., etc. ASSISTED BY A STAFF OF ABLE ASSISTANTS. IN TWO VOLUMES, ILLUSTRATED. PHILADELPHIA: L.J. RICHARDS & CO. 1888 December 9, 1684, the court awarded the contract to Baptist Newcomb, "to build ye court-house and prison as is expressed elsewhere for 10,000 pounds of tobacco;" but he was in no hurry to begin the work, and on August 10, 1685, the wearied court lost patience and it was: "Ordered this day by the Court that Baptyst Newcom be forwith sent for that he build the prison and court house according to his former undertaking the last winter that he build it forthwith. John Street declaring he is willing to help and aid ye sd Babytyst to build the Said houses and upon the refusal or neglect of his doing the said worke that the Sheriffe should have an execution to serve the penalty of the obligation of Babytyst for non performance. Not even this extreme threat spurred Newcomb up to the discharge of his duty, and on May 3d, 1687, the grand jury tried its hand at coercion by the radical process of presenting the court "for not causing a court-house and prison to be made." Then the justices took up another plan of action, in which Newcomb again makes his appearance, and which is explained in the minutes of October 8, 1687.(16*) "It is agreed by this court that whoever subscribes any logs, to be gotten for the use of the prison and court-house, shall bring said logs to the place in the towne where it is to be built in forty days after the date hereof, or else forfeit duble the vallue of the said logs. There is to be as followeth: "54 logs at 4-8p (16*), 15 foote long, 1 foote over 8 inch thick. "16 ditto at 6-8, 23 foote long and over 8 inch thick, squared two sides. "Every person that undertakes to get any is to take 3 short and one long. "I doe undertake to get 20 logs: Wm. Clarke. "and I do undertake 44 logs: Tho. Wynne. "I doe undertake 20 logs: Henry Stretcher. "We doe undertake six short and two long: Francis Cornwall, Morrise Edwards. "for myself and Justice Gray, 3 long and 15 short; Henry Molleston, Samwell Gray. "I Baptist Newcomb, doe engage myselfe to find Rafftors and Clabords for a prison and cover the said prison, the court finding nails. Bapt. Newcomb." After all this delay of more than six years the project was still not executed, as the record of March 10, 1688, bears testimony that court was then being held "at the house of Henry Streitcher, commonly called the court-house." Streitcher was merely the keeper of the village tavern, in one of the rooms of which the court was holding its sessions. Norton Claypoole was then clerk and recorder, and had his office in his own house. On April 30, 1688, he reported to the grand jury that an attempt had been made to burn his office, and the jurymen came to the conclusion that the intention of the incendiaries was to destroy the county records. Although the county was yet destitute of a courthouse it had managed to begin the building of a prison, which on May 3, 1688, was officially viewed by the grand jury under order of court. Samuel Jones had undertaken the construction, but never completed it, for the report of the grand jury of which Luke Wattson was foreman, was that "wee now doe find that this worke is not sufficient for a prison." At the January, August and December terms in 1691, the court was thrice presented by the grand jury "for not having a sufficient prison," and as late as 1709 a similar presentment was made indicating that neither court-house or prison had beon built up to that time. Justices of the Peace. Appointed by William Penn. Thomas Wynne April 1, 1687 Thomas Price May 3, 1687 Samuel Gray May 3, 1687 George Young Sept. 6, 1687 Wm. Clarke Feb. 10, 1687 Thomas Wynne Feb. 10, 1687 CHAPTER LXVI. LEWES AND REHOBOTH HUNDRED "West Chester," a tract of nine hundred acres, on the northeast side of Love 's Creek, was deeded to John Crew by Francis Cook, September 3, 1700; and on the 4th of March, the same year, Peter Lewis deeded "Middleborough," four hundred and forty acres, near the town of Lewes, to Jacob Kolloch. This tract had been warranted to Alexander Moleston, who had also deeded five hundred acres on the head of Love Creek to Thomas Fisher, son of John, on the 8th of January, 1696. In 1702 William Futcher conveyed to "Richard Paynter, inn-keeper, of Lewes, his mansion, land and plantation, three hundred and sixty-six acres, bounding on King's Creek, from ye mouth, fronting upon ye bay, to ye head, part of a large tract called 'Peach Blossom.'" The John Fisher above mentioned came from England in 1682, and settled on the Horekill tract. He had besides the son, Thomas, another son, named John, and from the latter has descended Judge John Fisher. The wife of the first John Fisher, after his death, married Dr. Thomas Wynne, who came to Lewes in 1685, and two years later bought the one hundred and thirty-two acres of land previously sold to Luke Watson. THIS IS AN ERROR - RNT NOTE- Thomas Fisher son of John Fisher, married Dr. Thomas Wynne's step daughter Margary Maude. And Dr. Thomas Wynne and his 2nd wife Elizabeth gave Margary Maude and Thomas Fisher the 132 acres of land. ttg-inc@comcast.net http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~ttg13/