| Simon Hadley |
...story, stucco covered stone structure, and the gabled roof permits the use of rooms on the third floor. The pointed
windows under the gables give a quaint appearance to the old building, and along the front extends a long porch.
Underneath the pointed gable window in the front a white stone slab is sunk in the wall and on it is carved "S. and R. H.
1717" the initials of Simon and his wife, Ruth Hadley, and the date of the building's erection.
Some distance from the house is an old stone barn, which appears to be as ancient as the house itself. Tradition claims
that when Simon Hadley was a very old man, he was killed in the stable by a servant who planned to rob him of the
considerable money he is said to have carried about with him. No record has been found to prove or disprove this, but
from a letter written by Simon Hadley's daughter, Hannah (Hadley) Stanfield, from North Carolina to her step-mother, it
will be seen that her father died in 1756 and that his death was sudden. It was as follows:
"Respected Mother -
This comes to let thee know that I and my family is in good health at present, hoping that these few lines will find thee
and thine in the same, and I have great cause to be thankful to the Devine Being for it.
I received they letter dated the 31st of 5th month 1756, and was glad to hear of thy welfare and true account of my
respected father's sudden death.
Thy brother Ricard Beson was here at my house a few days ago. He told me that his wife and family was well and all
of our friends here is reasonably well as far as I know, so not having much more to add, I shall conclude with my love
to thee and thine and remain thy loving daughter, ye 24th. of ye 7th month, 1756.
Hannah Stanfield
In 1726 Simon Hadley was appointed Justice of the Peace by Governor Fletcher, who was acting for the Penns, and he
was re commissioned seven years later and served in this capacity for many years. He also served at various times as
Judge of the New Castle County Courts.
Simon Hadley's name appears on inventories filed in the Register's office in West Chester, Penna., and on various other
documents.
At the New Garden Meeting in 1721, he was one of several Friends who subscribed to purchase copies of Sewell's
"Rise and Progress of Truth."
Simon Hadley's name appears on a petition from Concord Quarterly Meeting, 3 mon. 13, 1734, addressed to King
George II of England, relative to the boundary disputes between the Penns and Lord Baltimore. This quaintly worded
document closed with the following address to the Kin: "With sincere prayers for thy land, life and happiness in this
world and eternal felicity, we offer ourselves and in behalf of many of our brethren, members of this Meeting,
subscribe thy loving and dutiful subjects.
As Simon Hadley's sons grew to manhood he assisted them in securing land of their own. In 1726 we ding that Joseph
Hadley already had a tract of land near his father's plantation. In that year Simon Hadley made over another tract of land
to his son Joshua Hadley. A conveyance transferring this land is preserved in West Chester, Pennsylvania, and is as
follows:
"To all Christian people to whom these presents shall come, I Simon Hadly of Mill Creek Hundred in the County of
New Castle Delaware, send greetings. Know ye that I, Simon Hadley, for and in consideration of the Love, goodwill
and affection which I have and do bear towards my Loveing son, Joshua Hadley of Mill Creek Hundred in the County
of New Castle aforesaid, have given and granted and by these presents do fully, freely, Clearly and absolutely give and
grant unto the said Joshua Hadly, his heirs and assignes all that piece or percel of Land beginning at a post in the line of
Daniel Worsly's Land, thence East by the land of Joseph Hadly one hundred seventy and nine perches to a post, thence
North on hundred seventy and nine perches to a Mullberry tree, thence West one hundred seventy and nice perches to
a post thence South by the land of Daniel Worsly one hundred seventy and nice perches to the place of beginning,
containing two hundred acres scituate in Mill Creek Hundred in the County of New Castle aforesaid, together with the
right, title, Interest, Claim and demand what-so-ever which I now have or which any or wither of my heirs, Executors,
administrators or assignes may here-after have of, to or in the said granted premises or any part there-of To have and
to hold the said two hundred acres of land unto him the said Joshua Hadly, his heirs...
windows under the gables give a quaint appearance to the old building, and along the front extends a long porch.
Underneath the pointed gable window in the front a white stone slab is sunk in the wall and on it is carved "S. and R. H.
1717" the initials of Simon and his wife, Ruth Hadley, and the date of the building's erection.
Some distance from the house is an old stone barn, which appears to be as ancient as the house itself. Tradition claims
that when Simon Hadley was a very old man, he was killed in the stable by a servant who planned to rob him of the
considerable money he is said to have carried about with him. No record has been found to prove or disprove this, but
from a letter written by Simon Hadley's daughter, Hannah (Hadley) Stanfield, from North Carolina to her step-mother, it
will be seen that her father died in 1756 and that his death was sudden. It was as follows:
"Respected Mother -
This comes to let thee know that I and my family is in good health at present, hoping that these few lines will find thee
and thine in the same, and I have great cause to be thankful to the Devine Being for it.
I received they letter dated the 31st of 5th month 1756, and was glad to hear of thy welfare and true account of my
respected father's sudden death.
Thy brother Ricard Beson was here at my house a few days ago. He told me that his wife and family was well and all
of our friends here is reasonably well as far as I know, so not having much more to add, I shall conclude with my love
to thee and thine and remain thy loving daughter, ye 24th. of ye 7th month, 1756.
Hannah Stanfield
In 1726 Simon Hadley was appointed Justice of the Peace by Governor Fletcher, who was acting for the Penns, and he
was re commissioned seven years later and served in this capacity for many years. He also served at various times as
Judge of the New Castle County Courts.
Simon Hadley's name appears on inventories filed in the Register's office in West Chester, Penna., and on various other
documents.
At the New Garden Meeting in 1721, he was one of several Friends who subscribed to purchase copies of Sewell's
"Rise and Progress of Truth."
Simon Hadley's name appears on a petition from Concord Quarterly Meeting, 3 mon. 13, 1734, addressed to King
George II of England, relative to the boundary disputes between the Penns and Lord Baltimore. This quaintly worded
document closed with the following address to the Kin: "With sincere prayers for thy land, life and happiness in this
world and eternal felicity, we offer ourselves and in behalf of many of our brethren, members of this Meeting,
subscribe thy loving and dutiful subjects.
As Simon Hadley's sons grew to manhood he assisted them in securing land of their own. In 1726 we ding that Joseph
Hadley already had a tract of land near his father's plantation. In that year Simon Hadley made over another tract of land
to his son Joshua Hadley. A conveyance transferring this land is preserved in West Chester, Pennsylvania, and is as
follows:
"To all Christian people to whom these presents shall come, I Simon Hadly of Mill Creek Hundred in the County of
New Castle Delaware, send greetings. Know ye that I, Simon Hadley, for and in consideration of the Love, goodwill
and affection which I have and do bear towards my Loveing son, Joshua Hadley of Mill Creek Hundred in the County
of New Castle aforesaid, have given and granted and by these presents do fully, freely, Clearly and absolutely give and
grant unto the said Joshua Hadly, his heirs and assignes all that piece or percel of Land beginning at a post in the line of
Daniel Worsly's Land, thence East by the land of Joseph Hadly one hundred seventy and nine perches to a post, thence
North on hundred seventy and nine perches to a Mullberry tree, thence West one hundred seventy and nice perches to
a post thence South by the land of Daniel Worsly one hundred seventy and nice perches to the place of beginning,
containing two hundred acres scituate in Mill Creek Hundred in the County of New Castle aforesaid, together with the
right, title, Interest, Claim and demand what-so-ever which I now have or which any or wither of my heirs, Executors,
administrators or assignes may here-after have of, to or in the said granted premises or any part there-of To have and
to hold the said two hundred acres of land unto him the said Joshua Hadly, his heirs...
