Industry in Early Chadds Fod

By Elizabeth Rump

 “TO Be SOLD by the Subscriber, A VALUABLE MERCHANT MILL and SAWMILL . . . . Benjamin Powell.”  

“TO BE SOLD, A Good Merchant Mill, and Sawmill, all in good Repair with a good sufficient Dam, on Little Brandiwine . . . John Buchanan.” 

JONATHAN VAUGHAN, and JOHN CHAMBERLAIN, having purchased the Rights of Dennis Whealen, and Doctor Kennedy, in Serram Forge Mills . . . .” 

(From The Pennsylvania Gazette,  November 14, 1781, March 15, 1764,  and May 27, 1762, respectively.) 

Grist Mills, Saw Mills, Paper Mills, Fulling Mills, Oil Mills, Iron Furnaces and Forges - it’s no accident that Chester and Delaware Counties were home to many early industries. One need look no farther than the Brandywine and its tributaries and the opportunities they provided as a power source to people of the 17th through the 19th centuries. 

But even a great power source is not enough without the natural resources and a market for the finished products. Once again this area was blessed. The large agricultural sector provided the grain to be ground, the flax seed to produce linseed oil, and wool for fulling. Natural resources, too, were available for the taking: timber, iron ore and limestone. Add to the above easy access to ready markets in Philadelphia, Wilmington, and Baltimore and you have a “receipt” for success. In fact, “by 1760, Bucks, Chester, and Philadelphia Counties contained over 160 grist mills.” (History of Concord Township, p.92). 

The earliest mill in Pennsylvania was reportedly begun by Richard Townsend in Concord Township in 1683, and run by Caleb Pusey, the “Governor’s Miller.” By 1694 there were five mills listed on the tax records in Concord Township. In 1790, there were seven saw mills, two grist mills, and one paper mill in Concord Township alone.  Included among this number was the grist mill started by Nathaniel Newlin in 1704, called Newlin Mill today.

According to tax records for the year 1796 in nearby East Bradford Township there was one fuller, three millwrights and six millers. In 1850 there was one paper mill, five millers and five saw mills. Strode’s Mill, at the intersection of Birmingham and Lenape Roads, began operation in 1721. Known at Etter’s Mill, it was operated by J.C. Etters. The business was purchased by the Strode family in 1737, and remained in the Strode family for 150 years.  In addition to grinding grain it was also used as a saw and cider mill. 

Locally, Francis Chadsey, father of John Chads, erected a corn mill c. 1710. Other entrepreneurs followed his lead: James Huston in 1719; Joseph Taylor in Pocopson in 1724;and Joshua Sharpless paid taxes on a saw mill situated along Radley Run in 1787.  William Twaddell operated a paper mill in 1777, which had additional uses as a saw mill, a combined iron works and saw mill, and a powder mill.  Also nearby, Benjamin Ring established a grist, fulling and saw mill along Harvey’s Run prior to the Revolutionary War. 

The first paper mill in the colonies was erected by Wilhelm Rittenhouse in 1690 near Germantown. In addition to Twaddell’s paper mill, mentioned above, a Mr. Wilcocks operated a paper mill in Concord Township at the time of the American Revolution.  In 1778 the Council of Safety wrote to Col. Andrew Boyd requesting that he “immediately secure” the supply of paper at Mr. Wilcock’s mill as “This is an article so essentially necessary at this time of distress and difficulty.” (Futhey & Cope:103). 

Although not as prolific in this area as mills, furnaces and forges also dotted the landscape along Crum Creek (Peter Dicks), Sarrem Forge (c. 1742) of John Taylor along Chester Creek, Joseph Buffington along the Brandywine, as well as those more popularly known today such as  Warwick Furnace, Hibernia, and, a bit farther afield, Joanna and Hopewell.