The Beginning Of Whitford, PA

" Richard ap Thomas, being in years and grown tired with the dissipation of his compeers, embraced the tenets of the Quakers and joined in Penn's first migration to Pennsylvania, bringing his only son, Richard a boy of about ten years of age, and a number of dependents." ( History of Chester County, Pennsylvania, With Genealogical and Biographical Sketches,   J. Smith Futhey; 1986)

Richard ap Thomas was born in Whitford Garne, Flint, Wales.  He was the son of Thomas ap Evan Piers, one of a long line of Welsh gentlemen.  In 1681 he secured by deed of Lease and Release from William Penn 5000 acres of unlocated land in Pennsylvania.  In November, 1683 he sailed with his son, Richard Jr. on the ship "Morning Star", leaving Liverpool, England. 

 
Shortly after arriving in Pennsylvania, Richard ap Thomas died, leaving his estate to his son.   The dependents who came with them used the stock of provisions and perishable articles under the pretext of supporting the young Richard, until all was exhausted, and then sent the young Richard off to find sustenance from his estate.   Perhaps this is when the family story was started that he lived in a hollowed out tree for a period of time.

Thus left forlorn, he selected Dr. Lloyd, Lieutenant Governor and Dr. Thomas Wayne as guardians and legal advisors (the guardian and trustee under his father's will being deceased), and from the sale of some rights of land provided for and educated, studying medicine with his guardians.  

In about 1695, arriving at legal age, he procured letters of administration in his own name, and located his remaining land. .  The lapse of near a dozen years of minority lost him the advantage of locating in the vicinity of seat of commerce.  He now  had to go into the wilderness for good land.  He found a tract of about 600 acres in Goshen, now part of the seat of West Chester, but the principal tracts were in a gloomy dale, since then called the Great Valley.  Richard finally settled in the in the valley in 1704 near the Indian village of Catamonshink, which means "Hazelnut Grove".  It was soon to be known as Whitford, PA.

Located near the first settlement in Whitford

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