Report of the Archaeological Investigations of the New Castle Court ...

(who is in pay and is kept for to looke to ye forte and to keep itt clean) about his owne Pryvit
affyres, &c. That he has denyed and forbidden the Sheriffe to put any prisoners in ye usual prison
In the forte” (Scharf 1888).
1678 August 24 [Billop is relieved of command at the fort by Peter Alrichs]
1678 September 6 Peter Alrichs inventory of the stock belonging to the fort
“Forts ammunition and guns received from Catpain Billop, belonging to ye Forte, viz: 8 yron
guns, 7 Leaden aprons, 18 Match Locks, 6 fyre Locks, in all 24 Musquetts, 12 Collers of
bandeleers, 66 yrin shott, 465 Musquetts bullets, one and one third barrills of powder, 3 quires of
Cartiridge paper, 12 skanyes of Match, 2 Leadells, 3 sponges, 3 rammers, 1 loadge Barrell, 1 lant
stike. In New Castle – Signed John Moll, Peter Alrichs” (Scharf 1888).
1684 [December 28] Letter of William Penn (London) to Steven Crisp and Gertrud
Deriks (Amsterdam), 12 th month, 28 th day
“There was an old timber house below a gaol, above the sessions-house or chamber, that had
seven old iron small cannon upon the green about it, some on the ground, others broken carriages;
not one soldier, or arms borne, or militia-man seen, since I was first in Pennsylvania….the guns
lying so, without soldiers, powder, or bullet, or any garrison… the guns are to go to New York,
for they belong to that place…. Perhaps since Colonel Talbot’s threatenings, the people of
Newcastle, where they [the cannon] are, might draw them into security, and pale about their
prison…. (Hull 1935:383-384).
1689 [September 4] Pennsylvania Land Office “Bound Volume” #23, pgs. 62-63.
[Unpublished Warrant Register Entry]
‘Whereas the creditt[,] reputation [,] and advantage of a Town of City is its being well furnished
with Good [,] Substantial [,] able and wise Inhabitants who are both capable and willing to
promote the Interest thereof and being very desirous of advancing what in us lie the Town of New
Castle on Delaware River have regulated the square of the town afsd in a manner vizt: first that
there be layd out to the Courthouse 50 foot in Breadth fronting the Street going from the River to
the Kings Road by Edward Black[‘]s two lots to the South East thereof is to contain each in front
or breadth 60 foot the 55 foot which remains between the said Lott & the back part of the Lotts
fronting on the River to be left for a street going into the Markett Place and the Northwest side of
the 50 foot belonging to the Courthouse to be two Lotts each containing 65 foot in front and the
60 foot between the said Lotts & Ambrose Baker[‘]s to be left for a street all which front of the
fourt Lotts & Lott of the Court House being 300 foot is to be layd out in a direct line from the
corner of Robert Evanses [sic] Lott to the corner of Ambrose Baker[‘]s Lott the streets leading to
the Market place only intervening each lott to extend back so as the South Easternmost Lott on
the South East Side thereof being 150 foot Long a line drawn aright angle there from may enclose
the other Lotts and be bounded to the back parts thereof[.] Each Lott [,] the Courthouse Lott
excepted [,] to yield & pay the Propr[ietor] & his heirs & ass[ignees] as a quitrent or
acknowledgement thereof yearly & every year five English Silver Shillings on the value thereof
in coin current[.] the regulation of the other part of the Square or Markett Place is referred to
somother [sic] opportunity given at Philadelphia the 4 th of 7ber 1689’ (Heite 1978:138-139).