New Garden Historical Commission - New Garden Township

<body text="#000000" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" link="#0000FF" alink="#FF0000" vlink="#990099" lang=EN-US> <table border="0" cellpadding="5" width="100%" bgcolor="#999999"> <tr> <td><p align="center"><img src="../newgardenpanorama.jpg" width="200" height="70"></p> </td> <td align="center"> <h1><font color=black>New Garden Historical Commission</font></h1> <p><a href="../index.htm" target="_top"><font color=black>Click here</font></a> <font color=black> to return to the home page and links to other articles</font></p> </td> </tr> </table> <div class=Section1> <div style='border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in'> <h1><a name="_Toc189384580">NEW </a>GARDEN TOWNSHIP </h1> </div> <p class=MsoNormal>William Penn, by warrant of February 17, 1699, directed surveyor Henry Hollingsworth to layout land for his younger children in this new country. A plan was made of 35,000 acres of which Wi1liam Penn, Jr. received a patent in May 1706 for 14,500 acres. Approximately 8913 acres of this land comprised the area we know as New Garden Township, while 5587 acres adjoined us in Mill Creek Hundred, New Castle County, Delaware. Another parcel, patented to daughter Letitia, was in the area now known as Kennett Square. Both sections were named "Manor of Stenning" (or Steyning), probably for Steyning Hundred in Sussex, England. </p> <p class=MsoNormal>A picturesque land of forests with clear creeks running through, rock-topped hills and outcroppings, marshy valleys and wildlife in abundance, it lies within drainage of two watersheds - the west and southwest portions drain into the White Clay Creek, while the eastern part drains into the Red C1ay Creek. Most of the land is moderately sloping and somewhat rolling, but the southern part is steeper, with slopes breaking sharply into valleys. The highest point is north of Toughkenamon with an elevation of 483 feet above mean sea level; the low point of 180 feet above mean sea level is found where Broad Run leaves the Township in its southern boundary. Its geology consists of (1) Baltimore gneiss; (2) Setters formation; (3) Cockeysville marble; (4) Wissahickon formation; and (5) Gabbro. The profiles of soils mapped in the Township are moderately deep and moderately permeable with good water holding capacity. Its only human inhabitants were probably the Lenni-Lenape Indians whose territory ran from the Delaware Bay to New York State. </p> <p class=MsoNormal> </p> </div> </body>