He yielded to their wishes implicitly and the event was duly celebrated, without noise but with thankfulness and joy.

He expressed himself as entirely satisfied with his work and died calmly and peacefully on First mo. 25th, 1871, in the eighty-second year of his age.

He was interred in Friends' Grounds at Wilmington, Del.; a vigorous oak (now of good size) was planted between the head and foot stones of his grave.

JACOB LINDLEY.

(1744—1814.)

Jacob Lindley, who lived in New Garden, Chester county, near where the village of Avondale is now situated, and owned six hundred acres of land in that vicinity, was the first to give assistance to fugitives in Chester county, of whom we have been able to glean any account. He aided many on their way to freedom long before the Underground Railroad was established.

About the year 1801, a line was formed by a few friends from Elisha Tyson's, Baltimore, to his place, thence to Pughtown and Valley Forge as described in the account of Abraham Bonsall.

Jacob Lindley was sympathizing and affable in disposition, sensitive in feeling and energetic in action. He was a prominent and powerful minister in the Society of Friends, a man of extraordinary intelligence and ability, a pungent writer when he assailed either open vice or the sinister means used to deceive and wrong others for pecuniary gain.

He possessed a large and strong physique, and a voice of great volume. When addressing an assemblage, and powerfully moved by the earnestness of his feelings in

rebuking sin in any phase or beneath any guise, or in pleading the rights of humanity, especially of the downtrodden, enslaved and oppressed African, he expressed himself in words and tone and manner so emphatic as to reach the most common understanding, or to touch the most adamantine heart. While he sent the poniard of conviction directly home to the hearts of the guilty, he was tender toward the feelings of the unintentionally erring, or those who strove to do right against adverse influences of a potential character difficult at times wholly to overcome.

His genuine kindness, and love for all the children of God, was a marked trait of his character. A respectable mechanic who had been the recipient of his hospitality remarked that "the house of Jacob Lindley and his wife was in one respect like the kingdom of Heaven, no profession or complexion being excluded."

Toward the close of his life he wrote: "Oh! surely I may say, I shudder and my tears involuntarily steal from my eyes, for my poor, oppressed, afflicted, tormented black brethren-hunted-frightened to see a white man-turned from every source of comfort that is worth living for in this stage of being. The tears, the groans, the sighs of these, have surely ascended to the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth, and as a thick cloud are awfully suspended over this land. I tenderly and tremblingly feel for the poor masters involved in this difficulty. I am awfully awakened into fear for our poor country." He was twice married; both wives being ministers of the gospel.

On the twelfth of Sixth mo. (June) 1814, he attended New Garden meeting, and spoke with his usual earnest

ness and power. During the course of his sermon he intimated "his conviction that there were those present who would not see the light of another day," and added, "perhaps it may be myself." That afternoon he was thrown out of a carriage upon his head, dislocating his neck. He was aged about seventy.

LEVI B. WARD.

In 1848, two men drove up to the house of Levi B. Ward, East Marlborough, Chester county, while he was absent from home, seized upon a colored boy seventeen years of age, and claimed him as their property. Mrs. Ward remonstrated against their taking him, but they replied that they had papers to prove that he belonged to them. They did not show the papers, but hurried away with the boy and the family never heard from him after-ward.

It was supposed that the men were kidnappers who had been waiting an opportunity to take him when no one but women was about to interfere.

JAMES N. TAYLOR.

(Born Third month 4th, 1813.)

James N. Taylor, from early boyhood, felt an interest in the anti-slavery movement, and a sympathy for the fugitive. In 1841 he removed from East Fallowfield, Chester county, to West Marlborough. Prior to that date he assisted all slaves who came to his place, but was not then connected with the Underground Railroad management. After removing to Marlborough, his willingness to aid fugitives being known, his residence was made a branch station, and he received passengers from William Rakestraw and Day Wood, in Lancaster

county, and from James Fulton and Amos Preston, Chester county.

One fugitive was so closely pursued that James took him to Lancaster, put him on the cars and sent him to Lafayette, Indiana. He was so nearly white that but few would have suspected that in his veins flowed a trace of African blood.

In 1844, eighteen men, women and children came to his place on their way "toward the North Star." They were sheltered in the depths of some straw, and next night taken to Isaac Mendenhall's.

After the Christiana riot, Parker, Pinkney and Johnson and one other came to his place, and were taken to Isaac Mendenhall's. He was not aware at the time who they were.

The last who came were brought in a dearborn in day-time by Ann Preston and Elizabeth Coates. They were well covered so as to attract no attention.

James N. Taylor assisted in organizing the first AntiSlavery Society in Chester county.