THE WILLCOX PAPER MILL (IVY MILLS), 1729-1866. BY JOSEPH WILLCOX. NOTE.-So many incidents of future historical interest are associated with the old Paper Mill, at Ivy Mills, that the writer has lately been induced to collect and to put on record, now, whatever data may be available at this late date; realizing the fact that, with each succeeding generation, the more difficult, and also the more incomplete, will be the undertaking of writing its history. The few old books, letters and other papers, which could afford any information concerning the operations of the mill, have lately been examined. A few samples only of the many lots of watermarked bank-note and bond papers, made at the mill, have survived the ordeal of destruction. Even in the case of the operation of the mill, under the management of the writer, not one specimen remains, with one exception, of the various orders for watermarked bank-note papers made for foreign countries. Some of the letters and other papers, referred to, have lately been presented to the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, and have been bound in four volumes labeled "Willcox Papers." In the following incomplete history, references are made to some of these letters and other papers, by the designation of "Willcox Papers." The writer takes this opportunity to express his indebtedness to Mr. John W. Jordan, of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, for his valuable assistance in obtaining information from the books in the library of that Society; and also to Messrs. Alfred Sharpless and Gilbert Cope, of West Chester, for information obtained from the records in that town. In a picturesque and fertile valley, the most widely spread among the hills of Concord, there flows a stream known as the West Branch of Chester Creek. Three miles or more above its junction with the main stream there stands a paper-mill of former times, now idle and silent, awaiting the relentless destiny of ruin, that, in the progress of time, overhangs all the creations of human hands, which have served their purpose and outlived their usefulness. In late years inclement frosts and tempestuous winds have already completed their destructive work among the old ivy vines, and stripped them from the stone walls over which they formerly spread their retentive branches, and appropriately supplied the motive for the name of Ivy Mills. Among the first paper mills erected in America,* it was the last of its kind, and had persevered longest in the race of competition with more modern machinery, for manufacturing paper, at the time when it was abandoned as a hand-made paper-mill. Early in the last century Thomas Willcox was attracted to this part of the valley, in Concord Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania, which was then covered almost wholly with primeval forests.† His former home, in England, is believed to have been near Exeter, in Devonshire. In the church records, at Poltimore, two miles from Exeter, the name is frequently mentioned, as early as 1712, sometimes spelled Willcox, and at other times Wilcocks. It is not known when Thomas Willcox first settled in Concord, but his name appeared among the list of taxables there in 1725. In 1726 he and a man, named Thomas Brown, built a mill-dam on the west branch of Chester Creek, in Concord, and afterwards leased the land on which the dam was located. The following has been copied from the original paper, which is still preserved :‡ "This Indenture made the tenth day of January anno Domini 1727 Between Joseph Nicklin of Concord in ye County of Chester & Province of Pennsylvania yeoman of ye one part, and Thomas Willcox Lawyer, & Thomas Brown yeoman both of ye same Town and County of ye other part, Witnesseth that ye said Joseph Nicklin hath & by these presents doth lease, farm & lett, unto ye said Thomas Willcox & Thomas Brown and to their heirs, Exrs, admirs, * It was probably the third paper-mill established in the colonies. + Delaware County, in which Concord is now located, was formed in 1789. The original is in "Willcox Papers," vol. iv, p. 1. & assigns, a certain piece of land, situate lying and being in Concord & Joining to ye said Thomas Willcox & Thomas Browns Mill-dam containing by estimation Eight perches in length along ye said Dam site, & four perch broad from ye said Mill-Dam for the use of ye sd MillDam, Yielding therefore yearly & for every year ye sum of one shilling of current lawful money of this province, for & during ye term & time that ye said Thomas Willcox & Thomas Brown their heirs, Exrs, admrs, or assigns shall have occasion for ye same, for ye use aforesaid." On August 4th, 1729, Thomas Willcox, having erected a paper-mill on his property, took Thomas Brown into partnership in the business of making and selling paper. In this agreement, which is still preserved, it was provided that Thomas Willcox, in consideration of his teaching the said Thomas Brown the art of paper-making, was to receive three-fifths of the profits and Thomas Brown two-fifths. It is thus apparent that Thomas Willcox had learned the art of making paper before he came to America. In compliance with this agreement Thomas Willcox conveyed to Thomas Brown a half interest in the mill and the two following pieces of adjacent land: One tract or parcel, lying in the Township of Concord, containing 200 acres, was "layd out on the 5th day of April, A. D. 1683, by Charles Ashcorn the then surveyor of the County of Chester, unto Jeremiah Collet, rentor, at the yearly quitrent of one penny sterling per acre." * A brief abstract of the title is here given: * Jeremiah Collett to John Hannum, 200 acres on March 1st, 1686, "March 27th, 1729. Thomas Willcox "Thomas Brown, one half interest in one acre on August 4th, 1729. * Copy in "Willcox Papers," vol. iv, p. 2. The other tract of land included in the conveyance to Thomas Brown, is referred to as follows-"Whereas William Penn Esqr late Proprietary of the Province of Pennsylvania by his Patent bearing date July 15th 1684 did grant and confirm unto Nathaniel Park rentor a certain tract of land in the Township of Concord . . containing 200 acres under the yearly quitrent of one penny sterling per acre.' 150 acres on 12th mo. 10th, 1684, (on same date) on March 12th, 1694, Nathaniel Park William Rowe "Thomas Moore & William Vestal " Thomas Moore & William Vestal sold to Morgan Jones 150 ་་ May 20th 1729, Nathaniel Newlin Joshua Pennell sold to Thomas Willcox 1 acre and 20 perches The mill was located on the one-acre tract, and is referred to as follows, in the deed: "The other of the sa pieces or parcels of land to the sa Mill belonging (being part of the first mentioned seventyfour acres of land) contains one acre, and is two perches in breadth (viz) a perch eastward and a perch westward from the middle of the said mill races, the whole length of them in the sa Thomas Willcox's land, and is four perches broad where the sd mill stands, and also the one full equal undivided moiety or half part of all mill houses Headwears mill ponds mill pools mill Dams Banks streams Waters Watercourses Mill races Passages Easements profits advantages Hereditaments and appurtenances whatsoever to the sd land mill and premises." The sum paid by Thomas Brown for the half interest in the mill was one hundred and fifty pounds. Descendants of some of the land owners mentioned above, viz., John Hannum, Godwin Walter and Nathaniel Newlin, are still living and owning land in that vicinity. On May 6th, 1732, Thomas Brown leased to Thomas Willcox his half interest in the mill and land, including the personal property in the mill, for the term of seven years, at the yearly rental of thirteen pounds. The following is a copy of the list of the personal property included in the above-mentioned lease:* "An indentured Schedule of the Vessels Tools and Implements by the annexed Indenture Demised-That is to say. "A mortice and mmers, a Vatt and Pott, two Stuff Tubbs, a Rag knife and Block, one press paper mould and a pair of Shop paper moulds, twenty-six fulling paper felts, Seventy-seven shop paper felts, two press paper Planks and a halfting plank, two Shop paper Planks, A Press and Rag wheel, a screw and Box, A Glazeing Engine, two pairing knives, two little pails with iron hoops, one Smal ads, two pairing frames-one pairing Bench, three cocks, two troughs, one winch, a halfting bench, two tressels, a Iron Barr, six post and Eighteen Rails for hanging of paper, one hundred polls for hanging paper, one pad, one pair of Stilliards, a Box for Paper Hanging stool, one hundred and sixty Tap pots, twenty cogs and three washers." On January 23d, 1739, Thomas Brown reconveyed to Thomas Willcox his half interest in all the above-mentioned real estate. This, and all other land, which Thomas Willcox afterwards bought, in Concord, has been and is still owned by one of his descendants. A copy of one of the receipts for quitrent is given on the next page. This receipt refers to 100 acres of "purchase Land" which the writer is unable to account for. It was not a portion of the farm, on which the mansion house and mill were located; and the ownership of the adjacent lands is well known. The next receipt was dated Philada., 30th Dec'r, 1766, for 27 years quitrent, and was signed by Edmund Physick "Willcox Papers," vol, iv. |