General Notes

 SIMON HADLEY, son of SIMON and CATHERINE (TALBOT) HADLEY was born in Ireland in 1675, near the Kings County boundary line where his English ancestors had settled.  He was a member of the Moate Monthly Meeting of the Society of Friends.

     Simon Hadley came to America about 1712 from County West Meath, Ireland.  He was accompanied to Pennsylvania by his wife Ruth, and six children.  Two children were later born in Pennsylvania.  It is unknown which ship he came over on.  Many of the Friends sailed from Ireland to Pennsylvania on the ship Sizargh of Whitehaven.  Jermiah Cowman was the master.  However, Simon and his family do  not appear on the records.

     Simon did not present his certificate of removal until four years later.  At Newark Monthly Meeting (now Kennett) held at Center Meeting House, Centerville, Delaware - "4th. of 6th. Mon. 1716, Simon Hadley produced a certificate from Moate Monthly Meeting in County of West Meath and Nation of Ireland which was read and accepted

     Simon purchased 1000 acres of land about 30 miles south of Philadelphia in the Manor of Steyning.    When the Pennsylvania-Delaware line was drawn it passed through Simon's property, leaving part of his plantation in Chester County, Pennsylvania, but placing his home and official residence, and most of his plantation in New Castle County, Delaware.  This became part of New Garden Township.  The house is located on Lime Stone Road, Hackessin, DE about 10 miles northwest of Wilmington (or Wellington), DE, off Route 41.  Go to Kaolin (about 3 miles before you get to Avondale) and turn left.  Go down Route 7 for about 2 or 3 miles, turn right and go up a hill and there you are.  The cornerstone is hidden under a tree.  Among  the neighbors of Simon Hadley are some familiar names:  Lindley, Starr, Hutton, Rutledge, Miller, John, Gayan,- Rowland, and Johnson .  All of these families were of English origin, as were all of the Friends who went to Pennsylvania from Ireland with the exception of two it is said.  Many of them had been friends in Ireland and others were related by blood or marriage.  [A perche equals 5.5 yards]

     The description that Chalmers Hadley gives to the house which was called Messuage Plantation of Steyning Manor, is as follows:  The old house is on a slight eminence nearly a quarter of a mile back from the road, and the nearest railroad station, Southwood, is on what probably was once part of the place.  The old house is a two and one-half story, stucco covered stone structure, and the gabled roof permits the use of rooms on the third floor.  The pointed windows under the gables give a quaint appearance to the old building, and along the front extends a long porch.  Underneath the pointed gable window in the front a white stone slab is sunk in the wall and on it is carved "S. and R. H. 1717," the initials of Simon and his wife, Ruth Hadley, and the date of the building's erection.  Some distance from the house is an old stone barn which appears to be as ancient as the house itself.

     This house is still in use and in 1977 the owner's wife was a Dupont-Pierre's favorite niece. In 1716, Newark Monthly Meeting was divided and New Garden Monthly Meeting created.  It was composed of the meetings of New Garden, Nottingham and London Grove.  By deed dated 26th. of 10th. Mo. 1717 James Miller conveyed six acres of land to Simon Hadley as trustee for New Garden Meeting.  Simon apparently was quite active in this meeting.  His name frequently appears on committees and he was made an overseer 28 May 1733.  He and his wife, Ruth, are buried there.  On at least one occasion, we find Simon taking active part in his Quarterly Meeting also.  His name appears on a petition from Concord Quarterly Meeting dated 3rd. Mo. 13th. 1734 and addressed to King George II of England, regarding the boundary disputes between the Penns and Lord Baltimore.

     Although such activities were usually frowned upon by Friends, Simon was not completely inactive in public affairs.  He was appointed Justice of the Peace by Governor Fletcher 25 July 1726, re-appointed 20 April 1727, and again 1 Dec 1733.  He also served at various times as Judge of the New Castle Court.

     Simon Hadley helped his sons secure land of their own.  In 1726, we find that Joseph Hadley already had a tract of land near his father's plantation.  In that year, Simon Hadley made over another tract of land to his son, Joshua Hadley.

(Early Pennsylvania Land Records - Egle,1976 pg 759)

Minute Book I  28th 12mo. 1728

"Joshua Hadley requests (by his Father, Simon Hadley) the grant of a quantity of land on Fishing Creek, he desires 1,000 acres."

     Attached to Simon's first will, written in 1751, following the death of his wife Ruth, was this note.  "It is my will that my executors dispose of my servant lad Joseph Fitzpatrick's time for the benefit of my said children as above, written before the said will was perfected by me."

     Tradition says that Simon was killed in his stable by a servant who wanted to rob him of the considerable amount of money he carried with him.  No record has ever been found to substantiate this.  However, in a letter written by Simon's Daughter, Hannah, (Hadley)Stanfield, from North Carolina to her step-mother, we can see that her father died suddenly in 1756:

"Respected Mother -

This comes to let Thee know that I and my family is in good health at present, hoping that these few lines will find thee and thine in the same, and I have great cause to be thankful to the Divine Being for it.
I received thy letter dated the 31st of 5th month 1756, and was glad to hear of thy welfare and a true account of my respected father's sudden death.
Thy brother Richard Beson was here at my house a few days ago.  He told me that his wife and family was well and all of our friends here is reasonably well as far as I know, so not having much to add, I shall conclude with my love to thee and thine and remain thy loving daughter, ye 24th of ye 7th month, 1756.
Hannah Stanfield"

     Simon and Ruth were buried in the New Garden burying ground. Chalmers Hadley visited the old cemetery but found no identification of the graves.  He noted that it seems in early times, Friends did not mark the resting place of their members with a stone of any kind.  Chalmers described the old meeting house as follows:  "New Garden meeting house is a venerable old structure built of red and black brick, brought from England, it is said.  In front of the meeting house stood a mounting stone and a low stone wall surrounded both the meeting house and the burying ground adjoining it.  There was an air of antiquity about the interior of the old building.  The long room where Hadleys, Lindleys, Rowlands, and Greggs worshipped in past years, was divided by sliding shutters for the men's and women's meetings.  A huge fireplace was in each end, but these had been closed and stoves were substituted, the pipes of which went through limestone slabs in the ceiling.  Time-worn oak panelling, put together with wooden pegs, extended around the room, and the heavy wooden benches, black from age, were covered with initials of generations of youngsters until the carvings appeared as relief work. Back of the gallery where John Salkeld, Jacob Lindley and other zealous Friends had preached in long gone days, was a case of well-thumbed, leather-bound books on the doctrines of Friends.  Outside in the shelter of a splendid Magnolia tree in a score of unmarked graves, sleep the ancestors of many families in North Carolina and Indiana."

(Information from The Hadley Family by Lyle H. Hadley and an article in the Pennsylvania Traveler Post, v. 16, #3, pg.3 and "Hadleys of Hendricks Co. Indiana", Library of Congress No 62-10576, edited and published by Harlan V. Hadley, and from a book written in 1916 by Chalmers Hadley.)

     Ruth Keran Hadley died on December 18, 1750.   She was buried in the burial grounds of the New Garden Cemetery, Chester County, Pennsylvania, belonging to the Chester County Monthly Meeting of the Society of Friends.  This cemetery joins the old meeting house and both are only about 1 mile from SIMON HADLEY'S farm.  SIMON HADLEY is buried next to RUTH (KERAN) HADLEY, but their graves are not marked.

     SIMON HADLEY married PHOEBE GRUBB on July 22, 1752, at the New Garden Meeting.  He had no children with her.  She was a minister in the Society of Friends, and SIMON HADLEY made a settlement on her at the time of their marriage.

     SIMON HADLEY seems to have been very wealthy, and as his sons grew to manhood, he assisted them in securing land of their own.  In 1726, JOSEPH HADLEY owned land near his father's farm, and that same year, SIMON HADLEY gave another tract of land to his second son, JOSHUA HADLEY.

     SIMON HADLEY'S farm is where the British camped on the eve of the Battle of Brandywine during the Revolutionary War.  In settling the new country, the HADLEYS seem to have been good judges of land, which was purchased in the rich bottoms, and always where springs abounded.  The HADLEY'S were surrounded by forests and unsettled conditions, but they formed communities with other Quakers, and soon erected meeting and school houses.  The HADLEY family seems to have had a high sense of honor, because there was an old saying in certain sections where they lived.  It said that the name of HADLEY was worth one hundred and fifty dollars to its possessor.  If a fence was found to have one rail more than was necessary, it meant that the fence enclosed HADLEY land.

ALL THE QUAKER HADLEYS, with revisions.
a unpublished compilation of works by Harlan Hadley, Lyle Hadley, and
Wallace Hadley. Hadley Society Files.

Chapter 3

  "ALL THE QUAKER HADLEYS. The Early Generations.
Simon HADLEY, farmer, justice of the Peace, county judge, immigrant, patriarch of all the Quaker Hadleys of Chester County, Pennsylvania and New Castle County, Delaware [lived Messuage Plantation, Steyning Manor]; born 1675 Ireland, son of Simon I and Catherine (TALBOT) HADLEY of Ballynakill
(near Dublin), Ireland; died 1756 Messuage Plantation, buried New Garden Monthly Meeting, Pennsylvania; married (1) 1697 Ruth KERAN/KERN, born 1677 Ireland; died 18 Dec 1750 Messuage Plantation, buried New Garden MM; m (2) 22 Jul 1872 Phoebe (GRUBB) BUFFINGTON, a Quaker minister, daughter of John and Frances GRUBB.
   "...Simon and Ruth and their first six children after landing at Philadelphia in 1712 had several temporary addresses, mostly in Chester County, before he chose their permanent home. In 1717 he built Messuage Plantation on 1000 acres in one of William Penn's townships, Steyning Manor, in Chester County. The Mason-Dixon survey of 1763-69, undertaken to settle the William Penn-Lord Baltimore dispute as to the southern boundaries of Pennsylvania, located Messuage Plantation just over the line
in Delaware, near Hockessin. Part of his farm continued to be in Pennsylvania, however, and apparently he was recognized as a citizen of both states.
   Traditionally, Simon came to America with a substantial advance patrimony. Before he died at 81, hea had been able to dower his daughters, to establish his sons on farms of their own and to help them acquire additional acreage. He also had done the same for several adult grandchildren. In addition, his will made bequests to all of them, including more than 50 grandchildren; with a total probative value in
excess of $50,000. It identified him as a man of great wealth for that time and place.
   Along with his wife, mother and father and his brothers and sisters, Simon at 31 in 1706 affiliated with the Society of Friends of Moate County Westmeath, Ireland, about 60 miles northwest of Dublin. Their home was at Ballynnakill, 60 miles southwest of Dublin, in County Leix. Simon's father, Simon I, also owned a fishery in Dublin and an iron foundry in Kings County, near Tullamore, or about 50 miles west of Dublin.
   Simon I is on the Moate meeting record with an apology for having allowed Simon II 'too many liberties'. Simon II apparently had great difficulty, because of repeated involvement in 'military activities', in keeping 'in unity' with the meeting. These incidents probably reflected his efforts to
protect himself from, or to retaliate against, the brutal hazing (or worse) for which Quakers in Ireland (and England) were long considered fair game.
   Simon II in 1716, on chosing his home site, transferred his Friends' family membership from Moate MM to Newark (now Kennett) MM, Pennsylvania.  Newark divided later that year to create New Garden MM. He was active in the leadership and good graces of New Garden all the rest of his life. He
served on  New Garden committees,, as a trustee and overseer, and is mentioned frequently in meeting minutes."

--

Hadley, Simon
Birth : 1675/76 in Moate, County Westmeath, Ireland
Death : May 1756 in Chester County Pennsylvania
Buried: New Garden MM, Chester Co., Pa.
Parents:

     Father: Hadley, Simon
     Mother: Talbot, Catherine

Family:

     Marriage 1st.: 1697 in Ireland
     Spouse:

          Miller, Ruth
          Birth :
          Death :
          Parents:

               Father: Miller, Robert
               Mother: Berthwart [ Broithwaite ], Margaret

Children:

     Hadley, Joseph
     Hadley, Deborah
     Hadley, Joshua
     Hadley, Simon
     Hadley, Hannah
     Hadley, Ruth
     Hadley, Catherine [ Katherine ]
     Hadley, Anne

Family:

     Marriage 2nd: 22 July 1752
     Spouse:

          Grubb, Phoebe


Simon Hadley's last will, written in 1755, was recorded in 1756. Therewere several changes made in this last will from the former one. Theseincluded some 600
acres of land not mentioned in the last will. It may have been that athis second marriage this land constituted the settlement bestowed onPhoebe Buffington by
Simon Hadley, or this land may have been given in the meantime to his twosons, Joseph and Joshua, who were scantily remembered in the last will ascompared to
Simon Hadley's various grandchildren. No inventory of Simon's estate wasfound with the will. In addition to his home and lands, Simon Hadleydivided about
$15,000 in money among his family, a large estate for those days. Thisold will, yellowed with age and held together with what appeared to be ahand-made pin,
was found by Chalmers Hadley in the court house in Wilmington, Delaware,in August 1908.


Information from The Hadley Family by Lyle H. Hadley and an article inthe Pennsylvania Traveler Post, v. 16, #3, pg.3 and "Hadleys of HendricksCo. Indiana",
Library of Congress No 62-10576, edited and published by Harlan V.Hadley, and from a book written 1n 1916 by Chalmers Hadley..

                                               Will of SimonHadley-written in 1755

Know all men by these presents that I, Simon Hadly of Mill Creek Hundredin the County of New Castle on Delaware, yeoman, calling to mind themortality of my
body, do make and ordain this my last will and testament, and as touchingsuch worldly estate where-with it has pleased God to bless me in thislife, I do give, devise
and dispose of the same in the manner and form following:

First, it is my will that my funeral charge and just debts be first paid.

It is my will and I do leave my beloved wife, Phebe Hadly ________ poundscurrent money to be paid her six months after my death, to be paid by myexecutors,
hereinafter mentioned, her chaise and chaise-horse, my riding mare andthe two best cows I have, besides what I have left her in my marriagesettlement with her,
and as much of the furniture of the house as she will think fit to take,to the value of _______ pounds and no more, which shall be in full of myreal and personal
estate.

Imprimus,--I give, devise and bequeath unto my grandson Simon Hadley, sonof my son Joshua Hadley, the Messuage plantation and tract of land I nowlive on,
bounded and described as follows Viz. Beginning at a corner post, being acorner of Jacob John's lands thence by his line east 300 perches to acorner white oak in
the Manor line, thereon south by the said line 217 perches to a cornerhickory, thence west by the land now seated by my grandson John Hadley,73 perches to a
post, thence north 31 degrees, west 38 perches to a black oak, thencenorth 50 degrees, west 48 perches and a half to a gum tree, thence north20 degrees, west
19 perches to a post, thence north 69 degrees, 59 perches to a post inWilliam Rows line, thence north by the same 46 perches to the place ofbeginning, containing
260 acres be the same more or less, making the bounds aforesaid, with thehereditaments and appurtenances thereunto belonging, to hold to him, mysaid grandson
Simon Hadley and the male heirs of his body lawfully begotten forever,but if my said grandson should depart this life without lawful issue,then it is my will and I do
give and the devise the same Messuage plantation and tract of land untomy grandson Jeremiah Hadley, son of my said son Joshua Hadley, to hold tohim and the
male heirs of his body lawfully begotten forever, but if he should departthis live without male heirs as above, then and in such case I give anddevise and bequeath
the said Messuage plantation and tract of land and premises unto the nextmale heirs as consanguinity to him and the male heirs of his bodylawfully begotten forever.
I also give and bequeath unto my said grandson Simon Hadley, my clock andwalnut clothes press which stands in one of the upper rooms and the sumof ten
pounds lawful money, all of which several bequests to be possessed by himwhen he shall arrive at the respective age of twenty-one years.

and it is my will that my executors here-in-after named, rent the aboveplantations to good tenants until my said grandsons arrive at the age oftwenty-one years, that
all of my said grandsons shall pay the _______ due on each of theirplantations when lawfully ___________.

I do leave my son Joseph Hadley, half of my wearing apparel and tenpounds current money, which shall be his full portion and share of myreal and personal estate.

I do leave my daughter, Deborah Howel, wife of Jacob Howel, ten poundscurrent money and I do leave to the said Jacob Howel, ten pounds currentmoney, which
shall be in full their portion and share of my real and personal estate.

I do leave my daughter, Hannah Stanfield, widow of John Stanfield, fiftypounds current money which shall be paid in full of her portion and shareof my real and
personal estate.

I do leave my daughter, Ruth Lindley, wife of Thomas Lindley, ten poundscurrent money and I do leave to the said Thomas Lindley, ten poundscurrent money,
which shall be in full their portion and share of my real and personalestate.

I do leave my daughter, Katherine Johnson, wife to Robert Johnson, tenpounds current money and I do leave to the said Robert Johnson, the sumof ten pounds
current money, which shall be in full their portion and share of my realand personal estate.

I do leave my daughter, Anne Gregg, widow of Richard Gregg departed, thesum of forty pounds current money which shall be paid in full of herportion and share
of my real and personal estate.

I do leave my son Joshua Hadley, ten pounds current money and half of mywearying apparel which shall be in full of his portion and share of myreal and personal
estate.

I do leave to my grand-daughter Elizabeth Thompson, wife to JamesThompson, forty pounds current money and I do leave to my grand-daughterDeborah Curle,
wife of John Curle the sum of five pounds of current money, and to mygrand-daughter Hannah Curle, wife to Samuel Curle the sum of forty poundscurrent money,
all of them children of my son Joseph Hadley.

I do leave to my grand-children Ruth Marshall, wife to John Marshall, thesum of twenty pounds current money, and I do leave to Thomas Hadley, thesum of forty
pounds current money, and I do leave to Sarah Fred, wife of Joseph Fred,the sum of fifty pounds current money, and I do leave to Mary Hadley thesum of sixty
pounds current money, and I do leave to Joshua Hadley, Jr. the sum ofsixty pounds current money, and I do leave to Jeremiah Hadley the sum ofsixty pounds
current money, and I do leave to Joseph Hadley Jr. the sum of sixtypounds current money, and I do leave Deborah Hadley sixty pounds currentmoney and I do
leave Hannah Hadley the sum of sixty pounds current money, and I do leaveCatherine Hadley, the sum of sixty pounds current money, all of themchildren of my
son Joshua Hadley. I do leave to my grand-children to wit, I do leave toSimon Dixon fifty-five pounds current money, and I do leave RebeccaMarshall wife to
William Marshall, thirty pounds current money and I do leave Ruth Dixonsixty pounds current money and I do leave to John Stanfield, Jr. the sumof fifty pounds
current money, and I do leave Thomas Stanfield fifty pounds currentmoney, and I do leave Samuel Stanfield fifty pounds current money, all ofthem children of my
said daughter Hannah Stanfield, widow and relict of John Stanfield.

I do leave to my grandchildren, to Catherine Lindley, sixty poundscurrent money, and I do leave James Lindley sixty pounds current moneyand I do leave Simon
Lindley sixty pounds current money and I do leave Ruth Lindley, Jr. sixtypounds current money, and I do leave Mary Lindley, Jr. sixty poundscurrent money, and I
do leave Ellenor Lindley sixty pounds current money and I do leaveWilliam Lindley sixty pounds current money and I do leave Thomas Lindley,Jr. sixty pounds
current money, all children of my daughter Ruth Lindley, wife to ThomasLindley and I do leave Deborah Lindley sixty pounds current money.

I do leave to my grand children, Hannah Taylor, Wife to Joseph Taylor,sixty pounds current money, and I do leave Caleb Johnson sixty poundscurrent money and
I do leave John Johnson sixty pounds current money, and I do leave toFreeman Johnson sixty pounds current money, and I do leave to JonathanJohnson sixty
pounds current money, and I do leave to Isaac Johnson sixty poundscurrent money, all children of my daughter Katherine Johnson, wife toRobert Johnson.

I do leave to my grand-children to wit; Sarah Smith Gregg, fifty-fivepounds current money, and I do leave Jacob Gregg sixty pounds currentmoney, and I do leave
Ruth Gregg five pounds current money, and I do leave William Gregg sixtypounds current money, and I do leave Mirriam Gregg sixty pounds currentmoney, and I
do leave Deborah Gregg sixty pounds current money and I do leave PhebeGregg sixty pounds current money, all of them children of my daughter AnnGregg,
widow and relict of Richard Gregg departed.

NOTE--John Lindley was twice set down in a mistake and when I found themistake I erased it with my own hand. Deborah Lindley was born in NorthCarolina
and I did not remember her to get her name down in the proper place, butI do give the said sum set down on the other side.

And it is my will that as many of my said grand-children which are at ageat my decease, that my executors shall pay them their legacies left themby me one year
after my decease, and all my said grand-children which are not of age, Ido order that my said executors to give it into the hands of the parentsof the said
grand-children, they giving bend and security with interest for the samefor the benefit of their children, and my said grand-children, to be paidone year after my
decease to said parents, but if they refuse to comply as above, then I doorder my said executors to put out the said legacy left by me to my saidgrand-children into
good hands at interest, and pay them as above when they come of age withthe interest of said legacy at twenty-one years or day of marriage whichshall first
happen.

It is my will that if any of my grand-children depart this life beforethey come to age or before, unmarried, that their legacy left them by meshall be equally divided
among their survivors, and it is my will that if any of mygrand-daughters or grand-sons wives should have any more children beforemy decease or be pregnant, that
then my said executors shall put to interest for them the sum of fiftypounds current money, and pay them as above said. I do leave to my nephewThomas Kiernan,
the sum of ten pounds current money.

I do leave to my said wife's children to wit; John Buffington, onepistole, Richard Buffington one pistole, Phebe Wall one pistole, PeterBuffington one pistole, Isaac
Buffington one pistole, Joseph Buffington ten pounds current money to bepaid them one year after my decease and what bonds, notes or accounts bepayable to me
from any of my grand children or their husbands, must be discounted outof the legacy left them by me, and I here-by-constitute make and ordainmy trusty and
well-beloved Grand-son-in-law, James Thompson and my trusted and wellbeloved grand-son John Hadley and my worthy and well loved friend, DanielNicholds,
all of them in Hill Creek Hundred in the County of New Castle onDelaware, yeomen, my executors of this my last will and testament, and Ido hereby revoke and
make void all former wills made by me at any time here-to-fore, and I doleave my executors thirty pounds current money to each of them, for theircare and trouble
they will have about the nagging and settling of my said estate, whichsaid sum shall be in full for their care and trouble and shall not havemore for their commission,
nor any other charge against my said estate on that account, but I doallow my said executors shall have commissions for what just money shallbe received by them
arising out of the legacies left by me to my said grand-children untilthey respectively arrive at the age above-said, and I do desire andrequest my trusty friends
Benjamin Swett of the town of New Castle, Esq. and Samuel Gregg ofChristiana Hundred and county above said, yeomen, to be overseers, to seethat my last and
testament be well and truly performed, and for their care and trouble Ido leave each of them the sum of five pounds current money, to be paid bythe executors, and
it is my will that what is left to my said son, Joseph Hadley, should bekept in my said executors hands and give it to him at several times asthey see it is necessary
for it.

I give devise and bequeath unto my grandson, Simon Johnson, son of RobertJohnson, certain plantation and tract of land lying contiguous to theabove land devised
to my grandson Simon Hadley, bounded and described as followeth:Viz.Beginning at a corner mulberry tree being a corner of the land late ofJoshua Hadley but
now of Robert Johnson, thence west by the same land one hundred andeighty perches to a post thence north by the said Rows land 134 perchesto a corner post of
the above land devised to my said grandson Simon Hadley, thence south 69degrees, east by the said tract 59 perches to a post and south 20degrees, east 19
perches to a gum tree and south 60 degrees, east 137 perches and a halfto another gum and south 50 degrees, east 48 perches and a half to acorner black oak
and south 31 degrees, east 38 perches to a corner post in the line of theland seated by my said grandson John Hadley, thence west by the same 57perches to a
corner black oak in a line of the aforesaid Robert Johnson land, thencenorth by the same 37 perches to the place of beginning, containing byestimation 112 acres
be the same more or less with in the bounds aforesaid, with thehereitaments and appurtenances thereunto belonging or in anywiseappertaining to the hold to him,
my said grandson Simon Johnson, and the male heirs of his body lawfullybegotten forever, but if he my said grandson, Simon Johnson should happento depart this
life without male heirs as above, then and in such case I give devise andbequeath the said tract of land and premises unto the next male heirs byconsanguinity to
him, my said grandson, and the male heirs of his body lawfully begottenforever, to be possessed by my said grandson when he shall arrive at therespective age of
twenty-one years.

I do give and bequeath to my grandson, John Hadley, son of my son JosephHadley, and the male heirs of his body lawfully begotten forever, aplantation or tract of
land here-in-after mentioned, but if he should depart this life withoutmale heirs, then in such case, it is my will and I do give and bequeaththe said plantation and
tract of land to the next male heir by blood to him and his heirsforever, said plantation and tract of land to be bounded as followeth;Beginning at a corner black oak
in the line of the said Robert Johnsons land, thence east 130 perches toa corner hickory tree in the said Manor line, thence by the said linesouth 185 perches to a
corner oak sapling _______________ containing within the said bounds 150acres of land, be the same more or less, and I do bequeath to my saidgrandson John
Hadley, ten pounds current money.

I do give and bequeath a plantation or tract of land to ______ Johnson inthe Letitia Aubrey Manor containing 93 acres and 66 perches of land. Ihave a deed for
the same and recorded in the name of my grandson Simon Gregg, son ofRichard Gregg, departed, and Anne his wife, my daughter, to him and themale heirs of his
body lawfully begotten as above, but should he depart this life, it is mywill and I do give the said plantation and tract of land to the next maleheirs by blood to him
and the male heirs of his body legally begotten forever.

In witness whereof I have here-unto set my hand and my seal this 3rd dayof November, one thousand seven hundred and fifty five (1755).

Note before signing and sealing-- It is my will that if any of mygrand-children should fall heir to any of the above said tracts of landby the death of him or them
which I have willed it to, then it is my will that he or they which shallfall heir to said estate or estates, shall not have the said fifty poundswilled to them by me as
above, but shall be equally divided as above to the survivinggrand-children.

Signed, Sealed, pronounced and declared by the said Simon Hadley to behis last will and testament in the presence of us the subscribers. Thiswill was found by
Chalmers Hadley in the Wilmington, Delaware court house in 1908. Noinventory of Simon's estate was found with the will but a check of itsprovisions reveals that
he disposed of 615 acres of land and about $15,000 in money - not a smallamount for those days.

Attached to the will was the deposition of David Finney, attorney at law,taken before William Till, Register of Wills for the probate, andgranting letters of
administration in and for the county of Newcastle. In this depositionFinney said, -he was at the mansion house of Simon Hadley, Esq. on 21 Jan1756 and that
Simon seemed unable to determine what sum should be left Phoebe, hiswife, and Finney suggested 200 pounds, to which Simon agreed was fair inaddition to the
marriage settlement he had given her.

Simon was buried beside his wife, Ruth, in the New Garden buryinggrounds. Their graves, together with those of their friends andneighbors, can not be identified
since early-day Friends did not mark their graves with a stone of anykind.

Information from The Hadley Family by Lyle H. Hadley and an article inthe Pennsylvania Traveler Post, v. 16, #3, pg.3