| Little Britain Township HISTORY |
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A NEW TOWNSHIP IS BORN -- Little Britain Township
was not one of the original townships of Lancaster
County, but it was among the first organized based on
court records. On February 7, 1738, a petition was set
forth by many of the inhabitants of Drumore Township
to separate and create another township. The reason
was because the community was getting too large and
the residents suffered many inconveniences by being
under one township. When it came time to divide
Drumore Township into two, the community had a hard
time deciding on a name for the new township. Many
names were proposed and many names were
considered. Finally, John Jamison one of the oldest and
most prominent citizens, proposed that it be called Little
Britain Township because most of them were of
Scotch-Irish descent & came from Great Britain. So in
memory of the "mother country", the new township
became known as Little Britain. For over one hundred
years, Little Britain Township's boundaries remained
unchanged, until 1844 when another township was
formed known as Fulton.
was not one of the original townships of Lancaster
County, but it was among the first organized based on
court records. On February 7, 1738, a petition was set
forth by many of the inhabitants of Drumore Township
to separate and create another township. The reason
was because the community was getting too large and
the residents suffered many inconveniences by being
under one township. When it came time to divide
Drumore Township into two, the community had a hard
time deciding on a name for the new township. Many
names were proposed and many names were
considered. Finally, John Jamison one of the oldest and
most prominent citizens, proposed that it be called Little
Britain Township because most of them were of
Scotch-Irish descent & came from Great Britain. So in
memory of the "mother country", the new township
became known as Little Britain. For over one hundred
years, Little Britain Township's boundaries remained
unchanged, until 1844 when another township was
formed known as Fulton.
BOUNDARIES – After Fulton Township was formed, new boundaries were established for Little Britain Township. Little
Britain Township was now bounded on the northeast by the western branch of the Octorara Creek, which separates it
from Colerain Township; on the southeast by the main Octorara Creek, which separates it from Chester County; on the
northwest by Drumore Township and on the west by Fulton Township. The extreme length from North to South was
approximately eight miles, & the width from the Fulton Township line to Pine Grove Bridge was over five miles.
Britain Township was now bounded on the northeast by the western branch of the Octorara Creek, which separates it
from Colerain Township; on the southeast by the main Octorara Creek, which separates it from Chester County; on the
northwest by Drumore Township and on the west by Fulton Township. The extreme length from North to South was
approximately eight miles, & the width from the Fulton Township line to Pine Grove Bridge was over five miles.
ORIGINAL ACREAGE -- This area has
perhaps the earliest documentation of land
ownership in the county. In 1714, Alexander
Ross took out a warrant for 500+ acres for a
northern track of land, & in 1735, Elisha
Gatchell & Henry Reynolds took out a warrant
for 600+ acres in the southern track of land.
Elisha kept 300+ acres & Henry kept 300+
acres. The nearly 1200 acres were eventually
sold & divided into various segments of land
which constitute part of what is now Little
Britain Township.
perhaps the earliest documentation of land
ownership in the county. In 1714, Alexander
Ross took out a warrant for 500+ acres for a
northern track of land, & in 1735, Elisha
Gatchell & Henry Reynolds took out a warrant
for 600+ acres in the southern track of land.
Elisha kept 300+ acres & Henry kept 300+
acres. The nearly 1200 acres were eventually
sold & divided into various segments of land
which constitute part of what is now Little
Britain Township.
EARLY VILLAGES -- The Township had within its limit several small villages that thrived with the prosperity of the
country. The village of Kinseyville was in the extreme south on a one hundred and twenty five acre track of land. The
Kinseys erected an extensive blacksmith shop and tilt hammer as well as a number of houses. After Abel Kinsey's death
the blacksmith shop was converted into a spoke factory. It was later turned into a sawmill, Kirk's Mill, which was in the
next village above Kinseyville, that had been started by Jacob Kirk. The village consisted of a mill, a store, and a post
office. Also within its limit was Eastland Friends' Meeting house, which was a place for worship and meetings, and a
school house which accommodated the neighborhood. About two miles north of Kirk's Mill was the village of Elim,
which is now Little Britain. Within this village there was a post office, a store, a blacksmith, a wheelwright shop, a
dentist's office, and a public school house. A mile and a half east of Elim was Oak Hill, the public center of the township,
where all the public transactions took place. Public elections and various meetings took place here; all of the township
books were kept here for public viewing. Oak Hill had a large hotel to entertain strangers, a store house, a spoke mill,
a blacksmith shop, and a public school. Approximately one and a half miles northeast of Oak Hill was a village by the
name of Ashville now known as Tayloria. The village was named after Phineas Ash who was very wealthy and held
considerable amounts of property at the time. The village consisted of a store, wheelwright shop, and a meeting house
(originally built by the Friends). Two miles northwest of Ashville was Oak Shade – Spring Hill village. Oak Shade only
had a blacksmith shop, and most of the people didn't reside there. About half a mile west was Spring Hill where most of
the population resided. Spring Hill got its name because of a strong spring of water flowing out of a hill northward of the
place. A little over a mile northwest of Oak Shade was a village call Fairmount. Fairmount had a general store, a post
office, a blacksmith shop, and a public school. Also located in this village was a station for the Peach Bottom Railroad.
country. The village of Kinseyville was in the extreme south on a one hundred and twenty five acre track of land. The
Kinseys erected an extensive blacksmith shop and tilt hammer as well as a number of houses. After Abel Kinsey's death
the blacksmith shop was converted into a spoke factory. It was later turned into a sawmill, Kirk's Mill, which was in the
next village above Kinseyville, that had been started by Jacob Kirk. The village consisted of a mill, a store, and a post
office. Also within its limit was Eastland Friends' Meeting house, which was a place for worship and meetings, and a
school house which accommodated the neighborhood. About two miles north of Kirk's Mill was the village of Elim,
which is now Little Britain. Within this village there was a post office, a store, a blacksmith, a wheelwright shop, a
dentist's office, and a public school house. A mile and a half east of Elim was Oak Hill, the public center of the township,
where all the public transactions took place. Public elections and various meetings took place here; all of the township
books were kept here for public viewing. Oak Hill had a large hotel to entertain strangers, a store house, a spoke mill,
a blacksmith shop, and a public school. Approximately one and a half miles northeast of Oak Hill was a village by the
name of Ashville now known as Tayloria. The village was named after Phineas Ash who was very wealthy and held
considerable amounts of property at the time. The village consisted of a store, wheelwright shop, and a meeting house
(originally built by the Friends). Two miles northwest of Ashville was Oak Shade – Spring Hill village. Oak Shade only
had a blacksmith shop, and most of the people didn't reside there. About half a mile west was Spring Hill where most of
the population resided. Spring Hill got its name because of a strong spring of water flowing out of a hill northward of the
place. A little over a mile northwest of Oak Shade was a village call Fairmount. Fairmount had a general store, a post
office, a blacksmith shop, and a public school. Also located in this village was a station for the Peach Bottom Railroad.
RAILROAD -- One mode of transportation back at that time was the Peach Bottom Railroad (narrow gauge) which
entered the township from Chester county (crossing the Octorara), passed up the west branch (on its southern side) to
King's Bridge, then turned up a small summit beyond Fairmount station. The train then descended a small branch of
the Conewingo until it crossed the township line into Fulton. Before reaching the Fulton House, the train passed four
stations which were located in Spruce Grove, White Rock, King's Bridge, and Fairmount. The railroad was used as
public transportation and for the shipment of goods from one place to another.
entered the township from Chester county (crossing the Octorara), passed up the west branch (on its southern side) to
King's Bridge, then turned up a small summit beyond Fairmount station. The train then descended a small branch of
the Conewingo until it crossed the township line into Fulton. Before reaching the Fulton House, the train passed four
stations which were located in Spruce Grove, White Rock, King's Bridge, and Fairmount. The railroad was used as
public transportation and for the shipment of goods from one place to another.
MINING -- Blacksmiths and wheelwrights were important to the area, but the most notable industry was the chrome
mines on the Wood farm, commonly known as "the Wood Mines". Isaac Tyson Jr. of Tyson mining in Baltimore,
purchased the land from the Wood family and began extracting chrome until 1883. Tyson had chrome mines along the
East Coast as far north as Vermont, but the chrome pits on this land was the most productive in the world and
furnished a large portion of the chrome of commerce. In 1883, the mines were filled with water and closed. Eventually,
the land and all of its contents were re-acquired by the Wood family to be used for farming purposes. During World
War II it was thought the mines might open again, but it was not feasible.
mines on the Wood farm, commonly known as "the Wood Mines". Isaac Tyson Jr. of Tyson mining in Baltimore,
purchased the land from the Wood family and began extracting chrome until 1883. Tyson had chrome mines along the
East Coast as far north as Vermont, but the chrome pits on this land was the most productive in the world and
furnished a large portion of the chrome of commerce. In 1883, the mines were filled with water and closed. Eventually,
the land and all of its contents were re-acquired by the Wood family to be used for farming purposes. During World
War II it was thought the mines might open again, but it was not feasible.
WORSHIP -- There were two public churches within the township where the people could gather for worship. Eastland
Friends' Meeting House and burial ground was established in 1792. Without being large, the meeting house was
sufficient for those who worship in it. In 1848 a lot was purchased at Ashville to erect another Friends' meeting
house, which was also used by other denominations to hold worship services when the Friends didn't have their
meetings. The meeting house was used a number of years by the Friends, but after the trustees who held the property
died, the premises were sold to the Presbyterians for their use & benefit. The Little Britain Presbyterian Church & the
Little Britain Friends' Meeting house at Penn Hill were originally named when Little Britain and Fulton were one
township.
Friends' Meeting House and burial ground was established in 1792. Without being large, the meeting house was
sufficient for those who worship in it. In 1848 a lot was purchased at Ashville to erect another Friends' meeting
house, which was also used by other denominations to hold worship services when the Friends didn't have their
meetings. The meeting house was used a number of years by the Friends, but after the trustees who held the property
died, the premises were sold to the Presbyterians for their use & benefit. The Little Britain Presbyterian Church & the
Little Britain Friends' Meeting house at Penn Hill were originally named when Little Britain and Fulton were one
township.
| © 2012 Little Britain Township. All rights reserved Website Design: The Lancaster Express |
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| Little Britain Township Municipal Office * 323 Green Lane * Quarryville, PA 17566 E-mail: lbt@littlebritain.org Phone: 717-529-2373 Fax: 717- 529-6160 |