PACHESTE-L Archives

Archiver > PACHESTE > 1999-01 > 0915466310


From: <>
Subject: West Marlborough Twp. #9
Date: Mon, 4 Jan 1999 11:11:50 EST


West Marlborough Township local history part #9

Springdell. The village called Springdell, located in the northwest corner of
West Marlborough Township, derives its name from the many springs in the
ravine nearby that empty into the Doe Run creek. A post office was
established there in 1893 with John H. Webb as postmaster, and it continued
until March 31, 1910. Because there were already too many post offices with
the name Springdell, the residents met to decide upon a name, but they were
unsuccessful in coming to an agreement. Pinkowski’s book on Place Names
recounts that “when the meeting broke up, the chairman reached for his hat and
coat. The hat, however, fell off the table. “Derbydown” someone quickly
remarked, and before they put on their coats they reconvened and adopted that
expression as the name for their post office! For a time the village was also
called Derbydown, but the name Springdell always has been more widely used.

The legendary outlaw memorialized as “Sandy Flash” in Bayard Taylor’s
historical novel, The Story of Kennett, was a native of West Marlborough
Township and resided much of his life in a stone dwelling that still stands at
Springdell. A friend of his, seeing him returning from a dance one morning,
said he went by like a “sandy flash,” making reference to his long, red hair.
He used the name Fitz, or Fitch, and learned the blacksmith trade as
apprentice to one John Passmore. Fitzpatrick was well behaved as a youth and
athletically inclined. He was fond of good clothes, dancing, and fine horses.
It is said that he once went without sleep three days consecutively, at his
anvil all day, off for a ten mile ride to dance all night, and by morning back
to the shop to shoe more horses.

He enlisted as a private in the Continental Army in 1776 but after a year
deserted in New York. He was captured in Philadelphia, but was released from
prison upon promise to rejoin the fight. Again he deserted and returned to
his home at Sprindell, where he resumed the blacksmith trade. Twice he eluded
soldiers who came to recapture him and, angry at the American cause because of
his previous treatment, eventually he joined the British forces at the head of
the Elk to aid General Howe by his knowledge of the countryside. He acted as
the British guide at the Battle of the Brandywine and played an important role
in the defeat of Washington’s army. He was given by the British a roving
commission with the rank of captain and, after the British left Philadelphia,
he returned to the vicinity of modern day Coatesville to make raids upon the
local supporters of the revolutionary cause. He moved fast between thefts,
taking the finest horses and cattle of the supporters of General Washington’s
army, boldly venturing by disguise even into the councils of those who were
planning his capture.

Fitzpatrick was captured in August of 1778 after the Executive Council of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania offered a $1,000 reward for his capture. He was
hung one month later at the gallows erected in the town of Chester, after
several near escapes.

Two legends about Captain Fitz linger and haunt those with a thirst for
adventure. In the vicinity of the Cross Keys tavern a short distance west of
Coatesville on the Lincoln Highway, Fitz was thought to have had a natural
cave with a subterranean tunnel leading to an outlet in the high banks of
rocks on the west side of the Brandywine at Rock Run. The cave and tunnel
have never been located.

Further, during his expoits the bandit is thought to have acquired a treasure
trove of gold and silver! Many attempts were made in past years to locate the
burying place of the treasures but riches have never been discovered. Whether
they are still buried in Chester County or not, or whether they even ever
existed, is a matter which may never be known.

Lamborntown. One and one half miles west of London Grove on the Street Road
was a village known as Woodville or Lamborntown. Renamed for a prominent
citizen of the eighteenth century David Lamborn, the community had been known
as Woodville from earliest times. Although present appearances would not
suggest it, this crossroads was a bustling village a century ago. It included
a blacksmith shop on the southeast corner, and several dwellings now
demolished. What is now Lamborntown Road was an important wagon road to
Avondale, though now it meets a dead end a mile south of Lamborntown on London
Grove road. The Pomeroy and Delaware City railroad which was built through
the western part of the township established important stations, which made
the road to Avondale through Lamborntown less prominent as time passed.

This thread: