Before the founding of Philadelphia, the main settlement was located about 15 miles down the Delaware River at Upland. The original settlers were Swedish arriving in 1643 as part of the colony of New Sweden. It was ruled by the Swedes until 1655 when the Dutch incorporated the area into the New Netherlands, and finally, beginning in 1676, the English replaced the Dutch. John Test was the second sheriff of Upland under English administration. William Markham had been commissioned Deputy Governor of the province in April of 1681.
“In September [1681] Upland Court appears to have been organized under [Capt. William] Markham's instructions and jury trials instituted. The justices present at the meeting of this newly organized court were William Clayton, William Warner, Robert Wade, William Byles, Otto Ernest Cook, Robert Lucas, Lasse Cock, Swen Swenson, and Andreas Bankson, five of them being members of Markham's Council. The clerk of the court was Thomas Revell, and the sheriff's name was John Test.”
Thomas Scharf and Thomson Westcott, History of Philadelphia: 1609-1884 (Philadelphia: L.H. Everts, 1884), p. 95.
The Court at Upland, Record of the Courts of Chester County, Pennsylvania, 1681-1697 (Philadelphia: Colonial Society of Pennsylvania, Patterson & White Company, 1910)
The first session of the new court was ... at ... Upland, where, no doubt, Governor Markham had fixed his residence. The record commences thus:
Transcription
Province of Pennsilvania: At the Cort at Upland, September 13th, 1681--
Mr. William Clayton     | Mr. Robert Lucas |
Mr. William Warner | Mr. Lassey Cock |
Mr. Robert Wade | Mr. Swan Swanson |
Mr. Otto Ernst Cock | Mr. Andreas Bankson |
Mr. William Byles | Justices present |
Mr. John Test Sheriffe | |
Mr. Tho: Revell, Clerke |
The list may be a bit misleading. John Test was first sheriff of Chester County appointed under the proprietorship of Wm. Penn. William Penn's cousin and acting governor of Pennsylvania William Markham who arrived in Upland (now Chester, Pennsylvania) on August 3, 1681 appointed John Test sheriff. Markham continued to serve as governor until Penn arrived in October of 1682.
Capt. Edmond Cantwell served as the sheriff at Upland before Penn became proprietor of Pennsylvania. He was appointed by Governor Edmund Andros the fourth colonial governor of New York.
Source: Publication Title: Pennsylvania Archives
Short Description: The Pennsylvania State Archives published 10 series of historical records (138 volumes) covering the initial colonial settlement through the Civil War.
Series: Series 2
Volume: IX
Chapter: Officers of the Colonies on the Delaware 1614-1681.
Page: 635
Thomas Revell's House in Burlington, N.J.
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I seem to have noticed that frequently when John Test is recorded in a position of public service Mr. Thomas Revell is there as well. The two seem to be associates in some form although Mr. Revell was much more involved in the governing process than John Test was.