Editing Chester, Pennsylvania (section)

===18th century===
[[File:Robert-m-chadwick-wheelwright-common-history.jpg|thumb|R. Chadwick Wheel Wrighting. Blacksmithing & Shoeing c.1885]]
[[File:Chester PA 5th n Ave of the States.JPG|thumb|Downtown Chester at 5th Street and Avenue of the States]]
[[File:Old Swedish Burial Ground Chester Delco.jpg|thumb|[[St. Paul's Church (Chester, Pennsylvania)|Old St. Paul's Church]] burial ground is the burial location of [[John Morton (American politician)|John Morton]], one of 56 signators to the [[United States Declaration of Independence|U.S. Declaration of Independence]]]]
[[File:Chester PA BEye View 1885.jpg|thumb|Chester in 1885]]
[[File:Chester PA 502-510 Ave of the States.JPG|alt=Avenue of the States|thumb|Shuttered buildings on Avenue of the States in 2014]]
[[Chester County, Pennsylvania|Chester County]] originally stretched from the [[Delaware River]] to the [[Susquehanna River]] from its founding in 1682 until 1729 when [[Lancaster County, Pennsylvania|Lancaster County]] was formed from the western part.<ref name="LanCo">{{cite web|title=Lancaster County|url=http://www.phmc.state.pa.us:80/BAH/dam/counties/browse.asp?catid=36|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071024125402/http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/BAH/dam/counties/browse.asp?catid=36|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 24, 2007|website=Pennsylvania State Archives|access-date=April 20, 2018}}</ref> Chester served as the county seat for Chester County from 1682 to 1788.<ref name=ChesCo/> In 1724, the [[1724 Chester Courthouse|Chester Courthouse]] was built to support the legal needs of the county.{{sfn|Martin|1877|p=21}}

Chester played only a small role in the [[American Revolutionary War]]. Throughout 1776 and 1777, there were significant forces stationed in Chester and nearby [[Marcus Hook, Pennsylvania|Marcus Hook]].

In April 1776, nearly 1,000 men were stationed in Chester under Colonel [[Samuel Miles]] in preparation for the defense of Philadelphia. However, Colonel Miles led the troops to New York City in July 1776 when it became clear that the British Fleet was threatening New York rather than Philadelphia.{{sfn|Ashmead|1883|p=30}}

In 1777, the [[Continental Army]] led by [[George Washington]] passed through Chester on the way to meet the [[British Army during the American Revolutionary War|British Army]] led by [[General Howe]] at the [[Battle of Brandywine]]. [[John Armstrong Jr.|John Armstrong]] was ordered to take command of the militia stationed at Chester. The Continental Army fled back to Chester after defeat at the [[Battle of Brandywine]]. A portion of the British force occupied Chester as they chased the Continental Army fleeing to Philadelphia.{{sfn|Martin|1877|pp=174-179}}

In 1788, the Chester County seat was moved from Chester to [[West Chester, Pennsylvania|West Chester]].<ref name="ChesCo">{{cite web|title=Chester County|url=http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/bah/dam/counties/browse.asp?catid=15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070704064324/http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/bah/dam/counties/browse.asp?catid=15|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 4, 2007|website=Pennsylvania State Archives|access-date=April 20, 2018}}</ref>
In 1789, [[Delaware County, Pennsylvania|Delaware County]] was formed from the eastern part of Chester County, and Chester became the new county seat.<ref name="DelCo">{{cite web|title=Delaware County|url=http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/bah/dam/counties/browse.asp?catid=23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070630065939/http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/bah/dam/counties/browse.asp?catid=23|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 30, 2007|website=Pennsylvania State Archives|access-date=April 20, 2018}}</ref>

The borough of Chester was governed under the charter granted by Penn in 1701 until  March 5, 1795, when it was incorporated by the [[Pennsylvania Assembly]].{{sfn|Ashmead|1884|pp=332-333}}