Marcus Hook Borough
The Marcus Hook area of the Delaware River waterfront has attracted settlement since the movement of the Lenni Lenape into this region. Reputedly, the town derives its name from an early Finnish settler who resided in a Swedish trading outpost and colonization site in the late 1630's or early 1640's.The word “Hook” meant a point of land and presumably referred to the natural harbor formed below Marcus Hook Creek.
The area from the west bank of Chester Creek to Marcus Hook Creek was originally a part of a large tract granted by Queen Christina of Sweden to Captain John Ammundsen Besk in 1653; the land west of the latter creek was given to a number of Swedish farmers in 1679. The Dutch called this area “Marrites Hoeck” after conquering the Delaware watershed in 1655 to 1664. After the fall of New Amsterdam, these settlements were under the English crown but attracted little interest until Charles II granted William Penn vast acreage for colonization. Some English settlers had migrated to Marcus Hook from Burlington and other West Jersey hamlets, but most arrived in 1682 and 1683. Within six years, the English predominated enough to have the area’s name changed to “Chichester” after the Sussex town from which the most influential citizens had emigrated. In common usage, however, Marcus Hook, remained the term for the waterfront settlement while “Chichester” became the designation for the hinterland.
The inhabitants petitioned William Penn for the establishment of a local market, to be held in the long open area still visible today in Lower Market (then Broad) Street. The charter for the market was granted in 1701, one of only three such privileges issued by the Proprietor. Prior to 1800, a two-story market house was erected. The second floor of the structure was demolished in 1869-1870 and the weekly trade in food, goods and livestock gradually died out.
During colonial times Marcus Hook served as the first port of call for Philadelphia and rivaled Chester in size. It briefly became a notorious haven for pirates in the early 18th century, the most famous cutthroat being Edward Teach, “Blackbeard.” The waterfront remained an infamous neighborhood as a result of the many taverns along Discord Lane (present Second Street). The ship-building industry was started before 1750, and was well known for coastal traders and herring sloops.
During the American Revolution, a chevaux-de-frise was sunk in the channel to prevent the passage of British warships and the town was bombarded several times. The Continental army camped in the Borough in August-September 1777 and there is some evidence that a training camp for the Pennsylvania militia was maintained 1776 to 1779 on the west bank of Marcus Hook Creek.
During the war of 1812, infantry troops were trained and quartered just north of the crossroads of Market Street and Post Road (U.S. 13) and continuing Northeast into Trainer. The encampment known as “Camp Gaines” and later “Fort
The area from the west bank of Chester Creek to Marcus Hook Creek was originally a part of a large tract granted by Queen Christina of Sweden to Captain John Ammundsen Besk in 1653; the land west of the latter creek was given to a number of Swedish farmers in 1679. The Dutch called this area “Marrites Hoeck” after conquering the Delaware watershed in 1655 to 1664. After the fall of New Amsterdam, these settlements were under the English crown but attracted little interest until Charles II granted William Penn vast acreage for colonization. Some English settlers had migrated to Marcus Hook from Burlington and other West Jersey hamlets, but most arrived in 1682 and 1683. Within six years, the English predominated enough to have the area’s name changed to “Chichester” after the Sussex town from which the most influential citizens had emigrated. In common usage, however, Marcus Hook, remained the term for the waterfront settlement while “Chichester” became the designation for the hinterland.
The inhabitants petitioned William Penn for the establishment of a local market, to be held in the long open area still visible today in Lower Market (then Broad) Street. The charter for the market was granted in 1701, one of only three such privileges issued by the Proprietor. Prior to 1800, a two-story market house was erected. The second floor of the structure was demolished in 1869-1870 and the weekly trade in food, goods and livestock gradually died out.
During colonial times Marcus Hook served as the first port of call for Philadelphia and rivaled Chester in size. It briefly became a notorious haven for pirates in the early 18th century, the most famous cutthroat being Edward Teach, “Blackbeard.” The waterfront remained an infamous neighborhood as a result of the many taverns along Discord Lane (present Second Street). The ship-building industry was started before 1750, and was well known for coastal traders and herring sloops.
During the American Revolution, a chevaux-de-frise was sunk in the channel to prevent the passage of British warships and the town was bombarded several times. The Continental army camped in the Borough in August-September 1777 and there is some evidence that a training camp for the Pennsylvania militia was maintained 1776 to 1779 on the west bank of Marcus Hook Creek.
During the war of 1812, infantry troops were trained and quartered just north of the crossroads of Market Street and Post Road (U.S. 13) and continuing Northeast into Trainer. The encampment known as “Camp Gaines” and later “Fort
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