The area of Chester County was part of the charter of Pennsylvania that was granted to William Penn in 1710. On May 10, 1729 part of Chester County was formed into Lancaster County, making it Pennsylvania’s fourth county.
In the 1700s people of various faiths came to Lancaster County, and other parts of Pennsylvania, to escape religious persecution. French Huguenots fleeing religious persecution settled Lancaster in 1710. There were also significant numbers of English Amish and English Quakers who emigrated to live in Lancaster.
Recommended Reading:
“History of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania” by Franklin Ellis and Samuel Evans
