Photos courtesy of Ethel Broomall Dougherty

Pictures in an album belonging to Edith (Venn) Herd, daughter of Lydia Jane (Broomall) Venn who was sister to Thomas Thompson Broomall the miller. On the back of the interior shot it says, "Old Grist Mill, Ridley, PA." Edith Venn visited here as a child when the mill was still in service by her Uncle Tom.

Thanks to Ethel Broomall Dougherty for supplying the following information about the mills run by Thomas T. and John T. Broomall.

INSKEEP MILL, GLENOLDEN, PA. (RIDGEWAY)

In 1863 Governor Richard Nicholls, of New York, gave 300 acres to four Swedish Immigrants. They were to settle on land and cultivate it. The four divided the tract among themselves. In 1683 one portion was owned by Oele Koeck, which later became Ridgeway, was sold to Morton Mortensen, grandfather of John Morton of Declaration of Independence family. He kept the property for 25 years. The property wen from owner to owner. About 1755, Thomas Shipley of Wilmington, a miller by trade, erected a mill along Muckinipates Creek, one mile upstream from where it joined Darby Creek. The mill again
went from owner to owner until Ephraim Inskeep purchased it in 1828. At his death in 1876 the mill passed by inheritance to Ephraim Ridgeway. I have still heard it referred to as Inskeep Mill in 1999. Farmers from New Jersey used to bring their grain to be ground by boat up the creek at high tide. In year 2000 this would be impossible.

From Morton Chronicles-3/2/1882- Thomas Broomall of Hickman's Mill, Ridley has rented Inskeep mill near Glenolden and will take possession April 1st.

MORTON CHRONICLES

2/28/1884 A MILL INUNDATED: The water in the race at Inskeep's Mill at Glenolden, overflowed the banks one day last week. The 1st and 2nd floors of the mill were completely deluged and a considerable quantity of feed was destroyed, the loss to the operator of the mill, Thomas Broomall, being quite heavy. Forty perches of stone were placed in the excavation caused by the overflow to prevent a like disaster.

HICKMAN MILL, RIDLEY TOWNSHIP, PA.

4/7/1887 The mill property of Samuel Hickman in Ridley township, near Ridley Park, will be offered at public sale on Thurs next. Mr Hickman is running the mill and will attend to all orders for grinding feed to be sent to the mill until the day of the sale.

4/21/1887 The mill property of Samuel Hickman near Ridley Park, which was offered at Public sale on Thurs last was bid to $3000.00 and withdrawn.

7/12/1894 Thomas Broomall has rented the Hickman Grist Mill near Ridley Park. Tom is thoroughly familiar with the business and has a wide acquaintance with the farmers in the surrounding country & will be glad to have them call upon him when they want their corn & wheat ground.
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Martha Broomall born 1837, daughter of Larkin Broomall, married Samuel Hickman. Larkin Broomall was Uncle of Thomas T. Broomall and brother of Nehemiah. 2. So the mill was all in the family.