William Yardley

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For the 19th century English cricketer, see William Yardley (cricketer).

William Yardley (1632 – May 6, 1693) was an early settler of Bucks County, Pennsylvania. He is the namesake of the borough of Yardley, Pennsylvania. A Quaker, he and his wife, Jane (nee Heath), came from Ransclough, England near Leeke in the County of Stafford. The family arrived July 28, 1682 on the ship Friend's Adventure with their children, Thomas, Enoch and William, and a servant. Yardley had purchased 500 acres (2 km²) of land in Lower Makefield Township in Bucks County from William Penn just sixteen days after Penn received his grant of the territory from Charles II. Yardley named his tract "Prospect Farm". He served as a Justice of the Peace for Bucks County and became a member of the Provincial Council.

After the family died in a smallpox epidemic in 1702-03, William's nephew Thomas Yardley arrived from England in 1704 to manage the holdings.

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