Sugartown, located in Malvern, Pennsylvania, was established in the early 1800s and became a vibrant crossroads that provided goods and services to the surrounding farming community. The Historic Sugartown local manuscripts collection, 1790s-1980s, consists of various materials such as letters, photographs, scrapbooks, and deeds that document some of Sugartown's early families and businesses. In particular, the Williams and Garrett families are well represented. Some items relating to the Hoopes family are also included.
During the 1840s, Sharpless Worrall moved with his family to Sugartown in Willistown Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania, where he took over ownership of a general store and served as postmaster for 20 years. Upon his retirement, Worrall's son-in-law Hillery John took over the store, which he ran until his death. At that point it was taken over by Hillery's son, Clyde B. John, who eventually turned the business into an antiques shop. Worrall and John family papers and business records, 1830-1939, primarily consist of the business records of the general store under all three owners as well personal and family papers relating to the Worrall and John families.