USA > Pennsylvania > A gazetteer of the state of Pennsylvania : a part first, contains a general description of the state, its situation and extent, general geological construction, canals, and rail-roads, bridges, revenue, expenditures, public debt, &c. &c. ; part second, embraces ample descriptions of its counties, towns, cities, villages, mountains, lakes, rivers, creeks, &c. alphabetically arranged > Part 17
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87
Out of the town of Reading, the provisions for education are scanty, and in many places, there are none for teaching the English language, the inhabitants erroneously believing, that a knowledge of science and letters will not increase the magnitude of their crops. German industry, patience and perseverance, are indeed valuable, and agricultural implements, which become more effective in proportion to the general intelligence of the mind that directs them. The prevailing religion of the county is German, Lutheran, and German Presbyterian.
sects dwell together in christian har- mony, commonly placing their church- es near each other, and not unfrequent- ly worship in the same church. There are in the county 37 churches in which the Lutherans worship.
The staple commodities of Berks county, are wheat, rye, corn, oats, buck wheat, salted provisions, and iron.
Flour, and iron, and wool hats, are the chief manufactures. Grist and merchant mills are numerous in the county, and those on and near the Schuylkill have by the canal ready and speedy access to the markets on the sea board. At the town of Read- ing the principal manufactories of hats are located, and many thousand dozen are sent annually to the south and west.
The annexed statement by Mr. Daniel McKeim, of the iron manufac- tures of the county, has much interest and is entitled to much credit. See Table A.
This county paid to the State Treas. ury in 1831.
For tax on writs,
487,20
Tavern licences (1830)
2226,41
Tax on dealers in for. mdz. (1830), 1107,66
Collateral inheritances, 704,32
Licences to pedlars (1830,)
357,20
$4882,79
The value of taxable property, by assessment of 1829 was, of real estate $6,463,338, of personal estate includ- ing occupation, $852,730. Amt. of
Thesell tax levied $18,780.
(A.) STATEMENT OF THE FURNACES, FORGES, LABORERS, &c. employed in Berks County, embracing a period of three years.
Names.
Work- ( Depend-} Horses men in 3 ents sup- years.
Wood |Tons of Tons of | Bushels Bls. of consu m- pigmetal castings. grain con beef and
ported.
employ- ed.
ed : cords
made.
sumed.
pork.
Reading Fur. Hope well,
228
1056
198
23,822
3568
95
33,000
150,000
168
1600
84
15,000
1000
7002 1,000
78,500
Joana,
168
1358
80
15,000
1200
500
21,000
78,500
Mount Penn,
220
1050
120
15,000
1700
500
16,890
92,000
Oley,
150
765
75
10,500
1050
360
14,226
46,500
Sally Ann,
150
750
51
10,800
1300
25
11,650
36,000
Mary Ann,
153
765
81
12,000
1350
330
12,500
47,000
Windsor,
195
1075
48
11,200
650
750
8600
49,000
Moselm,
18
90
15
4500
643
00
2000
2000
Union,
18
90
15
6000
700
00
2500
15,000
Kernsville,
12
60
12
4500
250
100
3000
3000
BER
46
BER
FORGES &c. continued.
Names.
Men em- ployed.
Depend- ents sup- employed ported.
Horses Cords of Grain con Lbs. of. Tons of |Tons of bar iron. wood sumed. meat Blooms used. used.
" Channing Forge,
99
475
70
9006
9000
98,550
800
Gibralter,
168
740
60
9000
12,000
175,000
000
1900
Dowell,
85
425
60
5000
7000
65,000
1000
Sixpenny,
62
310
36
3000
5500
56,000
600
Birdsborough,
94
470
52
7500
10,500
81,000
750
Speedwell,
99
99
54
3450
11,000
86,000
205
300
North Kill,
36
160
22
3000
5000
33 000
300
Green Tree,
19
82
12
1600
2500
17,000
150
Moselm 2 Forges,
110
550
60
7500
13,000
102,000
300
750
Rockland,
53
265
31
4500
6000
5000
450
Union,
61
305
37
3000
5600
25,000
600
Spring,
41
205
40
3750
6000
36,000
375
Oley,
35
165
61
3600
5000
32,000
300
New District,
30
146
48
3000
4000
26,000
240
District 2 Forges,
62
320
64
5300
7000
63,000
480
Mount Pleasant,
98
453
47
9600
10,000
78,000
720
Dale,
32
146
19
3100
3500
25,000
240
Rockland,
18
81
17
2500
2400
16,500
150
Pine,
90
460
61
8500
10,000
79,000
700
Thus it seems that during three years, eleven forges have produced 14,411 tons pigs and 3587 tons cast- ings ; 24 forges have manufactured 6,160 tons of bar iron and 5,150 tons of bloom. That these forges and fur- naces have employed 2,770 laborers, and given bread to 14,516 persons, have maintained 1,630 horses, and
consumed 223,622 cords of 'wood, 281,366 bushels of wheat, rye and corn, and 1,731,550 lbs. of beef and pork. Let the farmer add to these articles of consumption others which have been also necessarily consumed, and then ask himself, does not the protection of manufactures add to his wealth and happiness.
STATISTICAL TABLE OF BERKS COUNTY.
Townships, &c.
Greatest Area in Lth. Bth. Acres.
Face of Country.
Soil.
1810
1820
1830
Amity,
4
4
10,500
Undulating.
Red gravel. Chiefly grav. Gravel.
1275
1637
1943
402
Albany,
64
5
21,000
Hilly.
Do.
924
1294
1482
281
Brecknock,
7
2
9,500
Hilly.
Do.
495
536
866
180
Caenarvon,
5
2!
8,500
Diversified
Lime., Grav. Gravel.
2017
2462
2705
497
Colebrookdale,
5
3
9,600
Hilly.
Do.
792
1046
1219
230
Douglass,
43
34
9,520 Mount'ous.
Do.
653
934
979
183
East District,
34
3
6,500 Large hills.
Do.
394
509
562
114
Exeter,
4%
43 13,500 Undulating
Red Gravel. Gravel.
1194
1416
1455
291
Greenwich,
63
43 19,000
Hilly.
Lime., Grav. Gravel.
1140
1431
1716
316
Kutz-town,
Longswamp,
5
43 13,500
Hilly. Hilly.
Mostly grav.
998
1371
1702
297
Lower Bern,
63
54 34,000
4
13,000 Mostly lev.
294
Maxatauny,
54
43 14,960
Do. Level.
1284
1410
1469
290
Pike,
43
21
6,500 Large hills.
552
645
752
147
Reading Borough
13 1,850
Level.
Do. , Lime., Grav. Do. Mostly lime. Gravel. Grav., Lime
1240
1791
2154
410
Maiden Creek,
918
1192
1845
2108
254
Oley,
5
4 13,600
7 37,000 pt. lev. pt. h.
923
Heidleburg,
8
Hereford,
43 15,950
Hilly.
Do.
660
709
838
156
Earl,
7
7
32,000 pt. lev. pt. h.
723
829
861
175
Cumru,
53
53 21,420 Mostly mts.
1090
1279
1378
284
Alsace,
996
1182
1129
200
Bethel,
8
5
27,000 Diversified.
2
7,000 Undulating
1104
1237
1407
274
2802
3605
4101
1350
1530
3462
4278
5859
|1068
Population.
Taxa bles.
133
41
BER
47
BER
STATISTICAL TABLE OF BERKS COUNTY-Continued.
Townships, &c. Greatest
Lth.
Bth.
Area in Acres
Face of Country.
Soil.
1810
Population. 1820
1830
Taxa- bles.
Richmond,
5
4
12,480 Mostly lev. Grav., Lime.
971
1135
1550
268
Robeson,
63
5
21,000
Hilly.
Gravel.
1807
2065
1970
371
Rockland,
5
4
12,000 Large hills.
Do. Do.
932
1056
1243
250
Tulpehocken,
11
7
48,000 Diversified Lime., Grav.
2294
3838
2300
424
Union,
54
4
14,000 Large hills.
Gravel.
706
921
1646
191
Upper Bern,
73
7 34,000
Hilly.
Do.
1342
2017
2117
406
Windsor,
8
54 24,450
Hilly.
Do.
.
1456
268
U. Tulpehocken,
8
6 30,720 Diversified Lime., Grav.
36,838 46,251
53,357|10202
Tulpehocken was divided since the census of 1820.
Berlin, p-t. and borough, of Broth- er's valley t-ship, Somerset co. on the road from Bedford to Uniontown, on the head waters of Stoney creek, about 4 ms. S. of the turnpike road leading from Bedford to Somerset, and about 9 ms. S. E. of the latter ; 157 miles from W. C. and 135 from Harrisburg ; contains 100 dwellings, a Lutheran and German Reformed church, 5 stores and 2 taverns. Incorporated 27th of Feb. 1821.
Berlinville, or Lehighville, Lehigh t-ship, Northampton co. on the road from Easton to Berwick, 2 miles E. from the Lehigh water gap and one from the river ; contains 7 dwellings, 1 store and 2 taverns.
Berlin, East, p-t. Hamilton t-ship, Adams co. on the Concwago creek, 15 miles N. E. of Gettysburg, 14 W. of York, 90 from W. C. and 24 from Harrisburg, contains 80 dwellings, 5 stores, 3 taverns, 1 church, and the necessary handicrafts.
Berlin, t-ship, Wayne co. Pop. in 1830, 175. Taxable property in 1829, seated lands, $14,701 ; unseated lands, $97,609 ; personal estate, $2742. In 1828 there were 37 taxables, 4 frame and 19 log houses, 2 saw mills, 5 looms and 1 school.
Bermudian creek rises in Adams co. near the N. boundary, and flows thence S. E. and E. into York co. through Washington t-ship into the Conewago creek, having a course of about 20 miles.
Bermudian, p. o. of Washington t- ship, York co. 96 miles from W. C. and 18 from Harrisburg.
Bern, Lower, t-ship, Berks co. bounded N. by Upper Bern, S. and W. by the Tulpehocken cr. and E. by the Schuylkill river. Greatest length 6}, breadth 52 miles. Area, 34,000 acres. Surface of country hilly ; soil, chiefly gravel. Pop. in 1810, 1240 ; in 1820, 1791; in 1830, 21,54. Taxables in 1828, 410. Lower Bern is watered by the Schuylkill river, the Tulpe- hocken creek, and a small tributary of the latter called Plum creek. It is intersected by roads which pass thro' it in all directions. There are two churches in the township, known as Epler's church and Bern church re- spectively. The town of Bernville is in the extreme N. W . part of the town- ship, about 14 miles from Reading, at which there is a post-office.
Bern, Upper, t-ship of Berks co .; bounded N. by the blue mountain, S. by Lower Bern, E. by the r. Schuyl- kill, and W. by Upper Tulpehocken. Greatest length 72 miles, breadth 7 miles. Area 34,000 acres. Surface hilly, soil gravel. Pop. in 1810, 1342; in 1820,2017 ; in 1830, 2,117. Tax- ables in 1828, 406. It is watered by the Schuylkill r. and by a stream which flows into that river near the S. E. corner of the t-ship. North-hill church and Bellman's church are both near its southern boundary line, and arc distant from each other about 4
1026
1131
1342
257
Ruscomb Manor,
4
4
10,000
Do.
2298
368
=
BER
48
BET
miles ; another church is centrally si- tuated, all common to the Lutherans and Presbyterians. The Schuylkill canal runs along a part of the eastern boundary line.
Bernville, a town of Lower Bern [-ship, Berks co. distant about 14 ms. N. W. of Reading. Contains 40 dwelling houses, 1 store, 2 taverns. Pop. 250.
Berry's Mountain, Dauphin co. ri- ses on the E. margin of the Susquehan- nah r. about 20 ms. N. of Harrisburg, and extends E. about 13 ms. forming the S. boundary of Upper Paxton, Mif- lin and Lykens t-ships.
Berrysburg. p-t. of Mifflin t-ship. Dauphin co. on the road leading from Millersburg on the Susquehannah r. through Lyken's valley into Schuyl- kill co. It is 35 ms. N. of Harrisburg and 149 from W. C .; contains about 20 dwellings, 2 stores and 1 tavern.
Berwick, sometimes called Abbotts- town, village, Adams co. about 15 ms. W. of Little York. (See Abbotts- town.)
Berwick, p-o. and borough of Briar creek t-ship, Columbia co. on the N. side. or right bank of the Susquehan- nah r. 21 ms. N. E. of Danville, about the same distance S. W. of Wilkes- barre, and about 37 ms. N. W. of Mauch Chunk, 196 ms. from W. C. and 86 from Harrisburg. From this town a turnpike road runs to Lausanne on the Lehigh r. 2 ms. above Mauch Chunk, passing near the Beaver mead- ows. The road crosses the Susque- hannah by a bridge (which connects Berwick with Nescopee village,) com- menced in 1814, and completed in 1818, at a cost of $52,435, of which the state subscribed $27,435. It is in length 1256 feet, and 28 feet in width, and rests upon 6 stone piers, and is roofed to protect it from the weather. Another turnpike road runs from Berwick to Tioga. Part of the town extends into Luzerne co. and the bridge is wholly within that county. The Penn. canal runs through the town. There are here about 100 dwellings, 5 stores, 2 taverns and a
Methodist church. The route for a canal to connect the Susquehannah at this place, with the Delaware at Eas- ton, has been surveyed. The practi- cal distance from Berwick to Mauch Chunk is reported at 112} ; the direct distance 63 ms. The elevation to be overcome 1636 feet, by 20 locks of 5 feet lift, 128 do. of 12 feet, making 148 locks. If inclined planes were adopted from Berwick to Mauch Chunk, and divided into 50 feet lifts, it would require but 33 feet lifts, equal to pas- sing 11 ms. of canal, which, the direct distance being added, 63 ms. gives the practicable distance from Berwick to Mauch Chunk, 74 ms. or 38 ms. less than by the common locks. Hence the distance (by inclined planes) from Berwick via Lehigh, &c. to Philadel- phia, would be 221 ms. to New-York by Morris canal, 248 ms. and by the Delaware and Raritan canal 278 ms.
With the use of the common locks, the practical distance between Ber- wick and Philad. would be 42 ms. less by the Lehigh than by the Union ca- nal, and by inclined planes 80 ms. less ; and Berwick would be 20 ms. nearer to Philad. than to Baltimore, by the Sus- quehannah canal. But if a boat from Berwick be destined to New-York, one half the distance will be saved by the Lehigh route.
Berwick, t-ship, Adams co. bounded N. by Hamilton t-ship, E. by York co. S. by Conewago t-ship, and W. by Mount Pleasant t-ship. Centrally dis- tant E. from Gettysburg 11 ms .; great- est length 7, breadth 3 ms. Area, 10,240 acres; surface, level; soil, red shale. Pop. in 1830, 1417 ; tax- ables, 228. The Conewago creek flows along the western boundary, and receives a branch which divides this from Conewago t-ship. Beaver creek, another tributary, flows on the E. and forms part of the boundary between York and Adams cos. Abbottstown lies on the N. E. angle, and Oxford near the W. line both on the turnpike road from York to Gettysburg. Both are post towns.
Bethany, p-t. borough, and st. just.
BET
49
BET
of Wayne co. on Dyberry creek, lat. N. 41º 37', lon. È. 1º 42', 123 ms. from Philadelphia, 36 from Milford, 111 from New-York, 265 from W. C. and 162 from Harrisburg. It is situ- ated on a commanding eminence, de- clining on every side except the N. and overlooks the adjacent country for a great distance. It contains about 50 dwellings, a court house, and fire proof offices, a Presbyterian church, an acad- emy, incorporated in 1813, and endow- ed by the State with $1000, with a condition that at least two poor children should be annually taught therein gra- tis ; 3 stores, a printing office, and sev- eral artists and mechanics establish- ments. There is a grist mill near, and some glassworks, employed chief- ly upon window glass, of which from 10 to 12,000 boxes are made annually. The Easton and Belmont, and the Bethany and Dingmans choice turn- pike roads pass through the town. The borough was incorporated by act of 31st March, 1821. Pop. in 1830, 327; taxables, 65; assessed value of taxable property in 1829, viz. real es- tate $13,162 ; personal est. including occupations $9448.
Bethel, t-ship, Lebanon co. bound- ed N. E. by Schuylkill and Berks cos. S. E. by Jackson t-ship, S. by Leba- non t-ship, and W. by Swatara. Cen- trally distant from the borough of Leb- anon, 7 ms. Greatest length 13, breadth 7 ms. Area, 29,400 acres ; surface, the N. part mountainous, the southern level ; soil, chiefly gravel. Pop. in 1830, 1604; taxables 284. The little Swatara creek passes through the southern part of the t-ship, and receives from it Elizabeth r. and Deep run. In the fork of the former lies Stumpstown, the p-t. near which S. and E. are two churches of the German Presbyterians and Lutherans respectively.
Bethel, t-ship, Berks co. pop. in 1810, 924, in 1820, 1294, in 1830, 1482 ; taxables 281. Bounded N. by the Blue mtn. which separates it from Schuylkill co. S. and E. by the Little Swatara creek, which divides it from
Tulpehocken t-ship, and S. and W. by Lebanon co. Greatest length 8, greatest width 5 ms. Area, 27,000 acres. The great road from Rehrers- burg to Jonestown crosses it on the S. that to Pine Grove on the E. that to Sunbury centrally, and the state road on the W. Besides the Little Swa- tara, Grosskill creek and its branches are the principal streams ; on which there are several grist mills. The surface of the country is diversified, the soil gravelly, and not remarkably productive. Millersburg is the only town, it consists of about 30 dwellings, 3 taverns, 1 store, a church, jointly used by the German Presbyterians and Lutherans. There is a p-o. here called Bethel, distant 144 ms. from W. C. and 34 ms. from Harrisburg.
Bethel, t-ship, Bedford co. Pop. 1810, 1095, in 1820, 1083, in 1830, 1208. Bounded N. by Providence, Bedfast and Air t-ships, E. by Frank- lin co., S. by the state of Maryland, and W. by Southampton t-ship. Cen- trally distant S. E. from Bedford bo- rough 21 ms. Greatest length 11}, breadth 91 ms. Surface, mountain- ous ; soil, in the valley, limestone. Cove mtn. is on the E., Raystown Hill on the W. boundary, from which Sideling Hill runs about 6 miles E. It is drained by the Great Conoloway and its tributaries, the North Branch and White Oak run, Pigeon Cove creek, Five Lick run, and by the Little Conoloway creek and Buck run. The p-t. of Werefordsburg lies on the Great Conoloway, near the S. boun- ary of the t-ship.
Bethel, Mount, Lower, t-ship North- ampton co. bounded N. by Hamilton and Stroud t-ships, W. by Plainfield, S. by Forks and the Delaware r. and E. by Upper Mount Bethel. Greatest length 11g ms. greatest width 81 ms. Surface partly hilly and partly level ; soil chiefly gravel, with some limestone near the river. It is watered by Rich- mond, Martin's and Muddy creeks. Population in 1830, 2666 ; taxables in 1828, 483. Richmond is the chief town. Offset Knob, a spur of the
G
BET
50
BET
Blue mtn. is the most prominent fea- ture of the northern part of the t-ship. There is a Lutheran church near Mar- tin's creek, within a mile of the Dela- ware.
Bethel, t-ship, Delaware co. bound- ed N. by Concord, E. by Aston and Upper Chichester, S. W. by the state of Delaware. Centrally distant from Phil. 22, and from Chester 7 miles. Greatest length 41, greatest breadth 3 miles ; area, 5000 acres. It is drain- ed by some branches of Naaman's cr. and a tributary of Chester cr. There is a village at the N. E. corner, called Corner Ketch. Surface, level; soil, clay. Pop. in 1830, 367; taxables in 1828, 71.
Bethel, Mount, Upper, township of Northampton co. bounded N.by Stroud and Smithfield t-ships, E. by the river Delaware, S. and W. by Lower Mount Bethel. Greatest length 9 ms. great- est width 5 miles. Surface hilly and rolling ; soil, limestone, well cultiva- ted and fruitful. Pop. in 1830, 2241 ; tabables in 1828, 450. It is watered by Cobus creek, which empties itself into the Delaware ; Williamsburg and Buttztown are the only villages. Slate quarries, which produce excellent roofing and ciphering slates, lie near the Delaware, and have been wrought to a considerable extent, under the direction of Col. James M. Porter, the proprietor. The p-o. of the t-ship, called Mount Bethel, is 208 ms. from W. C. and 121 from Harrisburg.
Bethlehem, a town on the north side of the river Lehigh, Northampton co. 12 ms. above Easton, and 51 north of Philadelphia, 184 ms. N. of W. C. and 91 N. E. from Harrisburg, the first and most considerable establish- ment of the society of United Brethren, commonly called Moravians, in the United States. The situation, on a rising hill, is particularly romantic ; a fine mill stream and the Lehigh canal passing through the lower part of the town, affording considerable facilities to business. The number of private dwellings in the year 1831, amounted to 112. The public buildings con-
sisted of a remarkably large church, a boarding school for young ladies, established since the year 1788, a school-house for boys, and two pecu- liar establishments, in one of which a number of widows find an asylum in their old age, and in the other unmar- ried women, chiefly likewise of ad- vanced age, board together, under proper regulations and the guardian- ship of the society. The town con- tains about 800 inhabitants, is well supplied with water from a copious spring, situated at the foot of the hill, carried up 114 feet perpendicularly to a cistern on its summit, by forcing pumps, in iron pipes, worked by the mill stream, and thence conducted in- to every street. The same stream furnishes adequate water power for several mill works and other establish- ments requiring it. There are two large hotels in the town, for the ac- commodation of travellers and occa- sional residents, and a third has been recently built close to the canal. Most of the usual mechanical trades are ac- tively carried on, and five or six stores supply the town and vicinity with goods of every description ; but there is no manufacturing establishment on a large scale to be met with. The boarding school for young ladies has for more than forty years enjoyed very extensive credit in the United States ; it is conducted under the superintend- ence of the elders of the society. There is a wooden bridge over the river, resting on stone piers, 400 feet in length, in 4 arches. Many erro- neous conceptions concerning the pe- culiarities and regulations of this reli- gious community being still prevalent, a somewhat detailed account of the true state of the case may prove ac- ceptable. It appears that the ancient church of the United Brethren in Mo- ravia having been entirely suppressed, together with all Protestant churches in the Austrian dominions at the con- clusion of the thirty years war, de- scendants of that religious community, who secretly adhered to the religion of their fathers, began to emigrate into
BET
51
BET
Saxony in the early part of the last| century, and were received and pro- tected on his estates in Upper Lu- satia, by Count Zinzendorf. They there built the town of Herrnhut, and under his guidance established a com- munity after the model of their ancient ones in Moravia. Numbers of reli- giously disposed persons, approving of their social regulations, which were intended to promote the practice of vi- tal christianity, joined themselves to this community, and all agreed to lay by their differences upon disputed doc- trinal points, taking the Scriptures for their only guide, and making a sincere desire practically to live up to its pre- cepts the only bond of their social union, whilst they felt themselves im- pelled to exert all their faculties to promote a knowledge of the gospel, particularly among heathen nations. 'This prompted them, among the rest, to attempt to effect this among the In- dians of our continent ; which, togeth- er with an edict of the Saxon govern- ment, promulgated at the instance of Austria, forbidding the reception of further emigrants from Moravia at Herrnhut, caused their patron, Count Zinzendorf, to accept offers of General Oglethorpe to send a colony to the province of Georgia, which was effect- ed in the year 1736. Being there disturbed by the Spanish war, the col- onists removed to Pennsylvania about the year 1741, towards the close of which the Count himself arrived in that province, and purchased for them a tract of land on the Lehigh, on which Bethlehem is situated, and began to be built in 1742. The colony was numerously reinforced direct from Eu- rope in that year. The greater part of the colonists being poor, they knew of no other way of effecting their set- tlement, than by uniting as it were in one single family, all the members of which combined their exertions and labor for the common necessities, and for the discharge of the interest accru- ing upon the very large sums of money, which had been borrowed upon the credit of some confidential individuals
among them, for defraying the expen- ses of their transportation from Eu- rope and the first establishment of the colony, as well as the purchase of the land upon which they lived, the title to these lands remaining in the indivi- duals who became bond for the loans. A large number being actively em- ployed in the main object of their union, of spreading the knowledge of the gospel among the neighboring In- dians and preaching it to their then destitute German countrymen, in va- rious places in Pennsylvania. These persons derived their support, as far as their own industry proved insuffi- cient, and the expenses of their tra- vels, from the same source, and thus by indefatigable exertions the society became gradually enabled to establish its affairs on a firm foundation, while the town of Bethlehem continued to increase by further emigrations, and several other similar establishments were commenced. After this state of things had continued for about thirty years, and its object had been fully answered, the common family connex- ion was dissolved by universal consent, and the individuals became the owners by purchase of the private houses, &c. and thenceforward carried on the dif- ferent mechanical trades, which had been established, each upon his own account. A few particular branches of business, were in like manner assum- ed by a town committee, elected from time to time by the members of the society, and administered for the bene- fit of the community, in providing by their avails for all common disburse- ments, such as the maintenance of the ministry, the building and support of the churches, school houses, &c. The lands remained in the possession of the individuals and their devisees, who were answerable for the debts origin- ally contracted or since accumulated, and being let out into a number of farms, form at this day the security for these debts, and their avails are devot- ed to the discharge of the interest. In every other respect the inhabitants of Bethlehem and the other Moravian es-
BET
52
BET
tablishments, are precisely in the situ- ation of other persons elsewhere, hold- ing their house-lots on leases, under an equitable ground-rent. However, in the towns of Bethlehem, Nazareth, and Litiz, none but members of the society can become owners of such lots, in or- der to avoid the difficulties which oth- erwise might ensue, in the maintenance of sundry regulations subsisting among them, for the promotion of morality and good order, as the towns are not incorporated. 'The community is gov- erned by a set of regulations to which each individual when of age becomes a voluntary subscriber, with the right of withdrawing himself from the soci- ety at pleasure, in which case howev- he is required to disposed of his prop- erty and to remove from the town, if a householder. The execution of the reg- ulations rests with the elders appoint- ed by the church in general, and with a town committee biennially elected by the male members of full age. Provis- ion is made by voluntary contributions for the indigent. All other contribu- tions towards the social objects, as for instance, the support of the missions, of the aged ministers, &c. are likewise voluntary, exceping only the town ex- penses for water works, fire engines, and police affairs, which are assessed upon the inhabitants, by a committee elected by them for that purpose. Sin- ilar regulations subsist in the other establishments of the Moravians before mentioned.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.