USA > Pennsylvania > Bucks County > Bristol > A history of Bristol borough in the county of Bucks, state of Pennsylvania, anciently known as "Buckingham"; being the third oldest town and second chartered borough in Pennsylvania, from its earliest times to the present year 1911 > Part 8
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French and American Armies Pass Through Bristol .- Washington put the Continental army in march from Valley Forge, after a six months' residence upon its bleak hills, the 18th of June, 1778, to pursue the enemy in his retreat toward New York. From this time forward the stirring and active scenes of the war were removed to distant parts of the country. In September, 1781, the French and American armies, in march to meet Corn- wallis in Virginia, passed through the lower end of the county, possibly having followed the King's Highway, and marched through Bristol. They crossed the Dela- ware at Trenton and the neighboring ferries on the morning of the Ist, and the same afternoon passed the Neshaminy at the rope ferry, encamping at the Red Lion in Bensalem that evening, and the next day marched through Philadelphia. During the war a number of per- sons in the county joined the British army and drew
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their swords against their country. Under the confisca- tion act of March 6th, 1778, a number of persons in the county lost their estates for remaining loyal to the British crown. Among these are mentioned John Ellwood and Andrew Allen, of Bristol. While the war was in progress the river shore at Bristol was skirted with a sentry of gondolas and barges, which were chiefly used for telegraphing.
Bristol Lodge, No. 25, Ancient York Masons .- The original warrant, dated March 15, 1780, was granted by the Provincial Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, under the masonic administration of the R. W. William Ball, as Grand Master; R. W. William Shute, as Deputy Grand Master; R. W. Alexander Rutherford, Sen. G. Warden; R. W. Jacob Howell, Junior Grand Warden; authorizing and appointing Brothers John Clark, W. M .; Samuel Benezet, S. W .; and Dr. William McIlvaine, J. W .; to hold a Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons at the town of Bristol, in the State of Pennsylvania, or anywhere within five miles of the said town, the number of which lodge to be 25. In connection with the Brethren thus officially designated, Brothers Tyrringham Palmer, Jacob Shallus and Patrick Griffin, as the constitutional number of members requisite, had united in the petition to the Grand Lodge, and obtained the warrant.
John Clark, the first Master of the Lodge, was an offi- cer in the British army, residing in this country upon leave of absence, his regiment being in the West Indies. He was a man of considerable local prominence, much wealth and lived upon the Belle Meade farm, near Bristol. Although a British officer, it is abundantly shown by local history that his sympathies were entirely with the Colonies, and against the Crown, and that he never re- turned to the British army.
Samuel Benezet, the first Senior Warden, was a man known and greatly respected in the county, and had filled many important offices. Dr. William McIlvaine, the first Junior Warden was a man of high social position, and a member of a family who for many years were of consid- erable social importance in Bucks County. Both of these gentlemen resided in the Township of Bensalem.
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The labors of the Lodge were commenced and con- ducted with energetic zeal, securing the most prosperous and satisfactory results. Every profession or occupation soon were enrolled among its members. The late Wil- liam Bache, in his history of Bristol Masonry says: "At that eventful period in the annals of our country, it is gratifying to find the "McIlvaines, Bloomfield, Willett, Bessonet, Rodman, Wilkinson, John Fitch, and similar illustrious personages, assembling around its simple altar." John Fitch then resided near the Neshaminy Creek and was engaged upon those experiments since so wonderfully developed, of propelling boats by the power of steam. His membership dates January 4, 1785.
On June 4, 1785, the propriety of continuing under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of England engaged the consideration of the Order generally. When Bristol Lodge unanimously selected their worthy Brother John Clark to represent them in the Quarterly Communication of the Grand Lodge, to be holden in Philadelphia, Sep- tember 26, 1786, with especial instructions upon the sub- ject. Thirteen of the Colonial Lodges were then and there assembled; and, after mature and serious delibera- tion, unanimously resolved "That it is improper the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania should remain any longer under the authority of any foreign Grand Lodge." Thus was originated the present Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania.
The Provincial Warrant of Bristol Lodge was then surrendered, and the present warrant obtained, dated the 9th day of July, 1789, under the administration of the R. W., J. B. Smith, as Grand Master ; R. W., George Ord, as Deputy Grand Master; R. W., Joseph Dean, as Senior Grand Warden ; R. W., Joseph Few, as Junior Grand War- den; renewing in perpetuity all the original rights and privileges pertaining to the Lodge, through Brothers John Clark, as W. M .; Samuel Benezet, S. W., and Wm. McIlvaine, J. W.
From September, 1790, to December 3, 1801, but few members were admitted, and nothing of much interest took place in the Lodge. The members becoming. more and more negligent of their duties, it seemed to be useless to continue meeting, and accordingly upon December 3,
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1801, the Lodge suspended its labors until January 6, 1812, when work was again resumed, with the approval of the Grand Lodge. These eleven years of inactivity seem to have been, however, of real benefit to the craft in Bristol, for great prosperity attended the Lodge after its resumption of work in 1812, for early in 1815, only three years afterward, we find them resolving to purchase a lot and erect a hall, which resolution was so warmly re-
MASONIC TEMPLE, CEDAR STREET.
sponded to by the subscriptions and labors of the brethren, that they had completed a stone hall, two and one-half stories high, and 36 by 20 feet on its ground plan, the main entrance being approached by a flight of steps, and which was formally dedicated to Masonry on November 18, 1815, less than one year after its erection was determined upon.
From 1812 to 1822, the Lodge continued to have great prosperity, and many new members were added to it, the most prominent being the late John Fox, President Judge of this Judicial District, initiated June 24, 1814, and Don Louis De Onis, Minister Plenipotentiary from
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Spain to the United States, initiated by dispensation, June 22, 1814.
Don De Onis, it is said, was a remarkable man, of considerable attainments, high in the confidence of the Spanish Crown, and became warmly attached to the prin- ciples of Masonry. He was for several years a resident of Bristol, then quite a fashionable watering place on account of the Bath Springs.
After 1822, however, the old Lodge began to languish, and from that year until 1825, very little interest seems to have been taken in the work by the members. Then com- menced an era of darkness for Masonry in Bristol and continued for twenty-three years. Upon the 27th of December, 1825, the Lodge met for the last time, as it was then supposed.
The resuscitation of Bristol Lodge in 1848, was brought about by Brother Past Master, Daniel M. Keim. He learned of the antecedent history of the Lodge from its former Tyler, Charles Riley, Sr. From the late . Wm. Kinsey he procured the present warrant of the Lodge. The original deed of trust was found by the late Andrew W. Gilkeson, among the papers of the late William F. Swift, the Secretary of the Lodge at the time it closed in 1825. Finding that one of the brethren named in the deed as a trustee was still living (the venerable Brother John S. Benezet), Brother Keim sought him out in Philadel- phia, and found him not only willing, but anxious to assist in the resuscitation of the Lodge. Application was at once made to the Grand Lodge for permission to recon- struct Bristol Lodge, No. 25, and the first session of the resuscitated lodge was held February 10, 1848. Per- mission to reconstruct the lodge was granted by the Grand Lodge, upon the application of the following brethren, formerly members of Bristol Lodge, No. 25, to wit : Charles S. Riche, John S. Benezet, James R. Scott, John H. Bispham, John Birkey, to which was added the name of Daniel M. Keim, although he had not been a member of Bristol Lodge.
Shortly after the reorganization of the lodge, a lady of the town, named Mrs. Martha Toomb, presented it with the ancient jewels and seal of the lodge, which for many
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years, since her husband's death, she had guarded with jealous care. Tradition says, that in the house of her husband, away back in 1780, the lodge used to meet.
The old minute book and records were restored to the . lodge by Watson Conly, of Byberry, who was not then a Mason. He found them upon the removal of some rub- bish in the garret of a house in Falls Township.
From the time of its resuscitation until the present, the lodge has marched onward in unexampled prosperity. The old hall was soon found to be too small for the assemblages of its members, and from time to time, hav- ing carefully considered the subject, they finally resolved to erect the present commodious hall for the better accommodation of the craft.
The site of the old hall was selected for the erection of the new, and during the summer of 1853, the former was taken down and the present hall erected.
The Building Committee of the new hall consisted of Brothers Lucius Scott, Pugh Dungan, James W. Martin, assisted, ex-officio, by Brothers Allen Downing, William Kinsey, Andrew W. Gilkeson, John Dorrance and J. H. Schenk, M. D., the trustees, who were all unwearied in their superintendence of the work, and spared neither expense nor labor to carry out the object of their appoint- ment. The new hall was completed and dedicated to Masonry on Monday, May 1, 1854, by the Grand Master and officers of the Grand Lodge. Exercises in connection therewith, were held in the First Baptist Church. An address was delivered by R. W. Grand Chaplain, J. Lans- ing Burrows, on the subject: "What Masonry Requires of Masons," and proved a most eloquent production. The town was crowded with strangers, to see the procession from the Lodge to the Church, and to hear the address. The Grand Master and officers of the Grand Lodge of New Jersey were also present.
Then came the dark period of the Civil War. As Bris- tol Lodge was loyal during the Revolution, so was it loyal during the late war of the Rebellion. Many of the brethren went forth to do battle for "God and Liberty," during those dark days when the fate of the nation seemed hanging by a thread. Many of the brethren re-
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turned from the war with honor ; some were brought back cold and stiff in death, and lie buried in the quiet church- yards; one of the best and bravest, Brother H. Clay Beatty, sleeps the sleep that knows no waking until the resurrection, under the locust trees in St. James' Church- yard. One or two sleep in nameless graves, with strange southern wild flowers blooming over them-buried after the battle, among the unknown dead.
On Monday, March 29th, 1880, the lodge celebrated its Centennial anniversary, holding the exercises in the First Baptist Church. It was on that occasion, that the late Hon. B. F. Gilkeson delivered a historical address, from which the major part of the data contained in this history has been taken. During later years the lodge has met with unprecedented success and numbers within its ranks, the best citizens of the community and surround- ing townships. A few years ago, an addition was built to the rear of their hall, which greatly increases its usefulness.
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EPOCH. V.
BRISTOL AS A FASHIONABLE WATERING PLACE.
From 1783, the Close of the Revolutionary War, to 1827, the Construction of the Canal.
Introduction .- Following the Revolutionary War and down to 1821, Bristol was the principal watering place in America, made so by the Bath Springs, just outside the borough limits, and was the summer resort of rich and distinguished people from all parts of this country and from abroad. The Delaware House, then known as George the Second and later as the Fountain House, was crowded with guests during the summer season. The railroad had not yet made its appearance and travel was either on the river or in stage coaches. The daily appear- ance of the old stage wagons, the arrival and departure of guests, the travel to and from the Bath Springs, the daily landing of the river boats, gave the old town the appearance of prosperity, caused the inhabitants to shake off the lethargy which had taken possession of them, and gave promise of a prosperous future. Two race courses, one on the Badger farm, below Bristol, and the other at the Bath Springs, greatly enlivened the life of the com- munity. Sporting men from all over the country were attracted. "Messenger" was kept in Bristol several years before 1793, and down to 1839. Bela Badger, a resident of Bristol Township, was one of the most noted horsemen of the country. He became interested in the turf during his residence in Baltimore, where he pur- chased "Hickory," and with him won a race on the Ger- mantown course with "Postboy," owned by Ethan Allen, at $2,000 a side. He was subsequently associated with
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William R. Johnson, of Virginia, in the ownership of some of the best racing stock of that day ; it was by their efforts that the superiority of southern horses was first demonstrated.
A Famous Seed Producing Establishment .- In Bristol Township is one of the heaviest seed producing establish- ments in the world, originally owned and conducted by David Landreth. It is located on the bank of the Dela- ware, above Bristol, and is called Bloomsdale. The estate, which comprises several hundred acres, is exclusively devoted to the raising of seeds, which are shipped to all parts of the world. The most improved methods of cultivation have been adopted, and the farm is one of the finest in Pennsylvania. A few years ago the firm was reorganized and is now known as the D. Landreth Seed Company. The business was established in 1784 by David Landreth; in 1790 it was conducted under the name of David & Cuthbert Landreth; in 1830 it was changed to David Landreth & Co., and in 1843 the business was conducted under the firm name of David Landreth and D. Landreth Munns; its original title, David Landreth, was resumed in 1845; in 1860 it was changed to David Landreth & Son, and in 1875 to David Landreth & Sons, and in 1903 to its present title, The D. Landreth Seed Company.
Bristol Obtains Charter From State of Pennsylvania .- As the corporate existence of Bristol was derived from the crown of Great Britain, it was dissolved by the Declaration of Independence; whereupon the assembly passed an act September 16, 1785, re-establishing its former power and privileges. The original charter thus revived continued operative until 1851. Its defects were many ; as a writer of 1849 thus forcibly expresses it: "The powers reposed in our borough officers should be amply explicit and determined; those conferred by the present charter are vague, uncertain, and undefined. In some instances their want of authority has been severely felt and universally deprecated. In others it is exceedingly questionable, while oftentimes it is absolute and un- bounded." Yet, strange to say, under that charter, the
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corporate powers of the Borough of Bristol continued to be administered for an additional period of sixty-five years.
Ship Building Industry .- At a very early day in the borough's history, the citizens began to build sailing ves- sels. As far back as 1785, there was a ship yard on Mill Creek between Cedar and Wood Streets, where a man named William Davis, built and repaired many vessels. He built the Morning Star, which was commanded by a Captain Cooper. The late William Kinsey, in a news- paper article written years ago, says that Captain Cooper told him that the Morning Star was the finest schooner that sailed out of the port of Philadelphia, and that no vessel could overhaul her at sea.
After Mr. Davis left Bristol, John Reed carried on the business. He was very successful, made money and built some fine houses for that day. The John Bostwick prop- erty on Radcliffe Street, above Lafayette, was built by him. It is said, that he never knew his parents but was found when an infant in a bunch of reeds, and adopted by a kind family who brought him up and gave him the name of John Reed. He was an energetic, hard working man and an enterprising citizen. He removed to Mary- land, bought a farm and ended his days there, respected by all who knew him.
After his removal from the town, the business was con- tinued by Stackhouse & Heiss. They built and repaired many vessels. There was one built at the foot of Mul- berry Street, called the Tacy & Grace, after the wives of her owner and captain, Tacy Trump and Grace Pat- terson. She sailed many years on the Delaware and did good service for her owners. Two brigs belonging to John Hutchinson, one of the enterprising citizens of Bris- tol at that early day, were overhauled and repaired by Stackhouse & Heiss. The names of the vessels were Buck and Hamlet. They were commanded by the two sons of the owner, both of whom were able seamen. Captain Joseph had command of the Buck and Captain John of the Hamlet. They went to sea, but alas for the Hamlet, she never returned nor was any tidings ever
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heard from her crew. It is supposed she foundered at sea and all were lost. The Buck made many successful voyages under the command of her skilful captain, but at last, she too, met with a sad fate, being on her home- ward bound voyage, when she was run into at night by another vessel. The captain had but a few minutes to secure his trunk and with his crew to get into the ship's boats, before the brig went down with a valuable cargo, .and the labor of years was lost. Although the captain's loss was heavy, he was not discouraged, and his perse- verance and excellent reputation as a seaman, soon secured him another vessel. He followed the sea suc- cessfully for many years. He had some fine ships built, two of which he sold to the Mexican government, and they were converted into war vessels on account of their superior sailing qualities. He was also heavily interested in, if not one of the originators of the line of Packets from New York to Vera Cruz.
After the deaths of Stackhouse and Heiss, the business was continued by Charles Thompson, who lived to a ripe old age, an honored and respected citizen. Kirk and Lamb were his successors and it was during their time that the citizens began to increase their investments by building a larger class of vessels, called schooners, rating from 200 to 300 tons each. The shipment of coal from Bristol to eastern ports made a demand for a larger and faster class of sailing vessels to supply the increased de- mand for Pennsylvania Black Diamond coal. Since 1844, the citizens of Bristol have put afloat twenty-one schoon- ers, built in and sailing from Bristol, the cost of which was over $300,000. Six of said vessels were lost at sea, involving a loss to the owners of many thousands of dollars, and on which there was no insurance.
In addition to investments in sailing craft, in later years our citizens have invested heavily in steam boats. In 1853, Captain J. Cone, assisted by some citizens, built the steamer Thomas A. Morgan, at a cost of $45,000. He also built the John A. Warner, at a cost of over $60,000, which in its early days, was the finest passenger boat on the Delaware. She did good service in the employ of the government during the rebellion, and still continues to
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run as a passenger boat, between Bristol and Philadel- phia. The old ferry boat, Ellwood Doron, costing $18,000 was built by Doron, Knight & Porter, citizens of Bristol, and there have been other investments made by our citi- zens, in the steamers Edwin Forrest, Twilight, several tug boats and one barge. During the years between 1840 and 1870, the citizens of Bristol invested in sailing ves- sels, $300,000; in steamboats, $186,000 and one barge, $4,500, making an aggregate of $490,000.
Bristol has had many distinguished men who followed the water and went down to the sea in ships. Captain John Green commanded some of the largest ships that sailed out of the port of Philadelphia. He was the first captain that carried the American flag to China. It is said of him, that he imported from that country some very large chickens, which he kept on his farm on the banks of the Neshaminy Creek, and from which came the cele- brated Bucks County breed that has been so much sought after by the lovers of good poultry. After his death his son-in-law, Captain Sims took the command of his ship, the America and sailed her until she became unsea- worthy. He then left the sea and in 1798 bought China Retreat, on the Delaware River, of Andrus Everandes Van Brum Houchust, for the sum of £10,706, being $53,530 in American currency, more money than it would sell for today. Another distinguished captain was Jacob Searles, who sailed in the employ of Thomas Cope, of Philadelphia, and commanded some of his finest ships in the Liverpool line, for a period of twenty years, during which time he never lost a ship or a passenger. There were many others who distinguished themselves as suc- cessful navigators. Captain Joseph Stackhouse, Captain William Fenton, Captain William Hawk, followed the water for many years, made money and lived to a good old age to enjoy the fruits of their labors.
Note .- This article has been taken from a newspaper clipping, supposed to have been written by Wm. Kinsey. It is probable that after the digging of the canal and the absorption of the mill creek by the canal basin, that the shipbuilding industry originally located at the foot of Wood Street, may have been removed to a new loca- tion, at the intersection of Adams' Hollow Creek and the Delaware River and was known in later days as Jones' Shipyard.
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History of Early Steam Boating on the River Delaware Above Philadelphia .- The first boat propelled by steam was built in Philadelphia by John Fitch, in the year 1787. She was propelled by paddles arranged on each side and worked by cranks attached to horizontal shafts. After making two or three trips side wheels were substituted, when she made several trips to Burlington and one to Trenton. Her speed was eight miles an hour, with tide. On one occasion while rounding-to at Burlington her boiler exploded, but no one was injured. After many trial trips and alterations she was abandoned, her machinery taken out, and sold to pay her debts, and she rotted away in the Kensington docks.
John Fitch, the original inventor, was born at Hartford, Conn., in the year 1743. At the age of eighteen he apprenticed himself to Benjamin Cheeney to learn the art of clock-making. At the age of twenty-five he married Lucy Roberts, by whom he had two children, a son and daughter. The marriage did not prove a happy one, and he left his wife and settled in Trenton, N. J., where he pursued the business of a silversmith and repairing of clocks until the breaking out of the war of the Revolu- tion, when he estimated his property to be worth £800. He then commenced gunsmithing and employed twenty men in the business, which he continued until the British army entered Trenton and destroyed his tools, when he fled into Bucks County to the residence of John Mitchell, in Attleborough. While there his $4,000 in Continental money depreciated to $100.
He shortly after, in 1780, emigrated to Kentucky and commenced surveying. In 1782, while on his way to New Orleans with a boat load of flour, he was captured by the Indians and carried or driven 1200 miles, bareheaded, to Detroit, where he was given up to the British as a prisoner. While in captivity he made himself a great favorite with the Indian chief by making ornaments for him and engraving on his powder horn. After eight months of captivity he escaped by way of Quebec, and arrived again in Bucks County, where he was received with great joy by his old friends.
He was at one time a lieutenant in the army at Valley
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Forge, at another time sutler to the army in the west. He often, for the purpose of raising funds, would travel on foot through the country with articles of silver made by himself, which met with ready sale. He was, in a word, essentially a universal Yankee. A writer, in speak- ing of him, says that his general character in Bucks County was that as the flint bears fire, being enforced shows a hasty spark, and quick is cold again. In point of morals, he was perfectly upright, sincere and honorable in all his dealings. In speaking of himself, he says he had proved the fact that the best way to make the world believe him honest, was to be the thing itself.
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