USA > Pennsylvania > Philadelphia County > Philadelphia > A history of the townships of Byberry and Moreland, in Philadelphia, Pa. : from their earliest settlements by the whites to the present time > Part 13
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
On the late Alfred Worthington's farm stands a chest- nut tree that measures 28 feet in circumference. It is still in full vigor, and probably the largest tree now standing in either township.47
BIG WOMAN.
ALTIIOUGH the people of Byberry are generally shrewd, and by no means can be called "green," yet some of ye ancient ones were led into snares, and listened to the "lo here's" and "lo there's." Several ludicrous accounts of their gullibility have been preserved, one of which, we
" This property is now owned by Elizabeth and Ira Saurman.
17 This tree stood on the farm now owned by Thomas Shallcross.
187
BYBERRY AND MORELAND.
think, deserves a passing notice in this history. Some fifty years ago one or two wags in Byberry, for want of better employment, raised a report that some hunters in the Far West had discovered a family of giants, consist- ing of a man, his wife and child. The man was unwilling to be captured, and resisted them so fiercely that they were forced, partly in self-defence, to shoot him. After his death the wife and child, considering resistance useless, submitted to their captors, and were brought eastward to be exhibited to the wondering people inhabiting the towns. and villages in Pennsylvania. The man was covered with hair, like the wild animals of his native forests; but, un- fortunately, his precious body lay buried near the spot where he so gallantly fought for his dear wife and child. The latter were brought on in excellent health, and were said to be on exhibition at Flourtown, a small village in Montgomery County, about ten miles distant. The mother was sixteen feet high, and the "little one," though only six months old, was six feet high. It required one barrel of flour per week to keep the woman in bread, and the child drained the udders of three cows, besides the nourishment obtained from the mother. Wonderful and improbable as were these stories, they were credited by many people, and several of the more curious procured the necessary conveyances, and started for Flourtown to see the "show." It is said they felt much inward satis- faction while on the journey there, and speculated much upon the appearance, etc., of the lady; and one or two, who were basking in the sunshine of "single blessedness," expressed themselves as satisfied that the husband had been slaughtered. As they neared the village their excite-
188
THE HISTORY OF
ment increased, and, whipping up their "nags" into a John Gilpin pace, they entered the town and drew up at the principal hotel. Not finding a very large crowd in at- tendance, and but little excitement, they, after refreshing, cautiously asked "if there had not been a show there?" but their amazement was indeed great when the landlord stated "he had not heard of any except one of a learned goat." Their spirits becoming more and more depressed, they refreshed once and again, and, with fallen counten- ances, started home. After this party had fairly started, the wags raised a second report that the "show" had been removed to Jenkintown, several miles nearer. As soon as this was heard, several others, mostly on foot, started for that place, determined not to let such a favorable opportunity pass to see so great a natural curiosity. They trudged on, with high hopes and great anticipations, and in due time arrived at Jenkintown, where they saw their fellow-dupes and the learned goat, but nothing of the "Big Woman." After much "smiling" to keep up their depressed spirits, they turned toward home wiser, if not better men. The hoax was too good to be kept, and soon was in everybody's mouth; but it grated harshly upon the ears of those whose credulity had been practiced upon, and for many years afterward it was much safer, before mentioning the "Big Woman" in the presence of any of the victims, to be certain that there was room for a retreat in the rear, for it seldom failed to create a pugnacious spirit in the humbugged person.
189
BYBERRY AND MORELAND.
ACCOUNT OF A FEW BIRTHS AND DEATHS IN BYBERRY AND VICINITY.
Born.
Died.
Age.
Joseph Knight
I680
I762
82
Abigail, his wife
1682
1764
82
Mary Thornton, their daughter
I723
1793
70
Giles Knight, their son
1719
1799
80
Elizabeth, his wife
1717
1766
49
Henry Tomlinson
I72I
1800
79
Sarah Titus
1713
I792
79
Thomas Townsend
I720
I794
74
John Townsend
I723
1800
77
Catharine Singley
I702
I802
100
Sarah Bolton .
1698
1784
86
John Paul
1715
1786
71
Edward Parry
1725
1792
67
Susanna Walmsley
1715
1795
80
Nathaniel Samms
1718
1796
78.
Grace Townsend
I721
1803
82
Jonathan Parry
I743
1809
66
Rachel Bolton
1728
1810
82
William Walton (Jersey Billy)
1725
1807
82
Daniel Brittin (Smithfield)
1690
1760
70
Elizabeth Brittin
1687
1766
79
John Brittin, son of Daniel
1715
1795
80
Thomas Walmsley, Sr.
I674
1754
80
Mary, his wife
1676
1755
79
David Jones, an ancient man
1658
1758
100
Henry Walmsley
1671
1759
88
Thomas Tomlinson ( Bensalem) ..
1688
1764
76
Joanna, his wife
I702
I772
70
Joseph Gilbert
1675
1765
90
Thomas Rush
I685
I77I
86
William Ridge
1696
1776
80
Thomas Walton
1693
1777
84
William Croasdale
1689
1777
88
Samuel Allen
170I
1785
84
William Homer
1707
1786
79
Isaac Carver
I72I
1786
65
Phebe, his wife
1718
1793
75
William Hibbs
1700
1789
89
John Carver
1717
179I
74
Ann Davis
1715
1798
83
Giles Knight
I720
1799
79
1756
Thomas Walton
1728
1810
82
Thomas Ridge
We find, upon looking over the list of subscribers to defray the expenses of Byberry Meeting, that of the
190
THE HISTORY OF
seventy-four persons mentioned in 1806, not one is now living; of the seventy persons mentioned in 1807, James Paul only is living ; of the seventy-four persons mentioned in 1809, Jeremiah Comfort, James Paul, and Robert Parry only are living; and, of the eighty-five subscribers for building Byberry Meeting House, in 1818, John P. Townsend, Jeremiah Comfort, Mary Pike, and Robert Parry only are living. Thus in a few short years the present generation will have passed away, and the places which know us now will then know us no more forever.
NOTES OF EVENTS EXTRACTED FROM OLD MANUSCRIPTS.
[1753.] John Holgate on the township.
A legacy of £17 3s. 8d. left to Byberry by Philip Honey.
[1754.] The township Dr. to 100 hobnails bought of Thomas Maul for Holgate's shoes, 4d.
Making two shirts for Holgate with thread, 3s. 4d.
Making breeches for Holgate with thread, 3s. 6d.
Making shoes for Holgate, 7s. 6d.
Drawing a tooth for Holgate by Thomas Townsend, 9d.
The township Dr. to Thomas Mardon for keeping with victuals, drink, washing, lodging, and mending, the said Holgate from May the 4th, 1754, till March the 25th, 1755, £5.
Thomas Mardon and William Homer were Overseers of the Poor for the year 1754. The following letter to them will show one of the customs of that early day :
19I
r
BYBERRY AND MORELAND.
"April the First, 1754.
"Friend Thomas Mardon and William Homer, you are hereby desired, according to your lawful commissions, to consider, grant, and warn or forewarn, one Jonathan Wright and his family either to inhabit quietness, or else forbid them from having my plantation for this year, according to our lease.
"From WILLIAM HOMER."
"He was accordingly forbidden by the aforesaid Over- seers."
[1759.] Paid lawyer Moreland £1 17s. 6d. for advice and assistance on account of ye poor.
[1760.] John Keen killed by a fall from a horse.
Justice Austin paid for swearing Jane Cox.
Sarah Dykes, Jane Cox and child, and Joan Smith on poor list.
Paid gs. 4d. for 11/2 yards of bearskin for Holgate's jacket.
Paid 8s. for Holgate's shoes.
Paid lawyer Galloway for advice, £I 2s. 6d.
Paid lawyer John Ross, £3 2s. 6d.
Paid lawyer Moreland, £3 IOS. !
Third mo. 16, a very great snow fell.
[1761.] Paid Joseph Galloway for advice, £2.
Bought linsey woolsey at 3s. per yard.
Paid fI to William Folwell for tending Court at New- town ten days, to prove Jane Cox's husband served four years, by indenture, with him in Jersey.
[1762.] Samuel Swift noted as a doctor.
Joseph Galloway paid 17s. 6d. for removing a trial from the Quarter Sessions to the Supreme Court.
192
THE HISTORY OF
[1764.] Josiah Foster killed by a wagon.
Joan Smith removed to Abington.
Daniel Boileau's wife killed by thunder.
[1765.] March 22, a very great snow began to fall, which lasted till the 29th, at night.
[1767.] Mary Grimes killed by a riding chair.
Thomas Homer killed by a cart.
[1768.] John Holgate died.
[1769.] April 20th, a very smart shower of snow.
[1770.] Ios. received of Alexander Edwards for pro- fane swearing.
7s. 6d. paid to Mary States for extending kindness to Catharine Hickey in time of labor.
[1771.] John Johnson fined 5s. by Alex. Edwards for profane swearing.
[1772.] John Humphreys fined 5s. by Alex. Edwards for profane swearing.
[1775.] 8 mo. 5, Peter States killed by the fall of Gill's house when it was raining.
[1776.] I mo. 9, Mary Tanner departed this life about 4 o'clock in the morning, being about 89 years of age.
[1777.] 2 mo. 4, Priscilla Walton buried; died with the small-pox.
5 mo. The First of this month Howe's army is to come-Robert Croasdale told Jonathan Wilson.
5 mo. I, Abel Knight died from a hurt received from a cari.
6 mo. 9, Benjamin Walton, Jacob Roads, and William Peart stole a blanket from me, - Carver.
[1779.] 2 mo. 16, Rachel Carver heard the shad-frogs. 3 mo. 24, a deep snow, and a very snowy day.
193
BYBERRY AND MORELAND.
6 mo. 28, began wheat harvest, and finished 7 mo. 8.
[1780.] 2 mo. 6, a tea-pot cost £31 17s. 6d. Continental money.
3 mo. 30, snow all day long -- the snow eleven inches deep in common.
4 mo. 2, went to meeting in the sleigh ; it was tolerably good going ; some came four miles.
5 mo. 19, a remarkably dark day, with smoke.
7 mo. 13, began to cut wheat.
8 mo. 15, eat common red cherries.
IO mo. 7, a new tea-kettle bought for f112 IOS.
12 mo. 4, ground covered with snow.
12 mo. 19, green flies plenty.
[1781.] 2 mo. 3 and 4, trees covered with ice to admira- tion.
7 mo. finished hauling wheat-lateness occasioned by wet weather and heavy wheat.
9 mo. 15, finished sowing wheat.
[1782.] 9 mo. 7, John Carver finished sowing forty- five acres of wheat.
12 mo. 9, in the morning it began to snow, and con- tinued until midnight, snowing very fast most of the time. It was near fourteen inches deep.
[1783.] I mo. 9 and To, a very great snow storm, about twelve or fourteen inches deep.
5 mo. 21, the locusts began to come out of the ground in great numbers.
8 mo. 29, began sowing wheat.
[1784.] 4 mo. 9, the cistern froze.
[1785.] Frogs heard for first time, 3 mo. Ist.
I3
194
THE HISTORY OF
4 mo. 16, there was a hard, black frost, and the little, still ponds were frozen over.
4 mo. 19, a great hail storm.
12 mo. 18, the weather very warm.
12 mo. 19, heard the bluebirds.
[1786.] 4 mo. 4, hail and snow fell to the depth of 5 inches.
5 mo. 18, a white frost.
12 mo. 4, about ten inches of snow fell upon an average, if it had not drifted.
12 mo. 8, it snowed and hailed, with a very high wind. Snow drifted to a great height.
12 mo. 25, Isaac Carver departed this life with the small-pox.
[1787.] 4 mo. 21, a very smart snow; the ground in the evening covered white with snow; the trees in full bloom ; and it froze near an inch thick, and looked awful.
6 mo. 23, Mary Carver taken ill with the small-pox.
12 mo. 22, the roads dry and dusty.
[1788.] Second Month, eighteenth day,
Our boy, James Anderson ran away.
7 mo. 16, began harvesting; the first of the fly to our knowledge .- John Carver.
9 mo. I, Thomas Roberts killed by falling out of a tree.
[1789.] 2 mo. 19, a very deep snow, near fourteen inches, if it had not drifted.
7 mo. 30, a great flood.
8 mo. 2, 3, and 4, there were four stout freshes in Poquessing Creek.
[1790.] 4 mo. 28-this morning the ground was covered with snow, and some of it lasted till night.
195
BYBERRY AND MORELAND.
[179I.] IO mo. 18, the trees were covered with sleet. It snowed and hailed and rained. The sleet lasted all the day long.
[1792.] 5 mo. 19, a large frost.
[1793.] 12 mo. 3 and 4, it snowed and blowed very hard. The snow was thought by some to be fourteen inches deep.
[1795.] 6 mo. 2, a hail storm.
[1804.] 3 mo. 29, thunder and great rain.
[1806.] First snow 12 mo. 3; moon twenty-three days old when the snow fell.
8 mo. 23, a great rain.
II mo. I, nothing in garden yet killed by frost.
[1807.] 4 mo. 25, the first thunder of the season.
[1829.] 9 mo. 17, Isaac Comly saw a land turtle on his farm which was marked I. C. (Isaac Comly), 1790; E. C. (Ezra Comly), 1795; J. C. (Joseph Comly), 1799. This turtle had been seen in 1811, 1812, 1815, and 1819. On the same day he found another turtle, which he had marked I. C. in 1789, forty years previous.
MISCELLANEOUS.
THE good people of these townships were probably without a Justice of the Peace prior to 1770, when Alexander Edwards took out a commission. Previous to that time, those in need of such services resorted to Bus- tleton or Holmesburg. Edwards died in 1777, and his son, Dr. Edwards, succeeded him in the commission; but in 1792 he removed to Frankford, where he died in 1802. Dr. Edwards was very useful in the neighborhood in
196
THE HISTORY OF
keeping order among those needing restraint, and espec- ially among the large boys, who congregated on the Sab- bath for unnecessary and often pernicious practices. Prior to the Revolution no physician had thought proper to locate in either of the townships ; but about that time we find Dr. Swift settled in Moreland and engaged in an extensive practice. Soon afterward Dr. Edwards located in Byberry, and although considered a skilful physician, he gave up the practice after the Revolution, and turned his attention to politics and farming. The next one of note was Dr. Samuel Knight, in the lower end of the township. He was much beloved, and had the confidence of all classes until his death, in 1796. After this physi- cians became more plenty, and the townships have since always been well supplied with members of that useful profession. In 1784 a stone barn, the first in this vicinity, was built by Isaac Comly, on a place known as "Old Sod," and since then the property of his son Isaac, and now owned by Dr. Comly.48 A part of this is still stand- ing, the walls being good, but the woodwork is nearly gone. In 1796, the barn now belonging to John P. Town- send, in Mechanicsville, was built. About the same time Edward Duffield built a barn in Moreland, near the vil- lage of Somerton. 49 These were the first barns with stabling underneath and a bridge to get to the floor and mows. They are generally known as "cellar barns," and have been the fashion ever since.
In former times tailors and shoemakers did not work
" This property is now owned by James Reiger.
" The barn on Edward Duffield's farm is still standing and bears the date 1789. That on Reuben Winkins' farm was erected about 1795.
197
BYBERRY AND MORELAND.
in shops as they do now, but they went from house to house to accommodate their employers; this was called "whipping the cat." The farmers would buy a sufficient quantity of leather, and the shoemaker was engaged to come once a year, when each member of the family was supplied with a pair of new shoes. As he boarded with the family his charges were moderate; although it was often very inconvenient for both parties. The tailor, also, was sent for as soon as the cloth came from the weaver's and while there usually made up a suit of sheepskin breeches for lads and buckskin for men. About one hun- dred years ago square-toed shoes and boots were the tip of the fashion in this section. The same fashion has pre- vailed three times in the last fifty years, and is now "all the go." Almost every farmer thought it necessary to raise a portion of flax, from which were manufactured sheets, shirting, and all other necessary articles of cloth- ing. One acre of good flax would produce enough to clothe ten or twelve persons, and could be raised at a trifling cost. When the tow was spun it was dyed differ- ent colors, and then sent to the weaver's, who wove it into cloth. This furnished material for nearly all the common clothing ; but the "Sunday" clothes were made of finer materials, such as velvet, corduroy, etc. The ap- parel of the female portion of the family was generally made of wool, and some itinerant wool-comber and spin- ner was engaged every autumn to prepare the wool for weaving. From the first introduction of sheep in the township there was more or less loss sustained from hav- ing them killed by the dogs. Almost every man kept one, and some as many as half a dozen worthless curs, which
198
THE HISTORY OF
were of no use to anybody, but always doing some mis- chief in the neighborhood. In order to recompense the owners of the sheep for their loss, some persons, in 1826, petitioned the Legislature and obtained from it an Act for taxing all the dogs in the township. The tax was to be collected by the Overseers of the Poor, and the money to be applied to paying for all sheep killed or injured by the dogs. From the passage of the Act, in 1826, until 1858, a period of thirty-two years, the sum paid for sheep thus killed amounted to one thousand and fifty-six dol- lars, being an average of thirty-three dollars per year, a · sum greater than the real value of all the dogs in the township. On the night of the 19th of September, 1848, a dog killed twenty sheep for Watson Comly, and the next night the same dog killed twenty more for Morton Walmsley. The latter sheep were in a pen having a high fence around it. Into this the dog got by jumping off the barn bridge near by; but after doing the mischief he was unable to escape from the pen, and in the morning was dispatched by the owner of the sheep. Several others suffered in the same way, and fewer sheep have been kept since that time, partly on account of the danger of having them killed by the dogs.
Various schemes for getting rich in a shorter time than is possible in the ordinary way, have from time to time been tried ; but all of them have uniformly proved failures, and left the experimenters in a worse, instead of a better, condition. Among these we hear of John Hopkins' scheme for getting rich by raising mustard, John Han- cock's, plan of cultivating castor beans to make "cold expressed castor oil;" and John Livezey's culture of the
199
BYBERRY AND MORELAND.
Cayenne pepper-plant to supply the people with that arti- cle. In 1838, the famous morus multicaulis was intro- duced, and extensive plans for raising silk were entered into. David Comfort erected a large frame building, thirty by fifty feet, for a cocoonery ; but the bubble burst ; so that in the latter part of the same year the trees were worthless, and could not be sold at any price, the cocoons could not be given away, and all the glorious expectations vanished like snow beneath the summer's sun. Several were plunged into irretrievable ruin, and their properties soon advertised by the sheriff. Comfort's cocoonery was sold in 1843 at less than one-fourth of its original cost, and was purchased by Charles Martindale, who employed Joseph Comly to move it to his farm, a distance of half a mile. This required four days; but was finally accom- plished without any injury to the building.50
About the year 1836, an anti-slavery society was estab- lished, and persons employed to lecture on the "Abolish- ment of African Slavery." These lectures were kept up for several years, and during that time some attempts were made to improve the condition of the blacks in the vicinity. Under the auspices of this society a Sabbath- school for their instruction was established at the school- house in the meeting-house yard, and continued for several months, but it gradually declined. The members also lost their interest in the society, and it survived the school but a short time. It was the intention of this society to establish an anti-slavery library, and several volumes were purchased for that purpose. These were
50 David Comfort lived on the farm now occupied by Jacob Eckfeldt and Charles Martindale occupied the farm now occupied by Frank Morrell.
200
THE HISTORY OF
kept at the house of Samuel Kirk, in Mechanicsville, where most of them still remain, although no new ones have been added for many years, and but little interest is now manifested in regard to it.51
In 1792, a society for debate was started by the young men of Byberry. At first they met at Thomas Walmsley's house, and afterward at the school-house. It was gener- ally called "The Congress," and lasted only one winter. In 1796, another was started under the name of "The Fraternal Society," with Asa Walmsley as president, and John Comly secretary. It lasted one year. From this time till 1820 a debating school was in operation nearly every winter. One of these, in 1807, met at Byberry Cross-roads, and was composed of nearly all the inhabit- ants in the vicinity, whether good, bad, or indifferent. Many ludicrous anecdotes of their meetings are still in existence. William Plumley was the president; and on one occasion, when one of the members accidentally got intoxicated, he was fined one dollar, which sum was im- mediately paid. In 1858, the Byberry Literary Society was established, with eighty-four members. The pro- ceedings were of an interesting character, and attracted much attention, so that the meetings were well attended. A paper known as the Literary Record was connected with the society, the articles to which were contributed by the members. Some of these compositions were very creditable, and evinced considerable talent on the part of the writers. After the commencement of the late rebel- lion several members left the neighborhood, and most of
51 These books have long since been scattered.
Crosse &Hest, EnAco Phila ..
20I
BYBERRY AND MORELAND.
those remaining lost all interest in it, so that it was closed in 1862.
In 1864, this was again revived under the title of "By- berry Institute;" and through judicious management on the part of the members has become more popular than any such institution previously established in the town- ship. The sessions are held weekly in the Byberry Hall, and generally attract full houses. This society held its first annual reunion in a romantic spot along the banks of the beautiful Neshaminy, in August, 1865. On that occasion several hundred invited guests assembled to lis- ten to the dialogues, essays, and orations which were delivered by the members. The day was favorable, the exercises were good, and the whole affair passed off with so much satisfaction, that the first annual reunion of the Byberry Institute will long be remembered with pleasure by all who participated in its enjoyments. The second annual reunion of this society was held in August, 1866, and was still better than the first. These societies are to be commended as being the means of diffusing useful knowledge in the neighborhood, and we hope that this one may be long continued.
About thirty years ago a "debating school" was started in Moreland, and the meetings were held in Tillyer's school-house. It continued for several years, and was attended by most of the people in the vicinity, some of whom learned right well how "to spout." In latter times a society for debating was started in Somerton, and be- came so popular as to attract speakers who lived six or eight miles away. It was closed in 1863, and has not since been revived.
202
THE HISTORY OF
When we look back, even for a few years, we find that great changes have taken place in almost every locality, particularly in the buildings and the general appearance of the country. Three houses formerly stood along the Bustleton and Somerton turnpike, near where the creek crosses above Byberry Point. The one on the west side was built of stones and logs, and but one story high, and was for many years occupied by Conrad Lingerman. The other two were on the east side, about fifty yards apart, both being on the farm of Thomas Chappell. One of these was a frame house two stories high, with but one room down stairs, and was occupied by Thomas Clark, in 1820. The other was stone and log, and occupied, in 1822, by Joseph Force; soon after this the house was torn down. At Byberry Point a very old frame and log house stood for many years, and was at one time occupied by George Duffield. It was taken down eight or nine years since by Jesse Clewell, its present owner, and a more com- modious one erected in its place. A blacksmith shop for- merly stood at this place, but has been gone over twenty- five years. Between this and the creek, on the west side of the road, was a woods, which I remember as a dark, gloomy place. Just above the point on the Byberry turn- pike was a woods on the west side, and near by an old frame dwelling owned and occupied for many years by "Bulger" Worthington.52 After it came into the posses- sion of George W. Saurman, most of the timber was sold
52 Bulger Worthington was very fond of a practical joke. At one time he placed a door over the top of a chimney in order to smoke out some negroes who were holding service in a room below. They soon discovered his trick and, instead of trouncing him, invited him to join them.
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.