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 14
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off, and a new house built in the woods, in 1855. The old house has since been removed, and the place much im- proved. At Knightsville, the old house occupied by Leonard Knight, Esq., was torn down in 1856, a short time after the Squire's death. The old school-house which stood nearly opposite to John Roberts's tenant-house has been moved back into John Tomlinson's orchard, and is now used as a wagon and store house. Opposite Tillyer's school a very old log house stood where Mrs. Thomas now lives, and was owned and occupied for many years by Thomas Helverson. The present dwelling was built by his son Sammy, who for many years taught the school opposite. An old house stood on the farm now owned by Andrew Erwin,58 not far from the present farm-house, but nearer the creek. This was the residence of Susan Albertson for several years, and until her death at a very advanced age. The present house was built by Squire Dawes.
The house on the farm now owned by William Potts is very old, and was at one time occupied by William Wain- wright, and afterward by Dr. Worthington, who removed thence to Somerton, about 1823. The farm-house on the property owned by the late Thomas Worthington54 was built by Thomas Banes, grandfather of Joseph Banes, of Bustleton, in place of a very old log house formerly there. Nearly all the ancient houses in Somerton have been torn down and new ones erected in their places, so that the village presents rather a neat appearance. Four old huts in this village were torn down several years since by the
63 This property is now owned by Jonathan Ervin.
54 This property is now owned by Charles Heller.
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neighbors, in order to get rid of the occupants, who occa- sionally visited the "hen-roosts" and "wood-piles" in the vicinity. At Byberry Cross-roads there has been great change. There was a large tract of woodland where Silas Tomlinson's55 house now stands, and which extended along the turnpike nearly to the little stream crossing some distance below. In the west corner was a store, kept previous to 1817 by the Carvers, but during that year they sold out to Isaac Bolton. It was afterwards kept by Josiah Walton, Thomas R. Martindale, Charles E. Clay- ton, and others. A blacksmith shop stood in the north, and a small tenement in the south corner. All of these have been removed, and a new set of buildings erected in the west corner by Silas Tomlinson, the present owner. This spot formerly had the euphonious name of "Plumb- sock," but is now called "Byberry Cross-roads." An old house formerly stood under the walnut tree opposite to Charles Martindale's orchard, and a blacksmith shop stood in the orchard, near the road. The well near the dwelling-house remained open until about twenty years ago. It had been filled with stones to within six or eight feet of the top, and was thus left, until one day when they were plowing in the field, one of the horses backed into it. After considerable trouble he was taken out with a few bruises, and the old well was filled up on the same day. An old log house formerly stood near George Dehaven's line, on land belonging to Mr. Wilmer.56 It was built by one of the Waltons. Another log house
55 This property is now owned by Aaron Tomlinson. Edwin Tom- linson now occupies another of Silas Tomlinson's properties.
56 This property is now owned by Colonel E. D. Morrell.
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stood where H. Humphrey's house now stands, and was torn down only a few years ago. On John Roberts's57 farm stood an old house for many years occupied by Benny Peart. The buildings on the farm belonging to Charles Martindale38 formerly consisted of an old stone house and a log barn. The barn fell down near thirty years ago, and the house was demolished by the present owner about 1848. A blacksmith shop formerly stood at the corner of Comly's road and Bustleton turnpike, near James Tomlinson's house. It was removed many years ago. A blacksmith shop stood at Byberry Point, and for many years belonged to George Duffield, but it was removed thirty-odd years ago. An old still-house, in which many a gallon of whiskey was distilled, formerly stood on the late Judge Som- mmer's farm.59 The whiskey business became so un- profitable that it was given up about forty years ago, and the still-house converted into a wagon-house. A still- house also stood on John Lingerman's farm,60 then be- longing to John Dyer, but this, too, has long since passed away.
The road leading from Byberry Store to Townsend's Mill had a woods on both sides of it for a considerable part of the distance. That on James Thornton's place, now owned by Richard Cripps,61 was for many years left
57 This property is now owned by Joseph Root.
58 Frank Morrell now occupies this property.
5º This farm is now occupied by Enoch Taylor.
· 6" Edward Duffield had a distillery. There was another on the Ashton tract on the Ashton Road in Lower Dublin.
61 This property is now owned by John Jenks.
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open as commons, and was a place of resort for the older part of the present generation when they went to school. It was filled with cow-paths; and one of those who then frequented that spot has remarked "that the tinkling of the cow-bell, mingled with the shouts of happy school- children, when he was a boy, still come fresh to his mem- ory, although like the old woods they have long since departed forever." The woods on Charles Martindale's place, between his orchard and John Barney's, has been cut down since my memory, although as far back as 1837. Further on were extensive tracts of woodland on the farms of John Carver and Evan Townsend, which abounded with rabbits, squirrels and partridges. As gun- ners were not permitted there, game was plenty, and the boys in the vicinity had much pleasure as well as profit in trapping and snaring it in the fall and winter; but the old oaks, chestnuts and hickories, which thickly covered the ground, are all gone, and only here and there a stump remains to tell the tale to passing travelers. The east side of the road from Byberry Hall to Vanarsdalen's Corner was cleared off only a few years since; and a large tract of timber on the road from the Benjamin Rush School- house to Gordon's dam has been removed within the last twenty years, and several houses built where it stood.
In the latter part of 1816, a society of young women was formed in Byberry, the object of which was to af- ford relief to the poor. They held meetings in order to increase their funds, and not only made contributions themselves, but solicited them from others. Various ar- ticles of clothing were made up and distributed among
DUDLEY HOMESTEAD.
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the needy, and did much toward alleviating the sufferings of the poor.
In 1817 the corn was much injured by the grub-worm, so that it did not yield more than half a crop. Prices that year ranged as follows: wheat, per bushel, $1.87; rye, 80 cents ; buckwheat, 55 cents; corn, 75 cents ; oats, 35 cents; flaxseed, $1.90; cloverseed, $12 ; potatoes, 50 cents; butter, 31 cents; apples, 60 cents; and eggs, 20 cents.
July 21, 1817, was remarkable for the violent storm of wind and rain which occurred, when a large number of trees were uprooted or twisted off, fences were blown down, the corn much injured, and the fruit blown off the trees. Several days in the beginning of May, this year, were observed to be very smoky, but the cause was not known. Previous to 1840, militia trainings were very common in the townships, on which occasions many of the inhabitants "turned out and drilled," to obviate the necessity of paying militia fines. On the 13th of May, :816, about fifty persons assembled for this purpose, and elected Seneca Hibbs as their captain. At such times con- siderable liquor was drunk, and, when, under its influ- ence, quarrels were of frequent occurrence.
The majority of the people were never much in favor of "training days," and toward the last of them the greatest "ignoramuses" in the neighborhood were usually elected captains, brigade inspectors, etc .; and their actions while in office caused no little merriment to the lovers of fun. Isaac Comly remarks that "many of the old residents re- collect the achievements of Colonel Gallagher. On one occasion at Milford, Bucks County, the Colonel was rig-
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ged out in a cocked hat, military coat and a sword four feet long, made of an old scythe. He rode Giles Knight's jackass, and the sword dragged on the ground. The jackass would not go across the bridge over the Nesham- iny, so the fellows carried the Colonel, jackass and all over, much to the merriment of those present. Some ob- jections were made to the Colonel's eating dinner with the other officers, but his company pushed him on and he went through. This was the last training in this sec- tion."
The summer of 1816 was remarkably cool, and, from some notes made at the time, we find a frost occurred May 16th, so as to kill the garden vegetables, corn, etc .; and, on June IIth, frost was noticed in the low places generally. During the same year the crops were below the average yield, and one of the poets of the day noted the fact in the following lines :
"The grass tho' short the laborer's mowing ; The corn is small, but fast is growing ; The winter was hard upon our rye ; The wheat's much injured by the fly ; Now and then we have a storm, A few days cold, and then it's warm."
In 1819 land sold at least $30 per acre lower than it had done in 1814, and many who were forced to sell were en- tirely ruined. During the winter which followed, the laboring men found but little to do, and several were hard beset to get along. The association of ladies was very active, and the sufferings much mitigated. The poor in other places were much pinched, and we find many went round with briefs to collect money. One of these was to enable John Brooks to build a house; another to enable
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Thomas Ridge to go to Ohio. A Dutch woman from Frankford went around to collect money for the same purpose, and when questioned as to why she came to By- berry, she said she was advised to "because it was con- sidered a good place." Emigrating to Ohio became very fashionable, and several families left their native place ; among these were Isaac Tomlinson, William Plumley, Griffith Street, John Adams, and Joseph Croasdale, Jr.
Some time during the latter part of this summer a bal- loon passed over a portion of Moreland; and as things of this kind were rather uncommon, people speculated upon the cause. Some were at a loss to conceive what it could be; but others saw in it the resemblance of a cow, which had in some supernatural manner been provided with wings, and was then journeying over the country in order to see the fine farms and happy people around Phil- adelphia.
The collection of the tax assessed upon the people for military purposes has always been a matter attended with serious trouble in the townships. Most of the inhabitants are Friends, and their principles would not permit them to pay money for such purposes. In many places the col- lectors did nothing more than ask for the tax; while in others they adopted every means in their power for ob- taining it. Sometimes they seized upon such property as they could find, such as carriages, harness, grindstones, horses, cows, hogs, etc .; all of which were sold at public sale, after which the overplus was returned to the several owners. Those who refused to pay were often taken to jail, where they were sometimes kept for several
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days, and until they or their friends paid the amounts as- sessed to them.
The summer of 1818 was very sickly, and many per- sons died. Help was very scarce, so that the neighbors had to assist each other. Joseph Comly was sick nearly all summer, and as he was unable to attend to his farm, the neighbors assisted him. On one occasion they as- sembled to the number of thirty-five, and cut down thirty acres of grass and grain for him in one day. During this year John Black kept a hotel at Smithfield; and we find that he brought a suit against several individuals, to re- cover twelve and a half cents for liquor furnished them by way of treat at the militia muster. He obtained judg- ment in his favor, and they had the debt to pay as well as the costs. This year Conrad Snyder, from Bensalem, was through Byberry collecting money to pay a doctor's bill! Lucky doctor !
August 29, 1818, we find it stated that Elizabeth Bar- ton was at Byberry Meeting, and preached on the subject of "The sun's softening wax and hardening clay."
Some of the geniuses of the township are spoken of as trying their skill at invention during this year. Their thoughts were influenced by the ambitious desires of Ful- ton and others ; and Benjamin Willard, of Mechanicsville, spent some time in making a wagon to go by steam ; but, unfortunately for the reputation of the village and the purse of Willard, the wagon did not go.
There is still in use in Byberry a pair of cart wheels, the hubs of which were part of a wagon belonging to William Walmsley, great-grandfather to Silas Walmsley. The wagon was taken to carry stores to the English army
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engaged in the French and Indian War in 1759. The following occurs in William Walmsley's account book : "Ye 30th day of ye 6th month, June, 1759, John Van- horn and Thomas Webb pressed my wagon, and took it away to carry military stores to Ohio, and brought the wagon back ye 29th of ye 9th month, 1759." These hubs "are made of quartered white oak, and are the last of the military matters of those days. Could these hubs speak to their felloes, what feats of arms and deeds of valor done in olden time would they portray !"62
After the Revolutionary War wild animals became very scarce, and panthers, wolves, or wildcats were seldom seen. A panther was shot in Moreland about the year 1790. Some wild turkeys were seen there in 1792, and in 1835 William Webster shot a wild-cat near the Bristol turnpike. Game, such as partridges, pheasants, rabbits, squirrels, etc., were plenty until within a few years; but as their haunts have been destroyed, they have gradually decreased in number until but few are now found.
Exciting accounts of some wild animals have from time to time been circulated, and a few of the timid ones have been so frightened that they could not be induced to expose themselves to the danger after nightfall. Al- though the tracks of bears, panthers, otters, beavers, etc., are said to have been seen, yet none of these animals have been captured.
In the year 1853, a company of Chippewa Indians, con- sisting of a chief, his squaw, and two sons, visited By-
62 These hubs were branded B. A. (British Army). They have been used for fuel. An old horse branded C. A. (Continental Army) "was still to be found in Byberry in 1800.
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berry and encamped in Morton Walmsley's woods, where they remained nearly the whole summer. In order to raise money they gave several entertainments in Byberry Hall, which were well attended, and furnished them with as much as sufficed for their wants. They roamed through the fields and woods, but were very civil, not molesting anybody.
The Independent Mutual Fire Insurance Company was chartered in 1843. This is not confined to the townships alone, but extends over a portion of Bucks, Montgomery, and Philadelphia Counties. The first meeting respecting the company was held at Somerton in 1842; and at the next session of the Legislature a charter was obtained. Franklin Comly, Esq., was the President of the Company until his death in 1860; since that time John Smith, Esq., of Huntington Valley, has been its presiding officer. Wat- son Comly, Esq.,63 has always been its secretary. It com- menced with an insurance of $200,000, but the amount now insured is over $2,800,000, and is steadily increasing. Nearly all the property in both townships is insured in this company. The losses by fire are paid by assessments upon the property insured.
We have now traced all the more important events of the townships from their earliest settlement down to the present time. In the first part of the history we have probably collected nearly all events of interest that have escaped the ravages of time; but during the last few years various things have transpired which we have not noticed, although they would be interesting to many per- sons. It is, however, probable, that few, if any, in che
63 Thomas Shallcross is now secretary.
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townships have preserved an account of the events of the last twenty years-a matter particularly to be regretted, as Isaac Comly faithfully chronicled all events of interest from about the year 1790, until his death, in 1847, and a portion of this history has been obtained from such ac- counts as he from time to time published.
TOPOGRAPHY, GEOLOGY, ETC.
THE surface of Byberry has a general slope to the south, the most northern part being sufficiently elevated to afford a good view of the greater part of the township and of the country lying on both sides of the Delaware River. All the larger streams take their rise in this locality, and flow in a general southerly direction. Just above the northern boundary of the township the Poquessing,64 one of the most beautiful and interesting streams in the vicin- ity, takes its rise; and, as it flows onward through a roll- ing country, forms the entire eastern boundary. It has several small tributaries from Byberry, the most import- ant of which is Bloody Run, which empties into it above Carter's Mill, Black Lake Creek at Mechanicsville, and Gilbert's Run, about a mile below. It passes through a beautiful district, well suited to agricultural purposes, the country being moderately rolling, and the soil fertile. Its banks, for the most part, are skirted with timber, and but few dwellings of any description are near it. Much of the scenery along its course is picturesque, and it af- fords considerable matter of interest to the traveler. From
64 This word, often written Poquesink, is of Indian origin. Accord- ing to Heckewelder, it signifies a mouse or the place abounding in mice.
!
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its source to its mouth, a distance of about twelve miles, there are no fewer than eight mill-dams, which furnish water-power to as many mills. This can be said of but few streams in this vicinity. Of these mills five (one saw-mill and four grist-mills) are in Byberry, and are all on the western bank of the creek.
The Byberry Creek, the next stream of importance, rises in the "timber swamp," in the northern part of the township, a little to the southwest of Somerton, and flows through the middle of the township, receiving several small tributaries in its course. One of these-Ellwood's Run-comes from Silas Tomlinson's land, and unites with the main stream, or Wilson's Run, on Horace Smith's farm; while the only other one of moment rises in Moreland, flows a southeasterly course, and empties in- to the main stream on Nathaniel Richardson's farm. Soon after receiving this stream the main creek is turned to the southwest, around the base of a range of hills, form- ing part of the western boundary, and finally comes back on the south side of the same range, meeting with the Poquessing at the extreme southern end of the township, about one mile from where it empties into the Delaware. This stream has but one mill on it-Charles Comly's -- near the centre of Byberry. By these streams and their tributaries the whole of Byberry is drained.
The surface of the country is generally level, except along the eastern boundary and in the southern part, where a few moderate elevations are found; yet these are so limited that no part of the surface can be said to be hilly or rough. The geological features, therefore, pre- sent nothing striking; and, so far as I have examined
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them, but little worth inserting in sketches like these. In the northern part the soil is a little sandy and mixed with mica, and contains some of the common garnet, though the specimens are usually small. This is underlaid with rocks of mica slate, which seems to be the most common formation in the northern part of the township, and from the amount of garnet found in it might be denominated garnetiferous mica slate. This is well shown along the course of the Poquesssing. Nearer the middle of the township the gneiss formation is generally found, com- posed of quartz, feldspar and mica, and underlying the whole surface. These ingredients are blended in different proportions, and along with them hornblende and talc occasionally occur. Along Black Lake Run hornblende is found mixed with the gneiss; and in the same vicinity I found some specimens of that mineral, where talc had taken the place of the mica, forming a rock called proto- gine. Soapstone, or talc, is also found on farms belonging to Jonathan Leedom and William Carter, 65 near Somer- ton. On the farm belonging to Silas Vanarsdalen,66 two or three rocks, weighing several tons each, have been found, presenting very much the appearance of Edge Hill stone. These are gneiss, containing more than the usual quantity of feldspar, blended with the quartz and mica ; the latter in very small quantities, giving to it the appear- ance of Edge Hill stone, which is a mixture of feldspar and quartz intimately interfused. From its spotted ap-
65 This property, once belonging to Jonathan Leedom, now belongs to Henry Roberts, and that belonging to William Carter now belongs to Benjamin Carter.
66 This property is now owned by Albert Buckman.
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pearance it has been denominated porphyritic gneiss. It also contains a little tourmaline or schorl. Professor Rogers, in his report on the geology of Pennsylvania, remarks "that where the feldspar is the predominating mineral, it exhibits a remarkable tendency to pass to the condition of kaolin by decomposition." Specimens of this last-mentioned mineral occur on the road leading from Mechanicsville to Gordon's Mill, just below Thomas James'67 house, only a few hundred yards from the rocks on Vanarsdalen's farm, and probably have been formed by such decomposition. The kaolin is in small quantities, and too impure to be of any value for manufacturing purposes. In some localities, particularly along the Po- quessing, where this formation is exposed, the laminated structure is somewhat remarkable for its tortuosities and irregularities ; but in others it is very regular in its ar- rangement, and affords excellent material for building and other purposes. On Silas Tomlinson's68 farm there is a quarry of hornblende, which furnishes excellent stone for turnpikes. The mineral has also been found in several other places in the townships.
Along the Poquessing, about half a mile below Me- chanicsville, on the Bensalem side of the stream, there is a projection or mound about twenty-five feet high, and covering near a half acre of surface. It is composed of gneiss, the feldspar of which has mostly changed into kaolin, and contains here and there a few crystals of schorl. This mass has the appearance of having at some
" This property is now owned by the heirs of Thomas James.
68 This property now belongs to Edward Shallcross. The rock is a combination of hornblende and quartz known as hornblendeschist.
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former time been united with the rocks on the Byberry side, its composition and general appearance being similar to them. It is, therefore, not improbable, but that the Poquessing may once have passed around to the east of it, and that the projection was undermined by the action of the water, and fell into the valley where it now lies, and that the stream has formed a passage between it and the rocks to which it was attached. This change probably occurred many years since, as the mound is now covered with earth, in many places four feet deep, in which the remains of large trees may still be seen.
In the meadow lately owned by George Weiss, there are two large masses of rocks, composed of asbestiform actinolite, in which impressions similar to those made by a man's foot appear. A similar print has been observed in a rock near the mouth of the Poquessing, which has given rise to the belief by the superstitious "that they were made by the Devil when he leaped over the Delaware into the Jerseys."69
Bog iron ore occurs in several places in the northern end of the township; sulphuret of iron in small crystals also is found, intermingled with other minerals. Some very pure specimens of black mica occur along the Poques- sing in several localities, but they are usually small. A few specimens of green quartz, or prase, probably colored by actinolite, have been found in the vicinity. On Nathaniel Richardson's farm some specimens containing sulphate of copper have also been found.
63 The first of these rocks is on the property now belonging to Ed- ward Shallcross. The rock is not of the proper nature to possess fossil footprints. The phenomenon is merely a freak of nature, produced through the process of rock disintegration and erosion.
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