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 15
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A peculiarity in the water-courses exists which de- serves to be mentioned. They are all found to the western side of the valleys through which they flow, and, conse- quently, that bank is generally skirted with hills made up of the gneiss or mica slate. From this circumstance it is rare to find a good quarry on the eastern banks of any of the streams.
The lower end of Moreland generally slopes to the south, being drained by the tributaries of Byberry Creek. The soil in that section is generally argillaceous, and only moderately fertile. The prevailing formation there is micaceous, yet few quarries are found. In the northern part the land slopes to the west, the surface being suffici- ently rolling to carry off the waste water. The soil here is either a sandy or gravelly loam, except that part in the vicinity of the "timber swamp," which is argillaceous. A small stream rises in this swamp, and drains the clay bottom in the vicinity; while to the north another stream rises in the rolling ground. After flowing about a mile across the township in a westerly direction, they unite and form a pleasant little stream which finds its way to the Pennypack, near Verreeville. Some quarries have been opened along this stream, from which excellent build- ing stone is obtained. The geology, etc., of Moreland, is similar to that of Byberry, and affords but little interest to the general reader.70
7 Byberry and Moreland are within the belt of the Philadelphia mica schists and, being thus located, they possess all the common minerals found in that belt. Aside from building stone, it possesses no valuable deposits.
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VILLAGES, ETC.
Babylon, about half a mile southeast of the Byberry Meeting-house, is a scattered village lying on both sides of the road, and containing eight dwelling-houses, besides a few other buildings. The late Thomas Gilbert was the first settler in the place.
Black Lake is a small stream, one branch of which rises on John Carver's place and the other on James Thorn- ton's,71 and, after flowing nearly a mile, unite on land be- longing to Charles Martindale. It then flows a winding southeasterly course for another mile, and empties into the Poquessing at Mechanicsville. The water in this stream has a very dark appearance, and is probably color- ed by vegetable matter along its course. This will ac- count for the name of "Black," but why called "Lake" is not known. The name, however, has been used from time immemorial, and we are not disposed to change it. There is a tradition that stonecoal was found along this stream on the farm now owned by Charles Martindale, before the Revolutionary War, but no evidence of it has since occurred.
Byberry Point, in the western part of Moreland, is at the junction of the Bustleton and Byberry turnpike road's, about three-fourths of a mile from the former place. There is but one house here.
Byberry Cross-roads is where the Southampton road crosses the Byberry and Bensalem turnpike, about one mile north of Byberry Meeeting-house. A tavern was formerly kept here with the sign of the "Three Tuns,"
71 This property is now owned by Jesse Tomlinson.
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but was afterwards converted into a store, which was kept by different persons until within a few years. At one time several mechanics were located here, and the place was called "Plumbsock;" but these have all disappeared, and the place is now known as Byberry Cross-roads.
Carter's Mill is on the Poquessing, in the northern part of the township. It was built by the late James Carter. Several houses are in the vicinity. A saw and grist-mill are in operation here, both doing a good business.
Amos Knight's Corner is on the Byberry and Holmes- burg road, one mile southwest of the Meeting-house. It was named after its late proprietor, Amos Knight, who lived here many years, and was noted for his eccentrici- ties.
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Ellwood's Run is a small stream emptying into By- berry Creek on Morris Penrose's place. Its source is on land owned by Silas Tomlinson, about one mile from its mouth. It was named after Thomas Ellwood, who for many years lived in a small tenement near it.
Gingerbread Field is west of Knight's Mill, near the Poquessing, on a part of the original Ellis's tract of five hundred acres. On this Ellis had his habitation; and in the garden attached both he and his wife were buried. The graves were for a long time inclosed by a fence, but now no vestige of them remains.
Kaintuck, composed chiefly of meadow-land, is situated in the northern part of Byberry, near the foot of Edge Hill, and extends along the west branch of the Poques- sing Creek for half a mile.
Knight's Mill is on the Byberry and Andalusia turn- pike, in the southern part of Byberry. It is on the Po-
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quessing, and was erected about 1770, by Jonathan Knight, gentleman; it was rebuilt in 1815. There are five or six dwelling-houses near by, also a county bridge over the Poquessing.
Knightsville is situate on the Byberry and Bensalem turnpike road, where the Moreland road72 crosses it, near the thirteenth mile-stone. It is a village containing six dwelling-houses and some other buildings. It was named in honor of Leonard Knight, Esq., and Jonathan Knight, Judge, who for many years resided here. A school was formerly kept at this place.
Minktown, a village of two houses, is situate on the Poquessing, near Townsend's mill-dam. The house was built here over seventy years ago, by Benjamin Adams, weaver, and contained but two rooms, in which was brought up a large family of children. It derived its name from the number of minks found here a few years since. Opposite to this place is the burying-ground for colored people.
Pleasantville, on the county line, about one mile east of Somerton, is a village of ten or twelve houses. It was formerly noted for the store kept there by Edward Worth- ington, and was then called Tortleburg, or, more politely, Terrapintown. These names have of late been discarded, and from its being a pleasant place is now called Pleasant- ville.
Perth is a small village near Bloody Run, on the road leading from Somerton to the county line. It has become noted for being the place where Hart was attacked and
12 This road is now called the Red Lion Road.
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seriously injured, for which the Mansons were tried and acquitted.
Ridge's Mill73 is on the Poquessing, near the north corner of Byberry. It has a long mill-race, but no dam, yet considerable business is done here.
Townsend's Mill, on the Poquessing, one mile northeast of Byberry Meeting-house, was built in 1767, and re- mained in the Townsend family from its erection until within ten or twelve years. It is a valuable property, and capable of grinding 15,000 bushels per year. There are several dwellings and a smith and wheelwright shop near it. During the exciting presidential canvass of 1844 it was called "Coonville," on account of the emblematic rac- coons kept there in connection with the cause of Henry Clay, and has since frequently gone by that name.
Timber Swamp. This is a large tract of woodland reaching from the west corner of Byberry near Andrew Ervein's, northeast along the Moreland line almost to the Somerton road. This was formerly one vast tract of woodland, the largest in the vicinity, and was a noted hunting ground. Raccoons, opossums, squirrels, and birds were found there in abundance, and even bears were sometimes seen. The last Bruin found there was in 1780, and was shot by Jersey Billy Walton. It was formerly a great place for ghosts, etc., and many marvellous tales have been narrated as occurring in the "timber swamp." Much of the timber has been cleared off within a few years, and its limits thereby greatly contracted.
Powelltoron, at the junction of the Moreland and the Holmesburg roads, is a village of five or six dwelling-
7 This mill is now owned by John Wynkoop.
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houses, a school-house and some other buildings. The school-house is a new building, and an ornament to the place. This village is named after a family of Powells, who resided there for many years.
Comly's Mill is the only one on the Byberry Creek, and is near the centre of Byberry, about one mile south of the Meeting-house. This stream not furnishing sufficient water-power, the enterprising proprietor, Charles B. Comly, introduced steam, and the mill is now run by it instead of water, and does an extensive business. A few houses have been built near by, mostly by Robert Phillips, the former owner, giving the place the appearance of a village.
Somerton, the largest village in the township, is situ- ated on the Bustleton and Somerton turnpike road, about three miles from the former place, and thirteen from Philadelphia. It is partly in Moreland and partly in By- berry, and extends a quarter of a mile along the turn- pike. A public school-house and a Methodist church have, within a few years, been erected here. Besides these, the place contains three hotels, two shoemakers, one saddle and harnessmaker, two stores, one wheelwright, one blacksmith, one undertaker, two carpenters, one. tailor, and one doctor. It contains about thirty-five dwelling- houses, and a population numbering about one hundred and eighty persons. A post-office has been established here, and is connected with Philadelphia by a daily mail. A little to the east of the village is the William Penn Cemetery.74
74 This village is named in honor of Judge Sommer who dwelt on the property now occupied by Enoch Taylor. It was previously
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Byberry Store, now owned by Ross M. Knight, is the chief emporium of Byberry, and is near the centre of the township. A post-office was established here in 1832, and it is now in daily communication, by mail, with Philadel- phia. Near by is Friends' Meeting-house, in which many important events of bygone times have transpired, and around which much that is dear to every native of By- berry still lingers. Byberry Hall and the Cabinet of Natural Curiosities belonging to the Byberry Philosophi- cal Society are here; and the old school, established more than a century ago, and which for a long time was the only one in the township, is still kept open for the educa- tion of the youth. A tailor and a shoemaker shop are near at hand; and two or three dwelling-houses also help to give importance to the place. It is now as it has been ever since the first settlement, the centre of attraction in Byberry.75
Mechanicsville, next to Somerton in point of size, is situate on the Poquessing, where Black Lake Creek empties into it. It was named from the number of me- chanics settled there, and is a place of considerable importance. It contains about twenty dwelling-houses and several other buildings, which are scattered on both sides of the valley through which Black Lake flows; and
called Smithfield, but assumed its present name at the beginning of the nineteenth century.
75 This store is now owned by Lewis Hall. It has always, like other country stores, been a great meeting place in the evenings for the neighbors. During the early settlement, before taverns were estab- lished, alcohol could be obtained here. It is said that school boys could buy a quart of whiskey and pass the measure around and thus empty it. The customers about this time learned not to ask for the spirits directly but "The same as I got last time."
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it numbers about one hundred and fifty persons in popula- tion. In it the traders are well represented, as carpen- ters, masons, storekeepers, machinists, butchers, wheel- wrights, saddlers and harnessmakers, scriveners, and farmers are found within its limits. A mill for sawing lumber and grinding feed, and a public school, are in suc- cessful operation here. Opposite to this place, on the Ben- salem side of the Poquessing, is Elizabethtown, a small village containing several dwellings, all of which have been erected within twelve or fifteen years. A substantial county bridge connects these two places.
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
JOHN HART.
JOHN HART, born at Whitney, in Oxfordshire, Eng- land, November 16, 1651 (O. S.), was among the earliest settlers, having come over with Penn, in 1682. He pur- chased four hundred and eighty-four acres of land, bor- dering on the Poquessing Creek, in the southern part of Byberry, on which he settled and spent several years of his life. He was a man of rank, character, and reputa- tion, had considerable influence, and was several times elected a member of the Assembly. He was a leading member of Byberry Meeting, and at one time considered a good preacher. He manifested great interest in pro- moting the views and doctrines of George Keith, his name being attached to many of the papers published by that party against Friends ; and at the separation, all his near- est neighbors, and some of those more distant, joined him in opposing the principles maintained by Friends. After the separation, in 1691, he preached to a society of Keith- ians that met at the house of John Swift, in Southampton ; but, in 1697, this meeting was broken up, and he, along with many others, embraced the principles of the Baptists, and was baptized by Thomas Rutter. In 1702, they joined the meeting at Pennypack, where Hart became assistant minister, but was never ordained. He was, how- ever, considered a pious Christian and a good preacher, and continued to officiate at that meeting, and at a Bap- tist Church in Philadelphia, from 1707 to 1720. He sold all his possessions in Byberry in 1705, and removed to
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Southampton. His wife was Susannah Rush, by whom he had five children: John, Joseph, Thomas, Josiah, and Mary, who married into the Crispin, Miles, Paulin, and Dungan families, and mostly settled in Lower Dublin.1
JOHN RUSH.
JOHN RUSH, the patriarch of the Rush family in By- berry, was the commander of a troop of horse in Crom- well's army. After the war was over, he married Susan- nah Lucas, of Harteen, in Oxfordshire, in 1648. In 1660, he embraced the principles of the Quakers, and along with his whole family, consisting of seven children, and several grandchildren, came to Pennsylvania in 1683, and settled on Byberry Creek, near where Reuben Parry now lives. In 1691, he and his family became Keithians, and, in 1697, most of them joined the Baptists. He died in 1699, leaving ten children, seven sons and three daugh- ters. His sword and watch have been preserved by his
1Johr. Hart came about three months before Penn. His grant of 1,000 acres dates from the IIth of October, 1681. Five hundred acres were located in the lower part of Byberry and five hundred acres in Warminster. It was as preacher at the house of John Swift that he laid the foundation of the Southampton Baptist Church. He died in 1714.
He appears to have been a very influential man. His name appears in many of the important Keithian documents. Proud speaks of him as "A man of rank, character and a great preacher."
Of the descendants of John Hart, who attained distinction, may be mentioned the following: Oliver Hart, who studied theology under William Tennent of Log College, Neshaminy, and became a famous preacher of South Carolina; Samuel Preston Moore, who was surgeon-general in the Confederate Army, and Stephen West Moore, who was inspector-general of Louisiana. Gen. W. W. H. Davis, another descendant, has written a history and genealogy of this family.
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descendants ; also, his family Bible, containing the names of his children, in his own handwriting.2
JAMES RUSH.
JAMES RUSH, son of John and Susannah Rush, was born in Oxfordshire, England, in 1678, and was brought over with the family to Pennsylvania, in 1683. He never married, but remained at the family mansion, where he died in 1727, aged forty-nine years, and was buried in the ancient graveyard in the southern part of Byberry.
WILLIAM RUSH.
WILLIAM RUSH, son of John and Susannah Rush, came over with the family in 1683. He was married while in England ; but his wife, Amelia, died in the latter part of the same year of their arrival, and was buried at John Hart's burying-ground on the Poquessing. William died in 1688.
HENRY ENGLISH.
HENRY ENGLISH, brother-in-law to Giles Knight, came over to Byberry some time previous to 1690. While in England he married Hannah West, in 1685, and with her came to America, and settled on his half of his father's purchase in Byberry. He was a member with Friends, and gave one acre of ground for the use of the meeting. But little is known of him except that he lost his first wife, and that he married Hannah, widow of William Hibbs, in 1712. In March, 17II, a year previous to this marriage, he made a deed of his property to his intended
" The tract of John Rush in Byberry was about five hundred acres. John Rush also owned a tract of similar size in Warminster. From a letter written by Dr. Benjamin Rush to John Adams, it appears that all but one of John Rush's children were born in England.
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spouse, which expressly stated "that it was in considera- tion of the love, good-will and affection which he had and did bear toward his loving friend, Hannah Hibbs." He died about 1724, but probably left no children.
JOSEPHI ENGLISH.
JOSEPH ENGLISH, one of the original settlers, came over with Penn, in 1682, and settled in Byberry. He married Joan, widow of Henry Comly, of Bucks County, in 1684. He died Sth mo. 10th, 1686, and his wife, 10th mo. 20th, 1689.
WALTER FORREST.
WALTER FORREST came over with Penn, in 1682. He took up a large tract of land in New Jersey; also, some land in the southern part of Byberry, bordering on the Poquessing. On this little tract he settled, and built a mill near where Thomas's Mill now stands. He was a member with Friends, and his name frequently appears in the early records of the Society. He held considerable property at the time of his death, but it is probable that he left no heirs, as none are mentioned in his last Will.
ABEL KINGSTONE.
ABEL KINGSTONE, one of the earliest settlers in Ben- salem, lived near the present residence of Joseph Knight. The earliest account of him extant is, that in 1706 he was appointed one of the Overseers of Byberry Preparative Meeting. He was continued in this service for several years; and, between 1717 and 1735, was repeatedly chosen to visit Friends' families, in which service he gave great satisfaction. He was appointed an Elder by Abing-
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ton Monthly Meeting, in which capacity he continued twenty-eight years, and was the first person chosen to this station under the discipline. He is uniformly spoken of by his neighbors and contemporaries with much respect, and was considered a valuable and worthy Friend. He was an approved minister in the Society for many years previous to his death, which occurred IIth mo., 1747. He left several daughters, one of whom married John Cadwallader, of Horsham; and another ( Susannah) mar- ried George James, of Philadelphia, in 1717, and had two children, Abel and Elizabeth. Abel was afterward a noted merchant in Philadelphia, and Elizabeth married Giles Knight the second, in 1738, and became owners of the Kingstone estate in Bensalem.
GEORGE JAMES.
GEORGE JAMES was a tailor, and followed that business at the old Kingstone homestead in Bensalem. He buried his first wife, and, in 1738, married Sarah Townsend, of Long Island. She was a widow, and the mother of Thomas and John Townsend, who were afterwards noted members of Byberry Meeting. George James was a mem- ber of the Society of Friends, and by them was much respected. His wife Sarah died about 1773, aged about 83 years. The date of his death is not known.
WILLIAM HIBBS.
WILLIAM HIBBS was among the early settlers from England, and his land laid northwest of the tract belong- ing to Henry English. He remained with Friends after the Keithian controversy, but seems to have had some difficulty with his neighbors. He died previous to 17II.
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DUNCAN FAMILY.
THE DUNCANS settled north of Byberry, in Bensalem. They were noted in their day as solid and exemplary Friends. Among these were John Duncan, Edmond Dun- can, and William Duncan, for many years Clerk of Byberry Meeting. The last of the family was a "learned old bachelor," who died at an advanced age, in 1808.
JOSEPH FOSTER.
JOSEPH FOSTER was among the early inhabitants, and we find it stated that in 1731 he purchased of Josiah Ellis a part of his tract in Byberry, and erected a log house thereon, near the residence of the late Isaac Comly, where he lived several years. He left eight sons, from whom most of that name have descended.
WILLIAM HOMER.
WILLIAM HOMER settled in Byberry in 1713. He was a member with Friends. He married Mary Walton in 1729, but left no children.
WILLIAM BILES.
WILLIAM BILES came from England in 1678, and took up his residence in Bucks County. He had considerable talents, and was one of the Justices of Upland Court, until the division of the Province into three counties. He was a man of integrity and influence, a valuable minister of the Society of Friends, and was one of the signers of the celebrated testimony of that Society against George
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Keith. He frequently visited the settlement at Byberry, and was identified with its early history.3
ABEL JAMES.
ABEL, son of George and Susannah James, and grand- son of Abel Kingstone, was born at the residence of his grandfather, on the Poquessing Creek, in 1716. He married Rebecca, daughter of Thomas Chalkley, and afterward became a noted merchant of Philadelphia. He was much esteemed for his benevolence, and distinguished himself as an active member of the Friendly Association for regaining and preserving peace with the Indians in 1757.
ANN MOORE.
In 1750, WALTER MOORE and his wife, ANN MOORE, came from Fairfax, and resided at Byberry four years. She was a valuable minister among Friends, and was held in high esteem by all who knew her. Her parents lived in Bucks County, where she was brought up without much, if any, education, and but little care had been exercised over her in any way. She was unfortunate in her mar- riage, as her husband was not only in indigent circum- stances, but was intemperate. She appears, however, to
" William Biles of Dorchester in Dorcet County, England, arrived about June 12, 1680, with his wife and seven children and settled on a tract of 309 acres in Falls Township, Bucks County. This tract was granted to Biles by Sir Edmund Andros and was probably Biles Island just below Trenton, which Biles purchased from the Indians for ten pounds in 1680. He died in the year 1710.
William Biles quarrelled with Governor Evans. Of the Governor he said, "He is but a boy; he is not fit to be our Governor; we'll kick him out; we'll kick him out!" For this he was prosecuted by the Governor who received £300 damages. He did not collect this, however, although he caught him in Philadelphia and imprisoned him.
THOMAS SHALLCROSS.
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have risen above the things of time, and looked to a Higher Power for support under those trying circum- stances; and, if we are allowed to judge from her words and actions, the light of truth enlarged her understanding, and, in an eminent degree, qualified her as a gospel min- ister. She was indeed a powerful preacher. Her man- ners were dignified, her voice melodious, and when exer- cised in the ministry, her words flowed freely; her style was impressive, and her thoughts were clothed in such beautiful language that she attracted many hearers, and few preachers in that day were considered her equal. Of her Dr. John Watson remarks: "That she used no ges- tures; her left hand was applied to the side of her face, while the truths of the gospel flowed from her tongue in language, accents and periods, somewhat resembling the style of the poems of Ossian." They resided in a small tenement belonging to Benjamin Walton, near David Dyer's present residence. In 1754 they removed to Mary- land, and no further account of them has been found.
NICHOLAS MOORE.
NICHOLAS MOORE, an attorney of London, after whom Moreland was named, came over from England in com- pany with Penn, in 1682. He took up a large tract of land, embracing the manor of Moreland, now Moreland, in Philadelphia, and Moreland, in Montgomery County. He settled on this tract at a place called Green Spring, in the vicinity of the present village of Somerton, where he erected a dwelling-house near a fine spring of water. He was a distinguished Judge and Counsellor of William Penn, and was Chairman of the first Provincial Assembly
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of Freemen of Pennsylvania, which convened at Chester in 12th mo., 1682. In 1684 he was elected a member of the Assembly for Philadelphia, and was chosen its Speaker, although strongly opposed by a portion of that body. On the 4th of the 6th mo., in the same year, Penn granted to him, along with four others, commissions as Provincial Judges, for two years from that date, and he was made the Chief Justice of the number. In 1685 he was again elected a member of the Assembly, but fell under its displeasure, and was impeached as a corrupt and aspiring minister of state. As William Penn had gone to England, a letter containing the impeachment was transmitted to him, but it did not receive his approbation, and in 1686, when he changed the Executive Government to a Board of Five Commissioners, he appointed Judge Moore and two of his former associates as members of that board. Moore was retained in this responsible posi- tion until 1687, and during this whole time he appears to have given satisfaction, as we find no more said against him. By his course he gained the good will of most of his contemporaries, and enjoyed the high confidence of Wil- liam Penn. While he was Judge, he established a Court at his residence, and erected a jail there for "punishing and reforming culprits ;" but it seldom had any occupants. Judge Moore was a man of more than ordinary abilities, and from the high positions he filled, his name has become conspicuously identified with the earliest history of More- land, and will be remembered by the people of one of the finest agricultural districts in the vicinity. During the latter part of his life he was in a languishing condition, and his pecuniary affairs suffered so much that, at his
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