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 6
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The children were not so carefully dressed as at the present time ; and the most of them, both male and female, went barefoot about half the year. Some of the more saving of the farmers usually went without shoes, and when going to market carried them in their hands until they reached the city, when they put them on and wore them until they got beyond the city's limits on their way home ; they were then taken off, and carried the remaining distance.56 Many curious customs were in vogue at this time. Umbrellas had not come into use, and on rainy days it was the custom for men to wear long oil-cloth cloaks; oil-cloth covers for hats and bonnets were also common. Low-crowned hats were at first in use, but when the crowns were raised, the covers were carried in them, ready in case of an emergency. In moderate weather men frequently wore overcoats to meeting when there was any appearance of rain. On one occasion a
55 Rye was extensively used as a substitute for coffee during our late Civil War.
56 This custom was still in vogue in parts of Bucks County until within a few years.
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shower came up rather unexpectedly, and none were pro- vided with a great-coat except Edward Parry, who, on being asked how it was that he had one, said, "Because 1 was wise."
When umbrellas were first introduced it was considered . a disgrace to be seen carrying one, and it was a long time before they came into general use.
About this time (1770) it was customary to hold fairs at different places in the fall and spring, which were at- tended by a numerous concourse of people, both male and female. These were sometimes held at Philadelphia, and at others at the smaller towns, as Frankford, Bristol, etc. Many went to make purchases, and others to see what was going on, but by far the greater number for fun and frolic. Horse racing, dancing, drinking, stealing, and gambling, were carried on, and eventually were the cause of their discontinuance. At a fair held at Bristol, a Frenchman was caught while stealing a plug of tobacco, and was put in the stocks and subjected to the scoffs and jeers of the crowd. The young men, when the day was propitious, went to the fair by hundreds, each "with a bonnie lassie by his side." They were generally in their shirt sleeves, with their coats tied behind the saddle, and had on thin-soled shoes in which to trip the "light fan- tastic toe." They wore two pair of stockings, the inner one being white and the outer one made of colored yarn, with the top turned down so as to exhibit the inner pair and guard it from the dirt. Boots were not introduced until many years afterwards.
In those days the living was very different from what it is now, and visitors were usually treated with mush and
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milk, apple and peach pies, cheese curds, home-made wine, and sugar, custards, etc. This was good, wholesome fare, and some of it would not be bad to take at the present time, particularly when one's appetite is sharpened by a previous fast.
Many of the people at that time were unacquainted with the arts and sciences, and when anything occurred for which they could not offer a satisfactory explanation, it was attributed to the marvellous and the supernatural. Some firmly believed in witchcraft, but we have no ac- count of any one having been punished on account of be- ing a reputed witch. Many tales of witches have been related and many a poor woman had the common fame of being a witch, eighty or one hundred years ago. What may now appear a strange fancy, the spirits always se- lected the poor, thin, old, wrinkled women as their sub- jects, while they carefully avoided the young and hand- some, the lady of wealth and fashion, and the "sterner sex," whether of high or low origin. One would suppose that it was enough to bear the evils of time and the many infirmities of age, without the ills following in the train of witches, but as troubles are said never to come alone, what else ought we to expect than when the sunburnt faces became wrinkled with old age, the temper soured by the cares and troubles of time, when the teeth had fallen from their sockets, the cheeks lost their youthful bloom, the head whitened by the storms of many winters, and the frail beings borne down to the very brink of the grave, that they should be seized by the pestiferous spirits who manifested their presence in trying their charms upon the young people of the place, exhibiting strange and unac-
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countable affection for man or beast, haunting the abodes of the timid and making unhappy the lives of the nervous. All the evils that befell the people were charged to their influence, and they were persecuted for crimes that wrought no sympathy and of which they had no knowl- edge. Ghosts, spirits, and apparitions were objects of fear and apprehension. Many would go a long distance around rather than pass a burying ground at night, and places dark and gloomy, said to be haunted, were carefully shunned. A few persons more resolute than their neigh- bors generally, sometimes caught the ghosts and horse- whipped them so effectually as in the language of the boys to make them "hollar." Sorceries and incantations were in high repute; and "witch doctors," both male and female, often enjoyed a fair share of public patronage.
*Belief in witchcraft, during the early days of Byberry, was ex- ceedingly common. It extended not only to the poorer and more ignorant classes, but to the more influential and intelligent. Belief in the absurdity existed as late as 1825.
Mahlon Carver's father, John Carver, was once sitting on a log, by the roadside, beside Mary Comly, when Annie Dougherty chanced to pass. Annie Dougherty, an old Irish woman, was reputed to be a witch. They therefore kept perfectly quiet until the woman had passed lest she should cast a spell upon them.
At another time a young man of Byberry was taken ill with severe pains in the breast. He went to a conjurer in Bensalem who said the young man had six wedges secreted beneath the ribs. The conjurer, on the young man's second visit, informed him that he had removed two of the wedges and that, with careful treat- ment, he could remove the other four. Fortunately the young man became conscious of his folly and discontinued his visits.
At another time, General Willits, who was engaged in construct- ing the bridge across the Neshaminy Creek on the Byberry and Bensalem Turnpike, had a shovel stolen from him. He suspected a negro whom he employed. In the negro's presence, he told his men that he had gone to the conjurer who told him that a black man had stolen the shovel and that it would become red hot within the culprit's stomach, if it were not returned before the next morning. The shovel was returned.
*Note by the Editor.
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At still another time, Captain Vansant, who built the bridge across the Poquessing on the Byberry and Bensalem Turnpike, while re- turning from Byberry Cross Roads with some stove rods, was met by an apparition in the person of Andre States. The Captain used the stove rods and felled the fellow to the ground. This ghost was never seen again.
For the above information concerning the superstition of the people, I am indebted to Mahlon Carver. He also mentions the name of a young man of that day, who is still living, and who was believed by the negroes to have dealings with the evil spirits of the Neshaminy caves. They once asked him if he had ever entered these caves. "Yes, often," said he. Then he went on to tell them the impossible wonders he had experienced. As he was returning one evening from a visit, a shower arose and he took temporary shelter with some negroes who were conducting a religious meeting in a house near by. As the room was very warm, he made a gesture to have the door opened. The negro, mistaking the meaning, thought that some one was without awaiting admission. He opened the door and went out to receive the newcomer; but instead the negro was accosted by the savage growl of a huge black dog which the negroes' superstitions converted into the devil. They thought that he had been led to the meeting by the young man with the purpose of captur- ing one of them. The incident caused the greatest excitement among the negroes and was remembered for years.
Regular physicians had not then settled in the neigh- borhood, and patent medicine venders were unknown, so that most of the diseases were either treated by women doctors-those good old souls who are still found in every neighborhood and are always ready to wait upon the sick or distressed-or the "charm doctors," as they were fre- quently called. The old women generally resorted to teas, etc., made out of garden vegetables; but when the patient got very bad, some skilful son of Æsculapius from Frank- ford, Germantown, or Bristol, was called in and paid a few visits, which often served to check the disease. The influ- ence of the moon was considered to be a settled thing ; and all important acts, such as planting seed, putting in the crops, cutting timber, killing beef or pork, etc., were made to correspond with the signs, phases, etc., of the moon.
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We cannot, however, wonder at all this, for but few had enjoyed the privilege of attending school, or had had any opportunity afforded them for becoming better informed. Schools were very few in number, and these few most miserably conducted, the teachers often being but poorly qualified for the business. Another great want was books, which were but indifferently suited to the purpose, and very expensive into the bargain. We find it stated that a school had been established in Moreland some time pre- vious to this, but no account of it or its teachers has been met with. Byberry had but the one school, which was at the Meeting House, and under the control of Friends. This was kept up most of the time from 171I,* but the number of scholars in attendance was usually small. Only the most common branches were taught, such as reading, writing and arithmetic, as far as "Practice;" and those who could write a legible hand and perform an example in "Double Rule of Three," were looked upon as having a good education. This school at that time was one of the best in the country, and its efficiency may be attributed to the fact of its having been under the care of Byberry Pre- parative Meeting, in which great interest for the welfare of the youth was always manifested.
Connected with this superstitious age were marvellous accounts of apparitions, ominous sights, and strange oc- currences, and these were generally made the subjects of
* The following are the names of teachers engaged in Byberry from 1711 to 1784: Richard Brockden, William Davis, John Wat- more, Roger Bragg. Josiah Ellis, John Pear, Walter Moore, Thomas Horner, Patrick Kelley, Joseph Walton, Isaac Carver, Benjamin Gilbert, Jr., Mahlon Carver, Thomas Marshall, and Benjamin Kite. Joseph Walton remained fifteen years and Benjamin Kite eight years.
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conversation during the long winter evenings when they were gathered around the fireside in social intercourse. The neighbors often met at these gatherings, when the mug of cider and plate of apples went freely round, and many a romantic adventure in pursuit of bears, wild-cats, raccoons, turkeys, &c., and many an interesting detail of the prodigious achievements of some Samson in felling the forests, husking the corn, or reaping the harvests, was related, to the infinite delight and satisfaction of the younger members present, who, with gaping counte- nances, eagerly drank them in as they fell from the lips of the narrators. As but few books or papers were then to be had, much more traditionary matter was handed down than at present, and social feelings were more fostered as a matter of necessity.
It appears that, for some years previous to the Revolu- tion, the people of Byberry had become interested in the cause of civil liberty, and were ready to resist what they considered any encroachments on their rights as citizens by all the means consistent with their professed principles. The inhabitants of both townships attended the elections in Philadelphia, and most of them belonged to what was known as the "Assembly Party," in opposition to that of the Proprietors, to which the city people generally belong- ed. At these elections disputes frequently arose, and in 1742 they came to blows, when some of the Byberry and Moreland people, along with others from the country, were driven from the polls; but, arming themselves with clubs, they returned and cudgeled the city party without mercy. At these elections there was often much diffi- culty about voting, owing to the great numbers present ;
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and, on one occasion, it is said that an old man from By- berry, who could not get near enough to vote, came home and went all the way back again the next day for that purpose.57
Prior to 1780 but few stores had been kept in Byberry, and storekeeping was very profitable. Giles Knight was the first who engaged in the business; but, when James Thornton came over from England, he brought some books for sale, and soon after conceived the idea of start- ing a store in Byberry. It proved to be very profitable, and he and his family continued in the business for the next forty years. It is said that he cleared £6,000 in twelve years by the business.58
We find that the people of these townships were not behind their neighbors in adopting improvements in agri- culture. It had formerly been the custom to sow wheat among the corn, after which the latter was cleared off; but this practice was given up, and the ground where the corn had been the previous year was broken up and sown with wheat. After the custom of sowing oats was intro- duced, the corn ground was broken up in the spring, and a crop of oats gathered before sowing the wheat in the fall. This was a great improvement, but, as the crop of wheat sometimes failed, some one conceived the idea of sowing clover with the oats, and allowing it to remain over one season before putting it in with wheat. These two cus- toms have remained in vogue ever since. The crops of wheat are said to have been very good, although but little
17 Jesse Tomlinson, who lived during the Revolution and early days of our national existence, pictures the election and training days as days of drunkenness, fighting, gambling and horse racing.
58 This book business was conducted at Byberry Store.
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manure was applied. Harvesting, for a long time, had been done with the sickle; but, about the year 1750, the scythe and cradle were introduced. Many objections were urged against this innovation on an old custom, and the older farmers determined not to use them; but, owing to their so greatly facilitating the labor of harvesting, they finally came into general use.
The first plows used were of the old English pattern; but an improved article, with Dutch shares and wooden mould-boards made of cherry, that naturally twisted in the right direction, afterwards came into use. * 59 They worked very well, and would turn a smooth furrow; but the iron mould-boards soon came up, and the improve- ment, being so obvious, they were immediately adopted.
In early times people generally travelled on horseback; but about the year 1750 riding chairs were introduced, and, in 1764, Byberry and Moreland could boast of three vehicles of this kind only, kept for pleasure.
Formerly it was customary at Byberry Meeting for people to stand up when tired of sitting. When Samuel Sparold visited the meeting he observed in his sermon, "that if every one had to pay 2d for each time of stand- ing, he thought the practice would not be so common." This custom soon after went out of fashion.
During the Revolutionary War, there was a cave in the woods now belonging to Jacob Saurman. 60 In this old
* A person named Christian Zentman, of Moreland, Montgomery County, made most of the plows with wooden mould-boards used in the townships. After him Thomas Miles started the business at Fox Chase, and continued it about sixty years.
59 The business is continued by T. Miles Brous.
"" This property now belongs to Ira Saurman and his sister, Elizabeth.
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cave an old man lived alone for many years, and being very poor, depended upon the neighbors for food and clothing. Old Tommy Helveson's wife said she frequent- ly carried victuals to the hermit, who is represented to have been very old, with long white hair and beard, but very harmless. Vestiges of the cave still remain.
Upon examining a list of the names of the inhabitants- of these townships about the close of the war, one is much surprised to find so many unfamiliar names ; but he is still more surprised at the absence of many of those so familiar as pioneers in the early history. Some families had been entirely removed by death, so that not a single representa- tive remained; while others, delighting in change, and probably conceiving that other localities presented a bet- ter chance for them to become wealthy, had sold out their property, and moved to other places. We find, among those who thus emigrated, mention made of several of the Knights going to West Jersey, in 1717; the Comlys and Waltons to Horsham, from 1730 to 1740, and the Scotts and Comlys to Gunpowder, Maryland, in 1756. A few of these subsequently returned to their native place; but most of them remained, and their descendants may still be found peopling those places.
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THE FREE SOCIETY OF TRADERS, NICHOLAS MOORE AND MORELAND .*
WILLIAM PENN, on acquiring Pennsylvania, sold the land on the most liberal basis. His terms were these : "To those who wished to buy shares in the Province, he gave 5,000 acres for froo and to pay annually I shilling quit-rent for each hundred acres, the quit-rent not to be- gin until 1684. Renters were to pay I penny per acre for land not to exceed 200 acres. Persons who take laborers were allowed 50 acres per head and 50 acres to every person when his time is expired." Under these inducements was organized the "Free Society of Traders in Pennsylvania."
In considering this subject we will first treat more dis- tinctly of the "Society" itself. We will next treat of its president Nicholas Moore. We will finally give some account of the Manor of Moreland.
The Free Society of Traders in Pennsylvania was merely a company of Bristol and London merchants who purchased large tracts of land in Pennsylvania with the intention of establishing trade, agriculture, manufactur- ing, shipbuilding, fishing and all other necessary occupa- tions of a pioneer settlement. They aimed at establishing a self-supporting, co-operative community, where all property was, to a certain extent, to be held in common. According to the intentions of the company at its organi- zation in 1681, the Society's factories were to be erected on the Chesapeake Bay as well as on the Delaware River.
*By the Editor.
C
A:
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An agent in London was to sell all goods including the. Indian products. There was to be besides a president, a secretary, treasurer, surveyor and miner. Nicholas Moore was chosen its president. Its other members were : James Claypoole, Philip Ford, William Sherloe, Edward Pierce, John Symcock, Thomas Brassey, John Sweetapple, Robert Turner, John Bezer, Anthony Elton, John Bennister, Walter King, Thomas Barker, Edward Brooks, Francis Plumsted, Francis Burroughs, Edward West, John Crow, John Bory, Joseph Martin, Edward Pelrod, Thomas Holme, Griffith Jones, James Harrison and Isaac Martin. James Claypoole, or Claypole as it is written, writing home, says that Penn was a member of the Society and that, besides his contribution, he gave the Society the quit- rents on all its lands.
Speaking of the lands of the Society, John Watson says: "They bought at first 20,000 acres and their ap- purtenant city lots was an entire street and on one side of a street from river to river, comprising therein 100 acres, exclusive of 400 acres besides in the Liberties. . . . They set up a glass-house, a tan-yard, a saw-mill and whalery." This original grant dates from March 24th, 1682. The city lots lay along both sides of Pine street and extended nearly to Spruce and from river to river. The name of Society Hill was given to this section on account of the Free Society of Traders. Most of the 20,000 acres was located in Bucks County. One portion of the grant ex- tended into the townships of Warwick, New Britain and Hilltown. Eight hundred acres of this tract was after- ward purchased by Jeremiah Langhorne. Another tract of 5,000 acres lay along the Durham Creek and was after-
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ward acquired by the Durham Company. The company, like all other co-operative associations of such a character, soon dissolved.
Many of its members, however, became prominent. Of Nicholas Moore, we shall speak in another place. James Claypoole, related to Oliver Cromwell, took up lands in Bucks County. He became a prominent merchant of Philadelphia and also an official of Bucks County. He came to Pennsylvania along with his wife Helena, seven children and servants on Captain Jeffries' ship, the Thom- as Arnold, from London on March 20th, 1686. Francis Plumsted took up lands in Bucks County. Plumsted Township is named in honor of him. He was previously an ironmonger of England. Francis Burroughs has many descendants in Bucks County. Thomas Holme, the sur- veyor, took up between two thousand and three thousand acres in the Province. That in Lower Dublin amounted to sixteen hundred and forty-six. James Harrison, who was very influential and a close friend of William Penn, settled near Bristol, Bucks County.
The Society was remarkable for its dealings with the Indian and negro. One of the provisions in the charter provided that the "Society assist Indians settling in towns with advice and artificers." Another article provided for the freedom of slaves of the Society at the expiration of fourteen years provided that the slave thus freed give to the Society two-thirds of all he could produce on the land allotted to him with tools given to him by the Society. If he should refuse this offer, then he was to continue slave until he should accept it.
Penn appears to have attached great importance to the
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Society. He often mentions it in his letters. In 1683 he sent a long letter home to the Society describing the infant colony and its natural resources and advising the Society to introduce, among other things, the grape for wine. The letter is perhaps the most accurate account we have of the early resources and appearance of the colony.
Before turning to an account of Nicholas Moore, it will be well to insert an account written by Oldmixon, who visited the colony in 1708. Speaking of the Society, he says : "Mr. Pen sold 20,000 acres of his land to James Claypool, Mr. Nicholas Moor, Mr. Philip Ford and others who formed a company and had a street and a side of a street set out for them in Philadelphia with 400 acres in City Liberties. They set up a Tannery, a Saw-Mill, a Glass-House, and a Whalery; of the two latter I suppose they never made any great hand. The proprietor's con- ditions for purchase were these £20 for 1,000 acres so he put £400 in his pocket immediately, but that was a trifle to what went out of it for the grant and experiments to people and settle the country. The quit-rent was 12 (pence) or its value for every 100 acres. This was cheap enough but I think the renters were not so well used for they were to pay 12 (pence) an acre yearly. Thus these 20,000 acres which he sold, the country would if rented have brought him £1,000 a year."
Let us now next consider Nicholas Moore. His name stands prominent in the early pages of our history. Be- sides being president of the Free Society of Traders he also held many positions of trust in the infant colony. He has been more fully considered in the portion of the work
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devoted to "Biographical Sketches." A few remarks concerning him, however, will not be improper in this place.
In politics, Nicholas Moore created bitter enemies. Gordon says that he was not a Quaker. This probably explains his treatment. In the Minutes of Council, under date of "12th of 6 mo., 1682," is this insertion: "Nich. Moore, President of the Society of Free Traders, was summoned for disrespectable words uttered concerning its former council. He made apology." In the Minutes of Assembly under date of March 16th, 1685, is this statement : "Nicholas Moore for contempt of the authority of the house was expelled." In the Minutes of Council under date of 15th of 3 mo., 1685 (May 15th, 1685) occurs this statement : "Three pages of charges were made against Judge Nicholas Moore, for high crimes and mis- demeanors. It was on this occasion that Patrick Robinson declared of the Instrument, that the Assembly in so do- ing had made the impeachment at hab nab, for which they also desire satisfaction. The Council resolved that they could not act until he was first convicted in Court. He afterward made his submission and continued an agreed time of three months." This minute of Councils was made of course after he had been expelled by the Assembly. The Assembly in expelling him had drawn up a petition of ten articles which was sent to Penn in England. This was the petition mentioned in the Minute of Councils. It appears to have had no effect on Penn for, on altering the judicial system, Moore was reappointed judge and was ultimately elected chief justice. His quarrel with the Assembly and Councils came to the forementioned focus
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