USA > Pennsylvania > Philadelphia County > Philadelphia > Annals of Philadelphia, and Pennsylvania in the olden time; being a collection of the memoirs, anecdotes, and incidents of the earliest settlements of the inland part of Pennsylvania, Vol. I > Part 13
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October 15 .- The Assembly were required to meet on Sunday. They . met and organized, then adjourned to meet on Monday the 16th.
1705 .- The city of Philadelphia was visited by sickness in the spring.
William Biles, Member of the House, complained of a breach of privi- lege. The House censured the Sheriff and Judges who committed the same.
An attempt was made this year to make the qualifications for electors fifty pounds in value.
1706 .- The wolves had increased in such a degree as to cause an ap- prehension for the safety of all the flocks of sheep in the immediate vicinity of Philadelphia. A communication on the subject was made to the Governor and Assembly.
The Slaughter houses in the centre of population in the city of Phila- delphia became such a nuisance that they were ordered to be removed.
1706 .- James Logan laid before the General Assembly an interesting account of the Indians at Conestoga.
1707 .- The House of Assembly requested the Governor that he would not employ any longer James Letort and Nicholas as Indian Interpreters, as they ought to be considered very dangerous persons.
In the year 1708, Solomon Cresson, a Constable of the city of Phila delphia, going his rounds at one o'clock at night, and discovering a very riotous assembly in a tavern, immediately ordered them to disperse, when John Evans, Esq., Governor of the Province, happened to be one of them, and called Solomon in the house and flogged him very severely, and had him imprisoned for two days.
1709 .- The Indians at Conestoga were required by the Five Nations to come and pay their annual tribute ; but they sent word they could not go until they obtained permission of the Governor of the Province
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The Assembly accordingly granted the money, as also charges for the journey.
1712 .- William Southbe applied to the Assembly for a law for the de- claration of freedom to all negroes. The House resolved-" It is neither just or convenient to set them at liberty."
1713 .- A committee of the Assembly were sent to Governor Gookin on business. They returned and reported "that the Governor is not stirring." [See Votes of Assembly, vol. ii., page 144.]
1715 .- Mr. Assheton called on the House of Assembly with a message from the Governor, and was introduced into the room and addressed the Speaker as follows :- " The Governor has requested me to state his regret that he has been unable to get the Council together, and will feel happy if the members wait on him this evening at Sarah Radcliff's, and take a glass of wine with him."
The house soon afterwards adjourned, and waited on the Governor in 'he evening.
1716 .- The Judges of the Supreme Court, William Trent, Jonathan Dickinson, and George Roach, refused to sit on any trial of criminals this year. They were declared by the House of Assembly enemies to the Governor and Government on account of said refusal.
Charles Gookin, Esq., Governor, accused Richard Hill, Speaker of the House of Assembly, and James Logan, Esq., Secretary, of being friendly to the Pretender, and that they were inimical to the government of Great Britain.
September .- Hugh Lowdon, armed with pistols, attacked the Speaker of the House, and bloodshed being fortunately prevented, was committed to prison, and a bill of indictment found; but the Governor ordered a Noli Prosequi to be entered, to the great dissatisfaction of the Assembly.
1717 .- Owen Roberts, Sheriff of the county of Philadelphia, was censured by the Speaker, before the House of Assembly, for neglect of duty.
Members of Assembly received four shillings and sixpence for each day they attended.
1718 .- A petition was presented to the Assembly for prevention of inhabitants of Jersey from selling any meat, &c., in the market.
1719 .- The Indian traders at the head of the Powtomak were attacked by a body of Indians and defeated with the loss of many lives.
1720 .- The arch in Arch street in Philadelphia was pulled down this year, and caused much excitement.
1721 .- A meeting was called in the city of Philadelphia, to take into consideration the prevention of sale of spirituous liquors within the Pro- vince, and to encourage the making of beer as a substitute.
1722 .- Civility, Tehahook and Diahausa, Indian Chiefs, waited on the Governor, Sir William Keith, and addressed him as follows :-
"Father-The red men have been on the hunting ground-they have followed the deer-they looked not upon your presents.
"Father-Our Chief laments the death of the Indian, for he was flest and blood like him-you are sorry, but that cannot give him life. Father be not angry-let John Cartlidge die-one death is enough, why should two die-our hearts are warm to the Governor and all the English."
1722 .- Captain Thomas Burrel, and Capt. Thomas James appointed Pilots for the Delaware.
Ver. I. - N
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Facts and Occurrences of the Primitive Settlement.
A petition was presented to the General Assembly on behalf of day labourers, stating that the practice of blacks being employed was a great disadvantage to them who had emigrated from Europe for the purpose of obtaining a livelihood; that they were poor and honest; they therefore hoped a law would be prepared for the prevention of employment to the blacks.
The Assembly resolved, "That the principle was dangerous and injurious to the Republic, and ought not to be sanctioned by the House."
1723 .- A question was suggested and argued in the Assembly, "Whether a Clergyman, being an alien, could lawfully marry any person within the Province." - It was not decided.
Anthony Jacob Hinkle, ordered by the Assembly to be taken to the county jail by the Sheriff, and there detained during their pleasure.
Tavern keepers petitioned the Assembly, that all sellers of ciguars* should be put upon the same footing with them, and compelled to take out a license.
Proprietors of Iron Works petition to the Assembly to pass a law to prevent any person from retailing liquor near Iron Works to their work- men, excepting beer or cider.
A bill was reported to the House of Assembly for the encouragement of Distilleries within the province, but such was the opposition made to it that Sir William Keith would not give his assent to the bill.
A salary was granted to the Attorney General for the first time.
1726 .- Thomas Wright was unfortunately killed by some Indians at Snaketown, beyond Conestoga. The persons who committed the act were punished.
1728 .- The Indians attacked the Iron Works of Mackatawney, but were driven off with great loss by the workmen.
A large number of Menonists arrived this year in Pennsylvania.
1729 .- Jonathan Kempster and George Coats were compelled to kneel at the bar of the House of Assembly and solicit pardon and promise bet- ter conduct in future, upon which, and paying fees, they were ordered to be discharged.
1730 .- The House of Assembly ordered that a suitable Flag should be hoisted at proper days upon Society Hill-and that the sum of ten pounds should be granted to Edward Carter for hoisting the flag on So- ciety Hill upon Sundays, Holy Days, and upon public occasions.
1731 .- The small pox prevailed to an alarming extent this year.
The State House began to be built under the direction of Thomas Lawrence and Andrew Hamilton, Esqs.
1735 .- Offices adjoining the State House completed.
1739 .- A room in the State House appropriated to the public library of he city of Philadelphia.
1742 .- A great riot in the city of Philadelphia produced by sailors on the election ground.
1745 .- Peter Chartier, an influential Indian interpreter, went and joined the French Indians on the Ohio, to the injury of Pennsylvania. Peter, at the head of four hundred Shawanese Indians, attacked James Dinnew and
* Ciguars in 1725 was impossible! It must have been written for liquors. Cigars were not in use till after 1798.
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Peter Teetee, and robbed them of their goods. James Dinnew and Peter Teetee were considered respectable Indian traders, and much excitement prevailed in consequence of the robbery.
1749 .- The friendly Indian Chiefs, on their way to Philadelphia, were encouraged to commit a variety of depredations on the inhabitants. A cow and calf belonging to Henry Ote, of Philadelphia County, were at a considerable distance from the road in a field, and the Indians were told they could not hurt them at that distance, whereupon they took aim with their guns and shot both.
1750 .- At an election for representatives in York County, a large party of Germans drove the people from the election ground. The Sheriff left the box and went out to speak to them, but was knocked down with others. Nicholas Ryland, the Coroner, then forced his way into the Court House, took possession of the box, and three of the inspectors re- mained with him to conduct the election. The Sheriff and four inspectors leapt out at the back window of the Court House, or they would have lost their lives. The Sheriff afterwards requested to be admitted, but was refused.
The Sheriff afterwards called on six freeholders and examined them on their oath, as to the persons they thought duly elected, and then drew up a certificate which he and the six signed, and the return which they signed was accepted by the Assembly.
The Sheriff, however, was called before the Assembly and publicly ad monished by the Speaker, and advised to preserve better order for the future.
The following was the explanation given to the Governor by the Ger- mans of their conduct ;- Hans Hamilton, the Sheriff, did not open the polls until two o'clock, at which time the Marsh people assembled, armed and surrounded the window, and would not permit the Dutch people to vote, whereupon the Dutch people being the most numerous, broke into the Court House, and the Sheriff made his escape with some of the in- spectors out of the back window; that they invited the Sheriff to return but he refused ; that the Coroner then took the Sheriff's place and pro- ceeded to take tickets, and after the election was over, the Sheriff was invited to count the tickets, but he refused to have any thing to do with the election.
The farmers complained this year that the bounty given for squirrels had tended to their injury, for the labourers, instead of helping them with their harvests, had taken up their guns and gone to hunt squirrels, as they could make more by squirrel scalps than by wages at day labour.
1751 .- Benjamin Franklin, and eight other Commissioners, were ap- pointed to examine the River Schuylkill from Peters' Island to John Bar- tram's, for the most suitable place for a bridge, and they reported in favour of Market Street.
1752 .- The superintendents of the State House were directed to pur- chase from Mr. Allen his cedar tree lot lying on Walnut Street, south of the State House for the use of the people of the Province.
Number of vessels cleared from the port of Philadelphia were, in 1721, 130; 1722, 110; 1723, 85.
Deaths in the City of Philadelphia were, in 1722, 188; 1730, 244 : 1732, 254 ; 1731, the small pox carried off 490; from 1738 to 1744, 3179.
Taxables in the City .-- 1720, 1995; 1740, 4850; 1751, 7100.
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Facts and Occurrences of the Primitive Settlement.
Bucks County .- 1751, 3262.
Chester County .- 1732, 2157; 1737, 2532; 1742, 3007; 1747, 3444 1752, 3951.
Lancaster County .- 1738, 2560; 1752, 3977.
Lancaster Town .- 1752, 311.
York County .- 1749, 1466; 1750, 1798; 1751, 2403.
Cumberland County .- 1749, 807; 1751, 1134.
It was the practice of the House of Assembly to have candles lighted at dark. The Speaker would then call "candles," and the door-keeper would immediately bring them in. Some of the Speakers used hand bells to keep silence.
1755 .- Samuel Hazard requested aid from the Governor and Assembly to his project of a new settlement or colony in the west.
General Braddock defeated. Colonel Dunbar, (nicknamed Dunbar the tardy,) arrived with three hundred of the wounded at Fort Cumberland on the 22d of July. The colonel did not consider himself in a secure situation, but requested the Governor to call him to Philadelphia.
The House of Assembly exculpated themselves from blame in regard to the defeat of Braddock. [See Votes of Assembly, vol. iv., p. 448.]
1755 .- George Croghan, James Burd, John Armstrong, William Bucha- nan, and Orlan Hoops were appointed commissioners to open a road to the west, for the purpose of sending supplies to the army on the Ohio and Yioghogheny.
1755 .- Irish settlement at the Great Cave entirely destroyed by the Indians.
Settlement at Tulpehocken attacked by the Indians, and many destroyed on both sides.
The report of the Council to the Governor on the matter of settlement of the Shawanese Indians, is to be found on page 517, volume 4th, of Votes of Assembly.
The dates of settlement of the Shawanese does not correspond with the accounts given by their agents, as in the public records at Harrisburgh; for the Shawanese Indians came to Pennsylvania, it is said, previous to the landing of William Penn, and their Chief held a conference with nim, as it is alleged, to which they repeatedly refer in different talks. They did not all remove to Ohio in the year 1727 or 1729, but many remained until 1750 at their wigwam of the Beaver Pond, near the present location of Carlisle. [See Votes of Assembly, vol. iv., p. 528.]
1759 .- The Indian Chief Cayenquiloqudar, sends his son to be edu- cated by the English.
Mahlon Kirkbride, William Hoge, Peter Dicks, and Nathaniel Pennock vacated their seats in the Assembly at the request of the Council in Lon- don, as it was desirable that there should be no Quaker in the assembly during war.
Mr. Allen being returned a member from the two counties of Cumber- land and Northampton, was required by the Speaker to declare which county he chose to represent, as he could not hold his seat for both. Mr. William Allen chose Cumberland.
1758 .- House ordered to be built at Wyoming for the reception of the Indians under Teedyuskung, in order to promote an Indian settlement for the better protection of the province.
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Barracks erected in Philadelphia, and Joseph Fox appointed barrack- master.
1758 .- Benjamin Franklin appointed agent for the transaction of go- vernment affairs during his stay in Great Britain.
1759 .- Meetings of the inhabitants of Pennsylvania in different places to express their opinion against horse racing, gambling, plays and lotteries.
1760 .- The house of Doctor John, the celebrated Indian Chief, was attacked on February 14th, in the town of Carlisle, by persons unknown, who barbarously murdered Doctor John, his wife, and two children- which, on being communicated to the Governor, he offered one hundred pounds reward for the apprehension of the offenders.
1760 .- On March 17th, a very deep snow fell, which shut up all the roads. The Speaker of the House of Assembly, and the majority of the members were unable to get to town. A few only met, and adjourned the house until next day. The snow was in some places seven feet deep.
1761 .- An application was made to the Governor, James Hamilton, Esq., by Redmond Conyingham and other merchants of the city of Phila- delphia, for the erection of piers in some suitable place in the Delaware, to preserve their vessels from ice.
1762 .- The Assembly directed that the remaining part of the square on which the State House stands, be purchased for the use of the people.
A number of white children were given up by the Indians at Lancaster, and as they were not claimed, the Governor ordered them to be bound out for a suitable time.
1763 .- Application was made to the Governor for regulating taverns. That one only should be in such a defined distance, or in proportion to so many inhabitants-that the bar-room should be closed upon the sab- bath-day, as it would prevent youth from committing excesses to their own ruin, the injury of their masters, and the affliction of their parents and friends.
Reminiscences and Statements of Robert Venable.
This was an aged black man, born in January, 1736, died at Philadelphia in 1834, aged 98 years. In August, 1830, I learnt from him the following facts, viz. :-
Samuel Powell, a rich carpenter, owned ninety houses, lived at N. E. corner of Pine and Second Streets. Had his garden (across the street) where is now Friends' Meeting-he worked also at making fire-buckets R. V. showed me a leathern pitcher, (made by S. P.) once ased in the cooper shop by said R. Venable .*
He remembered Philadelphia every where unpaved-was extremely miry, and cart loads often stalled. They used to call the place, in jeer " Filthy-dirty," instead of Phila-delphia.
He well remembered old Capt. Chanceller, the sail maker, (the great friend of Sir Wm. Keith, who stuck to him to the last, and went down
* He probably derived his name from the Venable family. "Thomas Venable" has his inscription in Christ Church, as having died in 1731.
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Facts and Occurrences of the Primitive Settlement.
and saw him off from New Castle.) He lived at the good brick house (then large) at the S. E. corner of "Chancery Lane" and Arch Street- and said it was then called " Chanceller's Lane," although Ross and Lawrence had law offices there, and Ross lived at the other end of his lot on Second Street. He said this Chanceller was the father of Dr. Chan- celler, and that he had another son, Samuel, who became a sea captain, and went much to Madeira, where he thinks he must have remained, or died, as he did not know of his having left any family. He was about his own age, and had played together. Chanceller's boatswain, Will, used to hoist the flag at the staff on Society Hill.
At where is the present St. Paul's Church, and descending from Pear Street, at foot of which was a fine spring open-they called it " Powell's Hill," and Samuel Powell owned all south of it down to Spruce Street.
" The Queen's-head Inn" was on Water Street, on the same lot as " the Crooked Billet Inn," which fronted on the river.
The first lamp he ever saw in the street was round, and was set up before Clifton's door, a large two story brick house of double front, at the S. E. corner of Clifton's Alley (since called Drinker's) and Second Street, below Race Street.
" Beake's Hollow," in Walnut Street, was called after Job Beake, a porter, who lived at the N. W. corner of Fourth and Walnut Streets, and from the back of his house went down a short hill. Wm. Beake was an early settler.
In September, 1830, I had further conversation with old Robert, on about two dozen of special inquiries to which I led out his recol- lections. The result as follows :-
Of " Penn's Landing at Blue Anchor Tavern" he had not before heard. "Old Cross kept that Inn."
Of "the Caves" he said he knew of none left; but knew old Owen Owen, a Friend, and his apple tree, where is now Townsend's Court, by Spruce Street.
He remembered the vendues under the court. On one occasion of sales there of prize goods, old Phillips, in examining the French muskets before sale, had his thumb shot off.
Of "Bathsheba's bath and bower" he had not heard, but of springs he had. Of one in Dock Street by Pear Street.
Of "Coffee Houses,"-the oldest he knew was a large wooden house at the N. W. corner of Walnut and Front Streets. There he often saw Governor Thomas go. He had never heard of its being a Catholic Church.
Of "Negro Slaves,"-never saw any arrive direct from Africa, but enough came round by Barbadoes, &c. Saw them sold at Coffee House.
Of "Theatres" he said he went to the first play at Plumstead's store, " to light home master and mistress." The company there were genteel. Many people much opposed plays-many fell out with Nancy Gouge because she went there to play. There was then no Anchor Forge of Offly's opposite to Union Street.
"The great Fire Works" on the river, the first ever seen, were very grand-were for the honour of the capture of Cape Breton. Old B. Loxley, the artillery officer, had their management. Crowds of people came to the city from great distances-people much afraid too.
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Facts and Occurrences of the Primitive Settlement.
" The Paxtang boys' alarm,"-he was in the midst of it. Says old Capt. Loxley was busy with his artillery and company. It was a time of great excitement.
Of "Christ Church," he said it had a wooden belfry in the rear of church, with but two bells-the same now at St. Peter's Church. Saw the new bells, by Capt. Budden, arrive-people greatly admired to hear their ringing at first. He had not known of its clock-was none.
Of "Dock Creek,"-said he had not heard of vessels of any big size going into it. It used to be a fine skating place in the winter for boys, and he among them-" hundreds of them."
Miscellaneous observations .- Had never seen or known old Drinker, or Hutton, or Alice. Had no remarkable things to tell, that he had ever heard from the most aged. The cause of the name of " Whalebone Alley" he could not explain-the whalebone fastened to the side wall of the house he had always seen. Had not heard of any Water Battery once at or between Pine and South Streets. He knew old Black Virgil and wife well-they had lived with Penn in Philadelphia. Poole's Bridge was built in his time, by one Roberts. He knew a person who used often to talk of his personal knowledge of Daniel Pegg. The square fronting northward of the late Bettering-house was a great apple orchard in his time, very full of very large trees.
Reminiscenses and Statements of J. H. J., of Cheviot, Ohio.
The following items are such as were suggested to the mind of a gentleman in the perusal of the Annals. He had been a youth at Philadelphia in the period of the Revolution. What notices are here made are only a part of the whole, being only that portion which might best suit the classification of " Facts and Occurrences of Early Times."
Water-melons .- It has been said that Jos. Cooper first introduced then for sale in the Philadelphia market. It is said he got the seed from Georgia, and had difficulty to naturalize the seed.
Morris wharf is probably the only one which has remained in family possession so long.
Penn's deed to A. Morris is an exception to the water limits. His deed says, " extending into the Delaware," as I was informed by the grand- son, 40 to 45 years ago.
An ancient lady told me of a "freak." Some of the youth, one night carried off a large number of "New Castle grind stones" from an Iron- monger's in Second Street, to Market Street Hill, and at a word let them all roll off to the river. They were seen by a constable ;- he went to owner, asked his bill, presented it to the parent of one of the youths- the bill was paid next day, and the names and affair hushed up.
The whipping post and pillory display was always on a market day- then the price of eggs went up much. The criminals were first marched round the streets.
Bank Alley used to be called Elbow Lane, from its having a leading
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from it out to Third Street. There used to be several dry goods' stores and groceries in it.
The entertainment given by the French Ambassador at Carpenter's house, now the Arcade, was a supper and ball. The temporary building extended from the house along Chestnut Street up to Sixth Street; the inside was about 15 feet high, and 30 broad, handsomely painted with festoons of roses from the ceiling. Money was thrown out among the crowd. The fire works were on the opposite square. I remember going to see the front house after it was struck with lightning.
The one penny bills Bank of North America were merely issued for change, when the bank had refused to take coppers, so many of them being base. The corporationof New York, about the same time, did the same.
There was a grave yard in Fifth Street, east side, between High Street and Chestnut Street-had several head stones.
Aged animals .- I remember seeing an account of a horse belonging to the Pennsylvania Hospital, which was known to be 46 years old.
Brimstone .- Somewhere about 1798 it was said to rain brimstone,-it came with a very heavy rain. Considerable quantities could be gathered in old Pottersfield, on the margin of the pond, at the choking of the cul- vert. I gathered some-it only looked like it.
The ground of Dr. Rittenhouse, corner of Seventh and Arch, is highest in the city.
When Peale had his Museum of Portraits corner Lombard and Third Streets, he and one Pine were the only portrait painters.
Shively was the only noted whitesmith for fine cutlery-shop in Third above Chestnut.
"The Medley" was written, I was told, by Joseph Lacock, Coroner. He wrote also a play, with good humour, called "British Tyranny." I have several American plays.
Wells and Pumps .- Some pumps had great run-people sent for it, especially for the use of the sick. The water in the yard of a house in Norris' Alley was deemed the best in the city ; another great water was in Love Lane. One in Walnut Street, by Zacheny's Court, was famous for boiling greens.
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