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 50
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424
Ofice of Secretary of Foreign Affairs.
Mr. Henry Remson, has since become the President of a Bank in New York, and the other, Mr. Stone, has been Governor of Mary- land. The Translator was the Rev. Mr. Tetard, the pastor of the French Reformed church. Such was the material of our national infancy, since grown to such vigorous and effective manhood !
Mr. Duponceau, from whom I have derived much of these facts, which passed under his immediate observation, has occasionally de- lighted himself and me in describing, with good humoured emotion and picturesque delineation, the various scenes which have there occasionally occurred, and the great personages who have frequently clambered up the dark and narrow winding stairs to make their re- spects to or their negotiations with the representative of the nation !- such as the Marquis La Fayette, Count Rochambeau, the Duke de Lauzun, Count Dillon, Prince Guemenee, &c. Our own great men, such as Madison, Morris, Hamilton, Mifflin, &c., were visiters of course. After the peace, in the same small upper chamber, were received the homage of the British General, Allured Clark, and the famous Major Hanger, once the favourite of the late George IV. The Major received much attention while in Philadelphia.
This frail fabric, in veneration of its past services, (though a thing now scarcely known to our citizens as a matter in “ common par- lance,") is devoted during the life of its present generous and feeling owner " to remain (as he says) a proud monument of the simplicity of the founders of our Revolution." It is, in truth, as deserving of encomium for its humble moderation, as was the fact, renowned in history, respecting the Republic of the Netherlands in her best days, when her Grand Pensionary, Heinsius, was deemed superlatively en- nobled, because he walked the streets of the Hague with only a single servant, and sometimes with even none. Quite as worthy of memorial was the equivalent fact, that our then venerable President of Congress, the Hon. Samuel Huntingdon, together with Mr. Du- ponceau, often made their breakfast on whortleberries and milk. On such occasions, the President has facetiously remarked :- " What now, Mr. Duponceau, would the princes of Europe say, could they see the first Magistrate of this great country at his frugal repast !"
Long may our sons remember and respect these facts of our gene- rous and devoted forefathers! And long may the recollection of the memorable deeds of this house,
-a great example stand, co show, How strangely high endeavours may be blest!"
There are other facts connected with these premises which gave them celebrity in their day, although of a nature quite dissimilar ; but in redeeming from oblivion all the facts of times by-gone, we may also hint at this, to wit:
In the year 1773, when the houses on this lot were erected for the Lawrence family, and when the house now Mr. Duponceau's
425
Fort Wilson.
dwelling, on the north-east corner of Chestnut street, was then used as the residence of the other, it was then deemed far beyond the verge of city population. It was, indeed, a country house, and virtually chosen as a "Buenos Ayres." In digging there for a well, they discovered, as they thought, an excellent mineral water, "sup- posed to exceed in strength any chalybeate spring known in the province ;" great was its fame ; crowds of persons came there to par- take of its efficacy. The Gazettes of the day vaunted of it as a valuable discovery. It benefited every body ; and especially a re- duced French lady, to whom Mrs. Lawrence gave the privilege of taking the fees for the draughts of water she handed out to the numerous visiters. It enjoyed its fame, but for a short year, when, by the intrusive interference of science, the discovery was reluctantly confessed, that it owed all its virtues to the deposit of foul materials ; even from the remains of a long covered and long forgotten pit!
FORT WILSON.
THIS was the name popularly given to a large brick house for merly on the south-west corner of Walnut street and Third street, (where Caldcleugh 25 years ago built a large store, &c.) It was, in the year 1779, the residence of James Wilson, Esq., an eminent at- torney, who became offensive to many for his professional services in behalf of Roberts and Carlisle-men arraigned and executed as tories and traitors ; he gave also umbrage from his support of those merchants who refused to regulate their prices by the town resolves. A mob was formed, who gave out an intention to assault his house and injure his person. His friends gathered around him with arms -soon the conflict was joined-many muskets were fired-some were wounded, and a few died. It was a day of great excitement, and long the name and incidents of "Fort Wilson" were discussed and remembered.
Among those in the house were Messrs. Wilson, Morris, Burd, George and Daniel Clymer, John T. Mifflin, Allen M'Lane, Sharp Delaney, George Campbell, Paul Beck, Thomas Laurence, Andrew Robinson, John Potts, Samuel C. Morris, Captain Campbell, and Generals Mifflin, Nichols and Thompson. 'They were provided with arms, but their stock of ammunition was very small. While the mob was marching down, General Nichols and Daniel Clymer proceeded hastily to the Arsenal at Carpenters' Hall, and filled their pockets with cartridges : this constituted their whole supply.
In the meantime, the mob and militia (for no regular troops VOL. I .- 3 D 36*
426
Fort Wilson.
took part in the riot) assembled on the commons," while a meeting of the principal citizens took place at the Coffee House. A depu- tation was sent to endeavour to prevail on them to disperse, but without effect .. The first troop of city cavalry assembled at their stables, a fixed place of rendezvous, and agreed to have their horses saddled, and ready to mount at a moment's warning. Notice was to be given to as many members as could be found, and a part was to assemble in Dock below Second street, and join the party at the stables. For a time a deceitful calm prevailed ; at the dinner hour the members of the troop retired to their homes, and the rebels seized the opportunity to march into the city. The armed men amounted to two hundred, headed by low characters. They marched down Chestnut to Second street, down Second to Walnut street, and up Walnut street to Mr. Wilson's house, with drums beating and two pieces of cannon. They immediately commenced firing on the house, which was warmly returned by the garrison. Finding they could make no impression, the mob proceeded to force the door; at the moment it was yielding, the horse made their appearance.
After the troop had retired at dinner time, a few of the members, hearing that the mob were marching into town, hastened to the rendezvous: these members were Majors Lennox and the two Nichols, Samuel Morris, Alexander Nesbitt, Isaac Coxe and Thomas Leiper. On their route to Wilson's they were joined by two troop- ers from Bristol, and turning suddenly round the corner of Chestnut street, they charged the mob, who, ignorant of their number, at the cry of "the horse, the horse," dispersed in every direction, but not before two other detachments of the first troop had reached the scene. Many of them were arrested, and committed to prison ; and as the sword was very freely used, a considerable number were severely wounded. A man and a boy were killed in the streets ; in the house, Captain Campbell was killed,; and Mr. Mifflin and Mr. S. C. Mor- ris wounded. The troop patroled the streets the greater part of the night. The citizens turned out, and placed a guard at the powder magazine and the arsenal. It was some days before order was re- stored. Major Lennox was particularly marked out for destruction. He retired to his house at Germantown : the mob followed and sur- rounded it during the night, and prepared to force an entrance. Anxious to gain time, he pledged his honour, that he would open the door as soon as day-light appeared. In the meantime, he con- trived to despatch an intrepid woman, who lived in his family, to the city for assistance ; and a party of the first troop arrived in season to
· They assembled at and began their march from Arch above Fifth street. General Arnold came to repress the mob, but he was so unpopular, they stoned him. The two men who used the sledges and stove in the door were both killed: three also from Spring Garden, and a great funeral was made for them by the populace.
+ A Colonel Campbell, who came to the door and opened it, was seized and bayoneted with a dozen wounds, and survived them.
FRIENDS' ALMSHOUSE, WALNUT STREET .- Page 427.
T.H. Munford Se ..
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, HIGH STREET .- Page 427.
427
Friends' Almshouse.
protect their comrade; but he was compelled to return to town for safety. He was, for a number of years, saluted in the market by the title of " brother butcher," owing in part to his having been without a coat on the day of the riot ; for having on a long coat, he was obliged to cast it aside, to prevent being dragged from his horse.
The gentlemen who had comprised the garrison were advised to leave the city, where their lives were endangered. General Mifflin and about thirty others accordingly met at Mr. Gray's house below Gray's Ferry, where it was resolved to return to town without any appearance of intimidation. But it was deemed expedient that Mr. Wilson should absent himself for a time : the others continued to walk as usual in public, and attended the funeral of the unfortunate Captain Campbell.
Allen M'Lane and Colonel Grayson got into the house after the fray began. The mob called themselves Constitutionalists. Bene- zet's fire in the entry from the cellar passage was very effective.
FRIENDS' ALMSHOUSE.
THIS ancient and antiquated looking building, fronting on Wal- nut street, near Third street, was founded more than a century ago, for the benevolent purpose of providing for the maintenance of the poor of that Society. The ground plot, and a large one too, was given to Friends by John Martin, on condition that they should sup- port him for life.
The front edifice was built in 1729; and those wings in the gar- den were built about sixteen years earlier, they being then sufficient for the wants of the Society. The neat and confortable manner in which the inmates have always lived is very creditable to their bene- factors. The Friends having employed this building exclusively for females, and it being on a lot next to the Papal chapel, induced the Irish papists worshipping there to call it the Quakers' Nunnery. One of them writing to my friend, the greatest lawyer in Philadelphia, addressed his letter " to the stout, honest lawyer in Walnut street opposite the Quaker Nunnery."
The present elevation of the garden, as much as ten feet above the street in front, proves the former higher ground along Walnut street. The aged Mrs. Shoemaker, who died 16 years ago at the age of 95 years, told me that she remembered when the whole neighbourhood looked to the eye like a high hill from the line of Dock creek. The road, for many years, in her time, from Third street up Walnut street, and from Walnut street along Third street, going southward, were narrow cartways ascending deep defiles, and
428
Whitpain's Great House .- Wigglesworth's House.
causing the foot passengers to walk high above them on the sides of the shelving banks.
WHITPAIN'S GREAT HOUSE.
THIS was the name given to a stately house built on the bank side of Front street below Walnut street, for an owner of that name in England. Having been built of shell lime, it fell into premature decay, and " great was the fall thereof."
In 1687, William Penn, by his letter to T. Lloyd, R. Turner, &c., says: "Taking into consideration the great expenses of Richard Whitpain to the advancement of the province, and the share he taketh here (in England) on all occasions for its honour, I can do no less than recommend to you for public service his great house in Philadelphia, which, being too big for a private man, would provide you a conveniency above what my cottage affords. It were reputa- ble to take at least a moiety of it, which might serve for all the offices of State."
In 1707, Samuel Preston, writing to Jonathan Dickinson, then in Jamaica, says " his house is endangered ; for, that Whitpain's great house then decaying, threatened to fall upon and crush his house."
In February, 1708-9, Isaac Norris, writing to Jonathan Dickin- son, says : " It is not prudent to repair thy house next to Whitpain's ugly great house ; we have applied to authority to get power to pull . it down. In the mean time the front of that part next to thine, being all tumbled down, lies open."
In after years a great fire occurred near there, and burnt down all the property belonging to Dickinson, so that the place long bore the name of " the burnt buildings." Ross' stores now occupy, I think, the same premises.
WIGGLESWORTH'S HOUSE.
THIS house is entitled to some notice, as well for its ancient and peculiar location as for the rare person, " Billy Wigglesworth," who gave it fame in more modern times. As a house, it is peculiar for its primitive double front, (Nos. 43 and 45, south Second street,) and heavy, squat, dormer windows, and above all, for having been built
429
The Old Ferry.
so early as that they did not find the right line of Second street !-- of course presenting the earliest-built house in its vicinity ;- for it now stands north-east and south-west! The character of its origi- nal finish under the eaves, &c., as any one may discern who inspects it, evinces that it was superior in its day. I perceive it was first re- corded in 1685 as the property of Philip Richards, merchant, for whom the house was built. Joseph Richards, the son, possessed it by will in 1697, and sold it to John Brown in 1715. In 1754, the present two houses, then as one house, was occupied by William Plumstead, Esq., Alderman, who was buried in 1765, in a peculiar manner, having, by will, no pall, nor mourning dresses, &c. On the north end of the house was once "Hall's alley." The premises many years ago was occupied as the Prince of Wales' Inn. In the rear of the house was a good garden and a sun-dial affixed to the wall of the house, and still there.
" Billy Wigglesworth," as he was universally called, long kept a toyshop, the wonder of all the boys in the city ; and the effigies of human form which dangled by a string from his ceiling had no ri- vals, but in his own gaunt and gawky figure. But Billy's outward man was the least of his oddities; his distinguishing characteristic was a fondness for that mode of self-amusement at the expense of others, called manual wit. His exploits in that way have been hu- morously told by a writer whose sketches have been preserved under the article " Wigglesworthiana," in my MS. Annals, page 534, in the Historical Society.
THE OLD FERRY.
THIS first ferry and its neighbourhood was described to me by the late aged John Brown, Esq., whose father before him once kept that ferry, and had near there at the same time his ship yard. When John Brown was a small lad, the river then came close up to the rear of the present house in Water street, and when they formed the present existing slip, they filled up the area with chalk imported for ballast. At that time the Front street bank was vacant, and he used with others to sled down the hill from Combes' alley, then called Garden alley, and Penny hill, quite down to the ice on the river. The bank of Front street was reddish clay. The shed stables for the old ferry were set into that bank. His father's ship yard was opposite to Combes' alley, and Parrock's ship yard was then at Race street.
The fact of the then open bank of Front street is confirmed by an advertisement of 1761 ; then Francis Rawle, storekeeper, and at- torney for the " Pennsylvania Land Company of Pennsylvania,"
430
Offty's Anchor Forge .- Baptisterion.
advertises to sell the lots from his house, by the ferry steps, down to Clifford's steps, in lots of 22 feet front, each then unimproved.
It was in this same year, 1761, the Corporation permitted Samuel Austin, the owner of the river lot on the north side of Arch street, to erect there another ferry house, which, in relation to the other, soon took the name of the "New Ferry."
The original act for establishing a ferry to Daniel Cooper's land was passed, in 1717
OFFLY'S ANCHOR FORGE.
THIS was established about the year 1755, in a large frame build- ing on the Front street bank, directly opposite to Union street. The owner and director was Daniel Offly, a public Friend, whose voice in speaking was not unlike the sound of his own iron falling on a brick pavement. The reminiscent has often looked through the Front street low windows down into the smoking cavern, in appear- ance, below, fronting on Penn street, where, through the thick sul- phurous smoke, aided by the glare of forge light, might be seen Daniel Offly directing the strokes of a dozen hammermen, striking with sledges on a welding heat produced on an immense unfinished anchor, swinging from the forge to the anvil by a ponderous crane, he at the same time keeping his piercing iron voice above the din of the iron sound !
The high sun sees not on the earth, such fiery fearful show- The roof-ribs swarth, the candent hearth, the ruddy lurid row Of smiths, that stand, an ardent band, like men before the foe ; As quivering through his fleece of flame, the sailing monster, slow Sinks on the anvil,-all about the faces fiery grow :--
"Hurrah"! they shout, " leap out" -"leap out"; bang, bang, the sledges go!
A hailing fount of fire is struck at every squashing blow."
While Ofly sternly cries-strike, strike, while yet our heats so glow.
BAPTISTERION.
ON the bank of the Schuylkill, at the end of Spruce street, there was, in the early times of the city, an oak grove, selected by the Baptist Society as a Baptisterion, to lead their initiates into the river to be baptized, as did John in Enon.
Morgan Edwards, their pastor, who describes it as he saw it before
VAN-INGEN- SNYDER_SC
BAPTISTERION ON THE SCHUYLKILL .- Page 430.
FORT ST. DAVID .- Page 431.
VAN-INGEN- SNYOFP
431
Fort St. David.
the year 1770, (he arrived here in 1758,) says of it-" Around said spot are large oaks affording fine shade-under foot is a green, varie- gated with wild flowers and aromatic herbs, and a tasteful house is near for dressing and undressing the Proseuches." In the midst of the spot was a large stone, upon the dry ground, and elevated above it about three feet-made level on the top by art, with hewn steps to ascend it. Around this rock the candidates knelt to pray, and upon it the preacher stood to preach to the people. "The place was not only convenient for the purposes used, but also most delightful for rural scenery, inducing people to go thither in summer as a place of recreation." To such a place resorted Francis Hopkinson, Esq., with his bards and literati, to sweep their lyres, or to meditate on justice and religion.
A part of one of the hymns sung upon their baptismal occasions reads thus, viz.
" Of our vows this stone's a token- Stone of Witness,* bear record 'Gainst us if our vows be broken, Or, if we forsake the Lord."
What a shame that all these rural beauties have been long since effaced and forgotten !- none of them left to remind us of those rural appendages, woods, &c. I have since learned that the property there belonged to Mr. Marsh, a Baptist, and that the British army cut it down for fuel. The whole place is now all wharfed out for the coal trade, so that those lately baptized near there, had to clamber over heaps of coal. The "Stone of Witness" is buried in the wharf ·- never to be seen more !
FORT ST. DAVID.
A SOCIETY of gentlemen of Philadelphia, many years ago, t had a house at the falls of Schuylkill, called Fort St. David, where they used to meet at fishing seasons, by public advertisement, beginning with the first of May, and continuing every other Friday during the season. Much good living was enjoyed there. The building, a kind of summer pavilion, stood on the descent of the hill, leading to the Falls bridge, at the position since excavated as a free stone quarry ; a sketch of it, such as it was, is preserved in the Dickinson family, being on an elegant silver box, presented to John Dickinson in 1768, for his celebrated " Farmer's Letters." In the house and
· Joshua 24, 26. + Said to be 100 years.
432
Bachelors' Hall.
along its walls were hung up a great variety of curious Indian artı cles, and sometimes the president of the day was dressed in the entire ga:b of an Indian chief.
'The same association still exists, but have transferred their place of meeting to Rambo's rock below Gray's Ferry ; the former attrac- tions at the Falls, as a celebrated fishing place, having been ruined by the river obstructions, &c. They now call their association the " State in Schuylkill," &c.
In former times it was quite different. Old Godfrey Shrunk, when about 74 years of age, a well known fisherman near the Falls in his younger days, has told me he could often catch with his dip-net 3000 catfish in one night! Often he has sold them at two shillings a hundred. The perch and rockfish were numerous and large ; of- ten he has caught 30 to 80 lbs. of a morning with a hook and line. He used to catch fish for the Fishing Company of St. David, which used to cook 40 dozen of catfish at a time.
He described the company house as a neat and tasteful structure of wood, 70 feet long and 20 feet wide, set against the descending hill side on a stone foundation, having 14 ascending steps in front ; the sides consisting entirely of folding or moveable doors and win- dows, were burne off by the Hessians for their huts 1777-8, and so changed and injured the place, that it was never used for its former purposes after the Revolution.
BACHELORS' HALL.
THIS was once a celebrated place of gluttony and good living, but highly genteel and select, situated in Kensington on the main river street, a little above the present market house. It was a square building of considerable beauty, with pilasters, &c., and was burnt before the Revolution. It was built for a few city gentlemen, and the last survivor was to take the premises. It fell into the hands of the Norris family ; many dancing parties were given there. It had a fine open view to the scenery on the Delaware, and at the time of its institution was deemed retired ; tea parties were made there fre- quently for the ladies of their acquaintance, and once it was lent to the use of Murray, the Universalist preacher, keeping then the doc- trine cannon shot distance from the city.
Among the members of the joint tenantry were Robert Charles, William Masters, John Sober, P. Græme, Isaac Norris; the whole space was in one room. The few partners that remained in 1745, induced Isaac Norris to buy them out, and the premises afterwards vested solely in him.
VAN- INGEN=SNUCEI
DUCK POND, CORNER OF FOURTH AND HIGH STREETS .- Page 433.
433
The Duck Pond.
While the place was in vogue it received the flattery of the muse in the following lines, published in the Gazette of 1730, and styled " an Invitation to the Hall," to wit :
" Phœbus, wit-inspiring lord, Attic maid for arts ador'd, Bacchus with full clusters come, Come rich from harvest home. Joys and smiles and loves and graces, Gen'rous hearts and cheerful faces,
With ev'ry hospitable god, Come and bless this sweet abode!"
The mysteries of the place, however, were all unknown to the vulgar, and for that very reason they gave loose to many conjectures, which finally passed for current tales, as a bachelor's place, where maidens were inveigled and deceived. I had myself heard stories of it when a boy, which thrilled my soul with horror, without one word of truth for its foundation !
It was burnt in 1776, and a smith's shop was built on its ruins. Hopkinson's " Old Bachelor" has some verses on its burning.
THE DUCK POND,
CORNER OF FOURTH AND HIGH STREETS.
IT will hardly be credited that there should have been once a great pond, filled with spatterdocks, and affording a place of visitation to wild ducks, situate along High street, westward of Fourth street, and forming the proper head of Dock creek. The facts which war- rant this belief are to the following effect, to wit :
The family of Anthony Klincken settled in Germantown at its foundation, in 1683. Anthony, then a lad, became in time a great hunter, and lived to the year 1759. Before his death he told his grandson, Anthony Johnson, an aged man, who died thirteen or fourteen years ago, that he knew of no place where he had such successful shooting of ducks and geese as at the above-mentioned pond. Indeed, he said, he never visited the city, in the proper season, without taking his gun along, and making his visits there. The relaters were good people of the Society of Friends, and their testi- mony to be credited.
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