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 55
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Old Robert Venables told me it was called Blue House because of the colour of the mortar outside, with which it was plastered. It was celebrated for its garden, and was deemed very far out of town.
" Peg Mullen's" was the south corner, or next the corner, of Tun alley. An old gentleman, who remembers it and its vicinity, says that rump steaks, cut with the grain, and only one brought in at a time, was the order-always red hot and no detention. Fifty years ago 40
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Taverns.
Mullen's Dock was the famous swimming-place for boys. I have seen more than 100 in the water there at once. The Dock extended from Morris' stores towards Walnut street. It was good gravel bot- tom. During the war, 25 prize New York pilot-boats were in it. They were named the Mosquito fleet, and were taken by a Philadel- phia privateer.
In the Indian Queen tavern, south Fourth street, in the second story front room south end, Jefferson had his desk and room where he wrote and studied, and from that cause, it has been a popular opi- nion that he there wrote his " Declaration of Independence." I have seen the place of the desk, by the side of the fire place west side, as pointed out by Cæsar Rodney's son.
But my friend, John McAllister, told me in 1833, that he was told by the stepmother of the present Hon. John Sergeant, that Dr. Mease had inquired of Jefferson himself, by letter, and that he was informed by him that when he wrote that instrument, he lived in a large new house, belonging to the Hiltzheimer family, up Market street at the south-west corner of some crossing street. Mrs. Ser- geant said there was no doubt it was the same since so well known as Gratz's store, at south-west corner of Seventh and High streets.
In the rear of said inn, in the yard and extending northward, is a long house of two story brick stabling, with a good cupola, thought by some to have been once made for a market house. It might look as if it had seen better days, but a very aged man told me it was used as stables, in his youth, to the Indian Queen inn, then at the south-east corner of High and Fourth streets, kept by Little, and after- wards by Thomson. Graydon also spoke of those stables and of the inn at the corner by the widow Nicholls, in 1760, of seeing there many race horses. The vane on the stables has some shot holes in it, made by some of the Paxtang boys, who came into the city in 1755, after the accommodation, and took up their quarters on the inn premises.
A tavern, " far out of town," once occupied the site of the present beautiful St. Philip's church on the north side of Vine street, between Seventh and Eighth streets. The tavern was old, built of wood and red painted. It was for years the great rendezvous for the enlist- ments for the army in the revolution, and for the Indian wars after- wards. It was afterwards much of a home for drovers' cattle. Be- tween it and the city were extensive green commons and sheep- grazing, &c.
The Indian King, the oldest inn in High street, sold for 42,000 dollars in 1831 and was pulled down to make large stores.
The Prussia Inn, kept by a Prussian colonel, long owned by the Wister family, standing on the north side of High street between Third and Fourth streets, consisted originally of two three-storied brick houses, built in 1731, and which rented together to the year 1798, for only 400 dollars a year. Then they were converted into stores. Lately, they have been pulled down, and new stores of four
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Theatres.
stories put in their place at 2000 dollars each by contract, which to- gether now bring 4000 dollars a year rent! Thus the houses which only brought 400 dollars bring now 4000 dollars in the lifetime of the same, and but middle aged owners.
THEATRES.
" Totus mundis agit histrionem."
MUCH opposition was originally made to the introduction of the- atrical entertainments into Philadelphia, chiefly by the religious part of the community. From this cause those which were first regularly established, opened their houses just beyond the bounds and control of the city officers. Finally, when it was first attempted to set up the Chestnut street theatre in the city, in 1793, great efforts were made by both parties to get up memorials pro and con.
The earliest mention of theatrical performance occurred in the year 1749, in the month of January. Then the recorder of the city re- ported to the common council, that certain persons had lately taken upon them to act plays in the city, and, as he was informed, intended to make frequent practice thereof, which, it was to be feared, would be attended with very mischievous effects-such as the encourage- ment of idleness, and drawing great sums of money from weak and inconsiderate persons, who are apt to be fond of such kind of enter- tainment, though the performance be ever so mean and contemptible ; whereupon the board unanimously requested the magistrates to take the most effectual measures for suppressing this disorder, by sending for the actors, and binding them to their good behaviour, or by such other means as they should think proper. From the premises it is probable they were Thespians of home-made production, of such un- tutored genius as had never trod the stage.
In the year 1754 some real Thespians arrived, called " Hallam's Company" from London, including Mrs. Hallam and her two sons. In the month of March they obtained license to act a few plays in Philadelphia, conditioned that they offered nothing indecent or im- moral. In April they opened their " new theatre in Water street" -in a store of William Plumstead's, corner of the first alley above Pine street. Their first entertainment was the Fair Penitent, and Miss in her Teens .- Box, 6s. pit, 4s. and gallery, 2s. 6d. said to have been offered " to a numerous and polite audience,"-terms of attraction intended for the next play. In the prologue to the first
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Theatres.
performance some hints at their usefulness as moral instructors wera thus enforced, to wit :
"Too oft, we own, the stage with dangerous art, In wanton scenes, has play'd a Syren's part, Yet if the Muse, unfaithful to her trust,
Has sometimes stray'd from what was pure and just; Has she not oft, with awful virtue's rage,
Struck home at vice, and nobly trod the stage ? Then as you'd treat a favourite fair's mistake, Pray spare her foibles for her virtue's sake : And whilst her chastest scenes are made appear,
(For none but such will find admittance here)
The muse's friends, we hope, will join the cause, And crown our best endeavours with applause."
In the mean time those who deemed them an evil to society vere very busy in distributing pamphlets gratis, if possible, to write nem down. They continued, however, their plays till the month of July.
We hear nothing of this company again till their return in 1759; they then came in the month of July to a theatre prepared the year before at the south-west corner of Vernon and South streets, called the theatre on "Society Hill." It was there placed on the south side of the city bounds, so as to be out of the reach of city control, by city authorities ; and "Society Hill" itself was a name only, having no laws. Great efforts were now made by the friends and other religious people to prevent plays even there ; much was written and printed pro and con. The Presbyterian Synod, in July, 1759, formally addressed the governor and legislature to pre- vent it. The Friends made their application to Judge William Allen to repress them. His reply was repulsive, saying he had got more moral virtue from plays than from sermons. As a sequel, it was long remembered that the night the theatre opened, and to which he intended to be a gratified spectator, he was called to mourn the death of his wife. This first built theatre was constructed of wood, and is now standing in the form of three dwelling-houses at the corner of Vernon and South streets. The chief players then were Douglass, who married Mrs. Hallam ; the two Hallams, her sons ; and Misses Cheer and Morris. Francis Mentges, afterwards an officer in our service, was the dancing performer,-while he danced, he assumed the name of Francis. The motto of the stage was "Totus mundis agit histrionem." F. Mentges had talents above his original profession, and was, in the time of the Revolution, esteemed a good officer, and was continued in the United States' ser- vice long after the peace.
In the course of ten years these comedians had so far acted them- selves into favour as to need more room, and therefore they had got themselves ready, by the year 1760, to open another theatre-a larger building, constructed of wood, situated also in South street
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Theatres.
above Fourth street, and still keeping within the line of Southwark and beyond the bounds of city surveillance. The managers were Hallam and Henry.
To evade the law the bills used to read-"a Concert of music," after which will be presented gratis a lecture or dialogue on the vice of scandal, &c., giving a few lines of the play.
As a parting measure, in quitting their former theatre for the last mentioned one, they, in 1759, announced their regard to church by proposing to give the play of George Barnwell "at their theatre on Society hill," as a benefit to the College of Philadelphia, "for im- proving the youth in the divine art of psalmody and church music," meaning thereby to help to buy an organ for the use of the charity children in the old academy.
While the British occupied Philadelphia, they held regular plays in the Southwark theatre, the performers being officers of Howe's army,-the box tickets at one dollar, and the proceeds used for the widows and orphans of soldiers. Major André and Captain De- lancy were the chief scene painters. The waterfall scene, drawn by the former, continued on the curtain as long as that theatre lasted. It was burnt down a few years ago.
When the theatre was erected in Chestnut street in 1793, it re- ceived and retained the name of the "New Theatre," in contradis- tinction to the Southwark theatre, which afterwards generally was called the old theatre. Mr. Wignell was first manager.
There was a small wooden theatre, about the year 1790, on the wharf up at Noble street ; it was turned into a boat shed. "Jack Durang," as Scaramouch, is all that is remembered by those who saw the company of that day.
The reminiscences of the "old theatre" of 1788-98, as fur- nished by my friend Lang Syne, are to the following effect, to wit :
" The old theatre (Southwark) was the only theatre with a regu- lar company, all ' Stars,' in the United States, or at that time in the new world. The building, compared with the new houses, was an ugly ill-contrived affair outside and inside. The stage lighted by plain oil lamps without glasses. The view from the boxes was in- tercepted by large square wooden pillars supporting the upper tier and roof. It was contended by many, at the time, that the front bench in the gallery was the best seat in the house for a fair view of the whole stage.
" The stage box on the east side was decorated with suitable em- blems for the reception of President Washington, whenever he de- lighted the audience by his presence; at which time the Poor Soldier was invariably played by his desire. 'Old Hallam' prided himself on his unrivalled Lord Ogleby in the Clandestine Marriage, and Mungo in the Padlock. 'Old Henry' was the pride of the place in Irishmen. An anecdote is related of his being one night in a passionate part, and whirling his cane about, when it flew out of his hand into the pit, without doing any damage ; on its being VOL. I .- 3 K 40*
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Custom Houses.
handed to him, he bowed elegantly and said, in character, 'Faith, whenever I fly in a passion my cane flies too.' Another ; that, on being hit with an orange from the gallery, he picked it up, and bowing said, ' That's no Seville (civil) orange.'
" A gentleman of this city, known familiarly to the inhabitants generally as 'Nick Hammond,' used to play for his amusement ir Jews. Wignell's Darby was always beheld with raptures. Hodg- kinson was the universal favourite in Tragedy, Comedy, Opera and Farce, and was supposed to be one of the best actors of 'All Work,' that ever trod the boards. His Robin, in No Song No Supper, and Wignell's Darby, in the Poor Soldier, were rivals in the public taste, and have never been equalled here. Does none re- member ? About this time Wignell and Reinagle being about to build a new theatre, the corner stone of which had been laid at the north-west corner of Sixth and Chestnut streets, and Wignell having started 'for England,' to beat up for theatrical forces, Hallam and Henry made arrangements to retire from 'Old South' to New York, where an immense pile of stone work was put up opposite the Park, for their reception, as a theatre. The old company went out, and the new company came into public notice, in the winter of 1793. The only house on the 'other side of the gutter' at the time, was Ooller's Hotel, which was fired by flames from Ricketts' Circus, (erected some years afterwards,) and both were burnt to the round one evening."
CUSTOM HOUSES.
AMONG the earliest remembered Custom Houses, and Collectors of Customs, was William Peters, Esq., father of the late Judge Peters ; then succeeded Abraham Taylor, Esq .- these kept their offices at their own dwellings. Next followed John Swift, Esq., who had his residence and office in the house now Henry Pratt's, in Front below Race street. He continued in office from the year 1760 to the time of the revolution. The first collector after the re- volution was Frederick Phile, who had his office in Second street above Christ church, vis-a-vis the Sorrel Horse inn. From thence he removed it to the corner of Blackhorse alley and Front street. After this the office was held by Sharp Delany, Esq., who dwelt at the south-east corner of Walnut and Second streets, and there did the business of the port of Philadelphia, within my recollection- these were "the days of small things." Its next remove was to something greater, to wit: to " Ross' buildings," a collection of two
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Banks.
or three good houses on the east side of Front street below Walnut street. As business increased, the government of the United States finally determined on building the present large Custom House in south Second street. In providing for that location they pulled down a large expensive house, not long built there by Doctor Hunter, as a laboratory, &c.
There was a tradition that the very old buildings which till lately stood on Walnut street, at the south-east corner of Third and Walnut streets, had been "the old custom house," but I never had any facts to sustain the idea, until they were confirmed to me by direct facts from the aged Mr. Richardson of the Mint.
Delany's dwelling house, adjoined his custom house, as above, and at the rear of his house, fronting on Dock street, stood a house of lath and plaster, marked 1686, a real primitive !
BANKS.
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" Gold imp'd by thee can compass greatest things."
OUR city enjoys the pre-eminence in this department of finance as having been the first city in the union to establish a bank. The first permanent bank was that of the North America in Chestnut street, although it is also true that there was an earlier one called " the Bank of Pennsylvania," established by some patriotic gentle- men in 1780, for the avowed temporary purpose of " supplying the army of the United States with provisions for two months"-creating thereby a specie subscription of £300,000, by about ninety persons, and the two highest subscriptions by Robert Morris and Blair M'Clenachan-£10,000 each. The particulars of this bank may be seen in Hazard's Register of Pennsylvania, vol. ii, p. 250.
The Bank of North America, founded in 1781 by Congress, began its career of specie with coin sent out from France, at the instance of Robert Morris, by Mr. De Chaumont-it was landed at Boston. This fact was told me by Mrs. Morris not long since. She also told me that the same generous friend, Mr. De Chaumont, extended to her an annual pension, by which she was enabled to live without assistance from others. From the government her husband had so nobly served she received no succours. Coin sent to this country to pay the French army, and not a little left among us by the British: enemy, was sufficiently present to form a starting specie basis.
On page 248 of my MS. Annals in the City Library is an exhi- bition of a small " one penny bill" of the Bank of North America, of the year 1789. It is to be sure a small exhibit of a National Bank, but it had much greater concerns; and its history, as an
1
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Banks.
eventual restorer of sound credit and a good circulating medium, is already familiar to the public. The little bill reads-
" The President and Directors of the Bank of North America pro- mise to pay to the bearer, on demand, one ninetieth of a dollar.
" August, 1789. TENCH FRANCIS, Cashier."
But it was issued to supply change at a time that coppers were debased, and had to be rejected. The corporation of New York issued similar little bills.
The next Bank, the Pennsylvania, was originally located in Lodge alley, (the same now called Bank street) in a three story double front brick house, which had once been a distinguished lodging house by Mrs. Sword and Mrs. Brodeau. To rear the present stately marble bank, they pulled down several houses which had themselves once enjoyed the reputation of "great things" in their early day. The facts concerning them is all that is intended in this notice, to wit:
On Second street, on the south-west corner of Lodge alley, stood D. Griscom's house, of antiquated construction, called in an old Almanac " the first built house of brick erected in Philadelphia;"* adjoining to it, southward, stood the house of James Logan, Jun., bought of Thomas Storey, who derived it from the first owner, Ed- ward Shippen, Sen. It was a large house of double front, and a great display of dormer windows, with five or six steps ascent. These two buildings occupied the whole present front of the bank. The latter had "the privilege of the wharf on the dock, at Dock creek, før ever!" On the Lodge alley, westward of the former bank there, stood the Masonic Lodge. The house which had been Shippen's and Storey's was thus described in 1707-8, by Samuel Preston, in his letter to Jonathan Dickinson, then in Jamaica, to wit: "In choosing thee a house I am most inclined to Thomas Storey's-it adjoins to David Lloyd's, [originally Griscom's, 'directly opposite to Norris'' slate-house]-it is most like Edward Shippen's, [where is now Waln's row] but larger-a story higher, and neatlier finished, with garden, out-houses, &c., [down to Dock creek] and I know it will suit, or none in Philadelphia. The rent is prodigious high-he asks £70. I offer £50, and rather than fail will give £10 more."
The present Girard's Bank, built originally for the first Bank of the United States, was erected upon what had been the rear of Pemberton's fine garden, upon ground much lower than the present Third street.
The Philadelphia Bank occupies the site of an old inn called the Cross Keys, an antiquated house, with double hipped roof, fronting on Fourth street, and having a range of stables at the Fourth street side. It had a heavy brick portico at the front door, and the house stood out far upon Chestnut street pavement.
Where the present Bank of the United States now stands was once Norris's house and gardens, once much distinguished as a beau - tiful place " out of town."
* Leed's Almanac, printed by W. Bradford, New York, 1694, says, it is now eleven wears since Andrew Griscom built the first brick house in Philadelphia.
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North End.
NORTH END.
IN early times, " North End" was the common name given to the Northern Liberties, when having its only road out Front street. In the present notice it will include the region of Cohocksinc creek over to Kensington, and westward over the former Campington. The object is to bring back to the mind's eye " its face of nature, ere banished and estranged" by improvement.
The whole region was originally patented to Jurian Hartsfielder, in 1676, by Governor Andros, of New York government. In ten years afterwards he sold out to D. Pegg his whole three hundred and fifty acres, extending from Cohocksinc creek, his northern line, to Pegg's run, his southern line. That part beyond Cohocksinc, north- ward, which came under Penn's patent, was bought, in 1718, by J. Dickinson, (say 495 acres,) at 26s. 8d. sterling, and extending from the present Fairhill estate over to Bush hill. Part of the same estate has been known in more modern times as " Masters' estate and farm," and some of it is now in possession of Turner Camac, Esq., who married Masters' daughter.
The primitive state of the North End, near the Cohocksinc creek, is expressed in a petition of the year 1701, of the country inhabitants (one hundred and fifteen in number,) of Germantown, Abington, &c., praying the Governor and Council for a settled road into the the city, and alleging that " they have lately been obliged to go round new fences, from time to time set up in the road by Daniel Pegg and Thomas Sison,"" for that as they cleared their land, they drove the travellers out into uneven roads, and very dangerous for carts to pass upon. They therefore pray " a road may be laid out from the corner of Sison's fence straight over the creek [meaning the Cohocksinc, and also called Stacey's creek,] to the corner of John Stacey's field, and afterwards to divide into two branches-one to Germantown, and the other to Frankford." They add also that Germantown road is most travelled-taking thereby much lime and meal from three mills, with much malt, and a great deal of wood, timber, &c. At the same time they notice the site of the present long stone bridge and causeway over to Kensington, by saying " they had measured the road that is called the Frankford road, over the long bridge from about the then part of the tobacco field, to a broad stone upon Thomas Sison's hill near his fence, and find it to be three hundred and eighty perches, and from thence to the lower corner of John Stacey's field to the aforesaid tobacco field three hundred and seventy-two perches,
* The name was spelt Tison in another place.
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North End.
beside (along) the meadow and creek by John Stacey's field, and of the latter we had the disadvantage of the woods, having no line to go by, and finding a good road all the way and very good fast lands." I infer from this petition (now in the Logan collection) that they desired the discontinuance of the then road over the long bridge to Frankford,* and that both Germantown and Frankford might be in one, until they passed over the Cohocksinc creek on the present Germantown road, and then the Frankford road should diverge, "by as near a road, having fast land all along."
A letter of Robert Fairman's, of the 30th of 8 mo., 1711, to Jonathan Dickinson, speaks of his having a portion of thirteen acres of his land next the Coxon creek (Cohocksinc) and in Shackamaxo.t In another letter of the 12th of 3 mo., 1715, he says, " the old road and the bridge to it being so decayed and dangerous for passengers, my brother Thomas, with Thomas Masters, and others, thought it proper to move your court for a new road, which being granted, a new bridge was made and the road laid out, and timber for the bridge was cut from my plantation next the creek ; but not being finished before my brother Thomas died, has been since laid aside, and the old bridge and road repaired and used-thus cutting through that land of mine and his, so as to leave it common and open to cattle, &c., notwithstanding the new road would have been a better route This has proceeded from the malice of some who were piqued at my brother."
In the year 1713, the Grand Jury, upon an inspection of the state of the causeway and bridge over the Cohocksinc, on the road lead- ing to " the Governor's mill,"-where is now Craig's manufactory- recommended that a tax of one pence per pound be laid " to repair the road at the new bridge by the Governor's mill, and for other purposes." In 1739 the said mill took fire and was burnt down. It was thought it occurred from the wadding of guns fired at wild pigeons.
This mill seems to have been all along an ill adventure; for James Logan, in 1702, speaking of the Governor's two mills, says, " those unhappy expensive mills have cost since his departure up- wards of £200 in dry money. They both go these ten days. The "Town Mill," (now Craig's place,) after throwing away £150 upon her, does exceedingly well, and of a small one is equal to any in the province." The other mill alluded to was at Chester.
In 1739, Mrs. Mary Smith and her horse were both drowned " near the long bridge in the Northern Liberties." " "T'was supposed it occurred by her horse attempting to drink at that place where the
* It is possible, however, that the long bridge may have been one on piles directly out Front street as it now runs, as such piles were there in my youth, and a narrow causeway. It was either the remains of old time, or it had been made by the British army when they flooded that land.
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