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. II > Part 11
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"From the dispositions of the enemy, it was supposed that he would attempt to cross with his whole force, at this place; but while the Americans were making preparations to receive them at this point, Lord Cornwallis, at the head of the enemy's column, took a long circuitous march to the left, until he gained the forks, and crossed at Trimble's and Jeffrey's ford, without difficulty or opposition. Con- tinuing east from the ferry, about three quarters of a mile, he took a road turning short down the river to the right, in order to fall upon the right of the American forces. The movement was a partial sur- prise upon the American commander, who, however, as soon as he was apprised of it, took all possible measures to provide against the effect, by detaching General Sullivan, with all the force he could spare, to oppose Cornwallis. General Sullivan took an advantageous position, on commanding grounds, near the small Quaker meeting house of Birmingham, his left extending towards the Brandywine, his artillery advantageously disposed, and both flanks covered with woods. Wayne's division, with Maxwell's light infantry, remained at Chadd's ford to keep Knyphausen in check, while the division of General Greene, accompanied by the commander-in-chief, formed a reserve at a central position between the right and left wings.
" In the interesting excursion we are now describing, we took the track of the division of Cornwallis, where it turned south after cross- ing the forks of the river. It was at two o'clock in the afternoon; 8
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and such was the deliberation of the British troops, that they stopped for dinner upon the brow of a hill, about midway between the corner and the position occupied by the Americans. An old resident, yet living near the spot, and who was forced into the service of Corn- wallis, affirms, that it was a merry though a brief dinner frolic amongst the officers. The American forces being no where even in sight, though scarcely two miles distant-another hill intervening to cut off the prospect-the young officers felt but little apprehension- probably supposing that the "rebel Yankees" would hardly make a stand even when they did come in sight. Among the gayest of the gay, as a volunteer in the suite of one of the British generals, as tra- dition informs us, was a sprightly and chivalrous descendant of the Percies-not the Lord Percy who brought the ill-fated British de- tachment back from Lexington, at the commencement of the revo- lution, (who was the last duke of Northumberland, and died in 1817,) but a younger one still. He was a noble and generous youth, and had volunteered on the present occasion, as an amateur, to see how fields were won. He wore a splendid uniform, and rode, like a Percy, a noble steed richly caparisoned. The column resumed its march at half-past three, and by four o'clock ascended the interven- ing hill before mentioned, which brought them in full prospect of the American troops, in battle array, and coolly awaiting the onset. In- stant dispositions were made for battle. As the young Percy came over the brow of the hill, he was observed suddenly to curb in his impatient steed, and the gay smile upon his lively features, changing at first to gravity, soon became sad and pensive, as he glanced his bright eye over the extensive rolling landscape, now rife with anima- tion. It was a glorious spectacle. The wide prospect of gentle hill and dale, with forest and farm-house, the bright waters of the Bran- dywine, just appearing in one little winding section in a low and beautiful valley on the right, formed of itself a picturesque view for the lover of the simple garniture of nature. But enlivened, as it now was, by the presence of two hostile armies, both eager for the on- slaught-on that side the American line resting upon their burnished arms in order of battle; and on this the brisk note of preparation, the displaying of columns, and other manœuvres necessary to the sudden change of position and circumstances-
""" The neighing steed, and the shrill trump, The spirit-stirring drum, the ear-piercing fife, The royal banner, and all quality, Pride, pomp, and circumstance of glorious war,'
all combined to make up a scene which it would hardly be supposed would have damped the ardour, or clouded with gloom the fine fea- tures of a young officer, whose proud lip would at any other moment have curled with scorn, and his eye kindled with indignation at the remotest intimation of a want of firmness in the hour of trial. Yet, with a subdued and half-saddened eye, the young Percy, who but a moment before was panting to play the hero in the contest, paused
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for a moment longer. Then calling his servant to his side, and taking his diamond-studded repeater from his pocket-'Here,' said he, 'take this and deliver it to my sister in Northumberland : I have seen this field and this landscape before, in a dream in England : Here I shall fall; and'-drawing a heavy purse of gold from his pocket-' take this for yourself.' Saying this, he dashed forward with his fellows. The lines were formed, and at four o'clock the battle commenced. The onset was impetuous, and the Americans received their haughty invaders with coolness and courage. But their right wing being overpowered by numbers, was at length com- pelled to give way. The remaining divisions being now exposed to a galling fire on the flank, continued to break, until a route ensued, although several strong posts were successively defended with intre- pidity for a time.
" The most obstinate fighting, during the engagement, took place near the centre, which rested upon the little stone meeting house of the Quakers, and in the grave yard, walled on all sides by a thick stone mason-work, which, with the church, are yet standing as firmly as at the period of which we are writing. This enclosure was long and resolutely defended by the Americans, and it was near this place, about the middle of the action, that the noble young Percy fell, as he believed he had been doomed to do. The enclosure was at length scaled, and carried by the bayonet. The wounded were taken into the meeting-house, built by peace-makers, for the worship of the God of peace, though now the centre of the bloody strife ; and the dead were inhumed in one corner of the burying ground, in which they had many of them been slain. Just before our visit, a grave had been dug, and the remains of a British soldier disinterred. A part of his shoes remained ; a few pieces of red cloth, which fell to pieces, however, on being exposed to the air, were discovered ; a button, likewise, marked '44th Reg't.,' and a flattened bullet-pro- bably the winged messenger of death to the wearer,-were also found, both of which were given to us by the good man near by the meet- ing house.
" There is a scrap of unwritten history attached to this little obscure meeting-house,-true, though living only in tradition,-which is full of interest. A few years before the revolutionary war, the little pa- rish of Birmingham was favoured on one occasion by the presence of one of the most gifted and eloquent preachers of their peaceable sect. The spirit moved him to preach, and as he proceeded, he seemed to rise to an unwonted measure in his thoughts ; an unusual ardour possessed him, and his words fell with a holy unction upon his listeners. He proceeded, in language still more glowing and lofty, until his kindling eye seemed to catch glimpses of things un- seen, and to penetrate the curtain of things yet to come. At length a vision broke upon him, and he burst forth, in language similar to that of Milton-
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"""Oh what are these ? Death's ministers, not men ; who thus deal death Inhumanly to men; and multiply Ten thousand fold the sin of him who slew His brother !'
He then, in words of one 'rapt-inspired,' predicted the coming con flict with its attending scourges, and declared that there, even in that quiet community-whose precepts and conduct breathed nothing but peace on earth and good will to men-the angel of destruction should spread his wings-even there, the blood would flow to their horses' bridles-even there, within the walls of that little sanctuary, would be piled up heaps of the dying and the dead ! The fulfil- ment was as exact as the prediction was surprising.
" The little meeting-house, and the grave-yard, were alike opened to our examination, and were both viewed with that interest which the associations connected with them would naturally inspire. The space here consecrated for the repose of the dead is of ample size for a country town, but it has been thus occupied for more than a century and a half. There is no clustering of houses adjoining this hallowed spot. There are spreading elms around, and one within the enclosure-and a cedar of more than a century's growth, which is as funereal in its appearance as the yew tree; and as 'the air its solemn stillness holds,' one standing here could hardly refrain from quoting the inimitable and deathless Elegy of Gray-particularly as nearly the whole area is now closely filled with the little grassy mounds which cover the dead :-
"""Beneath those rugged elms, that yew tree's shade, Where heaves the turf in many a mouldering heap, Each in his narrow cell for ever laid, The rude forefather's of the hamlet sleep :' * * * *
And onward ; [the sentimental reader, however, must quote for hin- self.] But of all the dead who repose here, not a single stone, nor the slightest discriminating memorial, indicates the spot where slum- ber the ashes of any particular individual. This neglect of such me- morials, or marks of respect for the dead, we are aware is in strict and uniform accordance with the usages of that peculiar people; although it little accords with the views and feelings of others. True, as the same beautiful poet above quoted, intimates, neither 'storied urn,' nor 'animated bust,' can call back the 'fleeting breath;' nor can the flattery of inscriptions, deserved or undeserved, 'soothe the dull cold ear of death.' And it is likewise a sad-a melancholy reflec- tion, how very short a period do nearly all the memorials reared to the memory of the dead, by the hand of surviving friendship and af- fection, endure ! A few-a very few brief years, and the headstone has sunk-the slab is broken-the short column or pyramid over turned. Yet while they do remain, they are often mementoes of many interesting incidents, or endearing recollections. An incident
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of this description now rises upon the memory, and as its relation will wound none among the living, we will repeat it. There is an humble freestone standing in Trinity church-yard, New York, so near the street, that the bright and laughing eyes of beauty and plea- sure can look upon it any day as their possessors are tripping along Broadway. It stands beneath the tree at the corner, by Doctor Bliss' book store, and the inscription yet retains the name of Mrs. Johnson. The deceased was young and beautiful, full of intelligence and vivacity, when she was married, a few months be- fore the breaking out of the pestilence which desolated New York in 1798. One Sunday afternoon, soon after the fever had commenced. and before there was much alarm, walking down the Broadway, upon the arm of her husband, by whom she was adored, and whom she adored in turn, in company with a friend who was also newly mar- ried, the epidemic was among the natural topics of conversation. Mrs. Johnson, whose natural buoyancy of spirits, perhaps, imparted, even at that moment, an appearance of light-heartedness she did not feel, was remarkably lively and cheerful. In passing the spot we have indicated, where the tree was then casting its refreshing shade upon the green sward beneath, she suddenly stopped, and looking up into her husband's face, with a sweet though slightly pensive smile, remarked with the utmost naïvete :- ' There, Johnson : if I die of the yellow fever, bury me here.' On the very next Friday, she was buried there !
" But we have strayed a wide distance from Brandywine, without finishing the battle. Return we then to that part of our narrative. No sooner had Cornwallis defeated the Americans at Birmingham, than Knyphausen, after successfully keeping the attention of Wayne's division all day with an apprehension of an attack, which he did not intend, made the passage of the river, and carried the entrench ments, and took the battery and cannon intended to cover and defend the ford. After a severe conflict, the Americans posted in this quar- ter were compelled to give way, and thus the defeat became com- plete. The retreat continued that night and the day following to Philadelphia."
In examining the records of Chester county-beginning with its origin in 1681, we have found sundry items and facts, which may tend to give us an insight into the men and things and doings of the olden time, to wit :
The first court is recorded as being opened the 13th September, 1681, at Upland (Chester)-the justices present, William Clayton, William Warner, Robert Wade, Otto Ernest Cock, William Byles, Robert Lucas, Lassey Cock, Swan Swanson, Andreas Bankson, Thomas Fairman. Sheriff, John Test. Clerk, Thomas Revell.
The first action is a case of assault and battery-being Peter Erickson vs. Harmen Johnson and wife. The jury of twelve find for the plaintiff an award of 6d. damages, at his costs of suit.
Whereupon, the same Harmen Johnson and wife reverse the VOL. II-M 8*
dec- d to 1 af- tone over s of iden
le- nd gh the m,' can
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Pennsylvania Inland .- Chester County.
action, and become plaintiffs against the same Peter Erickson, for assault and battery, and recover 40s. damages and cost. There must have been some adroitness in the use of law, to have so managed a defence as to turn about and mulct the accuser !
In the same court it was granted, by proclamation, that if any person present had aught against one of the justices, they might declare it. Whereupon, Daniel Brenson and Charles Brigham, upon oath, and Walter Pumphray upon attestation, declare that they had heard certain Indians speak against him, and also against Captain Edward Cantwell, a former sheriff. Then the said Lassey Cock upon oath declared his innocency, and that he had not spoken such words, whereupon the case was quieted or quashed.
At the court held November 30th, 1681, William Markam, Esq., governor and president, present with ten justices.
John Anderson is accused by Richard Noble, Peter Rambo and L. Lawrenson, of stealing and concealing sundry articles of pork ; and on examination is acquitted.
The overseers for the highways were nominated and elected at the court, March 14th, 1681, to serve for one year, for repairing the roads, &c., to wit: Woolley Rawson, from Marcus creek to Naman's creek; Robert Wade, from thence to Upland creek; William Oxley, from thence to Amos' land ; Mauns Stawkett, from thence to Karkus' mill; Peter Yokeham, from thence to Schuylkill falls; Andreas Rambo, from thence to Tacony creek ; Erick Mullickay, from thence to Poetquessin creek ; Claus Johnson, from thence to Samuel Cliff's ; John Akraman, from thence to Gilbert Wheeler's. The foregoing arrangement for earliest roads evidences the line of the first routes of intercourse, beginning from Marcus Hook, keeping nigh to the Dela- ware till they reach the Schuylkill, (then spelt Schorekill) and thence to go up along its line to the falls, (thus going behind Phila- delphia) and thence across the country (above the city) to the Tacony creek; thence up the country to Wheeler's place ; that is as far as Pennsbury manor, then the end of all travelling !
At the court held at Chester, on the 27th of 4 mo., 1684, William Penn, Esq., proprietary and governor, was present.
At the court held the 6th of the 8 mo., 1685, it was ordered that, for defraying the public charges, there be a levy upon land of 2s. 6d. per hundred acres, and a poll tax of 2s. 6d. The same may be paid in wheat at 4s. 6d., rye at 3s. 6d., and corn at 2s. 8d.
David Lewis, a servant to Robert Dyer, is seized upon suspicion of treason ; as having been concerned, by his own say-so, with the duke of Monmouth in the west country. He gave the security of his master to answer at the next court.
James Sanderlaine, bestows in the 10th mo., 1686, a convenient piece of land in the town of Chester, for the erection of a court house and prison.
At the court of the 7th of 4 mo., 1687, the grand jury present
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Pennsylvania Inland .- Chester County.
Thomas Colborne, of Chester, for selling rum to the Indians, con- trary to the laws of the province.
John Blumstone made a record of a deed of one acre of land in the township of Darby, to build a meeting house thereon for the use of said township, for the exercise of the true worship of God.
Richard Crosby is arraigned for drunkenness and abusive lan guage ; he submitted himself to the court and was fined 5s.
Elias Keach is arraigned and reprimanded, for speaking false news, contrary to law; " remitted, provided he do so no more." [" Elias Keach" was the first Baptist minister at Pennepeck, in 1687 ; he married Mary, the daughter of Nicholas Moore, of Moreland.]
William Coblett, of Concord, is presented for travelling on the highway with his wain drawn by oxen and horses on the first day of the week ; showing that they then reverenced the Sabbath.
At the court held at Chester, 1689, John Maddock, of Ridley, is arraigned for speaking scandalous words against William Penn, the proprietary, and against his present governor, John Blackwell,- whereupon he is fined £5 and costs.
On the 27th of 6 mo., 1689, a case of Crim. Con. occurs. The parties confess their guilt before the grand inquest, whereupon a jury of women is called to make further inquisition. They report that " they cannot find that she is (as charged,) neither be they sure she is not."
Isaac Brickshaw, having offended John Simcocks, is dimissed on making humble confession.
At the court of 8 mo., 1691, the grand jury present Henry Barnes, for swearing several oaths.
Also, Edward Eglinton, for breaking the stocks in the town of Chester, and letting the prisoner free.
Also, Richard Thompson, for ranging the woods and taking up horses, saying he was ranger, "but we find him not fit for that honest trust."
At the court held March 7th, 1692, John Maddock, is again arraigned for abusing John Simcocks and John Bristow, two of the justices, calling them rogues ; he boldly averred the same before the court, saying they were the greatest rogues that ever came to America. He was again fined £5 and costs.
At the court of 1st mo., 1693, John Clews and Eleanor Arme, now his wife, being presented by the grand jury for immoral inter- course, pleaded guilty, and were adjudged to pay 50s. fine, and that the said Eleanor shall stand at the whipping post a quarter of an hour, with a paper on her breast, written thereon,-" I here stand for an example to deter all others," &c. One feels some revoltings at such manner of publicity, and cannot but reflect how few juries of twelve men, all opportunities considered, might be able-all of them, to stand such searching self-rebukes as our Lord once inflicted upon those who brought him a similar sinner to condemn. "He tha is
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without sin, let him cast the first stone : and they went out one by one," till no accusers were found !
At the court held at Chester the 2d October, 1695, the grand jury state that the country is in debt, and that the prison is not yet finished, and that, besides, there are several wolves' heads to pay for; wherefore, they recommend a levy, to wit : on all real and personal estate of Id. per pound, and 3s. per head poll-tax. The valuation then given is important now, as showing values then, to wit: All cleared land under tillage to be valued 20s. per acre ; rough land by the river £10 per hundred acres; lands in the woods at £5 per hundred acres ; horses and mares at £3; cows and oxen 50s .; sheep 6s .; negroes, from sixteen to sixty years, at £25; females at £20. Then come five mills at the earliest places, to wit : Chester mill £100; Joseph Coebarn's £50; Darby mill £100; Hartford mill £20; Concord mill £10.
At the court of 10th December, 1695, Patrick Kelly and Judith Buller are presented for marrying against the law of 2d December. It is ordered that they appear at the next court, and that in the mean time, they marry again, as the law directs.
The grand jury present Robert Reman of Chichester, for practising geomancy according to Hidon, and divining by a stick. He sub- mits himself to the bench, and the court fines him £5 and costs, and never again to practise the arts.
They also present the following books: Hidon's Temple of Wisdom, which teaches Geomancy, and Scot's Discovery of Witch- craft, and Cornelius Agrippa's, teaching Necromancy. The books are ordered to the next court.
At the court at Chester, of 24th of 12 mo., 1701-2, the court then allows the charge of £26, incurred in running and settling the cir- cular boundary line next to New Castle.
Chester.
In Apul, 1827, we made a visit to Chester, with a view to see and examine the venerable remains of that once distinguished town. We had ror a companion a gentleman whose soul is alive to such inquiries. In our ride we often noticed the unusual indications of a very forwa d spring-such as has not before occurred since the year 1791 : the wild flowers of the fields and woods were in bloom on the 23d April, which formerly appeared only in May. We were necessarily frequently pleased to notice the air of comfort and im- provement indicated by various farms on the road side, contrasted with the few, still remaining, small log houses :- houses which Kalın, in his Travels, on the same road eighty years before, said were the general structures of that day. The numerous wild grape vines which he then noticed were gone, as well as the extended woods. Red clover -- then unknown as to any practical benefit, now assisted with plaster of Paris, every where enriched the farmer and gratified
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our senses. The wild bees, which then sheltered their cells in the depths of the forest, now having lost that refuge by the clearing of the country, have become domesticated in the bee-boxes, seen by the wayside in the most of the gardens-then the road was but little travelled,-by pleasure carriages, scarcely ever, when but very few existed. The few travellers who could be be met were on foot. or if on horse back,-often having a female up behind-or if a female going to market, having two great panniers poised on either side of the animal. Wilson has thus described them when going home.
" There market maids, in lively rows, With wallets white were riding home; And thundering gigs, with powder'd beaux, Through Gray's green festive shades to roam."
The women and girls on these occasions were clad in homely, useful " homespun," and the beast was a real pacer. A chaise you could but seldom meet : but we were frequently met by gigs, sulkies and coaches, sometimes effulgent in glittering plate! So, times are altered !
Having reached Chester, we could not make our entry without thinking of those primitive founders, all of whom had gone down to the dust. Our busy imaginations could not forbear to frame conjec- tures, and to weave, in fancy's loom, the images of things as we presumed they generally were in their early state. For the inhabit- ants whom we now saw in the streets, in modern habiliments, and some of modish mien, we substituted, instinctively, the homespun yeomanry of other appearance, manners and feelings. We peopled the streets and houses with Swedes and Quakers, with such men, and their wives and children, as Sanderlaine, David Lloyd, Robert Wade, Caleb Pusey, the Parkers, Richard Townsend and others ; and instead of ancient and decayed houses, as several of them had now become, we contemplated all, as if then lately built or building. Instead of a dreary old court house, old prison, old church, &c., we saw them, in fancy, in the finish and brightness of a new thing, as buildings, of which the labour and expense of erecting was past, and the community was reposing in complacency, resting from their works.
But to come more immediately to facts, as we now found them :-- Our first wish was to see the house of Parker, the colonial register, &c., and the father of that excellent and eminent lady, Mrs. Debo- rah Logan. There her good father and her mother lived and died. It was a two-storied brick house, of respectable dimensions, built in 1700, had much of old-fashioned wooden wainscotting. In the chambers up stairs the pannels were curiously painted in a congeries of colours, not unlike yellow mahogany. The house had originally srnall glass panes, set in leaden frames, of which a few specimens still remained in the casements on the stairway, large closets were on each side of the chimneys, large enough for small beds, which
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