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 70
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Flags of the Revolution. There are now at Alexandria, Virginia -- The Hessian Flag, captured at Trenton-dated 1775, of embroid- ered silk-Also the Flag of the seventh Regiment, surrendered at York Town-Also the Flag of Washington's Body guard-is of silk and has the motto " Conquer or die."
" Macpherson's Blues."-This corps of infantry originated in 1794, at this time I am furnished with a copy of the Roll of names, being four hundred and twenty-nine in all .- I joined the same corps. a minor, in 1798-9-and now I see that all are gone, to be no more, except seventeen persons, now " oldest inhabitants."
Henry Gideon, the last of Washington's Life Guard .- He died at New York, on the fifteenth of March, aged one hundred and one years-he was laid out in state, at the City Hall .- He is the same person, whom I formerly knew in Arch street, Philadelphia-above fifth street-He was called, as I remember, Washington's trumpeter -He had a fine-looking daughter.
Segars .- Men of the present age, seeing the immense use of segars, might think they were always so used ; but not so-They began with the fever of 1793-and were first used, along the streets, to keep off' the yellow fever.
Improvement of Street Paving .- In August, 1852-I wrote a letter to the City Commissioners-offering for the public good, my suggestion for an easy means of making the pebble pavements, more enduring-It was simply to underlay with cheap, rough, flat stone- With such underneath, the pebbles could not sink as now, and form wheel routs,-For a beginning trial, let them only underlay the usual wheel routs, and prove them-afterwards underlay the whole crown -leaving the side alone, as least used .-
General Thomas Harrison, the Regicide-I saw lately his portrait, in possession of Doctor Charles Willing of Philadelphia-It is a fine cavalier face and dress-with pointed beard and moustache-a face of about forty years-His three sons, Samuel, Benjamin and Joseph, came to this country at the earliest settlement-Samuel settled at Gloucester-New Jersey-and has left descendants there, known to me-Joseph was killed by a horse, at Crosswicks, New Jersey .- They have also an old Pear tree on the farm-brought out at first coming, and still alive and bearing fruit. Benjamin settled in Virginia-and was the progneitor of General Harrison, President of the United States .-
Swedes on the Isle of Kent .- I came to the knowledge of the fact that there were Swedes settled on this Island as early as 1653 .- Among them was Swan Swanson, Andrew Hanson and Valerious Leo, who appear named there in 1655-Swanson had his grant from Queen Christina, for Wiccoca at Philadelphia, 1653 .-
The Year 1854, " A Year of Terror."-In this year it has been estimated as losses, to wit: Property destroyed by fires, twenty- five millions of dollars-with one hundred and seventy-one lives lost thereby-one hundred and ninety-eight Rail-road accidents, caused
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the death of 186 persons, and wounded five hundred and eighty-nine, forty-eight steam boats sunk or burned, killing five bundred and eighty-five and wounding two hundred and twenty-five. There were eighty-two murders and eighty-four executions-Add to all this loss of life and property by ship wrecks,-by burning of Ocean steamers, pestilence in many places, would constitute a vast amount of the horrible, for this eventful year.
Undertakers for Funerals .- This is wholly a modern affair-It was formerly the case, that long trains of Friends-male and female, walked in procession-It seemed more solemn than now-and when the coffin was accompanied by pall and pall-bearers for respectable funerals, it was more dignified and imposing-It was a kind of willing homage of friends,-who thereby signified a willing respect and regard to the deceased.
" God Willing."-This was once of universal declaration, in announcing forth-coming sermons to be preached at given places -- Now it is almost as universally discontinued and ministers come, and go, without any such rest on contingencies-No cause has been published for the change, from Nisi Dominus frustra.
Shipments of Specie, abroad .- The Jeremiads, so repeatedly given in our public journals-of the amount of the last shipments of Specie abroad, is a very queer affair .- as being, as alleged, a matter to con- cern me and every man-Why should I or they lament over this, if it was not our money !- How would we individually suffer by it-Or even the nation itself-if it was not our own ?
Recent Discoveries .- In 1807, the first effective Steam boat was by Fulton-now there are more than four hundred in our rivers and lakes. In 1825 the first rail-road was put in acceptable operation- Now there are over twenty thousand miles of them in the United States, at an outlay for building of three hundred millions of dollars. In 1845, the Electric Telegraph was started successfully. In 1839, Daguerre, showed his invention of printing from sunbeams-Since then we have Gun cotton and chloroform working their wonders. Look, too, at Hoe's admirable printing press productions, turning off twenty thousand copies in an hour .- Gas, which was only made known in 1809, is now lighting up our streets and halls, every where -How all these things, manifest the operations of our truly fast and progressive age-Who can sufficiently appreciate the coming future ?
City Police .- What a change is there wrought also, in having now eight hundred policemen to hang and lounge about the great Town, to be ready to suppress outbreaks, and to preserve the peace of the city !- What a change, since a few constables, could answer equally well. The fire men too, of the present day, so much more numerous, and so much given themselves, to outbreaks and violence -So different in men and morals, from the grave, substantial house- holders, of the earlier Fire companies-" What a falling off was there "'
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Artificial Ice -A machine has been completed at Cleveland, Ohio, capable of producing a ton of solid ice in twenty-four hours and to sell ice at five dollars a ton-It was done in an apartment where the mercury stood at eighty degrees-We, ourself, had conceived the idea of making Ice in winter, at any given places, by ejecting spray from hydrants and fountains so as to freeze readily as it rested in their wettings on a prepared floor.
Last Log House .- The last original Log House, is out Spruce St. South side, near Willow St. and near to Schuylkill River-It is a two storied, white plastered house, on its Spruce street front. Such a house was originally built, from using the forest trees, once near by.
" Social and Fireside History." -- Daniel Webster, in one of his speeches, -- said, as if to commend our kind of notices-" There is still wanting a history which shall trace the Progress of social life-We still need to learn how our Ancestors in their houses, were fed, lodged and clothed, and what were their employments-We wish to see and know more of the changes, which took place from age to age in the homes of first settlers &c.,-We want a History of Firesides !"
N. W. corner of Ninth and Green streets .- This place where is now a Tavern and Freight Depot of the Railroad Co .- was in former time a brickkiln pond-fifteen or sixteen feet lower than the general surface now. And at the next square above-from Tenth to Eleventh Sts. and from Spring-Garden Sts. up to Wallace St. was a very fine apple orchard-as still remembered by the Ancients .-
Log Prison and Ancient Group of Houses in Germantown.
The picture which we here give of the last of the oldest houses, still remaining in Germantown,-now belonging to the family of John Green, present a very picturesque groupe,-and stand in interesting contrast, with many modern houses, built there. They would seem to have been built at several intervening periods-The front house on the right of the picture, now faced with white mortar is the original Log house-It was brought and placed there, as the dwelling house of John Adams Hogermoed, who had before passed a night in it-for some occasion of intemperance, while it occupied the Market square as the prison .- When it was afterwards sold, the same Hoger- moed, became the owner. One of the higher houses in the rear, it may be seen-is diagonally boarded-The whole groupe seems to be formed of four different constructions-a part is of stone .- All such remains of the primitive times, are fast fading from the things that be !
The Aged Mrs. Maddox.
Having before noticed several of the remarkably aged of our country, we feel here inclined to notice, one, who besides her advanced age, had also, characteristics of mind and person, which made her a peculiarity in her day-" the observed of ; Il observers."-We
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allude to Mrs. Mary Maddox, who died at the age of one hundred nd two years, on the fifth of August, 1783, at the country seat of ohn Wallace Esq., in Somerset County, N. J. She was the daughter of John Rudderow of New Jersey ; and had lived in Philadelphia, from her early life, till the period of the Revolutionary War, when she moved to the banks of the Raritan. During her long life, she enjoyed uninterrupted good health ; and preserved to the last, a fresh. ness and clearness of complexion, with scarce a wrinkle on her vis- age, which made her the wonder of the sitters at Christ Church, where she was a long approved communicant-never missing an atten- dance in thirty consecutive years. Her mind, memory and enlightened conversation, were strong and vigorous, even to the verge of her last illness and death. She was the wife of the Hon. Joshua Maddox Esq., one of the Provincial Judges of Pennsylvania .- Both of these persons, now lie buried in Christ Church ground, at the S. E. corner of Fifth and Arch Sts .- very near to the grave of Franklin.
Anthony's House,
In the fast changing construction of houses in Philadelphia, as residences of the respectable inhabitants, it is a satisfaction to give the present picture of a house, once respectable for its size and indwellers therein-It stands at the N. E. corner of Gray's Alley. and Second St .- below Chestnut St. It bore for many years the name of " Stephen Anthony's house,"-who died in 1763. In truth, it may have been originally built by him, for on page 223 of this Volume, it may be seen, that it was built so near the time of Black- beard's career, who was killed in 1717, that when Stephen Anthony was having the cellar dug for it, about the year 1729, his black man Friday, then working therc, came to a pot of money, which might have been hidden there by Pirates. The name of the Alley, was perhaps received from Gray, who had a large brewery on the North side of Chestnut St. between Third and Bank Alley .- In contemplat- ing the House, we must mark its superiority in its early day, because it is ornamented with drops under its eaves-and its superior form of dormer windows-As a dwelling house, it shows the marks of where once ranged an entire extension all round it, of pent house we must remove present store windows, and set before the house its former street porch -- The bricks too, now all painted red, were originally regularly intermixed with the blue glazed bricks,-a token, only belonging to the grades of best houses. All the three first houses in the Alley, were also marked with the drops under the eves, and were also built with the alternate intermixture of blue glazed bricks-Probably, one of them, built for, and dwelt in, by Gray the brewer; and so early too, as to have given the name to the Alley .- Such Alleys as that, and Carter's opposite, and Norris' near there, were at first chosen and dwelt in, in preference to wide main streets ; because free from general travel, and therefore not liable
BAKERY
ANTHONY'S HOUSE .- Page 618.
THE WILLING HOUSE .- Page 619.
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to be cut up, by wheels ; and they were easier swept clean, at a period, before the existence of paved streets. Norris' Alley, was always remarkable, for its very notable cleanliness. Another thing to be contemplated in the picture is, that the frame house adjoining on the left side was once the residence and home of the subsequently renowned personage, Robert Fulton-when an apprentice to Duffel a Silversmith. There he probably lived as unconscious of " the divin- ity that stirred within him," as it rested before his time in another City visitor, who came in time to be equally famed, in Benjamin Frank- lin. The whole group, and their spontaneous associations, furnish much of ready consideration to the thinking and excursive mind. Such a house as Anthony's, and the Lætitia house of William Penn, in Lætitia Court, present the best, last remains, of what was the original feature of Philadelphia .- Now, successful traders, far sur- pass them all, and live in costly luxury. Tempora mutantur !
The Willing House.
We give a picture of this once respectable family residence of the Willing family, at the S. W. corner of Third street and Willing's Allev, taken down " to build greater," for the Reading Railroad Co. in 1856. It was originally built in 1745 for Charles Willing, after the pattern of the former homestead in Bristol, England. It was afterwards occupied as the family residence of his son, Thomas Willing, a member of the Congress of 1776-and afterwards the President of the first Bank of the United States. When first erected it was on " the hill," so called, " beyond Dock Creek:" and was then deemed a Rural home " outside of the Town,"-having con- nected with it, on its southern aspect, a large enclosure of Oak trees, of forest remains, with ample space of grass ground, extending from Third to Fourth streets. While in its prime, it was a fine specimen of rural elegance and family affluence ;- A pleasant retreat from the throng and bustle of the early City avocations. Now, its location, has come to be a thronged place, of many genteel residences .- Near by it, southward, was the large enclosed grounds, and elegant mansion of William Bingham, Esq., who was a senator of the United States, while it held its session in Philadelphia, in 1800. That house, of two elevated stories of brick, of double front-most elegantly adorned, with door and window embellishments, was in its day, the wonder of the mass of passing travellers ;- and Mr. Bingham, having married the elegant daughter of Mr. Willing, made the whole area along Third St .- to Spruce St, a kind of family distinction of both families for many years-Now all the same grounds, are fully filled with blocks of many dwelling houses.
The Early Emigrants to Pennsylvania.
These have been recently noticed, and aut named in a book pub lished by J. D. Rupp, at Harrisburg-Such a book, should be pecu
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liarly interesting to those whose forefathers are therein shown, when they arrived and where they settled &c.,-Giving therein as many as thirty thousand named persons .- From that book, I select the following facts, viz :
From 1682 to 1776, Pennsylvania was the central point of emigra- tion from Germany, France and Switzerland .- From 1682 to 1702, comparatively few Germans arrived-not above two hundred families. and they mostly located at Germantown-But the period from 1702 to 1727 marks an era in the early German emigration .- Between forty and fifty thousand left their native homes in exchange for homes here. Because of the relentless persecution and oppression in Switz- erland, a large body of defenceless Mennonites fled from the Cantons of Zurick of Bern, and Schaffhausen in 1672,-and took up their abone in Alsace on the Rhine, where they remained till they emi grated to London and thence to Pennsylvania-about the year 1709. -They lived sometime at Germantown .- In 1712, they purchased of Penn's agents in Peque-Lancaster Co.,-There this swiss set- tlement formed the nucleus and centre of a growing population of Swiss, French and Germans .- All there, contributed to make it the Eden spot of Pennsylvania-From such a head-land, they sent out M. Kendig as their Agent to Germany and Switzerland, to invite others to follow them :- Wherefore in 1711 and 1717, and a few vears later, so many more came over, as even to alarm the officials here. lest the Country might become a German population, rather than an English one. From such a course of action, it was made the law of Pennsylvania, that no emigrants should be allowed to settle, unless they previously took, severally, an Oath of Allegiance -Their compliance, became therefore a matter of record, and from this fund of names and arrivals, the compiler, Mr. Rupp, has formed his book of Emigrants.
From and after the year 1716, the Germans, some French, and a few Dutch, began to penetrate the forests more inland,-Large German settlements were commenced at different points within the present limits of Montgomery and Berks Counties. At Goshen- hoppen, there was a German Reformed Church organized in 1717. Some Low-Dutch Mennonites settled along the Skippack some few years later .- Some German and French, located themselves on the fertile lands of Wahlink,-where an opening was made for others of the persecuted Huguenots .- Of these, the most prominent families in order, were the De Turcs, Bartolets, Delaplaines, Levans &c., Some of these became Pietists .- Among the early settlers of Alsace, now Elsace township in Berks County were many French reformed or Huguenots ; also Swedes, who were Lutherans-About the year 1728-9, the Germans crossed the Susquehanna, and located within the present limits of York and Adams Counties .- Besides these,- they passed into Maryland, and settled in Washington and Frederick and at Hagerstown &c.,-In 1738, some Moravian Germans arrived and settled at Bethlehem Pennsylvania .-- Before them. there had
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arrived a number of Schwenekfelders, who settled in Bucks and Montgomery Counties, and in Berks and Lehigh .-
Thus from the year 1735, the settlements in Pennsylvania increased rapidly-extending over much Country West of the great Susquehanna,-whither the Scotch Irish had before led the way .- Many had gone into Cumberland Valley. Prior to 1770, German settlers had gone out beyond the Alleghany Mountains-some in present Westmoreland, and some on the Monongahela in Fayette County.
It is impossible to contemplate these primitive explorers and pio- neers seeking a resting place from the sufferings and perplexities of ' woeful Europe," without a sense of thankfulness, that such men, " of like passions with ourselves," should have eventually established such comfortable, even affluent homes, for their posterity. Let any one now visit their land, and see how prosperity and happiness abounds-We see indeed, " the Wilderness to blossom as the Rose." Laus Deus !
Rowdy Assassinations.
The frequency of these deathly assaults on fellow citizens, without compunction, by those who have gone into the use of Colt's pistols, and the Bowey knife,-are wholly affairs of modern times-The fatal instruments, and their terrible effects, are of latter day origin. We once used to contemplate assassinations as almost wholly confined to Spaniards :- And we had undefined dreads of Spanish ports in Cuba and South America. Every American visiting such Ports, held himself, very cautious in his walks about their towns and sub- urbs-Now they have become familiar, to our ears, as of frequent occurrence among ourselves, in almost all parts of our extended Country. While so many are essaying to put down public executions for deadly crimes, few or none came forth in strength to abate the number of impulsive assassinations. The oldest inhabitants, still alive, may well remember the execution at Philadelphia of " young Reed," about the year 1791-2 for the murder of a man on High St. wharf, by stabbing him fatally, in his passion, with his pocket knife -The whole city was moved thereat. Every body thought it terrible -All thought that passion could not justify the fatal result ; and although he had strong and respectable family friends, no possible move of the public, offered any hope that he could be rescued from the ignominious Gallows ! " Life for life," was the rule then.
The Environs of Philadelphia.
It having been lately my fancy, to travel about the surroundings of the City, it may be curious, to others, of Younger years, to have the knowledge of some of the changes wrought out in the life of an " oldest inhabitant," like myself. All the Streets and houses, over
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in Kensington, from the Stone bridge over the Cohocsink, out to the New York Rail-road Depot,-now all covered with compact houses, was in my early days, all fields, open grass lots, and rural vegetable garden enclosures .- At the same time. all the area, from Franklin Square-Northward and Westward, was in like manner, open grass grounds-called Commons-All out from the head of Fourth St .- at Craig's Mill, Northward and Westward, were in Commons and in Sundry Rope walks-with here and there, a small cottage, with kitchen gardens-The West side of Philadelphia from Ninth and Tenth Sts. to Schuylkill were in commons and brick kilns .- On the South, beginning at South St. from Fourth St. Southwestward you entered into the proper Country dotted with a few Rope walks, and having many little places-here and there, engaged in Cultivating Vegetables for the City market. At that time, it was deemed to be a great way, to go as far out as the Schuylkill River,-or as far as Bush hill, North-westward ;- or as far out South-westward, as the present Naval Asylum,-In all the preceding routs, every body went by cross-cuts to nearest points-seeing few or none of present streets as their landmarks .- It was all a different world, from any thing and every thing, of present observation,-The brick ponds, everywhere scattered about, were the skating places of all the boys -Now the former boys are non est ; and the present boys and girls, can see almost nothing of what we once saw.
Then think, of the abounding flocks of Sheep-the wandering, grazing Milch kine,-the straggling worn out horses, the many flocks of killdeers and plovers, seen on the wing or on the grass, and the sharp shooters sometimes in their pursuit .- The many boys and girls, seen gathering unlimited quantities of mushrooms ;- Parties of men and boys at their pastime sports,-such as shinny Bat-ball, Prison-baist, foot racing &c., Oh ! it was a joy to see their excited fun and glee. The whole area was then their Gymna- sium, without expense and withont paid " Instructors."
Waste lands-laying in Commons, were not then subjects of spec- ulation, and Sale, at exalted prices-as now, by the foot. Their owners then, were unknown to the mass,-The same areas are now all supplanted by piles of profitable brick and mortar.
In those days too, an out town drive, was of ready attainment- no going over the long streets of cobble stones-always uneasy and noisy-Then the Country air was easily and quickly found. On such changes, the pen of " Sam Slick," could find themes to fill a book. Do none remember !
Marriage Obstructed.
The increase of luxurious living, is operating powerfully against carly marriages, as mothers and daughters may readily notice- The Home Journal, speaking of this subject, instances, the ascer- tained fact, that although the year 1856 has been a privileged Leap
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vear, there was, at Boston 20 per cent less of marriages there, than the year preceeding. The cause is indeed to be found in the fact, that the shrine to love and marriage is crushingly draped with silks at from 3,00 to 15,00 dollars a yard-It is festooned with laces at prices to cause terror to hear it-expensive jewelry flashes through the meshes, everywhere .- Silver plate, paved thick upon leases of " genteel residences," support the altar ;- and Milliners' and other bills, litter the base of it .- Great sighs heaved from the bottom of prudent but hopeless hearts, are all that is given to Hymen. Mar- riage is becoming a luxury to men -- And those, whose means are limited, are as much prohibited from its adoption as by a police regulation :- Do we not really need, a " Retrenchment Society," which shall make economy fashionable ?- O, for a restoration of ginghams and prints ! Is there no deliverance from the silken web of evil, which French looms are weaving for us ?
In addition to the above, We here add, from the North American of third of January 1857,-to wit: " Sundry Religious and Secu- lar papers have begun a regular foray upon the extravagances of female dress. They say justly, it interposes a powerful obstacle with young men to marriage and tends to increase vice. The fault lies in Parental indulgence-and the remedy must be adminis- tered from the same quarter."-It might have added that the evil is effected by a class who never earn any part of such expenses ! See also, Harper's Weekly of the same date-We are glad thus to see our former suggestions : so likely to be sustained-The Ladies " Dear Women," must look to these things, even for their own. eventual interests !
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