USA > Pennsylvania > Montgomery County > Historical sketches : a collection of papers prepared for the Historical Society of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Volume I > Part 25
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In 1779 Colonel Bull sold the plantation to Dr. William Smith, Provost of the University of Pennsylvania, for £6,000.
Soon after, Colonel Bull removed from Pennsylvania, and purchased lands in Berkely county, Virginia. He lived there with his family for a number of years; and report has since - confirmed the statement that he died there.
The fact is well known, that Montgomery county was erected in 1784, out of Philadelphia county. William Moore Smith, son of Dr. Smith, had a town site laid out on part of this plantation in 1785; and later, public buildings were erected. The growth, and subsequent history of Norristown, reveals the excellent judgment and forecast of Dr. Smith.
It seems relevant to our narrative, to relate some items pertaining to others, who were early interested in the Norriton church. Of such were the Knox family.
David Knox, was born in County Antrim, Ireland, 1700; and died 1780. He emigrated in 1732; and settled on a farm, located on the township line, west of Washington Square, in Whitpain township. This farm remained in possession of the Knox family, until 1862, one hundred and thirty years. Cap- tain Andrew Knox, son of David, was born in County Antrim, as above, 1728, emigrated 1732, and died in 1807. Andrew Knox, the second, was born August 13, 1773, died October 3, 1844. He had two sons, Thomas P. Knox and Andrew Jackson Knox, now both deceased. The former resided in Norriton, the latter in Plymouth township.
About the same time John McCrea settled in Norriton, three-fourths of a mile southeast of the church, on the turn- pike. Adjoining this, north, he also had a farm. He died March 3, 1823. On the first, for many years afterward, Fran-
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cis Burnside resided. The place is now owned by Albert Pawling. On the second farm, many years ago, was a pot- tery; and Joseph McCrea lived thereon. Some of the family settled in Norristown; a son, named William H. McCrea, lived in Philadelphia, as did his aged mother, Catharine Mc- Crea, who died in Philadelphia, September 5, 1856. They lie buried at Norriton grave-yard.
About 1798, when strife and turbulence prevailed in Ire- land, John Patterson came to this country in the same ship with Robert Hamill, and together settled for a while in Nor- ristown. They alike came from County Antrim, Province of Ulster, North Ireland. They were each descended from gen- uine Presbyterian parentage, having an excellent family record, and lived useful lives. The two united in a business partner- ship for two or three years in Norristown. After that, Mr. Patterson removed to Philadelphia. The writer, as a school- boy, remembers him very well. His place of business, as a wholesale grocer, was at the southeast corner of Fourth and Race streets; and also, recalls his regular attendance at the services in the Second Presbyterian Church, which stood, in 1835, at northwest corner of Third and Arch streets. John Patterson married the daughter of Colonel Christopher Stuart, of Norriton; and Robert Hamill married the daughter of Col- onel Andrew Todd, of the Trappe, Upper Providence. Col- onel Todd was a soldier of the Revolution. John Patterson died in Philadelphia, August 20, 1850, in the eighty-second year of his age.
Joseph Patterson was the eldest son, long well-known and highly esteemed in Philadelphia, where for years he was the competent and much respected cashier of the Western Bank of that city. His residence was at Chestnut Hill. Our school-days recall ; pleasant memories of another son and brother of Joseph, viz., Henry Stuart Patterson, who became a successful physician in Philadelphia. He died comparatively young, and was buried in the Norriton grave-yard; but some years afterwards his remains were removed and interred in Laurel Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia.
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About 1720-'30, much earlier than those preceding, one Robert Porter, emigrated from the north of Ireland, and set- tled in Worcester township, near the Norriton line.
General Andrew Porter was his son, born in 1743. On the breaking out of the Revolutionary war he offered his ser- vices to Congress, received a commission as Captain of Ma- rines, and was later engaged in the battles of Trenton, Prince- ton and Brandywine.
At the dreary, suffering encampment at Valley Forge, during the winter of 1777-'8, he was major of a regiment of artillery. Several of his sons became distinguished; David R. Porter, governor of Pennsylvania, and General James M. Porter, a member of the Assembly, and Secretary of War, under President Tyler.
Judge Thomas Burnside, afterwards of Centre county, and Francis Burnside, of Norriton township, were sons of William, who came from Scotland, about 1780-'90, and settled on a farm near Fairview, in Lower Providence township. He adhered to the old continental costume of looped-up hat, straight coat, buckskin breeches, with long stockings, and large silver shoe buckles. At Judge Burnside's residence, in Bellefonte, Centre county, the writer spent many pleasant visits, in 1842-'3. While at times, brusk and outspoken, he was remarkably penetrating, and as a conversationalist, ex- ceedingly entertaining. Governor David R. Porter, in 1841, appointed him judge of Montgomery county, and by the same governor, in 1845, he was set apart to the bench of the Su- preme Court.
The writer is in possession of a manuscript, giving a par- tial genealogical history of Daniel Evans, who married Elea- nor, daughter of David Rittenhouse.
Daniel Evans, was among the first settlers in Norriton, after the Penn grant. While of Quaker proclivity, and a model man, yet Evans was not of the strictest of the sect; exhibiting much liberality and charity, as to his religious opinions.
The writer has also a number of interesting items con- cerning John Baker and his descendants. He was an ingeni- 38
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ous worker in iron, steel, and other metals, and was a resident of Lower Providence township. His farm lay adjacent to that of Ephraim Armstrong, previously referred to; although in a different township; both bounded on the same line, about a mile apart. His father was a native of Germany; and a very early settler in this vicinity.
During the Revolutionary war, Mr. Baker rendered very efficient aid to the Whig cause, by his handicraft, in the work of making and repairing suitable fire-arms. Mr. Baker lived to a great old age; being nearly a centenarian; and died about 1820. His wife was a Roberts of Welsh extraction, whose parents resided in the neighborhood.
Their children were Samuel, John, Arnold, Catherine, Mary, Hannah, Rebecca and Elizabeth.
Arnold died at the old homestead on the Germantown and Perkiomen turnpike, near the present Hartranft station, Stony Creek railroad, about 1858.
Justly and deservedly (did our space allow), we might also refer to Colonel Christopher Stuart, Dr. James McFarland, Abraham Lefevre, Dr. Robert Shannon, Andrew Supplee, Archibald Darrah and others, all of Norriton, and among the early settlers.
Following in later years were the Hamills, Stinsons, Mc- Ewens, Keysers, Craigs, Shearers, Gettys, Heisers, Taneys, McHargs, Bosserts, Powels, Snyders, and other names, rep- resenting reputable families, of whom the present generation give abundant evidence of their honorable lineage and useful- ness as worthy citizens.
" What a changing world is this,
Void of all substantial bliss ; All we see beneath the sun, In successive changes run ; But, our Jesus, proves the same ; Endless blessings on His name."
A final reference to the old Norriton church is made in the following paragraph. In 1893, quite extensive, yet need- ful repairs were again made to the building. A new shingle roof, new floor, new ceiling and some new pieces of furniture.
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were added, making substantial improvements for a generation to come. Beside, the stone walls of the house as well as the walls of the burial ground, were pointed and put in good con- dition. The cost was $301.68 ; contributed willingly by friends of the institution.
Occasional religious services are held by Rev. C. R. Brodhead, and a summer Sabbath School convenes, having about one hundred scholars.
As it has been necessary to refer largely to the Provi- dence church in this paper, the narrative would not be com- plete without furnishing a brief history of the Jeffersonville church, which was directly an outgrowth of the former.
The old Norriton, Providence and Jeffersonville churches were located within about two miles of each other, and while it is true that nearly all the Presbyterian churches of Eastern Pennsylvania have legitimately decended from the old Norriton, yet, in a peculiar manner, this trio of churches bears a close re- lationship to each other.
Immediately following the unfortunate division, which oc- curred in the Presbyterian body in 1837, the rural churches soon partook of the spirit manifested by the city congrega- tions ; some taking sides with the Old School, while others leaned towards the New School parties.
At once the Presbyteries were known as "New" and ' Old School," in their tenets, theology and teachings.
A strange coincidence may be mentioned, that it was about one hundred years since a similar and most memorable division crept in, and separated the Norriton and Providence congregations.
Now, the division takes place in the Providence church. For several years strife, complainings, bickerings and bitter- ness fanned the embers of suspicion and dislike, lurking in the minds of the membership, until April, 1843 ; when the hidden fires broke out into a conflagration, and the eruption was heralded abroad. Persistently a division was called for. Rev. Sylvanus Haight was the pastor at the time. A man in the prime of life, of good attainments as a scholar, and of excellent
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repute as a minister, he used all reasonable means to re-estab- lish peace and good will, but failed. The predilections of Rev. Haight favored the New School system; in company with such distinguished men as Revs. Albert Barnes, Ezra Stiles Ely, Anson Rood, Adair, Brown, Emerson, John Patton, Joel Parker and others ; and indeed for two or three years preced- ing, many who were prominent in the congregation accepted the New School theology. Later, however, the majority of the Providence congregation decided peremptorily to adhere to the Old School Presbytery, which at once instigated a sep- aration of friends and kindred, resulting in the founding of the Jeffersonville church, whose membership allied themselves with the Third (New School) Presbytery of Philadelphia.
In October, 1843, the Jeffersonville Presbyterian church was organized, comprising in its membership those who had withdrawn from the Lower Providence church. In 1844, the year following, a stone building, rough cast 36 by 54 feet, was erected, having a basement Sunday School room. Rev. Charles F. Diver was the first pastor. It stood on an ineligible place on the north side of the Ridge turnpike on a flat, wet piece of ground, about three-fourths of a mile west of the village. It was regarded as an unfavorable, isolated situation, and, be- coming somewhat dilapitated, was taken down in June, 1875. In the autumn of 1874 a new location for a new church was sought for, and prudently selected in the centre of the village, and by a unanimous vote of the congregation, May 17, 1875, the name of the congregation was changed to the " Centennial Presbyterian Church, of Jeffersonville, Pa.," and a charter ac- cordingly obtained. The eligible lot on which the church is built, was purchased from Benjamin and Elizabeth Custer on very favorable terms.
The entire beautiful plot of ground on which the church building stands, including also the cemetery lot, comprises about three acres. This, in addition to other beneficent gifts. was donated by Mr. and Mrs. Francis Whiting, of Jeffersonville.
On the Ist day of June, 1875, ground was broken for the foundation of the building. On July 3d the corner-stone was
CENTENNIAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. JEFFERSONVILLE.
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laid, and on the following day, July 4th, Sunday afternoon, suitable religious services were held recognizing the event.
On Sunday, January 2, 1876, the chapel was formally dedicated to the service of Almighty God. The pastor, Rev. Charles Collins, who began his work in said church, Novem- ber, 1866, preached a dedicatory sermon from Psalm 122, first verse.
The new church building is of gray sand-stone, pointed work, gothic style, 50 by 110 feet, having a stone tower 70 feet in height, with handsome spire reaching nearly one hun- dred and fifty feet, and cost about $25,000, being free of debt.
In point of location, it is unexcelled, and in beauty of architecture, as well as furniture and all the modern appoint- ments, it is not surpassed in the county.
The church was finally opened and dedicated October 4th, 1876; three large congregation being in attendance morning, afternoon and evening.
The building was erected under the supervision of the pastor, Rev. Charles Collins, who would render a grateful testimony to the helpful services of James Shaw, David Schrack, M. D., Francis Whiting and others.
The inquiry has been made, why was the name of the corporation changed? We answer, primarily, because the building was chiefly erected during the Centennial year. But, there are historical reasons for the name.
In the beginning of December, 1777, General Howe sur- prised the American camp at Whitemarsh, Montgomery county.
The following day, that part of the army under General · Washington, started to march toward Valley Forge, and owing to the severity of the weather, were seriously delayed ; a por- tion of them tarrying on this very ground, at the time being wood-land.
Others took shelter in the ancient stone house, occupying the site of the Jeffersonville Inn, while others, of a division which had been hindered and exhausted (some of whom were suffering and sick), were quartered in the old Norriton church.
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Tradition has it that some of the soldiers died at both places named.
On the IIth of December, 1777, Washington finally went into winter quarters at Valley Forge. History records the fact that the condition, as well as the prolonged sufferings of many of the soldiers, was simply indescribable.
On the march from Whitemarsh many were without shoes, their feet being bare on the hard frozen ground, and therefore were severely cut and bruised.
Upon the very spot where the new church was built, while digging up the earth in 1875, at depth of about two feet, some laborers were surprised by finding a coin of Spanish silver money, bearing date 1774, and which was probably lost by some one of the Revolutionary soldiers, while tenting there, one hundred years before.
Among other relics, this pieces of money was deposited in the corner-stone of the new building.
Digressing for a moment, it is worthy of note, as a pub- lished fact, that on October 14, 1894, the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the organization of the First Christ Presby- terian Church of Hempstead, Long Island, was celebrated in an appropriate manner. This confirms that Presbyterianism had come with the pioneers, as early as 1644.
In concluding this history, which has been of intense interest to myself, it is probable that some imperfections and errors may be discovered.
It is no easy task, at this late day, to obtain the desired information; neither is it a trivial work, to arrange system- atically, and narrate the incidents, of which so many have largely sunk into oblivion. But, my thought has been, that in future years it may prove useful and valuable, by exhibiting the traits of religious character, as well as the fidelity and integrity of our forefathers; and we shall hope, too, that it may awaken a zeal, and stimulate others, to grasp any and every opportunity to note the passing events, and record the same, for the benefit of coming generations.
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NORRITON PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
Some may be disposed to criticise the noticeable feature- that so much of this narrative has been interspersed with correlative statements, pertaining to the first emigrants and early settlers, not directly pertinent to the old Norriton church; but it will be granted that all this is valuable, and will com- pensate the reader, because it furnishes a compilation of tradi- tional and historical facts, calculated to confirm the premises we have taken, as to the Holland settlers, and the antiquity of the Norriton place of worship.
As intimated in the opening page, that although my attention was turned to this old church almost sixty years ago, yet, I desire to add, that the leading items on the Norriton church herewith published, are largely extracts, traditional and historical, from three discourses which the writer delivered in the Centennial Church of Jeffersonville, in July, 1876.
Reviewing the preceding pages, at least two valuable lessons may be learned. First: That in every age of the world's history, the true people of God have their trials. No circum- stances will exempt them. Tribulations, in some form, seem to be the appointed lot of man; and, therefore, there are times when neither wealth, eminence, nor education can purchase deliverance.
Hence, our fathers had their perplexities. To them, oft- times, these things proved blessings. Trials made them heroic, enduring soldiers. They persevered, they conquered ! They grew to be stalwart men, ready for any emergency.
As a result of their faith, their hardships and endurance, they have left us a rich legacy of Christian character, in testi- mony of their trust.
The second lesson is, that strifes and contentions are always unprofitable; but especially among Christians.
The result of the first great dissension in the Presbyterian church, alluded to in these pages, occurred in 1740, and lasted until 1758; for seventeen years. But really it was not entirely subdued until 1788, or nearly half a century.
Who can imagine the heart-burnings, the bitterness, the
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separations of relatives and friends, and the lasting dishonor to the household of faith, and the cause of religion.
The results of the later division in the Presbyterian church, 1837, extended through more than a quarter of a century, before a reconciliation took place. What a dreary retrospect these statements bring before the memory !
Finally, reverting for a moment to the old Norriton church, and in imagination fixing our eye thereon, how changed the scene!
Long, long ago, the old gray-haired preacher's voice has ceased; the old hymns and psalms of praise have ended; the old elders, John McCrea and Stephen Porter, and others, have left the earth; the voices of the worshipping congrega- tion are all hushed in silence!
The curious old pulpit, and quaint, high-back pews, have been removed. And in these later years, the surrounding forests have fallen beneath the woodman's axe; the old cedar trees have greatly diminished in number; the grand old English Lombardy poplars, once so tall and thrifty, lining the opposite side of the road, have all decayed, and are gone !
But, the old stone meeting house, stands, as it were, alone, and isolated; yet a fitting monument of the fathers; and the old grave-yard, the quiet resting place of the dead, even though many of the earlier memorial stones are obliter- ated or entirely gone, seem to whisper to the pilgrim traveler, that upon all things here, it is written, "passing away! pass- ing away !"
Time was, is past; thou canst not it recall ; Time is, thou hast; employ the portion small; Time future, is not; and may never be ; Time present, is the only time for thee !
Philadelphia, November 1, 1894.
AN EARLY TEACHER OF LANGUAGES AND MUSIC IN NORRISTOWN.
By William J. Buck.
Charles Fortman was a German by birth and came from the valley of the Rhine, probably Alsace or the vicinity of Cologne. He was a graduate of one of the universities there, and could speak Latin, French, German and English, besides having a familiarity with Dutch, Flemish and Italian. The date of his arrival in this country is unknown to us, and we therefore shall at once enter on most undoubted authority in our possession in confirmation of what shall be hereafter stated.
In the Norristown " Herald," of April 15th, 1803, may be seen an advertisement from which we have copied this extract : "The subscriber, master of music, begs leave to inform the public that he has engaged a private room at Michael Broadt's house, where he gives instruction on the piano forte at three dollars per month. At the same time he offers to give private lessons in the French and Latin languages. His employers may rest assured, that on his side no pains shall be spared in order to give them full satisfaction. To those having a knowl- edge only of the English or of the German, and wishing to improve themselves respectively therein, he will also give in- structions. Should a sufficient number of children be made up he is not averse to open a German school."
In establishing himself for this purpose in Norristown and likely to some extent for the surrounding section, we possess sufficient information that it must have been for some considerable time, continuing likely to ISI0, if not down to 1813, and probably somewhat earlier there than the spring of 1803. At that time the place contained only about fifty houses, the larger portion either log or frame, and one story
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high. The Academy had not been built, nor was it finished until two years later. But one school-house was then there, built of stone, erected some nineteen years previously, of which we have given a description in our third published history of Norristown, page 762, of the late large work on the county. We are thus led to perceive that in so small a place, with a sparse and scattered surrounding population, it was no small affair to succeed as a teacher of languages and music; and during a period regarded, too, from a modern standpoint as somewhat rude or uncultured.
What ever difficulties he may have had to contend with in his coming to Norristown in the beginning, Professor Fort- man secured two influential patrons. One was Gen. Francis Swaine, who at this time was Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts, which position he continued to hold until in January, 1809. A few years later he was elected the first Burgess of Nor- ristown. His wife was Mary, the daughter of the Rev. Henry M. Muhlenberg, of the Trappe, and who was one of the pupils on the piano. Michael Broadt, who was at this time one of the most enterprising citizens of the place, was an educated Ger- man, who had served in the Revolutionary army as a ffer in Captain John Cope's company, from Philadelphia county, in 1778, and the following year if not longer. About 1799 he removed from Worcester township to Norristown on a pur- chase of thirty acres, located on the present Main street, below Stony creek, where he kept the New Moon tavern, and carried on in addition a powder mill, plaster mill and carding mill on the same tract of land. He was one of the founders and first trustees of the Academy. His daughter Sarah, who was also in his piano class, married, September 20th, 1806, William Chain, of Norristown. What time after 1807 Mr. Broadt died we do not know, but his son, Daniel, had succeeded him in business in 1811. On inquiry we have been informed that the " New Moon" was on the site of the long and well-known stand of the Pennsylvania Farmer, and where, in the spring of ISO3, Mr. Fortman had advertised he had secured a private room and taught languages and music.
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AN EARLY TEACHER OF LANGUAGES AND MUSIC.
Captain Nicholas Buck, the founder of Bucksville, had several estates to settle in Upper Salford township and vicinity, between the years 1807 and 1814, and among these as execu- tor, that of his father-in-law, John Eck. This frequently called him to Norristown, and stopping at the New Moon he became acquainted with Mr. Fortman. This led to results that had they not transpired we feel certain this would have remained unwritten. Captain B. having a desire to have his children taught the higher branches under private tuition induced Pro- fessor Fortman to come to his house and open a class to which he would give his influence to enlarge. Thus some time in 1813, or the following year, he located himself there and con- tinued for some time. He had contemplated entering into the mercantile business and with this in view was desirous of hav- ing his son Jacob, who was then aged fourteen year (the writer's father) specially educated to become his chief clerk. He taught here we know besides languages and music, geog- raphy, mathematics, penmanship and book-keeping.
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