USA > Pennsylvania > Bucks County > Falls in Bucks County > Historical sketches, chiefly relating to the early settlement of Friends at Falls, in Bucks County, Pennsylvania > Part 5
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graves of many of my fellow mortals, doubtless among them many worthy Friends; a small mound of earth to mark the spot of their inter- ment has been denied them; a little roughness in the surface of the soil is yet discernible, but it is now a portion of the cultivated field. This aspect of affairs may be harassing to loving kin- dred and friends, but the imperishable part is far beyond the reach of man. I am no advocate for garnishing the sepulchres of the dead, and it is true that our care and concern for the poor body. cannot affect the disunited soul; yet, there is something congenial with our better feelings; in decent interment, and decent preservation of the grave. And without cherishing a su- perstitious veneration for these premises, it may be profitable to the heart to contemplate the scene presented here ; with feelings mingled with earth and heaven. we may here contem- plate the mortality of man, and the end of human existence, and perhaps be reminded that we ourselves are tottering over the grave ; we may here contemplate the frailty of human memorials, and the value and endurance of
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those that are on high. Here, too, the piety and virtues of departed worth, and names written in the book of life, and of names blotted out, may forcibly be brought to the view of our re- membrance, and by the divine blessing arouse us from a state of indifference. break up our false rest. and stimulate us to renewed wrest- lings for a crown of righteousness. It is said to be profitable to go to the house of mourning, mid this place of interment has ofttimes been witness of effusions of grief; the feelings of natural affections have found vent here. as sor- rowing friends have gathered around these graves, and behell the mortal remains of those they loved finally deposited in the earth-some have sorrowed. but we trust not as they who have no hope; to some death had no sting. and the grave no victory, and the close of the evening of life, was doubtless succeeded by the dawn of an everlasting day."
Is a confirmation of the utility of occasional visits to the resting places of the remains of the worthy dead. it may not be out of place to insert a descriptive account of a pilgrimage
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made by the pious Doctor Fothergill and his benevolent sister, of a somewhat corresponding character; "to drop the grateful tribute of a tear, at the side of an honored parent's grave ; to see that his sepulehre was not laid waste. `but secured from the ravages of neglect, was to us a pleasing duty. Firmly persuaded that we had not the least cause to mourn on his account, and nothing left more becoming to us. than to call to mind his precepts and examples. we left the solitary spot with hearts full of rer- erent thankfulness that such was our father, and that we were so far favored, as to be able to remember him with gratitude and affection."
The Pemberton grave yard, lies near the point. where what is now called Biles Creek or tilen Aru. after skirting an island, re-enters the Delaware. Nearly all the earliest settlers at the Falls, located themselves on land lying within the great bend of the river, in what is now called Peut's Manor. The originators of Fall's Monthly Meeting were, perhaps. with one exception, residents of this locality. In looking back, to the history of this carly
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favored section of our land, the mind is clothed with a degree of sadness while contemplating its present position and aspect ; there are now none residing within its limits whom we ac- knowledge as members of our religious society. We cannot confer grace upon our children. nor can religious bodies confer grace upon their Successors: there are now but few prominent supporters of the primitive faith among the descendants of our most gifted and best carly members-and numerous religious bodies, both in ancient and modern times, lost their primi- tive brightness and tended to decay and an- nihilation : the case although disappointing is not singular. there being numerous precedents.
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CHAP. IX.
The members of Buck's Quarterly Meeting, many of whom had experienced a long season of sore privation, anxiety and distress. incident to pioneer life, at length emerged from the in- teresting past, and were permitted to behold the breaking of a brighter day, at least in tem- poral things. Slavery, which had taken root in the economy of some of the carly settlers, had become more and more discountenanted by the wise and good, and many of our worthies became zealous for its extinguishment .. It is manifest from reliable historie information. that much rum was made use of in primitive times, and also a very considerable amount of tobacco. These articles of doubtful utility were granted indulgence, for the alleged pur- pose of warding off infection. The apology was entertained in reference to the liberal use of spirituous liquors. that many of the settlers in substituting the drinking water of this country for that of England, thought their
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bodily condition unfavorably affected, especial- ly so when satisfying the excess of thirst created by our sometimes hot climate: under these circumstances rum was somewhat exten- sively supposed to be a benefit, and also in cases of exposure to wet weather and pinching cold. The effects of the free use of spirituous liquors at a somewhat later period, appeared to be growing to alarming proportions, and many Friends, becoming convinced of the gravity of the situation, interposed their influ- once and authority for the abatement of the ovil. How far members of Bucks Quarterly Meeting participated in the irregularities and inconsistencies of those distant colonial days, does not now minutely appear; it is, how- over manifest that the primitive settlers were chiefly Friends; but doubtless a concern pre- vailed among our worthies of that period to do away with what they saw to be surely wrong : it would be characteristic of them; and it is not likely that any of their members departed for from the path of rectitude before they were dealt with according to established order by
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their watchful brethren, and reclaimed or ex- cluded from society. The records of Falls Monthly Meeting exhibit the vigilance of that body in guarding its profession against reproach ; and it is not likely that the other branches of the Quarterly Meeting, chiefly spreading from Falls as a parent stem, sud- denly abated their carefulness.
There is evidence that weddings generally assumed the form of festivals, which it has been suggested was in imitation of such prac- tive in England. A good dinner was provided for the entertainment; the invited guests in- eluded relations, friends and neighbors, in number sometimes amounting to more than two hundred. It has been represented that in these promiscuous gatherings. " a lively spirit of plain friendship, but rather rude manners, prevailed in the company; they frequently met again the next day, and being mostly young people, and from under restraint, prac- tired social plays and sports in which they Went to an extreme of fully." These customlls appertaining to marriages. were with some
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modifications, continued until a much later period of time; but how far Friends partici- pated therein does not now fully appear.
Much produce was conveyed to the distant market, and grain to the distant mill. on horse- ; back-and light carts were gradually intro- duced, and finally wagons ; these accommo- dating vehicles were esteemed a great im- provement upon former usage: were much valued as an available means for transporta- tion of the increasing spare produce. also as an improved mode of personal conveyance, as well as important appendages to the farming operations, and to such industrial establish- ments as might need them. The introduction of Riding Chairs was long regarded with dis- trust, and as an unwelcome innovation upon primitive simplicity.
The stock of domestic animals was greatly multiplied; the flesh of the cloven-footed variety when fatted and slaughtered yielding abundant provision ; copious supplies of milk. hutter and cheese were produced, and from the wood of the sheep the crude material for
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the manufacture of clothing. The English breed of horses were gradually introduced, and were said to have been much preferred. being larger, more elegant, and more gentle and docile in their tempers than those in gene- ral use. The system of farming was also much improved.
Wheat and rye growing thick and tall on the newly cultivated land, many men. and some women. it is said. became very skilful in the use of the svele, which was the instrument made use of for harvesting such crops in those days; some of these laborers became somewhat ambitious of their qualifications for reaping. and proved their dexterity and endurance in energetic contests for superiority in skill and speed. The flail was the chief instrument made use of for beating out the grain, which was separated from the chaff by tossing it sufficiently high to come in effectual contact with the force of the wind.
It is said that the hunter in his log cabin enjoyed his roasted venison and stewed pies with a high degree of relish. and it is probable
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that some followed hunting as an occupation. not only for the support of themselves and families. but also that they might profit by the sale of their surplus accumulations. Deer, turkeys and other small game were plentiful in supply. and excellent provision in their season : and it is manifest that these articles of diet. so useful in contributing to the neces- sities of pioneer life. entered largely into the life-sustaining support of that generation. Of course those located in the neighborhood of the river. and some of the smaller streams, drew large supplies from thence.
.. For common living, milk. bread and pie made the breakfast: the milk being boiled and sometimes thickened in winter: good pork and bacon with plenty of sauce, a wheat-flour pud- ding, or dumplings, for dinner; and mush or hominy, with milk, butter and honey for sup- Pics of green and dried apples, were the universal standard of good cating, especially for children." It is -reported that " notwith- standing the engagements at home, and the difficulty of travelling in those carly times.
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the visits of friendship were frequent, not only among relations, but others. On these occa- sions. cider metheglin. or small beer. toast of light biscuit made of fine wheat flour, and milk, butter, cheese, custards and pies thade up an afternoon's repast."
Of course, the products of the farm and kitchin-garden entered largely into the family requirements; the pumpkin pie which was held in much early esteem, has not yet lost its reputation within the compass of some sections of the Quarterly Meeting. A good apple or- chard was much prized by some of the carlier settlers : the fruit was relished, cider was not. despised, apple-butter was a favorite produc- tion. and cutting apple parties were frequent.
"The imposing authority of necessity obliged the first settlers to wear a strong and coarse kind of dress: enduring buckskin was used for brooches, and sometimes for jackets ; osna- burg made of hemp and tow was much used for boys' shirts. sometimes flax, and flax and tow were made for that purpose; and coarse tow for trousers. I wool hat, strong shoes
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with brass buckles, two linsey jackets, and a leather apron, made up the winter apparel. This kind of dress continued to be common for laboring people until 1750."
In the generations succeeding the first set- tlers, there being a gradual advancement in worldly prosperity, and a disposition to gather more of the outward comforts of life around them. a propensity appeared in some to in- dulge in a little superfluity. The antiquated form of made-up coats of fine cloth has been represented as displaying three or four large plaits in the skirt. wadding almost like a coverlid to keep them smooth, cuffs large to the elbows, open below, and of round form ; the hat of a young man as a good broad- brimmed beaver, with double loops drawn nearly close in the rear, and half raised on each side. The silk gown as much plaited in the back, the sleeves nearly twice as large as the arm, and reaching rather more than half way from the shoulder, the interval covered with a time holland sleeve, nicely plaited. Some of the ancient beaver bonnets, worn by
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women in those days, were long retained, and are perhaps yet preserved as heir-looms in some families. The large overcoat with a cape, long maintained a general standing. but somewhat fantastic innovations upon its form are reported. How far members participated in those innovations upon former simplicity, is not now very apparent.
"Notwithstanding the antique and rough dresses, and unimproved habits and manners that obtained among the early settlers ; yet an honest. candid intention. a frank sincerity. and a good degree of zeal and energy in adhering to religious principles and. duties, generally prevailed among the more substantial part of them. The careful housewifery and strict do- mestic discipline of many honorable mothers. had long an influential effect. The domestic management which fell to the share of the Wonen, was generally well ordered. . . As soon . as wool and flax were raised, they manufac- tured good linen of different degrees of fine- ness-drugget, linser, worsted. &c., sufficient to clothe themselves and families-were very
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industrious and frugal, contented to live upon what their present means afforded, and were generally qualified to make the most proper use of what they had. ".
While the land was fresh and new, it pro- duced crops of wheat and rye, represented from fifteen to twenty-five or thirty bushels to the acre, and it appears from an old account- book of one who conducted a grist-mill and store. before and after the year 17:30, that his charges were as follows : " Wheat, from three to four shillings: Rve, one shilling less ; Indian- Corn and Buckwheat. two: Middlings, fine, seven and eight shillings ; course, four to six ; Bran, one shilling ; Salt. four ; Beef, two pence ; Bacon, four pence : Pork. about two pence. "
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" Improved land was sold generally by the arre, at the price of twenty bushels of wheat. Thus, wheat 2%. 6. land &2 10s., wheat Bs .. land 53, wheat Bx. G., land 53 10%, wheat 53. land (5."
It has been represented that education was in a very backward condition, that school-houses Were generally poor dark places, that the
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teachers were often very unsuitable, that dis- eipline was often administered with great se- verity, and that but little school learning was in a general way obtained.
The winter of 1740-41 was very severe. the Show was deep and laid long; and it is said that in those earlier days of colonial history, show fell in greater abundance, and laid longer upon the ground, than of later years ; and also that north-easterly storms of two or three days' continuance. were more frequent ; also the ap- parance of northern lights.
The fox remaining Indians were disposed to cultivate amicable relations with their pale- ยท faced neighbors. and were also disposed to be serviceable. Thus, peace and prosperity reigned. and civilization progressed.
Several of the quotations are from the pen of Dr. Watson, who, in the absence of direct information, is confidently supposed to have ben a Friend, and to have lived in Bucking- ham. And although his descriptions were not confined to that locality, it is reasonable to con- claude that some of them embraced stronger
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. points in the vicinity than elsewhere. In the absence of local history, the deficiency may in some measure be supplied by referring to his- torical accounts of neighboring sections of country that have been settled under corres- ponding circumstances, and by the same kind of people, whose manners, habits and pursuits, whose privations and enjoyments, and civil and religious progress. are supposed to have been very similar to their own ; and thus. by refer- ring to the more northern section of our fra- ternal community, circumscribed within the limits of the Quarterly Meeting, whose boun- daries have ever been of moderate extent; and by applying the descriptions and conclu- sions to the remaining part of our meeting ter- ritory, we may thus become possessed of much apparently reliable general information, that may be received with confidence, and applied accordingly.
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CHAP. X.
The temporal blessings of a benificent Pro- vidence were now abundantly scattered around a thriving people, not in the form of stately mansions. of costly furniture, of well-filled coffers, of splendid equipages, of numerous servants; these they possessed not. their bles- sings did not consist in these; but they were of a different character, and of a more sub- stantial kind. Their houses were not ostenta .- tious, but comfortable; their raiment course. but serviceable, and principally of their own manufacture; their food wholesome, nourish- ing and abundant ; their health, mostly good. and slumbers sweet and refreshing: their flocks and herds were scattered around them. yielding a supply of food, raiment and ser- sive and receiving the needful provender, shelter and care; the land, after much labor. had been brought under successful cultivation, and the seasons being favorable, vielded abun- dant harvests. and richly repaid the husband-
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man for his toil: the merchant and mechanic received the patronage of a thriving people. and in general. harmony prevailed among the inhabitants. If this picture is correctly drawn. it presents a beautiful specimen of the outward comforts of life under very favorable circum- stances for appreciative enjoyment ; it presents to our view. a condition which the wise and good of all ages have commended-a happy medium between poverty and riches, wherein want pinches not, nor cares oppress : it pre- sent to our view the happy effects of honest industry and patient perseverance. regulated by a solemn sense of religious feeling; and it. presents to our view, a people contented in their allotments, reaping the enjoyment of a harmonious intercourse with each other; satis- fying their unambitious minds. not with the extravagances and luxuries of life, but with abundance to sustain and to gratify their moderate wants. The time here adverted to, from 1725 to 1750, was. perhaps, the happiest. period in our carly history-peace, plenty. harmony and contentment smiled upon the
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generation then existing; an extraordinary out- pouring of the spirit upon sons and daughters "- was recognized : the body was nourished and the mind refreshed. Doctor Watson writes, " Friends about that period (1732) were greatly favored with a lively flow of gospel ministry: Jacob Holcombe. John Scarborough, Samuel Eastburn, Joshua Ely. Benjamin Fell. Enoch Pearson, Edmund Kinsey. Abigail Paxson. Elizabeth Fell. Phebe Ely (formerly Phebe Smith). Jane Bradfield and Aun Scho- field. were all ministers, and all of them at the same time members of Buckingham Meet- ing. except Jacob Holcombe and Abigail Pax- son who were deceased before my memory. All the rest I can well remember. About 1750- .il. John Scarborough was frequent and gone- rally large in his testimonies, as also Isaac Child who appeared at Plumstead when quite Nathan Preston and Thomas Virker- were ministers belonging to that meet- ing." But man is prone to forget his Benefic- tr when loaded with his continued benefits : ! " increase of riches are favorable to the in-
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troduction of a worldly spirit, and temporal prosperity often operates unfavorably upon minds untempered by religious experience : many who have been sympathizing pupils in the school of adversity have relaxed their friendship in the hour of prosperity: worldly aggrandizement has produced envy in the feel- ings of some who have been left in obscurity : competition in the pursuit of the same object. has sometimes created and fostered jealousy and ill feeling; and the cross occurrences of life in general. have often generated discontent in weak minds. Causes like these operating on the natural sensibilities, have sometimes sapped the tranquility of communities, dis- turbed the order of society, impeded the pros- perity of the professing church, and brought down Divine displeasure upon an ungrateful and backsliding people. Some of these conse- fleures came on apace, and eventually over- took the peaceful progress of the much fa- vored but perhaps too unwatchful community. Friends still retained a preponderating influ- ahre in the administration of the Government.
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which still remained tranquil; was yet con- dueted in great measure on the principles upon which it was founded, the people were still reaping the benefits thereof, and harmony still continued to prevail. The picture presented to the imagination at this period was beautiful, but perhaps it was as the calm that precedes the storm. In the succeeding ten years the aspect of affairs considerably changed; the period from 1750 to 1760 was marked by a decline of friendly intercourse, of united and harmonious action among Friends, and of church and state tranquility in general; the influence of our members in the Provincial Government began to decline, as the growing importance and determined opposition of a rival power, almost diametrically opposite in principle, and unfeeling in practice, bore tri- umphantly onward to the supplanting of Friends in the Colonial Councils. The rights of the Indian were neglected, his wrongs unredressed, and driven to some acts of violence by way of retaliation, was met in the same vindictive spirit by the rival power; war was declared against
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him, and at the same time against his French allies, who had laid claim to and invaded a portion of Pennsylvania bordering on its western frontier. The turbulent spirits of those turbulent times clamored for war. The agita -. tions of the colony are said to have been violent. In the commotions . prevailing the political influence of Friends passed away, and the reins of the government of Pennsylvania fell from their hands ; but being rid of its responsibilities and entanglements, and of a number of their unstable members who having deserted their principles had been very annoying, and from their own sufferings learning righteousness. a more satisfactory . yet still anxious season followed.
One morning in the year 1760, the sun shown as brightly as usual for about an hour after rising, and then the air grew dark, and in the afternoon the sun was totally obscured. In the summer of 1766, almost all the privet hedge died in Bucks County, the loss of more than two miles of it is reported to have taken place upon one farm. About this time pota -
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toes were introduced, and were raised in fields in considerable quantities for family use and for stock. The export of Indian meal com- menced about the year 1767, and the grain becoming profitable was more generally raised. Much whole grain of wheat was sent to France. and whole corn to the West Indies; produce commanded a better price, money became more abundant, circulated more freely, and more lux- urious habits were gradually initiated. Tea was introduced at an earlier period, and its use soon became general. Foreign dry goods had become extensively patronized, and were to great extent supplanting home manufactures : vet all domestic production was not suddenly abandoned, but continued in limited extent long afterwards. Superfluity in dress, and in the mode of living were on the increase, many of the earlier way-marks were becoming gradually removed, and the lines between rich and poor became much more strongly marked than formerly. In the community, an increas- ing indulgence in sectarian prejudice was observable. Political agitations were intense,
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and the era of general good feeling and har- monious action seemed to be passing away, as the current of unsettlement bore onward, and finally culminated in the Revolutionary War.
J. B. although a member of the society of Friends. yet in harmony with a custom pre- vailing in England in those days, kept his pack of hounds, and hunting horses, and in- dulged freely in fox hunting, a practice which he continued until quite late in life. It is also probable that the. destructive propensities of these cunning animals, stimulated him, as well as others, to energetic efforts for their extermi- nation, under the plausible pretence of their being a public nuisance ; but fox hunting which had been tolerated in the earlier existence of the colony, at length became very annoying to some of the cotemporaries of J. B., and they appealed to the law for an abatement of the nuisance. In this controversy Nicholas. Waln. then a young man, and who afterwards became a prominent and highly gifted minister of the gospel along Friends, was employed as counsel by the fox hunters, and by his power of oratory
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