History of Berks county in Pennsylvania, Part 2

Author: Montgomery, Morton L. (Morton Luther), b. 1846
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts, Peck & Richards
Number of Pages: 1418

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We should therefore awaken them to a sense of their political duty, so that such men shall be produced for the strong spirit that they shall develop amongst us and for the true patriotic pride that they shall have to arise from us in the time of political revolution.

With these general preliminary observations, it is my earnest purpose to present in this vol- ume a historical narrative of Berks County from the time of the first settlements upon its territory till now. I shall detail all the mat- ters which I could find relating to its develop- ment from a vast uncultivated wilderness, oc- cupied by a few non-progressive and. feeble Indian tribes, into a cultivated country, pos- sessed and enriched by thousands of civilized, progressive people. Nearly two centuries have elapsed since the first settlement was made by a small but zealous colony of Swedes on the east- ern bank of the Schuylkill, several miles above the mouth of the Manatawny Creek. In the history of the world this is an insignificant period ; but in these years a great work has been accomplished in this vicinity for twenty miles round about our county-seat. The period is therefore of great interest and significance to us. Besides increasing from two-score of people to a thriving population which exceeds in number one hundred and thirty thousand, and ad- vancing from a feeble association of individ- uals full of fear into a strong community of citizens who exhibit privilege and power in every action, we have passed from one stage to another, decade after decade, ever bringing our several districts into a closer relationship with one another, and we have realized all the material improvements which such a remark- able growth necessarily produces in the course of social progress.

The first century was signalized by a number of important events, such as the immigration of many foreigners ; the founding of Reading ; the erection of Berks County, with its conveniences to the people through local courts, public build- ings, etc. ; the French and Indian War; the Revolution, with its Declaration of Independ- ence, seven years of costly warfare and success- ful conclusion ; the introduction of the news- paper, stage-coach and post-office.

HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

But the second century, till now, has been signalized to a greater degree. The first fifty years were particularly fruitful of great results from well-directed energy. Our highways were improved into turnpikes ; bridges were erected to take the place of ferry-boats; canals were substituted for roads to facilitate the transport- ation of large quantities of materials at reduced cost ; railways were then introduced, which en- couraged travel, expedited traffic and increased carrying capacity to answer the demands of en- terprise ; steam not carrying our letters with suf- ficient speed, the telegraph was supplied ; and the message becoming too slow for our active minds, the telephone was produced, which en- ables us to speak, as it were, face to face. Con- trast the two extremes, then and now, in the single respect of communicating with one another, and behold the progress which we have made !

We passed through three wars, the last of which was especially costly to us in the lives that were sacrificed, the suffering that was en- dured and the great taxation that was borne. But I will not have any battles upon our terri- tory to recount, no dreadful losses, no violence from desperate, invading foes to narrate,-a cir- cumstance fortunate for our homes and families, properties and lives. Industry gave us develop- ment in every department of life. Manufactures, especially at Reading, grew wonderfully and invited thousands of strangers to settle here. Labor-saving machinery for the work-shop and then for the farm was introduced; and educa- tion was encouraged by legislation through general taxation. After the common school had become a fixed institution the English language began to obtain more extensively, and demand for English preaching in our growing community arose. Theretofore the German language was used almost entirely in the church and in the as- sociations of life. But in the courts, English speaking prevailed necessarily, owing to a col- onial law which required it, just as the laws were promulgated in the English language. I will not have a great park and fine monuments to mention, notwithstanding the Penns had set apart a fine tract of land along the western base of Penn's Mount, many years ago, for the for- mer, and our community afforded appropriate

subjects for the latter. Our situation in these two respects must be deprecated by the intelli- gent people of this community. The newspapers will receive particular mention. They played an important part in our growing community, especially after 1820, when they began to devote more attention to local news and the discussion of measures of a public character. Societies of all kinds, especially secret and beneficial orders, were started here with peculiar but surprising energy. They grew rapidly after 1840. The Odd-Fellows developed a strong spirit in their behalf throughout the county, and influenced the formation of a great many associations for purposes of friendship, protection and assist- ance. The number of different societies now is very large. Steam would seem to have been at the bottom of these also, for they began in earnest just after its introduction ; and during the last forty years, strange though the coinci- dence may be, the one multiplied in numbers and character just as the other expanded in utility and power.

The building and savings associations must be mentioned for the prominence they have occu- pied and the good they have accomplished. They started with the incorporation of our city, and they have grown in number and influence with the development of the city. They have been, in this time, an important factor in building up many substantial homes for the industrious and economical working people. Their receipts and expenditures have increased from thousands of dollars into millions. The city is largely in- debted to them for many improved and inhab- ited sections ; and there is a feature in them which I cannot fail to observe-the landable tendency to distribute and preserve property, influence and public interest in the hands of the people.

In closing this introduction I refer with pride to our patriotism. From the beginning of our history till now we have exhibited a strong love for our country. We took an active and earnest part in its trying periods of warfare, contributing many companies of soldiers and large amounts of money towards upholding the general government,-first, in defending the early settlers from the barbarous incursions of-

GENERAL HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA.

Indians ; then in declaring and obtaining inde- pendence from the English, and afterward in maintaining this independence ; again in recog- nizing the measures of the national administra- tion against Mexico, which resulted in the an- nexation of Texas ; and lastly, in the Rebellion of the Southern States. Our services in the first and last periods were especially noteworthy, for in them many lives of our own people were sac- rificed. At least eight thousand men from the county were mustered into military service dur- ing the Rebellion. Our total population in 1860 was ninety-three thousand eight hundred and eighteen ; over eight per cent. went to serve the government for the preservation of the Union. The number of our electors then did not exceed twenty thousand. From this it appears that we sent one man out of every three; or, speaking more accurately, two out of every seven.1 We did our whole duty. Our record in this great and costly struggle is noble and shows remark- able patriotism. And we sent the first company of volunteers, uniformed and equipped, in re- sponse to the President's call for troops-an honor worthy of particular mention. In order to present this important subject with the full- ness that it deserves, I will set apart a large space in this history for its extended considera- tion.

CHAPTER I.

GENERAL HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA.

Early Settlers : Dutch, Swedes, English, Germans, etc .- Provincial and Constitutional Government-Purchases of Territory from Indians-Counties Erected-Development.

EARLY SETTLERS.

DUTCH .- The Dutch were the first explorers of this section of our vast country. They dis- covered the great inlet from the Atlantic Ocean, now called the Delaware Bay, in 1609. In that year the Dutch East India Company sent Cap- tain Henry Hudson, with a crew of English and Dutch sailors, numbering about sixteen men, on a voyage in search of the supposed

short passage to India. Hudson entered the mouth of the bay ; but finding water shallow and suspecting danger ahead, he withdrew into the ocean and proceeded northwardly. He re- ported this discovery to the company. Some years afterward, the Dutch East India Company was incorporated and invested with great priv- ileges and powers, and this company, in 1623, took possession of the territory which adjoined the bay and river and called it "New Nether- land." The expedition was sent by it under the command of Captain Cornelius Jacobsen May.2 He and his crew had first landed at Manhattan (now New York). Some of the families were sent thence to the South (Delaware) River, where they erected a fort and carried on a peace- ful and successful trade with the natives. Dur- ing the summer of 1633 a commissary named Arendt Corssen bought from the Indians, under the direction of the company, a tract of land within the limits of Pennsylvania, along the Schuylkill river, and established a trading post. During these years the administration of affairs was not smooth ; the directors in charge were therefore frequently changed. In the surround- ing territory, especially in the northern posses- sions of "New Netherland," considerable war- fare was carried on between the Indians and the colonists. It was estimated that sixteen hun- dred Indians were killed. Nearly all the Dutch settlements were attacked and visited with general destruction. The Schuylkill set- tlement was not molested.

SWEDES .- Whilst the Dutch were carrying on these settlements in the New Netherland, Gustavus Adolphus, King of Sweden, was in- duced by William Usselincx, the person who had proposed the establishment of the Dutch West India Company, to entertain the notion of founding colonies in America. This was in 1624. But Adolphus fell at Lutzen, in 1632, before he had completed his plans. His daugh- ter Christina, successor to the Swedish throne, and his chancellor, Oxenstiern, however, enter-

1 This proportion is too great if we take into account the numerous young men between the ages of sixteen and twenty-one who enlisted.

2 The year 1624 may be taken as the era of a continuous civil government. May was the first Director. It had power to punish, but not with death. Judgments for oap- ital crimes were to be referred to Amsterdam .- 2 Ban- croft's " Hist. of U. S.," p. 39.

HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

tained the matter, and, in 1634, incorporated the Swedish West India Company. The news of this new enterprise induced the discharged director of the New Netherland colony, Peter Minuit, to offer his services, to this company. Finding him experienced, they fitted out an expedition of fifty emigrants and placed him in command. It was determined that they should settle in the vicinity of the Delaware River. They sailed from Gottenberg in the latter part of 1637, and reached their destination in April, 1638. They proceeded up the Delaware River to a creek which they named "Christina," in honor of their Queen. There they met the Indians, made a treaty with them and succeeded in purchasing all the land which lay on the west side of the river in length from Cape Hen- lopen to the falls near Trenton, and as far west- ward in width as they wished to possess. They then established a trading post and erected a fort near the mouth of the creek, which they gave the same name. The territory they called New Sweden. This settlement awakened the opposition of the Dutch to such an extent that in May following they issued a proclamation in which they warned the Swedes to desist. But Minuit disregarded the proclamation and pro- ceeded in the more thorough settlement of the country. The colony prospered and its trade increased rapidly. Its great prosperity and its beautiful surroundings awakened a wonderful feeling in its behalf. In 1639 new immigrants came at three different times and brought abun- dant supplies. In the fall of the year the ves- sels were so crowded with passengers that many persons who had also wished to emigrate from Europe could not be taken.

From 1638 the Dutch and Swedes occupied the territory together; but in respect to trade, the Swedes were superior. In two years the Dutch trade was reduced to a small amount. This was effected by the Swedes underselling them and depressing the market. It had fallen short thirty thousand beaver-skins. In 1642 the English also tried to effect a settlement in this locality; but they were expelled by the co-operation of the Swedes and Dutch. In 1643 John Printz became the Governor of the Swedes. He was a rough, bold officer, very large and

heavy, having weighed over four hundred pounds and been fond of liquor; yet, withal, he possessed many admirable qualities. His management of the Swedish interests won the entire approbation of his superiors. He built a fort on Tinicum Island, and obliged every vessel that passed it to strike her colors, and he permitted no trade without tribute. He also erected a handsome dwelling, built of brick brought by him from Stockholm, which was called "Printz Hall." The Dutch ob- jected to his proceedings and demands ; but they hesitated to oppose his administration ; and they became alarmed at the wonderful growth and progress of the Swedes. During 1644 the Swedish trade was very large. In that year two vessels were sent home with car- goes, which included two thousand one hundred and twenty-seven packages of beaver-skins and seventy thousand two hundred and forty-one pounds of tobacco. After governing ten years, he asked to be relieved, and Johu Claude Ry- singh was appointed his successor.

Rysingh, on July 11, 1654, addressed a let- ter to the home government, in which he esti- mated the entire population at three hundred and sixty-eight persons. Of these, only sev- enty were Swedes. Through kindness, he re- newed the treaty of friendship with the Indians. His administration dawned with bright pros- pects; but these were soon blighted, for after governing less than two years, he and nearly all the Swedes were driven out of the settle- ment. The Dutch had been much displeased in the capture of one of their forts several years before (Fort Casimir, near the mouth of the Brandywine), and therefore had determined to revenge their wrong by driving the Swedes from the river, or compelling submission. In 1655 this determination was renewed, and Stuyvesant, with over six hundred men, forced the surrender of the territory. And this was the end of the Swedish government in America, after having maintained a separate existence for more than seventeen years. Though the Swedes could not maintain their hold, they are nevertheless entitled to the credit of having effected the first permanent settlements in Pennsylvania, and of having given the terri-

GENERAL HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA.

tory a commercial character which it never lost. These influences certainly tended towards the rapid enrichment of the settlements and the inercase of their population. The number of inhabitants then was about seven hundred.

DUTCH .- After the Dutch had re-possessed the settlements on the Delaware, John Paul Jacquet was appointed vice-diretor, the ap- pointment having been made on November 29, 1655. Peter Stuyvesant, a brave soldier of experience and a man of some learning, was the director, located at Manhattan, afterward called New York. The Swedes, under the promise of protection andl of quiet enjoyment of their estates, remained and gave their alle- giance to the Dutch government. The Dutch West India Company, in their efforts to re- possess this territory, had incurred a large in- debtedness. To satisfy this debt they sold to the city of Amsterdam, their ereditor, all that portion sonth of the Delaware, from Christina Creek to the ocean. This sale was confirmed by the States-General on Angust 16, 1656, and the territory sold took the name of New Am- sterdam. The government was then vested in forty commissioners, who were to reside in Amsterdam. They appointed Jacob Aldriehs as director, and upon his arrival the authority of Jacquet ceased. He administered affairs for nearly two years, until towards the close of 1659, when D'Hinyossa, the person recom- mended by him, received the appointment. Many evils existed during this period. They arose from the bad administration of Aldrichs.

The year 1659 was one of great distress to the colonists. Sickness prevailed, the affairs of the government were unsettled, the crops were short, and the winter was severe; the new im- migrants arrived without supplies, and the company made new and exacting conditions. All these things caused great discontent, and many of the colonists fled to English settle- ments in Maryland.

The administration of D'Hinyossa was also turbulent, owing to conflicts between him as the representative of the city of Amsterdam and the collector of revenues for the West In- dia Company. He refused to recognize the authority of Stuyvesant, and his difficulties

finally obliged him to visit Holland in 1663. Through this visit the city of Amsterdam ob- tained the entire government of all the settle-

PETER STUYVESANT.

ments, and upon his return Stuyvesant made a formal transfer of all authority to him. This induced the colonists to return from Maryland. He held undivided authority till the conquest of all the territory of New Netherland, in 1664, by the English, when he returned to Holland.

ENGLISH .- The English had claimed the territory by right of discovery. Cromwell had planned its recovery, and similar plans had been renewed during the reign of his son, but forcible measures were not adopted. The dis- content of the colonists, however, caused the English to renew their claims. They sent commissioners to demand the surrender of the territory, but the Dutch succeeded in resisting these demands, and they held it till it was taken from them by the English by right of conquest in 1664.

Soon after King Charles II. had ascended the English throne he granted by patent, dated 12th of March, 1664, all the territory between the Connecticut and Delaware Rivers and the adjacent islands, including the possessions of the Dutch, to his brother James, the Duke of

HISTORY OF BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

York and Albany. Colonel Richard Nicholls was sent, accompanied by three commissioners, to take possession. Before they began formal negotiations with Stuyvesant they had issued a proclamation to the people, in which they offered the most liberal regulations and entire security to them and their property if they would peaceably transfer their allegiance to the

English crown. This was successful. The people did not encourage Stuyvesant in his pro- posed resistance of these demands, and he ac- cordingly surrendered possession on the 8th of September, 1664, when the New Netherlands passed to the English.

In May, 1667, Nicholls was succeeded by Colonel Francis Lovelace. He administered affairs till he was forced to surrender to the Dutch in the fall of 1673. Captain John Carr then became the Governor of the settlements on the Delaware.

In 1673 Louis XIV declared war against the Netherlands, and in this declaration the English united. But the Dutch were victorious over the French and English, defeating them in three great naval battles, which were fought on the 7th and 14th of June and on the 21st of August in that year. During this time the Dutch had sent a squadron to recover the terri- tory of New Netherland. It arrived before the fort of New York on the 6th of August, shortly before the final naval battle, and a sur- render was demanded. After a brief resistance the surrender was made, and the entire terri- tory, as it had passed from Stuyvesant, was thus recovered. In honor of the Prince of Orange, it was 'ealled " New Orange." Peter Alrichs was appointed Governor of the terri- tory west of the Delaware, and he confiseated the property belonging to the English govern- ment. Scarcely had the authority of the Dutch on the Delaware been confirmed and settled when a treaty of peace was concluded on the 9th of February, 1674, by which the territory of New Netherland was restored to the Eng- lish. King Charles then renewed his grant to the Duke of York, and Sir Edmond Andros was sent to repossess the government of the ter- ritory. On the 9th of November, 1674, he issued his proclamation whereby he reinstated

affairs. Edmund Cantwell was commissioned to be captain and schout, and substantially in- vested with the power of a Deputy-Governor. On the 23d of September, 1676, John Collier was appointed to succeed him. Before a year expired Collier, on the 24th of August, 1677, was deposed by Andros because he had usurped the authority of a judge, and Christopher Bil- lop was commissioned in his stead. This authority continued till 1681, when the terri- tory, which included Pennsylvania, was granted to William Penn.

Penn had become interested in the settle- ments in America, and especially in the prog- ress of civilization on the Delaware River, through the purchase of a part of New Jersey in company with eleven other persons. His father, Admiral William Penn, had distin- guished himself by meritorious services under the English government, whereby he became entitled to a claim of sixteen thousand pounds. This claim he bequeathed to his son, and the son, in satisfaction thereof, made application for a large grant of territory west of the Delaware. King Charles II readily consented, for he was in great need of money, and he regarded the payment of so large a claim against him in this manner as a most desirable performance. He accordingly granted to him by patent, dated the 4th of March, 1681, the land applied for and named it " Pennsylvania." Penn himself had drawn the patent, but it was revised and amended by Chief Justice North, " to guard the sovereignty of the King and the commercial supremacy of Parliament." Many obstacles had been thrown in the way of its confirmation to him by Lord Baltimore, but his claims and solicitations finally prevailed. He then wrote, "God will bless and make it the seed of a na- tion." On the 2d of April, 1681, the royal proclamation announced to all the inhabitants of the province that William Penn was their absolute proprietary, with all the powers neces- sary for its government, and Penn himself also issued a proclamation on the 8th of April. It was in the following remarkable language :

" My friends :- I wish you all happiness here and hereafter. These are to let you know that it hath pleased God in his Providence to cast you

GENERAL HISTORY OF PENNSYLVANIA.

within my Lot and Care. It is a business that though I never undertook before, yet God has given me an understanding of my duty and an honest mind to do it uprightly. I hope you will not be troubled at your change and the king's choice, for you are now fixed at the mercy of no Governor that comes to make his fortune great. You shall be governed by laws of your own making, and live a free and, if you will, a sober and industrious people. I shall not usurp the right of any or oppress his person. God has furnished me with a better resolution and has given me his grace to keep it. In short, whatever sober and free men can reasonably desire for the se- curity and improvement of their own happiness I shall heartily comply with. I beseech God to direct you in the way of righteousness, and therein prosper you and your children after you. I am your true friend, "WM. PENN."

Penn was not ready to visit his new province. He therefore deputized his kinsman, William Markham, a young man, to go and take formal possession thereof and act as Deputy-Governor until his arrival. Markham proceeded directly to New York with the two declarations. There he exhibited to the Governor the King's dec- laration, and the Governor gave him a letter addressed to all the magistrates in the new grant, requesting them to transfer their alle- giance to the new proprietor. This was on the 21st of June, 1681. Markham then proceeded to the Delaware and made known the contents of the declarations entrusted to him. He was kindly received and his authority was accordingly accepted.

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Markham also had a letter addressed by Penn to Lord Baltimore in reference to a set- tlement of the boundary line between Pennsyl- vania and Maryland. By the charter the southern line of the province was on the fortieth degree of north latitude. This extended upon the territory of the province of Maryland. He delivered the letter to Baltimore, but they could not agree. The controversy about the line was kept up for over eighty years. Finally an agreement was effected, which was much to the advantage of Maryland. The line was sur- veyed by two surveyors-Thomas Mason and Jeremiah Dixon-who were appointed for this purpose in 1763, and located on a line forty degrees forty-four minutes north latitude. It has since been known as " Mason's and Dixon's

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History of Berks county in Pennsylvania, Part 2

Author: Montgomery, Morton L. (Morton Luther), b. 1846 Publication date: 1886 Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts, Peck & Richards Number of Pages: 1418

Author: Montgomery, Morton L. (Morton Luther), b. 1846
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Philadelphia : Everts, Peck & Richards
Number of Pages: 1418