USA > Pennsylvania > Bucks County > History of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, from the discovery of the Delaware to the present time, Vol. I > Part 18
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The Mitchells, early settlers of Middletown, were descendants of Henry Mitchell, Marsden Lane, Lancashire, England, carpenter by trade, who married Elizabeth Foulds, 3d month, 6th, 1675. Both were members of the Society of Friends and he was imprisoned for his religious conviction. 1685. On 12th month. 16th, 1699, Marsden monthly meeting gave a certificate to Henry Mitchell, wife and four children ; they embarked in the Britannica for Penn- sylvania, and arrived in the Delaware August 25, after a voyage of fourteen weeks. The vessel was overcrowded and there was great sickness on board, fifty-six dying at sea and twenty after landing, among them being Henry Mitchell and one son. The widow and three children settled near the head of tide water on Neshaminy, and Middletown has been considered the home of the family. Of the children, Richard built and run the first grist mill in Wrights- town, and became a prominent man ; the daughter Margaret married Stephen Twining ; Henry remained at the Middletown homestead, and married Sarah, a daughter of Richard Gove, London. Elizabeth Mitchell, widow of Henry, the immigrant, died in Middletown, where her death is recorded in the Meeting record. Pierson, son of John. married Rebecca Allen, daughter of John Allen, and also remained at the homestead. In 1804. Gove Mitchell, son of Pierson, bought a farm in Moorland. Montgomery county, at the intersection of the York road and county line, half a mile above Hatboro. He studied medicine and spent his life here practicing his profession. At his death the farm passed to his eldest son. George Justice Mitchell, and from him to his son, J. Howard
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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.
Mitchell, who lives there with his children and grand children. The late Pierson Mitchell, Middletown, was a descendant of Henry Mitchell.
The Carters trace their descent to William Carter, who settled in Phila- delphia, but located six hundred acres in this county, east of the Neshaminy. near Hulmeville, on a deed given to him by Penn before leaving England. Carter was an alderman of the city, and elected mayor, 1711. On the expiration of his term of office he removed to his tract, Middletown, where he spent the remainder of his days. He has numerous descendants in this county and in Byberry. The family is in possession of an old clock that has belonged to it since 1711.11
FarSan
MIDDLETOWN MEETING HOUSE, MAPLE AVENUE. LANGHORNE. E teted 179 and the third on the same site.
The Middletown meeting, next to Falls, is the oldest in the county. Meet- ings for worship were first held at the houses of Nicholas Walne. John Otter and Robert Hall. 1082. The first monthly meeting was held at Walne's. December 1. 1684. and the next at Hall's, where Friends were to bring the dates of their births and marriages. They met sometimes at widow Hayhurst's, who lived across Neshaminy in Northampton. Nicholas Walne and Thomas Atkinson were the first delegates chosen from Middletown to the yearly meeting. September 2. 1684. It was called Neshaminy Meeting until 1706. The first meeting-house was built by Thomas Stackhouse. 1690, at a cost of £26 19s 5d, and fto additional for a stable. One light of glass was put in each lower window. I'Mis,
It William Carter, Philadelphia, probably never lived in Bucks county, and does int appear to have left descendants. In his will he mentions his relatives, Robert Carter. Bucks county, deceased. A Carter died prior to IONS, leaving children, Edward, Jos. Margaret, John and Jane, all minors. GILBERT COPE.
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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.
muslin or oiled paper being probably used in the others. Martin Wildman was appointed to clean the house and make the fires at an annual salary of 20 shillings for the first year, and six shillings additional for the next. The first marriage recorded was that of Henry Paxson, whose wife died at sea, to Margery Plumley, Angust 13, 1684. There were only forty-seven marriages at Middletown from 1684 to 1700, less than three a year.12 Evidently the battle of life was too hard to allow much indulgence in matrimony. In the first fifty years there were three hundred and fifty-nine births in the bounds of the meeting, the earliest being a son of James and Jane Paxson, born July, 16S3, and thirty deaths to 1731. The sixth person buried at Middletown was Susannah, daughter of John and Jane Naylor, who died September 27, 1699. The quarterly meetings at Falls and Middletown were the only ones in the county, and held alternately at each place until 1722, when a third was held at Wrightstown. The Friends at Middletown brought certificates from the monthly meeting of Settle, Coleshill, Bucks and Lancaster, Westminster, Brighouse, in York, etc.
Charles Plumley, Somersetshire, England, married Margery Page, 12, II, 1665. settled in Middletown, 1682, with wife and sons, William, James, Charles, John and George ; and purchased land on the Neshaminy. He died in 1683. His widow married Henry Paxson, 6, 13, 1684. Of the sons, William born 10, 7, 1666, married Elizabeth Thompson, 1688; James, born 6, 22, 1668, married Mary Budd, settled in Southampton, and died 1702; Charles, born 12, 9. 1674. married Rose Budd, and died in Philadelphia. 1708; John, born 7, 8, 1677, married Mary Bainbridge, daughter of John and Sarah of N. J .. 170S, settled in Middletown, and died 1732: George, born 4. 14, 1680, married Sarah, -, died at Philadelphia, 1754, and his widow, 1759, without issue. The later Plumleys were descended from Charles and John, sons of Rose ( Budd) Plumley.
Among the early settlers in Middletown were the Cawleys, who probably came sometime in the first quarter of the eighteenth century. The first of the name we have met with was Thomas Cawley, who was married at Christ church, Philadelphia. July 1. 1720, to Mary Moggrage. In 1721, Thomas Cawley was a witness to the will of Evan Thomas. Philadelphia county, yeoman John Cawley. of Yate House Green, Middlewich, county Chester, England. was in Middletown. Bucks county, in March, 1729. and on the 28th bought real estate 'in Great Egg Harbor. N. J. He was probably the same John Cawley who died in Middletown, 1761. at a very great age. He was twice married, first to Elinor Earle. Burlington. N. J .. April 12, 1729, and the name of his second wife was Margaret, as we learn from a deed executed May 1, 1754, to which it was attached as a witness. In one place he is spoken of as a "tanner," in another "yeoman." . He had a son John, in England, when he made his will, 1765. but was at home in Middletown, April 22, 1768, when he executed a power of attorney to Thomas Cawley. John Cawley. the elder. had also a daughter, Elizabeth Pratt. a grand-daughter, Sarah Cawley, and grandson. John Cawley, the younger, who lived and died in Northampton township, whose will was
12 Among the earliest marriages in Middletown were: Henry Baker to Mary Radcliff, Ist mo. 7th, 1602, Edmund Bennett to Elizabeth Potts, Ist mo. Sth, 1685, Walter Bridgman to Blanch Constable, Ist mo. 5th. 1686. John Otter to Mary Blinston, 2nd mo. 7th, 1686, Abraham Wharley to Damarias Walley, 6th mo. 8th, 1687, Thomas Stack- house to Grace Heaton, 5th mo. 5th, ross, William Croasdale to Elizabeth Hayhurst, 6th mo. 12th, 1680.
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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.
made August 23, 1768. His widow, Sarah Cawley, was married to Joshua Dungan, April 3. 1773, and another Sarah Cawley, probably his sister or daughter, married John Fenton, Northampton township, June 20. 1773, at the Southampton Baptist church. From the data at hand it is impossible to trace the descendants of father or son. A Thomas Cawley settled in Northampton county, and died there August 5. 1806. John R. Cawley, born ISHI, lived at Allentown in recent years, and Dr. James I. Cawley is now living at Spring- town. Bucks county. Alfred C. Willit, a descendant of John Cawley, the elder, lives at Holmesburg, Philadelphia county.
Thomas Langhorne, a minister among Friends, came from Westmoreland, England, with a certificate from Kendall monthly meeting, and settled in Mid- dletown, 1684. He took up a large tract below what is now Langhorne, running to Neshaminy, and died in 1687. His son Jeremiah, who became Chief Justice
MANSION OF JEREMIAH LANGHORNE.
of the Province, was a man of mark and note, and died October 11. 1,42.13 He was a large land owner, his homestead tract on the Durham road and con- taining eight hundred acres, being known as Langhorne Park. He owned two thousand acres in Warwick and New Britain, purchased of the Free Society of Traders, two thousand at Perkasie, and a large tract on the Monococy, now in Lehigh county, then in Bucks. In his will, dated May 16, 1742, he made liberal provision for his negroes, of whom he owned a number. Those who had reached twenty-four years of age were manumitted, others to be set free on arriving at that age. A few received special mark of favor. Joe, Cudjo and London were to live at the Park until his nephew, Thomas Biles, to whom it was left, came of age. with the use of the necessary stock, at a rent of £30 per annum, and were to support all the women and children on the place. Joe and Cudjo were given life estates in certain lands in Warwick township after they
13 Jeremiah Langhorne was commissioned a justice of the peace, May 20, 1715, and again September 17, 1717; was a commissioner to erect a new jail and court house at Newtown, 1724; was speaker of the Colonial Council: succeeded Robert Asheton, third justice of the Supreme court, September 15. 1726; was appointed second justice, April &, 1731, and chief justice, August 9. 1739, which he held to his death.
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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.
left the Park. Langhorne directed houses to be built for some of his negroes, with fifty aeres and stock allotted to each. during their lives. He was careful to specify that the negroes should work for their support.
The Langhorne mansion stood on the site of the dwelling late of Charles Osborn, two miles above Hulmeville. The old road from Philadelphia to Trenton, crossing Neshaminy just above Hulmeville, made a sweep round by the Langhorne house, and thence on to Trenton. The part of the road from Neshaminy to Langhorne was probably vacated when the Durham road was opened down to Bristol. The Park embraced farms of the late Charles Osmond, George Ambler, Caleb N. Taylor and probably others. The mansion was built with two wings. The furniture in the parlor in the west end, in the chamber overhead, and in the eloset adjoining, was not to be removed, but pass with the real estate as an heirloom. The Park was advertised in the Pennsylvania Packet, Philadelphia, May 3, 1788, to be sold at private sale, and a full descrip- tion of the property given. "It contains nine hundred and twenty-nine aeres of excellent land. arable and meadow, abounding with several streams of water, and remarkably fine springs. The mansion house, kitchen and out offices, suit- able to accommodate a large and genteel family ; the prospect delightful and capable of the first improvements ; nineteen miles from the city of Philadelphia. and five from Newtown, the county seat." The buildings were sold with four hundred and fifty-two and one-half acres, to a committee of the Philadelphia meeting of Friends, Henry Drinker, Samuel Smith and Thomas Fisher, for the purpose of establishing there a Friends' Boarding and Day School, but, not being pleased with the situation, the property at Westtown, Chester county, was se- leeted for this purpose, 1794. The Langhorne property was subsequently sold by the meeting at public sale to Andrew Kennedy for a low price. The part unsold was the portion, forty-seven aeres, called "Guinea." About 150 acres in the southwest corner of the traet, were enclosed by a stone wall, long since removed to build stone fences. On the top the stones were set on edge. "Fiddler Bill," the last of the Langhorne slaves, lived some time among the ruins of an old house on the premises, but was finally taken to the poor house, where he died.
The villages of Middletown are Langhorne, formerly Attleborough, Hulme- ville, Langhorne Manor, Oxford Valley and Eden, all post villages. Langhorne. the oldest and largest, is at the intersection of the Durham, Philadelphia, and Trenton roads, four miles southeast of Newtown, and seven from Bristol. The latter road branches just south of the village, one branch leading to Philadel- phia via Feasterville, the other erossing the Neshaminy at Oregon, runs via the Trappe tavern to meet the Bustleton pike. A third important road, that from Yardley, falling into the Durham road at the upper end of the village, afforded the earliest outlet for the settlers of Lower Makefield to reach Philadelphia. 131} Langhorne, located at the intersection of these roads, was an important point in the lower section of the county at an early day. It was called "Four Lanes End," for many years, because four roads ended there. It is not known when the name "Attleborough" was given to it. In old documents, where the name is met with, it is written "Attlebury," which we believe to be the correct spelling. It is built on a broad plain from which there is a fine view on all sides. and is approached on the east and south and west up a considerable rise.1+ The
1372 Opened 1721.
14 Three of these boroughs, Langhorne Manor, Langhorne and Eden are within less than two miles of each other.
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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.
Philadelphia & Bound Brook railroad runs at the foot of Langhorne hill, less than a mile east of the village, and at the foot of the hill to the west, is a public drinking fountain dedicated to "Faith, Hope and Charity." Langhorne is con- nected by trolley with Newtown and Bristol, while the Pennsylvania Cut-Off road connects it with Trenton and Norristown.
While the Hulme family, Middletown, are of undoubted English ancestry, their descent from the Scignor de Hulme, who came over with William the Conqueror, and their birth place in England, are not so clear. The first of the family to settle in Bucks County was George Hulme and his son George Hulnie, Jr., who took up 200 acres in this township and were members of Falls Meet- ing. George Hulme, Jr. was twice married, first to Naomi Palmer, 10 2, 1708, and then to her sister Ruth Palmer, 10 mo., 1710, the first wife dying 1709. The Falls Meeting, objecting to the second marriage, it was referred to the Quarterly Meeting which reported against it, but they married in spite of this. George Hulme, the elder, died 1714, and George, Jr., 1729, whose will was exe- cuted June 9, and proved January 8, 1730. The children of George Hulme, Jr., by his second wife, were Eleanor, Naomi, John, who first married Mary Pearson, daughter of Enoch Pearson and Margaret Smith, and for second wife. Elizabeth Cutler, daughter of John Cutler, 1796; and Hannah, who mar- ried John Merrick. Ruth, widow of George Hulme, married William Shall- cross, 1732, and was "dealt with for frivolous dress." The children of Jolin and Mary Pearson Huline were, Rachel, born 10, 15, 1745, John, Elizabeth, George and Hannah. John Hulme, Jr., married Rebecca Milnor, daughter of William Milnor, Falls township, and lived for a time on his father-in-law's farm on the northern boundary of Pennsbury Manor, but subsequently purchased a part of Israel Pemberton's tract near Fallsington, upon which he lived until 1796. when he exchanged the farm with Joshua Woolston for the Milford mills, and sixty-eight and three-fourths acres of land belonging thereto and removed there. He afterward acquired other considerable tracts adjoining the mill property in the growing village of Milford, which was soon called Hulme- ville. At his death, 1818, he and his sons. George, Isaac, Samuel, Joseph and sons-in-law. Joshua Canby and George Harrison, practically owned the whole town, but his son Joseph, who was the storekeeper, failed, 1839, and ruined his brother who was the miller. William, eldest son of John Hulme, died 1809. leaving a son. Joseph R, and two daughters. He was commissioned justice of the peace, January 1, 1806. His father, Jolin Hulme, was commissioned justice of the peace, September 1, 1789, for seven years. John Hulme was one of the most prominent, wealthy and influential men of his time in Bucks county.
Thomas Stackhouse and wife Margery arrived in the Welcome, 1682, and settled on three hundred and twelve acres on the Neshaminy, where Langhorne stands. He was born at Stackhouse, Yorkshire, 1635. Ilis wife, a Heahurst, dying 11 mio. 15. 1682. he married Margaret. Christopher Atkinson's widow, I mo. 1702, and removed to Bensalem where he died 1706, without descendants. The Stackhouses of Bucks are descended from Thomas and John, nephews of the Welcome immigrant, who came over prior to 1685. Thomas married Grace Heaton, daughter of Robert and Alice, of Middletown Meeting, 7 mo. 27, 1658; second wife Ann, widow of Edward Mayos, I mo. I,-and third wife Dorothy. widow of Zebulon Heston, Wrightstown. Thomas Stackhouse was the father of fourteen children and died 4 mo, 26, 1744. John Stackhouse married Eliza- beth Pearson or Pierson, 7 mo. 1702, and had nine children. She died 1743 and he. 1757, and both were buried at Middletown. The children of Thomas and Jolin Stackhouse, in the first generation intermarried with the families of Clark,
I37
L
HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.
Stone, Wilson, Longshore, Copeland, Gilbert, Watson, Plumley, Cary, Haring, Janney, Mitchell, Stephenson, Tomlinson and others and their descendants are almost legion. The Baileys of Buckingham, are descended from Jacob, second, son of Thomas Stackhouse, and Ann Mayos, born 8 mo. 25, 1713, married 3 mo. 25, 1742. Hannah Watson, daughter of Amos and Mary ( Hillborn) Watson, had four children.
As we have already remarked, Christian and Abraham Vanhorne and Will- iam Huddleston were among the earliest settlers in the township about where Langhorne stands. About 1730-35 Joseph Richardson opened a store in the west end of the building now the tavern, then a small hipped-roof brick and stone house, where he kept until 1738. He then erected the stone house on the southwest corner, where the late Joshua Richardson lived and died, where he opened a store in the southeast room. The goods were brought by boat to Bristol, and then hauled up the Durham road. This store commanded a large country trade. The new dwelling was a costly and fine house in its day. It is related that when partly finished Mr. R. took a friend to look at it. As he was about to go away without saying anything, Mr. R. ventured to remark : "Thee does not say what thee thinks about it;" to which the friend replied, "all I have to say is, take care thee does not get to the bottom of thy purse, before thee gets to the top of thy house." Mr. Richardson died, 1772, the owner of a large landed estate. The brick house, on the southeast corner, was built by Gilbert Hicks, 1763. After his flight it was sold, with the forty acres of land attached, to William Goforth. During the Revolution1#14 the house was used as an hospital, and about one hundred and fifty dead bodies were buried in the lot opposite Joseph Stackhouse's, then a common. The ground was frozen so hard the graves could not be dug the proper depth, and when spring opened the stench was so great the lot had to be filled up. In 1783 a tract on the east side of the village was laid off in building lots, one hundred in all, and streets projected through it. It was called "Washington Village," and lots were do- nated to the three denominations of Baptist, Episcopalian, and Presbyterian. Among the streets were Lamb, Montgomery, Macpherson, MacDougall and Willett, with a few alleys.1412 The hopes of the projectors were never realized and "Washington Village" is now principally occupied by negroes.
The Newtown, Langhorne and Bristol trolley railway was chartered, 1895. and a section built the following spring from the upper end of Langhorne to the Bound Brook railroad, about a mile. The cars began to run April 15. 1896, and the track was shortly extended to Hulmeville and Bristol. In 1897 Lang- horne was connected with Newtown, and in the spring of 1900 the road was finished and opened to Doylestown and the connection is now completed between the county scat and Bristol, and the travel increases. In 1898 considerable industrial improvement set in at Langhorne. Frederick Rumpf, formerly of Philadelphia, erected a linen factory, 402 by 40, a portion of it three stories high. Several kinds of goods are manufactured, and employment given to a number of hands. Mr. Rumpf has also built houses for his employes, and dwellings of a most costly style.
While Langhorne was known as Attleborough, about sixty years ago, a flourishing high school was opened. It had its birth in the "Middletown Board-
1414 Probably in the winter of 1776-77.
1.416 On the map made of this projected addition to "Four Lanes End." it is called "Washington Village in Attlebury." and Goforth, its originator, styled himself "Pro- prietor and Layer Out." See deed book. pp. 320. 331.
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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.
ing School Association," the first recorded meeting being held July 10. 1834. when steps were taken to erect suitable buildings. Lots were bought in August, of Henry Atherton, Walter M. Bateman and C. L. Richardson, at a cost of $450 and contracts made. The carpenter work was done by Thomas Baker and Thomas Blakey, Attleborough, the mason work by Evan Groom and Hazel Scott, Southampton, for sixty-two and one-half cents a perch, and the brick work by Gillingham & Small, Bristol, for three dollars per thousand. The di- mensions of the building were 70x50 feet, three stories high. The view from the top is very fine, over a beautifully variegated and highly cultivated country. The school was incorporated, 1835. In 1837 an effort was made to get an ap- propriation of two thousand dollars from the State for the "trustees of the Middletown School Association" but failed because, in former years, the Newtown Academy had received four thousand dollars. Before 1862 the school was known as the "Attleborough Academy," although called "Minerva Semin- ary" on the books. The property was sold by the sheriff, 1846, and bought by four of the stockholders, who had claims of three thousand dollars against it. They sold it to Israel J. Graham, 1862, who re-established the school and called it "Bellevue Institute." William T. Seal bought it, 1867, and maintained a school there several years. The building, now owned by Winfield Scull, Phila- delphia, is occupied as a summer boarding house. Among the pupils educated at this school, in early years, were Jolin Price Wetherill, Dr. Samuel Wetherili and the late Hon, Samuel 1. Randall. The building was mainly erected through the exertion of Dr. Thomas Allen, Arnold Myers and Aaron Tomlinson, all of Middletown, at a cost of six thousand dollars, and was first opened for a school 1836 by the Rev. Alexander T. Dobbs, who was succeeded by the Rev. William Mann and James Anderson. Langhorne has a flourishing Friends' school, established about 1792, in charge of a committee of Middletown Pre- parative meeting. The village, also, has a public graded school in a two story brick, erected for the purpose. Few county towns of the size are supplied with better schools.15
Attleborough was incorporated into a borough and before the name was changed, December 7, 1874; John Wildman was elected the first Chief Burgess, and Harvey G. Wells, James W. Newbold, Joseph K. Harding. Dr. James B. Canby, Joseph R. Hibbs and Edward C. Nield, councilmen. After the Bound Brook railroad was opened for travel, June 15, 1876, the station was called "Langhorne." and the name of the village changed to the same shortly after- ward. The borough has an estimated population of 1,500; contains a number of handsome private dwellings, two Friends' meeting houses, Hicksites and Ortho- dox, three churches, Methodist built 1829, and rebuilt 1852; Presbyterian, 1893, and African ; a flourishing library ; a public inn ; several stores ; newspaper ; Odd Fellows Hall, with lodge rooms ; public hall, etc. The library was organized 1800, and incorporated 1802. to which Miss Williamson has given an income from four thousand dollars for the purchase of books. A post office was opened. 1805, and Robert Croasdale was appointed postmaster.
Hulmeville, on the left bank of Neshaminy where the road from Trenton to Philadelphia intersects that from Newtown to Bristol, takes its name from
15 Anna E. Dickenson, who achieved distinction as platform orator and teacher, taught her first school in Middletown at Wildman's Corner. She was examined by County Superintendent Win. H. Johnson, for teacher's certificate at Laurel Hill, Bristol township. April. 1860; and made her first effort as a public speaker by lecturing at New- town and Yardley in November same year. Miss Dickenson was then but 17 years old.
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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.
John Hulme. He settled there about the close of the eighteenth century, pur- chasing a tract of land with water privileges, taking possession, 1792. The place was then called Milford and had only one house. The town site was laid out 1796-99, a post office opened with a weekly mail, and the name of the place changed to that of the new owner. It was called Hulmeville Landing, 1812, by many. Additions were made to the corn and grist mills ; fulling mill, merchant flour and saw mills erected, followed by a machine shop. In a few years the village had grown into a place of thirty dwellings with stores, work shops, etc., etc., and a stone bridge was built over Neshaminy. As Mr. Hulme's sous grew up he taught them practical business habits and mechanical pursuits, gave them an interest in all that was carried on and settled them around him. For several years Mr. Hulme would not allow a public house to be opened, entertaining travelers at his own dwelling, but when the growth of the village forced him to change his policy, he built a tavern but prohibited a bar. After the war with England, 1812-15; a crash came, and dis- aster overtook the sons. The population of Hulmeville was 376, 1880, and 418 1890. A new iron bridge was erected here, 1899, the spans taking 430 feet.
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