USA > Pennsylvania > Bucks County > History of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, from the discovery of the Delaware to the present time, Vol. I > Part 2
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Governor Nicolle, Jon7: by Alricks to
1. A Tre imen on the river. 164S.
HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY. 7
Samuel Borden, 1082, and to Sammel Carpenter, 1683. The last conveyance includes two islands on the west side of the Delaware, "about southwest from Mattiniconk ( Burlington) island" -- the largest. once known as "Kipp's island," at 1 by the Indian name of Koomenakinckanck, was a mile long by a half mile wine : and the smaller. to the north of the larger, half a mile long by a quarter vile. No doubt these islands have both been joined to the main-land by drain- ing the swamp, and now form the valuable meadows below Bristol. In 1679 Alrick,' island was occupied by a Dutchman named Barent. Hermanus Alricks, Philadelphia, grandson of Peter Alricks, when a young man settled in the Cumberland valley, about 1740. When Cumberland county was organized, 1; 10-50. he was a member of the first Legislature. He filled the offices of Register. Recorder, Clerk of the Courts and justice to his death, about 1775. He married a young Scotch-Irish girl named West, whose brother, Francis, was the grandfather of the late Chief Justice Gibson. Hermanus Alricks had several children, all of them born in Carlisle. the youngest, James, December, 1700. The late Hamilton Alricks, Harrisburg, was a descendant of Peter Alricks, as probably are all who bear the name in the state.
On March 12, 1664. Charles H granted to his brother, the Duke of York, "al' New England from the St. Croix to the Delaware." and directed the Dutch to be dispossessed. An expedition sailed from Portsmouth in July, and arrived Ini re Manhattan, now New York, the last of August. The town and fort sur- rendered Sept. S, and a bloodless conquest was made of the settlements on the Delaware, Oct. I. Among these who took the oath of allegiance to the conqueror, were Peter Alricks, a Hollander, and Andries Claesen and Claes Janzen, States. There was no violent shock when power passed from the hands of the Dutch to the English. Sir Robert Carre was made Commander, with his seat of government at New Castle, and he was assisted by a temporary council of six, of whom Peter Alricks was one. The laws established were substantially the same as prevailed in the other English colonies : the magistrates were con- Unaed in office on taking the oath of allegiance, and the inhabitants were prom- iof liberty of conscience, and protection to person and property. In a few cases Carre confiscated the goods of the conquered Dutch, to reward h's favorite lavere. The settlers received new deeds from the authorities at New York. I ut some refused them. preferring to trust to the Indian grant in case their titles were calle 1 in question. There was but little change in affairs for several years. and but few immigrants arrived to swell the population. Colonel Richard Nialls, the first Governor, was a mildl ruler. but his successors, Lovelace and Andros, were more severe. Lovelace believed "in laying such taxes on the people as might not give them liberty to entertain any other thought but how to discharge them." Ile imposed a tax of ten per cent. on all goods imported into, or exported from, the Delaware, the first tariff enforced on that river. The rent of that day was a bull of wheat for every hundred acres. The inhabitants lived in great quiet and indolence, and there was neither agriculture I. e trade beyond what was necessary to subsist the sparse population.
William Tim was one of the earliest English officials who exercised authority in Bucks county. He came to America in the king's service, probably with the troops that indeed the Dutch. In Imes he was appointed Commissary on the Delaware. and in jong, collector of quit-rents, bis jurisdiction in both cases extending to the falls. The killing of two of his servants, on Burlington island .? by the
" Down to a much inter period Burlington island was in Bucks county
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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.
Indians, 1668 or 1600. came near producing an Indian war, and was the first blood shed by Indians in Bucks county.
Was's Wharton In 1671 Waher Wharton was ap- pointed surveyor on the west bank of the Delaware. He married a daugh- ter of Governor Printz; was Judge of the court at New Castle, and died, 1679. He was succeeded by Richard Noble," a settler and land-holder of Bensalem township.11
An overland communication from the Delaware to Manhattan, via Tren- ton falls, was opened soon after the river was settled. The route was up the river in boats, or, more frequently, along the western bank to the falls, where the stream was crossed. and thence through the wilderness of New Jersey to Elizabeth, and to Manhattan by water. The trip occupied two or three days. In 1656 the captain of a Swedish ship came over the route to get permission of the Dutch authorities to land passengers and goods in the Delaware. The same - vear, ensign Dirck Smith came overland with a small party of soldiers to quell a disturbance with the Indians; and April, 1657, Captain Kryger, with a com- pany of forty soldiers and a few settlers, crossed at the falls and continued down the river to New Amstel. These parties passed down through the woods of Bucks county. It was likewise the mail route of the Dutch authorities, and frequent ktters were sent across by Indian runners. This overland route was continued by the English as their main channel of communication with the government at New York.
By 1670 civil government had become so well established on the Delaware. and the country was found to be so attractive, strangers began to come in and take up land with a view to permanent settlement. In the next ten years a number of immigrants located themselves along the river between the Poquess- ing and the falls. In 1670-71 Richard Gorsuch patented a considerable tract in the southwest part of Bensalem, and in what is now Philadelphia county, ex- tending from the l'ennepack across the l'aquessing, and north to a creek the Indians called Opiateitunk, believed to have been the Neshaminy. Governor Lovelace dispossessed Geruch of this tract, for in August, 172, he ordered his Survever General to sat and clear the land for his own use. Lovelace, who succeeded Nicolle as Governor, May, 1667, came overland to visit the settle- ments on the Delaware. March, 1672, accompanied by an escort and several private persons, and Captain John Garland, with three men, was sent ahead to make arrangements for their entertainment. He probably struck the river at the falls, and followed down the east bank to about Bristol, where he crossed to the west bank, and continued down to the lower settlements. During the war between England and Holland, which broke out, 1672, New York and the Delaware again fell into the hands of the Dutch, which they hell about eighteen months, but restored possession to the English at the conclusion of peace. 1177.
One of the earliest English travelers down the Delaware was George Fox, the eminent Friend. the fall of 1072, on his way from Long Island to Maryland. Starting from Middletown harbor, New Jersey, he traveled through the woods,
10 Commission dated March 15. 1650
If At this time the settlements on the west bank of the Delaware extended up the river sixty miles above New Castle, and were mostly of Swedes. Dutch and Finns - ( Massachusetts Historical Collection )
9
HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.
piloted by Indians, toward the Delaware. He reached the river the evening of September 10: staid all night of the house of Peter Jegou, at Least Point, and, the next morning. crossed over to Burlington island, and then to the main-land just above Bristol. Himself and friends were taken over in Indian canoes, the horses swimming.
Major, afterward Sir Edmund. Andros succeeded Lovelace as Governor, July 11. 16;4. and remained in office until William Penn became Proprietary, 1081. In his proclamation. assuming the duties of his office, he confirmed all previous grants of land, and all judicial proceedings. Sir Edmund was born at London. September, 1637. His father was master of ceremonies to Charles I. and the son was brought up in the royal family. He began his career in arms during the exile of the Stuarts, and, at the Restoration, was appointed gentle- man in ordinary to Elizabeth Stuart. queen of Bohemia. He bore a distin- quished part in the Dutch war that closed. 1657. and. 16;2. commanded the English forces at Barbadoes. At the death of his father. 1074. he succeeded In the office of bailiff of Guernsey. The same year he was commissioned to receive the surrender of New York from the Dutch, and appointed Governor- General of the colony. He remained here until 1681, when he returned to England. and was knighted by Charles 11. He was appointed to the governor- ship of Massachusetts, 1686, where he had a stormy and unsuccessful adminis- tration. and in 1692, was appointed Governor of Virginia and Marylan I. Sub- sequently he held several other posts of trust. He was married three times, and died. without children, 1713. Andros introduced reforms in the courts, and we are indebted to him for the introduction of English jurisprudence on the Delaware. Governor Andros visited the settlements on the river, the first time, May, 1675. accompanied by a numerous retinne. He came overland to the falls, where he was met by Sheriff Cantwell on the Ath. Here he crossed the river and traveled through the woods of Falls, Bristol and Bensalem townships, down to New Castle, where he hekl court on the 20th. During the session of the court it was ordere ! that some convenient way be made passable between town and town. the first road law in the state. A ferry was established at the falls, on the west sile of the river. a horse and man to pay two guilders-twelve pence, cur- renes-and a man ten stivers. At this time there was no place of religious worship higher up the river than at Tinicum island, and the court ordered a church to be built at Wiccacoa. to be paid for by the people of "Passyunk and so upward." but Penn's arrival prevented this bad precedent.
In 1675 and 1676 William Edmonson, a traveling Friend from Trehan .! , made a religious, visit to the brethren on the Delaware, and his journal gives wane account of his journey through the county. In it he says: "About nine in the morning, by the good hand of God. we came to the falls, and, by his Providence, found an Indian man, a woman and a boy with a canoe. We hired Him for some wampumper to help us over in the canoe; we swam our horses. and though the river was broad, yet got well over and. by the directions we received from Friends, travele I toward Delaware town's along the west side of the river. When we had rode some miles, we baited our horses and refreshed ourselves with such provisions as we had, for as yet we were not yet come to any inhabitants. Ilere came to ns a Finland man, well borsed, who could speak English. He soon perceived what we were and gave us an account of several Frien Is. His home was as far as we could go that day : he took us there and
11's Where was "Delaware town"?
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IO
HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.
lodged us kindly." The next day Mlr. Edmonson and party proceeded down the river to Upland. The Finn, with whom they tarried over night, probably lived in Bristol or Bensalem, and the "several Friends," of whom he spoke, lived in that section of the county.
At the time of the English conquest the circulating medium on the Dela- ware included beavers, the government value being fixed at & guilders each- equal to $3.20 currency. W ampum passed as money almost down to the arrival of Penn. at established values. Eight white, or four black wampums were worth a stiver, and twenty of them made a guilder. equivalent to 40 cents. The first land tax west of the Delaware was laid by the Upland court, November. 1677. It was called "poll money." and 26 guilders were assessed against eachi taxable person, which could be paid in grain or provisions, at fixed prices.
The systematic administration of Governor Andros invited immigration to the Delaware. and considerable land was taken up while he was in office. In 1675. the Governor purchased of four Indian chiefs -- Mamarackickan. Anrick- ton. Sackoquewano, and Nanneckos -- for the Duke of York, a tract on the river extending from just above Bristol to about Taylorsville. embracing the best lands in the townships of Bristol, Falls, and Lower Makefield. It is described as: "Beginning at a creek next to the Cold spring somewhere above Mattinicum island. about eight or nine miles below the falls, and as far above said falls as the other is below them, or further that way, as may be agreed upon, to some remarkable place. for more certain bounds : as also all the islands in Delaware river within the above limit- above and below the falls, except only one island called Peter Alricks' island." It included what was afterward Penn's manor. The deed was executed October In, and witnessed by twelve white men. As nothing further is known of this purchase, it was probably never consummated. The next year Ephraim Herman was appointed clerk of Upland court, whither
Dr Phillennon,
the Few inhabitants of Back- cover grootte for justice, two centuries and a quarter agu. In may be carried thedath Vonkelenburg, daughter of the . Governor of Cincoa, at M'and in the Caribbean sea. He brought his bride over- laul tran New York to the falls, where a beat met him and conveyed them down the river. He adesk and her shettis after an? joined the Labadists. a I W religious Feet Backs spray m. let towred and returned to his family. Herman was the ri the cus water todeliver the province to William Penn, and held other place . ifthe west. I . was the son of Augustus Herman, a native of l'rague. Bufedia, and came to New Amsterdam 1047. as clerk, or factor to the brother tales In the le vas oak of the selectmen of Manhattan.
II
HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.
Hle afterward settled in Maryland where his son was born, 1654. The wife of Benedict Arnold was a descendant of Herman's daughter, Anna Margaretta, through Vanderhuyden, whom she married, and of Edward Shippen, whom her ยท daughter married. Thomas Story, proficient in Greek and mathematics and skilled in music and fencing. studied law before coming to Philadelphia and marrying a daughter of Edward Shippen.
We have no record of settlers coming into this county, in 1676, but. the following year, there was some addition to our sparse population, and a little land taken up. In the fall of 1677 the court at Upland made the following grants of land in this county, which, no doubt, was authorized to be made by the authorities at New York: 300 acres, cach, to Jan Claesen, and Thomas Jacobse, on the east side of the Neshaminy two miles above its mouth. Bristol township ; 417 acres to James Sanderland. probably the same whose mural tab- let stands in Saint Paul's church. Chester, and Lawrence Cock. extending a mile along the Delaware above the mouth of Poquessing, and called "Poquessink patent :" 200 acres next above on the river to Henry Hastings, and called "Hastings' Hope ;" 100 acres, to Duncan Williamson,1: Pelle Dalbo, Lace Cock. Thomas Jacobse and William Jeacox, on the south side of the Neshaminy. in Bensalem, and 100 acres to Edmund Draufton and son. Williamson and Drauf- ton were members of the jury at Upland court, November term. 1078, the first jurymen known to have been drawn from this county. The authorities at New York directed the Upland court to purchase a tract reaching two miles along the river above the falls, and Governor Andros authorized sheriff Cantwell and Ephraim Herman to purchase of the Indians all the land below the falls, in- cimling the islands, not already sold. but we hear nothing more of them. No- vember 23. 1677. a number of Swedes petitioned the court for permission "to settle together in a town at the west side of the river just below the falls." They represented they were natives of the country and brought up on the river and parts adjacent, and asked for 100 acres cach, with a fit proportion of mar-h. and a suitable place to lay out a town. What action was taken on the petition is not known.11 Governor Andros made easy terms in the purchase of land. Actual settlers, with families, were allowed 50 acres to each member and a patent was issued on the certificate of the court. approved by the Governor. and quit-rent on all newly seated land was remitted for three years. If the land were not settled upon within that time it vitiated the title. The earliest lands surveyed in this county extended back a mile from the river. When Andros came into authority the whites, who had purchased land of the Indians about the falls, were in arrears for purchase money. It was found to amount to "five guns, thirty hoes, and one anker of rum." which the Governor ordered to be paid. forthwith. The earliest receipts for quit-rent on the Delaware that we have seen are-one dated 1660. signed by Governor Lovelace, and another by Ephraim Herman. April 27, .1679. Otto Ernest Cock, who paid quit-rent.
12 Ile was known as Dank Williams, but the inscription on his tombstone was Danncan Williamson.
IS The following are the names of the p. iti mers: Lawrence Cock. Israel Helm. Mappa Cock Andreas B.nelson. Ephraim Herman. Casper Herman. Swen Loon. John Who, Jasper Fisk. Han. Moors n. Frederick Rummy, Erick Melk, Gunner Rami. Thema Harwood, Erick Cock. Peter Jackson, Peter Cook, Jr. Jan Salle, Jonas Nielson. Odle Swensons. James Sanderling, Mathias Mathias. J. Deves and William Oriam
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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.
1672. was still paying it to James Logan, 1709. Down to the arrival of William Fem, every acre of land. whether cultivated or not, paid a quit-rent of one and a fifth schepel of wheat.
The descendants of Duncan Williamson, one of the earliest landowners and settlers in the county, claim that he came to America from Scotland, with his wife. as early as town of root. We first hear of him. 1600. when land was granted him on the east side of the Schuylkill from the month up. Ile probably settled in Bensalem, 167 ;. In 1095 he bought too acres, adjoining his former tract. of Thomas Fairman for fut silver money-part of 400 acres Fairman bought of William Stenly and l'eter Banton, 1680. Dunk's ferry was named after him. He died about 1700, and was buried in the Johnson burying ground, Bensalem. Dunck Williams, or Williamson, left two children, sons. William and John. William married Elizabeth Claessen, daughter of Jan Claes- sen. an original grantee of 1000, and had five children, all sons, and
John married Elizabeth , had eleven children, and his will was proved September 21, 1701. The will of William is dated December 15. 1721. and was proved January 22, 1,22. His name is written "Williamson" in the will book, No. 1. this county. Of his wife we know nothing. Ilis son William left a widow and five sons- Jacob. Abraham, John, William and Peter. Peter. the great-grandson of Duncan, was the grandfather, on the mother's side. of Robert Crozier, Morrisville. A sister of Peter Williamson, who married Abra- ham Head, died. in Solebury. 1834. aged 101 years. The descendants of Dun- can Williamson intermarried with the families of Vandygrift, Walton, Burton. Crozier, Brewer, Vansant. Thompson and many others. A large number of his posterity live in this State and county. Among them was the late Peter Wil- liamson, grand treasurer of the Grand Masonic Lodge of Pennsylvania, as was also the late Mahlen Williamson. merchant, Philadelphia. 1519
The population on the Delaware increased very slowly. It had now been forty years since the Swedes made the first settlement, and there were 60014 in- habitants in all of Upland cover, which extended up the river to Trenton falls. 200 of which resided in what is new Delaware county. Wolves along the Dela- ware became so tranhk wong Fei ge to, the \'pland court authorized forty guilders to be paid for each seat, bat becoming worse the court ordered the setting of fifty-two "wolf pit- of trap houses."
1312 There has inta nie's spedition as to the correct Christian name of Duncan Williamson, and its decoration His descendants are at sea about it. His surname has had almost as much lowry taken with it. . me of his descendants calling themselves "Will- iamson," others "Williams." What licens there was for this we know not. Owen Moon, Jr., Trent at a descendant, o a letter to the author, thinks "Dunk" or "Dunck" a mistaken reading of the wind "leh" or "Duck" At various times he was called or written Dirck. Dopoka, Der k and brek The ferry on the Delaware, called after him. is known to this day as " thank's Ferry" where the name on his tombstone in the Johnson . burying ground. Enfin a "Diesem We'reepson" The Christian name of several of the vettiers of that person was ". Tp: & Albert, Direk Johnson, Direk Peter, Dirck of the Gloria Du chant pl. Jansen and Pink Keyser 1: Burck, of Duncan, Withamson were members The most poted descendant of the first settler was the ige for ' \ \ 4. 2 millionaire of Philadelphia, a native of Falls township, the county
I Dr. Smith
13.
HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.
Burlington island, in the Delaware opposite Bristol, came early into notice. It was recognized as belonging to the west shore from its discovery, and was included in Markham's first purchase. The Indians called it Mattiniconk, which name it generally bore down to Penn's arrival. It is so called on Lind- strom's map, 1054. When the English seized the, Delaware, 1064, it was in the possession of Peter Alricks, but confiscated with the rest of his property and restored. 1668, by order of Governor Lovelace. During the confiscation it got into the possession of Captain John Carre,13 probably a brother of Sir Robert -- and, for a time, was called Carre's island-in consideration of his "good conduct in storming and reducing fort Delaware." The earliest public use made of the island was the establishment on it of frontier trading and mili- tary posts. In a letter of Governor Lovelace to Captain William Tom, who had charge of affairs on the Delaware, written October 0, 1071, he recommends "a good work about Mattiniconk house, which, strengthened with a considerable guard. would make an admirable frontier." It was here that Alricks' two Dutch servants. Peter Velts Cheerder and Christian Samuels, were murdered, 1672. The expense of burying the two Dutchmen, 106 guilders, was paid by Jonas Nielson, but the Upland court refused to refund it.
November 14. 1678, Sir Edmund Andros leased the island for seven years to Robert Stacy, brother of Mahlon, one of the first to settle West Jersey, and Sheriff Cantwell put him in possession two weeks after. Stacy and George Hutchinson, who appears to have become associated with him in possession, con- veved the island to the town of Burlington, but he only conveyed his title under the lease. The deed could never be found. Danker and Sluyter, who passed down the Delaware. 1670, say of Burlington island: "This island formerly belonged to the Dutch Governor, who had made it a pleasure ground, or garden, built good houses upon it, and sowed and planted it. He also dyked and culti- vated a large piece of meadow or marsh, from which he gathered more grain than from any land which had been made from woodland into tillable land. The English Governor, at the Manhattons, now held it for himself, and had hired it out to some Quakers, who were living upon it. at present: It is the best and largest island in the South river."
Among the earliest acts of Assembly of Pennsylvania after the organiza- tion of the Province, was one confirming this island to Burlington, "the proceeds to be applied to maintain a free school for the education of youth in said town." In 17H. the legislative council of New Jersey authorized Lewis Morris, agent of the West Jersey society, to take up this island for Honorable Robert Hunter, the warrant for which was granted, 1710. It was surveyed by Thomas Gardner. and found to contain 400 acres. Hunter purchased it the same year. The people of Burlington in olden times resorted to it for recreation. When Gov- ernor Burnett. New York, occupied it, 1722, he caused vistas to be cut through the timber from a point on it to Burlington. Bristol, and up and down the river. In 1729 Peter Bard and James Alexander went to Burlington to examine the town's title to the island, and reported it not a good one. The inhabitants of
15 A record says that Governor Lovelace granted the island to Andrew Carre, and Margaret, his wife, in to; who assigned it to Arnoldus de la Grange, 10;2; in 1084 they granted it to Christopher Taylor, who sold it to Ralph Fretwell, 1oss, who died in Barbadoes May 17, 1692. Gilbert Cope says, this conveyance refers to Tinicum Island, in Delaware county.
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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.
Burlington ousted Hunter. 1720. When Governor Gooken, Pennsylvania, was about obtaining the grant of the islands in the Delaware to this state, it is said the Lords of Trade excepted this as not being on a footing with the other islands. 19
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