USA > Pennsylvania > Bucks County > History of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, from the discovery of the Delaware to the present time, Vol. I > Part 37
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16 Andrew did not permanently leave Bucks county until 1794.
17 Andrew Ellicott was appointed commissioner on behalf of the United States, to determine the boundary between them and Spain, 1796, returning home the spring of 1800 after an absence of nearly four years. Upon his arrival at Philadelphia he wrote the following letter to his uncle, Colonel George Wall, of Solebury:
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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.
Richard Townsend, a celebrated minister among Friends, of London, a Welcome passenger, and carpenter by trade, settled near Chester, 1682, with his wife, and a son born during the voyage. He removed first to Germantown and then to near Abington, whence his grandson, Stephen, came to Solebury about 1735. He was a carpenter and miller, and assisted Samuel Armitage to erect the first grist-mill built on the Cuttalossa. One end of the old Townsend house, probably the oldest in the township, was built 1756 by Stephen Townsend, and the other end some thirty of forty years later. The windows had broad sash and small folding shutters, the fire-place was wide and capacious, and the out- side door garnished with a wooden latch. It was taken down, 1848, by the father of Cyrus Livezey, who erected a handsome building on the site. It was on this farm that the celebrated Townsend apple is said to have originated. Tradition says this apple took its name from Richard Townsend, who, hearing of a wonderful apple tree, got the Indians to take him to it, which he found standing in a large clearing near Lumberville. He bought the clearing, but the Indians reserved the free use of apples to all who wished them. Samuel Preston said that in his time Stephen Townsend owned the original tree from which he, Preston, cut grafts, 1766.
Daniel Howell, who settled in Solebury, was a sou of Thomas Ilowell, of Haxleston, county Stafford, England, born about 1660, and came with his father to America in the Welcome, 1682. He first settled on a plantation on Gloucester creek. now Camden county, New Jersey, given him by his father. This he sold to his brother Mordecai Howell, 1687. He married Hannah Lak- in, Philadelphia, September 4, 1686, whither he removed, 1690, and served on the grand jury, 1701. He subsequently removed to Solebury, Bucks county, where he resided until his death. September, 1739. Just at what time he came to Bucks county is not known, but prior to 1734, for, on June 10, that year, he conveyed to his granddaughter, Elizabeth Howell, two hundred acres of his proprietary land in New Jersey. His wife probably died before him, as she is not named in his will, which was executed April 14, 1739, and proved Septent- ber 28. One of the witnesses to it was Chris. Search, and was recorded at Doy- lestown. Daniel and Hannah Howell had five children; Daniel, born about 1688, married Elsie Reading, and died 1733: Hannah, married Job Howell : Benjamin, married Catherine Papen, died September 6. 1774; Joseph, married Gertrude -, died 1776; Catherine, married Wiliam Rittenhouse, of German- town, and died at Amwell, Hunterdon county, New Jersey, 1767. His will, dated August 27, 1761, was proved October 19, 1767, and in it, names his wife. Catharine, sons. William, Isaac, Lott, Moses and Peter, and daughters, Pris- cilla, Susan, Ilannah and Anna. Catharine Howell is thought to have been the second wife. William Rittenhouse was of the same family as David Ritten-
Dear Unele :
Philadelphia, May 25th, ISoo.
It is with pleasure that I acquaint you with my safe arrival, and return to my family and friends, after an absence of three years and eight months. Since I saw you last. I have been exposed to hardships and dangers, and constantly surrounded with difficulties. but, owing to my good constitution and perseverance, I have completed the arduous task entrusted to me by my country.
I wish much to see you, and family, and intend paying a visit to my friends in Bucks in a few weeks. At present, I am indisposed with ague and fever. I expect Doe'r Rush to see me after breakfast. Please to give my respects to your family and believe me to be your affectionate nephew.
Col. George Wall.
(Signed) : Andrew Ellicott.
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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.
house, the distinguished astronomer. Of this family of Howells was descended 1.icut. William Howell, father of Jefferson Davis's widow.
John Scofield, Buckinghamshire, England, settled in Solebury when a young man probably before 1720. Ile was married at the Falls meeting to .Ann Lenoire, a French Huguenot lady who had been banished from Acadia. They had nine children, from whom have descended a numerous offspring in this and other states. In this county we find their descendants among the Williamses, Schofields, Fells, and other respectable families. A grandson married Rebecca, sister of the late John Beaumont, and his daughter Sarah, who married Ben- jamin Leedom, was the mother of the late Mrs. M. H. Jenks. John Schofield was the great-grandfather of Joseph Fell, Buckingham, who descends in the maternal line from Samuel, the fourth son of the first progenitor in the country. It is related of John Schofield, that hearing his dog barking down in the meadow one evening, he took his axe and went to see what was the matter. He saw there a large animal up a tree, and the dog a few feet off. Striking the tree with the ax, the animal leaped down on the dog, and while they were struggling he struck the varmint on the back with the ax and killed it. It proved to be a large sized panther.
The Elys, of Bucks county, are descended from Joshua Ely, Dunham, Not- tinghamshire, England, who came over 1684 and settled on the site of Trenton, New Jersey, on a four hundred aere traet he bought of Mahlon Stacy, his brother-in-law. He was married twice, the first time to Mary Senior, who bore him six children-Joshua and George born in England, John at sea, Hugh 1680, Elizabeth and Sarah after their arrival. Upon the death of his first wife, he married Rachel Lee, 1698, by whom he had two children, Benjamin and Ruth, twins. Joshua Ely was a prominent man in the community, hokling the office of justice of the peace, and dying at Trenton, 1702. Of the children of Joshua Ely, George, born 1682, married Jane Pettit, 1703, daughter of Nathan- iel, lived on the paternal estate and died there 1750. He left three sons and three daughters, John, George, Joseph, Mary Green, Sarah, wife of John Dagworthy, Rebecca, wife of Eliakin Anderson, and a grandson. George Price, son of a deceased daughter. Elizabeth. Joshua, the second son of George, born March 16, 1704. and married Elizabeth Bell, New Jersey, removed to Solebury, Bucks county, 173;, and settled on three hundred and seventy-five acres he purchased between Centre Hill and Phillips mill, the greater part of which is still in the family. Of his children, Joshua married Elizabeth Hughes, George, Sarah Magill ; John, Hugh, Sarah, Hannah and Jane. The late Jonathan Ely, several years member of Assembly, was a grandson of Joshua. George Ely was a member of the Provincial Assembly, 1760. Hugh Ely, son of Joshua, the im- migrant, born in New Jersey, 1689, removed to Buckingham, 1720, purchasing four hundred acres on the east end of the "Lundy tract," extending from the York road to the mountain, and from Greenville to Broadhurst's lane. His children were Hugh, born 1715, married Elizabeth Blackfan, Thomas married Sarah Lowther, Anna married John Wilkinson, and Ann married Peter Mat- son. In 1773. Thomas removed to Harford county, Maryhind, with his six younger children, William, Joseph, Mahlon, Martha, Rachel and Ruth ; his sons. Thomas and Hugh, and daughter Ann, who married Thomas Ellicott. following him, 1774. General Hugh Ely, Baltimore, a distinguished soldier
and statesman and several years president of the Maryland senate, born, 1795. and died 1862, was a son of Mahlon Ely above mentioned.
Thomas Ross, born in county Tyrone, Ireland, of Episcopal parents, 1708, immigrated to Bucks county and settled in 1728. He located on the
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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.
Manor lands outside the London Company tract. He probably brought a sister with him, or she may have followed, for Elizabeth Ross was married to Thomas Bye, 9th mo., 1732. Thomas Ross joined the Wrightstown Meeting February 12, 1729, and became a distinguished minister among Friends. He took great interest in the welfare of the young. He married Kesiah Wilkinson, July or August, 1731, Abraham Chapman and James Harker being appointed to attend the wedding and "see it decently accomplished." He passed his long life mostly in Bucks county, devoting much of his time to religious work. He paid a religious visit to England, 1784, accompanied by several of his male and female friends, embarking in the ship Commerce, Captain Trenton, the same who subsequently became a distinguished officer in the United States Navy. They were anxious to reach their destination in time for the Yearly Meeting, but the captain said it was impossible. It is related, that one day, while Mr. Ross was seated beside Rebecca Jones, he said to her "Rebecca, cans't thou keep a secret ?" She replied in the affirmative, when he added. "We shall see England this day two weeks." Land was seen the morning of that day, and it is said the captain acknowledged that had not the passengers been able to see what the officers and sailors could not. the vessel would have gone on the rocks, and been wrecked. After attending the Yearly Meeting at London and tray- eling in Ireland and the North of Scotland where he attended many religious meetings, Mr. Ross reached the home of Lindley Murray, Holdgate, near York, where he was taken sick and died June 13, 1786, aged seventy-eight. The letter announcing his death to his widow, was written by John Pember- ton, who spoke of the deceased in high terms. Among his last words were, "I see no cloud in my way. I die in peace with all men."18 Among his de- scendants were Judge Jolin Ross, of the State Supreme Court, Hon. Thomas Ross, Judge Heury P. Ross, and State Senator George Ross, all of Doylestown, deceased. William Ross, probably a grandson of the immigrant, and a native of this county, was a merchant of Philadelphia, and died on the island of Saint Domingo, 1807.
IS Thomas Ross, Jr., son of Thomas, Sr., was a stanch friend of the Colonies during the Revolution, and he and the Wrightstown meeting clashed, that body "reading him out." Of this transaction the meeting record, of 7th of 12th mo., 1779, contains the following : "Whereas, Thomas Ross, Jr .. having had his birth and education among Friends, but having so far disregarded the testimony of truth against war and fighting as to pay a fine demanded of him for not associating to learn the art of war, and Friends having treated with him in order to bring him to a sense of his misconduct ; yet he continues to justify himself in so doing; therefore, we give forth this as a testimony against such practices, and can have no further unity with him as a member of our Society until he comes to a sense of his error, and condemn the same to the satisfaction of Friends, which he may do is our sincere desire for him. Signed in and on behalf of the said meeting by
(Signed) : "J. CHAPMAN, Clerk."
When the clerk had finished reading the above testimony, Mr. Ross stood up and read . the following declaration to the meeting :
"Whereas, the Society of the people called Quakers in North America, in several important particulars in both theory and practice, have deserted their ancient creed, and inasmuch as in their ecclesiastical decisions and transactions, they have become extremely partial. inconsistent and hypocritical. I do therefore give forth this, my testimony, against their present practices and innovations, and can have no farther unity with them as a member of their Society, until they shall add to a profession more consistent with Christianity, a practice more agreeable to their profession. Signed on behalf of himself by "THOMAS ROSS, JR."
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281
HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.
The Rices came into the township about one hundred and fifty years ago. Edward Rice, the great-grandfather of Samuel H. Rice, was born in the parish of Killaman, county Tyrone, Ireland, where he lived until he immigrated to Pennsylvania. He brought with him a certificate of good character signed by the rector and church wardens, and a protection or passport from the proper authority, both dated June 12, 1736. It is presumed he came immediately after- ward, and made his home in Buckingham.
The Riches are descended from John Rich, who purchased land at the head of Cuttalossa creek. 1730. He could trace his decent, it is alleged, to Richard Rich, who came to America in the Mayflower, and settled at Truro, on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. In 1740, John Rich bought a large farm in Plumstead township, south of the meeting-house. He had several sons, only one of whom. Joseph, is known to have any descendants in Bucks county. He married Eliza- beth Brown, and had one daughter. Mary, who married Jonathan Wells, and removed to Chester county. Of his five sons who lived to manhood. Alexander, Jonathan, John, Joseph and Josiah, Alexander married Mary Michener and had three sons. John, Joseph and William ; Jonathan married Rosanna Kemble, and had one son, Anthony, and. after her death, he married Mary Snodgrass, and by her had two sons, Doctor James S., and Josiah : Jolin married Mary Preston, and had one son, Moses, and three daughters, Susan, Martha, and Elizabeth ; Joseph married Elizabeth Carlile, and had two sons, John and Joseph, and two daughters, Sarah and Elizabeth : Joseph, youngest son of Joseph Rich, married Martha Preston, had one son. William, and two daughters, Elizabeth and Mary. The descendants of these several families are quite numerous, living mostly in Bucks county.
We do not know when the Hutchinsons came into Solebuiry, but early in the eighteenth century. Matthias, a descendant of the first settler, born, 1743. was a remarkable man in some respects, and wielded much influence. He carried on mason-work and plastering extensively, walking twenty miles to his work in the morning and the first man on the scaffold. Such energy brought its reward and he became wealthy. He enjoyed the confidence of his fellows, and was appoint- ed justice of the peace and afterward Associate-Judge, which he resigned about 1812. About 1765 he married Elizabeth Bye. whose mother was Elizabeth Ross, sister of Thomas Ross, the preacher. Mr. Hutchinson owned the fine farm subsequently William Stavely's, where he died, 1823, at the age of eighty. He was a soklier in the French and English war and near Wolfe when he fell on the Plains of Abraham.
William Necley, the first of the name in the county, born in Ireland, August 31. 1742, came to this country when a small boy with his widowed mother. She married Charles Stewart, Upper Makefield, with whom her son lived in his minority. He learned the milling business with Robert Thomp- son,19 Solebury, and married his daughter June 24. 1766. His father-in-law erected buildings for him on his tract, where he lived and died. While Wash- ington's army was encamped in that neighborhood. 1776. several officers quar- tered at his house, and James Monroe spent some time there after being wound- ed at Trenton. William Neeley died July 10, 1818, and his widow, February 13, 1834. in her eighty-sixth year. He had two children, a son and daughter ;
19 Robert Thompson had the reputation of never turning a poor man away from his mill with his bag empty, whether he had money or not. The old Thompson-Neeley mill stands near the Delaware canal, but was ruined when that improvement was made.
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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.
the son, Robert T., marrying Sarah Beaumont, from whom descended John T. Neeley, Solebury, and the daughter, Jane, married John Poor, principal of the first young ladies' seminary established in Philadelphia.24
The distinguished Zebulon M. Pike, who fell at York, Canada, IS13. spent several years of his life in Solebury, if not born there. As will be remembered the Pikes were carly land owners in Solebury, Joseph owning land there before
GEN. ZEBULON M. PIKE.
20. In 1853 R. J. and W. Neeley established themselves in the lumber business of Trento .. 21 New Jersey, January 5, 1779, and that his father, Zebulon Pike, with his family soon afterward removed to Lumberton, where he resided several
20 In 1853 R. J. and W. Neely established themselves in the lumber business in Virginia. They were sons of John T. Neeley, and their venture proved a success. In 1801, John Neeley, a son of one of them, succeeded to the business, which he carries on in Portsmouth, Va., on a large scale.
21 There is no positive evidence that General Pike was born in Solebury, but likely somewhere in that vicinity, but certainly in Bucks county, where his father resided several years before his son's birth.
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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.
years.22 That was his home, 1786, when himself and wife conveyed to Jonathan Kinsey, Solebury, a tract of land in Northumberland county. In the deed he is styled "Captain." General Pike probably received his school education in Sole- bury. The family lived in a red frame house, torn down, 1834, on the site of Paxson's mill. While living there the father subscribed the oath of allegiance to the Colonies. He was a soldier in the Revolution, served in St. Clair's expe- dition, 1791, commissioned captain in the regular army, March, 1792, lieutenant colonel, 1812, and died near Lawrenceburg, Indiana, 1834, at the age of eighty- three. General Pike entered the army as lieutenant, March 3, 1799, and his military life is too well known to be repeated. Among his services to the gov- ernment were several valuable explorations, that to discover the headwaters of the Arkansas and Red rivers, 1806, leading to his capture and imprisonment in Mexico. The author has been in the old adobe building at the north end of the palace where he was confined at Santa Fe.23 A distinguishing feature of Gen- eral Pike was a fine head of bright red hair.2+
The Kenderdines,"3 a prominent family in Solebury for many years, came into the township less than a century ago, although much longer in the state. The name is rarely met with. The family is supposed to have been driven from Holland to Wales by religious persecution, sometime in the seventeenth century. Several of the name are now living in the vicinity of Stafford, England, near where the Holland refugees settled. The tradition of descent runs down through two branches of the family, and is believed to be correct. Thomas, the ancestor of the American Kenderdines, immigrated from Llan Edlas, North Wales, about 1700, and settled at Abington, Philadelphia county. Of his three children, Mary married a Hickman and probably went to Chester county, Richard settled on the property lately owned by John Shay, Horsham, as early as 1718, and Thomas on the Butler road half a mile below Prospectville, whose dwelling is still standing with the letters T. and D. K. cut on a stone in the gable. The late John E. Kenderdine, fourth in descent from Thomas, was born in 1799 and died in 1868. He removed to Lumberton 1834, and spent his life here in active business pursuits-milling, farming, lumbering, erecting buildings, etc. He was identified with all improvements, and gave the locality a greater business repute than it had enjoyed before. He was an active politician. In 1843 he was defeated for the State Senate by two votes, and again in 1866 for Asso- ciate Judge, with his whole ticket. His two sons, Thaddeus S. and Robert, served in the Civil war, the latter being killed at Gettysburg. Watson Ken- derdine, son of John E. Kenderdine, succeeded his father in business on his death, and filled his place in social and political life. He was born at Horsham,
22 There is a tradition that General Pike was born on the farm owned by Ezekiel Everitt, Solebury, and a further tradition among the old men, that when a boy he was noted for his cruelty.
23 The roof of the old building, in which Lieut. Pike was confined, at Santa Fe, fell in the day David Meriwether, the newly appointed Governor arrived there, 1853, the somewhat superstitious Mexicans considering this a good omen.
24 It is claimed that the family of Pikes, from which the General was descended, was settled at Newbury, Massachusetts, as early as 1635, whence a member removed to Middlesex county, New Jersey, where his father was born, 1751.
25 The distinguished English authoress, Miss Muloch, makes use of the name for two of her heroines in "Woman's Kingdom," Edna and Lettie, out of respect for a very intimate friend of her mother's, named Kenderdine.
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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.
1830, four years prior to his father's removal to Bucks county, and married a daughter of Nathan and Martha Preston, Plumstead. Ile died March 19, 1900, leaving a widow and three daughters, two married and one single
The Ruckmans settled early in Plumstead, where the late John Ruckman of Solebury was born, 1777. The family trace the descent back to John Ruck- man, who immigrated from England to Long Island at a very early day. Tlience they removed into New Jersey, where John's grandson, Thomas, was born, 1721. John Ruckman's father, James, was born, 1748, married Mary, sister of Colonel William Hart, of Plumstead, whither he removed, and died there, 1834. John Ruckman moved into Solebury on his marriage and probably settled at Lumberville, where he was living, 1807, which year he removed out into the township on the farm where his family now reside and where he died, 1861. He was prominent in politics, and was Associate-Judge of the county several years.
William Stavely, a prominent resident of Solebury, many years, died at his residence "Partridge Hall," March 22, 1877. He was a descendant of Jolin Stavely, who settled in Kent county, Maryland, 1680, and was born in Freder- ick county, June 24, 1800. He learned printing in Philadelphia, and carried on the business there several years. He established the Episcopal Recorder. In 1839, he purchased the Guy Bryan plantation in Solebury, and there spent the remainder of his useful life. His estate was one of the finest in the county, and he did much to improve agriculture. It was largely through Mr. Stavely's efforts Trinity Episcopal church, Centreville, was built, and he was a liberal contributor to all its necessities.
The first flour-mill in Solebury was undoubtedly that of Robert Heath, on the Great Spring stream, 1707; before that time the inhabitants getting their supply of flour from Middletown and the Pennypack. About 1730 Ambrose Barcroft and John Hough erected a "water corn-mill" on the Paunacussing, at Carversville, which in 1765 was known as Joseph Pryor's. Besides this there were Phillips's mill, 1765, Canby's in 1762, and Jacob Fretz's fulling-mill in 1789. The Ellicotts owned the mills at Carversville several years. The Armi- tage mill, on the Cuttalossa, was among the early mills in the township, built by Samuel Armitage, who immigrated from Yorkshire, England, to Solebury, be- fore 1750. It is still standing and in use, but it and the fifty acres belonging passed out of the family, 1861, into the possession of Jonathan Lukens, Hor- sham. Two hundred acres adjoining the mill property were recently in posses- sion of the family. Samuel Armitage died, 1801, at the age of eighty-five. The first mill at Lumberton was built in 1758 by William Skelton, who continued in possession to 1771, when he soll it to Jolin Kugler. He rebuilt it berween that time and 1782, when he sold it to George Warne. It was subsequently used for a store, dwelling and cooper-shop, and taken down 1828.
John Kugler came to America, 1753. when a boy of thirteen, landing at Philadelphia. Being unable to pay his passage his time was sold to a Mr. East- burn, who lived near Centre Hill, Solebury township, who brought the young immigrant up. Kugler afterward learned the milling trade; married a Miss Worthington and had one son, Joseph. He married Elizabeth Snyder, who bore him four sons. John Kugler married twice, his second wife being Mrs. Rambo. of South Carolina. He purchased the tavern property at Centre Bridge, and while living there, bought the Lumberton mill. Ilis grandson. John, also a miller, was the owner of four hundred and sixty-three acres on the east bank of the Delaware, and the village of Frenchtown was laid out and built upon it. This land was conveyed to him, 1782-83. We know of no person living in the
1
KUGLER'S MILL, LUMBERTON.
county bearing the name of Kugler. Some of the descendants of Jolin Kugler are said to be living above Frenchtown, New Jersey, and also of Mrs. Rambo- Kugler, by her first husband. Kugler removed to New Jersey soon after his purchase and passed the remainder of his life there. He was a man of great enterprise, built a sawmill, burnt lime, farmed and freighted goods on the Delaware to and from Philadelphia, in a Durham boat.
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