USA > Pennsylvania > Bucks County > History of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, from the discovery of the Delaware to the present time, Vol. I > Part 39
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Among the physicians of the past and present generations, of Solebury, worthy of notice are, John Wall, the son of Colonel Wall, who was born, 1787, and studied with Doctor John Wilson. He appeared to be a physi- cian by intuition, and would prescribe for the most difficult case and conduct it successfully without being able to tell why he used this or that remedy. He had a large practice, and was popular and successful, but drank to excess, and died at Pittstown, New Jersey, 1826, at the early age of forty ; David Forst, the son of the host at Rickman's, born 1789, a fellow student of Doctor Wall, located at Kingwood. 1807, and died, 1821, aged thirty-five years; Charles Cowdric was born in 1833. studied with Doctors D. W. C. and L. L. Hongh, practiced at Red Hill and Frenchtown, and died at the latter place, December 31. 1871. when he bid fair to become a physician of eminence. We have alluded else- where, to the Doctors Ingham, father and son, who ranked among the first physicians of their day, both born in Solebury.
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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.
When the Solebury Friends separated from Buckingham, in 1808, and Wilt a meeting-house, the joint school fund was divided, the former township getting $4,500 as her share. Since the establishment of public schools this fund has lain idle. Before 1791 Samuel Eastburn conveyed a lot to John Scarbor- vugh and others for a school-house, but we do not know where it was situated.
On the farm of William B. Leedom, near Lumberville, stands a white oak twenty-three and one-half feet in circumference, beneath whose roots flows a spring that supplies the farm stock with water. Under it is a cavern that affords shelter to the hogs and poultry, when it storms. From this farm the spire of the Presbyterian church, Doylestown, may be seen with a glass on a clear day. Prior to the Revolution the farm is said to have been owned by a stock com- pany for mining purposes, but was bought by Colonel George Wall, who occit- pied it during the war. He sold it to Mathias Cowell about the close of the century and removed to Lumberville where he died.
The Great Spring, likewise called by the names of Logan and Ingham, three miles from New Hope, is one of the most remarkable in the State. It pours a volume of cool, pure water from a ledge of redshale anl limestone and flows to the Delaware in a stream that turns several mills. It was a favorite resort of the Indians and is said to have been the birthplace of Teedyuscung. The small- pox broke out among the Indians at the spring soon after the country was set- tled and great numbers died. Not knowing it was infectious, many Indians visited the sick, contracted the disease and carried it home with them. Their treatment was sweating which was fatal. Believing it was sent by the whites for their ruin, it came near breaking Indian confidence in the white man. The last Indian children in Solebury and Buckingham, went to school at the Red school house on the Street road, 1794, with the father of the author, then a small bov. The late Charles Smith, Solebury, disputes with James Jamison, Buckingham, the honor of inventing a lime-kiln to burn coal. He is said to have built the first coal burning kiln, and that all others were fashioned after his invention.
The first paper mill in the county was built about 1790, by Samuel D. Ing- ham on the stream that flows from the Great Spring. He learned the trade of paper making at the mill on the Pennypack when young, and when out of his time, returned home and erected the mill. The paper was made by hand, for several years, and hauled to Philadelphia, and on it was printed the carly Bucks county newspapers. In 1836, a Fourdrinier machine was put in, the first mill in the state to use one. At this mill was made the first wrapping paper manu- factured from manila rope and bagging in Pennsylvania, by Anthony Kelty, who rented it. It is still in operation. It was once destroyed by fire and re- built. The second mill was nearer the Delaware at Wells' falls, just below New Hope. A third mill, erected there, ISSo, manufactured manila paper for wrap- ping.
We know but little of the population of Solebury at early periods. In 1,61 there were 13S taxables. In 1784 there were oSo whites, but no blacks, 166 dwellings and 150 outhouses. In 18to the population was 1,659; 1820, 2.002; 1830, 2,961,35 and 503 taxables ; 1840, 2,038; 1850, 2.486 whites, 148 colored ; 1860, 2,875 whites, 139 colored; 1870, the population was 2,791, of which 156 were of foreign birth, and 125 blacks ; 1880. 2.648 ; 1890, 2,371 ; 1900, 2,082.
38 The heavy increase over 1820, is evidently an error in the census figures.
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Road by Milchshell.
MAP
New Hope
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1798 13
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Muchils Ferry ' mills
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Bought Finda Capel / St eres.
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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.
The map of New Hope, the largest village in Solebury township, drawn and engraved from one of 1798, gives the names of all the owners of real estate in it at that time. We insert it in this chapter, with the following explanation vi the numbers upon the map, viz. : No. I, mills of B. and D. Parry ; 2, stables, ditto: 3, store and stone stables, ditto; 4, cooper shop, ditto; 5, orchard, ditto; o, house and garden, ditto; 7, ditto, ditto; S, Beaumont's hatter-shop ; 9 and 10, Beaumont's tavern and barn; II, house of Cephas Ross; 12, house of O. Hampton ; 13, house and barn of J. Pickering; 14, house of J. Osmond ; 15,, Vansant's saw-mill; 16, house; 17, house of B. and D. Parry; IS, house of B. Parry; 19, Vansant's house ; 20, house and shop of A. Ely ; 21, B. and D. Parry ; 22, Martha Worstall; 23, D. Parry's shop; 24, house, ditto; 25, Eli Doan's house ; 26, Enoch Kitchen's house; 27, John Poor's house; 28, barn, ditto: 29, Oliver Paxson's house ; 30, barn, ditto : 31 and 32, Paxson's salt store and stable; 33. Coolbaugh's house ; 34, William Kitchen's house. In a subsequent chapter will be found a lengthy account of the settlement of New Hope, with its present condition.39
39 Prior to 1745, there was not a two-horse wagon in Buckingham or Solebury, now among the richest and most populous townships in the county.
CHAPTER XIX.
HISTORIC CHURCHES.
1710 TO 1744.
Population previous to 1710 .- Churches between 1710 and 1720 .- St. James' Episcopal .- The graveyard .- Whitefield and Zinzendorf .- Churches established .- Whitefield at Neshaminy .- Second visit .- The "Great Awakening."-David Brainard .- The "old" and "new side."-Division at Neshaminy .-- The Log College and William Tennent .- Samuel Blair .- Charles Beatty .- Neshaminy church founded .- Nathaniel Irwin .- Mr. Belville .- Southampton Baptist church .- John Watts, Samuel Jones .- Mr. Van- horne, Mr. Montanye .- Deep Run church .- Francis McHenry .- James Greir .- New- town church .- Hugh Carlisle .- James Boyd .- Revolutionary .- Robert D. Morris .- New Britain Baptist church .- Child of a religious quarrel .- Growden gives ground .- Joseph Eaton .- Reconciliation with Montgomery .- Strength of church .- Ministers' names .- Tohickon Reformed church .- Founded 1740-43-Rev. Jacob Riesz, 1749 .- John Andrew Strassburger, most famous pastor .- Twelve pastors in 122 years.
The population of Bucks county was composed almost exclusively of English Friends previous to 1710. if we except the feeble settlement of Rhode Island Baptists at Cold Spring, Bristol township. Other sects and denominations came in at a later period ; in their order, the English Episcopalians, the Dutch Protestants, Scotch-Trish Presbyterians. Welsh Baptists, and German Luther- ans and Reformed. Each denomination marked a different people, and intro- duced a new element into provincial civilization. Between 1710 and 1720 three denominational churches were established, St. James' Episcopal, Bristol, what is now the Bensalem Presbyterian church, and the Low Dutch Reformed church of Northampton and Southampton.
The St. James' Episcopal church, built 1711, and dedicated July 12, 1712, owes its foundation to the "Society for the propagation of the gospel in foreign parts." The lot was the gift of "Anthony Burton, gentleman," and Queen Anne interested herself enough in the feeble parish to give it a solid silver communion service, stolen in after years. The first pastor was Reverend John Talbot, chaplain in the English navy and attached to the ship in which George Keith first came to America. He and Talbot founded St. Mary's church, Burlington, and the latter used to come across the river to preach at Bristol before that church was built. He officiated until 1727, and was succeeded by the following rectors ; Robert Wyman, 1733, William Lindsay, 1739, Colin Campbell, 1741, Mr. Odell, 1768, Mr. Lewis, 1776, Henry Waddell, 1806, Richard D. Hall,
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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.
1813, Mr. Jacquette, 1822, Albert A. Miller, J. V. E. Thorn, William H. Reese, 1825, Greenbury W. Ridgely, Thomas J. Jackson, William S. Perkins, 1833. Mr. Bartow. 1855, Joseph W. Pearson, 1857, D. W. W. Spear, 1861, Doctor John H. Drumm, 1863 to 1875. John C. Brooks, 1876 to 1877. Joseph W. Lee, 1878 to 1885. William Leggett Kolbe, 1887 to 1891, and William Brice Morrow, 1892. Doctor Drumm was a chaplain in the army during the Civil war, serving in the campaign on the Peninsula, and was subsequently rector of a parish in Rhode Island. The parish of St. James suffered during the Revo- lutionary war. The church was dismantled and turned into a cavalry stable, the graves trodden under foot. the congregation scattered. After the war it was used for a barn. It was without a rector, or regular service for thirty-one years until Mr. Waddell, Trenton, was called to officiate twice a month. 1806, for f50 a year. This venerable parish has passed through many tribulations but survived them all. The gifts of its early patrons have been mostly squan- dered yet it possesses valuable temporalities. The church edifice cost thirteen thousand dollars. 1857, and the congregation owns a comfortable rectory. Anthony Burton was one of the most active in the organization of the church. and John Rowland gave a lot on Mill street, 1715, to build a rectory on. Some of the carly rectors received but fioo a year. The grave yard is one of the old- est in the county, and in it lie the remains of some of Bristol's earliest inhabit- ants. Near the grave of Captain Green, who carried the first American flag to China, was buried Captain Sharp. Tenth United States infantry, who, while stationed just above Bristol, fell in a duel with the quartermaster of his regi- ment. 1798. Sharp was courting Miss Sarah McElroy, whose father kept the Cross Keys tavern, Bristol, many years. The duel grew out of a difficulty in relation to the lady and was fought on the farm owned by the late Charles T. Iredell just outside the borough limits. Sharp fell at the second fire. The lady never married.
The next thirty-five years were marked by unusual religious excitement and activity. It was during this period that the celebrated Whitefield visited America, and stirred up the hearts of the people to their lost condition. and Zinzendorf and his disciples from Hernhutt settled in the wilderness on the beat- tiful Lehigh. The religious fervor prevailing throughout the provinces mani- fested itself in this county and churches multiplied rapidly. The Neshaminy Presbyterian church was founded about 1720. possibly before. Southampton Baptist church. 1730, the Presbyterian church at Newtown in 1734. the church in the midst of the Scotch-Irish settlements along the Deep run, Bedminster, about the same time, and the New Britain Baptist church, an offshoot of Mont- gomery and the chill of a religious quarrel, 1744. In the establishment of these early churches, the parents of denominational religion in this county, we read in plain characters the history of the immigration of the period. for places of religious worship only kept pace with the spiritual wants of the population. It was during this period that the Brainards, with courage and self-denial equal to the carly Jesuit missionaries, labored among the Indians at the Forks of Delaware, and now and then came down into the more settled parts of the county to preach, at Neshaminy. Newtown and elsewhere. In 1726 Reverend William Tennent, one of the great lights of his generation, was called to the Neshaminy church, and subsequently established the Log College on the York road, half a mile below Hartsville, which. for years, was the only school south of New England at which young men could be fitted for the ministry.
The visit of Reverend George Whitefield to America, 1739, gave a new impetus to the religious enthusiasm, already prevailing. He landed at Phila-
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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.
delphia November 2, and a weck afterward, Mr. Tennent rode down from Neshaminy, on horseback, to welcome the great evangelist. who writes in his diary that he was "much comforted by the coming of one Mr. Tennent. an old gray-headed disciple and soldier of Jesus Christ, who keeps an academy about twenty miles from Philadelphia." On his return from New York, near the close of the month, Mr. Whitefield came by way of Neshaminy to visit Mr. Tennent. Leaving Trenton on the morning of November 22, he traveled across the country on horseback, in company with several friends, arriving at the church about noon. He was announced to preach there, and, on his arrival, found about three thousand people gathered in the meeting-house yard. He addressed them in words that melted the great audience, and caused many to cry aloud. The meeting was closed by an exhortation by Gilbert Tennent. the singing of a psalm and a blessing. Mr. Whitefield, who went home with Mr. Tennent and staid all night, writes in his diary: "He entertained us like one of the ancient patriarchs. His wife to me seemed like Elizabeth, and he like Zachary; both. as far as I can find, walk in all the ordinances and command- ments of the Lord. blameless." In the morning he started for Philadelphia where he arrived that afternoon, stopping long enough at Abington to preach to two thousand people from a porch window of the meeting-house. and. "al- though the weather was cold, they stood very patiently in the open air." He returned to Abington in April, and preached to between three thousand and four thousand people.1
April 23, 1745. Mr. Whitefield made a second visit to Neshaminy. Leaving Philadelphia about eight a. m .. accompanied by several friends, he arrived at three, having "baited at a friend's in the midway." That afternoon he preached in the meeting-house yard to about five Inindred people, and "great numbers were much melted down." That evening he rode to Montgomery, eight miles, where he staid all night and, the next morning continued on to Skippack. sixteen miles further. where he preached to two thousand persons, passing through what "was seemingly a wilderness part of the country." May 7, Mr. Whitefield again came into the county, crossing the river to Bristol. where he preachied to about four hundred people and then returned to Philadelphia. At this time Whitefield is deseribed as "of middle stature, slender body, fair complexion, comely appearance, and extremely bashful and modest. His de- livery was warm and affectionate, and his gestures natural, and the most beau- tiful imaginable." Franklin, who attended his sermons, said : "He had a loud and clear voice, and articulated his words so perfectly that he might be heard and understood at a great distance. I computed that he might well be heard by thirty thousand."
In 1745, a religious revival and excitement, called the "Great Awakening." broke out in various parts of the country, extending into this county. It was noted for several marvelous instances of persons being thrown into contortions, called "jerks." while under the influence of preaching. Some fainted, others saw visions, and many were moved in various other ways. It broke out in the Neshaminy congregation in the spring of the year. and, in June, David Brain- ard, the great missionary among the Indians, came down from the Forks to assist Mr. Beatty the pastor. He tells us, in his journal, that on Sunday there
I He says, in his journal, there were near 1,000 horses tied about the meeting- house when he preached at Neshaminy, and it struck him favorably that the people did not sit on their horses as in England.
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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.
were assembled from three to four thousand persons, and that during his ser- mons many were moved to tears.
During this period a spiritual skeleton introduced itself amid the revivals and awakenings that stirred the religious world. Things were far from har- monious. Presbyterians became divided, and for forty years the Old Side and New Side stood bristling at each other across an imaginary line. It was the ancestor of the war of "schools" that came a century later. In a word the di- vision was here. The Old Side believed all should "be regarded and treated as regenerate who did not give evidence, to the contrary, by manifest heresy or immorality," and that all baptised persons should be communicants. This doctrine was held by what was called the strict Presbyterians from Scotland and Ireland, with few exceptions. The New Side, principally persons from New England, held that all, in whom no evidence of regeneration could be found, should be excluded iron communion and the ministry. The Log College2 was a New Side seminary, and the New Brunswick Presbytery leaned the same way. The division caused great trouble in the synod from 1728 to 1741, when the schism, which separated the New Brunswick Presby- tery from the rest of the body, was consummated. The Neshaminy church was not a unit. That part of the congregation adhering to the Old Side wor- shiped in the old church, in the graveyard, under the pastoral care of Reverend Francis McHenry, Deep Run, while the New Side held services in the new church, the site of the present one on the bank of the creek. This continued until about 1768, when the synod, having become united, the two sides came together and worshiped in the same building.
The religious fervor of the period probably led to the establishment of the Log College. William Tennent, its founder, and in fact, its everything, took a leading part in all the discussions of the day, and exerted himself to advance the cause of religion. Whether the school he taught in Bensalem was theologi- cal is not known, but that near Neshaminy soon assumed this character, and has now become historic. He made a clearing in the timber on a fifty aere tract given him by his kinsman, James Logan, and erected a log building about twenty feet square.3 It was one of the earliest classical schools in the Province, and was called "Log College" in derision. Mr. Tennent was assisted in the school for a year by his son Gilbert, who was licensed to preach, 1725. As this was the only school within the bounds of the Presbyterian church, at which young men could be fitted for the ministry, he soon had as many scholars as he conld receive. The Log College prepared for the pulpit some of the ablest di- vines of the century. Mr. Tennent was born in Ireland about 1673, and was a distant relative of the Laird of Dundas and the Earl of Panmure. He was edu- cated for the Episcopal church and ordained. 1704. In 1702 he married a daughter of Mr. Kennedy, a Presbyterian minister, came to America. 1718, was licensed by the Philadelphia Presbytery, first called to East Chester, to Bensalem. 1721, and to Neshaminy, 1726, where he died, 1746. His widow died in Philadelphia, 1753. He was a man of very fine education, and spoke the Latin language with elegance and purity.
We know but little of the Log College beyond what can be said of its distinguished founder and the eminent men educated there. Its story of use- fulness is told in the lives of its alumni. Mr. Tennent had four sons, all born
2 William Tennent renounced the authority of the Presbytery, 1739.
3 He probably commenced the school in his own dwelling, for the land was not deeded to him until 1728. Mr. Logan frequently sent provisions to Mr. Tennent.
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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.
in Ireland, three of them educated at the college; Gilbert, born 1703, died 1764, William, born 1705. died 1777, John, born 1706, died 1732, and Charles, born 1711. They all became distinguished ministers in the Presbyterian church, and William was the subject of a remarkable trance that attracted universal at- tention at the time. Gilbert accompanied Whitefield to Boston, 1740, where his preaching was received with great favor. He was largely instrumental in bringing about a division in the church. Whitefield said the Log College had turned out eight ministers before the fall of 1739, including Tennent's four sons, but many more were educated there. All traces of this early cradle of Presbyterianism have long since passed away and its exact location is hardly known. A piece of one of its logs is preserved as a memento in a cane the late Reverend Robert Belville presented to Doctor Miller, Princeton, New Jer- sey. The school was maintained for twenty years, but did not long survive the retirement and death of its founder. Among the distinguished pupils of the Log College, we are able to mention the following :
Samuel Blair, born in Ireland, 1712, came to America while young, was one of the earliest pupils and licensed to preach and ordained, 1733. He was called to the pastorate of New Londonderry, Pennsylvania, church where lie died. President Davis called him "the incomparable Blair."
Charles Beatty, son of an officer of the British army, born in Ireland about 1715, and came to America. 1729. He began life as a peddler but stopping at the Log College with his pack, Mr. Tennent, discovering he was a good classi- cal scholar, advised him to dispose of his goods and study for the ministry. He succeeded his preceptor at Neshaminy, 1743, married a daughter of Governor Reading, New Jersey, 1746, was present at the coronation of George III, presented at court, 1758, and died in the West Indies, 1772. He was the ances- tor of the late Jolin Beatty, Doylestown :
William Robinson, son of an eminent Quaker physician near Carlisle, Eng- land, was born the beginning of the eighteenth century. He came to America when a young man, studied at the Log College, was ordained, 1741, and settled at Saint George, Delaware, where he died. 1746. He was stationed for a time at Craig's and Hunter's settlements north of the Lehigli. He was considered one of the most effective preachers of his day ;
Samuel Finley, born in Ireland, 1715, came to America, 1734, ordained, 1742, was pastor at Milford, Connecticut, and Nottingham, Maryland, and elected president of the College of New Jersey, 1761, where he died, 1766. The degree of D. D. was conferred on him by the University of Edinburgh ;
John Roan, born in Ireland, 1716, came to America in his youth, studied at the Log College and was settled over the united congregations of Paxtang and Derry (one charge), and Mount Joy, Pennsylvania, where he died in 1775;
Daniel Lawrence, born on Long Island, 1718, and licensed, 1745. He preached at Forks of Delaware until 1751, when he removed to Cape May where he died. 1766:
James McCrea probably came from Ireland. He was licensed, 1739, and ordained, 1741 ; was pastor over several congregations in New Jersey, and died 1769. He was the father of the unfortunate Jane McCrea, who was murdered by the British Indians, 1777.32 He had nine sons and two daughters ;
31/2 Janc McCrea was murdered and scalped by a party of Indians while being con- veyed to her betrothed, an officer in the British army. A quarrel among the Indians was said to have led to it. It occurred near Fort Edward a few days before the battle
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HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.
Jolin Rowland, a native of Wales, was licensed to preach, 1837, and died about 1747. He preached in New Jersey and Pennsylvania and was a man of commanding eloquence. He was known as "hell-fire Rowland" among the irreligious. In personal appearance he closely resembled a noted scoundrel, was once arrested and prosecuted for him and acquitted with difficulty ;
William Dean, born about 1719, but not known where, was probably edu- cated at the college. He was licensed to preach, 1742, and officiated at the Forks of Delaware and elsewhere until 1745, when he was sent missionary to Virginia, where he died, 1748.
David Alexander came from Ireland, and is also thought to have been educated at the Log College. He was ordained and installed at Pequa, 1738, but passed out of sight. 1741.
Probably John Roan and Doctor John Rogers both assisted in teaching. or possibly took charge of the school when infirm health, toward the close of his life, interrupted the duties of Mr. Tennent. Of the Log College pupils. fourteen became Presbyterian ministers. This institution was the pioneer school of those which made Hartsville an educational centre for fifty years in the last century.
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