USA > Pennsylvania > Bucks County > History of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, from the discovery of the Delaware to the present time, Vol. I > Part 52
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391
HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.
found in Plumstead differs from those of the valley of the Schuylkill, and are better fashioned. At Lower Black's Eddy, near the hotel, between the canal an I river, the Indians probably manufactured their stone weapons and imple- ments. Here are found chippings of flints, hornblend and jasper from which they were made, and, by careful search, an occasional spear and arrow-head in perfect condition is picked up. It was probably the site of an Indian village.
The last wolf killed in Bucks county was caught in Plumstead about 1800. John Smith, then a small boy, set a trap to catch foxes but it was gone one morning. Believing some animal had carried it off, he followed the trail and found it caught in a neighboring fence with a large gray wolf fast in it. He went to the house and told his father, who fetched his rifle and shot him. The trap was in possession of Charles R. Smith, Plumstead, some years ago.
The extension of what is now known as the Easton road from the county line to Dyer's mill, in 1723, was probably the first road opened in Plumstead. In 1726 Ephraim Fenton, James Shaw, Alexander Brown, John Brown. Thomas Brown, Jr., William Michener. Israel Doane, and Isaac Pennington, inhabitants of the township, petitioned the court to lay out a road "from the northeast corner of Thomas Brown's land," now Gardenville, in the most direct line to the York road, which it met near Centreville. This was a section of the Durham road, and gave the inhabitants of the upper end of the township an outlet to Newtown and Bristol. The road was probably laid out about this time. In 1729 a road was petitioned for from the upper side of the township to Dyer's mill, which now gave a continuous road to Philadelphia. In 1741 another was laid out from the Easton road above Danborough, via Sand's corner to Centreville, coming out on the Doylestown turnpike half a mile west of Centreville, and is now called the Street road. Before that time the inhabit- ants of the lower part of Plumstead and the upper part of Buckingham had no direct road down to Newtown. In 1762 this road was extended to Phin- steadville, then known as James Hart's tavern. A road was laid out from Dyer's road ( Easton road ), at the Plumstead and Bedminster line, to Henry Krout's mill on Deep run, in the latter township, and thence to the Tohicken, 1750. In 1758 a road was opened from the Easton to the Durham road. About 1738 a road was laid out from Gardenville ( Chalfont ) across the country to But- ler's, late Shellenberger's, mill near Whitehallville, which has always been known as the Ferry road, That from Danborough to lower Black's Eddy was laid out in 1738. The first road from the Easton road to the Delaware, at Point Pleas- ant, was laid out in April, 1738, on petition of the inhabitants of Plumstead. It ended at the river at the mouth of Tohickon creek, on the land of Enoch Pearson, who then kept the ferry. The viewers were William Chadwick. William Michener. Robert Smith, and Cephas Child, and it was surveyed by John Chapman. The road was not put on record until 1770. It left the Easton road at Gardenville. The turnpike to Point Pleasant leaves the bed of the old road about a mile cast of the Friends' meeting . house. It is still open, but not much traveled.
The villages of Plumstead are, Gardenville, Danborough, Plumsteadville and Point Pleasant. One hundred years ago Gardenville was known as "Brownsville." after one of the oldest families in the township. Its tavern swung the sign of the "Plow" as early as 1760, which year William Reeder petitioned the court to recommend him to the governor for license to keep it, but the application was rejected. The old tavern-house was burned down, Sunday night, April 9. 1871, and a new one built on the spot. Abraham and
392
HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.
Mahlon Doane were buried from what was the first tavern in the place, but then a private dwelling, occupied by their aunt. It had been kept as a tavern many years before that, first by Patrick Poe, some hundred and sixty years ago. The second tavern was built by William Reeder, and is now occu- pied as a dwelling. It was kept in the Revolution by William McCalla, and made a depot for forage collected from the surrounding country. A picket was stationed there. It is situated at the crossing of the Danborough and Point Pleasant turnpike and Durham road, contains a tavern, store, mechan- ical shops, and a dozen or fifteen dwellings. Danborough, on the Easton road, is made up of a tavern, store, the usual outfit of mechanics, and a few dwellings. It was named after Danicl Thomas, an carly resident, twice sheriff of the county and died early in the century. Before the post-office was established there it was called Clover Hill, and also Danville. On the Point Pleasant turnpike, in the neighborhood of Danborough, is the Nicholas graveyard, so named after Samuel Nicholas, son of the man who ran the first stage-coach from Phila- delphia to Wilkesbarre." Samuel kept the Danborough tavern many years, and in company with John Moore, father of Daniel T., was proprietor of the stage-coach between Philadelphia and Easton.
Plumsteadville is the most flourishing village in the township. In 1762 it was known as James Hart's tavern, and was but a cross-roads hostelry. Seventy years ago it had but one dwelling, owned and occupied by John Rodrock as a public house, who was the proprietor of about three hundred acres of land in the immediate vicinity. The house, a low, two-story, was torn down by John Shisler. After the decease of Mr. Rodrock the property was sold in lots, some of it bringing but eight dollars an acre. Sixty-five years ago all the corn and fodder raised on a ten-acre field, adjoining the Rodrock farm, was hauled home at two loads. The village contains about twenty-five dwellings, with tavern, store, and a brick church, Presbyterian, built, 1860, It is the seat of the extensive carriage factory of Aaron Kratz, which employs about fifty men. Point Pleasant, which lies partly in Tinieum and partly in Plumstead, will be noticed in our account of the former township.10
The oldest house in the township is supposed to be the two-story stone dwelling called "Stand alone," on the Durham road between Hinkletown and Gardenville. Tradition says it was the first two-story house in the township, and when first created people came several miles to look at it, and is thought to be from one hundred and thirty to one hundred and forty years old. In its time it has undergone several vicissitudes ; has been more than once repaired, occupied and then empty, but no one has lived in it for many years. Next in age is the two-story stone dwelling of John F. Meyers, lately occupied by Renben W. Nash, a mile from the north-east corner of the township. It was built by Samuel Hart, great-grandfather of Josiah Hart, of Doylestown, about 1764. and in it he kept tavern and store during the Revolutionary struggle. The third oldest house is probably that of Samuel Meyers, a mile cast of Plum- steadville, a two story stone, built by John Meyers, and for the past century it has been occupied by the father, son, grandson, and great-grandson.
9) The name is spelled "Nucleiaus" and "Nicholas."
10 The Krate carriage and wagon works at Plumsteadville is the largest industrial plant in middle Bucks. It was established nearly 50 years ago by Aaron Kratz, and him- self and son carry on a large business. They turn out all sorts of vehicles, in ordinary use, finding ready sale in many states of the union and Canada., Two large farms are near the works, and $50.000 insurance is carried on the stock and material.
393
HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.
Plumstead having been the birthplace and home of the Doanes, and the scene of many of their exploits, a lively recollection of them has been handed down from father to son. Their rendezvous was in a wild, secluded spot on the south bank of the Tohickon, two miles above Point Pleasant where Moses was shot by Gibson, because "dead men tell no tales." It is said that Philip Hinkle put the body of the dead refugee across the pommel of his saddle, and rode with it, in company with others, to Hart's tavern where he tumbled the corpse down on the piazza floor.11 After they had taken a drink all round, the dead body was again put on the horse and carried to the residence of his parents. That was a sorrowful funeral. It is related that the little dog that belonged to Doane came forward and looked down in the grave after the coffin had been lowered, seemingly bidding a last farewell to his master. When Abrahanı and Mahlon Doane were hanged in Philadelphia, their father went alone to town, and had their bodies brought up in a cart, he walking all the way alongside of it. They were buried from a house that stood near Nathan Fretz's dwelling, on the east side of the Durham road at Gardenville, and interred in the woods opposite. Plumstead meeting-house, then belonging to the meeting, but recently to John Shaffer. When Joseph Doane came back to the county, sixty-five years ago, he related that he escaped from Newtown jail by unlocking the door with a lead key he made, and then scaled the yard wall.
Until within the last three-quarters century, Plumstead did not have a good reputation for fertility. The north-east and cast end of the township, in par- ticular, were noted for sterility, and although the farms were generally large, many of the owners could not raise sufficient bread for their families, nor provender for their stock. Other parts of the township were nearly as un- productive, and it came to be called "Poor Pltunstead." Strangers in passing through it, laughed at the barren fields. Within seventy-five years, hundreds of acres of land have been sold for seven, eight, ten, and fifteen dollars per acre. The farmers commenced liming about sixty years ago, and since then the land has rapidly improved in fertility, until the farms are the equal of those of any township in the county.
Plumstead and the neighboring townships of Hilltown, Bedminster and Tinicum have sent many immigrants to Canada in the last century, principally Mennonites. The immigration commenced, 1786, when John Kulp, Dillman Kulp, Jacob Kulp. Stoffel Kulp, Franklin Albright and Frederick Hahn left this county and sought new homes in the country beyond the great lakes. They, who had families, were accompanied by their wives and children. These pioneers must have returned favorable accounts of the country, for, in a few years, they were joined by many of their old friends and neighbors from Bucks. In 1799 they were followed by the Reverend Jacob Moyer. Amos Albright. Valentine Kratz, Dillman Moyer. John Hunsberger, Abraham HIuns- berger, George Althouse and Moses Fretz: in 1800 by John Fretz, Lawrence Hipple, Abraham Grubb. Michael Rittenhouse. Manasseh Fretz, Daniel High, jr., Samuel Mover. David Mover. Jacob High, Jacob Hausser, John Wismer. Jacob Frey. Isaac Kult .. Daniel High, jr .. Philip High. Abraham High, Chris- tian Hunsberger and Abraham Iumsberger. In 1802 Isaac Wismer and Stoffel Angeny went to Canada from Plumstead. The latter returned. but the former remained. Shortly afterward. Reverend Jacob Gross followed his friends who had gone before. A number of the Nash family immigrated to Canada. among whom were the widow of Abraham Nash, who died near
1I Sce subsequent chapter for another version of this transaction.
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394
HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.
Danborough, 1823. with her three sons Joseph, Abraham, who was a justice of the peace, and Jacob and four daughters. They went about 1827 and 1828. The Bucks County families generally settled in what is now Lincoln county. near Lake Ontario, some 20 miles from Niagara Falls, but their descendants are a good deal scattered. They are generally thrifty and well-to-do. The year after the immigrants arrived is known in Canada as the "scarce year," on account of the failure of crops, when there was great suffering among them. Some were obliged to eat roots and herbs, The first immigrants are all dead, but some of them have left sons and daughters born here. Among the relics retained of the home of their fathers is a barrel churn of white cedar, made 100 years ago in this County by John Fretz and daughter, and now owned by a grandchild. In addition to the names already given we find those of Gayman, Clemens, Durstein, Thomas and Zelner. Frequent visits are made between the Canadian Mennonites and their relatives in Bucks.
Plumstead was the birthplace of John Ellicott Carver, an architect and civil engineer of considerable reputation, where he was born November II, 1809. He learned the trade of a wheelwright at Doylestown, and, when out of his time, about 1830, went to Philadelphia. Not finding work at his own trade. he engaged as carpenter and joiner, and soon after was working at stair-building, a more difficult branch. As this required considerable mechan- ical and mathematical ability, and feeling his own deficiency, he commenced a course of study to qualify himself for the occupation. He devoted his leisure to studying mechanical and mathematical drawing, and kindred branches. His latent talents were developed by persevering effort, and it was not long before he commenced to give instruction in these branches in a school established for the purpose. Later he devoted his time to the study of architecture and en- gineering, and we next find him in the practice of these professions. at a time when their attainment was difficult, and support more precarious than at present. Mr. Carver continued the practice of his profession in Philadelphia for several years with success. Ile was engaged in the erection of some of th best public and private buildings of that time, and was the author of plans for one or more of the beautiful cemeteries which adorn the environs of the city. He erected gas-works in various parts of the country. His death, April 1. 1859, closed a useful career. Mr. Carver was one of the pioneers in archi- tecture in Philadelphia, and he occupied an honorable position in the pro- fession.
The Brownsville Persistive Horse company, for the detection of horse thieves and other villains, is a Plumstead institution and one of the oldest associations of the kind in the county or State and most successful. It was formally organized at Brownsville, now Gardenville, March 22, 1806, when officers were elected and a constitution and by-laws adopted. The late Abra- ham Charman was president many years. At the December meeting, 1831. the company was divided into two, Eastern and Western Divisions, the Dur- ham Road made the dividing line and Mr. Chapman chosen to preside over both Divisions. The capital stock was divided 1832, each body receiving $301.50. The reason given for the division of the company was "the incon- venience of transacting Isiness over such an extensive territory" and because of its prosperity. The ninetieth anniversary of the original organization of the united company, was celebrated at Doylestown, March 22, 1896, with a large attendance. A nion meeting was held in Lenape Hall, over which John S. Williams presided, and comprehensive sketches of the two Divisions were read by the respective secretaries, E. Watson Fell, Buckingham, and John L.
395
HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.
Kramer, Doylestown, and by Eastburn Reeder of the original company to its division. At that time two members, of the original company, who belonged to it, 1828, were living, John Betts, Warminster, formerly Solebury, in his od year, and John Walker, Doylestown, 98. At the anniversary the Eastern Division dined at the Fountain House, and the Western at Clear Spring Hotel.
The earliest enumeration of the inhabitants of Plumstead that we have seen is that of 1746, when the population was set down at 130. Other years are given as follows : 1759, 125; 1701, 118; 1762, 153. It is probable these fig- ures stand for taxables, instead of population, as they do not appear high enough for the latter. In 1784 the township contained 946 white inhabitants, 7 colored, and 160 dwellings. We are not able to give the census of 1790 and 1800, but have the population of each decade from the latter year to the present time, as returned to the census bureau: In 1810. 1,407; 1820, 1.790; 1830. 1,849, and 402 taxables ; 1840, 1,873; 1850, 2,298; 1860, 2.710; 1870, 2,617; 1880, 2.537; 1890, 2,336; 1900, 2,119. If this enumeration be not incorrect, it shows a decrease of nearly one hundred from 1860 to 1870.
Among the early settlers of Plumstead, who died at an advanced age. beside those already mentioned, the following may be named : November 1. 1808, Mrs. Mary Meredith, aged one hundred years, widow of William Mere- dith ; September 13, 1805, Mrs. Dorothy Linderman, aged ninety years and three months, leaving two hundred descendants; November 16, 1819, John Jones, aged eighty-four : July 13, 1812, Hannah Preston, aged ninety-four years.
Plumstead had a Union Library company in 1807, with Adam Foulke as secretary. Joseph Stradling was a subsequent secretary, but we have not been able to learn when it was established, or anything of its history.
Morgan Hinchman, Philadelphia, was the owner of, and resided on, a farm in Plumstead, in 1847. There arose some family difficulty founded on his alleged insanity, and it was decided to have him arrested and locked up in an asylum. Accordingly it was so arranged, and he was captured at the Red Lion tavern, Philadelphia, while down with marketing, and taken out to the Frankford asylum for the insane, where he was confined and not al- lowed to communicate with his friends. After being shut up there for six months, he scaled the wall and made his escape. He now brought suit for dlamages against his captors, which was tried before Judge Burnside, in l'hiladelphia, in the spring of 1849. A number of able lawyers was employed on both sides, and Mr. Ilinchman had the eloquent David Paul Brown, then in the zenith of his fame. After a patient hearing, the jury awarded him $10,000 damages. It was a noted case, and created great excitement in its day. The farm passed out of the possession of Hichman about the time of the trial, and in recent years was owned by the Heacocks.
About the middle of the last century, Anthony Fretz built a mill on the Tohickon, in Plumstead, but we do not know who owns it now, or whether it is in existence as a mill. Isaac Fretz built a mill in Tinicum about the same period, but the former was built first.
Plumstead has three post-offices; at Danborough, but the time it was established is not known, Plumsteadville 1840, with John L, Delp postmaster, and at Gardenville 1857, and John Shaffer first postmaster. There was a post- office at "Plumstead" as early as ISoo, and on November ist, there remained in the office, the following letters, as advertised in the Farmers' Weekly Ga- sette : Francis Erwin, America, Peter Evans, Doylestown, Charles Hutchins, Do. Do. Margaret Hacket, Solebury, Morris Morris, Wheelwright, Daniel Palmer, Bucks County, John Sein, Solebury.
CHAPTER XXV.
WARWICK.
1733.
First land seated .- James Clayton -- Bowden's tract .- The Snowdens .- Doctor John Rod- man .- The Jamisons .- The Baxters .- Middlebury .- Township petitioned for .- Called Warwick .- Area .- Quaint petition .- The Ramseys .- Robert Ramsey .- Andrew and Charles McMichen .- Provisions of a will .-- The Carrs .- William Rogers .- Hender- sons .- Mathew Archibald .- Neshaminy church .- Mir. Tennent .- Old tombstones .- Colonel William Hart .- Robert E. Belville .- James R. Wilson .- Change of hymn- books .- William Dean .- Andrew Long .- Accident .- Roads and bridges .- The Wal- laces .- Well-watered .- Hamlets .- Continental Army encamped on the Neshaminy .- The Hares .- Post-offices .- Aged persons .- Population.
When Warwick was organized all the townships immediately around it had already been formed except Warrington. The original limits included part of Doylestown and the line between Warwick and New Britain ran along Court street. When the County was settled, and for many years afterward, this section was known as "The Forks of Neshaminy." because the greater part of its territory lay between the two branches of this stream, which unite in the south-east corner of the township.
Considerable land was seated in Warwick prior to 1684. bat it is doubtful whether there were any actual settlers of that date. Among the original pur- chasers, prior to 1696, was James Clayton, probably the ancestor of the num- crous family bearing this name in castern Pennsylvania, who came from Mid- dlesex, England, 1682, with his wife and children. He landed at Choptank, Maryland, in November, and came into the Province the following month. We have no data to tell when he came into the county, but he took up an extensive tract west of Neshaminy, extending from the Northampton line, or there- abouts, to Jamison's corner ; also, John Gray, whose tract covered the Alms- house farm, llenry Bailey, about Hartsville, Benjamin Twily, in the vicinity of Jamison's corner, Nathaniel Stanbury, John Mayling, Daniel Giles, John Fettiplace, John Clows, Randall Blackshaw, George Willard. Thomas Potter and James Boyden. Boyden's tract was north of Neshaminy, between the Bristol and York roads and lay along the road from the top of Carr's hill iown to Neshaminy church. As these names are not afterward met with in the township, very few, if any, were probably actual setttlers. Jeremiah Lang- horne and William Miller, Sr., owned three hundred and thirty-four acres on
397
HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.
the cast side of the Bristol road, extending down it toward the meeting-house from the top of Long's hill, and running back from the road. Miller purchased irom Langhorne and Kirkbride in 1720, and a large part of the tract became vested in James Wallace, 1762.
The Snowdens and MeCallas were early settlers in Warwick, in the neighborhood of Neshaminy church. Both names have disappeared from the township, although we believe the descendants remain in the female line. John Snowden, ancestor of James Ross Snowden, late Prothonotary, Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, was early in the Forks of Neshaminy, probably about 1700. He is said to have come to what is now Delaware county, then Chester, 1085. He was appointed Associate Judge of this county, 1704, Justice of the Peace in 1715, and the first elder ordained in the old Market street Presby- terian church, Philadelphia. His son, Jedediah, was an early trustee of the Second Presbyterian church. The Reverend Daniel McCalla, probably the most eminent man Warwick ever produced, was born in 1748, graduated at Princeton, 1706, with extraordinary attainments as a scholar, was licensed to preach in 1772, and ordained over the congregations of New Providence and Charlestown, Pennsylvania, 1774. He was a chaplain in the Continental army, and made prisoner in Canada. When exchanged he established an acad- emy in Hanover county, Virginia, was afterward called to take charge of the congregation made vacant by the resignation of Reverend Samuel Davies, and died, May, 1809. He had a wide reputation as a preacher, and was distin- guished for his classical attainments.
As early as 1712, Doctor John Rodman and Francis Richardson owned large tracts of land in this township. Less than a century ago William and John Rodman still owned twenty-five hundred acres here, the former one thousand. four hundred fifty-three and one-half acres, and the latter one thousand, fifty- Seven and one-half acres. on both sides of the Neshaminy, extending from below Bridge Valley to half a mile above Bridge Point. This tract ineluded the Alms- house farm, where Gilbert Rodman resided and which he sold to the county. The Rodman tract, on the north-east. at some points was bounded by the road leading from Doylestown to Wood's corner, on the York road just above Bridge Valley. It has long since passed out of the family.
The Jamisons were in Warwick several years before the township was formed, and the names of three of them are attached to the petition asking for its organization. The family, of Scotch origin and Presbyterian in faith, was among those who immigrated from Scotland to Ulster, Ireland, and was part of the great flood of Scotch-Irish which peopled this state the eighteenth cen- tury. Henry Jamison, the head of the house. came to America with his family about 1720 or 1722, and probably settled shortly afterward in this county. He bought one thousand acres in various tracts, in Warwick and Northampton but lived in the latter township. The deeds show these purchases were partly made of Jeremiah Langhorne, who conveyed five hundred acres to Jamison the 27th of February, 1724. This was part of the five thousand acres Penn's Commissioners of Property conveyed to Benjamin Furley, September 13. 1703, subject to quit-rent from 1684. John Henry Sprogel bought one thous- and acres of it. and, in 1700. conveyed the same to Thomas Tresse. and from Tresse to Joseph Kirkbride and Jeremiah Langhorne, March 23. 1714. In 1734 Henry Jamison conveyed two hundred and fifty acres of this land, lying in Warwick, to Robert Jamison, and. the remainder to his other chiklren. It is related that Jean Blackburn, afterward wife of Robert Jamison, was ship- wrecked in coming to America on the island of Bermuda, and left in a
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