History of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, from the discovery of the Delaware to the present time, Vol. III, Part 43

Author: Davis, W. W. H. (William Watts Hart), 1820-1910; Ely, Warren S. (Warren Smedley), b. 1855; Jordan, John W. (John Woolf), 1840-1921
Publication date: 1905
Publisher: New York ; Chicago : The Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1040

USA > Pennsylvania > Bucks County > History of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, from the discovery of the Delaware to the present time, Vol. III > Part 43

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

The family is said to have been of Welsh origin, but nothing definite is known of the ancestry of John Worstall or of his whereabouts until his proposal of marriage at Middletown Friends Meeting in 7 mo., 1720, to Elizabeth Wildman, daughter of Martin and Ann Wildman, who was born in Settle, York- shire. England, 9 mo. 19, 1689, and came with her parents to Bucks county, and they settled in Middletown township. John and Elizabeth Worstall were the parents of three sons: John, born 7 mo. 4. 1722; Edward, born 5 mo. 21, 1724; and James, born 12 mo. 26, 1726-7. The mother died when James was but two weeks old, and the children were reared by their maternal relatives in Middle-' town. Nothing is known of the descen- dants of Edward Worstall. James mar- ried Esther Satterthwaite and removed to Makefield in 1759. and has left nu- merous descendants in Bucks county.

John Worstall, eldest son of John and Elizabeth (Wildman) Worstall, born in Middletown. 7 mo. 4, 1722, married 8 mo. 2. 1716, Mary Higgs, daughter of James and Elizabeth (Andrews) Higgs, of Bris- tol, who were married in 1719. James Higgs died in 1736, leaving a son James and four daughters: Mary: Elizabeth, who married Thomas Hutchinson: Jane. who married Mahlon Hall; and Ann. Mary Higgs Worstall was born in 1720, and died at the residence of her son

Joseph, in Newtown, 8 mo., 1808, at the age of eighty-eight years.

Joseph Worstall, son of John and Mary (Higgs) Worstall, was born in Middletown, I mo. 13, 1750, and married, in 1778, Susanna Hibbs, daughter of William and Anna (Carter) Hibbs of Middletown. In 1774 he purchased of General Francis Murray a tract of land on Penn street, in Newtown, part of the old court house grounds, and erected thereon a tannery which he operated for fifty-five years. He subsequently purchased considerable other land ad- joining, and erected houses and other buildings and carried on an extensive business. In addition to the tanning business he carried on the manufacture of shoes on a large scale, and employed a number of workmen. He also ground and shipped an immense amount of bark. The bark after being cured and ground was packed in hogsheads and hauled to the Delaware, where it was loaded on the Durham boats then plying on the Delaware, and carried to Phila- delphia, where it was shipped to France and other parts of the old world. It is related that George Washington, while he had his headquarters at Newtown, had a pair of boots made at the shops of Mr. Worstall, from leather tanned on the premises, which he wore during the revolutionary war. Mr. Worstall also owned about fifty acres of land adjoin- ing his business place on the south, and carried on farming in connection with his other business enterprises, in which he was assisted by his sons Joseph and James. The successful business career of the family was suddenly wrecked in February, 1829, when his large curry- ing shops, bark mill house, wagon house, barns and an immense amount of bark, implements and farm produce were consumed by fire. There was no insurance on the property, and Mr. Wor- stall was financially ruined, and in his old age saw the savings of a life-time of industry and business activity swept away in a single night. He sacrificed the greater part of his real estate for the payment of his debts, retaining the tannery and his residence and some of his other houses. Being unable to carry on the tannery, however, with his lim- ited means, he sold that also in 1831, and it remained out of the family until 1842, when it was purchased and remodeled by his grandson Edward H. Worstall. Jo- seph Worstall. Sr., died I mo. 13. 1841. at the age of ninety-one years, having lived a long life of extraordinary busi- ness activity. His children were:

I. Elizabeth. born 9 mo. 3, 1779, mar- ried in 1807, James Sleeper.

2. Sarah, born 6 mo. I. 1781, married in 1803 Edward Hicks, the eminent min- ister among Friends.

3. Joseph, born 2 mio. 8, 1783. see for- ward.

Geo le Norstall,

191

HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.

4. James, born 2 m10. 20, 1786, married (first) Jane Eastburn and (second) Sarah Smith; died Io mo. 7, 1839, with- out issue.

5. John, born 2 mo. 10, 1790, dicd un- married.

6. Mary, born 6 mo. 19, 1791, died un- married late in life.

7. Amos T., born 4 mo. 25, 1793, mar- ried Ann Chambers.

8. Susanna, born II mo. 25, 1797, mar- ried Amos Phipps, of Plymouth, Mont- gomery county.

Joseph Worstall, eldest son of Joseph and Susanna (Hibbs) Worstall, was born and reared in Newtown, and was actively associated with his father in the business enterprises established by the latter. He was one of the proprietors of the tannery at the time it was burned in 1828, and suffered heavily in the finan- cial wreck. His remaining days were spent in Newtown township on a farm he purchased, and where he died April 1, 1856. He married in 1808 Jane Heston, daughter of Colonel Edward Heston, the founder of Hestonville, Philadelphia, who was a native of Makefield township, Bucks county, being a son of Jacob and Mary (Warner) Heston, and a grandson of Zebulon Heston, an early settler in Wrightstown. He was captain of the Sixth Company, Seventh Battalion, Philadelphia County Militia, in 1777, and later was commissioned lieutenant- colonel.

The children of Joseph and Jane (Hes- ton) Worstall were as follows: Sarah Ann, who married Jacob Hibbs; Edward H., see forward; Hannah C., who mar- ried (first) Pearson Scarborough, of Solebury, and (second) Henry Magill; Joseph, who married Mary Ann Van Buskirk, and lived and died in Warring- ton; and Isaac H., of Solebury, who mar- ried (first) Sarah Jane Ely and (sec- ond) Amy Ely.

Edward H. Worstall, eldest son of Joseph and Jane (Heston) Worstall, was born at the old homestead on Penn street. Newtown, October 19, 18II, and was reared and educated in Newtown. He married November 1, 1838, Maria E. Smith, daughter of Joseph and Mary ( Betts) Smith of Upper Makefield. The descent of George Worstall in the Smith line is as follows: I. William Smith. 1684, Wrightstown, formerly of Yorkshire, England, married Mary Croasdale, 9 mo. 20. 1690. and had nine children: his second wife was Mercy -. by whom he had seven children. 2. Thomas Smith married Elizabeth Sanders, 6 mo., 1727, and they had eight children; they were the first settlers on the Windybush farm. 3. Samuel Smith married Jane Schofield, 1750. and they had ten children. 4. Thomas Smith married Elanor Smith. 4 mo. 15. 1778, and they had six children. 5. Joseph

Smith married Mary Betts, 1808, and they had five children. 6. Maria Smithi married Edward H. Worstall, II 1110. I, 1838, and they had five children. 7. George C. Worstall.

After his marriage Edward H. Wor- stall located at the Smith tannery at Windy Bush, in Upper Makefield, where he resided until April 1, 1842, when he purchased the old tannery property in Newtown, formerly his grandfather's, that had been recently sold by the sher- iff as the property of Thomas H. Buck- man, and revived the old industry so long conducted by his father and grandfather. He purchased the follow- ing year the house where his grand- father lived and died, and subsequently purchased much of the property that had belonged to his grandfather, as well as thirty-five acres of land, the greater part of which had belonged to his un- cle James Worstall. He operated the tannery and farm until 1882, during the last eleven years of the time having associated with him his youngest son, Willis G. Worstall. During the last ten years of his life he lived retired in New- town. He died February 18, 1891, and his widow Maria E. on January II, 1898, Their children were: George C., the sub- ject of this sketch; Lavinia, wife of George C. Blackfan, of Newtown; Jo- siah S., born September 7, 1843, died March 3, 1883; Willis G., born July 9. 1846, married Lydia Croasdale, and is now a member of the firm of Worstall Brothers & Co .; and Lettie, born Feb- ruary 28. 1850. wife of William Eyre, of Newtown. Josiah was for a number of years associated in business with his brother George C., in Newtown; he mar- ried Sarah J. Uber, and left two daugh- ters, now residing in West Chester, Pennsylvania.

George C. Worstall was born in Up- per Makefield, but his parents having removed to Newtown when he was two and a half years old he was reared in that town and has spent his whole life there. On his marriage in 1865 he settled on a farm on the Yardleyville turnpike, purchased for him by his fath- er of Nicholas Willard, and resided there until 1893. In 1868 in connection with his brother Josiah, he started a brick and coal yard thereon, which they conducted until 1880. when they removed to the present location of the firm of Worstall Brothers, where they had started a hay press in connection with their younger brother Willis G. a year previous. The old tannery was abandoned in 1882 and torn down in 1887, and the land laid ont in building lots and built upon. In 1880 the firm erected a feed mill, and eight years later built a full roller pro- cess flour mill, which with the brick making. feed and coal business they still conduct. The hay business was

192

HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.

abandoned in 1893, being burned out in February.

George C. Worstall has been one of the pioneers in practically every pub lic improvement and corporate enter- prise in and about Newtown since his arrival at manhood. Edward H. Wor- stall & Sons owned a twentieth interest in the Newtown and Philadelphia Rail- road, and were among the most active promoters of that enterprise. George C. was chairman of the meeting that or- ganized the Newtown Artesian Water Company in 1888, that now supplies the town with water, and has been its presi- dent from its organization to the present time. He was one of the organizers and an officer of the Newtown Building Association in 1867, and is a director in the present Association, organized in 1887. He was one of the organizers of the Newtown Electric Light and Power Company, and a director since its or- ganization. He was one of the active promoters and secretary of the New- town, Langhorne & Bristol Railway Company, and of the Newtown Electric Railway Company, that built the trolley line from Bristol to Newtown and to Doylestown, and is still secretary and director of the latter company. He was one of the organizers of the Standard Telephone Company, as well as of the Newtown & Yardley Street Railway Company, of which he is president. He is president of the Newtown Canning Company, secretary of the Excelsior Bobbin and Spool Company, a director of the Newtown Cemetery Company, director of the Bridgetown & Newtown Turnpike Company, and president of the Newtown Reliance Horse Company. During the Civil war he twice respond- ed to his country's call, first in 1862, when he went to Harrison's Landing, Virginia, as a nurse, and assisted in car- ing for the sick and wounded, and sec- ond in 1863 as a member of an emer- gency regiment. He is a member of T. H. Wyncoop Post. G. A. R., of New- town.

He married, March 22, 1865, Hulda A. Price, daughter of Samuel and Sarah (Betts) Price of Buckingham, who died January 1, 1899. They were the par- ents of two children .- Edward A., who died in his seventh year, and Emma L., residing with her father in Newtown. He married (second) February 19, 1902. Mary W. Barnsely, daughter of John and Mary (Hough) Barnsley, of Newtown, who died September 24. 1904.

In politics Mr. Worstall is a Repub- lican. Ile has served several terms in town council, and filled other local of- fices. He was appointed postmaster of Newtown in February, 1901, and was re- appointed in February. 1905. He is a member of the Bucks County Historical Society, and actively interested in its work.

DU BOIS FAMILY. The family of DuBois is of French origin, the name being derived from two French words signifying "of the forest." The family is an exceedingly old one, several rep- resentatives having achieved distinction there over five centuries ago.

The ancestor of the American branch of the family was Louis DuBois, who fled from France to the Palatinate to es- cape religious persecution, in 1658, re- siding for two years in Manheim on the Rhine, then the capital of the Palatin- ate. He emigrated to America, with his wife and two children in 1660. He lo- cated at Kingston, Ulster county, New York, with a number of other French Huguenots, and became a very promi- nent character there. His wife and three children were carried into captiv- ity by the Indians on July 6, 1663, and he led a company of the enraged set- tlers, who rescued them and dealt sim- mary vengeance on their savage captors. With his two sons, Abraham and Isaac, and nine other French refuges, known as the "Twelve Patentees," he organ- ized the settlement of New Palz, on the Hudson, opposite Poughkeepsie, in 1677. on 36.000 acres purchased of the Indians and patented to them by Ed- mind Andros, governor-general under the Duke of York. The other nine pat- entees were Christian and Pierre Deyou, Abraham and Jean Hasbrouck, Andre and Simon LeFevre, Louis Bevier, An- toine Crespel and Hugh Frere.

Louis DuBois was the first elder of the New Palz Church, organized in 1683, and the first records of the church are in his handwriting. He returned to Kingston in 1686. and died there ten years later. His wife was Cathrine

Blancon, whom he married in France. where he was born, near Lyons, in 1630. They had ten children, viz: I. Abra- ham, born in France in 1656, died in New Palz. October 7, 1731, married Mar- garet Deyou, and had seven children. the youngest of whom Mary married Philip Veree, and they settled on the Conestoga, in Lancaster county, on land purchased by Abraham in 1717. 2. Is- aac, born at Manheim in 1658, married Maria Hasbrouck, and died at New Palz in 1690. 3. Jacob, born in Kingston, New York. October, 1661, married Ger- ritje Van Newkirk, died 1745. 4. Sarah, married Joost Jansen. 5. David, whose descendants settled and lived in Ulster county, New York. 6. Solomon, born 1669, died 1759, married Trintje Van Newkirk. 7. Rachel, died young. 8. Re- becca. also died young. 9. Louis. born 1677. married Rachel Hasbrouck. 10 Mathew, born 1679, married Sarah Mat- hewsen. Of these children-Jacob and Solomon-have descendants in Bucks county.

Jacob DuBois, third son of Louis and Catharine (Blancon) DuBois, was the

193

HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.

first of the family born in America, be- ing baptised at Kingston, Ulster county, New York, October 9, 1661, when but a few days old. He married at New Palz about 1690, Gerrite Van Niuwkirk, daughter of Gerrit and grand-daughter of Cornelius Van Nieuwkirk, one of the carliest emigrants from Holland, and with those other descendants later gen- erations of the DuBois family married in New Jersey. Solomon, fifth son of Louis, married Trintje, another daugh- ter of Gerrit, and his eldest daughter Jacomyntje became the wife of Barent, the eldest son of Jacob, her double first cousin, and they were the parents of the Rev. Jonathan DuBois, who became pastor of the Dutch Reformed church of North and Southampton in 1748, mar- ried Eleanor Wynkoop, and has left numerous descendants in Bucks county. Jacob DuBois settled on a farm of his- father's at Hurley, Ulster county, New York, and spent his whole life there, dying in June, 1745. By his Dutch wife Gerritje, otherwise Margaret Van New- kirk, he had eleven children: Magdalena, Barent, Louis, Isaac, Sarah, who mar- ried Conrad Ermendorf: Gerritje, Gerrit. Catharine, who married Petreus Smedes; Rebecca, Neeltje, and John. Jacob DuBois purchased in 1714 1,200 acres in Salem county, New Jersey, upon which three of his sons settled on arriving at manhood, viz .: Barent, Louis, and Ger- rit, though the latter returned to Ulster county on the death of his father. Bar- ent was an elder of Pittsgrove Presby- terian church, and a prominent man in Salem county: he died there January 22. 1750, leaving eight children. The' other children of Jacob DuBois remained in Ulster county, New York.

Louis DuBois, second son and third child of Jacob and Gerritje, was born in Hurley, Ulster county, New York, January 6. 1695. He married, May 20, 1720, Margaret Jansen, and settled in Pittsgrove township, Salem county, New Jersey, where he became the own- er of 1,001 acres of land. He and his wife were among the first members of Pittsgrove Presbyterian church. which he was an elder and trustee. He died in 1784. He had eleven children, viz .; Jacob, born 1720, died 1768; Mat- hew, born 1722; Anna, born 1724, mar- ried Rev. Marenus, of New York, later pastor of Freehold church; Gerritje, born 1726; John, born 1728, died at New London, Chester county, Pennsylvania, while a student for the ministry with his cousin, Jonathan, in July. 1746; Eli- zabeth, born 1739. died 1785, married Garret Newkirk: Cornelius, born 1732; Peter, born 1734: Joseph, died young; Benjamin, born 1739, an eminent minis- ter of the Gospel, pastor of Freehold Presbyterian church for sixty-three years. 1764 to 1827; Samuel, born 1741, died 18II. All except two of these have

left descendants who are now scattered over the United States.

Peter DuBois, eighth child of Louis and Margaret, was born in Pittsgrove, Salem county, New Jersey, April 10, 1734. He was an intelligent and thrifty farmer and a pious and consistent Cliris- tian gentleman. He was a lieutenant in the company of his cousin, Jacob Du- Bois, and later a captain during the rev- olution. He died August 21, 1795. He married in 1758 Amey, daughter of Jere- miah and Sarah (Blackman) Greenman, and sister to Rev. Nehemiah Greenman, pastor of the Pittsgrove church. She was born October 24, 1727, and died June 2, 1807. They had five sons and two daughters, viz .: I. Joel, born October 22, 1759. died June 29. 1805. Jeremiah, born November 22, 1760. died December 29. 1844, an eminent justice and legis- lator for many years; Sarah; Thomas; Samuel; Uriah; and Amey.

URIAH DU BOIS, youngest son of Peter and Amey (Greenman) DuBois, born in Pittsgrove township, February, 1768, became one of the most promi- ment preachers and educators in Bucks county. He received his academic edu- cation near the home of his ancestors in Orange county, New York, entered the University of Pennsylvania in 1787. and graduated in 1790. While a student there he boarded in the family of Rob- ert Patterson, professor of mathematics and natural philosophy at the Universi- ty, whose daughter Martha he later married. On his graduation he accepted a position as teacher in an academy at Charleston, South Carolina. where he spent one year. Returning to New Jer- sey he taught at Woodbury and Bor- dentown for three years, and then re- turned to Philadelphia to pursue his studies for the ministry under the Rev. Ashbel Green, D. D., afterwards presi- dent of Princeton. He was licensed to preach in 1796 and preached as a licentiate at Allentown, and at Deep Run and Red Hill in Bucks county. The Presbyterians of the latter two churches were pleased with him and he was elect- ed their pastor in 1798. On June 20. 1798, he married Martha Patterson, and in De- cember of the same year took up his pastoral labors in Bucks county, resid- ing for one year at Dublin, and then removing to the parsonage farm near the Deep Run church, and preaching alternately at Red Hill and Deep Run. In 1804 the inhabitants of the growing village of Doylestown built an academy and invited Rev DuBois to become its principal instructor. The congregations at both churches had decreased by the removal of the English settlers from that locality, and he decided to accept the offer and removed to Doylestown. meanwhile continuing his pastorate. He built a house, still standing at the north

13-3

194

HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.

corner of State and Broad streets, in what was then a "two acre blackberry patch" and removed into it in 1805. He later built the house adjoining the acad- emy and lived there from 1807 to 1814, and then removed back to the first home where he spent his remaining days. The builders of the academy had provided that religious services were to be held therein, and Mr. DuBois fre- quently preached there. This was the

nucleus of the present Presbyterian church at Doylestown, which was or- ganized in 1814 and the building dedicat- ed in August, 1815. Rev. DuBois was a fine classical scholar and an excellent instructor. He was an assidous worker, and the infant academy and church both prospered under his guidance. He con- tinued his work in both institutions as well as at Deep Run until his death, September 19, 1821. He was also clerk of the Orphans court of Bucks county for the last six years of his life, his eld- est son Charles E. performing the cleri- cal work. His wife Martha Patterson was also a native of New Jersey, being born in Carltown, Cumberland county, July 30, 1779, from whence her father moved to Philadelphia when she was a year old. She was a very estimable woman and a fitting helpmeet for the enthusiastic and struggling divine in a sparsely settled community, and a heroic wife and mother. She survived him many years, dying October 25, 1856. The children of Rev. Uriah and Martha (Pat- terson) DuBois were: Charles E., the grandfather of the subject of this sketch: Emilia, who married the Rev. Samuel Aaron, born 1803, and died 1830; Robert P., born, 1805, for many years pastor of the Presbyterian church at New Lon- don. Chester county. Pennsylvania, married Jane H. Latta; Samuel, born 1808, a noted local photographer and artist; William, born 1810, married Sus- Eckfeldt; Matilda, wife of the Rev. Silas M. Andrews, who succeeded his father-in-law as pastor of the Doyles- town church and filled the pastorate for a half century: Louis; born 1814, mar- . ried Henrietta Cox; and Mary, who mar- ried S. H. Thompson.

Charles E. DuBois, eldest child of Uriah and Martha, was born at the Deep Run parsonage, July 16, 1799. His fam- ily removing to Doylestown when he was five years of age, his youth and man- hood was spent there. He was educated at the Union academy under his father's tuition, studied law under Abraham Chapman, Esq., and was admitted to the bar August 28, 1820. In 1823 he was commissioned clerk of the orphans' court and filled that position for six years, and in 1832 was appointed district attorney. He was an able and success- ful lawyer, and practiced in the Bucks county courts for forty years. In 1847 he was elected president of Doylestown

National Bank, and filled that position until his death which occurred March 5, 1865. He was married to Mary S. Lat- ta, daughter of Rev. John E. Latta, of New Castle, Delaware, by whom he had eleven children: John L., born April 16, 1832, died February 20, 1903; Samuel M., died 1859; Emma P., married Edward P. Flint, a merchant of San Francisco, Cali- fornia, died 1899; Helen M., living in Doylestown; James L., died in Cali- fornia in 1897; Charles, died in infancy: Louis P., died 1889; Mary L., living in Doylestown; Charles E., died 1867; Henry M., a practicing attorney in Phil- adelphia; and Edward M., died 1857.

JOHN L. DU BOIS, Esq., eldest son of Charles E. and Mary S. DuBois, was born in Doylestown, April 16, 1832. He attended school in Doylestown until 1847, when he went to Norristown, and attended an academy conducted by Rev. Samuel Aaron. He next attended a boarding school at New London, Ches- ter county, kept by William F .. Wyers, where he remained for one year, when he entered LaFayette College and gradit- ated in 1852. Returning to Doylestown he read law with his father, and was ad- mitted to the bar on February 4, 1856. He entered into partnership with his father, which continued until the death of the latter in 1865. He continued the practice of law during the remainder of his life, handling many important civil and criminal cases, and settled some of the largest estates in Bucks county. He was an elder in the Presbyterian church and one of its most earnest workers for many years. He also held very many positions of trust, was president of the town council for three years, a director in the Doylestown National Bank, sec- retary and treasurer of the Doylestown Improvement Company, treasurer of the Doylestown Cemetery Company, and president of the Bucks County Bar As- sociation. He was superintendent of the Presbyterian Sunday School for thirty- four years. He died at his home on Court street, Doylestown, on Friday, February 20, 1903. He married, June II, 1863, Emma Rex, of Montgomery coun- ty, Pennsylvania, who survives him. His only surviving child is John L. DuBois, Junior.

JOHN L. DU BOIS, Jr., was born in Doylestown, June 30, 1873. He was edu- cated at the public schools, Doylestown Seminary and at the William Penn Charter School, Philadelphia. He read law with his father and was admitted to the bar January 13, 1806; entered into partnership with his father, which con- tinned until the death of the latter, and is one of the young enterprising mem- bers of the bar. He was married De- cember 18, 1000. to Christiana. daughter of Dr. Samuel G. and Rachel Ann (Cad-

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, from the discovery of the Delaware to the present time, Vol. III, Part 43

Author: Davis, W. W. H. (William Watts Hart), 1820-1910; Ely, Warren S. (Warren Smedley), b. 1855; Jordan, John W. (John Woolf), 1840-1921 Publication date: 1905 Publisher: New York ; Chicago : The Lewis Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1040

Author: Davis, W. W. H. (William Watts Hart), 1820-1910; Ely, Warren S. (Warren Smedley), b. 1855; Jordan, John W. (John Woolf), 1840-1921
Publication date: 1905
Publisher: New York ; Chicago : The Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1040