History of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, Part 130

Author: Ashmead, Henry Graham, 1838-1920
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : L.H. Everts
Number of Pages: 1150

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DARBY BOROUGH.

year a jubilee meeting was held. The church was in- corporated by act of Assembly, Jan. 13, 1855.

The pastors from the date of the formation have been as follows : Rev. J. A. Whitaker served the church from its organization until the spring of 1855. In April of that year the Rev. T. J. Johnson acted as supply ; in June the Rev. John Patton, and the Rev. David C. Meeker commenced his labors as stated supply Sept. 23, 1855. On the 25th of January, 1856, he received a call to become permanent pastor, which he held under advisement and finally declined, preaching his farewell sermon Sept. 14, 1856. The Rev. Michael Burdett was acting pastor from Nov. 15, 1857, and in October, 1858, received a call to the pastorate, which he accepted, and remained in charge until January, 1862, when he resigned. The pulpit was supplied occasionally from that time to July, 1862, when the Rev. Samuel W. Crittenden, of the Third Presbytery of New York, supplied the church, and was called on the 19th of that month. He entered at once upon his duties as pastor-elect. At a meeting of the Third Presbytery of Philadelphia, held October 21st in that year, he was received as a member, accepted the call, and was installed as pastor Jan. 18, 1863. He re- signed in April, 1865, but remained till July of that year. A unanimous call was extended to the Rev. William H. Thorne, which was at once accepted, but was not installed until June 10, 1866. He re- signed this charge Dec. 29, 1868. On the 27th of January, 1869, the Rev. Charles Brown was unani- mously chosen to supply the pulpit until April of that year, which he did greatly to the good of the church. On the 6th of June, 1869, Mr. George L. Raymond, a licentiate of the Third Presbytery of New York, was invited to supply the pulpit until the fall meeting of the Third Presbytery of Philadelphia, which he accepted, and immediately entered upon his duties. On the 22d of September, 1869, he was chosen as pastor, accepted the call, and was ordained and in- stalled April 28, 1870. In the spring of 1874 he was elected professor of Rhetoric in Williams College, Massachusetts, and wishing to accept it, he gave notice of his intention to resign. The congregation reluctantly granted his request, and the relationship was dissolved by Presbytery April 14, 1874. The Rev. W. T. Brown, of Colorado, supplied the pulpit on June 21, 1874, and July 12th, and on the 4th of August was unanimously elected pastor of the church. At the meeting of Presbytery held at Reading, Octo- ber 16th, he accepted the call, and was installed pastor Nov. 22, 1874. He served as minister until May 22, 1884, since which time the church, now num- bering two hundred and sixteen members, has been without a pastor. A Sunday-school is connected with the church, and has four hundred pupils. George Thompson is in charge. Charles O. Baird, son of Matthew Baird, commenced the erection of a chapel in the spring of 1881, as a memorial of his father and mother. It is of stone, and cost about thirty-four thou-

sand dollars. It was dedicated Feb. 25, 1883, the dedicatory sermon being preached by the Rev. Dr. Cattell, of Princeton.

Darby Library Company .- On May 1, 1743, twenty-nine persons founded the Darby Library by signing articles of agreement aud effecting an organi- zation. These articles required each person in co- partnership to pay, on becoming a member, twenty shillings to a person who should be appointed to re- ceive the money and purchase books for a library, and also annually thereafter to pay five shillings " for and towards the Purchasing of such books and the necessary expenses of the Library as two-thirds of the Company shall direct." The agreement further sets forth :

"That whereas it is found by long Experience that no Considerable number of People will at all times keep in a Regular Decent Decorum without Some Necessary forms & Rules to walk and act by And suitable Persons authorised to Put these rules in Execution, therefore we, the subscribers hereunto, Do agree that there be an Ellection held Yearly on the first Day of May (except that happens on the first Day of the week, in Such Case on the Day next fol- lowing) to Elect by ticket a Secretary, treasurer, Li- brarine, and four other Persons for assistants, and also to admit Such Persons into the Company as two-thirds of the members then being Shall Approve off. And to Consider, Regulate, & Determine all such matters and things as may be laid before the Com- pany by any of the members thereof."

It was also provided that at all the meetings of the Library Company the members "then Present shall seat themselves in Sober, Decent, Regular manner, Such as becomes Christians and Students, then the Secretary shall call the members by their names Re- spectively, as they Stand on the Records, to Deliver in their votes, which shall be writt on a small Piece of Paper ffolded up, with the names of the Person writt therein whom they would have for Secretary, treasurer, Librarine, & assistants for the Ensuing Year, which ticket they shall Deliver to one of they assistants, who shall Put them into a box Provided for that Purpose, and when the Company, or as many of them as Pleases, shall Delivered in their Votes, the Secretary and assistants shall Proceed to Draw the Tickets in the following manner, that is to say, the Secretary Shall Draw the tickets out of the box and Read the names in theus, and what they are for, And the Assistants Enter the names of all those Persons Voted in Distinct collums, And they who have most Votes for Secretary, treasurer, Librarine, and assist- ants for the Ensuing Year, and shall have their names Entered then accordingly by the old Secretary in a book, as aforesaid, Provided for that Purpose." New members were elected by ballot, and books to be purchased were named by the members, of which titles a list was furnished to each, and any book proposed could be objected to; after debate, the question of

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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

purchase should be decided by vote, and if two-thirds were favorable, the book was entered on a list of vol- umes to be purchased. The librarian was required to be at the library every other Seventh day in the afternoon, "in spring and summer quarter, from five to seven o'clock, and in the fall and winter quarter from three to five o'Clock," to deliver and receive books. If a book had been damaged beyond ordi- nary wear the member who had taken it out was re- quired to pay its value, and if a set, the cost of all the volumes. According to size, the books could be retained from two to four weeks; only one volume could be had by any member, and no one could lend or hire a hook from the library. The agreement provided thus for the maintenance of good order :

" If any of the Library Company Should behave themselves in Such an Indecent unbecoming Disorderly manner, as to become Disagreeable Diereputable and troublesome, In all Such Cases two thirds of the Li- brary Company mette as afforesd may by there order from under the hand of the Sectry Dirct the Treasurer for the time being to Repay such offender or offendere bis or their Prime Cost of the Library Book &c. (ont of the Library Stock) after Deductiog a Reasonable abatement for the ware and Delay of the Sd Books and Incident Charges of the Library &o; then shall the offender or offenders be disowned by the Company met as aforeed and thereby Declare to have no Share, Right Property or Priviledge to the Library Books or anything thereunto belonging and their Procedinge thereon shall be Enter'd on Record accordingly."

The members of the Library Company who signed the articles on May 10, 1743, were Joseph Bonsall, John Davis, James Hunt, John Sketchly, George Wood, Joshua Thomson, Samuel Bunting, Nathan Gibson, Benjamin Lobb, Enoch Elliot, Thomas Pear- son, William Horne, Joseph Lees, Peter Elliot, Jona- than Paschall, Abraham Johnson, Isaac Pearson, John Hunt, Joseph Hunt, Abraham Marshall, John Pear- son, Richard Lloyd, David Gibson, Joseph Levis, Benjamin Hayes, Thomas Pennell, Henry Lewis, Charles Crosby, John Levis. Joseph Bonsall was first secretary, Nathan Gibson treasurer, John Pearson librarian, and William Horne, Isaac Pearson, Thomas Pearson, and Benjamin Lobb assistants. It was also "Ordered that the Secretary, treasurer and Librarian transmit ye several sums of money subscribed by this Company to Europe as soon as conveniently may, and purchase therewith such books as is heretofore voted for, if the money be sufficient for ye use of the Library Company." A meeting was held on May 14, 1743, at the house of John Pearson, librarian, and on October 8th "the Treasurer acquainted them that he, with ye advice and consent of the Secretary and Librarian had purchased a bill of exchange of Rebicca Edgel, drawn on Larance Williams, of London, merchant, payable in thirty days after sight to Peter Collinson, of London, gentleman," and "the Secretary acquaint the Company that, in pursuance of the aforesaid bill of Exchange and ye directions of this Company, he had wrote a letter to ye sd Peter Collinson, a copy whereof he produced and read in the following words:"

" DARBY, ye 14th of 4th Month, 1743.

"FRIEND PETER COLLINSON :

"There is a small number of ue in Darby, near Philad, who have formed ourselves into a company, in order to purchase a small set of

Booke for our nee; with well-grounded expectations of our number in- creasing in a little time, and being advised by our frd end neighbour, Jolın Bartram, to apply to thee to purchase the ed books, and in con- fidence of thy good disposition and from ye character he givee of thee to Encourage such a decision, have thought fit thereupon to seod to and desire thee to do such an office of kindness for ue ; but as our number ie but small, eo is the eum of money, amounting only to fourteen pounds, as pr bill of exchange, drawn by Rebicca Edgel, on Larance Williame, merchant, payable to thee in thirty days after sight thereof. We also eend herewith a catalogue of such books as our Company approved of, requesting thee to be so good as to buy so many of them (taking them in order as they etand on the list) as the money will extend to pay, re- serving sufficient to satisfy thee for thy trouble with the cost of Ineu- rance here. And when the books are purchased, please to ship them of pr the first opportunity for Philad., in euch a manner and with euch directions as appeare to thee most convenient, either for John Bartram or the subscriber hereof. Be so good aleo as to get the booke lettered on ye back, if that can be done without much trouble or cost, or as many of them as conveniently can be. We also desire thee to send the price of each book purchseed, that heing necessary for ne to know in pursu- ance of our agreement. Thy answering our requests will much oblige ne, who, with due respect are thy unfeigned friends. Signed in behalf of said Company.

" By JOSEPH BONSALL, Secretary."

On the 5th of Ninth month (November), 1743, the books came from Peter Collinson, and in a letter he asked that in future - Manley, bookseller on Ludgate Hill, London, should be made correspondent of the company, and that he (Collinson) would over- look the books sent and the prices paid. The books thus forwarded were "The Gentleman Instructed, Puffendorf's Law of Nature and Nations, the Spec- tator (8 vols.), the Turkish Spy (8 vols.), Tournefort's Voyage to the Levant (2 vols.), Whitson's Theory, Addison's Travels, Barclay's Apology, Locke on Edu- cation, Religion of Nature Delineated, Gordon's Ge- ography, Grammar, Sherlock on Death, Whitson's Astrº Principles, Mondrall's Travels, Dyche's Dic- tionary, Tull's Husbandry, Blackmore on ye Creation, Independent Whig (3 vols.), Wood's Institute on ye Laws of England, Milton's Paradise Lost and Regained (2 vols.), Puffendorf's History of Sweden, Rawlegh's History of ye World (2 vols.), The Life of the Duke of Marlborough (2 vols.)."

At the meeting on May 5, 1745, Joseph Lewis gave the company " Sewell's History of the Rise, Increase, and Progress of the People called Quakers," valued at 15s .; Nathan Gibson gave Samuel Fisher's work called " The Rustick's Alarm to y& Rabbies," valued at 20s .; Benjamin Cliff gave Plutarch's "Lives," valued at 5s. ; Benjamin Hays gave " History of ye First Set- tlement of Virginia, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania by ye English," valued at 48. 6d.

In 1746 the committee who were appointed to pur- chase books reported that they could not get the books in Pennsylvania, and state "that insurance is so high, & danger of the sea is so great at this time, that they Judge it might be to the advantage of the Company not to send it [the money] until further orders." On May 1, 1747, the company remitted £19 11s. to England for additional books. It appears that Williams & Boeketiff, the booksellers in London, had not acted to the satisfaction of the company, for the meeting ordered the secretary to draw for the

525

DARBY BOROUGH.

balance in the hands of the firm, and appointed other parties as purchasing agents until 1760, when David Hall, bookseller, of Philadelphia, received and filled orders for the company. During the Revolutionary war the meetings were regularly held, and May 1, 1781, the share held by John Morton, which by will he bequeathed to his son, John, was vested in the latter's eldest brother, Sketchley Morton, Dr. John S. Morton having died. During all the years which had elapsed since the foundation of the library no effort was ever made to obtain a lot and erect a library building until Jan. 5, 1795, when Richard Welling, Hugh Lloyd, Matthias Holsten, Thomas Levis, and Benjamin Brannon were appointed to ascertain and report the site of a lot and probable cost of a suitable building. On Jan. 2, 1797, the committee reported that they could not obtain a lot "at a price that would possibly do," hence the project was abandoned. In 1804 the house (Pearson's) where the library had been kept was sold and it became necessary to re- move the books, and Jacob Sewell, John Hunt, Hugh Lloyd, Samuel Ash, and Charles Pearson were ap- pointed to secure a place for the books, which was done, the library being removed to Pearson's house (still standing at the corner of New and High Streets).

The easy manners which prevailed at the meetings in the early part of this century is shown by the following extract from the rules adopted on Jan. 12, 1818:

" No member shall smoke in our meeting during the business thereof, under a penalty of twenty-five cents for every offence."

On Jan. 3, 1871, the library was again removed, to a room over Philip Siplee's saddler-shop, his daughter, Mary, being engaged as librarian, her services and the apartment being obtained for seventy-five dollars per year.

In 1872 an effort was made to purchase a lot and erect a library building, subscriptions being solicited to that end, and so successful was the movement that on March 25, 1872, a lot was bought from David Henry Flickner, one thousand dollars being paid for the ground. The present ornate and commodious building, admirably adapted for the purpose, was erected by Charles Bonsall, at a cost of eight thousand eight hundred and ninety-five dollars and fifty-four cents. The building committee consisted of Isaac T. Jones, Charles Lloyd, William D. H. Serrill, Jacob Serrill, Paschall Lloyd, J. Charles Andrews, and George Serrill, and the architect D. B. Price. In front of this building a flag-pole over fifty feet in height was planted early in the centennial year, and on March 29, 1876, a large American flag, the gift of citizens of the borough, was raised, the ceremonies on that occa- sion being of a highly interesting character. William Ward delivered a spirited address, as did also Dr. Stacey Jones. The old library, now approaching its sesqui-centennial anniversary, is well located, and the sphere of its usefulness should be largely extended.

At this time (1884) its officers are as follows: Presi- dent, Isaac T. Jones ; Vice-President, Jacob S. Sew- ell; Treasurer, Daniel S. White; Secretary, W. Lane Verlenden ; Librarian, Mrs. A. E. Crozer.

The Darby Fire Company .- On the 27th of Jan- uary, 1775, the Darby Fire Company was organized by the adult active male residents of the village. In the articles of association it is set forth that each sub- scriber, " for the better preservation of our own and neighbor's houses, goods, and effect from fire, would at his own proper charge provide two leathern buck- ets, to be marked with his own name and respective company, and shall be kept ready at hand and applied to no other use than for preserving our own and neighbor's houses, goods, and effects." Any neglect of this agreement subjected the member so offending to a fine of five shillings, excepting in those cases where buckets were lost at a fire. A sufficient sum was contributed to purchase ladders, which were kept in a convenient place, and were forbidden to be used for any purpose than at a fire, or by any one not a member of the company. The ladders or buckets lost while in service were to be replaced out of the company's fund. A fine of five shillings was imposed on all members who failed to attend at a fire occur- ring on the premises of one of the company, unless a reasonable excuse could be shown. The annual meeting was on third 2d day of Tenth month, at three o'clock, and if any member neglected to be present, such neglect was punishable by a fine of two shillings. Every member was required to serve as clerk for a year, beginning with the first subscriber to the articles, and " so in rotation" till all had served. That officer was required to inspect buckets, notify members of meetings, keep the minutes, collect all fines and dues. If the clerk failed to give notice of meet- ing to any member, he was liable to a fine of one shilling for every member not notified, while a clerk not properly performing his duty was liable to a fine of five shillings. A treasurer was also annually elected. A member refusing to pay his fines his name should be erased from the roll, and he should be excluded from all rights and forfeit all interest in the ladders and other property of the company. The articles, which were " printed by Zachariah Poul- son, Junior, No. 106 Chestnut St., Philad., 1796," thirty years after the organization of the company, concluded :

" XI. Lastly, That upon the death of any of our company the survi- vors ahall, in time of danger as aforesaid, be aiding and aseisting to the widow of such decedent during her widowhood as if her huahand had been living, she ouly keeping the buckets in repair, ond causing them to be sent to every fire aa aforesaid."

The first meeting was held April 10, 1775, at which time the business meetings of the company were called semi-annually until April 10, 1780, when the provision for an annual meeting in the Tenth month in every year was adopted. On Nov. 25, 1793, the feet of the company's ladders were shod with iron, and a move-

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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

ment was made looking to the purchase of a fire- engine, but in 1798 the subscriptions which had been paid for that object were returned to the contributors. In 1800 a hook-ladder was ordered to be purchased, and in 1802 a ladder was directed to be placed at Nathaniel Newlin's barn, another at Jonathan Bon- sall's, and still another at Henry Paschall's. Mem- bers were also authorized to use any of the company's ladders in putting up conductors (lightning-rods), provided the ladders were returned within three days after being taken away from the designated places where they were ordered to be kept.

The following is a list of the members who served as clerk from 1775 to 1851, when the order of rotation in office seems to have been abandoned :

1775, Henry Hays; 1776, Jesse Bonsall, Isaac Pearson; 1777, John Paschall ; 1778, David Humphreys ; 1779, Isaac Lloyd, John Horn ; 1780, Aaron Oakford, John Hunt ; 1781, John Humphreys, William Parker ; 1782, Henry Paschall, Josephi Pearson, Jacob Webber, John Richards; 1783, Jacob Rudolph; 1784, Jacob Serrill ; 1785, Joseph Bonsall; 1786, Benjamin Paschall; 1787, Samuel Bunting, Joshua Bonsall, John Mit- chel ; 1788, Jonathan Bonsall ; 1789, Philip Price; 1790, no record ; 1791, Benjamin Bertram; 1792, Nathan Pearson; 1793, Hugh Lloyd; 1794, Nathaniel Newlin ; 1795, Benjamin Oakford ; 1799, Isaac Oakford ; 1798, Matthias Holstien; 1799, Richard Lloyd ; 1800, William Gardiner; 1801, Jacob Gibbons; 1802, John Hunt; 1803, Levi Bonsall; 1804, Thomae Leacock; 1805, Samuel Bunting; 1806, John Hatin; 1807, Benjamin Pearson ; 1808, Joseph Heacock ; 1809, John Rively ; 1810, Isaac Bar- tram; 1811, William Humphreye; 1812, George Serrill ; 1813, Stephen Horn ; 1814, William Supplee ; 1815, Benjamin Bertram, Jr. ; 1816, Hugh Lloyd; 1817, Halliday Jackson; 1818, George Serrill ; 1819, John Bunt- ing; 1820, John H. Bunting; 1821, George Serrill; 1822, lsaac Sullen- der ; 1823, William Bunting; 1824, Aaron Clement; 1825, John Bar- tram ; 1826, Thomas Serrill ; 1827, Thomas Smith; 1828, Joseph Dogson ; 1829, Jobn H. Andrews; 1830, James Bunting; 1831, John Brooks; 1832, William P. Pusey ; 1833, Jonas Morton ; 1834, Capt. James Serrill ; 1835, Abram G. Hunt ; 1836, Jonah D. Bonsall; 1837, Hill Pennell ; 1838, Benjamin Serrill; 1839, John Smith, Jr .; 1840, Dr. Samuel Thomas ; 1841, Samuel Roe; 1842, John Jackson ; 1843, Hugh P. Lloyd (he also acted for 1844 instead of Joseph H. Bonsall, " wbose term it was") ; 1845, David T. Morton ; 1846, James Andrews; 1847, William P. Serrill, who remained clerk until 1851, after which date the secretaries were &p- pointed for the meetings and committees to notify members and inspect the buckets and property of company.

There were several of the early members who ap- pear never to have acted as clerks. The dates of the admission of such were as follows: 1783, Joshua Humphreys, Samuel Smith, Jesse Sharpless; 1791, Samuel Ash ; 1792, Thomas Lloyd; 1794, Matthew Jones; 1795, Isaac Serrill; 1796, Samuel Oliver; 1800, James Andrews, Jonathan Tyson, John Tha- bourne; 1809, Solomon Humphreys; 1811, Edward Garrigues ; 1814, Thomas Steel, M. C. Shallcross ; 1815, Thomas Thompson, Andrew Cox ; 1816, Rich- ard Gardner ; 1818, Joseph M. Morgan ; 1822, Joshua Ward.

At subsequent dates the following residents of Darby and neighborhood became members of the company : Abraham G. Hunt, Josiah D. Bonsall, Joel Bonsall, William Pennell, Samuel R. Lamplugh, John Smith, Jr., John H. Brown, Samuel Thomas, Samuel Roe, John Jackson, Hugh P. Lloyd, Joseph H. Bonsall, Daniel T. Morton, Maris W. Lewis, James Andrews, William P. Serrill, Jonathan Ha- dock, Thomas L. Bartram, Henry Garrigues, Caleb

Ash, Isaac L. Bartram, Turner Risdon, Hugh Lloyd, Paschall Lloyd, John Tribit, William H. Bunting, George Serrill, William Lincoln, Stephen H. Brooks, William G. Davis, Harry Paschall, Charles Lloyd, Jr., Benjamin W. Oakford, Dell Pennell, John L. Pass- more, Richard Blundin, John B. Bartram, Joseph M. Bunting, Charles Tribit, Richard K. Smith, Edward Taylor, Evans E. Russell.

At a meeting held at the house of Samuel Ash, Oct. 13, 1817, Hugh Lloyd was elected permanent presi- dent, and Benjamin Pearson permanent secretary. In 1821 the company had a "ladder-house near the (Blue) Bell Inn," which house was that year removed to another location. In 1822 the ladder-house at Darby " wants a new roof," and the ladder "at Na- thaniel Newlin's barn is geting twisted & crooked for want of proper hangings" (it was reported in 1825 as "so broken as to render it useless"), and Benjamin Pearson " requested the company to remove the ladder House now on his ground." At the annual meeting in 1823, Thomas Smith, James Bunting, George Ser- rill, John Hunt, and John H. Bunting were ap- pointed a committee "to ascertain what kind of an engine would best suit the company and what would be the cost of it and also what amount can be sub- scribed." At the next annual meeting the committee reported that an engine " could not be procured for less than $250," whereupon the company decided that it was "inexpedient to adopt any further measures at this time relative to it." At the meeting of Oct. 9, 1826, it was decided " that the company shall sup to- gether this evening," which is the first appearance of the modern banquet in the company's minutes, although then a half-century had elapsed since its organization.

On June 20, 1833, a special meeting of the company was held at the public-house of S. R. Lamplough, when the following preamble and resolutions were adopted :

" The Company by the voluntary contributions of the members, aided by the liberal subscriptions of many of those who do not belong to it, have procured an engioe at a cost of two hundred and twenty-five dol- lars, which is placed under the care and control of the said Fire Com- pany, Therefore,

" Resolved, That the grateful acknowledgments of the Company are hereby tendered to those persons who have aided them in procuring it. " Resolved, that the offer of the use of a house for the engine made by Samuel Ash, an honorary member of the Company, be accepted, and the thanks of the company are hereby tendered to him for the same."

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History of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, Part 130

Author: Ashmead, Henry Graham, 1838-1920 Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : L.H. Everts Number of Pages: 1150

Author: Ashmead, Henry Graham, 1838-1920
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : L.H. Everts
Number of Pages: 1150