History of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, Part 137

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

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being held at the funeral of Abram Powell, the miller, on Naylor's Run, a man was noticed to deliberately mount a valuable mare and ride away. Those who saw the act, believing that he had been sent on an errand by the family, paid no attention, and it was not mentioned until after the funeral, when inquiries were made respecting the animal. The boldness of the thief secured his escape. A few days before the funeral two horses had been stolen from Joseph Pow- ell, a son of Abram, and he had offered fifty dollars reward for their return. On the day of his father's funeral the horses were brought back, and the son paid the reward, the latter being so overwhelmed with grief and the cares of the day that he asked no questions of the men who returned the horses. In July, 1877, a black man entered the house of Mrs. Kirk, and going into her room, appropriated several dresses. Mrs. Kirk, who was blind, sitting in the room, heard him, and, as the sound of his foot-step was unfamiliar, gave the alarm. The thief sprang out of the window, but pursuit being made by the men in the harvest-field, he was arrested, lodged in jail, and subsequently tried and convicted. On Feb. 16, 1876, the United States detectives seized an illicit distillery in a house near Darby Road Station, on the West Chester Railroad. A pit was excavated outside of the stable, which was floored with boards, covered with earth and straw. In this pit was a still, worm, and other necessary appliances, while from the still- house fire a flue was laid in a trench, and ran through the foundation of the dwelling, so that the smoke might mingle with that in the chimney and disarm suspicion. A trap-door in the stable gave access to an underground passage-way, which led to the pit where the still was located. The whiskey produced there was made from molasses. The government offi- cers arrested James Cullen in Philadelphia, but the other two persons connected with him escaped.

In the evening of Aug. 3, 1837, Jacob Brass acci- dentally discovered in the woods on the farm of George Sellers the body of a man hanging to a limb about six feet from the ground. A pair of new cotton sus- penders were round his neck and fastened to the limb. The corpse, when found, was in an advanced state of decomposition, and must have been hanging there several days before it was discovered.

Remarkable Instances of Longevity .- Mrs. Mary Ash, of Upper Darby, died March 24, 1862, aged ninety-seven years. She was the mother of sixteen children, and survived them all, except two, the oldest and the youngest, the latter being at date of the mother's death over sixty years of age. Mary Ash was twelve years old when the battle of Brandywine was fought, and conld remember that some of the American soldiers, when the army was retreating to Philadelphia, stopped at her father's house and were fed. She had lived in the house in which she died seventy-five years, and until within three days before her death retained her faculties unimpaired.

On Monday, Jan. 12, 1880," Aunt Betsey" Moore, on the one hundred and first anniversary of her birth, re- ceived a number of friends gathered to congratulate her on that occasion. She was born in Upper Darby, at Sellers' Hall, in 1779. On April 5, 1880, she died at the residence of her nephew, Samuel Moore, at Millbank, retaining her faculties remarkably until a few days prior to her death.1

Societies .- Clifton Heights Lodge, No. 960, I. O. of O. F., was chartered on the 9th of August, 1878, with the following persons as officers : Charles H. Edwards, N. G .; William Logan, V. G .; Samuel E. Haynes, Sec .; Henry M. Brennin, Asst. Sec .; John S. Donnel, Treas. The society has at the present time eighty- seven members, and is located at Clifton.

Arasapha Tribe, No. 161, I. O. R. M., was chartered on the 28th Sun of the Beaver Moon, G. S. D. No. 380, with twenty-two charter members. The wigwam of the tribe is at Clifton.

Clifton Wreath Division, No. 68, Sons and Daugh- ters of Temperance, was chartered on the 26th of Feb- ruary, 1876, with forty-one charter members, and at present has a membership of sixty. The meetings of this society are held at Clifton.

Improvement Lodge, No. 197, Knights of Pythias, was organized Oct. 4, 1869, with nine charter members. It was instituted at Garrettford, but in 1876 removed to Clifton, and has now a membership of sixty-seven.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH.

ROBERT PLUMSTEAD.

Robert Plumstead was born April 19, 1803, and has spent his long and useful life in Upper Darby, Dela- ware Co. On attaining a proper age he was ap- prenticed to Isaac Earle to learn the trade of shoe- making, with whom he served his time, and followed the business for about two years. He, however, de- sired a more active life, and engaged with Coleman Sellers, of Cardington, as foreman on his farm, which position he held for ten years, removing from thence in the year 1841 to his present home, known as "Maple Grove Farm," where he continued the active pursuits of a farmer until 1878, when the farm was rented and he retired from its management. Mr. Plumstead was, on the 26th of February, 1829, married to Rebecca, daughter of Joshua Parsons, of Marple township. Their children are Thomas K. (married to Rebecca L. Dickenson, of Darby), who died in 1856, at the age of twenty-seven years; Amanda R., who died at Price's Boarding-School, in West Chester, in 1850, aged sev- enteen years; Sarah A., whose death occurred in 1839,

1 In the village of Darby, on April 21, 1824, Mrs. Mary Calderwood died, aged one hundred and one years. This interesting fact having been unintentionally omitted in the account of Darby borough, it is recorded in this note as an incident worthy of preservation in a history of Dele- ware County.

ROBERT PLUMSTEAD.

553

EDGMONT TOWNSHIP.

aged two years; and Mary E., wife of Dr. Ellwood Baker, who resides with her father at the old home- stead. Mr. Plumstead was in politics a Whig, and later indorsed the platform of the Republican party. He was for many years active in the public affairs of the township, having filled the position of county commissioner, together with other minor offices. He was educated in the faith of the society of Friends, and with his family worships at the Friends' meeting- house in Darby. Mr. and Mrs. Plumstead celebrated their golden wedding in 1879, on which interesting occasion a numerous concourse of relatives and friends assembled to do them honor. The death of Mrs. Plumstead occurred on the 15th of August, 1883, in her seventy-ninth year. She was interred at the Friends' burial-ground in Darby.

CHAPTER XLIII.

EDGMONT TOWNSHIP.

EDGMONT was named from the ancient royal manor of Edgmond, in Shropshire, in England, from whence came Joseph Baker, one of the earliest settlers in the township.

The English spelling was used in ancient deeds, but since its origin was lost sight of, the orthography has been attended with some uncertainty, sometimes being spelled Edgment, but generally Edgemont, under the erroneous supposition that its name was derived from the Edge family.

The residents of Edgmont have almost entirely de- voted themselves to agricultural pursuits. Although Ridley Creek passes through it, and Crum Creek forms the eastern boundary, the water-power has not been developed for manufacturing or mills to any great extent. The only hotel is at Howellville, where the Rising Sun existed in former days. The Pres- ident, kept for many years by Hiram Green, on the West Chester road, when that was the great highway from the West, passed out of existence with many others on the road to Philadelphia when the iron rail supplanted the old-time Conestoga wagon.

On the southern line of the township of Edgmont, in the early history of the county, was a wedge-shaped tract of one hundred and fifty acres of land, known as "Cumberland," which had been set apart to George Willard, July 24-25, 1682, and was then in- cluded in Middletown. On March 1, 1687, Roger Jackson became the owner of the estate, and on 3d day of 1st week, Tenth month, 1688, the court "Or- dered that Roger Jackson's one hundred and fifty acres of land, formerly Included in Middletown, be from Henceforth taken into ye Township of Edgmond, and be therein Included." This was not the only reference to the township line, for in 1739 a dispute was had between Thornbury and Edgmont respecting

the boundaries betwen the two municipal divisions. The petition on behalf of the Thornbury claimants is not of record, but that of Edgmont set forth :

" To the Honorable Justices of the Court of Quarter Sessions to be held at Chester the last tuesday in May, 1739 :

" The Humble Petition of the Inhabitants of Edgmont Sheweth that there hatlı of late heen, and still remaine, come uneasyness About the Divissions between the Townshipe of Edgmont & Thornbury, Al- though the part now in Dispute hath been Deemed to be in Edgmont for more than Sixteen Years past, and taxed ae Such, Therefore we Humbly Cravo of this Honorable Court to appoint a Number of Judicious and Indifferent Meu of the Neighboring townships to Divide the said Townships to the Least Damage of yo Inhabitants on boath Sides ; and your petitioners, as in Duty bound, shall ever pray.

" John Worral. Richrd Pritchet. Henry Howard.

"Joseph Pennell.

" Samuel Lewis. Thomas Yarnall.

" David Redgeeter.

Edward Grizel.

" Thomas Williameon. John Yarnall.

" Jamee Sill.

Joseph Biehop.

" Joseph Pratt.

Philip Yarnall.

" Thomas Goodwin.

" Wm Griffith, JuDr.

Cadwalader Evane. Samnel Yarnall."

The court decided in favor of Edgmont, for the fore- going document is indorsed "the petition for division is set aside."

The "Edgmont Great Road," as was formerly termed the highway from Chester, entered the southern boundary of the township at its western part, and following a northwesterly course, almost across Edgmont, entering Thornbury a short distance south of the Chester County line. At the court held "Dec. yª 11th, 1687," the grand jury in its report stated :

" Leid ont a Highway from Edgmond to ye Kings Highway in Cbester being a Sixty foote road by virtue of an Order of Conrt bearing date ye 4th of October 1687, laid out by ne whose hande are under written as followeth (viz.)

" Beginning att Joseph Bakers fence of his cleared land thence through ye land of ye said Joseph Baker thence crosse William Lewis land thence Crosse Howell James Land thence crosse Jacob Simicock'e land thence crosse Jnmes Kenerly, thence crosse a parcell of vacant Land then croeee Roger Jackson thence crosse vacant land thence crosee Jolin Boweter Iand thence Croese David Ogdene land thence Crosse John Hodgkins land thence crosse George Smedleys land thence crosse Wm. Edwarde land thence Widdow Musgrove's Innd thence Crosse Robert Burrowee land thence crosee John Maylene land thence Crosse John Bowetters land thence Crosse Joseph Cooksons land thence Crosse Jeremy Carters land thence Crosse Richard Barnarde land thence Crosse John Worrelle land thence Crosse Thomae Taylors land then Crosse Richard Crosbyes land then Crosse John Marten'e land then Crosse John Hastens land.

" Walter Marten " John Beales " Edward Pritchard J

George Willard Wm. Coborne."

At the same court "John Worrell Petitioned against ye road laid out by yª Grand Inquest from Edgmont to y" King's Highway in Chester." The justices seem to have met this objection promptly and decidedly, for it was "Ordered that y" road be made by the Petition- er's fence."

With respect to this road Dr. Smith says, "There is a tradition that in laying out the road from Chester to Edgmont, or more likely in a review of that road, Henry Hollingsworth, the surveyor, caused an apple- tree to be planted at the end of every mile. The sur- · veyor happened to be at variance with Richard Crosby,

554

HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

who then resided in Middletown township. It so happened that one of the miles ended on Richard's land, but instead of planting an apple-tree, the sur- veyor took an axe and bent two saplings so as to cross each other at the spot, saying at the same time, 'Richard Crosbie, thee crosses me and I will cross thee.' Henry Hollingsworth wrote to his friends in England that he had planted an orchard nine miles in length. It is said that some of the apple-trees were standing until within a very recent period."1

Early in the history of the province an important meeting between the Indians and the Governor is be- lieved to have been held in Edgmont township. The particulars are thus related by the historians of Ches- ter County :

"The Indians manifested some uneasiness about this time, which wee communicated to the Governor by William Dalbo, of Gloucester, N. J., 'who acquainted bim that there is a Belt of Wampum come to Connes- tego, from Mahquahotonoi ; yt there was a Tomahock in Red in the belt, & yt the French with five nations of Indians were designed for war and to fall on some of these plantations.' This information was duly laid before the Council hy the Governor on the 14th of April, 1710, and also a letter he had received from Mr. Yeates, Caleb Pusey, and Thomas Powell, dated the same day, 'purporting that to-morrow there was to be a great concourse of Indiana, those of Conestoga & those of the Jersey ; that they were of opinion that it might be a reasonable oppor- tunity for the Gov'r to visit them altogether; the meeting being the greatest that hes been knowo these twenty years, and is to be about two miles from Jno Warrams [John Worralls] at Edgmond.'

" It was the opinion of the board ' That the Governor with some of the Council, aod as many others as can be got should go to-morrow to meet the sd Indians, to inquire further of them about the said Belt of Wam- pum, and what else may be thought necessary.'

" The Governor and others doubtless met the Indians, as here indi- cated, but as no report of the interview was made to the Council, it ie probable that the principal chiefe were not present. Oo the 29th of April, some more alarming news was communicated to the Council, which induced the Governor to visit Conestoga and have an interview with the red men. He found them ' very well inclined to the English,' but they complained of aggressions that had been committed on them hy the white man.

" The Governor, immediately ou hie return from Conestoga, sent Col. French and Henry Worley to ascertain more fully the wishes of the In- diane. These gentlemen returned with eight helte of wampum, and . made their report to the Council on the 16th of June. Each of these helts had a particular significance. The import of three of them will be given.

"The first was from their old women, and signified 'That those im- plored their friendship of the Christiane and Indiens of this govmt, that without danger or trouble, they might fetch wood & water.'

. "The second belt wae from their children born, and those yet in the womb, requesting that room to sport and play without danger of slavery might be allowed them.'

"The Third Belt was sent from their young men fitt to hunt, that privilege to leave their Towns, and seek provisions for their aged, might be granted to them without fear of Death or slavery.'

"The last of these belts have a significance that cannot be misunder- etood. They plainly suggest the reason for the passage, in 1705, of the ' Act to prevent the importation of Indian slaves.' " 2

In the assessment for the year 1715 the taxables then in Edgmont were as follows :

John Worrall, Joseph Baker, Philip Yarnall, John Worrilow, Ephir. Jackson, Joseph Pennell, John Broomall, David Register, William Hiddings, John Golding, Rebecca Powell, John Gregory, Thomas Vernon, Thomas Dawson, Joseph Baker, Simon

Acres, Edward Thompson, Jacob Taylor, John Clues, Nathan Evans, John Holdston, Caleb Thompson, William Willis, Robert Williamson, Evan Howell, William Adams, Richard Pritchard, Evan Lewis.

Freemen, William Clues, John Hiddings, William Floud.

That the above list represented the male residents of Edgmont at that time is apparent, because at the conclusion it is stated, " Non-resident Land, Bostock's Land, John Kingsman."

In 1799 the following is the list of taxables in the township :

George Bishop, Nehemiah Baker, Joseph Baker, Sr., Joseph Baker, Jr., Edward Baker, Richard Baker, William Baker, Joseph Bishop, Abraham Farr, Johu Fox, Joshua Fox, George Greeo, Joseph Griffith, George Hunter, Isaac Hoops, Abraham Hoops, Benjamin Holston, John Hole- too, Joseph Holston, Jamee Howard, Daniel Hoops, Thomas Hammer (shop-keeper), Thomas Johnson, Samuel Lewis, Abraham Lewie, Moses Meredith, John Mendenhall, John Morgan, Daniel McGowao, Richard Pasemore, John Parker (weaver), Joseph Pennell, David Pratt, Lowrie Bonsall, William Russell, Jamee Sill, Aaron Sill, Isaac Taylor, Daniel Williamson, John Worrell, Isaac Worrell, Nicholas Woolas, William Yarnall, Eli Yarnall, Caleb Yarnall, James Yarnall, Joseph Daniel, Robert Register, William Sill, Margaret Bishop, Joseph Williame, Geurge Antricum, William Monangby (joiner), Samuel Plankington (carpenter), Nathan Pyle (blacksmith), Aaron Matson (weever), Joseph McAfee (weaver), Samuel Fox (carpenter), Benjamin Houghton (carpenter), Nehemiah Barker (cooper), Isaac Pennell (shoemaker), Enoch Yernell (shoemaker), Evan Peunell (weaver), John Register (turner), Thomas Register (mason), Thomas Dent (tailor), Abraham Hoops (chairmaker), John Gilmore (mason).

The residents of the township, as already remarked, devoting their attention, as a rule, to agriculture, the incidents and happenings in that locality were not generally of that moment to make a deep impression on the annals of the county, and yet Edgmont, in the old war of independence, was repeatedly visited by the scouting parties of both sides, and the American camp-followers and "jayhawkers" just as frequently appropriated private property to their personal use as did the enemy. After the battle of Brandywine to the withdrawal of the British forces from Phila- delphia, the residents of Edgmont suffered from the inroads of foraging parties of the Tory adherents of the crown. The account of losses sustained in this township, filed as a claim against the government but never paid, were as follows :

£ s. d.

From John Worrall, Sept. 15, 1777.

= Thomas Frame ..

Thomas Evans ..

7 10 0

Jonathan Hunter.

119 10 0

= William Dunwoody, Sept. 17th.

= William McFee, by J. Fitzpatrick (alias

Fitz or Fitch), and adherents of the

King of Great Britain. 200 0 0

Mordecai Massey

47 0

£504 16 0

On Sept. 17, 1777, a party of English soldiers visited the residence of Edward Russell, on the farm known as Hunting Hill, and while in the house they broke into a secretary, where, in a secret drawer, one of the daughters had secreted a sum of money. The soldiers had not discovered the hiding-place, had turned, and were about leaving the room, when the owner of the money, in her anxiety for the treasure,

1 History of Delaware County, p. 400.

" Futhey and Cope's " History of Chester County," p. 39.

555

EDGMONT TOWNSHIP.

went to the desk and opened the drawer. Her action was observed by one of the men, who compelled her to deliver to him the savings of many months. The desk, still showing the marks of the force used to open its apartments, is now in possession of Burgess Green, of Media.

The house now belonging to David H. Stitter, on the road from Bishop's mills to Howellsville, during the Revolution, was owned by Abel Green, and in one of the putlog-holes in the east end of the house, which had never been filled in after the scaffolding was removed, Green secreted a large amount of Continental currency, and filled the open- ing in with a stone. For several months the money remained there undisturbed. A barrel of whiskey in the cellar, however, was not so secure, for a British soldier shot a musket-ball into the head, and through the opening thus made poured out round after round to his thirsty companions, without failing, however, to minister to his own appetite.

On Crum Creek, where the West Chester road crosses that stream, was the tract of two hundred and forty acres laid out to Samuel Bradshaw, April 10-11, 1682. Part of this estate is known as "Castle Rock," because located on the farm is a cluster of peculiar rocks rising in picturesque confusion, bowlder upon bowlder, to the height of two hundred feet above the level of the land at its basis. This rock, pierced through and through with fissures and caverns, is a remarkable natural curiosity. It was on this farm, now the property of William Taylor, that James Fitzpatrick, the outlaw, was captured in 1778, as narrated in the chapter on crimes and punishments. The dwelling of the present owner occupies almost the very site where William McAfee's house then stood.

The land on which the village of Howellville is located, about 1759 was purchased by Christian Workizer, a German, who, a colonel in the English army, came to America as an aide-de-camp to Gen. Wolfe. After the capture of Quebec, Col. Workizer resigned, and having married, purchased a farm where Howellville is now, the hotel building being the homestead of the family. During the Revolu- tionary war the colonel, having held military rank in the English service, declined to take part in that struggle. It is related that during the British occu- pation of Philadelphia Mrs. Workizer walked from Howellville to the former place, eluding the sentinels, and returned without being molested, her enormous pockets, strapped to a girdle worn beneath her dress, filled with medicines, salt, and articles of that de- scription which were difficult to be procured. John Sheridan Workizer, to whom the Howellville farm descended, sold it about the beginning of this cen- tury.

Edgmont Temperance Hall was erected near the centre of the township, on the Chester road, in the year 1843, and sold to the Methodists for a church

in 1859. Among the pastors who have served there are W. C. Jolinson, George Alcorn, - Jennings, William F. Shepherd, G. J. Burns, J. E. Grawley, A. N. Millison, and - Turrentine, the present pastor.

Edgmont post-office, near the old "President," is kept at the store which was started by Lewis Ver- dreis more than fifty years ago. A post-office was established some years ago, and Pusey Pennock and William Worrell were postmasters. Edgar Prene is the present officer. John and James Aitkin at that time kept the store where the Howellville post-office was established in 1832, which was noted in its day, and drew a large patronage from distant parts of the county for many years. It subsequently passed iuto the hands of William W. and Ellis Smedley, who gave new life to the place by running stages to Chester, which became a popular line of travel to Philadelphia. Another line ran through the place between the city and Westtown boarding-school, and a third along the West Chester road, from West Chester to Philadelphia. The opening of the rail- road between those points, via Media, made these enterprises unprofitable, and they have long since been abandoned.

John Atkins, Ellis Smedley, William T. Kirk, El- wood Baldwin, Thomas Worrall, Joseph Pratt, Wil- liam F. Matthews, William McCall, I. B. Taylor, and Jesse R. Baker have in succession been the post- masters at Howellville. James Atkin studied medi- cine and became the principal physician of that sec- tion for nearly half a century, and now survives at West Chester at the advanced age of ninety years. Fifty years ago, in September, 1834, Dr. Atkin found a young snake with two heads in Edgmont, which he presented to the museum of the Delaware County Institute of Science.

An accident occurred in Edgmont in May, 1851, which, from the peculiar circumstances connected with it, is still recalled in that section of the county. A large water-snake had taken up its quarters near the spring-house on John H. Taylor's farm, which so alarmed the females of the family that he determined to kill the reptile. The old fowling-gun he used for that purpose exploded, the breech blew out, striking Taylor in face, breaking his nose, putting out one of his eyes, and otherwise injuring him. Two months subsquent, when the frightful wound in the face had healed sufficiently to permit him to walk about the farm, he complained of great soreness and shooting pains in his head. An examination disclosed the. breech-pan of the gun still in the wound, where it had remained since the accident. Dr. Huddleson removed the iron, which was two and a half inches in length, over half an inch in thickness, and weigh- ing three ounces.

The following-named persons have served as jus- tices of the peace for Edgmont township since the year 1791:

556

HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Caleb Peirce ..

Aug. 30, 1791.

John Edwards ..

.Jan. 24, 1797.

Joseph Brinton ..

May

20,1800.

Luke Cassin

March 27, 1809.

John Siter.

Sept.

1, 1813.

Robert Green.

Feb.

23,1816.

Nathan Gibson.

.Nov. 26, 1817.

George Brooke ..

.July

3, 1821.

Maskill Ewing ..

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History of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, Part 137

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