USA > Pennsylvania > Lancaster County > History of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 72
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Ray, John .. 2 6
0 0 |Rippy, Willow 0 12 0
Gilgrest, William.
0 13 0
Stieman, Richard 0 14 0
7 0
Scott, Samuel
1
5 0
King, Michael.
1
0 0
Scott, James .. 0 70
King, Wilhan
U 10 0
Scott, John
King. William, St.
0
Scott, Thomas 0 12 #
King, Damel
Stone, John. D 3G
Kelah, Wrlow.
1 7 G . State, Andrew. 3 0
Long, John . 0 8 0 | Sidovel, Richard, Jr. 0 10 1)
Langhhn, Widow 0 6 D) | Williams, Isaac. 0 11 0
FREEMEN IN 1763 IN WHAT IS NOW FULTON TOWNSHIP.
John McCreay.
Eshbel Montgomery.
Anthony Montgomery. John Ewing.
James Robinson.
Henry Stewart.
Samuel Long
John Glen.
David M. Keely.
Thomas Brown
Wilbam Nilson.
William Dickson.
John Patrick.
The total amount of the King's tax for this year 494 188. 6d.
Non-Associators, 1777. - The following-named persons comprise the list, as far as can be ascer- tained, of the non-associators, or anti-arms-bearing, or peace men, or anti-war men, in 1777, of what is now Fulton township. For a copy of the warrant of the commissioner-, Thomas Clark and Cas. Shaffner, to Collector Stepben llerd, in relation to collecting tax of non-associators, see same in Little Britain township history :
Names, Tax Levied.
Names. Tux Levied.
William Cinlg .
10 0
Abralmm Widenlf. .... 3 10 0
Francis Stone.
10
Junes Sidwell =
10 0
Thomas Money
10 0
Owen Jenkins .. 3
Nathaniel Jenkins. 3 10 0
Wilham Rhea . .
10
Jeremiah Brown 3
0 Thamnay Stubby
Josiah Brown ..
10
Vincent Stubbs 3
10 Thomas Capack 10 0
Istar Web-tri 10 Lukr Mrbowel. 3 10 0
:
10
= Jaties Me Dowdl 3 10 0
WIDOW MONTGOMERY'S PETITION AND REBATE OF TAX IN 1785.
" To the Commissioners of Lancaster County.
" The Humble petition of Maty Montgomery of Little Brittian Town. ship humbly Shueth,
" That whereas I am Left a Desolate widdow by the Death of my Hus- band and whereas my husband left me luts Land During my natural Life for my suporte and I being Distrinte of aney helpe to Labour my Land was under the Newsitey of Emply ing a Cropprt and whereas thete na> n Nesesitey of Leaving havey taxes in onler to pay our publick Debt I thought it my Duty to Labot and put in Crops as much as was in my power in order to Defray my proporsion of taxes but after all my Labour and Coast my Crops parished the Letter part of Last winter which can he atested by all my Neighbors
"Grutle men as my part of the taxes is high and I having nothing Else to Depend on far Defraying my part thereof but my Crop I hope you will Consider my Case in granting men Draw for what part of my
Miles, Jonas . 0 12 0
Me Sparran, James ... 0 90
McCreery, John ... 0 13 0
Metreery, Joseph. ...
M. Min, Widow 3 0
M. Michael, Richard 0 30
M. Donel, Alexander 0 76
Montgomery, William 1 10 0
MeMichael, Daniel 0 50
Mury, Barney (tenant). 7 6
Nraper, James 0 12 0
Patrick, Hugh 100
Gillespy, James. 1
5 0
Gilgrest, James,
1
Grub, Thomas
1
Renh, John 0 50
Glen, Wolow
Glen, Joseph
4 01
Sentt, James, Sr 7 G 0
King, Thomas
1
Serjent, Jeremi ch. 0 12 0)
+
L & d.
Joseph Miles ....
3
Milcape, Curtis .. .... como 0 60
Mills, William 0 40
857
FULTON TOWNSHIP.
taxes your wisdom shall think meet and your pettioner as in Duty bound shall ever pray "October the 27th 1785
" MARY MONTGOMERY"
On the reverse of the petition can be seen the fol- lowing indorsement :
" To the Collector of Little Britton for the year 1783. Take only five pounds hard money and three pounds State from the widdow Montgom- ery and the Remainder shall be allows you at the Settlement of your Duplicat Given under My hand Novna 3d 1785
" DANIEL FRANCK"
Educational .- The school system was introduced into Little Britain township (including Fulton) in 1837, having at that time ten school-houses, eight teachers, and three hundred pupils. It levied a tax of $1945.27, drew a State appropriation of $1187.69, and expended for buildings the sum of $2676. At the division of the township in 1844 the number of school-houses was still ten, of which five fell to the share of Fulton. . Of course the system was still con- tinued, the intelligence of the people sanctioning it, and the choice of " school" or " no school" being about this time taken away by legislative enactment. Since that time three new houses have been added to the number, and some of these have been renewed, adding to their comfort and convenience, it being the boast of the township that their schools are the best,-the best managed and conducted, and the most effective in the lower end of the county.
Election and Duty of Supervisors .- By an act of the Legislature of March 16, 1868, the townships of Fulton and Salisbury were authorized to elect three supervisors,-one for one year, one for two years, and one for three years,-and every year after that one supervisor to serve three years; their duty being to divide the roads of the township into sections from one-fourth to three-fourths of a mile in length, to sell the repair of these sections every three years to the lowest bidder, having first specified the repairs to be made and given notice of the time and place of sale, and to have charge and oversight of the whole work so to be done. Under this method Fulton township claims to have the best roads in this section of coun- try, and some travelers have recognized their entrance into the township from this fact alone. This method of mending roads by contract is now generally called "the Fulton system," and is universally approved in theory, while in,practice it often fails, either from too much being expected of it at once, or more frequently from the election of unsuitable or incompetent officers to carry it into effect. No reason can be assigned why better roads cannot be had at less cost under this sys- tem than any other if properly managed and enforced. But, unfortunately, the thirst for gain influences a large portion of contractors to render as little service for their money as they can possibly get along with, and unless supervisors are watchful and energetic the system will fail of its best effects, and the roads will be neglected and subsequent expenses necessarily in- creased. On the other hand, it supervisors do their
duty and enforce on contractors a compliance with the terms of their contracts, they bring upon themselves the ill-will of the delinquents, and complaints of their exactions are loud and deep. Fulton township has been fortunate in having supervisors who, disregard- ing elamor, have gone on doing their duty and re- quiring contractors to do theirs. And yet it has been noticed that where a desire to avoid the censure of the covetous has produced a relaxation of strict authority, the consequence has been a retrogression of the roads, and consequently an unfavorable reflection upon the system itself.
Post-Offices .- Within the limits of Fulton township we find the following post-offices, viz. : Fulton House, taking its name, as does the township itself, from Robert Fulton, the inventor, at whose birthplace it was established about 1853, and still remains; Goshen, originally established at the store then belonging to Jeremiah Brown, but now of Samuel C. Wood, many years ago discontinued to make room for Fulton House and Wakefield about 1853, and since restored; l'eter's Creek, first called Rock, at Peach Bottom ; Pleasant Grove, at the village of that name; Lyle, at the vil- lage of New Texas; Wakefield, established about 1853 at the store then kept by the Wilkinson Brothers, but now by Smedley & Marsh, about one-half mile south of the Little Britain Friends' meeting-house; and Wrightsdale, on the line of Little Britain township, where the road from New Texas to Eastland crosses it, in the store now kept by Mr. Wright.
The Productions of the Township, like those of all other places removed from the great centres of trade and population, are chiefly agricultural, yet other pro- duetions are not wanting within its borders, Chrome has been taken out in considerable quantities on its southern border, along the Maryland hine, and iron ore is found in some places. Magnesia also has been found and taken out in the "barrens," where chrome is found. The slate quarries at Peach Bottom were long famous, but are now not worked, York County furnishing as good an article at less cost. A few years ago a com- pany leased the quarries and made preparations for doing an extensive business, but after very consider- able expense incurred in putting up buildings and providing machinery the enterprise was abandoned, and has not since been resumed. Brick and pottery- ware are also made in the southeastern corner of the township.
Mills were established at a very early day. King's mill, on Conowingo, was in operation, as we have seen, at least as early as 1733, perhaps many years before that. Gillespie's mill, on the same stream, was built in 1751, long known as Joel Smedley's mill, and now owned by Frank C. Pyle. Joshua Brown built a mill on this creek at an early day, perhaps about 1760, and which only a few years ago passed out of the name. It now belong> to Joseph P. Ambler, and is believed to be the third in age within the territorial limits of the township. Jeremiah Brown's mill for
858
HISTORY OF LANCASTER COUNTY.
chopping feed and sawing lumber, also for cleaning clover-seed, till that employment was superseded by portable machines, is next below, and was established at an early day. It is now the property of Samuel C. Wood. The grist-mill of G. B. Wood, deceased, is the Jast on Conowingo within the State, and is of con- siderable antiquity. Stubb's mill, on Peter's Creek, at the mouth of Puddle Dock, was in operation as early as 1794, and perhaps many years before that. It now belongs to Samuel Dorsey. Kirk Brown has a saw-mill near the mouth of Peter's Creek long known as Boyd's saw-mill, while Edward Wicks has a grist- mill higher up on the same stream. It was formerly a fulling-mill, and was first built by Abraham Huffer. Thomas Smedley has a grist- and saw-mill, also a spoke- and bending-mill on Little Conowingo, partly ley family for eighty years, but how long it has been improved as a mill is not certain. With these may be classed George H. Hewes'' Edge-Tool Factory on Puddle Dock Creek.
Villages and Hamlets .- There are no towns of any size in the township, but several small villages. Of these Peach Bottom is the principal, containing two Ecclesiastical .- There are nine houses of worship in the limits of the township, but when we come to inquire particularly into their origin, especially the more ancient of them, the reply is too frequently re- ceived, " Unknown." taverns, a store, two ferries over the river Susque- hanna, and a considerable number of dwellings. It is not now, however, of the importance it was for- merly, because of the decline in the slate business here. This may be partly made up by the railroad The Friends' Meeting-House at Penn ITill is un- doubtedly the first of these in point of time. Friends here, coming originally from Nottingham, were for many years a part of Nottingham Monthly Meeting, interest, being a station on the Columbia and Port Deposit Railroad, and also the terminus of the Peach Bottom Railroad, East Division. This road is now establishing a steam ferry to connect it with its mid- ; and indeed, of that particular meeting. But on 6th dle division in York County.
Pleasant Grove, toward the southern border, con- tains a store, a school-house, a Good Templars' Hall, and quite a number of dwellings.
New Texas has a hotel, a store (now vacant), and perhaps a deven dwellings.
" Penn Hill" (including Wakefield, for it is indiffer- ently called by the same name) is a scattered village lying along the road for half a mile or more, and con- tains a hotel, a store, a cabinet-shop, and a Friends' meeting-house called Little Britain, but more gener- ally known as Penn Hill, with numerous dwellings. Bradley's mill, formerly King's, the oldest in the neighborhood, is in the near vicinity.
deserve mention as well as these, as where there are officers there must also be men ; but their names have generally passed into oblivion, or are only retained in the metuory of friends and relatives, where it is in- accessible to the general inquirer, and where it will soon be entirely lost to posterity unless speedily made a matter of record. It is difficult to reach these pri- vate depositories, and much of their treasures must be inevitably lost, as much has already passed away beyond recovery.
As to the war of the Rebellion, while it might be in- vidious to specify individuals, it may be briefly stated that every call for troops was promptly filled so far as the quota of this township was concerned. Moneys were raised, liberal bounties paid, quotas filled, and the army recruited to the full extent demanded by run by steam. This property has been in the Smed- the government. In this no pre-eminence is claimed,
as to the general promptness in this respect is mainly due the successful termination of the conflict. The records of the War Department contain full details of these contibutions and of the services rendered, and to these the curious inquirer is referred for all further particulars in this respect.
mo. 14, 1749, the following appears on the records of Nottingham Monthly Meeting :
" Friends, dwellers in Lancaster county, near Can- nawingo, request that a meeting for worship be al- lowed and settled amonst those friends, both on first and week-days. In regard to their request, this meet- ing appoints John Smith, Joseph Peunick, John Cook, Aaron Musgrave to visit those friends and consider how far they may be capable, to the reputa- tion of truth, of keeping up a meeting for worship amongst them, and make report at our next meeting."
9th mo. 13, 1749. " The friends appointed to visit the friends near Cannawingo, and to consider how far those friends may be capable of, keeping a meet- ing for worship amongst them, report; 'it is their worship on first and week-days.' After some con- further order."
Military .- The early military history of this town- ship is involved in obscurity, more on account of a | opinion that they be allowed to keep a meeting for lack of records than of actual service. It is incident- ally mentioned that "Thomas Grubb was an ensign . sideration the same is allowed to the said friends till in Capt. Hugh Patrick's Company in the French and Indian war of 1756." John Scott, as we learn from his tombstone in Little Britain Presbyterian grave- yard, was a major in the Revolutionary war, and did good service. No doubt there were many others who
2d mo. 10, 1752. "This meeting some time since, at the request of friend- living in and near Little Britain, with the concurrence of Nottingham Monthly Meeting, appointed a committee to view and settle a place to build a meeting-house on; but for some reasons the building of the house was delayed; and since the place whereon it was then proposed to build
1 George II. Hewes is a grandson of Joseph Hewes, a signor of the Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776.
859
FULTON TOWNSHIP.
appears somewhat discommodious, they now request that this meeting would condescend so far as to ap- point some friends to view and review the place again, in order for an allowance to build a meeting-house on. This meeting, in regard to their request, do ap- point John Smith, Joshua Jolinson, Joshua Pusey, Thomas Carleton, Robert Lewis, and James Robin- son to meet at James King's, and after they have viewed the place proposed, and do judge it proper and convenient to build a Meeting-House on, that then the friends there may proceed accordingly, and make report to our next meeting."
5th mo. II, 1752. "The friends appointed by the last meeting to view the place proposed by the friends living in and near Little Britain, in order for allow- ance from this meeting to build a meeting-house on, report that they met and viewed the ground proposed by these friends, who appeared pretty well satisfied in the choice of the place, and are by this meeting left to their liberty to build a meeting-house thereon."
Accordingly they proceeded to build a house on land of Michael King, who, on March 17, 1758, exe- cuted a conveyance to Samuel Boyd, Joshua Brown, Isaac Williams, and Vincent King, trustees of Little Britain Friends' Meeting, for five acres of land, upon which the meeting-house was already built.
This house becoming old and inconvenient, a new brick house was erected a good many years ago, which still remains the meeting-place for this denomination in Fulton township. It still bears the official appel- lation of " Little Britain Meeting," though it is better | known outside of the society as Penn Hill. Origin- ally in Little Britain, from which it takes the name it still hears, on the division of that township and the erection of Fulton it fell into the latter.
Little Britain Presbyterian Church .- The next in point of time is Little Britain Presbyterian Church. In the " Authentic History of Lancaster County," by Mombett, the organization of this church, as well as that of Chestnut Level and others, is set down as "unknown." The probabilities are that the two congregations were originally one, and afterward separated. The house occupied by them till a few years ago was built in 1763, and the lot conveyed in the following year with the building thereon. It is matter of tradition that a certain old graveyard, then on lands of Daniel Carmichael, now Thomas P. King, was the original site of the church ; and while this may be true, there is room to suppose that it is merely one of those private burying-grounds of which there are many in different sections of the country. The same is true of Chestnut Level, several locations being pointed out by tradition, one of which is the old Carmichael location as already mentioned for the Little Britain Church.
Since 1763 the status of this church has been well defined. Its pastors for many years were the same with those of Chestnut Level, dividing his time be- tween them. Rev. James Gamble appears to have served in this capacity twenty years or more. He died about 1795. Rev. James White took charge some time afterwards and continued till his death, about 1815. Rev. Mr. Patton and Rev. Francis A. Latta were pastors of this charge, and Rev. Lindley C. Rutter occupied the pulpit from about 1835 till 18 -- , when he retired from Little Britain and confined himself to Chestnut Level. From this time Little Britain employed the entire services of a minister, Rev. Robert Alexander being the first, followed suc- cessively by Rev. Solomon MeNair. Rev. John Boyd, Rev. Alonzo Michael, and Joseph B. Turner, the present incumbent.
Ballance's Meeting .- It is well known that about the year 1827 a division took place in the Society of Friends (commonly called Quakers), and that both The above account is so fragmentary as to be almost worthless, but may serve as a sketch, to be filled up and completed by other and fuller accounts and more partienlar details. branches claimed to be the original society, and that the other were schismaties or innovates. The more numerous party in any locality usually held the prop- erty previously acquired, while the weaker withdrew Baptist Church .- Next to these comes the Baptist Church (Old School) called "Rock Springs," just above the Maryland line. It was organized in 1808, and has pursued the even tenor of its way since that time. The congregation is comparatively small, but earnest and devoted. In adherence to the principles and provided separate accommodations for themselves. This was sometimes one party, sometimes the other, according as the one or the other secured the ma- jority. In Little Britain, as it then was, the party designated as "Orthodox," consisting of a number of families and individuals, separated themselves from ; they profess they exhibit as much firmness as those the Heterodox, and built for themselves a small, plain of the larger denominations, perhaps more. brick building near what is now the line between Methodist Episcopal Church .-- The Methodist Episcopal Church at Bethel, in the northern corner of the township, was originally built in 1822. No doubt the congregation was organized at an earlier date, as tliey had been for some time holding meet- ings at the house of Joseph Swift, on whose land the church was built. His whole family, consisting of himself, his wife, four sons, and five daughters, are all understood to have been members of the society. | The first house built was an unpretentious stone Fulton and Little Britain, on the border of Soapstone Ilill, in Fulton township. This is known to many as "Ballance's Meeting," from one of their principal members, near whose residence it was situated. Here they have continued to meet according to the customs of the society till the present time. But time, death, and removals from the neighborhood have sadly re- duced their numbers, and few are now left to conduct the meeting.
860
HISTORY OF LANCASTER COUNTY.
structure of rather small dimensions, but the power was there, and the membership increased till in 1851 a large brick church was ereeted in place of the old stone structure, and therein have they continued to worship till the present day, though with varying success and fluctuating numbers. Sometimes large accessions are obtained, and then again by death, re- I moval, and other eauses the membership is consider- ably reduced. At the time the present house was built it formed a part of Strasburg Circuit, and two preachers were placed upon it, Rev. Joseph S. Cook being in charge. Since then the circuit has been divided and altered, Bethel being now one of the ap- pointments on Fulton Circuit, whereof Rev. F. M. Brady has the charge, and is the only preacher now itinerating the cireuit.
African Churches .- There are within the town- ship two colored Methodist Churches, each of them having been in existence for quite a number of years, one of them a short distance north of Penn Hill, on the Lancaster road, and the other now located at Arcadia Station, on the Peach Bottom Railroad. This last has been long known the country through as " Rigby," one of its prominent members at its or- ganization, and who, with Elisha Armstrong, fur- nished the ground upon which it was originally built
south of its present location. The old house becoming inconvenient, a new location was selected and a new frame building erected about four years ago, which they are now occupying. This church holds an annual meeting on the second Sunday in August of each year, to which great number, congregate from considerable distances, white as well as colored, and the day of Rigby Meeting is looked forward to and prepared for as an event of quite considerable impor- tance. It is, in fact, the occasion of the neighborhood. and never fails to attract an immense crowd.
Welsh Church .- It only remains to notice the : Welsh Church near Peach Bottom, built to accom- modate the men employed in the slate quarry, who were largely of that nationality, and many of whom became permanent settlers in the surrounding coun- try, and who desired services in their own language, and who built a house for that purpose ; and to close our list with what is called "The Tabernacle," a small frame building not far from the Conowingo Creek, erected to accommodate a small congregation of Methodists gathered about 1880, chiefly through the labors of Rev. Adam Black, a local preacher of the denomination, and under the charge of Fulton Cireuit, F. M. Brady, preacher in charge, making them an occasional visit.
Justices of the Peace .- Before the division of Little Britain and the erection of Fulton township, Robert Maxwell had for many years served as a jus- tice of the peace by gubernatorial appointment up to the time of his death within the limits of the lat- ter, and so had John Webster. Under the Constitu-
tion of 1838, Web-ter had been elected for Little Britain. After the division of the township and the organization of Fulton the following have held the office by election of its citizens, to wit :
Isaac S Webster, William Hutton, April 15, 1845 ; first election in the township.
James Cummings, Simnel Wicks, April 9, 1850, by a combination of temperance men and Despeciale, over John Webster and I. S. Webster, legalit nominer's
James Hanna, April 11, 1854 ; in place of James Cummings, removed. Summitel Wicka, Apid 10, 1815 ; re-elected.
Samuel Wicks, April 10, 1860; re-elected.
James Hanna, April 9, 1861 ; re-elected after one year's vacancy.
Robert B.une-, 1867; never took out commission.
James Hinna, 180b; re-elected.
George W Zook, Is6h.
George W. Zook, 1869 ; had resigned.
James latina, 1971 ; re-elected.
Stunnel Wicks, 1874 ; in place of Z wok.
J 1) Passmore, 1875, in place of Hanna, deceased. Thon, Whitson, 1879 , in place of Wicks.
C. B. Outlet, 1579 ; in place of J. D. Passmore, removed from town- ship ; never took out commission.
Wakeman We-ley, 1880 ; in place of Passmore and Cutler.
Kirk Brown, 158;, in place of Whitson, removed.
These last two are now in commission.
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