History of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Part 183

Author: Bean, Theodore Weber, 1833-1891, [from old catalog] ed; Buck, William J. (William Joseph), 1825-1901
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1534

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A religious movement of importance, in which a number of the inhabitants of Frederick township were interested, took rise in 1742 in Pennsylvania. Count Zinzendorf came to America in 1741 upon a religious mission. Henry Antes, of Frederick, soon made his acquaintance. They conferred with reference to uniting "such souls out of the different religious denominations who sought their salvation through Jesus Christ, through the bonds of love,"-a subject in which they both felt a deep interest. On the 15th of December, 1741, a call was issued, over the signa- ture of Henry Antes, for a meeting of Christiaus at Germantown on New Year's day. Another meeting was held at the house of George Heebner, in Fred- erick township, on the 14th and 15th of January, at which John George Stieffel, William Frey, Andrew Frey, Henry Antes and Adam Schaus, all of Freder- ick township, were in attendance. On the 7th of December, 1742, Count Zinzendorf preached at Falk- ner Swamp (doubtless at the house of Henry Antes), from Psalms exxx, 3: " If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?" The unity movement meeting with opposition from many of the

Lutherans, Reformed, Mennonites, Dunkers and Schwenkfelders, now became a Moravian interest. The second week in March, 1745, the Moravian Synod met at the house of Henry Antes, in Frederick town- ship. A Moravian congregation was formed in Fred- erick township which, in 1747, numbered twenty- three persons. Of those who were permanently settled in Frederick township, the following were connected with this Moravian congregation: William Frey and family, Andrew Frey and Henry Antes and fam- ily. Of those who were temporarily in Frederick township, coming with the several Moravian immi- grant colonies who passed through here, or working for Antes for a time, or engaged at the Moravian school, were Abraham Andreas, who learned wheel- wrighting with Antes; Gottlieb Demuth, who resided here in 1739; Mary Catharine Gemehle, daughter of David Gemehle; John Henry Knauss, weaver and farmer, from Görlitz; Sebastian Knauss, brother of the preceding, born in Tittelsheim, near Frankfort-on- the-Main, and learned the trade of wheelwright with Henry Antes ; John H. Moller, miller at Antes' mill, and Rosina, his wife; John Michael Mücke, cooper, a native of Upper Silesia ; Daniel Œsterlein, born in Ulm ; Christopher Paus, shoemaker, a native of Hun- gary ; David Reichard, born in Silesia; John Adam Schneider, farmer, from Schaumburg-Lippe; Fred- erick Pfeiffer, born in Frederick township; Fred- erick Weber, weaver, born in Nassau-Siegen ; Adam Kremser and Rosina, his wife ; Adolph Meyer and Justina, his wife; Frederick Boeckel, farmer, born in Dürrheim, Rhenish Bavaria ; J. George Ilautsch, Jr., from Altendorf, Saxony ; John Turner and Elizabeth, his wife; Anthony, a negro, bequeathed to Bishop Spangenberg by Thomas Noble, of New York; John George Stieffel, born in Reinheim, Hesse-Darmstadt, who immigrated in 1720, and Adam Schaus. At present there is no Moravian congregation in Fred- erick township.

The Mennonites have a house of worship on Mine road, west of Schwenksville. The congregation was founded about the year 1815. Rev. Moses HI. Gott- schall has been pastor for thirty-nine years. In the adjoining place of burial are stones bearing the family names: Allebaugh, Gottsehall, Grubb, Longaneeker, Moyer, Pannepacker, Tyson, Upright, Urweiler, Was- ser.

Keeler's church, on the Great road, near the cen- tre of the township, was built jointly by the Lu- theran and the Reformed congregations. Lewis Schittler, Jacob Hauck, George Moore and Philip Krause, representing the two congregations, under date of June 20, 1833, purchased three acres and eight perehes of land from the following parties: First, of Ludwig Schittler, one aere and eight perches; second, of Joseph Keeler and Mary, his wife, one aere ; third, of Jesse K. Reifsnyder, Richard K. Reifsnyder, Rein- hard March and Esther, his wife, Abraham Mattis and Sarah, his wife, Lydia Reifsnyder and Mary Matilda

840

HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

Reifsnyder, heirs and devisees of Salome Koons, de- ceased, one acre. The consideration named in the deed is fifty cents in each case. The building, which is of brick, was erected on the spot previously occu- pied by a school-house. The building committee were Ludwig Schittler and Philip Krause, of the Lu- theran congregation, and George Moore and Jacob Hauck, of the Reformed congregation. The corner- stone was laid on September 28, 1833, and the church was dedicated May 10 and 11, 1834. The Reformed deacons at that time were John Dreisbach, Daniel Hauck, Samuel Leidig and Jonathan Nyce. The Reformed pastors have been Rev. H. S. Bassler, 1834 to 1844; Rev. Samuel Seibert, to 1851; Rev. A. L. Dech- ant, to the present time. The Lutheran pastors have been Rev. Conrad Miller, 1834 to 1852; Rev. Nathan Yeager, to 1857; Rev. Henry Wendt, to 1864; Rev. Messrs. Struntz, Groh, Francis T. Hoover and Lait- zle, each for a short term, trom 1864 to 1869; Rev. William B. Fox, to the present time. About the year 1848 an organ was purchased. In 1855 a Sunday- school building of brick was erected on a lot on the hill on the west bank of Society Run, a short distance

the church has been altered and improved, the gal- leries on the three sides having been removed and the high pulpit on the southwest side taken down, a modern pulpit and chancel placed in the southeast side, and modern pews introduced; a neat steeple was at the same time placed upon the edilice. The cemetery adjoining the church is large, and has been several times enlarged. The following families have made interments here : Albright, Anderson, Apple, Bardman, Berks, Bolton, Bowman, Boyer, Christman, Daub, Dorn, Dyson, Erb, Faust, Fisher, Franken- berger, Fryer, Fullmer, Gaugler, Geyer, Godshalk, Greigg, Gresh, Grobb, Grode, Hauch, Hollowbush, Im- body, Johnson, Kalb, Keeler, Keeley, Knerr, Koons, Krause, Leidy, Maberry, Meddinger, Messinger, Mil- ler, Mock, Moor, Moyer, Neidig, Neitler, Nelson, Pannepacker, Rahn, Reed, Reichard, Reifsnyder, Roeller, Royer, Samsel, Sassaman, Saylor, Schenkel, Schittler, Schmoll, Schwenk, Seasholtz,Setzler,Shaner, Smith, Steiner, Stetler, Stoneback, Styer, Sweisfort, Thompson, Tyson, Umstead, Underkoffler, Wagener, Weand, Weiant, Wick, Yost.

In 1846 the brick meeting-house known as Ber- tolet's was erected on a lot of ground in the western portion of the township. It was dedicated on Whit- suntide, 1847. It adjoins a private burying-ground in use since 1766. A Mennonite congregation, formed about the year 1847, worships in this building. Rev. Abraham Hunsicker, who was bishop of Skippaek, preached the first year; Rev. Moses H. Gottschall followed from 1848 to 1872; Rev. N. B. Grubb, except a short interval, from 1872 to 1882; Rev. William S. Gottschall is the present pastor. In the summer of 1848 the first Sabbath-school in this section of the country was opened in this house. The ancient

graveyard adjacent to the meeting-house lot is in- closed with a substantial stone wall, and the grounds are planted with evergreens and carefully kept. Of those who sleep here, the stones give us the family names of Bertolet, Bertolette, Bliem, De Nice, Dot- terer, Frey, Gottschalk, Grobb, Hummel, Hunsberger, Nyee, Shoemaker, Smoll, Weidman, Zoller. Many are buried here whose graves are not marked ; among these are Esterline, Hahn, Grode and Caesar, a colored resident of former times.

The River Brethren, an offshoot from the Mennon- ites, have a society which meets at intervals of thirteen weeks at the house of its pastor, Rev. Henry A. Landis, on Swamp Creek, west of Zieglerville. Their name originated in this wise: They called themselves Brethren in Christ, and their membership was composed of persons residing on the banks of the Susquehanna River. In the same neighborhood, not so near the river, were the Dunkers, who also called themselves Brethren. The common people, to dis- tinguish them from the Dunkers, called the Brethren in Christ the River Brethren.

In the early times it was customary among the from the church. Within a few years the interior of leading families to bury their dead on the farm, on a spot set aside for this purpose. In the course of time the neighbors brought their dead for burial to these private grounds. A number of these family grave- yards are maintained in this township, others are ne- glected and overgrown with brambles and bushes, and still others have relapsed into their former uses as fields for farming, and traces of them are lost.

The Leidig private burying-ground is the largest of its kind in the township. It contains one-quarter of an acre ofground, square in shape, taken from four ad- joining farms ; is inclosed with a stone wall. It is loca- ted in the southwestern part of the township, east of Swamp Creek. On the the 17th of January, 1764, David Shultze made a survey of the lands of Christian Stetler and a draft which shows that was the space set apart for the burial-place was taken from the farms then belonging to Christian Stetler, Rev. John Philip Leydich, Henry Smith and George Michael Kuntz. Another quarter of an acre has been given for like use by the will of the late Christian Stetler ; this adjoins the original plot and is not inclosed. The wall was built in 1783, at a cost of £36 4s. Sd. It was covered with tiles until 1797, when a board cover- ing was put on, and the tiles were sold for £2 48. 5d. The improvements made in 1795, cost £34 15s.6d. The same year Henry Krauss left a legacy of five pounds for the benefit of the graveyard. The contributors in 1783 were,-

€. s. d.

Ludwig Engelhart

0 0

Philip Leydich, Sr.

0 0

Heinrich Schmidt 2

0 0

Casper Achenbach 1 10 0

Frederick Kuntz 1 10 0

Michael Kuntz 1 10 0

Christian Stetler 1 10 0

Jacob Stetler

. 1 10 0

841

FREDERICK TOWNSHIP.

€ *. d.

Johannes Stetler

1 10 0

Joseph Bitting.

1 2 6

Frederick Weiss

Heinrich Sassaman

3 4

Lenhart Leydich

Johannes Herger.

Michael Krebs .

Jacob Christman .

George Michael

Catharine Stetler

Benjamin Schneider

Andreas Will

Philip Leydich

lleinrich Grob

Daniel Krauss

David Bruch

1 3

Total .

£25 6 7

The family names of those buriel here, including both the graves marked by stones and those without stones, are Achenbach, Acker, Bender, Bitting, Boyer, Christman, Emerich, Fuchs, Grob, Herb, Her- man, Herriger, Hoffman, Koons, Krausz, Langbein, Leydich, Litecap, Mattis, May, Mebry, Moor, Neunze- henholtzer. Pannepacker, Puhl, Reifsnyder, Reimer, Roth, Sassaman, Scheid, Schlonecker, Schmidt, Schneider, Schwartz, Schwenk, Seylor, Stetler, Sweis- fort, Weisz, Wülling, Zieber. 1

The Antes burial-place, in the western corner of the township is invested with historical interest, owing to the fact that Henry Antes, a man known and re- speeted all over Pennsylvania in the colonial times, once owned this property, and is buried here. It is inclosed with a post and rail fence, and it is over- grown with young trees and wild flowers. Frederick Antes, the father of Henry Antes, was buried here in 1746, and Henry Antes himself'in July, 1755. Other members of the family also rest here. The only stones remaining are those of Henry Antes and of a member of the Schoelkop family.

In the middle of a field, in an unenclosed space, a short distance north of Zieglerville, on the farm owned by Willoughby Smith, members of the Boyer family, who settled here early, are buried.

On the farm of Hon. Samuel Faust, in the meadow beside Society Run, is a private burial-place, unen- closed, in which are grave-stones bearing the names Faust, Grob, Hunsberger, Miller, Reimer, Schwenk, Smith, Walt, Yost, Zieber.

In Zieglerville, a few steps from the turnpike, is the burying-place of the Underkoffler family, who were the first settlers here. It is inclosed with a wall. The names of those resting here are Cressman, Dreis- bach, Long, Scholl, Slotterer, Underkoffler.

On the farm of Charles Koch, a mile north of Zieglerville, the Biekhard, Hollobush and Millhoff families are buried.

On the farm of David Wood, west of Zieglerville, some burials are made. One is Michael Krause, born August 29, 1750, died June 9, 1807.

Tradition states that the space between Keeler's church and the school-house, through which a public road runs, was formerly occupiedl with graves.

Schools .- The importance of maintaining schools for the education of the young has always been kept in view in this township. The Lutheran and Re- formed Church people organized schools contempo- raneously with their congregations. As was the custom in Germany, schools and churches were inseparable. The schools of these two denominations were located in New Hanover township and the youth of Frederick, in the earliest times, of necessity went there to be taught.

The Moravian brethren, in 1745, established a school of some importance. At the meeting of their Synod the second week in March, at his home in Fred- erick township, Henry Antes offered the use of his plantation, the buildings and the mill, for use as a boarding-school for boys, and on the 3d of June the same year a school was opened with the following organization and twenty-three pupils, whose names, as recorded in the Moravian archives, are:

Superintendente, -Christopher and Christiana Francke of Bethlehem. Tufor .- John C. lleyne.

Managers of the Farm. - Christopher and Ann M. Demuth. Managers of the Mill .- John II. and Itosina Moller.

Pupils .- Elias Albrecht, son of Anthony and Catherine Albrecht, born in Philadelphia County ; Jonathan Beck, son of HI. F. and Barbara Beck, born in Georgia ; Stephen Blum, Jacob Blum and Francis Blum, sons of Francis and Catharine Blum, born in Saucon, Bucks Co .; Daniel, a Mohegan, of Shecomeco; Christopher Pemuth and Christian Demuth, sons of Gotthard and Regina Demnth, born in Germantown ; Tobias Deumth, son of Gottlieb and Eve Demnth, born in 1741 in Sau- con ; Emanuel, a negro, from St. Thomas; Benjamin Garrison, born on Staten Island ; Lawrence Hartmann and Thomas Hartmann, sons of Frederick and Margaret Hartmann, born in Frankford, Philadelphia C'o. ; Frederick Klemm, son of Frederick and Susan C. Klemm, born in Philadelphia ; Andrew Klotz and John Nicholas Klotz, sons of Albrecht and Ann M. Klotz, born in Tulpehocken ; Abraham Miller and Mary M Miller, born in Milford township, Bucks Co. ; Daniel Neu- bert, son of Daniel and Regina Neubert, born in Holstein ; Conrad Schaus, son of J. Adam and Barbara Schans, born in January, 1738, in Henry Antes' mill ; Daniel Vetter, John Vetter and Peter Vetter, sons of Jacob and Magdalena Vetter, born in Oley. During the year the following also entered the school as pupils: Henry Antes and John Antes, sons of Henry and Christina Antes ; Mathias Frey, son of William and Verona Frey, born in Falkner Swamp ; Jesse Jones and Levi Jones, sons of John Jones, of New Providence township, Philadelphia Co .; Ilenry Knauss, from Macungie ; Abraham Montanye, son of James and Mary Montanye, of New York ; Christian Newman, son of John W. and Elizabeth Newman; Isaar Noble and Thomas Noble, sons of Thomas and Mary Noble, of New York ; Peter Schuttelbelm, from Philadelphia.

In 1750 this boarding-school was discontinued.

In 1754 a movement was started by wealthy and pious persons in London, having for its object the opening of schools in the more populous German communities in Pennsylvania, for the purpose of teaching the English language and spreading the Prot- estant religion. The congregations of Rev. Mr. Muhl- enberg and Rev. Mr. Leydich favored the project. The Lutheran vestrymen and wardens at New Han- over sent a petition on the Ist of August to the Penn- sylvania trustees of the London Society, and offered the use of the new-built large school-house, very con- veniently situated in the middle of said township. The " ministers, elders and chief men of the German Calvinist (Reformed) congregation, and of some other Protestant denominations in the township of New

842

HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

Hanover," also, on the 28th of October, 1754, sent a petition urging the opening of the school. This was signed by the following residents of Frederick town- ship : Conrad Dodderer, John Philip Leidig, V.D.M., John Muller, and Frederick Reimer. The Lnth- eran, Reformed and other denominations acted in entire accord in this matter. The following per- sons were suggested as suitable to act as assis- tant or deputy trustees for the school for New Hanover and Frederick townships: Andrew Kep- mer, Henry Krebs, Lutheran ; Henry Antes, Esq., Mr. John Reifsnyder, Calvinist; John Potts, Esq., William Maugeredge, Esq., English. It is not certain that this school was actually put in operation ; if so, it existed but a short time.

Parochial schools were maintained by the Luther- ans and the Reformed at New Hanover continuously during the colonial times. Schools were also estab- lished in the communities irrespective of the churches. A number of the citizens of New Hanover and Fred- erick townships, at a public meeting held on the 28th of February, 1807, determined to build a school-house and dwelling-house for the teacher on the Great road, above the township line, in New Hanover township. Among the subscribers from Frederick township to the cost of the undertaking were George Nyce, Ludwig Schittler, Elizabeth Nyce, Peter Daub, John Reller, John Dotterer, Francis Leidig, Christian Stetler, Michael Kuntz, Elizabeth Bertolet, Jacob Grubb, Michael Albrecht, Michael Dotterer, Jacob Leidig, Henry Daub, Elizabeth Snyder, Philip Heeb- ner, Adam Stetler, Jacob Nyce, Philip Zieber Daniel Schwenk, John Zieber and George Nyce, Jr. In this building was supported for forty years a school for the education of the youth of Frederick and New Hanover townships, under the eare of a succession of excellent teachers, among whom were the late Adam Slemmer, Esq., Benjamin Schneider, John H. Steiner, Samuel Hartranft, Jeremiah Grimley and Ephraim A. Schwenk.

In 1808 a school-house was built upon the site now occupied by Keeler's church. It was named the Charitable School of Frederick township. The deed for the ground, containing forty perches, was dated December 10, 1808. Michael Kuntz and Salome, his wife, were the grantors, and Philip Kuntz, Henry Stetler, George Moore and Conrad Geyer, the gran- tees. The consideration money was five shillings. A log school-house was built and stood here until 1833, when it was rolled some yards to the westward to make room for the church. It has since been re- placed by a brick building.

In 1840 the township had four schools and two hun- dred and sixty-nine pupils.

tures, $1615.39; teachers' salaries $22. In 1870, 9 schools and 483 pupils ; expenditures, $2089; salaries, $33. In 1880, 10 schools and 462 pupils ; expendi- tures, $1921.40 ; salaries, $27.50.

In 1884 the number of schools had increased to eleven, that at Zieglerville being graded.

The school directors at the beginning of 1885 are Jacob G. Grimley (president), George W. Steiner (secretary), Samuel S. Smith (treasurer), H. II. Faust, George F. Moore, Henry H. Johnson.

FREDERICK INSTITUTE .- In 1855 Frederick Insti- tute, a classical and day-school, was established by the friends of education in the community. It was opened in the fall of 1855 in the brick building on the hill west of Society Run, near Keeler's church. Cyrus F. Guldin, A.B., a graduate of Dickinson College, was the first principal. The following academie year Rev. A. S. Vaughn took charge. In 1857 it was chart- ered by the court of Montgomery County, and a large brick edifice, costing five thousand dollars, and adapted to the wants of a boarding-school, was erected on high ground along the Great road. The institution en- joyed prosperity for a number of years, during which many young men were prepared for college and for useful occupations. Young women were also taught. The following were the conductors from its organiza- tion to its close, in 1867 : C. F. Guldin, A.M., Rev. A. S. Vaughn, Rev. Charles Radford, Rev. Professor MI- A. Richards, Rev. L. C. Sheip, Rev. T. F. Hoffmeier, Professor A. P. Supplee and Rev. F. T. Hoover.

Mills and Manufacturing Industries .- The valu- able water-power furnished by the two large streams -Perkiomen Creek and Swamp Creek-induced the erection of mills almost at the beginning of the arrival of settlers, and has been a stimulant to enterprise and a source of profit to mill operators ever since.

Before January 28, 1736, Henry Antes and George Heebner had erected a grist mill on Swamp Creek. The site of this mill is still traced by remnants of masonry and evidences of the excavation of the race, visible at the point where the road from Berto- let's meeting-house crosses Swamp Creek. The partnership between Antes and Heebner terminated September 14, 1747. It was a "grist mill with two pair of stones under one roof."

Previous to July 7, 1737, Joseph Groff had erected a grist-mill at the upper end of Frederick township, on Perkiomen Creek. On the 19th of July, 1753, Joseph Groff having died, the executors of his estate sold this "water grist-mill, and Messuage or Tene- ment and Three Pieces or Tracts of Land, lying contigu- ous to each other," to John Groff, miller, of Frederick township. A portion of the three tracts, which con- tained three hundred and twelve and one-half acres in the aggregate, was on the east side of the Perkio- men Creek ; the mill was on the west bank.

The first board of directors of public schools in Frederick township was organized on the 18th of June, 1853. Schools were kept open three months in Previous to 1759, George Nyee established a tan- nery on the Great Road, at the New Hanover and tbe year ; the salary of the teachers, $18.89 per month. In 1860 there were 9 schools and 482 pupils ; expendi- | Frederick township line, which is still carried on, the

843

FREDERICK TOWNSHIP.

property being in the possession of John Jacobs, who is intermarried with 'a descendant of the original owner.

In 1785 the township had five grist-mills, four saw mills, two tanneries, and two hemp-mills.

In 1800, Andrew Schwartz built an oil-mill, which was propelled by Perkiomen Creek. He carried on the oil business many years. The mill is not now in existence.

Peter Smith owned two powder-mills, one on Per- kiomen Creek, the other on Deep Creek. After carry- ing on the powder business many years, he turned them into oil-mills. They are now in ruins,

Jeremiah Roshong owned an oil-mill propelled by a small stream in the northern part of the township. Jacob Schwenk had a powder-mill on Perkiomen Creek, near Frederick Station ; it is torn down.

Bertolet's mill, which succeeded Henry Antes', but farther down the stream, has been in operation and widely known for at least a hundred years. It is at this time owned by Henry Grubb.

In 1832 the township contained three grist-mills, six saw-mills, six oil-mills, one elover-mill, one powder- mill, one tilt-mill, one fulling-mill and one tannery.

On the map of the township of 1849 the following are marked : On Perkiomen Creek, beginning at the upper end and coming down the stream, Schwartz's oil-mill, Snyder's grist-mill, Johnson's powder-mill, J. Schwenk's oil-mill ; on Deep Creek, Smith's pow- der-mill ; on Mine Creek, Steiner's grist-mill, Weber's grist and saw-mill; on Swamp Creek, going up the the stream, Schwenk's oil-mill, Abraham Ziegler's grist, saw and oil-mill, Stoneback's mill, Conrad Keeler's anger and gimlet-factory, Saylor's grist and saw-mill, Bertolet's grist and saw-mill ; Schwenk's tannery, on the pike above Schwenksville; on a branch of Swamp Creek, Moore's clover and chop- mill ; Nyce's tannery, on Great road, near township line between Frederick and New Hanover ; Cope's pottery, Neiffer's pottery and Bolton's pottery, all a mile west of Perkiomenville ; Jacob Sassaman's tap- auger shop, two miles west of Perkiomenville; Wei- and's blacksmith-shop and Shaner's blacksmith-shop, near Keeler's church.

Green Tree Creamery, located in Frederick village, was incorporated October 16, 1880, with a capital of two thousand two hundred and fifty dollars. The present directors are H. H. Fanst (president), Dr. F. M. Knipe (treasurer), I. W. Stetler (secretary), Henry Wagener, C. W. Markley, J. A. Sweisfort, W. R. Moyer, Samuel Richards.

Copper-Mine .- The proprietary government from the first kept in view the possibility that valuable ores might be found in the new province. The Stone Hills, in Frederick, were believed for years to contain copper-ore, and the hope is cherished to this day, more or less openly, that mineral wealth may be found underlying these rocky fastnesses. The depu- ties of William Penn, by patent dated the 8th of

Fourth Month (June), 1703, granted to Nathaniel Puckle a tract of four hundred and fifty acres of land, fronting on the present northeast line of Limerick township a distance of one hundred and fifty-five perches and extending to the northeast four hundred and sixty seven perches, in the southwestern portion of the limits of the present township of Frederick. This land was described as rough and unimproved. Hannah Penn, widow and executrix of the late pro- prietary, brought snit, on the 9th of December, 1723, against the estate of Puckle, who had in the mean time died. The sheriff seized this property to satisfy her " certain debt and damages," and soll it on the 24th of February, 1724, to Andrew Hamilton, Esq., of the city of Philadelphia. It was at this time sup- posed to contain a valuable copper-mine, and it was intended that the tract, " with all its Mines, Minerals and Ore, should be held in sixteen parts or sharcs by the said Andrew Hamilton and other partners." The purchaser made deeds to Christopher Clymer, Samuel Preston, James Logan, Elizabeth Paris and perhaps others for their shares, "as tenants in common and not in joint tenantey," on condition that they should join in the expense of digging, searching for and get- ting of copper-ore, if any could be found upon or within the tract. Andrew Hamilton owning one or more shares, by his will, dated August 2, 1741, devised his interest to his eldest son, James Hamilton, Esq. On the 13th of March, 1770, the sheriff of the county, " to vest the legal title in the premises in the said James Hamilton, devisce," by deed poll conveyed to him the entire traet of four hundred and fifty acres. By an act of General Assembly passed the 21st of March, 1772, entitled " An Act for Vesting a Certain Tract of Four Hundred and Fifty Acres of Land situate in Frederick Township, in the County of Philadelphia, commonly called the Perkioming Cop- per-Mine Tract in Trustees to be sold, and for other purposes," all the estate, right, title, interest, claim and demand whatsoever of the said James Hamilton and other partners of and in the said Land and Mine Company was vested in John Gibson, Jacob Lewis, Jacob Shoemaker and Flenry Drinker in trust to sell the premises at public anetion. The trustees sold the tract in parts to several persons, subject to "a reserva- tion of one-tenth part of all ore which shall at any time or times hereafter be dug, raised or extracted from the premises, and that clear of all expenses, to be delivered at the pit's mouth " to the owners of the shares. On the 9th of June, 1773, they conveyed one hundred and seventy-nine acres and sixty-five perches to George Wiekard and George Michael; on the 13th of April, 1773, Valentine Sheely purchased one hun- dred and eight acres and fifteen perches, for which he obtained a deed on the 12th of November, 1773 ; and the same year a traet was sold to Matthias Geist. The tract of one hundred and seventy-nine aeres, on the 14th of October, 1784, passed into the ownership. of Abraham Schwenk. Actual efforts to find ore

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History of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Part 183

Author: Bean, Theodore Weber, 1833-1891, [from old catalog] ed; Buck, William J. (William Joseph), 1825-1901 Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck Number of Pages: 1534

Author: Bean, Theodore Weber, 1833-1891, [from old catalog] ed; Buck, William J. (William Joseph), 1825-1901
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Peck
Number of Pages: 1534