History of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Part 197

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

USA > Pennsylvania > Montgomery County > History of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania > Part 197

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

To the great credit of the Penrose family, they have taken good care of the venerable mansion, now one of the very few baronial halls existing in this country. It is a substantial stone building, in good preservation, and not occupied, with walls two feet thick and in dimensions sixty by twenty-five feet. The main or drawing-room, at the north end, is twenty-one feet square, and its walls are handsomely wainscotted and paneled from the floor to the ceiling, a height of fourteen feet. The fire-place is adorned with marble brought from England, and those of the other rooms with Dutch tile-plates, after the fashion of that day. Above the mantel of the drawing-room is said to have been a panel bearing the Keith coat-of-arms, which, of course, has been long removed for a plainer substi- tute. In the fire-place of one of the second-story rooms is a cast-iron plate bearing the date of 1728. The stairs and balusters are extremely substantial and built of solid white-oak, as are also the joists, rafters and window frames. Each of its three stories are re- spectively divided into three rooms, finished with mouldings on the ceilings. In front of the house, on the wall, near the roof, forty years ago could be seen the remains of ivy that had evidently been dead for many years. On the wall of the south end is a vigor- ously-growing trumpet-flower, which is said to be the shoot of the original that grew there in Mrs. Fergu- son's infancy. As we gazed on it, we thought of that beautiful couplet in her "Spinning Song,"-

" When storms rage the forest, and mighty trees fall, The low shrub is shelter'd that clings to the wall."

In the rear of the house is a fish-pond fed from a fine spring of water; just beyond it still stands a "little grove by the milk-house," as mentioned by

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Miss Stedman in May, 1765. From the existing view of Græme Park before 1755 and the draft of the estate made for Lady Keith by William Parsons about 1736, the tenant-houses and stabling are denoted standing west of the mansion, pretty well towards the branch of the Neshaminy, which flows here in a northerly course. Two vigorous sycamore trees stand directly in front of the house at the distance of about forty yards, which, at two feet from the ground, now meas- ure respectively eleven and twelve feet in eireumfer- enee, and denote the principal place of approach to

"A WOMAN'S MEDITATIONS ON HER OLD FAMILY CLOCK.I " BY MIRS. ELIZABETH FERGUSON.

" It is midnight ! the inhabitants where I now reside are all locked in sleep, 1 am all alone with pen, ink and paper before me, and all things around conspire to aid my musing melancholy. The clock in the parlor where I am has just struck twelve. That identical clock has been in the family of my parents and myself above seventy years, and has been u true announcer of fleeting time. I am myself this present year (1797) ou the verge of sixty. What various sensations have the sounds of that clock's stroke raised in the bosoms of my parents, brothers, sisters and my own in a course of years ! Three-fourths of a century since it first moved in our house !

"Let me in this silent pause try to retrace some of the effects the sound of this clock has produced on my spirits almost commensurate with

Copied from the original in 1854 by Wm J. Buck.

GRÆEME PARK.

From an old painting, supposed date about 1755.

the court-yard, where no doubt was once a gateway. While so long in the possession of the Keith and Græme family, especially during the colonial period, many distinguished visitors were entertained here, among whom can be mentioned Andrew Hamilton, Thomas and John Penn, Jeremiah Langhorne, Fran- cis Hopkinson, Richard Stockton, Rev. Nathaniel Evans, Rev. William Smith, Benjamin Rush, Rev. Richard Peters, George Meade, Elias Boudinot and Bishop White. There is no doubt that many a gay party set out from those venerable walls in the days of the barouet in pursuit of deer, bear and turkeys that roamed yet wild in the forests, for the "twelve venison pots" mentioned here in 1726 are suggestive of such incidents.

any clear recollections of the past. How has my little heart heat when it announced eight, the hour destined to go to bed ! How oft with my child- ish playmates, when keen for the protracting romp, has the dreaded knell stopped us short in full career, or, if permitted by an act of grace to en- croach on a quarter of an hour beyond the limits, no entreaties could pre- vail to obtain a respite to hear the interdicted stroke of nine ! When a yearor two had advanced me in the juvenile stage, still eight was the well-known hour.

" I see in idea this moment the little round walnut table placed close by a clean hearth and clear hickory fire, my mother and sisters in rota- tion reading some moral story or dramatic piece, while my good father sat on the other side with his own small mahogany stand reading the paper of the day or some treatise on his own profession. Ah! how I

1 This piece was copied from Mrs. Ferguson's manuscript over twenty- five years ago, and it is believed, has never been heretofore published. It is an interesting scrap of family history, nearly all confined to the colo- mial period. It bears the date of April 21, 1797, only four years previous to her death, and while she resided at the house of Seneca Lukens.

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

feared the stroke of eight lest it might break the thread of the unfinished journal of the artless Pamela. Perhaps the clock struck in the middle uf that excellent comedy, the 'Journey of London,' where humor and sentiment are e0 happily blended. 'Oh, mamma, do let me stay and hear whether Lady Townly repents and makes a good wife.' 'No, my child, you shall hear to-morrow ; mamma says Betsy must go to bed.' Shut was the book and shut was the scene unless carried over in youthful dreams. Oh, if any cold-hearted critic should glance over this page and sneer at tbese digressions, let them hear and know that these are the recollections that make me for a moment forget my age till I reflect I am left alone to make these observations.

" Alas I at these sounds my sensations of pain or pleasure did not termi- nate with childhood. No, very far from it. How often have I longed to hear announced the hour for the family party, after my sisters had left my father's home for bonses of their own ! Nor was my heart bound up alone to connections ; nearly equal was the pleasure when expecting to meet some kind, social friend, thy hand pointed when she must be near. llow frequently has thy stroke summoned me to preside at the female eta" tion, the tea-table, where the conversation has changed in rotation, ' from grave to gay from gay to grave severe !' Ah ! full well I remember when four strokes preluded the India regale ; then we young people, becoming a little tonish, pleaded for the patrician hour of five ; we were indulged, but five soon became a plebeian hour. Then my clock and its mistress changed our city for a rural abode, where seven and eight took the lead, until six remains to direct the coffee at the worthy gentlewoman's where 1 now live.

" Ah leince my clock and I have passed our days in retirement, how frequently, on the evening of a market-day, when expecting a letter from the metropolis filled with wit, sentiment er affection, or all united in one, have I with impatience numbered your strokes, or still more ardently longed for the epistle that had crossed the Atlantic, whose value was ap- preciated as danger and distance had endeared it to the longing receiver ! The evening walk was directed by thee, the wholesome breakfast aleo, and, to be more serious, how frequently have you warned me to repair to the temple of divine worship ! And, now retracing the various effects thy sounds have produced in my too susceptible heart through a long life, wunld it not be a species of prudrry to omit declaring what I well recol" lect that thy sounds to my ears acquired the softest tones when announc ing the hours I was to meet my dear Henry before I met him at the altar' which is this day twenty-five years, -the fourth part of a century, a large portion of human existence. Yes, thy sounds seemed to change to pen- sive ones when they preluded to Britain his departure.

" Ah ! when I reflect that I am the sole surviving child of ten brothers and sisters, how does the idea fill my mind ! to think what a series of tedious, weary nights must these parents and children have waked and watched through the long gallery of pain to death ! Hoping and wait- ing with exhausted spirits these strokes that announced the pleasing har- binger of day. Ilow many times the dear departed, venerable authors of my being have heard that clock which now strikes two give the sound that was to be no more repeated, while breath drew trembling in bodies dearer to you than your own ; your children a part of yourselves ! Since first your motion began, what volcanoes have flamed, what battles fought, what famines, pestilences aod revolutions gone forth ! You move, though yonr maker is no more ; then be it known, he lived in London, in 1722, and named W. Tomlinson."

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

CHARLES S. RORER.

Charles S. Rorer is a son of the late Joseph Rorer, who was born in Philadelphia County, Pa., November 14, 1758, and died in the same county December 15, 1854. He was the son of a farmer, and was himself a farmer all his adult life. Having been born some eighteen years previous to the date of the declaration of Independence, he naturally felt quite an interest in the celebration of the formal declaration of such an undertaking as that then seemed to be, and took

an active part in the celebrating of that instrument on the 4th of July, 1776. Later, he was an eye- witness of the battle of Germantown, on the old York road, at a place known as Branehtown, and after the battle, assisted in the interment of several of the militia of the Maryland Line that had been killed in the battle, and previous to the close of that eventful struggle he was enrolled as a soldier in Washington's army, but it being so near the close of the struggle, was not permitted to aid in gaining the freedom of the young and struggling colonies.

In after-years, when the colonies had become States, and compacted into one strong bond of Union, never to be severed, it seemed to be a pleasure to him to relate to his listening auditors the many incidents and hairbreadth adventures that had come to his notice during those eventful years. He died at the ripe old age of ninety-six, honored and respected by all who knew him.

His son, Charles S. Rorer, who takes his middle name from his mother's maiden name, Smith, was born in Philadelphia County, Pa., April 14, 1811, and made that his home until 1851, when he removed to Hors- ham, Montgomery Co., Pa., where he now resides. He was also born prior to the occurrence of several important events that transpired in the early part of the present century, in some of which he was an ac- tive participant. The first was upon the occasion ot the visit of the Marquis De Lafayette to the city of Philadelphia, in 1824, when that hero was honored with a public reception. He also took part in the funeral ceremonies held in Germantown, in 1826, in commemoration of the death of two of our late Presi- dents, Thomas Jefferson and John Quincy Adams. He was also honored with a commission in the infan- try in the parade that took place in Philadelphia in honor of George Washington's one hundredth birth- day ; also on the occasion of President Andrew Jack- son's visit to Philadelphia, he participated in the parade as one of the eseort and in the evening, at the reception given at the residence of General Robert Patterson, was an invited guest, and was personally introduced to the " Hero of New Orleans."

He witnessed the breaking of ground, not far from what is known as Turner's Lane, for the building of the Germantown and Norristown Railroad, which was built in 1832-33.

In 1837 he assisted in planting an elm-tree to commemorate the memory of the old treaty tree, at the Commissioners' Hall, Kensington.

In 1840 he led the forlorn hope of the Whig party as candidate for the State Legislature against a Dem- ocratic majority of three thousand in his district, and, as a result not unexpected, was defeated.

In 1849 he was elected one of the directors of the old Germantown Bank, and served as such until his removal to Montgomery County.

In 1864 he was the standard-bearer of the Repub- liean party in his legislative district against the

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usual fifteen hundeed Democratie majority, and again suffered defeat.

In 1874 he was elected one of the directors of the Hatboro' National Bank, which position he still holds.

He has for the last twenty-five years been honored by his townsmen with a seat in the public school board, over which he presided more than fifteen years, and to his energy and perseverance in behalf of the educational interest of Horsham township is due probably more than to any other, the etficiency and

being represented in their Grand Lodges of the State by Mr. Rorer.

During the four eventful years of the slave-holders rebellion Mr. Rorer was engaged in aiding the government in the suppression of the natural re- sults of such a strife, and was active in forming a Union League for the township of Horsham, the object of which was to assist in filling the quotas as called for, and to encourage enlistments for the same, and in appointing and sustaining public meet- ings which had that objeet fully in view.

Chat Se Ponen

high character of the schools with which he has to do.

In 1875 he was elected a justice of the peace for ' high state of cultivation, and made his home pleasant Horsham township, a position he still holds.

Since he was twenty years of age he has been an active and energetic worker in the cause of temper- ance. Drinking liquor at that early period being the ! rule, it required organized effort to break up the habit. Societies and organizations multiplied under various names, first openly by lectures and the old Washing- tonian Society, followed by the Sons of Temperance and Good Templars, the two latter organizations

He has, by much labor, brought his farm under a and attractive, and has thus far been unselfish in all | the relations of his life where he could be useful to his fellow-creatures.

For the past forty-eight years he has been an active member of the Baptist Church, and since 1851 a member of the Hatboro Baptist Church.

Mr. Rorer was married, in 1835, to Miss Caroline, daughter of the late Hugh Roberts, of Philadelphia. Their children are Clementine, married Albert

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

French; Bartlett T., married Emeline Williams; and ' for many years resided at what is now known as Adelaide, married William Hill. Mrs. Rorer, mother of these children, died February 24, 1872.

Mr. Rorer's second wife was Miss Hannah, daughter of Thomas and Jerusha Taylor, of Philadelphia, whom he married June 17, 1875.

JOSHUA PAUL LUKENS.

The Lukens family in Horsham, Montgomery Co., descended from Jan (or John) Lucken, who came from Holland in the latter part of 1688. In 1709, January 10th, John Lucken purchased from Samuel

Davis Grove, Montgomery Co., formerly known as the old "Kirk Tavern," on the old Philadelphia and Easton road.

At that place Seneca Lukens reared a family of children, one of whom was Joseph S. Lukens, born First Month 21, 1786, father of Joshua P. Lukens. This Joseph S. Lukens married Susan, daughter of Joshua Paul, of Bucks County, Pa., and had children as follows : Isaiah, born in 1816; Hannah, born Third Month 14, 1819 (now the wife of Lukens Paul); Joshna P., born May 30, 1822 ; Sidnea Ann, born in 1825 ; Jervis

JP Lukens

Carpenter five hundred and five acres of land, a part | S., born in 1828, died First Month 21, 1861; Sarah, of which is now owned by William J. Hallowell, near born in 1833, died Eighth Month 7, 1872. Davis Grove, Montgomery Co., and in 1720, John and wife, Mary Lucken, sold to Peter Lucken one hun- dred and fifty acres of said five hundred and five acres.

Of these children, Joshua P. remained on the old homestead at Davis Grove until twenty-four years of age, performing such work as is usual for young men upon their father's farm. His educational ad- vantages were such as were afforded in the old pay- schools of halt a century ago, though, with his incli- nation to study, he obtained a good common-school education.

Whether this Peter Lukens is a son of John or not is unknown. However, Peter and his wife, Gainor, deeded to John Lucken, Jr., a parcel of land out of the one hundred and fifty acres. The John Lucken first named (anglicised into Lukens) was, in all prob- He has always been one of those quiet, unobtru- sive, honcst, industrious men, seeking not the honors ability, the great-great-grandfather of Joshua P. Lukens, who is a grandson of Seneca Lukens, who | of this world, but seeking, rather, the comforts of

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home and the pleasant associations of his family. The many and devious ways of the politician he never sought, and has never held a political otlice. The beautiful farm upon which he resides came to him by inheritance through or from his father-in-law, Mr. Root. The large, comfortable and convenient buildings have been erected and the beautiful grounds laid out and shrubbery planted since he came in possession of the property, in November, 1851, mak- ing it one of the very desirable farm properties in Horsham township. The farm, containing eighty-five acres, is under a high state of cultivation, and is one of the most productive in the township.

record of the date of his birth or death). He married Sarah, daughter of Abel Roberts, of the same place. They had ten children, as follows: Abel, born in 1778; Gainor, 1780; William, 1782; Everard, 1784; Mary, 1787 ; Benjamin, 1791 ; Susanna, 1793 ; Samuel, 1796; Margaret, 1798; Morris, 1801. He purchased Græme Park property, and removed thereto in the year 1801. Some time afterwards he purchased a farm in Warminster, Bucks Co. (which is now owned by Joshua Bennett), to which his son Benjamin moved. On the marriage of his son William (father of Jarrett) he sold him the Græme Park property and moved to the Warminster farm.

JARRETT PENROSE.

Mr. Lukens married, March 25, 1847, Elizabeth, daughter of Conard and Saralı Root, of Philadelphia, Pa .; she was born December 16, 1823. The result of this union has been three children, as follows : First, Joseph C. Lukens, born December 5, 1847, married, November 2, 1881, Miss Louisa Stanhope, of Phil- adelphia ; second, Emma N., born February 4, 1851, married, March 23, 1882, to Edwin Moore, of Upper Merion township, Montgomery Co., Pa .; third, Missouri Florence, born March 12, 1855, died Sep- tember 6, 1883.

JARRETT PENROSE.

Samuel Penrose, grandfather of Jarrett Penrose, h was born at Quakertown, Bneks Co., Pa., (we have no

William Penrose, son of Samuel and Sarah, was born at Quakertown, Pa., March 14, 1782, and came to Horsham with his father in 1801. He married Hannah, daughter of William and.Ann Jarrett, of HIor- sham, and having bought of his father the Græme Park property, he resided thereon until a few years before his death, when he purchased an adjoining property, and resided there until his death, which oc- curred on the 20th day of November, 1863, in his eighty-second year, his wife, Hannah, having died in 1850. They had seven children, four boys and three girls, as follows: Ann J., born September 25, 1811; Samuel, April 18, 1813 ; Jarrett, April 1, 1815; Abel, May 3, 1817 ; Hannah February 28, 1820; William, March 26, 1822 ; Tacy >., October 14, 1823. Ann J.

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

married Abraham Iredell, of Horsham. Samuel died unmarried, aged thirty-five years. Jarrett married Tacy A. Kirk, of Abington. Abel married Sarah Beissel, of Allentown, Pa. Ilannah married Isaac W. Hicks, of Newtown, Pa. William died in infancy. Taey S. married Morris Davis, of Warminster, Pa.

Jarrett Penrose, the subject of the present sketch, was born at Græme Park April 1, 1815, and resided thereat until his marriage with Tacy S. Kirk, daughter of John and Tabitha Kirk, of Abington, Montgomery Co., Pa., January 20, 1842. He then bought of Abraham Iredell's estate the farm in Horsham on which he now resides. His children are five in number, four

Howard, Morris P., William, Jr., and Lydia. Samuel married Mary C. Farren, of Doylestown, Pa., and resides there. They have one child, Cyril Farren.

ABEL PENROSE.

Abel Penrose, owner of Graeme Park farm, is the grandson of Samuel Penrose, who came from Richland township, Bueks Co., Pa., in 1801, and set- tled on the farm now owned by Abel Penrose. The Penrose family was probably among the early set- tiers of that part of Bucks County from which Sam- uel emigrated. Samuel married Sarah Roberts, and, had children, as follows : William, married Hannah

Abel Bemore

now living, as follows : Ellen S., born Jannary 14, 1843 ; Elizabeth H., January 4, 1845; William, July 31, 1847; Alfred, May 14, 1849 (who died in infancy) ; Samuel, May 5, 1852. They married as follows: Ellen S. married Edward T. Betts, of Warminster, Pa., now residing at Buffalo, N. Y. Their children are C. Walter, William P., Edward T., Jr., and Lizzie P. C. Walter married Lidie P. Haslam, of Philadelphia, Pa., and now residing in Buffalo. Elizabeth HI. mar- ried Alfred Moore, of Horsham, Pa., and resides on the homestead farm. Their children are Ellie B. and Bertha A. William married Hannah Paul, of War- rington, Pa., and resides there. Their children are J.

daughter of William and Ann Jarrett (she was born Tenth Month, 1783; died in 1850); Abel (died Twelfth Month 7, 1824, aged forty-six years and four months); Benjamin, married Rachael Fratt ; Morris, married Rebecca, daughter of Dr. Mitch- ell Everard (died Eighth Month 30, 1823, aged thirty- eight years, ten months and twenty-three days) ; Mar- garet ; Gainor; Mary (died Ninth Month 19, 1795, aged eight years, four months and eight days); Su- sanna (died Eighth Month 8, 1799, aged six years and thirteen days) ; Samuel (died Sixth Month, 1797, aged nine months and twenty-six days).

Of these children, William, the eldest, was r\n

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Third Month 14, 1782, married as above stated, and died in 1863, aged eighty-one years, eight months and six days. William and Hannah Jarrett I'enrose were the parents of children, as follows: Ann Jarrett (born Ninth Month 25, 1811), married Abraham Iredell ; Samnel (born Fourth Month 18, 1813, died Second Month 24, 1848, aged thirty-four years, ten months and six days) ; Jarrett (born Fourth Month 1, 1815), married Tacy Ann Kirk, and is one of the substan- tial farmers of Horsham township ; Abel (born Fifth Month 3, 1817) ; Hannah L. (born Second Month 20, 1820), married Isaac W. Ilicks; William (born Third Month 26, 1822, died Seventh Month 12, 1822) ; Tacy S. (born Tenth Month 14, 1823), married Morris Davis.

Abont the time William Penrose, the father of these children, was married he purchased from his father (Samuel) the old homestead, where he was born, lived and died. He was one of the sturdy yeomanry of Horsham, and a man of solid worth, steady habits, honored and respected by all who knew him.

Abel Penrose, the fourth child of William, was married, December 25, 1856, to Sarah C., daughter of Daniel and Mary M. Beisel, of Allentown, Lehigh Co., Pa. She was born April 3, 1836. The children of Abel and Sarah C. l'enrose have been as follows : Hannah J. (born 1858), married, November 16, 1882, A. D. Markley, M.D., of Hatboro,' l'a., she is the mother of two children,-Penrose and Anna Markley ; Morris B., 1860, unmarried ; William, 1870; Mary M., 1877.

The parents of Mrs. l'enrose were natives of Cata- sanqua, Northumberland Co., Pa.

Abel Penrose has thus far through life borne well his part in the business affairs of a farmer's life, to which all his energies have been devoted. Ilis every act in his long and busy career has been devoid of offense to any one with whom he had occasion to transact the ordinary business affairs of life, and he is honored and respected by all who know him. Ile has been one of the progressive farmers of the period, attending strictly to his own business, leaving the po- litical affairs of the township to be looked after by those who have a taste in that direction, being eon- tent himself with the right of suffrage.

Mr. Penrose, unlike many farmers in our country, attended not only to the routine duties of the farm, but has found time to devote to seeking a knowledge of public men of all nations, and a personal inspec- tion of not only his own country, but portions of Europe as well. He has visited Europe twice, and in 1844 he spent eight months in England, Wales, Ireland and Scotland, and is familiar with the every- day affairs of his own country to a degree beyond that of most men.

With the large and beautiful farm he owns is con- nected a bit of history worth noting in connection with thissketeb. For this historical sketch of the farm we are indebted to Mrs. Penrose, whose diligent researches brought the matter to light :

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History of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Part 197

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