History of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Part 33

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 33

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From the list of 1734 we ascertain that the Welsh at that date outnumbered, in a total of 760 names, the English in the proportion of 181 to 163, thus consti- tuting at that time almost one-fourth the entire popu- lation within the present limits of the county. With the cessation of religious persecution, the Welsh al- most ceased coming, and this is one reason for their having since so diminished. According to the assess- ment of Lower Merion in 1780, out of 153 taxables only 34 bore Welsh names; in Upper Merion for said year, out of 173 taxables, 36 are Welsh; in Gwynedd for 1776, of 143, only 43 are Welsh; in Montgomery for said year, of 74, but 24 are Welsh; and in Ply- mouth in 1780, of 93, only 13 are Welsh. The dispro- portion at present has become still greater.

That the early Welsh possessed a pride of country, language, ancestry and other characteristic traits somewhat at variance with the views entertained by their English neighbors here will admit of no doubt. That they are the direct lineal descendants of the ancient Britons, with little or no admixture of foreign blood, will not be denied. That they fought valiantly in resisting the invasion of the Romans, Saxons, Danes and Normans, as they withdrew to their moun- tain fastnesses, will not be disputed. Next to the Irish, the Welsh is now regarded as one of the oldest living languages spoken in Europe. Essentially it is the same language that Cæsar and Agricola heard on their first landing on the British shores, and in conse- quence deserves to be regarded with veneration as the only living link that unites those distant ages with the present. But the English language is in- debted to it but little, so strongly is it Saxon and Latin. Rev. Joseph Harris, with ideas like some of the genealogists among his countryman, stated, in the "Seren Gomer," a work he edited in 1814, that "it is supposed by some, and no one can disprove it, that Welsh was the language spoken by Adam and Eve in Paradise."

In their petition of grievances to Penn's commis- sioners in 1690, they particularly specify therein that they are descended from the " Antient Britains," and desire that they may enjoy their "own language as afore in our Country." Rowland Ellis, a minister among Friends, arrived here in 1686, and settled in Lower Merion, where he made himself useful to his

countrymen as an interpreter and translator in their intercourse with the English. Bowden, in his "His- tory of Friends in America,"1 states that "the niem- bers of his meeting being Welsh people, his ministry was in that language." Ellis Pugh, who arrived in 1687 and soon after settled in Plymouth township, wrote a religious work there in Welsh, entitled " A Salutation to the Britains," which was translated by Rowland Ellis, and printed in Philadelphia in 1727, making a duodecimo of two hundred and twenty-two pages. Respecting Hugh Griffith and the brothers Robert and Cadwallader Evans, who settled in Gwy- nedd, Samuel Smith remarks in his "History of Penn- sylvania,"2 that they "could neither read or write in any but the Welsh language." The subscription paper for the rebuilding of their meeting-house, in 1712, was written in Welsh, to which was affixed sixty- six names. Edward Foulke, of this congregation, wrote an account and genealogy of his family in 1702 in Welsh, which was afterwards translated by his grandson, Samuel Foulke. The late Hugh Foulke, a life-long resident of Gwynedd, who died in 1864, aged seventy-six years, exhibited to the writer in 1855 the family Bible of Hugh Griffith in Welsh, printed in London in 1654. Dr. George Smith in his "History of Delaware County," mentions that the meeting-house at Haverford was built in 1700, where " William Penn preached to Welsh Friends, who sat quietly listening to an address from the Proprietary, of which they did not understand a word."

William Jones, Hugh Griffith, Ellis David, Robert Jones and Edward Fonlke, as well as several others, by leaving their church and attaching themselves to Friends, appear to have attracted the attention of the churchmen, if we are to judge by the correspondence published in the "Collections of the Episcopal Church in Pennsylvania."

The Rev. Evan Evans, in his report dated Septem- ber I8, 1704, states that he frequently went out to Mont- gomery, twenty miles, and Radnor, fifteen miles from Philadelphia, "determined to lose none of those whom I had gained, but rather add to them, where I preached in Welsh once a fortnight for four years, till the arrival of Mr. Nichols, minister from Chester, in 1704." Ite adds that a hundred names had been signed to a petition to have settled among them, in Radnor and Merion, a minister "that understands the British language, there being many ancient people among those inhabitants that do not understand the English. Could a sober and discreet person be secured to undertake that mission, he might be capable to bring in a plentiful harvest of Welsh Quakers, that were originally born in the Church of England, but were unhappily perverted, before any minister in holy orders could preach to them in their own language." He continues that "there is another Welsh settlement, called Montgomery, in the county

1 Vol. ii, p. 262.

2 Hazard's Register, vol. vi.

142

HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

of Philadelphia, twenty miles distant from the city, where were a considerable number of Welsh people, formerly, in their native country, of the communion of the Church of England ; but about 1698, two years be- fore my arrival, most of them joined the Quakers ; but some of them are reduced, and I have baptized their children and preached often to them." The Gwynedd congregation is evidently here meant, for which he has unintentionally substituted Montgomery, which, it is likely, at this early time, was the only name known to him for this section.

As the Rev. Benjamin Griffith preached in the Welsh language in the Montgomery Baptist Church down to his death, in 1768, in which he was also followed by his successor, the Rev. John Thomas, this estab- lishes the fact that, in consequence, the language must have been retained and spoken in some of the families in that section and in the adjoining townships of Hill- town and New Britain until the beginning of this century. We have thus been curious to gather from a variety of sources the aforesaid facts respecting the powerful hold of the language on the early Welsh settlers in this county, and to show how most of them were unacquainted with any other. Its duration here may be set down at about a century before the English had entirely supplanted it. Necessity at first compelled the Welsh, English, Germans and the Swedes to form settlements by themselves, owing to a general ignorance of each others' language, which, of course, for a long time must have greatly inter- fered with their social intercourse.

The early Welsh that came here at first continued the practice that had so long prevailed in their native country of reversing their family names. Thus John and Evan Griffith were the sons of Griffith John, taking their father's Christian name for their surname. Thomas Ap John, the son of John Ap Thomas, when he attained to manhood, wrote his name here Thomas Jones. Hugh Evan was the son of Evan Hugh, and married to Mary Robert, the daughter of Robert John. Edward and Evan Jones were the sons of John Evan ; Robert and Griffith Hugh sons of Hugh Griffith. John Roger is mentioned in a marriage certificate at Merion, as late as 1717, as being the son of Roger Roberts. In the early records of Haverford and Merion Monthly Meeting, and also in that of . Gwynedd, only a few instances are found in birthis where the surnames were exchanged. A large majority of the Welsh, however, soon atter their arrival, adopted the English method, that the father's surname be retained and perpetuated, as indicative of a family origin, and which, from its simplicity, cannot be well improved upon. The Welsh practice, in consequence, has often here been puzzling in tracing early family genealogies. Welsh, like German names have also been Anglicized. John has thus been changed to Jones, David to Davis, Matthew to Matthews, Philip to Philips, Robert to Roberts, William to Williams, Hugh to Hughes, Jenken to

Jenkins, Edward to Edwards, which are only a few of many that can be mentioned.

A question now arises in regard to their numbers and singular characteristic traits,-What impress have the Welsh made here in the two past centuries, through their descendants, on the existing condition of society ? As respects their language, they have been certainly given to applying and perpetuating here local names from the land of their nativity. In a list of one hundred and twelve post-offices in the county, thirteen are ascertained to be more or less of Welsh origin. Outside of local names, remarkable to relate, after the most diligent inquiry, we cannot find a single word of the language retained or in use at this time that might have been either applied to some living object, utensil, or implement nsed in agriculture and mechanics, or relating to dress, food, furniture, buildings, scenery, habits, customs, etc., it thus seeming as if the language had never been spoken here.

CHAPTER XIII.

THE COLONIAL ERA.

THE proprietary or colonial government of Penn- sylvania from 1682 to 1776 seems to have been of a peaceful and conservative character. All nations and tongues and kindred were here cordially invited to unite in their efforts to form and administer a sys- tem of government that would secure to mankind the measure of human happiness believed to be incident to the providence of life. Peaceful relations with the aborigines were first secured. On the banks of the Delaware, at a point marked by a great elm-tree, the founder of the colony, surrounded by a few judicious followers, met in council a large delegation of the Lenni-Lenape tribes. "We meet in good faith and good will ; no advantage shall be taken on either side, but all shall be openness and love. We are the same as if one man's body were to be divided into two parts, we are all one flesh and blood." The re- sponse was natural,-" We will live in love with you and your children as long as the moon and the sun shall endure." This covenant of peace and amity had neither signature, seal nor oath to confirm it. No record of it can be found. The sons of the wilder- ness, returning to their forest homes, preserved the history of the great event by strings of wampum, and later generations would count over the shells on a clean piece of bark, and repeat to child and stranger the magic words of "peace and good will."

Honorable peace with the natives gave to all a sense of permanent security. Contentment and in- terest in the colony were inspired by assuring to a tax- paying citizenship a participation in making laws to govern themselves. The people responded promptly

143

THE COLONIAL ERA.

to the privilege, and through their representatives en- tered upon the work of preparatory legislation at Chester, and in a session of three days completed a form of government. By the joint act of the people and the proprietary all were united on the basis of equal rights. The rule of equality in descent and in- heritance was secured in families by abrogating the laws of primogeniture. The standard of woman was

lurking in many minds. The establishment of "an asylum for the oppressed of every nation" was an in- vitation to the children of misfortune of every elime to seek refuge in it. Adventurers came in throngs, demanding personal license in the name of public liberty. The mass of emigrants came with minds clouded by the gloomy terrors of an invisible world of attending fiends. Witchcraft found advocacy and

PENN'S TREATY TREE AND HARBOR OF PHILADELPHIA, IN 1800, FROM KENSINGTON.

raised to an inheritable person in the distribution of all intestate estates. Every resident who paid "scot and lot to the Governor" possessed the right of suf- frage, and every Christian was eligible to public office. No tax or custom could be levied or collected but by law, murder was the only erime punishable by death, marriage was declared a civil contract, every prison for convicts was made a work-house, there were neither poor-rates nor church tithes. The Swedes, Finns, Dutch, and all men of whatever nation were invested with the liberty of Englishmen. It was a bold departure in a right direction, keenly ap- preciated by the newly enfranchised men, and led to open exclamations of joy by many leading spirits, among them Lawrence Cook, who declared for his fellow-citizens, "that it was the best day they had ever seen."

The birth of popular power and the institution of forms of government demanded by it imposed the duty) of dislodging the prejudice and superstition

belief, and demanded the arrest and trial of a common scold in the person of a woman. The event was im- portant and the scene memorable. Penn presided as judge; the jury was carefully selected, the Quakers outnumbered the Swedes. The nature of the accusa- tion was carefully considered, the witnesses were patiently examined, the jury received the charge of the court, and after mature deliberation returned the following verdict : "The prisoner is guilty of the con- mon fame of being a witch, but not guilty as she stands indicted." The personal friends of the liber- ated but incorrigible scold were directed to enter into bonds that she should keep the peace and be of good behavior towards all good citizens, and from that day henceforth in the colony of Pennsylvania witchcraft became an extinct offense. The sinful arts of con- juration were obscured, if not eradicated, by this public trial, and " neither demon nor hog ever rode through air on goat or broom-stick," in the presence of a Quaker judge or jury thereafter.

144

HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

Late in the year of 1682, Thomas Holmes, Penn's surveyor-general, laid out the city of Philadelphia on land purchased from the Swedes. In the spring of

TREATY GRDUND

WILLIAM PENN

AND THE

INDIAN NATION

1682

UNBROKEN FAITH

MONUMENT ERECTED TO MARK THE SITE OF THE TREATY TREE.

1683 it became the capital city, the proprietor having previously divided the province into the counties Bucks, Chester, and Philadelphia, and the "territo- ries" into three,-New Castle, Kent, and Sussex. The political freedom of the colonists induced frequent modifications in their form of government. The Council and Assembly were in session in the spring of 1683. Addressing them in reference to the form of government, Penn said, " You may amend, alter, or add; I am ready to settle such form or additions as may be for your happines." The question before them was " whether to have the old charter or a new one." A new one was adopted and approved by the Governor of the province. By this charter the Pro- vincial Council was to consist of eighteen persons, three from each county, and the Assembly of thirty- six persons " of most note for virtue, wisdom and ability." The laws were to be prepared and proposed by the Governor and Council, and the number of Assemblymen to be increased at their own pleasure.

The popular branch of the Legislature had no power to originate laws or measures, but could negative or defeat those proposed by the Governor and Council. It was soou discovered that an elective Assembly, repre- senting a large constituency, were unsatisfied with the exercise of a negative power. Discussions were frequent and animated. This led to conferences with the Council and the Governor; the associated wisdom of the many became manifest, and the privilege of suggesting measures was conceded to the Assembly- men. In return, they conferred upon the Governor the power to negative measures proposed by the Council. In the light of experience, it would seem to have been better to repose the veto power in the executive, granting to the most popular brauch of the Assembly power to originate all laws for the public welfare. As

modified in 1683, the colonial government continued until 1696. Having established the colony upon principles of constitutional freedom, Penn confided the executive power to Thomas Lloyd, an eminent Quaker, and in the month of July, 1684, returned to England. Commentators concur in reporting serious dissensions among those vested with the power of government. The trouble was mainly due to the dis- tinction between the proprietary interests aud those of the common people.

In August, 1684, the province contained eight thousand souls; over these Penn had established a democracy, while his great landed interests made him a feudal sovereign. Bancroft declares, "The two elements in the government were incompatible, and for ninety years the civil history of Pennsylvania is but an account of the jarring of the opposing inter- ests, to which there could be no happy issue but in popular independence." Sherman Day says, "The different authorities did not support each other as they should have done; there was constant bickering between the legislative and the executive, and be- tween the members from the 'territories' and those of the province."1 The "territories " or what sub-

1 The following conference between the Assembly and the Governor illustrates the temper and character of the conflict during the colonial period, and is referred to by historians generally :

"John White, David Lloyd, Saml. Carpenter and Edward Blake, from the house of representatives, bring in and offer the Bill of supplies for the government, which they say is read two times in their house, but not passed, and desires to know what is become of the other bills they have sent up ; whether they are passed or not, or what amendments are made, &c.

" Ilis Excell. GentI., This is no bill. I will not look upon it untill it be passed the house and signed by the Speaker. I have sent you word formerlie that the Speaker was to cause be wrote under each bill, 'This bill being three times read, is assented unto by the House of Representa- tives, and ordered to be transmitted to the Governor and Council for their assent thereunto, and then signed by order of the house his name.' But this you will not follow becaus bid to doe it.

"Mr. White, May it please the Governor not to take it amiss thuit the representatives are desirons to know what is become of the other bills, ere they proceed to the passing of it. They judge it the practice of the Comons of England and their right, therefore pray, Governor, excuse it and peruse the bill.

"Ilis Excell. Gentl., If you did design to compliment me with the sight of this Bill before it was passed yor house, you might have followed other measures. I can take no notice of it here untill it come signed by the Speaker and past the honse. I will not look upon it.

" Mr. Lloyd. To be plain with the Governor, here is the monie bill, and the house will not pass it nutill they know what is become of the other bills that are sent up.

"Mr. White. May it please the Governor, the House doe not know but those bills the Governor may see cause to lay aside may be the bills they putt the greatest valne upon, therefore pray thee to excuse it and condescend to them in that thing.

" Ilis Excell. Gentl., You have not dealt fairlie by me, You have no candor; you have sitt these fifteen days and nothing done. No vote mentioning those laws ever came to my band untill you surprise me 13 bills ; and again more, some of which are directlie opposite to their Maties Lres patents. I came not here to make bargains nor expose the king's honour. I will never grant any such for all the money in your Countrie, You have had her Maties' Letter before you, and let the house consider what they are doing. I must be accompttable at whitehall for everie thing that is transacted here in this assembly. 1 shall be sorrie if I can be able to give you no better character; and in short, you must expect to be an annexed to New Yorke or Maryland. I will not look upon the Bill untill it will be three times read and signed by the Speaker.

THE COLONIAL ERA.

145

seqnently became the State of Delaware were a source of solicitude to Penn, and the representatives from them were generally hostile to the proprietary inter- ests.

and in securing unity in the administration of the laws. The Assembly met in extra session in May, and again in October, 1700. A new charter or frame of government, and a new code of laws were sub-

The third frame of government was adopted in | mitted. After long and bitter discussion both were

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FAC-SIMILE OF WILLIAM PENN'S AUTOGRAPH AND SEAL, AND THE AUTOGRAPHS OF ATTESTING WITNESSES TO THE CHARTER OF 1682.

1696, which continued in force until 1700. Mean- time Penn returned to his colony and applied himself diligently to a further modification of the government

" The Representatives did throw down another bill upon the table and withdrew.

" The Bill last delivered is concerning the estate of persons deceased, and not signed by the Speaker.

"His Excell. ordered Mr. Robinson to carie the same back to the houst, and tell them that his Excell. hath passed a bill against abusing Magistrates this day in Council ; that they sufficientlie almise his Excell. in sending up such scripts of paper withont being signed, and that they must not expect that hee will take anie notice of such.

" His Excell. sent Mr. Robinson and Mr. Forman to inquire if the house of representatives had any more Bills to offer. Who in ansr. said, the honse wer in delate whether they should send any more bills for assent until they heard that the other former hills were passed.

" Ifis Excell. after long expectation, did desire the advice of the board whether he should not dissolve the assemblie, having had no regard to their Majesties' demands for assisting New Yorke.

" His Excell, ordered Pat. Robinson and Geo. Forman, Esqrs., to wait upon the house of Representatives, and demand of them whether they have complied with their Majesties' demand for assisting New Yorke; whether they had considered of a Quota of men or monie, or both, and that they return an ansr. in writing, signed by the Speaker.

"His Excell. gave them the Queen's Letter, of which the Represen- tatives had formerlie a copie, that they might see it.

"They brought in ansr. that shortlie they would bring an ansr. in writing.

adopted. The charter continued in force until the separation of the province from Great Britain, 1776.1

" His Excell. did demand of the Council If they have observed him to take wrong measures to disoblige the representatives and make the in- habitants nneasie since he came amongs them, and prayed them to use their freedom of speech.

"The Members of the Council did return, That they were admirers of his Excell. patience, and wer wittnesses that hee hath taken all the steps of condescension imaginable to gain them, and that they wer afraid the Countrie will be att last sufferers through their means.

" His Excell. gave the board to understand that he hath sent several messages to the Representatives-they have done nothing to answer the Queen's Letter. They have adjourned ymselves twice this day, and it is now three hours since the last message was sent to them ; Therefore, asks the advice of the board to send for them and dissolve them.

"Andrew Robeson, Esq., made answer, That he was ashamed of their behaviour to his Excell., after all that condescention and patience his Excell. hath shown to them ; being pitt to the vote, It is the opinion of the Council (only Mr. Salway excepted) that his Excell. have patience till morrow morning, and if they give not satisfactorie ausr. to the Queen's Letter by 8 o'clock to-morrow morning, then to dissolve the present assembly.

"Adjourned till 5 o'clock morrow morning."

(Col. Rec. vol. i.)

1 This charter of rights and privileges, under which our progenitors lived for seventy-five years, from 1701 to 1776, merits preservation for convenient reference, containing, as it does, the germ of the common- wealth and State.

Christopher Taylor Charles Toys

William Tosur

146

HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

The expense attending upon the settlement and improvement of the province impaired the fortune of its founder, and in the year 1708 he was obliged to mortgage his proprietary possessions for the sum

" THE CHARTER OF PRIVILEGES TO THE PROVINCE AND COUNTIES. WILLIAM PENN, PROPRIETARY AND GOV- ERNOR OF THE PROVINCE OF PENNSYLVANIA AND TER- RITORIES THEREUNTO BELONGING.

" TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, SENDETH GREETING." " Whereas, King Charles the Second, by his Letters Patents under the Great Seal of England, bearing date the fourth day of March, in the year One Thousand Six IIundred and Eighty, was graciously pleased to give and grant unto me, my heirs and assigns, forever, this Province of Pennsylva- nia, with Divers Great Powers and Jurisdiction for the Well Government thereof; and whereas the King's Dearest Brother, James, Duke of York and Albany, &c., by his Deeds of feoffment under his hand and Seal, duly perfecting, bearing Date the Twenty fourth Day of August, Ons Thousand Six hundred Eighty and two, Did grant unto me, my heirs and assigns, all that Tract of Land now called the Territories of l'enn- sylvi'a, together with Powers and Jurisdiction for the good Government thersof ; and Wl'hereas, for the Encouragement of all the freemen and Planters that might be concerned in the said Province and Territo- ries, and for the good government thereof, I, the said William Penn, in the year One thousand Six hundred Eighty and three, for me, my heirs and assigns, Did grant and Confirm unto all the freemen, Planters and adventurers therein, Divers Liberties, franchises and Propertys, as by the said graut Entitled the Frame of the Government of the Province of I'ennsylvania and Territories thereunto belonging, in America, may ap- pear. Which Charter or frame, being found in some parts of it not so suitable to the Present Circumstances of the Inhabitants, was, in the third mouth, in the year One thousand seven hundred, Delivered up to me by six parts of seven of freemen of this Province and Territories, in General Assembly met, provision being made in the said Charter for that end and Purpose ; and Whereas, I was then pleased to promise that 1 would restore the said Charter to them again with necessary altera- tions, or, in Lieu thereof, Give them another, better adapted to answer the Present Circumstances and condition of the said Inhabitants, which they have now by their Representatives in General Assembly met in Philadelphia, Requested me to grant ; know ye therefore that I, for the further well-being and good Govrmt of the said Province and Territo- ries, and in pursuance of the Rights and Powers before mentioned, I, the said William Penn, do Declare, grant and Confirm unto all the freemen, planters and adventurers and other inhabitants of and in the said Province and Territories thereunto annexed, forever ;

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History of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Part 33

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