USA > Pennsylvania > Bucks County > Warwick in Bucks County > History of Neshaminy Presbyterian Church of Warwick, Hartsville, Bucks County, Pa., 1726-1876 > Part 10
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In 1776 the Continental Congress having appointed the 17th of May, as a day of fasting and prayer, in reference to the war, some of the members of Synod applied to the Moderator to publish a notice postponing the regular meeting of Synod one week, that all the ministers might unite with their people in observing the day. The post- ponement was accordingly made, with the subsequent ap- probation of the Synod.
In all the resolutions and measures adopted by the
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Synod to express its cordial sympathy with the Congress of the Union in efforts to secure independence, Mr. Irwin fully sympathized, and his prayers often ascended on high, that a successful and speedy termination of the arduous struggle might be granted.
Young men went forth from his congregation to join the army of freedom, and he always gave them his warm approbation and parting blessing. He rejoiced when vic- tory perched upon the banners of his countrymen, and lamented when they met with disaster.
One of the Neshaminy congregation, who no doubt was encouraged in his efforts in behalf of the liberties of America by Mi. Irwin, was Capt. Henry Darrah. He was the great-grandfather of R. H. Darrah, now Elder of the church, and resided, during the Revolution, in New Britain Township, at present a part of Warrington. He was appointed Captain of a company of Infantry in the Fourth Battalion of Militia in Bucks Co. As a specimen of similar papers, which were issued at that time, we copy from the original document in the hands of R. H. Darrah, his commission, sent him less than a year after the Declaration of Independence.
In the Name and by the Authority of the Freemen of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
The Supreme Executive Council of the said Commonwealth to. Henry Duroh, Esq.
We reposing especial Trust and Confidence in your Patriotism, Valour, Conduct, and Fidelity, DO, by these presents, constitute and appoint you to be a Captian of a Company of Foot in the Fourth Battalion of Militia in the County of Bucks. You are. therefore carefully and diligently to discharge the duty of Captain by doing and performing all manner of things thereunto belonging ..
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And we do strictly charge and require all Officers and Soldiers under your command to be obedient to your orders as Captain. And you are to observe and follow such Orders and Directions as you shall from Time to Time receive from the Supreme Executive Council of this Commonwealth, or from your Superior Officers, ac- cording to the Rules and Discipline of War, and in pursuance of the Acts of Assembly of this State. This Commission to continue in Force, until your Term, by the Laws of this State, shall of Course expire.
Given under the lesser Seal of the Commonwealth, at Philadel- phia, this Sixth Day of May, in the Year of our Lord, One Thous- and, Seven Hundred and Seventy Seven.
No. 7 THOMAS WHARTON, Jr.,
Attest- T. MATLACK, President.
Secretary.
The following is a Warrant to Capt. H. Darrah to search houses for suspected persons during the Revo- lution.
(Copied from the original paper.)
BUCKS Co., 22d February, 1778.
As I apprehend the enemy would not have been so daring and presumptious, as to come into the heart of this County, as they lately have done, if some of our internal enemies, which are most to be guarded against, had not wickedly encouraged them so to do, therefore I desire you will collect together as many of the good associators of your company as you can, and make a general search in every house in your Township, and take up every stran- ger you meet with, that cannot produce a Certificate of his having taken the Test to the United States of America agreeable to a Law of this State .- Farther, you are to disarm all such persons within your Township, who have not taken the Test as above, for which this shall be your sufficient Authority.
(Signed) JOHN GILL,
To CAPT. H. DURROCH.
Superintendent Bucks Co.
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The following is copied from the original paper written by Colonel Hugh Tomb at Crayle's Ferry, which was on the Schuylkill, probably not far from Norristown. It was a summons for Capt. Darrah's Company to meet the British.
SIR :- By general orders you are desired to call your com- pany immediately and march them here, as the enemy is on their march for this place.
HUGH TOMB, Colonel. Crayle Ferry, June 14, 1777.
This Company seem to have been, if not in name, yet really, "Minute Men," prepared to respond to the call of liberty to go against the foe at any time.
The following is an Order for Salt during the Revolu- tion. The original paper is in the hands of R. H. Darrah.
GENTLEMEN, 18th December, 1776.
I do hereby certifie, that Capt. Roberts, belonging to my battalion hath Twenty Three men now under the command of Gen'l Washington, Officers included, who are desirous of their Quotoes of salt.
The Bearers hereof, John Torrence and David Cald- well, or either of them, are appointed by the Company to receive the same. I am, Gentlemen,
Your most obedient, humble Servant,
To the Council of Safety JOSEPH HART, Colonel. for the State of Pennsylvania. S
The Captain Roberts referred to in this Order or Certi- ficate was Capt. William Roberts, afterwards promoted to be Colonel of the Battalion in which Capt. Darrah's Company was.
The following is a copy of a request to be excused from attending the drill or muster, which was not an idle
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NESHAMINY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
ceremony or amusement, but was with reference to being prepared to meet the foe, in the field of strife, whenever called upon. The note fixes the date of the burial of an eminent citizen of New Britain.
MR. DARRAH :- These are to inform you, that I Cannot be with you to Day, as Old Mr. Shewel is to Be Buried to Day, and I Must attend there. Therefore I Desire you would Excuse me, and in so doing you will much oblige, Your humble Servant,
JEREMIAH VASTINE.
October 25, 1779.
A copy of the Certificate given to Capt. Darrah on «taking the oath of Allegiance to the State of Pennsyl- vania :
I do hereby certify, that Capt. Henry Darroch of the Township of New Britain, in the County of Bucks, farmer, hath voluntarily taken and subscribed the Oath of Allegiance and Fidel- ity, as directed by an Act of General Assembly of Pennsylvania, passed the 13th Day of June, A. D. 1777.
Witness my hand and seal the Second Day of July, A. D. 1777.
JOHN DAVIS.
No. 28. Printed by John Dunlap.
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CHAPTER XIII.
REV. N. IRWIN .- JOHN FITCH.
Mr. Irwin possessed a natural fondness for mechanical pursuits, and the invention of contrivances in machinery for the diminution of labor. John Fitch, the inventor of the application of steam to boats and vessels, was for. several years a resident of Warminster Township, Bucks Co., Pa., and frequently, if not regularly, attended public worship at Neshaminy Church. He was born in Wind- sor, near Hartford, Connecticut, January 21, 1743, Old Style, and came to Pennsylvania about the beginning of the year 1777. He served an apprenticeship with a watchmaker when a boy, but was kept at work on the farm of his master most of the time and learned very little of the art he desired to acquire. He gained, how- ever, some skill as a silversmith, and previous to his coming to Bucks Co., he worked in Trenton, New Jersey, some months, making silver buttons for the officers and soldiers of the Continental Army. He was an officer in a volunteer company, but being unjustly deprived of promotion, to which he was entitled, he resigned his place in the army, and when the British occupied that part of New Jersey, he, with many other active patriots, fled to Pennsylvania. Fitch first found a home with John Mitchell at Four Lanes End, but soon removed to
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NESHAMINY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
Charles Garrison's in Warminster Township, and after a time set up his trade in a wheelwright shop belonging to James Scout, commonly called "Cobe " (Jacobus) " Scout." The British, who were in possession of Philadel- phia at the time, advancing into his neighborhood, obliged him to flee again. He buried his silver and gold in a retired situation on Garrison's farm, where he supposed it would be safe; but as he did it at night by the light of a lantern, he was observed. He engaged for some months in supplying the soldiers of the Federal army with beer, and when he returned to Warminster to seek his buried treasure he discovered to his surprise and dismay that it had disappeared. It had been taken out of the ground by one of Mr. Garrison's negroes, who sold it to a young white man of the neighborhood. Fitch resolved to get his property back, if possible, and to punish the offender. Accordingly he proceeded to Spring Mill to obtain a warrant for the young man's arrest, and walked the whole distance to and from his home, forty miles, in one day before sunset. Finally the father of the young man paid the claim in Continental money ; but Fitch met with a considerable loss by the transaction. When he left Valley Forge, where he had been trading with the soldiers and furnishing them with beer, he had forty thousand dollars in currency, which was worth at that time a thousand dollars, but it gradu- ally depreciated in value so much that it was worth only one hundred dollars in the course of a year.
To prevent it from becoming utterly worthless he de- termined to invest it in land warrants in Virginia, and to locate them in the unknown region of Kentucky. He
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obtained a commission at Richmond as Deputy Surveyor, and went westward to Wheeling, through what was then a wild, unsettled country. But as he and a considerable company of adventurers were going down the Ohio in eleven boats, they were attacked by Indians, and several persons on board were severely wounded, but none were killed. They at length arrived in Kentucky ; large tracts of land were surveyed ; and Fitch located for his own benefit about sixteen hundred acres, for which he obtained patents. Ile returned to Bucks Co. with the intention of selling out all his property there, and going back to the new country, where his land was, and purchasing more, with the idea that he might thus lay the foundation of a large fortune. But on his second voyage down the Ohio river, he was captured by Indians, carried into Canada as a prisoner, given up to the British, and after being many times in imminent danger of his life and meeting with not a few hair-breadth escapes, he was exchanged after a captivity of about eight months, and reached Bucks Co. once more, in January, 1783, having been gone alnost a year. Though he was not successful in reaching Kentucky on this last expedition, yet he still cherished the hope that he might realize a large sum of money by locating and purchasing lands there. With this in view he proposed to some influential men to form a company, whose object it should be to survey lands, and learn the position of the most desirable of them, that they might purchase intelligently from the government, when Land Offices were opened. The company was soon formed, and consisted of Dr. John Ewing, Rev. Nathaniel Irwin, William C. Houston, Jonathan Dickinson Sergeant,
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NESHAMINY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
Stacy Potts, of Trenton, and Col. Joshua Anderson, of Bucks Co. Each one of these gentlemen contributed twenty pounds ($53.33) to a fund toward defraying the expenses of the expedition. The surveying party, whom Col. Anderson accompanied, surveyed in the course of the summer between eighty and ninety thousand acres of land, and the next year the shareholders induced Fitch to go out to the same region again and superintend another survey. In this trip he and his assistants surveyed two hundred and fifty thousand acres. But their efforts were almost without advantage to them or their patrons ; for Congress about this time decided, that all the territory west of the Ohio river should be divided into States, and laid out at right angles in sections of one mile square, an entirely different plan from that on which Fitch and his associates had acted, and which rendered their surveys comparatively worthless.
Fitch applied to Congress for an appointment as gov- ernment surveyor, but did not succeed in getting it, though he published a rough yet accurate map of the North-western country, showing his knowledge of that vast and princely domain, parts of which he had thorough- ly explored.
In April, 1785, John Fitch was walking, on Sunday, in what was then and is still called the "Street Road," near Neshaminy, in company with an acquaintance, James Ogilbee. He had been to a religious meeting where Rev. N. Irwin preached. He was not able to walk at that time rapidly, in consequence of the rheumatism, which had come upon him in the course of his surveying expeditions in the West. As he was going along slowly, engaged in
.
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conversation with his friend, a gentleman by the name of Sinton and his wife passed them, riding rapidly in a " chair " or two-wheeled chaise, drawn by a noble horse. Ogilbee said something, but Fitch did not appear to listen to it. He became abstracted and buried in thought, and, as he afterwards said, it was then that the idea of pro- pelling carriages and vessels by some other power than that of horses presented itself to his mind. The thought occurred to him, that it might be possible to invent some vehicle, by which those might pass rapidly over the ground who could not keep a horse, and that steam might be used as the propelling power; that a steam engine might be invented for moving carriages. At this time he states that he did not know that a steam engine was in existence. With this idea before him he went home and labored for about a week to discover some method by which carriages might be run by steam ; but was discour- aged in this scheme by the roughness of the common roads, as the plan of railroads had not occurred to him. " James Scout, under date of April 15, 1788, certifies, that Fitch told him, that while walking with Ogilbee he first thought of a steamboat in consequence of Sinton's passing him rapidly ; and that in May or June following, Fitch showed him (Scout) a plan of the boat on paper."*
As he could not overcome the difficulties in the way of propelling carriages on land by steam, he endeavored to contrive some machinery by which boats could be moved on the water. In the course of two or three weeks he had arranged drawings of his plan, and took them to Rev. Mr. Irwin, to consult with him. Mr. Irwin had
* Life of John Fitch, by Westcott, p. 120.
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among his books a copy of " Martin's Philosophy," which contained descriptions of several different steam engines on the old-fashioned atmospheric plan. He showed these to Fitch, and the latter said afterwards, that he was very much chagrined to find that an engine had been discov- ered before his ; as he was not aware that steam had ever been used for propelling machinery. But he was rather encouraged after a little consideration, being sure now, that if he could adapt the mechanism by oars, or paddles, or wheels, to boats, he might succeed in his undertaking. Dániel Longstreth in an article published in the Bucks Co. Intelligencer, entitled, "John Fitch, of Steamboat memory," says,
"It was in this log shop, [Cobe Scout's] that Fitch made his model steamboat with paddle wheels, as they are now used. The model was tried on a small stream on Joseph Longstreth's meadow about half a mile from Davisville, in Southampton Township, and it realized every expectation. The machinery was made of brass with the exception of the paddle wheels, which were made of wood by Nathaniel B. Boileau, whilst on a visit dur- ing a vacation from Princeton College."*
* It is said in the Life of John Fitch, in a note to p. 123, " Daniel Longstreth deserves honor for his efforts to impress upon his coun- trymen the just merits of John Fitch. He was the first person who, after the circumstances attending the original steamboat ex- periments were generally forgotten, attempted to interest the world in the history of this neglected man. His father, Daniel Long- streth, of Bucks County, had been the friend and associate of Fitch, and from his lips young Longstreth had often heard the story of
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After spending a considerable period of time in perfect- ing the machinery of his steam engine, Fitch determined to apply for pecuniary aid to Congress. He obtained letters of recommendation from Dr. John Ewing, Provost of the University of Pennsylvania, William C. Houston, formerly a member of Congress, Lambert Cadwallader, Delegate from New Jersey, and Dr. Samuel Stanhope Smith, President of the College at Princeton, and with these to support his petition, he asked Congress for assistance in building a boat, to be propelled by steam. A Committee was appointed, consisting of Messrs. Read and King of Massachusetts, and Mr. Henry of Maryland, to consider the application, but the Committee made no report, apparently deeming the matter of too little moment to deserve action, or being uncertain whether the
the neglected genius, of whom he also had some memory among the recollections of his boyhood."
"The Hon. Nathaniel B. Boileau's father was Isaac Boileau, who came from Long Island, and settled in Moreland, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, about 1750. He was descended from ances- tors driven from France by the repeal of the edict of Nantes. Nathaniel was born on his father's plantation, near Hatborough, in 1762, and graduated at Princeton College. For twelve years he was an active member of the State Legislature. In 1808 he was appointed Secretary of State by Gov. Snyder, and continued in that office the entire period of three terms. In 1835 Gov. Ritner ap- pointed him Register of Wills for Montgomery County, which was the last office he held, and from 1839 to 1849 he lived in retire- ment on his farm in the lower end of Hatborough, adjoining the Academy. In 1849 he removed to Abington, where he died the 16th of March, 1850, at the advanced age of 88 years, in the midst of a warm circle of friends."
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invention was practicable. Fitch was severely disap- pointed that his application met with such poor success, and proposed to the Ambassador of the King of Spain, that his Sovereign should be solicited to afford his aid. The minister listened to his statements with interest, but as a condition of rendering any assistance, wished that the profit of the invention should accrue to his royal master. Fitch desired that his own country should have the honor, and that the advantage of it should be for all mankind. On this account the proposal was declined by the Ambassador, which Fitch afterwards deeply regretted, and reproached himself with folly in preferring the glory of his native land and the welfare of the race, to his own support. He found so little encouragement in New York, where Congress met, that he returned to Bucks Co. in great dejection, and still he determined to persevere in his efforts to bring his invention into practical use.
He visited Dr. Benjamin Franklin and Gen. Washing- ton, and received some encouragement in his project from both. He presented petitions to the Legislatures of Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, asking aid from them in building a vessel to be moved by steam, with paddles or wheels, or some other contrivance by which the power might be applied. But the bills presented before these bodies for this purpose failed, and he was almost overwhelmed with chagrin and regret.
At length he went to Philadelphia, and a second time presented a petition to the Assembly of Pennsylvania, supported by certificates signed by Rev. Nathaniel Irwin, Abraham Lukens, Seneca Lukens, Daniel Longstreth, James Scout, and John Folwell, of Bucks Co., to the
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effect that as early as June, 1785, " he had told them that he had invented a machine for working a boat by steam, and had shown them drafts of it." A Committee was appointed by the Legislature to examine and report upon the matter, and their report was favorable, but action upon it was postponed to the next Session. Meantime a company was formed, by whose subscriptions a small boat might be built, which was soon completed, and moved successfully upon the Delaware river. Then a request was sent to the Pennsylvania Legislature for a loan of money to aid in building a larger boat, but the request. was not granted. Application was now made by Fitch to the Legislatures of Delaware and New York for the exclusive right to use steam in the navigation of vessels for fourteen years and this petition was granted. A larger boat was built and performed a trip to Burlington in 1788, but when opposite the town, before reaching the wharf, the pipe-boiler sprung a leak, the machinery would not work, and they came to anchor in the middle of the stream. Fitch and his companions went back to Phila- delphia with the tide and by the use of oars,; they soon repaired the injury to the boiler, and the vessel after- wards made several trips to Burlington, one with thirty passengers on board, the distance of twenty miles in three hours and ten minutes, with a tide that set at the rate of two miles an hour. Fitch, in common with many inventors, encountered great obstacles in getting his idea realized and practically applied, from want of funds, jealousy and hostility on the part of owners of vessels, and the incredulity of members of Congress and the Legisla- tures of different States to whom he applied for pecuniary
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assistance. His perseverance, however, never flagged, until he had thoroughly demonstrated the fact that steam might be employed in the propulsion of boats, and had successfully accomplished several voyages against wind and tide. Steam had been applied to machinery before his time, but he was the first to conceive and carry out the idea of using it as a power to propel boats ; and for this deserves higher commendation from posterity than he has usually received. He was a singularly unfortunate man. Disappointments and vexatious reverses attended him through almost all his life; but he bore them with fortitude, and pressed on towards the object he had in view through them all. His plans and enterprises were often in advance of his age, and years after they had been suggested and urged by him, and ridiculed and scorned as impracticable and visionary by his countrymen, they were found to be not only possible, but eminently impor- tant and valuable. In his efforts to apply steam to navigation and to get boats built upon his model, he was indebted to Rev. N. Irwin, of Neshaminy, for advice, friendly counsel, co-operation, and pecuniary assistance. Mr. Irwin was one of the first persons to whom he spoke of his newly conceived project and showed his drawings, and from him he received, not cold indifference or dis- dain, but suggestions, needed information, and aid.
Fitch wrote his own "Autobiography," and dedicated it to Mr. Irwin, for whom he entertained the highest esteem and veneration. In the " Life of John Fitch " by Westcott, are these words,
" Very much of the story of the life of John Fitch was written by himself, in compliance with the desire of his
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friend, the Rev. Nathaniel Irwin, of Bucks Co., Pennsyl- vania, who during the course of an acquaintance extend- ing through several years, had always taken an interest in the fortunes of the ingenious and struggling enthusiast. In the first page of his written autobiography, Fitch testi- fies his attachment to Mr. Irwin in the following quaint manner.
'To the Worthy Nathaniel Irwine, of Neshaminey ; Sir,-
' Was I a Bigott in your Beliefs and doctrines, which you so zeal- ously, and with the greatest ingenuity that I ever heard from a pulpit, weekly support, I should think, that the word Reverend would bearly do you justice, and for fear, if I used that word, it might be imputed to the function of a Christian preacher, I omited it ; but, Sir, you may be assured, that I rever you more than any man, but not because you are a Christian Preacher, but because I esteem you one of the most valuable citizens of Pennsylvania, and have frequently felt a secret Pain, that such an exalted genius should be confined to the pitiful business of Neshaminey Congre- gation, whilst many of the best offices of Government are filled by those much less deserving. The last conference I had with you, Sir, you requested a detail of my life. I, Sir, would not have gratified, even Mr. Irwin himself, in this, were it not for several reasons ; the first is, I have already made myself so noticed, that I can never in future conceal myself; and knowing, Sir, that there is every malignant disposition, as well as friends, to laudable en- deavors ; and the curious of this world will hardly be satisfied with- out some story to tell, if they have to frame stories out of their own brain respecting me; but a principle reason is this :- my life, Sir, has been filled with such a variety of Changes, which will afford such useful lessons to mankind, I think I should hardly do my duty which I owe to my fellow men, was I to suppress it.'"
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