History of Philadelphia, 1609-1884, Part 5

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898. cn; Westcott, Thompson, 1820-1888, joint author
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : L. H. Everts & Co.
Number of Pages: 992

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A very remarkable building was the frame house of Benjamin Loxley, at the southeast corner of Little Dock and Second Streets. The construction was pe- culiar. Across the whole front was a large balcony sustained by the walls of the room below, aud above this balcony the roof continued from the main por- tion of the house, and was sustained by very large carved cantalivers. Thus protected from sun and rain, and commanding a good view of the street, the balcony made an excellent rostrum. Watson says that when Whitefield first visited Philadelphia he preached from the balcony of Loxley's house to a very large congregation which had assembled in the street below, and wherever they could obtain a place for hearing. According to this version the Loxley house must have been built between 1725 and 1750, but Mr. Westcott, in his "Historic Mansions and Buildings of Philadelphia," shows that the lot upon which this house was built was conveyed by George Clymer to Benjamin Loxley on the 20th of April, 56

1759. The building known as the Loxley House, therefore, could only have been erected subsequent to that date, and Whitefield must have preached from it on his sixth or seventh visit to America.

Immediately opposite this house was a spring, called Bathsheba's Bath and Bower. This title has been cu- riously accounted for by the statement that the person who fitted up the spring was named Bathsheba Bow- ers. It is stated that she built a small house near the spring, furnished it with table and cups, and threw in the additional attraction of a library of books.

Loxley was a carpenter, and in 1744 resided on Arch Street, between Third and Fourth. In 1751 he had bought two lots on the south side of Spruce Street, between Front and Second, on which he erected houses and cut through a court, afterward known as Loxley Court. He subsequently made other pur- chases, which made him the owner of the greater part of the square between Front and Second and Union and Spruce Streets.

On the north side of Chestnut Street, between Third and Fourth Streets, stood another peculiar- looking house. It was built by David Brientnall, who lived in another house, where he kept his store, at the southwest corner of Hudson's Alley. The house on Chestnut Street was built of stone, two stories high, with a gable attic. There was a pent- roof over the first story, and the eaves were extended over the second story, pent-roof fashion, for a consid- erable distance from the cornice. The gable was flat- tened in front, in the style of the church of St. Mi- chael's, Fifth and Cherry Streets. This house was occupied for a long time by an invalid officer from Barbadoes. After Brientnall's death, in 1731, his widow moved into this house, where she kept a tav- ern at the sign of the Hen and Chickens. Subse- quently it became the residence of Anthony Benezet, who died in it in 1784. It became quite noted as the Benezet House. An engraving of it was made by Strickland, the architect, and published in the Port- folio of 1818.

On Third Street, some distance below Walnut, was the elegant mansion built in 1746 for Charles Will- ing, merchant, who was a member of the City Coun- cil, and afterward mayor. It was constructed by John Palmer, bricklayer, after the model of the homestead buildings of the Willing family at Bristol, Eogland. The door-posts and pediments were of Bath stone, imported from England, ready for imme- diate use. In front of this house two fine button- wood-trees were planted in 1749 by Thomas Willing and John Palmer. They grew luxuriantly, and are still remembered by our older citizens. The survivor of these trees was cut down when the Pennsylvania Railroad Company erected its office upon the prem- ises of the Willing mansion, about the year 1857. Charles Willing was brought to America in 1728 by his father, Thomas Willing, who established him in business in the same year.

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HISTORY OF PHILADELPHIA.

One of the handsomest dwellings in the city was that of Charles Norris, erected in 1750, in Chestnut Street, between Fourth and Fifth. The following complete description of it is from the pen of the late Charles A. Poulson :

" It was a spacious and very commodious dwelling, and in its palmy days was said to he esteemed one of great elegance and splendor. The main house was sixty feet front, and its ground-floor consisted of four rooms, which were intersected by a wide hall running through its cen- tre to a cross entry at the foot of the spacious staircase, with doors open- ing into the piazzas on the east and west sides. The stairway, which entirely occupied the middle section of the building, was a fine-grained, highly-polished wild-cherry wood, so dark and well kept as to be taken for mahogany. It was lighted by windows in every story, and its flut reof, surrounded by a balcony, gave to the whole building an uncom- men uppearacce. Beyond it was a small room, formerly of much com- fort, in which a fire was kept up in winter, as well as in the parlor, where the housekeeper used to sit. Adjoining to this room, on the

CHARLES NORRIS' MANSION. [ From an old drawing in Philadelphia Library.

east, was a large kitchen, with a spacious fireplace. In the rear of the kitcheo and housekeeper's reom, and facing the south, was the green- house, which contained the best collection of exotics in the province et that period. It was well contrived, for the entrance into its stove was in the corner of the kitchen chimney, and a few chunks of hickory- wood put into it at bedtime prevented any danger from the cold. The het-honee (for the mansion had a pretty little one) was the first of the kind in our city, where excellent pineapples were raised. It was heated in liko manner from the chimney of the washi-house,-a detached building to the east, where was a large copper boiler, oven, and other accommodations for a large family.

"The mansion-house was three stories high, and above-stairs con- tained chambers and light closets most convenient and pleasant, besides a lorge drawing-room, whose strong and substantial furniture, brightly rubbed, and Turkey carpets (when enrpete were yet a luxury not every- where to be seen were often greatly admired ; and to this enumeration of rooms of all description may be added that of an excellent laundry over the kitchen, and an airy apartment with deep shelves to dry herbs, which were cultivated in ample quantities in the garden, and used to be given away to the sick in winter. Indeed, it was the only place at that time in the city where they would be bad, and the applications were often numerous, and the ability to answer them was a great pleasure to the kind and charitable hulies of the household. The cellars and vaults under the house were excellent, and by n contrivance in hydraulics water was introduced Into the cellar designed for a duiry, and also car- ried by leaden pipee to the flat roof of the eustern piazza, and to that on the top of the house, where were cisterns lined with lead to receive the water in case of fire. It furnished more lead than any house in town to make bullets to repel the enemy during the Revolutionary war. The

whole house, with its balconies and piazzas, was in its appearance alto- gether singular, and in its days of splendor, with its ample lot extend- ing to Fifth Street, and garden undiminished, was really a beautiful habitation.

"The garden yet remming to be described, -a spot of elegance and floral beauty. It was laid out in square parterres and beds, regularly intersected by graveled and grass walks and alleys, yet some of the lot- ter were so completely hid by the trees by which they were bordered as to be serinded and rural. A green bank, with flights of stone steps, led the way into the garden, and a profusion of beantitul flowers and shrubs first met the view. The western part was more irregular, and contained on a high dry spot, facing the south, and defended from the north by a high board fence, the hot-beds and seed-house, and led to a very shaded walk reaching to the extremity of the grounds, with vines, covering the fence, of the finest sort of grapes, and hid ou the other side from the rest of the garden by a continuation of espaliers of the finest kied and in the most flourishing condition, and this walk opened int , a little spot, separated by a slight railing, and through this a path led to a gate opening into the yard of a cottage, which was the residence of the gar- dener. It was a charming little rotirement, and eo secluded and quiet that it might have been thought to belong to a remote village, although the feuce of its inclosure fronted on Fifth Street.

"The garden was plentifully stocked with the finest fruits. An old Swiss gardener was employed in it for over a quarter of a century, and one of the peculiarities of the family was the long time that the same faces com- posed its household. The couchmao lived there as long as the gardener, for in fifty years the fomily had but two."

Another fine house, not unlike the Wil- ling mansion in general appearance, was erected in 1745-46, by Edward Shippen, son of Joseph Shippen, on the west side of Fourth Street, below Walnut. It was of brick, three stories in height, forty-two feet front, and forty-four feet deep. A grand house for the time. The doorway in the centre was of stone; the steps, in the form of a truncated pyramid, were of soapstone, and the brieks were black and red. Mr. Shippen lived in this house from the time it was erected until very near the time of his death, in 1806, during which period he had been president of the Court of Common Pleas and Quarter Sessions of the city and county of Phila- delphia under the proprietary government, and an associate justice of the Supreme Court, and chief justice under the commonwealth. A sad memory is attached to this house. There, on the 8th of April, 1779, a large assembly of friends and relations met to witness the nuptials of Judge Shippen's sixth child and fifth daughter, Margaret, to a brave and honored soldier of the United States, one who stood high in the esteem of his brother-officers and of his chief. The bride was the leading belle of fashionable so- ciety. Warm were the congratulations of the guests upon the bright future that awaited the young couple. Mockery of human wisdom ! The man whose alliance was to bring additional lustre to one of the most dis- tinguished families of Philadelphia was Gen. Bene- dict Arnold, and ere long the venerable Judge Ship- pen bowed his head in shame, for his son-in-law was a traitor to his native land, alone in his infamy, the only American officer of high rank who betrayed the

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cause of liberty during the long struggle and terrible ordeal of the Revolution.

On Chestnut Street, between Fifth and Sixth, was, in an unfinished condition at that time, the State- House, commenced in 1732. Part of the building was occupied by the Assembly in 1736, but the whole was not finished till the end of 1744.

THE EDWARD SHIPPEN MANSION.

On the west side of Fourth Street, south of Mul- berry Street, was the Academy. It was erected as a house of public worship, to contain also a charity school, in 1740, for a mixed congregation under the celebrated preacher, George Whitefield. It was used for these purposes until the year 1749, when, owing to the efforts of Benjamin Franklin, it was purchased, and converted into an academy, with the condition of partitioning off and reserving to the use of itiner- ants a preaching-hall therein forever. In 1753 the Academy had already attained great repute. It had, according to a manuscript letter from Richard Peters to Thomas Penn, quoted by Watson, sixty-five boys from the neighboring colonies.

Boarding-schools for young ladies were not known at that time. The girls were taught in common with the boys, and their instruction was, for a long time, confined to the elementary branches facetiously des- ignated as the three R's; but they were instructed in the ornamental branches specially intended for their sex,-embroidery, music, drawing, etc. A teacher of the name of Horton first started the idea of a sepa- rate school for girls, and proposed to teach them grammar, geography, and other branches of learning. The pretentious names of " academies," " seminaries," "lyceums," etc., were not given to private institu- tions until after the year 1770. A Mr. Griscom was the first to advertise a private academy. Misses' boarding-schools came into existence toward the time of the Revolution. The old English system of flogging prevailed in all the schools. The boys were made to strip off their jackets and the girls to take off their stays, the better to feel the blows dealt with a leather strap.

An amusing anecdote of John Todd, the school- master, is told in the " Annals." This old gentleman seems to have brought the art of flogging to perfec- tion and to have found a certain delight in inflicting that punishment. Holding firmly the victim horsed across his knee, he would lay on measured strokes, asking after each other stroke, "Does it hurt?" "Oh ! yes, master!" the writhing culprit would whimper. "Then I'll make it burt thee more, intolerable being. Nothing in nature is able to prevail upon thee but my strap." He had one boy named George Fudge, who usually wore leather breeches, with which he put strap and master at defiance. He seized him one day and, after giving him a sound thrashing, inquired, almost breathless with rage, "Does it not hurt?" To his discomfiture and the astonishment of the quaking scholars, Fudge cried out, "No! Hurray for leather crackers !" The irate Todd flung bim sprawling on the floor, with these parting words, "Intolerable being ! Get out of my school. Noth- ing in nature is able to prevail upon thee, not even my strap."

There were several handsome country-houses in the neighborhood of the city. Mr. Logan's house, on the Germantown road above Nicetown, was built in 1728, and received the name of Stenton. It was a plain two-story brick building, with a pent-roof and attics, sufficiently spacious to insure ease and elegance. Mrs. Sarah Butler Wister, in the sketch of Deborah Logan, in "Worthy Women of our First Century," gives the following charming description of Stenton : " Round the house there was the gniet stir and move- ment of a country-place, with its large gardens full of old-fashioned flowers and fruits, its poultry-yard, and stables. The latter were connected with the house by an underground passage, which led to a concealed staircase and a door under the roof, like the 'priest's escape' in some old English country- seats. ... The offices surrounded the main building, connected with it by brick courts and covered ways. They were all at the back, and so disposed as to en- hance the picturesque and dignified air of the old mansion, the interior of which is as curious to modern eyes as it is imposing. One enters by a brick hall, opposite to which is the magnificent double staircase, while right and left are lofty rooms covered with fine old-fashioned wood-work, in some of them the wain- scot being carried up to the ceiling above the chimney-place, which in all the apartments was a vast opening set round with blue and white sculptured tiles of the most grotesque devices. There are corner cupboards, and in some of the rooms cupboards in arched niches over the mantel-pieces, capital show- cases for the rare china and magnificent old silver which adorned the dinner-table on state occasions. Half of the front of the house in the second story was taken up by one large, finely-lighted room, the library of the book-loving masters of the place."

Says Mr. Westcott, in "Historic Mansions," "The

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HISTORY OF PHILADELPHIA.

grounds were adorned with fine old trees. A splen- did avenue of hemlocks-which legend would only be satisfied with declaring were planted hy William Penn, although the poor man was dead years before Sten- ton was built-led up to the house. The Wingohock- ing meandered through the plantation, lighting up the landscape with brightness wherever its placid sur- face was seen. Stenton was a house for the living, but the affection which the owners had for it connected with the estate in time a last resting-place for the dead. The family graveyard is romantically situated, surrounded with old trees and with all the accessories of a spot to be picked ont as a beautiful garden of the dead."

After Stenton was built, it was first occupied as a summer residence, but in time it became Mr. Logan's permanent dwelling until the time of his death, in 1751.1 Stenton then passed into the hands of the eldest son, William, who was born on the place. He had been brought up to trade, but he now gave it up and removed to the family seat. He was a member of the Governor's Council in 1747. William Logan imitated his father in hospitality toward the Indians and in public exertions on their behalf. He divided his time between the pursuit of agriculture and trav- eling. He was in England during the war of the Revolution, and took no part in the great struggle. He died in 1776.

Before we leave Stenton let us note that it was there Thomas Godfrey, glazier,-already mentioned in these pages as one of the original members of the

THOMAS GODFREY'S HOUSE, GERMANTOWN. [From an old drawing in Philadelphia Library.

junto founded by Franklin, under the name of the "Leather Apron Club,"-discovered the principle upon which he constructed his improvement on Davis' quadrant (this improved quadrant superseded the other, and has scarcely been improved upon since). This discovery, like most all great discov- eries, was due to accident. A piece of broken glass, which had fallen in such a manner as to reflect the

sun, engaged Mr. Godfrey's attention while he was at work. To his philosophic mind-for he was no com- mon glazier, but made optics and mathematics his study-this was a revelation. Quitting his work he hastened to Mr. Logan's library, and taking down a volume of Newton, he began to search its pages for a confirmation of his own theory. Mr. Logan coming in while he was thus engaged, Godfrey told him of the incident and explained to him the improved in- strument he had in his mind. Mr. Logan understood at once the value of the discovery, and warmly en- couraged Godfrey to put it in shape. Godfrey's quad- rant was first tried in Delaware Bay by Joshua Fisher, of Lewes, and afterward at sea, But another, in the mean time, had pirated the invention, described it before the Royal Society in London, and succeeded in affixing his name to it. Few who handle " Had- ley's" quadrant are aware of the fact that its real in- ventor was Thomas Godfrey, the Philadelphia glazier.

Another elegant and spacious country-house was Bush Hill, erected in 1740 by Andrew Hamilton, the celebrated lawyer and member of the Assembly, on a tract, portion of Springettsbury Manor, which he had purchased from the Penns some years previous. Mr. Hamilton did not live long after erecting this man- sion, and at his death it went to his eldest son, James Hamilton, who was subsequently Governor of the province. After the Governor's death, Bush Hill does not seem to have been occupied by any member of the family. John Adams when he was Vice-Presi- dent of the United States (1790) lived in it for two or three years. In 1793, when the yellow fever was raging in Philadelphia, the mansion was unoccupied. William Hamil- ton (Jr.), the owner, being in Europe, it was taken posses- sion of by the city and used as a yellow-fever hospital. The citizens' committee fearing a return of the epidemic, leased the property in 1795 from Mr. Hamilton for twenty-five hun- dred dollars. The Bush Hill estate was finally sold by the Hamilton family some time after the Revolution to a com- pany of speculators in real estate, but the speculation proved a bad one, and the property went back to the Hamiltons. The house became a tavern and place of resort of some reputation at one time. It was burned down about the year 1808. The solid old walls stood the fiery ordeal, and Isaac Macauley, who bought the property, used them in fitting up an oil-cloth and floor-cloth manufactory. It was used for this purpose until 1871. In 1875 the old build- ing was finally torn down and new houses erected upon the site, which was then on the north side of

1 A foll notice of Mr. Logan's life has been given al page 161,

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MANNERS AND CUSTOMS, 1700-1800.

Buttonwood Street, between Seventeenth and Eigh- teenth.

The first Andrew Hamilton had purchased from Stephen Jackson a large piece of ground in Blockley township, west of the Schuylkill, near and south of Market Street, and extending down to the Nanganesy (or Mill) Creek. He devised this property to his son Andrew, who, dying six years afterward, devised it to his son William Hamilton. This property was called The Woodlands. There was a comfortable house on it, which was torn down some time before the Revo- lution, and a magnificent mansion built upon the site. The following description of the Woodlands mansion, written in 1830, will be read with interest :

" The building embracee three different orders of architecture, but the Doric prevails. The north trace is ornamented in the front with eix Ionic pilasters, and on each side is a pavilion; the south front has a. magnificent portico, twenty-four feet in height, supported by six stately Tuscan columns. The vestibule at the north entrance is sixteen feet in dinmeter, from which a corridor leads on the east side to na elegant dining-room of an oval figure, the length of which is thirty feet and on the breadth twenty-two. Another corridor on the west side lends to the library, a square room with two bows, thirty by eighteen. In the library are many fine specimens of art, among which are several family portraits by eminent British and American artists. With these roome communicate two others of smaller size, decorated with the works of several of the ancient painters from the Italian, Dutch, and Flemish schools, many of which pieces are of great merit. The grounds are in extent about ten acres, and contain a variety of indigenous and exotic trees and plants, chosen for their foliage or fragrance, and the scene is diversified by land and water in a very tasteful manner. A winding walk leads through the shrubberies and copses. At one spot there is a charming prospect of the city, at another a large expanse of water is visible. At the descent is seen a creek, overhung with rocky fragments and shaded by the gloom of the forest. Ascending from thence, the greenhouse appears in view, the front of which, including the hot- house on each side, measuree one hundred and forty feet, and contains nearly ten thousand plants. There is surely no city on the continent in whose vicinity more beautiful country-seata can be found than in the vicinity of Philadelphia, and among these The Woodlands are conspicu- ons for their taste and elegance. The admirere of rural beauty may here find many objects to arrest their curiosity and to invite their observation."

Michaux, who visited Philadelphia in 1802, speaks of The Woodlands in this manner : "The absence of Mr. W. Hamilton deprived me of the pleasure of seeing him; notwithstanding, I went into his mag- nificent garden, situate upon the borders of the Schuylkill, abont four miles from Philadelphia. His collection of exotics is immense, and remarkable for plants from New Holland, all the trees and shrubs of the United States, at least those that could stand the winter at Philadelphia after having once removed from their native soil ; in short, it would be impossible to find a more agreeable situation than the residence of Mr. W. Hamilton."

Griswold speaks of The Woodlands as "a very charming spot," and says, "Mr. William Hamilton, who built the house and decorated the grounds, was a man of great taste in such matters, and embellished his beautiful mansion with such paintings and other works of art as were attainable in that day. His table was the frequent resort of artists and bons vivants."

In Blockley township, on the west bank of the

Schuylkill, William Peters bought a piece of ground from Ruth Jones, widow of Daniel Jones, in 1742, and built thereon a small stone house. He made this property his residence, and named it Belmont. The situation was beautiful, the property embracing an island in the Schuylkill River, and running from the western bank out beyond the New Ford road, subse- quently known as the Monument road. Some years later, the exact date is not known, the large mansion on the north, adjoining the small stone house, was built. Mr. Keyser, in "Fairmount Park," says of Belmont, " Its principal characteristics are a broad hall and small dormitories, small window-glass, and heavy sashes, highly ornamented, and high, wooden mantel-pieces, a comfortable dining-room, and open fireplaces. One of these, in the hall, is still used ; the panel over it formerly held a landscape ; the coat- of-arms of the family remains perfect on the ceiling. Other ornamental devices about the mansion are recognizable as belonging to that early period. The roof has been raised ; the third story and piazza are modern. A library which adjoined the main house has also been removed since the judge's time. The date of the erection of the main out-building is fixed by a monogram, 'T. W. P., 1745,' cut on a slab set in the wall." The grounds are admirable, and contain some of the most superb trees in this country. The French traveler, Chastellux, designates Belmont as a "tasty little box in the most charming spot nature could embellish." Mr. Peters conveyed Belmont to his son Richard, who was born on the place in the first year of its occupancy. Richard Peters attained great fame as a patriot and as a judge of the United States District Court in Pennsylvania. After Judge Peters' death Belmont remained in possession of the family until the enlargement of Fairmount Park, when it came into the possession of the city of Phil- adelphia.

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History of Philadelphia, 1609-1884, Part 5

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898. cn; Westcott, Thompson, 1820-1888, joint author Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : L. H. Everts & Co. Number of Pages: 992

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898. cn; Westcott, Thompson, 1820-1888, joint author
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : L. H. Everts & Co.
Number of Pages: 992