USA > Pennsylvania > Bucks County > Local sketches and legends pertaining to Bucks and Montgomery counties, Pennsylvania > Part 10
USA > Pennsylvania > Montgomery County > Local sketches and legends pertaining to Bucks and Montgomery counties, Pennsylvania > Part 10
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My principal motive now in writing this is as ex- planatory to what has been stated in the legends of Buckwampun, for which purpose I have availed my- self now of the long period that has elapsed and the participants no longer living. The delight of hearing those narrations afterward inspired me to set them down that they might not be lost. To accomplish this was an early ambition, which the cares and per- plexities of business had deferred to a period of more subsequent leisure.
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The Early Fairs at Bristol.
The fairs that were introduced into Pennsylvania during the Colonial period were modeled after the plan of those that had been so long held in Great Britain. Bartholomew's Fair was chartered by Henry I. in 11 33, and held annually at West Smithfield, near London, on St. Bartholomew's day. From this latter fact the name was derived. Donnybrook Fair dates before 1216, and was held in one of the western suburbs of Dublin. Fairs were also held at Greenwich and Glas- gow. They had their origin in church festivals, which, in consequence of drawing great crowds, caused both a market and a demand for various kinds of provisions and manufactures; hence, necessarily with it traffic, and thus the foundations for fairs. No doubt at that time they were a necessity, and long served a useful purpose. Such gatherings were adapted to the state of society as it then existed, when the means of com- munication were less easy and tradesmen and manu- facturers less confined to established places.
The tenth section of the royal charter granted to William Penn in 1681, gave to him, "his heirs and assigns, free and absolute power to erect and incorpo- rate towns into boroughs and boroughs into cities, and
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to make and constitute fairs and markets therein." In granting the privilege of holding fairs in the boroughs and cities of his province, Penn was not disposed to encourage vice or immorality. In a set of laws he had prepared in England in May, 1682, to guide him in the government, in the thirty-seventh section thereof he states : "All prizes, stage-plays, cards, dice, May games, masques, revels, bull-baitings, cock-fightings, bear- baitings and the like, which incite the people to rude- ness, cruelty, looseness and irreligion, shall be respect- ively discouraged and severely punished."
In his "Further Account of the Province of Penn- sylvania," first published in 1685, Penn mentions as at Philadelphia "two Markets every week and two Fairs every year." The Kalendarium Pennsilvaniense for 1686, by Samuel Atkins, printed the previous Decem- ber in Philadelphia, gives the time for holding the two fairs. It is stated that the first in that place was held in 1686, the object of which was to encourage industry and manufactures. Owing to a scarcity of money and the difficulty of effecting exchanges thereby, only ten dollars worth of goods were sold. They were required to be held in May and November, each for three days. As may be well supposed, under the circumstances they soon became very popular as places of resort, either for business, pleasure or amusement. The lat- ter was decidedly the strongest motive, especially among servants, apprentices and negroes. To these it brought a holiday, which otherwise was almost un- known to them; consequently it was no wonder that
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THE EARLY FAIRS AT BRISTOL.
they enjoyed it in those days when servitude and slav- ery enforced the more restraint.
The Provincial Council in response to a petition in April, 1688, ordered the next fair to be held "at the Centre," being the site of the present public buildings. This location met with spirited opposition, as being too far out of town. An advertisement sustaining this move- ment was printed at the time by William Bradford. The Council became offended at these strictures, and by way of contempt ordered "an Additional Fayr to be kept at Philadelphia at ye Center, to be held ye 30th day of ye next sixth month." The proceedings con- nected with this affair may be seen in the first volume of the Colonial Records. The Council in 1700 granted a charter to the town of Chichester, which allowed a fair and market, with this proviso: "That because some complaints have been made against fairs in general, this fair should, notwithstanding anything contained in the said charter, be put down whenever it should be thought fitt that the other fairs of the Government should be suppressed." The aforesaid fair was held in the bounds of Concord Monthly Meeting. In conse- quence the latter, in 1711, directed a query to be laid before its members "against keeping vain or loose company in fairs." By this action it would seem that the Society of Friends was not readily disposed to en- courage them.
Bristol was incorporated into a borough by a char- ter granted November 14, 1720, Sir William Keith be- ing at the time deputy governor. Its inhabitants by
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the aforesaid were allowed to hold "two Fairs therein every year; the first of them to begin the eighth day of May and to continue that day and one day after, and the other of said fairs to begin the 29th day of October and to continue till the 31st day of the same month, in such place and places in the said town as the burgesses from time to time shall order and ap- point."
Concerning the first fairs held in Bristol we possess no account, but of that of May 8, 1722, through a mis- fortune attending it, we can give a few particulars. Ralph Sandiford had entered into the mercantile busi- ness in Market street near Second, probably before 1720. From his advertisements we learn that he sold "very good wine and rum at reasonable rates," besides leather, tanned sheep skins, figs and raisins. With other merchants, he was in the practice of attending the several fairs to assist him in the disposal of his goods. These were conducted after the manner of those so long established in England, where goods and products of all sorts were brought and offered for sale. With this in view he had his supplies shipped to Bristol in due time. At the close of the first day, for greater security, his goods, with those of the other merchants from Philadelphia, were stored in the house of a Mr. Moon, with whom they also slept and kept watch. . About midnight a fire broke out in the build- ing, which consumed all or most of the goods. Mr. Sandiford had a narrow escape, two of the party lost their lives, and one by the name of Robinson was in-
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jured severely by leaping from a window. The Phil- adelphia Weekly Mercury of May 10, 1722, states that three houses were burned besides a "bolting house," the latter probably a flouring mill. So serious was this fire considered that the several Friends' Monthly Meetings in Pennsylvania and New Jersey got up sub- scriptions in aid of the sufferers. It appears from the minutes that this loss fell chiefly on Friends.
John Smith, a highly respected farmer of Plumstead, who died in 1871, aged nearly eighty-three years, in- formed the writer in 1854 that his grandfather, of the same name, was a native and resident of the vicinity of Bristol up to 1740, when, having purchased of the proprietaries, John, Thomas and Richard Penn, two hundred and six acres of land near the present Car- versville, he removed there and made the first improve- ments. A portion of this tract is still in possession of the family. Mr. Smith stated that his grandfather had said that before his removal to Plumstead he frequently attended the fairs at Bristol; that it was the occasion of bringing great crowds there, particularly of inden- tured servants, apprentices and negroes; that this privilege was allowed them by their masters as a holi- day, and became thus established by custom. He re- membered the rows of tents and booths there, and the numerous venders of nearly all sorts of refreshments Great efforts were made through divers sports and amusements to attract the crowds to particular stalls to help increase the sales of their commodities. This would beget a spirit of competition among the sales-
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men to bring out additional novelties and attractions. Respecting Mr. Smith's reminiscences on the subject we will have more to state ere we are done.
During the whole Colonial period the fairs held in Pennsylvania were duly mentioned in all the almanacs then published, with their respective dates. Thus, in Poor Richard's Almanac for 1762, it is stated that they will be held at "Bristol, May 19 and Nov. 9; at Bur- lington, May 21 and Nov 12; Marcus Hook, Oct. 10; Chester May 16 and Oct .; Philadelphia May 27; Lancaster June 12. In 1774 at Chester May 16 and Oct. 16; Bristol May 19 and Nov. 9; Burlington May 21 and Nov. 12; Philadelphia May 27 and Nov. 27; Lancaster June 12 and Nov. 5; York Town June 9 and Nov. 2; Reading, June 4 and Oct. 27." A peti- tion for the incorporation of Reading, in 1764, con- tained three hundred and fifty signatures, wherein mention was made to have and to hold "Two Fairs ' yearly," as in other favored towns.
Although fairs had so long been established in Phil- adelphia, Bristol and other places, by the Reading pe- tition we can see that they must have been still popu- lar. In 1775 an act was passed to suppress the hold- ing of fairs within the city of Philadelphia. But it ap- pears to have been a dead letter, judging from subse- quent remonstrances and complaints to the courts, magistrates, Supreme Executive Council and the As- sembly, charging them with being supporters of vice and immorality, leading to riot, racing, gambling and drunkenness. This finally induced the Supreme Ex-
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ccutive Council, November 26, 1783, to order: "That under a sense of the many ill effects resulting from the toleration of fairs, it be communicated to the Magis- tracy as the opinion of Council, that their authority - should be uniformly exerted to prevent them."
With all that was charged against fairs, the move- ment for their total abolition appears to have progressed slowly. From the proceedings of the Assembly we glean the following: "Whereas the Burgesses and Common Council and other Inhabitants of the bor- ough of Bristol, and the adjoining townships in the county of Bucks, have by their petition set forth that fairs originally established by charter within the said borough have become useless and unnecessary, and promote licentious, vice and immorality, and have prayed that the same may be abolished." An act to this effect was passed April 4, 1796, just about three- fourths of a century after their establishment under the old borough charter. Even after this date for sev- eral years they were continued and partially carried out, but not with the vigor of yore. As time rolled on general opinion against them kept increasing. The Assembly passed an act January 29, 1816, that the holding of fairs in the boroughs of York, Lancaster and Harrisburg be unlawful, and that "the same are hereby repealed, prohibited and declared to be a com- mon nuisance." Strange to say, that of Reading alone escaped the severe measures adopted for their eradi- cation, and was actually maintained until after 1840. Bartholomew Fair and Donnybrook were both abol-
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ished in 1855, and for immoralities exceeded those held here.
At its incorporation, in 1720, Bristol was still a small place, not exceeding forty houses. From 1705 to 1725 it was the seat of justice for Bucks. Scott, in his Ga- zetteer of 1795, says that at said date it contained only fifty houses, and these were chiefly located on the line of the old road leading from Philadelphia to the Falls of Delaware, now known as Otter, Mill and Radcliff streets. According to the census of 1800 it contained five hundred and eleven inhabitants, less than one-tenth of the population in 1880. In 1806 it was stated to contain ninety houses. Though possessing great ad- vantages from its situation, it was certainly of slow growth after a settlement of above a century and a quarter. Consequently the crowds brought hither during its fairs must have come from the surrounding country and from a distance, to which Burlington and Philadelphia may also have contributed a share.
Besides all manner of produce, horses and cattle were likewise brought to the fair to be either sold or bartered. For this purpose many of the commodities were exposed to purchasers in tents, booths or enclos- ures specially erected for the purpose. The borough authorities had the right under the charter to select the fair ground, which was generally some vacant lot or common in the town beside the main street or high- way, and of easy access. From the promiscuous crowds brought hither, a number of stands were also directed to the sale of refreshments, as pies, gingerbread, cold
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meats, confectionery and fruits. Drinkables were not forgotten-beer, ale, cider, metheglin, wine, rum and whisky. Shows and amusements of nearly all kinds abounded and flourished. Persons of all manner of tastes, objects or pursuits, therefore, could be accom- modated providing they possessed the requisite funds. As may be observed, the Burlington fairs followed im- mediately those of Bristol, which was a great conveni- ence to the venders of commodities, requiring for their attendance only a ferriage across the Delaware.
Amusement at the Fairs.
Among the numerous charges made against the early fairs was that of having degenerated into scenes of amusement or merriment. Of all the evils men- tioned of having been practiced there this certainly must have been the least offensive or harmless. The best of intentions or of institutions can in the charge of improper persons be readily perverted. As time rolls on we become only the more impressed with its truthfulness. History it is said repeats itself, so all manner of evils have their rise and fall. No sooner are any put down, but protean-like new ones spring up to take their places. Eternal vigilance is said to be the price of liberty, but it is equally so of virtue. Good and evil has been so equally distributed to the human race, that we need not wonder that philosoph- ers have been puzzled to ascertain which is strongest. What time, what money and labor have been spent to keep vice in complete subordination, yet as likely now as ever to appear and spread around its dire effects.
From the force of circumstances the early settlers were generally compelled to lead what would now be considered a rugged and laborious life. To clear the land and bring it under tillage, and to provide com-
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fortable buildings against the inclemencies of the sea- sons, must have required considerable effort. Roads had to be opened, streams bridged, or made passable, so as to allow of communication with the mill, the market or the metropolis. Toil alone could accom- plish this, but continued toil would not content man with his condition. A change would bring recreation, which leads to amusement or diversion. The latter, when properly pursued and directed, must lead to en- joyment. Our ancestors had their sports and pastimes to vary the monotony of existence. Though they may have been few and rude, yet they were adapted to their condition, and unquestionably gave them pleasure. An historical work of this kind is, like a newspaper, intended for the instruction and informa- tion of readers generally ; hence it is proper that we should take enlarged or comprehensive views on sub- jects adapted to several tastes. Respecting amuse- ments or sports different ideas prevail. They need only a proper direction and they may afford a great deal of harmless recreation or pleasure. Our object herein is to briefly relate those that were the least ob- noxious, and to the spectators afforded infinite diver- sion, most of whom have since become obsolete or forgotten through the long interval that has passed away. We need not wonder that to the lower classes they were popular. For them it brought a semi-an- nual holiday, and the amusing part had a strong hold on their sympathies or better natures, because they had so few opportunities for other enjoyments. To
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my friend John Smith I am also greatly indebted for this resuscitation of the various amusements that pre- vailed at the Bristol fairs for some time preceding the Revolution.
The games consisted chiefly of foot ball, quoits, long bullets, cudgel playing, wrestling, leaping, jump- ing, foot racing, dice, cards, wheel of fortune and pitching farthings. The more amusing features were practiced for wagers to the most successful, as for grinning through horse collars, yawning, eating hot hasty pudding, smoking the shortest cigars, ducking for apples, sack races, wheelbarrow races and whist- ling matches. There were also mock giants, monster fishes, merry-andrews, tumblers, stilt walkers and morris dancers.
Some of the aforesaid from their novelty may de- mand some explanation to be understood. The wheel of fortune as it was called required a farthing or a penny for a chance, and was conducted on the man- ner of a lottery. The game of long bullets consisted in throwing with the hand an iron ball of several pounds weight in such a manner as to roll the great- est possible distance. One method was for the player to take the ball and commence at a common starting point, and at the cessation of the ball's rolling, to throw it again until it was thus three times repeated. The second player would now return on the same line, and by his throwing the ball an equal number of times it could be readily seen whether he could sur- pass his companion in distance. Any reasonable
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number could be engaged in it, taking successively their chances, and thus be going and returning over the same ground.
Leaping and jumping was much practiced, instances were related of some individuals clearing by this means high fences. In grinning through horse col- lars the performers would be placed opposite each other, but a few feet apart, and he who could distort his face the most and without laughing would be de- clared the winner. In' doing this the head was re- quired to be thrust through the collar. Eating hot hasty pudding or mush with a spoon was mostly per- formed by the negroes. This was required to be eaten as hot as was possible to bear, and he who fin- ished his portion first was awarded the prize. We entertain no doubt that in this operation no exertions were required to make antic grimaces or droll faces. Cigars were selected of equal size and quality, and he who would smoke his to the shortest stump in the least possible time was declared successful. Many a
mouth and tongue was burned or blistered in this ef- fort to the great enjoyment of the lookers on. Apples were placed in a tub of water. These were required to be seized and taken therefrom by the teeth alone. This effort was called ducking. Whistling double is possible. Goldsmith in his Essays mentions it as performed in his day at public exhibitions.
Mock-giants, as they were called, were rude rep- resentations of persons of gigantic size, the frame work resting on a man's shoulders, surmounted with a huge
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head and hat. The clothing enveloping it also con- cealed the performer, and reached nearly to the ground. Some of these would be ten feet or more in height, and of course composed of the lightest kinds of mate- rials, so as to lessen the burden. Many a fine black bear skin was cut up to set off the head and features of a mock-giant. Thin pine or poplar boards would be taken and placed over a frame in imitation of some fish, as the shad or sturgeon, in the centre of which the performer walked. The height was made suffi- cient to conceal the head and the body, the feet alone being visible. Holes were left in the top of the back for seeing. Some of these fishes were made fifteen to twenty feet in length. Challenges would be given as to who could walk on the highest stilts. The result of this would sometimes be lofty falls.
Dancing was much practiced, some of the young men for this purpose bringing their favorite girls ten or fifteen miles behind them on horseback. The rid- dlers, as they were called, were chiefly negroes, who on such occasions would realize some money, and for this purpose they would erect platforms. The favor- ite among the whites and the negroes was the Morris dance. For this straps of small bells would be at- tached to the wrists and ankles, and the movements so regulated as to keep in concord with the music. Bells would be specially imported and kept for sale for this dance.
William Penn, in preparing a set of laws in England for his colony, states in the thirty-seventh section that
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AMUSEMENT AT THE FAIRS.
"bull-baitings, cock-fightings, bear-baitings, and the like, which incite the people to rudeness, cruelty, loose- ness and irreligion, shall be respectively discouraged and severely punished." Here is ample evidence that he very well knew that the foregoing, with dog-fight- ing, badger-baiting and kindred amusements then ex- isted and were practiced in England, and have even yet not been entirely repressed there. To their great credit the Germans were entirely exempt from such brutal sports, and their descendants in this respect have adhered to their principles to help render such the more unpopular. We doubt, however, anything of the kind being practiced at any of our early fairs. If so, we have failed in securing the evidence.
We have now given a brief and partial synopsis of the prevailing amusements that helped to render the ancient fairs popular and gave them that holiday ap- pearance befitting "ye olden time." They were both introduced from Great Britain, but considerably modi- fied from the peculiar circumstances attending a new country with a slight sprinkling of people from a few other nationalities of Europe and Africa, whilst servi- tude and slavery were existing. The subject of our early fairs has not heretofore, as we aware, engrossed the attention of a single writer, thus evidencing how much yet remains to be investigated by our diligent, plodding and pains-taking antiquaries and historians.
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George lloman and His Taufschiens.
From the early settlement of Pennsylvania, a con- siderable business was carried on, chiefly by ship-own- ers and captains of vessels, in importing from Europe persons who were desirous of emigrating to this coun- try and were too poor to pay for their passage or have a competency for an outfit in so long a journey. With this class, who generally came from England, Ireland and Germany, arrangements would be made through agents to contract and bring them over, fur- nish them with food during the voyage and perhaps some other necessaries, on condition that on their ar- rival in an American port they have the right to sell their time for a certain number of years, to repay the cost thus necessarily incurred, and be of some profit to those engaged in such ventures. With the growth and settlement of the country this business greatly in- creased, through the demand for laborers, and, per- haps, just before the Revolution attained its greatest height. However, on the return of peace it did not slacken much, even to the commencement of this cen- tury. Such a matter of course would also receive some attention from the government, and the special legislation thereon to be found in our early laws is considerable.
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Dr. Rush, in his account of the "Manners of the German Inhabitants in Pennsylvania," written in 1789, states that " a few pieces of silver coin, a chest with clothes, a bible, a prayer or hymn book, constituted the chief property of most of them. Many bound themselves, or one or more of their children, to mas- ters after their arrival for four, five or seven years, to pay for their passages across the ocean. The usual terms of sale depended somewhat on the age, strength, health and ability of the persons sold. Boys and girls had to serve from five to ten years, or until they at- tained the age of twenty-one. Children under five years could not be sold. They were disposed of gratuitously to such persons as agreed to raise them, to be free on attaining the age of twenty-one." It was a humble position that redemptioners occupied. "Yet from this class," says Gordon, in his History of Penn- sylvania, " have sprung some of the most respectable and wealthy inhabitants of the state."
Robert Sutcliff, an English Friend, in his "Travels in America," thus speaks of the redemptioners in a visit he paid in the summer of 1804, to his relative William Bakewell, who was at that time residing on a farm of three hundred acres in Lower Providence township, opposite Valley Forge : "I noticed many families, par- ticularly in Pennsylvania, of great respectability, both in our own society and amongst others, who had themselves come over to this country as redemptioners, or were children of such. And it is remarkable that the German residents in this country have a character
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