USA > Pennsylvania > Notes and queries historical, biographical, and genealogical, Vol. II > Part 4
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WILKINS' FERRY. - Thomas Wilkins' ferry was where Bainbridge now is. It was owned by James Logan at the time Wilkins- conducted it. The western side of the ferry which crossed the lower end of an island, was owned by Joshua Lowe, a Quake, and for many years coroner of Lancaster county. He moved from there to Conestoga. S. E.
DECEMBER AND MAY .- Married on the 3rd of April, 1792, by Rev. John Campbell, James Stevenson, aged 76 years, to the amiable Rebecca Sample, aged 35 years, both of Carlisle.
On July 7, 1796, Mr. Pittner, of Paxtang, aged about 90 years, married "the worthy matron Mrs. Charlotte King the consort and wife of Mr. Richard King formerly of this town" [Harrisburg].
On April 16, 1836, by Rev. Benjamin Snodgrass, Mr. Wyant, aged 21 years, and Violet Crawford, aged 70, both of Hanover township.
COL. JOHN BULL. - A correspondent front Illinois sends us the following :
Col. Bull, b. June 1, 1731; d. August 9, 1824. Mary Phillips, his wife, b. 1731; d. Feb. 23, 1811. Their children were:
i. Anna; m. Gen, John Smith, of Win- chester, Va. ii. Elizabeth; m. Rittenhouse,. brother of Daniel Rittenhouse the astrono- mer.
itt. Maria Louise; m. Joseph Nourse, who was for many years Register of the U. S. Treasury.
we. Rebecca; m. Capt John Boyd, of the Revolution
2. Sarah; m. first, Joseph Haines; sec- ondly, B. F. Young. vi. William.
cit. Ezekiel.
INDIAN NAMES.
The following names, with incaning, were given by the celebrated Indian "Red Jacket :" Canisteo; a board in the water.
Tioga; a crotch or point in the river, a junction of waters.
Curranesque; at the Long Island.
Cohocton; (Conhocton) trees in the water. Cononque; horn in the water, (the Seneca name of the Chemung.)
Conecahah; Ka-na-ve-o-la, a head on a pole, the Seneca name for the spot on which Elmira, N. Y., now stands.
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Historical and Genealogical.
Canondisague; the aboriginal name for Seneca Lake, meaning "Newtown Lake" trom a village of the same name near the outlet.
Canandaigua; Chosentown. Susquehannah ; Sus-que-sa-han-nough, erooked river.
Ne-a-na-Ca-no-eusk; a spring, or liter- ally a small living water.
Tschech-she qua-nunk, She-shequin, SO
written by the Moravians.
WILLFORD-CAMPBELL.
[The following query comes to us from Minnesota. Perchanee Hon. John Blair Linn ean give us some information coneern- ing the capture of Mary Campbell alluded to :|
My greatgrandfather, Joseph Willford, eame from Sheffield, England, and settled in (I believe) Bucks county, Pa., but do not know the year. Ile was one of the early pioneers. Ile married a young lady named Mary Campbell in Bucks county. The Campbells were of Seotch deseent, but re- sided in the north of Ireland; were ealled in Pennsylvania Scotch-Irish. I do not know what year they came to America, but desire to learn the year, if possible. My great- grandmother, Mary Campbell, was, with other children, put in a stockade, or fort, at or near Penn's Valley, to protect them from the Indians on
or about the years 1754
to
1760. She,
with other children were captured by the Indians of that place, a portion of whom were killed, but the life of Mary Campbell was spared. She was held captive by the Indians seven years, and taken from them at Chilicothe or Neweomerstown, Ohio, by the Provincial troops. She was then 14 years of age. She had brothers who participated in the Indian wars of Pennsylvania and Ohio at an early dav. The names of two of her brothers were Daniel Campbell and William Campbell. Daniel Campbell was an offieer (eaptain or colonel) in the army and was shot somewhere in Ohio by the Indians. William Campbell was also in the Indian wars and received land from the Governme. t for his services. Ile located at or near Pittsburgh, l'a., but died at the residence of his sister's (Mary Campbell's) oldest son in Wayne country, Ohio. I know no more of their history than I have here stated, and nothing of the history of the rest of the family, but would be pleased to learn
something of them. Joseph Willford and wife (Mary Campbell) lived in Bneks Co., Pa. They had five sons and two daughters. The last located in Greene county, Pa., and in 1815 all exeept Daniel Willford who re- mained, emigrated to Wayne county, Ohio.
THE ALLISONS OF DERRY.
[In the hope of receiving additions to these notes we give the information at hand, }
I. JOHN ALLISON, a native of London- Derry, Ireland, emigrated with his family to Ameriea as early as 1725, and located on what were termed the "Barrens of Derry," then Chester, afterwards Laneaster, now Dauphin county, Penn'a. IIe took up two hundred acres of land, which were warranted to him 15th of April, 1734. He died prior to 1750, and had, among other children, the following :
i. Robert ; d. march 1766, unm .; by his will he bequeathed "£100 to the Trustees of the Philadelphia Hospital," "£100 to the Grammar School at Newark, ten miles from New Castle," and the balance of his estate to his brothers and sisters.
ii. William; d. Angust, 1739; m. Grizzle Wray, and had Margaret, Patrick and Robert.
iii. Henry; who had James. 2. in. John; m. Ann 3. v. James; m. Rebecca. vi. Jean; m. - Smith. vii. Margaret; m. - White.
II. JOHN ALLISON (John) d. May 1767, in Donegal, leaving a wife ANN (who subse- quently married John Stuart) and children as follows :
i. Patrick.
ii Jean; m. George Clark and had Mary.
iii. Rose; m. James Crawford and had John.
iv. Margaret. v. John. vi. James; b. 1750. cil. Ann; b. 1753. viii. William; b. 1755. ix. Robert; b. 1757.
III. JAMES ALLISON (John) d. November 1762, in Donegal, leaving a wife Rebeeea, who died in September, 1764, and the fol- lowing issue :
i. James; m. a daughter of Gordon Howard, of Donegal.
ii. Anna; m. - Defrance, and had James and John, who were in 1776 over fourteen years of age.
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iii. Jean; m. William Watt, and re- moved to North Carolina.
iv. Margaret; m. --- Bowman and re- moved to North Carolina.
v. Sarah.
vi. Rebecca; m. Hugh Caldwell and had Jane.
NOTES AND QUERIES.
Historical, Biographical and Genealogical.
CXCVIL.
EDGELL-Cox. - Rebecca Edgell, widow, of Philadelphia, d. prior to 1743, leaving children :
i. Willlam; m. Sarah -- , who, when a widow, m. John Cox, "of New Castle .county, upon Delaware, physician."
ii. Rebecca; m. John MitHlin.
DEFRANCE .- John Defrance resided in Hummelstown in 1792. Ilis wife at that time was Susanna, widow of -- Spencer. The children by the former marriage were (surname Spencer) :
i. Thomas.
ii. Elizabeth; m. MeKran.
iii. Susanna.
iv. John.
What is known concerning this family, and especially of Elizabeth Spencer Mc- Kean.
JOHNSTON. - Alexander Johnston, of Lower Paxtang township, d. prior to 1793. His brothers werc:
i. James; m. and had :
1. James; residing in West l'ennsboro', Cumberland county, Penn'a.
2. Garrin; m. and had:
1. James.
2. Margaret.
3. Alexander, residing in the county of York, S. C.
iii. Josiah; m. and had:
1. Jane; m. Thomas Orr, residing in Washington county, Territory south of the Ohio.
2. Agnes; residing same place.
3. John; residing same place.
4. Margaret; m. Samuel Shaw, and had Samuel.
JAMES CLUNIE .- In looking over the Notes and Queries of your valuable paper of
February 25th, 1888, a communication re- ferring to Mr. Clunie, saying they did not know who his relations were, was read by me with astonishment, because I know there are a number of persons living in this city now who know all about him. He owned the lot corner of Front and Walnut streets, extending to Mr. Calder's property, and in- cluding all to River avenne. Also ten acres of land located next to Mr. Brua's property, near the old reservoir grounds. Mr. Clnnie and Henry Stewart's mother were brother and sister. The former died September 18, 1793. This land was left by will to Mr. Stewart. The executors of the estate were John Kean, John Downey and Moses Gilmor. The latter afterwards withdrew from the ex- ecutorship for satisfactory reasons. This land was held by the executors until Mr. Stewart came from Ireland in 1812 to take pos- session. He remained in this country during the war of 1812, when he returned to Ireland, but the climate not agreeing with him he came back in 1819 and settled permanently in Harrisburg. He resided on the premises from that time until his death, which oc- enrred October 25th, 1864. Mr. Clunie is buried in llenry Stewart's lot in the ceme- tery. There are but two of Mr. Stewart's family now living-his daughter, who re- sides ou Walnut street. near Front, and James Clunie Stewart, of Des Moines, Iowa.
CONTRIBUTIONS TO PENNSYLVANIA BIOGRAPHY.
Timothy Horsfield, of Bethlehem, Pa.
There are few names more prominent to those whose historical researches lead them into the early history of Northampton county than that of Justice Timothy Horsfield, and his services to the Province, and in the inter- ests of the Moravian Church. His acquaint- ance with the customs of the land, its laws and institutions, his knowledge of the Eng- lish langnage, which was indispensable to intercourse with the magistracy and the neighborhood ; his business experience and habits ; and especially in his official capacity, he was enabled to render eminent services to his Church. In all matters of law, in cases of arbitration, and in the laying out of roads, he was always applied to, and in the church boards that controlled its social concerns, he always had a seat. In the "Records" and "Archives" of the Province of Pennsyl-
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vania, will be found a large number of his letters on matters of the State, and in the Archives of the Moravian Church at Beth- lehem and among his descendants, are many which should be published.
Timothy Ilorsfield was born 25th of April, 1708, in Liverpool, England, and received his education at the Parish school. In 1725, he immigrated to New York, and joined his brother Isaac, who lived on Long Island, with whom he learned the trade of butcher. In 1735, they leased two stands in Old Slip Market, at the corner of Pearl street and Okl Slip, where their business became large and profitable. In 1741, they and other butchers of the city were unfortunate in having several of their slaves put to death for being implicated in the "Great Negro I'lot."
Although a member of the Church of Eng- land, in 1739, when Whitefield visited the Province, he attended his services and be- came impressed with his preaching. During the same year he became acquainted with Peter Bohler and David Nitschmann who had arrived from Georgia, and from this ac- quaintance he dated his connection with the Moravian Church. In 1734, he became a free-holder in the City of New York, his house, which stood near the Brooklyn Ferry, for many years being used by the missionary brethren traveling between Europe and the West Indies.
In October of 1748, he applied to the authorities at Bethlehem for permission to reside there, but owing to his being one of the executors of the estate of Thomas Noble, a prominent merchant of the city, and a mem- ber of the newly organized Moravian congre- gation, as well as being entrusted with the building of the Irene, he was requested to postpone his removal. lle, however, took his children there to be educated in the schools. The year following he removed to Bethlehem, where, excepting a short sojourn at Nazareth, he resided until his death.
On the founding of Northampton County, Timothy Ilorsfield was appointed by Gov- ernor Hamilton, a JJustice of the Peace, his commission bearing date June 9, 1752. In July of 1763, he was commissioned colonel of the forees to be raised in the county for the defense of its frontiers against Indian in- roads. This appointment having excited considerable jealousy, lie soon after resigned it, but he lost his justiceship in consequence, after serving twelve years. 'Squire Horsfield
lived in what was known to the present gen- eration as the Oerter house, which stood on Market street opposite the grave yard.
In March, of 1753, the propriety of open- ing a store for the sale of merchandise in Bethlehem was considered and decided npon by the Church authorities. Thereupon an addition to the building on the west was made, and the Church store opened in it with Joseph Powel as first storekeeper. This was probably the first store in the Forks of the Delaware, and one of the few at that time conducted in the more remote districts of the Provinee. In addition to the rooms occupied by the 'Squire and his family, two were ap- propriated for the use of strangers visiting the town.
We have already stated that Timothy Ilorsfield was an owner of slaves. On his removal to Bethlehem he took two-a man and a woman-with him. The former ealled Joshua in baptism, but better known as "Horsfield's Tony, " was a native of Ibo, Africa, and in his fourteenth year was taken prisoner and sold into slavery. After pass- ing through the hands of several owners, he was finally sold to go to Jamaica. Accom- panying his master to New York, in 1743, he was sold to Timothy Horsfield. In 1750, Tony was baptized by Bishop Cammerhoff, and subsequently sent to Christian's Spring, where the experience he had gained in the Old Slip Market seenred for him the vosi- tion of "butcher-general of the Upper Places. " Horsfield's negress was named Cornelia, born in 1728, at Red Hook, New York, and died at Bethlehem in April, 1757. Timothy Horsfield died 9th of March, 1773, and his remains were followed to the grave. by a large concourse of people from the neighborhood.
In 1731, Timothy Horsfield was married to Mary, daughter of John Doughty, a. prominent butcher of Long Island, and lineal descendant of the Rev. Francis Doughty, who, in 1632, preached the first Presbyterian ser- mon on Manhattan or Long Island. She died 14th of October, 1773.
Of the descendants of Timothy Horsfield, the best known is his son Joseph, born at Bethlehem, November 24th, 1750. He was chosen a delegate to the Pennsylvania convention to ratify the Federal Constitu- tion in 1787, and was one of the signers of the ratification ; and in 1792 was appointed by President Washington the first postmas- ter of Bethlehem. In Deeember of 1783 he
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Historical and Genealogical.
married Elizabeth Benezet, and their chil- dren were Sarah; Elizabeth, married Jacob Wolle; Maria, married John Jacob Kummer, and Daniel. Joseph Horsfield died on the 9th of September, 1834. JOHN W. JORDAN.
NOTES AND QUERIES.
Historical, Biographical and Genealogical.
CXCVIII.
"WHIG AND TORY, or 1, 500 Dollars a Year, " was the title of a political pamphlet published in 1816. Who was the author ? M.
ALLEN .- Timothy Allen, one of the mem- bers of the Chambersburg volunteers, died at the house of Mr. Landis, near Buffalo, New York, Dec. 12, 1812, in the 22d year of his age, and was interred in the German bury- ing ground there with the honors of war. This Timothy Green Allen was from Han- over township, Dauphin county. IFis re- mains were subsequently removed by the late Isaac Moorhead, of Erie, who was related to him, and deposited in the old grave yard in Hanover.
THORNTON - - Matthew Thornton, Hanover township, died April 1786, leaving a wife, Agnes, and children as follows:
of
i. Mary. ii. Agnes [Mary]; m. Jamison, and had Matthew. iii. William. iv. Martha; m. Thompson and had Agnes. Margaret; m. - - Butler.
The executors were John Rodgers and Timothy Green. Information is desired re- lating to the Jamison, Thompson and But- ler families mentioned. HANOVER.
TEMPLETON. - Robert Templeton, of Ilanover, d. in November, 1789; his wife Agnes in February, 1790. Their children were:
i. Jean, m. Robert Henry.
ii. Mary, m. Charles McCoy (?).
iii. Ruth, m. John Johnston. iv, John.
v. Agnes, m. Samuel Stewart, and had Agnes and Mary.
vi. Sarah, m. William Clark.
vi. Barbara, m. Henry McCormick.
viii. Susanna, m. James Ilathorn.
ix. Robert; m. and had William and Robert.
What is known concerning this family. W. A. M.
EARLY EXPERIMENTS IN BURNING COAL IN LOCOMOTIVES.
[The following original papers are of nn- usual interest, and we are confident the read- ers of Notes and Queries will properly ap- preciate them.] The first and second letters were written to Ilon. John Strohm, then chairman of a special committee of the Pennsylvania Senate, on the subject of Burn- ing Coal in Locomotive Engines. The sub- ject was one of vast importance, and these initial proceedings are enjoyable reading. The inquiries were made under the following resolution of the Senate:
"WHEREAS. The use of wood for fuel on the railroads of this Commonwealth is pro- ductive of danger and occasions much ap- prehension to the owners of property through which such railroads pass, which might be avoided by the use of mineral coal; therefore
"Resolved, That the committee on Roads, Bridges and Inland Navigation enquire into the practicability and expediency of using mineral coal exclusively as fuel for locomo- tives on the railroads of this Commonwealth and of prohibiting by law the use of any other fuel for such purpose."
Letter from Hon. S. D. Ingham.
BEAVER MEADOW, 24 Feb., 1838. John Strohm, Esqr. :
DEAR SIR-I have duly received at this place your favor of the 16th inst., request- ing information as to the experience of the Beaver Meadow company in the use of an- thracite coal for raising steam in their loco- motive engines. I will communicate with pleasure any information I possess on the subject. We commenced burning coal in one of our engines about the 1st of Decem- ber, 1836, and since that time in three others. We now use no other fuel except for kindling fire in the morning, a small portion of wood is, however, always carried on the tender. The coal fire will keep up an hour readily during a stoppage, but for a longer delay it
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is expedient to put in a few sticks of wood to keep the fire alive and expedite the igni- tion of the coal when the engine starts again. We have not the slightest difficulty in raising steam or keeping it up. The en- gines are limited to 100 pounds steam on the heavy grades, but their general limit is 90 pounds. Our engines were built by Garrett & Eastwick, of Philadelphia, and the re- pairs are under the direction of Hopkin Thomas, a very skillful machinist, to whom much is due for our entire success in the management of the coal fires. The only in- convenience that has attended the use of coal is the burning of the fire box and melting of the grates. The first is occasioned by im- perfect welding of the piles of which the boi . ler iron is made, which thereby comes from the rollers with partial partings in the middle. These partings cut off the communication of the heat from the fire to the water. hence the iron next to the fire rises in a blister and soon burns through to the parting. The water then finds its way to the melted seams and leaks ont. We have one engine which has been in use with coal more than twelve months without the least appearance of fail- ure in this respect. We had no little ditli- culty with the grates in the commencement, but none have been melted in the last three mouths. altho' three engines have been in constant use since that time. Not a single copper tube has been injured since we com- menced the use of coal.
I have supposed that a particular descrip- tion of the means used to perfect the man- agement of the coal fire was not expected in this communication, but everything known and practised at our works will be cheerfully communicated to any person who will take the trouble to visit them, when not only the facts I have stated can be verified, but sev- eral other matters ascertained which will be very useful to all who are engaged in rail- road transportation. I regret that I cannot give you an accurate statement of the amount of fuel consumed for a given effect, not be- ing prepared for setting apart by weight the coal used on the engines. To determine this faet satisfactorily, the average of several weeks' consumption is indispensable.
I would observe that the apparatus for in- creasing the draught of the chimney is very simple and may easily be attached to any horizontal boiler. I am, with high respect, Your Humble Sv't, S. D. INGHAM.
Letter From Garrett & Eastwick. PHILADA., 1 Mo. 27th, 1838.
Hon. John Strohm:
Respected Friend: Since the interview had with thee by the senior partner of our con- cern, when in this city during the late re- cess of the Legislature, in relation to the use of Anthracite Coal in Locomotive En- gines, we have received a copy of the re- port of the Canal Commissioners in which we find a notice is taken by A. Mehaffy, Agent of Motive power on the Columbia road, & in which we think he has done us great injustice, where he says (page 56) "An experiment was lately made on the road to shew that it (Anthracite Coal) was usefully practicable, but with little success. It was impossible to keep up a fire for any length of time so as to convey a full train without the aid of wood to produce a blaze, " he also says, "much has been said as to the use of this kind of coal by a Southern company (Baltimore & Ohio Rail Road Comp'y, ) but from enquiry on the spot the undersigned is fully of the opinion that the kind of engines there used would neither suit our road in point of performance or cost of repairs." In this opinion we fully concur, as the Balti- more engines are very complicated in their construction and of course expensive to keep in order, and use fifty per cent. more coal than ours in performing the same amount of work, and he (Mehaffy) on his return from the South did us the justice to acknowledge there was no comparison between our engines and those. Notwithstanding the assertion he has made in his report to the Canal Com- missioners, we can prove conclusively that we have frequently passed over the road be- tween Philadelphia and Columbia, taking not only the passenger train, but also with burthen trains heavily laden, and in the usual time, without the use of a particle of wood, "to create a blaze." We believe the truth to be that the Agent above al- luded to, having made up his mind that anthracite coal cannot be used, so as to answer a good purpose in generating steain for locomotives, did not deem the experiments we were making of sufficient importance to claim his attention, as we believe he never took the trouble personally to witness the operation of our engine in burning that fuel, except in company with two of the Canal Commissioners from Parkesburg to Phila- delphia one afteruoon, and from thenee to Lancaster the next day, and on his arrival at
-
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Historical and Genealogical.
the latter place he declared to the Commis - sioners that lie saw it was so easy a matter to burn coal, that it could be burned in any of their engines without alteration, and, in -consequence of this assertion, they directed the experiment to be tried on one of the engines on the road and failed, as one of our firm was informed by John Brandt, chief machinist on the road, who tried it. IIe said they could keep up steam for only four miles, when they were obliged to take out the coal and substitute wood.
After the Canal Commissioners returned to Harrisburg, after having witnessed the . operation of our engine in burning coal, they adopted a resolution (a copy of which we furnish thee) authorizing us to alter one of the engines we made for the State, and to pro- .ceed with our experiments, which we are now doing, and keeping an accurate account .of the coal used, and of the loads drawn with it. The day before yesterday, although the dampness on the rail occasioned consid- erable slipping, we brought 25 loaded cars part of the way from Columbia, and made an average of 16 cars, using 1 ton of coal, and less than } cord of wood for kindling previous to starting, and to perform the :same distance with that load requires at least 3 cords of wood, but such is the opposition on the road to coal, that officers do not seem disposed to go with us and wit- ness it for themselves, and therefore any statement that can as yet be made must rest on our own assertion ; at least as to the par- tieulars. Several very respectable indi- viduals, it is true, have witnessed the opera- tion of burning the coal and can testify that there is no difficulty in burning that fuel, and with it alone, keeping up an abundance .of steam, but they are unable to say what was the load drawn or coal used. In order to remedy these difficulties, and believing that you should have official information on the subject referred to your consideration, "we would suggest whether it might not meet your views to appoint some person who would be competent and disinterested, to pass with us a few times over the road on the engine so as to have an opportunity from his own observation, to make a report to you, and if it should meet your approbation, also for him to visit the Beaver Meadow road and Baltimore, and make his observations there, and report to you a fair statement of the in- formation he may obtain at those places, which are all we have any knowledge of,
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