USA > Pennsylvania > Montgomery County > Norristown > The Centennial celebration of Montgomery County : at Norristown, Pa., September 9,10,11,12, 1884 : an official record of its proceedings > Part 6
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George W. Smith, Norristown. Float with marble cutters at work. H. A. Derr, Norristown. Wagon containing monuments.
Lowe Manufacturing Company, Norristown. Float with speci- mens of their stoves and heaters.
W. S. Richards & Co., Bridgeport. Float with freight elevators. John Stiver, Norristown. Decorated wagon and cart, with work- men carrying digging tools.
S. Gilinger & Bros., Barren Hill. Wagon with terra cotta work.
W. J. Graver & Son, Plymouth. Wagon surmounted by immense tin horn, with four horses, two ridden by knights in armor. P. Curran and P. McGrath. Ornamented liquor wagons. John C. Muller. Ornamented wagon.
D. H. Streeper, Norristown. Perkins' wind-mill on ornamented wagon. Blasius & Sons, Norristown. Ornamented wagon. D. Y. Mowday, Norristown. Wagons loaded with furniture. J. C. Hathaway, Norristown. Ornamented wagon, decorated with shirts. Lansdale Band. Butchers' Association. S. J. Long, Marshal. Jesse B. Davis, Norristown. Wagon containing live sheep. John B. Horn, Bridgeport. Wagon with large screen, decorated with hams, sausages, and tongues. Butchers in silk hats, white shirts, and blue sashes. horseback. 40 men on
S. J. Long, Norristown. Wagon with hides and horns.
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R Scheetz, Norristown. Boys with banners, delivery wagons, and wagon with large transparency bearing his business card. Also similar wagon with six horses, and men on top throwing soap to the crowd. Jerry March and A. Finley, Norristown. Grocers' wagons. John Kneas, Norristown. Wagon with tri-colored cover. A. H. March, George W. Roberts, Joseph Middleton, Norristown. Wagons.
A. Richardson, Norristown. Large wagon filled with little girls. William Rittenhouse, Norristown. Wagon. S. M. Moore, Norristown. Wagon loaded with watermelons. Wagons from North Wales Marble Works. Philip Quillman, Norristown. Wagon with German Band. Floats with fine china and Lucas' paints, driven by men in three- cornered hats. Also a float with Quaker gun and soldiers in Continental uniforms.
W. H. Kneas, Norristown. Coal cart, with large shield bearing his name. Hatboro Band.
E. Neal, Jarrettown. Six large wagons, one with a transparency inscribed, "Our motto is unity with our sister counties in
the advancement of skill in labor." Another was driven by a masked demon, and had a model of a hay wagon on top. Roxborough Carriage Works. Carriages on floats.
Moore & Rose, Norristown. Webster wagon, on top of which was a carriage containing a gaily dressed colored lady.
M. S. Freeman, Norristown. Domestic sewing machines, one with an orguinette attached.
Singer Manufacturing Co. Six teams. Drop cabinet in operation. Wagon with three machines run by little girls. Milk Dealers' Association. Decorated wagons. Coal Dealers. Carts gaily decorated, filled with workmen.
Prof. Dill's Balm of Life wagon, with red tent and blue banners.
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CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.
THE INDIAN CHILDREN.
A feature of great interest in the parade was the delegation of Indian children, from the In- dian Department of the Lincoln Institute, of Philadelphia. They occupied open convey- ances in the procession. They were in charge of Mrs. J. Bellangee Coxe and their chaplain, Rev. J. L. Miller, and were received and cared for during their stay by David Schall. After the parade they were taken to the tents in the court house yard, where they received their din- ner, after which they sang several choruses.
At this point, Col. Theo. W. Bean, on be- half of the Centennial Association, addressed them as follows :
ADDRESS.
Children of Chieftains and Warriors-In the name of the good people of Montgomery county, we cordially welcome you and the Christian phi- lanthropists who have you in charge, to the me- morial festivities of our centennial celebration. We recognize in you the descendants of the race who once were the proud possessors of the ground we now occupy, and honorably and peaceably acquired of them by William Penn, the founder of our great Commonwealth. Two hundred years and more have elapsed since
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Christian civilization confronted your forefathers in the Schuylkill valley. Your hunting grounds have been turned into wide areas of agricultural wealth and commercial splendor, and the rude implements of their simple mode of living· are now here on exhibition as antique curiosities. Back to the Alleghenies, across the Father of Waters, over and beyond the Rocky Mountains, your race has receded, and from the plains and forests of the Pacific slope you have been gath- ered as the children of lost tribes, in the hope of saving the remnant of a people whose origin is still a psychological mystery, and whose honor is vouched for by Acrelius, Penn, Logan, Hecke- welder, Gordon, and Weiser. Children, you are the hopeful wards of humane men and women. We first learned of your presence in our midst through the efforts of Mrs. Coxe, who is in at- tendance upon you to-day. Our people have been delighted with the thought and reality of having you as our guests, and hope you will im- prove the advantages of training in store for you. And when you have grown to well in- formed man and womanhood, we trust you will carry with you to your far Western homes the potent agencies of a liberal Christian civiliza- tion ; that you will all become active factors for the redemption of your tribes and race; that you will become good husbandmen, industrious
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artisans, devoted teachers, peaceful men and women. Then will you have descendants who will some future day memorialize your inscruta- ble past in picture and story, and worthily lead you in sharing the blessing of peace and pros- perity, the heritage of all in our country.
Rev. Joseph L. Miller, chaplain of the insti- tution, responded to the address, on behalf of the visitors, in a short speech.
FOURTH DAY.
The Antiquarian Exposition was the only feature on the concluding day of the county's centennial festival. The attendance was very large. Visitors from every district in the county, as well as from the city of Philadelphia and sur- rounding counties, thronged the space devoted to the display.
The interest manifested in the inspection of the rare, curious, antique, valuable and artistic objects, was earnest and absorbing, and most gratifying to all concerned.
During the day a request was made that the exposition be kept open from one to three days longer. It was urged that the popular appre- ciation of the beauty, variety and completeness of the display was now at its height, and that by closing on this day many persons would be de- prived of the enjoyments and benefits of exam- ing the exhibition. The managers of the cele- bration, regarding this as a proof of the perfect
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success of their undertaking, and an indisputa- ble vindication of the propriety and patriotism of the observance of the centenary anniversary, felt disposed to acquiesce; but upon a careful consideration of the subject, it was found im- practicable to extend the exhibition beyond the limit originally fixed.
THE ANTIQUARIAN EXPOSITION.
The Antiquarian Exposition, which was open during the four days of the centennial celebra- tion, was attended by about fifteen thousand persons. It was held, as has been stated, in the Court House rooms, and in a tent, erected as an annex, in the Court House yard. The arti- cles sent for exhibition were appropriate in se- lection and endless in variety. Their number was far in excess of the space available and pre- pared for their display; yet under the able management and sound judgment of the com- mittees, such disposition was made of them as gave general satisfaction to the exhibitors and unbounded pleasure to the visitors.
The character of the exhibits was thoroughly representative. Every era in our history, every nationality rooted within our borders, every de- nomination which has here enjoyed religious free- dom, contributed objects select and typical. Most of the prominent families identified with the progress of this region, from the time of the pio-
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neer settlers, down to the present day, sent their Bibles and books, treasured heirlooms, works of art and antiquity-their Lares and Penates- symbols of refinement and taste-evidences of reverential regard for the men and things of the Past.
The Exposition will unquestionably yield a beneficial influence upon our people. It will stimulate a taste for the artistic and the beauti- ful, for the preservation of antiquities, and for the prosecution of historical research. It afford- ed the first opportunity to the inhabitants of our county, to realize how general is the love for that which is superior to the merely practical, and how widely diffused is the appreciation of that which appeals to the higher sensibilities. It will leave a permanent impress for good.
The following is a classified list of exhibits, with an alphabetically arranged list of exhibitors. To many of the articles are appended notes, fur- nished generally by the owners, respecting the history of the exhibits, which will be found of much interest now, and of great value in the future.
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LIST OF EXHIBITS.
COMPILED BY HENRY S. DOTTERER.
CLASS I. Indian Relics and Antiquities.
ABRAHAM, JOSEPH, Abrams.
Fifty Arrow-heads, found by exhibitor on the supposed site of a Lenni-Lenape village, near the junction of Elliott's run and the Schuylkill river.
AMBLER, JOSEPH E., Ambler.
Indian Riding Whip and Mocassins, presented to exhibitor by Indians on the reservation of the Iowa tribe and the Sac and Fox.
ANDERS, AMOS S., Norritonville.
Indian Arrow-heads.
ANDERSON, M. P., Trappe.
Indian Relics. ATKINSON, F. C., Norristown.
Indian Axe, found in Plymouth township.
BATES, CORNELIUS, Jenkintown.
Two Stone Axes, found in Montgomery county. Twenty-eight Stone Hatchets.
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BLACKFAN, MRS. JOSEPH, Norristown.
Indian Tomahawk, found on a farm in Farmingdale, Mon- mouth county, New Jersey.
BOORSE, ELLA R., Kulpsville. Indian Basket.
BOORSE, JOHN C., Kulpsville.
Indian Axe.
BUCK, WILLIAM J., Jenkintown.
Iron Tomahawk, from an Indian grave in Moreland, in 1855. Supposed to be of Dutch or Swedish make, some time before Penn's arrival.
Twenty-nine Indian Darts, found in Montgomery county be- tween 1842 and 1880.
CHILDS, S. POWELL, Plymouth.
Indian Relics.
CONROW, MRS. GEORGE E. B., Norristown.
One Mexican Indian Pepper Grinder, and one Mexican In- dian Dish. Both made by the natives.
CORSON, MISS GEORGIE, Norristown.
Indian Arrow-heads, found on the banks of the Susquehanna. Cox, MRS. CHARLES, Ambler.
Splint Basket, made by Indians. 100 years old.
DALTON, JOHN, Abrams.
Indian Axe, plowed from the farm in 1883.
DETWILER, JONES, Blue Bell.
Arrow Points, Tomahawks, Skinning Stones, Hoes, Sling Stones, Rubbers, and Whetstones. 164 pieces.
ELKINTON, PAUL P., Blue Bell.
Indian Axe-head and Arrow-heads, found on the farm near Blue Bell.
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MONTGOMERY COUNTY
FITZGERALD, JESSE O., Horsham.
Collection of sixty-eight Indian Relics, found on the farm of James W. Iredell, in Horsham township, between the years 1874 and 1884. This farm of seventy-five acres was formerly owned by the Lukens family. It is near the head-waters of the creek bear- ing the Indian name Pemmapeeka, which passes through it. On the adjoining farm, formerly of Isaac Lukens, now of Harris Web- ster, is a spring called the Indian spring. Tradition asserts that the Indians in former times encamped in this vicinity. GRIMLEY, SOLOMON K., Schwenksville.
Large Indian Axe, found by Daniel Pennypacker in 1870. Indian Stone Tomahawk, found by R. Hartzell in 1856.
Large Indian Stone Bullet, found by F. S. Schwenk in 1882. Indian Stone Billy, found by F. S. Schwenk in 1881. Small Indian Stone Bullet, found by F. S. Schwenk in 1883.
Twenty Indian Arrow-heads, by Ross Clinton, S. K. Grim- ley, Jr., and F. S. Schwenk, from 1840 to 1884.
HALLMAN, WILSON, Skippack.
Indian Axe, found imbedded in sand on the banks of Skip- pack creek.
HAMEL, WILLIAM, Shoemakertown. Indian Relic.
HECKLER, JAMES Y., Harleysville.
Indian Arrows and Fossils.
HEEBNER, MRS. C. B., Collegeville. Indian Spears.
HENDRICKS, JOHN, AND WILLIAM McGOWAN, Mont Clare.
Indian Darts, found August 18, 1884, in a post-hole, on the farm of Mrs. Gertrude Thompson.
HOOT, SIMON F., Ironbridge.
Indian Axe, found on Fry's estate, Bucks county.
JACOBS, HARRY, Frederick.
Indian Arrow-head.
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CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.
JACOBS, JOHN, Frederick.
Indian Battle-Axe, in excellent state of preservation.
JONES, HENRY, Ambler.
Indian Curiosities and Relics, obtained in 1870 on the reser- vation of the Iowa tribe and Sac and Fox.
KETTARAR, ROMAN, Somerton. Two Indian Jugs. Indian Tomahawk.
KRIEBLE, JESSE S., Worcester. Arrow-heads, found in the fields.
KRIEBLE, SEPTIMUS A., Kulpsville. Indian Arrow-heads. LOWE, MRS. T. S. C., Norristown.
War Club and Hatchet of Oneida Indians. Indian Hatchet. Two Indian Smoking Pipes. Indian Wooden Pipe Stem. McGOWAN, WILLIAM, Mont Clare. See Hendricks, John.
MANN, CHARLES S. AND ALBERT, Horsham.
Two hundred and fifty-eight Indian Relics-principally Ar- row-heads and a few Knives and Spear-heads-neatly arranged in the shape of stars and darts, and placed in two frames.
MANN, JESSE, Pittville.
Indian Stone Shovel and Indian Relics. Indian Canoe, made of birch bark.
MARKLEY FREUNDSCHAFT, THE
Tomahawk. Belongs to Augustus G. Markley, Collegeville. METZ, JACOB B., Norritonville.
Indian Axe, 42 inches long by 23 inches wide, found in Nor- riton some years ago.
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NICE, ROBERT, Branchtown.
Indian Stone Pestle, for grinding corn. NYCE, GEORGE S., Frederick.
Indian Battle Axe.
PETERMAN, FREDERICK, Collegeville.
Indian Axe of stone, found on the Philadelphia and Reading railroad, above Flat Rock tunnel, in the cleft of a rock.
A stone Arrow-head.
RALSTON, MRS. J. G., Norristown.
Five pieces Indian Pottery from Mexico-two Pitchers and three Bowls, part of the large collection of the late Dr. J. G. Ral- ston. Two of the Bowls are the work of the Pueblo Indians ; one Bowl is of dark soapstone. The Pitchers are of a micaceous clay.
RAMBO, FRANK L., Trappe. Indian Axe.
REED, DR. W. H., Jeffersonville.
Arrow-heads, collected in Norriton.
RITCHIE, E. S., Hatboro.
Indian Axe, found on a farm in Upper Moreland.
ROBERTS, SEPTIMUS, Whitpain.
Indian Hammer.
ROSSITER, MRS. ANNA, Blue Bell.
Indian Tomahawk, stone. Flint and Arrow-point.
SCHILDT, CHARLES, Worcester. Indian Axe and Relics. SCHULTZ, AMOS, Niantic. Five Indian Arrow-heads.
SHAMBOUGH, JACKSON, Collegeville. Indian Hatchet and Arrow-heads.
SHAY, ELIZABETH Y., Three Tuns.
Indian Axe, found on exhibitor's farm in 1864.
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SHEPHERD, ISAAC, Plymouth Meeting.
Axe, made and used by the Indians.
SLIFER, DR. H. F., North Wales.
Lot of Indian Spears, Indian Arrows and Quiver, a Pipe, two Axes, an Indian Mill, a Cap, and Ear-ring.
SNYDER, JOHN H., Kulpsville. Indian Necklace, worn by a Pawnee squaw. STANNARD, E. J., Broad Axe. Pestle, made and used by the Indians.
STOUT, ANN, Edge Hill Village. Indian Relic.
SUPPLEE, MISS KATE, Conshohocken. Two Indian Arrow-heads.
TRUMBAUER, J. B., Jenkintown. Indian Maize Hammer.
TYSON, BENJAMIN F., Worcester.
Indian Mortar of stone, for grinding corn.
TYSON, SAMUEL, King-of-Prussia.
Three Indian Pestles, found at Burlington, N. J. Three Indian Axes ; one found at Norristown, the other two at Burlington, N. J.
WALKER, HOWARD, Mont Clare. Indian Hatchet.
WANGER, GEO. F. PRICE, Norristown. Four Indian Axes.
WEBER, GEORGE M., Worcester.
Arrow-heads and other Indian Relics, picked up in Worces- ter township.
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MONTGOMERY COUNTY
YEAKLE, DANIEL, Chestnut Hill.
Indian Missiles, found on Daniel Yeakle's farm and there- abouts.
ZIMMERMAN, MRS. J. M., Yerkes.
Collection of Indian Relics.
CLASS II.
Antiquities of the First Settlers and Early Pur- chasers.
BATCHELDER, MEREDITH, Norristown.
Looking-Glass, brought from Germany in 1746 by Nicholas Rittenhouse.
BOORSE, JOHN C., Kulpsville.
Nine grains of Rye, found in the plastering of the chimney of a house built by William Tennis in 1733.
Ink Jug of the great-great-grandfather of exhibitor.
COPE, O. W., Hatboro. 6
Old style Window Pane, brought from England in 1720, the glass set in leaden frames, from a house still standing in Bucks county.
EASTBURN, ANNIE, Bridgeport.
Coat-of-Arms; came over in a vessel with William Penn. Property of John Eastburn, Surveyor General to the Proprietary.
ERB, MAHLON, Kulpsville.
Lock and Key, brought over in 1734 by David Seibt, one of the Schwenkfelder immigrants, who was the great-grandfather of the exhibitor's mother. David Seibt (now written Seipt) died in 1765, in Towamencin township, on the farm now owned by Lewis Hakel.
Small Sheep Shears, brought over by the Heydrich family, who were of the Schwenkfelders who came in 1734.
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CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.
FITZWATER, MRS. JOSEPH, Port Providence.
Seal, bearing date 1699, supposed to have belonged to Wil- liam Penn.
FRYER, HENRY S., Skippack.
Arm-Chair, brought from Germany by Michael Ziegler ; traced back two hundred years.
Pruning Knife, brought from Germany by Henry Fryer ; 165 years old.
Bread and Cake Basket, brought from Germany in 1719 by Henry Fryer.
GRIMLEY, SOLOMON K., Schwenksville.
Tiles of Heinrich Pfännebäcker, 1730.
Piece of an Antler, taken out of an Indian cave, about 1784, by Solomon Grimley, who settled here in 1751.
JONES, MRS. EDWARD PRICE, Norristown.
China Bowl (mended), brought from Wales in 1684 by Hugh Roberts ; now belongs to his descendant, the exhibitor.
KRIEBLE, ABRAHAM K., Kulpsville.
Flax, raised in Silesia; brought by the Schwenkfelders one hundred and fifty years ago.
WANGER, GEO. F. PRICE, Norristown.
Scales and Weights, brought from Germany by Heinrich Wanger, founder of the Wanger family in Montgomery county. Inscription on case : Properly adjusted Scales and Weights, Mas- ter-maker Jacob Freckenberge, Scale-Maker, Underhelm, 1742.
WOLFE, DR. SAMUEL, Skippack.
Button-Hole Hatchet, brought over by the Schwenkfelders in 1734, and since then in possession of the Seipt family.
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MONTGOMERY COUNTY
CLASS III.
Relics and Records of the Colonial Period.
BOORSE, JOHN C., Kulpsville.
Naturalization Papers, with names, 1743.
COPE, O. W., Hatboro.
Square Tile from the Park House, erected and formerly oc- cupied by Sir William Keith, Deputy Governor of Pennsylvania, appointed by William Penn. This Tile, brought from England in 1717, was one of several around the large open fire-place.
RALSTON, MRS. J. G., Norristown.
Commission from Hon. James Hamilton to Richard Peters, Esq., 1746.
TAYLOR, JOHN, Lower Merion.
Collection of Charters of Pennsylvania, viz. : Royal Charter of William Penn, from Charles II.
First Frame of Government, granted 1682. Act of Settlement made at Chester, 1682. Second Frame of Government, granted 1683. Charter of the City of Philadelphia, October 25, 1701. New Charter to the Province, October 27, 1701.
Draft of Bill, dated Philadelphia, April 14, 1778, declaring the intentions of the Parliament of Great Britain concerning the imposing of taxes within His Majesty's Dominions in North America.
WANGER, GEO. F. PRICE, Norristown.
Volume of Pennsylvania Chronicle for the year 1767. Con- tains an advertisement of sale of 13,000 acres of land in Fauquier county, Virginia, estate of George Carter, deceased, signed Rob- ert Burwell, George Washington and Fielding Lewis, Trustees.
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The following notice from John Potts, founder of Pottstown, appears in this volume :
To the FREEHOLDERS and others, Electors for the City and County of Philadelphia :
Gentlemen-I return you my sincere and hearty Thanks for the Mark of your Esteem in choosing me one of your Representa- tives at the last Election ; but as my present Indisposition ren- ders my Attendance at the House impossible, I beg you will choose some other Person at the coming Election, in my stead.
I am respectfully yours, JOHN POTTS.
A notice from the ladies also appears, that they "will neither wear Ribbons or Jewelry or drink Tea which has to be purchased from England." The editor, commenting on this, says : "How agreeable will they appear in their native Beauty, stript of their Ornaments, from the prevailing motive of Love to their Coun- try."
ZIEGLER, ELMER R., Kulpsville.
Bullet, found by Rev. Samuel Hamil, one of the participants in the battle of Great Meadows, in Allegheny county, in 1754, and given to his son, Rev. Samuel Hamil, born on Main street, Norristown.
CLASS IV.
Relics of the Revolutionary War.
BATES, CORNELIUS, Jenkintown.
Revolutionary Pistol and Small Pistol.
Two Cannon Balls, found on Edge and Camp Hills, supposed to be Revolutionary.
BLACKFAN, MRS. JOSEPH, Norristown.
Coat, worn in the battle of Brandywine, 1777, in the Revo- lutionary war.
Pitcher, used by General Washington while in the battle of Germantown.
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CARR, MRS. E., Fort Washington.
Cannon Ball, from ner the camp at Fort Washington.
CASSEL, ISAAC R., North Wales.
Knife, belonging to an English officer during the Revolution. COPE, O. W., Hatboro.
Looking-Glass, with markings with a diamond ring on the face, done by a British officer during the Revolution, in honor of the pretty daughters of the hostess at the house at which he was stopping, in Bristol, Bucks county.
Cannon Ball, from the battle of Germantown.
Gold Watch, which belonged to Lafayette, and was carried by him during the Revolution. General Lafayette gave this watch to General Smith, of Maryland, who in turn sold it to the grandfather of its present owner, John Van Pelt, of Hatboro.
CRAWFORD, MRS. V. VIRGINIA, Bryn Mawr.
Certificate to Outh of Allegiance, taken by William Crawford, to the State of Pennsylvania, in 1777.
CURWEN, GEORGE F., Villa Nova. Congress Chair, 1776.
DAVIS, JESSE B., Norristown.
Sword of the. Revolutionary war, used by Captain James Shannon.
DETWILER, JONES, Blue Bell.
Statement of the accounts of Col. George Smith, a sub-lieu- tenant of Philadelphia county, in which is exhibited, for the in- formation of the public, the amount of fines received and account- ed for by him, between March, 1777, and April, 1780. This pam- phlet contains the names of the enrolled militia, and the amount that each individual paid for non-performance of militia duty in the townships of Plymouth, Whitpain, Providence, Norrington, Whitemarsh, Gwynedd, and Worcester.
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Oath of Allegiance, dated May 30, 1778, of Christian Loeser, of Whitpain township, before Seth Owen.
Continental Certificate, to William Long, for one cow, sold to the government for $1,100 ; dated June 9, 1780.
Continental Certificate, to Elias Rosenberry, for one red heifer, two years old, for $667; dated June 15, 1780.
Return of Whiskey, used by the Third Picket Guard, Octo- ber 17, 1781, amounting to twenty-two gills.
Return of Whiskey, used by the First Picket Guard, under the care of James Irvine, Captain, at Newtown, Bucks county, for twenty-two gills ; dated October 7, 1781.
DISMANT, AMOS, Royersford.
Cannon Ball of 1777.
ECKARD, JAMES READ, Abington.
A Musket and Sword, which crossed the Delaware with Washington's army.
EMERY, PETER, Norristown.
Two Pewter Plates, lettered on the rim "Margreth Beiten- mannen, 1773." One of these plates was used in camp at Valley Forge by John Emmerich, a Revolutionary soldier in the com- pany of Captain Richards, of New Hanover. John Emmerich and Margaret Beiteman were married in 1773, and were the grandparents of the exhibitor.
Pewter Plate, captured from a Hessian soldier at German- town.
FITZWATER, JOSEPH, Port Providence.
Cannon Ball, found in Montgomery county, opposite Valley Forge.
Bayonet, found on Washington's camp ground, Valley Forge. FORNANCE, MRS. ELLEN KNOX, Norristown.
Commission of Captain Thomas Rice, of the Third Company of Artillery, 1783.
Oath of Allegiance of Captain Thomas Rice, dated July 1, 1777.
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MONTGOMERY COUNTY
A Door. This door is from the house formerly occupied by Captain Andrew Knox, two miles from Norristown, at which he stood alone, and with a broad-sword defended himself against eight armed Tories, sent by the British army to take him. Their determination to accomplish their object, and the desperate man- ner in which the Captain defended himself, is to be seen from the bullet holes in the door, as well as the impression of the butt end of the musket and marks of the bayonet. In 1777-'78, when General Washington with his army lay at Valley Forge. the Gen- eral commissioned Captain Knox to cut off the supplies of the British army, which then occupied Philadelphia. So well did the Captain discharge his duty, that the enemy offered fourteen hundred pounds sterling for his person, and thirty armed men were dispatched from the army to take him and two other officers. Eight of the number arrived at his dwelling at midnight, and commanded him to surrender. He refused, and meeting them at this door with his broad-sword, used it so freely on their heads as they attempted to enter, as to compel them to retreat, after se- verely wounding him. All of their number were more or less wounded ; two of them so severely cut as to be taken next day, having been tracked by their blood on the snow, and found con- cealed a short distance from Norristown. Both were hung at Centre Square, four miles northeast of Norristown. General Washington and his officers, with Benjamin Franklin, visited Captain Knox after the contest, complimented him for his bra- very, and examined and handled this door. The house to which it belonged was built about 1730, by David Knox, the first of the Knox family in America. It remained in possession of the de- scendants until a few years ago, when it was sold and torn down. The door was preserved by the late Colonel Thomas P. Knox.
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