USA > Pennsylvania > The Pennsylvania-German in the Revolutionary War, 1775-1783 > Part 26
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The business relations of Nutt and Branson not prov- ing entirely satisfactory, the former arranged for the erec- tion of a second and near-by furnace, afterwards known by the name " Warwick." Both parties, however, appear to have retained some interest in the two furnaces.
Mr. Branson died in 1760, leaving his furnace prop- erty to his grandchildren. The interest of all these heirs was purchased by Rutter & Potts, then of the Warwick Furnace, by several conveyances in the years 1778 to 1783.
While it is true that the active managers and operators
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of these furnaces were of English birth, yet their history is not disconnected from that of the Pennsylvania-Ger- mans, and the especial point of interest to us, in this record, lies in the fact that, during the year 1777, at least, and possibly throughout the war, the grandchildren of William Branson were part owners. Of these, five were the children of his daughter Mary, who married Dr. Bernard Van Leer (known as "the centenarian "), an educated physician of pure German blood, from Isen- burg in Rhenish Prussia.
Cannon and cannon-balls were not the only things needed to carry on the war. More difficult to obtain than most of the munitions of war was gunpowder. On Feb- ruary 7, 1776, Thomas Heimberger, a powder-maker, engaged to erect a mill in Chester county, about thirty- three miles from Philadelphia and a few miles from Yellow Springs, on a never-failing stream, provided the Committee on Safety would advance him one hundred and fifty pounds, and keep him employed for one year. On June 3, 1776, John Ladd Howell reported to the committee, respecting these works, as follows:
"Thomas Heinberger's Powder Mill on a Creek which cuupties into French Creek, about five miles above the aforesaid Mill & two miles from Young's Forge, 36 ft. X 30 ft. Water Wheel, 16 ft. Diameter, over Shot.
"Two Shafts, 22 fr. Length, to work 18 Stampers, each 9 ft. Long, 472 Inches Square. Two Mortar Trees, 20 ft. Long, 9 Mortars, each of 12 Inches by 9, & 16 Inches Depth.
"One Drying House, 18 ft. by 20 ft., the Mill not floor'd, nor the Drying Honse Plaster'd, expects to begin Work in Ten Days. His Dwelling House not being yet in hand I cannot think he will begin so soon; he has re-
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ceived one Ton of Salt Petre but no Sulphur; has not began to build a refining House, what Salt Petre he has rec'd he refines in this City; he expects to make half a Ton of Powder ( Week."
Although the number of Germans who settled in Chester county was limited, and we may, therefore, hardly hope to find a record of many who were millers, and who produced the flour itself; yet we have the name of one who was, to a considerable extent, instrumental in the erection of these mills.
Zachary Rice (Reys or Reiss) came to this country from Germany about 1755, and settled on the Pickering Creek, near Pikeland Station. He was a mill-wright by trade. His first work of importance was the building of a mill for the separation of clover seed, which, without its machinery, was recently standing and used as a store- house. A number of other mills followed after.
In 1757 he married Maria Appolonia Hartman, living in the vicinity. Their children were taught the same trade as the father.
As a carpenter he assisted in the erection of the hos- pital at the Yellow Springs in Pikeland, for the sick and wounded soldiers of 1776. While on visits of mercy to this place, carrying food and delicacies to its inmates, Mrs. Rice contracted the typhus fever, from the effects of which she never fully recovered.
MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
While not so largely occupied in producing material for the army, yet, because of its location, if nothing else, the old Valley Forge is sufficiently interesting to be worthy of mention. It was called "Mount Joy" by its first owners, when built about 1750. It stood on the lower (east) side of Valley Creek.
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The works were purchased by John Potts, in 1757, and by him much improved. It was supplied with pig iron from the Warwick Furnace, which, when converted into bar iron, was hauled by team to Philadelphia. On May 10, 1768, the property was conveyed to Joseph, a son of Jolin Potts, Sr., and embraced, "All that Iron Forge, called or known by the name of the Mount Joy Forge, saw-mill & grist-mill, and 3 tracts or parcels of land, thereunto belonging, one of them whereon the said forge and mills stand situate in Upper Merion Township, in the County of Philadelphia, it being part of the reputed Manor of Mount Joy." This, doubtless, embraced the building later used by Washington as his headquarters.
The grist mill was the scene of an exciting episode, shortly after the battle of Brandywine, when Alexander Hamilton, then a lieutenant-colonel, accompanied by Cap- tain Lee ("Light Horse Harry"), came in haste, with a small party from the latter's troop, to destroy the stores of grain and flour, and, being hotly pressed by the British, barely escaped. The mill was burned down, in the spring of 1843, by a spark from a locomotive on the railroad.
In 1773 Joseph Potts, had conveyed to William Dewees an undivided moiety of Mount Joy Forge, and, as early as 1771, the latter appears to have resided at the mansion house belonging to these iron works, and to have aided in operating them. The Dewees family came to German- town about the same time as Pastorius.
As the British army occupied that section, after their victory at Brandywine, they destroyed the old Valley Forge. We are told that a party of them entered the Dewees mansion for plunder, but Mrs. Dewees saved her valuables by gathering them together in one room and
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informing the soldiers that they could only enter over her dead body.
Prominent among the Pennsylvania-Germans, who were actively engaged in looking out for the needs of the army, was David Rittenhouse, the celebrated astronomer. Be- cause of his mathematical knowledge he was sent to survey the shores of the Delaware, to ascertain what points it would be best to fortify in order to prevent a landing of the enemy. The Committee of Safety appointed him their engineer in October, 1775, and, in this capacity, he was called upon to arrange for casting cannon of iron and brass, to view a site for the erection of a continental powder mill, to conduct experiments for rifling cannon and muskets, to fix upon a method of fastening chain for the protection of the river, to superintend the manu- facture of saltpeter, and to locate a magazine for mili- tary stores on the Wissahickon.
A full account has already been given of the splendid work done by Christopher Ludwig, the Pennsylvania- German Baker-general, in supplying the army with bread, during its campaign of 1777 in Montgomery county, and at Valley Forge, when Congress furnished him with suffi- cient flour to enable him to do so.
At and near Sumneytown a large number of mills were in existence, propelled by the waters of the Perkiomen river, Swamp creek, and Valley creek. Besides those for the making of flour, the manufacture of gunpowder was an important industry. It is said that a man, by the name of Fitzinger, first worked in powder at this place, about the year 1777, for the American army. Jacob Dast erected another powder-mill in 1780. It is probable that this was operated by Lorentz Jacoby, whose family records state that George Laurence Jacoby, commonly
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known by the name of Lorentz Jacoby, established the business in 1780. However this may be, the business was carried on by him successfully and developed to large proportions. He was born, in Germany, January 5, 1756, and died April 8, 1826.
Another most interesting and valaable mill was that commonly known as " Pennypacker's Mills," where the American army encamped on several occasions. It stands on the Perkiomen creek at the head of Skippack Road, and was originally named " Pawling's Mill," after John Pawling, its first owner. It passed over to his son, Henry Pawling, Jr., and, later, to Peter Pannebecker, who came there in 1747 and added a fulling mill to the grist mill. It then became "Pennypacker's Mills," and, as such, famous in our history. During the Revolution it was owned by Peter's son, Samuel. It is now in che possession of Samuel W. Pennypacker.
In December, 1777, the British general made a for- ward movement from Philadelphia, intending to attack Washington. The result was the battle of Edge Hill. During this maraud we are told the Hessians committed great outrages on the inhabitants, particularly at John Shoemaker's. He was a well-to-do farmer and miller, whose home and grist mill was beside the York road, near the present town of Ogontz.
The Dewees mill, on the Wissahickon, was built long before the Revolution. The first owner, after Farmar, was Peter Robeson, then his son, Jonathan Robeson, after whom it passed into the hands of the Dewees family who were its owners during the war.
On the Sandy Run, the largest tributary of the Wis- sahickon, is the mill built, in 1769, by Henry Scheetz, for a paper mill, and operated as such until comparatively
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recent tinics. He erected an addition to it, shortly after- wards, for grinding grist and doing general country work, for which purpose both buildings are now used. The Scheetz family is descended from Dr. Johann Jacob Schut (Scheetz), a native of Crefeld, Germany, and one of the original purchasers from the Frankford Company that settled Germantown. He never came to America, but his son Henry emigrated and went, first, to German- town, then, later, settled in Whitemarsh township of Montgomery county.
There were three or four historic mills in Towamencin township. The present Kriebel mill, on the Skippack, formerly known as "Godshalk's," was in existence in 1767. The Kooker mill, on the Towamencin, was built before the Revolution, at which time it was owned by Johannes Springer. In 1776 Christopher Reinwalt had a mill, which stood near the locality of the later Ander's mill, a couple miles above the Kooker mill.
Among the mills near Philadelphia, which suffered greatly from the depredations of the British, was that of the Pennsylvania-German Paul family. In 1780 Robert Paul owned a mill near Huntingdon Valley of Abington township, and, in the same year, Andrew Keyser operated a mill on the Tacony creek, near Abington Station, recently the property of Daniel R. Rice.
Shoemaker's mill, called a " corn-grist water-mill " was built in 1746, at Shoemakertown, in Cheltenham township, and remained in the family until April 1, 1847.
On April 20, 1734, Joseph Groff (or Graff) obtained a patent for 200 acres of land, on the west side of Perki- omen creek, in Frederick township, upon which he erected a grist mill.
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About 1735 Henry Antes erected a grist mill on his property in Frederick township, on Swamp creek.
In 1785 Frederick township had five grist mills within its limits, among them being Bertolet's mill, which suc- ceeded Antes' mill but stood further down the stream.
The first grist mill on the Upper Perkiomen, in Upper Hanover township, was that of George Groner, on Macoby creek, who, on February 6, 1739, sold it to Frederick Hillegas.
The assessment of 1776, for Upper Salford township, shows that Jolin Bergy owned 180 acres and a grist and saw mill; Jacob Graff, at Perkiomenville, 200 acres and a fulling mill; Ludwig Moyer, 50 acres and a grist mill; George Moyer, 50 acres and a grist and saw mill; Henry Deetz, 125 acres and a grist and saw mill; Jacob Kulp, 88 acres and a fulling mill.
In 1785 five grist mills are mentioned for Whitemarsh township.
Besides those already mentioned was Wertzner's mill, on Morris Road; Detwiler's, on the Wissahickon; several grist mills and a fulling niill on the Tacony, in Chelten- ham; and several grist mills in Moreland township.
Even these constitute barely one half of the Pennsyl- vania-German grist and chopping mills which dotted, on every hand, the many streanis of Montgomery county.
To transport the vast supplies which were received from these mills, and other sources, necessitated many vehicles. On the list of wagons ordered by Council, July 31, 1777: we find given 400 for Philadelphia county, all of which, without question, were received from what is now Mont- goniery county.
The teams of Col. Frederick Antes and Samuel Bertolet made constant trips to Valley Forge during the winter of
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1777-1778, with such supplies as could be gathered in the community.
Many private teams were pressed into service. A family record, which has been preserved, is that of George Anders, a member of the Schwenkfelder sect, and his neighbor, Abraham Kriebel, whose fine horses, and a handsome new wagon, were confiscated for the use of the army. Fearing his pet animals might not be properly cared for, Anders sent his son, Abraham, a boy of eight- een, with them, as driver. After serving a while, and gaining the confidence of his officers, he was, at times, sent long distances for various commodities. On one of these occasions he attempted to escape, but was captured and brought back. To escape punishment he pleaded having lost his way, and, because of his youth, was for- given. He continued to serve, with his team, until the operations of the army were transferred to other states.
In 1780 the records show that a call was made on Philadelphia county, which again meant our present Mont- gomery county, for 200 barrels of flour monthly, 1,000 bushels of oats, 20 wagons, 280 horses and 550 men.
BERKS COUNTY.
Among the furnaces of Berks county, which were operated by Pennsylvania-Germans during the Revolution, was the "Oley Furnace," on the Furnace creek, a branch of the Little Manatawney, in Olcy township, a short distance north of Fricdensburg. It was probably built by Dietrich Welcker, an iron-master of Skippack, about 1765. Becoming involved pecuniarily the property passed to Daniel Udree, who carried it on in connection with the Rockland Forges, located several miles to the north-
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east, till his death in 1828. It was recently owned by the Clymer Iron Co.
The Berkshire Furnace was situated on a branch of Spring creek, in Lower Heidelberg township, about two miles southwest from Wernersville. It was erected by William Bird, about 1760, and then called " Roxborough." From 1774, and during the Revolution, George Ege carried it on under a Jease from Mr. Bird's widow, and, about 1790, purchased it, but abandoned it several years later. Many cannon-balls and shells were made here for the government. From an account, rendered by Mr. Ege, April 3, 1783, to the United States, it appears that he furnished, November 14, 1780, material to the value of £2,894, FIS., 6d., as follows:
Shells : 867, 10 in .; 714, 8 in.
Shot : 843, 24 pd .; 2,137, 18 pd .; 289, 12 pd.
The Oley Forge stood on the Manatawney creek, about ten miles from its confluence with the Schuylkill.
In 1744, John Ross, of Philadelphia, John Yoder and John Lesher, of Oley, entered into a partnership for the erection of this forge. In 1750, Yoder sold to Lesher his one third interest. The remaining partners operated it until the death of Ross, when litigation sprang up be- tiveen fesher and the Ross heirs. During this time, in 1784, Lesher sold his interest to his son, Jacob Lesher, and sons-in- law, John Potts, a miller, and Jacob Morgan, a merchant. In 1794, Frederick Spang, an iron-master of Oley, obtained an interest in the forge. It became known as the "Spang Forge," and was abandoned about 1870.
There were several forges known as "Spring Forge." The one pertaining to our narrative was situated on Pine creek, a branch of the Manatawney, in District (now
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Pike) township. Its early history is unknown. In 1760 Rebecca Potts purchased a one sixth interest in it, at sheriff's sale, which, in 1773, her executors sold to John Old, an iron-master residing in District township. Old subsequently secured an increased interest in this industry, and, in 1778, sold a seventeen twenty-seventh part of it to Mark Bird. During its later history it was owned, successively, by William Schall, Jacob Deysher and Francis R. Heilig, the latter of whom abandoned it about 1865. "Charming Forge" was located on the southeastern border of Tulpehocken township, on the Tulpehocken creek, several miles north of Womelsdorf. It was erected by John George Nikoll, a hammersmith, and Michael Miller, in 1749. Henry William Stiegel became the owner in 1763. It was then known as the "Tulpehocken Forge." By 1770 a half interest had passed into the hands of Charles Stedman, when it was first called "Charming Forge," although commonly known as such several years before because of its picturesque location. In (773 the sheriff sold Stiegel's half interest to Paul Zensinger, a merchant of Lancaster, for £1,600, who, on February 9, 1774, the day he obtained his deed, con- veyed it to George Ege. Nine years later Ege bought the Stedman interest and became sole owner, at a total cost of £2,402, 8s., 3d. In 1777 Ege improved the prop- erty by the erection of a mansion house, still standing- About the same time he hired, from the government, thirty-four Hessian prisoners to do laboring work. After his death, December, 1830, it passed through various hands, until, in 1855, it becaine vested in the Taylor family, who held and operated it for many years.
George Ege was most prominently identified with the material life of Berks county. From 1791 to 1818 he
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was associate judge. In 1804 he built and operated the " Schuylkill Forge," on the Little Schuylkill, a short dis- tance north of Port Clinton. At this time he was, doubt- less, the largest land holder in the county. His possessions were: Charming Forge, with 4,000 acres; Reading Furnace, with 6,000 acres; Schuylkill Forge, with 6,000 acres; also four large and valuable farms, in Heidelberg and Tulpehocken townships, comprising, together, nearly 1,000 acres, and known, in the vicinity, as "Spring," "Sheaff," "Leiss," and " Richard" farins. In 1824 he was forced to make an assignment. His debts and ex- penses amounted to over $300,000, but his estate proved entirely solvent.
The "German," or "District" Furnace stood on Pine creek, in District township, about one mile from the line of Pike township. The time of its erection is not known. It was owned by John Lesher previous to 1784. In 1793 he sold a one third interest to John Teysher ( Deysher). It was abandoned about 1797.
In Albany township, in the northern section of the county, on a branch of the Maiden creek, called Pine creek, there were two forges and a furnace. When erected, or by whom, is unknown. In 1780, AArnold Billig sold to Michael Brobst two tracts of land, 130 acres in all, with the buildings, improvements, etc., for eleven thousand pounds, which was probably the property in question. In 1818 they were sold out by the sheriff. They were, subsequently, known as "Union," and oper- ated, for a number of years, by George Reagan.
Large quantities of powder, medicines, and other sup- plies, were constantly stored in Reading, especially during 1777 and 1778, doubtless in the storehouse at the corner of Sixth and Franklin Streets So large were these sup-
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plies at times as to cause much uneasiness to the local au- thorities, and to necessitate the calling out of several companies of militia to guard them.
During the summer of 1777 Berks county furnished 350 wagons, in response to the requisition of the Council of Safety.
John Mears, of Reading, carried on the manufacture of saltpeter in 1776. He, subsequently, became Captain in the Fourth Pennsylvania Continental Regiment, but was retired May 26, 1778. On February 9, 1776, James Biddle, was directed to supply him with £roo for this business, saltpeter for said amount to be delivered within twelve months.
In the same year orders were drawn to pay John Reith- myer, John Deisler and Peter Brecht, for 300 cartridge boxes.
There were many gunsmiths in the country, prominent amongst whom was Col. Balser Geehr. In 1776 money was furnished, by the Council, to the amount of £1,000, to pay for guns which were extensively manufactured along the Wyomissing creek, in Cumru township, near Mohnsville.
In July, 1776, an order for £300 was drawn in favor of George lige for too tons of cannon balls, and, the same month, an order of £600 to pay for firelocks made in Berks county for the province.
During 1777 large quantities of cartridge boxes, can- teens, blankets, muskets, flints, etc., were secured in the county.
The same year were furnished 4,000 bushels of grain for horse feed.
In 1778 Berks county was called upon to supply 8,000 barrels of flour.
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During this year the supplies at Reading were again so large and valuable as to require the services of 200 militia for guard purposes, and to keep them secure against any sudden incursion of the enemy.
January 30, 1778, 50 wagons were ordered.
February 18, 1778, 32 wagons were required.
From February to May the wagons were constantly employed in carrying flour and forage to the Schuylkill, the articles being thence transported by water because of the bad condition of the roads.
September 27, 1778, 110 wagons were ordered from Berks county to carry provisions from Philadelphia to New Windsor.
June 11, 1779, a warrant was issued to the Wagon- master of Berks county to supply 60 wagons; and, on October 16 following, 30 wagons.
July 13, 1779, 500 barrels of flour were furnished.
April, 1780, 200 barrels of flour, 560 gallons of rum, 180 tons of hay, and 14,000 bushels of corn were taken from the supplies at Reading.
June, 1780, the commissioner of forage reported hav- ing secured, in Berks county, 40 tons of flour, 172 bushels of oats and 19 bags, 10 head of cattle and 40 sheep.
August 1, 1780, the county was required to furnish 600 barrels of flour monthly, 20 wagons, 280 horses, and 300 men.
Even the partial records in existence indicate that Berks county supplied 512 wagons and 48 teams of six horses each. As each team was in charge of two men we have a total of nearly 1, 100 men in this service alone.
During August, 1780, a number of masts, for govern- ment vessels, were cut in the forests along the Schuylkill, thirty miles north of Reading.
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It is to be regretted that no data seem to have ever been preserved with regard to the early grist mills of Berks county, every one of which, with hardly an ex- ception, was owned and operated by Pennsylvania-Ger- mans, and all of which so materially aided the patriotic cause during the Revolution. Some small idea may be gained of their number when we realize that the statistics for 1838 show one hundred and seven grain mills to have been in existence at that time.
In addition to the iron works, already mentioned in Berks county, were those in which the Pennsylvania- German Potts family were interested.
Wilhelm Potts, and wife, Gertrude, reached Philadel- phia on September 12, 1734. He was an iron-master of means. He first settled at Germantown, but soon moved to Oley, Berks county, because of the rich deposits of iron ore which were there discovered.
It is asserted that he built the " German," or " District" Furnace, of which a brief account has been given, and that, from him, it descended to John Lesher, the brother-in-law of his grandson. Connected with it was the "District," or "Heilig " Forge. 'A short distance below the forge he built a stone grist mill, still standing. Still farther down the stream he put up a fulling mill, on the present site of Lobachsville, which, in 1745, he conveyed to his nephew, Peter Lobach, who added a dye-house, chair factory and turning mill, and, by his energy, developed the place into the thriving town which bears his name.
Wilhelm Potts died in 1767. His son, John, on De- cember 23, 1755, married Maria Hoch, and was associ- ated with his father in the iron and milling business. He died in 1804.
His son, John, born in Rockland township, Berks 80
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county, January 16, 1759, was connected with his father in the milling business, and with his brother-in-law, John Lesher, in the iron business. In 1786 he married Maria Lesher, daughter of Jolin Lesher. Having disposed of his Oley property in 1810, he moved to the present site of Pottsville. Here, in 1866, he had already purchased the "Greenwood Furnace," which stood on the northwest corner of the present Coal and Mauch Chunk Streets. To this he added various works, and houses for his em- ployees, which cluster of buildings was the beginning of the city of Pottsville.
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