The Register of Pennsylvania : devoted to the preservation of facts and documents and every other kind of useful information respecting the state of Pennsylvania, Vol. IX, Part 6

Author: Hazard, Samuel, 1784-1870
Publication date: 1828
Publisher: Philadelphia : Printed by W.F. Geddes ;
Number of Pages: 440

USA > Pennsylvania > The Register of Pennsylvania : devoted to the preservation of facts and documents and every other kind of useful information respecting the state of Pennsylvania, Vol. IX > Part 6

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BEQUEST TO THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA.

XXIII. I give and bequeath to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sum of Three Hundred Thousand Dollars, for the purpose of internal improvement by canal navigation, to be paid into the State treasury by my executors, as soon as such laws shall have been enacted by the constituted authorities of the said Common- wealth as shall be necessary, and amply sufficient to carry into effect, or to enable the constituted author- ities of the city of Philadelphia, to carry into effect the several improvements above specified; namely,

LAWS TO BE ENACTED.

1. Laws, to cause Delaware Avenue, as above de- scribed, to be made, paved, curbed, and lighted; to cause the buildings, fences, and other obstructions now existing to be abated and removed; and to prohibit the creation of any such obstructions to the eastward of said Delaware Avenue; 2. Laws, to cause all wooden build- ings as above described to be removed, and to prohibit their future crection within the limits of the city of Phil- adelphia; 3. Laws, providing for the gradual widening, regulating, paving, and curbing Water Street, as herein before described, and also for the repairing the middle alleys, and introducing the Schuylkill water, and pumps, as before specified-all which objects may, I persuade myself, be accomplished on principles at once just in relation to individuals, and highly beneficial to the pub- lic: the said sum, however, not to be paid, unless said laws be passed within one year after my decease.

XXIV And as it regards the remainder of said residue of my personal estate in trust, to invest the same in good securities, and in like manner to invest the inter- terest and income thereof from time to time, so that the whole shall form a permanent fund; and to apply the income of the said fund,

Ist. To the further improvement and maintenance of the aforesaid College, as directed in the last paragraph of the XXIst clause of this Will:

2d. To enable the Corporation of the City of Phila- delphia to provide more effectually than they now do, for the security of the persons and property of the in-

habitants of the said City, by a competent police, in- cluding a sufficient number of watchmen, really suited to the purpose; and to this end, I recommend a division of the City, into watch districts, or four parts, each un- der a proper head, and that, at least two watchmen shall, in each round or station, patrole together.

3d. To enable the said Corporation to improve the City property, and the general appearance of the City itself, and, in effect, to diminish the burden of taxation, now most oppressive, especially on those who are the least able to bear it :-

To all which objects, the prosperity of the City, and the health and comfort of its inhabitants, I devote the suid fund as aforesaid, and direct the income thereof to be appl ed yearly and every year for ever. after providing for the College as hereinbefore directed, as my prima- ry object. But, if the said City shall knowingly and wilfully violate any of the conditions hereinbefore and hereinafter mentioned, then I give and bequeath the said remainder and accumulations to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, for the purposes of internal naviga- tion; excepting, however, the rents, issues, and profits of my real estate in the City and County of Philadel- phia, which shall for ever be reserved and applied to maintain the aforesaid College, in the manner specified in the last paragraph of the XXIst clause of this Will: And if the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania shall fail to apply this or the preceding bequest to the purposes be- fore mentioned, or shall apply any part thereof to any other use, or shall, for the term of one year, from the time of my decease, fail or omit to pass the laws herein- hefore specified for promoting the improvement of the City of Philadelphia, then I give, devise and bequeath the said remainder and accumulations (the rents afore- said always excepted and reserved for the College as aforesaid) to the United States of America, for the pur- poses of internal navigation, and no other.

CONDITIONS OF THE BEQUEST TO THE CITY.

Provided, nevertheless, and I do hereby declare, that all the preceding bequests and devises of the residue of my estate to the Mayor, Aldermen, and Citizens of Philadelphia, are made upon the following express con- ditions, that is to say :- First, That none of the monies, principal, interest, dividends, or rents, arising from the said residuary devise and hequest, shall at any time be applied to any other purpose or purposes whatever, than those fherein mentioned and appointed :- Second, That separate accounts, distinct from the other ac- counts of the Corporation, shall be kept by the said Corporation, concerning the said devise, bequest, Col- lege, and funds: and of the investment and application thereof; and that a separate account or accounts of the same shall be kept in bank, not blended with any other account, so that it may at all times appear on exami- nation by a committee of the Legislature as hierein- after mentioned, that my intentions had been fully complied with :- Third, That the said Corporation ren- der a detailed account annually, in duplicate, to the Legislature of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, at the commencement of the session, one copy for the Senate, and the other for the Ilouse of Representatives, concerning the said devised and bequeathed estate, and the investment and application of the same, and also a report in like manner of the state of the said college, and shall submit all their books, papers, and accounts touching the same, to a committee or committees of the Legislature for examination, when the same shall be required.

Fourth, the said Corporation shall also cause to be published in the month of January, annually, in two or more newspapers, printed in the City of Philadelphia, a concise but plain account of the state of the trusts, devises and bequests herein declared and made, com- prehending the condition of the said college, the num- ber of scholars, and other particulars needful to be publicly known, for the year next preceding the said month of January, annually.

GIRARD'S WILL.

[JANUARY

BANK ESTABLISHMENT.

XXV. And, whereas I have executed an assignment, in trust, of my banking establishment, to take effect the day before my decease, to the intent that all the con- cerns thereof may be closed by themselves, without be- ing blended with the concerns of my general estate, and the balance remaining to be paid over to my execu- tors: Now, I do hereby direct my executors, herein- after mentioned, not to interfere with the said trust in any way except to see that the same is faithfully execut- ed, and to aid the execution thereof by all such acts and deeds as may be necessary and expedient to effec- tuate the same, so that it may be speedily closed, and the balance paid over to my executors, to go, as in my Will, into the residue of my estate: And I do hereby anthorize, direct, and empower the said trustees, from time to time, as the capital of the said bank shall be re- ceived, and shall not be wanted for the discharge of the debts due thereat, to invest the same in good securities in the names of my executors, and to hand over the same to them, to be disposed of according to this my Will.

XXVI. Lastly, I do hereby nominate and. appoint Timothy Paxson, . Thomas P. Cope, Joseph Roberts, William J. Duane, and John A. Barclay, executors of this my last Will and Testament: I recommend to them to close the concerns of my estate as expeditiously as possible, and to see that my intentions in respect to the residue of my estate are and shall be strictly complied with: and I do hereby revoke all other Wills by me heretofore made.

In witness, I, the said Stephen Girard, have to this my last Will and Testament, contained in thirty-five pages, set my hand at the bottom of each page, and my hand and seal at the bottom of this page; the said Will executed, from motives of prudence, in duplicate this sixteenth day of February, in the year one thousand eight hundred and thirty.

STEPHEN GIRARD. [Seal.]

Signed, sealed, published, and declared ) by the said Stephen Girard, as and for | his last Will and Testament, in the | presence of us, who have at his re- quest hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses thereto, in the presence of the said Testator, and of each other. Feb. 16, 1830.

JOIIN H. IRWIN, SAMUEL ARTHUR, S. H. CARPENTER.

CODICILS.

WHEREAS, I, Stephen Girard, the Testator named in the foregoing Will and Testament, dated the six- teenth day of February, eighteen hundred and thirty, have, since the execution thereof, purchased several parcels and pieces of real estate, and have built sundry Messuages all which, as well as any real estate that I may hereafter purchase, it is my wish and intention to pass by the said Will: Now, I do hereby republish the fore- going last Will and Testament, dated February 16, 18.30, and do confirm the same in all particulars: In witness, I, the said Stepben Girard, set my hand and seal here- unto, the twenty-fifth day of December, eighteen hun- dred and thirty.

STEPIIEN GIRARD. [Seal.]

Signed, sealed, published, and declared } by the said Stephen Girard, as and for a re-publication of his last Will and Testament, in the presence of us, who, at his request, have hereunto subscrib- ed our names as Witnesses thereto in the presence of the said Testator and of each other. December 25th, 1830. j

JOHN H. IRWIN, SAMUEL ARTHUR, JNO. THOMSON.

PEEL HALL.

WHEREAS, I, Stephen Girard, the Testator named in the foregoing Will and Testament, dated February

16, 1830, have, since the execution thereof, purchased several parcels and pieces of land and real estate, and have built sundry Messuages, all which, as well as any real estate that I may hereafter purchase, it is my in- tention to pass by said Will; And whereas in particular, I have recently purchased from Mr. William Parker, the Mansion House, out-buildings, and forty-five acres and some perches of land, called Peel Hall, on the Ridge Road, in Penn Township: Now, I declare it to be my intention, and I direet, that the Orphan establish- ment, provided for in my said Will, instead of being built as therein directed upon my square of ground be- tween High and Chesnut, and Eleventh and Twelfth Streets in the City of Philadelphia, shall be built upon the estate so purchased from Mr. W. Parker, and I hereby devote the said estate to that purpose, exclusive- ly, in the same manner as I had devoted the said square, hereby directing that all the improvements and arrange- ments for the said Orphan establishment prescribed by my said Will as to said square shall be made and ex- ecuted upon the said estate, just as if I had in my Will devoted the said estate to said purpose-consequently, the said square of ground is to constitute, and I declare it to be a part of the residne and remainder of my real and personal estate, and given and devised for the same uses and purposes as are declared in section twenty, of my Will, it being my intention that the said square of ground shall be built upon and improved in such a man- ner as to secure a safe and permanent income for the purposes stated in said twentieth section. In witness whereof, I, the said Stephen Girard, set my hand and seal hereunto, the twentieth day of June, eighteen hun- dred and thirty-one.

STEPHEN GIRARD. [Seal]

Signed, sealed, published, and deelared, ) by the said Stephen Girard, as and for a re-publication of his last Will and | Testament, and a further direction in | relation to the real estate therein men- tioned, in the presence of us, who, at his request, have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses thereto, in the presence of the said Testator, and of each other, June 20, 1831.

S. H. CARPENTER, L. BARDIN, SAMUEL ARTHUR.

Philadelphia, December 31st, 1831,-Then person- ally appeared Samuel Arthur, and S. H. Carpenter, two of the witnesses to the foregoing Will and the second Codicil or republication thereof, and on their oaths did say that they were present, and did see and hear Stephen Gi- rard the testator in the said Will and second republica- tion thereof named, sign, seal, publish and declare the same as and for his last Will and Testament, and re- publication thereof, and that at the doing thereof, he was of sound mind, memory and understanding, to the best of their knowledge and belief; and at the same tine appeared Jno. Thomson, one of the witnesses to the first republication of said Will, and on his solemn affirmation did say that he was present, and did see and hear Stephen Girard, the testator in the first republica- tion of said Will, named, sign, seal, publish, and declare the same as and for a republication of his last Will and Testament. And the said Samuel Arthur, another of the witnessess to said first republication of said Will, on his oath did further say, that he was present, and did see and hear Stephen Girard, the testator in the first republication of said" Will, named, sign, seal, publish and declare the same as and for a republication of his last Will and Testament, and they both did say thatat the doing thereof, he was of sound mind, memory and un- derstanding, to the best of their knowledge and belief.

Coram, J. HUMES, Register ..

December 31, 1831 .- Timothy Paxson, and Thomas P. Cope, two of the Executors, affirmed, and Joseph Roberts, William J. Duane, and John A. Barclay, the other Executors, sworn, and letters testamentary granted unto them.

HAZARD'S REGISTER OF PENNSYLVANIA.

DEVOTED TO THE PRESERVATION OF EVERY KIND OF USEFUL INFORMATION RESPECTING THE STATE.

EDITED BY SAMUEL HAZARD.

VOL. IX .- NO. 2. PHILADELPHIA, JANUARY 14, 1832. NO. 211.

STATISTICS OF WEST CHESTER.

We are much obliged to "W. D." for the following statistical article-it is just such a collection of facts as we should be glad to receive from every town and portion of the State. It is therefore respectfully re- commended to the imitation of all, who may have it in their power, to furnish facts of the same kind; which, in time, would prove an extremely valuable amount of information.'

For the Register of Pennsylvania-

The recent Triennial Assessment suggested the idea, and afforded some of the requisite data, to present a brief Statistical view of the Borough of West-Chester. The following sketch, is believed to be tolerably ac- curate; and as its preservation, in the Register, may serve to gratify the curiosity of those who, may, here- after, take an interest in noting the growth and im- provement of the Borough, it is respectfully submitted for that purpose. W: D.

December 26th, 1831.

WEST-CHESTER, AT TRE CLOSE OF 1831.

The town of West-Chester, Pennsylvania, is situated on the dividing ridge, between the waters of Chester Creek and the Brandywine, two miles east of the latter stream, five miles south of the great Limestone Valley, and twenty-three miles west of Philadelphia. It be- came the seat of Justice of Chester County, in the year 1786; and was erected into a Borough, in the year 1799. The boundaries of the Borough embrace a traet, about one mile and a quarter square; which tract was taken wholly out of the township of Goshen, having the township line of East-Bradford for its western limit.

In the year 1800, the inhabitants amounted to 374

1810,

471

1820,

552

.€ 1830, - 1252

At present, Dec. 1831, the population is about 1500 The number of Citizens entitled to vote, about 250

The original plan of the Town consisted of four con- tiguous squares, with two principal streets, crossing in the centre. In 1829, several streets were opened and new squares formed, on the south-western side of the primitive squares, by William Everhart, Esq.

The DWELLING HOUSES amount to 234 in number; of which about 200 are in the Village, and the residue on the adjacent farms.

The ASSESSED VALUE of the Borough, in December, 1831, is as follows :-

VOL. IX. 3

LANDS, including eleven small farms, with town lots, $167,618

BUILDINGS, subjected to taxation, -

167,974

HORSES, 118 in number, -

4,970

Cows, and working oxen, 124 in number,

1,860

Occupations and professions, taxed,

59,800

Total. $402,222

Stocks, Bonds, Mortgages, &c, yielding divi- dends, or interest, 530,287

Aggregate amount of property, &c. taxed, $932,509

The number of Taxable inhabitants, is

Males, . . 29.3

Females, 32

Total,

325

Of the male taxables, seven are blacks-being house- keepers.

The PUBLIC BUILDINGS in the Borough, are Court House and Prison, commeneed building in the year -

1784

1785 Suspended during the year - Finished in the year 1786 .

Offices of Clerks, Register and Recorder, built 1791 Market Houses, old one, in the rear of the pub- lic offices, built - 1802

New one, 100 feet long, in Market st., erected 1831

Academy, built and incorporated, 1812

Roman Catholic Chapel, built 1793

Methodist Episcopal Church, built 1816

Two Quaker Meeting Houses, one built 1812 The other, in 1830

The INSTITUTIONS, of a Public character, aro

Post office, established in the year 1802

Bank of Chester County, chartered 1814

Library founded 1814

Cabinet of Natural Science, founded 1826 2

Incorpotated 1831 5

Athenæum, founded and incorporated

1827

Female Boarding School, established

1830

Six day schools, of various grades, and dates. Two Fire Companies, one established in the year The other in 1818

1800

One Volunteer Corps of Infantry, formed

1830

Four weekly Newspapers, viz.

American Republican, commenced at Downing- town, 1808 2

Transferred to West-Chester 1822 5

Village Record, commenced

1809

National Republican Advocate, commenced 1828

Anti-Masonic Register and Examiner, commenced 1829

WILLIAMSPORT AND ELMIRA RAIL-ROAD.

JANUARY

Among the Occupations, and Establishments, in the Borough, may be enumerated the following :-

5 Male Teachers,

8 Tailors,

8 Female do.

6 Boot and shoemakers,

2 Clergymen,

2 Hatters,

3 Saddlers,

20 Attorney's at Law,

1 Conveyancer,

2 Wheel-wrights,

4 Black-smiths,

5 Justices of the peace,

2 Copper do. & tinplaters,

4 Physicians,

1 Silver plater,

2 Apothecaries,

4 Confectioners,

1 Lock-smith,

1 Brewery,

3 Cabinet-makers,

2 Chair-makers,

2 Cedar coopers,

15 Stores, of dry goods, gro- 5 Masons & hrick-layers, ceries and hard ware, 2 Plasterers,

8 Taverns, and a ninth, a 7 Carpenters, splendid new Hotel, 3 Painters, glaziers &paper nearly finished, hangers,

2 Oyster and beer houses,

1 Tobacconist,

2 Weavers,

1 Pottery,

1 Tannery,

2 Currying shops,

4 Printing offices,

2 Lumher & coal yards.

The SIDE WALKS, or foot ways of the Streets, were first paved with bricks, in the year 1823. The two principal streets were Mc.Adumized, in the years 1829 and 1830.

One daily line of Mail Stages passes through the bo- rough, between Philadelphia and Lancaster. One tri- weekly mail stage line passes the same way, between Philadelphia and Baltimore; and two daily lines of stages run between West-Chester and Philadelphia. The mail is also carried on horse-back, daily, between West-Chester and Downingtown; and weekly, be- tween West-Chester and Wilmington, Elkton, Chester and Norristown.

A RAIL-ROAD, (commenced in May last, and now more than half completed,) is in progress, from West- Chester to the Pennsylvania Rail way; by which, as soon as finished, the borough will enjoy all the facilities of communication, whichthat important improvement is calculated to afford, with the trade of the Delaware, the Schuylk Il, and the Susquehanna.

N. B. The principal Seminaries, hoth for girls, and young men, in the borough of West-Chester, are now in "the full tide of successful operation;" and eminent- ly deserving of the patronage they receive.

WILLIAMSPORT AND ELMIRA RAIL-ROAD.

Lycoming, submitted the following Report and Reso- lutions.

In submitting to your notice a proposal embracing so various, important, and durable interests, as seem to be involved in that having in view the construction of a rail-road, to run from Williamsport to Elmira in the state of N. York, your committee have reason to con- gratulate you, in that the prejudices, with wh ch men, even of the most correct judgment, have, almost uni- formly, met those expedients of enlightened minds- which were new, indeed, and dependent, for the ilhuis- tration of their practical utility, upon the deductions of science, and the theoretical doctrines of the originators; have, in this enlightened age and country, been dissipa- ted; particularly with regard to the utilty of turnpike roads, canals and rail-roads, by their operation and evi- dent results; 'and, that in recommending this road to your entire approbation, we are therefore enabled to address you without entering into a discussion of those elementary principles which tend to prove that, as the bridle road of the pack horse is superior to the foot path formed for the accommodation of savage life, so our highways afford greater accommodation to civilized man, in his social intercourse, than such bridle roads; or, that, as our turnpikes are better calculated to afford accommodation to an agricultural people than the natu- ral roads of our country, so our canals are superior, in every way, for promoting the interests of every class of society, to any turnpike road; or, that the canals of our country are inferior in such accommodation, to that which would be yielded by a rail-road, located upon such ground as may be selected for this under our im- mediate notice.

It may be unnecessary, also, to repeat here the well known test by which the benefit, yielded to the country by all such improvements, is most accurately determin- ed; we mean the price of stocks in those markets which are located in the vicinity of the improvements. Were we to refer to this true standard of the utility of rail- roads, we could show you that in England ( expensive as the construction of their roads has been, from the cost of land, the amount of damages, mode of construc- tion, and other causes combined, which cannot exist here) the price of their stocks, in several instances, has more than doubled since the roads have been in success- ful operation.

Your committee again have cause to congratulate yon, in that it is unnecessary, at this day, to go into an elaborate disquisition to prove the great importance to the country generally, of prosecuting in every practica- ble mode, such means of intercourse as will extend, in- vigorate and perpetnate our commercial relations; par- ticularly as those relations tend to unite, by ties of in- terest, as well as by those of kindness and urbanity, the citizens of our united and sister states. We feel gratified in being able to say, that these results, as necessary con- sequences of this, and every other great, noble, and very beneficial improvement is fully appreciated; and that our fellow-citizens are now satisfied, that, in extend- ing rail-roads and canals to every practicable point where the trade of the country, or the prospective re- sulting benefits will afford at all, in their estimation, the means of remuneration to the stock-holder, they will each aid, in its measure, to promote the intercourse and harmony of the states; the equalization of wealth, and of population; the security of our civil, political and reli- gious liberties; an addition to the real value of our pro- perty; an equalization among the different sections of our country, of the cost of those supplies which are es- sential to every family-together with many others re- sulting local and general benefits, which the present state of information in our country, has, doubtless ren- dered familiar with all.

At an adjourned meeting of many of the citizens of Lycoming county, held in the court house on the even- ing of the 6th inst. the committee, upon whom had de- volved the duty, in pursuance of the object of their ap- pointment, of preparing and presenting a report on the prospects of connecting the CHEMUNG and PENNSYLVA- It will therefore be necessary to descend to some de- tail with regard to this particular road; for, unless it can NIA CANALS by a RAIL-ROAD, to run from Elmira in the state of New York, to Williamsport in the county of | be demonstrated that from its construction, will result

1 President Judge,

2 Coach-makers,

2 Notaries,

2 Bakers,

2 Butchers,

1 Gun-smith,

3 Watch-makers,

2 Brick-yards, and a third, just without the borough limits,

1832.]

WILLIAMSPORT AND ELMIRA RAIL-ROAD.

benefits to society at large, and, as a necessary consc- quence, liberally renumerate the stockholder for his in- vestment, the attempt to proceed should be arrested, and no man be desired to aid, by pecuniary advances, that purpose which would only reduce his means, and be of real disservice to the community.

In the first place, then, the nature of the ground is such that we question much whether any location, run- ning to the same extent from the margin of our rivers can be found in which so few obstructions are present- cd. About one third of the distance has been already passed over with a level, carried by an experienced and practical man, (MIr. Wilson, ) and the ascent found to be not equal to one half of that which may be overcome by a Locomotive engine without difficulty, viz: 22 feet per mile. And, it is presumed, the remaing two thirds, pre- sent ground equally favorable, with exceptions at one or two points, at which, even, it is not supposed that stationary power will be required.

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The Register of Pennsylvania : devoted to the preservation of facts and documents and every other kind of useful information respecting the state of Pennsylvania, Vol. IX, Part 6

Author: Hazard, Samuel, 1784-1870 Publication date: 1828 Publisher: Philadelphia : Printed by W.F. Geddes ; Number of Pages: 440

Author: Hazard, Samuel, 1784-1870
Publication date: 1828
Publisher: Philadelphia : Printed by W.F. Geddes ;
Number of Pages: 440