The history of Bucks County, Pennsylvania : from the discovery of the Delaware to the present time, Part 82

Author: Davis, W.W.H. (William Watts Hart), 1820-1910
Publication date: 1876
Publisher: Doylestown, Pa. : Democrat Book and Job Office Print
Number of Pages: 976

USA > Pennsylvania > Bucks County > The history of Bucks County, Pennsylvania : from the discovery of the Delaware to the present time > Part 82

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Tax bills were among the first presented to the provincial assem- bly, and a tax was laid on land in 1683. In 1694 a bill was passed for county rates, fixing it that year at one penny on the pound, which produced £48. 4s. 1d. in Bucks. John Roland and Francis White were appointed collectors in 1697, and in May they were sum- moned before the governor for settlement. In 1764 a bill was passed fixing the value of lands for taxation, which has served as a basis for all subsequent assessments for county purposes. Meadow land was to be valued at from £60 to £10 per hundred acres, and cultivated land with improvements, at three-fifths of what it would rent for. Horses were to be valued at four pence per head, horned cattle,

8 A Dutch measure equal to three pecks English.

873

HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.

above three years old, at six shillings and eight pence, and shecp at one shilling. A fixed valuation was also put on black and white slaves. The rate of interest was fixed at eight per cent., but in 1722, at a period of commercial embarrassment, it was reduced to six, and produce made a legal tender for debts.

There is but little in the early or present history of our county finances that would be of interest to the reader. The taxes have increased with the growth of population and wealth, from £48. 4s. in 1694, to $112,000 in 1874, a handsome advance in one hundred and eighty years. In 1768 the provincial tax assessed in Bucks was £2,260, of which £417 remained uncollected, or in the hands of the collectors, and the " committee of accounts" recommended the commissioners to collect that outstanding by law. Paul Preston, the collector, was written to by Samuel Preston Moore, who appears to have held some position in the provincial-treasury, to hurry up the delinquent collectors, to collect as much as lie can in two weeks for the credit of the county, for he wants to be able to report that " the county has nearly paid off her present tax." This was caring for the honor of the county in a commendable way. The amount assessed in 1769 was £2,530, and when the collector settled his ac- counts, September 6th, there were £538. 19s. 11d. outstanding, one- fifth of the whole. In 1781 the amount levied was twenty-five pounds in excess of 1769, but a greater proportion was collected. £2,276. 3s. 4d. This was known as the " eighteen penny tax," because that was the rate per pound. The heaviest tax-paying districts in the county were, Falls, Buckingham, and Northampton townships, namely : Falls, £159. 3s. 6d .; Buckingham, £154. 1s. 6d. ; North- ampton, £139, 18s., nearly one-fifth of the whole amount. These figures tell us plainly where the wealth of the county lay at that . perio J.

In 1814 the county expenses were $34,201. The same year a tax of $883 43 was collected on dogs, and $901.08 paid in damages for injury done to sheep by dogs. The following year, $33,363.49 were received in taxes. In 1816 the county treasurer paid out $264.88 for crow-scalps-7,946, at three pence per head-princi- pally in Falls and Lower Makefield. The heaviest county-tax paid by a single township, between 1782 and 1795 was by Bristol, £260. For several years Jeremiah Langhorne was the heaviest tax-payer in the county, and yet his land was assessed at only £100. When the provincial assembly, in 1704, made a grant of £2,000 to William

874

HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.

Penn, to be levied on the counties, those appointed to collect the quota of Bucks were summoned to appear before the council to answer their neglect. The figures we have given speak in plain terms of the economical habits of our ancestors.

Attention was early given to education on the Delaware, and in 1659 children were sent from our river to a Latin school in New York. The Friends were the pioneers in education in this county, but in after years their efforts were seconded by the Scotch-Irish and Moravians. In 1693, eleven years after Penn founded the colony, the assembly made the teaching of every child reading and writing an imperative duty, which speaks volumes for the early Friends, when we know that the Puritans had been a quarter of a century in Massachusetts before they took such action. In 1778 a committee of Friends recommended the yearly meeting to collect a fund "for the establishment and support of schools," and that a lot of ground be provided within the bounds of every meeting. The early school-houses, built under this recommendation, and otherwise, were dark, uncomfortable affairs, the teachers generally incompe- tent, and their pay small. But Bucks county has made great improvement in her schools since Edmund Draufton first took np. the ferule in Bensalem in 1678. The county has now two hundred and seventy-four schools, taught by three hundred and twenty-six teachers, and attended by fifteen thousand two hundred and twenty- eight children. The total expenses for 1875 were one hundred and forty-one thousand three hundred and thirty dollars and fifty-three cents, the amount being raised by local taxation mainly, but a few thousand dollars are annually appropriated by the state.

As an agricultural county Bucks ranks among the first in the state. Of her territory 315,833 acres are under cultivation. The entire value of her farms is $40,289,213, and her products at $6,571,626. According to the census of 1870 the yield of wheat was 525,740 bushels, Indian corn, 1,325,626, vats, 1,208,717, hay, 118,014 tons, and 2,861,557 pounds of butter. The value of her manufactures was $4,732,118. At the same time she had 14,679 horses and 28,572 milch cows. The county has but little mineral wealth. Iron ore was discovered at Durham soon after its settlement, and within a few years it has been developed to some extent in Buckingham valley, where there are valuable deposits of limestone. In 1760 there was some excitement about the rumored discovery of coal in Pennsbury manor, and in 1776 two citizens offered to advance one

875

HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.

hundred pounds to the committee of safety to pay the expense of searching for coal in the county. A very inferior article of coal, and in small quantities, is to be found along the Neshaminy in War- wick township. From the first appearance of white men on the Delaware we have tradition of minerals along its banks; and it was believed that the Indians knew of deposits of gold and silver, but there is no evidence that the precious metals have ever been found in the county.

Among the institutions of the county are some fifty " horse com- panies," voluntary chartered associations for the detection of horse thieves and other villains. They hold annual meetings and have a good dinner at the expense of the company. Some of the companies are almost as old as the century. In 1822 a number of them in this and adjoining counties met in council at Norristown, to form a Union for the better carrying out of the object of the corpora- tion, but we are not informed whether it is still maintained. Among the earliest members of the American Philosophical society, we find the following from this county : John Kidd, Doctor John De Normandie, of Bristol, Joseph Kirkbride, William Logan, Elias Hicks, and Doctor John Chapman, all of whom joined in 1768. At the first public commencement of a medical school in America, that belonging to the University of Pennsylvania, held June 21st, 1758, the degree of Bachelor of Medicine was conferred upon Benjamin Cowell, of this county. The three leading practitioners of medicine, an hundred years ago, were, Doctors Joseph Watson, of Bucking- ham, Jonathan Ingham, of Solebury, and Hugh Meredith, of Doyles- town, and we know of no physician of any note in the county before them. Since their day we have had several who have been prominent in the profession.

We close our volume with a rural poetic picture of Bucks county, from "The Foresters," written at the opening of the present century :

"Through fertile Bucks, where lofty barns abound, For wheat, fair Quakers, eggs, and fruit renowned ; Full fields, snug tenements, and fences neat, Wide-spreading walnuts drooping o'er cach gate ; The spring-house peeping from enclustering trees, Gay gardens filled with herbs, and roots and bees, Where quinces, pears, and clustering grapes were seen,

With ponderous calabashes hung between ;

While orchards, loaded, bending o'er the grass, Invite to taste, and cheer us as we pass."

THE END.

APPENDIX.

FLORA.

An enumeration of indigenous and naturalized plants found growing in Bucks county, Pennsylvania.

BY I. S. MOYER, M. D., QUAKERTOWN, PA.

ALTHOUGH Bucks county is one of the oldest in the state, the author is not aware that an attempt has ever been made to catalogue her rich Flora. There is little doubt that some of the older botanists have collected within our borders. Bartram, Nuttall, Durand, Michaux, Schweinitz, and others, illustrious in botanical annals, have most probably visited portions of our territory, and described new species from typical specimens, first gathered from our soil. As an item of interest in this connection, Professor Porter, of Easton, lias kindly furnished an extract from a letter of Zaccheus Collins (a distinguished botanist of Philadelphia, and in whose honor Nuttall lias named a genus of Figworts Collinsia) to the eminent botanist Muhlenberg, dated August 23d, 1813, " I was lately in Bucks county, about five miles north-west of Bris- tol, a spot very interesting to me botanically and geologically. Although my oppor- tunity was transient from bad weather, I met with several plants for the first time, such as your Malaxis-ophioglossoides, Woodsia-onschioides, Orchis, perhaps incisa, and here some years back I first recognized Hydropeltis-purpurea, Crotonopsis- linearis, Michx., and the only Pennsylvania spot known to me of Arbitus-uva-ursi. In fine the Magnolias, the glabrous Prinos, Ilex, etc., seemed involuntarily to trans- port me to Jersey." Botanical nomenclature has changed somewhat in sixty years, but the botanical student will have no difficulty in tracing these plants under their more recent names, in the catalogue. The plants collected by the veteran Collins, so many years ago, are still found in those haunts (save only the Bearberry), and they are some of the rarest treasures of our Flora. The diversified surface, varying soils, and marked differences in geological formation in different portions of the county combine to produce a rich and varied Flora, which compares favorably with that of any of the neighboring counties. The following is a brief summary of the more in- teresting botanical localities of the county. In the upper townships, especially in Milford, Richland, Rockhill, and Springfield, a series of bogs occur, in which many fine and peculiar plants are found. In Springfield, in the Flint hill range, an out- lying spur of the South mountain, are a succession of deep ravines, having generally a north-north-east direction. At the bottom of these ravines deep, cold bogs are met with, which if not genuine peat-bogs, approach very nearly to them in every essential character. There some rare plants appear not found elsewhere in the county. The Globe Flower, Cranberry, several fine orchids, Cotton Grass, and some rare sedges indicate the richiness of the Flora. The extensive bogs south of Quakertown differ widely in character from those of Springfield. Several rare species oecur here never seen in the peat-bogs, or elsewhere in our district. In Milford, along the headwaters of Swamp creek, are found low woods and swamps of a somewhat sandy nature, in which a number of forms are met with never discovered elsewhere. Round-leaved Violet, small flowered Lady's Slipper, Pendulous Pogonio, Hairy Wood Rush, and a rare Glyceria must suffice as examples. The rocky belt extending through the county

FLORA OF BUCKS COUNTY.

from east to west, attaining in Haycock the considerable elevation of Haycock mount- ain, is known as the Trap rock region, but contrary to expectation this rough and rugged region has not proved very prolific in rare plants. A number of fine species are, however, restricted to this district. Prickly Ash, Round-leaved Gooseberry, Water Milfoil, and Pale Corydalis are examples. Buckingham mountain, although affording many fine plants presents nothing peculiar except the beautiful Sedum- ternatum. Of the numerous streams of the county, two only, the Tohickon and Ne- shaminy, deserve mention in this summary. The Tohickon entering our northern border from Lehigh county, presents no points of interest until it enters the Trap rock region. In this portion of its course it becomes wild and picturesque, present- ing much truly romantic scenery. Here many rare plants are met with. The Purple flowered Raspberry reddens its banks, and the White Water Lily floats in virgin beauty upon its bosom. The small yellow Pond Lily, another rarity, growing among it, affords a beautiful contrast of white and gold. I might enumerate many more, but we must hasten down the stream. Emerging from this region, the stream though less wild furnishes many a fine view of bold hill and rich meadow, until we reach the lower part of its course. In the vicinity of Long's mill, the scenery is magnificent, and continues so until the mouth of the stream is reached at Point Pleasant. American Atragane, Barren Strawberry, Beaked Hazel, Squirrel Corn, and Green Dragon may be mentioned among a host of things found only or chiefly along this stream. The Neshaminy, the most considerable stream in the county, is rather tame and uninteresting until after the union of its branches west of Doylestown. Just below Doylestown, the beautiful Lupine is found upon its banks. From this point south- ward until within seven or eight miles of its mouth, it has been little explored, and will doubtless well reward the botanists who will thoroughly investigate its botanical characters. The lower portions have been well examined by the Martindales, and many fine plants found, but not so distinct from neighboring regions as to need special mention. Some water plants, not hitherto detected in the county, will most probably be found in the middle and lower portions of this beautiful stream. It now remains to examine the chief botanical feature of the county, one that has contributed more than all others to round out the rich completeness of our Flora, namely the Delaware river region. This extensive river border, reaching from Durham to Ben- salem, is one continuous surprise to one who had previously confined his herborizings to inland localities only. This exceptional richness is easily accounted for. We have here not only the sand and the rich alluvion, each with a vegetation of its own, but bold bluffs, rising in some places into towering and precipitous cliffs, pre- senting every variety of exposure, thus favoring a rich and varied vegetation. Here are also deep, shaded ravines, where "many a flower is born to blush unseen," save by the prying eye of the botanist. Commencing at the northern border we soon arrive at the "Narrows," or " Nockamixon rocks." Of the grand natural scenery here we need not speak, for it is, or should be, well-known to every Bucks countian. This locality is the richest in the county, and has many plants peculiarly its own. It has long been a botanical Mecca to the Easton botanists, led by Professor T. C. Porter, of Lafayette college. Here are found the rare Sedum-Rhodiola, Canada Water Leaf, Canada Violet, Ginseng, Purple Trillium, and many more equally rare. Proceeding rapidly down the river, meeting many fine plants on the way, such as Harebell, American Bell Flower, Papaw, American Vetch, etc., etc., we reach Point Pleasant, another botanical centre. In this neighborhood a very rich Flora exists, certainly surpassed by no other district of equal area in the county. Among a multitude, we may mention Green Violet, Pencil Flower, Indian Plantain, Squarrose Solidago, Golden Corydalis, Leather Wood, Beaked and Cordate Willows, Silver Maple, etc

FLORA OF BUCKS COUNTY.

Southward from Point Pleasant we hasten, not pausing to note individual peculi- arities by the way, until the vicinity of Bristol is reached, another botanical point of special interest. There we meet with a Flora differing in a marked degree from those hitherto noticed. Southern forms appear and the vegetation assumes much of the character of that of New Jersey. The influence of the tide is here also felt, and adds its peculiar character to the Flora. Much of interest might be written in regard to this district, but a want of space forbids. As plants characterizing this region, Mag- nolia, Clammy Azalea, White Alder, Stagger Bush, Rose Mallow, and Sweet Gum may be mentioned. At Andalusia. I. C. Martindale finds many rare plants, but the cata- logue must be referred to for particulars. Having passed in rapid review the most interesting botanical districts of the county, we will now proceed to consider, equally briefly, the botanical features of the county as a whole. In studying the Flora of the county, one fact is at once apparent, namely, the great differenee in the vegetation of the northern and southern portions. We find that upwards of ninety native plants have not been collected north of Yardleyville, and on the other hand about one hun- dred and fifty native plants have not been found south of that place. This interesting fact demonstrates that a line dividing the more distinctively northern from the south- ern species of Pennsylvania would pass through Bucks a little to the north of that point. Many northern forms seem to have their southern limits in our county, except as they extend further south in the mountains to the west of us. A few western plants have here their eastern limit, notably the Papaw, and narrow-leaved Horse Gentian. A small number of eastern plants also have here their western limit. A comparison of the catalogue with Gray's Manual will make these facts more apparent. The ma- terials for the following catalogue have been collected by the author, and his botanical friends, in many a pleasant ramble over the hills and valleys of old Bucks. During a residence of ten years at Plumsteadville, and seven in Quakertown borough, opportunity has been given to explore, pretty thoroughly, the middle and upper districts, while occasional excursions have also been made to the lower districts. Efficient aid has been rendered in the preparation of the catalogue by Professor T. C. Porter, of Easton, and I. C. Martindale, of Camden, New Jersey, but formerly of Byberry, in Philadel- phia. Other botanists have kindly aided in the work, and the author has been care- ful to give due credit in the body of the catalogue. All the plants of the list have been scen by the author, and every precaution taken to avoid mistakes in identifica- tion. Some of the more difficult species have been sent to botanical friends for cor- roboration. In arrangement and nomenclature the last edition of Gray's Manual has been followed. Although the number of species is gratifyingly large, the field is by no means exhausted. There is no doubt that many more species remain to be dis- covered. Some sections have been very imperfectly explored, especially that portion of the county south of New Hope, and, north of Morrisville. The catalogue is in- tended as a basis upon which the botanist may rely in his efforts to render the Flora still more complete. If this catalogue shall furnish a stimulus to the youths of Bucks county to prosecute more zealously the study of this delightful science, the author will feel amply rewarded for the time and labor spent in its preparation.

QUAKERTOWN, PA., June 24, 1876.

SUMMARY.

Indigenous. 952

Naturalized.

171

Total. 1123

Phacnogams,

Cryptogams, .

Whole number of species and varieties, .. .....

1166

FLORA OF BUCKS COUNTY.

SERIES I.

PHAENOGAMOUS, OR FLOWERING PLANTS.

CLASS I. DICOTYLEDONOUS, OR EXOGENOUS PLANTS.

RANUNCULÆCA.

CLEMATIS, L.

verticillaris, D. C. (American Atra- gane.) Rocky banks of lower To- hickon.

Virginiana. L. (Virgin's Bower.) ANEMONE, L.

Virginiana, L. (Virginia Anemone.) nemorosa, L. (Wind Flower.)

HEPATICA, Dill. triloba, Chaix. (Liverwort.) THALICTRUM, Tourn.

anemonoides, Michx. (Rue Anemone.) dioicum, L. (Early Meadow Rue.) purpurascens, L. Var. ceriferum, C. F. Austin. "Narrows," Nockamixon. Prof. T. C. Porter. Cornuti, L. (Tall Meadow Rue.) RANUNCULUS, L.

aquatilis, L. Var. trichophyllus, Chaix. (White Water Crowfoot.) Near Ap- plebachsville.

multifidus, Pursh. (Yellow Water Crow- soot.) Nockamixon "swamps," a Sfvery rare plant.

aliamaefolius, Geyer. (Water Plantain Spearwort.) Bogs, near Quakertown. Flemmula, L. var. reptans, Gray. (Creeping Spearwort.) Solliday's island, Delaware river.

abortivus, L. (Small Flowered Crow- foot.)

sceleratus, L. (Cursed Crowfoot.)

recurvatus, Pois. (Hooked Crowfoot.) Pennsylvanicus, L. (Bristly Crowfoot.) Along lower Delaware, I. C. Martin- dale.

fascicularis, Muhl. (Early Crowfoot.) repens, L. (Creeping Crowfoot.) bulbosus, L. (Butter Cups.) acris, L. (Tall Crowfoot.) CALTHA, L. palustris, L. (Marsh Marigold.) TROLLIUS, L.

laxus, Salisb. (Globe Flower.) Deep bog in Springfield township; one of the most interesting plants of our Flora. It is not found in any of the neighboring counties.

HELLEBORUS, L.

viridis, L. (Green Hellebore.) Near Quakertown, Dr. Joseph Thomas. AQUILEGIA, Tourn.

Canadensis, L. (Wild Columbine.) vulgaris, L. (Garden Columbine.) Nat- uralized in many places.

DELPHINIUM, Tourn. Consolida L. (Field Larkspur.)

HYDRASTIS, L.

Canadensis, L. (Orange Root.) Rich woods near Quakertown.

ACTAA, L. alba, Bigelow. (White Baneberry.) . Rocky woods, along Delaware and large streams.

CIMICIFUGA, L. racemosa, Ell. (Black Snake Root.) MAGNOLIACEÆ.

MAGNOLIA, L.

glanca, L. (Laurel Magnolia.) Near Bristol.

LIRIODENDRON, L. Tulipifera, L. (Tulip Tree.) AONACEA.

ASIMINA, Adans. triloba, Dunal. (Papaw.) Near Erwin- na, probably the extreme north-eas- tern habitat of the plant.

MENISPERMACEÆ.

MENISPERMUM, L. Canadense, L. (Moon Seed.) BERBERIDACEÆ.

BERBERIS, L. vulgaris, L. (Common Berberry.) Natu- ralized, Bensalem, I. C. Martindale.

CAULOPHYLLUM, Michx. thalictroides, Michx. (Blue Cohosh.) Not common. PODOPHYLLUM, L. peltatum, L. (May Apple.) NYMPHÆACEÆ.

BRASENIA, Shreber.

peltata, Pursh. (Water Shield.) Near Bristol, I. C. Martindale.

NYMPHÆA, Tourn.

odorata, Ait. (White Water Lily.) To- hickon, near Keelersville ; near Bris- tol, I. C. Martindale. var. minor, Sims. Near Bristol, I. C. Martindale. NUPHAR, Smith.

advena, Ait. (Yellow Pond Lily, Spat- ter Dock.)

luteum, Smith. var. pumilum, Gray. (Smaller Pond Lily.) Tohickon, near Keelersville; Warwick, I. C. Martindale.

PAPAVERACEÆE.

PAPAVER, L. Somniferum, L. (Common Poppy.) Lower end, I. C. Martindale. dubium, L. (Corn Poppy.)

FLORA OF BUCKS COUNTY.

CHELIDONIUM, L. majus, L. )Celandine.) SANGUINARIA, Dill. Canadensis, L. (Blood Root.)

FUMARIACEÆ.

ADLUMIA, Rof.

cirrhosa, Rof. (Climbing Fumitory.) Rocky woods, rare; a delicate and beautiful climber.

DICENTRA, Bork.

Cucullaria, D. C. (Dutchman's Breech- es.) Canadensis, D. C. (Squirrel Corn.) Near Pipersville.

CORYDALIS, Vent. glauca, Pursh. (Pale Corydalis.) Throughout the Trap Rock region of upper end.

aurea, Willd. . (Golden Corydalis.) Rocks, near Carversville.

FUMARIA, L.

officinalis, L. (Common Fumitory.) Bensalem, I. C. Martindale.

CRUCIFERÆ.

NASTURTIUM, R. Br.

officinale, R. Br. (True Water Cress .. ) Running wild in lower end, I. C. Martindale.

palustre, D. C. (Marsh Cress.)

palustre, D. C. var. hispidum, Gray. Along the Delaware. Armoracia, Fries. (Horse Radish.) Es- caped in many places.

DENTARIA, L. diphylla, L. (Two-leaved Tooth Wort.) Nockamixon rocks or "Narrows," T. C. Porter.

heterophylla, Nutt. (Various-leaved Tooth Wort.) Rich woods near Quak- ertown; one of the rarest plants of the county.

laciniata, Muhl. (Common Tooth Wort.) CARDAMINE, L. rhomboidea, D. C. (Spring Cress.)

hirsuta, L. (Bitter Cress.)

hirsuta. var. sylvatica, Gray. Near Bristol, I. C. Martindale. ARABIS, L.

lyrata, L. (Rock Cress.)

hirsuta, Scop. (Hairy Rock Cress.) Rocks along the Delaware; rare. lævigata, D. C. (Smooth Rock Cress.) Canadensis, L. (Sickle-Pod.) BARBAREA, R. Br. vulgaris, R. Br. (Common Winter Cress, yellow.) vulgaris. var. arcuata. Lower end, I. C. Martindale. SISYMBRIUM, L. officinale, Scop.) Hedge Mustard.) Thaliana, Gand. (Mouse-ear ('ress.)

BRASSICA, Tourn.

Sinapistrum, Bois. (Charlock.) Torres- dale, I. C. Martindale.

alba, Gray. (White Mustard.) Near Point Pleasant ; lower end, I. C. Martindale.

nigra, Gray. (Black Mustard.) DRABA, L.

Caroliniana, Walt. (Carolina Whitlow Grass.) Islands of the Delaware above and below Point Pleasant.

verna, L. (Whitlow Grass.) One of the earliest harbingers of spring.

CAMELINA, Crantz. Sativa, Crantz. (False Flax.)

CAPSELLA, Vent.

Bursa-pastoris, Monsch. (Shepherd's Purse.)

THLASPI, Tourn.

arvense, L. (Field Penny Cress.) Near Bristol, I. C. Martindale.

LEPIDIUM, L.

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The history of Bucks County, Pennsylvania : from the discovery of the Delaware to the present time, Part 82

Author: Davis, W.W.H. (William Watts Hart), 1820-1910 Publication date: 1876 Publisher: Doylestown, Pa. : Democrat Book and Job Office Print Number of Pages: 976

Author: Davis, W.W.H. (William Watts Hart), 1820-1910
Publication date: 1876
Publisher: Doylestown, Pa. : Democrat Book and Job Office Print
Number of Pages: 976