BULLETIN ni^T0RICAL50ClETY MONTCOMERY COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA Jv^oRmsrowM

S9MERY

PUBLISHED BY THE SOCIETY AT 1T5 BUILDING )65f DEKAL8 SIKBBT NORRI3TOWN.PA.

FALL, 1959 VOLUME XII NUMBER I

PRICE $1.50 The Historical Society of Montgomery County

OFFICERS

Hon. David E. Geoshens, President Geoege K. Beecht, Esq., Vice-President Hon. Alfeed L. Taxis, Vice-President De. Edwaed F. Goeson, Vice-President Eva G. Davis, Recording Secretary Mes. H. Donald Moll, Corresponding Secretary Mes. LbRoy Buebis, Financial Secretary and LibraHan Lyman a. Keatz, Treasurer

TRUSTEES

Kieke Beyan, Esq. Habey L. Cheistman Mes. H. H. Feangine Donald A. Gallagee, Esq. Heebeet H. Gansee Hon. David E. Geoshens Kenneth H. Hallman Nancy P. Highley Fostee C. Hillegass Aethue H. Jenkins Hon. Haeold G. Knight Lyman A. Keatz William S. Pettit Mes. F. B. Wildman, Je. New Building of The Historical Society of Montgomery County Occupied in 1954 THE BULLETIN of the Historical Society of Montgomery County

PUBLISHED SEMI-ANNUALLY—SPRING AND FALL

VOLUME XII FALL, 1959 NUMBER 1

CONT ENTS

Foreword 3 Montgomery County History, Edward W. Hocker Chapter I—The State's 15th County Established 5 II—Two Revolts Suppressed ^ 15 III—Political Issues of the 1790's 22 IV—First Churches and Schools 26 V—Glimpses of Early Celebrities 32 VI—The First Turnpikes 42 VII—The First Borough 47 VIII—The War of 1812 49 IX—Improvements Along the Schuylkill 53 X—^Religious Controversies 59 XI—Patriotic Commemorations 63 Reports 68

PUBLICATION COMMITTEE

Mrs. LeRoy Burris Mrs. H. Donald Moll Charles R. Barker, Chairman FOREWORD

Montgomery County celebrated its 175th anniversary, Sep tember 10, 1959. In recognition of this century and three quarters of advancement and development, the Norristown Times Herald presented to its readers, under the date of September 11, 1959, a commemorative edition of 104 pages containing a comprehensive history from the days of the early settlers to the present generation. The history, compiled and written by Edward W. Hocker, the dean of Montgomery County historians, was especially pre pared for the Times Herald. Much of it was originally pub lished September 10, 1934, when the county marked its 150th anniversary. It was brought up to date in the 1959 edition, which was only possible due to the fact that The Historical Society of Montgomery County had in its possession the only copy of the 1934 issue of the Times Herald remaining to be found. All others, within the course of 25 years, having been destroyed by time or otherwise lost! Eventually the same end could be expected for the 1959 edition. The Historical Society of Montgomery County is assuming the responsibility of pre venting a repetition of the misfortune. Accordingly The Historical Society of Montgomery County, with the permission of the Times Herald, is reprinting the history in its publication, the Bulletin, Volume XII, Fall 1959-Spring 1961, (4 numbers), to preserve this valuable material in a more permanent form than newsprint. Although a departure in policy in using other than primary source ma terials in the Bulletin, it is deemed that an exception is in order to reproduce this history for the enlightenment and enjoyment of future generations. This history of Montgomery County includes material pre sented in the department "Up and Down Montgomery Coun ty", which the author, Edward W. Hocker has ably conducted in the Times Herald under the pen name of "Norris" from 1921 down to the present. The Historical Society of Montgomery County salutes and thanks Mr. Hocker for his accomplishment through the years in the field of local history, and presents his work with pride in its Bulletin and to its members and friends.

JANE KEPLINGER BURRIS Librarian Montgomery County History Edwakd W. Hooker

CHAPTER I the question of dividing Phila delphia county. In March 1784, The State's Fifteenth this committee reported a bill making the boimdary along the County Establishment northern line of the Northern Bonndar; and Coontyseat Jiiberties, extending from the Controvergles Delaware River to the Schuyll^I, while west of the Schuylklll the With the devastation and dis boundary was to be the line tress of the Revolutionary War separating Blockley Township safely past, the people of rural from Lower Merion township. Philadelphia county, then ex Thus east of the Schuylklll the tending into interior Pennsyl s uthern boundary of the new vania as far as the Berks county coimty would have been a short line, began to agitate the estab distance below Germantown. The lishment of local government committee recognized that in with which they could be in more most of rural Philadelphia there intimate contact than was pos was a demand for separation sible when the seat of nearly all from the city, for the farmers government functions was far believed they were being unduly away in the city of Philadelphia. taxed to maintain the city. To travel to the countyseat in volved a full day's journey from The bill located the county- the upper part of the county as seat of the proposed county In it was then constituted—a jour Norriton township, "in the neigh ney beset with many difficulties borhood of Stony Run, contiguous because of wretched roads and to the river Schuylklll" In the infrequent stage coaches. locality Indicated there was at In 1782 petitk'ns reached the that time no "Ulage and not state's Assembly that a new coun even a tavern. However the CTni- ty be formed comprising that versity of Pennsylvania, which part of Philadelphia county owned the land in that region, northwest of Skippack and was ready to lend its aid by pro Perkiomen"Creeks togethei with viding a site for county buildings parts of Berks and Chester coun and fostering the establishment ties Pottstowr was proposed as of a town. the coimtyseat. It was now the Taking as the lower boundary principal village In northern the line proposed in the bill, the Philadelphia county, though countyseat was nearly central Trappe and New Hanover were with regard to the length of the older communities. county, though not as to the The Assembly refused to ap breadth. Nevertheless the site did prove the suggestion, bu it ap not meet with the approval of pointed a committee to consider the people of Germantown and BULLETIN OP HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

Chestnut Hill, and in the summer Byberry townships, in what Is of 1784 they held meetings pro now Philadelphia, and from testing against the countyseat Springfield, Moreland, Chelten site, though upholding separation ham and Abington townships. of rural Philadelphia from the Oh September 10, 1784, the bill, city. with the Moreland rider and giv The Assembly adjourned on ing the name of Montgomery to April 1, and reconvened on July the new county, passed the As SO.. Now the bill • was amended sembly, receiving 36 votes to 16 to carry the southern line of the against it. At. that time the As new county much farther north, sembly consisted of only one so as to leave Germantown and chamber. The state had no gov Chestnut Hill in Philadelphia ernor, but executive power was county. The new boundary was vested in the Supreme Executive drawn along the line between Council. Horsham and Montgomery town Thus Montgomery county came ships, between Whltemarsh and into existence as the 15th county Plymouth, and. west of the of Pennsylvania. Schuylklll, between Lower and Expressions of dissatisfaction Upper Merlon. about the countyseat continued to However, this amendment fail reach the Assembly for some time ed of passage. Then the boundary after the passage of the act. Pe was located virtually where it Is titions from Lower Merion. Chel now—along the southern and tenham, Springfield, Moreland -eastern borders of Moreland, and Abington townships asked Ahlngton, Cheltenham, Spring that these townships be permit field and Lower Merlon town ted to remain in Philadelphia ships. county. On February 17, 1785, a When It was evident that this meeting was held in Whltemarsh, line would be adopted a petition composed of delegates from dif was sent to the Assembly from ferent townships in the new Moreland township asking for a county, at which the Assembly •change. A long, narrow strip of was urged to locate the county- land belonging to Moreland town seat near the junction of Skip- ship and included in the ^new pack and Bethlehem roads, at county extended southeastward the village of Whltemarsh. How between Byberry and Lower Dub ever, the Assemb^ declined to lin townships, which remained in make a change. the old county. The 300 inhabi , The new county, which was tants of this strip preferred to 30 miles long and about 15 miles stay in Philadelphia county, and broad, had perhaps 20,000 in the Assembly complied with their habitants. The first census, in request, a rider being added to 1790, showed it then had a popu the bill running the boundary lation of 22,924. The county com line across the strip instead of prised 28 townships, which were around it. the only municipal units, no The bill was debated by para borough being incorporated imtil graphs at intervals in August and 1812. •early September, and numerous Why Montgomery county re } titions foi and against the ceived the name it bears, is a measure were received. Remon question that has never been strances against the bill came satisfactorily , answered. Three from Oxford, Lower Dublin and' theories have been offered. MONTGOMERY COUNTY HISTORY by EDWARD W. HOOKER

• The most popular explanation county the Supreme Executive is that the name is a tribute to Coimcil elected Colonel Thomas General Richard Montgomery, Craig, formerly of Northumber who fell early in the Revolu land county and an army officer tionary War in the attack upon in the Revolution, to serve as Quebec. ,But it may objected prothonotary of the new county, that General Montgomery was a and the following day he was New York man and had no affi also named as clerk of the courts. liations with this region, and that, At the same time be was com while his death caused sorrow missioned as "a justice of the generally throughout the united county court of common pleas." colonies, by the time Montgomery So far as records show, the county was organized nearly nine county government began to years had elapsed and many other function on October 19, 1784, heroes of the war had assumed when PYederick A. Muhlenberg far greater prominence In the recorded a deed and two mort public mind than Montgomery. gages and granted letters of ad A second theory which some ministration in an estate. writers on the history of the county have received with ap First Sessions of the Courts proval is that the name of Mont On December, 1784, a session gomery township was applied to of the Orphans' court was held in the county. This township was Trappe, Justice Muhlenberg pre formed early In the 18th century, siding, while three other justices its name being taken from that sat with him. The first Court of of a shire in Wales. Welshmen Common Pleas was held Decem were pioneer settlers in the ter.- ber. 28. ritory that became Montgomery It was not necessary then that county. But again the objection Judges of the county courts may be urged that there was no should be learned in the law. evident reason for. taking the Lawyers were few in Pennsyl name oi the township for the new vania, and strong popular pre county. judice existed against the pro A third attempted explanation fession. Possession of high stand has directed attention to the fact ards of common honesty and that when Mongomery county common sense was deemed much was organized there were two more requisite for a judge than members of the name of Mont knowledge of the law's intricacies. gomery in the General Assembly According to the system of that of Pennsylvania—Joseph Mont time, all justices of the peace gomery. of Lancaster, and Wil holding office in Montgomery liam Montgomery, of Northum county were constituted judges of berland. When the first petitions the county courts, though they for a new county were submitted were separately commissioned as to the Assembly the name was judges. There were seven justices left blank, and "Montgomery" of the peace in the county, each was subsequently inserted, it is of whom had jurisdiction over said, to gain the support of the several townships. These justices two members of that name. and their districts were: First Officials Frederick A. Muhlenberg, of Trappe, for Ehovidence, Limerick On the day the General As and Perkiomen and Skippack sembly created Montgomery townships. Providence consisted BULLETIN OF HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY of the present Upper and Lower Just where the first sessions of Providence. The two townships the Court of Common Pleas of now known as Perkiomen and Montgomery county were held, Skippack were then one town has been a matter of dispute ship with the double name. among historians. The minutes Michael Croll, of Upper Sal- as preserved fix the date as De ford township, for that township cember 28, 1784, and read that and also Marlborough and Upper the court was held "at the house Hanover. of John Shannon." Prior to this John Richards, of New Hanover time John Shannon conducted township, for that township as the Barley Sheaf tavern, on the well as Frederick and Douglass. Manatawny or Germantown road, Peter Evans, of Montgomery in Norriton township, northwest township, for that township, of Stony Creek. In March, 1785, Gwynedd and Hatfleld. he was assessed as owner of a tavern on Egypt road, now Main James Morris, of Whltpain township, for that township, street, Norristown, east of Stony Creek. Norriton and Worcester. On September 15 the Assembly William Dean, of Moreland, for elected Frederick A. Muhlenberg Moreland, Upper Dublin and recorder of deeds and register of Horsham. wills for Montgomery county. Henry Scheetz, of Whitemarsh There were numerous candidates township, for Whitemarsh, for the offices, but Muhlenberg Springfield and Plymouth. was widely known in the state, The office was vacant in the especially among politicians. He district comprising Lower Sal- was a son of the distinguished ford, Pranconia and Towamen- Lutheran leader, the Rev. Dr. cin, while Abington and Chelten Henry Melchior Muhlenberg, of ham were part of a district which Trappe, and had himself been a included townships in Phfiadel- Lutheran clergyman but he for phia county, the iustice living sook the ministry at the time of Ir Bristol township, Philadelphia, the Revolution, becoming active and Upper and Lower Merion in politics and being chosen a were likewise in a district whose member of the Continental Con justice lived In Blockley town gress in 1779. When Montgomery ship, Philadelphia. county was created he was a jus Any three of the justices could tice of the peace, and in that hold the Court of Quarter Ses capacity he became a judge of sions, Common Pleas and General the county courts, being made Jail Delivery and the Orphans' president judge. Later he was Court. They had jurisdiction over speaker of the first National all manner of cases excepting House of Representatives under felonies for which the punish the constitution." ment was death. Such felonies Another county official elected at that time included not only by the Assembly, was the col murder but also counterfeiting, lector of excise, Jacob Auld, of burglary and other crimes. Cases Norriton township being chosen, of this character were to be tried while the Supreme Executive by judges of the Supreme Court Council made Dr. Abel Morgan, of the state on circuit. The Su of Providence township, county preme Court judges were learned lieutenant. The latter officer in the law. directed the affairs of the militia. MONTGOMERY COUNTY HISTORY by EDWARD W. HOOKER

Complying with the act of As ship. The latter was a brother sembly establishing Montgomery of David Rittenhouse. county, the first election was held Under the peculiar law of that on October 14, 1784. There was time two men were elected for but one polling place for the en sheriff and two for coroner, tire county, that being, at Mrs. though only one was to serve, the Hannah Thompson's hotel, at choice being made by the Su Jeffersonville, in Ncrriton town preme Executive Council of the ship, two miles west of the site state. The coimcil named Zebu of the new county seat. Colonel lon Potts, of Plymouth township, Thomas Proctor, high sheriff of for sheriff, and Conrad Boyer, Philadelphia county, supervised of Limerick township, for coroner. the election. His return to the According to a tradition in the Supreme Executive Council men Shannon family the first court tioned no judge of election. was held in the barn of the Bar Probably he himself served in ley Sheaf tavern. Yet it was clear that capacity. There were three from the time the county was assistant judges of election— constituted that the county seat Robert Curry, of Norriton town was to be near the confluence of ship: Jacob Reed, of Hatfield Stony Creek with the Schuylkill, township, and Joseph McClean, of Whitemarsh township, all of and since John Shannon had a tavern in that locality there whom had been officers in the militia at the time of the Revo seems reason for doubting that the court would meet on German- lution. There also were more than town road. a score of inspectors for the elec tion, and this group varied for According to the minutes, the the different offices for which justices present at the first ses ballots were cast. Colonel Proc sion of court were P. A. Muhlen- tor's return, which assumed the berg. James Morris, John queer form of an indenture be Richards, Henry Scheetz and tween himself and the election William Dean. officers, did not report the num Upon the opening of court, at ber of votes. The officials elected 12 o'clock noon, the commissions were: of the justices were read, and also Sheriff — Zebulon Potts and that of Thomas Craig as clerk of Francis Swaine. the courts. Members of the grand Coroner — Conrad Boyer and jury were then .sworn, and Jus Moses DeHaven. tice Muhlenberg charged them. Coimty Commissioners — Chris The constables of the several tian Scheid, of Marlborough townships made their returns. township; Frederick Conrad, Only two cases were adjudicated, Worcester township and John these being disputes between Mann, Upper Dublin township. township poor boards over the Members of the Supreme care of paupers whose place of Executive Council — Daniel Hies- residence was a matter of un ter, of Sumneytown. certainty. Members of Assembly — Peter Pending the erection of a court Richards, of Douglass township: house, court was held at "the Robert I^ller, of Horsham town house of John Shannon" in ship; George Smith, of Mont March and June, 1785, while in gomery township, and Benjamin September, 1785, the minutes Rittenhouse, of Worcester town note that a session took place BULLETIN OF HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

"in Norristown," though no build land in Norriton townsh'p which ing Is mentioned. Dr. Smith had bought and trans ferred to the school. In 1789 the Court House Erected rights of the College and Aca While the Pennsylvania As demy were restored, and two sembly was still debating the bill years later it was united with for the establishment ol Mont- the University. gorbery county, interested citizens The act creating Montgomery had questioned the trustees of the county designated these commis University of Pennsylvania as to sioners to acquire a site for the their terms for the sale of land ''public buildings" and to super which they owned in the region vise the erection of those build where the new county seat was ings: Henry Pawling. Jr. Jona tc be located. On March 3. 1784, than Roberts. George Smith, the trustees at a meeting received Robert Shannon and Henry Cun- . letter from Jacob Hush on this nard. They reopened negotiations subject, and it was referred to with the University trustees, and a committee. A week later the in October the trustees appointed trustees agreed to give four acres a committee to confer with the at "Norrington Farms" to the commissioners, the committee new county and also to permit being instructed to consider the the county to use a landing. possibility that the Norrington Furthermore, seizing the oppor farm lands might be needed as tunity to sell some of the land, a site for the University. the trustees directed that twenty The outcome was an agreement acres be laid out in building lots. to transfer to the commissioners Dr. William Smith, provost of a tract of land on the ridge be the College and Academy of tween Stony Creek and Saw Mill Philadelphia, had bought 500 Run, whereon the new county acres in Norriton township on could build its court house and behalf of his school from Colonel prison, while the frontage on John Bull in 1776 Colonel Bull Egypt street, now Main street, had bought the land five years was to be a "public square to •before from Mrs. Mary Norris, remain open forever." The tract widow of Charles Norris. It was was 140 feet wide, and extended part of the tract of 7480 acres from Main street to Airy. The which Isaac Norris had acquired nominal "consideration" was 5 hereabouts early in the century, shillings. and from the Norris family's In those days there were no ownership the township was architects in the modern sense of named Norriton and the later that term. Anyone who wanted to county seat Norristown. build a house employed masons, Both Dr. Smith and his school carpenters and other workmen to were suspected of lack of patrio do the work in which they were tism at the thne of the Revolu skilled. So on November 20, 1784, tion, and the Pennsylvania As the commissioners met at Mrs. sembly revoked the Charter of Hannah Thompson's inn, Jefler- the College. At the same time a sonville, "to contract with work new institution, the University of men and for material" for the Pennsylvania, was chartered, and public buildings. tc the University all the rights The prison was located at the and possessions of the old College Airy street end of the tract, and were transferred, including the the court house south of the MONTGOMERY COUNTY HISTORY by EDWARD W. HOOKER 11

present Penn street, facing to uncompleted court house in Sep ward Main street. In front of tember, 1785. The court records the court house was to be the merely state that court met "at public square, extending 200 feet Norris Town." back from Main street. The re For several years all manner of mainder of the tract to be oc county business not directly a cupied by the court house and part of open sessions of court prison measured 334 feet along was transacted at the home of Swede street. Colonel Thomas Craig, at Main Construction was begun early and Cherry streets. He was pro- In 1785. In January of that year thonotary and clerk of the courts, the trustees of the University and later was also made recorder gave permission to the commis of deeds. He continued to hold sioners to open a quarry on the the three offices until the close University land to obtain stone of 1789, and during that time he for the new buildings. was by all odds the most power The court house was a two- ful man in the community. story structure, measuring about Sheriff Swaine, In a statement fifty by forty feet. All the first later submitted to the Supreme fioor was one large room, for Executive Coimcil, said that, af sessions of court. The rooms on ter consultation with Jonathan the second floor first served for Roberts, William Moore Smith the county ofiiees, though in 1791 and others, he found it difficult these offices were moved into to obtain the use of privately another building erected along owned land as a site for the gal side, and thereafter the upper lows. Among the places proposed rooms of the court house were were the town's burial ground, used by juries and for other pur the public landing on the Schuyl- poses connected with sessions of kill and ground along Stony court. Originally there was a Creek near the bridge. Smith, stairway on the outside, though Roberts and Swaine then went later it was placed Inside. On the to Colonel Craig's house to learn building was a cupola with a bell. his views. Colonel Craig refused There is reason to believe that to talk with the sheriff, and the parts of the court house were conference came to no conclusion. occupied in 1785. The elections As the day set for the hanging were held there that year. The was at hand. Sheriff Swaine county had now been divided into directed that the gallows be three election districts, and the erected in Airy street, alongside couH house was the viting place the jail. This was done the same for the district comprising Nor- night. Early the next morning, as riton, Plymouth, Whitpain, Upper soon as Colonel Craig discovered Merion, Providence, Worcester the gallows in Airy street, he had and Skippack and Perkiomen it torn down. On this elevated townships. Until this building was site, Colonel Craig declared, the removed, in 1855, elections were hanging would be visible from held there. There were separate every house in the village. polls in different parts of the Sheriff Swame then hastily building . for each township or mounted his horse and set out for borough, each having its own Philadelphia to seek the advice election officers. of state officials. William Moore It is likely that the first ses Smith, son of Dr. William Smith, sions of court were held in the tried to serve as a peacemaker 22 BULLETIN OF HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

In the controversy, and he suc sion a man identifled only as ceeded in obtaining Colonel "Negro William." whc pleaded Craig's consent to the erection guilty to a charge of larceny was of the gallows on lands of the sentenced to receive nineteen University "at the upper part of lashes. Two similar sentences of a large field at a distance from whipping were imposed in 1786, the town." but they were the last. Smith now also mounted his Contention Over First Hanging horse and set off on the trail of the sherifl. He overtook Swaine Cases which might involve the below Norristown, but the sheriff death penalty could be tried only declined to return until after he before justices of the state's had consulted the state officials. Supreme Court. The first such court held in Norristown con Prison and Whipping Posts vened on October 11. 1786. when The prison, a low stone struc John Brown and Philip Hoof- ture at Swede and Airy streets, nagle were accused of burglary. was in use in December, 1788, Justices William A, Atlee and though not yet completed. The George Bryan were on the bench. jheriff of the courty was jailor, Hoofnagle was convicted and sen and usually there were few pri tenced to five years' Imprison soners, In the summer time some ment. Brown's trial was post convicts were permitted to work poned until March. 1787. on farms in the vicinity receiv The law exacting the death ing pay for their work. Others penalty for burglary had been less trustworthy worked in a changed a short time before, and truck patch on the prison grounds prisoners could elect to be tried with a ball and chair> attached either under the old law or the to their ankles. new act. whereby the penalty Perhaps because the coxmty had was imprisonment. Hoofnagle, no prison, no sentence.- of im strange to say. was reluctant to prisonment were Imposed in the avail himself of the new law. and courts up to 1786 Most offenders newspapers, commenting upon his were punished with fines, but attitude, said this showed that whipping was the penalty usually criminals feared a long term in inflicted for larceny. There was prison more than the halter. a whipping post in front of the An account of the trial relates prison, on Swede street. that, after "pathetic and in- Usually not more than a dozen st»'ucting admonition from the cases required the attention of bench." Hoofnagle was sentenced court at its quarterly sessions, to serve five years at hard labor, and they were trivial. In Septem and It was ordered that he be re ber. 1785, a man Indicted on moved to the jail and his head three charges of larceny pleaded shaved, after which he was to be guilty. He was sentenced to re clothed in "criminal's dress" and ceive "fifteen lashes on the bare "put to public work." which back at the public post in Norrls meant labor upon the highway. Town," on each charge, and in When Brown was called for addition to restore the stolen trial his judges were Chief Jus goods or their value in money tice Thomas McKean and Justice and also to pay a fine The three Bryan, Brown was informed by lashings were to be inflicted on the court that he might claim the different dates. At the same ses right to be tried under the new MONTGOMERY COUNTY HISTORY by EDWARD W. HOOKER 13 law. which did not invoke the ed by disgraceful scenes. This penalts? of death tor burglary. man was Colonel Thomas Craig, Brown, however, according to doughly Scotch-Irish soldier of such reports of the case as are the Revolution who held three available, preferred the old law, county offices. which required that convicted Sheriff Swaine obtained the burglars be hanged. He was con advice of the attorney general in victed, and sentenced to die. Philadelphia. The location for No information is available as the gallows determined upon by to Brown's crime, though the out Craig and Smith apparently come of the case stirred up great proved satisfactory, and Brown excitement in Norristown. was hanged at 2 P. M. on April 12. When 'April 12, 1787. was an When the sheriff subsequently nounced as the time when Brown sent a letter to the Supreme was to be hanged, he seemed to Executive Council accusing Col repent of his obstinacy at the onel Craig of interfering with his trial in refusing to avail himself official activities. Craig respond of the new law. He wrote to the ed declaring there was scarcely Supreme Executive Council of one word of truth in Swalne's the state appealing for leniency charges, and he accompanied his and declaring that at the trial letter with statements from Wil no one spoke in his behalf and liam Moore Smith and Jonathan he was not permitted to defend Roberts, describing the con himself. The two justices who troversy. conducted the trial submitted a Duties of the Early Courts statement to the Council to the effect that Brown had been fairly Under the state constitution of convicted, but they had "no par- 1790 the state was divided into ticulai objection'' to a pardon judicial districts each of which foi him He was shown to be an had a president judge learned In old offender having once been the law Thereafter the judges pardoned for burglary. of the state's Supreme Court The Executive Counci' declined were no longei required to sit to interfere and ordered the in the county courf^ por did the sheriff of Montgomery county. justices of the peace constitute General Francis Swaine. to pro the court. ceed with the hanging At some terms of court the ma It was April 9 three days be jority of the cases involved the fore the day set for the hanging, keeping of "tippling houses." The when General Swaine received accused persons often were inn the orders of the Council at his keepers who had been licensed home in Trappe, He went to but had failed to pay the re Norristown the following day and quired fee On paying the sum appraised Brown of his fate. due they were released Every Then the sheriff consulted with year the judges passed upon the some citizens of the locality as to applications to conduct inns and the most suitable place for erect taverns. In February 1795, the ing the gallows. In those days court ruled that the number' of hangings were usually made a "public houses" in the county public spectacle. But there was that year should not exceed one man in Norristown who was seventy-flve. determined this first hanging in Supervisors of highways were the county should not be attend occasionally brought before court 14 BULLETIN OP HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY for neglect of duty and fined. In pleted so that the commissioners 1785 the court directed that con appointed in 1784 could file their stables who failed to attend court financial report They still should be fined 40 shillings. reckoned their accounts In Preauently the court had to ad pounds, shillings and pence, anii just disputes between the over- the report showed that the court S(.ers of the poor of adjoining house and prison had cost £4774, townships. There was no county 11 shillings 9 pence. They had almshouse, and each township received from Philadelphia coun was required to care destitute ty £1828 19 shillings, as Mont persons living therein. Sometimes gomery county's share of the such persons migrated to another proceeds from the sale of the old township that was believed to be rhiladelphia urison. In accord more generous than that where ance with powers granted in the they lived. Then usually the court act creating the county, the had to determine which township commissioners had levied a tax was liable. for building expenses, which pro duced £2909. f shilling, 4 pence. Petitions for laying out new Thus the sum of £36. 11 shillings, roads required attention at every 5 pence was due the commission session of court. There were also ers. The grand jury of March, controversies between appren 1790. approved the report and tices and their masters and be authorized tht coimty commis tween indentured servants and sioners to pay the public build their employers If such appren ings commission the amount due. tices or servants ran away the masters would advertise In the Already it was evident that the newspapers offering a reward for new court house was inadequate their arrest, and following their for the, needs of the county arrest they would be tried in offices, and in September 1790, court. Sometimes, too. the ap the grand jury recommended prentices or servants sued their that another building bf erected masters, charging that the terms for the county officials In com of the indenture had been vio pliance with this recommenda lated. tion the eoxmty commissioners Prom earliest times the court had an office building constructed house was used not only for ses east of the court house south of sions of the court but also for the present Penn street and on community meetings and enter p line with the court house and tainments. as well as for other separated therefrom by a space purposes as Is suggested in a re of eighteen feet. This was com port of the grand iury hi De pleted in 1791 cember. 1788 This report directed When the court house was built attention to the peril involved in there were only about dozen the practice of storing fiai: and dwellings in what was then term other combustibles in the cellar ed the Town of Norris. in addi of the court house. Unfortunately tion to three inns, two stores, a the report does not satisfy latter- school and a mill at the foot of day curiosity as to why flax was Swede street. The number of resi thus stored dents was about 100. There was Not until 1790 were all details not a church in the village, and connected with the construction no newspaper was published any of the "public buildings" com where in the county. MONTGOMERY COUNTY HISTORY by EDWARD W. HOOKER 15

CHAPTER 2 the Montgomery county militia, and in that capacity he parti Two Revolts Surpressed cipated in the campaign to sub due the Whisky Insurrection, in The Whiskey Insurrection Western Pennsylvania, the follow- infe year. The Montgomery Light About the time Montgomery Horse were in service In this county was organized there was campaign. William Henderson In the county a company ol ca being captain. valry having the name ot Mont Scotch-Irish inhabitants of gomery Troop of Light Horse. The r-outhwestem Pennsylvania saw commander was Captain James no reason why they should pay Morris, of Whltpair township, the government a taii upon the who had seen service In the Revo whisky they distilled Many of lution. It was in his house that them went beyond the adage of General Washington made his the Revolution that taxation headquarters when the American without representation Is unjust, army was encampec in Whitpain, for they believed any taxation in the autumn of 177T. Captain under any circumstances to be Morris was Frederick A. Muhlen- unjust. Connsequently from 1791 toerg's succ^or as president on there were disturbances when judge of the county, serving in excise officials tried to collec* the that capacity from 1785 until tax Finally President Washing 1790. ton summoned an ariny to restore When Justices William A. Atlee order in the rebellious districts. and George Bryan, of the Penn Besides a small number of regular sylvania Supreme Court, travel troops, the army comprised ing on circuit to try felony cases militia of Pennsylvania, New Jer which the county courts were not sey Delaware, Maryland and permitted to try, came to Norris- Virginia. In all about 13,000 men, town in October. 1786, to preside with Governor uee. of Virginia, at the trial of two alleged burg in command. lars, the Troop of Light Horse, On September 11, 1794, General under command of Captain Mor Josiah Harmer. adjutant general ris together with Sheriff Zebu- of Pennsylvania, summoned the Ion Potts and several other coun militia of the eastern part of the ty officials, met them on Ridge state into service. The quota road at the Philadelphia county from Philade'phla and Montgom line and escorted them to Norris- ery counties wa- to assemble "on tcwn After disposing of the two tht west bank of the Schuylklll cases the two justices continued near Philadelphia.' where the their travels westward and were men were to be supplied with accompanied by Captain Morris' arms, equipment and camp ma troop as far as the Berks county terial. and then march by way line of Reading and Harrisburg to The troop took part in the Carlisle the rendezvous of the great parade in Philadelphia on army. July 4, ''88. celebrating the The militia ol Montgomery adoption of the new federal con county comprised four regiments stitution by two-thirds of the of infantry, largely on paper, and states. the troop of cavalry already men In 1793, Captain Morris was tioned. Norristown had a com promoted to brigadier general of pany of twenty-five men in Col- 16 BULLETIN OP HISTOBIOAL SOOIETY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY onel John Wentz's regiment. Cap large escort, set out on horseback tain William Torbet commanding from Philadelphia on September the company, while Nathan Ed 30 to Inspect the army assem wards was lieutenant. Each com bling in Carlisle By noon they pany was allowed one covered were in Norristown. where they wagon and four horses to trans dined Traditions say Washington port tents and camp kettles, but stopped at the Black Horse tav each man was to carry his own ern. below Norristown. for a drink belongings. Each soldier was to of water ani had dinner in Nor bring a blanket and "if con ristown at an Inn ad.1olning the venient, a knapsack and can public square, which was later teen." The pay of the officers known as the Washington Hotel. was: Colonel, $40 a month; ma The President and his party jor. $30; captain, $25; lieutenant, lod( ed at '^'rappe that night, and $20; ensigns $15. or October 1 they had breakfast A week elapsed before the in Pottstown That night was troops were ready tx move west- . spent in Reading. On October 5 ward. On Friday. September 19. a President Washington arrived in detachment from Philadelphia Carlisle He proceeded with the passed up Ridge road through army as far a?- Bedford, and then Norristown. It consisted of three returned to Philadelphia, the companies of light horse and letter part of his route home Captain Scott's Light Infantry. being over Lancastei road. The following day more Phila Early 'n October a detachment delphia troops passed through of New Jersey troops on their Norristown on their way to the way to Carlisle encamped at "seat of var.' They Included a Norristown. The troops remained corps of light infantry, grena some days, for by this time the diers and the governor's staff, indications were that the insur together with wagon trains con rection had been crushed. General veying stores and baggage Next Prelinghuy"p.n. commander of the came the battalion from Philadel New Jersey volunteers, had his phia and Montgomery counties headquarters in Norristown. and that had been in camp on the on October 10 he issued an order west side of the Schuylkill at in compliance with instructions Philadelphia, A third detachment from President Wa-resident Washington, accom of the militiamen from Mont panied by Alexander Hamilton, gomery and Bucks counties. secretary of the treasury, and a These two counties, together with Montsomery Coomty Court House and 0FFICe6uiL0IM6l EReCT&O Respectiyeuy in J7S7ooa42JI. fls Appeared, it? • an Original Drawing ^ tTbsgpfe fi>rBawcg,Ei^1^0^.

GQ

First Court House of Montgomery County Demolished in 1850's MONTGOMERY COUNTY HISTORY by EDWARD W. HOOKER 17

Northampton, constituted a con- paign against the Whisky Insur gressiona) district When the re rection. turn fudges met to count the rhe spirit ol malcontent was ballots on November 15. the vote fostered in barrooni gatherings. of the militiamen from Mont One of the taverns where the gomery and Bucks had not yet agitators met was that of Conrad been received. On the face of the Marcks, where the village of returns General James Morris, of Gerysvillc now is. in Bucks coun Whitpaln township, was declared ty. but almost on the Montgom elected. But his opponent, John ery county line and only a quar Richards, from the upper end of ter of a mile rrorp the Northamp Mo.'itgomery count: began a con ton county line, now the Lehlgh test in Congress, and by counting county line. Conrad Marcks was the militia "ote he wa? seated one of Pries' chief lieutenants In The Insurrection quickly col spreading discontent. lapsed upon the appearance of Per the purpose of collecting the a.rmy, ana the militia com the new tax each state was divid panies were soon sent home. ed into divisions. Bucks and Montgomery counties constituted Fries' RebelliOD a division A commisslonei was appointed for each division, and A second revolt against federal he divided his division Into as authority occurred in Pennsyl sessment districts. In each dis vania in the same decade that trict "one respectable freeholder" witnessed the Whisky Insurrec was to be principal assessor and tion. Tht scene of Pries Rebel he was to have as man.r assistants lion, in 1799 was in the counties ao might be found necessary. The immediately north of Montgom law directed assessors "to Inquire ery. but some stirring events con after and concerning all lands, nected with the revolt were dwelling houses and slaves in enacted in this county their respective assessment dis Preparing for anticipated war tricts by reference to any records with Prance the national govern or documents and to any lists of ment imposed direct taxes upon assessment taken under the laws houses and lands This was ex of their respective states and by ceedingly offensive to many of all other lawful ways and means the Pennsylvania lerman dis and to value and enumerate the tricts, being reminiscent ol tri said dwelling houses, lands and butes exacted from the people In slaves." the European homes which these Eh'operty owners were to write settlers had forsaken John Pries, lists of their property subject to leader of the revolt, was a native the new tax. With regard to of Hatfield township. Montgom dwelling houses they were to set ery county, but at this time ne down the situation, dimensions was living in Milford township, or area, the number of stories, Bucks county, bordering on Mont the number and dimensions of gomery county Pursuing the vo the windows, the material of cation of an auctioneer. Pries which the houses were built, the gained a wide circle of acquaint number and description of out ance He served in the Pennsyl buildings and the names of the vania militia at the time of the owners or occupants. If the own Revolution, and was captain of er failed to prepare the list, then the militia company in the cam the assessor was directed to en- 18 BULLETIN OF HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY ter upon the property and make curred that- nothing was ac an assessment based upon the complished. best information attainable Ap A few days later it was re peals might be taken to the prin ported the assessor,, were about cipal assessor and from him to tc begin work in Milford town the commissioners. ship. Immediately the captain of Property valued at less than the township militia company or $100 (vas exempt from taxation. dered his company into service. U valued at $100 to $500 the tax The company marched to was two-tentlis of one pei cent, Quakertown. 100 men being in of th« valuation. As the valua- line, tior Increased the rate ol taxa Meanwhile three assessors had tion increased so that the rate assessed fifty properties. John was one per cent, on property Fries, ringleader in the revolt, worth $80,000. On each slave be warned them to desist, but they tween the ages of 12 and 50 disregarded h;m A little later as there was a tax of 50 cents. the assessors were passing through Q lakertown on their way Assessors were to be paid $1.50 home the mob captured two of a day while collecting lists and $1 them, but soon released them a day while preparing their data. with the admonition never to re The requirement to count and turn. measure the ^Jindows was seized Across the Northampton coxmty upon by the agitators. It wao in line, adjoining Milford township, trusive and bore some resemb on the northwest, in what is now lance to hateful tax systems of Lehigh county, is Upper Milford European lands. In reality this township There tn,r people also phase of the law was never put held meeting; tc denounce the into effect. Opposition to it was new tax and prevent assessments. so pronoimced (hat Congress in The discontent spread northward 1799 repealed that feature But through Northampton, Colonel the news of that action did not Samuel Nichols United States gain currency, and when the as marshal, took cognizance of the sessors appeared the people as situation, issued warrants for the sumed they were going to count arrest of jme of the agitators the windows. and early in March made seven The first attempt to organize teen arrests. He took his prisoners the opposition was when a public to Bethlehem and confined them meeting was held, February 8. in the Sun Inn. 1799. in John Klein's tavern, Now another meeting was held midway between Gerysville and in Marcks' tavern, Geryville, at Trumbauersville. Bucks county. which it was decided to march At this meeting fifty men signed upon Bethlehem and release the a paper the purport of which is marshal's prisoners. A company not now known A resolution was was organized with John Pries adopted urging the assessors to captain. The men were armed stay away from Milford town with guns, '-roadswords and pis ship. tols. In Northampton plans were Then James Chapman, princi made tc aid Fries in releasing pal assessor, called a meeting, in the prisoners. tending to ask the people to When Fries' company joined nominate the assessors for their the Northampton contingent at district; but so much disorder oc the south end of the bridge over MONTGOMERY COUNTY HISTORY by EDWARD W. HOOKER 19

the Lehigh river at Bethlehem, vent and suppress such pro the "army" numbered 140 includ ceedings. ing two companies of riflemen March 25 the secretary of war and a troop of mounted men. called on Governor Mifflin, of Marshal Nichols summoned a Pennsylvania,, for troops to sup posse of twenty citizens to aid press "the insurrection now exist him. A parley with Pries proved ing in the counties of Northamp futile The invaders marched to ton. Bucks and Montgomery." the Sun Inn, rushed in and an The governor summoned a de altercation with the posse re tachment of spvalry. consisting of sulted. though no one was hurt. all the mounted companies of Finally the marshal yielded and Philadelphia city and one troop turned over the prisoners to Pries. each from the counties of Phila delphia, Bucks, Montgomery, Almost ut once Fries seemed to realize that he was involved in Chester and Lancaster, all under a serious conflict with the gov command of Brigadier General ernment. Another meeting was William Macphersor.. held at the Gerysville tavern on The Montgomery county troop March 15, 200 men being present. was the same which had seen service in the Whisky Insurrec A committee was appointed, tion campaign. Its commander which later reported, advising everyone to desist from opposing now was Captain Robert Ken the assessors. Friess even declared nedy, landlord of the Hickory- he would give the assessors dinner town Hotel. when they arrived The regular army of the United States was small in numbers at Although the "rebels" now that time, but it supplied 500 seemed repentant, the government men. including some artillery. was not ready to drop the case. The regulars rendezvoused in Marshal Nichols sent a report Newtowr. and Bristol. Bucks 01 what had occuired in Beth county lehem to Judge Peters, of the The Pennsylvania troops as Lnited States Court. In Phila sembled in Philadelphia and on delphia. who transmitted it to April 4. proceeded up Bethlehem President John Adams. The road to Springhouse, in Gwynedd President and his cabinet felt township, where they camped an example must be made of these that night. Here General Mac- offenders against federal au pherson Issued an address to the thority people, accompanied by an appeal The Eh-esident issued a procla in German from the Rev. J. H. mation on March 12, reciting that C. Helmuth, Lutheran pastor in "combinations to defeat the exe Philadelphia, who warned the cution of the laws" existed on Germans of their perilous blunder the counties of Northampton, in resisting the government. Bucks and Montgomery acts Prom Springhouse the "army" being perpetrated "which 1 am advanced along Bethlehem road advised amount to treason, being to Seller's .tavern, now Sellers- overt acts of levying war against viiie, Bucks county. Now the the United States." The Presi troops began making arrests One dent therefore commanded the of the first captured was John "insurgents" to disperse and re Fries. He had left home to con tire peaceably to theii homes, duct a public sale. While thus and officials were ordered to pre engaged the troops approached. 20 BULLETIN or HISTORICAL SOCIETY OP MONTGOMERY COUNTY

R-ies fled and hid in a swamp. and arguments for ten days the A small dog, which was Pries' jury, on May 9, 1799, rendered constant companion, revealed his a verdict of guilty of treason. For master's whereabouts, and he was this death was the penalty. How placed under arrest and taken ever. a new trial was granted on to prison in Philadelphia. the ground that a juror had The troops marched to Quaker- shown prejudice. town and then to Macungie, mak United States Gonrt Sits in ing fifteen arrests for treason Norristown and fourteen for misdemeanor. In the summer of 1799 there Next Allentown and then Reading was an epidemic of yellow fever were visited by the "army," and in Philadelphia, because of which on April 22 and 23 the Pennsyl Fries and his associates were re vania commands were back in moved to the Norristown prison, Philadelphia, where they were and a detachment of Marines was dismissed. sent to Norristown to guard the This campaign ended the career prison. of the Montgomery County Troop When the time came for hold of cavalry. Many of the early ing the next term of the United militia companies were in reality States. Circuit Court, the epi political organizations. The Mont demic was still virulent in Phila gomery County Troop, however, delphia, and the judges decided, had both Federalists and anti- as the prisoners were in Norris Federalists among its members. town, to hold court in that town. In the tour through Bucks and Accordingly Judge Bushrod Wash Northampton counties some of ington and Judge Richard Peters the anti-Federalists became con came to Norristown and opened vinced that political motives were court in the county court house. back of the campaign, believing Judge Washington, an eminent •the Pederalisti sought to make jurist of his time, was a nephew capital by revealing the followers of General George Washington of Thomas Jefferson as being and his literary executor. He was treasonably inclined. On return an associate justice of the United ing from the "war" the Mont States Supreme Court from 1793 gomery County Troop stopped at until his death, in 1829. Judge Trappe. There a "liberty pole" Peters lived at Belmont, now in erected by the Jefferson party Fairmount Park, where he fre attracted the attention of the quently entertained Washington troopers. Some Federalist mem and other leaders in the new bers cut down the pole, Political nation. controversies developed, and the When the two eminent jurists Federalists withdrew from the convened court it transpired there troop. Captain Kennedy was a were not enough jurors to consti follower of Jefferson, whose party tute a jury. Hence court was was then known as the Demo adjourned four days to enable cratic Republican. After the dis court officials to round up more ruption of the original troop an jurors. When the court recon other was organized, named the vened, on October 15, 1799. Alex Democratic Republican Troop of ander J. Dallas, of counsel for Montgomery county. the defense, contested the juris Fries was tried in the United diction of the court. Mr. Dallas, State Circuit Court in Philadel a leader at the Philadelphia bar, phia, and after hearing evidence became secretary of the treasury MONTGOMERY COUNTY HISTORY by EDWARD W. HOOKER 21 under President Madison. He resumed his occupation as auc offered the objection that in a tioneer. He died in 1818. case in which the indictment was "State Prisoners" Royally Treated found in Philadelphia the trial could not take place in Norris- Nineteen oi Pries' associates town. Furthermore, he held that who were convicted or pleaded the trial should take place in the guilty were sentenced to terms of county where the alleged offense one to two years, and after being occurred. He admitted there was removed to the Norristown prison legal authority for removing the they remained there until released prisoners because of the epidemic by the President's pardon in Jan in Philadelphia- but he pointed uary, 1801. out that the law said that under The "state prisoners," as they such circumstances the prisoners were called, were treated with must be removed to the next much consideration while guests nearest prison. Norristown, he of Sheriff Isaiah Wells at the showed, was seventeen miles from Norristown prison. He permitted Philadelphia, whereas Chester, some of them to leave the prison where there also was a prison, was daily to work on farms or at but fifteen miles distant. There other occupations though they fore he held the law bad been were required to return to the disregarded in bringing the pris prison every night. Evidently they oners to Norristown. won the sjmipathy of the popu Judge Peters replied that the lace. for when they were released, ccurt had considered Chester but following their pardon, a veri learned that several cases of yel table ovation was tendered them. low fever had been reported Before leaving the prison the there; hence it was deemed safer pardoned men signed a tribute to to make use of the Norristown Sheriff Wells and presented it to prison. him. In it they commended the For the prosecution. William sheriff for his humane treatment Rawle urged that the legal re of them, which was contrasted quirement that a trial must take with the "inhumanity and brutal place in the "district" where the ity" of the keeper of the Phila crime was committed did not delphia prison, where they had mean the county but the district first been confined. "The haugh of the United States Court, which ty, sullen and insulting manner" then comprised the entire state of the Philadelphia .iailor. the of Pennsylvania, tribute continued, "can never be Judge Washington held that obliterated from our minds." the Norristown session was an At 2 P. M. on Wednesday, Jan adjourned session of court begun uary 11, 1801, two troops of cav in Philadelphia and he overruled alry appeared at the prison, and the objections of Mr. Dallas. the people of the town generally Nevertheless Pries' second trial turned out to make a day of mirth was delayed until the following and festivity. One company was April, when it took place in Phila the Second Montgomery County delphia. Again he was found Troop, commanded by Captain guilty of treason, He was sen Rawn. The other was a troop from tenced to die, but President Northampton county, the com Adams pardoned him by procla mander of which was one of the mation on May 23, 1800, Fries re men about to be freed from turned to Milford township and prison, Captain Henry Jarret. 22 BULLETIN OF HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

This Northampton County Troop early pardons One of the pris was one of three militia com oners, named Moyer, died in the panies that had participated in Norristown prison. the "rebellion." The mounted Most of the men arrested in soldiers performed a series of connection with Pries' Rebellion evolutions in the neighborhood of were subsequently honored citi the prison, at Swede and Airy zens in theh communities. Cap streets. They also fired several tain Jarret was elected to the volleys and gave three cheers for State Senate from Northampton the released men and three more county In 1813 foi Sheriff Wells Then they set out for Northampton county, escorting the pardoned men to CHAPTER 3 their homes. Captain Jarret's troop had tak Political Issues of the 1790's en part in the raid on Bethle hem when the United States Colonel Miles Stirs Up a Tempest marshal's prisoners were released. The captains oi the two com Most of the Pennsylvania Ger panies of riflemen that joined mans who followed John Pries in In this raid were among the abortive revolt, and most of the Pennsylvania Germans generally, prisoners pardoned In Norris- town. One was Captain Valentine supported Thomas Jefferson's Kuder, whose company was from political doctrines. The Federal the western corner of Bucks ists were inclined to look upon county. He called out his men the anti-tax movement as having in March, 1799. to drive off the political inspiration. On the other assessors. The commander of the hand, the Democratic Republi other company was Captain An cans, comprising the followers of thony Stahlei. Jefferson, blamed the Federalist Conrad Marcks. landlord of the President, John Adams, for Gerysville hotel where the agi showing too much leniency to tators met, was also one of those ward foes of the government pardoned. He had been sentenced when he pardoned the Fries Re tr serve two years in iail and pay bellion prisoners. $1000 fine. Another of the re Under the administration of leased men was J. J. Syermann, President Washington party lines who was said to have been a were not closely drawn. In antici clergyman though details about pation of the election of 1796. him were scant. He was regarded there were no party conventions as one of the most troublesome of nor platforms, but public senti the agitators, and was among ment, usually expressed through those whom the United States the members of the several state marshal had confined in the Sun legislatures as well as of Con Inn, where the mob released gress, brought about the accept them. ance of John Adams and Thomas The others pardoned were Pinckney as the Federal Party Henry Shankweyler, of Millers- candidates for President and Vice town, now Macungie, and Henry President, while the opposing Schmidt. Some of the nineteen ticket, usually termed Democratic who received sentences had been Republican, consisted of Thomas discharged earlier, having either Jefferson for President and Aaron had short sentences or obtained Burr for Vice President. MONTGOMERY COUNTY HISTORY by EDWARD W. HOOKER 23

At that time the presidential counted the electoral vote, in electors each voted for two men, February. 1797, was it positively but did not designate which office known that Adams had been either was to hold. The one re elected. He had only three more ceiving the highest vote became votes than Jefferson in the Elec President and the second highest toral College. vote designated the Vice Presi This was the only time in the dent. Pennsylvania was entitled history of the United States that to sixteen electors In 1796. The a presidential elector failed to electors of the two parties were vote for the candidates of his chosen by the representatives of party. these parties in the General Colonel Miles had been a sol Assembly. Colonel Samuel Miles, dier in the French and Indian of Cheltenham township, Mont War and in the Revolution. At gomery county, was one. of the the time of the Revolution he Federalist Party group. At the lived at Spring Mill, on the farm election the vote was close in later acquired by Peter Legaux. Pennsylvania, witti the result that From 1784 until 1792 his home thirteen Democratic Republican was in Philadelphia, and he was electors were chosen and two elected mayor of the city. Not Federalists. The latter were withstanding the enmity of the Colonel Miles and Robert Cole- Federalists inciured through his man. vote in the Electoral College, he But when the electors met the continued to be prominent In following January for the formal public life, for now the Jeffer- election of the President and Vice sonites were largely in the major President, in accordance with the ity in Pennsylvania. He was constitution, fourteen Pennsyl elected a member of Assembly vania votes were cast for Jeffer from Montgomery county in 1805, son and only one for Adams. and died in Lancaster in Decem Colonel Miles, though elected as ber of that year while attending a Federalist, voted for Jeffer the sessions of the Assembly. son. He explained that after the General Peter Mnhlenberg's election he had become convinced Political Activity that Jefferson would make a bet ter President than Adams, and Montgomery county's most that, because of his frien^iness prominent figure in political life toward Prance, Jefferson would in those days was General Peter prevent the war then threatened Muhlenberg, distinguished patriot between that country and the of the American Revolution. He United States. was born at Trappe, where his There was no law to compel father, the noted Rev. Henry Colonel Miles to vote for the Melchoir Muhlenberg, was pastor candidates of the party which of Augustus Lutheran Church had nominated him for elector. and directed the organization of •Nevertheless it was the popular Lutheran congregations among feeling that he was under a moral the German settlers of Pennsyl obligation to remain true to his vania. Peter, as well as two of party, and he was therefore sub his younger brothers, was edu jected to much denunciation, cated for the Lutheran ministry. especially as the outcome of the After serving a charge in north presidential election was in grave ern New Jersey, he went to Vir doubt and not until Congress ginia, in 1772, to become pastor 24 BULLETIN OP EISTORIOAL SOCIETY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

at Woodstock, in the Shenandoah from each coimty and one from Valley. Most of the settlers in the city of Philadelphia. General this region were Germans. The, Muhlenberg was made vice presi Church of England was the es dent of the Council in 1787. Ben tablished church of Virginia, and jamin Pranklin, the president, in order that his marriages was aged and feeble and attended might be valid and that he few meetings of the Council, so could claim the support de that Muhlenberg was virtually rived from taxation under Vir acting president for two years. ginia laws, Muhlenberg went to When the time came to elect London to receive the ordination Pennsylvania's eight representa of the Anglican church prior to tives in the first House of Rep taking up his duties in Virginia. resentatives under the consitu- His German services he conducted tion, both General Muhlenberg according to the custom of the and his brother, Frederick A. Lutherans, while for English Muhlenberg, were elected, though services he no doubt used the they were nominated on opposing English Prayer Book, as the Lu tickets. theran church at that time was The Federalists made nomina exclusively German. tions at a convention held in Like the average Church of Lancaster November 3, 1788, the England parson, Muhlenberg be following being chosen: Thomas came a civic as well as religious Harley, York county; Henry Wyn- leader. But, unlike most of the koop, Bucks; George Clymer, parsons, when the Revolution Philadelphia; Thomas Scott, opened his sympathies were with Washington; Thomas Fitzsim- the American cause. He became mons, city of Philadelphia; Fred a colonel of a Virginia regiment, erick A. Muhlenberg, Montgom and one of the dramatic events ery; Stephen Chambers and John of the war was his farewell to his Allison. pulpit when, after preaching a The Anti-Federalists, later stirring sermon, he discarded his known as Democratic Republicans, ministerial robes and stood before met in Harrisburg and nominated his congregation in the uniform General Peter Muhlenberg, Daniel 0' a colonel, beginning at once Hiester. William Findlay, Charles the enlistment of troops for his Pettit, General William Irvine, command. He served with credit William Montgomery, Blair Mc- throughout the war, being soon Clenachan and Robert Whitehill. elevated to brigadier general, and It was asserted by the Federal at the end of the war to major ists that four of the Harrisburg general. nominees, including General General Muhlenberg did not Muhlenberg, were not really Anti- resume the ministry when he left Federalists, as they had supported the army, but he and his family the recently adopted federal con made their home in TTappe, his stitution. birthplace. Soon his talents were The election took place Wed claimed for public duty. In 1785 nesday, November 26. As it was he was elected member of the a state-wide vote for the entire Supreme Executive Council from congressional ticket, more than Montgomery county. The Council a week elapsed before the returns was then the executive power of from all the counties were count the state, there being no gover ed. Then it was seen that six nor. It consisted of one member men on the Lancaster ticket and MONTGOMERY COXJNTY HISTORY by EDWARD W. HOOKER 25 two on the Harrisburg tic"-et had candidate, these two counties been chosen, the two on the then constituting a district. A latter ticket being General Muh- committee was delegated to choose lenberg and Daniel Hiester, of the candidate. The committee Berks county, both of whom were reported in the evening that its popular among the Pennsylvania vote was as follows: General Germans and had polled a large Muhlenberg, 9; Thomas Ross, a vote in the counties where that Norristown lawyer, 8; William element predominated. The Fed Moore Smith, 4; Israel Jacobs, 3; eralists declined to attribute their John Hannum, 3. However, at election to Anti-Federal senti the election Israel Jacobs, Fed- ment among the voters. erlist nominee, was elected. He The two Muhlenberg brothers was a member of the Society of led their respective tickets in the Friends and lived at what is now state. Frederick A. Muhlenberg Mont Clare, five miles south of received a total of 8707 votes, and Muhlenberg's home at Trappe. General Muhlenberg, 7417. In Frederick A. Muhlenberg was Montgomery county the former now a resident of the Philadelphia polled 367 votes and the latter county, and he was returned to 300, each being at the head of Congress from that county. his ticket. The small number of In 1792 eleven Pennsylvania votes is accounted for not only members of the third House of because the population was smaU Representatives were elected on but also because there were only a state-wide ticket, and both of three voting districts in the coun the Muhlenberg brothers were ty, and rather than travel a long chosen. General Muhlenberg was distance to the polls many citi defeated for re-election in 1794, zens did not exercise their right but he was chosen for the Sixth to vote. Congress, in 1798, when the dis The time set for opening the trict comprised Montgomery, First Congress was March 4, 1789, Bucks and Northampton counties. in New York, then the capital. The proceedings of Congress On that day only eight senators show that General Muhlenberg and thirteen representatives were never made a speech and rarely present. Among the latter thir took part tn discussions, though teen were the two Muhlenbergs. he was regular in attendance. He Organization had to be postponed was active in political "impaigns, to await the arrival of a quorum, but not as a speechmaker. so that the House could not meet Prior to serving his third term until April 1. Then Frederick A. In Congress General Muhlenberg Muhlenberg was elected speaker, was elected in 1797 as a member he being escorted to his post of of the State Assembly from Mont duty by cavalry and a procession gomery county. In 1798 he was of citizens. a presidential elector. In Febru Members of the Second Con ary, 1801, the Legislature elected gress were not chosen until three him to the United States Senate. years after the election of the But the following June he re First Congress. On October 4, signed to accept President Jef 1791, a meeting of Democratic ferson's appointment as super Republican citizens of Montgom visor of internal revenue for ery and Chester cotmties was held Pennsylvania. The following year at Warren Tavern, on Lancaster the President appointed him col road, to select a congressional lector of the port at Philadelphia, 26 BULLETIN OF HISTORICAL SOCIETY OP MONTGOMERY COUNTY which office he held until his enough money was received to death on his 61st birthday anni- pay the cosU. of construction. '•ersary. October 1, 1807. He was Thus the bridge was completed buried in the grounds of Augus at a cost of $60,000, and was tus Lutheran Church, ~-appe. opened November 4, 1799. Toll was collected for five years. Ferkiomen Bridge Built One of the enduring historic landmarks of Montgomery coun- CHAPTER 4 t7' with which the name of Gen eral Peter Muhlenberg Is linked First Churches and Schools is the stone bridge over Perkio- men Creek at Collegeville, two Beligions Affairs in 1784 miles below his home Though Norristown had no Muhlenberg loved hunting and church in the eighteenth century, fishing, and in some of his let elsewhere in the county there was ters he alludes to fishing in the no lack of places of worship. In Perkiomen. deed, considering the sparse pop When the General Assembly in ulation, the new county was well 1797 passed an act permitting a provided with churches, lottery to be conducted to raise The Society of Friends had $20,000 to pay for a bridge over been holding regular meetings for the Perkiomen, General Muhlen worship since the days of William berg was made chairman of the Penn at Merion, Abington, Ply commission designated to con mouth and Gwynedd, while at duct the lott^, the other mem Horsham and Providence were bers being: John Richards, Sam other meetings only a little uel Baird, General Francis younger. Swaine, Muhlenberg's brother- Great numbers of German im in-law; Moses Hobson. Frederick migrants had settled in the upper Conrad, Samuel Markley, Francis part of the county, and before Nicholas, Dr. William Smith, the middle of the eighteenth cen Philip Boyer, Elisha Evans, James tury they had Lutheran and Re Bean, John Markley, Robert Ken formed congregations at New nedy and John Elliot. Twenty Hanover, Trappe, Pranconia, Up thousand tickets were sold for per Hanover and Upper Salford. two drawings, the first continu In the latter half of the century ing for twenty-one days in the Lutheran congregations came in summer of 1797 and the second to existence in Lower Dublin, for twenty-five days in November, Pottsgrove, now Pottstown, Gwy 1798. Each time there were prizes nedd, Barren Hill, Center Square of $1,000. $500 and nmnerous and Lower Merion. Pottsgrove, smaller sums. Worcester, Pranconia, Gwynedd Work was begun on the bridge and Whitpain also gained Re in 1798, and, by the end of the formed congregations in this year nearly $35,000 had been period. expended, but the bridge was only There was a Swedish Lutheran half completed, and no more church on the southern banks of money was available. The State the Schuylkill, in Upper Merlon Assembly then authorized the townshiPi which the early Swed county commissioners to complete ish settlers of that locality had the bridge and to collect toll from founded, but now it was being all who passed over It until served by an Anglican rector. MONTGOMERY COUNTY HISTORY by EDWARD W. HOOKER 27

The German "plain sects" had town forever," the buyers "yield come into the region in large ing and paying unto the said trus numbers. Mennonite congrega tees of the University of Penn tions flourished In Skippack, sylvania and their successors Lower Salford, Worcester. Provi yearly and every year forever an dence and Towamencin, and the acorn if demanded." Brethren had a congregation in The lot extended through to Lower Salford. Penn street, and evidently the The Anglican faith was repre school house was built at the sented by St. Thomas' Church, Penn street end, for in a list of Whitemarsh, and St. James*, buildings in Norristown in 1800 Evansburg, both founded about which David Sower, Jr, .com the beginning of the century, and plied he mentioned a school both badly disorganized at the house, two stories high and built time of the Revolution. of stone, situated' on Penn street, The Presbyterians had ancient east of Swede, while there was congregations in Abington, Norri- also a one-story frame dwelling ton and Lower Providence. on the lot. The only Baptist church in the This was a public school in new county was that in Mont the sense the term was then used gomery township, founded by —that is, it was not under the Welsh settlers in 1719, and the control of a chmch and was open only Methodist church was Bethel, to the public provided the re on Skippack road, in Worcester, quired payment of tuition fees established in 1770. was made to the teacher. The Though the Schwenkfelders had general management of the school come to Pennsylvania in 1734 and was in the control of a board nearly all had settled in upper of trustees. Montgomery county, their serv Norristown Academy Founded ices of worship were conducted in the homes of members until In 1803 a movement originated 1790, when they built their first to establish an academy in Nor church at Hosensack, on the bor ristown where the higher branches ders of Northampton, now Le- of education might be taught. To high county. take action upon this project a ! eeting of citizens was held at Rducatlonal Efforts the inn of Elisha Evans on Sat Schols were maintained either urday, January 29, 1803, at 4 P. M. by churches or through the united The chairman was General An efforts of citizens of communi drew Porter, who bad been an ties. officer in the Revolutionary army When the trustees of the Uni and whose home was at Selma, versity of Pennsylvania laid out the later Pornance home on West the Town of Norris, following the Main street, Norristown, organization of Montgomery A committee to propose a plan county, the lots on Egypt, or for an academy was appointed, Main, street, were numbered consisting of General Francis from the public square eastward. Swaine, Seth chapman and Levl Lot No. 3 was sold in 1796 to Pawling. A resolution was adopt Thomas Craig, Ezekiel Rhoads ed requesting "the masters of the and John Cleyne, "in trust for English schools to notify their the use of a public school to be subscribers" to attend a further established and kept in Norris- meeting a week later. 28 BULLETIN OP HISTORICAL SOCIETY OP MONTGOMERY COUNTY

At the second meeting, on Feb students took place in the court ruary 5. General Swaine presided. house. The teacher or one of the Following a report by General trustees would propound ques Swaine's committee, the meeting tions dealing with the several adopted a resolution that it was branches of study, and the stu "practicable to build" a house for dents repeated their carefully the proposed academy, and thirty- memorized answers. Then there five persons were then appointed were recitations or declamations, to solicit subscriptions. The list after which some distinguished included the most prominent citizen made a speech felicitating citizens of all parts of the county, the teachers and students upon for evidently the intention was their accomplishments. to make the academy a county- Certain allusions to the "young wide institution. gentlemen" who underwent these At another meeting on March examinations indicate that only 12 the following trustees for the boys were received at this school. new school were elected: General Such was the custom at most Andrew Porter, Seth Chapman, schools, for girls, it was generally Levi Pawling, Ezekiel Rhoads, believed, did not need higher edu Morris Jones, Elisha Evans, David cation. even when it rose only so Sower, Robert Hamill, Dr. Isaac high as that imparted in the Huddleston. John Markley. Alex academies of that time. ander Crawford. Nathan Potts Though postponed, the con and Jesse Bean. Since all of these templated erection of an Acad men lived in or near Norristown, emy building in Norristown was it seems as though the original not abandoned. On January 4, broad scope of the undertaking 1804, there was another public had been restricted. meeting of citizens in Elisha In June following the trustees Evans' inn to discuss the Acad announced that the Rev. John emy project. General Andrew Jones had been engaged as prin Porter presided. The trustees cipal of the Norristown Public elected were: The Rev. Slator School, which, the announcement Clay, rector of St. James' Episco continued, "will again be opened pal Church, Evansburg; the Rev. Monday. June 27. at the school William M, Tennent, the enter room in Norristown." "This semi prising and widely known pastor nary," it was promised, "will be of, Abington Presbyterian Church equal to any in Pennsylvania." whose charge then also embraced Instruction was to be given in the Norriton and Lower Provi Greek, Latin and English dence Presbyterian Churches: branches, mathematics and the Rev. John Gemmill, General arithmetic, and there were to be Francis Swaine, General Andrew public examinations at the end Porter, Cadwallader Evans, the of each quarter. Rev. John Jones, principal of the Prom this it may be inferred school in Norristown; Seth Chap that the plans for building a new man, a member of the bar: Levl school house did not mature as Pawling, also a lawyer; Dr; Isaac rapidly as had been anticipated, Huddleson, Norristown's only and therefore the old school was physician; John Markley, owner reorganized under a new principal of much land in Norristown; and continued in the former Alexander Crawford and Robert school building, on Penn street. Haramill, the leading merchant of The public examinations of the town. The trustees were in- MONTGOMERY COUNTY HISTORY by EDWARD W. HOOKER 29 structed to have the Academy in Leading Schools of the County corporated and to obtain prices The state aided indirectly in for building the desired school establishing a school at Sumney- house. town when the Legislature in 1806 Later the same year the State authorized commissioners to con Legislature passed an act incor duct a lottery to raise $2000 for porating the Norristown Academy the erection of a school house and authorizing the trustees upon a lot which General Daniel thereof to sell the school prop Hiester had donated in 1794 as a erty then in use in Norristown site for the school. The lottery and apply the proceeds toward was held and the school house erecting a new school house. This was built, but apparently all the was the tenth academy incor money thus raised was not needed porated in the state and the first for the undertaking, for as late in Montgomery county as 1830 a balance of $300 from The old school was sold in the lottery fund was paid over January, 1805. As the sum realiz for school purposes, a new school ed did not suffice to build the house being erected about this Academy, the State Legislature time. that year appropriated $5000 for the undertaking. Norristown Loller Academy was a famous Academy was the only school of school of the lower part of the the kind in the county which re county. Robert Loller, who lived ceived a state appropriation for in Hatboro, was a teacher and erecting a building. surveyor in early life, a colonel The site acquired for the new In the American army at the building was what now constitutes time of the Revolution, a member the space between the First Pres of Assembly and then an asso byterian Church and the Young ciate judge of Montgomery coun Men's Christian Association, on ty. At his death, in 1808, he the north side of Airy street at bequeathed the greater part of his DeKalb street. DeKalb street then estate for the founding of a ended at Airy street. The grade school in Hatboro. The school, was twelve feet higher than at named Loller Academy, was present, and the new school stood opened in 1812 After 1849 the upon an elevation about equal to Academy was conducted in con that of the county prison at pres junction with the public school ent. There were few other build system, and finally, in 1910, the ings in the vicinity, and the site Academy board of trustees was commanded a wide outlook. dissolved and the Academy build The new Academy was a two- ing was turned over to the Hat story brick building, forty-five boro School Board. by thirty feet in size, On the first Montgomery township had a floor was one room, with seats superior school at the time Mont for 125. but only sixty desks. The gomery county was created. Back second floor had two rooms. On in 1727 Rowland Roberts and the roof was a belfry with a bell. wife had given a deed of trust to The Rev John Jones, a Presby Gwynedd Friends' Meeting for a terian clergyman, who had been tract of land at Montgomery elected principal of the old school Square which was to be the site on Penn street in 1803. continued for a school, Then in 1761 as principal of the Academy until Thomas Griffin, of Warrington about 1814. township, Bucks county, by his 30 BULLETIN OP HISTOBIOAL SOCIETY OP MONTGOMEBY COUNTY

will left the residue of his estate, sylvania and the twelfth in the amounting to $3,000, to the free colonies. holders of Montgomery township In 1755, on August 2, while the in trust for the maintenance "of French and Indian War was in a school in a certain stone school progress, thirty-five citizens of house already erected." Thus it Hatboro and vicinity met in the became possible to engage teach Crooked Billet Tavern and signed ers for this school that were an "instrument of partnership" better qualified than the average establishing "the Union Library instructors of that time. Company of Hatborough in the On Bethlehem road, in White- Manner of Moorland, in the marsh township, was the Union County of Philadelphia, in the School. When Samuel Morris, Province of Pennsylvania." The owner of much land in that motives actuating the subscribers region, died in 1772, he left a will were thus set forth: giving a plot of ground to trus "Whereas dark ignorance, with tees for school purposes, it being all the concomitants that flow provided that the school to be from it, did about this time pre erected should be for the use of vail in these parts, and no gen children living within a mile and eral scheme on foot for the pro a half thereof. In addition be also motion of knowledge and virtue, left £530, the income of which this, by some of the thinking part was to be applied to the school. of the people, was looked upon Samuel Morris failed to sign the with concern, and some proposals will, but his brother, Joseph car were made for executing a public ried out the provisions. The school library of select books as the most house was built, and in 1791 the likely way to dispel these gloomy Legislature incorporated it as the clouds of ignorance and open Union School. The school was profaneness so much abounding continued lintil 1869, but the and give the gentle reader an board of trustees has been main agreeable taste for learning." tained up tr the present time, The first payment required administering the original trust from members upon organization and caring for the building, which was 20 shillings, and thereafter in later years has been known they were to pay 10 shillings as Lyceum Hall. Because the trust annually. Later provision was is restricted to a Protestant school made for "hiring" single volumes and the tenitory wherein the be at rates varying from 6 to 18 quest is operative comprises parts pence each, according to the size of several townships, it has not o' the books. been feasible to transfer the trust It was necessary to send to to any school board under the England for books, and the first public school system. consignment did not arrive until one year and twelve days after The First Public Libraries the organization of the Library Some communities of the coun Company. ty founded libraries at an early For many years the books were date, to second the educational kept in the home of the librarian, work of the schools. and a small sum, usually £1 a When the coimty was founded year, was paid to him for rent Hatboro already had a library and services. Every few years the that was twenty-nine years old— library had to be moved when a the third public library in Penn new librarian was elected. Finally MONTGOMERY COUNTY HISTORY hj EDWARD W. HOOKER 31 in 1805 the Library Company structure was loaded upon a truck bought a lot in Hatboro for $100. and hauled down Main street and But not until twenty years later up DeKalb to Penn street, where was a building erected. Then the use of a lot had been ob John C. Ccopei leased the lot tained. Finally in 1859 a two-story for $25 a year, agreeing to erect brick building was erected for a house wherein he would conduct the library on the east side of a hat shop and also provide space DeKalb street, north of Airy, and for the library. After a few years, there it was conducted until the when Cooper met with financial present building on DeKalb near reverses, the Library Company Marshall was acquired. bought the house for $630. A The Montgomery Township legacy of $6,000 received from Library Company was incorporat- Nathan Holt in 1848 made pos ef in 1792 with fifty-three mem sible t^e erection of an attrac bers. including residents of Mont tive building in which the library gomery, Gwynedd and Whitpain has since had its home. townships. The incorporators In 1794 the Norristown Library were: John Roberts, Peter Evans, was founded, receiving a state George Smith. Jenkln Evans and charter two years later. The in- John Heston. A catalogue com corporators were: Henry Pawling, piled in 1797 showed there were John Pugh, Dr. Isaac Huddleson, then 325 volumes in the library. Joseph Potts, Robert Brooks, The company was dissolved in James Adams, Samuel Maulsby, 1845 when the 1200 books It General Andrew Porter. Seth then owned were sold. Ohapman, Dr. William Smith, The Abington Library came into Ezekiel Rhoads, John E. Allen existence in 1803, and s still con .and John Davis. Dr. William ducted in Jenkintown. One of the Smith, the distinguished former regulations adopted at organiza provost of the College and Acad tion was: 'Tt shall be an unalter emy of Philadelphia, then lived able rule that no books of an at Falls of SchuylklU. atheistical, Immoral or deistical Shares in the library were sold tendency shall ever be admitted for $5 each, and an annual pay to this library " ment first of $1 and then of $2 From 1810 until 1850 Pottstown was required, while life member- had a public library. In 1817 a ahip could be bought for $20. public library was organized in The library was kept in the homes Whitpain township, and for cl members until 1825. when $150 eighty-four years its books were was raised by private subscrip housed in the store at Blue Bell. tions to pay for the erection of Following a period of inactivity a small one-story frame building, the books of the library were •on the south side of Main street, transferred to the Whitpain above Cherry street, in which the Township High School in the library was housed. The library present century. then comprised 611 volumes, and Lotteries Aided Ghurcher and there were twenty-four members. Public Projects When the Bank of Montgomery 'County, which owned the land It has been told on preceding upon which the Library Company pages how the State Assembly had been permitted to erect Its authorized the holding of lotteries building, required the site for to aid in building a Sumneytown ether purposes, in 1835, the little school house and the bridge over 32 BULLETIN OF HISTORICAL SOCIBTy OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY the Perkiomen. In 1762 a lottery lottery drawings until the $400,- was conducted to raise money for 000 was In hand Thus the Union building a bridge over Skippack Canal Company operated the lot Creek on Germantown road tery until lotteries were out Churches sometimes received lawed in Pennsylvania, in 1833. aid from lotteries St. Peter's It became one of the leading Lutheran Church. Barren Hill, lotteries of the county, there wa^<- twice empowered to hold a having been about fifty draw lottery—in 1761 and 1807. Elecords ings, through which $33,000,000 of the congregation give no in was distributed in prizes. Only formation about eithei lottery. a small share of the proceeds The first church was built about was ever devrted to canal con 3761, and in 1807 important re struction. Brokers who sold lot pairs were made. It is said mem tery tickets in every community bers of the church objected to received a considerable percent the lottery plan and instead of age of the receipts. making use of it they raised Numerous other lotteries also enough money for the repairs by had their agents in Norristown voluntary contributions. and elsewhere. So much money Wentz's Reformed Church, was spent for lottery tickets, Worcester township, shared in the especially by persons who were proceeds of a lottery in 1769, far from affluent, that strong along with three Presbyterian opposition to the system finally churches in Philadelphia. induced the Legislature of 1833 to A lottery was authorized In end all lottery activities. 1785 for the ben.?fit of the Nor- ristown Meeting House. No in formation is available about a CHAPTER 5 meeting house in Norristown at that time. The same year St. Glimpses of Early John's Lutheran Church. Center Celebrities Square, received permission to hold a lottery. Washington's Visits The last church lottery in the county was that of the union Memories of the American church at Limerick, in 1808. Revolution were fresh in the When the company that under minds of the people when Mont took to build a canal from the gomery County was established, Schuylkill at Norristown to the in 1784. Many men living in the Delaware, in 1793, had exhausted new county had served in the its resources, the State Assembly, American army in the war, and in 1795, passed an act whereby the region where they dwelt had $400,000 was to be raised by been ravaged by both armies at means of a lottery to complete the time of the Pennsylvania this canal and also that from campaigns of 1777 and 1778. the upper Schuylkill to the Sus- Though fighting had ceased in quehanna. But after sixteen years 1782, it was not until January only $60,000 had accrued from 14 of the year when the county this lottery. Then in 1811 the was created that Congress approv Union Canal Company was or ed the treaty of peace with Great ganized to take over the two older Britain. canal projects, and the Legisla- General Washington made sev tme directed it to continue the eral visits in time of peace to the The Court House of Montgomery County in 1875 MONTGOMERY COTJNTY HISTORY by EDWARD W. HOOKER 33 county where, prior to its estab ancially involved through his lishment as a county, he had efforts to organize a stock com passed nine months, with his pany to conduct his vineyards. army In the summer of 1787, In 1791, when a mortgage on his while he presided over the con farm was about to be foreclosed stitutional convention in Phila he wrote to Washington, who was delphia. Washington made three then President, recalling the visit excursions Into Montgomery of 1787, narrating his troubles county. and suggesting that Washington On Sunday, July 22, he left buy the farm and occupy it as Philadelphia at 5 A. M., and his country seat during his term breakfasted at the home of Gen as President. There is no record eral Mifflin, at Palls of Schuyl- of any reply by Washington. kill. Then he accompanied a The week following the visit to party of horsemen who rode to Spring Mill, in 1787, Washington Spring Mill, returning to General joined a fishing party to the Mifflin's for dinner. The visit to neighborhood of Port Kennedy. Spring Mill was to view the estate An entry in his diary for Mon of Peter Legaux, an enterprising day, July 30, reads: Fk'enchman, who was engaged in "In company with Governeur agricultural experiments, chiefly Morris and in his phaeton with with a view to growing grapes my horses went up to one Jane suitable for making wine. Wash Moore's, in whose house we ington's deep interest in any ef lodged, in the vicinity of Valley forts to improve agricultural Porge, to get trout." methods no doubt impelled him The following day Washington to go on this trip. Legaux wrote wrote: thus in his diary: "While Mr. Morris was fishing "This day General Washington, I rid over the old Cantonment of General 'Mifflin and four other the Americans of the Winter of members of the convention did 1777 and 8, visiting all the works, us the honor of paying us a visit which were in ruins, and the In- in order to see our vineyard and campraents ui woods, where the bee houses; in these they found ground had not been cultivated." great delight and testified their Then follows a record of his highest approbation with my conversation with farmers whom manner of managing bees, which he met on his ride over the Val gave me a great deal of pleasure." ley Porge hills. He questioned Legaux's house, in which Wash them about their methods of cul ington was a guest, still stands at tivating buckwheat and fatten Spring Mill. Legaux had bought ing hogs and beeves. The diary 206 acres here the year preceding continues: Washington's visit. His genius led "On my return to Mrs. Moore's him into diversified activities. I found Mr. Robert Morris and Astronomy and weather lore re his lady there. Spent the day ceived his attention; he operated there fishing &c and lodged at limekilns and a ferry in the the same place." Schuylkill; he read papers before The party returned to Philadel the American Philosophical So phia on Wednesday. ciety. And he began enough law Trout Run, where Washington suits to keep an ordinary man went fishing and which was busy without thinking of any famous for its trout, flows into thing else. Later he became fin the Schuylkill near Port Ken- 34 BULLETIN OP HISTORICAL SOCIETY OP MONTGOMERY COUNTY nedy. The Moore house had been Mr. J. Bennett Nolan, of Read the headquarters of General Peter ing, who has devoted much study Muhlenberg at the time of the to this interval, concludes that winter camp of 1777-8. John Washington's purpose was to see Moore, the owner, died at the whether Reading or Lancaster time of the camp. Jane Moore might provide quarters for a mentioned in the diary, wa. his meeting of Congress should the widow. Robert Morris, famous plague prevent the regular meet financier, owned an adjoining ing in Philadelphia in December. farm, and frequently went fish Germantown was so overcrowded ing here. with Philadelphians who had fled On August 19 of the same year from the fever that Congress Washington made this entry in could not be accommodated there. his diary about another visit to In addition, Washington, being Montgomery county: much interested in canal con "In company , with Mr. Powell struction, also took advantage of rode up to the White Marsh, the opportunity to view the work traversed my old Incampment then in progress on a canal con and contemplated on the dan necting the Susquehanna with the gers which threatened the Amer Schuylkill. ican army at that place." So far as can be ascertained, While he was President, Wash Washington made this trip on ington passed through Montgom horseback, accompanied only by ery county at least three times. his secretary. Bartholomew Dan- Returning from a long journey dridge. through the South, in June, 1791, In September, 1794, President he crossed the Maryland line into Washington again passed through York county, Pa., proceeded east Montgomery county on his way ward through Hanover and Lan to Carlisle, to review the Army caster, and thence to Philadel assembled there to suppress the phia over Lancaster road, arriv ing in Philadelphia on July 7. Whisky Insurrection. During most of his life Wash Old-time Norristown traditions, ington kept p diary briefly noting tell that Washington was once his movements. There were in a guest at an inn on Main street tervals. however, when he either adjoining the public -.quare, and made no record or else the diaries also at an inn on the north side have been lost. One such record of Penn street, where the court about which little is known Is house annex now is. No doubt the that from November 11 to 16, traditions relate to the visits of 1793, when he was traveling in 1793 and 1794. southeastern Pennsylvania. Memorial Tributes to Washington That was the time of the dead ly yellow fever epidemic in Phila Following the death of Wash delphia, when the offices of the ington, December 14, 1799 mock government were removed to Ger- funerals were held as tributes to mantown. Leaving his temporary him in many places. One such home in Germantown, Washing commemoration took place In ton rode into Philadelphia and Pottstown on January 14. 1800. set out thence on November 11 up The ceremonies began in the Ridge road. It is known he was early morning with sixteen dis in Reading, Womelsdorf and Lan charges from a cannon, and then caster on this trip. there was a volley every half hour MONTGOMERY COUNTY HISTORY by EDWARD W. HOOKER 35

during the day. At noon a pro steller, who was born in what Is cession composed of military and now Lower Providence township, Masonic organizations passed Montgomery county, and was an through the town, while minute officer in the American army in guns were fired and muffled bells his home in Virginia near Mount were tolled. The military units In Vernon. line were Captain Beltenman's Bittenhouse and the First Canal troops of dragoons, the Infantry companies of Captains Roberts. Canal projects and improve Townshend and McClintock. in ment ol internal waterways, as addition to Genere Nichols and means for facilitating traffic, had his staff. Arms were reversed, been discussed before the Revo drums muffled and flags draped lution. but the war put an end in mourning. A coffin was carried to such endeavors. In 1792 the upon a bier, and upon the coffin Pennsylvania Assembly incor rested a military bat and a sword. porated a company to construct a Four sergeants carried the bier, canal from the Delaware at and there was an escort compris Philadelphia to the Schuylkill at ing the following prominent citi Norristown, and the following zens: Daniel Potts, Thomas men were designated as commis Potts, W. Maybury, R. Hobart, sioners to receive subscriptions William Potts and Robert May. and organize the company: David A large choir followed, and then Rlttenhouse, William Moore. marched the citizens of Potts- Elliston Perot, Cadwallader Evans. town and vicinity. Jr., and Francis Jackson. The procession moved to the For more than thirty years church where the German Lu David Rlttenhouse had been in theran and Reformed congrega terested in plans for improving tions worshipped. The bier was the navigation oi the Schuylkill. carried into the church and a One of his earliest important sur funeral service followed After veys was made in 1762 for a canal wards, when the bier was remov route from the Susquehanna. by ed from the church, three volleys way of Swatara and Tulpehocken were fired over it, which ended Creeks, to the upper waters of the ceremonies, and the military the Schuylkill. and this Is be companies then marched away to lieved to have been the first sur the music of "Washington's vey for a canal route in the March." colonies. At that time Ritten- In accordance with the recom house's home was on Germantowa mendation of President John road, in Norriton township, three Adams, a memorial service for miles north of Norristown. He Washington was held on the en had been bom on the borders of suing Washington's Birthday, this Germantown in 1732. but a few also taking place in the Pottstown years later his father removed to church. Again there was a pro the Norriton farm. As a youth cession of military companies and David Rlttenhouse taught him Masons. The sermon was preach self to make clocks and to prac ed in German by the Rev. Fred tice surveying. Later he built an erick L. Herman, pastor ot the observatory on the farm, studying Reformed congregation. the stars with the aid of instru One of the pallbearers at the ments he had made and gaining real funeral of General Wash fame as America's foremost ington was Colonel Philip Mar- astronomer. Here in 1769 he con- 36 BULLETIN OP HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

di eted his observations oi the has 350 stout fellows working transit of Venus across the face away as if nothing was amiss" of the sun, by means of which About the time the canal was it was possible to determine dis being dug Joseph Cerrachi, an tances in the heavens with much Italian sculptor, was in Philadel g-eater accuracy than before. phia endeavoring to obtain from After 1770 Rittenhouse lived in Congress a commission to make Philadelphia, he being treasurer an equestrian statue of Washing of Pennsylvania at the time of ton which had been authorized the Revolution and afterwards nearly ten years before. Ceracchi the first superintendent of the became friendly with Rittenhouse United States Mint. and the latter, in 1794, invited Rittenhouse's first canal survey him to go along on an Inspection of 1762 was not followed by con of the new canal, and incidentally struction, though many years to examine the marble quarries later a canal was built approxi close to the line of the canal in mately along the lines he bad Whitemarsh township to deter laid out. In 1773, Rittenhouse was mine whether the marble produc named as one of a number of ed there might be suitable for the commissioners to study the possi Washington statue. bilities for better navigation in Rittenhouse and Ceracchi visit the Schuylkill. The commission ed the quarries. The sculptor con ers filed a report that it would cluded the marble, while satis cost £11,047 to make the necessary factory for building purposes, was improvements in the channel of not adapted for statues owing to the stream from Palls of Schuyl the many fissures. It split readily kill to Reading. But lack of money into slabs, but large blocks were held the plans in abeyance. not available. The commissioners appointed Ceracchi did not get the Wash in 1792 began work on the canal ington statue contract he sought. at Norristown. There were to be But he did carve a bust of Rit no locks in the canal, and besides tenhouse, which was presented in carrying boats it was intended 1795 to the American i=>hilosoph- to supply water for Philadelphia. ical Society, of Philadelphia, of This was the first canal construc which Rittenhouse was president. tion in the United States, An attempt was made in 1799 More than $400,000 was spent to revive interest in the canal on the project from 1792 until project because at that time the 1794. Then some of the principal city of Philadelphia was discuss stockholders of the company suf ing the advisability of providing fered financial straits, and work a water supply for houses. The was halted. The state made an canal projectors set forth that the appropriation, and also authoriz canal if completed would bring ed a lottery to raise additional to the city a supply of pure water funds. Nevertheless the canal was from the Schuylkill at Norris never completed. town. However, Philadelphia When the yellow fever raged in built its water works to take Philadelphia, in 1793, Ritten water from the Schuylkill at house sojourned in Norriton, and Philadelphia. in a letter written from there The canal company was sup on October 22 of that year he planted in 1815 by the Schuylkill said: "I went to Norristown to see Navigation Company, which in the the canal, where Colonel Porter ensuing twelve years made pos- MONTGOMERY COUNTY HISTORY by EDWARD W. HOOKER 37 sible the navigation of the Schuyl- Another Frenchman, James kill by means of a series of canals. Philip Delacour, in 1792, had Rittenhouse also interested bought a tract of 189 y2 acres on himself in the building of thr first the south side of the Schuylkill, turnpike in Pennsylvania, that where Bridgeport now is. This from Philadelphia to Lancaster, tract Duponceau bought from passing across Lower Merion Delacour in 1795, paying £2368 township, in Montgomery county. for it. Included in the purchase He was elected a membei of the was the right to half of a shad company's first board of mana fishery in the Schuylkill at gers, in 1792, and with the Rev. Swedes' ford. A few months later Dr. John Ewing and John Nan- Duportail bought four and a half carrow, he laid out the course of acres additional along the river, the turnpike. giving him a frontage of nearly a quarter of a mile on the Schuyl General Duportail a Resident kill. There was a house on the at Bridgeport tract, but in 1801 Duportail sold General Louis Lebeque Dupor it and a bam and two tracts of tail, a Revolutionary officer of twenty-seven acres in all, and high standing, made his home in about this time he erected a new Montgomery county for some house on his farm. He became a years. Coming from Prance at member of the newly organized the time of the war, he was made Norristown Library Company. commandant of engineers in the In the reminiscences of Cheva American army. He laid out the lier de Pontgibaud, who visited fortifications at Swedes' ford, Pennsylvania in the 1790's, there Norristown, when the British is an account of a visit he paid were advancing on Philadelphia, to General Duponceau at his in September, 1777, and he also farm. He was astonished to find directed the fortifying of the Duponceau "dressed in the full winter camp at Valley Forge. No French fashion, with a hat imder doubt it was because he thus be his arm." Duportail was hopeful came familiar with the country that his exile would soon end and along the Schuylkill that his he would be recalled ' t France thoughts were directed to that to assume high office. In the locality when events in Prance conversation he continually dwelt made it desirable for him to leave upon the ingratitude of Prance his native land. and his projects for bettering the He remained in the American French army. army until the end of the war, With the end of the Terror in and then returned to Prance, Prance and Napoleon's assump where for a time he was in high tion of power, Duportail determ favor. In 1790 he was made min ined to return to Prance. Some ister of war. But in those uncer writers say Napoleon sent for him. tain times of the French Revolu At any rate, with his new house tion no one was long in the pop incomplete and his affairs in a ular favor in that land. After tangle, he left Montgomery coun holding office as minister of war ty in 1802 and boarded a ship about eleven months he found it for France. That was the last ever expedient to resign, and in less heard of him. The ship never than two years he joined the reached France. numerous French refugees fleeing Before leaving. General Dupor to America. tail appointed Dr. Isaac Huddle- 38 BULLETIN OF HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

son, Norristown's only physician The younger Audubon did not at that time, as his agent. When get along well with his father's it was evident that General agent, Francis Dacosta and in Duportail had perished, Dr. Hud- the spring of 1805 he walked from dleson had himself named as the Perkiomen Valley to New administrator of the general's York and thence set sail for estate, and he completer the con Prance to complain to his father struction of the house that Dupor about Dacosta. The outcome was tail had begun, This was at what that young Audubon and Ferdi is now DeKalb and Second streets, nand Rozier formed a partner Bridgeport. In 1805 Duportail's ship and obtained a power of farm was sold by the sheriff be- attorney from Audubon's father . cause taxes assessed against it to conduct the latter's business were not paid. Elisha Evans, pro affairs in America. The two part prietor of the Rising Sun Inn, ners arrived at Millgrove in the Norristown, bought the farm for summer of 1806, but as more con $6322.47. Elisha Evans and his troversy ensued with Dacosta, son, Cadwallader Evans, who be they sold their interest in Mill came the owner upon his father's grove to Dacosta, taking a mort death, laid out a town on the gage on the property. Then Audu Duportail farm, which was first bon was employed in a New York named Evansville and later business house, though he made Bridgeport. Cadwallader Evans frequent visits to Millgrove, main lived in the Duportail house and ly to see Lucy Bakewell, daugh conducted a hotel adjoining, ter of a neighbor. They were mar known as the Evans House. ried April 8, 1808, and left im mediately for Kentucky, where John James Audubcn's Life Audubon and Rozier embarked in the County upon a series of unsuccessful mer John James Audubon, after cantile ventures. wards America's foremost orni While at Millgrove Audubon thologist, lived in Montgomery began the study of bird life which county from 1804 intermittently eventually brought him fame. In up to the time of his marriage, his journal he wrote later about four years later. this period in these words: "Cares His father. Jean Audubon. a I knew not and did not care for Frenchman, who had extensive them. I was fond of raising fowls business interests in the West of all sorts—fond of horseback Indies, made frequent visits to the riding, gunning and fishing. Not United States. On one of these a ball, a skating match, a house visits, in 1789, he bought a farm or riding party took place with of 284 acres on the lower side of out me. While I was fond of dress Perkiomen Creek, near its mouth, and sports, up to the day of my in what is now Lower Providence wedding not a single glass of wine township. The elder Audubon or spirits ever touched my lips." never lived there, but placed the property in charge of an agent, Some paintings and drawings who operated a lead mine on the of birds which Audubon made property. The son, John James ?t that period have been pre Audubon, was 19 years old when served. For a time Audubon gave he mad'e his home at the farm drawing lessons in Norristown, on the Perkiomen, which was and studied English branches at named Millgrove. Norristown Academy. MONTGOMERY COUNTY HISTORY by EDWARD W. HOOKER 39

The Millgrove house still stands, take a definite stand for inde having been owned by the Weth- pendence. Pour days after his erill family since 1813. Now own marriage to Hannah Harrison, ed by Montgomery County it has daughter of Richard Harrison, of been converted into the Audubon Lower Merion township, Septem Shrine. ber 1, 1774, he and his bride drove into Philadelphia to visit rela Charles Thomson Translates tives, when Thomson was greeted the Bible with the information that he had One of the outstanding char been elected secretary of the Con acters of the American Revolu tinental Congress, which had just tion died at his home in Lower begun its sessions in Carpenters' Merlon township on. August 16, Hall. He held the office fifteen 1824—Charles Thomson, who had years, and to him is due the pres been secretary of the Continental ervation of the journals of that Congress throughout the time it history-making body. Besides, he was in session. He was 95 years prepared much of the corres -old. pondence with representatives of As secretary of the Continental the government abroad. Congress Charles Thomson exer He terminated his service when cised an influence scarcely to be the new government under the measured in the formation of the constitution went into effect in new nation and the direction of New York, in 1789. His last im Its destinies. Washington and all portant public duty was to travel "the other great leaders of that to Mount Vemon, in April of period had the utmost confidence that year, and foimally notify in him. No one else carried in his George Washington of his elec bosom so many state secrets. tion as the first President of the With his father, who was a United States. widower, and six brothers and sisters, Charles Thomson had Then he retired to Harriton, come to America from' Ireland, the ancestral home of his wife his native land, in 1739, He was in Lower Merion township. It was then 10 years old. The father died intimated that he had been on the voyage, and the captain grievously disappointed because, of the ship appropriated the after his loyal labors, some high money of the elder Thomson, the' office was not given him. If that children being set ashore at New was the case he showed no evi Castle, Delaware. Charles was dence of his feelings. taken into the family of a black Harriton had been in possession smith. who ill treated the lad, of Mrs. Thomson's family since until at last he ran away. A 1719. Her father, Richard Harri woman befriended the boy, and, son, came from Maryland to with help from an older brother, Pennsylvania in 1717 and married he was enabled to go to school. Hannah Norris. daughter of Isaac He became a teacher in Phila Norris. The Lower Merion estate delphia. but eventually went into he bought of Rowland Ellis con business as an importer. sisted of 700 acres. Ellis had He was elected to the Penn named it Bryn Mawr. It is on sylvania Assembly in 1774, and the northern borders oi the pres was conspicuous in town meet ent Bryn Mawr. Since the time ings leading up to the Revolu of the Harrisons it has been tion, being one of the first to known as Harriton. 40 BULLETIN OF HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

During his life at Harriton Charles Thomson. In 1815 Thom agricultural, scientific and relig son suffered a stroke of paralysis, ious inquiry occupied Thomson's and thereafter his mentality was attention At one time it was his clouded, though he regained phys purpose to write a history of 'he ical vigor. Upon his death, August American Revolution. Certainly 16, 1824. his body was buried in nc one was better equipped But the Harriton family burial ground. after much thought, fearing some In 1838, shortly after Laurel revelations he expected to make Hill cemetery was opened, efforts might injure the reputations of were made to have the bodies of prominent men. he destroyed all some prominent men removed the material he had accumulated there. Among those wanted was pertaining to the subject. that of Charles Thomson. The In earlier life Thomson had owners of Harriton refused to been a Presbyterian elder in grant permission for removal. Philadelphia, but while at Harri However, upon the authority of ton he wrote that he was "attach a relative, a grave in the burial ed to no system nor peculiar ground was opened one night and tenets of any sect or party," He what was supposed to have been gave much time to the study of the body of Thomson was hastily Biblical literature, especially to removed. There has always been the Bible on the old Greek ver doubt as to whether or not the sion. The outcome of these men obtained the coffin they studies was a new translation of sought. However, a monument in the Septuagint into English — Lturel Hill cemetery declares the first American translation of Charles Thomson rests there. the kind. The Septuagint is the Judge Resigns to Enter Greek version of the Old Testa the Ministry ment—so called because it is said to have been produced by seventy Montgomery county's president translators. Thomson also trans judge resigned in 1818 and lated the Greek New Testament. entered the ministry. Around this The new version of the Bible was unusual action of the jurist a published in 1808 in four volumes tradition developed to the effect Scholars who examined Thom that he preferred to leave the son's translation praised it. In bench rather than sentence a man many of its variations from the to be hanged. However, a careful King James version it approaches investigation of all the facts does the Revised Version of later times. not seem to substantiate the tra One of these departures is the dition that has so often been use of long paragraphs instead of printed. the short "verses" of the version For seven years following the in common use. establishment of Montgomery But this work, upon which county the justices of the peace Thomson had been engaged for in the county constituted the nine years, found little sale. Most judges of the county's courts, the of the volumes were later sold as services of a judge learned in junk. In 1815 Thomson published the law being required only in a "Synopsis of the Four Gospels." criminal cases in which the death Mrs. Thomson died in 1807. penalty could be invoked. Such Thereafter a younger sister, Mary cases were tried by judges of the Thomson, and a nephew. John state's Supreme Court on circuit. ^Thomson, lived at Harriton with Under the new state constitution MONTGOMERY COUNTY HISTORY by EDWARD W. HOOKER 41 of 1790 the jurisdiction of jus not as learned in the law as he tice of the peace was restricted might have been. He probably to the districts for which they never tried a case before a jury, were commissioned, and they no Some accounts of his career 1e- longer had authority to hold clare that only once was his de court for the county. Instead, cision reversed in a higher court. the state was divided into judi However, among twenty-two ap cial districts, consisting of three peals of his cases which are re to six counties. Each district was ported there were eleven reversals to have a president judge learned by the Supreme Court. Neverthe- in the law. appointed by the gov Iss the high standaro of Judge ernor. In addition there were to Wilson's life and his conscientious be associate judges for each devotion to duty never Lave been county. They were not required questioned. to be lawyers. The number of such He was the son of James Wil associate judges was to be "not son. signer of the Declaration less than three nor more than of Independence, a member of the four" in each county. Continental Congress, a leader in According to this new arrange the convention that I'ramed the ment Montgomery county was in federal constitution and the first cluded in the First Judicial Dis justice of the United States trict. along with the counties of Supreme Court appointed from Philadelphia, Bucks and Delaware. Pennsylvania. Bird Wilson was For president judge in this dis born in Carlisle, Pa., in 1777. trict Governor Thomas Mifflin After being admitted to the Phila appointed James Biddle, then delphia bar in 1797. he took a prothonotary of Philadelphia position in the office of the com county. On his death, in 1797, missioner of bankruptcy. John D. Coxe, of Philadelphia, His home in Norrlstown was on became president judge. He re the elevation between Main and signed in 1805 Then William Sandy streets, east of Walnut Tilghman held the office about street, where later the Rev. Dr. a year, until he was appointed J. G Ralston established Oakland chief justice of the Supreme Female Institute and where there Court of Pennsylvania. i£ now a Catholic Protectory for Now Philadelphia county was Girls ( St. Joseph's School). made a judicial district for itself, Judge Wilson resigned his of while Chester county was added fice on January 1, 1818 It has to the three counties formerly frequently been asserted that he linked with Philadelphia in the did so because he did not wish to district — Delaware. Bucks and impose the death sentence upon Montgomery. Bird Wilson was a man who had been convicted then appointed president judge of murder in his court in Dela of the district, in 1806 He was ware county. The -®cords of the the first president judge of the case are as follows; John H. district to make his home in Nor- Cralge, a blacksmith, shot and ristown killed Edward Hunter, a justice It is said he was the youngest of the peace in Delaware county. judge learned in the law appoint Motive was found in the fact ed to the bench up to that time that the official had written the in Pennsylvania, being tf en in will of Craige's father-in-law and his 80th year. Sometimes there the will disinherited Cralge. The were Intimations that he was crime occurred on July 19, 1817. 42 BULLETIN OF HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

The case nevei was tried before. Bishops. He also wrote volum Judge Wilson. It came to trial inously on theological subjects. in April, 1818, with Judge John His death occurred in 1859. Ross on the bench. Judge Ross had been made president judge oi the district in February. 1818, CHAPTER 6 Judge Wilson having resignec on the first day of the year. The The First Turnpike accused man was convicted, and Judge Ross pronounced the death Pioneer Attempts at Highway sentence. Improvement Judge Wilson had taken steps toward entering the Bpiscopal Attempts to improve transpor ministry some months before the tation facilities by building canals murder occurred. It is probably encountered many obstacles, so true that he felt some hesitation that more than a quarter of a about trying a murder case under century elapsed after the begin these circumstances, and the ap ning of work on the canal at proach of the trial may have Norristown, in 1793, befo**e canals hastened his resignation. How were of much service. Thoughts ever, he did try several murder were directed toward highway cases in the time he was on the Improvements about the same bench. He had hardly taken his time that the first canal con seat when he pronounced sen struction was begun, and these tence of death upon a woman endeavors met with fewer delays ^'ho had killed her child than did the canals. Montgomery county's first After pursuing theological turnpike road was also the first studies under Bishop White, in Pennsylvania. It was the Lan Judge Wilson was ordained to caster turnpike, built from Phila the Episcopal ministry, and upon delphia to Lancaster, in 1792-3, the death of the Rev. Thomas the sixty-two miles of roadway P. May, rector of St. John's costing $465,000. Four and a half Church. Norristown, -Judge Wil miles of the turnpike were in son, in 1820- became the rector. Lower Merion township, Mont He had helped to found the par gomery county. Here the road- ish and was a warden of the making methods (^ John L. Mac- congregation. Besides St. John's Adam were applied for the first Church, he also ministered at St. time in America. MacAdam was Thomas', Whiteraarsb a Scotchman, born in 1756, and Though assiduous in pastoral ii his nativ land he began build duties. Judge Wilson lacked ora- ing roads by carefully packing torial graces, and his voice was layers of broken stone one upon weak. Consequently, after two the other. This method, to which years in parish work, he found his name was given, in time came more congenial occupation as into general use all over the professor oi systematic divinity world. In the Episcopal General Theo- The second turnpike in the Icgical Seminary, in New York. state was largely in Montgomery That position he held until 1850, county, being the old highway when he became emeritus pro from Germantown to the Perkio- fessor. Prom 1829 until 1841 he men. The movement for improv was secretary of the House of ing the road originated in Ger- MONTGOMERY COUNTY HISTORY by EDWARD W. HOOKER 43

"lantown, and a bill was intro roadi bedded with wood, stone, duced in the Legislature of 1798 gravel or any other hard sub authorizing construction of . a stance, well compacted together turnpike from Philadelphia and of sufficient depth to secure through Germantown to the a solid foundation to the same, twelfth milestone. , In Montgom and the said road shall be faced ery county there was much oppo with gravel or stone or other sition from fanners, who objected small hard substances in such to paying toll, and from inn manner as to secure a firm and, keepers and storekeepers who as near as the materials will ad feared a good road would divert mit of it, an even surface, and trade to Germantown and Phila so nearly level in its progress as delphia. Cadwallader Evans, a that it shall in no place rise or representative from Montgomery fall more than will form an angle county, led the foes of the meas of four degrees with an horizon ure in the Legislature. As the bill tal line, and forever keep the same could not be defeated outright, in good and perfect order." . it was amended to extend the Toll gates were to be erected turnpike from the twelfth mile after inspectors appointed by the stone as far as Reading. Friends governor of the state had made of the improvement protested a favorable report on the con that this was a subterfuge to kill struction of the highway. The act the project, as enough stock to of incorporation authorized the build the road to Reading could following rates of toll: Score of not be sold, the turnpike having sheep or hogs, 6 cents: score of few supporters above the twelfth cuttle, 12 cents; horse and rider, milestone. However, the bill was 3 cents; one-horse two-wheel passed in this form, and com sulky, chair or chaise. 6 cents; missioners appointed a time to either of these vehicles with two receive subscriptions for stock in horses, 9 cents; chariot, coach, the company. As had been pre phaeton or chaise with four dicted, sufficient stock could not wheels, and two horses, 12 cents; be sold to warrant organizing the with four horses, 20 cents; sleighs, company. 3 cents a horse: sleds 2 cents In the Legislature of 1801 an a horse. For carts and wagons other bill was passed incorporat the toll was regulated according ing the Germantown and Perkio- to the width of the tires on the men Turnpike Company, to build wheels, for narrow tires tended its road from Philadelphia tr cut up the road. During the through Germantown to the new winter, from November 1 until bridge over the Perkiomen where May 1, vehicles having tires less Collegeville now is. Most of the than four inches wide were not stock was taken in Germantown, permitted to carry loads in excess the turnpike constituting the of two and a half tons. Nor main street of that place. might any vehicle convey more According to the charter, the than seven tons in winter and road was to be laid out with a eight tons in summer. width of not less than fifty feet Oxen were still used in those nor more than sixty feet, in such days as beasts of burden, and it manner that existing buildings was provided in the toll regula should not be injured. At least tions that charges for two oxen twenty-eight feet of the width should be equivalent to those for was to consist of an "artificial one horse. 44 BULLETIN OF HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

Persons who made false state horses. A public meeting was ments to tollgate keepers as to called for November 30. 1799, at the distance traveled subjected the inn of John Davis, Norris themselves to a fine of $16. and town. to discuss plans for "tak on the other hand a toll collector ing down Bam Hill," as the who made an overcharge was to announcement put it. Ezekiel forfeit $20. Rhoads. of Norristown, presided Justices of the peace were em at the meeting. It was decided powered to order the collection tr appoint a committee to solicit of toll to cease if such officials, subscriptions to a fun' to pay accompanied by a jury oi three for cutting off the top of the citizens, were convinced the com principal hill at Barren Hill. If pany was not properly maintain any surplus remained, that was ing any part of the highway. to be expended in reducing the If after two years of operation grade of the next steepest hill. the company's net profits did not The members of the committee amount to 6 per cent, or the were John Davis, Whitemarsh; cp.pital stock, the rate of toll Alexander Crawford and A. might be increased. Should the Nomy, Plymouth; John Markley, profits exceed 9 per cent, the Henry Freed. Ezekiel Rhoads, surplus above that amount was Archibald Darrah and John to be used to buy shares of the Davis. Norriton: John Umstead, company's stock until all shares Nicholas Robinson and Derrick were purchased, when the road Casselberry Providence should be free. In a few week." another meeting By 1804 the turnpike was com was held at which General An pleted from Third and Vine drew Porter presided. It was re streets, Philadelphia, to Perkio- ported that $350 had been sub men bridge. The cost averaged scribed for the work, Alexander $11,287 a mile. The Lancaster Crawford, John Umstead and turnpike had cost but $7500 a Derrick Casselberry were appoint mile. ed directors to manage the un In 1803-4 the Cheltenham and dertaking A contract for the ex V^illow Grove Turnpike was built cavations and grading was award on York road, from Philadelphia ed to Gershara Johnston and he through Cheltenham, Abington was able to begin work in Feb and Moreland townships: and in ruary. 1800 and complete his con 1804-5 the Chestnut Hill and tract by the end of March. Springhouse Turnpike Company In 1811 the Ridge Turnpike built eight miles of turnpike on Company was chartered to build Bethlehem road from Chestnut a turnpike on Ridge road from Hill to Springhouse. Philadelphia to the Perkiomen. General Francis Swaine was The Ridge Turnpike president. Contracts for con- Citizens living along Ridge road ctructing the roadway in sections between Norristown and the were awarded in November, 1811. Philadelphia County line made an The proceedings were in the effort in 1799 to bring about im nature if a public -lale Bidders provement of that road through were directed to meet at a speci co-operative endeavor. In travel fied time and place and announce ing to Philadelphia over this road their bids, the contract being the steep grades at Barren Hill given to the man making the were a severe trial to the farmers' lowest offer. In the absence of MONTGOMERY COUNTY HISTORY by EI>WARD W. HOOKER 45 sealed bids there was no objec was long before the time of turn tion to bidders revising their of pikes. fers to meet competition. The Stage Coaches and Taverns "sale of contracts" took place as follows: Stony Creek. Norrls- The new turnpikes were a boon town to Barren Hill, Monday. to the stage coaches and their November 4. at Matthias Kop- passengers. lin's hotel. Norristown; Wissa- Beginning in 1781 and contin hickon Creek to Vine and Tenth uing for twenty-seven years, streets. Philadelphia, Noevmber 5, William Coleman had a line of at the Palls tavern. In both cases stage coaches between Philadel the road was divided into sections phia and Reading, running over 01 a mile and a half, sales being Ridge road. At first only one trip made by sections. The roadway was made weekly the coach leav to be constructed was to be ing the White Swan tavern. Race twenty-foui feet wide and the street, Philadelphia, at 7 A. M. broken stone was to be twelve on Wednesdays. In 1804 Coleman inches deep On each side were began carrying mail, and then he to be "good summer roads where made two trips a week, leaving practicable Reading on Mondays and Thurs days and arriving in Philadelphia The distance from Barren Hill the same day. The return trip to the Wissahickon was not was made on Wednesdays and placed under contract until 1813. Saturdays. Because of the condi when more money became avail tion of the roads in winter it was able. In 1812 500 additional shares necessary to leave Philadelphia in of stock were placed on sale to that season at 2 A. M. That also make possible the completion of afforded time to "warm up" at the road from Stony Creek to taverns along the route. the Perkiomen. Collection of toll Coleman established an addi began in December. 1812. Toll was tional weekly line between Phila at the rate of 1^ cents a mile for delphia and Pottstown. in 1811. carriages. 1 cent for wagons, and The fare was $2.25 one way. By 1 cent a head for cattle and 1829 this line had a daily coacn. swine. Hearses and undertakers' Coleman also extended his line wagons went free, as did also to Harrisburg and Carlisle He persons driving to and from advertised that "sober nnd care church services. Funerals going ful drivers will attend the coach to a churchyard were not re so that passengers may travel quired to pay, but if interment with safety and pleasure." was made in a public cemetery Several stage coach lines op toll was exacted. erated between Philadelphia and Most milestones to be found Norristown. The first was that along old highways were set by of Hezekiah Jefferies, in 1808. turnpike companies, that being Its Norristown station was at the required by their charters. But Rising Sun Inn, on Main street, there are milestones on some opposite the public square The roads which never were turnpikes, coach left there at 6 A. M. Mon such as Gulph road, in Lower days, Wednesdays and Fridays. and Upper Merion township."^ On The return trip was made on PJ-ippack pike and Sumneytown the intervening days, leaving the pike are stone bearing the dates White Horse tavern. Philadelphia, of 1768 and 1769, which, of course, at 2 P. M. The fare was $1 for 46 BULLETIN OP HISTORIOAL SOCIETY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY the full trip, and 6 cent? a mile eating supper and breakfast in foi way passengers. Each passen the tavern. ger could take along fourteen On January 1. 1814, a meeting pounds of baggage without extra of tavern keepers to consider charge. Jefferies conducted the "business of importance" was coach line only about a year. held at the inn of Philip Sellers, Jesse Roberts & Company suc in Whitemarsh township. Philip ceeded him, and 1812 Daniel Sellers, at one time sheriff of the Woodruff became proprietor of county, conducted the famous the line. He made daily trips, Blue House, on Bethlehem pike, leaving Norristown at 7 A. M. near St. Thomas' Church. The and Philadelphia at 3 R. M. meeting in 1814 was attended by Others who conducted either landlords of taverns on "the great this coach line or a competing roads" running out of Philadel line between Norristown and phia, the main purpose being to Philadelphia in subsequent years, agree upon a imiform schedule of until the railroad put the stage charges. coaches out of business, were Norristown had three Inns in Lewis Schrack, Henry Styer, Levl 1800. That of Michael Brodt. on Roberts and John Crawford and the north side of Main street, east Company. The last named firm of Markley. known as the New about 1830 reduced the fare to Moon and later as the Pennsyl 75 cents. The running time at vania Farmer, was a ♦'wo-story first was four hours, but by 1827 stone structure with four rooms it had been reduced to three and on each floor. It was replaced by a half hours. the Hartranft House. Besides these lines on Ridge The Rising Sun was a two- road, there were stage lines at story stone building on the south an early date over Lancaster road side of Main street, east of Swede. to Lancaster and farther west, It had a piazza extending over the over York road to New York and sidewalk the length of the build over Bethlehem road to the Le- ing. John Davis was the landlord. high region. This tavern was discontinued in Often tavern keepers were pro the 1820's. The third tavern of prietors of stage coach lines. The 1800 was also of two stories and two forms of business were inter built of stone, and it stood on linked, for the more persons trav the north side of Main street, eled in the stage coaches the east of the public square, its sign greater was the business done portraying George Washington. at the taverns. Farmers traveling The stables of this hotel were on tc and from market also helped the opposite side of Main street, to bring prosperity to the tav •below the Rising Sun tavern. erns. After the building of the Soon afterward Lewis Schrack turnpikes the rural taverns often opened an inn at the northwest could not provide bedroom acom- corner of Swede and Penn streets, modations for all their guests, known at ^irst as the Eagle and for sometimes as many as a hun later as the Rambo House. The dred had to be housed. Beds were former "mansion house" of the made on the barroom floors, Norris estate, at the northwest throughout the hallways, in the corner of Main and Barbadoes attic and in the barn, and if the streets, where Colonel John Bull, weather was not severe many of a militia officer, lived at the time the travelers slept in their wagons, of the Revolution, and where MONTGOMERY COUNTY HISTORY by EDWARD W. HOOKER 47

•General Howe, commandei of the nected with the consolidated British army.'had his headquar school. About this time he ap ters for a day or two In Septem pointed his son, William Moore ber. 1777 became a tavern in the Smith, to divide Norristown into •early nineteenth century. (Later building lots and sell them. The the Lincoln Hotel, it was razed son lived at Trappe. He had .ttle recently to make way for a serv success selling lots in the new ice station.) town, and almost nothing was done toward developing the town until the close of the century, when John Markley bought most CHAPTER 7 of the Smith lands. He then be gan a vigorous effort to sell lots, The First Borough and succeeded in finding buyers for most of the land. 'Slow Growth of the Gountyseat According to a list which David When Norristown became the Sower. Jr.. prepared, Norristown •ccuntyseat of the new county of in 1800 had three taverns, one Montgomery, in 1784, the Univer- general store, a flour and grist .slty of Pennsylvania owned most miU with a dwelling, a blacksmith of the land where *'he new town shop, a tanyard, a printing office, was to be located. Dr. William a cake and beer shop, a school Smith, provost of the College and house, two lawyers' offices and JVcademy of Philadelphia, had eleven dwellings, some of which bought about 500 acres here, from were built of logs. The store was •Colonel John Bull,- in 1776. for that of Robert Hamlll and John £6000, or about $16,000. He trans Patterson, opened in 1798, The ferred title to the College and one mill was at the foot of Swede Academy of Philadelphia. Then street. John Markley conducted when the Assembly abrogated the the tanyard, on Main street, be •cliarter of the College, in 1779. low Walnut. In the printing because Dr. Smith. and some of office the elder David Sower had his associates were .suspected of begun the publication of a weekly indifference toward the American newspaper in 1799 The newspaper •cause, the rights of the Colleg®. was first named the Norristown Including its landed possession, Gazette, but in 1800 the name were transferred to a new school, was changed to Norristown the University of Pennsylvania. Herald. The two ^wyers were But in 1789 the Assembly restored levi Pawling and Seth Chapman. the rights of the old College, in- An anonymous traveler writing •cludlng its ownership of the land in the Philadelphia Literary at Norristown. The College trus .Magazine and American Register, tees then sold the remaining Nor for December, 1803. mentioned ristown land to Dr. Smith for Norristown thus: .£4300. Previously the University "Stopped to bait at Norristown had given some of the land to the It is a poor, ill looking place, new county as a site for the containing about twenty houses. •county buildings and the public The courts of .iustice for Mont .square. gomery County are held in this The old College and th,. new place in an ill fashioned stone University were consolidated in building, placed on a naked emi 1791, but Dr. Smith was not con nence." 48 BULLETIN OP HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

Xorristown Incorporated dwellings in Pottsgrove township. Including Pottstown. By 1812 the people of Norris- town were convinced they bad Norrlstown's First Chureb outgrown their village era, and Pottstown had had a church they obtained from the General since colonial times. In Norris Assembly the incorporation of the town there was no church organ place as a borough—the first in ization until the year of borough the county. The boundaries were incorporation, when St. John's the Schuylkill, Astor, Ford and Episcopal Church was founded Wood streets. The two ancient Episcopal At the first borough election, churches of the county. St. Friday, May 1, 1812, General James'. Perkiomen, now Evans- Francis Swaine was elected bur burg, and St. Thomas', White- gess, and Wendle Fisher, high marsh. experienced the hardships constable, while the following that befell most Anglican members of Borough Council were churches at the time of the Revo chosen: Mathias Holstein. John lution. services being suspended. Coates, David Thomas, Robert Upon the reorganization of the Hamill, James Winnard. Lewis Episcopal church after the Revo Schrack and Philip Hahn. Jr. lution delegates from St. James'. None of these officials received a Perkiomen; St. David's Radnor, salary, but they were subject to and St. Peter's, in the Chester a fine of $20 should they refuse "Valley, met in Norristown. August or fail to serve after being elected. 14, 1787, and decided to ask The new Borough Council met Bishop White to assign the Rev. for organization in the court Slator Clay as rector of the three house on June 3 following, when churches. He was then assistant the Rev. John Jones, principal to the Rev. Nicholas Collin, the of Norristcwn Academy, was last of the Swedish rectors in elected borough treasurer and Philadelphia, Mr. Clay being In Samuel Patterson town clerk The charge of the Swedish church in latter received a salary of $10 a Upper Merion township. Be be year, and Mr. Jones' commission came rector of St. James'. St. as treasurer the first yeai was $5 David's and St. Peter's making The borough tax assessed the his home at Evansburg, first year totaled $336.37. The Upon the organization of the borough treasury was finrther en Norristown parish, the Rev. Mr. riched that^ear to the extent of Clay also preached here, and for $1.57. paid for a stray sheep im a time he had St. Thomas', pounded by the borough officials. Whitemarsh, under his care, trav Pottstown became a borough in eling on horseback among his 1815. Originally known as Potts- widely scattered parishioners. In grove, this was a much older conducting the service he never community than the countyseat. wore the surplice, and he used The same traveler of 1803 who but little of the liturgy, prefer described Norristown as "a poor, ring to give most of the time to ill looking place" declared Potts- a long, extemporaneous sermon. grove had 150 houses. However, His independence with regard to he must have counted the houses the ritual was manifested in the over a wide extent of territory, marriage ceremony, for he wrote for another authority asserted in his diary: "I never use 'obey' that in 1810 there were forty in the maniage service. I do not The Court House of Montgomery County as It Appears Today MONTGOMERY COUNTY HISTORY by EDWARD W. HOOKER 49 want to make the dear ladies tell their homes. These they carried lies." to the scene of the fire. There The first regular rector of the they formed lines from the near new Episcopal church in Norris- est pump to the fire engine, and town was the Rev. Jehu Curtis the buckets filled with water were Clay, son of the Rev, Slator Clay, passed along to fill the tank of who assumed charge in 1814. the engine. Sixteen men operated Bishop White, first Episcopal the handles of the engine and bishop of the diocese of Penn forced a stream of water through sylvania, consecrated St John's the nozzle. Church on April 6. 1815. There were then only fifteen communi CHAPTER 8 cants in the parish. The First Fire Company The War of 1812 The year after Norristown was The War a Political Issue incorporated as a borough its citizens decided a fire company In its early stages the War of was needed in the town. They 1812 did not received unanimous held a meeting on June 14, 1813, support among the people of in the hotel of Jared Brooke, and Montgomery county. Many citi organized a company. Borough zens believed it had been brought Council being asked to provide a on by the Democrat Republican fire engine. Council appointed a Party for political purposes, and committee to buy an engine. The they did not hesitate to voice outcome of the committee's In their opposition to the war long quiries was the purchase of a after fighting had begun. hand engine for $650 from Pat On May 19, 1812, at the time rick Lyon, a maker of fire engines of "court week" in Norristown. in Philadelphia. The county com a county meeting was called at missioners contributed $150 to Philip Hahn's tavern, at which ward the amount needed, and also the course of the government in gave permission for the erection preparing for war was approved. 01 a fire house in the ?orner of It was asserted, however, that not the public square at Main and more than fifty persons' attended Swede streets. It is probable that the meeting. At the same time the hand engine bought in 1813 petitions favoring peace received had been in use previously by one many signatures. of the Philadelphia companies Citizens of the supper part of and bad been taken by Lyon in the county met on August 8, 1812, exchange for a new engine. In at a tavern in Frederick town Norristown the engine was dubbed ship and adopted resolutions de the "Pat Lyon." After being re claring the war "impolitic, inex tired from service it was preserv pedient and replete with most in ed as a relic by the Montgomery jurious consequences to the coun Fire Company. try." This was almost two montlrs The water supply for the hand after war had been declared. engine had to be obtained from A-meeting of citizens "friendly wells. Besides the wells In the to peace and commerce", was held yards of dwellings there also were August 28 at Abraham Wentz's numerous public pumps along the tavern, Whitpain township. Job streets. The members of the fire Roberts presided, and Joseph company had leather buckets hi Thomas was secretary. The com- 50 BULLETIN OF HISTORICAL SOCIETY OP MONTGOMERY COUNTY mittee on resolutions comprised tion. The Chester County Qua Matthew Pearce, Levi Pawling, kers were especially desirous of Moses Hobson, Benjamin Brooke, defeating him. Nevertheless he Edward Jenkins. Samuel Baird was returned to Congress, where and Joseph Tyson. The resolu he became one of the leaders on tions which the committee pre the floor of the House, being sented and which were adopted regarded as the spokesman for were similar to those of the Albert Gallatin, secreary of the Frederick meeting, declaring the treasury. His eminence Ir evident war "impolitic and inexpedient." from the fact that he was ap This meeting appointed a com pointed a member of the ways mittee to confer with a Chester and means committee. In many County committee to name Fed of the stormy debates over the eral Republican candidates for war he spoke at length His ability Congress for the district com won him recognition when the prising the two counties The con time came, in February. 1814. for ferees met on September 14 and the Pennsylvania Legislature to nominated Francis Gardner, of elect a United States senator, and Chester county, and Samuel Hen he was chosen for that honor. derson. of Montgomery county, Becrultlng for the Army they being pledged to support By the second year of the war measures for an "honorable and opposition to the war was less permanent peace." Several meet outspoken in Montgomery county. ings indorsing these candidates A "recruiting rendezvous" was were held in Montgomery county. opened In Norristown, in charge The member of Congress from of Captain Horatio Davis, of the the district includini Montgom United States army. Enlistments ery coimty at that time was Jona were made for twelve months, the than Roberts, of Upper Merion pay for privates being $f a month township, he being of the Demo and $16 bounty, while corporals cratic Republican Party His op received $9 and sergeants $11. On ponent, Samuel Henderson, lived June 9 Captain Davis offered $10 in the same township, where he reward for the capture of a man operated marble quarries near who had deserted from the ren King of Prussia. Though Jona dezvous. Later in the year En- than Roberts belonged to the sigc Samuel Ladd commanded Society of Friends, he supported the rendezvous, while in 1814 the war party in Congress with Lieutenant John Wood was in all his energy. As a consequence charge. the Friends disowned him. The When news of Commodore peace party sought to bring about Perry's victory on Lake Erie ar an adjournment of Congress so rived, in September, 1813. the the members might go home and people of flourtown had a cele consult their constituents on the bration. All houses in the village war issue. Congressman Roberts were illuminated, and sixty men moved that salaries should not paraded through the place, each be paid during the interval of man carrying a torch, Returning adjournment This seemed to end to one of the numerous taverns the adjournment plan and Con in Plourtown, they fired three gress remained in session, declar volleys and gave three cheers, ing war in June 1812 after which, in the language of Roberts faced a hard fight at a chronicler of the times, "each the polls when he sought re-elec took a friendly glass." MONTGOMERY COUNTY HISTORY by EDWARD W. HOOKER 51

Norrlstown had an Illumination township, to organize a cavalry on October 21. 1813, In honor of troop. Citizens in Abington town General William Henrj' Harrison, ship met in William McCalla's who was termed "the Washington tavern, Jenkintown, and agreed of the West." He had just been to aid in the defense of Philadel victorious at Maiden. Bells were phia, a committee being appoint rung and cannon fired. The fol ed "to give notice to the citizens lowing night there was an illumi of Abington generally." nation in Plgeontown. now Blue Little reliance could be placed Bell. The people paraded up Skip- upon the militia. Traditions say pack pike to Centre Squaie, "each most of the companies had no with a light in his hand." At uniforms. The officers were elect evers' illuminated house they ed by the men, and hence could paused to give three cheers. exercise slight authority over Early in 1814 advertisements them. Four companies from Mont appeared offering $124 bounty gomery county, together with one "in solid cash" and a farm of 160 from Northampton county, were acres to recruits, and $8 premium constituted into a battalion of was to be paid to those obtaining riflemen, under Colonel Thomas recruits. Humphreys, a hotel keeper at Center Square. The captains of Marched to Resist British the Montgomery county com Invasion panies were Jacob Fryer. John When the British invaded Vir Sands, Jesse Weber and George ginia and Maryland, burned the Sensenderfer. There also was a Capitol In Washington and men company called the Montgomery aced Philadelphia, in 1814. every County Rifle Greens, of which body was united in preparing for John Hurst was captain, defense. At a citizens- meeting on Henry Scheetz. of Whltemarsh August 27 at Philip Hahn's tav township, was major general in erns. Norrlstown it was resolved command of the Second Division "to use every efficient means of Pennsylvania Militia, compris within the limits of our power to ing the companies from Mont adopt measures of defense." Citi gomery and Bucks counties. zens were urged to lay aside their Isaiah Wells, of Norrlstown, a prejudices and party distinctions former sheriff of the county, rnd meet on September 2 to or commanded the First Brigade In ganize a military corps. General Scheetz's division. Much On September 15 two companies of the responsibility for directing of riflemen marched from this the operations of the state's forces county to join the army that was devolved upon a Montgomery being assembled along the Dela county man—Nathaniel B. Boi- ware below Marcus Hook, and leau ol Hatboro, who was secre shortly afterward two companies tary of the commonwealth under of volunteers departed Citizens Governor Simon Snyder. of Upper Merion township met The Montgomery county com September 17 at Thomas Lowry's mands were in camp near Marcus hotel to form a volunteer corps, P'ook for about three months, re and a similar meeting was held turning home in December, after at John Heisler's hotel. In Gwy- fear of a British Invasion had nedd township, while on October subsided. 17 there was a meeting at Abra On February 22, 1815. the re ham Wentz's tavern,. Whitpain turn of peace was celebrated In 52 BULLETIN OP HISTORICAL SOCIETY OP MONTGOMERY COUNTY

Norristown with a "splendid and it would in various forms heap genera] illumination." when, ac burdens on the poor and the in cording to one reporter, "every dustrious." The banks, if opened, countenance beamed with joy and he predicted, would incite coun every heart seemed to beat in terfeiting and the hoarding of unison." specie, would flood the state with There never was any organiza paper money and destroy confi tion oi survivors of the War of dence. while at the same time they 1812 in Montgomery county, but would tempt farmers and me on December 22, 1854. a meeting chanics to forsake the old-time of such survivors was held in ways of industry and frugality 14orristown to elect delegates to and resort to speculation, in the attend a convention of veterans hope of gaining riches. of the War of 1812. the purpose The banking act divided the of which was to look after the state into twenty-seven banking interests of the old soldiers in districts. Montgomery county con Congress. John Dager. who died stituted one such district, in which in Norristown on December 30, there was to be one bank. 1887. at the age of 35 years, is Though chartered March 21, believed to have been the last 1814, the Bank of Montgomery survivor, of the War of 1812 in County was not ready to begin Montgomery county He served in business until November of the one of the companies of riflemen following year. The .'^tockholders under Colonel Humphreys. elected the following directors on Beginning of Banking Activities October 14, 1815: General Fran cis Swaine. Matthew Roberts, Banking in Montgomery county Isaiah Wells. Levl Pawling, Zadoc had its beginning at the time of Thomas, Philip Hahn Thomas the War of 1812 when a charter Humphreys, Isaac Markley. was granted for a bank in Nor Charles Rogers. Robert Erp, ristown. Enoch Walker, the Rev. John After the charter of the first Jones and Joseph Thomas. The Bank of the United States. In following day the directors or Philadelphia, was permitt d to ganized by electing General Fran lapse, the State Legislature was cis Swaine president and Matthias flooded with petitions for char Holstein cashier. The first de ters for state banks Tn 1813 the posits were received on November Legislature passed an act char 18, 1815 By the following Jan tering twenty-five banks, but uary the deposits totaled $13,390. Governor Snydei vetoed the mea A banking house was erected on sure. The following yeai another the south side of Main «treet. west bank bill was passed This granted of Cherry. This was the only banking privileges to forty-two bank in the county until 1857, institutions, one of which was the when the Bank of Pottstown was Pank of Montgomery County. In founded and J. Morton Albertson Norristown Again Governor Sny- opened a banking house in Nor der vetoed the bill, but the Legis ristown. lature passed it over the veto. Commercial depression followed In his veto message Governor the War of 1812, and in many Snyder denounced the bank bill quarters the banks were blamed as an attempt to 'enrich the foi the "hard times," Specie pay wealthy and the speculator, while ments had been suspended in MONTGOMERY COUNTY HISTORY by EDWARD W. HOOKER 53

1814, and though the banks had CHAPTER 9 nominally resumed the payment of coin in 1817. "hard money" Improvements Along the still was scarce and commanded a premium. Schuylkill

A meeting ot citizens ot the Bridges Replace Perries and Fords county to consider public affairs was held December 29. 1819, In Following the construction of the Washington House, Norris- early turnpikes attention was town, at which GeneraJ Henry given to the bridging ol the Scheetz, of Whitemarsh township, Schuylkill and other important presided. Resolutions prepared streams where hitherto the best by Philip S. Markley^ a member means of crossing was a ferry. of the Norristown bar, were These first bridges, like the turn adopted. These ascribed "the de pikes, were built by stock com pression of manufacturing inter panies that expected to gain a ests to the spirit of speculation profit by collecting toll. introduced of late by the exces Fords were established in early sive Issuance of bank paper." It times wherever the stream was was decided to present a mem shallow enough and access to the orial to Congress praying for an stream was possible. Later ferries increase in the tariff and also were operated at many of the to ask the State Legislature to fords. Permission had to be ob repeal the charters of the 42 tained from the provincial or state banks Incorporated In 1814. state authorities to conduct a ferry. When Peter Legaux was Foes of the new state banks trying to establish his extensive ot 1814 termed them "the "itter." vineyards at Spring Mill, he con When the banks were operating cluded to add to his income by It was asserted they had issued operating a ferry over the Schuyl nearly $4,000,000 in currency, and kill. According to the act' of As had only $750,000 in coin. Many sembly granting the des'yed per petitions were forwarded to the mission, Legaux was tr maintain Legislature demandinp that the " a good and substantial boat or charters ot the state banks be boats and careful ferrymen who annulled, A speaker in Congress shall duly and consistently, as asserted that in the War of 1812 occasion may require, attend for the banks had been the pillars of the purpose of transporting trav the state, but now they were elers over the said river, which caterpillars and should be de ferry shall be subject to such stroyed. rules and regulations as the Leg Whatever the extent ot Gen islature of the state ma\ in future eral Scheetz's own opposition to direct and appoint." Legaux's the banks, it did not prevent his financial accounts show he col later becoming a director of the lected £40 at the ferry in one Montgomery Bank, Indeed, that year. bank never indulged in the finan Generally there was a tavern cial excesses and shortcomings at each ferry. These taverns de prevalent among banks elsewhere, rived patronage not only from and hence it always held the persons crossing the stream but confidence of the commimity to also from those engaged in traf a marked degree. fic up or down the stream. Before 54 BULLETIN OP HISTOBIOAL SOCIETY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

the construction of the railroads the southern terminus of the pro much freight was hauled in ix>ats posed bridge. James Pennypacker oh the Schuylkill, and after, the •presided .and action was taken canal was opened there was con looking toward support of the siderable passenger traffic in bridge project. The Legislature "packet boats" between Philadel passed the desired bill, and it phia and Reading. The ferry boat received the governor''' approval usually was a scow large enough on April 3, 1809. to carry a wagon and several According to the custom of that horses. It was attached to a rope time, the act of incorporation swung across the river, and was designated commissioners to re propelled with guide ropes or ceive subscriptions for stock of poles. the company and effect organiza The first bridge across the tion. These commissioners were: Schuylkill was built at Pawling's John Ralston, James Brooke. Ford. Egypt road, through Nor- Enoch Walker, Michael Lynch, ristown to the Patlands. at the Archibald Darrah, John McPar- junction of the Perkiomen and land, John M. Pawling, Alexander the Schuylkill, was laid out at a Crawford and George Bisbing. very early date, and it continued Books for subscription to stock across the Schuylkill ct Pawling's were opened on July 27 at the ford, and thence on toward the foUowmg taverns, one or more Chester Valley, Members of the members of the commission being Pawling family, who owned 500 on duty at each place from 10 acres in the Fatland region, es A. M. until 4 P. M.: The Bull tablished a ferry here before the Tavern, James Brooke's, in Vin Revolution. This was a favorite cent township: James Boone's, route for traveling from Philadel Yellow Springs. Chestei county; phia to the Yellow Springs, now John Brower's, Union township, Chester Springs, in Chester Berks county; Isaiah Wells', Nor- c'-unty, which was a popular ristown: George Bisbing's. White- summer and health resort in the marsh, and the Merchants' Cof eighteenth century. fee House. Philadelphia. First steps toward building a The stockholders met for or bridge at Pawling's ford were ganization on November 25, 1809 taken at a meeting of citizens in the Norristown Hotel, at the held December 17, 1808, ir the southwest corner of Main and tavern of Jesse Roberts, Norris- DeKalb streets, Norristown, of town, Henry Pawling presiding. which Isaiah Wells was proprie He was of the third generation of tor. Lev! Pawling was elected his family in this locality. The nresident of the bridge company, meeting decided to apply to the and the Rev. John Jones, prin State Legislature for the incor cipal of Norristown Academy, poration of a bridge company, treasurer, the managers chosen and a committee was directed to being: Joseph Crawford, John bring about co-operation with McFarland. Henry Preedley. Sam citizens of Chester county, since uel Custer. Thomas Walker and the proposed bridge would con Elijah Funk nect the two counties. On Decem The bridge was built at a cost ber 31 following a similar meet of $15,486.49. which was $5,486.49 ing of Chester county citizens more than had been received was held in the Bull Tavern, near from the sale of stock. More MONTGOMERY COUNTY HISTORY by EDWARD W. HOOKER 55 stock was therefore ordered sold, officers of the bridge company and the tolls were also applied were: Eh-esident, Matthias Hol- toward payment of the debt. stein: secretary. Thomas M. Jolly; The same session of the Xiegls- treasurer. Joseph Thomas. lature, in 1809. which incorporat Similar companies were char ed the Pawling's Bridge Company tered and bridges built over the also granted a charter to the Flat Schuylkill as follows: Pottstown, Rock Bridge Company, which in 1821: Conshohocken, 1838: Roy- 1810 built a bridge over the ersford. 1840: Mont Clare and Schuylkill a mile north of Mana- Phoenixville, • 1845; Swedes' ford, yunk. This bridge collapsed in Norristown, 1848; Linfield, 1849, '<824 as .1 heavy load of marble and Port Kennedy, 1849. was being hauled across it, and Building the Scbuylkill Canal while reconstruction was in pro gress it was swept away by a Attempts made in the eighteenth flood. It was rebuilt and stood century to build a canal from until September, 1850. when a the Schuylkill at Norristown to flood carried the Conshohocken the Delaware at Philadelphia bridge down the river and burled have been described. The project against the Flat Rock bridge, could not be carried to successful wrecking it. The bridge was never conclusion. Early in the nine rebuilt. teenth century efforts were again In 1815 the Legislature passed made to improve navigation in an act appointing commissioners the Schuylkill with the aid of tc organize a company to build canals. a bridge across the Schuylkill at Josiah White, an enterprising Norristown. The commissioners Quaker, together with Erskine were unable to dispose of enough Hazard, established a rolling mill stock to warrant beginning the and a wire and nail mill at Falls work at that time. Ten years of Schuylkill about 1810. To help leter. following the constriction the passage of boats past the of the Schuylkill Canal, on the rocks in the river which created ^outh side of the river, jpposite the falls. White proposed the Norristown the need of a bridge erection of a dam with locks. Be was keenly felt. On April 29. 1825. cause of the volume of water in a public meeting was held Ir. the the viver this was considered a tavern of Isaac H Pritner. Nor daring innovation. However. ristown. to take steps to revive White carried out his plan. Then the bridge project. In response to he urged that a similar system a request from this meeting the 01 dams and locks be built commissioners appointed in 1815 throughout the course of the river reopened their subscription books. to facilitate navigation. Again it proved difficult to obtain Fishermen. protested that such the needed subscriptions to stock. action would spoil the fishing, for The county helped taking 1000 at that time there were numer shares of stock at $10 a share, ous shad fisheries in the Schuyl and the Legislature authorized a kill. Farmer.® also objected, fear subscription for 600 shares on be ing floods would result and their half of the state. Thus finally In lands be damaged. When White 1820 the bridge was built at De- and his associates applied to the Kalb street at a cost of $31,200, Legislature for incorporation of and the taking of toll was begun the Schuylkill Naviga'.ion Com on January 9, 1830. The first pany, to build the canals and 56 BULLETIN OF HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

dams, citizens along the river Five years passed, and still the from Manayung to Norristown canal was far from completion. signed a petition to the Legisla Finally July 4, 1824, was designat ture asking that the application ed as the time for the official for a charter be rejected as the openeing. But as the d ap canal project was "a scheme of proached it was evident that the fancied improvement."' God and opening would not be a complete natme made the stream "free and success. Only the twenty-two common to all men," the petition miles from Reading to Pottstown continued, and the plan to dam could be put into use at that the stream was denounced as a time. "monopoly hostile to the spirt of A nautical procession signaliz the constitution and particularly ing the event left Pottstown. a odious because it would not only large number of visitors from concentrate in a few the enjoy Philadelphia, Reading and other ment of rights which should be places participating. The boats open to all. but would also be were named the Thomas Oaks. attended with positive and incal Stephen Girard. Dewitt Clinton culable injury to a numerous body and Reading Packet. Two were of your fellow-citizens." passenger boats with awnings, A public meeting in Jared and the others carried merchan Brooks' inn. Norristown, on No dise. vember 16, 1813 General Fran The stockholders voted to name cis Swaine presiding, approved that part of the canal the Girard the canal plan, and similar meet Canal, in honor of Stephen ings elsewhere also gave their Girard, who had accorded the support in memorializing the undertaking much financial help. Legislature to charter the com It was promised then that by pany. Finally in 1815 the desired September the entire system from act of incorporation for the Port Carbon to Philadelphia Schuylkill Navigation Company would be in operation But the was passed Among the thirty- summer floods caused much dam seven commissioners appointed to age Some '"arks" carrying coal sell the stock were the following did manage to go through. On from Montgomery county: Lev! September 22 Norristown citizens Pawling. Matthias Holstein, saw several boat load? of coal Phillip Hahn Jesse Bean Thomas pass, and about the same time Lowry. Andrew Todd. Joseph four boats carrying militia from Potts. David Rutter and Amos Reading went down the canal Evans. destined for Philadelphia, to take The charter authorized the part in the reception to General company to operate from Phila Lafayette, then on a visit to the delphia to Port Carbon, in United States. But shortly after Schuylkill county, constructing that the banks of the canal caved canals wherever the river was too in above Reading, holding up a shallow for navigation. long line of barges ready to carry It was possible to use part of coal down the stream. Even when the canal at the upper end in the banks did not collapse, the 1818. Many difficulties were en water would not remain in the countered due to the unfamiliar- canal in some places. It was con ity of those In charge with this cluded that this was due to the kind of work. Frequent leaks oc porous limestone over which the curred, and the banks caved in. canal passed. MONTGOMERY COUNTY HISTORY by EDWARD W. HOOKER 57

For a while shipments were for the night at Pawling's Bridge, possible between Philadelphia and and arrived in Philadelphia at Reading. The freight rate was 11 A. M. the next day. The boat 12V^ cents a hundredweight As left Philadelphia on Monday and the cost of transportation by Friday. The fare was $2.50 for wagon was 40 cents ' hundred the trip. The boat, it was an weight, an abundance of traffic nounced, was "propelled by good awaited the canal boats horses at a rate of not less than By December it was again pos five miles an hour." sible to use the canal above In thi'- summer of 1825 another Reading. But a few days later boat, the Dewitt Clinton, carry a boat sank in the channel, and ing a cargo of merchandise, suc once more traffic ceased. Then ceeded for the first time in mak another big leak de^'eloped, and ing the entire journey from the water had to be drained out Philadelphia to Port Carbon. of a section of the canal. Dur Now a new kind of trouble de ing the winter walls of planks veloped, Water disappeared from were built to protect embank sections of the canal that seemed ments where trouble had been to be in perfect condition. Inves experienced. In April, 1825. the tigation revealed that persons water was again turned into the living nearby let out the water canal. But still conditions were so they might each the fish in not right, and water leaked out the canal. The company offered through the planking. $100 reward for the arrest of . In June, 1825, it was announc such "evil-disposed persons." ed that "the whole navigation The summer of 1825 was an may be considered complete." But exceedingly dry period. That, too, scarcely had the newspapers affected the canal. In August been printed with this announce navigation ceased in the upper ment when new breaks occurred, end because of the drought. and the water had to be drawn Some of the original dams off to make repairs. proved defective. One of these This summer an "accommoda that had to be rebuilt in 1825 tion boat" began making trips was that at Catfish Island, near three times a week "rom Reading Port Kennedy, since known as to Pawling's Bridge, just below Catfish Dam the mouth of the Perklomen. It was not the original thought Prom there passengers completed of the projectors of the canal their journey by stage coach to that coal was to be the main Norristown and Philadelphia. The cargo. All kinds of articles of boat was named The Lady of the commerce were to be transported, I-ake, and it was owned by John and passenger traffic was expect and Nicholas Coleman & Com ed to be large. But as early as pany. It was fitted up. an an 1825 most of the boats were car nouncement declared, "in the rying anthracite from the Schuyl- most splendid style and provided kill mines, which were then being with every refreshment the sea developed. "Hard coal" now grad son affords and the best liquors." ually supplanted wood as fuel. Later the boat made the trip In October, 1825, the Norristown between Reading and Philadel Herald reported: "Some of our phia twice weekly, leaving Read enterprising citizens have com ing on Sunday and Wednesday menced the burning of stone at 5 A. M. The passengers lodged coal." Grates and stoves were 58 BULLETIN OP HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

being placed in offices, barrooms pelling wheels of the boats dam and dwellings. Coal at $7 a ton aged the banks of the canal, and was found to be cheaper than the more placid method of horse hickory wood at $5 a cord. power remained in use as long Notwithstanding the difficulties as the canal was in service. which the Schuylkill Canal en Originally the intention was to countered, enthusiastic promoters use oars for motive power on the were not deterred from starting boats. But by 1825 horses and other canal projects. One plan mules were generally employed, was for the construction of a and this necessitated the main canal from Pottstown to Nor- tenance of a towpath along the ristown some distance inland, canal. passing through Norristown north An alarming increase in the of the court house and continu number of cases of fever and ing thence to Spring Mill, where ague occurred in the 1820's along it was to .loin the canal built the course of the canal. This was thirty-three years before but attributed to stagnant water in never used. Another canal route the canal. Much concern was proposed was from the Schuylkill caused in Norristown because at Norristown to the Delaware twenty-four deaths were reported at Trenton, and then on to New in 1824, which was regarded as York. a very large number for the small By 1826 most of the obstacles town. Even though the canal was to navigation on the Schuylkill on the other side of the river, it Canal bad been overcome Several was blamed for the sickness. By passenger packets were running 1830, however, the number of that year. The Planet, plying be fever and ague cases had greatly tween Philadelphia and Reading, diminished, and in time the ail had a capacity,of sixty-four pas- ment disappeared ' ^r.gers. The packet boat Comet, The canal originally was only operated by 1. H. Pritne) and A. three feet deep, and the boats Moore. Jr., left Norristown on had a capacity of but forty tons. Tuesday. Thursday and Saturday In 1846 the channel was deep at 2 P M. for Philadelphia, ar ened, so boats of 180 tons burden riving at the Upper Perry. Cal- might pass. In later years the lowhill street, in the evening The largest boats carried 270 tons. boat left Philadelphia foi Norris The increasing demand for an town on Monday. Wednesday and thracite brought prosperity to Friday at 8 A. M. The fare was the canal, and in 1830 it was 87 cents. Accomodations for possible to pay the first dividend. passengers in Norristown were Until the 1840's the canal car offered at I. H. Pritner's and ried nearly all coal shipped from Mrs. A. Webb's taverns. The bar the Schuylkill fields. Even long on the boat, so the advertisement after railroads had been built declared, was provided with the heavy shipments of coal continued choicest liquors. Prom Norristown on the canal because this was passengers could tra 'el tc the cheaper. Yellow Springs. Chester county, When boating was at its best by stage coach- at least 600 boats were running. Later on attempts were made Most of them went no farther to operate steamboats on the than Philadelphia. But some canal, but without satisfactory times fleets of canal boats were results. The wash from the pro attached to a tug boat and taken MONTGOMERY COUNTY HISTORY by EDWARD W. HOOKER 59 up the Delaware to Bordentown, popular interested in religion at whence they proceeded through tained a state of intensity that the Raritan Canal to New york. led to violent controversy in sev Some Schuylkill boats also carried eral denominations. coal to Chester and Wilmington. This was the period of the Up to 1870 men living along "Hicksite" schism in the Society the canal operated the boats. Con- of Friends. The followers of Elias shohocken and Manayunk were Hicks predominated In Montgom the homes of many boatmen. Gen ery county and hence retained erally the navigator was content control of nearly all the ancient to own one boat, but there were meetings houses in the county. some who had several vessels. Generally the Orthodox Friends The boats were named for the organized a meeting of their own wives, women relatives or friends and built another meeting house of the owners, or for "^.istorical near the old one. characters. Each craft had a crew In his preaching tours Elias of three men—the owner, with Hicks, about whom the contro the title of captain, the bowsman versy centered, visited the Mont and the driver. It was the custom gomery county meetings. He was of the owner to take his family a minister of Jericho Meeting, on with him on his voyages, at least Long Island, and was then 69 in the summer. If business was years old. Ninth Month 24. 1817, brisk the boats might travel day Elias Hicks recorded in his jour and night, making the trip from nal that he attended an appoint Port Carbon to Philadelphia in ed meeting "in a village called four days and three nights. The Norristown." The meeting was return without cargo would be held in the coiurt house. Few made in two days and three members of the society lived in nights. Only rarely was a load of j\orrlstown, he noted, but people bricks or iron ore carried on the of "other professions" were pres return trip. Most captains pre ent at the meeting, the attend ferred to tie up at night at one ance being "pretty large." Among of the locks, where there was a those in the assemblage, he add tavern, and there the boatmen ed, were "the chief judge and assembled for a good time. several lawyers and priests." By After 1870 the Navigation Com "priests," no doubt, he meant pany controlled all boats and clergjonen of any denomination. leased them tc the captains. Canal On the two days following Hicks traffic was discontinued in the preached at Plymouth and at second decade of the present cen Providence. Again there were tury. many in the meetings who were not Quakers. On a preaching tour in 1819 CHAPTER 10 Hicks again visited Providence Meeting House, in Upper Provi Religious Controversies dence township. By this time questions had been raised as to The "Separation" in the Society the orthodoxy of his theology, of Friends for he had repudiated the Idea Religious movements made little that heaven and hell are material, progress for many years after the localized placed and that there Revolution. But in the third is a personal evil spirit. He de decade of the nineteenth century nied that he rejected the doctrine 60 BULLETIN OF HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

of the divinity of Jesus, but his Abington Quarter in order to interpretation of that doctrine "seek a quiet retreat." was not satisfactory to his critics, In June, 1827, Ellas Hicks who charged him with being a again made a preaching tour in Deist. With regard to wordly af Montgomery county. On June 29 fairs Hicks did not give evidence he spoke at Horsham in the of an ultra-progressive spirit, for morning and at Upper Dublin in he opposed railroads, denounced the afternoon. In both instances public schools and condemned the meeting houses were not large Free Masonry, camp meetings and enough to accommodate the as fraternity with those of other semblages. While the Upper Dub faiths. lin meeting was in progress a On a tour in 1822 Hicks spoke severe thunder storm occurred in the Horsham, Upper Dublin and lightning appeared to strike and Providence meeting houses. near the meeting house. Hicks At the time of his next visit, in wrote in his journal that this '*827. the opposition to him reach "brought a great solemnity over ed a climax in Pennsylvania. The the meetings." "These meetings," several meetings in Abington Hicks added, "were very solemn Quarterly Meeting were strong occasions in which truth reigned, holds of the adr.erents oi Hicks, and I parted with them in peace while most of his enemies were of mind and the fresh feelings members of Philadelphia meet of gospel love." Joseph Poulke, of ings. Green Street Monthly Meet Gwynedd, took Hicks to his home, ing, Philadelphia, however, was and on the two following days under the control of Hicks' the visitor spoke at large meet friends. The Philadelphia Quar ings at Gwynedd and Plymouth terly Meetinp decreed that Green Meeting. Then he continued on Street Monthly Meeting should into Chester county. be "laid down"—that is, discon Orthodox meetings which were tinued. Green Street Monthly organized at Gwynedd, Plymouth Meeting then transferred itself and Horsham were eventually to Abington Quarterly .ting. discontinued. The burial ground This was the first direct step of Gwynedd Orthodox Meeting toward schism. remains near Penllyn. Here meet ings were maintained in an ad At the Yearly Meeting that joining building until the late year the Orthodox element held 1860's. The only Orthodox meet full control. The objectors there ing organized at the time of the upon called r conference for the schism which still exists is that first Monday in June at Green at Abington, but its membership Street Meeting House. This con is small. Orthodox Friends' meet ference was the beginning of what has since been the Yearly ings were established early in the present century in Norristown Meeting at Fifteenth fnd Cherry streets, commonly called the and Cheltenham, and there also Hicksite Yearly Meeting. Until is an Orthodox meeting in Potts- the Yeaiiy Meeting was definitely town. organized, in October 1827, the Reformed Synod Split followers of Hicks made Abing ton Quarterly Meeting their cen About this time a revolt against ter oi activity. Radnor Monthly the Ssmod of the Reformed Meeting in June, 1827, joined Church originated among the Re- MONTGOMERY COUNTY HISTORY by ED'WARD W. HOOKER 61

formed congregations of upper Pastor Herman. They remained Montgomery county. with their preceptor for three . Up to that time young men years and assisted him in his who intended to become clergy pastoral work, his parish includ men of the Reformed churcn ing congregations over a wide studied for several years with field in upper Montgomery and some clergyman of established lower Berks county. standing. In 1820 the Reformed Under the leadership of Dr. Synod voted to open a theological Herman, the revolting pastors in seminary in Frederick, Md., and 1822 constituted themselves into elected a professor of theology what was called the Free Synod. at a salary of $2000 a year. At Dr. Herman was elected presi once a great protest went up from dent. Beginning with Reformed rural congregations of the de congregations of Montgomery, nomination, especially in Mont Berks, Chester and Lancaster gomery and Berks counties. counties, the movement spread A meeting of Reformed minis- • until It embraced eighty congre ters was held in Norristown on gations and twenty-three clergy March 26. 1821, at which a reso men, some in New York and Ohio. lution was adopted that Synod The Free Synod remained in had exceeded its authority in existence until 1837, when at a undertaking to establish a theo meeting in Pottstown it was de logical seminary. The ministers cided to, dissolve, the members signed a protest, which was sent returning to the old Reformed to the different classes of the oynod, now named the Eastern Synod. Philadelphia Classes and Synod. By this time opposition several others approved the pro to the theological seminary had test. It was asserted that Fred waned. It was established in 1825, erick was an unsuitable place for not in Frederick, however, but In the seminary, that the salary of conjunction with Dickinson Col ^e professor was excessive and lege, in Carlisle, Pa. •that the dominance of the Ger Language Question man language was menaced by Troubles Lutherans the innovation. Synod persisted in its plans The Lutheran church, which and directed the pastors to preach had been firmly established about the seminary and take up among the German settlers in a collection for it. Thereupon the eighteenth century, encoun numerous Reformed congregations tered difficulties in the early withdrew from the Synod, includ nineteenth century because of the ing those at New Hanover, Potts- insistence of leaders in the de town and Trappe. nomination that it remain a Ger The leading spirit in the revolt man church. The young people was the Rev. Dr. Frederick L. no longer understood German, Herman, an able divine who was and there were few if any Luther- pastor at New Hanover. There he ern clergymen trained in the use conducted what was known as of English. Consequently all Lu Swamp College, where he trained theran congregations suffered young men for the ministry. At losses of membership. least fifteen students wh were The Upper Dublin church, ordained to the Reformed minis founded in 1753, became dormant try prior to 1830 had received about 1810 and its church build their theological instruction from ing fell into decay. Not until the 62 BULLETIN OP HISTORICAL SOCIETY OP MONTGOMERY COUNTY

middle of the nineteenth century bright's Brethren or German was it revived. St. Paul's Church, Methodists. In theology and near Ardmore, in Lower Merlon methods of worship it was akin township, likewise experienced a to the primitive Methodists of long period of Inactivity. Even England. in Pottstown, where there was Some members of Schwenkfel- stronger adherence to the German der families in the northern cor Irxguage, persistent demand arose ner of Montgomery county at for English services, and, as the tended meetings of the Evangel dominating powers of the congre ical Association in Macungie gation declined to sanction Eng about 1825. An outcome was that lish preaching an English con the Rev. W. W. Orwig. an Evan gregation was organized in 1832, gelical minister, was invited to the old congregation remaining preach in bams and homes in the entirely German. Both conrega- Hosensack region, where Mont tions, however, used the same gomery and Lehlgh counties building. But in 1848 the two con meet. Thus a "class" was formed, gregations were consolidated, and which developed Into Upper Mil- the use of English was permitted ford Circuit, with a congregation for one service each month, and in East Greenville. later also for evening service. For many years there was ex An entirely English congregation treme bitterness between adher was finally organized in Potts ents of the older churches In this town in 1859, the Transfiguration region and the newcomers. The congregation of the present time. old churches were accustomed to In rural congregations of the sedate forms of worship, while Lutheran and Reformec churches the new faith favored demonstra English in many cases was not tive methods, its ministers de Introduced until toward the close nouncing the other churches as of the nineteenth century, and dead and worthless. The little then there usually was an English band of Evangelical worshipper.? service only once a month. About at first met secretly. When their the time of the World War some places of worship were discovered churches discontinued German mobs sometimes invaded the services altogether and others dwellings and broke up the prayer have since that time been holding meetings. Disorder of this kind them once a month. on November 16, 1830, resulted in arrests. Evangelical Denomination Those who professed conversion Appears at these meetings were tormented In the early days of the nine by their daily associates and teenth century a new religious often ostracised by their own denomination which organized in families. There were instances Pennsylvania was introduced into where husband and wife were Montgomery county—the Evan separated because one or the other gelical. Jacob Albright, originally joined the Evangelical sect. One a Lutheran, took the lead in of the converts was injured by founding the new sect, the first a fall from a tree. He asked the conference being constituted in Evangelical brethren to come to Lebanon county in 1805. The his home to hold a prayer meet name adopted was Evangelical ing. ^ they raised their voices Association, but popularly the the wife of the Injured man de denomination was known as Al luged them with hot water and MONTGOMERY COUNTY HISTORY by EDWARD W. HOOKER 63

attacked them with a broom, For many years there was but •driving them from the house. , one Baptist church in Montgom Of the older denominations, ery county, that which the Welsh that chiefly affected was the settlers of Montgomery township Schwenkfelder. Melchior Yeakel, had founded in 1719. In 1808 one of the Schwenkfelders, aston Lower Merion Baptist church was ished the Rev. W. W. Orwig, the organized, and the following year Evangelical minister, by giving a congregation of Baptists came him a $20 gold piece. The minis into existence in Lower Provi ter took the coin to conference dence township. and piaffed it on the table with Some Baptist families living in the other contributions, it being and near Norristown were mem the custom to appjrtion the avail bers of Great Valley Baptist able funds at conference The church, Chester county. In Nor assembled ministers gazed with ristown, 1832, the pastor of that amazement at the yellow coin. church, the Rev. Leonard Fletch Many of them had never before er, held three meetings •daily for seen a $20 gold piece, and none nine days in the court house in of their members ever gave $20 Norristown, the attendance being at one time in any form. 60 great toward the end that Andrew Yeakel was a Junior overflow meetings were held In minister of the Schwenkfelders the Episcopal and Presbidierian at that time. It was soon noticed churches. Twenty-seven converts that he adopted Evangelical were subsequently baptised in the methods when he conducted serv Schuylkill in the presence of a ices. Then he held prayer meet great assemblage. ings in the Evangelical order. It was decided to organize a The result was that he was ex Baptist congregation in Norris pelled from the Schwenkfelder town, and to hold the service denomination, along with a group for instituting the new church of followers comprising members in the court house on Wednesday. of his own and the Schultz and December 12. 1832. But when the Kriebel families. He then became time came for the service it was a minister of the Evangelical As found that the doors of the court sociation. Prom the Yeakel fam house were locked, and no one ily have since come a niunber of was on hand to open the building. leaders in the Evangelical de The service was then held in nomination. the "yard" of the court house, now the public square. The ser Baptists Encounter Obstacles mon by the Rev. Willian* T. Another religious movement Brantley, of the First Baptist whose advance was not kindly Church. Philadelphia, was based received by the prevalent churches on the text: "The foxes have was that of the Baptist denomi holes and the birds of the air nation. This opposition was due have nests, but the Son of Man to the fact that the Baptists not hath not where to lay his head." only required adult baptism by Subsequently Mr. Brantley pub Immersion but they regarded the lished a letter in a Norristown infant baptism of other deomina- newspaper saying: "The under tions as invalid and insisted that signed takes this opportunity on persons baptised in infancy must behalf of himself and his breth be rebaptised in order to become ren to express a proper sense of •church members. the course pursued by those in- 64 BULLETIN OP HISTORICAL SOCIETY OP MONTGOMERY COUNTY

dividuals who rendered it neces application. It was difficult to sary that the exercises of divine learn what objections had been worship should have an uncom raised. One explanation offered mon prominence." was that the Legislature was The new congregation bought averse to chartering any institu a site for a church at the south tion wholly under the control of west corner of Swede and Airy one religious sect. Yet churches streets, and the church was built had been chartered, and also re in 1833. Meanwhile the Baptists ligious schools. Then another ver held services in Norristown Acad sion was that it was feared efforts emy. and there animosity was would be made to proselyte stu again manifested when the Rev. dents. as had been done in schools Fletcher was preaching a series of other denominations. Tc this of dramatic sermons. He was the managers of the new school picturing the Day of Judgment were able to reply that according In vivid language when a terrific to their rules only children of shock rocked the building. The members of the Society of Friends congregation rushed out and were to be admitted to the school. foimd that some miscreants had Eventually it transpired that exploded a keg of powder nearby. certain members of the Hicksite The Christian denomination, branch of the Society of Friends which also practiced adult bap had objected to the use of the tism by immersion, founded a word "Fi'iends" in the title of congregation at Gulph Mills in the school, since it was to be 1833, and it has ever since been under the control of Orthodox the only church of the denomina Friends. The board of managers tion in the county. met this new criticism by chang ing the name of their organiza The Fonnding of Haverford tion from Friends' Central School ;College Association to Haverford School The founding of Haverford Association, Still the Legislature College, in 1833, upon a site partly did not act on the charter. Then in Lower Merion township, Mont- the board sent Isaac Collins to gormery county, and partly in Harrisburg to talk to members Delaware county, was accom of the Legislature. He was evi plished only after a chain of dently a good lobbyist, for in Feb obstacles had been overcome, and ruary, 1833, the charter was these obstacles were an outgrowth granted. of the Hicks schism in the Society A building was erected in which of Friends. the school was opened on Tenth Members of the Orthodox Month 28. 1833. A rigorous code branch of the Friends held sev of rules was promulgated. Teach eral conferences in 1830 to dis ers were called upon to present cuss plans for opening a school. tr students an example of "plain They adopted the name of ness of dress and address." As to Friends' Central School Associa the garb of the students, it was tion, and in 1831 bought a farm required "that his body-coat, of 198 acres at Haverford as a round jacket and waistcoat shall site for the school. They applied be single-breasted and without to the Legislature of 1831 for a lapels or falling collars, and charter, but soon they were in where any of these are figured formed that the committee on they shall be of a pattern con charters had decided against the sistent with the plainness requir- MONTGOMERY COUNTY HISTORY by EDWARD W. HOOKER 65 ed In the other parts of the dress George Nngent's Collegiate —the students to wear bats, caps Institute being excluded." About the same time that Hav Furthermore, it was directed erford College was founded that "no periodical publications George Nugent undertook to de except The Friend are to be velop plans for an educational brought to the school for the use institution at Gulph Mills, a few of the students, nor any books miles north of Haverford. George exception school books which shall Nugent was a well-to-do Philadel be subject to the approval of the phia merchant who bought the council." At all times the students Poplar Lane estates at Gulph were to "avoid all unnecessary Mills, in 1821. About 1830 he had conversation with each other." Of a school building erected and en course, smoking and chewing of gaged the Rev. William Shaw, an tobacco were forbidden. In sum Episcopal clergjmian, and his mer the students were to rise at family, as teachers. The school 5.30 A. M. and in winter at 6.30. he named the Collegiate Insti- There was to be roll call and read tue. The building was of massive ing of the Scriptures before construction, the stone walls being breakfast. Nine o'clock iri the two feet thick. On each of the evening was bedtime. The "eve two floors was one large room, ning of the Seventh-day was to and there was an attic in which, be appropriated to washing." it is presumed, it was the inten tion to lodge boarding students, To obtain the funds necessary though the Institute never pro to found the school the projec gressed so far as to have such tors offered 400 shares of stock students. at $100 a share, and the appeal As that was before the time of for subscriptions held out the public schools, some children from hope of early dividends on the families in the neighborhood were stock. The issue of stock was enrolled as students. But the quickly obersubscribed. That was principal was not adapted for the a period when money was plenti work, and discipline was lax, so ful and seeking investment, and that the school did not endure whenever stock of turnpike or long. Later the building was used railroad companies was offered as a meeting place for literary there was a struggle to obtain societies and lodges . shares. Evidently the new school was also regarded as a fine in vestment. However, the school, CHAPTER J1 though well attended, did not make a profit. On the contrary, Patriotic Commemoratioiis for the ensuing sixty years its Death of Adams and Jefferson supporters were frequently called Patriotic occasions called for upon to make up deficits. ceremonious observance in those The first commencement took early years of the nineteenth plaice in 1836, when there were century. Political parties and two graduates. Though affording militia companies, which were what was viriiually a college edu usually political organizations, cation, the name Haverford Col celebrated the Fourth of July lege was not adopted until 1856, with banquets accompanied by when a new charter was obtained. long series of toasts. 00 BULLETIN OP HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

John Adams and Thomas Jef Upper Merion township, presided. ferson, noted leaders In the Amer As was the rule of all manner of ican Revolution and both after meetings in those times, a long wards President of the United set of resolutions was proposed States, died on the fiftieth an and adopted. The resolutions con niversary of American indepen cerned themselves only incident dence—July 4, 1826 News trav ally with George Washington. eled slowly then, and Norristown Their chief purport was the in- did not learn of the deaths until dosement of Henry Clay's candi several days later. On July 17 dacy for President. Town Council held a special meet Then followed the dinner, which ing at which it was decided to was the event of the day. Upon have a public demonstration of conclusion of the feasting there mourning for the two great pa was an address by Jonathan Rob triots. Tuesday, July 25. was des erts, of Upper Merion township, ignated as the day, and the people who had been a member of the were asked to "walk in funeral United States Senate from 1814 procession to one of the public until 1821, but who had been places of worship." The members forced into political retirement of Council agreed to wear crepe because he turned against the for thirty days. Democratic Party when it aligned «Jeneral Philip Boyer, a militia itself with General Andrew Jack Mfirer, and William Powell were son. In 1832 and subsequently Mr. appointed marshals of the pro Roberts vigorously supported the cession. In line were the burgess, cause of Henry Clay and the Whig Levj Pawling, the members of Party. CounciJ, the committee of ar- This was only the beginning of range-Qents. the clergy of the the oratory. Next came the set town, a few surviving soldiers of toasts. They were typical of pa the R-woIution, civic officers and triotic and political banquets of citizens, together with a band of that period, and the subjects may music Business was suspended therefore be listed in full: "The throughout the town. The proces Immortal Washington," "The sion marched to St. John's Epis Senate of the United States," copal church, church and school "Henry Clay." "John Sergeant," bells tolling. In the church the "National Industry," "Lafayette," pulpit and chancel were draped "The Army and Navy of the United in morning. The rector, the Rev. States," "The Cherokees," "Mar Jehu Curtis Clay, delivered an tin Van Buren," "Patriots of the address eulogizing Adams and Times That Tried Men's Souls," Jefferson. "Union of the States" and "The Fair," the latter being the invar Centenary of Washington's Birth iable tribute to the women. The chief observance of the Then there were "volunteer centenary of George Washing toasts," as follows: "Governor ton's birth, February 22, 1832, Poindexter," by Colonel Holstein; was held in Norristown in Walter "Charles Carroll, the Only Sur W. Paxson's inn, under the aus vivor of the Signers of the Dec pices of the National Republican laration of Independence," by Party the forerunner of the John Hughes; "Daniel Webster," Whig Party. Colonel George W. by Thomas Read; "The Manufac Holstein, a militia official of ture of Woolens," by Bethel Moore MONTGOMERY COUNTY HISTORY by EDWARD W. HOOKER 67 who operated a mill on Gulph Who Captured Major Andre," by Creek; "The American Matron," Captain A. Brower; "General An by Matthew Roberts; "The Union thony Wayne," by M. R. Moore; and Concert," by Jonathan Rob "The General Administration," erts; "Henry Clay," by R. B. by David Sower, editor of the Jones; "John Sergeant," by Norristown Herald, and "The George Pechin; "Pauldlng, Wil Bank of the United States," "by liams and Van Wert, the Soldiers a citizen."

(To Be Continued) April Meeting

The regular meeting of the Historical Society of Mont gomery County was convened at 2:05 P.M. on April 25,1959 at the building of the Society, with President Groshens presiding. The minutes of the February meeting were read and approved. Donald A. Gallager, Esq., read the proposed amendment to the By-Laws, as follows:

WHEREAS, in recent years some organizations and industries in Montgomery County have indicated a desire to aid this Society, and WHEREAS, various organizations and professional groups have inquired how they might give tangible expression to their appreciation for the information and services made avail able to them by the Society, NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that Article III: Mem- . bership, Section I, of the By-Laws be amended to create additional classifications of membership, so that it shall read in its entirety as follows: There shall be the following classes of membership: (a) Active (b) Life (c) Honorary (d) Affiliate (e) Professional (f) Business Classes c, d, e, and f shall not have the privilege of voting, but each shall receive one copy of each issue of the Bulletin. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the dues for Affiliate, Pro fessional and Business memberships be fixed annually by resolution of the Board of Trustees of the Society. s

68 APRIL MEETING 00

Upon a motion duly seconded and passed, the proposed amendment was carried, and placed on call, to be voted upon at the November meeting for final adoption. President Groshens was pleased to announce that the Montgomery County Real Estate Books from 1784 to 1938 have been transferred to our Society. Also, we have received the Military Enrollment Book, with listings from the Civil War to 1920, and the book of early Automobile License Lists, beginning in 1906. President Groshens introduced Colonel Calvin I. Kephart, and commented on his broad education' and varied experiences. Colonel Kephart discussed the Origin and Meaning op Family Surnames, with interest and wit. After his talk he answered questions and discussed the points raised. At the close of the meeting, the Hospitalily Committee served a pretty tea. EVA G. DAVIS, Recording Secretary Reports on Membership

New members (Elected April 25,1959) Mrs. Laura U. Fry Miss Sophie M. Maclntyre Miss Marion E. Long Mrs. Harold L. Nase Miss Eleanor H. MacFarland Mrs. Leonard Weitzel

Transferred To Life Membership

Kenneth H. Hallman

Deaths George M. Harding Lylburn H. Steele Ralph Beaver Strassburger

Present Status of Membership Honorary Members 3 Life Members 44 Annual Members 640

Total Membership 687

JEAN GOTTSHALL MOLL, Corresponding Secretary

70 The Historical Society of Montgomery County has for its object the preservation of the civil, political and religious history of the county, as well as the promotion of the study of history. The building up of a library for historical research has been materially aided in the past by donations of family, church and graveyard records; letters, diaries and other manuscript material. Valuable files of newspapers have also been contributed. This public-spirited support has been highly appreciated and is earnestly desired for the future.

Membership in the Society is open to all interested persons, whether residents of the county or not, and all such persons are invited to have their names proposed at any meeting. The annual dues are $4.00; life membership, $50.00.'Everymember is entitled to a copy of each issue of The Bulletin, free. Additional copies, $1.50 each.

Historical Building, 1654 DeKalb Street, Norristown, with its library and museum, is open for visitors each week day from 10 A.M. to 12 M. and 1 to 4 P.M., except Saturday after noon. The material in the library may be freely consulted dur ing these hours,but no book maybe taken from the building.

To Our Friends Our Society needs funds for the furthering of its work, its expansion, its growth and development. This can very nicely be done through be quests from members and friends in the disposition of their estate. The Society needs more funds in investments placed at interest; the income arising therefrom would give the Society an annual return to meet its needs. Following is a form that could be used in the making of wills: I HEREBY GIVE AND BEQUEATH TO THE

HISTORICAL SOCIETY OP MONTGOMERY COUNTY,

PENNSYLVANIA, THE SUM OF

DOLLARS ($ )