montgomery countyfos'mrc. hillegass,second vice-president david e. groshens, esq., third...

BULLETIN

HISTORICAL 50CIETYMONTGOMERY COUNTY

PENNSYLVANIA^ORRisrowN

S2>!IERY CO

PUBLISHED BY THE SOCIETYAT ITS ROOMS 18 EAST PENN STREET

NORRI5TOWN,PA.

APRIL, 1953

VOLUME vin NUMBER 4

PRICE ONE DOLLAR

Historical Society of Montgomery County

OFFICERS

Donald A. Gallager, Esq., President

George K. Brecht, Esq., First Vice-president

Fos'mR C. Hillegass, Second Vice-President

David E. Groshens, Esq., Third Vice-President

Eva G. Davis, Recording Secretary

Helen E. Richards, Corresponding Secretary

Mrs. LeRoy Burris, Financial Secretary

Lyman a. Kratz, Treasurer

Mrs. LeRoy Burris, Librarian

TRUSTEES

Kirke Bryan, Esq.

Mrs. H. H. Frangine

Donald A. Gallager, Esq.

HbrbertH. GAnser

Kenneth H. Hallman

Nancy P. Highley

Foster C. Hillegass

William L. Hires

Mrs. a. Conrad Jones

Hon. Harold G. Knight

Lyman A. Kratz

Franklin A. Stickler

Mrs. James I. Wendell

Mrs. Franklin B. Wildman, Jr.

Norris D. Wright

THE BULLETIN

of the

Historical Society of Montgomery County

Published Semi-Anrmilly—Octoher and April

Volume VIII Apeil, 1953 Number 4

CONTENTS

Early Land Transactions of Montgomery Countyv,v •.. Charles R. Barker 257

Detective Work Among the BannersHannah Benner Roach 272

Neighborhood News and Notices (Compiled) 804

Deaths in the Skippack Region (Compiled) 318

Nineteenth Century Real Estate Offerings .. (Compiled) 334

Notes and Queries 846

Editorial 348

Reports 349

Publication Committee

Mrs. LeRoy Burris Jean E. Gottshall

Charles R. Barker, Chairman

255

Early Land Transactions of

Montgomery County

Charles R. Barker

(Continued from page 127)

1700-1705

57. DEED, 3 mo. (May)-6-1700. Robert Roe, Cheltenham, county Philadelphia, yeoman, to Thomas Rutter, saidcounty, blacksmith. £ 80 silver. Pa. money. One moiety of200 acres "in or near the said Cheltenham Township,"which he purchased of Edward Shippen and wife Rebecca,7-6-1698; adj. Jacob Tellner, "the other moiety sold to oneMeredith Dauis," Humphrey Morrey; cont. 100 acres.

Wits.: ffrancis Cook, Mary Cook, Daniel Howell.Ack. in Court held at Philadelphia, 5 September 1700.Rec. 9-7-1702. Book C 2, vol. 3, p. 190

58. DEED. 4 mo. (June)-17-1700. Thomas Farmer,"Philadelphia, gent., son and heir of Jasper Farmer, jun.,and wife Katherine, late of Philadelphia, deed., to David

Harry, late of Radnor in the Welch Tract, but now of countyPhiladelphia, yeoman.

Whereas, said Jasper Farmer, jun., bought of WilliamPenn, Proprietor and Governor, 5000 acres of land in thename of his father, Major Jasper Farmer and his brotherRichard Farmer and himself, and said William Penn, bypatent dated 11-31-1683, granted to Major Jasper Farmerand his sons Richard and Jasper the said 5000 acres by the

Throughout this deed, the clerk who did the recopying has misspelled the name as Harmer, probably mistaking the antique form fffor fl.

257

258 bulletin of historical society of Montgomery county

name of Farmer's Town, being part of the land called bythe Indians Umbilicamence, in county Philadelphia, payingone English silver shilling or value in com current per 100acres, one moiety thereof belonging to Major Farmer, andone quarter each to said Richard and Jasper Jun.

And said Major Farmer, by will datedleft his estate to wife Mary and son Edward." And said Marypurchased said Richard's quarter from Thomas Webb (whohad purchased it from Richard) [Book E 2, vol. 5, pp. 156,174] and said Jasper Farmer, Jr., before he arrived in thisProvince, died intestate, whereupon his estate passed, Ys to

his wife (the said Katherine), for life, and the other % tohis children, Thomas Farmer (who took a double share),Elizabeth and Katherine (all in their minority); and saidKatherine (widow of Jasper Farmer, Jr.), and said Marymade division of said 5000 acres, whereupon the westernmost quarter (1250 acres) fell to said Jasper Fanner, Jr.,

which was laid out by the Surveyor General, being boundedby Skoolkill and William Markham, whereupon said Katherine became possessed of said 1250 acres, and marriedChristopher Billop, and obtained a patent for said landdated 10 April 1690, and afterwards died without issue bysaid Billop, after which said 1250 acres fell to said ThomasFarmer as only son and heir of said Jasper Farmer, as alsoof his mother said Katherine Billop.

Now said Thomas Farmer, who has secured his sisterKatherine (his sister Elizabeth being dead) for £214, Pa.money, conveys to said David Harry the said 1250 acres,except 50 acres which said Thomas is to convey to one JohnWelsh.

Wits.: Saml. Richardson, Edward Harmar (?), DavidLloyd.

Ack. in County Court of Philadelphia, 26 June 1700.Rec. 2 June 1724. Book F 4, p. 225.

59. DEED POLL. 12 December 1700. Jane Jelson, nowof county Philadelphia, spinster, the only surviving daugh-

• EARLY LAND TRANSACTIONS OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 259

ter and heir of Joel Jelson, late of Barton Regis, countyGloucester, near Bristol, England, haberdasher of smallwares, deed., to Rees Frees, county Philadelphia, yeoman.

Whereas, William Penn, Proprietor and Governor, bypatent under hands of his late Commissioners of Property,dated 6-10-1687, confirmed to said Joel Jelson a piece ofland in county Philadelphia, adj. Nicholas Moore and Southampton township; cont. 245 acres; also, 5 acres in Libertiesof Philadelphia, adj. George Shire; in all, 250 acres; beingsaid Joel Jelson's purchase in England, granted by a warrant from Commissioners of Property dated 10-20-1684, andlaid out by Surveyor General's order, 27th of the samemonth, to William Dillwyn on behalf of said Joel Jelson[Patent Book A, p. 228] by which patent, and deeds oflease and release, dated 28/24 September 1681 [Book B,

vol. 2, p. 228] said Joel Jelson became seized of said 250acres, which descended to said Jane Jelson as only survivingdaughter and heir.

Now since it is proven by Joshua Nichols that said JaneJelson is the only child now living of said Joel Jelson, therefore she and said William Dillwyn, for £ 13, Pa. money,convey to Rees Frees said 250 acres.

Wits.: Sam'l Cart, Dad Lloyd, John Moris, AureliusHoskins.

Ack. in County Court of Philadelphia, 9 January 1700.Rec. 7 August 1731. Book F 5, p. 281.

60. DEED. 4 February 1701. John Barns, city Philadel

phia, tailor, to Everard Bolton. £ 50 silver. Pa. money. Tractin county Philadelphia, adj. Thomas Hudson (being a cor

ner of Denis Rochford), and Sarah Dilwyn, late Fuller;

cont. 281 acres 52 perches.

Same which William Penn, Esq., Proprietor and Gover

nor, on 3 December last, granted to said John Bams.Paying one English silver shilling per 100 acres.

260 bulletin of historical society of MONTGOMERY COUNTY

Wits.: Jacob Taylor, Thomas Hollingsworth, lasacTaylor.

Ack. 5 March 1701.

Rec. 28 August 1740. Book G 1, p. 128

61. DEED. 6-5-1701. David Harry, Radnor township inthe Welsh Tract, yeoman, to William Lawrence, city Philadelphia, tailor.

By indenture dated 4-17-1700, Thomas Farmer, countyPhiladelphia, gent., granted to said David Harry 1250 acres,in county Philadelphia, part of 5000 acres called Farmer'sTown, belonging to Jasper Farmer, Sr., deed., late fatherof said Thomas.

Now witness that said David Harry, for & 116 silver, Pa.money, conveys to said William Lawrence part of said 1250acres, adj. David Williams, said David Harry, Lumly Williams, William Dickinson; cont. 400^ acres.

Wits.: Robert Heath, John Oxley, Richard Heath.Ack. 7 October 1709.

Rec.—[no record found] Book E 5, vol. 7, p. 358

62. DEED. 30 December 1701. Thomas Fairman,Shaxaraaxon, county Philadelphia, gent., to John Morris,county Berks, yeoman. By lease and release, 3/4 July 1682,William Penn, Proprietary and Governor, granted toThomas Harly, London, Esq, 5000 acres to be laid out inPennsylvania, after whose decease the same descended toThomas Harley, Esq., son and heir, who, by deed poll, 15August 1699, granted same to said Thomas Fairman, who,by deed poll, 1 December 1701, for £ 250, Pa. money, to besecured to him, granted to said John Morris 2500 acresof said 5000 acres.

By five warrants from the Commissioners of WilliamPenn, dated 8 December instant, the said 2500 acres waslaid out to said John Morris near Gwynedd township, alongline dividing Philadelphia and Bucks counties, adj. RobertFairman and vacant land.

EARLY LAND TRANSACTIONS OP MONTGOMERY COUNTY £61

3

Now said grantor, for £ 250, conveys said premises.Wits.: Sam Carpenter, Jno. Budd.Pro. 14 September 1708 by said witnesses.Rec.—[no record found'.] Book E 5, vol. 7, p. 85

63. DEED. 6 February 1701/2, Francis Rawle, Phila-adelphia, merchant, and Elizabeth ffox, same place, widow,only surviving execx. of James ffox, her late husband, deed.5 shillings. Pa. money.

Tract in Plymouth, on river Schuylkill, adj. Philip Price,David Harris, Isaac. Sheffer, "said ffox and John Bevan;"cont. 1017 acres.

Part of 2500 acres which William Penn, Proprietary andGovernor, by lease and release, 12/13 March 1685, soldto said ffrancis Rawle, who sold 500 acres thereof to Nicholas Pearse, who sold same to Edmond Cartlige, of Darby,county Chester, yeoman, as per deed from said Rawle andPearse, 4-19-1696 [Book E 3, vol. 5, p. 1.] And said ffrancisRawle sold 500 acres more of said land to said Cartlige,6-29-1696 ["same book, page 2."]

Which said parcels, laid out for 1000 acres, are part of5327 acres 79 perches called Plimouth township grantedto said ffrancis Rawle and Elizabeth ffox by patent, 12August 1701. [Patent Book A, vol. 2, p. 55,] [etc.]

Wits.: Nicholas Pease, John Stevens, Lumley Williams.Ack. in Court of Common Pleas, Philadelphia, 5 March

1701.

Rec. 24 May 1735. Book F 8, p. 162.

64. DEED POLL. 12 mo. (February)-24-1701/2. JohnGreene to Thomas Shute. Tract in county Philadelphia,adj. William Markham, Franklin Farmar, Plymouth township, George Keith, Edward Farmar; cont. 300 acres. £ 75.

Same which William Penn, Proprietary of Pennsylvania,by patent dated 17 September last [Patent Book A, vol. 2,pp. 76-7] granted to said John Greene.

262 bulletin op historical society of Montgomery county

Wits.: Nathaniel Edgecombe, Francis Cooke.Ack. in Court of Common Pleas, 11 January 1703.Rec. 26 March 1709. Book E 4, vol. 7, p. 243

65. DEED. 12 mo. (February)-25-1702. Matthias VanBebber, city Philadelphia, merchant, to Clause Johnson,of Crevelt, county Philadelphia, yeoman. £ 48 silver. Pa.money. Piece of land in county Philadelphia, adj. John Kreyand said Mathias Vanbebber; cont. 306 acres.

Part of a tract confirmed to said grantor by patent dated22d "of this Instant February." [Patent Book A, vol 2, pp.463-5.]

Said Matthias Van Bebber makes Henry Sellen, ofCreishym in German-tovimship his attorney to make acknowledgment in Court.

Wits.: Nathan Allen, Tho. Story, Maurice Lisle.Ack. 10-17-1706.

Rec.—[no record found.] Book E 3, vol. 6, p. 30

66. DEED. 12 mo. (February)-25-1702. Mathias Vanbebber, city Philadelphia, merchant, to John Krey, Krey-sham, in the German township, county Philadelphia, yeoman. £ 49 7s. 6d. Piece of land in county Philadelphia, adj.Henry Pannebecker, said Mathias Vanbebber, Claus Johnson; cont. 306 acres.

Part of 6166 acres granted to said Mathias Vanbebberby William Penn, Proprietary and Governor, by patent dated 22 February "now currant." [Patent Book A. vol. 2, pp.463-5.]

Wits.: Nathan Allen, Tho. Story, Maurice Lisle.Ack.—•

Rec.—[no record found.] Book E 3, vol. 6, p. 32.

67. DEED. 1 mo. (March)-30-1702. Francis Rawle,Philadelphia, merchant, and Elizabeth ffox, same place,widow, only surviving execx. of James Fox, her late husband, deed., to John Wood.

EARLY LAND TRANSACTIONS OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY 263

Whereas, there are three tracts in Plymouth township,cont. in all 567 acres 67 perches:

(a) on Skoolkill, adj. Isaac Hayes; cont. 79 acres 67perches.

(b) adj. land late of Thomas Owen and David Meredith, cont. 244 acres, which tract, with half the first-mentioned tract, wherein is 33^ acres 33 perches over plus,is part of 750 acres which said James Fox and one RichardGove, on 26 March 1686, conveyed to Henry Ceane, who,on 7-30-1689, conveyed to John Bevan, of Haverford in theWelsh Tract, yeoman, who granted his right in said 244acres and said moiety of first-mentioned tract to his son-in-law John Wood, of Darby, county Chester, yeoman.

(c) adj. Ellis ap Hugh and John Wood; cont. 244 acres,which, with the other moiety of the tract whereon is 33^acres .33^ perches over plus, is part of 2500 acres whichWilliam Penn, Proprietary and Governor, granted 12/13March 1685, to said Francis Rawle, who sold 500 acresthereof to Richard Gove, by lease and release dated 25/26March 1686, who by deed poll dated 28 October 1699, conveyed 250 acres to Thomas Owen [Book E 3, vol. 5, p. 306.]by whose death said land descended to his son and heir,Owen Owens, who sold his right in said 250 acres, and insaid over plus, to said John Wood.

Which said 567 acres 67 perches are part of 5327 acres79 perches called Plymouth township, patented to saidFrancis Rawle and Elizabeth Fox by William Penn, 12 August 1701. [Patent Book A, vol. 2, p. 55.]

[Signed:] Francis Rawle, Elizabeth Fox, John Bevan,Owen Owens [mark.]

Wits.: Abraham Bickley, John Jones, Da. Lloyd.Ack. in Court of Common Pleas held at Philadelphia,

4 June 1702.

Rec. 22d lObr Ao Di 1733. Book F 6, p. 359.

68. RELEASE. 27 August 1702. Owen Owens [mark],son and heir of Thomas Owens, Plymouth, yeoman, deed..


and Ann Owens [mark] and Margaret Owens [mark],daus. of said Thomas Owens, to John Wood, Darby, countyChester, yeoman. 5 shillings. All their right, title, etc., ina moiety of a piece of land on east side of Skoolkill in saidtownship, adj. Isaac Hays; cont. 79 acres 67 perches, halfwhereof was part of 250 acres which Richard Gove soldto said Thomas Owens, and is now in tenure of said JohnWood.

Wits.: David Meredith, Lumly Williams, Richard Heath,Day. Lloyd.

Ack. in Court of Common Pleas held at Philadelphia19 October 1702.

Rec. 9 February 1735. Book F 7, p. 148.

69. DEED POLL. 6 mo. (August)-31-1702. William Dil-wyn, city Philadelphia, sadler, and wife Sarah, to Ever-ard Bolton, county Philadelphia, yeoman. £ 54. Tract incounty Philadelphia, adj. John Barns and Thomas Hudson;cont. 387 acres 32 perches, granted by a warrant dated2 mo.-3-1701, and laid out 3 mo.-12, "next after."

Same which William Penn, Proprietary and Governor,by patent dated 1 August 1701 [Patent Book A (?), vol. 2,pp. 53-4] granted to said Sarah Dilwyn, in right of 1000acres purchased by her by name of Sarah Fuller.

Wits.: John Jones Jun., John Q. Barnes, Francis Cooke.Ack. in Court of Common Pleas, 19 September 1702.Rec. 2 Septr. 1740 Book G 1, p. 144.

70. DEED POLL. 28 November 1702. Thomas Fairman,Shackamaxon, county Philadelphia, surveyor, to GarretPeterson, county Philadelphia, yeoman. £ 30, Pa. money.Tract in county Philadelphia, adj. land late Robert Turner's,land of Franke Hoven, John Barnes, said ffairman; cont.200 acres.

Part of 700 acres granted to said Thomas Fairman underWilliam Penn's great seal, dated 23 October last past.[Patent Book A, vol. 2, p. 398.]


Wits.: Edward Lane, Matth Van Bebber, James Shattick.Ack. in Court of Common Pleas, 4 March 1703.Kec.—[no record found.] Book F 8, p. 21.

71. RELEASE. 22 January 1703. Thomas Pagitt, cityof Bristol, mealeman, to James Shattick, Province of Pennsylvania, yeoman. £ 10, English money. 500 acres of landin said province. (In possession of said James Shattick byvirtue of lease dated 21 January 1708.) Lately purchasedby said Thomas Pagitt from William Penn, Esq., lateGovernor.

"Sealed and Delivered (on double sixpenny stamptparchment) in the presence of Antho. Whatly, James Williams, Edward Lane."

Indorsed. On March, 1731 Joseph Richardson, of township of Providence, county Philadelphia, yeoman, agedabout 62 years, affirms to handwriting of Edward Lane,witness to within written deed and receipt, who was "lateof the said Township (formerly called Perkeoming)" withwhom he was well acquainted, (etc.)

Rec. 24 April 1732. Book F 5, p. 483.

72. DEED. 1 mo. (March)-26-1703. William Slubey,Salem Tenth, West New Jersey, yeoman, and wife Sarah[mark] one of daus. of Nicholas More, late of city Philadelphia, gent., deed., to Thomas Shute and Nicholas Wain,both of county Philadelphia, yeomen. £ 180, Pa. money.Tract of land, part of the Manor of Moreland, adj. JohnCarver, John Hallowell, George Palmer, Hood and Hallo-well; cont. 1200 acres; as tenants in common.

William Penn, by deed of lease and release dated 17/18October 1681, conveyed to said Nicholas More 10,000 acresof land; and by another deed, dated 21 August 1682, quitclaimed to said Nicholas More the yearly rent of £ 4 10s.(etc.); and by a patent dated 6-7-1684 granted to saidNicholas More a tract in county Philadelphia called More-

206 BULLETIN OF HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

land, by a branch of Pocquessink creek, adj. John Hart;cont. 9850 acres; granted by a warrant dated 11-5-1682,and laid out 6-1-1684.

And after decease of said Nicholas More intestate, saidManor of Moreland descended to his children who were

mostly young and under their mother's tuition, except hiseldest dau. Mary, married to Ellias Keith, who obtainedher share of the estate out of said Manor, and remainderdescended to Samuel, Nicholas, Bebeckah and Sarah, thefour younger children of said Nicholas More. Said Rebeckahdied a minor, and said Samuel, son and heir, invested inhis father's estate by means of his mother who administeredon said estate,' and afterwards married John Holme. SaidSamuel More, by will dated 6 November 1694, bequeathedone-third of the residue of his estate to his mother, and to

his brother and sister, Nicholas and Sarah More, the residue, equally, and made his father-in-law^^ John Holmeexecr. (etc.)

Nicholas More, only surviving son of said Nicholas More,in March, 1702/3, chose his brother-in-law, William Sluby,as his guardian.

Wits.: Samuel Bulkley, Tho. Oldman, Francis Cooke.Ack. in Court of Common Pleas at Philadelphia, 22

March 1704.

Rec. 1 July 1736. Book F 7, p. 255.

73. DEED. 4-17-1703. Daniel Falkner and Justus Falk-

ner, both of county Philadelphia, gents., to Abraham Dennisand John Lucken, both of said county, yeomen.

Whereas, William Penn, Proprietary and Governor ofPennsylvania, by lease and release dated 11/12 August1682, granted 5000 acres of land in Pennsylvania to Benjamin Furley, of Rotterdam, Holland, merchant, who, byletter of attorney dated 23 April 1700, appointed said

Step-father.


Daniel and Justus Falkner to dispose of his said 5000 acres(etc., etc.)

And whereas, at special request of said Daniel and•Justus Falkner on behalf of said Benjamin Furley, therewas granted by Commissioners of Property, 4-8-1703, apatent to said Benjamin Furley, in right of said 5000 acres,for a tract of land in county Philadelphia, adj. land appropriated for the Proprietary's use, John Holland, JamesGlaypoole; eont. 1000 acres. [Book D 2, vol. 5, pp. 17, etc.]

Now said grantors, for £ 160 silver, Pa. money, conveysaid 1000 acres (etc.)

Wits.: Arnold Cassel Thomas Kunders,^® Murice Lisle.Ack. in Court of Common Pleas, 9 September 1703.Rec. 25 March 1709. Book E 4, vol. 7, p. 241

74. DEED POLL. 7 July 1703. William Palmer, Wis-sahickon, county Philadelphia, miller, to Philip Price, UpperMerion in Welsh Tract. £ 112 silver, Pa. money. A tract inWhitpain's Township, which the Commissioners of Property, on 2-7-1702, granted to said William Palmer, adj.Elizabeth Jackson, Richard Whitpain, John Palmer, Plymouth Township; cont. 832 acres 156 perches, paying oneEnglish silver shilling per 100 acres. Surveyed to saidWilliam Palmer, and given him by will of his late father,George Palmer, purchaser of 5000 acres by patent [PatentBook A, vol. 2, p. 225.]

Grantor makes David Lloyd his attorney (etc.)Wits.: Andr. Robeson, Robert Heath, Thomas Sisom.Ack. in Court of Common Pleas held at Philadelphia,

9 September 1703.Rec. 9th 9br Ao Di 1733. Book F 6, p. 335.

75. DEED POLL. 5 August 1703. Philip Price [mark]Upper Merion in the Welsh Tract, yeoman, to RichardMorris, county Philadelphia, husbandman. £ 46, silver, Pa.

No doubt this is an error for Thones Kunders, made by the copyingclerk.


money, as well as for £ 74 like money to be paid (secured.)A parcel of land in Whitpaine's Township, county Philadelphia, adj. John Palmer, "Plymouth Line," WilliamThomas; cont. 417 acres. Part of 832 acres 156 perches soldby William Palmer to said Philip Price by deed poll, 7July "last past."

Wits.: William Palmer, Robert Heath, William Thomas.Ack. in Court of Common Pleas, 9 September 1703.

Rec. 4-2-1708. Book E 4, vol. 7, p. 126

76. DEED.—August 1703. Philip Price [mark], UpperMerion in the Welsh Tract, yeoman, to William Thomas,Radnor, in said Welsh Tract, husbandman. £ 100 silver, Pa.money. Tract of land in Whitpain township, county Philadelphia, adj. Richard Morris, David Meredith, Ralph Jackson; cont. 427l^ acres, part of 832 acres 156 perches conveyed by William Palmer to said Philip Price by deed poll7 July past.

Wits.; William Palmer, Robert Heath.

Ack. in Court of Common Pleas at Philadelphia, 9 September 1703.

Rec. 9 November 1733. Book F 6 p. 337.

77. DEED POLL. 11 mo. (January)-6-1703/4. ThomasShute, county Philadelphia, yeoman, to William Dickinson,Plymouth township, said county, yeoman. £ 70 silver. Pa.money. Tract in Plymouth aforesaid, now in possession ofsaid Thomas Shute, adj. David Moore, Philip Wallis, DavidWilliams and David Harris, Plymouth Line; cont. 200acres; part of 300 acres granted by William Penn, Proprietary and Governor, to John Green, city Philadelphia,tailor, by warrant dated 12-29-1683, and laid out by orderof Surveyor General, 3-18-1688, and confirmed by patentfrom William Penn, 17 September 1701. [Patent Book A,vol. 2, pp. 76 and 77.]

EARLY LAND TRANSACTIONS OP MONTGOMERY COUNTY 269

And said John Green granted said 300 acres to ThomasShute, 11 mo. (January)-24-1701/2. "This forementioned200 acres are resurveyed out of ye sd 300 acres."

Wits.: Edward Mlfflin, Francis Cooke.Ack. in Court of Common Pleas at Philadelphia, 8 March

1704.

Rec. 28 March 1709. Book E 4, vol. 7, p. 247.

78. DEED POLL. 1 mo. (March)-9-1703/4. John Red-witzer, Plymouth, county Philadelphia, to William Dickinson, same town. £ 12 silver, Pa. money. Parcel of land inPlymouth, now in possession of said William Dickinson, beg.in line of said Plymouth township, adj. land of said WilliamDickinson in right of Thomas Shute, and said John Red-witzer's other land; laid out for said William Dickinson,10-25-1702, cont. 28 acres, part of 228^ acres granted tosaid John Redwitzer by Francis Rawle and Elizabeth Fox,1 mo. (Mareh)-26-1702, which was part of 5327 acres 79perches of land called Plymouth township, and also part of2500 acres which William Penn, Proprietary and Governor,granted by lease and release, 12/13 March 1685, to JamesFox (late husband of said Elizabeth Fox), who sold 212acres to James Shattick, 8-22-1690; and said James Shat-tick, on 1 March 1696/7, sold said 212 acres to said JohnRedwitzer, who has sold 12 acres to Philip Price, and purchased of said Elizabeth Fox 28^/2 acres, being overplusland, (etc., etc.)

Wits.: Thomas Shute, Francis Cooke.Ack. in Court of Common Pleas, Philadelphia, 9 March

1703.

Rec. 28 March 1709. Book E 4, vol. 7, p. 245.

79. DEED. 3-6-1704. Robert Fletcher, late of PineSpring Plantation, Abington township, but now of Astontownship, county Chester, yeoman, to Robert Fletcher, PineSpring Plantation, aforesaid, yeoman (son of said Robert).£ 360 silver. Pa. money. Plantation of Pine Spring, in Abing-


ton township, adj. Daniel Heapley, deed., land late NicholasMoore's, Samuel Allen, "a Street or Road;" cont. 500 acres.Purchased of Silas Crispin, of Dublin township, gent., andwife Esther, 16 November 1695. Also, piece of land incounty Philadelphia, adj. Thomas Canby, Abraham Richard, said Silas Crispin; cont. 51i^ acres.

Wits.: Joseph Kirkbride, Ellis Davis, Edward Evans.Ack. 3-17-1708.


80. DEED POLL. 7 October 1704. William Penn, Esq.,son and heir of William Penn, Esq., Proprietary and Gov-enor, to William Trent and Isaac Norris, both of the cityof Philadelphia.

Whereas, William Penn, Esq;, Proprietary (etc.), bypatent dated 2 October 1704 under hands of Commissionersof Property, confirmed unto William Penn, the son, a tracton river Schuylkill in county Philadelphia, adj. Plymouthtownship, Whitpain's township, "Manor of Bibberts;" cont.7480 acres, under yearly rent of one English silver shillingper 100 acres.

Now said William Penn, the son, for & 850, Pa. money,conveys to said William Trent and Isaac Norris, the said7480 acres, under yearly quit rent.

[signed:] Wm. Penn Jur.Wits.: Wm. Monington Moore, John Bourchier.Ack. in County Court of Common Pleas, 7 December

1704.


81. DEED. 8-31-1704. Matthias Van Bibber, countyPhiladelphia, merchant, to John Jacobs, Perkiomy, countyPhiladelphia, yeoman. & 31 14s. silver, Pa. money.

Whereas, William Penn, Proprietary and Governor, bypatent from Commissioners of Property dated 22 February1702, granted to said Matthias Van Bibber 6166 acres incounty Philadelphia, adj. Edward Lane, William Haiman.[Patent Book A, vol. 2, p. 463.]


Now said Matthias Van Bibber conveys a piece of land(part of aforesaid tract), adj. Edward Lane, said VanBibber, said Jacobs; cont. 204 acres. Under quit rent of2 shillings sterling.

Wits.: Tho. Story, Maurice Lisle, Hendryck Sellen.Ack. in Court of Common Pleas at Philadelphia, 10-7-

1704.

Rec. 8 Septr. 1732. Book F 6, p. 18

(To he continued)

Detective Work Among the Eenners

or

An Analytical Study

of

Two Pioneer Montgomery County Families

by

Hannah Benner Roach

1951

{Continued from page 230)

J-23 Jacob Cassel

Jacob Gassel's name first appeared on the Hatfield taxlists in 1803 when he was listed as a single man. He marriedlater on, that year, and in 1804 had taxable chattels of twocattle. A weaver by trade like his father and brother, hisappraised income of ?40 that year was taxed at forty-sevencents.

He and his wife Elizabeth Landes probably lived athome with Yelles at first, but in 1809 his father turnedover to them, but did not convey, fifty acres of his ownfarm. This tract comprised the land next the Franconiatownship line; it included 36 acres in Hatfield and thirteenof the eighteen acres in Franconia which Yelles had purchased in 1790 from the Wilson estate. The assessment forthe fifty acres in 1809 was ?408; his chattels included ahorse and five cattle for a total of $488 taxed at $2.60.

A year after his wife's death Yelles executed a deedon August 17, 1811®^ which formally conveyed to his son

Montgy Dd Bk 35/706

272

DETECTIVE WORK AMONG THE BBNNERS 273

for $800 the fifty acres; two years later on January 22,1813 Jacob and Elizabeth sold two acres and eleven perchesof it to their brother-in-law John Drake.®^ Probably thiswas the year Jacob erected a small house on the propertyremaining, for the assessment jumped from $252 to $1044.In 1817 this was reduced to $756, but was up to $900 in1821.

The following year for some reason he sold the farmto his brother J-21 Abraham and for the next three yearswas assessed on only a horse and six cattle, although thehouse and land were conveyed- May 30, 1823 to Abrahamfor $1600."

In 1825, the year before his death, he returned to hisfather's home and that year assumed the responsibility ofYelles' remaining 70 acres. This arrangement was not destined to last a year, for in February 1826 he met an untimelydeath at the age of forty-three years.

His wife Elizabeth renounced her right to administerthe estate on February 27, 1826 to John Drake.®" The sameday an inventory of his eifects was made which totalled$425.49. It included:

Wearing apparel $11.911 young Horse 30.Mare with foal 10.

7 Cattle 77.

2 Heiffers 10.

6 Sheep 7.506 Swines 9.001 ton of Hay 7.00100 battens of Straw 5.

1 lot of Flax 1.

18 bu of Rye 9.2 bu of flax seed 2.25

"/did 31/287

"•Ibid 39/257

Montgy RW No. 9232

274 bulletin of histoeical society of Montgomery county

2 bu of buckwheat .75

100 sheaves of oats 2.

8 acres of grain in the ground 36.Waggon & bed 35.Sleigh .50Bible, hymn & prayer-book .252 books .25

Basket & lot of books .20

Cash 17.56^2Book accounts 18.49

After Jacob's death his widow Elizabeth probably con-tined to make her home with her father-in-law until his

death. After he passed on in 1836 she presumably went tolive with her children and in 1850, four years before herown decease, was living with her son Elias in Franconia.

Issue op J-23 Jacob Cassels"

J-231 Mary Cassel b ca 1804; d ca 1840; m Jacob L. Meyer b May 20,1802; d April 10, 1874, son of Christian and Mary (Landis)Moyer.®'' He married as his second wife Mary (Hackman) Kulp.

J-232 John L. Cassel b December 29, 1805; d October 17, 184S; mSusan Bergey b September 6, 1811; d September 17, 1861,daughter of Abraham and Elizabeth (Groff) Bergey.®® He wasa shoemaker by trade and died in Wadsworth, Ohio. His widowmarried 2nd Amos Henrichs b 1818; d 1867 who is buried atHousertown, Owen County, Indiana. She is buried in ClintonCounty, Iowa.

J-233 Elizabeth Cassel b December 11, 1807; d June 3, 1886; m IsaacHagey b May 18, 1808; d March 27 1876. Both buried FranconiaMennonite Cemetery.

J-284 Catherine Cassel b ca 1809; d ? ; m February 28, 1830 JosephRittenhouse b September 21, 1809; d ?, son of Rev. MathiasRittenhouse. Joseph was a Dunkard preacher; lived in Ohio.

J-235 Magdalena Cassel b October 6, 1811; d August 5, 1895; m November 6, 1832 Abraham Weigner b November 16, 1806; d July,22, 1879, son of Abraham and Susanna (Snyder) Weigner.®^

®® Cassel p 284" Moyer p 38®® Bergey p 105®* Schwenkfelder p 1233

DETECTIVE WORK AMONG THE BENNERS 275

He was a brother of Maria Weigner who married' MagdalenaCassel's cousin J-318 John B. Souder q. v.

J-2S6 Ann Cassel b ca 1815; d 1892; m Enos Hagey b June 16, 1810;d October 25, 1858 aged 48yr3 4m 9d; both buried at FranconiaMennonite Cemetery.

J-237 Elias L. Cassel b February 11, 1817; d February 16, 1864 aged47yrs 5d; m 1st Mary Boorse b January 7, 1819; d June 8, 1894;both buried at Plain Mennonite Cemetery. He married 2nd ElizaJane—b July 27, 1826; d March 21, 1878. He was a tailor andmerchant.

J-238 Jacob L. Cassel b March 2, 1819; d July 3 1891 aged 72yrs 4mId; m Rachel Kline b July 13, 1815; d November 7, 1892,daughter of Samuel and Margaret (Beyer) Kline"; both buriedat Franconia Mennonite Cemetery. Their grandson, the Rev.Jacob C. Clemens lives in Hatfield on the Allentown road not

far from Yelles Cassel's original plantation.

J-24 Catherine Cassel

The early history and ancestry of the particular Ober-holtzer family into which Catherine Cassel married is nottoo well known or authenticated, some confusion arising between the two Jacob Oberholtzers living in Hatfield andFranconia during the same years.

On September 5, 1730 Hans Jacob Overholtz arrivedat Philadelphia on the Ship "Alexander & Anne," WilliamClymer, Master, from Rotterdam. Along with the other 45Palatines "who with their families, making in all about130 persons,this Jacob Overholtz was qualified at theCourthouse. The passenger list—on which he made hismark—included the names of Conrad Stam, whose sonBaltzer sold Yelles Cassel his land in Hatfield, Henry Clem-mer who settled in Franconia, and Johannes or HansClemmer whose widow Ann married Frederick Alderfer,father of Abraham Alderfer.

Jacob Oberholtzer early settled in the vicinity of Hatfield. He was naturalized in Philadelphia in the month of

Schwenkfelder p 1380" Penna Col. Rec. Vol 3/386


April, 1741, along with Henry Oberholtzer, possibly hisson."

Between 1743 and 1748 Jacob negotiated with JohnRoberts of Towamencin for fifty acres of land in Towa-mencin, but for some reason decided not to go through withthe deal, even though he had already made partial payment for the property. On November 12, 1748 he and Johnand Ann Roberts conveyed the land to Abraham Heiderich,Jacob receiving £ 18 and the Roberts £ 100 for the property." Witnesses to the deed were Henry Overholtz andEdward Hughes; again Jacob made his mark. This inabilityto write is emphasized only to point out the one distinguishing element between him and his contemporary of the samename who could write.

In Jacob of Hatfield's will, dated January 18, 1762and proved April 23, 1771, which was witnessed by HenryHendricks, Baltzer Stam and John Barke (Bergey)—Thescrivener—he described himself as "being old to Tanks beto God of Sound Mind and Memory."" He directed thathis wife Susanna was to have "the bonds in her name

written" and to have house room in the house where theythen dwelt, or his son Henry was to build her a house onthe place, with a good iron stove and sufficient fire-wood.If she did not choose to stay on the place, then Henry wasto pay her the interest of £ 50 so long as she remained hiswidow.

To Henry, his son, went the Hatfield plantation for£ 500, of which he was to keep £ 250 for himself, the otherhalf to go to his sister Elizabeth Savacool, wife of JacobSavacool of Bucks County, who, with Henry, was named anexecutor.

" Landes p 151" Phila Dd Bk G-12/228

" PhOa W Bk P/94 1771 No. 66


Jacob's wife Susanna survived him by six years. In herwill written May 10, 1773 and proved April 14, 1777" shedevised f 25 to both Catherine, wife of Richard Gabel andto Margaret, wife of John Gabel, the latter woman to gether silver shoe buckles, best quilted petticoat and Beaverhat! To Elizabeth, wife of Jacob Seiple she left £20; toSusanna Gabel, daughter of Richard, £ 5; a like amountto Susanna, daughter of Abraham Up de Grave, and £ 3each to Henry and Edward, his sons, who were namedexecutors. Abraham Up de Grave and Edward were to getone English shilling, as was Ann, wife of John Tyson.

Since no mention was made of either Henry Oberholtzeror Elizabeth Savacool, there is the strong probability thatshe was Jacob Oberholtzer's second wife. Her tombstonehas not been located; but beside that of Jacob in theTowamencin Mennonite Cemetery is a stone which bearsthe name of Catharina Oberholtzer, and the date October20, 1741. It is suggested that this Catharina was Jacob'sfirst wife and the mother of Henry and Elizabeth.

Henry Oberholtzer, the son, was a cooper by trade.He married Barbara Godshalk, grandaughter of old BishopJacob Godshalk of Towamencin, and daughter of John andHelena Godshalk of Hatfield. The Cassel land—purchasedfrom Baltzer Stam—had originally been settled by JohnGodshalk. Besides Jacob Oberholtzers' land, which adjoined Cassel's property to the south-east, Henry Oberholtzerpurchased on August 3, 1772 the 50-acre tract between itand the Forty-Foot road, as well as a small 17-acre propertyacross the line from Gabriel Frey, a blacksmith. This heconveyed to his son Jacob Oberholtzer on May 27, 1773 for£ 225."

On the 1769 Hatfield tax return Henry was assessed.on 150 acres, four horses and four cattle, his father on

''Ibid W Bk B/22 1777 No. 21

Montgy Dd Bk 6/72


50 acres, two horses and one cow." In 1774 after old Jacob'sdeath, Henry was assessed on 200 acres and his son Jacobon 68 acres.

Henry and his sons John and Jacob were listed as Non-Associators in Hatfield in 1779''®; Joseph, his youngest son,was enrolled in the Second Class, John in the Fourth Classand Jacob in the Eighth Class of Captain Philip Reed'sMilitia Company."'®

Henry Oberholtzer's will, dated July 29, 1791 andproved March 14, 1794®® was witnessed by Jacob Swartzwho lived on the adjoining property to the north-east,Abraham Johnson, son of John Johnson and brother ofHenry who had married J-4 Anna Benner; and JohnBarkey, probably the same man who had witnessed hisfather Jacob Oberholtzer's will. By its terms he devisedto his sons Joseph and Isaac the Hatfield plantation for£ 1000, Joseph to get the westernmost 95 acres (which adjoined Yelles Cassel's farm) and Isaac the remaining 98acres.

His eldest daughter Susanna had married Yelles Cassel,son of Henry and Margaret (Godshalk) Cassel and grandson of Yelles, the emigrant, while his youngest daughterCatherine Oberholtzer is believed to have married Abraham

Cassel, son of Yelles and Elizabeth Cassel, and grandsonof the emigrant Hupert Cassel.®^ While the Oberholtzerdaughters thus married second cousins, their brothers Joseph and Isaac had married sisters: Susanna and ElizabethSchlichter, the daughters of Henry and Elizabeth Schlichterof Franconia.®^

Because of the juxtaposition of their farms, Joseph Oberholtzer and his family were therefor life-long neighbors

" Pa Arch 3rd Ser Vol 14/8

'"Ibid 2nd Ser Vol 14/38

" Ibid p 20" Montgy W Bk 1/377 No. 4856" Cassel pp 48, 53" Montgy Dd Bk 6/94


of the Yelles Cassel family. It is hard to understand whyHenry Oberholtzer and Catherine Cassel, daughter ofYelles, waited until he was 28 and she 23 to marry, butsuch was the case, Henry being listed in the Hatfield returns as a single man until 1807, working at his trade ofcordwainer. The year of his marriage he purchased a horsewhich remained his only taxable property until 1813 whenon April 1st his father Joseph sold to him for £763, 10,thirty-seven acres of his own farm.®® This lay betweenYelles Cassel's farm and that portion of old Henry Ober-holtzer's land which had gone to his son Isaac. The propertywas assessed at $1061, which with the horse and two cowsbrought Henry's estate to $1115 on which his tax was $2.21.

In 1815 the land was assessed at $703, in 1817 at $777and in 1821 at $888, the tax being $2.06. The propertyincreased in value slightly over the years; on April 3, 1858,a year after Henry's death it was sold to his son-in-lawNicholas Noll, then in actual possession of the house andland, for $1466.66.®^ The conveyance was subject to thepayment of the annual interest at five percent on the principal sum of $1100 remaining secured in the property toCatherine Oberholtzer, the widow.

Issue op J-24 Catherine Cassel Oberholtzer

J-241 Mary Oberholtzer b 1809; d 1864; m Henry Derstine b January26, 1809; d February 4, 1877; both buried at Plain MennoniteCemetery. Lived in Gwynedd at the time of Henry Oberholtzer'sdeath.

J-242 Anna Oberholtzer b April 13, 1812; d March 20, 1889; m 1stAmos Godshalk who died September 27, 1839 aged 36yrs 11m5d; both buried at Franconia Mennonite Cemetery. She married2nd Christian Young b April 24, 1805; d July 16, 1874, buriedat Plain Mennonite Cemetery, whose first wife was DeborahLatscher.®®

J-243 Catherine Oberholtzer b ca 1820; d ca 1880; m after 1850 Nicholas

Montgy Dd Bk 29/312Montgy Dd Bk 138/81Montgy W Bk 13/657


Noll b May 3, 1822; d October 6, 1907; both buried at PlainMennonite Cemetery. She was his second wife.®® Unfortunatelythe tombstones of both his wives are so badly eroded it is impossible to decipher them.

In the 1850 Census a Henry Oberholtzer, aged 16, wasliving with Henry and Catherine Oberholtzer and theirdaughter Catherine, still unmarried. Was this a son of theirlatter years who predeceased both his parents? No mentionis made of him in documents which name the other heirs.

J-25 Mary Cassel

Bom in 1791 John Drake, the husband of Mary Cassel,was a blacksmith by trade. The namesake of John Drake,wheelwright of Montgomery township®^ who had marriedEachel James, daughter of Isaac James,®® his father wasLevi Drake, presumably a brother of John, the wheelwright.His mother's name was Sarah.

Married before his majority, the younger John Drake'sname first appeared in Hatfield tax returns in 1811 whenhe was assessed for one cow. That year on August 17thYellis Cassel, his father-in-law, sold to him for £121 a plotof six acres which lay partly in Hatfield and partly in Fran-conia®®. On this John Drake erected a small house and the

next year was assessed $360 on six acres and dwelling whichwas taxed $1.07.

January 22, 1813 his brother-in-law Jacob Cassel andhis wife Elizabeth conveyed to him two acres®® of the fiftyYelles Cassel had sold his son two years earlier which adjoined the first property. Two months later on March 31stJohn Drake acquired from Joseph and Mary Smith andJames and Elizabeth White an additional adjoining acre inBYanconia for $201.37®^. The Drakes lived here for three

"Ihid 34/650

" Montgy "W Bk 3/306®® Montgy Dd Bk 6/409, 550"Dd Bk 31/285

31/387


years and then moved across the township line into Towa-mencin where on April 3, 1816 they purchased from Benjamin and Margaret Yocum 59 acres and dwelling for$4358.67®^. The Yocums had moved to New Britain to the48-acre farm J-5 Christian Benner had sold to his son J-54

John Benner®®.

On the same date—April 3, 1816—John Drake sold toJohn Ruth of Hatfield for $400 the six acres and house inHatfield®^ and to Jacob Shafer for £225 the two tracts of

two acres and one acre which he had purchased in 1813®®.On the same day he also sold two contiguous, but not adjoining portions of the just-purchased Towamencin property—amounting to about 22 acres—^to John Oberholtzer for$1538.26®®. What was left, amounting to 37 acres, and itsdwelling, were assessed at $814. A horse and three cattlebrought the total assessment to $838 on which the tax was$2.50.

On September 12, 1817 Rachel Roberts, a niece of JohnDrake, the wheelwright of Montgomery township who haddied in April 1811, released to John Drake, Maria Cassel'shusband, her rights in the Montgomery property left herby her uncle's will®"^. The following year on April 1, 1818John and Mary conveyed fourteen acres of this property toJohn Gordon for $745®® and on June 10, 1819 the remaining18 acres to Thomas Thomas for $666.66®®.

Three years later on April 1, 1822 Jesse and SusannaLewis conveyed to John Drake a lot of seven acres adjoining his other land in Towamencin for $320^®®. Probably he

"76^ 36/240

" Bucks Dd Bk 49/68

Montgy Dd Bk 35/45233/219

'^Ibid 36/35"76i(i 34/98" Ibid 35/414

" Ibid 36/172

Ibid 38/147


had been renting this for in 1820 his assessed land amountedto 42 acres, which, with their dwelling, was rated at $1092.

During 1822 John Drake and Frederick Wampole actedas assignees for Isaac and Catherine Wierbach, conveyingon December 12, 1822 to John Clemens, sr. of Lower Sal-ford, the Wierbach property^"^.

Mary Drake lived only seven years after this, dying June9, 1829 at the age of 36 years, six months and one day. Shewas buried in Towamencin Cemetery next to her motherand brothers who had predeceased her.

Some years later her husband married again. He andhis second wife Barbara continued his considerable real

estate transactions. On April 1, 1841 he purchased fromHarmon Godshalk of Towamencin, for $4090.45, 75 acreslying along the Forty-Foot road^®^. The same day he soldto his son-in-law Tobias G. Hengey 42 acres of it for$2400^°®, and to Jesse Godshalk 26 acres of it for $1560^®^.On April 24, 1842 he sold four acres to Catherine Swartz,wife of Andrew F. Swartz, for $410^"^.

Five years later on February 17, 1847 he bought atSheriff's Sale 25 acres in Towamencin, thirteen acres ofwhich he sold two years later on March 23, 1849 to JesseGodshalk for $573.75.^'"' The following April 7th he conveyed to Michael Zilling, Herman Custer and Amos Wanner, trustees of Wentz's Reformed Church, seven acres ofthe remaining land for a parsonage for the Church.^®^Eleven days later on April 16th he bought 20 acres fromJohn Casper Wack for $315.^®® The next year on February

Ibid 39/98

67/127

"'76id 58/53063/420

60/495

75/208

74/427

154/115

detective work among the benners 283

1, 1850 he sold the remaining part of the Harmon Godshalkland to his son-in-law Jonas Krupp who, on the same date,bought Tobias Hengey's tract from him.^®®

At the time of John Drakes' death in 1867 he ownedtwo properties, each with a dwelling on it. The larger tractof 62 acres, which was conveyed on August 10, 1868 byhis executors—his son Aram and son-in-law Tobias G.Hengey—^to Solomon Snyder who had witnessed his willon June 6, 1867, for $4699.49,"® comprised the lot JohnWack had sold him and part of the Benjamin Yocum land.The smaller property on which John and his second wifelived, which he had purchased from Jesse Lewis, he devised to his wife for her lifetime. It was conveyed on April9, 1880, after her death, to Martin L. Rosenberger for$2100."^ After a specific bequest to his wife of $1000, theremainder of his property was to be divided in six equalshares to go to his five surviving children and his grandsonHoward Drake (the late Dr. H. Howard Drake), son of hisdeceased son Henry Drake.^^®

Issue of J-25 Mary Cassel Drake

J-251 Henry C. Drake b 1812; d August 12, 1866 aged 54 yrs; buried atTowamencin Mennonite Cemetery. His first wife's name is unknown; his second wife was Elizabeth . He livedat Drake's Corner on the Allentown Road at the Forty-Foot Roadin the early part of his life, later moving to Norristown. WasCounty Recorder in 1845, and later the landlord of the RamboHouse. His grandson H. Stanley Drake is a former post-masterof Norristown and former County Commissioner.

J-252 Hannah Drake b ca 1814; d ?; m Jonas Krupp, b ca 1812; dDecember 24, 1880 in his 68th year."' Lived in Lansdale, Pa.

J-253 John C. Drake b ca 1816. No record.

J-254 Aram Drake b September 2, 1819; d December 19, 1885; m Han-

Ibid 77/42

""/did 357/157

Ibid 253/545

Montgy W Bk 11/590Ibid 15/671


nah b September 8, 1818; d July 23, 1887; bothburied. Wentz's Reformed Church Cemetery.

J-255 Mary Ann Drake b February 11, 1822; d January 3, 1895; m December 26, 1839'" Tobias G. Hange (Hengey) b June 22, 1816;d August 2, 1896; both buried at "Wentz's Reformed ChurchCemetery. A son of Jacob and Magdalena (Gerhart) Hengey"®he had married first on July 28, 1833 Lydia Landis. His only surviving child was Mary Ann, wife of the late Dr. S. C. Selple ofCentre Square. In surviving documents his name has been variously spelled as indicated above.

J-256 Elizabeth Drake, no record. Was single at the time of her father'sdeath.

J-3 Abraham Benner

The first known information relating to Johannes' eldestson is found in the Militia records for 1777, in which

Abraham was listed in the Second class of Captain JohnCopes' militia company along with S-5 Jacob Benner, sonof Sebastian. That year Abraham appears to have turnedup for exercise days oftener than any of the other Benners,for his fine for non-attendance was only £ 2"® as comparedto the £ 3 assessed against the others. However, he paid thesame sum of £ 22,10 for non-performance of militia dutyduring the year as the others,^^'^ as well as that of £ 40 fornon-performance which was assessed against the 1st, 2nd,3rd and 4th classes of the First Battalion's second tour.^^®

In 1778 his fine for non-attendance was the usual £ 3, 5^^®and £ 9,15 in 1779,^^0 during which latter year he was alsolisted as a Non-Associator.^^i

This was the first year in which his name appearedon the Franconia tax returns. Listed as "Abraham Benner,

"* Tohickon Ref. p 249"® Henry S. Landes"® Pa Arch 3rd Ser Vol 5/591

"'Ibid p 579Ibid p 624Ibid p 631Ibid p 682Ibid 2nd Ser Vol 14/36

DETECTIVE WORK AMONG THE BENNEBS 285

Jr." to distinguish him .from Sebastian's son S-2 Abraham,his estate on the Fifteen Million Tax return was assessed

at £ 3450, taxed at £ 51,15; on the Five Shilling EffectiveSupply and State Tax returns, it was rated at £ 12, taxedat three shillings. Since he was not listed as single, he wasalready married, it is suggested, to Barbara Hunsberger,daughter of old Abraham Hunsberger.

The basis for this suggestion lies primarily in the latter'swill, dated December 21, 1777, in which he states he hadalready given to his "daughters which are married and inhousehold" various sums, namely: to Susanna (who hadmarried Isaac Bergey as his second wife) the sum of £ 30;to Catharina (wife of Hartman Kile) £25; to Ann £50,and to Barbara £ 45. Another possibly significant point isthat J-3 Abraham Banner's oldest son was named John for

his father, and the second son named Abraham, perhapsfor his wife Barbara's father. Unfortunately the HunsbergerFamily history gives no data on these daughters of Abraham Hunsberger and until further information is uncoveredthe above suggestion remains only a supposition.

In 1780 Abraham's estate was rated at £ 3000, taxedat £ 90; in 1781 when he was listed as a non-juror, at £ 438;in 1782 at £451 taxed at £3,15,6. Sometime during theseyears 150 acres of his father's plantation was turned overto him—probably when he married—^for by 1783 he waslisted as having 150 acres, three horses, four cattle andeight sheep. Seventy-five acres of the original 225 probablywas rented out.

As has been related, on June 2,1784 Abraham's brothersand sisters released to him their rights in the homesteadfor £ 600.^^2 The following year on December 2, 1785 Abraham and Barbara sold to Peter Hunsberger, cordwainer andson of Ulrich Hunsberger, for £ 350 fifty acres alongAbraham's south-west property line.^^® This property now

Montgy Dd Bk 3/538/513


lies along the northeast side of Main Street in Souderton,extending from Reliance Road down the hill to the pointwhere the Skippack crossed Main Street below CentralAvenue. Eighteen months later Abraham sold him anotherplot of thirty acres adjoining the first on the northeastfor £ 165.12^ In all probability Hunsberger had been rentingthe land for the past four or five years, or did not completepurchase of the property until the time at which the conveyance was made. Tax returns show that in 1785, whenAbraham sold the first plot to Peter Hunsberger, Abraham's175 acres were assessed at ^ 525; in 1786 Abraham hadonly 150 acres assessed at £ 375, and in 1788 and '89 120acres rated at £ 300. By 1791 Abraham's acreage was backat 150 acres assessed at £ 375, which amount of land hecontinued to hold until his sons grew to manhood.

The assessment in 1795 was $1000, two horses and fourcattle bringing his estate to $1134 on which the tax in 1796was $2.07. This was increased in 1799 to $1050 for thehouse and land; in 1805 to $1500'and in 1811 to $4575.This last increase in value would seem to indicate the

erection of a new and larger dwelling, since up to this timeAbraham had presumably been living in the old log houseoriginally built by his father. The stone house now occupiedby Mr. and Mrs. Paul Shelley near Central Avenue wasbuilt by Abraham, and from the testimony of the tax assessments was probably erected in 1811. This house, andthat of J-5 Christian Benner in New Britain township, BucksCounty, are the only two houses known to be still standingwhich were occupied by the children of Johannes Benner.

Although a weaver by irade, he was also an industriousfarmer, maintaining usually three horses and a maximumof six cattle over the years. His property rose to a maximumassessment in 1812 of $4737, taxed at $8.52, then declinedslightly as he grew older. In 1814 the real estate was re-

Ibid 38/515

DETECTIVE WORK AMONG THE BENNEBS £87

duced to $3675 and in 1816, when he sold 25 acres to hisson Christian, to $3075. From 1817 until Abraham's deaththe assessment was $3962 taxed at $6.64.

On April 7, 1820 either Abraham himself, or his sonAbraham was a witness to the will of George Cressman,son of the first George Cressman. Six months later on Oc1>ober 12, either he or his son witnessed the will of theirneighbor Peter Hunsberger. But in spite of these gentlehints that it was time to settle his own affairs, he, like thegreat majority of the early Benners, neglected to followsuit, and when his own time came, died intestate.

His widow Barbara renounced her right of administration January 9, 1822 to her sons Abraham and Christian,John, the eldest, living out of the township in Hatfield.Henry Cope and her former brother-in-law Peter Converwere witnesses to the renunciation.^^®

The inventory, made January 3rd by Henry Cope andTobias Scholl, which totalled $1684.79, included;

"Riding horse, bridle & saddle $50.bay mare 40.black mare 25.Brindle Cow @ 18. brown do @ 18. 36.Brown cow @ 16. heffer @ 7. 23.Red cow @ 12. brindle do white head @ 14. 26.young^red cow @ 11. 7 sheep @ 12. 23.5 shoats 10. waggon 6. 16.waggon & bed 20. sleh 8. 28.Bye in the straw 30.Second crop 12.Stove & pipe 8.Stove & pipe 6.12 acres winter grain 50.Weavers tools 6.Hakelt flax 11.Krout tup & meat tub & meat 15.50Ease & drawers 12.2 Beds & bedsteads 16.

'Montgy RW No. 8052 00 No. 515


1 bed stead (a) 12. do @ 3. 15.Indian corn 4.80

Pewter ware 5.

Clock & Kase 20.

Desk 5.

Bed & bedstead ' 10.

German Bible ' 8.2 him books .75

lot of books ,50"

Book debts included:"Bond—Samuel Gehman $66.67

Bond—Henry & George Hartzel 46.80Note—Jacob Cassel 50.

Note—Anthony Beltz 10.Given to children for their outset:

Daughter Hester $120.Son John 79.33

Son Isaac 146.66

Daughter Elizabeth 103.66Son Christian . 86.66Son Abraham 128.

Daughter Maria 35.33"

Of Abraham's eleven children, six of them were alreadymarried and in household. Two—Maria and-Catharine—

were crippled and would never marry; Elizabeth apparentlydied either just before or after her father; Margaret married three months after his death, and Joseph ^had justreached his majority.

It was comparatively easy, therefore, to settle the estateand on April 1, 1822 the surviving heirs executed a deedto J-35 Christian who elected to remain on eighty-one acresof the homestead. The consideration money was $2318.38."®To the other heirs he gave a bond for $1545.38, the principal sum of $772.69 to remain on the property until thedeath of their mother Barbara, a yearly sum of $43.36 tobe paid to her on April 1st during her life-time. She survived her husband thirteen years, dying in March 1834, her

Montgy Dd Bk 39/173


son John once more renouncing his rights to administer onMarch 28th. Her estate, totalling $2497.96, was settled byher sons Abraham and Christian.^^i

Issue of J-3 Abraham BennerJ-81 Hester Benner b ca 1778; d ca 1822; m 1st in the autumn of

1796 Abraham 0. Souder b ca 1774; dec'd by 1818, son of Christianand Mary (Oberholtzer) Souder. Hester Benner m 2nd AbrahamAlderfer (q. v.)

J-32 John Benner b ca 1780; d ca 1851; m 1st April 16, 1811"® Elizabeth Haldeman (bapt September 5, 1776?),"* daughter of Johnand Mary Haldeman; d by 1825; m 2nd Elizabeth .

J-33 Abraham Benner b March 20, 1783; d April 23, 1860; m April 16,1809"® Sarah Row b June 12, 1788; d December 18, 1878. Bothburied at Rockhill Mennonite Cemetery.

(iv) Maria Benner b March 28, 1786; d March 2, 1864; buried atRockhill Mennonite Cemetery. Never married.

(v) Catharine Benner b October 25, 1787; d December 29, 1869;buried at Rockhill Mennonite Cemetery. Never married.

(vi) Isaac Benner b March 13, 1789; d October 9, 1864; m April 13,1813^" Catherine Schwartz b March 21, 1781; d August 7, 1866,daughter of Andrew and Catherine (IQein) Schwartz of LowerSalford.^** Both buried at Rockhill Mennonite Cemetery^

J-34 Margaret Benner b ca 1791; d ? ; m November 5, 1809^" AnthonyBeltz b October 5, bapt April 10, 1791 (?), son of Jacob andCatherine Beltz of Old Goshenhoppen.^'*

J-35 Christian Benner b March 9, 1793; d August 19, 1863; m June 11,1815"® Sarah Hunsberger b June 5, 1795; d October 8, 1865,daughter of Christian and Hannah (Sellers) Hunsberger. Bothburied at Rockhill Mennonite Cemetery.

J-36 Barbara Benner b January 11, 1795; d June 6, 1850; m March 6,1822^®" Michael Hengen, b January 6, 1797; d August 10,1880, son

Montgy RW No. 8127 OC No. 720Tohickon p 229Gt Swamp Ref Church (Gosh. Charge)Tohickon Ref. p 228Tohicken Ref. p 231

"• Montgy W Bk 5/19Tohickon Ref. p 228Old Gosh. Luth.

Tohickon Ref. p 233i8« Tohickon Ref. p 236


of George and Maria (Yellis) Hengey. Both buried at Leidy*sCemetery.

(x) Elizabeth Benner b ca 1797-8; d ca 1822. So far as is known shenever married.

J-37 Joseph Benner b December 26, 1800; d August 4, 1859; m October16, 1823*" Elizabeth Cassel b January 28, 1811; d February 26,1888, daughter of Abraham and Catherine (Oberholtzer) Cassel;both buried at Plain Mennonite Cemetery.

J-31 Hester Benner

Abraham Benner's eldest daughter Hester—or Estheras she was called by the Alderfers—married a grandson ofthe Christian Souder who had come to America in 1738 on

the same ship as Sebastian Benner. He had settled first inNew Britain township, Bucks County, purchasing 100 acresfrom John James in 1744. Selling this three years later toHenry Wierman, son of the pioneer Hans Wierman of Skip-pack township, Christian Souder moved across the countyline into Franconia township, where in April 1755 he purchased from Michael Bergey a plantation of some 170 acreson the Indian Creek, adjoining the Reformed or "DutchPresbyterian" Church land.

Christian Souder died in 1774; leaving nine children,the next to the youngest was John who married SebastianBenner's daughter S-8 Maria Benner. Christian Souder'sthird son, Christian jr. in 1785 purchased S-3 Isaac Benner'sproperty on the latter's removal to Germantown, and in 1792the homestead and 53 acres of the original Arndt tract lyingsoutheast of Johannes Benner's land. Married to Mary Oberholtzer, daughter of Jacob and Deborah (Halteman) Oberholtzer of Franconia, they had seven children of whomAbraham Souder was the husband of J-31 Hester Benner.

Born about 1774, Abraham Souder's name first appearedon the Franconia list in 1795 when he was listed as a single

man. On the tax return a notation in parentheses after hisname read "(43 ac & dw allowed and charged to Peter Convert)." Since this tract adjoined the land owned by his

*" Tohickon Ref. p 237


father, it is believed to be part of the 52 acres S-1 ChristianBenner had sold to Isaac Bergey. It had probably beenrented for a short time to Abraham Benner and then toPeter Conver, the husband of J-6 Elizabeth Benner.

In the spring of 1796 Abraham Souder had no taxableproperty and was still single, but seems to have marriedthat autumn, and in 1797 had his single man's tax of $1.00abated forty cents because of his marriage.

In 1798 he had acquired a horse and two cows and paida tax of fifty cents on his trade of carpentering. The nextyear he was charged with 42 acres and dwelling, rated at$294, which may have been the same as charged to himbefore his marriage, since Peter Conver removed to Hat-field that year.

From 1801 to 1805 the property on which he was livingwas still assessed at $294 but the taxes had risen from $1.17in 1802 to $1.44 in 1804. In 1805 the valuation of the houseand land was increased to $420; two horses and three cattlebrought his taxable estate to $504.10 on which the tax was$1.41.

In 1806 Abraham and Hester and their four childrenmoved away from Franconia, as a result of which nothingmore is known relating to Abraham himself. He died sometime between 1807, when his youngest child was bom, and1818, when his widow Hester was already married to J-2Abraham Alderfer. It is believed they moved to LehighCounty, but examination of records in both that and Northampton County has failed to bring to light any actual proofof his residence there.

This mention of Lehigh County is to be found in anOrphans' Court petition dated February 22,1822"^ whereinAbraham and John Souder "minors over 14 and children ofAbraham Souder, dec'd, late of Lehigh County" prayed theCourt to name a guardian for their persons, being heirs of

Montgy OC Bk 4/218 No. 16, 203


Abraham Benner (their grandfather), and having no person to care for them. Frederick Hunsberger was appointedguardian by the Court.

Issue op J-31 Hester Benner Souder

J-311 Christian B. Souder b July 12, 1797; d January 5, 1866; m 1st ca1817 Elizabeth Bilger b November 27, 1796; d October 2, 1841(?). She is buried at Indianfield Lutheran Church. ChristianSouder m 2nd Mrs. Catherine Freed, b July 9, 1806; d April 20,1896. Both buried at Franconia Mennonite Cemetery.

(ii) Barbara Souder b ca 1800; d ?; believed never to have married;lived in Lower Salford township.

(iii) Elizabeth Souder b ca 1802; d ?; m George Bilger b April 17,1797; d November 2, 1876; buried at Indianfield Lutheran Church.No issue. He married 2nd Catherine by whom hehad four children.

J-312 Abraham B. Souder b August 30, 1804; d January 24, 1886; mMargaret Schmidt b August 30, 1801; d January 24, 1885; bothburied Ridge Valley Cemetery. Lived in Argus, Pa. after 1833.

J-313 John B. Souder b February 1, 1807; d December 9, 1876; m September 30, 1827 Marie Weigner b April 17, 1799; d August 15,1856, daughter of Abraham and Susannah (Snyder) Weigner"®and sister of J-235 Abraham Weigner. Lived in Lower Salford.

J-32 John Benner

Abraham Benner's eldest son was first listed on Franconia tax returns in 1809. Where he spent the precedingeight "wanderjahres" or at what trade, has not been determined, but in 1809 when he returned to his father's homehe was still single.

Probably during his travels he had been down into NewBritain township and there met Elizabeth Haldeman, daughter of John and Mary Haldeman. Grandson of the pioneerNicholas Haldeman, John Haldeman was a son of Christianof Lower Salford and his wife Catherine Krey. In 1762 JohnHaldeman had bought land in Lower Milford township,Bucks County, and lived there until 1790, raising a familyof ten children, whereupon he moved to New Britain town-

Schwenk. p 1233


ship. It is presumed that it was his daughter who, at herbaptism in 1776, was sponsored by Johannes Newkomerand his wife, though just why she—^the daughter of Menno-nites—was baptized in a Reformed Church is not clear.

She and John Benner were married April 16,1811 by theRev. Jacob Senn of the Tohickon and Indian Creek Churchand at first made their home with her husband's father

Abraham. In 1812 John Benner's taxable estate consistedof a horse and two cows assessed at $54; he was listed asa laborer, apparently having no trade. They remained inFranconia until 1816 when on March Srd John bought for$1003 forty-two acres in Hatfield township from John andMagdalena Allebach, it being property which had belongedto John Rosenberger.^^® It adjoined land John's uncle J-5Christian Benner would later purchase.

John was still living in Hatfield when his father died andhe and his wife Elizabeth joined in the deed to his brotherJ-35 Christian on April 1, 1822, releasing his rights to thehomestead. Though his name disappeared from the Hatfieldtax returns the following year, he seems to have continuedto live in the township for some years. On November 1, 1825Christian Haldeman, administrator of the estate of MaryHaldeman, John Benner's mother-in-law, petitioned theMontgomery County Orphans' Court to appoint a guardianfor "Mary Benner, daughter of John Benner of Hatfield"who was a minor under 14 and entitled to a share of theestate of Mary Haldeman.^^^ From this it would seem thatJohn's wife Elizabeth Haldeman was dead, otherwise herdaughter Mary would not have figured as an heir to thegrandmother's estate. Why John was not taxed in Hatfieldduring these years is not clear, unless he had rented hisproperty to another. It was not conveyed until 1834, whenHenry Cassel was taxed for it.

Montgy Dd Bk 33/513Montgy OC Bk 4/660


In 1837, the year his daughter Mary married HenryClymer, jr. son of Henry and Elizabeth (Kulp) Clymer^" ofBucks County, John Banner took over the 48 acres in NewBritain which had belonged to his cousin J-54 John Benner,son of his uncle J-5 Christian. He purchased it from EzekielBuzby on April 5, 1837 for ?2910; Buzby had acquired itfrom Benjamin and Margaret Yocum in 1822.^"

John was assessed jointly with his son-in-law HenryClymer, jr. for the property which was valued that year at$1200. Improvements on the place brought it up to $1824the next year; by 1842 it was rated at $2352, but went downto $1764 the next year, at which level it remained so longas John's name was on the return. In 1847 his son-in-law

assumed full responsibility for it, but did not acquire theproperty formally until November 20, 1850.^"

John Benner's name did not appear in the 1840 Census,but he was presumably the male between fifty and sixtyyears of age living with Henry Clymer and his wife and twosmall children. Since John left no property or will, thereare no estate proceedings to determine the exact time of hisdeath. His second wife predeceased him for she did not joinin conveying the New Britain property in 1850, and wasnot included in the 1840 Census.

Known Issue op J-32 John Bbnnee

J-321 Mary Benner b April 12, 1818; d April 22, 1891; m February 18,1837 Henry Clymer b in Bucks County August 15, 1812; d May17, 1865, son of Henry and Elizabeth (Kulp) Clymer.**® Bothburied at Line Lexington Mennonite Cemetery.

J-38 Abraham Benner

A weaver by trade, Abraham Benner was first listed onFranconia tax returns in 1807 as a single man and continued

Moyer p 568**• Bucks Dd Bk 62/109

*** Ibid 79/243

**® Moyer p 568

DETECTIVE WORK AMONG THE BENNEBS £95

to be so listed through 1809. On April 16th of that yearhe was married to Sarah Row (transcribed as Crow on theChurch record) by the Rev. Jacob Senn.

After his marriage his father turned over to him 26acres along the county line at what is now Chestnut street,Souderton, on which he was assessed $272, which figure included a cow and dog. Here on this property he erected asmall house which, with the land was assessed at $754 in1811, a cow bringing his total estate to $766 on which thetax was $1.39. In 1814 the total assessment was reduced to$622 and the tax to $1.12. By 1821 it was further reducedto $444 and the tax to ninety-two cents.

In the fall of this year Sarah, his wife, became a beneficiary under the will of Mary Wisler, widow of SamuelWisler, who died August 10, 1821 at the age of seventyyears, ten months and nine days; Mary Wisler bequeathedto "Sara Row, wife of Abraham Benner" her clock and case,table, big chair and "Brass Kittle." To Mary, daughter ofAbraham and Sarah Benner, she left $40; to Elizabeth Row$12, and to her brothers Paul and John Godshalk $2 each.The rest of her estate was to be sold at public sale and divided in six equal shares between her sisters Elizabeth, Susanna and Rachel, Amos Evans, Jesse Lewis who had married Susanna Boorse, and to Abraham Benner^^®—whetherfather or son was not specified.

Exactly who this Mary Wisler was, or what her relationship was to Sara Row has not been determined. Shemay have been a daughter of the miller Garret Godshalkand his wife Edia Bohrs (Boorse). He died about 1801, butsince no estate passed through the courts, the names of allof his children are not known.

After the death of his father in 1822, J-33 AbrahamBenner received title to 41 acres of his father's plantation.The property included 26 acres on which he had been liv-

Montgy W Bk 5/323

296 bulletin of histokical society of Montgomery county

ing—located in the east corner of the homestead tract adjoining the county line—as well as eight acres further upthe county line in the extreme north corner and four acresin the opposite south corner adjoining Peter Hunsberger'sland. Inaccuracy in surveying was common and accountsfor the discrepancy between the actual total and the number of acres given in the deed. The house and land wereassessed in 1822 at $1102 taxed at $2.38.

Here Abraham lived until 1832 when he moved to Hat-

field township where his uncle J-5 Christian and brotherJohn were then living. He did not convey the Franconialand until April 1, 1834 when a deed was executed to JohnDetweiler, the consideration being $1800."' On the sameday Abraham acquired title to the 85-acre farm which hehad purchased at public sale in January for $2417.90 fromJohn Funk, administrator of the estate of John Clemmer."®This property along the Cowpath road had belonged toBenjamin Rosenberger who had sold it in 1800 to HenryClemmer; it included twenty acres Jacob and Eve Swartzhad sold to Benjamin Rosenberger in 1777."®

Fifteen years later on June 5, 1849 Abraham sold offtwelve acres of the farm to his son-in-law Daniel Rosenberger for $1144.38."®

Abraham lived out his remaining days in Hatfield township, dying April 23, 1860, and was buried in the RockhillMennonite Cemetery. His unmarried daughter Sarah followed him in death six days later. The widow Sarah survived them until December 18, 1878.

Known Issue op J-33 Abraham Benner(i) Maria Benner b June 5, 1815; d February 6, 1865; m October 7,

1838 Daniel Rosenberger, son of Daniel and Sophia (Weirman)Rosenberger, b March 4, 1813; d March 17, 1896. Both buried at

"'Montgy Dd Bk 105/6789/317

vide infra J-5 Christian Benner

Montgy Dd Bk 78/33


Frick's Cemetery, Hatfield township. He was a carpenter bytrade. No issue.^"

(ii) Sarah Benner b October 28, 1817; d April 29, 1860 unmarried.Buried at Rockhill Mennonite Cemetery.

J-331 Rachel Benner b August 24, 1824; d July 7, 1881; m October 16,1853'®® Benjamin Rosenberger, son of Benjamin and Susanna(Gehman) Rosenberger, b March 14, 1831; d April 6, 1908. Bothburied Towamencin Mennonite Cemetery. They lived for a timewith his parents in Worcester township, then removed to NorthWales where Benjamin Rosenberger was a fruit-grower.

J-882 Abram Benner (Dr. A. R. Benner) b 1828; d 1889; m 1st MaryStoper of Rockhill b January 27, 1832; d January 3, 1872, buriedat Rockhill Mennonite Cemetery. He m 2nd Kate S. Moyer, daughter of William K. and Mary (Schlichter) Moyer b July 11, 1849;d February 1, 1887,'®® buried at Blooming Glen Mennonite Cemetery as is Abram Benner. This son of J-33 Abraham Bennerwas gifted with a clairvoyant power of prescribing cures for thosewho were sick in body. According to the late Edward Mathews,this unusual ability was discovered by a woman in Easton who hadthe same power. He had drifted to that city after farming for atime in Rockhill and Milford, Bucks County. Taught by thewoman to develop his gift, he practiced in Easton for a time andthen returned to Bucks County, locating between Sellersville andPerkasie. Later he removed to Norristown where he engaged inthe coal business. His last days were spent at the home of hisbrother-in-law Daniel Rosenberger in Hatfield township, where hedied of dropsy. He had thirteen children by his two wives, theonly three of which survived him being by his first wife.'®*

Maria and Catherine Benner, J-3 Abraham's second andthird daughters, were the most unfortunate of his children.Apparently stricken with what may have been a form ofpoliomyeletis, they are remembered as having been so crippled they could not walk at all. Living with their brotherChristian on the homestead, they were unable to get off theplace except when taken by a relative or friend, as whensometimes wheeled in a barrow to a neighbor's for a visit.

'®' Rosenberger-Swartley p 266'®® Indian Creek Records

'®® Moyer p 534164 Montgy W Bk 19/586


Considering their infirmity, they both lived to a remarkableage: Maria to 79 years and Catherine to 84. Such longevityspeaks eloquently of the wonderful care given them.

Isaac Benner, their next younger brother, was a weaverlike his father. He spent three years working at his tradebefore settling down, and not until the year of his marriagedid his name appear on Franconia tax lists. Married by theRev. Jacob Senn on April 13, 1813, he was listed that yearas a weaver with no taxable property; not until the following year was he taxed for a cow. He did not remain at homelong for in 1815 he acquired 22 acres in Hilltown townshipnear his wife's uncle Jacob Swartz.

He seems to have spent more time as a weaver than as afarmer for his holdings were never more than 30 acres, andwas an active member of the Mennonite Church. After the1847 schism in the Church ranks which resulted in the

formation of the Oberholtzer Conference, Isaac was one ofthe members of the orthodox group who signed the newcharter drawn up to prevent the seceding members fromlaying claim to the Rockhill church property.^®^

His wife Catherine Swartz (Schwartz), granddaughterof the pioneer Andreas and daughter of Andrew and Catherine (Klein) Swartz, had remained at home with herparents well past her "lawful age." After the death of herfather in 1817 she received as her inheritance a waggonover and above her normal share in the estate.

Relations with the Swartz family were apparently close,for when Isaac wrote his will in June 1839, having no children of his own he bequeathed to Susanna Swartz, daughterof Andrew, the deceased son of Jacob and Eve (Godshalk)Swartz, a half share of his residuary estate. The other halfof Isaac's residuary estate was bequeathed in equal sharesto Catherine and Abraham Swartz, two of the children of

Wenger p 160


his wife's deceased brother Abraham Swartz of LowerSalford.156

Two years after Catherine Swartz Banner's' death onApril 4, 1868 Isaac Banner's heirs acknowledged receipt of$2921.19.^®'' Of these heirs Catherine Swartz, who predeceased Isaac Banner in 1864 and was buried at Lower Skip-pack Mennonite Cemetery, had had by her first husbandJacob A. Hendricks a daughter Mary who had marriedJoseph G. Godshalk. After Jacob Hendricks' death, Catherine had married Martin Kulp, widower of her deceasedyounger sister Mary. By him Catherine had had a sonHenry. S. Kulp who was still a minor, his guardian beingWilliam Fox. Susanna Swartz, daughter of the long deadAndrew Swartz of Hllltown, was still single, and AbrahamSwartz, the last of the three original heirs, had marriedCatherine SiegfriedJ^®

J-34 Margaret Bennbr

The Peltz or Beltz family into which Margaret Bennermarried had settled in Limerick township. Simon Peltz, theearliest of the name concerning whom records have survived, married Anna Christina Schmid, a widow with twodaughters. Their surviving children, confirmed in the NewHanover Lutheran Church, were John Jacob, born December 9, 1737 and Maria Christina, born in 1740.

The son Jacob married in 1756—three years after hisfather's death in 1753^®® at the age of .56 •—• CatherineKrause, daughter of Michael Krause of New Hanover township and his wife Catherine, who had been the widow ofHieronimus Dodderer.^®® Jacob Peltz lived on his father'shomestead of 118 acres and died there April 9, 1802, leav-

Bucks W Bk 16/190

Bucks Misc Bk 17/502

Henry S. LandesPhUa W Bk K/89

Dotterer p 41


ing eight children, his wife having predeceased him.^®^ Theyare buried in Leydich Cemetery. The children were Jacob,Elizabeth who married John Baker, John, Hannah, wife ofGeorge Michael; Philip—possibly the Philip Peltz of Philadelphia — Maria (Magdalena), wife of Jacob Fisher;George, and Christine.

The eldest son Jacob first appeared in Limerick tax returns in 1783 as a single man.^®^- By 1787 he had marriedand removed to Frederick township where he lived until1793 when he moved to Upper Salford township. After hisfather's death, Jacob purchased here a lot of three acresfrom George and Catherine Hartzell, and five acres fromJacob and Sarah Croll on October 27, 1803.^®® He resided atthis location until 1814, his unmarried brother George staying at their house with them. On May 19, 1814 Jacob andhis wife Catherine sold out to John Kolb^®^ and disappeared.

Jacob and Catherine's son Anthony, at whose baptismwere Jacob and Magdalena Fisher—presumably the child'suncle and aunt—first appears in the tax lists of Franconiain the spring of 1810. He was a weaver by trade—possiblyapprenticed to Abraham Benner for he was still under age—and though listed as a single man that year had beenmarried the previous November 5th by the Rev. Jacob Sennto Abraham Benner's daughter Margaret. On the 1810Census for Franconia township they were listed immediatelyafter J-33 Abraham Benner, and were probably living withhim and his bride Sarah Row. Anthony and Margaret werelisted as having one daughter under nine years of age, whileAbraham and Sarah as yet had no children.

Anthony and Margaret Peltz continued to live in Franconia until some time in 1812 when they moved to Hatfieldfor a brief stay. In 1813 his name was crossed off the return

Montgy W Bk 2/252Pa Arch 3rd Ser Vol 16/598

Montgy Dd Bk 29/728Ihid

DETECTIVE WORK AMONG THE BENNERS 3QI

and did not reappear until 1822—and then only in that year—^when they had probably returned to participate in thesettling of Abraham Benner's estate.

The only further information known concerning them isfound in a release, dated April 4, 1835^®®—after Margaret'smother's death—which acknowledged the receipt of $26from John Hedrick. On April 9, 1883 he had purchased theland which Joseph and Elizabeth Benner had sold May 1,1826 to their cousins J-312 Abraham and Margaret Sou-der.i®® The release was acknowledged before Justice of thePeace Christian Haldeman of Schuylkill County. A brotherof J-51 John Haldeman,he had been a State Representative from Schuylkill County in 1814 and 1815, and was appointed Justice of the Peace in 1819, which position he hadheld continuously since that year.^®®

From the release it seems probable that Anthony andMargaret Peltz had gone up to Schuykill County about thesame time as J-51 John and Catherine Benner Haldeman;Jacob and Catherine Peltz, Anthony's parents may have accompanied them. Examination of the County records shouldbring to light additional information regarding them, aswell as descendants.

J-35 Christian Benner

Named possibly for his uncle J-5 Christian Benner, thisson of Abraham Benner was first taxed in Franconia as a

single man in 1815, the year after his majority and a fewmonths before his marriage on June 11th to Sarah Huns-berger, daughter of Christian and Hannah Sellers Hunsber-ger. Her father, a carpenter by trade, lived up the hillacross the little stream at the foot of the Benner homestead

line.

Montgy Mise Bk 4/184Montgy Dd Bk 52/252vide infra

Rev. Carl Smith

302 bulletin or historical society of Montgomery county

After Christian Banner's marriage he probably built asmall house on 25 acres his father turned over to him, forin 1816 he was assessed $600 on that amount of land and adwelling. The tax on the property and a cow was $1.34.They lived here until after Abraham's death when theymoved into the homestead with his mother Barbara, thetwo crippled sisters and Joseph, the youngest brother.

On April 1, 1822 he paid to his father's heirs $2318.07for 81 acres of the homestead land and the dwelling hisfather had erected^®® subject to a dower charge and a yearlysum payable to his mother during the remainder of her lifetime. One year later he mortgaged the entire farm for $450to Jacob Leidy, Jr., which obligation was not satisfied untilApril 27, 1835.1'®

In 1824 he either rented out or sold some 20 acres sincehe was taxed $3.11 on only 60 acres and dwelling whichwere assessed at $1290.

Issue of J-35 Christian BennerJ-351 Hannah Benner b March 19, 1817; d December 25, 1890; m John

H. Frederick b December 8, 1814; d February 23, 1876, brotherof S-67 Mary Frederick Benner. Both buried at Rockhill Menno-nite Cemetery. He was a shoemaker by trade and about 1839opened a shop in the homestead where they lived with Christianand Sarah Benner. After Christian's death they moved to whatis now 153 Main street. His son Jonas B. Frederick and grandsonHarvey S. Frederick continued the shoe business now run byhis great-grandson Floyd G. Frederick.

J-352 Samuel Benner b June 19, 1818; d January 18, 1871^*^1; m SarahK. Delp b March 21, 1821; d November 3, 1904; both buried atRockhill Mennonite Cemetery. He was a mason by trade.

J-353 Sarah Benner b November 4, 1821; d July 5, 1890; m September25, 1842 Elias Hunsberger b December 13,1822; d March 21,1902,son of John Hunsberger of Ohio. Both buried at RockhillMennonite Cemetery.

Montgy Dd Bk 39/173Montgy Mortg Bk 5/313

171 Montgy RW No. 8868 DC No. 2179

J-864

J-355

J-856

J-357

J-358


Jonathan H. Benner b November 11, 1823; d January 3, 1901;m September 3, 1848 Catherine Barndt b February 15, 1828;d February 13, 1905; buried at Indianfield Lutheran Cemetery.Barbara Benner b April 4, 1825; d June 9, 1896; m August 24,1845 Josiah H. Hartzell b March 24, 1822; d June 10, 1889, sonof George H. and Susanna (Miller) Hartzell and cousin ofReuben Hartzell who married J-363 Margaret Henge. Bothburied at Indian Creek Reformed Cemetery. The writer is greatiyindebted to Mr. Jacob Erdman Cope of Sellersville who contributed much information from his voluminous and completematerial on the Hartzell and allied families.Christian H. Benner b ca "1827; d September 28, 1902i''2 mSusanna b ? ; d August 17, 1911.^''3 He bought 15 acresfacing Reliance road from his father March 10, 1859 and livedhere until 1863 — probably in the house his father had built inthe first year of his marriage. On April 10, 1863 he conveyedthis property to Jacob Bender, a wheelwright^''^ and removedto Frederick township where, at the time of his death, he owned22 acres.

Isaac H. Benner b April 27, 1829; d November 16, 1894; mOctober 3, 1852i''5 Sarah S. Weil b September 16,1832; d September 13, 1905. Both buried at Rockhill Mennonite Cemetery.Tobias H. Benner b August 11,1831; d January 31, 1908;^™ m 1stMary Ann Comfort b June 13, 1835; d September 30, 1871; bothburied at Souderton Mennonite Cemetery. Less than a monthafter his father's death on October 2,1863 Tobias received title tothe family homestead and 36 acres of the land.^'''' His agedaunts continued making their home there until their deaths in1864 and 1869. On October 25, 1873, after the death of his firstwife, he sold the homestead to his cousin Christian Help Huns-berger and his wife Mary Ann (Fillman) Souder, grandaughterof J-311 Christian B. Souder by his first wife Elizabeth Bilger.Tobias Benner then made his home in a brick dwelling at thenortheast corner of Central and Main streets, Souderton, whichhad been built by his cousin William Fillman Souder, brotherof Mary Ann (Fillman Souder) Hunsberger. Tobias married2nd Mary Ann Bookheimer b October 6,1844; d October 12, 1931.

{To be continued)

Montgy RW No. 22, 033"®76id No. 28, 152 OC No. 28, 644

Landes pp 16-17 Ind. Creek Ref. RecordsMontgy RW No. 25, 943 OC No. 26, 748Landes p 15

Neighborhood News and Notices

From the Southern Tier of Townships*

{Contmued from page HO)

"We understand that the new bridge over the Schuylkillat Pawling's Ford, above Nonistown, is now completelyfinished, with the exception of the roof, which will be soonput on. This bridge has been crossed by wagons for ten dayspast, and is built of the best materials, secure and strong,in a style much superior to the former one. The architectwas Mr. Wernwag, whose skill is so conspicuously displayed in the upper ferry bridge near this city."

(January 22, 1823)

"Norristown, Penn., Jan. 22.Last week a very interesting and important cause was

decided in our Court, wherein the Commonwealth wasplaintiff, and three persons. Citizens of New Jersey, weredefendants. They were charged with attempting, forcibly,to take away a certain colored man, from the service of aMrs. Kinderdine, of Horsham Township, in whose employment he was, in the character of a freeman. One of theparty indicted claimed the negro as his property .... thejury pronounced the defendants not guilty For theCommonwealth, Messrs. Pawling and Markley; for the defendants, Messrs. Kittera and Mcllvaine.

On Monday morning last, they left this place in full possession of the negro." (January 24, 1823)

[Henry Bault has purchased a hog 6' 4^" high, 7' 6"long, 9' in circumference, fed by David Shoemaker, Spring-

• Compiled from "Poulson's American Daily Advertiser."

304

NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS AND NOTICES 3Q5

field Township, Montgomery county, which will be killedand exposed for sale at No. 67 old Shambles between 2dand 3d sts.] (March 18, 1823)

[John Elliott advertises that "The Elegant ImportedArabian Horse GRAND BASHAW will remain until the 1st

of September next," at his farm in Lower Merion, nearBuck Tavern, Lancaster Turnpike, 9 miles from Phila.Grand Bashaw is iron gray, seven years old, 15 hands 1inch high, imported from Tripoli, August, 1820, by JosephC. Morgan, "who resided there several years." Certificatesof pedigree, and a colt, on view.] (March 21, 1823)

[Hog raised by David Shoemaker, Springfield, two yearsthree weeks old; bought and slaughtered by Henry Bault,Kensington; weight, 757 lbs. Attested by Jacob Souders,John Handly, Joseph Quinton, George Streeper, AbrahamWilt, William Smith.] (March 24, 1823)

[A communication relates an accident "on Saturdaynight last" in Norriton school house, when, during an exhibition under direction of Mr. McNair, "the joists acrossthe middle of the house gave way," dropping many personsto the lower floor. No lives were lost, nor limbs broken.Dated at Woodville Farm, and signed "A Spectator."]

(April 7, 1823)

[Jane Shoemaker offers $20 reward for a bay horse,stolen from her pasture on the Cheltenham and Willow-grove Turnpike Road, 9 miles from Philadelphia.]

(July 8, 1823)

["John Conrad Reisner, a member and Minister of theMethodist Society, a native German, and now a residentof Lebanon county," was set upon near the four-mile stoneon the Lancaster Turnpike, while homeward bound, bytwo men on foot, and robbed of his horse, suffering woundswhen he resisted. Rescued by two sons of Edward George,who conducted to Columbus Tavern, near 3-mile stone. Hiswounds "not thought to be mortal."] (September 20,1823)


"Flat Rock BridgeThe Stockholders of the Flat Rock Bridge, are earnestly-

requested to meet at the house of Henry Grow, at theBridge, on Thursday, the 9th inst. at 2 o'clock in the afternoon; business of importance relative to the repairs of thesaid Bridge will be laid before them.

By order of the Board of Managers.(October 7, 1823) John K. Buy,

Secretary.""NOTICE

Western Mail Coach

On the 29th inst. will leave the City of Philadelphia,Lancaster and Fittsburg Stage office, No. 284 Market-street,at 4 o'clock A.M. every day, and will run through to Harris-burgh the same day. Passengers continuing on the routewestward will leave Harrisburgh the next day, at eighto'clock A.M. arrive at Chambersburg same day, the routethrough to Pittsburg will be performed in four and a halfdays as usual. Passengers from Lancaster by York to Gettysburg or Baltimore will start at the same hour from Philadelphia as above, three times a week, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. John Tomlinson & Co.,"

(November 25, 1823)

"Ridge Turnpike CompanyAt a Meeting of the Stockholders of the Ridge Turnpike

Company, held on the 5th inst. the following officers wereduly elected for the ensuing year :-

Managers.Robert Watkin Matthias HolsteinJoseph Starne William EsherJohn Davis Peter Robeson

Andrew Crawford John Wise

John K. Duy Michael WillsCharles Roberts John Patterson

Treasurer—Thomas H. White."(January 7, 1824)

NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS AND NOTICES 307

["A Traveller" lays out several pleasant routes forrides between the city and Norristown. On the west side,"that part of the road between the city and Flat RockBridge, is too hilly for a heavy coachee, for a gig it willdo . . . cross the bridge at Fair Mount, take the river road4 miles to the Falls Ferry, and return, or proceed up saidroad to Flat Rock Bridge, and return in a round of 14miles;" etc.] (April 30, 1824)

"Gwynedd-Boarding SchoolFOR BOYS

In this Institution are taught Reading, Writing, Arithmetic, English Grammar, Geography, Use of the Globes, andthe different branches of the Mathematics.

TERMS.—For Tuition, Boarding and Washing, thirtydollars a quarter, payable half in advance.

For further information, apply at the School, or toBENJAMIN ALBERTSON, N. W. Corner of Market andFront-streets, Philadelphia,(May 1, 1824) Joseph Fouike,

Principal."

[John and Nicholas Coleman advertise Philadelphia,Reading, Harrisburg and Northumberland Mail Stages.

"The Philadelphia and Reading Stages, will in futurerun daily (Mondays excepted) leaving each place at about4 o'clock, A.M., and arriving at about the same hour in theevening." Stage offices, the Swan Tavern, Race street, andMrs. Coleman's Hotel, Reading.] (May 13, 1824)

[Philip Swartley offers $15 reward for securing thiefand the horse he stole from the subscriber's stable in Fran-conia township, together with $25 in money. Deliver toSamuel Ziegler, sign of the Black Horse, 224 N. 2d st.,Phila.] (May 15, 1824)

"CLASSICAL ACADEMY

The duties of the Classical Academy at Norristown,


Montgomery County, will be resumed THIS DAY, the 7thinst. In this Academy, in connection with the Languages,and Mathematics, are taught, all the branches connectedwith a polite English Education. A few Students can stillbe received, and boarded in a family, where the strictestattention will be paid to their morals. Board includingTuition, $150 per year. Norristo.wn for situation and health,possesses many advantages peculiar to itself. For furtherparticulars, individuals are referred to the Rev. Dr. Jane-way, No. 208 Arch-street, Rev. Dr. Wylie, Walnut, 2d doorabove Eleventh-street, Rev. Dr. Ely, Second near Spruce-street, and Mr. Joseph P. Engles, No. 222 Pine-street, or to(June 7,1824) JAMES C. HOW,

Principal."

"The Norristown Mail

The Subscriber respectfully informs his friends and thepublic in general, that the Norristown Mail leaves ROBERTEVANS'S, No. 138 Race-street, between Fourth and Fifth-street, on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, at 2 o'clock,P.M. Leaves Norristown every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, at 7 o'clock A.M." Fare to Norristown, $1.00. (Mailfor Yellow Springs, via Norristown, also leaves above-mentioned place, fare, $2.00. Returns from Mrs. Holman's inn.Yellow Springs. On Sunday, above line will run to Fallsof Schuylkill.) LEWIS SCHRACK.(June 19, 1824)

[Henry Katz, Whitemarsh, offers 6 cents reward for anapprentice to the paper-making trade, named John Hober-mier, between 15 and 16 years old.] (June 22, 1824)

[Schuylkill Navigation.—On Monday, July 5th, the 22-mile canal between Reading and Potts Grove was opened,when Governor Hiester and party embarked at Reading,and moved through Lewis' Dam to head of canal, whichwas then dedicated "Girard Canal." Horses then drew the


boats through the several locks to Pottsgrove, arriving 2o'clock (started at 7.)

On same day, water was let into 11-mile canal, extending downwards from Hamburg.] (July 8, 1824)

"KIMBERTON STAGE

Will leave the Green Tree, North Fourth street, everyFourth and Seventh day of the week, during the heat ofthe weather, at 5 o'clock, A.M., breakfast at the Buck,(Jonathan Miller's) dine at William Rogers's, Kimberton,and proceed to the Yellow Springs, in the afternoon, whenever passengers give this line the preference.(July 9, 1824) JOHN L. YOUNG

JAMES BONES."

[A dispatch from Pottstown tells of a violent stormwhich blew down part of Mr. Hood's bam in Limerick.]

(July 27, 1824)

"Reading (Penn.) July 24.The Reading Packet Stephen Girard, will proceed on

her first voyage to Philadelphia, via the canal on Mondaynext. Mr. Reitzel, the proprietor, intends establishing aregular line, and appears to be confident that a trip to andfrom the city may be performed in two days."

(July 27, 1824)

"Norristown (Penn.) July 28.We have been told that Oats sold last week, for 18%

cents per bushel—^Rye 31% cents—and Rye Meal 75 centsper hundred." (July 30, 1824)

"NOTICE

Any person having taken up any part of the Lumber,Castings, or Bolts, belonging to the Flat Rock Bridge, washedaway on the morning of the 30th ult. will be suitably rewarded on leaving information at No. 438 North Front-street, or at the Toll Gate of the Schuylkill PermanentBridge." (August 5, 1824)


[A dispatch from Norristown tells of a freshet whichcaused the Schuylkill to rise 12 or 18 ft. "perpendicular."Canal and dam escaped injury. "Skippack Greek has notbeen so high for many years; great loss of oats."]

(August 6, 1824)

[William Haga offers $5.00 reward for return of runaway colored boy, Augustus Lindo, from subscriber's plantation in Lower Merion, occupied by John Moyer.]

(August 24, 1824)

[A dispatch from West Chester, Pa., relates that thelate heavy rain has brought to light a coal mine on landof Joseph Cox, Montgomery co., about 1 mile from thePhoenix works, and 800 yards from the river. Reports varyas to success of its use. Cites alleged Indian tradition, "thatnear black rock on the Schuylkill river, there was plenty ofstone coal."] (August 27, 1824)

"Flat Rock Bridge

The public is respectfully informed that the Flat RockBridge, has been completely repaired by Mr. J. P. SHANNON,under the direction of Mr. LEWIS WERNWAG, to the entire satisfaction of the Managers, and is now ready for theuse of passengers." (September 13, 1824)

[A dispatch from Norristown says that because of thepreparations to receive General LaFayette, "as much as $4per day has been offered for Horses in this Borough, toattend the parade."] (September 17, 1824)

"Paper for Sale, at No. 191 SouthFront-street

For Sale, at the Manufactory prices, imperial Paper,such as the Subscriber furnishes a number of Offices in

this City, by the quantity or single bundle, large Hardwareand Wrapping Papers, Sheathing Paper, Hatters' Boards,Wrappers, suitable for Pocket Books, Tipping Paper, suit-

NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS AND NOTICES

able for Hatters, Bonnet Boards, Foolscap Writing and Letter Paper, sold at the very lowest prices, for cash only.

N. B. Rags, old Junk and Canvas, purchased for cash,or Paper given in exchange.(September 25, 1824) GEORGE HELMBOLD

Agent."

"FALLS OF SCHUYLKILL BRIDGE

On Wednesday evening, the 6th of Oct. at 7 o'clock,at the Merchants' Coffee House,

Will be sold, Scite, Piers, Butments and Toll House, ofthe Falls of Schuylkill Bridge, together with a large quantity of Timber, wrought and cast Iron of the late Bridge,suitable for rebuilding the same.(October 5, 1824) J. & W. LIPPINCOTT & CO.

Auctioneers."

"NOTICE

ALL persons indebted to the Estate of Charles Thomson,late of Montgomery County, deceased, are desired to makepayment; and those having demands against the same, topresent them, properly attested.(November 20,1824) JOHN THOMSON,

Executor."

[At a meeting "of the inhabitants in the vicinity of FlatRock Canal," at the house of Silas Levering, Nov. 3, 1824,the name Manayunk (Indian name for Schuylkill) wasgiven to "this rising Village on the banks of the Canal inthe vicinity of Green-lane." (Va col.) ] (November 30, 1824)

"One of the buildings at the Nitre Hall Powder Works,between five and six miles from the city, on the other sideof the Schuylkill, was blown up on Saturday last. No liveswere lost, the workmen having fortunately left'the building a few minutes before the accident occurred."

(January 5, 1825)


[Thomas Harper, Treas. and Secy, of the SchuylkillNavigation Co., advertises for bids for making towing pathsalong the pools of seven dams, whose locations he specifies.]

(January 10, 1825)

"WANTED

A teacher at the Loller Academy, Hatborough, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania — None need apply exceptsuch as can produce respectable testimonials of their moralcharacter, together with their capacity to teach the Classics,and higher branches of an English education.

Application to be made to either of the following Committee of Trustees: HIRAM M. NEAL, GOVE MITCHELL,JOHN H. HILL.

Hatborough, Montgomery County." (January 15, 1825)

[E. P. Walter, Asst. Secy, of the Blockley and MerionSociety, for promoting Agriculture and Rural Economy,publishes the Society's resolution on the death of JohnJones, Esq., of Lower Merion—an old member.]

(January 21, 1825)

[David and Adam Woelpper, 42 High Street Market, bet.2d and 3d, and No. 36, bet. 6th and 7th, announce "thatthey have purchased of George Sheaff, Esq., of Whitemarsh,Montgomery County, 42 head of very superior Oxen ....They will expose for sale the Beef of four of them

On every Saturday till May next."Terms follow.] (February 23,1825)

[Moses Furter and John D. Ninesteel announce sale ofbeef of five cattle, two fed by Benjamin Cooper of NewJersey, one by Isaac Roberts, of Lower Merion, MontgomeryCounty, and two by Ephraim Jackson, Chester county. Theywill be exhibited at the Black Bear, 5th near Market, andwill be driven through streets over a prescribed route, andexhibited at Merchants' Coffee House.

Stalls 82, 84, 86 High St. Market, bet. 5th and 6th.](March 1, 1825)


[The Abington Boarding School for Girls, near Jenkin-town, on Cheltenham and Willow Grove Turnpike, proposesto teach "Reading, Writing and Arithmetic, English Grammar and Composition, Geography, the use of the Globes,Elements of History, &c.

Plain Needle Work will be likewise attended to.'*

Terms: ?110 per annum, for tuition, boarding, washingand mending.

Apply to John Bacon or Daniel B. Smith, Phila., JohnGriscom, New York; Isaac Tyson, Baltimore; John Bullock,Wilmington; or William Allinson, Burlington.]

(April 15, 1825)

[John Thornton announces the opening of his "UnionHatborough Hotel," Hatboro, 16 miles from Phila. Dailystage communication with Phila.] (May 12,1825)

"There is now erecting in the village of Hatborough,Montgomery County, better known as the Billet, a neatstone house, intended to be occupied as a Library, by aCompany, which was formed there many years ago. Thefront of the house contains an oval piece of marble, sunkin the wall, bearing this patriotic and very appropriateinscription:—

UNION LIBRARY

Founded 1755

KNOWLEDGE

The best support ofLIBERTY."

(May 18, 1825)

"SHEATHING OR COPPERING PAPER

Of the first quality, and approved of by most of the ShipBuilders in this city manufactured entirely different fromany heretofore, and comes cheaper and answers a betterpurpose. GEORGE HELMBOLD

At No. 191 South Front-street.

Cash will be given for Rags, old Junk and Canvass."(May 18, 1825)

314 bulletin of historical SOCIETy OP MONTGOMERY COUNTY

[John McCalla, Jr., announces that the Wil'low GroveHotel and Mineral Springs have undergone thorough repairs; baths and summer houses have been increased. Mineral quality of springs is as high as ever. Three stages passdaily, by which mail can be forwarded.]

(June 7, 1825)

[Joseph Acuif announces "that he will commence running a Line of Stages, from his House, sign of the Broad Axe,on the Skippack Road, every Wednesday and Saturday, inthe following manner, by the way of Sellers' Tavern,Flowertown, Chestnut-Hill and Germantown."

Start from Broad Axe, 6:30; arrive J. Robinson's UnionInn, 150 Race st., 9:00 (etc.)

Shows cut of steamhoat!'[ (June 7, 1825)

[A dispatch from Pottstown tells of the passing of counterfeit notes, in Limerick and Skippack townships, in pay-.ment for the purchase of horses.] (June 10, 1825)

"Masonic Procession

At a stated Meeting of the Brethren of FriendshipLodge, No. 156 [?] held at Abington, on Wednesday evening, the 25th of May, A. L. 5825. On motion, it was agreed,that a Masonic Procession take place at Abington aforesaid, on St. John's day, being Friday the 24th of June next.The Brethren of the neighbouring Lodges, as well as so-joumers, are invited to attend. By order of the Lodge.

JOHN STEVENS,(June 15, 1825) Secretary."

[James Bones, advertising Washington Hall, "Sign ofGen. Washington, at the Yellow Springs," adds the following postscript:]

"Stages run to the Springs on Tuesdays, Thursdays andSaturdays, over the Gulf road" and by way of Norristown;


the former starting from Vanbuskirk's tavern, No. 244 Market-street, at 7 o'clock, A. M., and the latter from Evans'Tavern, No. 188 Race-street, at half past 7 o'clock."

(June 21, 1825)

[Thomas Price, of Lower Merlon Township, advertisesa runaway "indented apprentice to the Farming Business,named WILLIAM MOORE," about 17 years old.]

(June 24, 1825)

[An "exchange" from the "Bucks County Patriot," givesa description of a participant, of the procession of Friendship Lodge (Masonic), of Abington, to the church, wherean address was delivered by Rev. Mr. Ashton, of MantuaVillage, near Philadelphia. The procession was then resumed to Jenkintown, where dinner was provided by widowCoughlin. Doylestown Lodge attended in a body.]

(June 29, 1825)

[A dispatch from Norristown says:]

"A number of boats are daily passing this Borough, toand from the Coal Mines, Reading and other places ... Assoon as the tow paths are completed on the banks of theriver, the boats will convey passengers from Reading toPhiladelphia regularly three times a week." (July 1, 1825)

[A dispatch from Pottstown says:]

"Last Saturday, about 5 o'clock in the afternoon, thewater in the canal broke a leak in the embankment, nearJesse Grubb's, about 2 miles from Pottstown, in a short timethe water had made a large breach in the bank, partly overa culvert, and the side walls are considerably injured.Through this opening the water has leaked out of the canal,and it is now dry in some places. We understand there arehands at work, and expect to have the water in a few daysin its course again." (July 8, 1825)

[A Norristown dispatch describes the apprehension, inPlymouth, of Samuel Gibson, an escaped prisoner.


Also mentions suit of Joseph Detwiler against Jacob andJohn Reiff (brought on April 24, 1821) for raising theirdam across the Wissahickon. Verdict of $1050 for plaintiff.] (July 29, 1825)

"Pottstown (Penn.) August 18.On Saturday morning last, the Pottstown Pilot which

was built by Mintzer & Reeder, was launched into the river,a few rods above the Schuylkill Bridge .... she measures60 feet in length, and 10^ in width .... the first boat builtin this place for the purpose of trading on the SchuylkillCanal.... 100 men proceeded with her down the river, thelength of Pigeon creek, accompanied with a flag and a bandof music." (August 22, 1825)

"To be Let

That well established Tavern, sign of the Buck, longknown by the name of Hesser's tavern, situate at the upperend of Germantown. Possession will be given on the firstof November next. Application to be made to Dr. GEORGEMARTIN, Whitemarsh, or to CHRISTOPHER MASON, nearthe premises." (September 20,1825)

"A new Post-office is established at Horsham, in Montgomery County, 19 miles from Philadelphia — and Mr.Charles Jarret, has received the appointment of PostMaster." (January 25, 1826)

"We understand, says the Norristown Herald, that twogentlemen who have lately arrived in this country fromEngland, have purchased the Lead Mines near PerkiomenCreek, in Lower-Providence township, and intend to commence Mining immediately." (February 10, 1826)

[Thomas R. Tunis gives notice of dissolution of partnership of Tunis & Way, by death of his partner, James Way;and of formation of his new partnership with Jacob G.Morris: firm name, Tunis & Morris.] (March 15, 1826)

"BUSINESS—'The pleasant little village of Jehkintown,ten miles from Philadelphia, is crowded with Manufactur-


ers from the city, who, with their noisy looms, have established themselves in every comer of the village where alittle elbow room was to be found." (March 22, 1826)

[Messrs. Paul, Huber & Shaffer advertise three finesteers, raised by Robert Petty, of Delaware Co., and GeorgeRiter, of Montgomery Co. To be seen at Joseph Taylor's,Cross Keys, 4th ab. Market.] (March 24, 1826)

[Thomas Price, of Lower Merion, offers ?10 reward fora runaway indented negro lad named Jesse Moore.]

(April 13, 1826)

"Norristown, Penn., April 19.Thursday last, four arks, or flats, loaded with coal (con

taining about 32 tons) arrived at the white lead factory ofMr. Wood, lately erected in this borough.

Last week, two boats, sunk in the canal near Pawling'sbridge.—At the same time another boat was precipitatedover the dam near the above bridge and stove to pieces.They were all loaded with coal. The hands escaped byswimming to shore." [A tabulation of the boats which havepassed the Norristown lock, April 10-16, with their loading,follows.] (April 21, 1826)

{To he continued)

Deaths in the Skippack Region

{Continued from page 247)

No. 150. "JOHAN DEMUTH died January 18, 1819." Beyond the fact he was probably the husband ofMary Damuth (No 590), nothing' is known of thisman. The early Demood or Demuth families seemto have been Moravians: Godhard Demood of

Germantown, a joiner who died in 1744, had ason Christopher Demuth who was a manager ofthe Moravian Farm in Frederick Township in1745. Gottlieb and Eve Demuth lived in Saucon as

early as 1741 and were also Moravians. However,a Johannes Demuth arrived in Philadelphia onthe Ship Phoenix September 25, 1751. (Phila WBk G/151; Bean's History of Montgomery County,p 839)

No. 151. HEINRICH GEOFF his widow died January 16,1819." Widow of No. 100, she was CharlotteSchwartz, born February 12, 1760.

No. 152. "OLD CHRISTIAN BERGE died March 24,1819."Born June 13,1741 son of the pioneer Hans UlrichBergey, he was the husband of No. 59 and brotherof Nos. 137 and 242. He was enrolled in the

L. Skippack Militia Company although a residentof Lower Salford. Issue: Abraham (No. 583);Mary, wife of Philip Stearly; Jacob (No. 254);Catherine, wife of Christian Haldeman of BucksCounty; Sarah, wife of Joseph Butterweck; Anna,wife of Rev. Abraham Halteman; Rev. John whomarried Elizabeth Oberholtzer; Christian whomarried Mary Souder; Elizabeth, wife of JacobTyson; Margaret and Barbara who both diedsingle. (HSL; Bergey p. 15; Montgy W Bk 5/132)

318

DEATHS IN THE SKIPPACK REGION 319

No. 153. "OLD GOTTSHAL GOTTSHALL died April 5,1819." Born June 22, 1745 he was the son ofHelena Schrager and Jacob Godshalk and husbandof No. 98. He lived in lower Salford on the farmconveyed to him by his father March 2, 1774,which he in turn sold to his son May 29, 1798.Issue: Jacob who married Barbara Ziegler; Elizabeth who married first Henry Brachtheiser,schoolmaster of Lower Salford, and second JacobBergey (No. 323); Helena (No. 491). (Bergey p.19; Montgy W Bk 5/134, 2/54; Dd Bks 12/3,11/341).

No, 154. "JACOB MAYER his widow died June 12, 1819."Widow of No. 66 she was Marie Detweiler, daughter of Jacob and Neltgen (Kolb) Detweiler andsister of Nos. 159 and 403. She died in her 68thyear and is buried at Delp's Cemetery, (HSL)

No. 155. "ABRAHAM HUNSBERGER his widow died June21, 1819." Widow of No. 117 she was CatherineTyson, born January 3, 1760, daughter of Williamand Alice (Nash) Tyson. (Montgy W Bk 3/180)

No. 156. "OLD BENJAMIN MARKLEY died July 11,1819." Born July IB, 1751, son of Nos. 18 and50, brother of Nos. 164, 274, 326 and 336, hemarried October 18, 1774 Hannah Wentz bornFebruary 18, 1755, died May 2,1829. Both buriedNew Hanover Lutheran Cemetery. Issue: Jonahwho married Maria Freed; Elizabeth, wife ofLewis Linsenbigler; Sarah, wife of Gene PhilipBoyer and Mary who married first David Gribbet(?) and second, John Nyce. (H. S. Dotterer Notes)

No. 157. "OLD JOHANNES BACH died August 8, 1819."Bom in 1740, son of Jacob and Barbara (Stager)Bach, he married Catherine Crumpacher, daughter of John and Elisabeth Crumpacher, who diedin 1804, aged 61 yrs. They are buried at Coventry


Mennonite Cemetery, Chester County. Issue:Susanna, wife of Abraham Grubb; Catherine, wifeof Christopher Ziegler; John who married MaryPrice; Hannah, wife of Daniel Price; Mary whomarried first Christian Willauer and second Jacob

Zug; Elizabeth, wife of Conrad Grubb and Barbara, wife of Martin Urner. (Rev. Carl Smith)

No. 158. "BENDER GBRBER died November 21, 1819."Has not been identified. The only Gerber knownto have died this year was John Charles Gerber,son of Benedict and Dorothy (Loreth) Gerber, butTrappe records give his death as July 14,1819.According to the same records his brother Benjamin, son-in-law of No. 115, had died August 6,1818. For "Bender" probably read "binder,"meaning a cooper (by trade).

No. 159. "MARTIN DETTWEILER died November 24,1819." Son of Jacob and Nelten (Kolb) Detweiler,he married Maria Moyer born November 30, 1738,daughter of Christian and Magdalena Moyer.They lived in Franconia where he was enrolled inthe Militia Company during the Revolution. Issue:Christian who married Elizabeth Reiff; Isaac, diedyoung; Jacob who married Mary Kulp; Samuelwho married first an Atherholt and second MaryFretz; Hannah, wife of Henry Rosenberger;Susanna, wife of Isaac Rosenberger; Maria, wifeof Rev. John Price; Abraham who married Elizabeth Clymer; Sarah, wife of John Rosenberger;Barbara, wife of George Cassel; Joseph who married Mary Moyer, and Benjamin who marriedMagdalena Moyer. (Moyer p. 266, HSL)

No. 160. "CHRISTIAN CROLL his widow died December

20, 1819." Widow of No. 96, Hannah Croll wasborn October 7, 1759.


No. 161. "OLD JOHN HUBLER died February 13, 1820."Husband of No. 88, he lived in Perhiomen Township. Four years after the death of his wifeMargaret Haldeman, his father-in-law HenryHaldeman (No. 174) complained to the Orphans'Court that John Hubler "neglects and refuses tomaintain or take care of the children." The Court,however, declined to interfere unless John Hublerwas present. Besides his property in Perkiomen heleft 200 acres "in Upper Canada in LincolnCounty." Issue: Henry, Isaac and Elizabeth.(Montgy W Bk 5/198; OC Bk 3/277)

No. 162. "Young ABRAHAM HENRICH died February 16,1820." Born in October 1789, the son of Benjamin(No. 357) and Esther (Clemens) Hendricks, he issaid to have married Barbara Bean, daughter ofHenry, about 1811. At the time of his death helived in Hilltown township, Bucks County, on afarm of 67 acres bounded by lands of John Culp,Christian Myers, his brother Jacob Hendricks,Jacob Kratz and Christian Eckert. Buried inBlooming Glen Mennonite Cemetery. Issue: Benjamin, Henry, Jacob and Susanna, all minors under8 years in 1820. (Bucks Adm Bk C/21; OC Bk5/439)

No. 163. "Old widow PILGER died April 6,1820." Widowof Ludwig Bilger, Maria Magdalena Bilger was thedaughter of Hans Bernard Kunser and his wifeMaria Barbara who settled in Franconia about1750. In 1774 Maria Barbara, his widow, now wifeof Peter Gluck or Glick, and the heirs Michael,Valentine, Andrew, Magdalena, wife of LudwigBilger; Catherine, wife of Henry Keiser; Elisabeth, wife of Albrecht Gluck; Barbara, wife ofDaniel Derr, and Margaret, wife of ConradHefentrager, released their rights to Bernard

322 bulletin of histokical society of Montgomery county

Kunser's land to Peter Gluck who devised it bywill to Ludwig Bilger in 1787. Ludwig Bilger hadarrived in Philadelphia September 24, 1751, consigned to Messrs Shoemaker. He lived in UpperSalford until 1779 when he removed to Franconia.

He was a member of the Indian Creek Reformed

Church and died in December 1817. Issue: George,Henry, Ludwig, Magdalena and Charlotte. (PhilaOC Bk 10/161; Montgy W Bks 1/110, 5/26; DdBk 4/117)

No. 164. "Blacksmith JOHN MARKLEY died April 29,1820." Born January 20, 1760, son of Nos. 18 and50 and brother of Nos. 156, 274, 326 and 386, hemarried November 28, 1784 Elizabeth Heiser bomJuly 8, 1767; died September 2, 1823, daughterof Nos. 69 and 192. Issue: Sarah, died young;Barbara, wife of John Kurtz; Andrew who married Elisabeth Stetler; Elisabeth, wife of Jacob C.Nyce; Susanna who married first George Nyceand second Ludwig Schittler; Benjamin who married Susanna Huber, and Maria, wife of EnosBenner of Sumneytown. (Charles Major's Notes:Zieber-Markley Family)

No. 165. "Old GERHART CLEMENS died May 1, 1820."Bom January 2, 1745, the eldest son of Jacob andBarbara (Clemmer) Clemens, he married Catherine Hunsicker (No. 273). He lived on his father'splantation in Lower Salford and was enrolledin the Lower Salford Militia Company during theRevolution. Buried at Lower Salford Mennonite

Cemetery. Issue: Jacob who married MargaretPennypacker; Henry who married Anna Kratz;Elizabeth (No. 506); Sarah, wife of Jacob H. Reiffand Catherine, wife of Jacob Shoemaker. (W Bk5/210; HSL)


No. 166. "Old MARTIN REINHART died May 25, 1820."Born in 1757 son of Ulrich and Magdalena (Jahn)Relnhart, he married Elisabeth Switzer, daughterof Ulrich and Esther (Umer) Switzer, who diedApril 24, 1827 aged 64 yrs. 3 mos. 20 das.. Theyare buried at Union Meeting House, Parkersford.Issue: Matthias who married first Elisabeth Markand second Elisabeth Ollobaugh; Esther, wife ofAbraham Zublin; Peter who married Mary Hal-derman and moved to Ohio; Elisabeth, wife ofBenjamin Harley; Martin; Hannah, wife of Rev.Aaron B. Grosh; Mary, wife of Jacob Fisher;Owen who married Catherine Bartlet and Salome,wife of Rowland Grouse. (Rev. Carl Smith)

No. 167. "Young JOHN STAUFFER died June 24, 1820."Born March 25, 1781 son of Nos. 78 and 85, hemarried Catherine Kolb, a daughter of No. 169.He lived in Skippaek. Issue: Margaret; Jacobwho married Rosanna Ritter; Garret who marriedEsther Grater; Hannah, wife of David Wieand;Ann, wife of John Lederach; John who marriedSusanna Alderfer; Abraham who married MaryAnn Hoxworth and Dillman who married MaryMack. The children were all under fourteen whenJohn Stauffer died. (Kulp p. 170 ff; Montgy OCBk 4/187)

No. 168. "GERHART ZIEGLER his daughter died June 30,1820." Beyond the fact that she was a sister ofNo. 216, she has not been identified. Her fatherGerhart Ziegler, born in 1765 and died June 29,1848, married Magdalena Johnson, born January23, 1767; died September 8, 1849, daughter ofWalter Johnson and his wife Sydge Hendricks.Gerhart Ziegler was the son of William and Hester(Clemens) Ziegler and grandson of the pioneer


Michael Ziegler. (Montgy RW #18,055; W Eks1/242, 526;2/72)

No. 169. "Foller JACOB KOLB died August 3, 1820." Bornin 1745 son of the blue-dyer Henry Kolb and hiswife Elisabeth Cassel and brother of Nos. 257,313 and 487, he married by license dated June 29,1768 Annie Yoder. He lived in Upper Salfordand is buried at Lower Salford Mennonite Ceme

tery. Issue: Heinrich who married Susannah

Moyer; John (No. 588); Maria (No. 538); Elisabeth, wife of Abraham Detra of Fairview;Barbara, wife of Abraham Ziegler of Lederach;Catherine, wife of No. 167; Jacob who marriedPeggy Zink, and Nancy, wife of Jacob Nice ofSalford. (Montgy W Bk 5/241; Kulp p. 170 ff)

No. 170. "Young JOHN KRATZ died October 21, 1820."Born April 27, 1788 son of No. 387, he marriedCatherine Detweiler, probably the daughter ofJacob and Maria (Funk) Detweiler, and sister ofNo. 532. They lived in Skippack but are bothburied at Lower Salford Mennonite Cemetery.Catherine Detweiler Kratz was born January 7,1793 and died March 8, 1864; her second husbandwas Jacob Bien. Issue: Henry and Jacob. (Kratzp. 219; OC 4/141)

No. 171. "JOSEPH REIFF his son died October 27, 1820."Bom January 1, 1802, son of No. 342, Isaac ReifFis buried at Lower Skippack Mennonite Cemetery.

No. 172. "HANNA GRIMLEY died October 28, 1820." Shewas probably Hannah Truckenmiller, daughter ofNos. 286 and 321 and wife of Solomon Grimley, jrwhom she married August 23, 1794. He was a sonof Nos. 42 and 180. (Goshenhoppen ReformedChurch Records)

No. 173. "Young JOHN REIFF his wife died November 1,1820." Daughter of Nos. 62 and 520, Catherine


Preiss Reiff was born September 13,1789 and wasthe wife of No. 383. (HSL)

No. 174. "HEINRICH HALTEMAN died November 12,1820." Bom in 1760 son of Nos. 45 and 46 andbrother of No. 379, he lived in Skippaek Township.He married Elisabeth Clements (No. 181) of BucksCounty. Issue: John, Christian, Abraham, Jacob,Margaret (No. 88); Elisabeth and Hannah wifeof Abraham Longacre. (Montgy W Bk 5/258; Rev.Carl Smith)

No. 175. "Young HEINRICH FUCHS died December 1,1820." Bom July 15, 1778 son of Henry Fox, sr.and his wife Ann, daughter of John Hall (No. 68),he was a carpenter by trade and lived with hisfather in Upper Providence. Married in 1808, in1814 he and his wife Juliann bora February 8,1783; died October 27, 1869, took over the management of his father's farm for two years, buthad relinquished it by 1817 when he was taxedon only three horses and five cattle, his fatherbeing taxed on 120 acres and dwelling. Both areburied at Augustus Lutheran Church, Trappe.Issue: William (guardian, Joseph Henry); George(guardian, John Roudebush); Mary (guardian,Abraham Gotwals). (Montgy OC Bk 4/359,395)

No. 176. "JOHANNES ALDERFER died December 19,1820." Bom February 8, 1745 son of No. 21 andbrother of Nos. 259 and 358, he married ElisabethRosenberger (No. 217). He owned the farm andmill on"the Branch Creek originally belonging tothe pioneer Gerhart Clemens. Buried at LowerSalford Mennonite Cemetery. Issue: Anna, wifeof Henry Lederach; Benjamin (No. 507); Frederick who married first Susanna Showalter, secondElisabeth Rosenberger Shutt, third, Anna Frederick; Mary; Joseph who married Hannah Kinsey;


Abraham who married first Susanna Shoemaker

and second Anna Keely; Elisabeth and John(HSL)

No. 177. "HANNA KOBLIN died December 29, 1820."Daughter of Nos. 19 and 101, she was HannahMarkley, born October 30, 1759, and the widowof Mathias Koplin bom October 2, 1759; diedJanuary 5, 1813 who was the son of Christian

Koplin and his wife Deborah (No. 127). HannahMarkley was a sister of Nos. 126, 178, 185 and 388.She and her husband are buried at St. John's

Church, Center Square.. Issue: Nathaniel; Marywife of James Robinson; Elisabeth wife of RobertPorter; Deborah; Philip, Anna and Sarah;—thelast three minors at the time of their father's

death in 1813. He left property in Norristownadjoining lands of Robert Hamill and "the publicbuildings of the County". (Montgy OC Bk 3/49)

No. 178. "Old JOHN ZIEBER his wife died January 15,1821." Born December 22, 1749 daughter of Nos.19 and 101, Elisabeth Markley Zieber was a sisterof Nos. 126,177,185 and 388, and wife of No. 339.

No. 179. "ANNA SCHUMACHER, Christian Benner hiswife died March 26,1821." Born July 20,1748 shewas a daughter of Jacob and Susanna (Ziegler)Schumacher of Lower Salford (and sister of Nos.469 and 288.) Her husband was the eldest son ofSebastian and Anna Benner of Franconia. Theyremoved to Germantown from Franconia in 1783;her husband died some time after 1822 (BulletinHSMC Vol. 7/p. 21 ff)

No. 180. "SOLOMON GRIMLEY his wife died March 30,1821." Bora about 1737 daughter of Frederick andElisabeth Reimer of Frederick Township, Elisabeth Reimer Grimley was the widow of No. 42 andsister of No. 29.


No. 181. "HEINRICH HALTEMAN his wife died May 10,1821." Widow of No. 174 she was Elisabeth

Clements of Bucks County. (Rev. Carl Smith)

No. 182. "ABRAHAM KRUPP his 'gewesenes' wife diedSeptember 14, 1821." Has not been identified.Abraham Krupp was probably the son of Jacoband Anna (Johnson) Krupp (Nos. 292 and 329)and brother of No. 569. An eccentric, he was theauthor of a hymn book and "musical teacher" andthe inventor of a flying machine which didnot live up to its name. He was first listed on theTowamencin tax lists as a nailer in 1800; in 1804

upon his marriage, to Ann , Jacob Krupp(presumably his father) sold 45 acres to himwhich he held until 1807 when he conveyed partof it to Hupert Cassel and the rest in 1812 to hisbrother John Krupp, and moved to Norriton. Hewas now called a school-teacher and remained

in Norriton until 1816. He died in Worcester in1845 near the old Presbyterian Church nearFairview, having made his home with his brother-in-law Jacob Harley who had married ElisabethKrupp. (Montgy RW #12,524; Montgy Dd Bks16/458, 24/224, 29/412; Heckler p. 9)

No. 183. "Old JACOB RUTT died September 15, 1821."Perhaps the son of the pioneer Henry Ruth, hewas born about 1753 and purchased his farm of111 acres in Hatfield from Henry and MargaretHendricks May 27, 1772. His death, recorded inthe Tohickon Church records gives his age as 68years. In his will dated November 1, 1817 andproved September 18, 1821, he names his wifeMary (No. 477) and children: Isaac, Jacob (whomarried Maria Oberholtzer); John; Sara, wife ofDavid Sellers of Starke County, Ohio; Catherine,wife of Abraham Cassel; Magdalena, wife of


Jacob Keeler; Mary wife of James Yocum of L.Salford and Elisabeth, wife of Christian Atherholt,brickmaker of Northern Liberties, Philadelphia. InMontgomery Miscellaneous Book No. 5, pp. 150 to167 inclusive under date of 1839 is to be found a

remarkable list of the descendants of these chil

dren in the releases to Jacob Ruth's estate

recorded therein. (Montgy W Bk 5/328; Dd Bks35/688,690; Misc Bk 5/150-167)

No. 184. "NICHOLAS KOLB died September 24, 1821."Born March 13, 1795 son of Martin and Catherine(Johnson) Kolb, he married Elisabeth Kolb,daughter of Dillman (No. 225) and Barbara(Cassel) (No. 445) Kolb. He is buried at LowerSkippack Mennonite Cemetery. His widow married Henry Swartley, son of Jacob of Bedminster,whose first wife Elisabeth Hackman had died in

1820. A minor daughter Magdalena Kolb diedshortly after her father Nicholas. (Cassel p. 256 ff;Kulp p. 240 ff; Montgy OC Bk 4/186; HSL)

No. 185. "Old JACOB (J) MARKLEY my father diedSeptember 26,1821." Born August 28,1747 son ofNos. 19 and 101, he married on January 7, 1773Mary Koplin (No. 359) and was a brother of Nos.178, 126 and 388. Buried at St. John's Church,Center ScLuare. Issue: Philip (No. 634); John whomarried Mary Krupp and Jacob who marriedElisabeth Johnson. (Henry S. Dotterer Papers)

No. 186. "RUDOLF STAUFFER his wife died October 1,1821." She was Beata Reiner, born November 27,1775, daughter of Abraham and Christiana(Wanger) Reiner and wife of No. 530. Buried atCoventry Brethren Church, Chester County. (Rev.Carl Smith)

No. 187. "Old GEORG SCHUMACHER his wife died

October 5, 1821." Born November 27, 1758, Bar-


bara Schumacher was the wife of No. 228 and is

buried at Lower Skippack Mennonite Cemetery.

No. 188. "Old JACOB HORNING his wife died October 16,1821." Possibly the daughter of Roger North ofProvidence, she was Anna North, bom February12, 1770 and the wife of No. 237. She is buried atLower Skippack Mennonite Cemetery.

No. 189. "HEINRICH WEICKEL his wife died October 17,

1821." She was Catherine Bean, daughter ofHenry and Maria Bean of Skippack who had comefrom Worcester to Skippack in 1783. HeinrichWeickel married second Dorothy Rosenberger, awidow, on May 18, 1823. She was born February6, 1788 and died March 28, 1879. They areburied at St. Luke's Reformed Church, Trappe.Among the probable children were: Jacob whomarried Ann Rambo; Elisabeth who married firstAbraham Johnson and second Henry Johnson.(Montgy Dd Bks 27/441,667; 49/86; 67/548;148/375)

No. 190. "Young CHARLES CRULL died March 15, 1822."Bom May 15, 1801, he was the son of Nos. 96 and160, and is buried at Lower Skippack MennoniteCemetery.

No. 191. "OLD MICHAEL ZIEGLER died March 29, 1822."Son of the pioneer Michael Ziegler and his wifeCatherine, he is said by some to have marriedAnna Clemens, born December 30, 1729, killed inan accident on the road May 3, 1790, daughter ofJacob and Barbara (Clemmer) Clemens. In 1794when he sold land to his son Dillman his wife was

Barbara, probably sister of Anna, born June 1,1737, deceased by 1809 when Michael Zieglerwrote his will. He was a tanner by trade and livedin Skippack on his father's plantation. Issue:Jacob (No. 207); Isaac; Abraham (No. 527); Dill-


man, Catherine, wife of Jacob Segler of New Hanover; Elisabeth, wife of Peter Yost; Michael whomarried Barbara Tyson and Andrew. (Montgy WBks 6/266, 3/180; Dd Bks 8/269; 32/22)

No. 192. "Old SARA HEISER died April 21, 1822." BomJuly 25,1744 she was the daughter of John Zieberand his wife Margaret DuBois and the widow ofNo. 69.

No. 193. "JACOB HEISER died July 23, 1822." Son of Nos.69 and 192 he was born July 11, 1774 and married April 2, 1795 Susanna Smith, daughter ofNo. 198, born April 1, 1777; died January 11,1854. They lived in Lower Salford where he kepta public house or tavern stand on propertyoriginally belonging to the pioneer GerhartClemens from 1815 until his death, after whichit passed to John Heiser. Issue: Deborah, wife ofWilliam Cooper; Jacob who married HannahDengler; Sara, wife of Elijah Sheen; John whomarried Sara Yost; Samuel who married MaryAnn Dager; Mary; Elisabeth, wife of BenjaminMill; Charles, Lydia and Andrew (No. 132)(Heckler p. 225; Charles Major's Notes: Zieber-Markley Family)

No. 194. "JOHN KOLB died August 14, 1822." BomMarch 13, 1793 son of Martin (No. 258) he married Elisabeth Reiff, born September 14, 1809;died March 2, 1870, daughter of George andElisabeth Clemens Reiff. She is buried at TrinityReformed Church, Skippack, and he is buried atLower Skippack Mennonite Cemetery. She married in 1827 Rev. David Bergey. Issue: Elisabeth,only child. (Bergey p. 34; Montgy W Bk 6/46;Kulp p 24 ff)

No. 195. "PETER REINHART died September 2, 1822."Not identified.

DEATHS IN THE SKIPPACK REGION 33^

No. 196. "DAVID PAUL his widow died September 7,1822." She was the widow of David Paul who died

in Limerick late in 1789 and was possibly Catherine Guisbert, daughter of Andrew and JohannaGuisbert, whose sister Belkina or Paittin marriedAbraham Paul of Germantown, brother of DavidPaul. Presumably she was the mother of JohnPaul (No. 114). Issue of David and CatherinePaul; John, Elisabeth, David, William, Susannah,Hannah, Samuel, Daniel and Henry. (Phila OC Bk5/128; Montgy OC Bk 1/152)

No. 197. "DAVID PAUL his widow died September 7,1822." She was Catherine Paul, probably motherof No. 114 and daughter of Andrew and HannahGuisbert of Limerick Township. Andrew Guisbertdied about 1759 leaving issue: Guisbert, Paittin orBelkina who married Abraham Paul, brother o'f.David Paul; Joanna who married Philip Totterer,Susannah, Hannah and Catherine, the last threebeing minors in 1759, Hannah under 14 andSusannah and Catherine over 14. David Paul was

probably the eldest son of Andrew Paul and hiswife Elizabeth Reiner, the daughter of HenryReiner (d 1749) and his wife Hannah. They wereall residents of Limerick. David Paul and his wife,Catherine had issue: John, Elizabeth, David whomay have married Catherine Haldeman; Williamwho may have married Susannah Reiner; Susannah; Hannah, Samuel, Daniel and Henry. (PhilaW Bk 1/213, 170; OC Bk 5/128; Montgy OC Bk1/152; W Bk 4/200)

No. 198. "JACOB SMITT died in Philadelphia September13, 1822." Bom in August 1752, the youngest sonof Yost or Joseph Smith, the tailor of Skippack,his brothers and sisters were Henry, Joseph,Catherine, John, Margaret who married Johannes


KQnig and probably Anna Maria who marriedGallus Guldy. Jacob Smith married Deborah Kop-lin (No. 553) and inherited his father's plantationof 127 acres in 1783 upon his father's death, butsold it June 12, 1787 to Henry Cassel, jr, havingpurchased a messuage and grist mill in Worcesterthe previous year from James Bean, eldest son ofThomas Bean. This he sold in 1802 to Abraham

and Samuel Krieble and removed to Philadelphiawhere he set up as an innkeeper at 69 Sassafras(Race) Street. In 1820 he removed to 4th Streetnear Master where he died after a lingering illness. He and his wife are both buried at Lower

Skippack Mennonite Cemetery. Issue: John,Samuel, Susanna, wife of No. 193; Hannah, wifeof Cornelius Tyson and Mary, wife of John Henry.(Phila W Bk 7/537; S/237; Montgy Dd Bks No.42/213; 15/165; 29/193; 43/189, 191; Poulson'sAmerican Daily Advertiser, Sept. 14,1822)

No. 199. "JACOB WISMER died September 17, 1822." Amiller of Upper Providence, he probably was theson of Henry and Barbara (Lederach) Wismerwho was born April 15, 1755. He married firstMaria Wierman, daughter of John and Mary (No.4) Wierman, and sister of No. 281. They lived inGwynedd Township from 1783 to 1794 when hemoved to Upper Providence where he died seizedof 55 acres, messuage and grist mill; he left awidow Magdalena and issue: Jacob, John, Maryand Ann. (Montgy OC Bk 4/323; Dd Bks 43/188,467-469; 5/370, 377; W Bk 1/352)

No. 200. "VALENTIN HUNSICKER died October 26,1822." Bom in 1762 son of Nos. 124 and 311, hemarried Elisabeth Schott, bom 1762 and diedDecember 17, 1845, daughter of George Schottand his wife Anna Barbara Lauin (No. 77). Both


buried at Lower Skippack Mennonite Cemetery.Issue: Barbara, wife of Henry Bomeman; Margaret, wife of Jacob Cassel; Catherine, wife ofIsaac Kratz; Isaac; Magdalena, wife of GeorgeKahn; George who married first Hannah Zieglerand second Nancy Shoemaker; Mary, wife ofPhilip Kratz; Hugh who married MargaretYocum; Elisabeth, wife of Martin Mack; Abrahamwho married Elisabeth Ziegler and Michael whomarried an Oberholtzer. (Kratz pp. 221, 271)

{To he continued)

Nineteenth Century Real Estate Offerings

(Compiled from Philadelphia newspapers)

(A) From "Claypoole's American Daily Advertiser.'

A plantation of 220 acres, six or seven miles from Philadelphia, is advertised for sale by sheriff John Pugh, whodescribes it as adjoining Rev. William Smith and AlgernonRoberts, Esq. [July 19, 1797][Note: the ownership of this land is not stated, but in the following November the sheriff conveyed it as the property of John Nicholson, Esq.It was situated on Ford road (since vacated) near the present Cynwyd.(Montg, Co. Deed Book 16 p. 307.)]

There are six lots on the Norristown-Pawling's Fordroad, in Providence township, which Williamina Pawlingoffers for sale as administratrix. She will also sell a ridingchair, and other articles. [Aug. 9, 1797]

A large stone housein Pottstown is to be sold. Thoseinterested may apply either to General M'Pherson, in Philadelphia, or to General Nichols or Daniel St. Glair, in Montgomery county. [Aug. 19, 1797]

The farm of Robert Henry, deceased, containing morethan 34 acres, in Abington township, near the road leadingfrom Oxford to Wrightstown, is put up for sale by hisexecutors, John Collom and Samuel Leech. [Sept. 18, 1797][Note: Oxford, a former township of Philadelphia county, became a partof the city of Philadelphia in 1854. Wrightstown is in Bucks county.]

Christopher Heydriek advertises the public sale of alarge farm in Whitemarsh. It is on the road leading fromPlymouth by the Broad Ax tavern toward Horsham, andcontains 145 acres. [Nov. 22, 1797]

The real estate late of Thomas Maybury, deceased,awaits purchasers. Nine parcels of land are offered. Thereis a mansion house, as well as a merchant mill, in Potts-

334

NINETEENTH CENTURY REAL ESTATE OFFERINGS 335

town, and a farm of 154 acres adjoins the town, while an80-acre tract is located in Marlborough. Rebecca Maybury,of Pottstown, and John Warder and James Vaux, Philadelphia, are the administrators, acting: under direction ofthe Orphans' Court. [Jan. 2, 1798]

A tract of 130 acres, situated on Ferkiomen creek, inSkippack-and-Perkiomen township, is put on the block bysheriff Pugh, who has seized it as the property of BlairMcGlenachan, Esq. Sale will be cried at the house of ElishaEvans, known as the Perkiomen Tavern. [Mar. 13, 1798][Wote: the separation of "Skippack-and-Perkiomen" into two townships,known respectively, as Skippack, and Perkiomen, took place in 1886. (SeeThe bulletin; vol. I p. 207.)]

Joseph Potts, Jr., wishes to sell his house and 4-acre lotin Pottstown. He may be seen at Glasgow Forge, near thetown. [Mar. 26, 1798]

By consent of the heirs of David Potts, late of the Valley Works, in Montgomery County, his city house, at Fourthand Lombard streets, will be auctioned off. James Potts, Jr.,administrator, signs the advertisements, and informationmay be had of Capt. Charles Potts, 91 Arch' street.

[Jul. 7, 1798]

A 15-acre lot, in Upper Dublin township, about a mileand a half from Whitemarsh Church, will be sold at publicvendue by Casper and Ulrich Sehlater. [Aug. 21, 1798]

Purchaser is wanted by Derrick Castleberry for aplantation of 115 or 120 acres, with large stone house,stone bam, and other buildings, one mile from ProvidenceMeeting-house. [Oct. 4, 1798]

The late homestead of Robert Barns, deceased, including stone dwelling and barn and 90 acres of land, will besold at auction by his executors, Robert Bams and BakerBams. It is situated in Moreland township, Montgomerycounty, on the road from Philadelphia to Horsham Meetinghouse, and fifteen miles from the former place. It is nearthe Crooked Billet. [Oct. 19, 1798]


\Note'. the Crooked Billet tavern, near which a noted action took placeduring the Revolution, gave its name to the village, now the boroughof Hatboro.]

"A good stand for any public business" is to be sold byLeonard Styer. It is in Whitpain township, adjoining theroad from Skippack to Swedes' ford, eighteen miles fromPhiladelphia, four from Norristown, and comprises a one-story stone house, with ten acres of land and six of woodland, lanyard, bark mill and currying shop. [Jan. 19, 1799]

A 76-acre farm in Moreland township is offered for saleby Daniel Yerkes. It is fourteen miles from Philadelphia,and two from McCall's tavern. [Jan. 28, 1799]

In Spring Town, the house and store next to the tavernare now to be sold by Amos Wickersham and Henry Weis-senbach, assignees of Henry Spang. Norristown is but twomiles away; Philadelphia, seventeen. Thirty acres of land,already divided into lots, will also be disposed of.

[Jan. 31, 1799]

[Note: "Springtown is situated on the Germantown and Perkiomen turnpike, about half a mile below Penn Square and contains an inn andseven houses. Here are the exhibition grounds of the MontgomeryCounty Agricultural Society." (Wm. J. Buck: Hist, of Montg. Co. Withinthe Schuylkill Valley; p. 93.)]

The estate of John Nicholas Seidel, Sr., of Worcestertownship, is being settled; his son, John Nicholas Seidel, Jr.,gives notice that the property is made up of

1. Plantation of 12354 acres, with two good dwellings; etc.2. Tract of 40 acres, %vith orchard.3. Tract of 15 acres.

4. Tract of 25 acres of woodland, laid off in lots of 2, 3 and 4 acres.

Apply to Daniel Spies, living on the premises, or see theplan at the sign of the Golden Fleece, 240 North Secondstreet. [Feb. 27, 1799]

[Note: an earlier advertisement of this property appeared in the issueof November 20, 1798.]

In Moreland township, near Smithfield village, is a 97-acre plantation with two dwellings, which Joseph Dyer,

NINETEENTH.CENTURY REAL ESTATE OFFERINGS 337

living near the premises, will sell or rent. It is on the roadto Hossam [Horsham] half a mile from the Newtown road.Those in the city may inquire of Lewis Bender, at 226 NorthSecond street. [Mar. 22, 1799]\_Note: Smithfield is now Somerton—a part of the city of Philadelphia.]

William Henderson, Jr., who lives on a 50-acre plantation in Upper Merion, would like to find a purchaser forit. The property lies "opposite and two miles from the 14mile stone on the Lancaster turnpike road;" it is 3V2 milesfrom Norristown; 2 from Gulph Mills. There is a distilleryon the premises. [Apr. 22, 1799]

A house and lot in Pottstown, on the Reading road,where there has been a store these twenty years, is nowoffered for sale by John Greiner, at 182 Race street.

[Jun. 8, 1799]At the corner of Old York road and Susquehannah

street, in Abington, "a little below the 12-mile stone," is adwelling which is for sale by Jacob Mayer, "at his storenear Shoemaker Mill, 9 miles from the city." [Jun. 22,1799][Note: Susquehanna "street," a very early road, is believed to have beenso-called because it was intended to lead to the Susquehanna river.—Shoemaker's Mill was in Cheltenham township.]

The extensive iron works property known as the Glasgow Works and Farm, one and a half miles from Pottstown,will be sold by Joseph Potts, Jr. In the works are includedthe forge for manufacturing bar iron, tilt hammer, gristmill, saw mill and smith's shop. The farm covers 800 acres,of which 250 are wooded; on it, besides the dwelling, arebarn, stables and coach house; smoke-, ice-, and milk-houses. James Rowland, 93 North Second street, will furnishinformation. [Jul. 23, 1799]

Henry Spang has made assignment to Henry Weissen-bach and Amos Wickersham of his several properties,which will be auctioned off (for the benefit of creditors)""opposite the court house in Norristown." Included are

A house and store, with lot 200 feet square, next door to the tavernin Springtown, two miles from Norristown, on the road to Reading.


About 30 acres, laid out in lots, on the south side of the road, beingpart of the tract composing said town.

Remaining title of Henry Spang to remainder of town, on northside of road.

Moiety of 960 acres on Buffaloe creek, Northumberland county,adjoining Captain Lowden. [Nov. 23, 1799]

(B) From "General Advertiser" ("Aurora")

The seat of the late Colonel C. Stuart, in Norriton township, "within view of the main road leading from Phila. toReading," is about to be sold. It consists of "a genteel two-story dwelling house," with 186 acres of land. WilliamHenderson, Jr., announces the sale. [Jan. 6, 1800]

The sale is advertised of 80 acres of land at Potts Town,adjoining the seat of the late Thomas Rutter. Half the landgoes with the house; the remainder is divided into lots.Farming implements and household furniture, and sixislands in the Schuylkill, will be sold at the same time; asadvertised by Samuel Miles. [Mar. 13, 1800]

Shannon & Polk, auctioneers, will'sell at auction acountry seat on the south side of the Lancaster Turnpikeroad, between the 7 and 8 mile stones, late of the estateof John Brooks, deed. The lot contains eleven acres; thetwo-story stone house was built last summer. Adjoining arethe properties of John Fiss, Casper Wiest, and others. JohnAtkinson, who lives on it, will permit one to view theproperty. [Aug. 16, 1800]

[Note: John Brooks, a Philadelphia glover, bought this Lower Merionproperty in February, 1799, but died within two years. By Orphans'Court proceedings, the property was adjudged to his son Samuel, whosold it, June 8,1801, to Malcolm Gwin, a Lower Merion miller. Gwin soldit, in 1808, to John Siter, who obtained a license, and called his standthe "Red Lion." (See Montg. Co. Deed Books 14 p. 202; 15 p. 51; 26 p.299. Also, Montg. Co. 0. C. Docket 1 pp. 468, 479, 490.)]


Three lots in Providence township, six miles from Nor-ristown, are for sale by Lewis Horning, who lives on LotNo. 2. No. 1 is on the road leading from Scliee's ford to theTrap, and contains 50 acres; it adjoins Samuel Homing.No. 2, on Perkiomy, adjoins Michael Horning, has a tiltmill, "turned by the aforesaid creek," with two hammers,and an air furnace with two hearths. No. 3 has a framedwelling, with about ten acres of land. [Sept. 8, 1800]

(C) From "Poulson's American Daily Advertiser'

On the post road from Philadelphia to Reading, "nearthe village of Potts Town," there is a plantation whichChristopher Garrett wants to sell. It contains 111 acres, andhas a stone dwelling and a "swisher" barn. About 7 acres•of timber land also for sale. [Jan. 9, 1801]

\Notei swisher is presumably Simsser (Swiss). A type of Pennsylvania-German bam was known as the Swiss bank-barn. (Ruth Adams:Pfmisylvania Dutch Art; p. 16.)]

At the house of Benjamin Leedom, innkeeper, in More-land township Philadelphia- county, there will be sold aplantation of 100 acres, with stone house, log barn, etc. Theland is partly in said township, but extends across the linewhich divides it from Moreland in Montgomery county, andabuts on the farms of Jonathan Comly, Rynear Lukens andtheir neighbors. Sale is advertised by John Keath, & Co.,by agreement of the heirs of Charles Walker, Esq. JeremiahDungan, living there, or Joshua Comly, Esq., near by, willsupply information. [Feb. 2, 1801]

A large and valuable lot of real estate is put on themarket by Joseph Potts, Jr., at Glasgow, near Pottstown,who will sell the Valley Works and Lands, which are partlyin Montgomery and partly in Chester county, 22 miles fromPhiladelphia. The property is divided into six parcels:


1. Main works. A forge for the manufacture of bar iron, tilt works,slitting and rolling mill. "The works are not a quarter of a mile distantfrom the Schuylkill, nor more than miles from the turnpike." Themansion house is of stone, two stories high, and the whole comprisesabout 524 acres.

2. An adjoining tract of 80 acres of woodland, bordering lands ofDavid Stephens, John Brown and others.

3. Also adjoining, 120 acres of woodland.4. About 20 acres, mostly meadow.5. About 30 acres of woodland.

6. Two islands in the Schuylkill, nearly opposite the mouth of Frenchcreek; on one of these is a shad fishery.

Apply to the subscriber, or to Mr. Bees Brooke, on the premises.[Feb. 23, 1801]

[Note'. Glasgow village, about 1J4 miles north of Pottstown, was laterthe site of the Glasgow Iron Works. (See Theo. W. Bean: Hist, of Montg.Co.; pp. 568, 603, 1042.)]

The plantation called "Stowe," on the river Schuylkill,38 miles from Philadelphia, and on the road to Reading*, isfor sale. The tract comprises 153 acres, with a two-storystone house 50' x 30', with an annex. An extensive prospectof Pottstown and the Schuylkill is afforded. Samuel Baird,who offers this estate, has also for sale a stone farm house,27' X 20', a log* house, one mile from Pottstown, and landsin Indiana territory. [Apr. 2, 1801]

Joseph Dyer advertises to let a house and lot "on Ho-som road about fourteen miles and a half from Philadel-.

phia, up the Newtown road, at a small village namedSmithfield." [Jun. 20, 1801]

[Note: Smithfield is now Somerton.—The antique spellings Hosom andHossam show how Horsham was probably pronounced.]

Shannon & Polk, auctioneers, advertise the sale of "avaluable Plantation, Situate in Cheltenham Township, Montgomery County—containing about 83 acres, 9 miles fromPhiladelphia, on the Tacony or Frankford Creek, betweenShoemaker's and Rowland's mills, generally known by thename of Hopple's Place; adjoining lands of Peter Rush,Jacob Albertson, Amos Jones, Jacob Altimutz, Daniel Hallo-


well, and lands of the late General Gunn;" with two dwelling-houses; etc. [Sept. 19, 1801]

A part of the estate of Dr. Charles Moore, deceased, inMontgomery township, is being offered by his executors,Milcah Martha Moore and Cadwalader Evans. The plantation, which was lately the residence of Dr. Moore, comprises a two-story stone mansion house, and 104 acres 78perches of land. There is one frontage on the main oldBethlehem road, and another on the road leading fromNew Jersey, by Coryell's ferry, to the Swedes' ford andLancaster road. [Sept. 19, 1801]

[Note: Dr. Charles Moore, a graduate of the University of Edinburghin 1752, died at his residence at Montgomery Square, August 19, 1801,aged 77 years. He married, in 1767, Milcah Martha Hill. (See CharlesP. Keith: The Provincial Councillors of Pa.\ p. 74.)]

Joseph Kirkbride is about to sell at auction a part ofGraeme Park, in Horsham township, about 19 miles fromPhiladelphia. There are 24 lots of good timber, two to sixacres each; a 50-acre plantation with dwelling, and a tractof 150 acres adjoining. Amos Childs lives on the premises,and will inform those interested. [Jun. 3, 1802]

[Note: See Charles Harper Smith: Sidelights on the History of GraemePark; The Bulletin; IV. 257-275.]

A 100-acre plantation, with stone dwelling, and marblequarries, is up for sale by William Henderson, of Norris-town. The property is about 16 miles from Philadelphia, in"Upper Merion township. [Jul. 23, 1803]

"Twickenham Farm," 200 acres, with stone house andbarn, may be purchased from the estate of Isaac Potts, deceased. It is situated between the Germantown and OldYork roads, 2^ miles from each, in Cheltenham township.The executors are Jacob Paul, Wissahickon; John Paul,Philadelphia; and Edward B. and Samuel Potts, on thepremises. [Sept. 26, 1803]

Robert Ralston announces the auction sale of a 62-acreplantation in Whitemarsh township. It is at the 12-mile


stone on the Pottsgrove road, and within sight of BarrenHill Church. [Feb. 29, 1804]

Anthony Morris, of Phildelphia, will now dispose ofhis farm and late residence, "The Highlands," about 14miles from Philadelphia, in Montgomery county, and withinone mile of the proposed turnpike from Chestnut Hill toSpring House tavern. This property, which contains about300 acres, is conveniently divided into three farms.

The mansion house is stone, 60' x 45', with marble stepsand pilasters, and mahogany interior staircase. The mainbarn is of stone, three stories high, with stable and carriagehouse, and ice- and spring-houses are on the premises.

On the principal farm, house, barn, stables and spring-house are all of stone.

The remaining division of the property is where Skip-pack road intersects the road from Broad Axe tavern toSwedes' ford.

Nearly one-third of the whole is woodland.[Apr. 26, 1804]

[Note: "The Highlands," situated in Whitemarsh, was built by AnthonyMorris in 1796, on land which he had purchased two years earlier fromJoseph McLean, whose family had owned it nearly half a century. "TheHighlands," however, was not sold by Morris until 1808. In 1898, it wasthe home of John D. T. Sheaff. (See Robert C. Moon: The Morris Fwm.of Phila.; II. 537.)]

Because of a former purchaser's failure to comply withconditions of sale, made in December last, of a plantationin Providence township, it will now be re-sold, at the houseof Elisha Evans, Norristown, by Joseph Cauifman, survivingexecutor of Philip Fitzsimmons, deed. The property contains 58 acres, with log house and bam, and is on the Reading road, 4 miles from Norristown, [May 31, 1804]

The farm tenanted by Samuel Wharton, in Abingtontownship, on the road called Benezett's, leading fromJenkin's town to Welsh road, is to be sold by A. Pettit &Co., auctioneers. It contains 60 acres, and is within a mileof the Abington Presbyterian and Quaker meeting-houses.


The lands of Jesse Roberts, Anthony Benezett and JacobPaul adjoin. [Apr. 20, 1805]

Jacob Sibley advertises the auction sale of a plantationof about 56 acres, in Lower Merion, three-quarters of a milefrom the General Wayne tavern, late the property of Rudolph Sibley, deceased. About 7 acres are in meadow; therest plough land, with a proportion of timber and the usualbuildings. There is also an orchard of nearly 800 fruit trees,principally grafted. [Aug. 28, 1805]

INote: In connection with the foregoing advertisement, Elizabeth Sibley,in the issue of September 11th, cautions prospective purchasers to takenotice that by an agreement made between the children and the widowof said deceased, the widow is given the right, during life, of living inthe mansion house, keeping a cow, using the orchard, etc., in lieu ofdower, "which rights and privileges will be legally maintained."]

John Smith, marshal, advertises sale of numerousproperties, including a messuage and tract of 120 acres,listed as Number 4, situated partly in Merion and partly inBlockley, adjoining Thomas Vaughan, Benjamin Finley,William Roberts, Isaac Ker Price, Morris Llewellyn andEleanor Bevan. [Dec. 25, 1805][Note: By deed poll of January 9, 1807, John Smith, "Marshal of theDistrict of Pennsylvania," conveyed a lot in Lower Merion, owned andoccupied by Peter Trexler, to Thomas Humphrey, who, about three yearslater, conveyed it to Philip Sheaff, Jr., "who professes to be also aGrantee of the lawful assignees of Peter Trexler." (See Montg. Co.Deed Book 27 p. 80.) "Isaac Ker Price" was probably Issacho/r Price.]

Adjoining the noted farm of Anthony Morris, in White-marsh, is a 75-acre plantation which Thomas W. Pryor hasput up for public sale. The Skippack road is in front; theWissahickon creek at the rear; and the property is in viewof the Spring House and Chestnut Hill Turnpike. Adjoining lots will also be sold, and some wood lots on Reiff's Millroad. [Jan. 7, 1806]

John Smith, United States Marshal for the PennsylvaniaDistrict, gives notice of the public sale, "at the Court Housein the town of Norris," of the interest of George Davis in aplantation of 125 acres, on the Schuylkill, in Upper Merion.


Also, Cat Fish island in the Schuylkill, opposite Providencetownship, subject to a privilege reserved by John Pawlingand Henry Pawling, "to fish in the poole above said island,and draw out the net on the same, in conjunction with theowner of the said island." [Feb. 7, 1806]

Anthony Morris will sell, at the house of Baltus Hoof-man, opposite Broad Axe tavern, 80 acres of land in lots,near the comer of Skippack and County Line roads, adjoining the store and tavern of said Hoofman. Also, the adjoining farm on Skippack road, occupied by James Nettle,with house, barn, granary, etc. Apply to the above-namedpersons, or to Edward Bonsall & Son, in the city.

[Feb. 15, 1806]

The stone mansion house of Thomas Maybury, 42' x 36',with lot 60' X 300', situate at southwest comer of High andHanover streets, Pottstown, is to be sold at the tavern ofJacob Barr, on the Reading road, Pottstown, together withthree acres of cloverland, brick brew-house, etc. Apply toDr. Potts, on the premises, or to Thomas Maybury, Philadelphia. [Feb. 27, 1806]

Isaiah Hubbs, of Cheltenham, offers for rent a house,carriage house, and stabling for six horses, with a 3-acrelot, in Abington township, where Willow Grove turnpikecrosses Susquehannah street. It adjoins the PresbyterianMeeting-house, and is now occupied as a store. "A verypleasant retreat in the summer season." Apply to JohnBrugh, next door, or to Alexander McCalla, No. 50 North4th street. [Feb. 26, 1807]

There will be an auction sale of forty lots, from two tofifty acres each, in Upper Dublin, late the property of Jeremiah Warder. The land is bounded by Susquehanna street,the township line, and a road leading to Philadelphia byWhite Marsh Church and Flour-town. George Rooke occupies the large stone house, which has 50 acres of ground.

[May 2, 1807]


Elizabeth Goodman, administratrix of Conrad Goodman, of Lower Merion, gives notice of the Orphans' Courtsale, at the house of John Kugler,"of an 8-aere lot on theLancaster turnpike, near the 7-mile stone. [Jul. 29, 1807]

\Note\ John Kugler became the purchaser of this property, which wason the south side of the turnpike, where his inn, called the "Seven Stars,"was long a landmark in Ardmore. He was the father of Charles Kugler,one of Lower Merion's prominent citizens. (See Montg. Co. Deed Book24 p. 53; also Moses Auge: Lives of the Eminent Dead; p. 295.)]

A stone dwelling, with eighteen acres of land, on OldYork road, 11 miles from the city, is offered for sale. It isopposite Mr. Moore's tavern, and contiguous to Dr. Ten-nant's Church. Inquire of Dr. Hickling, on the premises.(Advertisement is dated at Abington.) [Oct. 30, 1807]

{Note: Rev. William Mackey Tennant was pastor of Abington Presbyterian Church, 1781-1810. (See Theo. W. Bean: Hist, of Montg. Co.;p. 686.)]

{To be continued)

Notes and Queries

As the result of a query from California received duringthe past year by the Society regarding the Alderfer Familyof Montgomery County, an error in the date of arrival inthis country of the pioneer Frederick Alderfer of LowerSalford has been uncovered and should be noted in the

record of his descendants.

In 1888 James Y. Heckler published The History ofLower Salford Township in which he included a hithertounpublished account of Frederick Alderfer and his childrenand grand-children. In this account (p. 166) Heckler statedthat according to Rupp, Frederick Alderfer arrived on theShip Samuel, Hugh Percy, Master, August 11, 1732 andwas born May 18, 1715. In Rupp's 1898 edition of ThirtyThousand Names of Emigrants (p. 78) the name ofFrederick Alderfer is shown in the list under date of August11, 1732 and is confirmed in the Pennsylvania ColonialRecords Volume IH, page 431.

However, if we compare this list with List 19-A, page60 of Pennsylvania German Pioneers, edited by William J.Hinke, of the Ship Samuel for the same date, we find thatthis Frederick Aldorfer was 25 years of age. Furthermore, by reference to the index of the same book, we findon page 106, List 29-A, on the Ship Samuel, Hugh Percy,Master arriving August 17, 1733 a Friederich Alldorfer,aged 18 years qualifying. This list is to be found inColonial Records Volume III, page 515, and also in Rupp,pages 85 and 86.

Further checking in Pennsylvania German Pioneersshows that these two men were not identical, for the 1732Frederick could not write his name (page 64), while the

346

NOTES AND QUERIES 347

1733 Friedrich could (page 110). On the basis of the givenages, the 1733 Friedrich was born in 1715 and the 1732Frederick in 1707. Heckler (page 167) states FrederickAlderfer died November 7, 1808 aged 86 years, 5 monthsand 19 days which coincides with the 1733 Friedrich andnot with the man who arrived the year before.

It is interesting to note also that on the Ship Francisand Elizabeth, George North, Master, that a Lenhart Altor-fer, Schmid, aged 28 years, qualified August 30, 1743.(Hinke List 96-A, B pages 332, 833) This Leonard Alderferin 1752 was indebted to the estate of Jacob Fisher, late ofUpper Hanover Township in the amount of £5,12,0. (Journals and Papers of David Schultze, Andrew Berky, ed. page135)

From the above data it is apparent that at least threedifferent Alderfer men arrived at Philadelphia and not justone, as heretofore generally believed.

EDITORIAL

According to Section II of the Charter of The Historical Societyof Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, "The purpose for which thecorporation is formed is the study and preservation of the history ofMontgomery County, Pennsylvania."

As one of the means to that end, in April, 1936, the BULLETINcame into being, when the Publication Committee, with Miss Emily K.Preston as chairman, met, and decided on the forthcoming publication.In the following autumn, the first number of the BULLETIN appeared.

Time has wrought its changes. But the BULLETIN has strivenalways to maintain the high standard required of it. It has never carriedadvertisements. It has never run a joke-page, nor that doleful solace tothe too-easily tired mind—the "funnies." It has never tried to be "interesting" except to those for whose interest in history it was established.

Except for a few re-printings, from sources long since out of printand no longer obtainable, the BULLETIN'S contents has been composedaltogether of originals materials, and we must here express our gratitudeto those whose serious papers have kept it on a top level.

Such being the case, the BULLETIN can find no merit in the kindof "history" which must be served up, so many columns a week, at somuch per column. Nor can it countenance the "scissors-and-paste"method by which some "authors" can turn out a volume composedlargely of verbatim borro'wings from other writers, and that withouteven the formality of using questionmarks!

It is original material that is appreciated. And, needless to say, theSociety cannot maintain a corps of paid experts, ready to spring atcommand to their typewriters, and pound out essays on whatever partof the county seems to require historical treatment. If you feel thata disproportionate space in the BULLETIN is being devoted to UpperHanover, Perkiomen or Cheltenham, as compared with that given Marl-borough, Gwynedd or Upper Merion, please remember that those whocomplain of such apparent neglect have the remedy in their own hands.

There is a pithy, though ungrammatical, saying, "He seen his duty,and he done it." Having realized the need, it becomes your plain duty tosupply it. Set the example, and others will follow.

THE PUBLICATION COMMITTEE

348

Acquisitions

S. Cameron Corson Estate Original drawings of Norristown—A collectionof tree slabs and data concerning old trees in this area.—Otherbooks, drafts and maps.

Garrett A. Brownback, Esq.: Photostatic copy of a "Petition for theEstablishment of Public Schools in Montgomery County, 1785."

Rev. Carl T. Smith: Typescript of Burials and Inscriptions in thegraveyard adjoining the present Zion Evangelical and ReformedChurch, and the Emanuel Lutheran Church, Pottstown, Pa., locatedon the east side of Hanover Street between Chestnut and Walnut,being the site of the original "Union Church" (Lutheran andReformed) of Pottstown. This typescript was prepared from themanuscript record compiled by the late 0. B. Lessig, which is nowin the Zion Reformed Church.—Typescript of Letters of Administration, Philadelphia City and County, 1720-1747.—Five photostaticcopies of drawings of property in Pottstown, reconstructed by thedonor from deeds, ground-rent accounts and tax lists, 1762-1791.

Calvin S. Hathaway: Framed early photograph of St. John's EpiscopalChurch and parsonage. Airy street, Norristown.

Mrs. Anna H. Renninger: Two marriage certificates: John Force andCatharine Fox, October 16, 1795; Henry Bergstresser and CatharineHorning, January 11, 1820.—Two certificates of membership inWentz Reformed Church: Hannah Weber, 1847, and Isaac Weber,1840. (The record of John Force and Catharine Fox includes thebirthdates of nine children.)

Alfred Wright Estate: An album of photographs, "Five June Days,"taken by W. H. Richardson, who, with Calvin W. Reed, was acompanion of Alfred Wright on a trip through the "Dutch" country,in 1894.

Harvey S. Plummer: Seventeen deeds of property in Lower Providenceand Worcester townships, dating from 1753 to 1911.

Mrs. Nelson C. B. Kriebel: Twenty early school books used in theLansdale Public School about seventy-five years ago.

Elmer E. Jones: Hand-made American Flag with 37 stars (which datesit as 1867).

349


Walter C. Fry: Marriage certificate of George C. Parry and MarthaCooke, 1874.—Agreement, deed, etc., of property in Pottstown ofJoseph Hartshome, 1893-1911.—Brief of Title of property at Stowe,Borough of Pottstown, 1768-1893.

John J. Pennypacker: Collection of Norristown High School publication,"Spice", 1896 to 1940, but not in continuous sequence.

Joseph K. Fornance, Esq.: Booklet, Schuylkill Canal Navigator, by S.Alspach, printed in Philadelphia, 1827, by Joseph Rakestraw.—Aletter to Joseph Fornance, Esquire, from Robert Emory Pattison,Governor of Pennsylvania, dated January 15, 1886.

Lloyd Espenschied: Our Ancestors in Their Native Rhineland, TheirWay of Life, 1650-1850, by Frederic Pabst, being the historicalevents experienced by the Espenschied forefathers as prepared andreproduced by the donor for the 1952 Family Reunion.

Mrs. Daniel S. Johnson: Black merino scarf and a pair of embroideredlinen sleeve protectors. Both items circa 1820, and belonging tothe Brown family of Chester County.

John Rittenhouse: Family Bible, with records.—Indenture of SamuelRittenhouse to John M. Stetler to learn trade, 1840.—Two accountbooks of the Fairview Village Creamery Association, 1901-1920.—Six Indian artifacts found in Worcester township.

Eugene H. Whittock: Lot of parchment deeds on the Peter DeHavenhomestead in Whitpain township, 1730-1911.—Several issues of theGermantown "Guide", 1880, and the Lansdale "Reporter", 1876.

Eirke Bryan, Esq.: Bible, Eimber and Sharpless, Philadelphia, 1824,containing Hart Family records.

Clarence Hampton: Circular and Catalogue of the Oakland FemaleInstitute, Norristown; 1864, containing a lithograph in color of thebuilding.—A Circular of Treemount Seminary, Norristown, 1851-52.

Oliver H. Reed: Collection of photographs, 100th Anniversary of theNorristown Friends' Meeting, May, 1952.

Rev. Calvin M. DeLong: Two Hundred Twenty-Five Years at NewGoshenhoppen, 1727-1952, a brief, illustrated history compiled bythe donor.

Mrs. Calvin Collins: Anderson, Davies and Wersler Family History, byJ. A. Lloyd, Illinois, 1880. Other publications.

Berks County Historical Society: Hand-bill of "First Appearance of

ACQUISITIONS 351

Mis. Jarley, with her world-renowned Wax Works, St. John's ParishBuilding, Airy street, Norristown, November 1, 1883." Printed atDaily Times Office, 52 Main street, Norristown.

State of Pennsylvania: A Century of Medicine, 1848-1948. The historyof the Medical Society of the State of Pennsylvania, edited byHoward Kistler Petry, M.D.

Rev. Jacob Cassel Clemens: Genealogical History of the Clemens Familyand Descendants of the Pioneer, Gerhart Clemens, compiled by thedonor.

Eleanor Knipe Nolte: Microfilm, "Early Knipe Families of Pennsylvania," compiled by James L. Knipe, Lancaster.

L. 0. Weiss: "Trail of the Pioneers", a history of the Bauer-Bower-Bowers Family, compiled by the donor.

Forrest J. Henry: Booklet, 50th Anniversary History of Red Hill,Pennsylvania, 1902-1952.

Norris D. Davis: Merion Horse Company Register, 1870-1924; CashBook, 1894-1926, and the Constitution and By-Laws, 1889.—lot of22 deeds of properties in Conshohocken, Upper Merion and LowerMerion, dating from 1818 to 1864.

Miss Nancy C. Cresson: Small, folding metal lantern carried by WilliamLeedom Cresson while on duty at the White House in 1864,—Memorial Certificate of the Centennial Association of MontgomeryCounty, presented to Tacy Foulke Cresson, 1884.

George L. Harrison: The Descendants of John Harrison and Lydia Leib,compiled by Mrs. Norris Harrison.—Also a brief history of theHarrison ascendants of John Harrison.

Mrs. Sadie Steinhoff: Robe of cotton challis, yellow rose-sprigged, wornby her father, James H. Phillips, in Campbell U. S. Hospital duringthe Civil War, after being wounded in battle, 1864.

Wassell Randolph: Henry Randolph I (1623-1773) of Henrico County,Virginia and His Descendants, preceded by a short "review of theRandolph family in early England and elsewhere. William RandolphI of Turkey Island, Henrico County, Virginia and His ImmediateDescendants. The Reverend George Robertson and Bristol Parish,Virginia. All three publications prepared by the donor, who ispresident of the Cossitt Library, Memphis, Tennessee.

Mrs. John Tenney: Large, white satin banner, embroidered in petit pointand sequins, with lettering in gold leaf, "Presented by the Ladies of


Norristown to the Harrison Association, 1840". Mrs. Tenney wasVirginia Iredell, daughter of Robert Iredell. The banner wascarried in every presidential campaign from 1840 until 1888, whenBenjamin Harrison, the grandson of President William HenryHarrison, was elected.

Mrs. James E. Kiracofe: Doll cradle made in 1867 by John ZieglerGotwals of Yerkes.—Sewng kit brought from England, 1850.—^Atiny album of twenty-four tintypes, all identified as members of theGotwals, Reiff and Landis families.

George A. Ludwig: St. Peter's Lutheran Church, 1752-1952, Two HundredYears of Christian Service, written by the pastor, Harold F. Doebler,and the donor.—A typescript copy of a translation of an extract froma book found at Barren Hill, in the handwriting of Henry MelchiorMuhlenberg, 1759-1774. (The original ledger has been placed atMount Airy Lutheran Seminary.)—Program of the 200th Anniversary of St. Peter's Lutheran Church, May, 1952.

Hon. J. Burnett Holland: Three shares of stock. Stony Creek RailroadCompany, dated 1892.

Mrs. J. Leedom Jones: Small white velvet-covered prayer book carriedby Mary H. Dager, at her wedding to Morgan Wills. Also carriedby their daughter at her marriage.

Columbia University: American Historical Societies, 1790-1860, by LeslieWhittaker Dunlap, privately printed at Madison, Wisconsin, 1944.

Walter DePrefontaine: Manuscript history of the DePrefontaine Family,on loan, with permission to make a duplicate copy for our records.—The Germantown Telegraph for April 30, 1834.

Miss Leonora R. Casselberry: Diaries of D. Morgan Casselberry, sevenvolumes, from 1851 to 1916. Also several years from 1916 to 1919,in the handwriting of his daughter, Alice.—The Christian Chronicle,Philadelphia, April 11, 1861.

Jane Keplinger Burris: Three historical accounts written by the donorand appearing respectively in the 1950, 1951 and 1952 Year Booksof The Police Chiefs Association of Montgomery County: HistoricInns of Montgomery County, The History of Horse Companies inMontgomery County, and The Old Covered Bridges of MontgomeryCounty. Being the first time in the two latter instances that anexhaustive collection of this pertinent material has been attempted.

William Lukens, Sr.: A miscellaneous collection of museum items, including : Three swords, two bone-handled hunting knives, a Colt revolver,four firearms of various periods, two pipes, eye-glasses, match boxes.

ACQUISITIONS 853

two Arnold razors with blades, patented in Reading, leather-embossedpowder flask, and many other articles.

Thomas K. Leidy, Esq.; Book: Ministers of the German ReformedCongregations in Pennsylvania and Other Colonies in the EighteenthCentury, by Rev. William J. Hinke, 1951.

Charles R. Barker: Typescript of Bicking Family data.Thomas A. Power: Certificate of Honorary Membership of Thomas H.

Power in the Hibernia Fire Engine Company, No. 1, Fire Department of the City of Philadelphia, 1871.

Chester County Historical Society: A most valuable assortment ofMontgomery County material. This list includes the following:Docket, Day Book, Account Book and miscellaneous correspondenceof Edward Harvey (1783-1858), of Lower Merion.—Miscellaneous

• papers of Hon. Samuel Gross, Trappe; Charles Heebner, Consho-hocken, and numerous other individuals.—By-Laws and Regulationsfor the Government and to the Purpose of Reviving and Reorganizingthe Old First Troop of Montgomery County Cavalry, 1858.—An actto Incorporate the Trappe Brass Band, 1846.—Compositions andschool papers of Isaac Acker, Trappe, 1838-1844.—BlacksmithLedger, 1850, no name, but entries indicate the Limeriek-Pottstownarea.—Ledger, Diary and Account Book, also other papers, ofSeptimus Roberts, Upper Dublin and Whitpain townships, 1865-1895.—Autograph album of Ellen Ambler, Plymouth Boarding School,1816.—Five blue prints of land drafts in Providence and Norritontownships.—Album and photographs.—A lot of forty-four deeds.—Aletter written by Francis Murphy, the Irish school teacher, in 1823.—Two certificates of citizenship, Thomas and Daniel Foran, 1854,both of Ireland.—A Norristown imprint. Lectures on Nursing, givenunder the Auspices of the Montgomery County Medical Society,Lecture VI; Foods for the Sick, February 13, 1884, by Dr. Mary H.Stinson.—Many, many other items.

Acquired by purchase: The Spur of Monmouth; or, Washington In Arms,By An Ex-Pension Agent, Philadelphia, 1876. Undocumented historical tradition on King of Prussia Inn, Upper Merion, and otherplaces and persons of that time in this area.

Other donors to whom the Society wishes to express its appreciationfor gifts, mostly duplicates to those in our library, but nonethelessdesirable and valuable to us, are: Mrs. J. William Ditter, Mrs. EdwardC. Shoemaker, Mrs. William P. Moyer, George E. Potts, Mrs. EmmaOwen Ickes, Stanley A. Cooper, Esq., Miss Florence Jenkins, JosephSchrawder, Mrs. Irvin P. Knipe, Herbert H. Ganser, Miss Agnes T.Hallowell, Mrs. Theodore Heysham and the Narberth Library.

JANE KEPLINGER BURRIS, mrarian

Report on Membership

NEW MEMBERS (Elected November 15, 1952)

Miss Emeline BergerErvin P. Bickley, Jr., Mrs. Carl S. HedstromMiss Edna Y. Cassel William N. KirkpatrickHarry LeRoy Christman Mrs. J. H. ShreinerMrs. Eugene A. Coffin W. H. Weingartner

Williamstadt Chapter of Junior Historians, Norristown High School

NEW MEMBERS (Elected February 23, 1953)

Mrs. Kenneth E. Ackland J. David NyceJohn A. Bower Mrs. Laura C. Sulzbach

Calvin S. Hathaway

TRANSFERRED TO LIFE MEMBERSHIP

Mrs. Frank B. Moore William L. Hires

DEATHS

Mrs. Mary P. Carothers William McAdooMrs, William L. Degn Mrs. William R. MorleyBenjamin F. Evans Miss Katharine PrestonMiss Carrie Landis William Ives Rutter, Jr.Thomas K. Leldy, Esq., Miss Edith SaurmanMrs. Matilda Minshall Mrs. T. F. Dixon Wainwright

Status of membership at close of the annual meeting, February 231963:

Honorary Members 5

Life Members 30

Annual Members 571

Total Membership 606

HELEN E. RICHARDS,Corresponding Secreta/rg

354

November Meeting

The regular meeting of the Historical Society of Montgomery Countywas held on Saturday, November 15,1952, at 2:30 P. M., with about sixtymembers and friends present. President Gallager presided.

In the absence of Eva G. Davis, the recording secretary, HelenE. Richards served as secretary pro-tem, and read the minutes of theApril meeting. They were approved as read.

Mrs. Richard Rogers asked the present status of the efforts topreserve the King of Prussia Inn, Hope Lodge in Whitemarsh, and thehistoric landmarl^ being threatened by the proposed Perkiomen Creekdam. President Gallager stated that the matter of the King of PrussiaInn is xmder active consideration by the Pennsylvania Historical andMuseum Commission. Concerning Hope Lodge no information was available on the status of efforts to have the turnpike extension re-routed toavoid interference with Fort Washington Park and Hope Lodge.

President Gallager called upon J. Edward Fauser, President of TheFriends of the Perkiomen Valley, as the one best qualified to tell themembers the status of the efforts to preserve the Perkiomen valley.Mr. Fauser reported briefly on the activities of that organization inreopening the question of the legality of the proposed privately-erecteddam.

Mrs. Rogers moved that this Society contribute the sum of onehundred dollars to the fund being raised by The Friends. of thePerkiomen Valley to oppose the dam, and this motion was seconded byMrs. Fauser. In the discussion on the motion it was pointed out byKirke Bryan that this Society has a limited income which may notbe sufficient to cover current operating expenses, and he accordinglysuggested that the contribution be reduced to twenty-five dollars. Afterfurther discussion the question was called, and the motion to contributeone hundred dollars was passed.

The Reverend Carl T. Smith, Rector of St. Stephen's Evangelicaland Reformed Church of Philadelphia, spoke at length on THE HISTORYOF POTTSTOWN, and its early families.

At the close of the meeting the Hospitality Committee served tea.

HELEN E. RICHARDS,

Secretary Pro-tem

355

February Meeting

The annual meeting of the Historical Society of Montgomery Countywas convened at 2:10 P. M. on February 23, 1953, at the building of theSociety, with President Gallager presiding. The minutes of theNovember meeting were read and approved.

Lyman A. Kratz, Treasurer, read his report for the year. Thisshowed an annual income of $6,332.04, and annual expenditures of$6,246.35, which left a balance of $2,724.80 on December 31, 1962. Thereport had been audited by Messrs. Hallman and Dettre, and on amotion duly seconded and passed it was ordered received and filed.

President Gallager remarked on the passing of Miss KatharinePreston, and the deep concern and interest in the Society which was hers.He called attention to an exhibit of some of her work in one of thedisplay cases.

In honor of the birthday anniversaries of George Washington andAbraham Lincoln, President Gallager read two appropriate selections.

President Gallager stated he had received a report from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission recommending that theKing of Prussia Inn be preserved. It was reported also that theWhitemarsh Township authorities are preparing specific legal action toblock the extension of the Turnpike on the announced route, which wouldencroach on the redoubts in Fort Washington Park.

In the absence of the members of the Nominating Committee, HelenE. Richards read the report of Joseph K. Fornance, chairman, with thefollowing nomination:PRESIDENT TRUSTEES

Donald A. Gallager, Esq. Kirke Bryan, Esq.VICE-PRESIDENTS Mrs. H. H. Francine

George K. Brecht, Esq. Donald A. Gallager, Esq.Foster C. Hillegass Herbert H. GanserDavid E. Groshens, Esq. Kenneth H. Hallman

RECORDING SECRETARY Nancy P. HighleyEva G. Davis Poster C. Hillegass

CORRESPONDING SECRETARY William L. HiresHelen E. Richards Mrs. A. Conrad Jones

FINANCIAL SECRETARY Hon. Harold G. KnightMrs. LeRoy Burris Lyman A. Kratz

TREASURER Franklin A. SticklerLyman A. Kratz Mrs. James I. Wendell

Mrs. Franklin B. Wildman, Jr.Norris D. Wright

356

REPORTS 357

Vice-president Brecht took the chair during the election. Thereheing no further nomination from the floor, it was moved and secondedthat the report of the Nominating Committee be adopted, and thenominations were declared closed. On a motion, duly seconded andpassed, the Secretary was directed to cast a collective ballot for thenominees. This being done, the list of nominees was read by the Secretary, and the nominees were declared duly elected for the ensuing year.

In accepting his election for 1953, President Gallager stated thathe felt it a privilege to be identified with the current work of thisorganization in the field of historical society work.

Robert T. Trump, of Valley Green Farm, Ambler, the speaker ofthe day, was introduced by President Gallager. He talked on THE STORYOP American .Door Hardware, 1640-1840, with variety and interest. Thediscussion was supplemented by an excellent display of hardware fromthe speaker's personal collection.

The business meeting was resumed for a report by Kirke Bryan ofthe Preston Estate Committee and the Special Building Committee. PromMiss Preston's estate the Society has received a money bequest and anoutstanding collection of antiques, paintings and antique furniture. Theseare housed in the building, now. The search for adequate and moresuitable quarters for the Society is continuing. A number of offers havebeen received and investigated. The latest, at 1654 DeKalb street,Norristown, has been considered in detail, with the assistance of anarchitect, Mr. John Bower. In this connection a change in the by-laws isnecessary.

In accordance with the provisions of the by-laws concerning amendments thereto, Mr. Bryan read the following proposed amendment to beadded to Article IV: Trustees, the voting thereon to take place at theApril meeting:

6. The board of trustees shall have the power to purchase, sellmortgage, lease, or otherwise acquire, dispose of, administer, andmanage real estate for and in the name of the Society.

Mrs. Roach raised the question of an adequate staff for the new building, and queried whether this was within the jurisdiction of the BuildingCommittee. Mr. Bryan replied that except for the mowing of the grass,the operation of the new building will be less expensive than that of thepresent one. Mrs. Roach again pressed the matter of a larger staff forthe needs of the Society, and Mr. Bryan replied that this problem was-up to the Trustees. President Gallager stated that the Executive Committee had considered the matter of personnel. Mr. Stickler pointed outthat the Society receives the income only, from certain funds, and thatthe principal is not available for our use.

At the close of the meeting the Hospitality Committee served tea.EVA G. DAVIS, Recording Secretary

The Historical Society of Montgomery County has for itsobject the preservation of the civil, political and religioushistory of the county, as well as the promotion of the studyof history. The building up of a library for historical researchhas been materially aided in the past by donations of family,church and graveyard records; letters, diaries and othermanuscript material. Valuable files of newspapers have alsobeen contributed. This public-spirited support has been highlyappreciated 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 personsare invited to have their names proposed at any meeting. Theannual dues are $4.00; life membership, $50.00. Every member is entitled to a copy of each issue of The Bulletin, free.Additional Copies^ One Dollar Each.

Historical Hall, 18 East Penn Street, Norristown, with itslibrary and museum, is open for visitors each week day from10 A.M. to 12 M. and 1 to 4 P.M., except Saturday afternoon.The material in the library may be freely consulted duringthese hours, but no book may be 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 throughbequests from members and friends in the disposition of their estates.The Society needs more funds in investments placed at interest; theincome arising therefrom would give the Society an annual return tomeet its needs. Following is a form that could be used in the makingof wills;

I HEREBY GIVE AND BEQUEATH TO THE

HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY,

PENNSYLVANIA, THE SUM OF

DOLLARS ($ )

montgomery countyfos'mrc. hillegass,second vice-president david e. groshens, esq., third...

Documents