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FROM http://haygenealogy.com/hay/sources/britton/historyhilltownpa.html
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Section on Plumsteadville
History of Plumstead Township, Bucks County, PA
CHAPTER XXIV
PLUMSTEAD
1725
Location of Plumstead. -First land-owner. -Henry Child. -Christopher Day. -Thomas Brown. -John Dyer. -Micheners*. -First mill. -Easton road opened. -William Michener. -The Shaws*. -Old draft. -Township organized. -The Child family. -The Doanes. -Friends' meeting. -The Votaws*. -Remains of church. -Its history. -Philip Hinkle*. -Dunlaps*. -Griers*. -Nash*. -Old graveyard. - Mennonite meeting-house. -Charles Huston. -Indians. -Last wolf killed. -Roads opened. -Plumsteadville, Point Pleasant et al. -Oldest house. -"Poor Plumstead." -Immigration to Canada. -John Ellicott Carver. -Horse company. -Population. -Aged persons. -Morgan Hinchman. -Fretz's mill. -Post-offices.
Immediately north of Buckingham and Solebury lies a tract of country divided into valley and plain by Pine run and North branch, that flow west into the Neshaminy, and by Hickory, Geddes, and Cabin runs, that empty into the Delaware. In most parts the ground falls gradually away to the streams, and the contiguous slopes are joined by level stretches of farm land. This region of valley and plain and winding creeks is Plumstead township, now a little more than 175 (1905 edition) years old.
English Friends pushed their way up into the woods of Plumstead, through Buckingham and Solebury at an early day, and were on the extreme limit of the tidal- wave of civilization that swept upward from the Delaware. Here, after a time, were encountered other streams of immigration, and the followers of Penn were arrested in their course by others contending for the mastery in settling the forest. The lower and middle parts of the township were settled mainly by Friends, and the upper part by Scotch-Irish Presbyterians, and later by Germans. The Brittons and Gibsons lieved in the lower part.
One of the first to own land in the township was Francis Plumstead, an ironmonger of London, who received a grant of 2,500 acres from William Penn, in consideration of £50, dated October 25, 1683. Of this grant, 100 acres were surveyed to Plumstead in the township which bears his name, by virtue of two warrants, dated the 21st and 29th of June, 1704, for which a patent was issued the following January. It joined the lands of widow Musgrave or Musgrove, Joseph Paul, and Elizabeth Sand, who were already land-owners, and probably settlers. The entire grant must have been located in the township, for we find from John Cutler's re-survey of 1703, that the whole 2,500 acres are returned to Francis Plumstead. He never came to America, but conveyed his land to Richard Hill, a merchant of Philadelphia.
In January 1681 William Penn granted 500 acres to Henry Child, [of Coleshill parish of Rindisham, County Herford*] which he located in Plumstead, and which was confirmed to him in 1705. [He settled in Maryland, and on the 7th day, 4th month, 1715 conveyed the same to his son Cephas Child, then of Philadelphia, who removed to Plumstead the same year, taking with him a certificate to Middletown Monthly meeting. In 1716 he married Mary Atkinson, the ceremony taking place at Middletown.*] Henry Child owned about 1,000 acres in all. [Cephas Child became a prominent man; was member of Assembly 1747-49, and the latter year, was member of the Provincial finance committee, and of the auditing committee. Cephas Cooke, Jr., married Priscilla, daughter of Joseph Naylor, at Gwynedd meeting, February 16, 1751, and died August 17, 1768. Cephas was married twice, his second wife being Agnes (Grier) Kennedy, widow of Major Kennedy, killed in the attack on the Doane outlaws, September 1, 1783. She was a daughter of Matthew and Jane Caldwell Grier, immigrants from the North of Ireland, 1730. Cephas Child, Jr., (1) died July 14, 1815.*] In 1686 Arthur Cooke (2) of Frankford, received a patent for 2,000 acres, which lay in part along the northwest line of the township, on what is now the Dublin road. At his death, in 1699, his widow and executrix, Margaret Cooke, and his son, John, conveyed 1,000 acres to Clement and Thomas Dungan, settlers in the township, and probably descendants of Reverend Thomas Dungan, of Cold spring. In 1708 they sold fifty acres to Christopher Day, who passed his life in Plumstead, and died in 1748. Day was a considerable land-owner, and in 1723 he sold 150 acres to John Basset, of Philadelphia, who in turn conveyed seventy- five acres to John Dyer the same year. (3)
One of the earliest settlers in the southeast corner of Plumstead was Thomas Brown, [an immigrant from Barking, county Essex, England. He was the son of George Browne, born 1666, and married Mary, daughter of Alexander Eyre, of Burrow, Lincoln, at Plaistow Friends meeting, 1694. They came to America the winter of 1700-01, and after living a while in Philadelphia, removed to a 245 acre tract in the Manor of Moorland. In a few years Browne bought 1,500 acres in Plumstead and Buckingham, and located on it near the present Dyerstown. "Brownsville," now Gardenville, is on this tract and was named after the family. Until the Friends were able to erect a meeting house Thomas Browne allowed them to hold services in his house. This was about 1729- 31. He and his two sons conveyed fifteen acres to the meeting for a nominal sum. Thomas and Mary Eyre Browne had issue:
George, married Sarah, daughter of John Shaw, Southampton,
Thomas, born 1696, married first Elizabeth, daughter of John Dawson, Solebury; second Magdalen Jones,
Mary, married James, son of John Shaw, (4) Southampton,
John
Ann
Alexander, married Esther, daughter of John Dyer,
Elizabeth, married Thomas Robinson,
Joseph, married Anne, daughter of John Dawson, Solebury,
Esther, married Josiah, son of John Dyer.
Thomas Browne spent his life in Plumstead and died there.*]
[Among the descendants of Thomas and Mary Eyre Browne and connected by marriage, were a number of distinguished persons.*] His son Thomas became a minister among Friends, and died at Philadelphia, whither he had removed, August 21, 1757. His declaration of intention of marriage with Elizabeth Davison [Dawson*], February 7, 1720, was the first made in Buckingham quarterly meeting. [Alexander Brown's daughter Esther married Andrew Ellicott, Solebury, who was the first surveyor-general of the United States, assisted Major L'Enfant to lay out the city of Washington, was commissioner on the part of the United States to run the line between this country and Spain, 1800, and was Professor of mathematics at West Point. Major-General Harvey Brown, United States Army, was a great-grandson and a graduate of West Point. One of the children of Andrew Ellicott married Henry Baldwin, justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, and another, Lieut-Col. Henry Douglas, United States Army. Other descendants married into the family of Carrol, of Maryland, Barringer, of North Carolina, and Wigton, New Britain. The late John S. Brown, a number of years publisher and editor of the Bucks County "Intelligencer," and who filled several offices of financial trust, was descendant of Thomas Browne, the immigrant.*]
The first to encroach upon the retirement of Thomas Brown was John Dyer, a minister among Friends, an immigrant from Gloucestershire, England, with his family, about 1712. He first settled in Philadelphia, then came out to what was known as the "five-mile mill," on the York road, and thence removed to the woods of Plumstead. On June 16, 1718, he purchased 151 acres of Cephas Child, including the Dyer property at Dyerstown. He is said to have likewise purchased the improvements of Thomas Brown, who removed farther back into the woods, about where the Plumstead meeting-house stands. The Dyer property only passed out of the family a few years ago, when Doctor John Dyer, a descendant, removed to Philadelphia. John Dyer was a useful man in Plumstead. He built the first mill (5) in the township, and one of the first in this section of the county, about where the present mill stands at Dyerstown. He was instrumental in having the Easton road laid out and opened from Governor Keith's place at the county line to his mill, and for many years it bore no other name than "Dyer's mill road." He died 31st of the 11th month, 1738, and was buried at the Friends' meeting-house in Plumstead. He owned in all about 600 acres. When John Dyer came into the township wild animals were so plentiful that the settlers took their guns with them to meeting, and the beavers built their dams across Pine run. The Indians were numerous, but friendly.
William Michener, [ancestor of the greater number of those bearing the name in the county, was an English Friend, born 10 mo. 14, 1696, came to America, married Mary Custisse, Abington, 4 mo., 1720, removed to Plumstead, 1723, and took up 400 acres. They had ten children, John, Mordecai, Sarah, Mary, William, Joseph, Elizabeth, Meshack, Margaret and George. Upon the death of his first wife William Michener married Ann Schofield, a widow, 1761. Meshack, eight child of William Michener, was the grandfather of the late Isaiah Michener, Buckingham.*]
The ancestor of the Nash family, the great-grandfather of Samuel, came from England, and was buried at Horsham. He was probably a Friend, and settled in that township. His descendants are Mennonites and Germanized. His son Joseph, who removed from Bedminster to Tinicum, where he died, was an elder of the Mennonite Deep Run meeting.
[The Shaws, of Plumstead and Doylestown, were descendants of the Shaws of Southampton and Northampton, where they settled near at the close of the seventeenth century. The James Shaw, who married Mary, daughter of Thomas and Mary Browne, Plumstead, September 24, 1718, was the son of John Shaw, Northampton, and born there, January 9, 1694. At what time he came to Plumstead is not known. His wife died June 9, 1760. Thomas Browne, his father-in-law, on June 18, 1724, conveyed to James and Mary Shaw, nee Browne, 200 acres in Plumstead. They had six children, among them, James, born January 27, 1724, who married Mary, daughter of Ephraim Fenton, the latter had seven children, the eldest, Josiah, who married Mary Pryor, the parents of seven children. This is the first appearance of the name "Josiah" among the Bucks county Shaws. In 1725, the names of James and Thomas Shaw appear among the petitioners asking for the organization of Plumstead township. John Shaw born in Plumstead, 1745, was a man of local prominence; was a Whig in the Revolution, taking the oath of allegiance before Thomas Dyer, 1777. He was appointed a magistrate by Governor Mifflin, about 1790, and, at his death, was the oldest in commission in the county, but one. In 1802 he moved into New Britain on the Mercer farm, where he died, 1818. His wife, Agnes, died at eighty-nine. Josiah Y. Shaw, a son of John, born, 1770, spent the most of his life in Doylestown and was a man of prominence. He was one of the founders, and a trustee of the Union Academy, 1804, brigade inspector with rank of major, 1809, justice of the peace, several years and member of Assembly. Francis B. Shaw, a member of the bar and a journalist, was a brother of Josiah Y.*]
[Richard Hill, merchant, Philadelphia, was an early land owner in Plumstead, but never lived there. He was a man of wealth, owning houses in Philadelphia. It is stated elsewhere in this chapter that Francis Plumstead conveyed his 2,500 acres to Hill. He conveyed all this land, subject to a ground rent; among the conveyances were the following: 1723, 150 acres to James Hughes; 250, William Michener; 300, John Dyer; 1725, 375 acres to John Britain; 1728, 150, John Earl; 150 to John McCarty, 1,375 in all. August 7, 1729, Mr. Hill made his will and devised these lands to his grand-nephew, Richard Hill, and his sister Hannah, wife of Samuel Preston Moore. In 1745, Dr. Richard Hill mortgaged these lands to Thomas White for £1,500 and is described in the mortgage as a "Philadelphia merchant" residing in parts beyond sea, which document stated that Richard Hill and his sister, Hannah Moore, were the residuary legatees of Dr. Richard hill, father of the said Richard Hill. Two hundred and fifty acres were conveyed to Abraham Hill, who, with his wife, Elizabeth, conveyed one hundred acres of the same land, bounded by Matthew Grier and the Stump Road, Andrew Oliphant, Enoch Thomas and David Caldwell to their son Isaac, 1762, and Isaac dying, 1798, the owner of one hundred and five acres, he devised it to his son Isaac. He left eleven children, Abraham, William, Richard, Margaret, Isaac, Sarah, Elizabeth, Nancy, Mary, Lydia and Rebecca. Of these, Sarah was the grandmother of John Harris, Rebecca, first wife of Richard Riale, Ann married Jonathan Hough, Mary married Benjamin Day, and Elizabeth, Nathan Riale; Lydia, who remained single, died in Plumstead, 18139, and Elizabeth, 1832.*]
[William Hill, son of Isaac, Jr., married a daughter of David Evans the Universalist preacher, New Britain, and settled near Uniontown, Pennsylvania, where he died, his widow and children returning to Bucks county. Their children were Thomas, David, James, Susan Kerns, Elizabeth, Mary Ann, married Evan Evans, who went West, David married Cynthia Worthington and settled in Ohio, and James Evans Hill married Naomi Rodrock, and lived and died in New Britain. George E. Hill is his only surviving son. William Hill, son of the first Isaac, died in Plumstead, 1886, leaving three sons, Ira, Moses and Charles. William Hill, Warrington, and his brother Harvey, New Britain, are surviving sons of Charles Hill. Amos Hill, son of Moses, lived and died in Philadelphia, wh ere his son Eugene H. still lives. Richard Hill, son of the first Isaac, died near New Galena, 1848, leaving a widow and seven children, Abraham, David, Elizabeth, wife of Michael Hofford, Parmelia, Sarah, Rebecca, Clymer and Margaret Ott.*]
On an old draft of Plumstead, drawn March 11, 1724, are marked the following land-owners, all located in the southwest part of the township, near the Buckingham line: Arthur Day, Henry Child, John Dyer, (two tracts,) Richard Hill, 1,500 acres, Abraham Hilyer [Hayter*], Silas MacCarty, William Michener, (6) John Earl, James Shaw, James Brown, Henry Paul, Samuel Barker, Thomas Brown, Jr., Richard Lundy, and H. Large. No doubt there were others, but at this time the settlers did not extend far into the woods. Probably some of those names were not inhabitants of the township in 1724. [Among the early settlers of Plumstead were John and Rebecca Votaw, but we neither know when they came into the township, where from, nor when they left it. Their son Isaac, born in Plumstead, 2, 11, 1768, was married at Buckingham meeting, to Ann Smith, sister of Moses Smith, but we have not the date. The family removed to the west many years ago, and E. W. Votaw, a great-grandson of Isaac, lives at Hawarden, Indiana. The name long since disappeared from the township, nor is it found in the county records. It is possible there are descendants in the female line.*]
An effort was made to organize a township about 1715, when the settlers north of Buckingham petitioned the court to lay it off. On the 17th of June a draft of the survey of a new township, which probably accompanied the report of the jury, was ordered to be filed. The territory asked to be laid off contained about 14,000 acres, and the township was to be called Plumstead. The court could not have approved the report of the jury if it reported in favor of the new township, for Plumstead was not laid out and organized until ten years later. It is probable the prayer of the petitioners was not granted because of the lack of population. In March 1725 twenty inhabitants of a district of country north of Buckingham, not yet organized into a township, namely, Thomas Shaw, John Brown, Alexander Brown, Richard Lundy, John Lundy, Henry Large, Thomas Brown, Jr., Humphrey Roberts, John Earl, Thomas Earl, William Michener, William Woodcock, John Dyer, Samuel Dyer, Abraham Hayter, (7) Herman Buster, Silas MacCarty, William Wilkison, Christopher Day, and James Shaw, petitioned the court of quarter sessions to lay of "a certain quantity or parcel of land to be erected into the form of a township," the boundaries of which were to begin "at the uppermost corner of Buckingham at the corner of Richard Day's land." This embraced what is now Plumstead and Bedminster. The survey of the township was probably returned at the June term, but we have found no record of it. It was named after Francis Plumstead, (8) ironmonger, of London, one of the earliest land-owners in the township. The present area of Plumstead is 12,800 acres.
The Hoover family of Bucks and Montgomery counties, are descended from Jacob Huber, who came from Germany about 1732. He was the youngest of four brothers, and a minor at the time of his arrival. The family is believed to have been Swiss. He settled in Plumstead, but we are not informed of his exact location. In 1797 the son, Henry Huber, removed to Gwynedd township Montgomery county, purchasing 200 acres of the farm of George Maris for £1800. Henry Huber or Hoover, as the name was spelled, by this time, is said to have removed from Hilltown to Gwynedd. He had a son Philip, who married Mary, daughter of Frederick Conrad, of Worcester, who represented the county in Congress. Henry Hoover died April 9, 1809, but the Montgomery homestead remained in the family down to 1885, a period of eight-six years, from the first purchase. He was born December 1, 1751, and his wife, Margaret, died November 27, 1813, in her sixty-second year. The descendants of Jacob Huber are numerous in Bucks and Montgomery and hold an annual family reunion.
The Doanes came into the township and [descended from John Doane of Plymouth, England, who settled in Barnstable county,*], Massachusetts [prior to 1630. The name is Norman French, was spelled in various ways, and the first ancestor probably came over with William the Conqueror. The family was prominent in Massachusetts, one member being a Lieutenant at the siege of Louisburg. Daniel Doane, grandson of John the Immigrant, married Mehitable Twining, united with the Friends at Sandwich, 1696, and with their four children came to Bucks county, settling at Newtown. He died here August 8, 1743. Israel Doane was in Plumstead as early as 1726 and settled near the meeting-house. Joseph Doane, an excellent man and citizen, was the father of the Doane outlaws of the Revolution, and they who were not killed or hanged, made their escape to Canada.*] Joseph Brown, probably the son of Thomas, an original settler, purchased 250 acres in 1734, John Boyle 300 acres in 1736, and the same year Joseph Large, probably a son of Henry, who had been in the township twelve or fifteen years, purchased land [quantity is not given. Philip Hinkel, who settled in Plumstead soon after the middle of the eighteenth century, is thought to have been a descendant of the Rev. Gerhard Henkel, a Lutheran minister who settled at Germantown about 1740. His paternal grandmother was Mary Johnson, an English Quakeress, whose ancestors, on both sides were Scotch Presbyterians, and came to Bucks county, 1716. Philip's brother Joseph went to North Carolina, and both served in the Revolution. December 16, 1766, Robert MacFarland, Plumstead, and Elizabeth, his wife, conveyed to Philip Hinkle 153 acres and 52 perches, which James Polk had conveyed to MacFarland, 1759. In the record of Bucks county we find that Peter Hinkels was naturalized August 26, 1735, but he was hardly of the same family as Philip. In 1771 Philip Hinkle had a contention with Thomas Shewell, New Britain, in relation to a warrant that Shewell laid within his survey. Among the descendants of Philip Hinkle were Philip, born October 24, 1811, died October 26, 1880, and Anthony Hughes, born March 19, 1815, and died June 25, 1883, both grandsons of Philip, the elder. They spent their business life in Cincinnati and died there. The Hinkle descendants are to be found in New Britain, Richland and other townships. The home of Philip Hinkle, the elder, was at Hinkletown with his cultivated acres spreading around him.*] (9)
The Carlisles and Penningtons settled in the township considerably before the middle of the last century. John Carlisle and Sarah Pennington were married at Plumstead meeting, July 5, 1757, and she died in 1785. They were the grandparents of Mrs. Carr, of Danborough, she and Rachel Rich being their only two surviving grandchildren. The McCallas were in Plumstead before 1750, William, the first comer, being an immigrant from Scotland, but it is not known whether he was married when he came to America, or married here. (10 His son Andrew, who was born in the township November 6, 1757, removed to Kentucky, where he married and had six children. One of his sons was the Reverend William Latta McCalla, a distinguished Presbyterian minister, and General Jackson's chaplain in the Seminole war, and another, the late John Moore McCalla, adjutant-general of the American forces at the massacre at the river Raisin. William McCalla removed, before the Revolution, from Plumstead to Philadelphia, where he formed the acquaintance of General Lafayette, who was a frequent visitor at his house. We do not know at what time he died. Henry Huddleston owned land in Plumstead in 1752, and the same year John Watson surveyed forty-eight acres to Robert McFarlin, on a warrant dated June 17.
The Dunlaps were early in Plumstead, John and Jane Dunlap, Protestant Irish, first located at the Forks of the Delaware, now the vicinity of Easton, and there all their children were born, but, when the Indians became troublesome, removed down to Plumstead. The wife's maiden name was Hazlett, but, whether they married before coming to America, we are not informed. They were parents of seven children, John, Elizabeth, Mary, Andrew, Moses, James and Robert. John, the eldest, died December 4, 1809, at the age of ninety-two, and his wife, January 17, 1775, aged fifty. Another son died September 17, 1777, of sickness contracted while serving in the Continental army, and Robert, March 12, 1806, at the age of thirty-six. The Hendrie family, formerly of Doylestown, are descended from John and Jane Dunlap, in the female line. Andrew Dunlap, probably the son of Andrew, bought a farm in Doylestown township early in the last century, where he died. He had several children, and among the names were Phebe, who married a Hazlett, Lydia, Mary, Eliza, Robert, the youngest, a Presbyterian minister, who married a Miss Rutter, Wilkesbarre. Andrew Dunlap built a home in Doylestown on what is now Court street, for his two daughters, where they died many years ago. James Dunlap, son of Andrew, was a merchant in Philadelphia.*] (Although Jesse's daughter Elizabeth married a John Dunlap circa 1806 in Pickaway County, OH, it is not clear that this would be a relation; it is possible that John Dunlap Jr 1718-1809 had a grandson John Dunlap who moved to OH. More research would be needed.)
[George and Hezekiah Rogers, Scotch immigrants, settled in Plumstead sometime in the last century, but we have not the data, taking up 640 acres covering a site of Benner's corner, 50 acres being still in the family. Ann Rogers, daughter of George, married Thomas, son of George Geary, Montgomery county and township, about 1794. They had nine children:
1. Charles, born 1796, died 1798
2. Harriet, born 1802
3. Maria, 1804, married Anthony Heaney, Tinicum
4. Mary, 1806
5. Sarah E., 1809
6. Julia, 1812
7. Susan, 1814, married James Bleiler
8. Emilla, 1817, married Elias Benner, Plumstead
9. Isabella, the youngest, born ?, lives in Doylestown with her niece,
Mrs. Lettie B. Farren. George Geary kept store awhile at Greenville, Buckingham township, then removed to Muncy, Lycoming county, subsequently returning to Plumstead, where he taught school and kept store until his death, 1840. His wife, born 1777, died at Doylestown, 1871, at ninety-four. Hiram Rogers, son of Hezekiah, settled in Minnesota and was one of the pioneers of St. Paul. George Geary settled near Montgomeryville, and took up a large tract, married Sarah Evans, Gwynedd, 1782, and wife died September 25, 1808. He had seven children, Thomas, David, Elizabeth, Mary, Hannah, Ann and Catharine. David Geary was the ancestor of the late Governor John W. Geary, probably his grandfather, and, when at Doylestown, 1866, a candidate for Governor, he called to see Mrs. And Miss Geary, then living here. The daughter, Isabella, was long a teacher in the public school.*]
We have a tradition that the first meetings of Friends, at private houses, were held sometime in the winter of 1727. However this may be, we find that on October 2, 1728, Plumstead Friends asked to have a meeting for worship every other First day, which was granted, and it was held at the house of Thomas Brown. The first meeting- house was ordered to be erected in 1729, and the location was fixed near where the present house stands, by the previous opening of a graveyard at that spot. The ground, 15 acres, was the gift of Thomas Brown and his sons Thomas and Alexander, in consideration of 15 shillings. The deed bears date the 19th of January, 1730, and was executed in trust to Richard Lundy, Jr., William Michener, Josiah Dyer and Joseph Dyer. The spot on which the first log meeting-house was erected, in 1730, was selected by Thomas Watson, Thomas Canby, Abraham Chapman, Cephas Child and John Dyer, committee appointed by the monthly meeting of Buckingham and Wrightstown. This house stood until 1752, when it was torn down and the present stone meeting-house was built. During the Revolutionary war this building was used as an hospital, and marks of blood are still upon the floor. Some who died there were buried in a field near by. (11) Judge Huston, when a boy, went to school in the old meeting-house, his father at the time keeping the tavern at Gardenville. On a handrail inside the building is dimly seen, written in chalk, the name of David Kinsey, the carpenter who did the wood work. The old building was partly torn down and re-built in the summer of 1875. From the yard one obtains a beautiful view down into the valley of Pine run and of the slope beyond.
[The Greir or Grier (12) family, Scotch-Irish Presbyterians, made their appearance in Bucks county about 1735-40, and their descendants in future years, were found in Plumstead, New Britain, Warrington and Warwick. The first to come were Mathew and John Grier from County Tyrone, Ireland. They settled in New Britain township, and in 1743, purchased 150 acres jointly, on the east side of the Swamp road, now the Dublin turnpike, and erected a dwelling at what is Grier's Corner. These two immigrants were born 1712 and 1714, respectively. They later extended their holdings up the Swamp road to the present line of Broad street in Hilltown township. In 1744 Mathew purchased 250 acres on the east side of the Swamp road, in Plumstead, and in 1752, Mathew conveyed his interest in the New Britain and Hilltown lands, to his brother John, who extended his purchases until he owned at his death, about 500 acres in contiguous tracts.*
[Mathew Grier, the elder, ancestor of the late James H. Greir, of Warrington township, married Jean Caldwell, born 1717, daughter of James Caldwell, who owned an adjoining farm fronting the Stump road, and his brother John Greir married her sister Agnes Caldwell. Mathew Grier died 1792, leaving three sons and three daughters:
1. John, born 1743, and died 1814, married Jean Stuart
2. Susannah, born 1749, married Joseph Greer, supposed to have been a cousin, died 1823 and Joseph Greer died in Hilltown, 1822
3. Mathew married Sarah Snodgrass, died 1811
4. Agnes, married first Major William Kennedy, who was killed in the capture of Moses Doan, and second Cephas Child
5. Mary, born 1760, married Josiah Ferguson, 1779, died 1844
6. (No name for third son, possibly an error).
John and Agnes Caldwell Greir were the parents of eleven children:
1. Mathew, born October 1743, died September 11, 1818
2. Martha, married John Jamison, 1768 (Curiously, Jesse's daughter Cynthia marries Joseph Jamison circa 1835 in Pickaway County, OH)
3. Jane married Joseph Thomas, 1768
4. Rev. James Grier, born 1750, died 1791
5. Joseph, born 1752
6. John died in infancy
7. Nathan died in infancy
8. John, born 1758, died 1831
9. Rev. Nathan, born 1760, died 1814
10. Cornelius died young
11. Frances, born 1762, married James Ralston.
While the descendants of Mathew and John Grier are generally engaged in agricultural pursuits, the family is represented in trade and the learned professions, and is especially noted for the number of sons it has furnished the gospel ministry. John Grier, probably the descendant of Bucks county ancestry, who removed to Chester county, 1796, had three sons in the ministry, the eldest, John Hayes Grier, born February 1788, and died 1880, at ninety-two, graduated at Dickinson College in the class of James Buchanan. In 1814 he took charge of the Pine Creek and Lock Haven churches, Clinton county, and was the first minister of any denomination to settle at Jersey Shore, Lycoming county. He was a successful teacher, and several of the leading men of the West Branch were educated by him. He was married four times and the father of eleven children, seven surviving him. James Grier, son of the first John, was pastor of the Deep Run church and died there. His son, John Ferguson Grier, born 1784, graduated with first honors, 1803, studied theology with his uncle Nathan, opened a classical school at Brandywine Manor, and was licensed to preach by the New Castle Presbytery. Nathan Grier, brother of James of Deep Run, born 1760, graduated at the University of Pennsylvania, 1783, and was licensed to preach, 1786, married a Miss Smith, a great aunt of General Persifer F. Smith, one of the most distinguished officers in the Mexican was, 1846-48. He died at Brandywine about 1815, leaving two sons, both of whom entered the ministry, Robert and John. The latter succeeded his father at Brandywine, where he officiated for half a century, the former dying in Maryland, while pastor of a church near Emmettsburg. Joseph Grier, a brother of Nathan, had two sons, Mathew and John; the former was a physician, and died at Williamsport, the latter studied for the ministry, was thirty-five years a chaplain in the United States Navy, and father of the Reverend M. B. Grier, one of the editors of the Presbyterian. The late Justice Grier of the Supreme Court of the United States, is claimed as a member of this family. In the old burial ground at Princeton, New Jersey, is a grave stone bearing the inscription," In memory of Jane, relict of Mathew Grier, of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, died December 31, 1799, aged eighty-three years."*]
[The members of the family were prominent in Revolutionary times. The young men enrolled themselves with the militia, or associators and some of them saw active service. John Grier, Sr., was a Colonial Justice of the Peace, 1764-67, and, after the colonies took up arms against the mother country, he was a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1776. His son, Col. Joseph Grier, was active in the pursuit and capture of the Doane outlaws, and it is related that owing to his activity against them, on one occasion they made him a visit at night, took him prisoner, and forcibly held his manacled hands in the flames until burned to a blister.*]
On the corner of the farm now belonging to Andrew Shaddinger, at the intersection of the River and Durham roads, two miles from Smith's corner, there stood a small log church an hundred years ago. It is spoken of as the "Deep Run church," the name of an older and larger congregation, in Bedminster. Its history is wrapped in much mystery. It was probably an offshoot of the Bedminster congregation, and the division is said to have been caused by some disagreement among the Scotch-Irish members on doctrinal points. We have a tradition that some held to the tenets of the Kirk of Scotland, which others of the congregation did not assent to, and hence the separation. The Plumstead congregation was called "Seeders," and when there was a division in the church this organization joined the New Brunswick Presbytery. This little church was probably organized before, or about, 1730, and held together for half a century, but the names of only two of its pastors have come down to us. In 1735 Reverend Hugh Carlisle preached there and at Newtown, and two years afterward he refused a call to become the pastor at Plumstead, because these two churches were so far apart. How long he served them, and by whom succeeded, is not known. Carlisle came from England or Ireland, and was admitted into the New Castle Presbytery before 1735. He removed into the bounds of the Lewes Presbytery in 1738, but is not heard of after 1742. The last pastor was probably Alexander Mitchel, and when he left the surviving members probably returned to Deep Run. Mitchel was born in 1731, graduated at Princeton in 1765, was licensed to preach in 1767, and ordained in 1768. It is not known when he was called as pastor, but he left about 1785, and went to the Octoraro and Doe Run churches, in Chester county, where he preached until 1808. Mr. Mitchel did two good things while pastor at Octoraro, introduced stoves, and Watts's psalms and hymns into his churches, both necessary to comfortable worship. On one occasion his congregation took umbrage at a sermon against a ball held in the neighborhood, and on Sunday morning the door was locked and the Bible gone. Nothing daunted, he sent his negro servant up a ladder to get in at a small window over the pulpit. As he was about to enter, the negro stopped and said to his master: "This is not right, for the good book saith, "He that entereth not by the door into the sheep-fold but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.'" Some remains of the Plumstead meeting-house are still to be seen; a portion of the foundation can be traced, and a few gravestones, without inscription, are lying almost buried in the earth. The house was about twenty-eight by seventeen feet, and the lot contained near half an acre. John L. Delp, of Norristown, remembers when the log house was standing.
A Mennonite meeting-house stands on the Black's Eddy road, a mile southwest of Hinkletown, where a branch of the Deep Run congregation assembles for worship once a month. The pulpit is supplied from Deep Run, Doylestown, and New Britain. The first house, stone, twenty-four by twenty-seven feet, was erected in 1806, on an acre of land given by Henry Wismer and wife. It was enlarged in 1832, and is now twenty-seven by forty-three. It was occupied by English and German schools for twenty-five years. The graveyard is free to all outside the congregation who wish to bury there, and the remains of several unknown drowned are lying in it.
On the old Newtown road, at the top of the hill after passing Pine run, a mile above Cross Keys, is an ancient burial-ground, in the corner of the fifty acres that Christopher Day bought of Clement and Thomas Dungan in 1708. By his will, dated September 1, 1746, and proved March 25, 1748, Day gave "ten perches square for a graveyard forever." It is now in a ruined condition, but some forty graves can still be seen, with a few exceptions marked by unlettered stones. The donor was the first to die and be buried in his own ground, March ye 6th, 1748. Another "C. Day," probably his son, died in 1763. The other stones, with inscriptions, are to the memory of J. Morlen, 1749-50, Abraham Fried, December 21, 1772, aged thirty-two years, and William Daves, "a black man," who died February 22, 1815, aged sixty-eight years. Fried and Daves have the most pretentious stones to mark their resting-places, both of marble. The owner of the adjoining land has cut the timber from this ground, and laid bare the graves of the dead of a century and a quarter. Is there no power to keep vandal hands from the spot reserved for a burial-place "forever"? The early Welsh Baptists of New Britain probably buried their dead in this graveyard until they established their church, and opened a burial-place of their own, a tradition handed down from the early settlers.
Charles Huston, judge of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, and one of the most distinguished jurists of the country, was born in Plumstead in 1771. His grandfather came from Scotland, and he was Scotch-Irish in descent. He probably finished his studies at Dickinson college, Carlisle, where he was professor of Latin and Greek in 1792. He was studying law at the same time, and while there he completed his legal studies, was admitted to the bar in 1795, and settled in Lycoming county, cut off from Northumberland the preceding winter. Among his pupils, in the languages, was the late Chief Justice Taney, who placed a high estimate on the character of Judge Huston. In his autobiography the chief justice says of him: "I need not speak of his character and capacity; for he afterward became one of the first jurists of the country. He was an accomplished Latin and Greek scholar, and happy in his mode of instruction. And when he saw that a boy was disposed to study, his manner to him was that of a companion and friend, aiding him in his difficulties. The whole school under his care was much attached to him."
Judge Huston was commissioned justice of the Supreme Court April 7, 1826, and retired from the bench in January 1845. The last time he sat on the supreme bench at Pittsburgh he boarded privately with the sheriff, who kept house in jail. He was much annoyed by a correspondent writing to one of the newspapers, "one of our supreme judges (Huston) is in jail," which put him to the trouble of writing to his friends and explaining how he happened, on that particular occasion, to be on the wrong side of the bars. With a rough exterior, he was as gentle as a child with all its truthfulness and fidelity. After he retired from the bench he wrote a work "On Land Titles in Pennsylvania," which was published in 1849. He left his finished manuscript on his table, by the side of a candle, one evening while he went to tea. It caught fire, and when he returned he found his labor of years nearly consumed. But, with his accustomed determination, he re-wrote the work, almost entirely from memory. Judge Huston died November 10, 1849, in his seventy-eighth year. He left two daughters, one of whom married the late James Hale, member of Congress and judge of the Clearfield district, Pennsylvania, and the other is the wife of General Sturdevant, of the Luzerne county bar. (13).
Indian remained later in Plumstead than in most other parts of the county, and their settlements can be traced by their remains. There was probably a village near Curly hill, and within the last half century a number of flint arrowheads, bottle-green, blue and white, have been found there. They were two or three inches long, narrow, sharp and well-shaped, and appear to have been made by a people somewhat advanced in the arts. Indian axes, well-finished, of hard stone, not now to be found in that vicinity, have been picked up there. Also, a large stone, hollowed out, and probably used for cooking. An arrowhead, of white flint, four inches long, was found near Plumsteadville. Tradition tells us there was a village of nine huts, or lodges, of Indians near the headwaters of the southeast branch of Deep run, who remained there long after the township was settled by whites. They went to the Neshaminy to catch fish, then abundant in that stream, and paid frequent visits to the houses of the settlers on baking days, when the gift of pies and cakes conciliated their goodwill. They often dropped in on "Grandmother Hill," the ancestor of the late William Hill, of Plumstead, who lived on the farm now owned by Samuel Detweiler, on such occasions, and hardly ever went away empty-handed. The shape of arrowheads found in Plumstead differs from those of the valley of the Schuylkill, and are better fashioned. At Lower Black's Eddy, near the hotel, between the canal and river, the Indians probably manufactured their stone weapons and implements. Here are found chippings of flints, hornblend and jasper from which they were made, and by careful search an occasional spear and arrowhead, in perfect condition, is picked up. It was probably the site of an Indian village.
The last wolf killed in Bucks county was caught in Plumstead about 1800. John Smith, then a small boy, set a trap to catch foxes, but it was gone in the morning. Believing some animal had carried it off, he followed the trail and found it caught in a neighboring fence, with a large gray wolf fast in it. He went to the house and told his father, who fetched his rifle and shot him. The trap is now in possession of Charles R. Smith, of Plumstead.
The extension of what is now known as the Easton road from the county line to Dyer's mill, in 1723, was probably the first road opened in Plumstead. In 1726 Ephraim Fenton, James Shaw, Alexander Brown, John Brown, Thomas Brown, Jr., William Michener, Israel Doane, and Isaac Pennington, inhabitants of the township, petitioned the court to lay out a road "from the northeast corner of Thomas Brown's land," now Gardenville, in the most direct line to the York road, which it met near Centreville. This was a section of the Durham road, and gave the inhabitants of the upper end of the township an outlet to Newtown and Bristol. The road was probably laid out about this time. In 1729 a road was petitioned for from the upper side of the township to Dyer's mill, which now gave a continuous road to Philadelphia. In 1741 another was laid out from the Easton road above Danborough, via Sands' corner, to Centreville, coming out on the Doylestown turnpike half a mile west of Centreville, and is now called the Street road. Before that time the inhabitants of the lower part of Plumstead and the upper part of Buckingham had no direct road down to Newtown. In 1762 this road was extended to Plumsteadville, then known as James Hart's tavern. A road was laid out from Dyer's road (Easton road), at the Plumstead and Bedminster line, to Henry Krout's mill on Deep Run, in the latter township, and thence to the Tohickon, in 1750. In 1758 a road was opened from the Easton to the Durham road. About 1738 a road was laid out from Gardenville across the country to Butler's, late Shellenberger's, mill near Whitehallville, which has always been known as the Ferry road. That from Danborough to lower Black's Eddy was laid out in 1738. The first road from the Easton road to the Delaware, at Point Pleasant, was laid out in April 1738, on petition of the inhabitants of Plumstead. It ended at the river at the mouth of the Tohickon creek, on the land of Enoch Pearson, who then kept the ferry. The viewers were William Chadwick, William Michener, Robert Smith, and Cephas Child, and it was surveyed by John Chapman. The road was not put on record until 1770. It left the Easton road at Gardenville. The turnpike to Point Pleasant leaves the bed of the old road about a mile east of the Friends' meetinghouse. It is still open, but not much traveled.
The villages of Plumstead are, Gardenville, Danborough, Plumsteadville and Point Pleasant. Seventy-five years ago Gardenville was known as "Brownsville," after one of the oldest families in the township. Its tavern swung the sign of the "Plow" as early as 1760, which year William Reeder petitioned the court to recommend him to the governor for license to keep it, but the application was rejected. The old tavern-house was burned down Sunday night, April 9, 1871, and a new one built on the spot. Abraham and Mahlon Doane were buried from what was the first tavern in the place, but then a private dwelling, occupied by their aunt. It had been kept as a tavern many years before that, first by Patrick Poe, some 160* years ago. The second tavern was built by William Reeder, and is now occupied as a dwelling. It was kept in the Revolution by William McCalla, and was made a depot for forage collected from the surrounding country. A picket was stationed there. This village, situated at the crossing of the Danborough and Point Pleasant turnpike and Durham road, contains a tavern, store, mechanical shops, and about a dozen dwellings. Danborough, on the Easton road is made up of a tavern, store, the usual outfit of mechanics, and a few dwellings. It was named after Daniel Thomas, an early resident, who was twice sheriff of the county, and died early in the century. Before the postoffice was established there it was called Clover Hill, and also Danville. On the Point Pleasant turnpike, in the neighborhood of Danborough, is Nicholas graveyard, so named after Samuel Nicholas, son of the man who ran the first stagecoach from Philadelphia to Wilkesbarre. (14) Samuel kept the Danborough tavern many years, and in company with John Moore, father of Daniel T., was proprietor of the stagecoach between Philadelphia and Easton.
Plumsteadville is the most flourishing village in the township. In 1762 it was known as James Hart's tavern, and was but a crossroads hostelry. Fifty years ago it had but one dwelling, owned and occupied by John Rodrock as a public house, who was the proprietor of about 300 acres of land in that immediate vicinity. The house, a low, two- story, was recently torn down by John Shisler. After the decease of Mr. Rodrock the property was sold in lots, some of it bringing but eight dollars an acre. Forty-five years ago all the corn and fodder raised on a ten-acre field, adjoining the Rodrock farm was hauled home at two loads. The village contains about twenty-five dwellings, with tavern, store, and a brick church, Presbyterian, built in 1860. It is the seat of the extensive carriage factory of Aaron Kratz, which employs about fifty men. Point Pleasant, which lies partly in Tinicum and partly in Plumstead, will be noticed in our account of the former township. (15
The oldest house in the township is supposed to be the two-story stone dwelling called "Stand alone," on the Durham road between Hinkeltown and Gardenville. Tradition says it was the first two-story house in the township, and that when first erected people came several miles to look at it, and is thought to be from 130 to 140 years old. In its time it has undergone several vicissitudes; has been more than once repaired, occupied and then empty, but no one has lived in it for many years. Next in age is the two-story stone dwelling of John F. Meyers, occupied by Reuben W. Nash, a mile from the northeast corner of the township. It was built by Samuel Hart, great-grandfather of Josiah Hart, of Doylestown, about 1764, and in it he kept tavern and store during the Revolutionary struggle. The third oldest house is probably that of Samuel Meyers, a mile east of Plumsteadville, a two-story stone, built by John Meyers, and for the past century it has been occupied by the father, son, grandson, and great-grandson.
Plumstead having been the birthplace and home of the Doanes, and the scene of many of their exploits, a lively recollection of them has been handed down from father to son. Their rendezvous was in a wild, secluded spot on the south bank of the Tohickon two mile above Point Pleasant, where Moses was shot by Gibson, because "dead men tell no tales." It is said that Philip Hinkle put the body of the dead refugee across the pummel of his saddle, and rode with it, in company with others, to Hart's tavern, where he rumbled the corpse down on the piazza floor. (16) After they had taken a drink all round, the dead body was again put on the horse and carried to the residence of his parents. That was a sorrowful funeral. It is related that the little dog that belonged to Doane came forward and looked down in the grave after the coffin had been lowered into it, seemingly bidding a last farewell to his master. When Abraham and Mahlon Doane were hanged in Philadelphia, their father went alone to town, and had their bodies brought up in a cart, he walking all the way alongside of it. They were buried from a house that stood near Nathan Fretz's dwelling, on the east side of the Durham road at Gardenville, and interred in the woods opposite Plumstead meeting-house, then belonging to the meeting, but now to John Shaffer. When Joseph Doane came back to the county, forty odd years ago, he related that he escaped from Newtown jail by unlocking the door with a lead key he made, and then scaled the yard wall.
Until with the last half century, Plumstead did not have a good reputation for fertility. The northeast and east end of the township in particular, were noted for sterility, and although the farms were generally large, many of the owners could not raise sufficient bread for their families, nor provender for their stock. Other parts of the township were nearly as unproductive, and it came to be called "Poor Plumstead." Strangers in passing through it, laughed at the barren fields. Within fifty years, hundreds of acres of land have been sold for seven, eight, ten, and fifteen dollars per acre. The farmers commenced liming about forty-five years ago, and since then the land has rapidly improved in fertility, until the farms are the equal of those of any township in the county.
Plumstead and the neighboring townships of Hilltown, Bedminster and Tinicum have sent a considerable number of immigrants to Canada in the last ninety years, principally Mennonites. The immigration commenced in 1786, when John Kulp, Dillman Kulp, Jacob Kulp, Stoffel Kulp, Franklin Albright and Frederick Hahn, left this county and sought new homes in the country beyond the great lakes. Those who had families were accompanied by their wives and children. These pioneers must have returned favorable accounts of the country, for in a few years they were joined by many of their old friends and neighbors from Bucks. In 1799 they were followed by Reverend Jacob Moyer, Amos Albright, Valentine Kratz, Dillman Moyer, John Hunsberger, Abraham Hunsberger, George Althouse and Moses Fretz; in 1800 by John Fretz, Lawrence Hipple, Abraham Grubb, Michael Rittenhouse, Manasseh Fretz, Daniel High, Jr., Samuel Moyer, David Moyer, Jacob High, Jacob Hausser, John Wismer, Jacob Frey, Isaac Kulp, Daniel High, Jr., Philip High, Abraham High, Christian Hunsberger and Abraham Hunsberger. In 1802 Isaac Wismer and Stoffel Angeny went to Canada from Plumstead. The latter returned, but the former remained, and his son Philip is now a resident of that country. Shortly after, Reverend Jacob Gross followed his friends who had gone before. A number of the Nash family immigrated to Canada, among whom were the widow of Abraham Nash, who died near Danborough in 1823, with her three sons Joseph, Abraham, now a justice of the peace, and Jacob, and four daughters. They went about 1827 and 1828. The Bucks county families generally settled in what is now Lincoln county, near Lake Ontario, some twenty miles from Niagra Falls, but their descendants are a good deal scattered. They are generally thrifty and well-to-do. The year after the immigrants arrived is known in Canada as the "scarce year," on account of the failure of crops, and there was great suffering among them. Some were obliged to eat roots and herbs. The first immigrants are all dead, but some of them have left sons and daughters who were born here. Among the relics retained of the home of their fathers is a barrel churn of white cedar, made eighty years ago in this county by John Fretz and his daughter, and now owned by his grandchild. In addition to the names already given we find those of Gayman, Clemens, Durstein, Thomas and Zelner. Frequent visits are made between the Canadian Mennonites and their relatives in Bucks county.
Plumstead was the birthplace of John Ellicott Carver, an architect and civil engineer of considerable reputation, where he was born November 11, 1809. He learned the trade of a wheelwright at Doylestown, and when out of his time, about 1830, he went to Philadelphia. Not finding work at his own trade, he engaged as carpenter and joiner, and soon after was working at stair-building, a more difficult branch. As this required considerable mechanical and mathematical ability, and feeling his own deficiency, he commenced a course of study to qualify himself for the occupation. He devoted his leisure to studying mechanical and mathematical drawing, and kindred branches. His latent talents were developed by persevering effort, and it was not long before he commenced to give instruction in these branches in a school established for the purpose. Later he devoted his time to the study of architecture and engineering, and we next find him in the practice of these professions, at a time when their attainment was difficult, and support more precarious than at present. Mr. Carver continued the practice of his profession in Philadelphia for several years with success. He was engaged in the erection of some of the best public and private buildings of that time, and was the author of plans for one or more of the beautiful cemeteries which adorn the environs of the city. He erected gas-works in various parts of the country. His death, April 1, 1859, closed a useful career. Mr. Carver was one of the pioneers in architecture in Philadelphia, and he occupied an honorable position in the profession.
The Brownsville Persistent Horse company, for the detection of horse thieves and other villains, is a Plumstead institution. It is probably the oldest association of the kind in the county or state. [It was formally organized at Brownsville, now Gardenville, March 22, 1806, when officers were elected and a constitution and by-laws adopted. The late Abraham Chapman was president many years. At the December meeting, 1831, the company was divided into two, Eastern and Western Divisions, the Durham Road made the dividing line and Mr. Chapman chosen to preside over both Divisions. The capital stock was divided 1832, each body receiving $301.59. The reason given for the division of the company was "the inconvenience of transacting business over such an extensive territory" and because of its prosperity. The ninetieth anniversary of the original organization of the united company, was celebrated at Doylestown, March 22, 1896, with a large attendance. A union meeting was held in Lenape Hall, over which John S. Williams presided, and comprehensive sketches of the two Divisions were read by the respective secretaries, E. Watson Fell, Buckingham, and John L. Kramer, Doylestown, and by Eastburn Reeder of the original company to its division. At that time two members of the original company, who belonged to it, 1828, were living, John Betts, Warminster, formerly Solebury, in his 93rd year, and John Walker, Doylestown, 98. At the anniversary, the Eastern Division dined at the Fountain House and the Western at Clear Spring Hotel.*]
The earliest enumeration of the inhabitants of Plumstead that we have seen is that of 1746, when the population is set down at 130. Other years are given as follows: 1759, 125; 1761, 118; 1762, 153. It is probable these figures stand for taxables, instead of population, as they do not appear high enough for the latter. In 1784 the township contained 946 white inhabitants, 7 colored, and 160 dwellings. We are not able to give the census of 1790 and 1800, but have the population of each decade from the latter year to the present time, as returned to the census bureau: In 1810, 1,407; 1820, 1,790; 1830, 1,849, and 402 taxables; 1840, 1,873; 1850, 2,298; 1860, 2,710; 1870, 2,617; 1880, 2,537; 1890, 2,336; 1900, 2,119. If this enumeration be not incorrect it shows a decrease of nearly 100 from 1860 to 1870.
Among the early settlers of Plumstead, who died at an advanced age, beside those already mentioned, the following may be named: November 1, 1808, Mrs. Mary Meredith, aged 100 years, widow of William Meredith; September 13, 1805, Mrs. Dorothy Linderman, aged 90 years and 3 months, leaving 200 descendants; November 16, 1819, John Jones, aged 84; July 13, 1812, Hannah Preston, aged 94 years.
Plumstead had a Union Library company in 1807, with Adam Foulke as secretary. Joseph Stradling was a subsequent secretary, but we have not been able to learn when it was established, or anything of its history.
Morgan Hinchman, Philadelphia, was the owner of, and resided on a farm in Plumstead, in 1847. There arose some family difficulty founded on his alleged insanity, and it was decided to have him arrested and locked up in an asylum. Accordingly it was so arranged, and he was captured at the Red Lion tavern, Philadelphia, while down with marketing, and taken out to the Frankford asylum for the insane, where he was confined and not allowed to communicate with his friends. After being shut up there for six months, he scaled the wall and made his escape. He now brought suit for damages against his captors, which was tried before Judge Burnside, in Philadelphia, in the spring of 1849. A number of able lawyers was employed in the zenith if his fame. After a patient hearing, the jury awarded him $10,000 damages. It was a noted case, and created great excitement in its day. The farm passed out of the possession of Hinchman about the time of the trial, and in recent years was owned by the Heacocks.
About the middle of the last century, Anthony Fretz built a mill on the Tohickon, in Plumstead, but we do not know who owns it now, or whether it is in existence as a mill. Isaac Fretz built a mill in Tinicum about the same period, but the former was built first.
Plumstead has three post0ffices; at Danborough, but the time it was established is not know, Plumsteadville, 1840, with John L. Delp, postmaster, and at Gardenville, 1857, and John Staffer first postmaster. [There was a postoffice at "Plumstead" as early as 1800, and on November 1st, there remained in the office, the following letters, as advertised in the "Farmer's Weekly Gazette:" Francis Erwin, America, Peter Evans, Doylestown, Charles Hutchins, Do. Do., Margaret Hacket, Solebury, Morris Morris, Wheelwright, Daniel Palmer, Bucks County, John Sine, Solebury.*]
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footnotes:
(1) Among the descendants of the family was Colonel Cephas Grier Child, Philadelphia, born in Plumstead September 8, 1793, and died at the age of 78. He achieved high reputation as an engraver and for many years was proprietor and editor of the "Commercial List and Price Current." He was a volunteer soldier in the war of 1812- 15, and for many years took a deep interest in military matters. He visited Europe in 1831 in the interest of the engraver's art, carrying letters of introduction from President Jackson and other distinguished gentlemen. A Cephas Child died in Plumstead, 1815, at the age of 90, probably a son or grandson of the first settler of the family.*
(2) He probably gave the name to the stream now called Cook's run.
(3) John Dyer first settled in the bounds of Abington meeting, producing a certificate from Nailsworth meeting, 6, 30, 1714. On 11, 27, 1718, he took a certificate to a "Bucks County Monthly," and removed to what became Plumstead, then Buckingham, no doubt, because the former had it in contemplation to form a monthly meeting at an early day, which was done before Plumstead was organized, 1725.*
(4) One authority says James Shaw was born in Northampton township, another that he lived there when he married Mary Brown.*
(5) Built about 1725, with money borrowed of Abraham Chapman, of Wrightstown. The present stone bridge over Pine run at that place was built in 1798. This footnote not included in 1905 edition.
(6) Margaret Michener, relict of William Michener, died in Plumstead, February 15, 1821, aged ninety-three years.
(7) The 1905 edition uses both spellings: Hayster and Hayter.
(8) There were several of this name in the province, principally in Philadelphia. Clement Plumstead was mayor of that city in 1741, and his son William filled that office 1750-54-55, and died in 1769.
(9) Departed this life June 24, 1821, at Plumstead, Joseph Hinkle, aged fifty-six years. He has left an affectionate wife and children to lament the loss of an indulgent father and kind husband. He was afflicted with a lingering illness which he bore with Christian fortitude, and died calmly resigned to the will of God.*
(10) Mrs. Mary McCalla Evans, Philadelphia, says William McCalla was born on a farm rented of the Logans, on the York road, and that his father came from Scotland.*
(11) In the fall and winter of 1777, a number of the wounded of the Continental army were sent to the Plumstead meeting-house. A return of the sick and wounded in the hospital, admitted November 25, 26, 27, 30, and December 19, 1777, were 40, died, 2, discharged 10, remaining 28. Sometime that December Dr. Francis Allison, senior surgeon, Middle Department, Continental Army, removed the wounded of the battle of Germantown to Plumstead meeting-house, but were removed thence to Lititz by order of Washington.*
(12) This name has three spellings, Grier, Greir, and Greer. The first to spell the name "Greir" was John Stewart Greir, of Warrington, and is so spelled in the signature to his will. The Warrington family still spell the name Greir. The Plumstead family spell the name Greer.*
(13) Hugh Huston, the grandfather of Judge Huston came from Ireland and married Jean, widow of Robert Mearns, of Warwick, and died in a few years. They had one son, Thomas, and two daughters, who married William and John Thompson. Thomas Huston married Jeannett Walker and had eight children, Charles being the eldest son. He was a captain in the Revolution and died at the age of 94. The British came near capturing him while living at Newtown, on the occasion of their visit there, 1778. They reached the house, frightening the family, but did not find him. The place of Judge Huston's birth is somewhat uncertain. It is not known where the grandfather settled, but the father is said to have kept tavern at Newtown, and removed to Plumstead where he is known to have kept a tavern. Our authority says Thomas Huston was born in Bucks county, married and had five children, three daughters and two sons.*
(14) The name is spelled "Nichelaus" and "Nicholas."*
(15) The Kratz carriage and wagon works at Plumsteadville is the largest industrial plant in middle Bucks. It was established nearly 50 years ago by Aaron Kratz, and himself and son carry on a large business. They turn out all sorts of vehicles, in ordinary use, finding ready sale in many states of the union and Canada. Two large farms are near the works, and $50,000 insurance is carried on the stock and material.*
(16) See subsequent chapter for another version of this transaction.
End of Chapter XXIV.
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From https://www.livingplaces.com/PA/Bucks_County/Plumstead_Township/Wismer.html
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It takes its name from the Wismer family whose ancestor, Hans Michael Wismer, arrived at Philadelphia in the ship Priscilla, Captain William Wilson, from Rotterdam and Cowes, September 12, 1750. The history of the family shows that many members took part in the Mennonite migration to the Niagara peninsula, Ontario, Canada. "Among them was Isaac Wismer, who married Anna High and Catherine Wismer, who married John High. They were brother and sister of my great grandfather, Henry Wismer, who was a farmer, drover, and clock and watchmaker, whose farm in Plumstead Township was located on both sides of Durham Road between North Branch of Neshaminy Creek and Hinkletown. It was his custom to visit his brother and sister in the Niagara peninsula and to bring back with him to Bucks County droves of horses. While on such a journey in 1828, he died from typhoid fever at the residence of his brother Isaac along the shore of Lake Ontario, on a farm now owned and occupied by Isaac's grandson, William Andrew Wismer." [ms. of Henry W. Scarborough]
Samuel Hart was landlord in 1764 of a tavern which stood on Stump Road, half a mile east of Wismer. It was here the body of Moses Doan, the outlaw, was taken after he was slain. Only the foundations remain today. The identity of this Samuel Hart is uncertain, but he is probably a son of William Hart, landlord of Plumsteadville Tavern.
Elias Wismer, who kept a small store at the northwest corner of the crossroads, was succeeded by his son Henry prior to 1860. May 21, 1872, he became postmaster and held the office until his death, February 12, 1920. He was one of the organizers of Union Creamery and its treasurer and was also a director in Point Pleasant Bridge Company and Danboro and Point Pleasant Turnpike Company. He was successful in business. He formed a partnership with his brother-in-law, Joseph Lear, in the store business and after Lear's death conducted the store alone. During the World War the post office received more War Savings Stamps than any other office of its class in the county. Daniel F. Merganthaler, the canvasser, had the remarkable record of selling about $14,000 worth maturity value. The first mail between Wismer and Point Pleasant was carried by Lewis Wismer. His successors were Jacob Eisentrager and Asher R. Lear. This stage line was quite profitable in Lear's time until the trolley line was built, when he started in the creamer business. After the death of Henry Wismer, the store property was sold. It had several owners, Frank Kolbe being the last postmaster. The post office was move to Smiths Corner and then in 1930 to Melchers Corner.
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Samuel Hart, the Pioneer, had a 364 acre plantation situated in the village of Wismer (according to the Hart Book Thomas Hart 1920)
- "COLONIAL FAMILIES of the USA, 1607-1775"; found on ancestry.com
Samuel Hart, the emigrant ancestor of the Hart family, was born 1690. He came to America with his wife and family, from Belfast, in the province of Ulster, Ireland, about the year 1735. He came to Buck County, Pennsylvania the settling ground of a large number of the Scotch-Irish and on 9th March, 1737, obtained a warrant of survey for 100 acres of land in Plumstead Township and settled thereon; he died 1st April 1750, leaving his plantation to his two eldest sons, James and William.
He is buried in Deep Run Cemetery, Bedminster Township, where his grave may be seen to this day. His wife’s name was Elizabeth. She died shortly after her husband in April 1750. The respective wills of Samuel and Elizabeth Hart are on file in the courthouse at Doylestown, Pennsylvania.
- Samuel Hart, b. ca 1690 in Ireland. They were Scotch Irish from the region of Ulster. They settled in Plumstead Twp., Bucks County, Penn., and then moved south in the county to where Hartsville is now situated (1920). These Harts were Presbyterians.
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In Will Abstracts (p.201): Samuel Hart, (b 1690 - d 1750) of Plumstead, Yeoman. March 28, 1750. Proved April 20, 1750. Wife: Elizabeth. Executors: John Gaddis and James Hart. Sons James (eldest), William, Joseph, John, Samuel.Daughters: Mary McGlaughin, Jane Mathers, Nellie and Elizabeth Hart. Witnesses: Charles Williams, William Logan.Comments: This appears to be the same Samuel Hart who was an executor for Joseph McCreary. John Gaddis was an executor for both wills/estates; and William Hart is also mentioned in both (I think it fairly safe to assume they are the same William).
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The Scotch Irish in Pennsylvania
"Scotch Irish" or "Scots Irish" is an American term, coined in the mid-19th century, to refer to a group of immigrants from northern Ireland who arrived in America largely during the 18th century. These people were known elsewhere as Ulster Scots. Their history as a people is interesting. After English armies had put down a rebellion of Irish lords with considerable damage to the countryside, the first Scottish king of Great Britain, James I, decided to form a colony in Ulster, largely made up of lowland Scots. This was known as the "Ulster Plantation." These Scots settled in the Ulster counties throughout the 1600s. After a few generations, they thought of themselves as Irish, but reportedly there was not much intermarriage between them, who were predominantly Presbyterian, and their Catholic neighbors. By the 1700s, the English had begun to raise the rents on the lands and to practice some religious discrimination against the Presbyterians. There were also some problems with drought.
By the thousands, the Ulster Scots stood up and emigrated to America, largely to Pennsylvania and the other middle Atlantic states. In Pennsylvania, they eventually moved west, into the Ohio valley region. Strongly Whigish, and somewhat embittered with the English, they fought in large numbers in the Revolutionary War.
They spread throughout the Appalachian mountains and moved west. When the potato famine caused widespread immigration of southern, Catholic Irish to America, the earlier immigrants coined the term, "Scotch Irish," in an attempt to distinguish themselves.
Although millions of Americans are descended from these Scotch Irish immigrants, they simply think of themselves as Americans. Many, such as my line, have intermarried with other Americans of German, English or other descent. The term, while perhaps still known in some circles, has lost much significance in the general culture.
This is perhaps unfortunate, because these ancestors of ours have a long, complex and colorful history. Their contributions to our American society have been immense.
*** From website http://www.tomcool.us/genealogy/scotchIrish.html
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- Among the thousands of Ulster Scots who migrated to Pennsylvania in the first half of the eighteenth century were those who formed two distinct settlements within the present limits of Bucks county, one on the banks of the Neshaminy in Warwick, Warrington and New Britain, and the other on the banks of the Tohickon in Plumstead, Tinicum and adjacent townships.
In the latter settlements were the Stewarts, Harts, Means, McGlaughlins, Pattersons, Armstrongs, Erwins, Davies and a host of others, more or less united by ties, consanguinity, and common interest, whose names are found on the earliest lists of military companies organized for the defense of the frontiers against their hereditary enemies, the French and their savage allies.
Among these early settlers on the Plumstead side of the Tohickon about 1735, was Samuel Hart and his family, consisting of wife and nine children, the eldest of whom, James, was born in the year 1717, and the second son William was probably three or more years younger.
Samuel Hart obtained a warrant of survey for 100 acres of land on March 9, 1737, and settled thereon. Ten years later in 1747 when the first clouds of war appeared on the horizon, companies were formed in the several townships for the defense of the frontiers. The Plumstead company had for its captain the veteran Charles Stewart, lieutenant, James Hart, and ensign, William Hart, both of the latter being ancestors of the subjects of this sketch through the marriage of a grandson of the latter with a granddaughter of the former many years later.
Across the Tohickon in Tinicum the captain of the company was James McGlaughlin, who had married Mary, the eldest sister of the Hart brothers, and the lieutenant was James Davies, whose son William was a brother-in-law to them, all three having married daughters of William Means or Main, a neighbor and compatriot. Samuel Hart, the elder, died in April, 1750, devising his plantation to his sons James and William. His other children than the three above mentioned were: Joseph, John, Jean, who married Samuel Mathers and removed to North Carolina, Elinor, Samuel and Elizabeth.
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** Taken from http://pagenweb.org/~bucks/BIOS_DAVIS/hartjohn.html *******************
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1690 - 1750 (60 years)
[5, 6, 7, 8, 9] 
