History of Northampton, Lehigh, Monroe, Carbon, and Schuylkill Counties: containing a brief history of the first settlers, topography of townships, notices of leading events, etc

Front matter

HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON, LEHIGH, MONROE, CARBON, AND SCHUYLKILL COUNTIES: CONTAINING A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE FIRST SETTLERS. TOPOGRAPHY OF TOWNSHIPS, NOTICES OF LEADING EVENTS, INCIDENTS, AND INTERESTING FACTS IN THE EARLY HISTORY OF THESE COUNTIES: WITH AN APPENDIX, CONTAINING MATTERS OF DEEP INTEREST EMBELLISHED by several engravings. Oompiled from various authentic sources BY I. DANIEL RUPP, Author of " Der Maertyrer Geschichte," " He Paea Ekklesia," -Sec. &c. &c. ice Published and sold BY G. HILLS, PROPRIETOR, LANCASTER, PA. HARRISBURG : HICKOK AND CANTINE, PRINTERS AND BINDERS. 1845. Entered in the Office of tSe^jga^g^ne District Court of the Eastern District of Pennsy lv_nia3nTS44, BY G. HILLS, PROPRIETOR, in conformity with An Act of Congress, entitled "An Act to amend the several Acts respecting Copy Rights."

Preface

. When local events and incidents are merged in the general history of a country or nation, it would be a fruitless attempt to give causes, and notice effects, and at the same time preserve a consecutive chronological arrangement of facts. This may be done in regular history ; but it cannot, in a local history, without much amplification, and the introduction of that which is apparently irrelevant. All that the writer has aimed at in this compilation, was to embody in a convenient form, the prominent everts, leading inci dents in the early and continued history of these counties, without regard to strict chronological order ; topographical description of townships, towns, villages, &c. How far this has been accomplished, is left to the candid reader to say. Nothing has been left undone on the part of the compiler, to collect ma terials of a historical and topographical character, and arrange them according to the best of his judgment. Touching the matter itself contained in this book, the writer hesitates not to confess, that his claims to

PREFACE.

. originality are none of the strongest. Circumstanced as he was when preparing this work for press, he had to avail himself of the labors of others. His time was too restricted, and his means very much limited, to make extensive personal observations, and collect materials while making a tour of the counties. Those who could have done more within the time, and with the same means, should make the trial, to satisfy themselves what can be done in. this way, in the brief space " of a feiv days in a county." If honesty of purpose and industry could atone for the want of time, then the writer would offer these in ex tenuation. Only a few months ago, he commenced his compi lation ; and as he was, in the short space of a few months, to have copy ready for press for a book of 432 pages, therefore, anxious not to fail in his con tract with the publisher, to have it ready bythe 1st of November, 1844, he prosecuted his task with all possible assiduity and despatch ; nevertheless,he aimed to trace facts to their sources ; and these, it is con fidently believed, are authentic.

Passing over some defects, the reader will readily grant that the writer may, at least, lay claim to the merit of being a faithful and laborious compiler. He would here frankly make an avowal of the sources to which he chiefly repaired for compilation, viz : The MSS. Provincial Records, Reports, Letters

PREFACE.

. V in the Office of the Secretary of State at Harrisburg, the votes of Assembly, Loskiel's History of the Mo ravians, Heckewelder's Narrative, Crantz's Brueder Geschichte, Spangenberg's Leben, Hazard's Register, Gordon's Gazette of Pennsylvania, Day's Historical Collection, Dunlap's and Claypool's Daily Advertiser, Hall and Seller's Pennsylvania Gazette — besides many others noticed in the body of the work. Numerous are the works drawn from, and the au thorities referred to. And now to those who may feel disposed to suggest that the compiler has made a book from the labors of others — "for we find all this in a number of volumes" — he would beg leave to re mark, if they shall be pleased to think that they have found the substance of many books in this com pilation, he shall consider it the highest encomium that can be passed upon it.

Those who may think it an easy task to compile a work like this, are referred to experience of this kind, as expressed by another. Major William Stable, who has written a pamphlet of nearly two hundred pages, entitled " The Description of the Borough of Reading," says : " That the execution of his design was not free from difficulty, may be in ferred from the fact, that it was undertaken many months ago, and has been prosecuted with unremitted diligence to the present moment. It was the gather ing of the material that gave me the most trouble." VI

PREFACE.

. Well might the writer be allowed to complain. To collect materials, and prepare a book, of between five and six hundred pages, for press, in a few months, gave him much trouble. In view of these difficulties attending his compilation, he would claim the indul gence of the reader — and with these facts before him, the good natured critic, it is believed, will have some compassion upon the compiler, and remember that, "In manchem sind Unvollkommenheiten." Lancaster, January, 1845. OMISSION. The following should have been noticed in speaking of Easton. There was also an Indian treaty held at Easton, January 30, 31 — February 4, 6, 1777, be tween Commissioners in behalf of the United States. and a number of Indian Chiefs, in behalf of the Six Nations, and their confederates, held in the German church.

Present, the Hon. George Walton, and George Taylor, Esq., Members of Congress ; Col. Lowry and Col. Cunningham, from the Assembly ofthe State of Pennsylvania ; Col. Bull and Col. Dean, Members of the Council of Safety of the State of Pennsylvania. Secretary of the Commission, Thomas Paine. The following were the Indian Chiefs : Kayugas — Taasquah, or King Charles. Senecas — Tawanah, or the big tree. MuNS-fes — Mytakaioha, walking on foot. Kaknah, standing by a tree. Nantikokes — Jlmatincka, raising any thing up. Kanois — Wilaknko, or king last night. Interpreter, Thomas Green, a Mohawk. CONTENTS.

Chapter I

Introduction ; Swedes settle ; William Penn bora ; Penn obtained a charter ; first settlers sail for America ; Penn follows; accession of settlers from London, Holland, Germany, &c. ; Penn holds conferences with the Indians ; purchases their lands ; Penn returns to England ; Penn again in Pennsylvania ; returns again to England; Penn's death ; number of Indians in Pennsylvania on Penn's arrival ; Lenapi, Delaware and other Indians ; Germans, Welsh and Irish arrive. — p. 1 — 5.

Chapter II

The Germans ; German Quakers settle at German town ; Frankfort land company ; German immigrants from 1709 to 1720 ; Dickinson's remarks on the Germans ; Ger mans from the Palatinate, and from 1720 to 1725 ; from 1725 to 1740 ; their character according to Dickinson ; from 1740 to 1752 ; Neulaendar ; Redemptioners ; from 1753 to 1756; Germans used as Make- Weigh ts ; Wharton's MSS concerning the Germans ; Germans numerous in North ampton, Schuylkill, &c. — p. 6 — 12.

Chapter III

The Welsh ; their character; influential at an early day; Thomas Lloyd ; the Welsh had early purchased of Wil liam Penn ; their number increased ; their customs ; Welsh pioueers; many Welsh arrive in 1698} few Welsh settled CONTENTS. XII Dutotsburg; Craig's Meadow; Branchville ; Upper, or Middle Smithfield township ; Indian massacres; Coolbaugh township; Nagleville ; Spruce Grove; Saxville ; Toby hanna township ; Great Swamp ; Pokono township ; Bar tonsville; Tannersville ; Chestnuthill township; Ross township; Wind Gap; Kunklesvilie ; Hamilton township; Snydersville; Kellersvill; Fennersville ; Saylorsville. p. 145—180.

CHAPTER XII.

Carbon County Erected, &c. ; Act for erection of county ; extracts from records of court; first Giand Jurors ; Attorneys at the first court; physical appearance of the county ; boundaries ; principal streams ; Lehigh river, its scenery, &c. ; number of townships. — p. 181 — 186.

CHAPTER XIII.

Topography of Townships; Mauch Chunk township ; Mauch Chunk; Mauch Chunk Hotel; Public buildings; Mauch Chunk mountain; discovery of coal; Lehigh coal and navigation company; railroads; Lausanne; Nesqui honing; Lausanne township; Lawrytown ; Lockport; (.-lifton ; Penn Haven ; Beaver Meadow ; Hazelton ; Banks township; Penn Forest township; Upper Towamensing township; Parrysville; Weissport; Fort Allen, or New Gnaden Huetten ; Tippey's flood, or flood of '86 ; num ber of interesting letters relating to Fort Allen ; Lower Towamensing township ; the Gap ; East Penn township; Mahoning township ; Burlington ; Lehighton ; South Le highton ; Gilbert and family abducted. — p. 186 — 238.

Chapter I

Schuylkill County Erected ; Tulpehocken lands ; petition to erect Berks ; Readinglown ; Act of March Ilth, 1752 ; Schuylkill county erected out of Berks and North ampton, March 1st, 1811; extracts of court records; At torneys admitted at the first court ; townships ; constables ; Grand Jurors. — p. 241 — 248. CONTENTS. XIII

Chapter II

Topography, &c, of Townships ; East Brunswick township; Port Clinton; Manheim township; Schuylkill Haven ; Branch township ; Minersville ; Llewellyn; Lower Mahantango township ; Barry township ; Pine Grove township ; Pine Grove ; Svvataraville ; Rush township ; Home; Patterson; Tuscarora; Tamaqua; Schuylkill township; Louisburg; Schuylkill valley; Union township; Upper Mahantango township; Zimmermanstown ; Wayne township; Friedensburg ; West Brunswick township ; Orwigs burg; McKeansburg ; Landisville; West Penn township ; Norwegian township ; Pottsville and vicinity; John Pott's father, Wilhelm Pott; names of first settlers about Pott's; early history of Pottsville ; Pottsville in 1842 ; in 1829 ; in 1830 ; in 1831 ; present state of Pottsville, public buildings, &c. ; freshets at Pottsville in 1831 and 1841 ; Port Carbon ; Irishtown, Rhoadstown, Lawtontown, Acretown and Young's Addition ; Coaquennac ; St. Clair ; Coal Castle ; Mackeysville. — p. 248 — 297.

Chapter III

History of Coal, &c. ; Early history of coal ; first engaged in the coal enterprize; William Morris; Colonel Shoemaker ; small openings made in 1813; improvements in mode of mining, 1823; Mill creek railroad commenced in 1829 ; Schuylkill railroad ; Norwegian and Mount Car bon railroad ; Mine Hill and Schuylkill Haven railroad ; Little Schuylkill railroad ; total of railroads prior to 1833 ; amount of anthracite coal ; amount sent from the several dis tricts, from 1820 to 1844; number of steam engines em ployed; Battin's coal breaker ; improvements in machinery ; freight on coals, *&c. — p. 297 — 330.

Chapter IV

Coal Region and Mining Operation in Schuylkill in 1844 ; Origin and formation of coal ; Schuylkill coal field; coal mining, Schuylkill valley district ; the Tusca rora collieries ; Belmont collieries ; Kinsley's collieries ; Freeman's collieries ; Uren's collieries ; Thompson &*

Introduction

.

Chapter I

Scarcely two centuries have passed by since the white man held any possessions among the red men of the woods, within the limits of Pennsylvania. A little more than two hundred years ago, the Indians held a sovereign right to the soil of Pennsylvania ; and there was none beside his own forest brethren, in all the wilds, glens, vales and mountains, to molest or disturb him in his peaceful abodes of the extended "Sylvania." In the progress of time, however, the Swedes came and settled within the limits of Pennsylvania, about the year 1638 — they purchased lands at a cheap rate, from the Indians in and about Tinicum Isle, which afterwards became the seat of government of the New Sweden colony; for as early as 1642, John Print z erected there a spacious mansion, well known in history as Printz' Hall.

Here the Swedes held possessions till 1655, when the Dutch subdued them, and brought them under the juris diction of Peter Stuyvesant, Governor of New Nether lands, who, however, in his turn, was soon afterwards conquered by Charles II. of England; and New Nether lands, named New York. Thus, the settlements made by the Swedes, and held a short time by the Dutch, fell into the possession of the English in 1664. In Europe, a spirit of religious persecution caused ma ny an aching heart to yearn after a place of peace and repose ; where, in obedience to the dictates of conscience, the Almighty might be worshipped without an impious interposition by man between the homage of man and A

INTRODUCTION.

. his Creator. At this time the founder of Pennsylvania, on account of his religious sentiments, suffered much in this way ; and in order to escape persecution, and to es tablish a colony for the oppressed of all denominations, turned his eye upon the western world. William Penn, was born in London, October 16, 1644, grandson of Giles Penn, and son of Sir William Penn, Admiral of the English Navy, availed himself of the claims he had upon the British Government, on account of the eminent services his father had rendered that coun try, petitioned King Charles IL, that, in lieu of a large sum of money, sixteen thousand pounds, due the Admi ral, at his death, to grant him letters patent for a tract of land in America, " lying north of Maryland ; on the east bounded by Delaware river ; on the west, limited as Ma ryland ; and northward, to extend as far as plantable."

Penn obtained a charter from Charles IL, dated at Westminster, March" 4, 1681. Having now been sole proprietary of Pennsylvania, he made sales of lands to adventurers, called first settlers, who embarked, some at London, others at Bristol, in 1681, for America, and ar arrived at Upland, now Chester, on December II. Penn, with many of his friends, chiefly from Sussex, England, sailed for America, and landed at New Castle on the 27th October, 1682, where he was received with demonstra tions of joy. Penn went to Upland, where he convened an assembly, Dec. 4th; and in a brief session of three days*. enacted several important laws, one of which was an act to naturalize the Dutch, Swedes, and other foreigners. The same year that Penn arrived, there was quite an accession. The two next succeeding years, settlers from London, Bristol, Wales, Holland, Germany, &c., arrived, to the number of 50 sail ; among these were German Qua kers from Cresheim, near Worms, in the Palatinate.

The banks of the Delaware were one bustling scene — some lodged in the woods in hollow trees, some in caves, which were easily dug on the high banks ofthe Wissahickon and the Delaware, and others in haste erected huts. * * Proud II, 330.

INTRODUCTION.

. To do justice, secure the smiles of the Indians, and to meet the approbation of Heaven, Penn held treaties of peace and friendship with the tawny sons of the forest, and contracted with them for their lands — this done, he proceeded to lay out a city, by the assistance of his sur veyor, Gen. Thomas Holme. Eighty houses were elect ed, the first year, in Philadelphia. Next was a survey of lands for the first settlers. This having been completed, the proprietary, in 1682, divided the country into six counties — three in the territory of Delaware ; namely, New Castle, Kent, and Sussex ; three in the province of Pennsylvania ; namely, Philadelphia, Bucks, and Chester; the first and last, embracing all, and much more, of the land within the present limits of Berks and Lebanon. Penn remained but a short time on his first arrival ; he sailed for Europe, August 16, 1684, leaving the province under the government of five commissioners, chosen from the Provincial council ; however, previous to his depar ture, he made a league of amity with nineteen Indian nations, between them and all the English America. * In 1699, Penn again visited the colony, and remained only till November 1st, 1701, when he returned to Eng land, where he died, July 30th, 1718, at Rushcomb, near Twyford, in Buckinghamshire, aged about seventy-four years.

In 1712, he had been seized with some fits ofthe apoplectic kind, which for the last six years of his life, had rendered him incapable of doing public business. When the Swedes first arrived, and settled on the shores of the Delaware, and when the English landed in 1681, they found a numerous race of Indians, who met the white strangers in a friendly manner ; and when the following year, William Penn, with his train of pacific friends arrived, he was also hailed with affection, and treated as their Miquon or elder brother. At the time of Penn's arrival, there were not less than ten native tribes in Pennsylvania, comprising about six thousand in number ; these, however, formed only a por tion of the Indians inhabiting the country between Vir- * Oldmixon. ■1

INTRODUCTION.

. ginia and Canada ; those who were principally seated oil the DelaAvare, were the Lenni Lenape, and were considered the grandfathers of near forty tribes. The others were the Mengwe, or usually called Iroquois, who in habited the more northern portion of the United States. The Iroquois were also divided into numerous tribes. According to popular tradition, the numerous tribes of the Delaware and Iroquois, trace their origin to two sources. The traditions, as handed down by their ancestors, run thus : The Lenni Lenape, or, for brevity's sake, "Lenape," meaning The original people, were an unmixed and unchanged race, residing, many centuries ago, towards the setting of the sun — somewhere in the west of this continent. For some reasons, not explained, they determined to migrate towards the rising ofthe sun.

After their journeying they arrived at thc Fish River, the Namusi Sipu, (Mississippi;) here they fell in with a nation, also in quest of a new home eastward — these were the Mengwe, or Iroquois, as they have since been called. They here united their forces, anticipating opposition from a people of gigantic form, and a populous race, the Alligewi, on the east of the Mississippi. Not many days after their union, before they advanced, many and mighty battles were fought — the Alligewi to escape total extermination, abandoned the country to the people of " The New Union," fled far southward, and never returned. The victors now divided the spoil; the country was shared out among themselves — the Iroquois made choice of the north — lands in the vicinity of the great lakes, and on their tributary streams ; the Lenape took possession of more southern parts, where they lived in peace for many years, till the Europeans came.

The Lenape ; or, as they were called by the Europeans, Delawares, \vere divided into three tribes— the Unamis, or Turtle ; the Wunalachtikos, or Turkey ; and the Minsi, or Wolf. " The Minsi, or Monceys, the most warlike of the three tribes, inhabited a country that ex tends from the Minisink on the Delaware, to the Hudson on the east, to the Susquehannah on the southwest, to the head waters of the Delaware and Susquehanna ri-

INTRODUCTION.

. vers on the north, and to that range of hills now known in New Jersey by the name of Miiskenecum, and by those of Lehigh and Coghnewago, in Pennsylvania." The Moilceys embraced a number of subordinate tribes, who were kpown by names derived from their residence, or some accidental circumstance. Such were the Sus quehannas, Neshamines, Conistogas, and other tribes in the province of Pennsylvania. Shortly after the arrival ps William Penn, a number of Germans, Welsh, Irish and others, immigrated to the provinces ; many of whose descendants are to be found within the counties of which it is intended to give a his tory. Of these, .something will be said, before entering upon the historical part of this work.

Chapter II. The Germans

The Germans, who first emigrated into the Province of Pennsylvania, came chiefly for conscience' sake ; those who arrived at a later period, came to improve their tem poral, as well as their spiritual condition. Not many names of the first German emigrants, except a few of the German Quakers who came in with Penn, are preserved. Among the very first, whose name has been handed down, is that of Henry Fry, who arrived two years be fore William Penn. His widow was still living in 1754.* One Platenbach came a few years later, t In 1682, a considerable number came from Cresheim — these were principally Quakers. They settled at Germantown. About the year 16S4 or '85, a company was formed in Germany, called the " Frankfort Land Company," con sisting at first of ten gentlemen, living in Frankfort, on the Mayne ; their articles were executed in that city on the 24th of November, 1686.

They seem to have been men of note by the use of each of his separate seal. Their names were G. Van Mastrick, Thomas V. Wylick, John Le Bran, F. Dan. Pastorious, John J. Schuetz, Daniel Behagel, Jacobus Van Dewaller, John W. Peterson, Jo hannes Kimber, Balthasur Jowest. They bought 25,000 acres of land from Penn. The Germantown patent for 5350, and the Manatauney patent for 22,377 acres. T. D. Pastorious was appointed the attorney for the company, and after his resignation, Dan. Faulkner was, in 1 70S, made attorney. In 1708, 1709, 1710, to 1720, thousands of them emi grated who were known as Palatines, because they had come from the Palatinate, whither some had been forced to flee from their homes in other parts of Europe. Many • Hal. Nach. f Ibid. View ni' l.iislon HISTORY OP NORTHAMPTON COUNTY. 7 of these had gone first to England on the invitation of Queen Anne, at whose bounty, not a few were transported to America.

Hundreds of them were gratuitously furnished with religious and useful books, before their departure, by the Read Anton Wilhelm Boehm, Court chaplain, of St. James. The principal book was Arndt's Wahres Christenthum. Among these German emigrants were Mennonites, Dunkards, German Reformed, and Lutherans. Their number was so great, as to draw the remarks from James Logan, secretary of the province of Pennsylvania, in 1717 — " We have," said he, "of late, a great number of Palatines poured in upon us without any recommendation or notice, which gives the country some uneasiness, for foreigners do not so well among us as our own English people." In 1719, Jonathan Dickinson remarks, "We are daily expecting ships from London which bring over Palatines, in number about six or seven thousand. We had a par cel who came out about five years ago, who purchased land about sixty miles west of Philadelphia, and prove quiet and industrious.

Some few came from Ireland lately, and more are expected thence.* This is besides •mr common supply from Wales and England. Our friends do increase mightily, and a great people there is in the wilderness, which is fast becoming a fruitful field." From 1720 to 1725, the number of Germans from the Palatinate, Wurtenberg, Darmstadt, &c, increased; these settled prineipally in what is Montgomery, Berks, and Lancaster county. Those who came in between 1720 and 1725, Were accompanied by ministers ofthe gospel, and some schoolmasters — among the German Reformed was Rev. Boehm, who had come in prior to 1720, and Rev. George Michael Weiss, who came subsequent to 1720. Among the Lutheran ministers were the Rev. Falckner, Hinckel, and Stoever. Their schoolmasters, for the want of a supply of ministers, read sermons and prayers.

Among the Dunkards were the Rev. Peter Becker, and Alexander Mack, as ministers. ■* These were the Mennonites in Pequea valley. Ill the period between 1720 and 1725, a number os Germans emigrated from the State of New York, and settled at Tulpehocken. Of these, a detailed account will be given when speaking of Tulpehocken township. From 1725 to 1740, there was another great influx of Germans of various religious opinions, German Reform ed, Lutherans, Catholics, Moravians, and Swenckfelders, arrived ; of the latter, a particular account will be given Avhen speaking of Hereford township. It appears, from a letter written by James Logan, in 1725, that many of the Germans were not over scrupulous in their compliance with the regulations of the Land Office. He says, and perhaps with much truth, "they come in, in crowds, and as bold, indigent strangers from Germany, where many of them have been soldiers.

All these go in the best vacant tracts, and seize upon them as places of common spoil. He says they rarely approach him on their arrival to propose to purchase ; and when they are sought out and challenged for their right of occupancy, they allege it was published in Europe that we Avanted and solicited for colonists, and had a superabundance of land, and, therefore, they had come without the means to pay. The Germans in after time embroiled with the Indians at Tulpehocken, threatening a serious affair. In general, those who sat down without titles acquired enough in a few years, to buy them, and so generally they were left unmolested. The character then known to him, he states, are many of them a surly people — divers of them Papists — the men Avell armed, and, as a body, a warlike, morose race.

In 1727, he states that 6000 Germans more are expected, (and also many from Ireland,) and these emigrations, he hopes, may be prevented in future by act of parliament, else he fears those colonies will, in time, be lost to the crown ! — a future act. " In 1729, he speaks of being glad to observe the influx of strangers, as likely to attract the interference of parlia ment ; for truly, says he, they have danger to apprehend for a country where not even a militia exists for govern ment support. To arrest, in some degree, their arrival, the Assembly passed a tax of twenty shillings a head on new arrived servants. " In another letter, he says, the numbers from Germa ny at this rate will soon produce a German colony here, and perhaps such an one as Britain received from Saxo ny in the 5th century.

He even states,as among the appre hended schemes of Sir William Keith, the former governor, that he, Harland and Gould, have had sinister pro jects of forming an independent province in the west, to the westward of the Germans, towards the Ohio — probably west of the mountains, and to be supplied by his friends among the Palatines and Irish, among whom was his chief popularity at that time. "From 1740 to 1752, emigrants came in by hundreds. During this period a number of Moravians and Swenck felders arrived, and settled, principally, within the present limits of Northampton county and Lehigh. Of these a detailed account will be given when speaking of those counties. "In the autumn of 1749, not less than twenty vessels, with German passengers to the number of twelve thousand, arrived at Philadelphia.

In 1750, 1751, and 1752. the number was not much less. Among those who emigrated in the years from 1740 to 1752, there were many who bitterly lamented that they had forsaken their homes for the Province of Pennsylvania. At that time there was a class of Germans who had resided some time in Pennsylvania, well known by the name of Neulaender, who made it their business to go to Germany and pre vail on their countrymen to sacrifice their property, and embark for America. In many instances, persons in easy circumstances at home, with a view to better their con dition, came to America, but to their sorrow found that their condition was rendered none the better, but in numerous instances worse, if not wretched. Others again, who had not the means of paying their passage across tlie Atlantic, were, on their arrival at Philadelphia, ex posed at public auction to serve for a series of years to pay their passage.

Those, thus disposed of, were term ed Redemptioners. The Palatine Redemptioners were usually sold at ten pounds, for from three to five years servitude. Many of them, after serving out their time faithfully, became, by frugality and industry, some ofthe most wealthy and influential citizens of the State. The years that were peculiarly remarkable for the importation of Palatine Redemptioners were, 1728, '29, '31, '41, '50, and '51. Of this class many had become men of wealth and influence in their day, and whose descendants are among the first in society, as to intelligence, wealth and respectability. " In later times, say about the year 1753 to 1756, the Germans having become numerous, and therefore powerful as make-weights in the political balance, were much noticed in the publications of the day.

They were at that period of time, in general, very hearty co-operators with the Quakers or Friends, then in considerable rule in the Assembly. A MSS. pamphlet in the Franklin Library at Philadelphia, supposed to have been written by Samuel Wharton, in 1755, shows his ideas of the passing events, saying, that the party on thc side of the Friends derived much of their influence over the Ger mans, through the aid of C. Sauers, who published a Ger man paper in Germantown, from the time of 1729, and which, being much read by that people, influenced them to the side of the Friends, and hostile to the Governor and council. Through this means, says he, they have persuaded them that there was a design to enslave them ; to enforce their young men, by a contemplated militia law, to become soldiers, and to load them down with taxes, &c. From such causes, he adds, have they come down in shoals to vote, (of course, many from North ampton,) and carrying all before them.

To this I may, says Watson, add, that I have heard from the Norris family, that their ancestors in the Assembly were warm ly patronized by the Germans in union with Friends. His alarms at this German influence at the polls, and his proposed remedies for the then dreaded evils, as they show the prevalent feelings of his associates in politics, may serve to amuse the present generation. He says the best effects of these successes of the Germans will probably be felt through many generations ! Instead of a peaceable, industrious people, as before, they are now insolent, sullen, and turbulent ; in some counties threat ening even the lives of all those who opposed their views, because they are taught to regard government and sla very as one and the same thing. All who are not of their party, they call " Governor's men," and them selves, they deem strong enough to make the country their own !