Bucks County PA Archives Biographies.....Fell, Joseph
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joe Patterson, Patricia Bastik & Susan Walters Dec 2009

Source: History of Bucks County, Pennsylvania; edited by 
J.H. Battle; A. Warner & Co.; 1887
Buckingham Township


JOSEPH FELL deceased, was descended in the fifth generation 
from the first representative of the family in this country 
- Joseph Fell, a native of Longlands, parish of Rockdale, 
county Cumberland, England.  In the year 1705 he took 
passage with his family from White Haven on the ship 
"Cumberland," Captain Matthew Gale, and after an uneventful 
voyage of twenty-nine days, reached the capes of Virginia.  
It does not appear that this was their destination, however. 
 The journey was at once continued by a coasting vessel to 
Bristol, from whence they removed to Makefield without 
further delay than was necessary to provide proper 
accommodations at the latter place.  Their stay here was 
short.  In the next year (1706) a second and practically 
final immigration was made to Buckingham.  Here the family 
has increased until it is one of the most numerously 
represented families in the county.
   
   Joseph Fell (the first) was born October 19, 1668.  When 
30 years of age he married Bridget Wilson.  Two sons were 
born to this union in England:  Joseph and Benjamin; and two 
daughters in this country:  Tamar and Mary.  The mother 
survived the birth of the last only eleven days.  Her 
husband remained a widower three years, and then married 
Elizabeth Doyle, of Welsh descent, by whom he had seven 
children:  John, Isaac, Titus, Thomas, George, Sarah, and 
Rachel.  Joseph Fell, the second, married Mary Kinsey, 
daughter of Edmund Kinsey, of Buckingham.   They had two 
sons and three daughters: Joseph, David, Sarah, Rachel, and 
Martha.  Joseph Fell, the third, married Rachel Wilson, and 
their children were:  Joseph, John, Martha, Rachel, Mary, 
David, and Jonathan.  David Fell married Phoebe Scofield, 
and they were the parents of five children:  Joseph, 
Bushrod, Edith, Sarah A., and Elizabeth, all of whom, except 
Bushrod, who died in infancy, were school-teachers.  The 
father of this family was a graduate of the University of 
Pennsylvania, and one of the pioneer physicians of this 
county.  He lived to the advanced age of 82 years, and had 
an extensive practice, principally in Buckingham and the 
adjoining townships.  Of his children Joseph was the first 
in order of birth, and was born in Upper Makefield, March 
12, 1804.  After such preliminary schooling as was then 
afforded he began his career as a teacher at the Union 
school-house in Buckingham, and afterwards was an instructor 
in the school of John Gummere at Burlington, N. J.  About 
the year 1830 he began to teach the school at Buckingham 
meeting-house, and continued there several years, after 
which he made a journey to Ohio.  Upon his return he 
purchased the property now the residence of his son.  During 
the winter for several years he continued to teach at Tyro 
hall and Centerville.  When the common school system was 
inaugurated he became its active supporter, was a member of 
the first school-board in Buckingham, and secretary of that 
body for a number of years.  When the office of county 
superintendent was created in 1854 he was elected to that 
position.  At the next nominating convention in May, 1857, 
he declined a proffered re-election, and delivered a 
farewell address replete with exalted sentiment.  It 
reflects the ideas of one of the most advanced educators of 
the age, and, as the last official act of the retiring 
superintendent, evinced the vigorous, uncompromising 
earnestness which characterized his whole career.  The 
following extracts are given:
   
   "I am not a stranger to the very prevalent impression 
among many of the citizens of this county that this office 
is not only redundant, but that it actually has been the 
cause of a great increase in taxation.  To such an extent 
has this sentiment prevailed that in some sections meetings 
have been called with the view of moulding public opinion to 
effect a repeal of the law.  With honest efforts for the 
public weal good citizens should always unite; but with 
those originating in ignorance and inebriety, whose effect 
if not design are to pull down instead of elevate, to 
tarnish instead of polish, to desecrate, not consecrate, 
they should not participate nor be identified.  From letters 
received from the friends of temperance and education, who 
were speakers at some of these gatherings, an account might 
be given that would cause the philosopher of Abdera to shake 
his sides with glee, but over which my pen in mercy will 
draw the veil of charity.  .  .  .  .   Educational effort 
for the benefit of the masses must keep pace with the other 
grand developments of the age, and I thank God that the 
great men of our state, without distinction of party, are so 
earnest in extending them over the commonwealth.  They know 
full well that 
   'Many a flower is born to blush unseen, And waste its 
sweetness on the desert air.' "These flowers it is their 
object to bring forth from the nooks and dells, where their 
beauty and fragrance would never have been appreciated, into 
the arena of public life, that they may beautify the walks 
that have been trodden only by the favored sons and 
daughters of fortune."    
   The directors he addressed as follows:
   "Visit your schools frequently; where advise is needed, 
give it; encourage reciprocal visits, and the formation of 
township institutes among the teachers, that they may learn 
of each other; sustain them in the exercise of rightful 
authority; speak frequently and kindly to the children; 
encourage them to perseverance in their studies, to embrace 
good, to eschew evil; plant the seeds of virtue and they 
will take root; and in the evening of your days you will be 
surrounded by a kind, enlightened, and wise people, who can 
point to you as the instruments of their prosperity and 
happiness, and whose blessings will smooth your pillow when 
about to 'pass from works to rewards.'" His interest in 
educational matters did not cease with his retirement; he 
was a frequent visitor at institutes, and in 1868 became one 
of the principals of the soldiers' orphans' schools at 
Quakertown.  His declining years were spent amid the quiet 
seclusion of a Bucks county home.  He died at Buckingham on 
Friday, March 11, 1887, at the advanced age of 83 years. Few 
men of his generation have exerted so powerful an influence 
in the community.  Mr. Fell manifested throughout his whole 
life a steady adherence to the principles and usages of the 
Society of Friends.  He was ardent abolitionist and, as his 
early manhood covered that period of our country's history 
marked by the rise of the anti-slavery agitation, and its 
culmination in the civil war, the cause he espoused received 
the best activities of his life.  He was never connected 
with politics as the incumbent of a public office except as 
member of the legislature in 1837, when he was elected by 
the whigs.  After the disintegration of that party he became 
a republican. Mr. Fell married Harriet Williams, daughter of 
Samuel and Sarah (Watson) Williams, 3rd mo., 29th, 1835.  
They are the parents of five children:  William, deceased; 
Emily C. (Seal), who resides in Philadelphia; D. Newlin, 
judge of the Common Please Court No. 2 of Philadelphia; E. 
Watson and Lucy W., of Buckingham.