Local History: Contents & Chapter I - Topography: Bean's 1884 History of Montgomery Co, PA Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Susan Walters USGENWEB NOTICE: Printing this file by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. Search engine for Bean's History available at bottom of this page..... http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/montgomery/beantoc.htm URL of html Table of Contents and illustrations. _______________________________________________________________________ HISTORY O F MONTGOMERY COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA. EDITED BY THEODORE W. BEAN. PHILADELPHIA: EVERTS & PECK 1884. †††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††† FILE NAME INDICATES ON-LINE CONTENTS. mchb0001.txt Preface CHAPTER I. Sections of an Act Erecting Montgomery County - Topography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 mchb0001.txt CHAPTER II. Ores, Minerals, Geology and Lime . . . . 8 mchb0002.txt mchb0003.txt CHAPTER III. The Aborigines . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 mchb0004.txt CHAPTER IV. Early Voyagers and Traders - First Settlements on the Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers . . . . 49 mchb0005.txt CHAPTER V. The First Swedish Settlements . . . . . 57 mchb0005.txt mchb0006.txt CHAPTER VI. William Penn - "The Holy Experiment, a Free Colony for all Mankind" . . . . 82 mchb0007.txt CHAPTER VII. Penn's Arrival in America - His Colony Founded on the Delaware . . 91 mchb0008.txt CHAPTER VIII. Material Improvements . . . . . . . . 102 mchb0009.txt CHAPTER IX. The Schuylkill . . . . . . . . . . . 118 mchb0010.txt CHAPTER X. Stage Lines . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129 mchb0010.txt CHAPTER XI. The Germans . . . . . . . . . . . . 133 mchb0011.txt CHAPTER XII. The Welsh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139 mchb0011.txt CHAPTER XIII. The Colonial Era. . . . . . . . . . . 145 mchb0012.txt CHAPTER XIV. The Revolution . . . . . . . . . . . 158 mchb0013.txt mchb0014.txt CHAPTER XV. The War of 1812 and the Mexican War . 180 mchb0015.txt CHAPTER XVI. The Great Rebellion . . . . . . . . . 195 mchb0016.txt mchb0017.txt mchb0018.txt mchb0019.txt mchb0020.txt mchb0021.txt CHAPTER XVII. The Grand Army of the Republic . . . 285 mchb0022.txt CHAPTER XVIII. Redemptioners, Slavery and the Underground Railway . . . . . 297 mchb0023.txt CHAPTER XIX. Graduates of the United States Military and Naval Academies . . . . 313 mchb0023.txt CHAPTER XX. Montgomery County Established - Municipal Government - The "Country Squires" . . . . . . . . 317 mchb0024.txt CHAPTER XXI. Railroads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 330 mchb0024.txt CHAPTER XXII. Manners and Customs - Sports and Pastimes - Local Superstition - Inns . . . . . 335 mchb0025.txt CHAPTER XXIII. Bibliography . . . . . . . . . . . . 348 mchb0026.txt CHAPTER XXIV. Early Poetry . . . . . . . . . . . . 360 mchb0026.txt CHAPTER XXV. Religious Denominations - Church History . . . . . . . . . . . 366 mchb0027.txt mchb0028.txt CHAPTER XXVI. Educational . . . . . . . . . . . . 392 mchb0029.txt mchb0030.txt CHAPTER XXVII. Flora of Montgomery County . . . . . 423 mchb0031.txt CHAPTER XXVIII. Zoology of Montgomery County . . . . 435 mchb0031.txt CHAPTER XXIX. Agriculture . . . . . . . . . . . . 439 mchb0032.txt CHAPTER XXX. Township and Borough Organization - Post Offices - Roads . . . . . . . . 447 mchb0032.txt CHAPTER XXXI. Journalism . . . . . . . . . . . . . 458 mchb0033.txt CHAPTER XXXII. Banks and Banking . . . . . . . . . 470 mchb0034.txt CHAPTER XXXIII. Charitable and Benevolent Associations . . . . . . 488 mchb0035.txt CHAPTER XXXIV. The Insane Hospital and Poor-House . 498 mchb0035.txt CHAPTER XXXV. Past and Present Politics of Montgomery County . . . . . . . . 502 mchb0036.txt mchb0037.txt CHAPTER XXXVI. The Bench and Bar . . . . . . . . . 528 mchb0038.txt mchb0039.txt CHAPTER XXXVII. Manufacturing Industries . . . . . . 563 mchb0040.txt mchb0041.txt mchb0042.txt mchb0043.txt CHAPTER XXXVIII. The Medical Profession . . . . . . . 636 mchb0044.txt mchb0045.txt T O W N S H I P S / B O R O U G H S CHAPTER XXXIX. Abington Township 678 mchb0046.txt mchb0047.txt CHAPTER XL. Borough of Bridgeport 707 mchb0048.txt CHAPTER XLI. Borough of Conshocken 713 mchb0048.txt CHAPTER XLII: Borough of East Greenville 719 mchb0048.txt CHAPTER XLIII: Borough of Green Lane 721 mchb0048.txt CHAPTER XLIV: Borough of Hatboro' 721 mchb0049.txt CHAPTER XLV: Borough of Jenkintown 733 mchb0049.txt CHAPTER XLVI: Borough of Lansdale 742 mchb0050.txt CHAPTER XLVII: Borough of Norristown 747 mchb0050.txt mchb0051.txt CHAPTER XLVIII: Borough of North Wales 777 mchb0052.txt CHAPTER XLIX: Borough of Pottstown 784 mchb0052.txt CHAPTER L: Borough of Royer's Ford 797 mchb0053.txt CHAPTER LI: Borough of West Conshohocken 799 mchb0053.txt CHAPTER LII: Cheltenham Township 802 mchb0053.txt mchb0054.txt CHAPTER LIII: Douglas Township 825 mchb0054.txt CHAPTER LIV: Franconia Township 827 mchb0054.txt CHAPTER LV: Frederick Township 831 mchb0055.txt CHAPTER LVI: Gwynedd Township 853 mchb0056.txt CHAPTER LVII: Hatfield Township 868 mchb0056.txt CHAPTER LVIII: Horsham Township 874 mchb0057.txt mchb0058.txt CHAPTER LIX: Limerick Township 915 mchb0059.txt CHAPTER LX: Lower Merion Township 923 mchb0059.txt CHAPTER LXI: Lower Salford Township 943 mchb0060.txt CHAPTER LXII: Marlborough Township 956 mchb0060.txt CHAPTER LXIII: Montgomery Township 959 mchb0061.txt CHAPTER LXIV: Moreland Township 972 mchb0062.txt CHAPTER LXV: New Hanover Township 992 mchb0063.txt CHAPTER LXVI: Norriton Township 999 mchb0063.txt CHAPTER LXVII: Perkiomen Township 1019 mchb0064.txt CHAPTER LXVIII: Plymouth Township 1028 mchb0064.txt CHAPTER LXIX: Pottsgrove Township 1041 mchb0065.txt CHAPTER LXX: Providence Township 1044 mchb0065.txt CHAPTER LXXI: Lower Providence Township 1049 mchb0065.txt CHAPTER LXXII: Upper Providence Township 1056 mchb0066.txt CHAPTER LXXIII: Springfield Township 1070 mchb0067.txt CHAPTER LXXIV: Towamencin Township 1084 mchb0067.txt CHAPTER LXXV: Upper Dublin Township 1092 mchb0068.txt CHAPTER LXXVI: Upper Hanover Township 1105 mchb0068.txt CHAPTER LXXVII: Upper Merion Township 1116 mchb0069.txt CHAPTER LXXVIII: Upper Salford Township 1191 mchb0069.txt CHAPTER LXXIX: Whitemarsh Township 1137 mchb0070.txt CHAPTER LXXX: Whitpain Township 1162 mchb0071.txt CHAPTER LXXXI: Worchester Township 1184 mchb0072.txt APPENDIX: The Centennial Celebration of Montgomery County at Norristown Appendix - 1 Programme and Opening Prodeedings. mchb0073.txt Appendix - 2 The Parade. List of Exhibits. Classes I - IX. mchb0074.txt Appendix - 3 List of Exhibits. Classes X - XIII. mchb0075.txt Appendix - 4 List of Exhibits. Classes XIV - XVII. mchb0076.txt Appendix - 5 List of Exhibits. Class XVIII - Part I. mchb0077.txt Appendix - 6 List of Exhibits. Class XVIII - Part II. mchb0078.txt Appendix - 7 List of Exhibits. Classes XIX - XXIX. Reports & Committees. mchb0079.txt NOTE: Many exhibits list names and relationships to family members and may be of great genealogical interest and help. _______________________________________________________________________ LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Rittenhouse, David 1 Frontispiece Outline Map of Montgomery County 1 Rittenhouse Observatory 4 Diagram of Transit of Venus 6 Geological Map 8 Diagram of Bone Cave, Port Kennedy 18 Delaware Indian 41 Delaware Indian Family 45 Indian Signature 46 Delaware Indian Fort 48 Hudson, Henry 50 DeVries, David Pietersen 56 Swedish Block-House 57 Stuyvesant, Peter 67 Fort Casimir 68 Fort Christiana 59 Map of New Sweden 70 Penn, William 82 Shunk Monument 100 Upland Meeting-Place 101 Map of West Jersey and Pennsylvania, 1698 120 Flat Rock Dam 126 Pennsylvaniache Geschicht Schreiber 136 Penn's Treaty Tree 143 Monument Marking Site of Treaty Tree 144 Autographs William Penn and witnesses to charter 145 Franklin, Benjamin 149 Bouquet, Henry 150 Penn Coat of Arms 88 Penn, John 150 British Stamp 151 State House, Philadelphia, 1744 154 Independence Bell 158 Mud Island 162 Paoli Monument 163 Fort Mifflin 164 Washington's Headquarters, Worcester 164 Germantown, Map of Approaches to 166 Oath of Allegiance 168 Washington's Headquarters, Valley Forge 170 Thomson, Charles 172 Thomson, Charles, residence of 172 Thomson, Charles 172 Thomson, Charles, residence of 172 McLane, A. W. 177 Meschianza Procession 178 Meschianza Ticket 178 Hartranft, General John F. 196 Jones, Colonel Owen 200 Yost, D. M. 277 Zook, Gen. S. K. 287 Sanitary Fair Buildings 296 Hancock, General Winfield S. 314 Barley Sheaf Barn 317 County Courthouse 326 County Prison 326 Evans, Oliver 330 Evans, Oliver, Steam-Carriage 331 Whitefield, G. 373 Burd-Wilson Mansion 403 Aaron, Samuel 404 Hunsicker, Henry A 407 Bomberger, J. H. 411 Super, Henry W. 414 Weinberger, J. Shelly 415 Chase, Thomas 418 North Wales Academy 421 Brunner, S. U. 422 Rex, Sarah S. 446 Franklin's Press 453 Wills, Morgan R. 460 Iredell, Robert I. 461 Kneule, A. 462 Binder, W. J. 464 Rennyson, William 468 Bank of Montgomery County 473 Slingluff, W. H. 474 Slingluff, John 476 Albertson, J. M. 477 First National Bank, Norristown 478 Hooven, James 478 Shannon, George 479 Mintzer, William 480 Casselberry, John W. 481 McDermott, William 482 Noble, Samuel W. 484 Wertsner, Benjamin P. 485 State Hospital for the Insane 498 Hamilton, Andrew I. 510 Sutton, W. Henry 518 Yeakle, William A. 521 Royer, Lewis 522 Smith, John C. 523 Krause, David 540 Hobart, John H. 548 Boyd, James 549 Rogers, George W. 550 Miller, Charles T. 551 Hunsicker, Charles 552 Bean, Theodore W. 554 Larzelere, N. H. 557 Weaver, C. P. 575 Cascaden, Robert 577 Rittenhouse, Christopher 578 Lowe, T. S. C. 579 Watt, William 583 Shaw, Robert 584 Kenworthy, James 585 Heebner, Christopher 588 Gresh, W. R. 589 Ratcliffe, Thomas 591 Smith, Isaac W. 592 Wood, James 594 Bate, William T. 595 Lukens, Lewis A. 596 O'Brien, Michael 598 Moorhead, J. Barlow 600 Bullock, George 601 Moir, James 602 Fegely, Isaac 604 Potts, Joseph D. 605 Steele, J. Dutton 606 March, T. J. 609 McFarland, Elbridge 611 Chadwick, Robert 615 Humphrys, Seth 617 Heebner, Isaac D. 620 Germantown Map of Battle of 622 Gooohall, A. C. 623 Hamilton, W. C. 624 Thropp, Joseph E. 627 Harper, Smith 629 Moore, George W. 632 Myers, Jacob 633 Bosler, Charles 634 Ervine, John A. 634 Rowland, Thomas 635 Graems, Dr. Thomas 637 Freedley, Samuel 640 Dodd, Robert J. 641 Knipe, Jacob 642 Knipe, Jacob 0. 642 Corson, Hiram 643 Corson, William 646 Leedom, R. C. 648 Hamer, James 649 Van Buskirk, William A. 650 Shoemaker, Charles 651 Schrack, John 653 Royer, J. Warren 654 Reid, John K. 656 Read, L. W. 657 Newport, David 658 Reading, Edward 659 Todd,John 660 Markley, A. D. 661 Scheetz, J. H. 662 Johnson, B. K. 663 Hillegass, John G. 665 Sargent, G. P. 666 Beaver, D. R. 667 Schrack, David 668 Stiles, George M. 669 Bellows, H. M. 670 Weaver, Joseph K. 671 Meschter, G. K. 672 Dismant, Benjamin F. 673 Stinson, Mary H. 674 Loux, Hiram R. 675 Randle, William R. 676 Hallowell, Benjamin T. 690 Hallowell, John J. 691 Hallowell, Joseph W. 692 Morison, William T. 693 Hamel, George 697 Kulp, Samuel N. 698 Blake, William 699 Kirk, Joseph 700 Smith, John 701 Buckman, Thomas, Sr. 702 Buck, William J. 702 Rice, Andrew J. 703 Braddfield, Abner 704 Swedes' Church 711 Swedes' Ford 711 Hughes, Benjamin B. 712 Harry, Benjamin 718 Jones, John 719 Van Pelt, John 723 Loller Academy 728 Goentner, William K. 729 Jones, John B. 731 Hunter, Joseph W. 738 Davis, John J. 739 Shoemaker, Joseph A. 741 Geller, Jacob S. 743 Scholl, Seth L. 745 Richardson, William 746 Norristown Churches 750 Norristown High School 753 Soldier Monument 768 May, Selden T. 770 May, Benjamin. 771 Mowday, David Y. 772 Longaker, Daniel 773 Stahler, William 774 Yeakle, Samuel 775 Auge, Moses 776 Shearer, A. K. 780 Lukens, Abel 781 Harley, Jonas M. 783 Kepner, D. K. 793 Newberry, Milton 793 New Hanover Lutheran Church 793 Longaker, R. B. 795 Smith, Jonas 796 Missimer, George 797 Keely, Ephraim P. 799 Bullock, George, residence of 800 Davis, William 801 Ashbourne Presbyterian Church 803 Miles, Samuel 808 Williams, John J. 810 Williams, Thomas 811 Heist, David 812 Branin, George 813 Fenton, John M. I. 814 Engle, A. J. 815 Betts, Sarah T. 816 Lenhart, John F. 817 Yeakle, Thomas C. 818 Wilson, S. M. 819 Heller, G. K. 820 Wright, Charles B. 822 Williams, Anthony 824 Tremper, Jacob 830 Antes, Col. Frederick, residence of 852 Rhoads, Jacob B. 865 Bisson, James W. 866 Berkhimer, Allen 867 Thomas, Allen 868 Morris, Oliver G. 871 Rosenberger, Isaac R. 873 Keith, Sir William 884 Graeme, Elizabeth, Book-Plate of 891 Graeme Cost of Arms 892 Keith, Sir William, Seal of 900 Graeme Park, Vane at 900 Graeme Park 901 Rorer, Charles S. 903 Lukens, Joshua P. 904 Penrose, Jarrett 905 Penrose, Abel 906 Jarrett, William L. 908 Hallowell, William J. 909 Ely, Gilbert W. 911 Kirk, Jacob 913 Geatrell, Thomas 914 Evans, Thomas D. 920 Evans, David 921 Hood, John M. 922 Walt, Henry S. 922 Kendall, Daniel 923 Hensey, W. P., Residence of 926 Friends' Meeting-House, Lower Merion 928 Jones, Colonel Owen, Residence of 930 Wheeler, Charles 936 Crawford, John Y. 937 Ashbridge, Joshua 940 Lodge, Thomas G. 941 Miles, William 942 Sibley, William 943 Robeson, Samuel L. 944 Binder, Samuel B. 955 Apple, John D. 959 Jenkins, Charles Todd 964 Baldwin, Norman B. 965 Roberts, Richard K. 967 Selser, John 968 Shaw, James 969 Mitchell, Joseph, Jr 970 Wilson, Thomas 972 More, Nicholas, Seal of 978 Walton, John 984 Woodward, Evan M. 985 Larzelere, J. B. 987 Hallowell, Jonas W. 988 Hallowell, Israel 989 Lefferts, Simon V. 990 Lloyd, John 992 Yost, Isaac F. 998 Norriton Presbyterian Church 1003 Hoover, Hiram C. 1007 Shearer, A. W. 1008 Rittenhouse, Samuel 1009 Rittenhouse, William 1010 Reed, Michael H. 1011 Roberts, Jesse 1012 Reese, John L. 1013 Reese, William 1014 Harding, John S. 1014 Knight, William, Sr. 1015 Kennedy, William R. 1016 Nace, Francis 1017 Jarrett, Samuel F. 1018 Hoffman, John 1019 Hunsicker, Philip M. 1028 Corson, Alan W. 1034 Livezey, Thomas 1038 Jones, Jonathan 1039 Shepard, Jesse 1040 Brooke, William 1043 Perkiomen Bridge 1045 St. James' Episcopal Church, Perkiomen 1051 White, Bishop William 1052 Custer, Jacob G. 1055 Trappe Church 1059 Trappe Church (interior) 1059 Smith, Oliver 1060 Providence Friends' Meeting 1061 Muhlenberg, Henry M. 1063 Muhlenberg, Peter, Tomb of 1064 Shunk Monument, 1065 Hobson, Frank M. 1066 Hunsicker, Abraham 1068 Hunsicker, Henry G. 1069 Kratz, Henry W. 1070 Custer, Anthony V. 1071 Yeakle, Christopher, Residence of 1073 Williams, Henry J. 1077 Yeakel, Daniel 1078 Yeakle, Jacob 1079 Yeakle, Joseph 1080 Yeakle, Charles 1081 Yeakle, William 1082 Shoemaker, Enoch 1083 Boorse, John C. 1091 Paxson, Charles 1099 Potts William C. 1100 Ambler, David J. 1102 Jones, John L. 1103 Kenderdine, Benjamin 1104 Weiser, Clement Z. 1112 Super, Philip 1115 Clay, J. C. 1128 Kennedy, John 1130 Kinzie, Daniel 1131 Goshenhoppen Church, Old 1135 Farmar, Edward, seal of 1139 Hamilton, W. C. & Sons, Paper-Mills 1148 St. Peter's Church, Barren Hill 1150 Corson, E. H. 1153 Freas, Jesse W. 1153 Freas, Joseph 1154 Cleaver, Silas, 1156 Cleaver, John 1156 Yeakel, David W. 1157 Coulston, James 1158 Williams, Charles 1160 Biddle, Thomas A., residence of 1162 Washington Headquarters, "James Morris" 1164 Schlatter, Michael 1166 Singerly, William 1175 Singerly, William M., home farm of 1176 Shoemaker, Mathias 1177 Singerly, William M., sheep farm of 1178?? Shoemaker, C. K. 1179 Wentz, Abram 1180 Conard, James P. 1182 Krieble, Charles 1183 Roberts, Enos 1184 Wentz Reformed Church 1186 Custer, David 1191 Morgan, Andrew 1193 Saylor, Andrew J. 1195 Truckness, David 1197 Appendix Illustrations. Rittenhouse Meridian Stone vi The Parade xvi Horse Made up of Military Arms xxii Rittenhouse Clock lxiv iv PREFACE. The "History of Montgomery County" is presented to the public as a memorial of the first century of its corporate existence. Material facts have been diligently sought after and patent labor cheerfully bestowed upon the work. Events are chronicled in narrative rather than in controversial for in, and truth, gleaned from a thousand sources, have been condensed in order to make it a valuable work of reference for the present and future generations. It has been prepared with care and liberality and a determination to make it complete and accurate as, possible. It is submitted to a generous and intelligent people, in the belief that it will meet their approval. The labor of the editor has been shared by William J. Buck, who has devoted many years of his life to the collection of material for the history of the county. Although in enfeebled health, his contributions exceed in number those originally contemplated for the work. His chapter upon Bibliography, the first published in the county, is one of the most valuable contributions to the volume. For assistance furnished him in his present labors, he expresses acknowledgments to John Jordan, Jr., and F. D. Stone, of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania; to Samuel L. Smedley, Howard A. Jenkins, and Professor 0. Seidensticker, of Philadelphia; M. Auge, of Norristown; Dr. George W. Holstein, of Bridgeport; Mark H. Jenkins and B. M. Schmucker, D. D., of Pottstown; William Henry Cresson, of Conshohocken; Hon. William A. Yeakle, of Whitemarsh; S. K. Griniley, of Upper Salford; A. H. Cassel and James Y. Heckler, of Lower Salford, and Charles Mather, of Jenkintown, The acknowledgments of the editor are due to Prof. Oscar C. S. Carter, for his contribution on Geology and Mineralogy; to Charles Z. Weber, M.D., for the history of the Medical Profession; to P. Y. Eisenberg, M.D, for the chapter upon Botany; to J. P Hale Jenkins, Esq., for the history of Charitable and. Benevolent Associations; to Rev. J. S. Hughes, for the history of Methodism in Montgomery County; to Hon. Jones Detwiler, for the history of Whitpain to Henry S. Dotterer, for the history of Frederick; to F. G. Hobson, Esq., for the history of Providence, Upper and Lower; to Mrs. Anna M. Holstein and Mrs. Sarah S. Rex, for information concerning the Patrons of Husbandry; to Hon. Isaac F. Yost and Philip Super, Esq., for valuable information and suggestions concerning the early German settlements and church history of the northern township and to Professors R. F. Hoffecker and J. J. Gotwals, for assistance in the collection of historical data of common schools. The thanks of the editor are gratefully tendered to Hiram Corson, M.D., Hon. Hiram C. Hoover, William M. Clift, Esq., L. H. Davis, Esq., George W. Holstein, M.D., Rev Charles Collins, D. M. Casselberry, Esq., J. K. Harley, and George Lower Esq. To Moses Auge, author of the Biographies, "Men of Montgomery County," the editor and publishers return special acknowledgement for the free use of the work tendered. v To the editors and publishers of the local press, of the county our sense of obligation is herein expressed for their aid and encouragement, in the work, and for the use of their retained files, when in search of valuable material for township histories. To F. G. Hobson, William J. Buck and Henry S. Dotterer, committee on publication of proceedings and antiquarian display of the County Centennial, acknowledgements are due and credit given for the arrangement and classification of the exhibits, the order of which is preserved in this work. And finally, to my daughter, I owe the deepest obligation for a careful and intelligent co-operation and cheerful assistance in the revision of both manuscript and proof, and for many suggestions and notations of important historical facts. T. W. B. CHAPTER I. SELECTED PARTS OF AN ACT FOR ERECTING PART OF THE COUNTY OF PHILADELPHIA INTO SEPARATION COUNTY. SECT I: WHERE AS a great number of the Inhabitants of the county of Philadelphia by their petition have humbly represented to the Assembly of this State the great inconvenience they labor under by reason of their distance from the seat of judicature In the said county; For remedy whereof, SECT II: Be it enacted and it is hereby enacted by the Representatives of the Freeman of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in General Assembly met, and by the authority of the same, That all and singular the lands lying within that part of Philadelphia County bounded as hereinafter described, beginning on the line of Byberry township and the township of the manor of Moreland where it Intersects the line of Bucks County; thence westward along the northern lines of Byberry, Lower Dublin, and Oxford townships to the line dividing the townships of Cheltenham and Bristol; and thence the said line dividing Germantown township from the township of Springfield; and thence along said line to the line dividing the township of Springfield aforesaid from the township of Roxbury to the river Schuylkill; thence down the said river to the line dividing the townships of Blockley and Lower Merion; and thence along said line to the line of the county of Chester; thence by the line of Chester County to the line of Berks County; thence by the line of Berks County to the line of Northampton County; thence by part of the line of Northampton County and the line of Bucks County thence along the said line of Bucks County to the place of beginning, and hereby are, erected into a county, named, and hereafter to be called, "Montgomery County." SECT III: And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the inhabitants of said county of Montgomery shall, at all times hereafter, have and enjoy all and singular the jurisdictions, powers, rights, liberties, and privileges whatsoever which the inhabitants of any other county in this State do, may, or ought to enjoy by any charter of privileges, or the laws of this State, or by any other ways and means whatsoever. SECT IV: And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the inhabitants of each township or district within the said county qualified by law to elect shall meet at some convenient place within their respective townships or districts, at the same time the inhabitants of the several township of the other counties within this State shall meet for like purposes, and choose inspectors; and at the time appointed by law the freemen of said county of Montgomery shall meet at the house of Hannah Thomson, innkeeper, in the township of Norriton, and there elect representatives; and the freemen of the county of Philadelphia shall meet at the State-House, in the city of Philadelphia, and there elect representatives to serve them in Assembly [one counselor], two fit persons for sheriffs two fit persons for coroners, and three commissioners, as by the Constitution and laws of this State are directed in respect to other counties, which representatives so chosen shall be members of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and shall sit and act as such, as fully and as freely as any of the other representatives of this State do, may, can, or ought to do; [and the said counselor, when so chosen, shall sit and act as fully and as freely as any of the other members of the Supreme Executive Council of this State do, may, can, or ought to do. [SECT V. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid That the county of Montgomery shall, until otherwise altered by the Legislature of the State, be represented in the General Assembly by four members, and the county of Philadelphia shall be represented in the General Assembly by five members.] SECT VII. And be it futher enacted by the authority aforesaid That the justices of the Supreme Court of this State shall have like powers, jurisdictions, and authorities within the said county of Montgomery as by law they are vested with and entitled unto in the other counties within this State; and are hereby authorized and empowered, from time to time, to deliver the goal of the said county of capital or other offenders in like manner as they are authorized to do in other counties of this State. SECT X. And be futher enacted by the authority aforesaid, That it shall and may be lawful to and for Henry Pawling, Jun., Jonathan Roberts, George Smith, Robert Shannon, and Henry Cunnard of Whitpaine township, all of the aforesaid county, yeomen, or any three of them, to purchase and take assurance to them, and their heirs, in the name of the commonwealth, of a piece of land situated in some convenient place in the neighborhood of Stoney-run, a contiguous to the river Schuylkill, in Norriton township, in trust and for the use of the inhabitants of the said county, and thereon to erect and build a court-house and prison sufficient to accommodate the public service of said county. SECT XI. And be futher enacted by the authority aforesaid That such part of the money as shall arise from the sale of the old prison and work- house, and lot of ground thereto belonging, in the city of Philadelphia, as directed by an act of General Assembly of this commonwealth to be sold for the use of the city and county aforesaid, be apportioned for the defraying the charges of purchasing the land, building and erecting the court-house and prison aforesaid, in the ratio or proportion of taxes as paid between the said county of Montgomery sad the county of Philadelphia and this city; but in case the same should not be sufficient, it shall and may be lawful, to and for the commissioners and assessors of the said county, or a majority of them, to assess and levy, and they are hereby required to assess and levy, in the same manner as is directed by the act for raising county rates and levies, so much money as the said trustees, or any three of them, shall judge necessary for purchasing the said land and finishing the said court-house and prison. SECT XII. Provided, always,That the sum of money so to be raised does not exceed three thousand pounds current money of this State. SECT XIII. Provided, also, and be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That no action or suit now commenced or depending in the county of Philadelphia against any person living within the bounds of the said county of Montgomery shall be stayed or discontinued, but that the same action or actions already commenced or depending may be prosecuted and judgment thereupon rendered, as if this act had not been made; and that it shall and may he lawful for the justices of the county of Philadelphia to issue any judical process, to be directed to the sheriff or coroner of Philadelphia County, for carrying on and obtaining the effect of the aforesaid suits, which sheriff and coroner shall and are hereby obliged to yield obedience in executing the said writs, and make due return thereof before the justices of the said court for the said county of Philadelphia, as if the parties were living and residing within the same. SECT XXI. AND WHEREAS it is represented, by petition to the General Assembly, that by the lines hereinbefore mentioned a long, narrow neck or point of land, being part of the manor of Moreland, and lying between the townships of Bayberry and Lower Dublin, in the county of Philadelphia, would be included in the county of Montgomery, to the great inconvenience and injury of the inhabitants of the said neck of land, who have prayed that they may remain within the county of Philadelphia. SECT XXII. Be it therefore enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the boundary line of the said county of Montgomery shall be as follows: that is to say, beginning in the line of Bucks County where the same is intersected by the line which divides the townships of Byberry and the manor of Moreland; thence southwesterly along the last-mentioned line to the first corner or turning thereof; and thence on the same southwesterly course to the line of Lower Dublin; and thence westwardly along the northern line of Lower Dublin, and so on, as the lines of the said county of Montgomery are here inbeforedescribed, to the place of beginning; anything hereinbefore contained to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding. Passed Sept.10,1784. TOPOGRAPHY. MONTGOMERY COUNTY, originally a part of Philadelphia County, was created by act of the General Assembly approved the 1Oth day of September, 1784.[above] It is bounded on the Southeast by the line of the city of Philadelphia, on the northeast by Bucks, on the north and northwest by Lehigh and Berks, and on the west and southwest by Chester and Delaware Counties. It is thirty miles in length from the southeast to the northwest line, and about fifteen miles in breadth from the northeast to the southwest line. The lands are agraeeable diversified by well-marked ranges of hills, and with beautiful and fertile valleys. In the southeastern portion of the county these elevations are known as the "Gulf Hills," "Barren Hlls," and "Chelten Hills." In the centre of the county the "Providence" and "Skippack Hills" are most notable, and in the northern part the "Stone Hills" are prominent, rugged, and somewhat mountainous in their character and appearance. All of these ranges of hills are habitable, and all but the Stone Hills are in a high state of cultivation. The latter are heavily timbered, and when cleared of trees and rocks respond liberally to the husbandmen who possess and till them. The valley lands of the county have been a source of perpetual wealth to agriculturists, who prize them not only for their surface products, but also for the useful minerals that abound in them. The Schuylkill, Plymouth, and Perkiomen Valleys are the most noted in the county and present the most beautiful and picturesque scenery. But there is much to admire in following the Wissahickon, Indian, Swamp, and Manatawny Creeks to their sources, draining as they do large areas of rolling country, improved by elegant and commodious residences and farmhouses, with barns and improvements unsurpassed by any agricultural people on the face of the globe. Montgomery County has an approximate area of four hundred and seventy-three square miles, or about three hundred and three thousand and eighty acres. It is divided into thirty Townships and sixty election districts. There are twelve boroughs in the county, all of which will be referred to in subsequent chapters of this work. The Schuylkill River forms the southwestern boundary line between Montgomery and Chester Counties until it reaches the Merion townships; from thence it passes through the country in a southeasterly course until it reaches the Philadelphia line. The county is watered by many streams flowing into the Schuylkill river, - Wisssahickon, Plymouth, Sandy Run, Mill, Rock Hill, Gulf, Valley Indian, Stony, Skippack, Perkiomen, and Manatawny Creeks. The Pennypack and Neshaminy Creek rise in Montgomery County, and pass through Bucks County to the Delaware River. The water-flow and fall of these streams and their tributaries, which form a network of irrigation, fed by thousands perennial springs, rising in every part of the county, were early utilized by the settlers, who erected dams, and built on the shores grist-, sawm-, fulling-, oil-, paper-, powder-, and rolling-mills, forges, factories and tanneries. In 1795 there were reported ninety-six grist-mills, sixty-one saw-mills, four forges, six fulling-mills, and ten paper-mills. Many of these grist-mills existed prior to and during the Revolutionary war, doing active service for the contending armies while in occupancy of this section of a country. In the early era of public improvements Montgomery County was well marked by public roads leading from the city of Philadelphia to the interior settlements of the colony and State. The Lancaster road and similar highways leading Reading and Bethlehem, with many parallel cartways, opened up the county settlements at a very early period. These great thoroughfares were soon intersected by public roads running from the Delaware to the Schuylkill Rivers, increasing in number and importance until the region now comprising the county was accessible from all points by well-graded roads leading in the direction of Philadelphia, then the capital of the county and of the State as late 1799, and the capital city of the nation as late as 1800. The general conformation of the face of the country, in Montgomery County repeats in miniature that which has rendered the natural scenery of New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and West Virginia so notable. The ranges of hills run uniformly northeast and southwest, as do the more distant line of the Catskills, Blue Ridge, and Alleghenies. As the Hudson River forces itself through the Narrows, the Delaware at the Water Gap, the Susquehanna between Harrisburg and Port Deposit, the Potomac at Harper's Ferry, so the Schuylkill River in finding its way to the Delaware, in the same direction, cuts its way through rock-hills at Conshohocken and again Fairmount, Philadelphia. The primitive condition of the area of country now known as Montgomery County was land heavily timbered with oak, hickory, and chestnut. The consumption of wood for fuel prior to the introduction of anthracite and bituminous coal, was very great in Eastern Pennsylvania. Large quantities were used in making charcoal for furnaces; all lime was made by use of wood for fuel; every household had its "wood-pile," while the supply of Philadelphia City constituted a trade of vital interest to those owning and residing upon lands within twenty and thirty miles of the great city. Time was, and possibly is within the remembrance of those still living among us, when it was the work of each succeeding year to clear one or more acres of woodland, and the wood sold counted as a part of the yearly profit of the farm. This wealth of primitive forest was the foundation of many substantial fortunes in years past, where, by means of judicious purchases made, the sale of the "wood-leaf" paid for the farm, and opened up an increasing acreage for the growth of grass and cereals. Tradition says this stump or "new land" was a test point in the character of the owner. If he was a provident, industrious man, his "new land" would seasonably blossom with buckwheat; if thriftless, selling his wood to pay taxes and incidental expenses of his attendance upon militia trainings and horse-races, his new land would be left uncultivated and overgrown with briers and brush. Fifty years ago farms denuded of woodland were exceptional, and their marketable value greatly depreciated. The old characteristic farmer of Montgomery County took a commendable pride in maintaining from ten to twenty acres of primitive forest. It was useful in many ways, for fuel, building, and fencing, and, whether deemed ornamental or not, had a rare charm for him. It was these parks of woodlands that preserved to hunters until within the last quarter of a century choice haunts for squirrel and bird; but the close of the first century of the county witnesses the final obliteration of all hunting-grounds lying between the Delaware and the Schuylkill. The surface soil varies greatly in different parts of the county. In passing inland from tide-water levels, alluvial flats, and submarine formations, rock-faced bluffs are found at Chestnut Hill, four hundred feet above tide-water mark. The northwestern slope of these hills descends to the basin of the Plymouth Valley, through which runs a belt of limestone some two miles in width, with rich beds of hematite iron ore, white and blue marble, limestone, soapstone, and large masses of gray rock, easily quarried, and largely used in heavy masonry. This limestone belt crosses the Schuylkill River between Conshohocken and Swedes' Ford, and extends in a westerly direction to Howeltown, in the Schuylkill Valley. The soil of this locality is very productive, and is considered by many the most valuable in the county for agricultural purposes. Contiguous to the Plymouth Valley are the Sandy Hills, a light, luminous soil, easily worked and productive, but often seriously affected by drought. The rolling lands northwest of the valley, drained by Indian, Skippack, Perkiomen, and Manatawny Creeks and their tributaries, are principally of the red shales and sandstones of the "middle secondary" formation, with many intervening areas of clay soil. The primitive condition of this soil was unproductive as compared with that of the Schuylkill and Plymouth Valleys; but under the skillful husbandry of the modern farmer, and a liberal use of lime, manure, and fertilizers, this vast region of country yields abundant harvests, and supports a prosperous population equal in numbers to the square mile mile with the more favored limestone or valley lands. The scenery abounding along the Schuylkill, Wissahickon, Perkiomen, and their tributaries is among the most picturesque in the Middle States, while the landscape, from the successive ranges of hills, is extended, and conveys to the observing eye a vision of pastoral peace and plenty. The topography of the county, as shown by accompanying maps,-that of Holme's original survey and the recent one prepared for this work, shows the progress of two centuries in the matter of public roads and highways, and the subdivisions of the county into townships and boroughs. In 1681 it consisted of manors and large tracts, or proprietary grants, held by comparatively few persons, who lived a frontier life, in almost daily contact with native tribes of Indians. Since then its square miles and broad acres, under the equalizing operation of our laws of descent, have passed through at least six generations, and thousands of purchasers have acquired titles to soil that have always been a prize in the inventory of worldly possessions of those who lived and died on the hills and in the valleys of Montgomery. The first era of public improvement demanded macadamized highways from tide-water to the interior. These highways still exist, monuments of early engineering, traversing the hills and mountains of the State. The increased tonnage of merchandise on these roads, and the costly character of teams and means of transportation,-the old Conestoga wagon,- soon induced the bridging of all important streams, many of which crossed these highways, as surveyed northwest of Philadelphia, within the lines now constituting Montgomery County. The spirit of public improvement seized on the Schuylkill River, and by a system of dams, locks, and canals connected it with the Susquehanna, by means of which lumber, coal, and all manner of merchandise found its way through the county to Philadelphia. Many travelers sought the "fast packet line" pulled through at a trot, with frequent changes of horses, it being thought a far more luxurious way of reaching the interior than by stage. This system of navigation still exists on the Schuylkill, but is now confined to coal, lumber, lime, and stone. It is no longer a rival for mail, fast freight, or passenger traffic. The use of steam opened up a new era of public improvement. The construction of railroads speedily followed. These modern highways of travel and traffic found easy grades and eligible locations on the shores of streams and over depressions upon the face of the country, sought out by skillful engineers. The topographical face of Montgomery County is traversed by three of the best-constructed and most liberally equipped railroads in the country, with a number of lateral roads connecting these parallel trunk lines. The Philadelphia and Reading Company drain the Schuylkill Valley, with branch roads in Plymouth, Stony Creek, Perkiomen, Pickering, and Oley Valleys. The North Pennsylvania Railroad, now under the management of the Philadelphia and Reading, crosses the "divide" between the Schuylkill and Delaware Rivers, and extends to Bethlehem, having connections with the Bound Brook, New Hope, and Doylestown Railroads, and with the Lehigh Valley system of railroads. The trunk line of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company passes through Lower Merion township. The Philadelphia and Schuylkill Valley Railroad Company, now leased to the Pennsylvania Company, is constructing a new line of road from their main track at Fifty-first Street, Philadelphia, thence up the Schuylkill Valley, leaving the county at the line opposite Phoenixville. When this road is completed, Montgomery County will be most advantageously traversed with these modern highways. There are accompaniments to these public improvements of novel and increasing interest to the populous districts of country through which they pass-, the telegraph and, later, the telephone. No system of railroading is now deemed complete without these necessary adjuncts to the safety of public travel, the prompt movement of freights, and the methodical dispatch of business accumulating at centres of production, trade, and transatlantic shipment. These means of direct and rapid communication with all parts of the country, focalizing as they pass through the county and converging at the contiguous seaport city of Philadelphia, gives to the locality important topographical advantages. Lines of rapid transit, capable of transporting large bodies of men and corresponding tonnage of freight, are now essential agencies in travel and in conducting the exchange of commodities of the continent in time of peace as well as in time of war. They are anchored in the capitalized enterprise of the country, and are indispensable to the success of the industrial pursuits in agriculture, manufacture, and commerce. Their adaptation to the necessities and exigencies of war was well illustrated in the late Rebellion. The facility with which troops and supplies were transported to the line of the Susquehanna in the summer of 1863 was of great importance in connection with movements relied upon to check the invasion of Gen. Lee, and in making the great battle of Gettysburg the turning-point of the war. In the event of foreign war, hostile agencies would first be directed to the capture or destruction of our seaport towns and cities. In that event Philadelphia and all the commercial advantages centring there would be a tempting prize to a maritime enemy. In such a contingency, one that may occur, all can readily see the importance that would be attached to the present topographical face of the county, checkered as it is with a network of trunk and lateral lines of railroads. What our common roads were to General Washington and Lord Howe in 1777-78 in the strategical movement of troops from the Brandywine to the Delaware for the defense and capture of the City of Penn, our railroads in an enlarged sense would be in possible warlike movements, involving issues of greater importance than those referred to in the early history of the country. The surface elevations and topographical structure of Montgomery County has been heretofore made contributory to the growth and development of the region by utilizing its flowing waters for purposes of irrigation and propelling mills and factories. The sanitary requirements of Philadelphia demand a liberal extension of its water-works, and skillful engineers have ascertained, by levels made and in progress, that the upper Perkiomen Valley has an elevation with a volume of water and storage capacity sufficient to meet present and future wants of the great city for a century to come, and furnish a healthful and perpetual supply of pure water. The true latitude and longitude of Montgomery County appears to have been ascertained with great precision in 1769-70 by David Rittenhouse and his distinguished scientific contemporaries. [See list of Illustrations to view picture of David Rittenhouse] The astronomical observations which preceded the terrestrial measurements were made, taking the "Norriton Observatory" as a place of beginning. The extraordinary importance attached at the time to the work of these learned men, and the high standard of authority since conceded to them, renders of historical interest some account of their labors and the circumstances connected with the event. Latitude and Longitude, Norriton Observatory- Norriton township created by judicial proceedings, 1730, then becoming a geographical subdivision of Philadelphia, enjoys a world-wide celebrity in having had situated within its boundaries the "Norriton Observatory," at which place astronomical observations were made, and reported as "An Account of the Transit of Venus over the Sun's Disk, observed at Norriton, in the County of Philadelphia and Province of Pennsylvania, June 3, 1769." [see fn-p5, below] [See list of Illustrations to view Norriton Observatory] It was at the point where then stood the "Norriton Observatory", about fifty feet north of the famous old residence, still standing, that David Rittenhouse, assisted by Archibald McKean and Jesse Lukens, met on July 2, 1770, to commence the work of surveying a line from the observatory to the State-House Square at Philadelpia. Mr. Rittenhouse having ascertained the latitude and longitude at the point with acknowledged precision, and his reputation for exactness in all astronomical observations and calculations being duly credited in scientific and official circles in this country and in Europe, he was selected to report the difference of latitude and longitude between the "Norriton Observatory" and the State-House Square at Philadelphia, and harmonize the work with that of Mason and Dixon's Observatory at the south point of said city. [transcriber's notes: text continues after footnote - see p7 below] [fn-p5-6] The following gentlemen were appointed by the American Philosophical Society, located at Philadelphia, to make the observations and astronomical calculations: William Smith, D.D., Provost of the College of Philadelphia; John Lukens Esq., Surveyor-General of Pennsylvania; David Rittenhouse,A.M., of Norriton; and John Sellers, Esq., Representative in Assembly for Chester. Communicated to the society July 20, 1769, by direction and in behalf of the committee, by Dr. Smith. "GENTLEMEN,-Among the various public-spirited designs that have engaged the attention of this society since its first institution none does them more honor than their early resolution to appoint committees of their own members to make as many observations, in different places, of the rare phenomenon, the transit of Venus over the sun's disk, as they had any probability of being able to defray the expense of, either from their own funds or the public assistance they expected. As the members of the Norriton Committee live at some distance from each other, I am therefore, at their request, now to digest and lay before you in one view the whole of our observations in that place, distinguishing, however, the part of each observer, and going back to the first preparations; for I am persuaded that the dependence which the learned world may place on any particular transit account will be in proportion to the previous and subsequent care which is found to have been taken in a series of accurate and well-conducted observations for the ascertaining the going of the time-pieces, and fixing the latitude and longitude of the place of observations, etc. And I am the more desirous to be particular in these points in order to do justice to Mr. Rittenhouse, one of our committee, to whose extraordinary skill and diligence is owing whatever advantage may be derived in these respects to our observation of the transit itself. It is further presumed that astronomers in distant countries will be desirous to have not only the work and results belonging to each particular transit observation, but the materials also, that they may examine and conclude for themselves. And this may be more particularlyrequisite in a new observatory, such as Norriton, the name of which has perhaps never before been heard of by distant astronomers, and therefore its latitude and longitude are to be once fixed from principles that may be satisfactory on the present as well as on any future occasion. "Our great discouragement at our first appointment was the want of proper apparatus, especially good telescopes with micrometers. The generosity of our Provincial Assembly soon removed a great part of this discouragement, not only by their vote to purchase one of the best reflecting telescopes, with a DollandΌs micrometer, but likewise by their subsequent donation of one hundred pounds for erecting observatories and defraying other incidental expenses. It was forseen than on the arrival of this telescope, added to such private ones as might be procured in the city, together with fitting up the instruments belonging to the honorable the Proprietaries of the providence, viz., the equal-altitude and transit instrument and the large astronomical sector, nothing would be wanting for the city observatory in the State-House Square but a good time-piece, which was easily to be procured. We remained, however, still at a loss how to furnish the Norriton Observatory, but even this difficulty gradually vanished. Early in September, 1768, soon after the nomination of our committee, I received a letter from that worthy and honorable gentleman, Thomas Penn, Esq., one of the Proprietaries of this providence, which he wrote at the desire of the Rev. Mr. Makelyne, Astronomer Royal, expressing their desire 'that we would exert ourselves in observing the transit, for which situation would be so favorable,' and inclosing some copies of Mr. Makelyne's printed directions for that purpose. This gave me an opportunity, which I immediately embraced, of acquainting Mr. Penn what preparation we had already made, and what encouragement the Assembly had given in voting one hundred pounds sterling for the purchase of one reflecting telescope and micrometer for the city observatory; but that we would be at a great loss for a telescope of the like construction of for the Norriton Observatory, and requesting him to order a reflector of two or two and a half feet, with Dolland's micrometer, to be got ready as soon as possible in London. It was not long before I had the pleasure of hearing that Mr. Penn had ordered such a telescope, which came to hand about the middle of May, with a most obliging letter, expressing the satisfaction he had in hearing of the spirit shown at Philadelphia for observing this curious phenomenon when it should of happen, and concluding as follows: 'I have sent by Capt. Sparks a reflecting telescope, with DollandΌs micrometer, exact to your request, which I hope will come safe to hand. After making your observations, I desire you will present it, in my name, to the college. Messrs. Mason and Dixon tell me they never used a better than that which I formerly sent to the Library Company of Philadelphia, with which a good observation may be made, through it has no micrometer.' We were now enabled to furnish the Norriton Observatory as follows viz: "1. A Gregorian reflector, about 2 f. focal length, with a Dolland's micrometer. This telescope has four different magnifying powers, viz: 55, 95, 130, 200 times, by means of two tubes, containing eye-glasses that magnify differently, and two small speculums of different focal distances. Made by Naire; used by Dr. Smith. "2. A refractor of 42 f., its magnifying power about 140. The glasses were sent from London, with the large reflector, and belonged to Harvard College, New England; but as they did not arrive enough to be sent to that place before the transit, they were fitted up here by Mr. Rittenhouse and used by Mr. Lukens. "3. Mr. Rittenhouse's refractor, with an object-glass of 38 f. focus, and a convex eye-glass of 3 inches, magnifying about 144 times. Used by himself. Both these refractors, as well as the reflector, were in most exquisite order. "4. An equal-altitude instrument, its telescope three and a half feet focal length, with two horizontal hairs, and a vertical one in its focus, firmly supported on a stone pedestal, and easily adjusted to a plummet wire 4 feet in length by 2 screws, one moving it in a north and south, the other in an east and west direction. "5. A transit telescope, fixed in the meridian on an axis with fine steel points, so that the hair in its focus can move in no other direction than along the meridian; in which are two marks, south and north, about 330 yards distance each, to which it can be readily adjusted in a horizontal position by one screw, as it can in a vertical position by another screw. "6. An excellent time-piece, having for its pendulum a flat steel bar, with a bob weighing about 12 pounds, and vibrating in a final arch. It goes eight days, does not flop why wound up, beats dead seconds, and is kept in motion by a weight of 5 pounds. These last three articles were also Mr. Rittenhouse's property, and made by himself. "7. An astronomical quadrant, two and half f. radius, made by Sisson, the property of the East Jersey Proprietors, under the care of the Right Honorable William Earl of Stirling surveyor-general of that province, from whom Mr. Lukens procured the use of it, and sent it up to Mr. Rittenhouse for ascertaining the latitude of the observatory. Thus we were at length completely furnished with every instrument proper for our work. As Mr. Rittenhouse's dwelling at Norriton is about 20 miles northwest of Philadelphia, our other engagements did not permit Mr Lukens or myself to pay much attention to the necessary preparations. But we knew that we had intrusted them to a gentlemen on the spot, who had, joined to a complete skill in mechanics, so extensive as astronomical and mathematical knowledge that the use, management, and even the construction of the necessary apparatus were perfectly familiar to him. Mr. Lukens and myself could not set out till Thursday, June 1st; but on our arrival there we found every preparation so forward that we had little to do but to examine and adjust our respective telescopes to the distinct vision. He had fitted up the different instruments, and made a great number of observations to ascertain the going of his time-piece, and so determined the latitude and longitude of the observatory. The laudable pains he had taken in these material articles will best appear from the work itself, which he has committed into my hands, with the following modest introduction, giving me a liberty which his own accuracy, care, and abilities leave no room to exercise: "'NORRITON, July 18, 1769. "'DEAR SIR,- The inclosed is the best account I can give of the contacts as I observed them and what I saw during the interval between them. I should be glad you would contract them, and also the other papers, into a smaller compass, as I would have done myself if I had known how. I beg you would not copy anything merely because I have written it, but leave out what you think superfluous. "'I am, with great esteem and affection, "'Yours, etc., DAVID RITTENHOUSE "'To Rev.Dr. Smith.'" Extract from David Rittenhouse's Report of the Transit of Venus, June 3, 1769, observed at the Norriton Observatory.- "'Early in November, 1768, I began to erect an observatory, agreeable to the resolutions of the American Philosophical Society, but, through various disappointments from workmen and weather, could not complete it till the middle of April, 1769. I had for sometime expected the use of a an equal-altitude instrument from Philadelphia; but finding I could not depend on having it, I fell to work and made one of as simple a construction as I could. March 20th the instrument was finished and put up out of doors, the observatory not being yet ready. "'I had for some weeks before this, however, with my 36 f. refractor, observed eclipses of Jupiter's satellites in such a manner that, though my equal-altitude instrument was not finished, and consequently I could not set my timepiece to the true noon, I should, nevertheless, be able to tell the time of those eclipses afterwards when the instruments should be ready. For this purpose I observed almost every fair evening the time by the clock when the bright star in Orion disappeared behind a fixed obstacle, by applying my eye to a small sight-hole made through a piece of brass fastened to a strong post. From this time to May 20 the clock was altered several times, once taken down and cleaned, removed back to the observatory, and regulated anew. Care was taken, however, to observe equal attitudes of the sun on the days preceding and following any visible eclipse of the 1st satellite, when the weather would permit. May 20, in the morning, the clock was set up for the last time pretty near the mean time. It had no provision for preventing the irregularities arising from heat and cold, nor could I find leisure to apply any contrivance of this sort. This day I likewise put wires instead of hairs in the telescope of the equal-altitude instrument. The ill state of my health would not permit me to sit up at nights to take equal altitudes of the stars. I was, therefore, obliged to content myself with those of the sun only.' "It has been mentioned before that it was on Thursday afternoon, June 1, that Mr. Lukens and myself arrived at Norriton, with a design to continue with Mr. Rittenhouse till the transit should be over. The prospect before us was very discouraging. That day and several preceding had been generally overcast with clouds and frequent heavy rains, a thing not very common for so long a period at that season of the year in this part of America. But by one of these transitions which we often experience here, on Thursday evening the weather became perfectly clear, and continued the day following, as well as the day of the transit, in such a state of serenity, splendor of sunshine, and purity of atmosphere that not the least appearance of a cloud was to be seen. June 2 and the forenoon of June 3 were spent in making necessary preparations, such as examining and marking the foci of our several telescopes, particularly the reflector, with and without the micrometer. The reflector was also placed on a polar axis, and such supports contrived for resisting the ends of the refractors as might give them a motion as nearly parallel to the equator as such hasty preparations would admit. Several diameters of the sun were taken, and the micrometer examined by such other methods as the shortness of the time would allow. The sun was so intensely bright on the day of the transit that, instead of using the colored glasses sent from England with the reflector, I put on a deeply-smoked glass prepared by Mr. Lukens, which gave a much more beautiful, natural, and well-defined appearance of the sun's disk. The smoked glass was fastened on the eye-tube with little beeswax, and there was no occasion to change it the whole day, as there was not the least cloud or intermission of the sunΌs splendor. Mr. Rittenhouse, in his previous projection, had made the first external contact to be June 3, 2 h. 11' for lat. 40[deg] N., and long. 5[h] W. of Greenwich, on a supposition of the sun's parallax being 8". He happened to be very near the truth, for at 2[h] 10' 33", mean time, the first external contact was at Norriton, lat. 40 [deg.] 9' 56" N., and long., 5[h] 1' 31" West. Other calculations made it generally from 6' to 8' later for the latitude and longitude. Though this calculation was not given to be entirely depended on, yet it was sufficient to make us keep what, in the sea phrase, would be called a good look-out; and therefore at one o'clock, we took off the micrometer, which had been fitted to the reflector with a power of 95, and adjusted it to distinct vision, with the same power to observe the contacts, and during the hour that was to intervene from one to two we resolved to keep an alternate watch through the reflector on that half of the sun's limb where Venus was certainly expected to touch, while the others not thus employed were fixing what more remained to be done, as follows, viz.: First, That each of us might the better exercise our own judgement without being influenced or [See Accompanying Illustrations to view picture of David Rittenhouse's chart, "Projection of the Transit of Venus over the Sun as observed at Norriton in Pennsylvania June 3, 1769."] thrown into any agitation by the others, it was agreed to transact everything by signals, and that one should not know what another was doing. The situation of the telescopes, the two refractors being at some distance without the observatory, and the reflector within, favored this design. Secondly, two persons, Mr. Sellers one of our committee, and Mr. Archibald McClean, both well accustomed to matters of this kind, were placed at one window of the observatory, to count the clock and take the signal Mr. Lukens. Two of Mr. Rittenhouse's family, whom he had often employed to count the clock for him in his observations, were placed at another window to take his signal. My telescope was placed near the clock, and I was to count its boats and set down my own time. These preliminaries being settled, we prepared at two o'clock to sit down to our respective telescopes, or, I should rather say, lie down to the refractors, on account of the sun's great height. As there was a large concourse of the inhabitants of the county, and many from the city, we were apprehensive that our scheme for silence would be defeated by some of them speaking when they should see any of the signals for the contacts, and therefore we found it necessary to tell them that the success of our observation would depend on their keeping a profound silence till the contacts were over. And, to do them justice, during the 12' that ensued there could not have been a more solemn pause of silence and expection if each individual had been waiting for the sentence that was to give him life or death. So regular and quiet was the whole that, far from hearing a whisper or word spoken, I did not even hear the feet of the counters who passed behind me from the windows to the clock, and was surprised, when I turned from my telescope to the clock, to find them all there before me, counting up their seconds to an even number, as I imagined, from the deep silence, that my associates had yet seen nothing of Venus. As the contacts are among the most essential articles relative to this phenomenon, it is material, before we set down the times, to give a particular account of the manner in which they were observed and the cirumstances attending them." Mr. Rittenhouse's Account of the Contacts- "At 2[h] 11' 39" per clock, the Rev. Mr. Barton, of Lancaster, who assisted me at the telescope, on receiving my signal, as had been agreed, instantaneously communicated it to the counters at the window by waving a handkerchief, who, walking softly to the clock, counting seconds as they went along, noted down their times separately, agreeing to the same second; and three seconds sooner than this, to the best of my judgment, was the time when the least impression made by Venus on the sun's limb could be seen by my telescope. When the planet had advanced about one-third of its diameter on the sun, as I was steadily viewing its progress, my sight was suddenly attracted by a beam of light which broke through on that side of Venus yet off the sun. Its figure was that of a broadbased pyramid, situated about 40 or 45 degrees on the limb of Venus, from a line passing through her centre and the sun's, and to the left hand of that line as seen through my telescope, which inverted. About the same time the sun's light began to spread round Venus on each side from the points where their limbs intersected each other. As Venus advanced the point of the pyramid still grew lower, its circular base wider, until it met the light which crept round from the points of intersection of the two limbs, so that when half the planet appeared on the sun, the other half yet off the sun was entirely surrounded by a semicular light, best defined on the side next to the body of Venus, which continually grew brighter till the time of the internal contact. Imagination cannot form anything more beautifully serene and quiet than was the air during the whole time, nor did I ever see the sun's limb more perfectly defined or more free from any tremulous motion, to which his great altitude undoubtedly contributed much. When the internal contact, as it is called, drew nigh, I foresaw that it would be very difficult to fix the time with any certainty, on account of the great breadth and brightness of the light which surrounded that part of Venus yet off the sun. After some consideration I resolved to judge as well as I could of the coincidence of the limbs, and accordingly gave the signal for the internal contact at 2[h] 28' 45" by the clock, and immediately began to count seconds, which any one who has been accustomed to it may do for a minute or two pretty near the truth. In this manner I counted no less than 1' 32" before the effect of the atmosphere of Venus on the sun's limb wholly disappeared, leaving that part of the limb as well defined as the rest. From this I concluded that I had given the internal contact too soon, and the times given by the other observers at Norriton confirm me in this opinion." [end fn p5-6] [continuing text p7:] "ACCOUNT OF THE TERRESTRIAL MEASUREMENT OF THE DIFFERENCE OF LONGITUDE AND LATITUDE BETWEEN THE OBSERVATORIES OF NORRITON AND PHILADELPHIA. To the American Philosophical Society, etc.: "GENTLEMEN, -Agreeable to the appointment you made (at the request of Astronomer Royal), Mr. Lukens, Mr. Rittenhouse, and myself, furnished with proper instruments, met at Norriton, early on Monday July 2d, for the above service, and took to our assistance two able and experienced surveyors, viz.: Mr. Archibald McClean and Mr. Jesse Lukens. The first thing we did was accurately to ascertain the variation of our compass, which we found 3[deg.] 8' by Mr. Rittenhouse's meridian line. We then carefully measured our chain, and adjusted it to the exact standard of 66 feet. In the execution of the work , whenever the instrument was duly set, each course was taken off and entered down separately by three different persons, who likewise kept separate accounts of all the distances, and superintended the stretching of every chain, and the leveling and plumbing it whenever there was any ascent or descent in the road. July 4th we finished the survey, and Mr. McClean, Mr. Jesse Lukens, and myself then agreed to bring out the difference of latitude and departure separately on each course and distance to four or five decimal places; and there was so great an agreement in this part of the work when executed that we had all the same results to a few links, and the whole was at last brought to agree in every figure by comparing the few places where there was any difference, which scarce ever went farther than the last decimal place. Mr. McClean and Mr. Lukens took the trouble to bring out their work by multiplying each distance by the natural sine of the course to the radius unity for the departure, and by the co-sine for the latitude. Mine was done by Robertson's tables, and the following results obtained: [table p7] Distances. Northing. | Southing. | Easting. | Westing. -------------------------|---------------|--------------|----------------- Chains,Links. 1630.79 00.1447 | 1205.8095 | 891.3616 | 39.5180 | 00.1447 | 39.5180 | -----------------------------------------|--------------------------------- Total Southing 1205.6648 | 851.8436 Total Easting _________________________________________|_________________________________ Chains. Log. "Then N A,dif.of lat. ............ 1205.6648 308122.65 To A E, depart ......................... 851.8436 293035.99 As rad................................... ........ 10 _____________ To tang.of E N A,the course 35[deg.]14'13"08" of the .................................... ......... 9.8491334 And sine of 35[deg.]14' 33"08 .............. ........ 9.7612048 To rad ...................................... ........ 10 As 851.8436 ................................. ........ 2.9303599 ______________ To N E. the distance in a straight line == 1476.2336 chains ......................... ....... 3.1691551 [sketch of triagulation - p 7L] But the course Of N E being .............. ........35[deg.]14'33"E. With respect only to N A, the magnetic fourth, add the variation........................... ...... 3[deg.] 8'0" Which gives ......................... ...... 38[deg.]22'33"E. for the course of N E. with respect to N S, the true meridian. "So that the true course and distance from Norriton Observatory to Philadelphia Observatory in a straight line, N E, is S. 38[deg.] 22' 33" E. 1476.2336 chains. "Then rad ............. ........ 10 To co-sine of ........... 38[deg.] 22' 33" 9.8942913 As N E ................... 1476.2336 3.1691551 ________ To N S, true diff. of lat.. 1157.3013 3.0634464 And rad.................... .......... 10 To sine of ................ 38[deg.] 22'33" 9.7929637 As N E .................... 1476.2336 3.1691551 __________ To S E,true diff. of long.. 916.4713 2.9621188 "Thus we have- "Norriton Observatory from Philadelphia Observatory: Chains. Feet North 1157.30 = 76381.8 = 12' 35".7 diff.of lat. West 916.47 = 60487.02 = 00' 52" of time = 13' diff of longitude== 9'.95 of a great circle or geographical mile. "But the observatory in State-House Square, with respect to the fourth part of the city of Philadelphia (to which Messers. Mason and Dixon refer their observation), is : Chains. Feet. N. 40.0685 = 2644.5 == 26".16 diff of lat. W. 28.7695 = 1898.8 == 1".6 of time. "Therefore Norriton Observatory, with respect to the southernmost point of Philadelphia, is: Chains. Feet. North 1157.30 + 40.0685 = 1197.3685 = 79,026.3 = 13' 01".86 diff of lat. West 916.47 + 28.7695 = 945.2395 = 62,385.8 = 00' 53".6 of time. "Hence by the above measurement and work we get Norriton Observatory 52" of time west of the observatory in the State-House Square, which is exactly what we got by that excellent element, the external contact of Mercury with the sun, Nov. 9, 1769. The internal contact gave it something more, owing, no doubt, to the difference that will arise among observers in determining the exact moment when the thread of light is completed; and the mean of all our other observations gives the difference of meridians between Norriton and Philadelphia only 4" of time more than the terrestrial measurement and the external contact of Mercury gave it, which may be taken an a very great degree of exactness for celestial observations, if we consider that the difference of meridians between the long-established observatories of Greenwich and Paris, as Mr. De La Lande writes, Nov. 18,1762, was not then determined within 20" of time; for he says, 'Some called it 9' 15", others 9' 40", but that he himself commonly used 9' 20", though he could not tell from what observations it was deduced.' And it may be needless to add that a short distance is as liable to the differences arising from the use of instruments in celestial observations as a greater one. Nevertheless, if we apply the difference of meridians between Philadelphia and Norriton got by this measurement (viz., 52" instead of 56") to the Rev. Mr. Ewing's collection of Jupiter's satellites, rejecting those of the 2d sat., and also the immersions of May 5th, as too near the opposition, we shall get Philadelphia 5h. 0' 37" and Norriton 5h. 1' 29" west from Greenwich. This result is what ought to arise from a diminution of 4" of time in the difference of meridians by dividing that difference, and bringing the meridian 2" more west and the other 2" more east, and we believe future observations will confirm this as exceeding near the truth." "The latitude of Norriton comes out by the measurement 25".09 less north, with respect to the southernmost point of the city of Philadelphia, than Mr.Rittenhouse's observations give it; and if the latitude of that point of the city be taken, as fixed by Messrs. Mason and Dixon, at 39[deg.] 56' 29".4, then the lat. of Norriton (neglecting fractions of seconds) will be 40[deg.] 9' 31", instead of 40[deg.] 9' 56". However, as both were as fixed by celestial observations and experienced men the small difference ought perhaps to be divided; and if a mean be taken to reconcile it with the terrestrial measurements, the lat. of the south point of Philadelphia would be 39[deg.] 56' 42"; and that of Norriton 40[deg.] 9'43". But as Mr. Rittenhouse had only Sisson's two and a half feet quadrant, and Messrs. Mason and Dixon were furnished with a complete astronomical sector, and did their work to fix the lines of two provinces, it may be thought that their determination is most to be relied upon. Nevertheless, the whole difference of 25" in the celestial arc is so inconsiderable as not to give 40 chains on the surface of the earth. All the results in the above work are got without any sensible error, by plain trigonometry, as the different arcs are so very small. In estimating the length of a degree to deduce the difference of latitude between the two observations, the spheroidal figure of the earth was taken into consideration, and the degree measured by Messrs. Mason and Dixon, in mean latitude 39[deg.]12',-- 363,771 feet,-- was made the standard. which being lengthened in the ratio of 59.7866 to 59.8035, gave 363,874 for a degree of the meridian in the mean latitude between Philadelphia and Norriton, which is only 103 feet more than the deg.in lat. 39[deg.] 12', and makes but a fraction of a second difference in the latitude, so that it might have been disregarded. With respect to seconds of time in longitude, no sensible difference can be obtained in the small difference of about 11 miles, whether we consider the earth as a sphere or spheroid. In bringing out the 52" of time diff. of long., a degree of the equator was taken in proportion to Messrs, Mason and Dixon's degree of the merid.in lat. 39".12, in the ratio of 60 to 59.7866 (agreeable to Mr. Simspon's [sic]table), which gave 365,070 for a degree of the equator. By taking a degree of longitude as fixed at the middle point by Mr. Maskelyne in lat. 38[deg.] 7' 35", and saying as the co-sine of that lat. is to co-sine of mean latitude between Philadelphia and Norriton, so is the length of a degree of long at the middle point (viz., 284,869.5 feet) to the length of a degree in mean lat. between Norriton and Philadelphia, the result was got 52".13, being only thirteen hundredth parts of a second more." Philadelphia, Aug. 17, 1770, William Smith, Norriton Observatory, N. Latitude, 40[deg.] 9' 43". NOTE. -The true latitude and longitude of Philadelphia we give from a compilation made by Prof. B.A. Gould for one of the numbers of "The American Ephemeris and Nautical Almanac." The data are determined for the observatories in each case (Independence Hall being here taken): PHILADELPHIA, N. Latitude, 39[deg.] 57' 7.5". (MS.communication from Prof. Kendall). Longitude E. from Washington (U. S. Coast Survey): m. s. By 5 sets Eastern clock-signals 7 33.66 By 5 sets Western clock signals 33.60 ______________ Mean.............. 7 33.63 The mean,by comparison with the next East station(Jersey City),is 7 33.64 Hence the longitude in arc is 358[deg.] 6' 35.4" from Washington, and from Greenwich, 75[deg.] 9' 23.41" [fn p8 below] [fn p8] On July 5, 1773, the Right Honorable the Earl of Dartmouth, who was at that time Colonial Secretary (he had succeeded Lord Hillsborough one year before) in the cabinet of George III., wrote to the Deputy Governor of Pennsylvania (John Penn, the son of Richard Penn, who was the fifth child of William Penn by his second wife, Hannah Callowhill) propounding certain "Heads of Enquiry relative to the present State and Condition" of Pennsylvania. The answers to these inquiries were transmitted to Lord Dartmouth under date of Jan. 30, 1775. In the communication the following occurs: "The City of Philadelphia, situated near the Conflux of Delaware and one of its chief Branches, the Schuylkill, is the most considerable Town In the Province, or indeed in North America. The State-House in this City lies in North Latitude, 39[deg.] 56' 53"; its Longitude from the Royal Observatory at Greenwich, computed West,75[deg.] 8' 45"; or, in time, 5 hours and 35 seconds. This Latitude and Longitude were both fixed by accurate astronomical Observation at the Transit of Venus 1769." In the Journal of Mason and Dixon, November,1763, we learn that those surveyors established an observatory in the southern part of Philadelphia, in order to find the starting-point of the parallel which they were to run off. Their point of departure was "the most Southern part of Philadelphia," which they ascertained to be the north wall of a house on Cedar Street, occupied by Thomas Plumstead and Joseph Huddle, and their observatory must have been immediately adjacent to this. The latitude of this point they determined to be 30[deg.] 56' 29" north. In 1845, when the northeast corner-stone of Maryland could not be found (it had been undermined by a freshet, and was then taken and built into the chimney of a neighboring farm-house), the Legislatures of Maryland Pennsylvania, and Delaware appointed a joint commission, who employed Col. Graham, of the United States Topographical Engineers, to review Mason and Dixon's work so far as was requisite in order to restore the displaced corner. Col. Graham, in the course of his measurements, determined the latitude of the Cedar Street observatory to be 39[deg.] 56' 37.4" north This is 8.3" more than the latitude given by Mason and Dixon. If we add the distance from Cedar Street to Chestnut Street, 2650 feet, we have for Independence Hall latitude as determined by Mason and Dixon, 39[deg.] 56' 55"; as determined by Col. Graham, 39[deg.] 57' 03". The slight variation in these calculations is surprising. That reported by Governor Penn may have been based upon data differing from those of the surveys of 1761 and of Mason and Dixon. The greatest variation, however, is only about 1260 feet, or less than the fourth of a mile; the least is only 200 feet. -Sharff's History of Philadelphia. [end fn-p8]