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 LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
 
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 Book '"B^B'2~ 
 
HISTORICAL SKETCHES 
 
 OF 
 
 BRISTOL BOROUGH, 
 
 IN THE COUNTY OF BUCKS. ANCIENTLY KNOWN AS 
 "BUCKINGHAM:" 
 
 BEING THE 
 
 SECGtND CHARTERED BOROUGH 
 
 IN 
 
 PENNSYLVANIA; 
 
 COMMENCING WITH ITS 
 
 Colonial Settlement, in 1681, 
 
 AND CLOSING WITH THE YEAR 
 
 1853. 
 
 BY WILLIAM BACHE. 
 
 BRISTOL, PA. 
 1853. 
 

 Entered according to Act of Congress, in thenar 1853, by 
 WILLIAM BACHE, 
 in the Office of the Clerk of the District Court for the Eastern 
 District of Pennsylvania. 
 
 
 WM. BACHE, PRINTER. 
 
PREFACE 
 
 The appearance in public of this little narrative of important 
 and interesting events in the foundation and subsequent history 
 of the ancient corporation of Bristol Borough, is in some degree 
 due to the solicitation of influential citizens. It had its origina- 
 tion in the personal desire of the compiler to acquaint himself 
 with a knowledge of the by-gone public affairs of the town. 
 
 The compiler feels justified in saying, that his researches 
 have been carefully and amply made, and close attention has 
 been bestowed in the revision of his own labours, especially in the 
 securing of accuracy in dates and names ; and it is believed to 
 be as free from error or misguidance as books of like character 
 may rightfully lay claim to. No event recorded has been consi- 
 dered of too slight importance to be worthy of his searching for 
 and recording all its particularities, with the historical authori- 
 ties and references noted. 
 
 With the fixed purpose of occupying as little space as possi- 
 ble, brevity of words has been preferred to a more studied style 
 of language, not only by the compiler, but also on the part of his 
 contributors. 
 
 Should this little harvesting of local events prove an accepta- 
 ble offering to the people, as a work of utility, the efl?brts be- 
 stowed in its gathering will not have been misapplied, which in 
 itself will aflibrd feelings of gratification to 
 
 THE COMPILER. 
 
HISTORY OF BRISTOL 
 
 Period First.~[1681.3 
 
 "BUCKINGHAM" PIONEERS. 
 
 " I trace thy tale 
 To the dim point where records fail." 
 
 Among the earliest projects of our colonial predecessors who 
 settled on the lands bordering" upon the Delaware river, was the 
 selection of the more desirable sites for the erection of villages. 
 One of these, which claimed their first attention, was that upon 
 the western bank of the Delaware, north of Neshaminey creek. 
 An account of the first provincial settlement, original design, 
 and subsequent progress of that ancient corporation, then called 
 the town of Buckingham, in the district of country then bearing 
 the same name, (now in the county of Bucks,) will be found to 
 be briefly compiled in the following pages. 
 
 The site upon which the Borough of Bristol is erected, is a 
 part of a tract of land granted under warrant of Sir Edmond 
 Andros, Provincial Governor of New York, to Samuel Clift, in 
 March, 1681 : being about the same period with the date of the 
 Proprietory Charter of Charles II. to the Founder of Pennsyl- 
 vania (4th of March, 1681,) ; and about four months prior to the 
 conditions and agreements entered into between William Penn 
 and the "adventurers and purchasers in the same province," 
 (July, 1681.) The brief recital of this grant of Gov. Andros is, 
 for " a large tract of land lying on the Delaware river, at the 
 
 2 
 
O HISTORY Of BRISTOt. 
 
 mouth of Mill creek, and extending up said river and creek,^ 
 &c., — under which title the warrantee seated and improved the 
 land. 
 
 By deed dated 9th mo., 23d, 1682, Samuel Clift devises this 
 tract in fee simple to Joseph English. 
 
 By deed dated 12th mo., 20th, 1695, part of the above, and in- 
 cluding tiiat now embraced within the corporate limits, (extend- 
 ing from the mouth of Mill creek, up the river Delaware,) and 
 containing one-half of a survey of twenty-two acres, was con- 
 veyed to Anthony Burton and Thomas Brock; — and by deed 
 from Peter White and Elizabeth his wife, dated 1st mo., 16th, 
 1096, the other moiety of the above twenty-two acres was 
 granted to the said Burton and Brock. 
 
 By deed of partition, dated 4th mo., 8th, 1696, the above was 
 divided, in severalty, between Anthony Burton and Thomai 
 Brock. 
 
 Under this partition deed, the town plot appears to have been 
 originally staked out into streets and building lots, by the afore- 
 mentioned Burton, Brock, and White, the latter of whom either 
 retained or purchased the north-western limits, or that portion 
 now intersected by the Delaware Division Pa. Canal. 
 
 The beautiful and luxuriant sections of country on either side 
 of the lovely Delaware, everywhere offered inviting induce- 
 ments to the early settlers in selecting places and rearing their 
 intended homesteads. Their dwellings were chiefly built of 
 heavy forest timber, known as " log cabins." At the lapse of 
 about the first fifteen years from its civil settlement, lands in 
 the south-eastern portion of that section of country known as 
 Buckingham, skirting the Delaware, even before Philadelphia 
 was designed and laid out, were eagerly taken up and settled 
 upon, the patentees deriving their titles from Gov. Andres. (See 
 Watson's Annals, i. pp. 10, 11.) — And, indeed, strong expecta- 
 tions had been entertained, that the city of Philadelphia would 
 have been founded at "Buckingham," or Bristol; but their 
 cherished hopes were overruled, mainly in consequence of the 
 river navigation being more favorable to heavy shipping further 
 down. There were some who even anticipated the erection of 
 that city at Pennsbury, the favored homestead of the Proprietor; 
 
BUCKINGHAM PIONEERS. 7 
 
 Others again at Byberry, then distinctly known as a " Friends'* 
 settlement, which, indeed, appears for a time to have been once 
 called " Old Pfiiladelphia." 
 
 About 1697, the "county of Buckingham" began to wear 
 an aspect more in consonance with the desires, enjoyments, and 
 customs of refined life ; and was daily becoming more closely 
 settled with colonists, chiefly members of the Society of Friends, 
 and of the English Episcopal Church. (Col. Rec. i. p. 480.) — 
 Says Watson, (An. ii. p. 75,) "This county had its first settlers 
 located nearest to the neighborhood of Bristol and Pennsbury. 
 They were nearly all of them of the Society of Friends; among 
 them, James Harrison and Phineas Pemberton were most influ- 
 ential and conspicuous." . . . . " The Indians were round 
 about in small settlements, in almost every direction. Some 
 long after dwelt on the * Indian Field,' near Penn's estate." 
 
 In the lapse of the first quarter century, an Act was passed 
 for erecting in the Borough " a more commodious prison and 
 court-house," passed 7th of March, 1745, and confirmed by Lords 
 Justices Oct, 29th, 1748.* In it were held the Courts of Gene- 
 ral Quarter Sessions of the Peace, and of Common Pleas. At 
 
 * The first court-house and prison erected in this county, was, by 
 an Act passed in 1705, authorized to be sold, and provision made for 
 building- a ne\y court house and prison. And, Feb. 17, 1722, "And 
 another house of correction or work-house shall be built in Bristol, 
 at the charge of the county of Bucks." This appears to have been 
 a small house of correction and a whipping-post, which were re- 
 moved in 1724-or-5. 1720— "The Sheriff and Clerks of the courts 
 for the time being, if not residents of the said borough, shall ap- 
 point and constitute sufficient deputies, who shall from time to time 
 reside or constantly attend in the said town of Bristol, to perform 
 the duties of their respective offices." March 20th, 1724, (the same 
 now to be removed from Bristol,) an Act was passed, entitled " to 
 enable Jeremiah Langhorne, Wm. Biles, Joseph Kirkbride, Thomas 
 Watson, M. D., and Abraham Chapman, to build a new court-house 
 and prison in Bucks county," by which the same were erected at 
 Newtown. Again, March 7th, 1745, an Act "for erecting a house 
 of correction and work-house in the Borough of Bristol " was pass- 
 ed, in connexion with certain corporation privileges of the borough. 
 In the year 1810 the seat of justice for Bucks county was removed 
 to Doylestown ; very creditable buildings, consisting of a substan- 
 tial court-house, offices and jail, were erected on the same ground 
 plot, at convenient distances ; at which place the county courts have 
 been since held, and prison punishments inflicted. 
 
8 BISTORT or BRISTOL. 
 
 which place also, for a long period the Borough and County 
 elections were held * It is said, that the first court held in 
 Pennsylvania was in this county; but however reliable this may 
 be as an item of published history, we find first among our re- 
 searches, that the Governor and Council exercised the judicial 
 prerogative in both civil and criminal trials in 1683, the first 
 upon record being at Philadelphia.-^ It is also said (in Watson, 
 
 • In 1785 Bucks county contained by Act of Assembly but^YxvcT'*' 
 election districts : one at Abraham Keichline's, and the other at 
 Newtown; and in 1798 the county was divided into five election 
 districts, by which, elections were again held in Bristol, at the old 
 court house, in Cedar street, above Market, which building has since 
 been altered and converted into a private dwelling. 
 
 f In one of which a Margaret Matson is tried for witchcraft ; 
 and as it is a curious affair, we cannot resist giving it a place here. 
 
 "At a Councill held at Philadelphia ye 27th of ye 12vh mo. 1683.. 
 — Present, Wm. Penn, Proper and Govr. ; James Harrison, Wm. 
 Biles, Lasse Cock, Wm. Haigue, Chris. Taylor, Wm. Clayton, Tho. 
 Holmes. — The Grand Jury made their returne, and found the bill. — 
 Margarit Matson's Indictm^' was read, and she pleads not guilty, 
 and will be tryed by the Countrey. — The Petty Jury Impanneld.— 
 Henry Drystreet attested, Saith he was tould 20 years agoe, that the 
 prisoner at the Barr was a Witch, & that severall Cowes were be- 
 witcht by her; also, that James Saunderling's mother tould him 
 that she bewitcht her cow, but afterwards said it was a mistake, and 
 that her Cow should doe well againe, for it was not her Cow but an 
 Other Persons that should dye. — Charles Asheom attested, saith that 
 Anthony's Wife being asked why she sould her Cattle ; was because 
 her mother had Bewitcht them, having taken the Witchcraft of of 
 Hendrick's Cattle, and put it on their Oxon ; She myght Keep but 
 noe Other Cattle, and also that one night the Daughter of ye Pris- 
 oner called him up hastely, and when he came she sayd there was 
 a great Light but Just before, and an Old woman with a Knife in 
 her hand at ye Bedd's feet, and therefore shee cryed out and desired 
 Jno. Symcock to take av^ay his Calves, or Else she would send them 
 to Hell. — Annakey Coolin attested, saith her husband tooke the 
 Heart of a Calfe that Dyed, as they thought, by Witchcraft, and 
 Boyled it, whereupon the Prisoner at ye Barr came in and asked 
 them what they were doing ; they said boyling of flesh ; she said 
 they had better they had Boyled the Bones, with severall other un- 
 seemly Expressions. — Magarit Mattson saith that she Valines not 
 Drystreet's Evidence ; but if Sanderlin's mother had come, she 
 would have answered her ; also denyeth Charles Ashcom's Attesta- 
 tion at her Soul, and saith where is my Daughter ; let her come and 
 say to. Annakey Cooling's attestation concerning the Gees, she de. 
 nyeth, saying she was never out of her Conoo, and also that she 
 
BUCKINGHAM PIONEERS. 9 
 
 ii. p. 98,) that the oldest record to be found in the State is now 
 deposited in one of the offices at Doylestown, being a register of 
 " ear-marks for sheep and cattle," made about 1681. " The next 
 record," (Orphans' Court, No. 1,) " bears date 4th day, 1st mo., 
 1693,* and was held at the private dwelling of Gilbert Wheeler ; 
 present, the Gov. William Penn, with Justices James Harrison* 
 Jonathan Otter, Wm. Yardley, Wm. Beaks, and Thomas Fitz- 
 water; Phineas Pemberton, Clerk." — (How familiar with our 
 people are these old colonial names !) — " The next court was 
 held at Pennsbury ; the next again at Gilbert Wheeler's, 7th or 
 8th mo. 1684." (Ibid.) 
 
 The old court-house and prison of 1705 was built in Cedar 
 street, between Market and Mulberry, and nearly opposite to the 
 present Mason's Hall. It was a two story brick edifice ; court 
 room up-stairs from an out-door entrance, and prison below ; and 
 a stationary whipping-post attached to the outer walls. In after 
 years the elections were long held there ; and it was also con- 
 verted into a school-house and used as such for some years. Fi- 
 nally, it was sold, with the lot, in 1834, William Kinsey, Esq., 
 our present Burgess, being the purchaser. 
 / _____ — ■ 
 
 never said any such things Concerning the Calves' heart. The pri- 
 soner denyeth all things, and saith that ye Wittnesses speake only 
 by hear say. After wch ye Govr gave the Jury their Charge con- 
 cerning ye Prisoner at ye Barr. The Jury went forth, and upon 
 their Returne Brought her in Guilty of haveing the Comon fame of 
 a Witch, but not Guilty in manner and forme as Shee Stands In- 
 dicted. Neels Mattson and Antho. Neelson Enters into a Recogni- 
 zance of fifty pounds apiece, for the good behavior of Margarit 
 Matson for six months." 
 
 • Watson is not here strictly truthful. In early times of the co- 
 lony a registry of persons settling in the several counties were kept. 
 An instance follows : " Wm. Buckman of the Parish of Billinghurst, 
 in the county of Sussex, Carpenter. — Arrived in Delaw^are river in 
 the Welcome, the Master Robert Greenway, with his wife Sarah, in 
 the 8th mo. 1682 ; children, Sarah, Mary." See Record at Doyles- 
 town, kept by Phineas Pemberton, Clerk. 
 
 The reader will bear in mind, that prior to 1752, March was 
 dated as the 1st month; consequently this event was in the 11th 
 month, which would account for the fact that when the vessel land- 
 ed at Chester, the emigrants went ashore in the evening, and walked 
 back in the morning upon the ice. 
 
 2* 
 
10 BISTORT OF BRISTOL. 
 
 It is said by Henry Tomlinson, one of our ancient citizens, 
 that he well remembers the locality of the building where the 
 fairs were originally held. It stood in Mill street, opposite to 
 Cedar. The second one built stood near the intersection of Cedar 
 and Market streets. The items of cost for its erection are re- 
 ported (Boro. Rec. Sept. 4, 1819,) to be $285 03. In 1832 it 
 became necessary to remove it, and the materials and lot were 
 sold ; as was also the old hay-scales. 
 
 The chalybeate springs at Bath, in Bristol, which first obtain- 
 ed celebrity in 1722, attracted large numbers to this place as a 
 summer resort, and, it has been said, even some from Europe 
 have visited them especially on account of their sanatory repu- 
 tation abroad ; while many have derived benefit from their use 
 both medicinally and as a bath. For some years, the Bath pro- 
 perty was almost altogether neglected, and the spacious mansion 
 house and outbuildings were suffered to become so dilapidated as 
 to render this valuable property almost untenantable. Latterly, 
 however, this estate was purchased by Mr. Chas. Hepburn, who 
 has thoroughly repaired and enlarged the establishment, and with 
 unsparing liberality improved and beautified the grounds. The 
 old mineral springs, have been thoroughly cleansed and fitted 
 for their respective uses, and a chemical analyses of the waters 
 carefully made and noted. The establishment is now popularly 
 sustained as a summer house, both by those who visit it for their 
 health, and others for pleasure and pastime. 
 
 An anecdote is related by Watson, which may be here no- 
 ticed. — He tells us, that " when James Harrison and his son-in- 
 law Phineas Pemberton first entered Philadelphia on horseback, 
 from Choptank in Maryland," (Nov. 1682,) "they could not 
 procure entertainment for their horses;" — they — "spancelled 
 them," — and — " turned them out in the woods !" Having sought 
 for them the next morning, and for two days, in vain, they gave 
 up the search for the time, and were obliged to take a boat in 
 order to proceed on their way up to Buckingham, the place of 
 their destination, (i. p. 47.) 
 
 The success of the Pennsylvania colonial enterprise, which 
 was equal to the most sanguine hopes of its illustrious founder 
 and law-giver ; the " unbroken chain of friendship" and confi- 
 
BITKINOHAM PIOKEERS. 11 
 
 dence which was maintained, "ever bright and untarnished," 
 between the colonists and the Indians, under the system of 
 mutual concessions* adopted by William Penn, operating more 
 favorably than the unwise, if not unjust policy, of the neighbor- 
 ing colonies, especially that of Lord Baltimore, afforded perhaps 
 feelings of greater satisfaction and security from assault, on the 
 part of settlers here. And on this account, it may be fairly sur- 
 mised, it was in some measure, that lands in this immediate 
 neighborhood, comprised within the tract then called Bucking- 
 ham, commanded their first attention. Besides, the supposition 
 appears reasonable, that many, especially those embued with the 
 religious sentiments of the Society of Friends, should have che- 
 ished an inward desire to locate themselves in a near proximity 
 to the favorite spot chosen as the manor of their good and great 
 patriarch and founder. 
 
 Fading remembrances of Pennsbury! Now quiet, changed 
 and neglected; where once the forest sires of a noble race oft 
 had met in friendly covenant, with the solemnity of worship and 
 the joyfulness of dancing, uniting in council and in sacred com- 
 pact with the white faces who have supplanted them, I cannot 
 pass unnoticed thy almost renowned retreat. 
 
 The old mansion-house, v/hich was by some called " Penn's 
 Palace," in those early days, was built in 1682-3, at a cost of 
 £7,000. A large portion of the materials, especially for the 
 ornamental parts, were sent from England by William Penn. — 
 The letters of instruction to his friends having charge of the 
 buildings and in laying out and improving the grounds, bespeak 
 the deep interest he felt in having everything about his manor 
 done in close conformity with his taste and wishes. But, alas, 
 few and troubled were the days he was permitted there to spend. 
 Not until after an almost compulsory absence of fifteen years in 
 England, did he reside at Pennsbury, where he remained less 
 
 * See the Articles of agreement, made in Council, 23d of 2d mo. 
 1701, first with " Connoodaghtoh, king of the Sasquehannah Min- 
 quays or Conestoga Indians, Wopathlha, king of the Shawanese, 
 Weewhinjough, Chief of the Ganawese," &c., and with other tribes, 
 in vol. i. ii. and iii. of the Colonial Records. 
 
12 HISTORY OF BRISTOL. 
 
 than two years (in 1700-1,); during which period he was much 
 absent at Philadelphia and New Castle with his Council. 
 
 All that has escaped the decay of years and the ever shaping" 
 hand of man, to mark the original aspect of the spot, is that 
 familiarly remembered as the " malt house." At Pennsbury, in 
 1701, on the eve of the second departure of the Proprietor for 
 England, (a memorable departure, for he was never again ena- 
 bled to return,) Governor Penn, with a number of his Council, 
 held one of the largest Indian councils that had been convened 
 in the Province ; which we find recorded as having closed with 
 " music, worship, and dancing." But now, how changed ! — And 
 these Lenni (original) Lenape (people), where are they ? — We 
 are told that the last of the " Dela wares,"* (as we have named 
 them,) went off from Buckingham, in a body, in the year 1775. 
 
 " Forced from the land that gave them birth, 
 They dwindle from the face of earth." 
 
 Yes, they have disappeared, — and Pennsbury too is almost for- 
 gotten. None have placed a monumental stone to record its 
 name and remembrance ; and while at later times our beautiful 
 Delaware is becoming studded with its young and rising towns, 
 none have seconded the early wished for hopes, which had 
 marked out Pennsbury among the first. 
 
 * Tamanend, their king or chief, who was an Indian much be- 
 loved and confided in by William Penn, for his integrity and many 
 virtues, was buried near a spring, south of what is now Prospect 
 Hill School, in Buckingham township, about four miles from Doyles- 
 town. He died in a cabin in the woods, and was buried by the 
 kindness of a neighbor. His grave was for many years marked by 
 a pile of stones thrown there to keep animals from disinterring the 
 body. — See Heckewelder j see Jnd. Hist.j cK xv. p. 183. 
 
THE MARKET TOWN. 13 
 
 Period Second.— [1697.] 
 
 THE "MARKET TOWN." 
 
 *' Where homes of humble form and structure rude, 
 Raise sweet society in solitude." 
 
 So great had been the influx of population into our locality, 
 that as early as June, 1697, a number of the more active and 
 far seeing- settlers conceived the local advantages afforded in 
 the plot of land on which the Borough of Bristol now stands, for 
 the erection of what they significantly termed "a market town;'''' 
 (Col. Rec. i. p. 480,) — and on the impulse of what appeared to 
 them a " necessity," they petitioned the colonial government for 
 the privilege of erecting the same. 
 
 At the time of the presentation of the petition before the Pro- 
 vincial Council, (on the 10th of June, 1697,) that ancient body 
 were then in session at the house of Phineas Pemberton, w^ho, 
 being a practical surveyor, and personally interested in the pro- 
 posed scheme, was very properly chosen by the Board to draft 
 the plan and mark the dimensions of the town. At this period 
 of our provincial history, (the 19lh year of the colony,) there 
 were six counties, viz: Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, Nevv Cas- 
 tle, Kent, and Sussex. These respective counties made return 
 of twelve delegates each, the Governor making choice of three 
 from each return, for Councilmen, the remaining fifty-four con- 
 stituting the Assembly.* There were present at the session of 
 
 • In a letter of information from William Penn to the "Company 
 of Free Traders," dated Philadelphia, 16th of Hth Mo. (Aug.), 1683, 
 the Proprietor says, "The planted part of the Province and Territo- 
 ries is cast into six counties : Philadelphia, Buckingham, Chester, 
 Newcastle, Kent, and Sussex; containing about 4000 souls. Two 
 General Assemblies have been held, and with such concord and dis- 
 patch, that they sat three weeks and at least seventy laws were 
 passed without one dissent in any material thing. And for the well 
 government of said counties, courts of justice are established in 
 every county, with proper officers as Justices, Sheriffs, Clerks, Con- 
 
14 HISTORY OP BRISTOL. 
 
 Council above mentioned, as follow : William Markham, Lieut. 
 Got. ; Samuel Carpenter, Joseph Growdon, Caleb Pusey, and 
 Phineas Pemberton, Councilmen. 
 
 The original draft of the " Market Town" plot by Pemberton 
 has not been preserved among the records of the town. The 
 oldest original draft believed now to be in preservation, is that of 
 John Cutler, made the 13th of 7th mo. 1715, which is much de- 
 faced and obliterated from frequent handling. This draft by 
 Cutler purports to be drawn " according to Phineas Pemberton's 
 surrey, with some amendments" (evidently meaning a further 
 extension of the town plot,) " by an agreement of the inhabit- 
 ants." On this draft we find the town laid out into twelve 
 blocks or squares, and eleven suburbal parts or fractions.* 
 
 etables; which courts are held every two months. But to prevent 
 law suits, there are three Peace-makers chosen by every County 
 Court, in the nature of common arbitrators, to hear and end differ- 
 ences between man and man. And Spring- and Fall there is a» 
 Orphans' Court in each county, to inspect and regulate the affairs of 
 orphans and widows." — (^See Janney''s Life of Penn, p. 247.) 
 
 * The names of the lot-holders, with their respective local places, 
 as presented on Cutler's draft, are — 
 
 On west side of Mill street, from the dock to Cedar St. — 1. Joseph 
 Growdon. Cedar to Wood — 1. Phineas Pemberton; 2. John While. 
 Wood to Pond — 1. Robert Brown; 2. John Smith; 3. Thos. Mus- 
 grove; 4. John Town ; 5. Samuel Carpenter. (Although not upon 
 the draft, the compiler has reliable authority in saying that Samuel 
 Carpenter's plot extended north of Pond street, embracing all that 
 valuable property long- known as "the Bristol Mills.") 
 
 Mill Street, east side, from Water to Radcliffe St. — 1. Thomas 
 Brock. Radcliffe to Cedar — 1. Thomas Brock ; 2_HRnf Y Raker :. 
 3, Anthony Burton. Cedar to Wood, (and, Mill To 'Market St.)— I. 
 Phineas Pemberton ; 2. Samuel Bown ; 3. Wm. Croasdale ; 4. Sam'l 
 Oldale. Wood to Pond, (and, Mill to Market,)— I. John White ; 2. 
 John Smith ; 3. Thos. Musgrove. Lands north of Pond, lying be- 
 tween Mill and Mulberry streets, were owned by Thomas Brock ; 
 and north-east of Brock's by John Town, Thomas Musgrove, John 
 Smith and John White. 
 
 Market Street, west side, from Water to Radcliffe — 1. Anthony- 
 Burton. Radcliffe to Cedar — 1. Ant. Burton ; 2. Thos. Brock. 
 
 Market St., east side, from Water to Cedar — \, Samuel Carpenter. 
 Cedar to Wood — 1. Phineas Pemberton; 2. Sam'l Carpenter. Wood 
 to Pond, (east of Market to Walnut,) lands of John White and 
 John Town. 
 
 Mulberry Street, toest side, from Water to Wood— I. Peter White. 
 
Tflfi MARKEt TOWIC. 
 
 15 
 
 ' It is proper to notice that nearly all the early papers and re- 
 cords belonging to the corporation, (say from about the year 1700 
 to 1749, and others of more recently intervening periods,) have 
 been lost, some destroyed by rats, and others scattered abroach; a 
 fact to be regretted by many, as it involves much of our local 
 history in obscurity. (See Minutes of the Corporation, 1807.) — 
 Still enough may be searched out from what is remaining, to- 
 gether with other data connected therewith, interspersed through 
 books, to afford sufficient matter to make this little compilation 
 somewhat interesting to our citizens. 
 
 Some of the earliest records of the county appear also to have 
 suffered a like fate ; and we are told by that indefatigable an- 
 nalist, J. F. Watson, that when the road from Philadelphia to 
 Buckingham "was across the Neshamony, at Galloway's ford, 
 one mile above Hulmeville, through Langhorne's park, thence 
 by Attleborough,"— " Near that ford once stood Growdon's old 
 fire proof, in which were kept the records of Bucks county ; and 
 when Joseph Galloway went off with the British in 1778 the 
 office was broken open and the records strewed about, to the use 
 of any who might possess them."* (ii. p. 100.) 
 
 The petition for the erection of the " market town" was re- 
 ceived by the Colonial Board with marked favor : the original of 
 which displays a good degree of sound judgment and discern- 
 ment on the part of its projectors. Among the "liberties" ask- 
 ed for, were, the right of" wharfing and building to a convenient 
 distance into the river and creek,"—" that every street and 
 opening towards the river and creek may be allowed to be a 
 
 East side of Mulberry, from Water to Radcliffe-^Anihony Burton. 
 Radcliffe to Cedar— I: A. Burton; 2. T. Brock. Cedar to Wood— 
 1. Phin. Pemberton ; 2. Thos. Brock. 
 
 Walnut St., west side, from Water to Radcliffe— 1. Thos. Brock. 
 Radcliffe to Cedar— i. Thos. Brock ; 2. Anthony Burton. Cedar to 
 Wood — Thomas Brock. 
 
 East side of Walnut, (from Water street, north 45o west to Cedar 
 •treet,") lands of Robert Brown. 
 
 • The old fire-proof has not been entirely demolished; enough is 
 »till existing to attest the fact of the attack made upon it, while its 
 old door, perforated with buUet-holes from the British musketry, rrg 
 arc told, ha» been still preserred. 
 
16 BISTO&T or BRISTOL. 
 
 public landing," — "that the buildings on the bank may be so 
 regulated as there may be a street, under the bank, both to the 
 river and creek," &c. (Col. Rec. iii. p. 49.) 
 
 A'speedy assent having been granted by the Board, in accord- 
 ance with their desires, (the town plot being carefully surveyed 
 and staked out by Phineas Pemberton,) immediately houses and 
 shop's were in progress of erection ; and so encouraging and 
 prosperous was the enterprise, not only in the building up of the 
 town in accordance with its original design, but it had an early 
 character for the advantages which it both afforded and derived 
 as an emporium of trade. 
 
 Ferries and landings were now being established by authority 
 at various important points upon the river ; one between this 
 town and Burlington;* one at Duncken Williams', (now known as 
 Dunks';) and over the Neshamony ; and at other required places. 
 Also, the original road from the •* Falls" to the Ferry at Bris- 
 tol, the " king's highway," (now the Philadelphia and Trenton 
 pike,) and a number of other roads, important to the welfare of 
 Bristol, were surveyed and opened by Thomas Fairlamb and 
 others, as early as 1696; facilities which, at the very outset, 
 tended to the direct benefit, growth and prosperity of the town. 
 So that, in the lapse of about twenty years, (1718,) the towns- 
 people then deemed it essential to the interests of the place, 
 that it should be erected into a Borough. 
 
 Whereupon, " Anthony Burton, John Hall, William Watson, 
 Joseph Bond, and others," petitioned the colonial government 
 therefor. (Town Rec.) — A "unanimous opinion" was expressed 
 in its favor ; and the petitioners were instructed to apply to the 
 then Attorney General for a suitable draft for that purpose ; — 
 which they immediately did; and having obtained one which 
 appeared satisfactory to them, it was submitted to and approved 
 
 • Ameng the earlier " Acts psssed by the General Assembly of 
 the Province of New Jersey, the 17th of March, 1713, in the 12th 
 and 13th years of Queen Anne," is one establishing a ferry from the 
 town of Burlington to the town of New Bristol. 
 
 By the Pennsylvania acts, ferries were established over the Dela- 
 ware river and the Neshamony creek the 7th of June, 1712 ; one at 
 the Falls, 31st of May, 1718; while Duncken Williams's ferry wa« 
 in use of the two provinces as early as year 1696. 
 
THE MARKET TOWN. 17* 
 
 by the Colonial Board, on the 19th of July, 1720. (Col. Rec. iii. 
 p. 96.) — But it was not alone necessary to obtain the assent of 
 the local government here, whose powers were exceedingly 
 limited, but every important public measure was required to be 
 submitted directly to the approbation or sanction of the crown. 
 A due return was received by the anxious expectants, with the 
 necessary Letters Patent, bearing date the 14ih of November, 
 1720.* 
 
 It is worthy of a passing notice, that Samuel Carpenter, who 
 in his day was an influential and has been represented as a 
 wealthy man, once owned the estate called " Bristol Mills, (now. 
 the property of our enterprising townsman John Dorrance,) and' 
 also "the Island against Burlington, of 350 acres." (Watson, i. 
 p. 520.r 
 
 In the year 1773 stage coaches, (being the first of that char- 
 acter,) were established by Messrs. C. Bessonett &, Co., of Bris- 
 toj, "to run from Philadelphia to New York, in two days, for the 
 fare of four dollars." (Watson, i. p. 219.) ^^^ ,.:' — 
 
 * We here present a brief synopsis of the corporate powers of this 
 ancient grant. In the preamble is set forth "George, by the g^race' 
 of God, of Great Britain, France and Ireland, Defender of the 
 Faith," &c. — to the petitioners — *' formerly adventurers into the 
 Province of Pennsylvania, and owners of a certain tract or site of 
 land formerly called Buckingham, in the county of Bucks, — did — ' 
 appropriate several of their lots — lying — on the river Delaware — to 
 build and settle upon." " And that many people since have been 
 encouraged to erect buildings — lay out public streets — as also to 
 erect a Church and Meeting-house — and — caused a Court-liouse and 
 Prison to be erected there. — And we being. willing to promote trade,, 
 industry, rule, and good order, amongst all our loving subjects — .'^ 
 have erected and by these presents do erect the said Town of Bris- 
 tol into a Borough — ." Then follow the courses and distances o^F 
 the Borough bounds; the pames and regulation of the streets as 
 laid out; reservation for wharves and landings; "Joseph Bond and, 
 John Hall to be present Burgesses, and Thomas Clifford, High Con- 
 stable — ;" their powers^^nd duties; H. Constable to be Clerk of the' 
 market; and fairs and markets established, and a general grant of 
 franchise " unto the,.said Burgesses, Constable, and Inhabitants — , 
 and to their successors — ." 
 
18 HISTORY Oy BRJST02/, 
 
 Period of the Revolution. 
 
 LOCAL INCIDENTS. 
 
 •' I'll tell you a story—." 
 
 Although the anecdotes told of the war of Independence 
 cannot be counted for multitude, nevertheless there are many 
 interesting incidents which now only exist as a dream of me- 
 mory in the minds of our older people. We here present such 
 interesting' incidents of the Revolution, occurring in and near our 
 Borough, as they have been told us, or otherwise obtained. 
 
 " I say the tale a8 't was said to me.'* 
 
 About Dec. 1776, General Cadwalader had under his com- 
 mand at Bristol an encampment of about 3,000 troops; and in 
 April, 1777, about 1500 soldiers were billeted on the inhabit- 
 ants. Says Wm. J. Duane, Esq., in a private letter written to 
 the compiler in 1849, in connexion with other remembrances of 
 1799, " Above your town about half a mile there was a camp 
 for a part of what was called ' John Adams's standing army ; 
 and on one occasion there was much excitement in the town in 
 consequence of the circumstance that one of the captains (Gibbs), 
 stationed in the camp, put an offending soldier into an oven as a 
 punishment. I doubt whether any of your oldest inhabitants 
 remember this circumstance ; but I do. Subsequently I became 
 acquainted with Capt. Gibbs, who, indeed, may be yet living." 
 
 The following details, (believed to be now first given in print,) 
 liave been communicated to us by our venerable townsmen, David 
 Swain, Sr., Samuel Allen, and Henry Tomlinson, Esqrs. 
 
 Where our venerable townsman Samuel Allen, Esq., now 
 owns and resides, (corner of Otter and Mill streets,) was once a 
 guard-house; and Bristol having raised a company of militia, 
 they had their armory in a small brick building then attached to 
 the same house, which was torn away, and the house remodeled 
 in 1852. This company had a cannon planted at the forks of 
 
PERWt) OF TUfi REVOLVTION. 19 
 
 the road, and they kept sentries posted at night, &c. A de- 
 tachment of loyalists v/ho had gone over to the British cause, 
 nothing daunted, determined to capture the town, and a party 
 of light-horsemen were detailed for the purpose ; they arrived 
 at the ford now called Flushing Mills, below Newportville, 
 in the night, and secreted themselves under cover of the trees 
 and bank of the creek, until the booming of the morning gun 
 announced that the last sentry had retired from his post; when, 
 muffling their horses' feet, they smartly pursued their course to 
 the town, and found its inhabitants all fast asleep. They quick- 
 ly placed a guard at the door of each house of any apparent 
 importance, and forced the occupants from their beds, many of 
 them not even allowed time to dress, and marshaled them in a 
 line along by where Sam'l Allen's house is. Here they were 
 allowed to send for clothing and finish dressing. One fellow, an 
 ensign in the company, attempted an escape, by running away 
 across the meadow, which was then banked in, but which is now 
 a marsh at the mouth of Mill creek. He was pursued by a 
 horseman, who, on nearing him, ordered him to stop, which 
 order not being obeyed, was very unceremoniously enforced by 
 a sabre-cut upon the head.* 
 
 A townsman living in the house now occupied by Mr. Jesse 
 Knight, (the dwelling attached to the Mill property,) was aroused 
 in the morning by some one calling at the door that the British 
 had possession of the town; which he did not believe, thinking 
 that some of the family were trying to amuse themselves at his 
 
 * Says Mr. Tomlinson, in a note to the compiler, "Those men 
 who went to the British in Philadelphia, and formed themselves into 
 a company of light-horse, to plunder, distress, and take prisoners, 
 entered Bristol on the morning of Good Friday, 1777; and began 
 their brutal conduct by breaking into houses, and dragging the men 
 from their beds, without giving them time to put on their small 
 clothes. They beat them on their backs, with their swords, telling 
 them to ' remember Good Friday.' Among those taken from this 
 place were, Edward Church, an infirm old man and a pious Friend; 
 Richard Gosline, Thomas Broom, John Green, and Levi Douglass ; 
 to be dealt with as the British officers might choose. Cunningham, 
 the jail-keeper, let some starve to death, as I have been told by my 
 wife, such being the fate of her father, William Heeton, in that 
 Walnut street prison, Philadelphia.*' 
 
20 HISTORY OF BRISTOL. 
 
 expense. In a few minutes an axe came flying through the 
 door, making the splinters fly in every direction, when he with- 
 out stopping to dress, and rushing to the foot of the stairs, saw 
 that the only chance for escape was by dodging under the horse'a 
 neck, which attempting, the horseman made a stroke at him 
 with his sword, which luckily took eflfect in the top of the post 
 attached to the steps, splitting it some six inches or more. 
 
 The captain of the militia company, whom they most wanted, 
 they were not able to find ; he being secreted in the garret of 
 an old frame house at the corner of Bath and Mill streets, where 
 now stands the brick building occupied as a store and dwelling. 
 
 After getting all the principal citizens they could find, they 
 took them as prisoners of war to Philadelphia ; no one but the 
 ensign being hurt, nor were any depredations of much account 
 committed. The prisoners were there detained some two or 
 three months, and then released. 
 
 During the Revolution the river shore at Bristol was skirted 
 with a sentry of gondolas and barges, which were chiefly used 
 for telegraphing. 
 
 Whilst a portion of the American army were quartered in the 
 Borough, the old Episcopal Church, (then having fallen into 
 decay,) was used as a stabling for their horses ; while the old 
 Friends' Meeting-house, being in a better condition, was made 
 an hospital for their sick.* Some of the bodies of the soldiers 
 who had died were buried in the Episcopal burial ground; others 
 
 • Before the Revolution, as appears by the oldest Town Records 
 now preserved, the old style of entry for meetings was — "At a 
 
 Towns Meeting held ye — th day of , and in the 5th year of the 
 
 Reign of his Majesty Kinsf George the Second, Anno Domini 1731, 
 in and for the said Boro', Present," &c. At another entry the Re- 
 cords furnish the following, — " At a Towns Meeting the 8th day of 
 Nov'er, 1757. — The Chief Burgess having informed this Towns 
 Meeting tht a Detachm't of near 200 men of the 35th Regim't is 
 expected to be in this Boro' to-morrow, and that a great Number of 
 the King's Troops will shortly take the same Rout in Marching to 
 their Winter Quarters, and that the Tavern Keepers in Town will 
 not be able to receive into their Houses or accommodate such De- 
 tachm'ts as will probably halt here, at one time ; Wherefore, it is 
 Ordered, That the High Const'le of this Boro' do immediately put 
 the old Court House in such order as it may be fit to receive so many 
 as it will conveniently hold; and that firewood, straw, &c. be pro- 
 
PERIOD OF THE REVOLUTION. 21 
 
 in the burial ground below " the old guard-house," (Otter street,) 
 latterly known as " tlie Baptists' lot," and now the property in 
 trust of the Board of School Directors, upon which is now being 
 built the second Public School-house for the Borough.* 
 
 Gilbert Hicks, the grandfather of Edward and Elias, was High 
 Sheriff of Bucks County at the commencement of the Revolu- 
 tion. In the fall of 1776, after the Declaration of Independence, 
 he called court in the king's name ; which gave great offence to 
 the liberty portion of the citizens, so much that they assembled 
 in mass at Newtown, on the day court was ordered. Gilbert 
 had become aware that the course was not acceptable to the 
 mass of the people. At the time, he lived in the brick house at 
 the corner, in Attleborough, which he had built for his own use. 
 On the present occasion he had a negro servant mounted on a 
 fleet horse at Newtown, and his friends mingled with the crowd, 
 to ascertain the result of their deliberations. After a time it 
 
 vided by him, and an acc't of the expense thereof, w'th what other 
 expense may accrue by reason of the marching and counter-march- 
 ing of the Kings Troops through this Boro', and his own attendance 
 in Billeting and providing of Carriages, &c. be kept by him, to be 
 laid before the Commissioners of the County for their Order to pay 
 the same. But in case they should refuse to give such Order (w'ch 
 in right they ought not to do,) then it is to be paid out of the Stock 
 of This Corporation." 
 
 Under date of Oct. 17, 1814, the following record is made : "The 
 Inhabitants of the Borough of Bristol were notified to a meeting at 
 the Council Chamber, at 3 o'clock, to consider the best mode of re- 
 lieving those families of drafted Militia that may be in want. It 
 was the opinion of the Meeting, that the Burgesses and Council 
 were the most suitable to provide the means and appoint the com- 
 mittee to inquire into the wants of their families. The Borough 
 officers agreed to meet at the house of John Bessonett, at 6 o'clock 
 in the evening, to consider on the above business." — " The Borough 
 officers met agreeably to agreement. — Whereas it appears necessary 
 that a certain sum of money should he appropriated for the use of 
 the drafted Militiamen's families. Resolved, That one hundred dol- 
 lars be appropriated for said use." 
 
 • This will be a beautiful and substantial structure, and one now 
 much required ; it will be an ornament to the Borough, and a credit 
 to the Directors. The present Board (1853,) consists of J. D. Men- 
 denhall, Pres't ; E. D. Buckman, Sec. ; L. M. Wharton, D. P. Forst, 
 Thos. Callanan, F. W. Swan. 
 
 3* 
 
22 HISTORY OF BRISTOL. 
 
 was determined to hang him if they could get him ; which in- 
 telligence was quickly conveyed to the negro, who started for 
 home as fast as he could go. At the same time some of the 
 crowd mounted their horses for the purpose of seizing the person 
 of Gilbert; and as they neared the foot of Attleborough hill they 
 discovered the messenger near the top of it, and fired at him, 
 with no other effect, however, than to set him off the faster. 
 As he neared Gilbert's house, he sees him watching for his re- 
 turn with the news; and calls to him to clear himself without 
 d'elay. The negro dashed on, and secreted himself in the well- 
 known woodland of " Langhorne's Hill." Gilbert left the house 
 by the back way, and without speaking to any one, crossed the 
 fields, and was secreted in an old chest in the garret of a neigh- 
 boring house. The horsemen searched Gilbert's house and build- 
 ings, but without avail. He kept secreted in the woods around 
 for several weeks, frequently calling on such of his old friends 
 as he could depend on ; but finding his life still in danger, he 
 left, and went to Nova Scotia, where he received some land and 
 an annual pension. Some few years after, he was assassinated 
 on his way home, after receiving his pay. His landed property 
 is said to still remain in his own name, subject to the claim of 
 the proper heirs. 
 
 " The American army, late in the year 1776, retreated across New 
 Jersey into this county. Gen. Washington defended all the passes 
 of the river from Coryell's ferry to Bristol. His head quarters were 
 at Newtown while he was urging upon Congress the necessity of 
 reinforcing the army." — " The body of troops stationed at Bristol, 
 under the command of Gen. Cadwalader," were summoned by Gen, 
 Washington to form one of the three divisions, " to surprise the 
 enemy's post at Trenton." — See Pa. Hist. Col., p. 158. 
 
 " The Buckley-house," Radcliffe street, Bristol, " was erected at a 
 very early date, [1735]. Lafayette spent some time there while re- 
 covering from his wound received at the battle of Brandywine." — 
 Ibid, p. 166. This old edifice, long and familiarly known as the 
 " Willis house," is still standing; in the garden of which, on the 
 opposite side of the street stand the two beautiful Gothic residences 
 of Daniel P. Forst and Samuel Swain, Jr. The old " Buckley" was 
 used as a bakehouse for the American soldiery, while quartered 
 here. Although in a dilapidated condition, the main edifice is still 
 tenanted. 
 
THE BOROUGH. 
 
 Our Later Times. 
 
 THE " BOROUGH." — TIME's DOINGS. 
 
 " Inexorably calm, with silent pace, 
 Here time hath passed." 
 
 We may now pass to that eventful period which severed the 
 connexion of the colonies with the parent government; when 
 this corporation, in common with all others deriving their powers 
 from Great Britain was freed from monarchial rule. At this 
 time the citizens of the Borough petitioned the State Legislature 
 for a restoration of the corporate powers enjoyed under its an- 
 cient constitution, which was granted and passed on the 16th of 
 September, 1785* This charter continued in force so far as it 
 could be rendered practicable with the changes and spirit of our 
 republican institutions, up to the year 1851 ! But this State Act 
 re-establishing the powers under the English charter, in later 
 years, had become so inefficient and dubious of construction, as 
 to lead to repeated difficulties and perplexities ; so that important 
 measures of general interest and convenience, involving the 
 prosperity of the corporation, had from time to time to be sub- 
 mitted to legal counsel, before any decided action could be taken 
 
 * This was entitled " An Act to re-establish the ancient Corpora- 
 tion of the Borough of Bristol. — Whereas the Corporation of the 
 Borough of Bristol in the County of Bucks, as it derived its charter, 
 privileges and immunities from the crown of Great Britain, was on 
 the declaration of the independence of this State thereby immedi- 
 ately dissolved ; and whereas it appears necessary to a majority of 
 the freemen of the said Borough that its ancient constitution be 
 restored under the authority of the Legislature of Pennsylvania ; 
 and that the officers of the said Borough be established by law, and 
 have perpetual succession ; so that the inhabitants of the said Bo- 
 rough may have the power of regulating their markets, fairs, wharves, 
 streets, and other public concerns, in like manner as they had under 
 their late charter; — Be it," &c. — Sec. 1, provides for the special ap- 
 pointment of officers for the time being, &c. — 2, the restoration of 
 the corporate powers; franchise, &c. 
 
24 HISTORY OP BRISTOL. 
 
 by the Borough authorities. Yet, strange to say, under that 
 charter, the corporate powers of the Borough of Bristol continued 
 to be administered for an additional period of sixty-five years. 
 
 From the continued growth in population of the Borough, 
 incident mainly to the natural and artificial advantages, and the 
 productiveness of the soil, of the surrounding country, and to the 
 river facilities, Bristol was not only a town of early promise of 
 importance, but also became the permanent residence of most 
 of its first settlers, the descendants of many of which families 
 are still among and around us. It was also once a more noted 
 place of residence of families of wealth and gaity than at pre- 
 sent; while several highly distinguished persons have, from 
 time to time, been its permanent residents. 
 
 The old original Borough boundaries, (including the changes 
 which may have been made about the time of Cutler's draft,) 
 remained unaltered up to 1801, when it was enlarged by Act of 
 Assembly to its present bounds.* This is said to have been 
 done under a survey made by Isaac Hicks. The petition for an 
 extension was drawn by Richard Lloyd, and submitted to and 
 approved by the Burgesses and Council, at their meeting held 
 on the 6th of January of the above year, and was signed by most 
 of the towns-people. The streets as originally laid out by Pem- 
 berton and now extended by Hicks, were Mill and RadclifTe, 
 (lying on the Turnpike,) Cedar, Wood and Pond ; Market, Mul- 
 berry and Walnut. 
 
 The necessity of securing a charter of incorporation better 
 adapted to the circumstances of the Borough had long been ap- 
 
 • The Act was passed Feb. 11th, 1801 ; the first section of which 
 sets forth the boundaries of the Borough, which is thought not ne- 
 cessary to be here presented. The second and last section gives to 
 the Borough officers authority "to lay out, open and regulate streets 
 and alleys for the accommodation of the inhabitants; and generally 
 to have and exercise within the said Borough, as extended by this 
 Act, all the powers vested in them by the original Act of Incorpo- 
 ration."— Bor. Ord, Book, p. 17. And, March 29th, 1804, was pass- 
 ed "An Act altering and extending the powers of the corporation 
 of the Borough of Bristol," the first section of which provides the 
 mode for electing the two Burgesses, (now obsolete,) while all the 
 powers granted by the remaining sections are fully embraced in the 
 present Act of Incorporation. 
 
time's doings. SJ5 
 
 parent to its citizens ; and still no decisive steps were taken in 
 the matter up to June, 1849. At that time, the Bristol Gazette, 
 (the publication of which had just been commenced,) was the 
 first successfully to move the citizens to frame and apply for 
 a more efficient charter. After publishing", in its first numbers, 
 the original English Charter, and the subsequent State acts, 
 and commenting upon them, said, " The powers reposed in our 
 borough officers should be ample, explicit, and determined ; those 
 conferred by the present charter are vague, uncertain, and un- 
 defined. In some instances their want of authority has been 
 severely felt and universally deprecated. In others it is exceed- 
 ingly questionable ; while oftentimes it is absolute and unbound- 
 ed. .. . " 
 
 The citizens now began to consider the matter earnestly. A 
 general town-meeting was called and held on the 26th of July, 
 1850, and a committee appointed to draft the provisions of a new 
 charter, to be submitted to the people and to the Legislature. — 
 Samuel Allen, Esq., Dr. Benjamin Malone, (then State Senator,) 
 Andrew W. Gilkeson, Esq., Anthony Swain, Esq., William H. 
 Swift, Isaac Van Horn, Pugh Dungan, William M. Downing, 
 Gilbert Tomlinson, and William Bache, composed that commit- 
 tee; who, after holding a number of meetings, prepared and 
 agreed upon a draft which was satisfactory to the people; — 
 which draft, with a few slight amendments, passed the Legisla- 
 ture, and was approved the 1.5th of February, 1851. 
 
 The Burgess and Council, in meeting on the 25th of Februa- 
 ry, 1853, took into consideration the propriety of asking such 
 amendments in the Borough charter as shall secure to the corpo- 
 ration the power and control in opening and extending streets, 
 and the jurisdiction of the port in building and extending 
 wharves and landings. It was determined that these privileges 
 should be asked ; and an Act was passed at the session of 1853, 
 giving Burgess and Council the necessary powers. 
 
 The present two-story brick Town House and Market, in 
 Market street, was erected in 1831, at a cost of $1750. When 
 the building was completed, a cupola was raised and a clock 
 placed therein at a cost of S674 40. This expense was partly 
 defrayed with a bequest left for that purpose by Samuel Scotton, 
 
26 HISTORY OP BRISTOL. 
 
 who was Chief Burgess in 1802, and at other periods filled that 
 post and other offices of the corporation. The bequest was made 
 in 1833 ; and the remainder of the entire cost of the improve* 
 ment was supplied out of a special corporation loan.* Since 
 which, the meetings of Council and the elections have been 
 there held to the present time.* 
 
 The upper room, or Council Chamber, is entered by a stair- 
 way leading from the first floor. The lower room forms a tho- 
 roughfare into the Market House from the general entrance on 
 
 • Mr. Henry Tomlinson, (before mentioned, and to whose recollec- 
 tions we are indebted in making more clear to our mind the par- 
 ticulars of several matters noticed,) in speaking' of the fairs and 
 markets says, that at the old market-house in Mill street opposite 
 to Cedar, besides the whipping post mentioned in a former note, 
 there was also " a wooden frame, built square; and in its centre 
 were places made to confine the legs of persons for crimes committed 
 against the laws of the Province." He adds, in his memorandum, 
 " Fairs were allowed to be held yearly; and the space prepared for 
 them extended from the market- house to the old court-house in 
 Cedar street. After a time, it occurring that under the privileges 
 granted by the charter, the market-house could be presented as a 
 nuisance in occupying the highway, at the demand of citizens it 
 was so declared, and removed ; wlien the second one, at the inter- 
 section of Cedar and Market streets was built; which also was af- 
 terwards declared a nuisance, and removed." 
 
 April 4, 1796, an Act of Assembly was passed " to annul and re- 
 peal so much of any charter or law of the State as empowers the 
 inhabitants of the Borough of Bristol in the County of Bucks to 
 hold and keep fairs within the same." 
 
 In 1817, another movement was made for the erection of a mar- 
 ket-house ; a committee of Council was appointed, consisting of 
 Louis Bache, John Phillips, and Benjamin Swain, to select a proper 
 site, &.C. In March, 1818, John Reed was added to the committee, 
 — the same, by a resolution of the Board being now a " building 
 committee." The site chosen was a lot situate on the west side of 
 Market street at the corner of Wood, and opposite Friends' Meet- 
 ing-house. It was finished in September, 1819, and cost (Bor. Rec.) 
 $285 03. It was removed in 1832, to its present location, (adjoin- 
 ing the Town Hall,) most of the material of which being again used 
 for the purpose. 
 
 In November, 1830, it was " unanimously agreed by the Board 
 to build a Town House," &.c. — "Joseph M. Downing, Eleazer Fen- 
 ton, and Robert C. Beatty are appointed a committee to procure 
 materials, and superintend, &c. ; and in March, 1831, the same 
 being completed, the committee report, that they have received and 
 paid over to the Treasurer the legacy of Samuel Scotton. 
 
time's doings. 27 
 
 KadclifFe street. It has a basement story, which is used as a 
 lock-up for the disorderly and for the shelter of poor foot-travel- 
 ers and vagrants. 
 
 At present there is in the Borough one private circulating' 
 library, established by Mrs. Lydia Lukens ; and although not 
 an extensive one, it has kept pace with the demand of its patro- 
 nizers. Fifty-three years ago the Aurora newspaper was tem- 
 porarily removed from Philadelphia, and published at Bristol, 
 during the prevalence of the yellow fever. In 1849, the Bristol 
 Gazette was established, it being the first periodical published 
 in Bristol with a view to permanency. But such were the dis- 
 couragements in the undertaking, that after struggling for a 
 lime, it expired on the issue of its fifty-second number. Had a 
 local press been established and sustained at Bristol in earlier 
 times, we feel persuaded that this place would long since have 
 grown one of far greater importance than it is now ; and many 
 have regretted that our people could not forsee or would not 
 avail themselves of the advantages offered them in 1849. 
 
 Of vthe public institutions and organized societies now in the 
 Borough, there are, seven religious denominations who have 
 houses of worship; a commodious Public School; a Masonic 
 Lodge ; and the Washington Hall ; — in which latter building 
 now meet, the Hopkins' Lodge and Hope Encampment, Sons, 
 Daughters and Cadets of Temperance associations, American 
 Mechanics and Daughters of America : all in a thriving condi- 
 tion. — Also, an association of Philozathians, and the Bristol and 
 the Union Building Associations. 
 
 One of the earliest associations in the Borough, now in exist- 
 ence, is the old Beneficial Society, now holding its meetings in 
 the Town Hall. Its affairs have been prosperously conducted; 
 and it has not only fully accomplished the beneficial purposes of 
 its institution, but it has gained, from time to time, overplus 
 monies, which have been loaned on interest. 
 
 The religious houses of worship are : The old Friends' Meet- 
 ing, corner of Market and Wood streets; the old Episcopal 
 Church, on Walnut street, north of Cedar ; the Methodist in 
 Wood street, above Mulberry; Orthodox Friends, corner of 
 Wood and Walnut; Roman Chapel, RadclifTe street, near the 
 
28 HISTORY OP BRISTOL. 
 
 bridg-e; Presbyterian Church, Radcliffe street, east of Market; 
 and Baptist, corner of Walnut and Cedar. 
 
 One hundred years ago (Old Town Rec.) the Borough con- 
 tained only 72 male taxables, 24 of whom were single men.— 
 In 1806, (Scott's Geog.,) Bristol contained about 90 houses.— 
 " By the census of 1800, the population was 511 ; in 1810, 628 ; 
 in 1820, 908." (Pa. Hist. Col.) By the census of 1840, it will 
 be seen, that the enumeration of its inhabitants at that time was 
 1438; — and in 18.50 the Borough was found to contain a popula- 
 tion of 2570: of which there were males 1287; females 12S3; 
 (colored persons 89.) This shows the prosperous increase in 
 ten years of 11.'32 souls, or about 80 per cent ! In 1850-1, there 
 were about 450 dwellings in the Borough, (besides a number 
 of shops of various kinds;) and in the Spring of 16.52, they 
 numbered 500. At the present time, (Summer of 1853,) the 
 Borough contains about 600 buildings, as dwellings, stores, and 
 manufactories of various kinds ; and we will venture to say, on 
 the judgment of others as well as our own, that the population 
 of the Borough novv numbers about 3,000. Previous to the year 
 1848, and before the oldest Building Association was organized, 
 the spirit of building improvement had long lain dormant. And, 
 we ask, have not these last noted facts mainly resulted from that 
 spirit of progress in building up the waste places around us, 
 to which the energies of many of our enterprising men have 
 latterly been directed ? And yet how often do we hear the pre- 
 monition, even by men of discernment, that this same spirit is 
 hazardous of pecuniary success and prosperity. But let the 
 facts and the figures show for themselves. 
 
 The population of Bristol has always largely exceeded that of 
 any other tow^n in this highly favored county ; has all along re- 
 gularly continued to be, and now is, almost double that of the 
 county town ; whilst it is environed by a more densely populated 
 country, enterprising villages, and grain and lumber mill seats, 
 than any other borough in the county. 
 
 Commanding the immediate advantages of the river naviga-. 
 tion, the railroad, turnpike and canal, Bristol is therein possessed 
 of local facilities for the advancement of industrial pursuits, 
 which, although adding much to its prosperity, nevertheless^-for 
 
I-IME^S DOINGS. 29 
 
 a long period of years, but little enterprise had been aroused 
 into action. Latterly, however, its advantages as a manufac- 
 turing post seem to be awakening, while the broad field is still 
 open and at command of capitalists, for erecting works for all 
 the heavier manufactures; and, we opine, the day is not far dis- 
 tant, when Bristol must become one of the greatest and most valu- 
 able manufacturing posts bordering upon the river Delaware. — 
 The Delaware Division of the Pennsylvania Canal terminating 
 at this port, it is made the general depot for transhipment of 
 anthracite coal from the Lehigh region: affording labor to a 
 large number of operatives and vesselmen, who niust be fed, 
 clothed, and furnished with all necessary implements of labor. — 
 Hence, again, this gives an active impulse to dealers in the 
 common necessaries of life, and of the trades more particularly 
 to smith-work, rope, harness, and shoe making; — consequently, 
 at present, the larger amount of the capital of the place is in- 
 vested in the pursuits mentioned. 
 
 At present the greater amount of business in general store- 
 keeping is carried on in Mill street: which now has twelve 
 retail stores for the sale of groceries, provisions, clothing, dry- 
 goods, and housekeeping articles generally. Besides these, there 
 are now on the same street two fancy dry-goods and trimming 
 stores, two leather and shoe-findings stores, three tin and sheet- 
 iron manufactories, three millinery and two tailoring establish- 
 ments, three harness manufactories, three boot and shoe makers, 
 a grain and a saw mill, two hat manufacturers, one smith-shop, 
 two drug and medicine stores, two tobacconists, one soap and 
 candle manufactory, one cabinet-ware maker, a printing office, 
 a watchmaker and jeweler, two bakers, and one public house. 
 
 On Radcliffe street we have three or four stands for general 
 storekeeping, one millinery and one ladies shoe store, a confec- 
 tionery, two public houses, a few shop-keepers, and a boat-yard. 
 
 Bath street is at present chiefly occupied with private resi- 
 dences. The property on the upper side, however, has been 
 rendered very valuable for landings on the canal and on a small 
 inlet of sufficient capacity to admit canal-boats. Two extensive 
 lumber and coal yards are upon this inlet, which yards open on 
 Bath street. 
 
 4 
 
30 HISTORY OF BRIStOL. 
 
 On Cedar street, one small grocery store, one blacksmiths' 
 shop, one wheelwrights' shop, and a livery stable. 
 
 On Wood street are two small grocery shops, an iron foundry, 
 one ladies' shoe-shop, one blacksmith and one paint shop. 
 
 On Market street, one blacksmith shop, one paint shop, one 
 cooper shop, one ladies' shoe shop, and two livery stables. 
 
 At Mulberry and Pond streets is erected Hibbs, Fry & Com- 
 pany's machine-shops for the manufacture of clover hullers and 
 cleaners, invented and patented by Jonathan Hibbs, one of the 
 partners. Also on Mulberry street is carried on the business of 
 grain cradle making. 
 
 On Walnut street, several boot and shoe manufactories. 
 
 On Buckley street has recently been erected Strong & Mor- 
 gan's malleable iron and tilt-hammer works, now going into ac- 
 tive operation. The business of rope making is also carried on 
 in this street. 
 
 In Otter street have recently been erected one wheelwright 
 shop and a pump-makers' shop. Otter street is becoming one 
 of the most favorable localities for the erection of shops for car- 
 rying on the mechanic arts, particularly such as are more gene- 
 rally required by our neighboring farmers. A small grocery 
 store has recently been opened on this street, required by the 
 rapid advancement in building up the lots opened for improve- 
 ment in that neighborhood in 1851. 
 
 On Linden street, (in the plot just noticed,) is erected an ex- 
 tensive and complete coach, wheelwright, blacksmith, painting 
 and coach-trimming establishment. 
 
 A large amount of the river front, and sites on the canal, are 
 occupied by coal operators, and some portions for boat-building. 
 
 Along the line of canal within the limits of the town are 
 several extensive stables, smith shops, a cooj)ers' shop, and stores 
 adapted to the wants of watermen. 
 
 We do not claim in the above recapitulation to have noticed 
 all the industrial pursuits of the town ; while enough has been 
 presented to give a general idea of the Borough as to its busi- 
 ness character in 1853. 
 
TIMERS DOINGS. Si 
 
 NOTABILIA. 
 
 We here present, in a form convenient for reference, the 
 several periods at which the streets of the Borough were opeiv 
 ed, or released to public use ; also, such as have been opened to 
 Qse, but not yet formally released to the corporation. 
 
 The several new plots mentioned in the names of individuals, 
 by whom they were laid out, have generally been taken up by 
 mechanics and other laborers, who are rapidly improving them, 
 thereby not only extending the area of the built portions of the 
 town, but, in consideration of the fact that our dwelling-houses 
 have latterly been in demand, these improved neighborhoods are 
 now adding increased value to both the improved and unimproved 
 property of the Borough everywhere, but in a greater ratio in 
 their respective localities, and in a degree commensurate with 
 the progress which each is making. 
 
 STREETS: 
 
 MilL Original h%hway. 
 
 Wharf extended in 1830; further extension, 1850; 
 New slip built, and wharf planked, 1853. 
 New foot-bridge over Canal, 1853. 
 Radcliffe. Old original highway. 
 Cedar. Original to Walnut stteeL 
 Wharf built in 1830. 
 
 Street continued from Walnut to Franklin, 1849; from 
 Penn to Warren's land, 1851. 
 Wood. Original to Walnut 
 
 In 1766, John Hutchinson vacates to the public use, 
 ground for its further extension easterly from Walnut. 
 Wharf at foot of Wood st. built in 1815. 
 Street continued to Penn st., 1851 ; and from Penn to 
 Washington, 1851. 
 Cherry Alley, laid out in 1849. 
 Pond. Original to Walnut. 
 Wharf built in 1830. 
 ■ The easterly extension from Walnut is an old lane. 
 
32 HISTORY OF BRISTOL. 
 
 STREETS: 
 
 INTERSECTIONS, viz : 
 
 Market. Original. 
 Wharf, use of, leased to Phil. & Tr. R. R. Co. for 25 years 
 at $150 per an., April 30, 1844. 
 
 Mulberry. Original to Pond. 
 
 Walnut. Original to Wood. 
 Extended to Pond in 1811. 
 Wharf built, ]837. 
 laing's and dorrance and Wright's plots, 
 
 Franklirij laid out in 1836. 
 
 Penn, laid out in 1836. 
 (Not released, viz:) 
 
 Dorrance, laid out in 1851. 
 
 Washington, laid out in 1851. 
 
 One other, (not named,) east of, and parallel with Wash- 
 ington street, 1852. 
 
 Bath. (N.-westerly from the junction of Mill and Otter.) 
 Opened in 1809, by private individuals; and declared 
 by Council to be an " infringement of the rights of 
 the corporation." 
 Widened and regulated in 1821. 
 
 quervelle's plot. ') 
 
 Buckley, running easterly from Bath street. Laid out in > 
 
 1847. (With streets intersecting, not released.) ) 
 
 Otter. Original high^fay. 
 
 w. and e. laing and co.*s plot. — (not released.) — 
 Formerly Heiskell's, viz : 
 Streets diverging northerly from Otter street : — 
 
 Linden, Locust, and Maple, 1851 ; and intersected by- 
 Pearl and Green, parallel with Otter, 1851. 
 
 SEAL [Borough]. On the margin the words " Borough of Bris- 
 tol, Pa. — A Steamboat engraved in the centre. 
 
 This devise was proposed and adopted in Council, the 15th of 
 August, 1826. 
 
time's doings. 
 
 33 
 
 FISCAL AFFAIRS: 
 
 For a long period of years the Borough finances had been 
 fully supplied out of the receipts of the corporation for wharfage, 
 market rents, hay-scales, &c. ; so that little or no assessment 
 of taxes for Borough purposes were required up to the close of 
 the 17th century. 
 
 We here present the amount of taxes required to be levied, 
 annually, during the past half-century : 
 
 TAXES authorized to be Levied. 
 
 Feb. 1803, $100 00 
 Julv, 1803, 235 43 
 Sept. 1804, 80 00 
 1805, 000. 
 Sept. 1806, 150 00 
 1807, 000. 
 May, 1808, 
 Sept. 1808, 
 1809-'10, 000. 
 Sept. 1811, 450 00 
 Nov. 1812, 
 1813, 000. 
 Feb. 1814, 
 1815, 000. 
 Oct. 1816, 
 Oct. 1817, 
 Sept. 1818, 
 1819, 000. 
 
 80 00 
 132 00 
 
 200 00 
 
 250 00 
 
 321 00 
 550 00 
 350 00 
 
 Sept. 1820, 
 Sept. 1821, 
 Sept. 1822, 
 Sept. 1823, 
 Sept. 1824, 
 Dec. 1825, 
 Sept. 1826, 
 1827, 000. 
 April, 1828, 
 Sept. 1828, 
 Sept. 1829, 
 Sept. 1830, 
 Sept. 1831, 
 Sept. 1832, 
 Sept. 1833, 
 Sept. 1834, 
 Sept. 1835, 
 Sept. 1836, 
 
 250 00 
 200 00 
 200 00 
 300 00 
 300 00 
 300 00 
 400 00 
 
 450 00 
 400 00 
 400 00 
 200 00 
 400 00 
 500 00 
 600 00 
 450 00 
 450 00 
 600 00 
 
 Sept. 1837, 
 Sept. 1838, 
 Sept. 1839, 
 Sept. 1840, 
 Sept. 1841, 
 1842, 000. 
 Sept. 1843, 
 Sept. 1844, 
 Sept. 1845, 
 Sept. 1846, 
 Sept. 1847, 
 Sept. 1848, 
 Sept. 1849, 
 Sept. 1850, 
 May, 1851, 
 April, 1852, 
 April, 1853, 
 
 1000 00 
 2000 00 
 1200 00 
 1000 00 
 1260 00 
 
 500 00 
 
 600 00 
 
 600 00 
 
 600 00 
 
 500 00 
 
 600 00 
 
 650 00 
 
 1000 00 
 
 1000 00 
 
 1400 00 
 
 1400 00 
 
 LOANS, &c., during the past 20 years: — 
 1831, Ap. to Ap. 1840,— (to build Town House, and for 
 
 other improvements,) $2,000 00 
 
 1831, Aug. to Oct. 1838,— (to repair breach of mill-dam 
 
 into Bath street,) 1,000 00 
 
 1837, May.— Issue of scrip authorized, 5,000 00 
 
 [83,000 of which to be applied to building the 
 Public School-house.] July, additional sum 
 authorized, of 3,400 00 
 
 1638, Ap. 16, — (to pay balance due on school-house, 
 
 81936 87, and for other objects,) not to exceed 6,000 00 
 
 1838, Ap. — (to take out of circulation a like amount in 
 
 less sums than 850,) 6,000 00 
 
 -1837-8. 
 
 Whole amount of scrip in circulation, 
 4* 
 
 7,689 00 
 
34 HISTORY or BRISTOL. 
 
 1839, Sept. — Loan to redeem certificates and pay other 
 
 debts, 7,000 00 
 
 1839, Ap.— (Temporary,) 8,000 00 
 
 1842, Jan. do. 4,000 00 
 
 " March, do. 2,000 00 
 
 1842-'51. Whole amount of indebtedness on loans, 7,000 00 
 
 1351, Ap.— (To rebuild and extend Mill street wharf,) 1,500 00 
 
 1852, March.— Indebtedness on loans, 8,500 00 
 
 1852, Mar.— Liabilities, (deducting $647 61 in dues) 7,852 89 
 
 1853, March.— Indebtedness on loans, 8,500 00 
 
 " Total indebtedness, 8,597 18 
 
 1853, March.— Liabilities (deducting $ 1184 91 in re- 
 sources and monies in hand, 7,412 27 
 1853, Ap.— (Loan to redeem 2 loans of $1000 each,) 2,000 00 
 
 In 1846 Council commenced a sinking fund for the gradual 
 extinguishment of the debts of the corporation, by setting aside 
 and loaning on interest, annually the sum of $100. Since 
 1851, no appropriations have been made to this fund. 
 
 RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES for 
 
 Borough purposes from 
 
 1842 <o 1853: 
 
 
 
 FOR THE TERM ENDING — 
 
 RECEIPTS. 
 
 PAYMENTS. 
 
 Sept. 1342, 
 
 $2,290 27 
 
 $2,273 07 
 
 " 1843, 
 
 797 67 
 
 806 25 
 
 " 1844, 
 
 770 42 
 
 750 32 
 
 " 1845, 
 
 694 99 
 
 677 50 
 
 " 1846, 
 
 919 02 
 
 946 23 
 
 " 1847, 
 
 3,034 24 
 
 2,955 21 
 
 « 1848, 
 
 1,202 58 
 
 1,199 08 
 
 " 1849, 
 
 1,934 04 
 
 1,927 26 
 
 " 1850, 
 
 2,121 09 
 
 2,119 34 
 
 March, 1851,* 
 
 407 59 
 
 427 67 
 
 " 1852, 
 
 3,652 98 
 
 4,156 73 
 
 " 1853, 
 
 1,914 88 
 
 1,850 09 
 
 * Under the present charter the Borough year now closes in the 
 month of March, and not in September, as heretofore. 
 
TIMERS DOINGS. 
 
 BOROUGH OFFICERS. 
 
 Among the early Fathers of this ancient corporation, it will 
 be seen and remembered, stand the names of some of the best 
 and most prominent men of their times ; and it affords no little 
 pride of feelino^ as a citizen of Bristol, and gratification as a 
 compiler of its history, to call back their names from the silent 
 past. The prefatory stanzas to their memory has been kindly 
 and expressly contributed by Samuel Swain, Jr., at the request 
 of the compiler. 
 
 The fact has been before adverted to, that much of the early 
 recorded transactions of the corporation have been lost or de- 
 stroyed ; in consequence of which, our chain of record under this 
 department is frequently severed, the connecting links of which 
 can never be supplied. — Our notitia dates with the ancient 
 charter officers, and from all the present existing records. 
 
 THE VILLAGE FATHERS. 
 
 The passed away ! Tears will unbidden start 
 And thoughts grow tender as we trace the names 
 Of those who sleep — our fathers, and their sires I 
 
 Back to the days of pioneering toil 
 Stretches the kindred tie and clasps a race — 
 A sterner and a hardier race — than we. 
 Who build anew their homes. They lived perchance 
 In doom that seemed unequal — save in hope 
 And sorrow's portioned shade ; but now the same 
 Kind mother folds them to her faithful breast ; — 
 The same green Summer blossoms o'er their dust 
 And murmurs to their rest. Their transient part 
 In life was humbly played : how well, but One, 
 Their loving Father, knows. Sweet be their sleep, 
 Lulled by the ripple of the streams they loved, 
 And kindred childhood's song I 
 
36 HISTORY OF BRISTOL. 
 
 The dark wave breaking on the emerald shore 
 Flashes a glittering spray : So every Age 
 That dies on being's verge is crested well 
 With memories that are sweet to store away. • 
 
 Our deepest lessons may be truly learned 
 From off the epitaphs of what hath been. 
 Read in the clearer sunshine of to-day. 
 Year chases year from earth; and each should drop 
 Its honied morsel into Wisdom's urn, 
 Which, like the Hebrew's manna, must be used 
 As it is gathered. Life has not an hour 
 To waste in doubting, while the solemn Past 
 Is prophet to the Future. Onward, then, 
 O let us march, strong in the focal light 
 Experience blends with Hope ; and God will help 
 The soul that toils and loves I 
 
 1720, Nov. 14. — Charter Officers : Joseph Bond and John Hali, 
 Burg-esses; Thos. CllfFord, High Constable; (to continue 
 in office to 8th of September, 1721.) 
 
 1730, Sept. 8.— John Hall, c. b.; Nath'n. Watson, 2d b.; John 
 
 Priestley, h. c; John Ab'ra De Normandie, Ennion Wil- 
 liams, Tiios. Marriott, Wm. Hope, James Higgs, John 
 Elfreth, Common Council. 
 
 1731, Sept. 8. — John Ab'm De Normandie, c b; Nath*n Watson, 
 
 2d B ; John Priestley, h c ; Thos. Marriott, James Hig-g-s, 
 Ennion Williams, Benj. Wright, John Elfreth, William 
 Hope, c c. 
 
 1732, Sept. 8. — John Hall, c b; Ennion Williams, 2d b; John 
 
 Ab'm De Normandie, Thos. Marriott, Benj. Wright, Jas. 
 Higgs, William Hope, John Elfreth, c c. 
 
 1742, Sept. 8. — John Ab'm De Normandie, c b ; John Frohoe, 2d 
 
 B ; John Hutchinson, h c ; Jos. Jackson, William Buck- 
 ley, Thomas Marriott, Ennion Williams, Nicholas Allen, 
 Mathias Keen, c c. 
 
 1743, Sept. 8. — John Ab'm De Normandie, c b ; John Frohoe, 2d 
 
 b; John Hutchinson, n c; Enn. Williams, Thomas Mar- 
 riott, Joseph Jackson, John Anth. De Normandie, William 
 Buckley, c c. 
 
 1744, Sept. 8.Same. 
 
time's doings. 37 
 
 1745, Sept. 8.— John Hall, c. b; William Buckley, 2(1 b; John 
 
 Ab'm De Normandie, Enn. Williams, Thomas Marriott, 
 Joseph Jackson, Wm. Atkinson, John Frohoe, c c. 
 
 1746, Sept. 8. — Same Burg. — John Ab'm De Normandie, Enn. 
 
 Williams, John Frohoe, Wm. Atkinson, John Antho. De 
 Normandie, Wm. De Normandie, c c ; J. Priestley, h c. 
 
 1747, Sept. 8.— William Buckley, c b; Matthias Keen, 2d b; 
 
 John Priestley, h c ; John Ab'm De Normandie, John 
 Hall, Alex'r Graydon, Enn. Williams, Thomas Marriott, 
 Joseph Jackson, c c. 
 
 Feb. 29. — John Anthony De Normandie, John Frohoe, 
 
 Samuel Harker, elected to fill vacancies, by deaths, &:c. 
 
 1748, Sept. 8.— William Buckley, c b; John De Normandie, 2d 
 
 b; John Priestley, hc; (Councilmen increased.) John 
 Ab'm De Normandie, Enn. Williams, Alexan'r Graydon, 
 John Hall, John Frohoe, Samuel Harker, Nicholas Allen, 
 John Hutchinson, Joseph Church, c c. 
 
 1749, Sept. 8. — Same, with exception of Joseph Atkinson and 
 
 William Large in lieu of John Hall and John Frohoe. 
 
 1750, Sept. 8.— William Buckley, cb; William Large, 2d b; 
 
 Enn. Williams, John Ab'm De Normandie, Alex'r Gray- 
 don, Joseph Atkinson, Jos. Church, Thos. Marriott, c c. 
 
 1751, Sept. 9. — William Buckley, c b; Joseph Church, 2d b; 
 
 John Priestley, h c; John Ab'm De Normandie, Alex'r 
 Graydon, Joseph Atkinson, Wm. Large, Enn. Williams, 
 John Allen, Barnard Duffield, Thomas AJarriott, Anthony 
 Murphey, c o. 
 1752, — [Sept. 19. " by reason of the late alteration of style by 
 Act of Parliament."] — William Buckley, c b; Thomas 
 Marriott, 2d b; John Priestley, hc; Ennion Williams, 
 Alexander Graydon, John A. De Normandie, Jos. Church. 
 William Large, John Allen, Joseph Atkinson, Thomas 
 Stapler, Ebenezer Robinson, c c. 
 
 1753, Sept. S.— Same. 
 
 1754, Sept. 8. — Same, with the exception of Matthew Keen in 
 
 lieu of Ebenezer Robinson. 
 
 1755, Sept. 8. — John De Normandie, c b; Joseph Atkinson, 2d 
 
 b; John Priestley, h c; John Ab'm De Normandie, Enn. 
 Williams, Alex'r Graydon, Wm. Buckley, Jos. Church, 
 Wm. Large, John Allen, Thos. Marriott, Mat. Keen, c c. 
 
 1756, Sept. 8, — Same, with the exception of Thomas Stapler 
 
 and John Hutchinson in place of Alexander Graydon and 
 Joseph Church. 
 
38 niSTORY OF BRISTOL. 
 
 1757, Sept. 8. — William Buckley, c b; Joseph Atkinson, 2(1 e; 
 
 John Priestley, ii c; Ennion Williams, John Ab'm De 
 Normandie, Alexander Graydon, William Large, John 
 Allen, Thomas Marriott, Samuel Woolston, John Hutch- 
 inson, Dari'l De Normandie, c c. 
 
 1758, Sept. 8. — John De Normandie, c b; William Large, 2d b; 
 
 John Priestley, ii c ; Ennion Williams, Alex'r Graydon, 
 William Buckley, John Hutchinson, John Allen, Daniel 
 De Normandie, Thomas Marriott, Joseph Atkinson, Bur- 
 net Richards, c c. 
 
 1759, Sept. 8. — Ennion Williams, c b; William Large, 2d b; 
 
 Abraham Breisford, hc; Alexander Graydon, Thomaa 
 Marriott, John Hutchinson, Jos. Atkinson, Butnet Rich- 
 ards, John Priestley, John Allen, John De Normandie, 
 David Pinkerton, c c. 
 
 1760, Sept. 8. — Hugh Hartshorne, c b; Burnet Richards, 2d b; 
 
 John Priestley, hc; Ennion Williams, Alex'r Graydon, 
 Thomas Marriott, John Hutchinson, Joseph Church, Jos. 
 Atkinson, John Allen, John Green, J. De Normandie, c c. 
 
 1761, Sept. 8. — John Hall, c b; John Green, 2d b; Samuel 
 
 VVool^on, hc; Enn. Williams, Hugh Hartshorne, John 
 De Normandie, John Allen, William Large, Joseph At- 
 kinson, Joseph Church, c c. 
 
 1762, Sept. 8.— Hugh Hartshorne, c b; John Priestley, 2d b: 
 
 Joseph Brown, h c ; Ennion Williams, John De Norman- 
 die, John Hall, William Mcllvaine, Jos. Atkinson, Wm. 
 Large, Joseph Ciiurch, c c. 
 
 1763, Sept. 8. — Hugh Hartshorne, c b; David Pinkerton, 2d b; 
 
 Joseph Brown, h. c; Ennion Williams, John De Nor- 
 mandie, Joseph Atkinson, Joseph Church, Wm. Large, 
 John Allen, John Priestley, c c. 
 
 1764, Sept. 8. — John Priestley, c b ; Joseph Hall, 2d b ; Joseph 
 
 Brown, h c; Ennion Williams, Hugh Hartshorne, Joseph 
 Church, Joseph Atkinson, Jonathan Haight, Wm. Mcll- 
 vaine, John Green, c c. 
 
 1765, Sept. 8. — Phineas Buckley, c b; John Hutchinson, 2d b; 
 
 Same Council except Joseph Hail in place of Wm. Mc- 
 llvaine. 
 
 1766, Sept. 8. — Phineas Buckley, o b ; John Bessonett, 2d b; 
 
 Ennion Williams, Hugh Hartshorne, John De Normandie, 
 Joseph Atkinson, Jonathan Haight, John Green, John 
 Priestley, c c. 
 
S9 
 
 1768, Sept. 8. — Phineas Buckley, cb; John Bessonett, 2d b; 
 Joseph Brown, u c; Ennion Williams, John De Norman- 
 die, Hugh Hartshorno, John Priestley, Joseph Atkinson, 
 John Green, Charles Bessonett, c c;, 
 
 1769i Sept- S.—Same. 
 
 1770, Sept. S.—Satne, 
 
 1771, Sept. 8.-^Same. 
 
 1772, Sept, 8. — Same.) with the exception of Patterson Harts- 
 
 horne in place of John Green. 
 1673, Sept. 8. — Sa7ne as 1772, with the exception of John Hut- 
 chinson in place of John Priestley. 
 
 1774, Sept. 8. — Phineas Buckley, c b; John Bessonett, 2d b; 
 
 Ennion Williams, John Ab'm De Normandie, Hugh Harts* 
 borne, Joseph Atkinson, Charles Bessonett, John Hutch- 
 inson, William Mcllvaine, c c. 
 
 1775, Sept. 8. — Sa?ne, with the exception of Joseph Church in 
 
 place of Charles Bessonett. High Cons. John Gosline. 
 
 1784, Sept. 8. — Daniel Kennedy, c b; Jos. Clunn, 2d b; Rich- 
 
 ard Gosline, hc; William Mcllvaine, Joseph Mcllvaine, 
 Chas. Bessonett, Archibald McElroy, John Gosline, John 
 Dowdney, John Priestley, c c. 
 
 1785, Sept. 8. — Same, with the exception of William Rodman 
 
 in place of John Priestley. 
 
 1786, Sept. 8. — Amos Gregg, cb; Thomas Pearson, 2d b; Rich- 
 
 ard Gosline, h. c ; Joseph Mcllvaine, Archibald McElroy, 
 John Hutchinson, Timothy Merrick, Job Stackhouse, Jos. 
 Vanschiver, Jonathan Pursell, c c. 
 
 1787, Sept. 8. — Amos Gregg, c b ; Thos. Pearson, 2d b ; Rich- 
 
 ard Gosline, h c ; John Hutchinson, Charles Bessonett, 
 Robert Merrick, Job Stackhouse, Timothy Merrick, Jo- 
 nathan Pursell, William Allen, c c. 
 
 1788, Sept. 8. — John Hutchinson, c b: Thomas Pearson, 2d b; 
 
 Timothy Merrick, h. c ; Samuel Kinsey, Amos Gregg, 
 William Mcllvaine, Pearson Mitchell, Job Stackhouse, 
 Jonathan Pursell, c c. 
 
 1789, Sept. 8. — Same, with the exception of Archibald McElroy 
 
 in place of Amos Gregg. 
 
 1790, Sept. 8. — John Hutchinson, c b; Joseph Clunn, 2d b; John 
 
 Murray, h c ; William Mcllvaine, Archibald McElroy, 
 Pierson Mitchell, Thomas Pearson, Samuel Kinsey, Ti- 
 mothy Merrick, Jonathan Pursell, c c. 
 
 1791, Sept. 8. — John Hutchinson, c b ; Jonathan Pursell, 2d b ; 
 
 John Murray, n c , Archibald McElroy, Joseph Clunn, 
 Thomas Pearson, Pierson Mitchell, Sam'l Kinsey, Timo- 
 thy Merrick, Joseph Minnick, c c. 
 
40 HISTORY OF BRISTOL. 
 
 1792, Sept. 8. — Joseph Minnick, c b ; John Gosline, 2d b; Archi- 
 
 bald McElroy, Charles Bessonett, Thomas Pearson, Tim- 
 othy Merrick, Samuel Kinsey, Jonathan Pursell, James 
 Harrison, c c ; John Murray, h c. 
 
 1793, Sept. 9. — Same, excepting: Joseph Clunn and William 
 
 Crawford in place of A. McEIroy and C. Bessonett. 
 
 1794, Sept. 8. — Same, excepting- Robert Merrick is 2d b; and 
 
 George Merrick and Job Stackhouse, in place of Thomas 
 Pearson and James Harrison. 
 
 1795, Sept. 8.— Amos Gregg-, cb; Rich'd Trimble, 2d b; Sam'l 
 
 Kinsey, John Gosline, John Hutchinson, Joseph Clunn, 
 Charles Bessonett, Job Stackhouse, Benj. Walton, c c; 
 Robert Merrick, jr. h c. 
 
 1796, Sept. 8. — Joseph P. Minnick, c b; John Gosline, 2d b; 
 
 Joseph Clunn, Amos Gregg, Job Stackhouse, Timothy 
 Merrick, Jonathan Pursell, William Crawford, Lewis 
 Howard, c c ; Francis Stackhouse, h c. 
 
 1797, Sept. 8.— Charles Shoemaker, c b; John Gosline, 2d b; 
 
 Joseph Clunn, John Hutchinson, Job Stackhouse, Amos 
 Gregg, Samuel Kinsey, Jonathan Pursell, William Craw- 
 ford, c c ; Francis Stackhouse, h c. 
 
 1798, Sept. 8. — Amos Gregg, c b; Joseph P. Minnick, 2d b; 
 
 VVilliam Crawford, John Hutchinson, jr., Richard Lloyd, 
 James Harrison, James Serrill, Joseph Stackhouse, John 
 Baldwin, c c ; Francis Stackhouse, h c. 
 
 1799, Sept. 8.— John Gosline, c b; Archibald McElroy, 2d b; 
 
 Joseph Clunn, John Hutchinson, Job Stackhouse, Jona- 
 than Pursell, William Crawford, John Hutchinson, jr., 
 Richard Lloyd, c c ; Francis Stackhouse, h c. 
 
 1802, Sept. 8. — Samuel Scotton, c b : William Perkins, 2d b ; 
 
 John Gosline, Amos Gregg, Joseph Clunn, Joseph Head- 
 ley, Jonathan Pursell, James Harrisson, John Reed, c c ; 
 William Crawford, h. c. 
 
 1803, Sept. 8. — William Perkins, c b; Samuel Scotton, 2d b; 
 
 Joseph Clunn, Jonathan Pursell, Joseph Headley, Benj, 
 Swain, William McElhany, William Crawford, John 
 Reed, c c ; John Johnson, h c. 
 
 1804, Sept. 8.— Samuel Scotton, c b; William Perkins, 2d b; 
 
 Joseph Headly, Benjamin Swain, Joseph Clunn, William 
 Mcllhany, William Crawford, Amos Gregg, Job Stack- 
 house, c c ; John Johnson, h c. 
 
 1805, Sept. 7. — Amos Gregg, c e ; Henry Desborough, 2d b ; 
 Joseph Clunn, John Read, William Crawford, Samuel 
 Church, John Patterson, Noah Haines, Joseph Headley, 
 c ; Enos Wright, h c. 
 
time's doings. 41 
 
 1806, Sept. 8.— John Gosline, c b; Henry Disborough, 2cl b; 
 
 Joseph Clunn, Willi;im Crawford, Samuel Scotton, Wm. 
 Mcllhany, Benjamin Swain, Joseph Headly, John Patter- 
 son, c c ; Enos Wright, u c. 
 
 1807, Sept. 8— Amos Gregg, c e; John Reed, 2d b; Phineas 
 Buckley, Job Stackhouse, Sam'l Lounsberry, John White, 
 Samuel Church, Joseph Stackhouse, Stephen Hibbs, c c ; 
 William Kinsey, h c. 
 
 1808, Sept. 8.— Amos Gregg, cb; J. S. Mitchell, 2d b; Phineas 
 
 Buckley, Joseph Headley, Job Stackhouse, Ebenezer 
 Headly, Joseph Stackhouse, Jonathan Pursel, William 
 Crawford, c c; William Kinsey, h c. 
 
 1809, Sept. 8. — Same, with the exception of John Read in lieu 
 
 of William Crawford. 
 
 1810, Sept. 8.— Amos Gregg, c B ; J. S. Mitchell, 2d b; Phineas 
 
 Buckley, Samuel Scotton, Jonathan Pursell, Jos. Stack- 
 house, John Reed, Abraham Warner, Sam'l Church, c c ; 
 William Kinsey, h c. 
 
 1811, Sept. 9.— Amos Gregg, c b ; Henry Disborough, 2d b ; Jos. 
 
 Clunn, Phineas Buckley, Jonathan Pursell, John Reed, 
 Sam'l Church, Abraham Warner, Sam'l Lounsberry, c c ; 
 Henry Tomlinson, h c. 
 
 1812, Sept. 8. — Same, with the exception of Joseph Clunn in 
 
 lieu of John Reed. — William Ennis, h c. 
 
 1813, Sept. 8. — Archibald McElroy, c b ; John Bessonett, 2d b ; 
 
 Joseph Clunn, John Patterson, John White, David Swain, 
 William Crawford, Hugh Tomb, Joseph Vanzant, c c; 
 Henry Tomlinson, h c. 
 
 1815, Sept. 8.— Archibald McElroy, c b; John White, 2d b; 
 
 Joseph Clunn, William Crawford, John Patterson, John 
 Bessonett, Benjamin »Swain» Isaac Pitcher, c c ; Abraham 
 Hagerman, h c. 
 
 1816, Sept. 7.— Louis Bache, c b; Abraham Warner, 2d b; 
 Benjamin Swain, Henry Disborough, Isaac Pitcher, Amos 
 Gregg, John Bessonett, John Phillips, John Reed, c c ; 
 John H. Merrick, h c. 
 
 1817, Same, excepting Abraham Hagerman is h. c. 
 
 1818, Sept. 8.— Archibald McElroy, c. b; William Crawford, 2d 
 
 b; Amos Gregg, Benjamin Swain, John Bessonett, John 
 Reed, Ebenezer Stackhouse, David Swain, c c ; Charles 
 Snyder, h o. 
 
 5 
 
42 HISTORY OF BRISTOL. 
 
 1819, Sept. a— Archibald McEIroy, c b; John White, 2d b; 
 John G. Priestley, Isaac Pitcher, Samuel Levis, Henry 
 Tomlinson, Ebenezer Stackhouse, John Bessonett, Lewis 
 P. Kinsey, c c ; John Johnson, h c. 
 
 1820, Sept. 8. — Archibald McElroy, ce; Henry Disborough, 2d 
 
 b; Ebenezer Stackhouse, John Bessonett, John Kinsey, 
 Isaac Pitcher, John White, Fincher Hellin^s, John John- 
 son, c c. ; John T. Brown, h c. 
 
 1621, Sept. 8. — .Tohn Phillips, ce; Benjamin Swain, 2d b; John 
 Reed, William Crawford, Ebenezer Stackhouse, John 
 Hutchinson, Samuel Allen, Joseph Warner, L. P. Kinsey, 
 c c ; John T. Brown, h c. 
 
 1822, Sept. 7. — John Phillips, c b; Henry Disborough, 2d b; 
 
 Benjamin Swain, Joseph Warner, Samuel Allen, David 
 Dorrance, Wm. F. Swift, Ebenezer Stackhouse, William 
 Crawford, c c ; John T. Brown, h c. 
 
 1823, Sept. 8. — Joseph Warner, c b ; Henry Disborough, 2d b ; 
 
 William Crawford, Ebenezer Stackhouse, John Hutchin- 
 son, Benjamin Swain, Samuel Allen, John Kinsey, Isaac 
 Wilson, c c; John T. Brown, n c. 
 
 1824, Sept. 8. — David Dorrance, o b ; Joseph M. Downing, 2d 
 
 b; David Swain, James Johnson, Robert Cabeen, John 
 Heiss, Wm. F. Swift, John White, c c ; J. T. Brown, n c. 
 
 1825, Sept. 8. — Joseph Warner, cb; Joseph M. Downing, 2d b; 
 
 Ebenezer Stackhouse, Benjamin Swain, Samuel Allen, 
 Robert Cabeen, Wm. F. Swift, John Kinsey, John Besso- 
 nett, c c; William Gale, h c. 
 
 1826, Sept. 8. — Joseph Warner, c b ; Joseph M. Downing, 2d b ; 
 
 Ebenezer Stackhouse, Benjamin Swain, Wm. F. Swift, 
 Samuel Allen, Robert Cabeen, John Bessonett, John Kin- 
 sey, c c ; John Johnson, h c. 
 
 1827, Sept. 8. — Joseph Warner, c b ; Joseph M. Downing, 2d e ; 
 
 Robert Cabeen, Samuel Allen, Benjamin Swain, Wm. F. 
 Swift, John Bessonett, John Kinsey, W^illiam Laing, c c ; 
 John Johnson, h c. 
 
 1828, Sept. 8.— Joseph M. Downing, o b ; Benj. Swain, 2d b ; 
 
 Robert Cabeen, John Bessonett, Sam'l Allen, Wm. Laing, 
 John Hutchinson, John Boyd, L. P. Kinsey, c c ; John 
 Johnson, n c. 
 
 1829, Sept. 8. — Joseph Warner, c b; Benj. Swain, 2d b; Sam'l 
 
 Allen, Robert Cabeen, Wm. Laing, John Hutchinson, 
 John Boyd, L. P. Kinsey, John Bessonett, c c ; WiUiani 
 Kinsey, e c. 
 
time's doings. 43 
 
 IS30, Sept. 8 — Joseph Warner, c b ; Jos. M. Downing, 2 b ; John 
 Bessonett, Samuel Allen, Robert Cabeen, Wm. Laing, 
 Robert C. Beatty, Eleazer Fenton, L. P. Kinsey, c c ; 
 William Kinsey, h c. 
 
 1831, Sept. 8. — Joseph Warner, c b; James Johnson, 2(1 e; 
 John Bessonett, Edward Swain, Robert Cabeen, William 
 Hawk, Robert C. Beatty, Eleazer Fenton, L. P. Kinsey, 
 c o ; Wm. Kinsey, h c. 
 
 1S82, Sept. 8. — Wm. F. Swift, c b; James Johnson, 2d b; Ro- 
 bert Cabeen, Wm. Hawk, H. N. Bostwick, Sam'l Allen, 
 Edward Swain, James Harrison, John Bessonett, c c; 
 Wm. Kinsey, h c. 
 
 1833, Sept. IS.— Same. 
 
 1834, Sept. 8.— Wm. F. Swift, c b ; Jas. R. Scott, 2d b ; Rob't 
 
 Cabeen, John Bessonett, William Hawk, Samuel Allen, 
 H. N. Bostwick, James Harrison, Edward Swain, cc; 
 Wm. Kinsey, h c. 
 
 1635, Sept. 8— Wm. Hawk, c. b; Jas. R. Scott, 2d b; Samuel 
 Allen, H. N. Bostwick, Eleazer Fenton, James Harrison, 
 Edward Svvain, John Dorrance, William Kinsey, cc; 
 Wm. Killingsworth, h c. 
 
 1836, Sept. 8. — William Kinsey, c b; Benj. Brown, 2d b ; SamH 
 
 Allen, James Harrison, Jonathan Adams, John Heiss« 
 David Woodington, Gilbert Tomlinson, Robert Patterson, 
 c c ; Timothy Stackhouse, h c. 
 
 1837, Sept. 8. — William Kinsey, c b ; Jos. B. Pennington, 2d b; 
 
 Samuel Allen, James Brudon, David E. Woodington, Ro- 
 bert Patterson, Jos. F. Warner, William Killingsworth, 
 Wm. F. Swift, c c ; Lewis P. Kinsey, h c. 
 
 1838, Sept. 8.— William Hawk, cb; Jos. B. Pennington, 2d b; 
 
 Chas. W. Peirce, Robert Cabeen, Gilbert Tomlinson, John 
 W. Vandegrift, Samuel Allen, John Dorrance, Isaac W. 
 Hall, c c ; John Feaster, h c. 
 
 1839, Sept. 7.— William Hawk, c b; Benjamin Blinn, 2d b; 
 Samuel Allen, John Dorrance, Robert Cabeen, James 
 Irvine, James Johnson, John Johnson, James Brudon, c c ; 
 Robert Patterson, h c. 
 
 1840, Sept. 8.— Charles Banes, c b; Benjamin Blinn, 2d b; 
 James Johnson, John Wright, John Johnson, James Bru- 
 don, James Irvine, William Kinsey, Charles Smith, c c ; 
 Robert Patterson, h c. 
 
44 HISTORY OF BRISTOL. 
 
 1841, Sept. 8. — Charles Banes, c b; Benj. Blinn, 2d b; James 
 Johnson, James Brudon, James Irvine, John Wright, Wm. 
 Kinsey, Andrew W. Gilkeson, James W. Weiss, cc; 
 Robert Patterson, h c. 
 
 1S42, Sept. 8 — William Kinsey, c b; Benj. Blinn, 2d b; Lewis 
 P. Kinsey, Andrew W. Gilkeson, John Dorrance, Benj. 
 Malone, H. N. Bostwick, Samuel Allen, James Brudon, 
 c c ; Robert Patterson, h c. 
 
 1843, Sept. 8.— William Kinsey, c b; Benj. Blinn, 2d b; Ches- 
 
 ter Sturdevant, Benjamin Ball, Andrew W. Gilkeson, 
 Lewis P. Kinsey, James Brudon, Benjamin Malone, c c ; 
 Joseph R,. Hellings, h c. 
 
 1844, Sept. 9. — William Kinsey, cb; Benj. Blinn, 2d b; James 
 
 Johnson, Andrew W. Gilkeson, Robert Patterson, John 
 Wright, John Stewart, John K. Holt, Augustus Gerrard, 
 c c ; Joseph R. Hellings, h c. 
 
 1845, Sept. 8. — James Brudon, cb; Benj. Blinn, 2d b; Lewis 
 
 P. Kinsey, John Wright, John K. Holt, Andrew W. Gil- 
 keson, Robert Patterson, Morton Righter, Jackson Gilke- 
 son, c c ; Charles Titus, h c. 
 
 1846, Sept. 8. — Benjamin Malone, c b; Auirustus Gerrard, 2d b ; 
 
 Andrew W. Gilkeson, Wm. R. Phillips, Lewis P. Kinsey, 
 Anthony Swain, Henry M. Wright, Jackson Gilheson, 
 James Phillips, c c ; Charles Titus, h c. 
 
 1847, Sept. 8. — Mahlon G. Hibbs, c b; Augustus Gerrard, 2d 
 
 b; And. W. Gilkeson, Lewis P. Kinsey, John K. Holt, 
 James Brudon, Joseph Wright, Jackson Gilkeson, Wm. 
 Kinsey, c c ; Lemuel Nelly, h c. 
 
 1848, Sept. 8.— William Hawk, c. b; Charles Thompson, 2d b; 
 
 Anthony Swain, Samuel Allen, John Eastburn, Wm. H. 
 White, Louis A. Hoguet, George C. Johnson, Alexander 
 Morrison, c c ; Lemuel Nelly, h c. 
 
 1349, Sept. 8. — Isaac Van Horn, c b; Robert Patterson, 2d b; 
 James Brudon, And. W. Gilkeson, John Wright, John 
 Davis, John K. Holt, Lewis P. Kinsey, William Earley, 
 c c ; Charles Titus, ii c. 
 
 1850, Sept. 7.— Daniel P. Forst, c b ; Wm. H. White, 2d b; John 
 Dorrance, Wm. M. Downing, Wm. Killingsworth, John 
 W. Bray, Robert Booz, James Rue, Albert L. Packer, c c ; 
 Chilion W. Higgs, h c. 
 
TIMB^S DOINGS. 45 
 
 1851, March 21.— (Elected under new Charter.)— Daniel P. 
 Forst, Burgess; John Dorrance, John W. Bray, Wm. M. 
 Downing, Robert Booz, Wm. Killingsworth, James Rue, 
 A. L. Packer, Wm. H. White, L. A. Hoguet, Council ; 
 James Phillips, h c. 
 
 1852, March 19.— William Kinsey, b; William Bache, John W, 
 
 Bray, Wm. M. Downing, Edmund Lawrence, James Rue, 
 Daniel Street, Wm. H. White, Henry M. Wright, Joseph 
 Wright, c ; Giles S. Winder, h c. 
 
 1853, March 18. — William Kinsey, b; Valentine Booz, Jesse W. 
 
 Knight, James W. Martin, Henry M. Wright, William 
 Bache, Edmund Lawrence, Daniel Street, John S. Kin- 
 sey, John S. Brelsford, c ; Giles S. Winder, h c. 
 
 5* 
 
46 niSTORY OF BRISTOL. 
 
 SAINT JAMES' CHURCH. 
 
 OBTAINED, IN PART, FROM A SERMON BY THE RECTOR* 
 
 The original part of the Episcopal Church edifice in Bristol 
 was erected in 1712, by the townsmen and others of the neigh- 
 borhood, and was dedicated to the honor of St. James the Greater, 
 the 25th of July, being the festival of the Apostle. (Church Re- 
 cords.) Some of the materials, including most of the brick, used 
 in building this Church, were shipped from England. 
 
 This Church edifice is mentioned in the original charter act 
 incorporating the town of Bristol, which the reader will see in a 
 note on page 17 of this work. The land for erecting the Church 
 and for the burial ground was donated by Anthony Burton, a 
 gentleman of much note and usefulness in those early times, 
 and one of the three first projectors of the town. 
 
 For a period of years the ministry of this Church was sus- 
 tained by the ancient British Propagation Society ; however, for 
 a long time, its ministrations appear to have been quite abandon- 
 ed ; and during the revolutionary war it had become so neglected 
 and dilapidated, that it was used as a stabling by the troops wlio 
 were posted here. After the peace, this ancient structure was 
 thoroughly renovated and enlarged ; and its ministrations were 
 now regularly resumed. From the period of its dedication it 
 has had fourteen stationed ministers; the present Rector, the 
 Rev. Wm. S. Perkins, having been called to the pulpit in the 
 year 1834. 
 
 The pews have the old-fashioned high backs; and the whole 
 interior of the Church still retains most of its original appear- 
 ance. This venerable edifice will seat about 350 persons. 
 
 * On the 22d of June, 1851, the Rev. W. S. Perkins, Rector of 
 St. James' Church at Bristol, preached in commemoration of the 
 150th anniversary of "the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel 
 in Foreign Parts," which sermon contained a brief history of the 
 Church. At the request of members the sermon was published in 
 pamphlet form ; and it is now the source from which the materia! 
 facts in our sketch of the Church are obtained. 
 
SAINT JAMEs' CHURCH. 47 
 
 There is an excellent and well-toned organ placed in a small 
 gallery, used by the choir; which gallery is also used for the 
 infant Sunday-school class. 
 
 On the grounds is erected a frame building, used as a lecture 
 and Sunday-school room. 
 
 In its ancient and now beautiful burial ground, trees have 
 been planted, and family burial lots secured and enclosed. In it 
 are still to be found in tolerable preservation, tombstones bearing 
 as old, if not older, dates than any other burial place in Penn- 
 sylvania. Considerable regard has been paid to keeping many 
 of the graves in good order, while not a few of the tombs are 
 quite ornamental. Among the more ancient stones now tracea- 
 ble, is that of the Sugar family, which bears the coat of arms of 
 a Carpenters' Society, chiseled on the top of the stone, consist- 
 ing in part of a compass and square, and other devices which 
 time has so far obliterated as to be no longer legible. This stone 
 records the death of its tenant " August ye 16th, 1734." 
 
 As the name of De Normandie occurs frequently in this book, 
 we give the following inscriptions, copied from several stones in 
 this ancient yard : 
 
 "Andrew Denormandye dyed ye 10th of Dec. 1724, aged 73 
 years."—*' Sarah Denormandye, dyed July 6, 1723, aged 38."— 
 •' Andrew Denormandie died May 8, 1726, aged 3 months." — 
 " John Anthony Denormandie died June 3, 1748, aged 52 years." 
 " John Abraham De Normandie died Nov. 16, 1748, aged 57 
 
 years." " Gaudorett, dyed ye 8th of June, 1725, aged 
 
 61 years." 
 
 The whole value of the church property may be estimated at 
 about $7,000. 
 
48 HISTORY OP BRISTOL. 
 
 FRIENDS' MEETING-HOUSE. 
 
 In consequence of the ancient records of the Friends' Meet- 
 ing being uncollected and entrusted into several hands, (none of 
 them being deposited with the members residing in the borough,) 
 the compiler has used considerable exertion to procure full and 
 accurate statistics of its history ; and so far as his object has 
 been accomplished, he is altogether indebted to Dr. E. D. Buck- 
 man for the collections of its data which here follow : 
 
 " In 1704-5 Samuel Carpenter proposes to give a piece of 
 ground for a Meeting-house, burying-place, and for pasture, in 
 Bristol, to Friends; which was kindly accepted, and a deed of trust 
 executed to Joseph Kirkbride, Tobias Dimmock, Thomas Watson, 
 William Beaks, Edward Mays, and William Croasdale, for the 
 Baid uses.— Deed dated June 12th, 1711. The deed of trust 
 provides that the property shall be for the benefit of the poor 
 people of Bristol belonging to said Meeting, &c. — for a place to 
 erect and continue a Meeting, and to bury their dead, &c. — (See 
 Records at Wrightstown and at Doylestown.) 
 
 " The lot on which the Meeting-house is erected, (south-east 
 corner of Market and Wood streets,) was extended by purchase 
 from Dr. Henry Disborough, in 1814, for 207 dollars. Another 
 lot, at the north-west corner of Cedar and Walnut streets, was 
 deeded by John Pemberton and wife to the Society in 1793, for 
 educational purposes. 
 
 " In 1707 Bristol Friends desire to have a meeting there once 
 in two weeks, on First-days and on week-days ; and in 1710 they 
 remove their meeting from Ann May's house to the Widow Ba- 
 ker's. In 1713 they want £ 40 to finish their Meeting-house : — 
 £ 24 were assessed upon Falls, and £ 16 upon Middletown. 
 
 " In 1714 the Meeting was opened for worship on every First 
 day. In 1728 the Meeting-house being in some danger of fall- 
 ing, it was repaired: the blacksmith's bill 21. lis. Qd, — (See 
 Meeting Records at Wrightstown.)" 
 
 The second story of this old house of worship was formerly 
 used for educational purposes, and several of our townsmen of 
 
friends' meeting-house. 49 
 
 the present clay were school-fellows with the compiler of this 
 History of Bristol, in 1821-25, in its rooms. These upper rooms 
 have not heen applied to any particular use for some years. 
 The old original heavy wooden banister work, benches, «SiC. still 
 remain unaltered in the upper story. This ancient Meeting-house 
 is also noticed in the original town charter ; and the brick and 
 a large proportion of other material used in its construction was 
 also obtained from England. 
 
 After the separation of Friends' Society in 1828, a small frame 
 building was erected on the north-west corner of Wood and Mul- 
 berry streets, since known and used as the Orthodox Friends' 
 Meeting-house. 
 
 METHODIST-EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 
 
 CONTRIBUTED BY WM. KINSEY, ESQ. 
 
 The original M. E. Church at Bristol was built in the year 
 1804: enlarged in 1827, and rebuilt in 1844. The first Meth- 
 odist preacher who visited Bristol for the holding of public wor- 
 ship, was an officer in the British army before the revolutionary 
 war, Capt. Webb, who was a licensed preacher in the M. E. 
 Church. His regiment being encamped at Trenton, N. J., he 
 visited Bristol, and preached to a large collection of people under 
 a chestnut tree, on the ground where the present Church stand?:. 
 In 1790 regular circuit preaching was established by the Phila- 
 delphia Conference, the preachers and people occupying the old 
 Court-house. 
 
 In 1794, through the exertions of Mary Connor, one of the 
 first converts to Methodism, money was raised by subscription, 
 and the present Church lot, (about half an acre of ground, on 
 Wood street, between Mulberry and Walnut,) was purchased ; 
 KWil in 1804, (the society having increased,) through her conti- 
 nued etfoits, a small brick Church, 20 by 40 feet, one story high, 
 
50 HISTORY OP BRISTOL. 
 
 was built, in which there was reg-ular preaching once in two 
 weeks, at nights, by the circuit preachers. The Church was 
 occupied by other denominations on various occasions: the cele- 
 brated Quaker preacher, John Joseph Gurney, and the eccen- 
 tric Lorenzo Dow, with many other eminent divines, occupied 
 the pulpit. 
 
 In 1827, under the ministrations of the Rev. H. G. King and 
 R. LuTTON, the society greatly increased, and the Church was 
 enlarged. And in 1844, the society again finding their church 
 too small for the accommodation of the members and the large 
 congregation that assembled there, commenced to build the pre- 
 sent beautiful and commodious brick edifice, 45 by 60 feet, two 
 stories high, with lecture room and class rooms on the basement 
 flf)or, and preaching room with a gallery over the stairs and ves- 
 tibule, on the upper floor. 
 
 In 1852, under the ministrations of the Rev. Wm. McCombs, 
 a beautiful brick parsonage, 22 by 30 feet, with back buildings, 
 was erected, and furnished with suitable furniture, the whole at 
 a cost of JB 3,000. 
 
 The Church property, (including the parsonage building,) is 
 valued at $8,000, and is free from embarrassment. The society 
 numbers three hundred members, and has a flourishing Sabbath- 
 Bchool of 250 scholars. There is regular service during the 
 Sabbath and through the week, by the pastor, Rev. M. H. Sisty, 
 who is stationed by the Philadelphia Conference. 
 
 PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 
 
 CONTRIBUTED BY THE PASTOR. 
 
 The first movement to erect a place of worship for the Pres- 
 byterians in Bristol was made by the Rev. James M. Harlow, 
 in the Spring of 1844. In two years after, the Church was 
 organized with eleven members, and placed under care of the 
 Second Presbytery of Philadelphia. For a while they worshiped 
 in the frame building beside the railroad depot, nearly opposite 
 the market-house. 
 
PRKSBYTERIAN CHLRCH. 51 
 
 Their present place of worship, in Radcliffe street above Mar- 
 ket, was finished, through the exertions of Mr. Harlow, in 
 1846. The Church is a brick structure ; with a gallery over the 
 vestibule and stairs for the choir; and a basement story divided 
 into two apartments: one occupied as a lecture and Sabbath-school 
 room, and the other at present occupied as a female seminary, 
 under the charge of Miss E. D. Ward, a graduate of Mount 
 Holyoke, Mass. The church will seat about 450 persons. 
 
 The Rev. J. M. Harlow preached for them till 1650, as stated 
 supply. The Rev. F. D, Harris was called, and installed the 
 Hrst Pastor of the Church on the evening of the 8th of May, 
 1851. The Church feels greatly encouraged by the success 
 which has thus far crowned their efforts; they have a comforta- 
 ble house of worship. 
 
 CHURCH OF SAINT MARK. 
 
 NOTES TAKEN AT A PERSONAL INTERVIEW WITH THE RECTOR. 
 
 The Roman Catholic Church of St. Mark was built, under 
 the pastoral charge and supervision of the Rev. John Mackin, 
 (now of Trenton, N. J.,) in the year 1845, at a cost of about 
 $2500. It is situated on the northerly side of Radcliffe street,near 
 Adams' Hollow bridge. This Church will seat about 260 per- 
 sons; and its regular ministrations are well attended. This 
 edifice, which is built of stone, is at present not sufficiently large 
 conveniently to accommodate all its attendants with comfortable 
 sittings; and it is contemplated either to enlarge the Church or 
 erect a new one. 
 
 The Church is under the pastoral charge of the Rev. John C. 
 Flannagan. It has a large and well attended Sunday School, 
 averaging from 100 to 150 attendants. 
 
 There is a well built and commodious brick parsonage erected 
 on the Church lot, and also a burial ground attached and enclosed 
 within the premises. The whole of the Church property in 
 valued at from four to five thousand dollars. 
 
52 HISTORY OP BRISTOL. 
 
 BAPTIST CHURCH. 
 
 OBTAINED, IN PART, FROM THEIR CHURCH MEMBERS' BOOK. 
 
 The members of this interest, (ori<?inally consisting of fifteen 
 in good standing from sister Churches,) after holding several 
 preparatory meetings, again convened on the 29t}i of September, 
 1848, and were then in Council of Ministers, regularly consti- 
 tuted the First Baptist Church of Bristol Borough. Their char- 
 ter of incorporation was granted on the application of members, 
 by the proper Court of Bucks county, on the 3d of May, 1850. 
 On the 2d of February of the same year, by a resolution in 
 Church meeting, the Rev. Christian J. Page was called to the 
 pastoral care and oversight of the Church. 
 
 The members soon had increased to nearly one hundred In 
 number, and for some time held statedly divine worship in the 
 lecture room of the Washington Hall. 
 
 Having sold their building lot on Otter street, and secured a 
 suitable piece of ground on the south-east corner of Walnut and 
 Cedar streets, for building a Cliurch, contracts were entered 
 into with mechanics: and on the 18t,h of June, 1851, the work 
 had so far progressed as to admit of the laying of the corner 
 stone of a handsome church edifice, composed of brown sand- 
 stone, laid in square blocks, hammer-dressed and pointed. The 
 proportions are — main room, 43 by 70 feet ; above the vestibule 
 is a projecting tower of 7 feet, having 5 feet recess. Basement 
 story has three rooms : a lecture room, 41 by 38 feet, which will 
 seat about 300 persons ; and two committee rooms, one of which 
 is now used for school purposes, and the other for the meetings 
 of the Trustees. The main audience chamber will seat about 
 450 persons; has 82 pews on the main floor: with a gallery 
 which will seat an additional 100 persons. 
 
 The whole property is estimated to be worth about eight 
 thousand dollars. 
 
MASONIC LODGE. 53 
 
 BRISTOL LODGE, NO. 25, ANCIENT YORK 
 
 MASONS. 
 
 CONTRIBUTED BY 3IAJ0R D. M. KEIM, SECRETARY, 
 
 The limits prescribed for this work necessarily induces the 
 writer of this narrative, to abridge much of the information he 
 has obtained respecting the rise and progress of this " time- 
 honored" institution among us. 
 
 The original Warrant, dated March 15, 1780, was granted by 
 the Provincial Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, under the masonic 
 administration of the 
 
 R. W. William Ball, as Grand Master ; 
 
 " William Shute, Deputy Grand Master; 
 
 " Alexander Rutherford, Sen. G. Warden; 
 
 " Jacob Howell, Junior Grand Warden ; — 
 authorizing and appointing Brs. John Clark, W. M. ; Samuel 
 Benezet, S. W. ; and Dr. William McIlvaine, J. W., " to hold 
 a Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons at the town of Bristol, 
 in the State of Pennsylvania, or any where within five miles of 
 the said town— No. 25."— In connexion witii the Brethren thus 
 officially designated, Brs. Tyrringham Palmer, Jacob Shallus, 
 and Patrick Griffin, as the constitutional number of members 
 requisite, had united in the petition to the Grand Lodge, and 
 obtained the warrant. 
 
 Under these auspices the labours of the Lodge were com- 
 menced and conducted with energetic zeal, securing the most 
 prosperous and satisfactory results. Every profession or occupa- 
 tion soon were enrolled among its members; and at that eventful 
 period in the annals of our country, it is gratifying to find the 
 " Mcllvaines, Bloomfield, Willett, Bessonet, Rodman, Wilkinson, 
 John Fitch," and similar illustrious personages, assembling around 
 its simple altar. — John Fitch then resided near the Neshaminy 
 creek, and was engaged upon those experiments since so wonder- 
 fully developed, of propelling boats by the povver of steam. — His 
 membeiship dates January 4, 1785. 
 
 6 
 
54 HISTORY OF BRISTOt. 
 
 On June 4, 1786, the propriety of continuing under the juris- 
 diction of the Grand Lodge of England engaged the considera- 
 tion of the Order generally : when Bristol Lodge unanimously 
 selected their worthy Br. John Clark to represent them in the 
 Quarterly Communication of the Grand Lodge, to be holden in 
 Philadelphia September 26, 1786, with especial instructions upon 
 the subject. Thirteen of the Colonial Lodges were then and 
 there assembled ; and, after mature and serious deliberation, 
 unanimously resolved, " That it is improper the Grand Lodge of 
 Pennsylvania should remain any longer under the authority of 
 any foreign Grand Lodge." — Thus was originated the present 
 Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania. 
 
 The Provincial Warrant of Bristol Lodge was then surren- 
 dered, and the present Warrant obtained, dated the 9th day or 
 July, 1789, under the administration of the 
 
 R. W. J. B. Smith, as Grand Master ; 
 
 " George Ord, Deputy Grand Master; 
 
 " Joseph Dean, Senior Grand Warden ; 
 
 " Joseph Few, Junior Grand Warden ; — 
 renewing in perpetuity all the original rights and privileges per- 
 taining to the Lodge, through Brs. William McIlvaine, as W. 
 M. ; Samuel Benezet, S. W. , and John Clark, \. W. 
 
 From this period to the close of the war of 1812, a largely in- 
 creased accession of members was made to the Lodge, and its 
 unobtrusive but ennobling influences were every where exercised 
 and felt. 
 
 Don Louis de Onis, then Minister Plenipotentiary from H. C. 
 M. of Spain, became a member July 22, 1814. 
 
 During the year 1815, the brethren resolved upon the erection 
 of a iMasonic Hall, and procured a spacious lot, on Cedar street, 
 for the purpose. Through the zealous cooperation of the brethren 
 the necessary funds and materials were speedily obtained, and a 
 Hall erected for masonic uses only. It was built of stone, two 
 and a-half stories in height, and 36 by 20 feet in its breadth and 
 depth, (o-round dimensions.) Its facade, though simple, was im- 
 posing ; — the main entrance being approached by a flight of steps, 
 ovpr.shadowed, (as many of your readers will recollect,) by an 
 
MASONIC LODGE. 55 
 
 ancient trailing rose, that in the season of bloom was most gor- 
 geous and attractive. 
 
 " The Lodge was consecrated November 18, 1815, with full 
 masonic obs'ervances, and the attendance of brethren from all 
 parts of the country. 
 
 With slight interruptions, the Lodge has continued its opera- 
 tions to the present period, with unalloyed success. 
 
 The primitive Hall was found much too limited for the assem- 
 blages of the brethren ; who, after a careful consideration of the 
 subject, resolved, " that it is expedient to erect a new Hall, em- 
 bracing in capacity, ventilation, and adaptation, the increased 
 requirements of the craft." 
 
 The site of the old Hall was selected as that for the erection 
 of the new; and during the Summer of 1853, the former was 
 taken down, and the present elegant superstructure reared upon 
 ils foundation. It is built of brick; to be stuccoed in imitation 
 of stone ; and in dimensions is 36 by 56 feet, and two stories in 
 height. Its style of architecture is the pointed, or Gothic ; and 
 for beauty of design, or classical taste, it claims a prominent 
 place among the public buildings of this ancient borough. 
 
 The Building Committee have been unwearied in their super- 
 intendence; and the best materials have been employed in its 
 erection— no expense or labour having been stinted, that would 
 render it in every respect an appropriate Temple for the ob- 
 servances of Faith, Hope, and Charity. Its completion, in a 
 short time, will no doubt render it a vast auxiliary to the extension 
 of the charitable influences and tenets of this Universal Order. 
 
 The Building Committee consist of, Brs. Allan Downing, 
 William Kinsey, Andrew W. Gilkeson, John Dorrance, J. 
 H. ScHENCK, M. D., ex-officio as Trustees, and Brs. L. H. Scott, 
 PuGH DuNGAN, and James W. Martin. 
 
 The number of members, in active communion with the Lodge, 
 is, at present, fifty-three. 
 
56 
 
 HISTORY OF BRISTOL. 
 
 WASHINGTON HALL. 
 
 PROM NOTES FURNISHED BY A. W. GILKESON, ESQ. 
 
 This three storied brick edifice, situated at the westerly cor- 
 ner of Radcliffe and Walnut streets, was erected by a subscrip- 
 tion stock company, expressly with the laudable design of sup- 
 plying that much wanted desideratum — a Public Hall adapted 
 to the general convenience of the people, and for the accommo- 
 dation of the several popular societies of the day, which had 
 sprung into existence among the citizens of Bristol and vicinity, 
 
 " The first meeting which was held for the purpose of building 
 this Hall, convened June 17, 1846 ; and it was then proposed to 
 confine the subscriptions to the building among the Odd Fellows, 
 (Hopkins Lodge, No. 87,) for whose accommodation it was in the 
 outset originally designed. But after consideration among the 
 members, and consultation with the citizens, the proposition was 
 modified to allow any one to buy shares from the original pro- 
 jectors and stockholders, provided the same was first oflfered to 
 Hopkins Lodge, and declined, as it now stands. 
 
 " August 16, 1847, the building was commenced," and now 
 accommodates several societies and organizations particularly 
 mentioned on page 27 of this work; and also the "Franklin 
 Building Association," since instituted, (November 7, 1853.) 
 
 " April 7, 1848, the charter was granted, under which Trus- 
 tees were elected, and have since been annually chosen." 
 
 The lower story, or Lecture Room, is transiently rented for 
 all purposes of public interest or pastime. 
 
 The "BRISTOL TOWNSHIP BIBLE AND TRACT 
 SOCIETY " was instituted March 8, 1852 ; " for the purpose of 
 supplying the Borough and its neighborhood, and as soon as pos- 
 sible the Township, and the sailors and boatmen frequenting the 
 waters of Bristol, with Bibles and Tracts ; and every child, who 
 can read, with a Testament." — President, John Magoffin; Se- 
 cretary, D. P. FoRST ; Treasurer, Thomas Callanan. 
 
rtBLIC SCHOOLS. 57 
 
 FIRST PUBLIC SCHOOL. 
 
 FROM NOTES TAKEN BY DR. E. D. BUCKMAN, SECRETARY. 
 
 Tlie present Public School-House was built in 1837, at an ex- 
 pense of 84,936 85. About $1100 were afterwards expended 
 in finishing the basement, supplying furniture, stoves, &c., and 
 grading the grounds: making the cost of that property about 
 $6,000. It is divided into male and female departments, with a 
 primary school in the basement. The male department was put 
 in charge of James Anderson, at a salary of S 650 a year, and the 
 school was opened on the 15th of December, 1837. He remained 
 in charge until March 1, 1840, when the schools were closed for 
 want of funds. The school was reopened in May, and N. F. De 
 Brown was chosen Teacher at §500 a year. July 30, 1841, J. V. 
 Buckman was selected to take charge of the school, which situ- 
 ation he still retains. 
 
 In August, 1851, Miss S. J. Thompson was selected to assist 
 him. She retained her situation until February, 1852, when she 
 resigned, and Miss Elizabeth Burrows was elected to the va- 
 cancy. Miss Burrows was, in April, 1853, promoted to the situa- 
 tion of Principal of the Female Department, and Miss Sarah T. 
 Brown elected to the vacancy, which situation she still holds. 
 
 The Female Department was organized in Dec'r, 1837, and 
 placed in charge of Annah N. Smith, who retained her situation 
 at a salary of 8 300 a year, until Nov'r, 1838, when she resigned, 
 and Fidelia Smith was elected ; which situation she held until 
 March, 1839, when the schools were closed for want of funds. On 
 the re-opening of the school, (in May following,) it was placed un- 
 der the charge of Harriet Schneider, at a salary of 8250 a year. 
 She resigned her situation in July, 1840, and Alice Frame was 
 employed as her successor. Alice resigned her situation in 
 April, 1841, and Miss Mahitable P. Moody succeeded her for a 
 short time, when she was succeeded by Sarah Pearson, who was 
 employed in January, 1843. Miss Pearson resigned in October, 
 1845, and Miss Huldah Hoag was elected to the vacancy. In 
 May, 1848, Miss Sarah Warner was elected to the vacancy oc- 
 
5? HISTORY OP BRISTOL. 
 
 casioned by the resignation of Miss Hoag. Miss Warner resiiju- 
 ed in 1851, and Miss M. L. Ernest was employed as Principal, 
 and Miss Matilda Goodwin as her assistant, at $ 15 per month. 
 Miss Goodwin resigned in 1852, and Miss Anna V. Thompson 
 succeeded her. In April, 1853, the Principal (Mrs. Lawrence,) 
 resigned her situation, and Miss E. Burrows succeeded her. 
 Miss Thompson resigned immediately afterwards, and Miss 
 Anne Davis was elected to the vacancy: which situations are 
 retained by them at the present time. 
 
 The Primary School was first organized in November, 1830, 
 under the management of Miss Nancy Cummings, at a salary of 
 S 250 a year. It was closed the March follovving for want of 
 finids, and opened again in May, under the control of Miss Ade- 
 line Cummings, at $22 a month, (220 a year.) In October of 
 the same year she resigned, and Melissa Young was employed. 
 In Sept'r, 1841, Miss Young resigned, and Mrs. Sarah Swift was 
 enjployed at -^200 a year. In August, 1842, Miss S. Townsend 
 was employed to assist her, at fifty dollars a year. In May, 
 1843, M.»'s. vSwift and Miss Hastings were jointly employed at 
 fifteen dollars a month each. In December Miss Hastings was 
 made Principal of the school : which situation she resigned in 
 December, 1844, and Miss Roxanna Leonard succeeded her at 
 sixteen dollars a month. Miss Leonard resigned in October, 
 1845, and Mrs. Swift was made Principal of the school, and her 
 daughter Matilda the Assistant, at a joint salary of $240 a year, 
 which was afterwards increased to $ 270, and subsequently to 
 $ 300. TIk; school still continues under their management. 
 
 Directorship. — In 1837, Gilbert Tomlinson, David E. Wood- 
 ington, James Johnson, James Harrison, Jonathan Adams, and 
 William Kinsey were Directors. 
 
 It had been agreed by vote of the citizens that $ 3,000 should 
 be raised by tax for building the school ; but Borough Council 
 borrowed that sum and donated it to the school ; and they after- 
 wards appropriated $1,936 85, out of a Borough loan, in the 
 same manner. The Borough also leased to the Board of Directors 
 for 99 years, the lot, 59 by 110 feet, on which the house is erect- 
 ed, (at the north-east corner of Wood and Mulberry streets, where 
 
PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 59 
 
 the old Lock-up formerly stood.) They afterwards donated the 
 balance of the square to the use of the Public Schools. 
 
 The expense of building the house, &.C., was 84,936 85. — 
 Tax levied for 1837, 848 88 dollars. The school was opened 
 the 15th of December; and in March, 1838, J. V. Buckman 
 and James Brudon were elected Directors. — Tax levied 682 dol- 
 lars; State appropriation, 170 dollars. In June J. Adams re- 
 si^med, and C. W. Peirce was elected to fill the vacancy. In 
 May, 1839, James Johnson, James Harrison, and C. Sturdevant 
 were elected Directors. — Tax levied, 811 dollars; State appro- 
 priation, 170 dollars. It was found that there had been infor- 
 mality in the time of electing Directors, and in consequence of 
 which, tliey all resigned, and the following were elected: Win. 
 Kinsey, C. Sturdevant, for one year; J. V. Buckman, Jas, Bru- 
 don, for two years; Charles Banes, James Harrison, for three 
 years. In this year the basement story was finished as a school 
 room. The financial affairs became so much embarrassed that in 
 March, 1840, the schools were closed until enabled to resume, upon 
 the collect ion of the taxes. The taxes levied for that year amount- 
 ed to 879 dollars, and ti)e State appropriation 305 dollars. In Sep- 
 tember, 1840, VVm. Kinsey and A. W. Gilkeson were elected 
 Directors. The tax for 1841 was 918 dollars. In 1842, 1070 
 dollars, — E. B. Dodson and Jonathan Mil nor elected Directors. 
 1643, tax 861 ; State appropriation 403 dollars. — C. Banes and 
 C. W. Peirce elected Directors. Mr. Dodson resigned, and 
 David Trump succeeded him ; he left the town, and Dr. B. Ma- 
 lone was his successor. 1844, tax 1100 dollars; State appropri- 
 ation, '2'Sl dollars. — VVm. Kinsey and A. W. Gilke^on elected. 
 1845, tax 900 dollars; Pugh Dungan and Dr. A. Guerard elect- 
 ed. C. Banes resigned and Dr. B. Malone elected. 1846, tax 
 1200 dollars; State appropriation, 220 dollars. — A. VV. Gilkeson, 
 Wm. Kinsey and J. W. Stackhouse elected. — Pugh Dungan re- 
 signed, and C. W. Peirce elected. 1847, tax 900 dollars ; State 
 appropriation 200 dollars; — L. T. Pratt and J. Stackhouse elect- 
 ed. 1848, tax 1,000 dollars; State 200 dollars;— Joshua Fell 
 and Thomas Scott elected. 1849, tax 1,000 dollars; State 200 
 dollars; — Joshua Fell and J. Stackhouse moved away, and H. N. 
 Bostwick and Isaac Van Horn elected. 1850, tax 1200 dollars; 
 
60 HISTORY OF BRISTOL. 
 
 State 200 dollars; — Wm. Kinsey and A. W. Gilkeson elected 
 for three years ; J. D. Mendenhall for two years, and L. P. Kin- 
 sey for one year. 1851, tax 1500 dollars ; State 200 ;— Dr. E. D. 
 Biickman and L. M. Wharton elected. 1852, tax 1990 dollars; 
 State 200 ;— D. P. Forst and Thos. Callanan elected Directors. 
 1353: J. D. Mendenhall and F. \V. Swan elected Directors. 
 
 PUBLIC SCHOOL, No. 2.— The present school-house being 
 found inadequate to accommodate the children of the town, mea- 
 sures were taken in 1852 to provide for building- another, A 
 lot known as the '* Baptist lot" was purchased at a cost of S400. 
 
 In the Summer of 1853 it was fully determined to commence 
 the building of School House, No. 2; to meet the expense of 
 which an Act of Assembly was obtained allowing Directors to 
 borrow 3,000 dollars, and to create a sinking fund for the extin- 
 guishment of the debt within fifteen years. — A tax of 2800 dol- 
 lars was also levied for the purpose of paying balance of claims 
 due and for the current expenses of the school year. 
 
 School House No. 2 is a handsome Gothic structure, of light 
 sandstone, built in broken range work, and pointed in white ; — 
 finished with a cupola ; — in all, constituting one of the hand- 
 somest public buildings in the town. It contains all the modern 
 improvements for ventilation and heating. Its dimensions are 53 
 by 35 feet: two stories high. The interior arrangement is, for a 
 school-room, 32 by 36 feet, and a class-room 13 by 18 feet, in 
 each story ; also two entrances and stairways, as a means of 
 egress in case of accident, such as has occurred at various times 
 in Philadelphia and New York. The contract price is $4400; 
 Edmund Lawrence contracting for the whole building, with 
 Valentine Booz, a sub-contractor for doing the stone-work. 
 
 This School House is now (Nov. '53,) nearly completed, and 
 is expected to be entirely so about the middle of Dec. next. 
 
 THE END. 
 
MAR IS ma 
 
10