CHAPTER XXIV.
APPENDIX.
THE "Book of Arrivals" was a record provided for in the
"Frame of the Government," but Phineas Pemberton appears to have
been the only one of the early officers to discharge the duty
thus assigned. As no regulations were adopted to aid the
register in making it complete, the list is not so complete nor
so accurate as was probably intended, but with all its
imperfections it has been of great value to historians. The
original record, time-worn and barely legible, is still to be
seen in the registers office at Doylestown, but in the natural
order of things will soon fall into utter decay. It has never
before been published, and is here preserved for the future
historian. The register of births and deaths is copied in full.
Of the register of marriages the certificates are omitted.
![](chapter_xxiv_files/image002.jpg)
![](chapter_xxiv_files/image003.jpg)
![](chapter_xxiv_files/image004.jpg)
![](chapter_xxiv_files/image005.jpg)
![](chapter_xxiv_files/image006.jpg)
![](chapter_xxiv_files/image007.jpg)
![](chapter_xxiv_files/image008.jpg)
![](chapter_xxiv_files/image009.jpg)
A Registery of all the Births and Deaths of all within the
county of Bucks in the Province of Pennsylvania.
BIRTHS.
Their
name and whose child. |
Days
of the month |
The
year |
George
Pownall, son of George & Ellinor Pownall, in the county of
Bucks in the Province of Pennsylvania. |
Born
the 11 of 9 month, |
1682 |
Henry,
the son of Henry & Elizabeth Marjorum, born |
the
12th, 7 mo., |
1683 |
Hannah, the daughter of John & Christian Palmer, born |
the
23, 1 mo., |
1684 |
Elizabeth Ridgway, daughter to Richard & Elizabeth Ridgway,
born |
the
17, 12 mo., |
1682 |
Thomas, the son of Samuel & Ann Dark, born |
the
11, 8 mo., |
1683 |
Mary,
the daughter of Lyonell and Elizabeth Brittain, born |
the 13
day of 10 month, |
1680 |
Rebecka, the daughter of the said Lyonell & Eliza. Born |
the
19th day of 11 month, |
1683 |
Mary,
the daughter of Josua Boare & Margaret, born |
the 31
of the 6th month, |
1685 |
Lawrence, the son of Lawrence & Elizabeth Banner, born |
the
20th day of the 9th months, |
1685 |
Thus far I have
given an acct to C. Taylor, the 1, 3 mo., 1686. |
Robert
Bond, son of Thomas Bond, neare Garstang in Lancashire in
old England, dyed and was buried near William Yarleys |
the 3d
day of the 7 month, |
1684 |
Ralph
Smith, the governors gardiner, was buryed at the buring
place in the point |
the
5th day 3 mo., |
1685 |
Henry
Gibbs, the governors carpenter, was buryed in the point |
the 21
day of the 9th month, |
1685 |
William Hiscock was buryed at Gilbert Wheelers burying
place |
the 23
day of 10th month, |
1685 |
Thus far I have
given C. Taylor an acct the 1, 3 mo., 1686. |
David
Daeis of Neshaminah, chirurgeon, dyed and was buryed att the
buring place at Nicholas Walne |
the 23
day of the 1 month, |
1686 |
Richard Amor of Neshaminah, formerly of Buckel Burry in
Barkshire, was buryed about the latter end of the 9th
month, 1682, at Neshaminah, |
|
1682 |
A registery of all marriages within the county of Bucks in
the Province of Pennsylvania.
Richard Hough to Margery Clows, the 17th day of 1st Month;
---- year illegible; probably 16834.
William Sandford & Frances Hummer, both of Bucks County,
31st, 3 month, 1684.
Samuel Dark & Ann Knight, 4 Mo. 17, ---- 1683.
Richard Lundy & Elizabeth Bennet (6 Mo. 24, 1684).
Mauris Leiston, of Black Birds Creek in New Castle County,
and Jane Greaves, daughter to Ann Milcome, of Bucks County, 6th
month 8th, 1685.
John Bainbridge and Sarah Clows, daughter of John Clows, both
of Bucks County, 15th 6th Month, 1685.
Thomas Rutter, of Philadelphia, and Rebecka Staples, of Bucks
County, 10 mo. 11th, 1685.
Samuel Dark & Martha Worrall, both of Bucks County, 12 Mo. 6,
1685.
David Davis, of Neshaminah, and Margaret Evans, of the same
place, 1 mo. 8th, 1685/6, at the house of the said Davis.
Joseph English, of Poqueston Creek in Philadelphia County,
and Jane Comley, of Bucks County, 26th 2 mo., 1685.
Henry Paxton & Margary Plumly (13th 6 mo., 1684).
John Nailer, of Neshaminey, and Jane Cuttler, of Neshamineh,
11th of 5 Month, 1685, at the house of James Dillworth, of
Neshaminah.
Stephen Sands & Jane Cowqill, of Neshaminah 25th 8 month,
1684, at the house of Nicholas Walne, of Neshaminah.
Edmund Bennet, of Bucks County, & Elizabeth Potts, of
Philadelphia, 22 10 Mo., 1685 at the house of John Otter.
Joseph Charley and Mary Akerman, both of Bucks County, the 2d
month ye 6th day, 1686.
James Rothwell & Ester Rothwell, both of Bucks County, 12th 2
Month, 1686.
William Berry, of Kent County, and Naomy Walley, of Bucks,
at Pennsbury, 9th month, 1686.
Nehemiah Allen and Mary Earlysman, both of Bucks Co., 29th 8
mo., 1683, at the house of Edmund Bennet.
Daniel Pegg, of Philadelphia, & Martha Allen, of Neshaminah
Creek, in Bucks County, 22d of 2d month, 1686, at the house of
Samuel Allen, on Neshaminah Creek.
Walter Bridgman and Blanch constable, both of Neshaminah,
Bucks Co., 26th 6 month, 1686, at the house of Stephen Sandes.
Abraham Cocks and Sarah Woolfe, both of Bucks Co., 26th 9
mo., 1686.
ROSTER OF COUNTY
OFFICERS.
The original officers of the county were a sheriff, clerk of
the court, deputy register, deputy register of wills, deputy
master of rolls, coroner, deputy surveyor, and "inferior
receiver" of taxes. The clerk of the court performed clerical
service for both the county court and the orphans court, and
until 1770 received the commission and did the business of
deputy register, register of wills, and master of rolls. On the
temporary institution of the court of common pleas in 1707 the
office of prothonotary was also instituted, but the new title
brought no additional duties. In 1777 the duties of prothonotary
and clerk were devolved upon one officer, and the duties of
register and recorder upon another. In 1808 the clerical duties
of the orphans court and court of common pleas were divided
between the prothonotary and the clerk of the orphans court,
and in 1836 the prothonotary was relieved of duty in the court
of quarter sessions. In 1829 the clerk of the orphans court was
commissioned as clerk of quarter sessions, but this arrangement
does not appear to have been continued beyond that year. The
duties of register and recorder were performed by one officer
from 1777 to 1830, when two officers were appointed. The list
which follows indicates the probable date at which the other
offices were established. This list is not absolutely complete,
but great pains have been bestowed upon it, and it is believed
that it is as perfect as the records now existing will permit.
PROTHONOTARIES.- 16831700, Phineas Pemberton; ---, Robert
Cole; 17001742, Jeremiah Langhorne; 17421770, Lawrence Growden;
17701772, William Hicks; 17721777, Isaac Hicks; 177787, James
Benezet; 178795, Samuel Benezet; 17951800, William Linton;
18001808, Thomas Ross; 1808, T.G. Kennedy; 180918, William
Watts; 1818, Samuel D. Ingham; 181921, John S. Benezet;
182124, Crispin Blackfan; 182429, John S. Benezet; 1829, Peter
Gwinner;* 183034, William Purdy; 183436, Charles H. Mathews;
183639, Elias Gilkyson; 1839, John B. Pugh; 183942, John S.
Bryan; 184245, William D. Ruckman; 184548, James G. Hibbs;
184851, Isaiah James; 185154, Levi O. Kulp; 185457, Andrew W.
Gilkyson; 185760, John W. Fry; 186063, Samuel B. Thatcher;
186366, Reading B. Slack; 186669, Reuben F. Sheetz; 186972,
William H. Cook; 187275, S.C. Van Pelt; 187579, James Barrett;
187982, Thomas S. Folwell; 188285, John R. Bitting; 1885,
Elwood W. Minster.
CLERK OF ORPHANS COURT. 180814, James Boyd; 1814, William
W. Hart; 181521, Uriah DuBois; 182124, Francis B. Shaw;
182429, Charles E. DuBois; 1829, Eli Kitchen;* 183036, William
Carr; 183639, John W. Stover; 1839, George F. Wagner; 183942,
Samuel Darrah; 184245, William Addis; 184548, James Cummings;
184851, James M. McNair; 185154, Edwin Fretz; 185457,
Jonathan White; 185760, Robert Ramsey; 186063, Aaron B.
Rosenberger; 186366, I. Coulton Thomas; 186669, David Swain;
186972, Michael R. Ott; 187275, Isaac G. Thomas; 18757,
Martin V.B. Vanartsdalen; 187881, John Roberts; 188184, Josiah
W. Leidy; 1884 , Michael Dougherty.
* Also clerk of quarter sessions.
CLERK OF COURT OF QUARTER SESSIONS AND OYER AND TERMINER.
183638, John Dungan; 1838, James Kelly; 183945, Manasseh H.
Snyder; 184548, William Beck; 184851, Rynear T. Donatt;
185154, Andrew C. Worthington; 185456, Edwin Fretz; 1856,
Thomas B. Hartman; 185760, John H. Stern; 186063, Samuel R.
Hillyer; 186366, Julius Kuster; 186669, Francis S. Mann;
186972, John G. Randall; 187275, A. Smith Dudbridge; 187578,
Joseph A. Fluck; 187881, Eugene Highland; 188184, Francis
Bartleman; 1884 , Charles D. Bigley.
REGISTER AND RECORDER. 16831700, Phineas Pemberton;
170042, Jeremiah Langhorne; 174270, Lawrence Growden; 177077,
William Hicks; 177788, Joseph Hart; 17881802, James Hanna;
18025, Nathaniel Irwin; 180510, William Hart; 181021, John
Pugh; 182124, Benjamin Field; 182429, Samuel A. Smith; 1829,
William H. Rowland.
REGISTER. 183036, Andrew Heller; 183639, John Fackenthall;
183942, David Marple; 184245, David White; 184548, William
Percy; 184851, Joseph Carver; 185154, William Thompson;
185457, Joshua Stackhouse; 185760, Patrick McEntee; 186063,
Jonathan Davis; 186366, Howard K. Sager; 186669, Samuel H.
Heany; 186972, John T. Murfit; 187275, Jesse H. Atkinson;
187578, Benjamin W. Pursell; 187881, Hugh B. Campbell;
188184, William H. Barton; 1884, John F. Fosbenner.
RECORDER. 183036, Michael Dech; 183639, Samuel Atkinson;
183942, David Drissel; 184245, Robert Stoneback; 184548, John
C. Mangle; 184851, Morris Mathews; 185154, Joseph Morrison;
185457, Hugh Kintner; 185760, James Ruckman; 186063, Isaac
Van Horn; 186366, Allen H. Heist; 186669, Asher Cox; 186972,
Philip J. Hawk; 187275, J. Watson Case; 187578, Silas H.
Beans; 187881, James W. Bartlett; 188184, Austin McCarty;
1884, Milton D. Althouse.
SHERIFF. 1682, Richard Noble; 168385, John Brock; 1685,
Nicholas Walne; 168689, Abraham Wharley; 1689, William Beakes:
169092, William Yardley; 1693 (April 29 July 30), Israel
Taylor; 169395, Thomas Brock; 16951701, Samuel Beakes;
170105, William Biles, Jr.; 170511, William Croasdale;
171718, John Hall; 1719, John Abraham Denormandie; 172023,
John Hall; 172328, Thomas Biles; 172830, Timothy Smith;
173132, Isaac Pennington; 1733, John Hall; 173436, Timothy
Smith; 173739, John Hart; 174042, Joseph Jackson; 174345,
John Hart; 174648, Amos Strickland; 1749, John Hart; 175051,
Joseph Hart; 175254, William Yardley; 175556, Benjamin
Chapman; 175758, Timothy Stackhouse; 175961, Joseph Thornton;
176264, John Gregg; 176567, William Buckman; 176870, Joseph
Ellicott; 177172, Richard Gibbs; 177375, Samuel Biles;
177678, John Thompson; 177981, George Wall; 178284, Samuel
Dean; 178587, William Roberts; 178890, Jacob Bennet; 179193,
William Chapman; 179496, Joseph Fell; 179799, David Thomas;
18002, Nathaniel Shewell; 18038, David Thomas; 180911, Elisha
Wilkinson; 181214, Samuel Sellers; 181517, Thomas G. Kennedy;
181820, George Burgess; 182123, Stephen Brock; 182426, Jacob
Kintner; 182729, Stephen Brock; 183032, Benjamin Morris;
183335, William Field; 183638, Cornelius Sellers; 183941,
Rutledge Thornton; 184243, Thomas Purdy; 1844, Samuel Darrah
(vice Thomas Purdy, deceased); 184547, Charles H. Mann;
184850, Jonas Ott; 185153, Albert Phillips; 185456, Charles
Fellman; 185759, Joseph S. Ely; 186062, John T. Simpson;
186365, James M. Wilkinson; 186668, John E. Corcoran; 186971,
Elias Hogeland; 187274, John M. Purdy; 187577, J.D.K.
Reinhart; 187880, Samuel L. Ely; 188183, Allen H. Heist;
1884, Elias Eastburn.
![](chapter_xxiv_files/image010.jpg)
![](chapter_xxiv_files/image011.jpg)
TREASURER. 1684, William Biles; 172432, Jeremiah Langhorne;
174750, Timothy Smith; 175057, John Watson, Jr.; 175762,
Thomas Janney; 176267, Abraham Chapman; 176871, Paul Preston;
177276, Joseph Chapman; 177779, Henry Wynkoop; 178085, John
Hart; 178688, Henry Wynkoop; 178990, Joseph Chapman; 1791,
Isaac Chapman; 1802, T. Hicks; 18045, Isaac Hicks; 1806, Enos
Morris; 1810, Jonathan Smith; 1812, Thomas Jenks; 181315, John
Courson; 1815, Jonathan Smith; 1816, John McNair; 1817, George
Burgess; 1818, Thomas Stewart; 1819, Christopher Vanartsdalen;
1820, Jacob Kooker; 1821, Nathaniel Shewell; 1822, William
Watson; 1823, Samuel Palmer; 1824, Benjamin Smith, Jr.; 1825,
John Ruckman; 1826, Aaron Larue; 1827, Samuel McNair; 1828,
Daniel Boileau; 1829, Andrew Apple; 1830, John Ruckman; 1831,
Alexander Van Horn; 1832, William Strawn; 1833, Jesse Johnson;
1834, Michael H. Jenks; 1835, Frederick Lutz; 1836, William D.
Ruckman; 1837, Moses Larue; 1838, John Harpel; 1839, Moses
Gibson; 1840, Joseph Morrison; 1841, Abraham Fretz; 1842, George
W. Closson; 1843, Joshua Wright; 1844, Jesse P. Carver; 1845,
James R. Boileau; 1846, John Barnesley; 1847, Thomas Dungan;
1848, John McEntee; 1849, Edward Baker; 1850, David Todd; 1851,
Samuel M. Hager; 1852, Joseph C. Leaw; 1853, William Corson;
1854, Joshua Fell; 1855, John K. Holt; 1856, Harman Yerkes;
1857, Charles Levy; 1858, Emmor Walton; 1859, Joseph A. Van
Horn; 1860, Tobias Nash; 1861, William Albertson; 1862, Andrew,
J. Larue; 1863, Lycurgus S. Bodder; 1864, Alfred Johnson; 1865,
Jacob Bachman; 1866, Francis Hartman; 1867, Andrew Ott; 1868,
George B. Cope; 1869, Elias Shellenberger; 1870, Benjamin
Cadwallader; 1871, John Harton; 1872, Levi Trauger; 1873, Isaac
H. Worstall; 1874, Edwin Knight; 1877, Samuel S. Gearhart; 1880,
David B. Feaster; 1883, Jacob Hagerty; 1886, Levi O. Biehn.
COUNTY AUDITOR. 1810, William Stokes; 1811, Isaac Hicks;
1812, George Burgess; 1817, John Moore; 1818, William Long;
1819, Asher Miner; 1826, John N. Solliday; 1827, John P. Hood;
1828, Lewis S. Coryell; 1829, John Moore; 1830, Moses Larue;
1831, John Linton; 1832, David Drissell; 1833, James McNair;
1834, John Ruckman; 1835 Samuel Lutz; 1836, Samuel Hart; 1837,
James McNair; 1838, Richard Moore; 1839, Moses Larue; 1840,
Charles W. Everhart; 1841, James Cummings; 1842, Franklin
Vansant; 1843, Tobias L. Cressman; 1844, Lemen Banes; 1845,
Stephen N. Bartine; 1846, Joseph Schleifer; 1847, William H.
Long; 1848, Christopher H. Leedom; 1849, Peter Shelly; 1850,
Stephen N. Bartine, Charles Thompson; 1851, James C. Finney:
1852, Thomas Cope; 1853, Nathan J. Hines; 1854, Alfred Marple;
1855, Levi O. Mickley, S.G. Slach; 1856, Samuel Darrah; 1857,
Lewis B. Scott; 1858, John A. Loux; 1859, Charles Thompson;
1860, Anthony K. Joyce; 1861, John N. Solliday; 1862, Abiah J.
Riale; 1863, William S. Hogeland; 1864, Henry T. Trumbower;
1865, Charles Thompson; 1866, Cyrus M. Sacket; 1867, Jonas
Laubenstine; 1868, Therdon P. Harvey; 1869, Charles Stewart;
1870, John N. Solliday; 1871, James C. Iden; 1872, Isaiah
Delaney; 1873, Aaron K. Wambold; 1874, Reuben F. Scheetz; 1875,
John N. Solliday, William Percy, Aaron K. Wambold; 1878, Robert
Eastburn, John J. Moore, Charles Gaine; 1881, Israel D. Fox,
Joseph N. Gross, David S. Flack; 1882, George W. Boileau (vice
David S. Flack, deceased); 1884, John G. Weinberger, Samuel K.
Althouse, John H. Larue.
CORONER. 1685, Robert Hall; 1688, George White; 1692, Arthur
Cook; 1698, Jonathan Swift; 1717, William Biles; 171819, John
Cuttler; 1720, Jeffrey Pollard; 1721, William Atkinson; 172630,
Jonathan Woolston; 173135, William Atkinson; 1736, John
Woolston; 173940, William Atkinson; 1742, John Hart; 174345,
Joseph Chapman; 174647, John Chapman; 1748, John Hart; 174951,
William Smith; 175254, Evan Jones; 1755, Simon Butler; 175659,
William Ashbourne; 176063, William Buckman; 1764, John Addis;
17657, William Doyle; 176872. James Wallace; 177375, George
Fell; 1778, William Hart; 1781, John Carr; 178384, William
Bennet; 1785, Jeremniah Vastine; 178691, Isaac Van Horn;
179192, John Hough; 1794, Daniel Thomas; 1796, Stephen Smith;
1797, Cephas Child, Jr.; 1803, Joshua Beans; 1804, Hugh
Thompson; 1806, Andrew Quintin; 180912, Nathaniel Vansant;
1813, John Hines; 1815, John Chapman; 1818, John Riale; 1821,
John Price; 1824, Casper Hinkle; 1827, John Keller; 1828, Caspar
Hinkle; 1829, John Keller; 1830, Michael Walter; 1831, John
Keller; 1832, William Walter; 1833, Michael Walter; 1834,
William Sands; 1839, Stephen K. Price; 1842, Jacob R. Hibbs;
1845, William Early; 1848, James D. Brunner; 1851, John G. Hibbs;
1854, Townsend Fell; 1855, John C. Shephard; 1858, James
Mannington; 186170, William Early; 187177, J. Wilson Closson;
1877, E.J. Groom; 1880, Evan J, Morris; 1883, James V. Smith;
1886, William S. Silbert.
COUNTY SURVEYOR. 1686, Arthur Cook, Thomas Janney; 1693,
Robert Longshore; 1789, Isaac Hicks; 1805, John Ruckman; 1812,
Samuel Hart; 1813, William Long; 1814, William Stokes; 1822,
Caleb Foulke; 182430, Caleb Foulke; 1836, Caleb Foulke; 1839,
William Wright; 1842, David White; 185362, Frederick G.
Hillpot; 1862, David R. Hibbs; 1865, Levi H. Rogers; 1868,
Thomas MacReynolds; 1871, M.D. Frankenfield; 1874, Charles
Savage; 1877, Samuel H. Laubach; 1883, David W. Hess; 1886, John
M. Zuck.
COMMISSIONER. 1722, Robert Heaton, Samuel Baker, Mathew
Hughes, John Hutchinson, Henry Nelson, William Atkinson; 1723,
Jeremiah Langhorne; 1725, Matthew Hughes; 1730, Joseph Kirkbride;
1734, Joseph Kirkbride 1735, Simon Butler; 1736, Benjamin
Morris; 1737, Jeremiah Langhorne; 1739, Timothy Smith; 1741,
John Watson 1742, Abraham Chapman; 1743, John Hall; 1744, John
Hill; 1745, Benjamin Taylor; 1746, Samuel Carey; 1747, John
Watson, Jr.; 1748, John Woolston; 1750, John Hart; 1751, William
Paxson; 1752, Joseph Watson; 1753, Amos Strickland; 1754, Giles
Knight; 1755, John Wilkinson; 1756, William Yardley; 1757,
William Buckley; 1758, Jonathan Ingham; 1759, Abraham Chapman;
1760, John Story; 1761, John Woolston; 1762, John Terry; 1763,
Joseph Watson; 1764, John Brown; 1765, John Gregg; 1766, Edward
Thomas; 1767, Thomas Watson; 1768, Thomas Yardley; 1769, Thomas
Foulke; 1770, John Wilkinson; 1771, David Twining; 1772,
Theophilus Foulke; 1774, Gilbert Hicks; 1775, James Chapman;
1778, John Wilkinson; 1779, Joseph Thomas; 1780, Samuel Smith;
1781, Francis Murray; 1782, John Carr; 1783, Alexander Hughes;
1784, Joseph McIlvaine; 1785, Nathaniel Ellicott; 1786, William
Bryan; 1787, Timothy Taylor (vice Joseph McIlvaine, deceased);
1787, Thomas Jenks, Jr.; 1788, Amos Griffith; 1789, Isaac Burson;
1790, Giles Knight; 1791, Joshua Vansant; 1792, Everard Foulke;
1793, Daniel Martin; 1794, William Proctor; 1795, John Heaney;
1796, John Brown; 1797, James Gillingham; 1798, John Brock;
1799, Samuel Benezet; 1800, David Thomas; 1801, Michael
Fackenthall; 1802, Thomas Cooper; 1803, Philip Miller; 1804,
John Keller; 1805, John McElroy (vice Michael Fackenthall);
1805, John Longstreth; 1806, William Hart; 1807, Jacob Weaver;
1808, Thomas Jenks; 1809, John Corson; 1810, George Cyphert;
1811, Jonathan Smith; 1812, John McNair; 1813, John Jacoby;
1814, Thomas Stewart; 1815, Christian Vanartsdalen; 1816, Jacob
Kooker; 1817, Nathaniel Shewell; 1818, William Richardson; 1819,
Shipley Lester; 1820, John C. Ernst; 1821, M. Williamson; 1822,
William Stokes; 1823, William Watson; 1825, Elias Gilkyson;
1825, Andrew Apple; 1826, John Ruckman; 1827, Alexander Van
Horn; 1828, William L. Strawn; 1829, Jesse Johnson; 1830, M.H.
Jenks; 1831, Henry Eckel; 1832, William McHenry; 1833, Clark
Johnson; 1834, Daniel Shive 1835, Hugh B. Ely; 1836, Joseph
Morrison; 1837, Abraham Fretz; 1838, H.L. Miller; 1839, Samuel
Gilkyson; 1840, Jacob Dill; 1841, Samuel Kachline; 1842, Thomas
B. Craven; 1843, Malachi White, Felix Walp; 1844, William S.
Thomas; 1845, George W. Brown; 1846, Enos Artman: 1847, John
Shipe; 1848, Garret Vansant; 1849, Anthony Transue; 1850,
Benjamin Harwick; 1851. Hazel Scott; 1852, Samuel Rymond; 1853,
John Cozens; 1854, Jesse G. Webster; 1855, Paul H. Hartzell;
1856, Andrew Dudbridge; 1857, John Fenton; 1858, Michael O. Kulp;
1859, Samuel Anglemoyer; 1860, W.H. Richardson; 1861, Eli
Hofford, Jesse Black; 1862, Jesse Black; 1863, Peter Staales;
1864, Daniel Clewell; 1865, Josiah W. Leidy; 1866, Thomas Heed;
1867, David Seip, 1868, Moses O. Kulp; 1869, Charles Willett;
1870. John Knecht; 1871, Benjamin Wiggins; 1872, Abraham
Thompson; 1873, Charles B. Yost; 1874, Samuel Keller; 187581,
Samuel Keller, Andrew J. Solomon, Edmund Goddard; 1881, John
Wynkoop, Jonas T. Breisch, Isaac Ryan; 1884, Isaac C. Hobensack,
John Johnson, Comly Michener.
DIRECTOR OF THE POOR. 1807, James Chapman, John McMasters,
Ralph Stover; 1808, John Mann; 1809, Christian Clemens; 1810,
Harman Vansant; 1811, Elijah Stinson; 1812, John Courson; 1813,
Jonathan Smith; 1814, Abraham Dunlap; 1815, John Riale; 1816,
John Courson; 1817, Hugh Thompson; 1818, Benjamin Hough; 1819,
Francis B. Shaw; 1820, Moses Eastburn; 1821, Adrian Cornell;
1822, Joseph Jones; 1823, Robert Thompson; 1824, William B.
Vandegrift; 1825, Abel H. James; 1826, Josiah Rich; 1827, John
H. Bispham; 1828, Isaac Hines; 1829, Samuel Rodman; 1830,
Abraham Sellers; 1831, Jacob Kooker; 1832, Jacob Markley; 1833,
Jonathan Delaney; 1834, Andrew Apple; 1835, Samuel Brown; 1836,
William Booz; 1837, Philip Geisinger; 1838, John Johnson; 1839,
Joshua Wright; 1840, Conrad Overpeck; 1841, David Todd; 1842,
Clark Johnson; 1843, Philip R. Harpel; 1844, William Austin;
1845, Jesse L. Booz; 1846, William B. Warford; 1847, Cornelius
Shepherd; 1848, William B. Slack; 1849, Owen Spinner; 1850,
Thomas Jacoby; 1851, James M. Boileau; 1852, Henry Cope; 1853,
Thomas McKinstry; 1854, John Lukens; 1855, Martin Bebighouse;
1856, Daniel Hill; 1857, Samuel Banes; 1858, Samuel Meyers,
Anthony Johnson; 1859, Enos Huntsberger; 1860, Samuel Hillborn;
1861, Henry Kemmerer; 1862, David Riale; 1863, John Thompson,
John Sager; 1864, Valentine Renshimer; 1865, John S. Mann; 1866,
Jesse Dungan; 1867, Lewis B. Christman; 1868, George Snyder;
1869, David Cornell; 1870, Jesse Ahlum; 1871, James S. Pool;
1872, Edward H. Buckman; 1873, Abraham B. Pearson; 1874, John G.
Harris; 1875, John R. Banes; 1876, Joseph F. Nicholas; 1877,
James A. Wilson; 1878, William Kinsey; 1879, James Williams;
1880, Robert James; 1881, Jesse W. Knight; 1882, Silas P. Apple;
1883. Eli Morris; 1884, Stacey C. Buckman; 1885, George W.
Walter; 1886, Charles C. Williams.
STEWARD OF THE ALMSHOUSE.- 1810, John McMasters; 1821, Abner
Morris; 1827, Abraham Jacoby; 1836, Jacob Markley; 1837, Daniel
Hill; 1838, William Worthington; 1839, Elias Black; 1842, Henry
Black; 1847, William Edwards; 1850, Abiah J. Riale; 1860,
William Allen; 1862, Samuel Trumbower; 1871, Edward Yost; 1878,
David S. Fetter.
JURY COMMISSIONER. 1867, Robert James; 1870, Amos Jacoby,
John Wildman; 1873, George R. Lear, Jacob Van Boskirk; 1876,
Jacob McBrien, Comly Michener; 1879, Isaac Hillpot, Amos B.
Headley; 1882, Henry P. Sands, Thomas Y. McCarty; 1885, Jacob
Winder, Jacob H. Myers.
COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 1854, Joseph Fell;
1857, William H. Johnson; 186069, Simon S. Overholt; 1869,
William P. Sharkey, Stephen T. Kirk; 187078, Hugh B. Eastburn;
187887, W.W. Woodruff; 1887, William H. Slotter.
ROSTER OF THE BENCH
AND BAR.
PRESIDENT JUDGE. 1780, Henry Wynkoop; 1789, John Barclay;
1806, Bird Wilson; 1818, John Eoss; 1830, John Fox; 1841, Thomas
Burnside; 1845, David Krause; 1857, Daniel M. Smyser; 1861,
Henry Chapman; 1871, Henry P. Ross: 1873, Richard Watson; 1883,
Harman Yerkes.
ADDITIONAL LAW JUDGE. 1869, Henry P. Ross; 1871, Arthur G.
Olmstead; 1872, Stokes L. Roberts; 1873, Richard Watson.
ASSOCIATE JUDGE (since the year 1812). Matthias Hutchinson,
Francis Murray, Samuel Hart, Robert Smith, William Watts,
William Long, John Ruckman, Michael H. Jenks, Samuel A. Smith,
William S. Hendrie, Stephen N. Bartine, Andrew Apple, John S.
Bryan, John Wildman, Henry Troxel, Joseph Morrison, William
Godschalk.
DISTRICT ATTORNEY. 1708, Thomas Clarke; 1726, Joseph Growden,
Jr.; 1812 to 1850, John Fox, Matthias Morris, Robert Bethel,
William F. Swift, Francis B. Shaw, Thomas Ross, Charles E.
DuBois, Hugh Hamilton Henry, Caleb E. Wright, Stokes L. Roberts,
George Lear; 185154. Elias Carver; 185460, Nathan C. James;
186063, James Gilkyson; 186366, Henry P. Ross; 186669, Robert
L. Cope; 186972, Harman Yerkes; 187273, Thomas H. Heist; 1873,
James Gilkyson (appointed); 187376, Levi L. James; 187679, J.M.
Shellenberger; 187982, Robert M. Yardley; 188285, Henry S.
Murfit; 1885, Hugh B. Eastburn.
ATTORNEYS. 1727, Joseph Growden; 1727, Andrew Hamilton;
1729, James Biles; 1729, William Biles; 1730, Nathan Watson;
1732, John Emerson; 1732, William Pierce; 1732, John Baker;
1732, Isaac Pennington; 1733, G.H. Sherrard; 1734, Thomas Bowes;
1734, William Fry; 1736, John Ross; 1736, John Grohoch (the
admissions from 1736 to 1750 cannot be ascertained); 1751, John
Moland; 1751, William Morris; 1751, Abraham Cottman; 1751, Tench
Francis; 1751, Edward Shippen; 1751, Benjamin Price; 1751, John
Lawrence; 1752, Lewis Gordon; 1752, William Peters; 1753,
William Pidgeon; 1753, Joseph Galloway; 1754, Joseph Bennett;
1755, Benjamin Chew; 1755, Samuel Morris; 1756, Samuel Johnson;
1758, Joseph Norvall; 1758, David Henderson; 1760, John Morris,
Jr.; 1761, William Smythe; 1761, Joseph Worrell; 1761, Daniel
Coxe; 1761, John Ross; 1761, Samuel Bard; 1762, Nicholas Walne;
1763, James Kinsey; 1763, Joseph Smith; 1764, John Dickinson;
1764, Thomas Anderson; 1764, Isaac Allen; 1765, Thomas McKean;
1765, Jasper Yeates; 1765, Alexander Wilson; 1765, Richard
Peters; 1765, John Koplin; 1765, Lindsey Coates; 1765, Andrew
Allen; 1765, James Allen; 1765, Alexander Porter; 1765, James
Sayre; 1765, Isaac Hunt; 1766, Daniel Henderson; 1767, David
Broagley; 1767, William Hicks; 1767, George Campbell; 1769,
Stephen Watts; 1769, Daniel Clymer; 1769, John Haley; 1769,
Miers Fisher; 1770, Isaac Hunt; 1772, Jacob Bankson; 1772, James
Lukens; 1772, Peter Zachary Lloyd; 1772, John Lawrence; 1772,
James Wilson; 1772, Abel Evans; 1773, Alexander Wilcox; 1773,
Andrew Allen; 1773, William Lewis; 1773, Phineas Bond; 1773,
John McFarson; 1773, Joseph Reed; 1774, William Hanna; 1774,
Lewis Hanna (no data from 1776 to 1781); 1781, Jonathan Seargent;
1781, Charles Swift; 1781, James Hanna; 1781, Henry Osborne;
1781, Jacob Rush ; 1781, Jared Ingersoll; 1781, J.F. Miflin;
1782, John Currie; 1784, John Vannost; 1784, Thomas Ross; 1784,
William Ewing; 1785, William Rawle; 1785, John Andre Hanna;
1785, William Bradford, Jr.; 1785, William Moore Smith; 1787,
Thomas Armstrong; 1787, Benjamin Morgan; 1787, Ralph Bowy; 1787,
Samuel Roberts; 1787, Anthony Morris; 1787, Joseph McKean; 1787,
Matthias Baldwin; 1787, Samuel Bayard; 1787, John Todd; 1790,
Abraham Chapman; 1791, Nathaniel Higginson; 1791, Jonathan
Williams Comady; 1791, Seth Chapman; 1791, Joseph Thomas; 1791,
James Hunter; 1791, John D. Murray; 1791, Benjamin P. Morgan;
1792, John Ross; 1792, Thomas W. Tallman; 1794, Henry K. Helmuth;
1794, Edward W. Drury; 1794, James Milnor; 1794, A.M. Bolton;
1794, Walter Franklin; 1794, Daniel Stroud; 1794, Robert Henry
Dunken; 1794, Jonathan W. Condy.
A LIST OF THE RESIDENT PRACTISING ATTORNEYS AT THE BAR OF
BUCKS COUNTY SINCE THE YEAR 1812, WITH THE DATES OF THEIR
ADMISSION. 1790, March 9, Abraham Chapman; 1800, Feb. 10,
Francis B. Shaw; 1801, May 4, Enos Morris; 1801, Aug. 3, William
McIlhenny; 1807, June 1, John Fox; 1809, Aug. 30, Matthias
Morris; 1812, June 3, John D. Roney; 1813, June 3, William Watts
Hart; 1819, Nov. 29, Joseph S. Pickering; 1820, May 31, Robert
Bethel; 1820, Aug. 28, Charles E. DuBois; 1821, Feb. 17, George
R. Grantham; 1821, May 30, John B. Chapman; 1822, May 27, Albert
Smith; 1822, May 21, Joseph Hough; 1822, Sept. 9, Eleazar T.
McDowell; 1823, Sept. 8, Thomas Morris; 1823, Sept. 8, Thomas
Stewart; 1823, Dec. 8, John Wilkinson; 1823, Dec. 8, Charles
Eastburn; 1823, Dec. 8, George W. Smith; 1824, May 3, Gilbert
Rodman; 1825, April 25, Daniel C.H. Simms; 1825, April 25, Henry
Chapman; 1826, Sept. 15, Campbell D. Meredith; 1827, Feb. 13,
William F. Swift; 1828, Dec. 9, Samuel A. Bridges; 1829, Feb. 9,
Thomas Ross; 1830, Sept. 14, John B. Pugh; 1832, Sept. 10,
Stokes L. Roberts; 1833, Sept. 9, Caleb E. Wright; 1835, Feb.
12, Peter Wykoff; 1835, Sept. 14, Hugh Hamilton Henry; 1836,
April 26, William R. Dickerson; 1836, Dec. 12, Abel M. Griffith;
1837, April 25, John D. Morris; 1837, Dec. 12, Frederick A.
Gwinner; 1838, April 24, James Vanhorn; 1838. Sept. 13, Robert
Mellon; 1838, Oct. 29, Gilbert R. Fox; 1839, Dec. 9, William T.
Risler; 1840, Feb. 11, Anthony Swain; 1840, April 27, John G.
Michener; 1840, April 29, Andrew W. Gilkeson; 1840, Sept. 16,
John Titus; 1841, Feb. 9, James Gilkyson; 1841, Dec. 14, Emmett
Quinn; 1843, Feb. 18, Thomas S. Murray; 1843, Feb. 18, Joseph R.
Dickerson; 1843. Nov. 16, George hart; 1844, Feb. 6, George H.
Michener; 1844, Nov. 16, George Lear;* 1845, April 30, Elias
Carver; 1845, Sept. 16, Edward J. Fox; 1846, Feb. 2, Mahlon
Yardley; 1846, April 29, Richard Watson; 1846, Sept. 15, William
W.H. Davis; 1848, Nov. 9, E. Morris Lloyd; 1850, April 24,
Edward M. Paxson;** 1850, Dec. 2, Benjamin F. Fackenthall; 1851,
Feb. 4, Nathan C. James; 1851, Sept. 10, Henry T. King; 1853,
April 27, Lewis B. Thompson; 1856, Feb. 4, John L. DuBois; 1856,
Dec. 8, Lewis R. Fox; 1858, Jan. 19, George A. Jenks; 1858, Jan.
19, Joseph M. Holcomb; 1858, June 10, Joshua Bean; 1858, Sept.
14, Joel M. Vanarsdalen; 1859, Sept. 19, Jacob Magill; 1859,
Dec. 16, Henry P. Ross; 1860, March 13, Isaac S. Heston; 1860,
April 27, Charles Armitage; 1860, Sept. 19, Samuel Croasdale;
1860, Nov. 2, Benjamin F. Fisher; 1860, Dec. 4, William P.
Andrews; 1861, June 11, Robert J. Armstrong; 1862, Sept. 10,
James B. Lambert; 1864, Feb. 2, Benjamin F. Gilkeson; 1864, June
13, George Ross; 1864, Sept. 13, Robert L. Cope; 1865, April 26,
John W. McDowell; 1865, Nov. 3, Harman Yerkes; 1866, Dec. 11,
Thomas H. Heist; 1867, Sept. 10, Henry C. Michener; 1867. Sept.
10, Charles H. Mathews; 1868, April 27, Albert P. Schurz; 1868,
April 27, Louis H. James; 1869, April 26, Stephen T. Kirk; 1869,
May 5, Alfred Fackenthall; 1869, Oct. 19, J.M. Shellenberger;
1870, April 25, Levi L. James; 1871, April 26, D.W. Clinton
Robinson; 1871, June 12, James Lawrence; 1871, Sept. 11, Henry
Lear; 1871, Sept. 11, Ivan T. Ruth; 1871, Nov. 2, Arthur
Chapman; 1872, June 10, Hamilton H. Gilkyson; 1872, Feb. 14,
Henry A. Lloyd; 1872, Sept. 9, Robert M. Yardley; 1873, March
11, Henry C. Dean; 1873, March 11, Joseph M. McClure; 1873,
April 28, William Stuckert; 1873, Oct. 30, Henry Trumbore; 1874,
Jan. 19, Abram H. Jones; 1875, June 15, William E. Barrick;
1876, Feb. 7, John C. Stuckert; 1876, March 13, E. Wesley
Keeler; 1876, Aug. 12, Henry M. DuBois; 1877, Jan. 2, Thomas
MacReynolds; 1877, March 12, Henry S. Murfit; 1877, Aug. 14,
Hugh B. Eastburn; 1877, Nov. 12, Henry O. Harris; 1878, Sept. 9,
John D. James; 1879, March 10, George S. McDowell; 1879, Aug.
12, Charles Hall; 1879, Aug. 12, Rodman F. Pugh; 1879, Aug. 12,
W.H. Peterman; 1879, Aug. 12, Willard P. Miller; 1879, Dec. 9,
A. Weir Gilkeson; 1880, April 6, Paul H. Applebach; 1880, May 6,
Mahlon H. Stout; 1880, Feb. 7, J. Morris Selner; 1880, Feb. 7.
Joel H. DeVictor; 1881, June 13, Austin H. Cowdrick; 1881, June
13, William E. Schoch; 1881, June 13, John D. Sells; 1881, Sept.
12, Charles F. Meyers; 1881, Nov. 14, J. Freeman Hendricks;
1881, Dec. 13, Henry Watson; 1882, March 13, Hugh B. Campbell;
1882, March 27, Jerome Fackenthall; 1882, Oct. 16, Samuel Z.
Freed; 1882, Nov. 13, Richard M. Lyman; 1882, Nov. 13, T.
Kirkbride Hulme; 1884, Sept. 15, William C. Ryan; 1887, May 16,
Henry D. Paxson.
* Appointed attorney-general December 7, 1875.
** Elected in 1874 as judge of supreme court.
LEGISLATIVE
REPRESENTATIVES.
The carelessness with which the minutes of the council and
assembly were kept has rendered the attempt to compile the names
of those who represented Bucks county in the provincial
legislature a difficult and not altogether satisfactory
undertaking. No list of the members that composed the first
assembly has been preserved, but from the record of the
proceedings and other sources their names have been ascertained,
and it is probable that the list of members in the succeeding
legislature includes all of those elected to the first. The
original "Frame" provided for twelve members from each county to
constitute the council. This was found impracticable at the
outset and in the second council, as it was probably done in the
first, and three of this number were assigned to the council and
the rest to the assembly. By the "Frame" adopted on April 2,
1683, the number from each county to form the council was fixed
at three, and the number to form the assembly was fixed at six.
In the list for Bucks county for 1684, however, but five names
appear, and as the absent members name nowhere appears in the
record of proceedings it is probable that the unknown member
never attended. The public service at this time involved a great
deal of inconvenience, and notwithstanding a fine of
"twelve-pence, sterling" per day was early imposed upon those
"having made contumacies by absenting themselves," a complete
representation, even when it scarcely exceeded a score of
persons, was rarely found. The stipend granted a member of the
council was at first three and a half and then changed to five
shillings per day of attendance, and that granted to a member of
assembly was at first three then four shillings, to be paid by
their respective counties, with a mileage allowance of
two-pence. Occasionally the rental of the place of assembly was
similarly paid.
On the accession of Governor Fletcher in 1693 the old order
of things was largely set aside. The first day of March had been
the day for general elections, but under the new governor it was
decided on April 27, 1693, "that writts issue, returnable the
fifteenth of May next, and that foure Representatives be
returned for the County of philadelphia, foure for New Castle,
and three for each of the other Counties." The council was no
longer elective, and the loyalty of Bucks county to the deposed
proprietor caused it to be unrepresented in that body during
Fletchers administration. On the restoration of the province to
William Penn in 1695 the old order was generally restored, the
election occurring in May, however. Markham was appointed
"governor under William Penn" with John Goodson and Samuel
Carpenter "to be his assistants," and among the first acts of
the new governor was to issue writs for the election of a
council for the purpose of revising the laws and considering "a
new frame & modell of governmt." The first session adjourned on
the 30th of May to the 9th of September. On that day the full
council convened, and after the secretary had read all the
minutes, the governor said:
Gentl., I ordered all the ministers of councills that have
been held since the proprietors restoration to his governmt
to be read, to remind you how wee have fallen outt of the
method of governmt formerlie settled by the
proprietor & the peoples representatives, In which the
provinciall Councill used to promulgate bills that were to be
past into Laws twentie dayes before the sitting of the
assemblie, att the end of which time the assemblie used to meet
to confirm or reject those bills.
Gentl., You are sensible how much I was agt altering anie
thing in the charter which was granted us by the proprietor,
wtout his knowledge & consent, & how great occasion I had for an
Assemblie was & is plain to you, viz: to answer the Late Queens
Comands in assisting New York wt or Quota agt or common enemie
the French.
Gentl., I endeavoured to bring the governint to the method
that was ever used in the proprietors time, before his Excellie
Governor Fletcher had it, and aecordinglie, I issued outt writts
to forine a provincial Councill; In answer whereto you mett &
performed by Oathes, attests, & Subscriptions, all things
necessarie to it; and then I did my dutie & Laid before you the
Late Queens Letter & his Excellie the Governor of New Yorks
application to mee for the Quota allotted to this governmt,
expecting you wold have promulgated bills for the raising monie
for it, but instead of that your Resolves wer that you were not
in a capacite to give a full & satisfactorie answer to so
weightie a matter wtout a Generall Assemblie, & most of you
Living soe remote from this place, & Harvest drawing on soe
neer, that you could not meet untill about the ninth day of Sepr
then next; And yrfor, did advise mee to command the ssemblie to
meet the said day, to consult & resolve yrupon. And yrfor, it
was resolved that the assemblie be conveened to meet att
philadelphia the sd ninth day of Septr then next.
And now, Gentl., you are to advise what course to steer to
attain to the chief end of or meeting, viz: to answer the Late
Queens Letter, & when that is done & the Ice broken, all other
things will be easie.
Gentl., the Assemblie is come according to appointment. The
first thing wee are to consider of is the method of preparing
and passing Bills. Gentl., Both you of the Councill as well as
of Assemblie, are Representatives of the people, both being
chosen by them; I Have not the choice of one member of either,
therefore, when I speak to you I speak to the peoples
representatives, as much as when I speak to the Assemblie, and
wtout yor & their Consent I cannot raise monie, & wtout monie I
cannot answer the Queens Commands. I pray God direct you that
what you doe may be to his glorie, the Kings honor, & the
saftie of this poore province. Gentl., I expect your ansr.
In their reply to this address the members of the council
made a favorable response, granting the money in such a way as
to avoid the infringement of their conscientious scruples
against abetting war, but the assembly coupled with the bill
making such a grant an "act of settlement," which the governor
refused to sanction, for reasons which he declined to give, and
he accordingly dissolved the council and assembly. Neither body
was again convened until the latter part of 1696, the council
meeting on the 25th of September. How this body was summoned
does not appear, but it was probably by appointment from the
governor, and was composed almost entirely of gentlemen not in
the last council, none appearing from Bucks county. The governor
assigns as a reason for the delay in calling this body together
that he "expected orders from or proprietor & Chief
Governor." By his letters Markham had reason to believe some of
his communications to England had been captured by the French.
On the 28th the members of the council "did Unanimouslie advise
the Governor to call an assembly. Whereupon the Gor ordered the
secrie to prepare writts to be issued to the sheriffs of the
Seall counties, to Sumon the people to meet in the usual places
upon the Sixteenth of Octobr next, & the counties of
philadelphia & newcastle, to choose for each of them foure
persons to serve in Assembly, & the other four counties to
choose for each of them three persons to serve in Assembly, to
meet the 26th day of the sd mo."
The assembly thus convened sent their message to the
governor, declaring "whereas the governor has been pleased to
convene us, by his writs, although not in the form of our
charter, as we could desire, we have obeyed the same, and
considered what he has laid before us." In the end the assembly
granted the money for the aid of New York, and on November 7th
passed the new "Frame" by which it was provided that the council
should consist of two persons, and the assembly of four persons,
"of most note for virtue, wisdom and ability" out of each
county, to be elected the tenth day of the first month. In all
this "ado about nothing" the assembly appears to have been
actuated by a fear that Penns representative would not observe
the proprietors charter, and after finding objection to
Markhams resuming the old form determined to override his
objection to new legislation upon the matter. When the present
assembly met it transpired that eighteen months before Penn had
sent a commission to Goodson to place Arthur Cook in his stead
as assistant.
In 1699 Penn arrived in the province, and on the 1st of
January, 1700, first met the council. On the 25th instant the
assembly met in its second session, and on the 9th of February
addressed "the proprietary and governor" to the effect "That
whereas divers persons (as we understand) have petitioned thee
that the next election for representatives to serve in council
and assembly might be three persons for council and six for
assembly, contrary to our present frame of government; and we
being also informed that thou art inclined to issue out thy
writs for choosing accordingly: Therefore we desire that thou
would consider the best methods to avoid confusion we fear the
people will fall into thereupon, and with submission propose
that the advice and consent of the representatives, both in
council and assembly, to any alteration of this kind may be
proper." To this the proprietor consented, and minutes were made
in the proceedings of both bodies to that effect. In obedience
to the writs thus provided the assembly met on the 10th of May,
and adjourned on the 8th of April. Subsequently other writs were
issued for the election of four members out of each county to
meet in assembly at Newcastle on the 14th of October. It is not
known whether members of council were elected at the same time
or not. It is quite probable that they were, but no records of
the council convened at Newcastle were preserved. The occasion
of this special assembly was, as announced by the proprietor,
"That we wanted a Frame of Government, and Body of Laws, a
Settlement of Property, and a Supply for the Support of the
Government." The business was readily transacted, save in regard
to the "Frame of Government," which was finally referred to the
next general assembly.
![](chapter_xxiv_files/image012.jpg)
A brief special session of the assembly was held in August,
l701, but the "Frame" was not then taken up, and the subject
would naturally have been delayed until the next assembly to
meet in October, but on the 21st of August Penn received advices
from England which represented that strenuous endeavors were
being made to annex the several proprietary governments to the
crown, and that measures to this effect had so far advanced in
parliament that only the presence of the proprietor could
prevent their becoming a law. It was accordingly ordered by the
council "that writs be forthwith issued for calling a new
assembly to sit on the 15th day of the 7th month next ensuing."
The election was held on the 4th of September, and on the 15th
four out of each county convened at Philadelphia. The records of
the proceedings of the assembly from October 27, 1701, to the
12th of April, 1704, are wanting, but "the Charter of
Priviledges" granted by Penn on October 28, 1701, has been
preserved. By the second clause of this instrument it was
provided that the assembly should consist of four persons out of
each county, to be elected "upon the first day of October
forever." The members of the council, however, were left to be
appointed by the governor. A final proviso was added to the
effect "that if the representatives of the province and
territories shall not hereafter agree to join together in
legislature, and that the same shall be signified unto me, or my
deputy, in open assembly, or otherwise, from under the hands and
seals of the representatives, for the time being, of the
province and territories, or the major part of either of them,
at any time within three years from the date hereof, that in
such case the inhabitants of each of the three counties of this
province shall not have less than eight persons to represent
them in assembly for the province." The 14th of October was the
date fixed by the charter for the meeting of the assembly each
year, and on this day in 1702 the members elect from the
province convened. The lower counties neglected to hold any
elections, and the governor issued special writs for the
purpose. In obedience to these representatives from the
territories met at Philadelphia, but refused to act under the
charter, declaring that they had not accepted it and could not
act with the province according to its provisions without
betraying their rights. After much fruitless negotiation the
assembly was dissolved. In the following year the province
elected eight members from each county in accordance with the
provision of the charter, and this number continued constant for
Bucks county until 1776, when the number was reduced to six, and
subsequently to five, and then to four as indicated in the list.
The council being appointed by the governor this county does not
appear to have contributed to its membership subsequently to
1723 until the organization of the provisional government in
1776.
In 1684 and 1685 Joseph Growden represented Philadelphia
county. In 1689 Thomas Lloyd was elected to the council from
Bucks county, but his election was questioned by Governor
Blackwell, and he was not admitted to his seat until January,
1690. Nicholas Walne represented Philadelphia county in 1690
after representing Bucks for several years, and in 1703 is found
representing his original county again. In 1705 Samuel Carpenter
represented Bucks county in the assembly and two successive
years in the council.
1682. ----. --- James Harrison, Christopher Taylor, William
Yardley.
1683. Council. Christopher Taylor, James Harrison, William
Biles. Assembly. William Yardley, Samuel Darke, Robert Lucas,
Nicholas Walne, John Wood, John Clowes, Thomas Fitzwater, Robert
Hall, James Boyden.
1684. Council. Christopher Taylor, James Harrison, Thomas
Janney. Assembly. William Beakes, John Clowes, Richard Hough,
John Otter, Edmund Bennett.
1685. Council.Christopher Taylor, Thomas Janney, Phineas
Pemberton. Assembly. William Beaks, Gilbert Wheeler, Henry
Baker, William Darke, James Dilworth, Henry Paxson.
1686. Council.Thomas Janney, Phineas Pemberton, Arthur Cook.
Assembly. William Yardley, Joseph Growden, John Otter, William
Biles, Joshua Hoopes, John Rowland.
1687. Council. Phineas Pemberton, Arthur Cook, Joseph
Growden. Assembly. Thomas Langhorne, Robert Hall, Nicholas
Walne, Robert Lucas, Henry Baker, Edmund Bennett.
1688. Council. Arthur Cook, Joseph Growden, William Yardley.
Assembly.Nicholas Walne, Henry Baker, Richard Hough, Joshua
Hoopes, Robert Lucas, Robert Hall. (The last two dead.)
1689. Council. Joseph Growden, William Yardley, Thomas
Lloyd. (The last two dead.) Assembly. Arthur Cook (speaker),
William Biles, Phineas Pemberton, John Swift, Nicholas Walne,
Edmund Bennett.
1690. Council. William Yardley, Thomas Lloyd, Arthur Cook.
Assembly.Joseph Growden (speaker), Henry Poynter, Richard
Hough, Henry Baker, Edmund Bennett, John Cook.
1691. Minutes not preserved.
1692. Council. Minutes not preserved. Assemhly. John Swift,
John Otter, Joshua Hoopes, William Paxson, Nicholas Walne, John
Rowland.
1693. Council. None from Bucks county. Assembly. Joseph
Growden (speaker), John Swift, Henry Poynter.
1694. council. None from Bucks county. Assembly. William
Hues, Phineas Pemberton, Jonathan Scaife.
1695. Council. William Biles, Phineas Pemberton, Joseph
Growden. Assembly. Joshua Hoopes, Henry Paxson, Samuel Parke,
Nicholas Walne, John Swift. Joseph Miller.
1696. Council. None from Bucks county. Assembly. William
Biles, Joshua Hoopes, William Paxson.
1697. Council. Joseph Growden, Phineas Pemberton. Assembly.
Joshua Hoopes, Stephen Beakes, Richard Hough, Jeremiah
Langhorne.
1698. Council. Joseph Growden, William Biles. Assembly.
Phineas Pemberton (speaker), Robert Heaton, Joseph Kirkbride,
Henry Baker.
1699. Council. Phineas Pemberton, William Biles. Assembly.
John Surkett, John Swift, Richard Hough, Enoch Yardley.
1700. (May.) Council. Joseph Growden, William Biles, Richard
Hough. Assembly. John Swift, Phineas Pemberton, Joshua Hoopes,
William Paxson, Jeremiah Langhorne, Samuel Darke.
1701 (October). Council. Phineas Pemberton. Assembly.
Joseph Growden (speaker), Richard Hough, Samuel Darke, Robert
Heaton.
1701. Council. Phineas Pemberton. Assembly.Joseph Growden
(speaker), John Swift, Joshua Hoopes, William Paxson.
1702. Council. Phineas Pemberton (died in March). Assembly.
Joseph Growden (speaker), John Swift, William Paxson, Jeremiah
Langhorne.
1703. Council. None from Bucks county. Assembly. Nicholas
Walne, William Biles, Joseph Growden, Tobias Dymmock, Richard
Hough, William Paxson, Jeremiah Langhorne, Joshua Hoopes.
1704. Council. None from Bucks county. Assembly. William
Biles, Joseph Growden. John Swift, Peter Worral, Jeremiah
Langhorne, Henry Paxson, Richard Hough, Thomas Watson.
On the 11th of May, 1705, Peter Worral and Richard Hough were
announced as dead, and a special election being ordered Joshua
Hoopes and Samuel Beakes were returned to fill the vacancies.
1705. Council. None from Bucks county. Assembly. Joseph
Growden (speaker), John Swift, Jeremiah Langhorne, Joshua
Hoopes, Tobias Dymmock, Henry Paxson, Samuel Carpenter, William
Paxson.
1706. Council. Samuel Carpenter. Assembly. John Swift,
William Paxson, Joshua Hoopes, Henry Paxson, Samuel Darke,
Thomas Hillbourne, Ezra Croasdale, Thomas Harding.
1707. Council. Samuel Carpenter. Assembly. Henry Paxson,
Samuel Darke, John Swift, William Paxson, Thomas Hilbourne,
William Biles, Ezra Croasdale, Samuel Beakes.
1708. Council. Joseph Growden. Assembly. William Paxson,
William Biles, Joshua Hoopes, Henry Paxson, Samuel Darke, Samuel
Beakes, Ezra Croasdale, Thomas Hilbourne.
1709. Council. Joseph Growden. Assembly. Joshua Hoopes,
Samuel Beakes, Samuel Darke, Ezra Croasdale, Robert Heaton, Jr.,
Henry Paxson, Thomas Hilbourne, Thomas Harding.
1710. Council. Joseph Growden. Assembly. Abel Janney, John
Clark, Stoffel Vansand, John Hough, Thomas Stevenson, Samuel
Baker, Jeremiah Langhorne, William Biles.
1711. Council. Joseph Growden. Assembly. Jeremiah
Langhorne, Thomas Stevenson, William Biles, Samuel Burges, Jr.,
Thomas Stackhouse, Joshua Hoopes, Robert Heaton, Jr., Samuel
Baker.
1712. Council.- Joseph Growden. Assembly. Joseph Kirkbride,
John Sotcher, Thomas Watson, Thomas Stevenson, Samuel Burges,
Stoffel Vansand, John Snowden, John Frost.
1713. Council. None from Bucks county. Assembly. Joseph
Growden (speaker), John Swift, Jeremiah Langhorne, Thomas
Stevenson, William Stockdale, Thomas Watson, Jr., Thomas
Stackhouse, Joseph Kirkbride.
1714. Council. Joseph Growden. Assembly. John Swift, Joseph
Kirkbride, Everard Bolton, Thomas Stevenson, Stoffel Vansand,
William Stockdale, William Paxson, Robert Harvey.
1715. Council. None from Bucks county. Assembly. Joseph
Growden (speaker), John Swift, John Sotcher, Thomas Yardley,
Jeremiah Langhorne, Thomas Stackhouse, John Frost, Thomas
Harding.
1716. Council. None from Bucks county. Assembly. Jeremiah
Langhorne, Thomas Stevenson, John Sotcher, Joseph Bond, Joseph
Kirkbride, Thomas Stackhouse, John Swift, James Carter.
1717. Council. None from Bucks county. Assembly. Thomas
Stevenson, Jeremiah Langhorne, John Sotcher, William Stockdale,
William Paxson, Joseph Bond, Thomas Watson, Joseph Growden.
1718. Council. None from Bucks county. Assembly. William
Biles, Thomas Stevenson, Jeremiah Langhorne, John Sotcher,
Joseph Bond, William Paxson, Joseph Kirkbride, John Swift.
1719. Council. None from Bucks county. Assembly. Jeremiah
Langhorne, John Sotcher, William Hues, Thomas Watson, Joseph
Bond, William Paxson, Stoffel Vansand, William Stockdale.
1720. Council. Andrew Hamilton. Assembly. Jeremiah
Langhorne, John Sotcher, William Biles, Thomas Watson, Joseph
Bond, Henry Nelson, William Paxson, Joseph Kirkbride.
1721. Council. Andrew Hamilton. Assembly. Jeremiah
Langhorne (speaker), William Biles, John Sotcher, Joseph Fell,
Abel Janney, Joseph Kirkbride, Jr., Bartholomew Jacobs, Thomas
Canby.
1722. Council. Andrew Hamilton. Assembly. Joseph Growden,
William Paxson, William Biles, John Sotcher, Joseph Kirkbride,
Jr., George Clough, Thomas Canby, Thomas Yardley.
1723. Council. Andrew Hamilton. Assembly. Jeremiah
Langhorne, William Biles, Thomas Watson, Matthew Hughes, Joseph
Fell, Christian Vanhorne, Abraham Chapman, Benjamin Jones.
1724. Assembly. William Biles, Jeremiah Langhorne, Joseph
Fell, Christopher Vanhorne, Matthew Hughes, Thomas Watson,
Benjamin Jones, Abraham Chapman.
1725. Assembly. Jeremiah Langhorne, William Hues, Joseph
Fell, Abraham Chapman, Christian Vanhorne, Matthew Hughes,
Richard Mitchell, Benjamin Jones, William Paxson.
1726. Assembly. Jeremiah Langhorne, Joseph Kirkbride,
Abraham Chapman, Christian Vanhorne, Matthew Hughes, Richard
Mitchell, Benjamin Jones, William Paxson.
1727. Assembly. Joseph Kirkbride, Jeremiah Langhorne,
William Paxson, Christian Vanhorne, Benjamin Jones, Matthew
Hughes, Andrew Hamilton.
1728. Assembly. Joseph Kirkbride, Jeremiah Langhorne,
William Paxson, Christian Vanhorne, Abraham Chapman, Matthew
Hughes, Andrew Hamilton, Benjamin Jones.
1729. Assembly. Andrew Hamilton (speaker), Joseph Kirkbride,
Jr., Jeremiah Langhorne, William Paxson, Abraham Chapman,
Christian Vanhorne, Matthew Hughes, Benjamin Jones.
1730. Assembly. Andrew Hamilton (speaker), Joseph Kirkbride,
Jr., William Paxson, Jeremiah Langhorne, Abraham Chapman,
Christian Vanhorne, Matthew Hughes, Thomas Canby.
1731. Assembly. Andrew Hamilton (speaker), Joseph Kirkbride,
Jr., Jeremiah Langhorne, William Paxson, Christian Vanhorne,
Abraham Chapman, Matthew Hughes, Benjamin Jones.
1732. Assembly. Andrew Hamilton (speaker), Joseph Kirkbride,
Jr., Jeremiah Langhorne, William Paxson, Abraham Chapman,
Christian Vanhorne, William Biles, Matthew Hughes.
1733. Assembly. Jeremiah Langhorne (speaker), Joseph
Kirkbride, Jr., Abraham Chapman, William Paxson, John Watson,
Joseph Fell, Thomas Marriot, Thomas Canby. William Paxson died
and did not take his seat.
1734. Assembly. Andrew Hamilton (speaker), Joseph Kirkbride,
Jr., Christian Vanhorne, Jeremiah Langhorne, Abraham Chapman,
William Biles, Lawrence Growden, Thomas Marriot. Hamilton
elected in Paxsons place.
1735. Assembly. Andrew Hamilton (speaker), Joseph Kirkbride,
Jr., Christian Vanhorne, Jeremiah Langhorne, William Biles,
Lawrence Growden, Matthew Hughes, Benjamin Jones.
1736. Assembly. Andrew Hamilton (speaker), Joseph Kirkbride,
Jeremiah Langhorne, Christian Vanhorne, Lawrence Growden,
William Biles, Matthew Hughes, Benjamin Jones.
1737. Assembly. Andrew Hamilton (speaker), Jeremiah
Langhorne, Joseph Kirkbride, Jr., Lawrence Growden, Christian
Vanhorne, William Biles, Benjamin Jones, Matthew Hughes.
1738. Assembly. Andrew Hamilton, Jeremiah Langhorne, Joseph
Kirkbride, Abraham Chapman, John Watson, Benjamin Field, Thomas
Marriot, Thomas Canby.
1739. Assembly. Andrew Hamilton (speaker), Jeremiah
Langhorne, John Watson, Mark Watson, Thomas Canby, Jr., Joseph
Kirkbride, Abraham Chapman, Benjamin Field, Benjamin Jones.
Hamilton resigned and was succeeded by Mark Watson.
1740. Assembly. Jeremiah Langhorne, John Hall, Mark Watson,
John Watson, Abraham Chapman, Benjamin Field, Thomas Canby, Jr.,
Mahlon Kirkbride.
1741. Assembly. John Hall, John Watson, Garrett Vansant,
Benjamin Field, Abraham Chapman, Mahlon Kirkbride, Joseph Shaw,
Mark Watson.
1742. Assembly. Mahlon Kirkbride, Mark Watson, John Watson,
Abraham Chapman, John Hall, Benjamin Field, Joseph Shaw, Garrett
Vansant.
1743. Assembly. Mahlon Kirkbride, John Watson, Abraham
Chapman, John Hall, Mark Watson, Benjamin Field, Garrett
Vansant, Joseph Shaw.
1744. Assembly. John Hall, Mark Watson, Mahlon Kirkbride,
Abraham Chapman, Benjamin Field, John Watson, Garrett Vansant,
Joseph Shaw.
1745. Assembly. John Hall, Mark Watson, Mahlon Kirkbride,
Benjamin Field, Abraham Chapman, John Watson, Richard Mitchell,
Cephas Child.
1746. Assembly. Richard Mitchell, Derrick Hogeland, Abraham
Chapman, Mahlon Kirkbride, John Watson, John Hall, Cephas Child,
Joseph Hampton.
1747. Assembly. Mahlon Kirkbride, Cephas Child, Joseph
Hampton, Derrick Hogeland, Richard Walker, John Watson, Abraham
Chapman, John Hall.
1748. Assembly. Derrick Hogeland, Mahlon Kirkbride, Cephas
Child, Joseph Hampton, Abraham Chapman, John Watson. George
Logan, Richard Mitchell.
1749. Assembly. John Wolfton, Samuel Eastburn, Joseph
Hampton, Mahlon Kirkbride, Richard Walker, Griffith Owen, Garret
Vansant, John Hall.
1750. Assembly. Mahlon Kirkbride, Joseph Hampton, John
Wolfton, Griffith Owen, John Hall, Garret Vansant, Richard
Walker, Abraham Chapman.
1751. Assembly. Mahlon Kirkbride, Joseph Hampton, Abraham
Chapman, John Wolfton, Griffith Owen, Richard Walker, Samuel
Brown, Garret Vansant.
1752. Assembly. Abraham Chapman, William Hoge, Joseph
Hampton, Derrek Hogeland, Mahlon Kirkbride, Samuel Brown,
Richard Walker, Griffith Owen.
1753. Assembly. Griffith Owen, Derrick Hogeland, Jonathan
Ingham, William Smith, Mahlon Kirkbride, Joseph Hampton, Samuel
Brown, William Hoge.
1754. Assembly. Joseph Hampton, William Hoge, Jonathan
Ingham, Samuel Brown, Mahlon Kirkbride, William Smuith, Griffith
Owen, Derrick Hogeland.
1755. Assembly Jonathan Ingham, Griffith Owen, Samuel Brown,
Derrick Hogeland, William Smith, William Hoge, Mahlon Kirkbride,
Joseph Hampton.
1756. Assembly. Joseph Hampton, Mahlon Kirkbride, William
Smith, James Melvin, William Hoge, Gabriel Vanhorne, Griffith
Owen, Richard Walker. Kirkbride and Hoge resigned, and John
Abraham DeNormandie and Thomas Blackledge were elected.
1757. Assembly. Griffith Owen, Gabriel Vanhorne, James
Melvin, Thomas Blackledge, Richard Walker, Amos Strickland,
William Smith, John Abraham DeNormandie (deceased).
1758. Assembly. Amos Strickland, Benjamin Chapman, Joseph
Watson, Derrick Hogeland, Joseph Kirkbride, Griffith Owen,
William Smith, James Melvine.
1759. Assembly. Benjamin Chapman, James Melvine, William
Smith, Jonathan Ingham, Jacob Bogart, Mahlon Kirkbride, Amos
Strickland, Griffith Owen.
Mahlon Kirkbride vacated his seat at the request of the
council in London, as it was desirable that there should be no
Quaker in the assembly during the war, and Joseph Watson was
elected.
1760. Assembly. Abraham Chapman, Joseph Hampton, Henry
Wynkoop, Giles Knight, William Smith, George Ely, Amos
Strickland, James Melvin.
1761. Assembly. Abraham Chapman, William Smith, John
Wilkinson, Samuel Foulke, Samuel Brown, Giles Knight, James
Melvin, Henry Wynkoop.
1762. Assembly. John Wilkinson, Giles Knight, Samuel Brown,
Henry Krewson, Samuel Foulke, Abraham Chapman, William Smith,
James Melvin.
1763. Assembly. Henry Krewson, Abraham Chapman, James
Melvin, William Rodman, Samuel Foulke, Giles Knight, William
Smith, Samuel Brown.
1764. Assembly. Samuel Brown, William Smith, Henry Krewson,
James Melvin, Giles Knight, William Rodman, Peter Shepherd,
Samuel Foulke.
1765. Assembly. Samuel Foulke, William Rodman, James Melvin,
William Smith, Samuel Brown, Giles Knight, Henry Krewson, Peter
Shepherd.
1766. Assembly. Henry Krewson, Benjamin Chapman, Joseph
Hampton, James Melvin, William Rodman, Samuel Foulke, Peter
Shepherd, Samuel Browne.
1767. Assembly. William Rodman, Thomas Yardley, John Brown,
Joseph Watson, Samuel Foulke, Peter Shepherd, Henry Kresson,
Benjamin Chapman.
1768. Assembly. Peter Sheplmerd, Samuel Foulke, Benjamin
Chapman, Giles Knight, William Rodman, Joseph Watson, Henry
Krewson, John Brown.
1769. Assembly. Joseph Watson, Giles Knight, William Rodman,
John Foulke, Henry Krewson, John Brown, Peter Shepherd, Benjamin
Chapman.
1770. Assembly. Joseph Galloway (speaker), Joseph Watson,
William Rodman, Benjamin Chapman, John Foulke, Peter Shepherd,
John Brown, Henry Krewson.
1771. Assembly. Joseph Galloway (speaker), Joseph Watson,
Benjamin Chapman, Peter Shepherd, William Rodman, John Foulke,
Henry Krewson, John Foulke.
1772. Assembly. Joseph Galloway (speaker), Benjamin Chapman,
Joseph Ellicott, Peter Shepherd, William Rodman, Henry Krewson,
John Brown, John Foulke.
1773. Assembly. Benjamin Chapman, William Rodmnan, John
Foulke, John Brown, Henry Krewson, Peter Shepherd, Joseph
Galloway.
1774. Assembly. John Haney, John Brown, John Foulke, William
Rodman, Benjamin Chapman, Joseph Galloway, Robert Kirkbride,
Gerardus Wynkoop.
1775. Assembly. William Rodman, John Haney, Cerardus
Wynkoop, John Foulke, Benjamin Chapman, David Twining, John
Brown, Thomas Jenks.
1776. Assembly. John Crawford, John Keller, John Wilkinson,
Samuel Smith, James Benizet, Joseph Kirkbride.
1777. Council. Joseph Hart. Assembly. John Keller, Gilliam
Cornell, Joseph Kirkbride. Arthur Watts, John Folwell, Matthew
Greer.
1778. Council. Joseph Hart. Assembly. John Keller, Cerardus
Wynkoop, Samuel Smith, John Lacey, Jr., William Scott, Arthur
Watts.
1779. Council. John Lacey, Jr. Assembly. Gerardus Wvnkoop,
Benjamin Fell, William Scott, Arthur Watts, Joseph Savage.
1780. Council. John Lacey, Jr. Assembly. Benjamin Fell,
Joseph Savage, William Scott, Gerardus Wynkoop, James Morgan.
1781. Council. John Lacey, Jr. Assembly. Gerardus Wynkoop,
James Wilkinson, Thomas Long, James Tate, Charles Kichline.
1782. Council. George Wall, Jr. Assembly. Thomas Long,
James Wilkinson, James Tate, Joseph Savage, Joseph Thomas.
1783. Council. George Wall, Jr. Assembly. Thomas Long,
Joseph Thomas, Joseph Savitz, John Clark, Richard Rue.
1784. Council. George Wall, Jr. Assembly. Thomas Long, John
Clark, Joseph Thomas, John Keller, Arthur Erwin.
1785. Council. Samuel Dean. Assembly. John Clark, Arthur
Erwin, Samuel Foulke, John Smith, Joseph Thomas.
1786. Council. Samuel Dean. Assembly. Samuel Foulke,
Gerardus Wynkoop, John Chapman, Valentine Upp.
1787. Council. Samuel Dean. Assembly. Gerardus Wynkoop,
John Chapman, Samuel Foulke, Valentine Upp.
1788. Council. Amos Gregg. Assembly. Gerardus Wynkoop, John
Chapman, Samuel Foulke, Valentine Upp.
1749. Council. Amos Gregg. Assembly. Gerardus Wynkoop,
Valentine Upp, John Chapman, James Bryan.
Under the constitution of 1790 the legislature was
constituted with senate and house of representatives. The
district in which Bucks was included was made up of Philadelphia
city and county, and the adjoining counties of Delaware, Bucks,
and Chester. Thomas Jenks, of Bucks, was the first senator, and
in 1793, as a member of the committee of accounts, reported his
own charges as follows:
To
ten (10) days service |
$30.00 |
"mileage, 48 |
4.80 |
|
$34.80 |
From 1796 to 1804 the district embraced the counties of
Bucks, Chester, and Montgomery. In 1804 Bucks county alone
formed a senatorial district until 1874. From 1825 to 1844 it
was known as the fifth senatorial district; from 1844 to 1859 it
was designated as the sixth; from 1859 to 1865 it was known as
the fourth; and from 1865 to 1874 it was again called the sixth.
At the latter date Bucks was joined with Northampton county to
form the seventh district, and two years later was alone made a
district and designated as the tenth. The following gentlemen
have represented the county in the upper house of the
legislature:
17901796, Thomas Jenks; 1796, William Chapman; 1797, Joseph
McClellan; 1798, Dennis Whelen; 1799, ---- ----; 18004, William
Rodman; 18048, Joseph Hart; 180816, William Erwin; 181625,
Cyrus Cadwallader; 182528, Eli Kitchen; 182833, Matthias
Morris; 183440, William T. Rogers; 184143, Samuel A. Smith;
184446, Henry Chapman; 184749, Josiah Rich; 185052, Benjamin
Malone; 185355, Howard Sager; 185658, Jonathan Ely; 185961,
Mahlon Yardley; 186264, William Kinsey; 186567, Oliver P.
James; 186870, Richard J. Linderman; 187173, Jesse W. Knight;
187176, Harman Yerkes; 187781, Joseph Thomas; 188286, C.S.
Vandergrift; 1887, George Ross.
![](chapter_xxiv_files/image013.jpg)
In the lower house of the legislature Bucks county was
apportioned a representation of four members until 1836. It was
then reduced to three, and so continued until 1857, when the
apportionment was reduced to two members. Under the constitution
of 1873, the term of representatives which had hitherto been one
year was increased to two, and the number of members from the
county restored to four. The following list was furnished by the
Hon. Joseph Barnsley, of Warminster. As far as possible the
political affiliations of the members are indicated by letters,
"d." for democrat, "f." for federal, "a.m." for anti-mason, "w."
for whig, "r." for republican, "u." for union, and "c.r." for
constitutional republican. The figures following the name
indicate re-elections.
1790, 1791, 1792. John Chapman, 179345; Ralph Stover,
1793456789; Gerardus Wynkoop, 17939 (from Newtown tp.);
James Bryan.
1793. John Chapman, Ralph Stover, Gerardus Wynkoop, Joseph
Erwin, 179899.
17941795. John Chapman, Ralph Stover, John Hulme, 1796,
18067810; Theophilus Foulke, 17967.
1796. Ralph Stover, John Hulme, Theophilus Foulke, Isaac Van
Horn, 179789, 1800.
1797. Ralph Stover, Theophilus Foulke, Isaac Van Horn, Isaac
Wilson.
1798. Ralph Stover, Isaac Van Horn, Isaac Watson, Joseph
Erwin.
1799. Ralph Stover, Isaac Van Horn, Joseph Erwin, Gerardus
Wynkoop.
1800. Isaac Van Horn, John Pugh, 180123; John Smith,
1801234910; John McElroy, f., 18012.
1801. John Pugh, John Smith, John McElroy, f., Wm. W.
Folwell.
1802. John Pugh, John Smith, Samuel Smith, d.,
1803410111213; John McElroy, f.
1803. John Pugh, John Smith, Samuel Smith, Wm. Milnor,
18045.
1804. John Smith, Samuel Smith, Wm. Milnor, Robert Smith.
1805. Wm. Milnor, Samuel D. Ingham, 18067; Nathaniel
Shewell, 18067; Paul Apple. 18067 (elected by the
constitutional republican party with T. McKean, for governor).
1806, 1807. Samuel D. Ingham, c.r.; Nathaniel Shewell, c.r.;
Paul Apple, c.r.; John Hulme.
1808. John Hulme, f.; Jenkins Evans, 1809, f.; Henry Funk,
1809, f.; John McNair, f. (Southampton).
1809. Jenkins Evans, f.; Henry Funk, f.; Wm. Mitchell,
181011, f.; John Smith, f.
1810. Wm. Mitchell, f.; John Smith, f.; John Hulme, f.;
Samuel Smith, d.
1811. Wm. Mitchell, f.; Samuel Smith, d.; Joseph Clum,
181213, d.; Michael Fackenthal, 181314, d.
1812. Samuel Smith, d.; Joseph Chum, d.; Wm. H. Rowland, d.;
18131415,
Charles Meredith, f.
1813. Samuel Smith, d.; Joseph Clum, d.; W.H. Rowland, d.;
Michael Fackenthall, d.
1814. Wm. H. Rowland, d.; Michael Fackenthall, d.; George
Harrison, d.; David Wynkoop, f., 181516171819.
1815. Wm. H. Rowland, d.; David Wynkoop, f.; Phineas Jenks,
f., 1816171819 (Newton); Samuel Sellers, d., 1816.
1816. David Wynkoop, f.; Phineas Jenks, f.; Samuel Sellers,
d.; Benj. Foulke, f., 18171920.
1817. Phineas Jenks, f.; Benj. Foulke, f.; David Wynkoop, f.;
Abraham Stover, f.
1818. Phineas Jenks, f.; David Wynkoop, f.; Thomas G.
Kennedy, d.; Thomas Stewart, d.
1819. Phineas Jenks, f.; David Wynkoop, f.; Benj. Foulke, f.;
Crispin Blackfan, d.
1820. Benj. Foulke, f.; Abraham F. Stover, f.; Charles
Lombert, f., 1828; Thomas Jenks, f.
1821. Wm. Purdy, d., 18222324; Joshua B. Calvin, d.,
18222324; Solomon McNair, d., 182223; John Moore, f.
1822, 1823. Wm. Purdy, d. (Southampton); Joshua B. Calvin,
d.; Solomon McNair, d.; Abraham Smith, d.
1824, Mm. Purdy, d.; Joshua B. Calvin, d.; John Matts, d.,
18252627; John Fackenthall, d., 18252627.
1825, 1826, 1827. John Matts, d.; John Fackenthall, d.;
Robert Ramsey, d., 182931; George Harrison, d., 183435.
1828. Charles Lombemt, f. (Newtown); James Horner, f.
(Warwick); Jacob Clymer, f.; James Wilson, f. (Tinicum).
1829. Robert Ramsey, d. (Warwick); Aaron Tomlinson, d.
(Middletown); Cornelius Sellers, d.; John G. Griffith, d.
1830. Benjamin Reigel, a.m., 183435; John Keller, a.m.; John
Yardley, f. (L. Makefield); Albert Smith, a.m.
1831. Robert Ramsey, d.; Aaron Tomlinson, d.; Daniel Boileau,
d., 183233; Christian Bertells, d.; 183233.
1832. Daniel Boileau, d.; Christian Bertells, d.; John H.
Bispham. d., 1833; John Hart, d. (Warminster).
1833. Daniel Boileau, d.; Christian Bertells, d.; John H.
Bispham, d.; Wm. Watson, w. (Buckingham).
1834, 1835. George Harrison, d.; Benjamin Reigel, d.; Jacob
Hooker, d.; Isaiah James, d., 183678.
1836. Isaiah James, d. (New Britain); Daniel Y. Harman, d.
(U. Makefield); Solomon Fries, d.
1837, 1838. Isaiah James, d.; Aaron Ivans, w. (Falls tp.);
Joseph Fell, w. (Buckingham).
1839. Stokes L. Roberts, d. (Doylestown); Wm. Field, d.
(Newtown); Samuel Penrose, d. (Richland).
1840. Seruck Titus, w. (Buckingham); John Apple, d., 18412;
Isaac Van Horne, d.
1841. John Apple, d.; Joseph Thomas, d.; 1842; Abel N.
Griffith, d.
1842. John Apple, d.; Joseph Thomas, d.; Nicholas McCarthy,
w., 1843.
1843. Nicholas McCarthy, w. (Nockamixon) ; Matthias Shaw, w.
(Solebury); Benj. Thompson, w. (Falls).
1844, 1845. William M. Armstrong, d. (L. Makefiehi); Michael
Worman, d.; Robert James, d. (Doylestown.)
1846. John Dixon, w.; John Robbins, w. (Falls); George
Warner, w. (Wrightstown).
1847, 1848. James W. Long, d. (Durham); Peter D. Bloom, d.
(Hilltown); Edward Nickleson, d. (L. Makefield).
1849. Edward Nickleson, d.; Hiram A. Williams, w., 1858
(Tinicum); James
Flowers, w. (Middletown).
1850, 1851, 1852. Edward Thomas, d.; Jonathan Ely, d.
(Solebury); Noah Shull, d. (Bemisalem).
1853. Evan Groom, d. (Southampton); Silas H. Beans, d.
(Buckingham); Luther Calvin, d., 186456 (Tinicum).
1854. Samuel F. Gwinner, w. & a.m. (Nockamixon); Watson P.
McGill, w. & a.m. (Solebury); E.G. Harrison, w. & a.m.
(Middletown).
1855, 1856. John H. Lovett, d., 1857 (Morrisville); John
Maugle, d., 1857; Alexander B. Johnson, d.
1857. John H. Lovett, d.; John Maugle, d.
1858. Joseph Barnsley, r.; 185960 (Warminster); Hiram A.
Williams, r.
1859. Joseph Barnsley, r.; Jessie W. Knight, d. (Bristol).
1860. Joseph Barnsley, r.; Asher Reily, r. (Tinicum).
1861, 1862, 1863. James R. Boileau, d. (Tinicum); L. La Bar,
d. (Plumstead).
1864, 1865, 1866. Luther Calvin, d, ; Francis W. Headman, d.
(Bensalem).
1867, 1868, 1869. Joshua Beans, d. (Doylestown); Edward
McKinstry, d. (Wrightstown).
1870, 1871. Samuel Darrah, d., 1872 (Doylestown); Sextus C.
Pursell, r. (Nockamixon).
1872. Samuel Darrah, d.; George Hegemuan, d., 1873
(Rockhill).
1873. George Hegeman, d.; J. Miles Jamison, d., 18748082
(Northampton).
1874. J. Miles Jamison, d.; J.W. Carver, d., 1876; Charles
Willett, d. (Bensalem); J. Paul Knight, r. (Southampton).
1875. Legrand Law, d. (to fill vacancy), 1876.
1876. Legrand Law, d. (Middletown); Hiram Scarborough, d.
(New Hope); Henry C. Moore, d. (Richland); James W. Carver, d.
1878. William B. Worthington, r. (Buckingham); Symington B.
Phillips, d., 188084 (Bristol); John H. Burton, r. (Bristol);
Henry C. Moore, d.
1880. Symington Phillips, d.; J. Miles Jamison, d.; Thomas
McReynolds, d., 1882. (New Britain); Charles D. Wonsidler, d.,
1882.
1882. J. Miles Jamison, d.; Charles D. Wonsidler, d.; Thomas
McReynolds, d. James M. Snyder, d. (Lower Makefield).
1884. Henry J. Shoemaker, r. (Falls); John Swartz, d.;
Charles Gain, d. (Wrightstown); Symington Phillips, d.
1886. Augustine Willett, d.; Charles Gain, d.; John Swartz,
d.; Christian E. Hindenach, d.
ARCHAEOLOGY.
The relics of the stone age are found in great abundance in
Bucks county. All of these are the product of the Indian tribes
which had their homes here prior to the coming of the whites,
and few claim a greater antiquity than the seventeenth century.
Arrow-heads, hammers, sinkers, plummets, scrapers, and
spear-points are plentiful. Among the rarer specimens of Indian
handiwork to be found here are polishing stones, grooved axes,
celts, knives, pestles, hoes, drills, ceremonial hatchets, and
amulets. Fragments of pottery are also found in great abundance,
and many of them are remarkably well preserved. On some the
ornamentation, consisting of a series of lines and dots around
the rim, is as distinct as when first made. These articles are
most abundant in Durham township, and many fine collections have
been made and are preserved in different parts of the county.
Some rare specimens of Indian art have been discovered near
Fairview in Hilltown. These, as Charles Laubach describes them,
"are manufactured or cut of slightly red shale, native to the
locality. It requires but a slight stretch of the imagination to
call these objects Indian busts. The resemblance to the
prevailing Indian bust and features of prehistoric times is
great, and in fact the ethnological features are precisely what
would be looked for by archaeologists in such a place. The
ridge-like apex, well pointed, the receding intellect, the broad
and fully developed animal propensities, with a rounded thick
neck, are faithfully delineated." There were five of these, the
finest of which is care fully finished and well preserved. It
probably weighs one hundred pounds. Two others were less
preserved, but bear evidence of careful workmanship, one of
which may be seen in the historical societys collection. The
other two were in situ and only partly completed.
The situation in which they were discovered suggests that
they may have been intended as burial memorials. "About half a
mile southeast of Fairview in a gently sloping valley is a small
stream, and on its southern side is a meadow of several acres in
extent. Near the stream, along its southern bank, is a
mound-like knoll about one hundred yards in length by thirty or
more feet in width. This mound at one time extended about
seventy-five yards more in an easterly direction, but at the
present time it is about five feet lower than the western
portion, having been at some remote period washed by the
stream." It was on this low ground that these "busts" were
found. About fifty yards east of this place is found a rock
exposure from which the material of the monumental stones was
obtained. There is no record of any remains found here, nor are
there any data by which to form an intelligent judgment of the
age of these objects of prehistoric art. The entire absence of
implements at this point and the slowness with which this stone
is known to disintegrate have led Mr. Laubach to fix their date
as pre-Columbian. The same investigator believes that "about the
genuineness of these art productions and of their pre-historic
origin there can be no question."
In 1882 John S. Bailey called attention in a paper read
before the historical society to a remarkable stone which,
though discovered some ten years before, had not to this time
been generally known. Having briefly described the people of the
later Stone Age, the writer referred to this important relic as
follows:
In 1872 a young man named Bernard Hansel, while plowing his
fathers field, located on the east side of the Durham road,
about two miles north of Buckingham mountain, found a part of
this stone or breast-plate as it may be termed. Nothing in
particular attracted his attention, except the few lines drawn
upon its face, and it was placed with his collection of
arrow-heads, of which he had found great numbers in the same
field. Since that time he had been on the watch for the other
part and was rewarded by finding it a few months ago while
plowing in the same field and about the same spot the first part
was found. This is a singular incident, as they may have been
broken apart centuries ago, and without the latter part we would
fail to read the first correctly. It might be well to state that
the field from whence so many relics have been found is near
five springs and was a hunting or encamping ground, being near
the great Indian pathway that existed from the Delaware at Point
Pleasant through Bucks, from thence to the falls of the
Susquehanna.
![](chapter_xxiv_files/image014.jpg)
The stone is of liver color, perhaps of slate or shale
limestone, present length four and one-half inches, width one
and three-quarter inches, and one-quarter inch in thickness.
The artist in depicting this event has probably given us as
much history in the same space as we would expect of our artists
of the present day; and, Mr. President, when the leading painter
of America, Benjamin West, in his historical painting of "Penns
treaty with the Indians," represents men of mature years who
were but children and did not arrive in this country until seven
years after the treaty, and William Penn, the prominent feature,
was not here until the treaty was ratified; while the costumes
were not worn for nearly a century, and after the three-story
buildings did not exist; when this great artist is allowed to
fancy and produce something of a fictitious order for the
history of the founding of this commonwealth, then we should
allow some license to the savage, with his rude engraving tools,
if he should not make perfect curved lines and his perspective
should be a trifle faulty.
Our interpretation of the engraving is that the scene or
action represents an encounter with one or more huge animals. In
the cut only one is in view, a mastodon, the same as described
as belonging to the European Stone Age. The tusks and proboscis
are plainly visible, while the perpendicular lines on various
parts of the body must indicate the long hair with which the
animals were covered, necessary for a cold climate.
The fossils of the mastodon or hairy elephant are found in
many parts of Siberia, and in 1799 an animal nearly complete in
its parts was found imbedded in the ice on the Siberian coast.
They roamed over Central Europe, from Ireland to the Ural
mountains, from thence across Northern Asia to Behrings
straits, to Canada and the United States.
If we allow the stature of Indians represented in the
engraving to be five feet in height, and the artist has given us
a correct proportion and delineation of the monster, it would
measure twenty-six feet in length, eighteen feet in height,
twelve feet depth of body, and length of tusks on the curved
line thirteen feet. These measurements have been exceeded by
remains found in many places in this country.
![](chapter_xxiv_files/image015.jpg)
One of the braves has a drawn bow and an arrow pierces
the side of the monarch, which signifies that they could fight
him with their arrows. Near this brave stands another, with his
spear set upright in the ground, or placed perpendicular shows
that their spears are useless they could not get close enough
to use them. A third party is reclining on the ground near a
large stone, smoking his pipe. Some of them were cowardly and
hid themselves and left the braves to do the work. Still another
is under the monsters feet. We would infer that same were
killed by him. He is more destructive than the forked lightning,
which is beautifully depicted. He is as tall as the tree-tops.
He is more powerful than the suns rays; more changeable than
the moon, which is now a crescent; wonderful as the course of
the planets through the heavens. Venus is enlarged as brighter
than the others. They were numerous as a multitude of stars,
which are illustrated by the crossed lines.
On the reverse side of the stone are various symbols of
tribes, perhaps of those connected with the event. Most
conspicuous are the turtle, eagle, sea-snake, and reindeer, or
elk with large antlers. Also, plainly outlined on one end is
their early history. Large, crooked lines represent water, and a
large fish floats in it, while a number of crossed lines are
over the water. Near the water lines, five points, or peaks, are
presented. Next is a mountain peak with its rocky sides.
Directly over the mountain is a cross, and on the off-side of
the mountain from the five peaks is a square tablet, and within
its borders are ten dots regularly spaced off. This history
would read: That they crossed time great water; they were
acquainted with the five peaks of the Cascade range, their
ancestors lived within view of them; they crossed the mountain
of rocks or the Rocky mountains, and ten dots mean there were
ten tribes at the crossing, or that ten generations, epochs or
cycles had passed by since the crossing; they kept a record of
great events, and every fifty-two years was a cycle, when great
feasts were celebrated, and every three hundred and twelve
years, or six of these cycles, was an extra epoch. Maybe ten of
these extra feast years had passed.
Again, proof of age exists in the stone with its milled or
ornamental edge, which is worn out in many places. This could
not be done while in the ground, or it would have been uniform
over the stone.
My friends, you may say this stone relates to an event of
the prehistoric times of this country, but how easily the little
ornament could be brought from some point in the west, as the
bones of large monsters have been found and described, and many
students are acquainted with the size and habits of those of the
Mississippi valley.
This is true, but we have further evidence of their
existence here. This large fossil is a section of the vertebrae
of some animal larger than the African elephant, that no doubt
roamed through our land in those far-off days. It was found
about seventy years ago about three miles south of Buckingham
mountain, was built in a wall near the Anchor hotel, where it
remained for perhaps fifty years. It was supposed to belong to a
whale, but the indication of a space for marrow through the
centre would prove it as belonging to a land animal. It measures
over twelve inches in diameter, and is over six inches in
length; allowing at least two inches to be worn away, would make
the length of the back of the animal nearly thirteen feet, there
being nineteen dorsal vertebrae. Other large bones or ribs were
found a few years ago, and found their way to Doylestown, and
placed on exhibition.
The owner of this curious relic inconsiderately took brush
and water, and even a sharp stick, to clean out the engraved
lines. This totally changed the appearance of the stone, and
when subsequently brought to the attention of scientists, evoked
a good deal of skepticism as to its genuine character. A
spirited controversy arose between those who denounced it as a
forgery, and those who believed otherwise. The former are found
only among those who have made the acquaintance of the relic in
its furbished state, and most of them after the charge of
forgery had been made. There is not the slightest evidence to
show any motive for such a forgery, and as far as the facts have
been elicited, they go to show that no one possessed of the
necessary scientific information to produce such a forgery has
ever been in the vicinity. Neither the discoverer nor the
present owner has been charged with collusion with the supposed
forger; nor is the genuineness of the stone itself contested.
The utmost claim of the objectors to its authenticity is that
the stone was not first examined by some scientist of generally
acknowledged ability; that certain lines apparently indicate the
work of a metal instrument; and that no patine is observed to
warrant the great age. All this is determined by expert
testimony which, although sanctioned by some of the best
scientific men, does not carry conviction to an unbiased mind.
It is true, also, that its authenticity is not established, as
indeed, in the nature of the case, it cannot be, but the
presumption from all the evidence in the case is in its favor.
It is unfortunate that the owner did not understand the
importance of submitting the stone to scientists in its original
condition, as he doubtless would if he had been informed of its
archaeological value, or in collusion with a forger. As it is,
the unfortunate doubts which have been cast upon its genuineness
have robbed it of its value as a contribution to the study of
pre-historic art, without eliminating it from the data which the
careful student will wish to examine. As the discussion now
stands, it is only calculated to bewilder the unscientific
reader. A careful rιsumι of the whole subject may be found in
the "Lenape Stone, or the Indian and the Mammoth," published by
G.P. Putnams Sons, 1885, from which the above plates are taken
by permission of the publishers.
|