Historical Collections Relating to Gwynedd (Pennsylvania)

By Howard M. Jenkins

Second Edition

1897

Chapter 24. Social Conditions Among the Early Settlers

Of the social conditions existing amongst the Welsh settlers some idea will have been formed by the reader from the chapters already given. Rev. Joseph Mathias, for many years the Baptist preacher at Hilltown, in a large manuscript volume which he left behind him, has some details on this subject [Rev. Joseph Mathias was himself of Welsh descent, and very familiar with all the traditions respecting the early settlers. He was born at Hilltown, 1778, and died 1851, at his home near where Chalfont now is. He was called to the ministry in 1804, and preached until his death.] The drink of the settlers, he says, was at first principally water. After a while, New England rum was used, and after the orchards grew to perfection and bore fruit, cider and whiskey became plenty. [He means, no doubt, spirits distilled from apple juice, i.e., apple brandy; this was very commonly called apple whiskey.] Their bread, the wheat flour was cooked in various ways. Some made "dumplings" in pots with meat and vegetables, and often apples were used in this way, i.e., "in dumplings." Flour was made into puddings, mixed with eggs and milk, etc., "and boiled in bags, sometimes in the same pot with meat, and sometimes alone." Beef suet was used to enrich the puddings, and they were eaten with "plenty of dip." Batter cakes were made of flour, eggs, and milk, baked in a frying pan with lard, and skillfully turned by tossing. Sometimes these were used for dessert, with sugar sprinkled on them. Usually the settlers had plenty of meat, --beef, pork, and poultry, chiefly, --sometimes mutton. "But few depended on wild meat or fowls, though occasionally they took time to hunt and procure some."

In clearing new land, further says Mr. Mathias, the small trees were grubbed by a party of neighbors who joined and made a "frolic." The large trees were girdled, and when they fell, the logs were divided into convenient lengths by fires kindled along them at proper distances. They had small horses, who wore collars of straw. The harness was principally of tow cloth, ropes and raw hide. "There were no wagons, carts, or wheeled carriages." "No people have ever been more united in interest, the labor on the land being mostly performed by companies, by way of exchange, many hands making light work of heavy jobs." Much labor was done by women: picking, carding, and spinning of wool, swingling, hatcheling, and spinning of flax. There were "frolics" to pull flax, gather grain, etc. In the harvest field sometimes the workers were bitten by rattlesnakes. "I recollect hearing that my grandmother was bitten while in the field. There being no remedy at hand, one of her companions sucked out the poison with his mouth, throwing off the saliva; and she speedily recovered."

We may study with interest, in this connection, the inventory of the household goods of William John, of Gwynedd, who died in 1712, in the early years of the settlement. He was, judging by the large tract which he bought, --nearly three times the size of any other, --a rich man according to the circumstances of the times. The inventory in the house includes the following articles: 1 Rugg, 4 new blankets, 7 new blanketts and one old Double coverlid, 2 ditto, 1 ditto, 2 single ditto, 3 ditto, 1 double ditto, 3 tow double coverlids, 7 cushin cases, 1 side of curtains, 7 pairs sheets, 5 table cloths, 10 napkins, 4 bolster cases and 2 pillow cases, 8 chairs, 2 tables, 2 Dutch wheels, and 2 other spinning wheels, 6 lbs. Of hatcheled flax, 6 of flaxen yarn, 37 of course tow yarn, 4 of woolen yarn, 28 of wool, 40 yards of linen, 2 buck-skins (appraised at 7s. 6d); 55 lbs. Of hemp, chafing dish, brass pans, wooden ware, pewter, 3 meal sives, earthen ware.

Alexander Edwards, sen., who died in Montgomery in the same year (1712), left in his will "one-half of my pewter," to be equally divided between his daughter Martha and the children of his daughter Margaret, and in another clause he provided:

"I give my biggest Iron pot to my daughter Martha's eldest daughter, and I give my least Iron pot to my daughter Bridget's eldest daughter."

Robert John, who died in Gwynedd, in 1732, from the inventory of his personal estate was probably the wealthiest citizen of the township. The list shows several articles indicating refinement and even some degree of luxury. Included in it are the following, valued as stated:

The inventory of Robert Evans, of Gwynedd, 1746, included 1 feather bed and furniture, 2 chaff beds and furniture. 1 chaff bed and 2 pillows, 6 lbs. Worsted yarn, 5 lbs of combed worsted, 4 yards of lincy, 3 1/2 yards of cloth, 26 lbs of wool, 1 great and 3 little wheels, a dough trough.

Evan Evans (the preacher, who lived at Mumbower's mill), who died in 1747, had a large number of items in his inventory such as these: Sundry remnants of linnen (5 pounds, 10 shillings); table linnen, a piece of new linnen, flax and tow yarn, 6 1/2 lbs of worsted, linnen yarn, 20 lbs of wool, etc., etc.

The character and number of these items indicated that they may have been on hand as part of the product of the fulling-mill which Evan Evans or his son Abraham established about 1744. Other items in the same inventory were these: "21 chairs, a settle, a long table, 3 "ovil" tables, sundry earthenware, a brass kettle and other brass things, sundry pewters, sundry wooden vessels, funnel, grater, bellows, tongs and fire shovel, a baking plate, 3 iron potts, 2 pairs of pott hangers, cheese press, dough trough, a looking glass."

These inventories show clearly enough the character and extent of the household belongings in Gwynedd and adjoining townships down to 1750. There were few dishes of any finer ware than earthen; brass and pewter ones were the most esteemed. Jenkin Jenkins had some tin-ware. The iron pots were valued enough to be made heirlooms. The "dough-trough" was in nearly every house. No clocks are named in any of these inventories. The best beds were filled with feathers, but many plain people contented themselves with a tick filled with chaff. For cooking, the frying-pan, the chafing-dish, the grid-iron, and the kettle were used. The "smoothing-box and heater" mentioned in Robert John's inventory were no doubt a smoothing-iron, with a cell in the hell for the insertion of a heated piece of metal, --such as hatters and others still use. The "settle" appears in Evan Evans's house, and he, like Robert John, had a looking-glass. For making the bed comfortable on a cold night, the warming-pan was already in use. Robert John's "Chyney-ware" appears to have been unknown in other houses.

Of the simplicity of manners among the Friends we get a glimpse in this letter, sent by Benjamin and Ann Mendenhall, of Chester county, to Owen and Mary Roberts, of Gwynedd, soliciting the latter's daughter Mary for their son Benjamin:

"CONCORD, ye 20 of ye 6 Mo., 1716.

Beloved Friends,

Owen Roberts and Mary his wife.

Our Love is unto you, and to your son and daughter. Now this is to let you understand that our son Benjamin had made us acquainted that he has a kindness for your daughter Lydia, and desired our consent thereon, and we having well considered of it and knowing nothing in our minds against his proceeding therein, have given our consent that he may proceed orderly, that is to have your consent, and not to proceed without it. And it is our desire that you will give your consent, Also now, as touching his place that we have given him for to settle on, we shall say but little at present.

Ellis Lewis knows as well of our minds and can give you as full account of it, as we can if we were with you, but if you will be pleased to come down, we shall be very glad to see you, or either of you, and then you might satisfy yourselves.

Now we desire you when satisfied, to return us an answer, in the same way as we have given you our minds.

No more, but our kind love to you and shall remain your Loving friends,

Benjamin and Ann Mendenhall"

[Note from HMJ: This letter, I am cautioned by my friend, Gilbert Cope, is much smoothed from the original]

That the business thus delicately introduced, and promoted perhaps by the settlements which Benjamin and Ann had made for their son (which Ellis Lewis could tell all about), prospered, we know by the records. Benjamin Mendenhall, jr., married Lydia Roberts, at Gwynedd meeting-house, 3^rd mo. 9^th, 1717.

Conduct was not always so circumspect, however, with young people about marrying. The monthly meeting records, 1723, show a minute like this:

"H__ J__ and wife produced a paper condemning their letting llose their affections to one another before a timely permission from Parents and Relations, --which was read & ordered to lye by ye clerk for further Tryal." [I do not think this means anything more than is expressed, --that the young people engaged to marry without getting permission.]

Some other extracts from the disciplinary proceedings of the monthly meeting may be made here:

1718: This meeting being given to understand that J__ W__ at a certain time hath been too much overtaken with the Excess of Strong Liquor, he being present att this meeting Confessed the same and Condemned himself and the Spirit that led him thereunto, with a firm resolution to take better care for the future.

1718: Reported by Gwynedd Overseers that D__ H__ lately was too apparently seen in the Excess of Drink. [Not being present, he was notified to appear, which subsequently he did, "confess his failures, " and promised reform.]

1725: E__ F__ brought in a paper condemning his immoderate use of strong drink.

The following extracts from the minutes, of a much later date, relate to the same subject:

3^rd mo. 29, 1763: __ __ has contracted considerable debts at Taverns, more than he is able to pay.

11^th mo. 26, 1765 __ __ retails liquors without license, etc., very contrary to the advice of Friends.

7^th mo. 26, 1796 [Answer to query:] Several members decline the use of liquor in harvest time.

7^th mo. 25, 1797. Some members retail liquors.

7^th mo. 31, 1798. None retailing or distilling except four women, whose husbands are not in membership.

8^th mo. 26, 1800. In relation to __ __ we are of the mind that part of the charge of assaulting his neighbors had better be expunged, and say that he threw a glass of wine at a certain person in an angry manner, & at the same time used unbecoming language.

In regard to marriages and burials, a tendency to what the meeting regarded as excess was early observed.

8^th mo. 26, 1725. This meeting hath had in consideration ye large provisions in marriage and burials, wch after some discourse was referred to next meeting.

A memorandum amongst the papers of Ellis Lewis, the elder, of Upper Dublin, shows the following items of expense, at the time of his funeral, in 1753:

To a Windin sheete, 15 s. 9 d.

To Wine, Rum, Sider and other small things in cash, 2 lbs, 16 s., 11 d.

To Digin the Greave, 10 s., 0 d.

The drinkables, it seems, were much the heaviest items of expense!

The records of the Friends' meeting show that "differences" would sometimes arise among members, but there is pleasing evidence that the efforts to speedily end them were successful. Here is a case in point.

1718: Being informed of some Difference Depending between Richard Morris and John Rees, viz: the sd John Rees has lost or mislaid his deed wh he had of Richd Morris, on a tract of land he purchased of the said Richard; Now the advice of this meeting is that they, in a friendly manner, Refer the matter Depeding to two able judicious men. Both being present [they] agreed to refer the same to David Lloyd and Robert Jones of Meirion, & to stand to their Determination and final Judgement.

This was a satisfactory procedure, for a few months later, "Account was given that ye differences depending between Richard Morris and John Rees was fully ended."

There was, it weems, some "difference" between Rowland Ellis and Owen Owen. This is mentioned in the minutes several times, and the case probably never came to a definite conclusion. But at one meeting, in the 9^th month, 1724, a committee was appointed to "advise 'em to stand to the judgment of ye Friends," and the papers relating to the controversy were directed to be placed in the custody of John Humphrey, who was not to allow them "to be shown or read to any one, or to be transcribed." Two months later the papers were brought to the meeting, "folded, sealed, and delivered to John Humphrey, to be safely kept by him, and not unsealed without this meeting consent." The whole affair then rested. Afterward, Rowland Ellis died, and in 1741, John Humphrey being ded also, the meeting ordered the papers to be destroyed.

Some further interesting glimpses of the manners of the time may be obtained from other minutes of disciplinary action by the monthly meeting:

1730: S.E. appeared at this meeting and confess'd he had unadvisedly gone into bad Company at a Certain Time, and also had actual engag'd in the wicked practice of playing Cards, with other Indecent things, all which he frankly confessed & openly Condemn'd and express'd Sorrow on the occasion, [etc.]

1730: E.M. appeared at this meeting, Confessing his faults for Indulging some of his neighbors to fiddle and keep undue liberty in his house [etc., etc.] This meeting being sorrowfully affected with the prevalence of undue liberites, such as shooting matches, Singing & Dancing, and the like disorders, wch too many of our youths fall into, we can do no less than recommend it to all parents, masters, mistresses, overseers, and other faithfull friends, to Discourage and Crush the growth of such Disorders as much as in 'em lies.

1742: The meeting ajudges that a man that does not pay his debts Deprives himself of being in fellowship with us unless he surrenders his all.

1750: [The minutes state a some length that] __ __ joined the Society by convincement, declaring he had no bye ends. He soon married a Friend, and declared he never owned our principles.

1756: [This appears to be the first answering of the Queries. To the 1^st] Meetings are attended, and the hour observed, and as for sleeping, chewing tobacco, and taking snuff, we fear some are not so clear as might be wished for, notwithstanding the repeated advices, [etc.]

1760: __, daughter of __ __, says she was married by a Swede minister in Philad'a but this meeting being doubtful of the varacity do appoint William Foulke and John Evans to use their endeavors to find the certainty by enquiring of said Minister.

1761: __ __ went out in marriage pretty soon after the decease of her former husband, and it appearing to be her third offense of that kind, the Meeting, [etc.]

1766: R.R., tanner, is disowned for not binding his children out, when unable to make a living.

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