Historical Collections Relating to Gwynedd (Pennsylvania)

By Howard M. Jenkins

Second Edition

1897

Chapter 28. Additional Chapter -- 1897

THE MEETING HOUSE OF 1712

The subscription paper (referred to) for building the Friends' meeting-house in 1712, the original of which, as Joseph Foulke says, was preserved in the Foulke family, was in Welsh. Copies of it appear to have been made, and one of these translated, reads as follows:

"Gwynedd -- the sixth day of the first monthy in the year one thousand seven hundred and nine-ten.

The names of Friends who have united to build a meeting house at Gwynedd -- to worship God after the form and system which exists amongst the people called Quakers -- together with the several of the sum which each one specifically gave -- to be paid as it here follows: -- As many as have subscribed below to pay the sum in four quarters: -- the first quarter to be paid the first day of the ninth month 1710 and the second -- the first day of the third month in the year 1711 and the third -- the first day of the ninth month 1711 and the last -- the first day of the third month [blank, presumably 1712.]

[Signed by]

The names of the two who have been appointed Collectors to receive the money and to keep account and to pay it to the builders of the meeting-house, are Thomas Foulke and Hugh Evans.

The names of the eight who have been appointed to overlook and to arrange matters relating towards and for its building -- are Thomas Evan, Robert Evan, John Hugh, Edward Ffoulke, William Jones, Robert Jones, John Humphrey, Robert Evan Prythra."

A family record of the Humphreys, children of Samuel, referred to (in Chapter 11), as furnished me by Philip P. Sharples, of West Chester, Pa., is as follows:

A true account of the births of the children of Samuel Humphrey of the Parish of Llangelynin in the County of Merioneth is as followeth:

The first childs name is Lydia she ws born the 28^th day of ye 1^st mo. 1659.

The second childs name is Daniel he was born the [blank] of ye 6^th month 1660.

Two twins whose names were Benja & Joseph they were born the [blank] day of ye 5^th mo. 1662.

The 5^th childs name is Rebecca she was born the 7^th day of 2^nd mo. 1664.

The sixth childs name is Ann she was born __ day of 3^rd mo. 1666.

The 7^th childs name is Gobeithia she was born the 7^th day of ye 7^th mo. 1668.

Samuel Humphrey afforsaid & Elizabeth Reese were married before two Justices of peace named Morris Wynn & Robert Owen of Dolessery on ye 20^th day of April 1658.

The foresd Saml. Humphrey parted this life the 17^th day of the 9^th Mo. And was buried ye 19^th day of ye same att Bryn-tallwyn 1677, aged _(?)1 years and 9 months.

Rebecca Humphrey married Edward Reese and departed this life the 17 of the 2^nd mo. Anno Dominni 1733 aged 69 years wanting 8 days, and was buried 20^th day following, being ye fifth of ye week.

Edward Reese departed this life the 11^th day of the sixth month 1728 aged about 82, was decently buried the 10^th day of the same instant at ye burying place which is at Merion Meeting house.

DIVISION OF THE TOWNSHIP

In 1891, at the general election in November, as the result of proceedings begun the previous year, a vote was taken upon the proposal to divide the township, on the line of the Swedes Ford road, into Upper and Lower Gwynedd, and a majority voted affirmatively. A petition for division had been presented to the Court, October 7, 1890, signed by 38 "inhabitants of the township, " and on the 18^th of that month, Judge Weand appointed William B. Rambo, Morgan R. Wills, and I.P. Brendlinger a jury to make inquiry and report. Proceeding to the duties of their appointment by a visit to the proposed division line, the jury were met by a number of citizens who generally disapproved the division, as a measure likely to increase the township expenses, wthout corresponding public advantage. Among those who urged this were Hon. George Handy Smith, Jason Sexton, Jacob Acuff, Dr. M.R. Knapp, Thomas Coulston, Edwin M. Foulke, and others.

The jury nevertheless reported in favor of the change, and the vote, when taken, sustained the proposition. Among those opposed to the division, and who published reasons for their objections in the North Wales Record, preceding the election, were William M. Singerly, (a large landowner in Gwynedd, though a resident of Philadelphia), Howard M. Jenkins, Charles S. Jenkins, John Lefferts, Seth Lukens, George L. Bowman, Julius Schlimme, Samuel Myers, John F. Comly, W.H. Harding, Frederick Beaver, Henry Mumbower, Stiles Huber, Dr. M.R. Knapp, Jacob Acuff, David Acuff, James Buzby, Hugh Forman, Amos Jones, L.L. Shepherd, R.W. McDowell and Henry G. Keasbey. It is not probable that a majority of the freeholders of the Township favored the division. After the experience of five years (1896) it is found that the expenditure has largely increased, that on roads having about doubled, and that the mutilation of the old township was, as urged by those opposing it, needless and mischevious.

SUNDRY NOTES

In Mr. Thomas A Glenn's recently issued (1896) volume, "Merion in the Welsh Tract," the descent of some of the Welsh families settling in Gwynedd is more definitely traced. William John, it appears, was the first cousin of the four Evans brothers, Thomas, Robert, Owen, and Cadwalader. They were all grandchildren of Evan Robert Lewis of Fron Goch -- which place is in Merionethshire, about three miles from Bala, and not, as suggested in Denbighshire. Our William John was the son of John ap Evan, the eldest son of Evan Robert Lewis, and the Evans brothers were sons of Evan ap Evan, the youngest son.

The old stone flour-mill, at Penllyn, on the Wissahickon, the Foulke Mill, having been abandoned, was torn down in January, 1896. In the first edition of this book an etching of it appeared, by Miss Dillaye, showing it as it was in 1884.

Christian Dull bought the property at Spring House in December, 1773, and probably began to keep the hotel the next year. He purchased of Philip Bohl, and the property was then described as "a certain messuage, tavern-stand, and lot of 8 1/4 acres."

The North Pennsylvania Railroad was opened as far as Gwynedd Station, July 2, 1855. Three trains were run daily each way. Stages ran from the Station to Doylestown, Bethlehem, and Kulpsville. The heavy work between Gwynedd and North Wales was not completed until next year, when the road was opened through to Doylestown and Bethlehem.

The diminution of the creeks is one of the most notable phenomena of our time. November 18, 1883, I was talking with Henry Mumbower (since deceased), at his house at the mill on Wissahickon. He said he came to the mill in 1854. Estimating by the amount of work he could then do in the mill, with water power, as compared with 1884, he thought that in the thirty years the Wissahickon had shrunk one-half in volume. He ascribed it in large part to the clearing of the woods, above, along the sources of the stream. From my own recollection of the Wissahickon, and the indications along its bank of the size it once was, I am confident his estimate of its shrinkage is not too great. The little creek which crosses the turnpike in front of the house of James D. Cardell, and falls into the Wissahickon near Mumbower's mill, was, in my boyhood (say 1850) a flowing stream throughout the year, only shrinking into pools in the droughts of August. It now rarely flows at all, except in time of heavy rain. There must have been, in the earlier time, an abundance of fish in the creeks, especially in the Wissahickon. My father often mentioned his fishing at night with a light, in company with his uncle, Jesse Jenkins, in the Wissahickon, below Mumbower's. It was probably in 1830 to 1840.

In relation to Alexander Edwards, the pioneer of the Montgomery settlement (see Chapter 17), his wife "Margaret, and her daughters Margaret and Martha, and sons Alexander and Thomas," reached Philadelphia in the ship "Vine", William Preeson, master, 7^th mo. 17, 1684. (On the same ship came Robert and Jane Owen, and Reese John and his family.) Alexander Edwards himself appears to have come over before his family. It also appears that he married a second time, as his wife, mentioned in his will, was named Katharine.

FINIS.

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