HISTORY

OF

BIJCKS COLJNTY
PEN NSYLVANIA
FROM THE DISCOVERY OF THE DELAWARE TO THE PRESENT TIME
BY

WILLIAM W, H. DAVIS, A.M.

President ot tbe Bucks County llistorical Society, Member ol the Americqn Historical Socioty, tho llistoricsl Society of Pcnosylvania. the New Vork Ccncalr)eical tud lliographical Society, tho Westcrn Reserve Hislorical Socicty: Author o! " EI Gringo. or New Mexico and Her Pople, " " History of Gcn. John Lacey: " " The Spa4i8h eollqnest of Ncw Merico; " " Hisrory of the Onc Ilundr6d and Fourth Pennsylvarria Resimcnt;" "History of tho Hart Family;" " Life of Gel. John Davis:" "lliFtorJ ol the Doylestown Guardst" "1he Irries Rebellioui " " Hisrory of Dorlcstown, Old aDd Ndw:" Etc.

SECOND EDITION, REVISED AND ENLARGED

WITH A

(;ENEALOGICAL AND PERSONAL HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY

Prepared Under the Ediiorial Supervision of

WARREN S. ELY
liflrerlogist, Menrber of the Historical Society

of

Pennsylvania,

County Historical Society,

AN D

and Librarian of the Bucks

JOHN W. JORDAN, LL.D.

Of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania.

VOl.t IMtr III *- lt.t.t.rs'r't{AlEr)

INTRODUCTORY
The prescnt vohlme forms a

fittilg

srrpplcnrent to the ample historical nar-

Copyright O 1905 By Lewis Publishing Co.; Copyright A) 1975 By A. E. Lear, Inc.,

Pipersville, Pennsylvania.

Library of Congress Catalog Card Number:75-21.4gg

ISBN: 0-915982-01-3

lativc from the pen of Geircral W. W. II. Davis. For its prcparation especial thanks arc duc to NIr. Warren S. Ely, of rnore than rnerely local fame as a Ucncalogist and historian. Out of his abundant storc of material and througlr ianriliarity rvith thc official rccords of Bucks and adjoirring counties, he has been t nablcd to u'rite with care and intelligencc the genealogical history of various lrranches of leading fan,ilies in llucks couuty, and his sketches rvill be rea<lily irlt:ntificd by all rvho are familiar rvith tlre mcthods which he has observed so srrcccssfully in making invcstigations into anccstral fields in rcsponse to many ,.xacting requisitions by individuals and farnily associations. I{e has also, in tlris rvork, dealt largely rvith the personal history of leading men of affairs in lris rrative cotlnty, and his facile pen can be rcadily traccd by the grcat mass of r, ;r(lcrs in tlrat region rvho for years have bccn familiar with his clcar and cogent rvritings along the lines rvhich he has pursued wiih that genuine cnthusiasm l,.r'orning to orre rvho holds in proper appreciation the sturdy racc frorn rvhon't lrr. sprarrg and allrong tvhom he was rearecl, and who possesscs thc ability of r rllrtly wcighing their livcs and achieVements. Arr carnest efiort has been made to live an authentic history of most of tlrr.carly scttlcrs, as well as of those who iatcr fonn<l homcs in this historic (')nnt)', aud thcir clescenriauts dorvn to the prcscnt time, giving special attention
r,' tlre yrart taken by them in its history and development. It has bcen inrpossiblc, lrir\\t'Verr to give as full an accotlnt of some of the olcl farnilies as nright have l,,, rr tlcsirc<I. by rcason of thc paucity of data furnishc<l, nrany fanrilies of morc ,,r l,,ss promincnce irt the affairs of the county, at differcnt periods, being with,'ut (,\irct rccords of their fanrily line, and it lreing, of course, inrpracticable in .r u.rli oI this gcncrai charactcr for the publishcrs to undertake extensive ancl , .1,( n:ivc rcscarches in untroclden patlrs. Neither rvas it possible for i\{r. Ely t,, r,.\'isc:rrrrl vcrify all thc data furnished by thc representatives of the families rrr'.rlr'rl o[ irr thc rvorli. ]t can bc sairl, howcver, rvith reference to thc biolr,r1,lri,;:rl rrrrltt'r containcd irr this voiume that in its preparation thc publisherp lr,rr, r,lr.;t'r'r't'rl tlrc utrnost carc:ls to accuracy ancl autirenticity, so far as lay in tlr,i1 1,,,rt',.t'. lrr:rll cast's tlre sl<ctchcs havc bccn subnrittccl to thc subjcct, or l,r, ' nt lr'lll'r',,r'nl;rl i\'('ol lhc farrrilr-, for corrcction anrl rcvision, and thc prrblr lr' r . lrli, r,r, l.lrrrt llrr't :rlr. 1rl;rcirrg lx'lort' 1ltt' lrrrlrlic, in lltc coutcttts oI tlris -,, ,,i tlrr. ,'r,r.rrls irr llris lristorit:

Manufactured in the United States of America

ft)r3
tlrr,rc r lrilrlrur, rlicrl :rlrotrt rS(,O. ()n licl)ru;|l] -r(r, tS(r-:, r\lr. llrrurrct r]tarri(.(l lll;u irt I I t'llings, of llristol, ljucl<s crlrrnl_t', rl;rrrglrtcr ()f Josci)h A, and

Sr,.rr ( liit h;rrrls) llcllings. 'I'he issrrc oI tlris rr:rion \i.;rs or]c child, Annic, born Srpt<.rrrlre r Ig, IS6g, lvho w;ts educated at St. I\l:rry's llall, Ilurlington, Ncw Jer:cy, rrrrrl rrn Octobcr 23, 1894, became tlte lvilc of I{icharrl I Iorry }'lorris, of IJristol, I't'rrnsylv:rnia, son of Captain Richrr(l ll('rrry and Alice (Vanuxem) Nlorris, lrrrr,v living at Gcrrnantolvn, Pennsylv;uri;r,:rrrrl thcy:Lrc thc I)rrcnts of thrce th ilrlrtn ; Charlotte, born l)cccmber t, rsrlq;' Richarrl Iicnry, born May r4, rli)7; an(l ![argarct, born Septenrber r, rll<IJ. 'I'his farnily is nolv living in Gernlrnto!vll, Pcnnsylvania.

;ur ;rtlorr)(.J ; ;rrrrl l\l:rr1, ,\., $tro Lr.r;rrIe the rrifc oI Jolrrr'W. Cl.r..,,rr. J,,)rrr \V. (ilossort. trotv tlcccrr.r:rl, tvrrs lr,rrrt rrc;tr l)_tlint Itlcisant, f irricrrrn torvnslrip. -lrrru:

Wyl<er. John W, Closson was cdrrcateil at Point l'leasant, and clerkcd in stores for his father and brother until the outbreaking of the civil war, rvhen he joincd _the Doylestorvn Guar<ls, April, ili6t. Upon his retrrrn horne he 'enI-eslie, above rncntionerl, after rvhiih hc movcd to the "Exchange llotel" in llristol, wbich hc purchrscd in r87:: of I:is iather-in-larv, Jantcs Leslie, anil in rlJZ.s

I6, I8.3o, a sorr of Gcorgc \V. ,,n,i ('1,,,.krttc lWyker) Closson, rrltivcs of lluclis county, and a grandson of William and Sarah Closson and llenry an<l X.Iary

(rqu.t). (..1;tr lt J,rltrts,rrl f'rll()\\'c(l f;rlnr irrg;r:i l Ittciuts of livcliirootl, ltis 1ir',rducts l'rrrlirrg :L rc;Ltly ttt;Lrkct. llc lvas a vcstrylll:ur of thc Iipiscop:tl churclt, :rtrtl his purlitic:'l :rlllliaticl:rs rlcrc rvitlt lltc
I)enrocr;rtic

chiltlrcn arc: Jcssic A., lrorn April 3o, t{Jr14; I lcle n I., borrr J:rnutry r, 1899; and
I'llizabeth V., boru Dcccmbcr 3, I9o3.

p;trty. llc Inttrrictl I{achcl Grirn, rvho rvas a nltivc of Dclarvare county, I'cnnsylvania, aud thcir children werc: Joht:, rvho u'as a tnerchant of I'iulnrcvillc; Adalinc, who bccamc the rvife of C- M. llenry; Ann, who became the wife of F-rank Wood; and Jesse L., who is
mentioncd Itcreinaftcr. lloth Mr'
and

Barirsley, major in "His Nlajcstics 6oth Royal Arncrican Rcgiment of Iioot," came

I. IIERMAN BARNSLEY.

Thomas

w:th his rcgirtrent to Anrerica during thc French and Lrdian War of 1756.
.r\t thc closc of the rvar hc rcsigrrctl
commission anci
ie

in mercantile busincss for hirnself at Poiut lllcasant, continuing the sam.e rrntil his nrarriage to rv'taiy A.
gaged

Mrs. Johnson livcd many years bcyoncl the allottcd scr;pttual age of thrce score vears and tclt, l)c rlying at thc agc oi iighty-four, arrd sltc at thc agc of cightysix.

bronght over to Bucks county his rvifc Ilerslreba and his ncphcrv John llarlslcy. In 1763 he purchascd six hundred acrcs irr

turning to

his

Englan<l

J()rrN JOSEPH KILCOYND,' thc gerrial propriclor of the Closson FIonse at Ilristol, Ilncks county, Pcnnsylvania, was born at Holmcsburg, Philadelphia. September 30, 1864, and is a son of
Michael anrl .Margaret (McGinnis) Kilroyrre, the former of whom was a well-

rcrnodclcd, and which . has sincc bce; known as the Closson'I-lorrse. Ilr rS72 Mr. Closson was electcd coroncr, and by.a spccial act of the lcgislatuie he

the olrl ltolncstcarl in Iieusalcm township, Scptember 5, I8?2. I-Ie attcndcd tha district school at iltldington, and aftcr complctirrg his cdtrcation scttlcd on thc old Iiontcstcad, rvhcrc he follorvcd

Jesse 1,. Johnson

(father) rvas born on

were brought from England. I-Ic died in r77r, .and his wife died somc years earlicr. 'Ihc property rvas sold by his cKccutors to John Swift in 1772, and rcmaincd in the Swift family until 1883, when it was purchascd
lrlg,

Ilerrsalcm, part of thc 'I'athanr rrabt, and crected thcrcon a handsome and commodious mansion house, the briclts for which

known contractor and builder of

ll olrnesburg, John J. Kilcoyne was edrlcated at the Ilolrnesburg Acadcmy, and at the close of his school days learned the trade of a rnason with his father and worked at the srrne for about twelve years. In the spring of 1897 he came to Bristol and :rssrrrrred the managcrnent of the old and poprrlar hostelry, known as the Closson llorrsc, and on April 3, rgoo, became its proprictor and has since concluctccl it in arr efficicnt mannerr maintaining its old-tinre reprrtation as one of thc lcading hostelries of lowcr Rucks. Mr. Kilcoyne is thc lixaltcd Ruler of the iilks Lodge of llristol. Mr. Kilcoyne married, Scptember zo, 1894,'Theresa tr{arie Antoincttc Farlcy, daughtcr of James:rntl }ilizahcth Jane (I.cslie) Farlcv, of Rristol, and granddarrghter of Thornas and Ann (Brady) Farley, and two children wcre the issrre of this uniorr: John Leslie. born July 3o, r89q, now a stu(lent at St. Dominic's,

turrred his attcntion to his hotel, rvhcre he dicd November 8, r88z. Mrs. CIossoll took charge of the hotel at once, lnd bcing a lady of excellent mind anrl brrsiness talcnt, she made thc house onc of the -most popular in the state. Owing to the increase in trade, shc erected i

was ctrpowcred to appoirrt rlcprrtics througho.ut the county of iSucks, and servctl six yclrs. when his hcalrlr failing him, he gave up political Iife and

agricrrltural pursuits stlcccssfully drrrjng his lifctimc. Like his fathcr, Mr. Johnson scrvcd in the capncity of vcstryman of thc lipiscopal chttrch, and cart Ir

by Sallic 8., rvifc oI Dr. Richard Dingce. Thc mansion house is still stand-

vote f or tltc candi<latcs of the Dcmocratic pxrty. lle was a mcmber of t' f ndclrcntlcrrt Ortlcr of Odtl licllows. IIc rvas unitcd irr marrirgc to Anne P.

modern improvcments; the chambcrs of the horrse are spacious, handsonrcly furnished, rvcll ventilated and comfoitable, and the parlors and reccption roonls are attractive and elegant. 11rs. Closson, rvho was an atlnt of Mrs. John ,I. Kilcoyne, rcared Mrs. Kilcoyne to wornanhood and at the death of the fornrcr she lcft the l{otel Closson to hcr, rvhich is now bcing managcd by hcr husband, John J. Kilcoync.

fine thrce-story brick building with presscd brick front and all the most

of Maryland. N{rs. Johnsort \\'as rcarc(l by her arrnt, Iiliza Rcnsharv, of Iiddington. Ten children lvcre the isstre of this marriagc, natnely: I-izz,ie, Elmer L.,

Levis, a daughtcr of Robcrt Levis, a tarrncr of NIt. I:lolly, New Jcrsey, latcr

Mary, Joscphinc. CIark, tlcccasctl; Louisa, decc;tscd; Clara, Jolrn, Jcsse, decease(l; and Annic. Jesse L. Johnson
wife passcd arvay May t2,
day's illncss.

John Barnslcy inhcritcd a fourth intcrcst nnclc's cstatc, but it was paid hirn in Continental morrcy arrd bccamc practically rvorthlcss. Jlc u'as ouc oi thc comnrittct: for drivirrg off cattle in P,cnsalcm to prcvclrt lhcrn from f;rlhng into thc hands of thc British, and rvas with Washington's arniy in Jarruary, t777, in the march {rom Trelrton to Princcton, his tcanl having becn imprcsscd io haul arnmunition. Hc purchascd a farm in Ncwion township, rvherc he lived until his de'ath, February z, 1796. Ilis wifc rvas lilizabcth Varr Court,

in his

who was born at Iluntingdon Vallcy in

(father) clic'rl Scptcmbcr 25, rgor;

1895,

his

aftcr one

now attending the Sacred Hcart Acadcmy at Torrcsrlalc. Jarnes Leslie, maternal grandfather of l{rs. Kilcoyne, who was a well-knorvn rcsident of Rris1897,

Ilolmcsburg. and Anita, born Jrly

26.

tol, Pcnnsvlvania, for many years, was 1 native of Ircland, from whence he came to America and scttlcd at Marrch Chtrnk, Pennsylvania, Iatcr Iocating in Rristol,

anrl bccomirrg thc owner of boats on the Lehigh Valley canal. I{e was also the '"lixchange

Hotcl." in Ilristol. James T-eslie mnrricd Mary Rovle, who borc him a family of six children. fortr of u,hom attaincd vcars of maturity, as follows: Elizabeth J.,
Ilenry, a physician and druggist; James,

owncr of the

ELMIiR L. JOI-INSON, a rcpresentative of that class of mcn rvhose activc carccrs arc spent in the.qrlict l>trt nscfrrl calling of agriculture, r'as bortr on tlre old Johrrson honlestcad in Bcnsalem township. Rucks county, Pcrrrrsl.ltlnia, Fcbrrrary 8. rS6o. IIis parcrrts n'cre Jcsse I-. and Anna P. (Lcvis) .|ohnson, and his grandparcnts rvcrc Clark and Rachcl (Grim) Johnson. Clark Johnson (grandfathcr) .was born on the old Johnson tract, rvhich consisted of betu'een six anrl sevcn hnndred

Iilrrrer L. Johnson attended thc prrblic schools at Eddington, thercby acquiring a practical cdttcatiorr rvhich <1ualificd hirn for the many duties irnd responsibilitics of lifc. lIe cngaged in farrning pursuits, havirrg become fanriliar rvith that line of vrork by assisting his father, and in duc course of tirne succccded to the old homesteacl of one hundrcd and fifty acres, which is one of the best cnltivatcd and most productive farms in that scc-

175t. an<l dicd in r824. The children of John and Dlizabeth (Van Court) Barnslcy werc: Thonras, born J:rnrrary 21, t774, rcnrovcrl to \laryland; WILLIAM, born Novernber 8, 177.5; IIary, born ltarch 2t, 1778; l;.liz.itbeth, born August 3, riSo; Gcorgc, born Novcrnbcr 8, t78S; \{oses, born Iicllruary 23, 1788; Sarah, born March rq rTgr; and Anrr. lrorrr Octobcr r4, r7g5. William Barnsley, second son of John arr<l lilizalrr:th, marricd Jane Van liorn, lrorn in l{akcfidd, July 25, t784, and dicd

tion of Bucks couuty. l'he ncat and thrifty appearance of the property bcspeaks the carcfrrl stpervision of one thoroughly verscd in the details of farm work. Mr. Johnsorr follows in the footsteps of his forefathers in religious and

zr, r8o3. Thcir children wcre: Mary, born t8o9, dicd unmarricd January 16, 1889;
l8zo, dicd near lIartsville, January 12, 1888. Willianr l3aruslry rlicd at Newtown, August
t8-18.

July

e-q.

t86t.

They rvcre married January

John, borrr .^ugust 36, r8lr; Thomas C., born Octobcr ar, r8r5, dicd Scptcmber S, r{{>6, and Joscph Barnsley, born June 9,

acres,, owned by his father, who divided it among his fir'e children, and the

political affairs, bcing a vcstryman of thc Episcopal church, and a I)ernocrat. I-lc is intercsted in all nrltters pertaining tcr the wclfare of the commrlnity, and irr cvcry relation of lifc has provcd hirl

2r.

mains

farm of one hrndred anrl fifty acres farmed by Elmer L. Johnson, rvhose name heads this review. is all that re-

in the family at the prescnt

time

seff an honorable and coilscientioils man. On April z, I89o, Mr. Johnson u'as marricd to illizabeth I. SchalTer, who 'was born in Rucl<s cotlnty, Pcnnsylvania, a daughter of Godfrey Schafier. Their

nntil his dcath, Januarv rt, r88o. TIe was a justicc of the pcacc for thirty-fivc years, .arrd trrnsacted a grcat dcal of business in
settlcment

Janc. rcsidcrl on thc homestead at Ncwtown

john Barnsley, cldcst son of William and

irr thc conrmunity.

rcal cstate. I'Ie rvas a marr of more than ordilary ahility and vcry nruch rcspcctcd

of

states and

in

transfers of

llc

was county treasuret

h ?'{nt

about 1848. lle

in-Doylesiown township, daughtcr of lJcrriamin-and Hannah (Simpson) Hough, and i first cousin to the mother of Gcneral U. S. Grant. She died at Newtorl, September Their childrcn are: Anna J., bonr z<. r8o<. -m]arried Captain Henrv Y. Pickcring: l5rO. Wittiam. born February 17, 1898, dicd October'zz, rooz, married l\iary iillcrr Paff, anC has one iatjshter, Lilv. H., the wifc of Edward P. Hicks, of Ncwiown. Hannah H., born r83q marricd October 16, 186o, Cap-

marricd October z7 r8t5, Mary .Hough, bortt October r5, I8t4,

appoirrtctl <lcpttty shcriff hy Allrcrt I'lrilliq'',,

the slrcriff of lJuclts cotllrty, itrrl i'{'t\'.ri dtrring thc threc ycars'ternr of Slrrriil Phillips, closing with tbe ycar rtl.s.t. lrr, the fall of that ycar hc rvas clccte<l to tlte
office of clcrk of Orphans' courl,

in that ollice for threc yclrs. On his rt'tircment from office hc bccame proprictor of

lutl

scrvcrl

the Frog Hollow IIotcl itr Warrittg,l,n township, Bucks county, rvhiclt ite cott186r, when he enlisted

tain Thomas P' Chambers. Elizabcth J.' 1844, rnarried Major Samuel born Tulv a. 'Wilhdlnrina, born 1847. Mtrv, Comf6rt.
inarried Arrril 2s, r9o:, Elizal:cth, dausltter of Colonel- E. A. L. Roberts, of Titusville,
Pennsylvania.

born r85q married George C. Worsiall. Tohn Hirman, born Dcccmber lz, r85-1,
T. Herman Barnslcy, son of John
and

Jacob Swartzlander, and rvas commissioncd scrgeant of his company. He served dtrring three yerrs of arduous service, partici-

in Company D, Onc Hundred and fourth Penrrsylvania Volnnteers, Colonel W. W. H. Davis, Captain
pating in many hard fought battles, the rccord of thc gallant One Hundred and Fourth being too families to thc peoplc of
Bucks county to be recountcd hcre and *vas mustcred out September 25, 1864. He re-

ducted untll the brcaking out of lhe war. irr

Mirv (Hough) Barnsley, was born in Newtowi. Dec"mbir rz, 1854. I{c was educatccl in th! public schools and Newtown Academy ani later took a course at a business
coliece. He has traveled extensively in this counfrv and abroad and spent scvcral ycars in Kansas. He filled for some time a clcrical position with tde Standard Oil Company at Titusville, Pennsylvania, and later opencd in office in'Newarli, Ncw Ji:rscy, and conducted a brokerage business, He married

became the proprietor of a hotel at No. r22o Markct strect which he conducted for three

turncd home badly broken in health, and ncver ftr'lly rccovered from the effects of the hardships endured in the scrvice of his country, After a fcw months rest he years; hc thor rcturned to Bucks county and kcpt a restaurant at Buckingham at thc present location of the "Ottaway llouse," whcre he died in t863. He married Mary Anna Brunner, daughter of Thomas and Thcrcsa (Fredericks) Brunncr, the lattcr a native of Germany, and the former of German desccnt, his ancestors

Ncwtown, Pennsylvania, which he remodeled, and resided' year when he sold the propcrty there one to Mr. John J. Tiernev, of West Virginia' the oreient owner, and the following year
stead. "Sharon." erecfed
Chanceltor street, Newtown, where he now resides. His only child, John, was born

Tiiusvilie.

of Aoril er. roo2. -He Elizabeth C. Robcrts ourchased the old home-near

having emigratcd from Gcrmany and settled in Ncw Britain several generations back.

handsome residence

on

North

Thomas Brunner was proprieior of the Willow Grove Flotel for two ycars, and thcn purchased thc mills at Bridgc Point, now Erlison, Bucks county, of which he was the proprictor for many years, residing

March 15, r9o3.

in

Edison in all ovcr fifty years. i\'[ary Anna (Brunrier) White residcs with her

rington township, Bucks county, Pcnnsylvan-ia, Seoiembci z, 1859, and is a son of the late ionithan and Marv Anna (Brunncr) Whiie. The paternal anccstors of IVIr. White were reiidents of Solebury. Bucks county, {or several gcnerations' William \t/hite having purchased a farm of I25 acrcs on the Carv&iville road below Peters Cor-

HOWARD P. WHITE, of Doylestown, coroner of Bucks county' was born in War-

in Doylestown. Jonathan and X{ary Anna (Brunner) White wcre thc parcnts of two children: Howard Phillips anc Arthur Cernea White, the latter of whom dicd 'io
son
r896.

ents to the age of seventcen years, anrl thclr bccame a clerk in the store of E. I{. Worthington, xt lldison. and filled that positiorr

I:Ioward P. Whitc rcsided with his par-

Williim White, the grandfather o{ Howard P. White, rvas a lilelong rcsident of

Solebury, residing near Carversville, and Delaney, and-they wefe. the parents of several children, anrong whom' was Jonathan White, the father of the subject of this
sketch.

ner

in

t729,

for four years. In r88r he went to Philadelphia aud filled various positions there for two years. In 1883-4 he was ernployed at Cre-qson Springs, Pcnnsylvarria. IIc thcn
Gould's yacht and later was bookkeeper of tl:re Phikdclphia Art Club of Pnila<lclrrhia for seyeral years, rcsigniug in t897, since which timc hc has bcen cngaged in thc mer-

acceptetl

a position as stc$'ard on Jav

shoemakcr

bv tradc. lle nrarricd

Mary

township. He leanred the shoen:aker's tradc with his father, and followcd that vocation for a few ycars. In 1857 he was
lr
i
I

September

Jonathan White was born in Solebury, z, t825, and was rearcd in that

cantilc business at Doylestown. In the fall of r9o4 hc rvas, elccted to the office of coroner of Bucks county. and is now filling that positiorl In politics he is a Reptrblican, and is one of the wcll, krrown nrcn .of the county scat. I-Ie is a member of Aquctong Lodge No. I93, I. O. O. F., St. Tammany

t6

3rY
servirrg in tlrc state:rsserulrlv in t79o, John linvin, of Southarrrpto,i, rnrtriied Susan'l'onrlirrson., of I.inglislr eii,iir"i ancestry, who was l>orn in Uucks Jorrntv. tn t77St and tlierl lielrruary 5, rg56. SI;d was a-dr:sccntlant of Ralph-l)raiott. an
<lred arrcs urr tlre Ncslrarrrirrv t.r lt.l. rrr wltltt is truw Iicrrr;rlr.rr) 1r'\r'n:lril,. lj,.r,. he built a nransiorr, tlre lrrirrlts firr rltrr, lr wcrc bror,rght frclnt I,inglan<1. 'l'Jris lr,,rr:,,. ts .yet. _starrdirrg, a firrc r.cprc:cnt:rti(,n ,,t

early Hlrgllcilot scttlcr in Sotrtharnpton. John . and Susan (Tomlinson) Ijrwin rearc<l a fanrily ilr SoulhalnDton. am()ns whonr n'as Joscph Iirwiir, born Dg,:snti

coloni;rl architectrrrc. Ii:rjor li:trrr.l,.v

died
e-ral

ber 23, ,r7g-2, <licd October 8, r87o. Joscph lirwin marricd l{annah l,lorrison,_ l>orn l,'clrrrrary to, t796, rliccl Dccenlbcr ro,_ rlJ6o. rlaughtcr of John and daughtcr of J,rhrr trlorrison, who"came trom thc north of Irclanrl arrd settlccl on

for

ycars. Thcy had nr) clrilrlrcrr, rrrr,t thc cxccutors bcing 'lorics, wiro rvt.r,. cxpatriated, thc eslxte rvas not srttlcrl
several years.

in

r77r, his wife surviving hirrr

st,r,

Ilannah ( \'-crltc-s) Morrison, aricl grand13randywine, and

yerkes, the maternal side from Arrthony -Gcrmarr-

thc

desccnclani on

onc of thc carly burgesscs of town.. (Scc "trlorrisorr I;amily,'in this work.) Joseph and I lannah (-Morrison)

Johrr 13arnsley, orre of thc forrr ircirs, rcccivcd his portion in contincrrtrrl morrcy, and not invcsting it at oncc it bccamc worthless, IIe- was rrarrictl about the tirne .of lris uncle's death antl managed tllc estate until his annt's dcmisc. On tlrc brcaking orrt of thc rcvoIution hc bccanrc one of a conrrlittee irr Ilensalem io drive olf the cattlc to kccp them from the British. In Jarruary, .he was with Washingtan's artny irr thc night march from Trcnton to Priirccton. IIis team was impressed to haul ammunition, and in the battlc of Princc,777,

w_ho _married

Erwin livc<l for a tin:c in l\lontcomcrv count)', whcre was l)orn to them'-a fani ily, of whorrr two wcre as follows: John Irwin, thc farircr of the subjcct of this s!etch, ancl Martha Morridon Erwin, John Jcrrkins, hrothrr oi Martha Mcrrick Jenkins, whom her brothcr marrieri John iirwin, son of Joseph and Hannah (Morrison) Erwin, was born in
Montgomery county, Pcnnsylvania. As before statcd hc niarried Marth:r Mcr-

the subject of this sketch, born June t6,. 1844; B. Frank, resirling in phili<lclphia: Pr-cston, of Westpdit, Missouri; Tacy, wifc of Williani Sirtton, of I,hiiad-elphia;_and James

county, lr4tosc distinguished ancestry is given in the accorlltt of the Jcnkins family in this work. and they wcre the parents of six children: Joscph Jenkins,

rick Jenkins, claughter of Joseph and Tacy (Martindale) Jcnkins, of- Bucks

also of Philadelphia.

and Charlcs Erwin,

to drivc aloug the lirrc to srrpply the soldiers. His tiiire cxpiring stro.itv aftcr, hc camc horne suffcriig greai hardships on the way. Hc followe<I farm-ing,in .Ilerrsalcm for scvcral ycars, finally _ brrying propcrty at Newiown, rvhere he lived until his death, Fcbrrrary 2, 1796. IIis wifc was lilizabcth Van Cotrrt, whose ancestors were French Ilugucnots. originally celled Dc la Court. Shc lr-as born at Hrrrrtingdon valley, Montgomcry county. in 175r, and dred rn I824. Their son, William, fathcr of thc subject of this sketch, was born in Bensalcm township, Novembcr 8, rZ7S, and rcmovcd with his parcnts to Ncwtown township rvherr a boy. IJe marricd, Janllary 2I, t8o8, Jane Van lJorn, born in
person

ton he was ordcrcd by Washington

irr

in Newtown, Rrrcks cotrnty, Junc 9. r8zo, a son of William and Jane (Van-Horn) Barnsley, and grandson of John an<i Eljzabeth (Van Court) Barnsley. John Barnsley emigrated from Yorkshire, England, aborlt r760. He was thc

THE BARNSLEY FAMILY. The I,q!" Joseph Barnsley, of Hartsville, lMarminister township, Bucks corrnty, was of English desccnt. I{c was boin

I-ower lVlakelield, March 25, r284, who dicd July 25, 186r. Thcir childrcn werc: lIary, John, Thomas and Joseph. lle livbd in Newtown until r83r, when he borrght a farm at Huntirrgdon vallcy, Morcland township, where he resirled until his death in 1848. IIc was a sncccssfrrl fanncr antl financicr, acquiring thrcc_farms, bcsidcs other propcrty. I{ii

son Johrr rernaincd on tlic Iiomistcad farm in Newtown, whcre hc lived urrtil lowcd survcying and hcld the oflice of magistrxtc {or. thirty-fivc ytars. Mary, dicrl nnrnarric<l Janrrary r6, r88g. Thomas Iived on the lromestead at IIrrnt6,
vallcy until his dcath, Septcrrrbcr Joscph Barnsley was rc:lre(l at Ncwtown and Iluntingtlon valley, arrd in I84.q locatc(l on thc farm in Warminster which he later inhcritcd. IIc resided
1866.

lris

dcccase, January

rr, r88o. ile fol-

ily on Amcrican soil. IIis uncle Thomas Rarnsley, was a major of the British army in the "6oth Royal Amcriman Regimcnt," and had fought in the Frcnch war under l.ord Loudon in 1756. After the settlemelt of the "French arrd Indian trouble" in connection rvith Braddock's defeat. he resigned his commission, r,vent back to Iingland, whcrrce he returned with his wife and nephew
John, and bought an estate of five-hun-

first mcmber of his line to found a fam-

i,ngdon_

there rrutil 1868. whcn hc was appointed Unitcd States rcvcllne collcctor fbr fifth district and transferred lris l.rome to Doylestown. Orr the expiration of his

ff. 3t{oI ollicc irr lS7o, hc rlid rrol rcturn to his I:rrrtr *lrich hc had rcnted, but lrrrrclrrscrl ;r rrcw llonrc. the beautiful ''Iltrscl;urd" property at *Iartsvillc. rvhcrc hc liv<:tl rrntil his srrddcn <lcath from hc:rrt troubic in full vigor of mind and body January Iz, 1888. He nrarried, Janrrary zt, t847, Lydia Harper Walton, who was born in Horsharn township, Novcmber 28, 18z6, and at this writing,
le.rrrr

towuship, llucks county, Nlarch 28, r77t, ma,rriecJ, Mary Knight, and dicd May zt, t842. Among their children was a son, Joshua Wildman, who becane the father of George Knorr Wildman. Joshrra Wildman

September, r9o5, survives him, living in llatboro, Ivlorltgomery corlnty, Pcnnsyl-

vania. 'I'hey hatl no issue. Mr.

ley was :r man of clear-cnt principles.and

IJarns-

had a tendcr hcart and generous naturc, becor:ring a public benefactor within the circlc of his influence. lIe was frrrther an individtral of intense public spirit an<i patriotism. A Republican in politics he took a lively interest in thc succcss of his party. Orre of the best knolvn citizens of the township, his persorral pop-

staunch intcgrity, of strong mental powers with a philosophical bent, brightcned by a rich vcin of hnmor. He

the common schools of the day obtained a good English education. He devoted his attentiorr to farming, and thc income thus derived provided his family with thc neccssaries of life. On August 28, 1844, Mr. Wildrnan married Hannatr Johnson, who was born in Philadelphia, I'ennsylvania, August 28, t823, daughter
Johrrson, and gtanddaughter

(father) was born in Rensalem tol\rnship, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, Arlgllst 3, r8r9. He was reared on the homestead farm, and in

of William and Catherine (Knorr)

ularity lcd to his election to the

legislature

t858, 1859, and 186o, rrp to that time the first nominee of his party to serve three succcssive terms from

in

state

this county. From early manhood

had been called to fill various public offices and positions of trust and con-

he

Catherine, deceased; Caroline, deceascd; Lavina. wifc of Edward Comly, of Bybcrry, Phila<lelphia county, Pennsylvania; arrd George Knorr, whose name hcads this sketch. Edward and Lavina Comly are the parents of four children, as follorvs: Joshua K. Comly, who died in infancy: Etlward Comly, who dicd at the age of eleven years; tlannah Wild-

of John and Rachel (Liozne) Johnson. Four children were the issue of this marriage:

ers' llay Markct Company, of Philadelphia fr:r eleven ycars prior to his death, and director of Hatboro Natiorral Bank from its organization. I{e lies interred

fidence. FIe was president of llhe Farm-

man Comly, and Deborah Ann ComlY, who died at the age of ten years. Joshua Wildman, father of George K. Wild-

in the graveyard of St. Luke's Protestant Episcopal church in \ewtown. ln his will he bequeathed an ample trust furrd for the erection and maintenance of a memorial library and reading room in

man, died February 26, t86Z' George K. Wildman pttrstted his studies at tiie Friends'scho6l in Bvberry and

at the Friends' Central School at the corner of Fiftecnth and Race streets'
farm he-naturally ch6se that occupation for his life work, and in following the tical and progressive.methods and pains-

Philadelphia. I{aving been reared on

this town, the homc of his boyhood and last resting place of his parents and family.

same has acquired a large degree

cial

as a result of his practakins labor. Upon thc dcath of his

success

of finan-

GEORGE KNORR WILDMAN. Promiuent among thc reprcscntativc citizens of Bcnsalem township, Bucks
county,

Pe nnsylvarria, who follorv thc quiet but rrsefrrl calling of agriculture, is George K. Wildman, a native bf that township. born on thc homestead farm, Febrnary :2, 1859. The fotndcr of the Wildman family in America rvas Martin

{athci he snccccdcd to thc finc old homestcad irr llcnsalem township, rrpon which hc now rcsides. IIis political affiliations are rvith the Republican party. Mr. Wildman was united in marriage, June 9. i88r, wth Rachcl Ridge Comly' rvho was born in Philatlelphia county. near Bustleton, was edttcated at Swarthmore Collecc, and is a daughter of John and daughter of Robert and Esther (Shallcross) Comly, who were thc pdrents of ten children. Robert Comly was a stlcccssfrrl brrsincss man, and his only brothcr, Samrrel Comly, was one of the earliest to engage in the tea trade with China. owning his own ships, and becirme very wealthy. He. like his brother Robert, was the head of a large family.
daughter of l.eonard Shallcross, who was a son of Leonard Shallcross. Both father arrd son \ilcre prominent in the business circles of Philadelohia in their

Wildrnan, who camc from Yorkshire,

Emcline (RidSe) Comly, and grand-

England, irr r68S, accompanied by his wife, Ann Wildman, and settled in Bucks
corrnty. Pennsylvania, where he followerl farming as a means of livclihood. They members of the Society of Friends, and at thcir decease left to their childrcn the legacy of an untarnished name and rep-

4l^J{.'/tttk",---,

were honest and God-fearing

<lescent

peoplc,

through their son, John Wildman, who was the fatlrer of a son, John Wildman.

utation. The line of

is

traced

lfsther (Shallcross) Comly was

who marricd Marjorie Knight, and among their children was a son, John Wildman, rvho was born in Rensalem

day. Five children rvere born to Mr.