Papers Read

before

The Historical Society

of Frankford

Vol. 2. No. 4

DISPATCH PUBLISHING HOUSE

FRANKFORD, PHILA.

1914

CONTENTS

Page

Friends Meetings in Frankford - - 127 By WALTER BRINTON

Dr. Benjamin Rush - - - - 137 By ELEANOR E. WRIGHT

Secretary's Report for 1912 - - - 147

I -

- sl - 90

FRANKFORD FRIENDS MEETING HOUSE, WALN STREET

FRIENDS MEETINGS IN FRANKFORD. By WALTER BRINTON.

As a brief introduction to my subject it may be appropriate to make a few general statements relative to early Quakerism in America. Philadel-phia has always been known as the Quaker City, and it is not surprising that the thought should become prevalent that the founding of the city in 1682

by English Quakers marked the advent of Quakerism in this country. This assumption is not verified by historical evidence.

George Fox, the English founder of the Religious Society of Friends, wrote an autobiography in which it is stated that "Truth broke forth in America in the year 1656."

This statement is supported by the fact that two English women, Mary Fisher and Ann Austin, were the first to carry Fox's idea of the Truth to the new world. They arrived at Boston in the early part of the year 1656.

In 1657, five Friends landed at New York, and Elizabeth Harris during the same year carried on religious work in Virginia.

A settlement of Friends was made in Maryland in 1658, and in 1670 a Friends meeting was established at Shrewsbury, New Jersey. Fox himself paid a visit to America in 1672. These religious pioneers were fired with an enthusiasm which became contagious, and their labors resulted in the establishment of 14 meetings for worship before William Penn landed in Philadelphia. Quakerism in the new world witnessed such a remarkable growth in the first thirty years of its existence that it became the dominant religious factor in every state along the Atlantic coast, from Massachusetts to North Carolina. I doubt if history affords a more striking example of the rapid growth of a religious movement. The jails of England at one time held captive 10,000 Quakers. Meetings conducted by children whose parents were preaching through iron bars created such social conditions that the hostile magistrate cried out in despair that the "Quakers were doing more harm in jail than out." So the doors swung open and the west-ward bound ships on the Atlantic were filled with cargoes of human beings who desired no greater joy than to worship God in the simplicity of primi-tive Christianity.

These people were recruited from the humble walks of life. On reach-ing our shores they lived in caves, wigwams and log houses, with Indians and wild beasts as close companions. The barest necessities of life were uncertain. They were mostly without education, with few resources, and with large families to support. Imbued with a faith that their outward ne-cessities would, in some way be provided for, they immediately set about

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to establish meetings for worship, and followed this by perfecting an organ-ization of Yearly, Quarterly, Monthly and Preparative Meetings for con-ducting the business affairs of the Church.

The order and authority of these meetings, after a test of 230 years, remains practically unchanged at the present time.

We must now turn to the written records of the proceedings of these business meetings for the most reliable information concerning them.

The Preparative Meeting was the small local meeting reporting once a month to the monthly meeting which in turn reported every three months to the Quarterly Meeting.

The oldest minute of a Friends business meeting in the county of Phila-delphia, which I was able to find, is recorded in the minute-book of Abing-ton Monthly Meeting, and it is rather remarkable that this minute refers directly to what afterward became our Frankford Meeting. The minute bears date of 9th mo. 8th, 1682, and is in part as follows.

"At this time Governor William Penn and a multitude of Friends arrived here and erected a city called Philadelphia, about half a mile from Shacka-maxon, where meetings were established. * * * At this time Thomas Fairman, at the request of the Governor, removed himself and family to Tackony where there was also a meeting appointed to be kept, and the ancient meeting at Shackamaxon removed to Philadelphia from which Meet-ing all other meetings were appointed in the province of Pennsylvania."

The meeting removed from Shackamaxon to Philadelphia became Phila-delphia Quarterly Meeting, and the Meeting referred to at Tackony became Frankford Preparative Meeting. Both of these meetings are still in exist-ence.

The next minute of the Quarterly Meeting bearing upon my subject is dated 4th mo. 5th, 1683:

"Friends being met in the fear of the Lord the 5th day of the 4th mo., 1683, being the 3rd day of the week, they proceeded to business.

Agreed that there be a First day public meeting of Friends at Tuckoney, and a First day public meeting at Poetquessing, and that they both shall make one Monthly Meeting.

Agreed that Thomas Fairman, at Tuckoney, and Samuel Allen, at Poet-quessing, give notice to Friends there of the Resolution of the Quarterly Meeting for the service of Truth in those parts.

It is evident that the Quarterly Meeting felt some uneasiness on account of the new members joined to it by this minute, for it is closely followed by this advice:

"It is desired by this Meeting that each Monthly Meeting do inquire in all their quarters of loose livers and disorderly walkers, or any, that by their conversation the Truth is dishonored and that they bring account to the next Quarterly Meeting that they may be dealt with according to Gospel order."

This may not have applied to Frankford Friends because about this time the following Monthly Meetings were also reporting to Philadelphia

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Quarterly Meeting, viz., Dublin, Haverford, Merion, Germantown, Schuylkill, Plymouth, Byberry, Radnor and Cheltenham.

The next minute of importance is from the Abington Monthly Meeting record, dated 7th mo. 3rd, 1683:

"At a Meeting of Friends about Tookany and Poetquessing it was agreed that a log house be built for a meeting house upon a certain piece of land given for that service by Thomas Fairman in the Township of Oxford."

This refers to the first public meeting house built upon what is now known as the Wain Street property, which is only a small portion of the original Fairman tract. Oxford Township, as first planned by Thos Holmes, extended from Frankford Creek northward to Township Line Road (now Cottman street). Its eastern boundary was little Tacony Creek, and a line located about in the position of the present Frankford and Bristol turnpike, north from Bridge street. To the east of Oxford Township extending from Frankford Creek to Wissinoming Creek and to the Delaware River was a large tract of land belonging to the Toaconick tribe of Indians. It was from this source that our present suburb of Tacony derived its name, and as the Toaconick tribe were in possession long before the establishment of the Township it is entirely natural that the early records should refer to the locality as "Tookany."

The minute just quoted in reference to the Fairman tract is the earliest mention of a public meeting-house in this vicinity, that meetings had been previously held at a private house is evident from the following records:

8-1-1683. "At a monthly meeting at the house of Sarah Scary's." 10-3-1683. "At a monthly meeting held at Sarah Scary's, at the request

of some Friends belonging to this Meeting, a meeting was settled near Chel-tenham at the house of Richard Waln."

11-7-1683. "At a Monthly Meeting at the house of Sarah Scary, it was agreed that there be a Weekly Meeting kept on the 3rd day of the week, to begin about the 11th hour, at the house of Sarah Scary."

3-5-1684. "At a Monthly Meeting at the new meeting house at Oxford." This minute determines the authentic date of the first business meeting

held in the Wain Street Meeting-house. The use of the name of Oxford in some of the earlier records has led to

the supposition that they referred to a Friends Meeting once held on the site of the present Oxford Church near Lawndale. This theory is set aside by the following record:

4-1-1685 (Abington Quarterly Meeting Record). "Friends appearing for Tuckoney Meeting, Richard Wall and William Preston, acquainting this meeting that their Meeting-house doth not stand in Takoney, neither is there any Friend at Tackoney that are members of it, but the land on which it stands is and the Friends adjoining live in Oxford Township, therefore the Meeting doth think that it be called Oxford Meeting." This meeting was known under the name of Oxford for the next 120 years.

It may be of interest to digress somewhat at this point and make in-quiry as to the identity of Sarah Scary and the location of her property.

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Thomas Seary, the husband of Sarah, was a blacksmith. He came from the city of Oxford in England, and therefore may have been responsible for giving the township of Oxford its name. He bought 495 acres from William Penn and his purchase is plotted in his own name on Thomas Holme's map of "First Purchasers." The record of the survey of this property is as fol-lows:

"Surveyed and laid out 6th mo. 19th, 1682, by virtue of a warrant from Captain William Markham dated 6th mo. 7th, 1682, unto Thomas Seary, 495 acres in the County of Philadelphia in the Township of Oxford, beginning at a corner marked White Oak, from thence east by the land of Toaconick 260 perches to a corner marked post, thence northeast by a line of marked trees 345 perches to a corner, thence northwest by a line of marked trees 181 perches to a corner marked black oak, thence southwest by land of Henry Waddy 526 perches to beginning."

Located in connection with modern landmarks the eastern boundary of this land is the present Frankford and Bristol turnpike, and the property extended along this line from a point south of Bridge Street northward to Cottman street.

When Thomas Seary died letters of administration were granted to his wife Sarah. The estate was appraised 5th mo. 19th, 1685, by William Pres-ton and Robert Addams, who fixed its value at 73 pounds 15 shillings and 10 pence.

I have examined the original paper containing the inventory and find mention of the following:

"400 acres of land lying in Oxford Township purchased from the Gov-ernor but not improved, 60 acres lying upon Tacony Creek having about 9 acres clear, with a log house and barn and a small low house."

It was in this log house that our Frankford Meeting had its origin, and where in the summer of 1683, as previously mentioned, the first Friends Meeting of record in the vicinity was held.

It would be of great interest to know of the exact location of this hum-ble place of worship. In imagination only I can see it standing on the west side of the road somewhat south of Bridge street about where the old toll-gate used to be.

But the little house became too small to accommodate the increasing number of worshippers, so under date of 3rd mo. 5th, 1684, as previously noted, we find them assembled in a brand new log meeting house on the Fairman Tract. This ancient and liberal Friend was also among the "First Purchasers" and his property is shown on Holme's Map.

The next Quarterly Meeting record of interest is dated 6th mo. 10th, 1686.

"Friends of Oxford Monthly Meeting being asked to help build the Meeting House at Center Square, report that they have a meeting house of their own going forward and that they are scarcely able to finish it."

I do not understand from this that Frankford Friends were actually building a meeting house in 1686, because, as shown by a former minute,

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they had built a new meeting-house about two years before. Their reply to the request probably means that they had not recovered from the financial strain of building their own log meeting house on the Fairman tract.

Monthly meeting at Oxford 12th mo. 22, 1686. "It is agreed that the men and women meet distinctly apart one from the other from time to time."

This record fixes the date cf the beginning of a custom in Friends meet-ings which was rigidly adhered to for over 200 years but which is now dis-appearing in some meetings.

1-31-1687. "It is agreed that the Monthly Meeting be kept at the house of Richard Worrell, Jr., henceforward on the last 2nd day of every month, and that there shall be a general meeting movable at four several places, viz., at Germantown, at Byberry, at Oxford and at the house of Richard Waln. And it is intended that this general meeting be only and alone for the public worship of God."

There is no mention in the record as to why the Monthly Meeting was not to be held as usual in the Waln Street meeting house.

7-24-1688. "Thomas Fairman is directed to make a deed of gift for the land belonging to the meeting house and to make it to Robert Addams, Wm. Preston, John Fletcher and John Worrell."

It is not stated why this deed was not made until four years after the meeting house had been erected on the property.

The original deeds of the meeting-house property together with most of the subsequent deeds of trust are still in the possession of Frankford Preparative Meeting.

About the year 1696 the Society was greatly disturbed by certain teach-ings advanced by George Keith. He was directly responsible for the division of many meetings and much disorderly conduct. The records become con-fusing as to names and places at which meetings were held. Frankford Friends did not escape the turmoil of this time.

Wm. Preston, an honored member of our Meeting, so far went astray in his judgment as to aid in tearing down the minister's gallery at the Bank meeting on Front street above Arch.

It is to his credit to state that he made the following acknowledgment of his error. "To Quarterly Meeting of Friends in Philadelphia, or to whomsoever it may

concern: "Friends: Being sensible that I have brought a trouble and grief upon

Friends being concerned about pulling down the gallery in the Front Street Meeting House, and being sensible of the great love of Friends in advising me to see into the forwardness and inadvisedness of this act and to con-demn the same. Now these may signify that for the said action of mine I am sorry it should so happen, and for the Truth sake and satisfaction of Friends I do condemn it, knowing and believing that the Truth admits of no violation, so hoping that this may give satisfaction, desiring the love of Friends, as I hope I shall live in love to and with them while I draw breath."

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"Franckferd, Nth mo. 10, 1696." This is the first appearance of the name of Frankford in any meeting

record which I have examined, and this was 36 years before the birth of George Washington.

A Monthly Meeting record of 11-26-1701 states: "It is agreed that a Preparative Meeting be established on the Weekly meeting day that happens next before the Monthly Meeting."

Prior to that date our local meeting did not conduct any business of record; under authority of this minute, however, it became an established Preparative Meeting and has therefore held business meetings almost con-tinuously for 212 years. It is to be regretted that the minutes of this meet-ing from 1701 to 1772 are missing, and the records of the Monthly and Quarterly Meetings during that period are the only sources from which information can be gained.

10-27-1729. (Abington Monthly Meeting Record). "Oxford Friends have chosen Daniel Worthington and Thomas Buzby as overseers for their Meeting the ensuing year."

1-30-1730. (Abington Monthly Meeting Record). "At this Meeting the overseers of each Preparative Meeting are appointed to attend all burials that may happen belonging to their particular meeting and that they may take care good order be kept, and at the hour appointed they may move the corpse forward."

1731 (Abington Monthly Meeting Record). "Friends of this monthly meeting desire the advice of the Quarterly Meeting concerning such Friends among us, who by going to burials, or otherwise among those who are not of our Society, do join with them in prayer, by taking off their hats, who after being dealt with, refuse to give satisfaction."

10-20-1740. (Abington Monthly Meeting Record). "Oxford Friends choose Griffith Jones as Elder of said Meeting with John Shallcross."

10-28-1741. (Abington Monthly Meeting Record). "Oxford Friends choose John Shalicross and John Knowles as overseers of their meeting in the room of Thomas Buzby and Samuel Hurford."

From various entries in the minute books from 1758 to 1767 it appears that the attendance of our meetings was very small, and in one case it is suggested that it would be "more to the reputation of the Society if the members would Join in with some other meeting."

Not withstanding these discouraging accounts there is no entry that the meeting was ever actually abandoned.

The chronicle thus far presented has been culled from the records of the Monthly and Quarterly Meeting and brings us to the year 1772 from which date the record of our local meeting is complete to the present time.

The first existing minute of our Preparative Meeting is dated 5th mo. 19th, 1772, but contains no matter of importance.

In 1773 a lot was purchased adjoining the Graveyard for the use of the meeting.

1-25-1774. (Preparative Meeting Record). "It is reported that the 132

meeting house is much out of repair," and in 1775 a committee is appointed to collect money to build a new meeting house.

The present brick building on the Wain street property has the date of 1775 on its western wall, which is in accord with the minute above quoted.

1-22-1782. (Preparative Meeting Record). "A committee reports having found the school in reasonable good order"

This is the first record touching on school matters, there is little doubt however, that a school had been started many years before.

In 1784, Zachariah Zcss resigns as Janitor of the meeting house, and Benjamin Love is appointed in his place.

In the 3rd mo. of the same year a list of 11 books belonging to the meeting was entered on the minutes and John Roberts was appointed to take care of them and to "loan them to such sober persons as may be thought useful." From the titles of the books it is safe to assume that they con-tained very solid reading matter.

8-22-1784. (Preparative Meeting Record). "John Roberts informs this meeting he has a desire to be released from being clerk, and after a season-able time of consideration, Benjamin Kite is appointed to that service, which he submits to."

In 1796 the Meeting subscribed 33 pounds for the relief of the Indians. In the same year "The General Epistle from the yearly meeting of our brethren in London was read, containing matter instructively edifying."

6-20-1797. (Preparative Meeting Record). "As our next Monthly Meet-ing is to be held at this place Yeomans Gillingham, Robert Harper and Ben-jamin Love are appointed to get some benches with backs made for better accommodations of the Meeting."

Two months later 2 pounds 4 shillings was expended in white-washing the walls and washing the floor of the meeting house.

In 1798 Friends sold their share of the school property for $300 and appointed a committee to raise funds for building a new school-house, which was to have some young trees planted around it, and the committee was to visit the school at least once a month and to keep written minutes of their proceedings.

In 1799 the meeting contributed $87 towards building Westtown Board-ing School.

10-23-1800. (Preparative Meeting Record). "It appears that some sheds would he useful in order to preserve the carriages dry in stormy weather." A committee was appointed to conclude upon a plan and the sheds were built at a cost of $88.13.

5-19-1801. (Preparative Meeting Record). "A committee is appointed to alleviate the distress of our brethren in England and Ireland."

4-13-1802. (Preparative Meeting Record). "Isaiah Worrell and Moses Gillingham is desired to get the windows and floors of this house cleaned and the east wall whitewashed on the outside."

11-23-1802. (Preparative Meeting Record). "Some Friends expressing some uneasiness with the appearance of Grave Stones in our yard, Isaiah

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Worrell, Yeomans Gillingham and Benjamin Love was appointed to have them removed."

8-2-1805. "The name of the meeting was changed from 'Oxford' to that of 'Frankford.'"

10-22-1805. "Stephen Webster proposes laying his intentions of mar-riage before our next monthly meeting." In this connection it may be noted that in very early times it was the custom among Friends to give public notice of their intentions of marriage by posting the same on the outside of the meeting house doors.

1805. John Mitchell was appointed to keep a regular record of the births and burials of the members of the meeting.

1811. The meeting concluded to add 20 feet to the east end of the meeting-house, and in the same year a substantial contribution was made to help build a meeting house at Stroudsburg.

1812. "The membership of the meeting has so increased that it is thought advisable to establish another meeting." There is no record that this was done.

1819. The School Committee reports the average number of scholars as 22.

1820. The Burial Ground Committee report on the necessity of enlarg-ing the burying ground on the west side, and when it is ready the dead are to be buried in rows.

1823. A committee is appointed to unite with women Friends to con- sider the matter of holding mid-week meetings on 5th instead of 3rd day.

This is the first mention of "Women Friends" in the Preparative Meet- ing record, they have been alluded to previously as "the other compartment."

1826. 51 scholars were in attendance at the school. We now come to a period in our history which must have been most

trying to those who were in active management of meeting affairs. The congregation became divided in judgment on various points of doctrine, and both sides desiring to maintain an organization a division of property be-came necessary. One branch retained the old building and grounds where Friends had met together in peace and brotherly love for 143 years. Re-ligious meetings are still held in the old building and its members have been joined to one of the large city meetings.

The other branch of the Society were compelled to find another place for worship, and under date of 11th mo. 15, 1827, we find a minute stating that Frankford Preparative Meeting was held at the house of Robert WaIn.

This house has been known for many years as the "WaIn Mansion," and stands on the property east of Tacony street and south of Church street. The building and its surroundings are a sorrowful memento of departed glory.

12-2-1827. "A committee reports that they have provided a house to hold meetings, in the Borough on the Main street opposite the Market-house." This building was on the west side of Frankforcl avenue opposite the present engine-house at Ruan street.

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3-20-1828. (Preparative Meeting Record). "Frankford Monthly Meet-ing, held at Germantown, informs Abington Quarterly Meeting that they have laid down Byberry Preparative Meeting and the members thereof are attached to Frankford Preparative Meeting." This addition to our member-ship was only a nominal one as our minutes show that almost the entire membership of Byberry meeting was shortly taken from our books.

3-27-1828. (Preparative Meeting Record). "A committee reports that they have rented a large stone house at southeast end of Frankford Bridge on the Turnpike road, for one year, from the 1st of 4th mo. next at $110, where this meeting agrees to hold our meetings after 1st day next." This building is still standing on the Foerderer Estate. A school was conducted in the second story.

In 1831 it was agreed to hold Frankford Monthly Meetings alternately at Germantown and Frankford. This arrangement continued until the year 1906, at which time Frankford Monthly and Preparative Meetings became identical as to membership.

7-26-1832. (Preparative Meeting Record). "A committee reports hav-ing purchased a piece of ground for a new meeting house." This is the property, on a portion of which stands the present meeting house at the southeast corner of Penn and Orthodox streets. The original purchase extended to Leiper street. The house and lot cost $1777.07. The building was first used for meeting purposes on the 1st First day of the First month, 1833, and meetings have been held there regularly twice a week since that date.

The records as presented prove that a Friends meeting has been held continuously in this locality for the past 230 years.

There is ample testimony that trials and discouragements have fol-lowed it throughout its long history. Its early life was nurtured by men and women who were plain in "speech, behavior and apparel," and who were the ancestors of a host of substantial citizens of our community who have lived within the memory of many now present.

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DR. BENJAMIN RUSH

DR. BENJAMIN RUSH. By ELEANOR E. WRIGHT.

Dr. Benjamin Rush, the subject of this sketch, the great physician, eminent statesman, and public-spirited citizen of Philadelphia, both before and after the Revolutionary War period, was born in this house on Decem-ber 24, 1745. His ancestors came to America from Oxfordshire, England, in 1682 and 1683.

John Rush, the head of the family, had been a captain in Cromwell's army. His descendants still have in their possession the sword he carried in the war of the English rebellion.

In 1648 John Rush married Susannah Lucas. In 1660 they embraced the teachings of George Fox and became Friends. When William Penn founded the Province of Pennsylvania, John Rush and his family decided to cast in their lot with him in the new colony.

At this time three of John Rush's children were married. The daughter, Elizabeth, had married Richard Collet, of London. Susannah was the wife of John Hart, of Oxfordshire. William Rush had married an Aurelia, whose surname is not known. Richard Collet and his wife Elizabeth Rush Collet came to Pennsylvania with William Penn in the ship "Welcome," in 1682. They settled in Byberry, afterwards a township of Philadelphia county, about fourteen miles northeast of the city.

The next year, 1683, John Rush followed his daughter and her husband, and with the remainder of his household—six sons, three daughters and their families—arrived in Philadelphia. They joined Richard and Elizabeth Rush Collet in Byberry, and received from the proprietor a large grant of land, which Thomas Holnie afterwards surveyed.

John Rush's son, William Rush, and his wife Aurelia, brought three children with them when they came to Pennsylvania, their son James becom-ing the direct ancestor of Dr. Benjamin Rush. William Rush and his wife Aurelia lie in the old graveyard on the banks of the Poquessing Creek.

The Rush family soon became prominent in the affairs of the colony. John Hart, son-in-law of John Rush, was a member of the first Assembly called by William Penn.

As soon as the family settled upon their estate, a flour mill and a saw mill were erected, and also a mill for the manufacture of guns, showing that they were probably gunsmiths in England.

In 1691, the whole family connection left the Society of Friends. James Rush, son of William and Aurelia Rush, and grandson of John

Rush, the elder, married Rachel Peart. His son, John Rush, named for his 137

great-grandfather, was the father of Dr. Benjamin Rush. John Rush, the younger, married Susannah Harvey, a widow, daughter

of Joseph Hall, of Tecony. She is described by her son, Dr. Benjamin Rush, as "a good woman with a strong mind."

In addition to farming, the younger John Rush carried on gun-making. He was a man of sterling character. It was a common saying in the neigh-borhood for years after his death, in describing a man of integrity and truth, to say, "he was as honest as John Rush."

John Rush died in 1750, at the age of forty-eight years. He left a widow and six children. Dr. Rush was the fourth child of the family, and was be-tween five and six years of age, at the time of his father's death. Shortly after John Rush's death his widow, in accordance with the advice of her husband, sold the family plantation and removed to Philadelphia, in order to obtain better educational facilities for her children.

Mrs. Rush's sister was the wife of the Rev. Dr. Finley, afterwards Presi-dent of Princeton College, who at this time conducted a school for boys in Cecil county, Maryland. Soon after her settlement in Philadelphia, Mrs. Rush sent two of her sons, Benjamin and Jacob, to the school of her brother-in-law.

The future physician remained with his uncle until 1759. He always spoke in the highest terms of the training he had received at his uncle's school. The boys were taught agriculture, Greek, Latin and English, and they were also instructed in the art of conversation. A common saying of Dr. Finley's was, "Conversation is education." Dr. Rush describes his aunt as "a woman who could converse with both wit and intelligence, and who kept the table plentifully supplied with country food, pleasingly prepared." He adds, "we all know the appetite is the ruling principle in young people, and that no advantage in the point of education will ever be duly appreciated where the appetite is not satisfied, and no act of injustice is remembered with less forgiveness than scarcity of, or ill-dressed food."

On leaving Dr. Finley, Benjamin Rush, at the age of fourteen, entered the Junior class of Princeton College, from which he was graduated in 1760. He had decided to study law, but before settling down to work he visited his uncle at the old school. Dr. Finley advised against law as a profession for him, and suggested physic.

On his return to Philadelphia he became the apprentice and pupil of Dr. Rodman. In after life Dr. Rush wrote, "on what slight circumstances do our destinies in life seem to depend. All my other friends objected to my choice of a profession. There were periods when I regretted it myself, but I lived to rejoice that I had taken Dr. Finley's advice. Our feelings sometimes mislead, as well as our reason."

Benjamin Rush's apprenticeship to Dr. Rodman lasted five years. Dur-ing this period he lived in his master's house, and together with another pupil, attended to the shop, prepared and compounded medicines, and with his preceptor, visited the sick and performed many of the offices of a nurse, in addition to keeping the accounts and studying the best medical books of

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the time. In the five years, he was absent from his business only eleven days, and spent but three evenings out of his master's house. He writes of this period of his life, "my apprenticeship, though laborious, established me in habits of industry, and rendered me familiar with all forms and symptoms of disease. As my preceptor was one of the physicians of the Pennsylvania Hospital, I was admitted to that institution, and observed the practice of five other physicians."

On the conclusion of his apprenticeship he sailed for England, and entered the Medical Department of the University of Edinburgh, from which he was graduated two years later.

While in Edinburgh he became acquainted with the Rev. Dr. Wither-spoon, of Paisley. Dr. Witherspoon had been elected President of Princeton College, but declined the offer because his wife was afraid to cross the sea. When Dr. Rush learned the cause of Dr. Witherspoon's refusal, he per-suaded Mrs. Witherspoon to change her mind. He also suggested to his friends in Princeton that the offer be renewed. We all know the great advance made by Princeton College during Dr. Witherspoon's adminis-tration.

In Edinburgh, Dr. Rush met a Mr. Bostock, who, he states, "was the first person I ever heard call the authority of kings in question. I had considered kings as essential to the political order as the sun is to life. I now began to exercise my reason upon the subject of government." He also made the acquaintance of David Hume, the historian, of Whitfield, and later on of John Wesley.

After his graduation from Edinburgh, Dr. Rush went to London, and spent one term at the Middlesex Hospital, and afterwards took a term at St. Thomas's Hospital. At St. Thomas's Hospital he met the poet Akenside, who was also a young physician "walking the boards," as the work in the hospital was called. Dr. Franklin, who was then in London, introduced Dr. Rush to many prominent men, among them Benjamin West, our Delaware county boy, at that time Court Painter to His Majesty, King George III.

At Benjamin West's table he had the privilege of dining with Sir Joshua Reynolds, Oliver Goldsmith and Dr. Johnson. He tells that on one occasion Dr. Johnson was asked what he thought of Boswell. Dr. Johnson replied, "He asks many unnecessary questions. He wanted to know yesterday, why a pear was oblong and an apple round." Oliver Goldsmith once told him that the character of the Vicar's wife in the "Vicar of Wakefield," was in-tended to represent his own mother.

Benjamin West also introduced him to a Mr. Cruden, a great grandson of Oliver Cromwell. At the age of fifteen Cruden had stood beside the bed of his grand-uncle, Richard Cromwell, and watched him die, and had followed him to his grave. Before his death Richard Cromwell severed his connec-tion with the Independents and returned to the Church of England.

On visiting Paris, Dr. Franklin provided him with an intro-duction to Mirabeau, at whose house he was entertained during his stay in the French capital. He was also received at the Court of Louis XV, and

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made the acquaintance of the Dauphin, afterwards the unfortunate Louis XVI, who was then about fifteen years of age.

Dr. Rush tells that when he left England for Prance Dr. Franklin questioned him about the state of his finances. He replied that he was sure he had enough money to see him through. On his arrival in Paris Dr. Franklin notified him that he had placed to his credit two hundred guineas, because he knew "young men's expenses in foreign cities often outrun their expectations." Later on he was compelled to make use of thirty guineas of Dr. Franklin's loan, which he repaid with his first earnings after reaching America. He always considered himself in Benjamin Franklin's debt, for his great kindness in providing a young man against unforeseen emer-gencies.

Dr. Rush returned to America in July, 1769, after an absence of three years. He landed in New York, and was met by his brother at Bristol. We can imagine him traveling down the old "Kings' Highway," to Philadelphia, through the beautiful country familiar to him as the home of his ancestors.

He was now twenty-four years old. He rented a house on Arch street, between Front and Second streets, and began the practice of his profession. He visited all the poor who applied to him, in all parts of the City. He describes many of the houses as mere huts. Many of them could only be entered by ladders, some being the broken dwelling places of the original settlers. The sanitary conditions were very bad.

Soon after his settlement in Philadelphia he was made Professor of Chemistry in the Philadelphia Medical School, which had been established by Doctors Shippen and Morgan during the period of his apprenticeship tc Dr. Rodman. In 1791, when the Medical School became a part of the Uni-versity of Pennsylvania, Dr. Rush was appointed Professor of the Institutes and Practice of Medicine. He held this chair until his death, in 1813.

In 1762, when a boy of seventeen, he had written an account of the epi-demic of yellow fever in Philadelphia, the only account extant of that visita-tion. In 1793 and 1797, on the return of that dread disease, he did heroic work. He wrote several treatises on yellow fever, which he considered orig-inated through "inhaling noxious exhalations."

He also adopted a new method of treatment for the disease. In doing this he aroused the antagonism of many members of his profession, and received much abuse.

William Cobbett, the noted English agitator, at this time resided in Philadelphia, and published his paper, "The Porcupine Gazette." He Wrote such scurrilous articles that Dr. Rush brought suit against him, and was awarded five thousand dollars damages. Having satisfied his honor, he devoted the sum to charity. At the same time William Cobbett ran away to escape infection. He went to Bustleton, in this immediate neighborhood, where for a short time the "Porcupine Gazette" was published.

Philip Freneau, who has been called "the first American to write poetry of real distinction," described the conditions existing in Philadelphia during the yellow fever visitation in the following lines:

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"Doctors raving and disputing, Death's pale army still recruiting,

What a pother, One with 'tother,

Some a writing, some a shooting.

"Nature's poisons here collected, Water, earth and air infected;

O what a pity, Such a city,

Was in such a place erected."

But if a prophet is without honor in his own country, Dr. Rush's in-vestigations in connection with the causes of epidemic fevers and his treat-ment of them were highly appreciated abroad. The King of Prussia and Marie Louise, of Austria, presented him with medals, and the Emperor of Russia sent him a diamond ring as a mark of personal regard, and of appre-ciation of his wonderful discoveries in the prevention and alleviation of disease.

In his later years, in reference to detraction of all kinds, Dr. Rush adopted Dr. Witherspoon's advice in his saying, "Scandal dies sooner of itself than we can kill it."

During these years while devoting himself to the study and practice of his profession, he found time to interest himself in the great political questions which were agitating the colonies. He was a member of the First Continental Congress, which met in Philadelphia, in Carpenter's Hall, in September, 1774. He writes that he rode out as far as Frankford to meet the Massachusetts delegates, and returned in the carriage with John and Samuel Adams, whom he entertained at his house during the sitting of the Convention. The other delegates were almost all entertained at his table.

He was a member of the Second Continental Congress, which met in May, 1775, and was chairman of the committee in 1776, which reported that it was expedient for the Colonies to declare their independence. He signed the Declaration of Independence, his name standing second on the list of nine delegates from Pennsylvania. When Dr. Rush signed the Declaration of Independence he was thirty-one years old. Its author, Thomas Jefferson, was thirty-three.

Dr. Rush relates that Thomas Jefferson showed him the original draft of the paper, in which Jefferson had inserted a clause providing for the ulti-mate emancipation of the slaves in the Colonies. Slavery Jefferson considered a great menace to a free government. Much to his regret this clause was rejected by the Congress.

As early as 1774, we find Dr. Rush associated with Anthony Benezet and James Pemberton in the formation of a Society for the Abolition of Slavery. Dr. Rush continued to act as Vice-President of this society until his death.

In connection with this society he advocated the cultivation of the sugar 141

maple tree, with the hope that the sugar obtained from this source would ultimately do away with the importation of sugar from the West India Islands, where it was the product of slave labor. During the great Anti-Slavery agitation in England, led by William Wilberforce and Thomas Clarkson, which ended in the passage of the Emancipation Bill in 1833, it will be remembered that those interested in that movement gave up the use of sugar for the same reason.

In his Diary, covering the Revolutionary period in Philadelphia, Dr. Rush records many items of interest. He was the physician of Patrick Henry, and inoculated him with small-pox. Patrick Henry told him that when Washington was elected Commander-in-Chief of the Army, he was adverse to accepting the commission, and said to Henry, "On this day I date the ruin of my reputation."

Dr. Rush was for several years Surgeon General of the Army. He resigned the position because it was impossible for him to obtain proper medicines for the soldiers.

During the British occupation of Philadelphia, in 1777, Lord Howe occu-pied Dr. Rush's house. He writes that the only injury Lord Howe did to his property was the staining with ink of the top of his mahogany office table. He adds, "the stains still remain."

Dr. Rush also records in his Diary that he had heard John Paul Jones exult in having hoisted the first American flag on board the first armed vessel commissioned by the United States.

He also writes that "Benedict Arnold had as a young man a poor repu-tation in his native town in Connecticut. He was of low stature, but well made, with a handsome face. His conversation was interesting but some-times indelicate. His language was ungrammatical, and his pronunciation vulgar."

In 1787 Dr. Rush was a member of the Constitutional Convention, which prepared the Constitution under which our government has been preserved for one hundred and twenty-five years.

Dr. Rush was always interested in free education for the people. Wil-liam Penn had made early provision for education in his colony. It was a saying, that before the pines had been cleared from the ground they began to build schools. The first Provincial Constitution had in it an educational clause in 1790 the second Constitution of Pennsylvania provided "that the Legislature, as conveniently as may be, shall provide by law for the estab-lishment of schools throughout the State, where the poor may be taught gratis." In March, 1791, Dr. Rush records in his Diary that he had spent some time in debating the question of free education for the people of Penn-sylvania. In 1799 the Society for the Establishment of Charity Schools was organized, of which Dr. Rush was an active member. Later, in 1811, he shows the great necessity existing for free education by relating that, "out of a school of one hundred and twenty children under ten years of age, in the Northern Liberties of Philadelphia, only twenty of them knew who made them, so profound is the lack of religious and secular education for the

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young." During these years he published and distributed at his own expense

many pamphlets on Free Education. He was one of the founders of the Pennsylvania Bible Society, and

was for many years President of the society. He was one of the founders of Dickinson College, at Carlisle, Pennsylvania. He was a member of the Philosophical Society, and Vice-President of the society for many years.

In 1797 he was appointed Treasurer of the new United States Mint, es-tablished in Philadelphia, receiving a salary of $750.00 a year. He held this office until his death.

While attending to these public duties as a citizen, his profession claimed his first attention. He was President of the County Medical Society. He was the first man to lecture upon diseases of the mind. His work on Insanity was, until 1883, seventy years after his death, one of two treatises on Insanity published in America, and was used as a text book in all medical schools.

His Diary records, in 1792, that "the Board of Directors of the Penn-sylvania Hospital this day passed a resolution to build a mad house, and decided to spend $15,000 on it." This was practically the beginning of the Insane Department of the Pennsylvania Hospital.

For thirty years Dr. Rush was a daily visitor at the Pennsylvania Hos-pital. It is on record that he seldom missed a day, or was more than ten minutes late.

In January, 1776, Dr. Rush was married by Dr. Witherspoon, in Prince-ton, New Jersey, to Julia Stockton, eldest daughter of Richard Stockton, Esq., who later, as a delegate to Congress from New Jersey, signed with Dr. Rush the Declaration of Independence.

Dr. Rush records that he first heard divine service in Christ Church, Philadelphia, where he was baptized by the Rev. Eneas Ross. After his father's death, he attended with his mother, who was a Presbyterian, the meeting of the Rev. Mr. Tennant.

lu February, 1788, he writes, "I was this day with my dear wife, con-firmed in St. Peter's Church."

Dr. Rush died April 19, 1813, of typhus fever, after five days illness, and was interred in Christ Church burying ground, at Fifth and Arch streets.

He was the father of thirteen children, nine of whom survived him. He was sixty-eight years of age at the time of his death. His wife lived until 1848, and died at her little farm, Sydenham, now the corner of Fifteenth street and Columbia avenue, in Philadelphia. A contemporary writer has said of Dr. Rush: "His heart was foil of benevolence, seasoned by good judgment, and his sympathies went out to his fellowmen in all directions."

Dr. William Pepper, late Provost of the University of Pennsylvania, says of Dr. Rush: "If he had no other claim to fame, he would stand high as a philanthropist and social reformer. He was inspired by no love of notoriety, nor deterred by any dread of unpopularity."

He was greatly admired and beloved by the many leaders of thought who visited Philadelphia at the beginning of the last century, and was the

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triend and correspondent through life of men famous in every line ot thought and achievement, both in the United States and in Europe.

His own estimate of his life is summed up in the closing sentence of his short autobiography:

"Benjamin Rush. He aimed well."

The letter of Dr. Rush, which accompanies this paper, was written to his old friend John Adams in 1812, after visiting this house, his birthplace, and the old graveyard belonging to the Rush estate.

In examining early records we find that in 1687, in accordance with the custom of the period, an acre of ground was set apart as a burial place, for the members of the family, as death should claim them. One hundred years later, in 1787, one of the Hart descendants gave the ground to the Township of Byberry, to be a free burying ground forever. It was afterwards called Hart's Cemetery. The only legible inscriptions on the stones remaining in the ground at the present time are one in memory of James Rush, grand-father of Dr. Rush, and one in memory of Crispen Collett. James Rush's inscription contains the following verse.

"I've tried the strength of death at length And here lie under ground;

But I shall rise above the skies, When the last trump shall sound."

The following is taken from Dr. Rush's letter, addressed to John Adams, on visiting his birthplace in Byberry, in 1812.

"I was called lately to visit a patient in that neighborhood, and having with me my youngest son I thought I would avail myself of the occasion to visit the farm on which I was born and where my ancestors for several gen-erations had lived and died. In approaching it, I was agitated in a manijer I did not expect. The access was changed, but everything around it was nearly the same as in the days of my boyhood, at which time I left it. The family there, though strangers to me, received me kindly, and discovered a disposition to satisfy my curiosity and gratify my feelings. I soon asked permission to conduct my son upstairs to see the room in which I drew my first breath, and made my first unwelcome noise in the world, and where first began the affection and cares of my beloved and excellent mother. I next asked for a large cedar tree which once stood before the door, planted by my father's hand. It had been converted into the pillars of the piazza before the house. Filled with emotion I embraced the one nearest to me. I next inquired for the orchard planted by the same hand, and was con-ducted to an eminence behind the house, where I saw a number af apple trees which still bore fruit, to each of which I felt something like the affec-tion of a brother.

"The building, which is stone, bears the marks of age and decay. On one of the stones near the front door I discovered the letters J. R. Before the house flows a small but deep creek abounding in pan-fish. The farm

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consists of ninety acres in a highly cultivated state. The owner did not want to sell, but I begged if he should incline to dispose of it to make me or one of my surviving sons the first offer. While I sat in its common room I looked at its walls, and thought how often they had been made vocal by my ancestors to conversations about wolves, bears and snakes in the first settlement; afterwards about cows and calves, colts, lambs, etc., and at all times with prayers and praises, and chapters read audibly from the Bible; for all who inhabited it, of my family, were pious people, chiefly of the sects of Quakers and Baptists.

"On my way home I stopped to view a family graveyard, in which were buried three and a part of four successive generations, all of whom were descendents of Captain John Rush, who with six sons and three daughters followed William Penn to Pennsylvania in 1683. He had been captain of a troop of Horse under Oliver Cromwell, and when I first settled in Phila-delphia, I was sometimes visited by one of his grandsons, a man of eighty-five years of age, who had, when a boy, often seen and conversed with the former, and especially concerning his services under the Protector. I retain as his relics his sword, watch and Bible leaf, on which is inscribed in his own hand his marriage, children's births and names.

"My grandfather, James Rush, after whom my son, the physician, is named, has his grave-stone and inscription in the aforesaid graveyard, as "departed this life March 16, 1727, aged 48 years, etc." He was a farmer and gunsmith of much ingenuity in his business. While standing and con-sidering this repository of the dead, there holding my kindred dust, my thoughts ran wild and my ancestors seemed to stand before me in their home-spun dresses and to say, 'what means this gentleman by thus intruding upon our repose?' And I seemed to say, 'dear and venerable friends, be not disturbed, I am one who inherits your blood and name, and come here to do homage to your Christian and moral virtues; and truly I have acquired nothing from the world (though raised in fame) which I so highly prize as the religious principles which I inherited from you; and I possess nothing that I value so much as the innocence and purity of your character.'

"After my return from such a visit, I recounted in the evening to my family the incidents of the day, to which they listened with great pleasure, and heartily they partook of some cherries, from the limb of my father's tree, which my son brought home with him as a treat to them."

DR. RUSH'S SONS. James Rush, the son of Dr. Rush, who accompanied him in his visit to

his birthplace in 1812, became a prominent physician in Philadelphia. He was born in 1781, and died in 1869, leaving his estate to found the Rush Library.

Richard Rush, an elder son of Dr. Rush, was a lawyer by profession and an eminent statesman. He was Attorney General of the United States from 1814 to 1817, during the War of 1812, and after its close, in President

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Madison's administration. During the administration of President Monroe, from 1817 to 1825, he

served one year as Secretary of State, and was then sent abroad as United States Minister to Great Britain. He represented our country in England seven years, until 1825. During this time he served on the Boun-dary Commission, which settled the boundary between the United States and Canada as far west as the Rocky Mountains, and assisted in negotiating the Fisheries Treaty.

On the election of John Quincy Adams to the Presidency, in 1825, he returned to the United States. President Adams appointed him Secretary of the Treasury, a position which he held during Mr. Adams's entire term, from 1825 to 1829.

In 1836 he was sent to England by President Andrew Jackson, to receive the Smithsonian legacy, then involved in a suit in the Chancery Court. After a two-years' residence in England, in 1838, Richard Rush returned to America, bringing with him in gold sovereigns $515,169.00, the full amount of the legacy. In 1865 a residuary legacy amounting to $26,210.00 was re-ceived from the Smithson estate. In James K. Polk's administration, during 1847 and 1848, he served as Minister of the United States to France.

He is the author of The Codified Laws of the United States. He also wrote a narrative describing English life during his residence at the Court of St. James. He was born in 1780 and died in Philadelphia, in 1859.

It is said of Richard Rush, that after forty years of continuous public service his estate, at the time of his death, was only sufficient to defray his funeral expenses.

In this sketch of the life of Dr. Benjamin Rush, we have lived through the history of our country during the entire Revolutionary period, with the government by the Continental Congress, and the adoption of the Articles of Confederation and of the Constitution of the United States, to the War of 1812. His distinguished son, Richard Rush, then took up the father's work, serving as Attorney-General at the close of the War of 1812, as Minister to England seven years, as Secretary of the Treasury four years, as agent of the United States in the suit involved in obtaining the Smithsonian legacy, and then as Minister to France; his period of service lasting almost to the breaking out of the Civil War.

One hundred and thirty-eight years have elapsed since the call was issued for the assembling of the First Continental Congress, in 1774, and during eighty-five years of this period Dr. Rush and his son were actively engaged in distinguished and unselfish service of their country,—a unique history in the annals of government.

NOTE: This account of Dr. Rush was first read at a special meeting of The Historical Society of Frankford, held at the birthplace of Dr. Rush, in Byberry. The place has been owned by the Parry family, since 1770. The paper was afterwards read at a regular meeting of the Historical Society.

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JANUARY, 1913.

REPORT OF THE WORK OF THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY

FOR 1912.

In presenting the Annual Report of the Historical Society of Frankford, at the close of the eighth year of its existence, we are glad to state that we have continued to make progress in carrying on the work for which the Society was organized in February, 1905.

In the year 1912 four meetings were held, the annual meeting and three stated meetings.

The annual meeting was held in the Society's rooms on January 30. A paper on "The Jolly Post," prepared by the Secretary, was read, and an instructive address on "Some Phases of Pennsylvania Dutch Life and His-tory," was made by Henry S. Borneman, Esq.

At the stated meeting in March, held in the Society's rooms, two inter-esting papers were read. Major B. F. Rittenhouse read a paper on "The Battle of Gettysburg as Seen From Little Round Top." and Watson W. Dewees gave a description of "The Walking Purchase" of the proprietor's son, Thomas Penn, in 1737.

At the stated meeting in May, which was held in the Old Friends' Meet-ing House, Miss Mary F. Prichard, of the City History Society, was invited to read a paper written by herself on "The Lost Communities in Philadel-phia." The paper contained short accounts of the settlement and growth of the various municipalities, villages, townships and boroughs, Frankford being among the number, which were merged into the city of Philadelphia by the Act of Consolidation of 1854.

At the stated meeting on November 19, held in the Society's rooms, a paper on Dr. Benjamin Rush, written by the Secretary, Miss Eleanor E. Wright. was read. The fact that Dr. Rush was born in Byberry, gave him the right of entrance in the archives of our Society.

Two short papers were also read, written by George Castor Martin. One of these gave an account of his grandfather, Samuel Martin, who was Frankford's earliest known manufacturer. Mr. Martin established a woolen mill for the manufacture of blankets before the war of 1812. The soldiers engaged in that war were supplied to a large extent by blankets made in Frankford.

Mr. Martin's other paper was a sketch of the life of James Thornley, once the host of General Wayne Hotel, above Holmesburg on the Bristol road.

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now called Frankford avenue, to the County Line. Miss Schofield presented a photograph of her father, John Schofield, the

Frankford photographer. A short account of his life prepared by the Secre-tary, was read.

Altogther nine papers were presented during the year, and with the ex-ception of Miss Prichard's paper, all were original work by members of the Society. The Society's pamphlet, containing papers read in 1911, was issued in September and mailed to the members. The book contained the following papers:

A Sketch of the Life of Richardson L. Wright, written by his daughter, Mary Wright.

The Jolly Post, by Eleanor E. Wright. Memories of The Jolly Post, by Miss Mary P. Allen. Isaac and Ann Rorer, by Miss Mary P. Allen. History of the First Fire Engine Companies, by Dr. Wm. B. Dixon. Frankford's Early Industrial Development, by Dr. Wm. B. Dixon. Inscriptions on the Headstones in the Presbyterian Graveyard, Embrac-

ing the Castor and Neff Families, by George Castor Martin. The Seventh Annual Report of the Society. In addition to the papers prepared, Charles W. Castor has made two

new scrap books. This is a most important work, as in these scrap books the events of the present time are being preserved for the benefit of future historical study.

Thomas Creighton, chairman of the Committee on Photographs and Pictures, has made a number of valuable additions to our already valuable collection. In this connection mention must be made of the gift of Lincoln Cartledge. Mr. Cartledge has presented to the Society a large number of photographs which we could not have obtained otherwise, many of the pic-tures being his own handiwork.

In connection with the work of the Society for the year, special mention must be made of the "Tuesday Evenings at Home," given during the winter and spring months. Mrs. Robert T. Corson, chairman of the Woman's Auxiliary Committee, arranged to have several members of the committee present every Tuesday evening, who, together with Miss Smedley, the Assistant Secretary, received all who came to accept the Society's hospital-ity. During the evening tea was served.

We feel that this social work of the Society has borne good fruit, and that the Society stands for the community of Frankford. It is a revival, in the only possible way, of the individual life of the old borough, whose interests were merged in those of the city of Philadelphia in 1854.

The Excursion Committee arranged four outings for the Society—in May, June, October and November, respectively.

In May, in connection with The City History Society, we visited two old residences on the eastern side of Frankford—the Waln Mansion and Port Royal.

Port Royal was built by Edward Stiles, a merchant of Philadelphia, for 148

a summer home. Mr. Stiles named the place Port Royal after his birth-place in Bermuda. Both the Wain mansion and Port Royal are pre-revolu-tionary estates.

We also visited Column Hall, at present the residence of T. Worcester Worrell, the old Friends' Meeting House and the schoolmaster's house, at Unity and Wain streets, and the Presbyterian graveyard. Short histories of all the places visited were given by members of the Society.

From the Presbyterian graveyard the company adjourned to the Soci-ety's rooms, where our guests of the City History Society were served with light refreshments and given an opportunity to inspect our library, pictures, and relics.

On June 22 our Society joined the City History Society in a walk to Crescentville. Visits were made to the graves of Elizabeth, John and Rees Price, which bore the dates of 1697 and 1702; the Soldiers' monument, erect-ed in memory of soldiers who died in the Civil war; the house of Thomas Griffith, formerly Mayor of Philadelphia, and Rowland's Shovel Works, at Cheltenham.

Thomas Griffiths was of Welsh descent, and was Mayor of Philadelphia from 1729 to 1740. The Prices, whose graves were visited, were early Welsh settlers.

The walk was very beautiful, the path taken leading along the banks of the Frankford Creek for two and a half miles. The birthplace of the Moran brothers, the noted landscape and animal painters, was pointed out by the way.

On October 19, our Society and the City History Society accepted the invitation of Mrs. Charles C. Joyce, a daughter of the late Reuben Parry, of Byberry, to visit the birthplace of Benjamin Rush. The Rush property was purchased by the Parrys in the year 1770, one hundred and forty-two years ago, and is now a portion of Reuben Parry's estate.

The old graveyard containing the remains of the first and second gener-ations of the Rush family was visited on the way to the house. After exam-ining the house and the room in which Dr. Rush was born, in December, 1745, the company assembled on the lawn and porch and listened to a paper on Dr. Rush, prepared by the Secretary, Eleanor E. Wright. A few remarks were made by Mr. Benjamin Rush, Dr. Rush's great-grandson. Mr. Rush also read the letter written by Dr. Rush to his friend, John Adams, after visiting his birthplace in 1812. It is interesting to note, that we made our pilgrimage to Dr. Rush's birthplace just one hundred years after Dr. Rush's visit.

Mrs. Joyce added to the pleasure and interest of our visit by showing us the original grant and the deed from the proprietor. William Penn, to John Rush, in 1683, and the deed covering the transfer of the property to the Parry family in 1770.

On the return journey we rested in Red Lion Inn, and inspected the interesting tablet in the bar-room. It contained a short history of the inn, and commemorates Washington's visit on his famous march to Yorktown,

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in 1781. Washington spent the night in the Inn, and the army lay in the fields around it. It is worth recording that our visit to the Red Lion was made on the 131st anniversary of the surrender of Lord Cornwallis. That great event in the history of our country took place on October 19, 1781.

The tablet also commemorates the entertainment at the Red Lion Inn on August 29, 1774, of the Massachusetts delegates to the First Continental Congress. John Adams was a frequent guest at the old inn.

On November 9 our Society again joined the City History Society, and visited with them the Decatur mansion, and the Schively estate, on Powder Mill lane. The walk led through Juniata Park and along the banks of the Frankford Creek to Rowlandville. The old Dewees house and the site of a Colonial paper mill, on the banks of the creek, were inspected. At each stopping place short historical accounts of the houses and estates, and the original settlers and owners, were given by members of the two societies.

The four excursions were greatly enjoyed and added largely to our store of knowledge of our neighborhood and its surroundings.

In the last week of October an Historical and Industrial Exhibition was given by the Society, in connection with Frankford's Industrial and Historical Celebration.

The exhibition was held in the Library building. It was open each afternoon and on Wednesday and Saturday evenings. The exhibition was gotten up by a committee of women under the supervision of Mrs. Robert T. Corson.

The great success of the exhibition was due to Mrs. Corson. She de-voted her time and strength for a month in perfecting the details. During the week of the exhibition Mrs. Corson superintended the reception of each article sent in, and at its close saw that all were returned to their respective owners. Over seven hundred articles were exhibited, and not one was lost or mislaid. More than ten thousand persons visited the exhibition. Its educational value in affording an opportunity to examine the furniture, china, and records of past generations, and to compare the handiwork of our ances-tors with our own of the present day was greatly appreciated.

Through our Portrait Exhibition last year, which gave us the privilege of looking in the faces of former residents of the town, and our Loan Exhi-bition this year, our Historical Society has entered the homes and hearts of the whole people. It has established a feeling of personal interest in each other, as members of a community having a past history of honorable achievement.

Besides the Loan Exhibition, which was held under the auspices of the Society, it should be mentioned that it is to one of our members, Mr. T. Worcester Worrell, we owe the Historical Pageant held in connection with Frankford's celebration last autumn. Mr. Worrell had entire charge of the evening parade. He arranged the various sections, and induced members of the Society to personate many of the historical characters represented. The leather water buckets owned by the Society, were loaned to Mr. Worrell to illustrate the Fire Department one hundred years ago.

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Mr. Worrell also rendered valuable aid as a member of our Society, to Dr. Ellis B. Oberholtzer, in his preparation for the great Historical Pageant illustrating Philadelphia's history, held on Belmont plateau, in Fairmount Park, in October, in commemoration of the Centennial Anniversary of the War of 1812. The ladies of the Society assisted also in the making of thirty-six British red-coats, used in the Historical Pageant.

Three other members of our Society, Guernsey A. Hallowell, Esq., Mr. Thomas Creighton and Robert T. Corson, Esq., prepared the valuable illus-trated Historical Sketch of Frankford, which was issued in connection with our local celebration.

We hope that these exhibitions and celebrations will result in deepened interest in the work of the Society, and in a large increase in our member-ship list. The Society greatly needs the financial support of the people of Frankford.

If one had asked eight years ago how an Historical Society could enter into the active life of the town, it might have been considered an absurd question. The Historical Society of Frankford has proved that such a Soci-ety not only ministers to memories of the past, but forms a centre around which the present development of this old borough can gather.

The following members of the Society have died during the year: David S. Rorer, Charles Hart, Mrs. Frank W. Wilson, Marshall D. Yonker, David C. Minlet, Miss Annie K. Shalicross.

The Society now numbers 203 persons. Our Register records the names of 198 persons who visited the rooms

of the Society during the year. Eighty-five of these visitors were not mem-bers of the Society.

The articles named in the following list have been presented to the Society during the year:

Respectfully submitted, ELEANOR E. WRIGHT,

Secretary.

BOUND BOOKS. Presented by Charles W. Castor:

1. No Cross, No Crown, by William Penn. Published in Philadelphia, printed by Jacob Johnson, 117 High street, 1796.

. History of the Insurrection in the Four 'Western Counties of Pennsyl-vania in 1794, by William Findlay. Published in Philadelphia, and printed by Samuel Harrison Smith, 118 Chestnut street, 1796.

3. Henry Clay Song Book, 1844. Clay and Frelinghysen Campaign. PAMPHLETS.

1. Peirce Business College Commencement, 1885. 2. Centennial Guide, 1876. 1. Addresses made in Congress in 1855 on the presentation of the sword

of Gen. Andrew Jackson. 4. Joseph Ditman's address, "From the Atlantic to the Pacific," 1886.

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5. Ledger Almanacs from 1870 to 1886, and 1887 to 1893-20 copies. 6. Journal of Franklin Institute for 1835, with Mathias W. Baldwin's busi-

ness advertisement on the cover. 7. Proceedings of Legislature of Pennsylvania for February 22, 1861, with

address of Abraham Lincoln, before his inauguration for his first term.

8. Industries of Philadelphia, 1879.

9. Historical and Commercial Philadelphia, 1892.

10. The Bi-Centennial Celebration of the founding of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in 1882.

Presented by George Castor Martin: 1. The Castor Family of Pennsylvania, compiled by George Castor Martin. 2. The Martin Family, compiled by George Castor Martin. 3. The Reed Family, Genealogy, by S. V. Talcott. 4. The Walton Family, Genealogy, by Martindale (incorrect). 5. The Abbe Family of New England Genealogy. 6. The Flint Family of New England Genealogy, by J. Lawrence Bass. 7. The Wright Family of New England Genealogy, by S. V. Talcott. 8. The Endicott Family of New England, by Charles W. Endicott, of

Salem, Mass. 9. The Barry Family of County Cook, Ireland, by Arthur Collins.

Presented by Mrs. Charles Hart: The World Displayed—Collection of Voyages and Travels by Smart, Gold-

smith and Johnson. in 8 volumes. Vol. 1. Published by Deblebower, Key and Simpson, Philadelphia, 1795.

Uncle Sam's Almanac, 1834.

Almanac for 1815. Poor Will's Almanac for 1836, published by Joseph McDowell, Philadelphia. Citizen's Almanac for 1833, published in Philadelphia. IEsop's Fables, published in Glasgow, Scotland, 1786, by Alexander Adams. Goodrich's History of United States of America, 1829, printed in New York. Young Man's Best Companion, date unknown.

The books formerly belonged to the Dyre family, who were old residents of Frankford.

Presented by Caroline W. Smedley: A Century After—A History of Philadelphia, published in 1876. Newspapers containing accounts of the death of King Edward VII, of Eng-

land, and of the accession of George V, together with an account of the coronation of George V and Queen Mary.

A Doll's Head; relic from Boston fire of 1872. The following were presented by various donors:

Battle of Gettysburg as seen from Little Round Top. Presented by Major B. F. Rittenhouse.

Memorial address of Life and Character of the Hon. William W. F'oulkrod, member of Congress for Fifth Congressional District of Pennsylvania, anc first President of The Historical Society of Frankford. Presented

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by Hon. Michael Donohoe. Photographs of Stones marking the Boundary between this country and

Mexico, and Maps showing location of Stones. Presented by Hon. Michael Donohoe.

Reports of Commercial Museum for 1911. Papers read before Lancaster County Historical Society in 1912. Report of Federation of Historical Societies of the State-1912. A Map representing the County sixteen miles around Philadelphia, pub-

lished 1876. Presented by Wm. C. Button. Framed Autographs of Old Frankford's Business Men. Presented by Chas.

W. Castor. Framed picture of John Schofield. Presented by his daughter, Miss Mary

Schofield. American Flag, made by Mrs. Charles M:organ and Mrs. Harvey Rowland,

Sr., for the Army during the Civil War. Presented by Mrs. Ferdinand S. Hormann.

Old Newspapers. Presented by Mrs. F. S. Hormann. Life of General Grant and Autobiography of John B. Gough. Presented by

Mrs. Ruth K. Smedley. Two copies of The National Journal. Presented by Mrs. T. Worcester Wor-

rell. Frost's History of United States, 2 vols. Presented by Miss M. Clara Markle. The Genealogy of the Muhlenberg Family, descendents of Henry Melchior

Muhlenberg. Presented by Yale University. Annual Report of The Essex Co. Institute, at Salem, Mass., for 1911 and

1912, and Visitors' Guide to Salem, published by Essex Co. Institute. Presented by Essex Co. Institute.

Copy of Proceedings of Seventh Annual Conference of Historical Societies of America, printed in Washington, 1912.

Large Tray, supposed to have belonged to family of late William H. Glad- stone, a leader in English politics. Presented by Clegg Brothers.

Cane, made from oak rafter of Jolly Post. Purchased by Society. Photograph Album. Presented by Mrs. Eliza Simons Worrell Levis. Cup and Saucer of Early English Ware. Presented by Mrs. Thomas

Creighton. Presented by The Historical Society of Pennsylvania through Dr. John

W. Jordan: BOUND BOOKS.

Michigan—Historical papers of Michigan Society for 1907. The Union League of Philadelphia, 1908. Bound Lists of Members of the Philadelphia Bar for 1888, 1890, 1891, 1892,

1893, 1894, 1896, 1897, 1906, 1909, 1910. Eleven volumes. PAMPHLETS.

1. St. James Kingsessing. 2. Schuylkill Navigation, 1845. 3. Christiana Riots, 1851.

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4. The Constitution of the United States, 1888. 5. Volunteer Fireman's Association Second Annual Report, 1874. 6. Wool and Wages. Paper by Hon. Hampton L. Moore. 7. Mechlenburg Declaration, two copies. 8. History of Old Eagle School. 9. Pennsylvania, 1682-1787. A lecture by Hon. W. A. Wallace, President

Pennsylvania Historical Society. 10. A History of Lower Merion Baptist Church. erected 1810. ii. Marquis de Lafayette in the American Revolution, by Dr. Charles J.

Stille. 12. Addresses to commemorate the 169th anniversary of the Landing of

Penn at Chester. 13. The History of the Ordinance of 1787. 14. Report of Congress of Librarians held in Philadelphia, 1876. 15. The History of The Bradford Prayer Book of 1710. 16. Address at opening of New Hall of The Historical Society, 1872. 17. Register of Baptisms, Marriages and Deaths between 1772 and 1882,

by Rev. William Rogers, D. D., a Baptist minister. 18. Founding of the Republic, an address by Francis Newton Thorp. 19. History of Rittenhouse Paper Mill, erected 1690 by Horatio Gates Jones. 20. One Hundredth Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. 21. Isaac Senter's Journal on a Secret Expedition to Quebec, under Col.

Benedict Arnold, 1775. 22. Journal of Col. Adam Hubley, concerning Wyoming, 1779. 23. Speeches at dinner given to Hon. Charlemange Tower. 24. Four copies of publications of The German Pioneer Society, in German. 25. Four Spanish Bulletins printed in Mexico, 1911-1912. 26. Charter and By-Laws of Pennsylvania Historical Society. 27. Gen. Anthony Wayne's letter of December 28, 1792. 28. Sketch of Francis Lieber, by Hon. M. Russell Thayer. 29. Memorial address on Hon. John William Wallace, President of Histori-

cal Society of Pennsylvania. 30. Memorial address on John W. Jordan, Jr., Vice-President of Historical

Society of Pennsylvania. 31. An Appreciation of Mary M. Cohen, founder of The Browning Society,

of Philadelphia. 32. Memoir of Samuel Breck. 33. Memoir of Brinton Cox, Esq. 34. Genealogy of Maule Family. 35. Memorial address on Frederick Dawson Stone, Librarian of Historical

Society of Pennsylvania. 36. Benjamin Furley, friend of William Penn, and an English merchant in

Rotterdam, by Julius F. Sachse. 37. Memoir of Charles J. Biddle. 38. Memoir of Joseph Reed Ingersoll. 39. Memoir of Thomas Smith, born 1817.

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40. Memoir of Charles Janeway Stille, M. D., LL. D., Provost of University and President of Historical Society of Pennsylvania.

MOUNTED PICTURES. 1. Willing Mansion, Third street below Walnut, 1859. 2. Academy of Natural Sciences and La Pierre House, site of Land Title

& Trust Building. 3. First Associate Presbyterian Church, Walnut street below Fourth.

Taken down 1860.

4. La Pierre House. 5. Parkinson's Garden, Chestnut street above Tenth, north side, 1859. 6. St. Stephen's Church, 1860.

7. Jones' United States Hotel, Chestnut street below Fifth, 1859. 8. Portrait of Madam Bona, a dramatic reader-residence Hamilton Man-

sion, Woodland avenue and Forty-first street. 9. Sixth street above Chestnut, 1859.

10. Friends' Alms House, front view. 11. Friends' Alms House, back view; Walnut street between Third and

Fourth streets. Erected 1713, torn down 1841.

12. Design by Mr. Goepp for Fairmount Park. 13. Library street below Fifth, May, 1859. 14. Fairmount Park, Centennial period. 15. Swanson Street Baptist Church, Chestnut street below Ninth, 1859. 16. Portrait Gen. W. R. Shafter. 17. Centre Square Water Works; erected 1800, taken down 1828. 18. Hall of Independence. 1861.

19. Smith and Windmill Islands, Delaware River. Removed by U. S. Gov-ernment 1894. Two views.

UNMOUNTED PICTURES. 20. Title Papers of German Books. Antiques. 21. N. W. corner Seventh and Chestnut streets. Store of Aaron Wolfe, a

celebrated liquor dealer. 22. N. E. corner Fifth and Chestnut streets. Frederic Brown's old store. 23. S. W. corner Second and Chestnut streets.

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