Christopher Ziegler

  Noted events in his life were:

• Occupation: weaver. ¹⁷⁸

• lived: New Hanover Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. ¹⁷⁹ Christopher Ziegler owned a large tract of land in Upper Hanover Township south of Pennsburg.

• lived: Providence Township. ¹⁸⁰ CHAPTER LXX.

PROVIDENCE TOWNSHIP.

By F. G. Hobson.

WHEN William Penn, as the true and absolute proprietary of the province, sold the lands of the commonwealth, he reserved for himself a large tract of the land on the east side of the Schuylkill River. It embraced the whole of the present townships of Upper Providence and Lower Providence and parts of the townships of Perkiomen and Worcester. The tract was named by him "The Manor of Gilberts," and was so known for many years. The name was in honor of Penn's mother, who was of the family of Gilberts. One of the early purchasers of land in this manor was Jacob Tellner, one of the founders of "Germantown", who owned a largo tract along the Skippack Creek, which now constitutes the northwest corner of the present township of Lower Providence. For many years, from about the year 1700, the land lying along the Skippack Creek was known as Tellner township, while that between the Skippack and Perkiomen, was called " Perkoming," the present township of Perkiomen being then known as "Van Bebber's township." At the March term of court, 1725, the petition of divers inhabitants along the Perquomin Creek was presented, praying the court to establish a township of the territory upon which they resided. This petition was signed by William Lane Samuel Lane James Lane Peter Rambo John Morris James Shatlick Richard Jones Thomas Diewer ____ Casselberry Thomas Loch John Bull Rienard Adams Thomas Potts Daniel Philips Lewis Rees.

At that time nothing was done. At the March Sessions, 1729, a new petition of the same persons was presented, accompanied by a draft of the proposed township, and setting forth the bounds and limits thereof as follows:

"Beginning at a hickory, marked for a corner, standing in the line of Isaac Norris's land; thence extending by the same southwest twelve hundred perches to a Gum tree standing by Schuylkill side; thence up the same the several courses twenty-two hundred and ninety-one perches to a Hickory at a corner of Limerick Township; thence by the same northeast thirteen hundred perches to a Hickory, a corner of Bebber's land; thence by the line of called Bebber's land on Skippack southwest and New Bristol township (so called) twenty-two hundred and ninety perches, to the place of beginning. containing by computation, 17,892 acres and 30 perches."

On the 2d of March 1729, the court decreed that the territory just specified be erected into a township, and the same be called by the name of "Providence township."

The origin of the name of "Providence" is not certainly known. Tradition says it was settled by some of the followers of Roger Williams, of Rhode Island. Nearly a century before this time the settlement in Rhode Island had been named "Providence." Hence his followers coming here called this region "New Providence." In most of the old documents it is called New Providence. Another more plausible theory is that it received its name from one of the West Indies Island, viz., "New Providence." Craig, an early settler, came from that place, while the Lanes and Richardsons, two of the foremost families of the township, came from the neighboring Island of Jamaica. After a time the township lost the "New" and retained as its name simply "Providence."

This township, or, as it is now, townships of Upper Providence and Lower Providence, face the Schuylkill River, and constitute the central townships of the county. They are bounded on the west by Limerick, on the north by Perkiomen and Worcester, on the east by Norriton and on the south by the Schuylkill River. The surface of both townships is rolling, the soil is mostly red shale and very productive, especially along the rivers Schuylkill and Perkiomen. There is very little waste land. The Perkiomen Creek, which forms the natural division line between the two townships, is the largest stream in Montgomery County. It is about thirty miles in length, following its meanderings. The name Perkiomen is of Indian origin, and means "the place where grow the cranberries." The spelling of this name has undergone many changes. In Penn's deed of purchase it is called "Pah- he-homa." In Nicholas Scull's map it is spelled "Perquamink." Afterwards we find it known as "Perquoming" "Perkiomino" "Perkoming" "Perkionan" "Perquoning" "Perquonum" "Perquomin", and later as "Perkiomen".

The Mingo Creek rises in Limerick township and runs through the western part of Upper Providence, where it empties itself into the Schuylkill. Its stream is weak. Another small stream, known as Zimmerman's Run, rises near Trappe and empties into the Perkiomen, near Yerkes. In Lower Providence there are two streams of water, -the Skippack and Mine Run. The Skippack is about seventeen miles in length and empties into the Perkiomen, at Arcola. Its name, which is of Indian origin, and means "a stagnant stream" or "pool of water," symbolized its nature. Mine Run rises in the township and is about three miles in length, and it empties into the Perkiomen, at Oaks.

It would be impossible to give the history of the roads of the township. The Great road from Philadelphia to the Perkiomen is a very ancient one. In 1709 this road was extended towards Reading. The petition therefor is signed by John Henry Sprogell Morris Jones John Newman Matthew Brooks Robert Belling and Henry Paukor, and recites that they have "plantations lying very remote in the county, and on the edge or outskirts of any inhabitants of the country and no public road; they therefore pray for a road from the late house of Edward Lane deceased, being in the Queen's highway, unto Maunitauns, etc."

In 1734 a jury consisting of Richard Jones Christopher Zimmerman John Umstat Joseph Armstrong John Bull Samuel Evans laid out a road from Henry Pawling's plantation to the road or cartway leading to Norriton Mills, and thence, by or near the mill formly belonging to Edward Lane, to St. James' Church on Manatawny road in Providence.

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In 1736 a public road was laid out which now constitutes the Ridge turnpike road.

In public improvements Providence has its full share. The Perkiomen and Reading turnpike road was completed in 1815. It runs from the Perkiomen Bridge to Reading. It passes three and one-half miles through the township. The Perkiomen and Sumneytown turnpike road was incorporated in 1845.




PICTURE OF PERKIOMEN BRIDGE, BUILT 1798, APPEARS HERE.




This road is eleven miles in length, one mile of which is in the township, where it terminates at Perkiomen Bridge. In Lower Providence there are two turnpike roads, both beginning at the eastern end of Perkiomen Bridge at Collegeville. Both the Germantown and Perkiomen road and the Ridge Turnpike road have been neglected for many years, and no tolls are collected for travel thereon. The burden of keeping them in repair has thus fallen on the townships.

There are three railroads. The Philadelphia and Reading Railroad runs about two miles through Upper Providence, with one station, "Mingo." The Perkiomen Railroad, running from Perkiomen to Allentown, Lehigh Co., passes through the whole length of the township along the Perkiomen Creek. There are four stations in the township, viz.: Oaks, Arcola, Yerkes and Collegeville, the last being the most important. The road was opened to travel as far as Collegeville on May 8, 1868, and was gradually extended to Allentown. The Pennsylvania Schuylkill Valley Railroad passes along the east side of the Schuylkill the entire length of both townships. It was completed in 1884, and has four stations Port Kennedy Perkiomen Port Providence Mont Clare.

There are four bridges spanning the Perkiomen, connecting Upper Providence with Lower Providence, viz.: at Collegeville, Yerkes, Arcola, and Oaks. The latter three are wooden superstructures erected upon stone piers and abutments, while the one at Collegeville is a fine stone structure, and known as "The Perkiomen Bridge." In addition, there is a county bridge over the Mingo, and one near the almshouse over a small stream. In Lower Providence there are two county bridges over the Skippack, one on each of the turnpikes. In addition, there are two pay, bridges over the Schuylkill, one at Port Kennedy and the other at Pawling. In Upper Providence there are also two pay bridges across the Schuylkill. The bridge at Quineyville was incorporated in 1844, and built shortly thereafter.

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The one at Black Rock was built in 1860, and cost nineteen thousand dollars. There are also four fine railroad bridges in the township, -an iron one over the Perkiomen, on the line of the Pennsylvania Schuylkill Valley Railroad; a frame one over the Schuylkill, on the Perkiomen Railroad; a stone bridge over the same river on the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad; and an iron structure over the Schuylkill at Mount Clare, on the Pennsylvania Schuylkill Valley Railroad, erected in 1884. The present bridge structure at Collegeville is the oldest in the township. The place where the bridge now stands was known before this time as "Philip's Ford." It was a very dangerous one, Henry Buckwalter having drowned there, April 14, 1737, by reason of his horse stumbling. Many unsuccessful attempts were made to procure a bridge at this place. In the year 1794 the Legislature appropriated money to this object on condition that the county would furnish the balance. A petition was presented to the Montgomery County court, at May Sessions, 1795, asking for two thousand pounds towards building this bridge, which was allowed. This sum was seen to be so insufficient that the commissioners refused to proceed. Another petition was therefore presented at the May term, 1796, asking, for an additional appropriation of a sum sufficient to warrant the completion of the work. The grand jury unanimously recommended an additional two thousand pounds. On August 10, 1796, the court (Robert Loller judge) refused to concur. The people then again had recourse to the General Assembly of the State.

On the 21st of February 1797, the Legislature passed "An Act for raising, by way of lottery, the sum of twenty thousand dollars, to be applied to the erection of a stone-arched bridge over the Perkioming Creek, in Montgomery County, on the road leading from Philadelphia to the borough of Reading."

The following persons were named as commissioners to superintend the drawings of this lottery, viz., Peter Muhlenberg John Richards Samuel Baird Francis Swaine Moses Hobson Frederick Conrad Samuel Markley Francis Nicholas William Smith Philip Boyer Elisha Evan James Bean John Markley Robert Kennedy John Elliot nearly all of whom lived in this vicinity.

There were two drawings of ten thousand tickets each. The first was commenced July 17, 1797, and continued twenty-one days. The capital prize of $3000 was drawn by No. 8252 No. 1268 drew $1000 No. 6785, $500. The second-class was drawn November 1, 1798, and continued twenty-five days. The $1000 prize was drawn by No. 2376. No. 9823 drew $500. On July 24, 1797, the county commissioners, -Frederick Conrad, Moses Hobson, Samuel Maulsby, -together with the judges of the court, -Messrs. Loller, Rittenhouse and Markley, met at the public-house of Elisha Evans. They there decided that the bridge should consist of arches, -three of fifty feet, two of forty-five feet, two of thirty-five feet, two of thirty feet, and two of twenty feet. This was afterwards changed, and the bridge was built with but six arches. The contracts for the various works at the mill were given out March 23, 1798. At the end of the year the county had expended the sum of $34,683.12, and the bridge was only one-half completed.

On March 28, 1799, an act was passed in the General Assembly which gave the commissioners power to complete the bridge and charge toll for persons passing over the same. This was to be charged until the tolls so received were sufficient to pay the whole cost of building the same, together with the costs for collecting the toll. As soon as this was accomplished the court was to declare the same a free bridge. The bridge was finished in 1799 in the style it now stands. It cost the county about sixty thousand dollars. The formal dedication took place on the 4th of November. Samuel Bard was toll-gatherer. It was declared free by the court some five years later, and became a county bridge. The Legislature in chartering the Perkiomen and Reading Turnpike Road Company, March 20, 1819, gave the custody of this bridge into the hands of the company, in whose hands it has been ever since. A toll-house was erected at the west end of the bridge in July, 1867. Before its completion the house was burned by incendiaries, and the gate removed and thrown into the Perkiomen Creek. In October, 1872, the Turnpike Company again erected a toll-house at the east end. This led to litigation, and the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania decided that the company, under their charter, could not maintain a gate within one mile of said bridge. January 30, 1873, the decision of the court of last resort was announced. That same evening the old toll-house shared the fate of its predecessor, being burned down. The bridge stands to-day as it was built, an everlasting monument to the memory of the men who built the same, and a splendid model for bridge-builders of the present time to take pattern of.

The bridge over the Skippack, below the village of Evansburg, is on the site of the first bridge built in the township. The predecessor of the one now standing was built by lottery, as was the bridge over the Perkiomen, but we have very little data as to the circumstances. The Legislature, by act of September 20, 1765, created certain commissioners, who were empowered to receive such sums of money as were due by the managers of a lottery, and to receive voluntary subscriptions and donations towards the better perfecting of a bridge over the Skippack Creek, in the county of Philadelphia. This old bridge has long since been destroyed and the present structure erected in its place.

Near the village of Shannonville is Pawling's bridge, over the Schuylkill. There was a bridge here in 1778, as Colonel John Bull made a report to the Executive Committee, on August 31, 1778, as to the condition of "the Bridge over Schuylkill at ye Fattlandford, near the Valley Forge;" in consequence of which report the same was then repaired. This bridge was, no doubt, built for military purposes, and was subsequently washed away. Near its site was a bridge erected about the year 1809, as on April 3d of that year the company was chartered. The bridge was destroyed in 1820 by ice, in a high freshet, but was shortly afterwards rebuilt.

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Of the early settlers in Providence Township quite a number are worthy of special mention.

Edward Lane, an Englishman, came from Jamaica in 1684. On the 9th of Twelfth Month, 1698-9, he purchased two thousand five hundred acres of land from Thomas Fairman, which was confirmed to him by patent, in 1701, by William Penn. This tract was situated on both sides of the Perkioman, upon which now stand the villages of Collegeville and Evansburg. He erected a grist-mill on the Skippack in 1708. He married Ann Richardson, and left seven children viz.: James Elizabeth William Samuel Christiana Ellinor Ann.

He died in March 1710. He kept the first hotel, where now stands the Perkiomen Bridge Hotel. At his death Samuel Lane became owner of that part of his plantation lying west of the Perkiomen, and William Lane of that to the east of the same stream. Samuel Lane kept the hotel, and was elected assessor of Philadelphia County from 1737 to 1740. His son, Edward Lane, was constable in 1767, and cried sales. He was in Braddock's expedition against Fort Duquesne, in 1755. At his death, in 1798, he left seven children,- Mary Kendel Abigail Couch Jane Davis Ann Church Eleanor Evans Ann Bean William Lane.

Many of his descendants are still living in the county of Montgomery, among whom are the Davises, Beans, Evans, Crawfords, Chains and Shannons. Among his distinguished descendants may be mentioned Joseph E. Lane, a candidate for Vice President of the United States in 1860.

The Lanes were Episcopalians, and were chiefly instrumental in the establishment of St. James' Episcopal Church, Lower Providence.

Joseph Richardson was one of the early settlers of Providence. In 1696 he married Elizabeth Bevan. In 1710 he purchased of his brother-in-law, Abraham Bickley, one thousand acres of land situated on the west side of the Perkiomen, upon the Schuylkill. Here he lived for many years and his children after him. He left eight children,- Samuel John Edward Aubrey Richard Ellinor Barbara Elizabeth, of whom Samuel, John and Edward were educated at the Pastorius school, in Germantown. His grandson, Captain Joseph Richardson, was a man of fine attainments and wonderful physical strength. Just before the Revolution he was accused of counterfeiting, but escaped arrest. A price was put upon his bead. For many years he eluded capture and became the terror of the country as the leader of a gang of outlaws. He was finally captured, tried and acquitted of the crime charged.

An early settler was John Jacob Schrack, who, with his wife Eva Rosina, and four children, came from Germany in 1717. He purchased two hundred and fifty acres of land lying in the lower end of the present village of Trappe. He was a man of influence and an elder of the Lutheran congregation of Providence in which he took a deep interest. He was one of the most active in writing at different times to London and Halle for a preacher. It was in answer to these repeated requests that Muhlenberg was sent. But Schrack did not live to see the pastor he had been instrumental in securing. He died in 1742, a few months before the arrival of Muhlenberg. He was buried in the Lutheran Churchyard, his tombstone being the oldest there bearing an inscription. His widow died in 1756. His sons, John and Christian, lived on the homestead for many years, keeping a public-house called "The Trap." Many of the descendants of John Jacob Schrack still live in the neighborhood.

The Pawling family was a large and influential one. "Pawling's Ford" was named after them. Henry Pawling, of Padsbury, England, purchased of William Penn, in England, one thousand acres in 1681. On his arrival in Pennsylvania he located his land in Providence. One tract of five hundred acres lay opposite Valley Forge, on which he resided. His son Henry owned at the same time twelve hundred acres in Perkiomen township. The latter was captain of a company of Associates in 1747, and a member of the Assembly in 1754. By the act establishing the county in 1784, Henry Pawling, Jr., was appointed one of the commissioners to lay out the county seat. He was, appointed associate judge in 1789. Isaac Pawling was a warden of St. James' Church, Evansburg, and, Levi and Lewis Pawling were the first vestrymen of the Episcopal Church of Norristown, and Levi Pawling was Congressman from the district for one term (1817-19), and for a time was president of the Montgomery National Bank, of Norristown.

Fredick Ludwig Marsteller arrived from Darmstadt, Germany, in 1729, and settled on the banks of the Skippack Creek, in New Providence township. Here he bought land of David Williams and Richard, Jones. He was an officer of the Providence Lutheran Church, and was first to welcome Pastor Muhlenberg to his new charge. He was active in the building of the Lutheran Church, and is named, over its doorway, as one of its founders. He died in 1758, on the 14th of October. His remains he near the old church he loved so well.

Patrick Gordon settled in Providence; along the Schuylkill, at Mont Clare. He was a man of mark, and from June 22, 1726, to August 4, 1736, filled the position of Deputy-Governor of the province with credit to himself and honor to the county.


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Captain John Diemer settled along the Skippack. He was a celebrated physician, and in 1746 was elected captain of a company of German Associates, raised in the neighborhood for protection against the French and Indians.

Thomas Lewis, as early as 1752, advertises for sale a farm in Providence, and a grist-mill near the mouth of the Mingo, and says that "loaded canoes can come to the mill-door."

John Bull, in 1716, purchased a farm of four hundred acres in Providence, near the Limerick line, where he lived for many years. His son, Colonel John Bull, was famous in his day as a colonel in the Revolutionary army and in civil life.

Francis Shunk, the grandfather of Governor Francis R. Shunk, came from the Palatinate, in Germany, in 1715, and settled in Providence township.

Hon. Samuel Gross, of Providence, in 1803, was elected to the Assembly, and reelected in 1805 and 1807. In 1811 he was elected State Senator, and in 1818 to Congress.

James and Adam Hamer were brothers, had settled near the present village of Port Providence in 1713, James purchasing three hundred acres and Adam two hundred and fifty acres. James Hamer, M.D., of the fourth, and James H. Hamer, M.D., of the fifth generation, are still living in the township.

David Todd settled near Mont Clare. His descendants are still living in the township, whilst one lately occupied the position of Secretary of War under President Arthur, -namely, Robert Todd Lincoln.

The following persons served as Justices of the Peace for Providence township from the earliest times to the adoption of the Constitution of 1838, viz.:

Frederick A. Muhlenberg, 1784 and January 14, 1789

Anthony Crothers, February 7, 1789 and 1791

Henry Pawling, January 20, 1789 and 1792

John Pugh, January 20, 1789 and April 13, 1807

Benj. Dismant, 1792

Francis Swaine 1793

Andrew Todd, May 22, 1800

Samuel Gross, January 2, 1802

Isaiah Davis, April 2, 1804

James Harris, January 1, 1807

Abel Thomas, April 13, 1807 and February 29, 1820

James Evans, February 3, 1814

Samnel Byrd, April 9, 1816

Peter Waggonseller, December 4, 1816

Benj. Tyson, June 30, 1817

Issac Liderman, December 16, 1819

John Shearer, December 15, 1820

John S. Missimer, November 15, 1822

Henry Longacre, July 5, 1825

Robert Evans, April 4, 1827

Jacob Dewees, April 20, 1829

Joseph Henry, November 16, 1829

Jacob Highly, October 3, 1831

Henry Loucks, December 10, 1831

John Todd, July 15, 1833

David Baird, January 5, 1835

John Dismant, April 4, 1835

John Razor, May 28, 1835

Henry De Haven, December 7, 1836.

The settlement of Perkiomen township was begun in 1702 by the Mennonists of Germantown, under the lead of Matthias Van Bebber. This is not the place to trace the interesting history which belongs to the township of Perkiomen. Suffice it to say that this Mennonist settlement extended into the township of Providence. Jacob Tellner, Leonard Arets and William Streeper, all related to each other by marriage, were three of the leaders in the movement that effected the settlement of Germantown and afterwards spread into Perkiomen. Each of these three selected and purchased a tract of land in Providence township.

Tellner selected his on the Skippack, just east of the Lane tract, while Arets, in 1707, purchased five hundred acres just west of the Lane tract, bordering on Perkiomen, and Streeper secured the next five hundred acres, west of Arets, in 1705, these last two parcels including all the land now embraced in the village of Trappe.

In addition to those mentioned, George Bunson bought three hundred and forty-five acres in 1728 James Steel, two hundred and fifty acres in 1734 Philip Ashenfelter Jonathan Cox Benjamin Rees Thomas Derringer George Essig Nicholas Robinson George Painter Roger North Henry Desmond Colder Royer Benedict Garber John Ewalt John Jacobs Caspar Rahn were all original purchasers from the Penns.

In 1734 we find John Beidler owning 100 acres of land Aubrey Richardson 460 Edward Richardson, 200 James Hamer, 300 Samuel Lane, 500 Adam Hamer, 250 Arnold Hancock, 100 John Diemer, 150 Peter Rambo, 200 Matthias Koplin, 148 Jacob Schrack, 250 Hans Chrisman, 200 Adam Vanderslice, 100 Roger North, 69 Daniel Desmond, 100 Thomas Morgan, 100 Henry Pawling, 500 Harman Indehoffen, 200 Thomas How, 100 Richard Adams, 148 William Adams, 200.

One of the most important factors in the settling of Providence township was 1he Pennsylvania Land Company. An act of Parliament, passed thirty- third year of George II., No. 112, vesting certain estates in Pennsylvania in a partnership called "The Pennsylvania Land Company in London," William Penn, in 1699, August 11 and 12, conveyed to Thomas Collet and others, who constituted this company, five thousand acres in Gilbert's Manor, adjoining the Schuylkill and Perkiomen, including nearly all the western half of the present township of Lower Providence. Many plantations were sold prior to 1761. On the 2d of April, 1761 the remaining twenty-two plantations in New Providence township, aggregating about four thousand acres, bounded by lands of Henry Pawling, James Morgan, Norriton township and the rivers Schuylkill and Perkiomen, "were sold at public vendue. At this sale 151 acres were sold to Samuel Bell 145 to James Skeen 113 to Valentine Shambough 120 to Thomas Grahagen 161 to Christian Recup 147 to William Thomas 117 to Thomas Francis 172 to Thomas Rossiter 336 to Arnold Vanfossen 156 to John Taney 147 to Benjamin Chesnut 175 to Nathan Davis 125 to Barney Pawling, etc.

The people of Providence, from the earliest times until 1777, were compelled to go to Philadelphia to cast their votes. The elections were then held at the inn opposite the State-House. From 1777 to 1784 they voted at the public-house of Jacob Wentz in Worcester township; from 1784 to 1785 at the public-house of Hannah Thompson, Norriton, then the seat of county government; from 1785 to 1802 at the court-house, Norristown. From 1802 until the division of the township, in 1810, those living east of the Skippack Creek voted at Norristown, whilst those living to the west of said creek exercised that privilege at the public-house of David Dewees, Trappe.

The township of Providence in 1734 had seventy-four land-owners and tenants, and in 1741 the township contained one hundred and forty-six. taxables, a considerable increase in so short a time. In 1785 the township contained twenty slaves and six hotels.

• Property, 17 Aug 1745. ^181,182 I purchased 280 acres of land in Upper Hanover Township south of Pennsburg

• will, 7 Nov 1796. ^183,184 I wrote my will on November 7, 1796



ZIEGLER, CHRISTOPHER, SR. Providence Township. Written: November 7, 1796. Proved: April 24, 1804. Will Book 2, Page 379

To son Micheal, horse. Rem. divided into 10 parts: to son Micheal one part. To children of son John one part. To children of son Andrew one part. To son Christopher one part. To children of daughter Catharine wife of Benjamin Mayer one part. To daughter Hannah wife of Martin Landis one part. To daughter Elizabeth wife of Samuel Bower one part. To daughter Barbara wife of David Buckwalter one part. To daughter Susanna wife of Jacob Weiss one part. To daughter Deborah wife of David Longenecker one part.

Execs: Sons in law Samuel Bower, David Buckwalter. Wit: Jacob Longacre, Jacob Garber.

Christopher married Deborah Dewitt Pawling, daughter of Lt. John Pawling and Aefje Dewitt, in 1735 in Montgomery, Pennsylvania.¹⁷⁴ (Deborah Dewitt Pawling was born in 1717 in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, died in 1785 in Upper Hanover Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania and was buried in 1785.)

  Noted events in their marriage were:

• lived. We estaablished our home in Pennsburg, Pennsylvania.