THE TUNKERS OR DUNKARDS.

Pp. 23, 42, 111, and 258.-In 1729, Rev. Alexander Mack arrived in this country with many of his congregation, and assisted Mr. Becker, who had removed to Bebberstown, near Germantown. He died in 1735. After Mr. Becker went to Skippack in 1747, Rev. Alexander, Mack the second succeeded. În 1737 a few, about seven, of the Dunkers established a religious house or monastery upon the plan of the large monastery of the Seventh-Day Baptists at Ephrata, founded by Conrad Beissel in 1732-33, who had formerly been a Dunker, but adopted the principles of the Seventh-Day Baptists. They built a house "in a valley one mile from Germantown," but only continued it for seventeen months. The "Monastery of the Wissahickon," about a mile above the Red Bridge on the Wissahickon, has been popularly supposed to have been the house built by the Brothers. But it has been a fine large mansion, and not such as the Brothers would have erected. The ground in question was sold in March, 1747, to John Gorgas of Germantown. In 1752 he conveyed half of it to his brother, Joseph Gorgas, who had erected on it a three-story stone house. Joseph was a member of the society of Seventh-Day Baptists, and here he gathered congenial spirits and "held sweet communion." They baptized in the Wissahickon, at a spot known as "The Baptisterion." Joseph Gorgas sold the property to Edward Milner in 1761.

P. 23.-The true name of this town was Bebberstown-not

Beggarstown; therefore Watson's reason for the name can hardly be founded on fact.

P. 24. This market-house has been entirely removed, and the market-square has been adorned with trees and walks, and presents a pretty appearance, railed in, and embellished with flowers and a fountain.

P. 27. First grist-mill. (See Vol. I. p. 128.)

From England, p. 27.-This is not quite correct, I think. Townsend in his printed account (see Proud, i. p. -) expressly says that the materials brought from England were used by him in a mill he erected on Chester Creek, and which, being mentioned by him before, was probably erected first, but in Chester county. It is uncertain when Townsend's account was printed, but this mill, he says, was erected about one year after Germantown was settled-say 1683 or 1687.

GERMANTOWN ACADEMY.

P. 27.—On the 6th of December, 1759, a meeting was held at the house of Daniel Mackinet, when it was resolved that a large commodious building should be erected near the centre of the town for an English and High Dutch or German school, and also dwellings for the teachers.. A subscription was at once started, and many subscribed, and Christopher Meng, Christopher Sauer, Baltus Reser, Daniel Mackinet, John Jones, and Charles Bensell were appointed to collect further subscriptions. The contributors met Jan. 1, 1760, and chose of their number for trustees, Christopher Sauer, Thomas Rosse, John Jones, Daniel Mackinet, Jacob Keyser, John Bowman, Thomas Livzey, David Deshler, George Absentz, Joseph Galloway, Charles Bensell, Jacob Naglee, and Benjamin Engle; for treasurer, Richard Johnson. The directors selected a lot, and submitted a plan, estimate of cost, and a plan of government at a meeting held on the 25th. It was decided that the school should be free to persons of all religious denominations, that it should be on a lot "in the lane or cross-street leading toward the Schuylkill, commonly called 'Bensell's Lane""-it was purchased from John and George Bringhurst and that it should be called "the Germantown Union School-house."

On April 21, 1760, the trustees and other contributors met and laid four corner-stones. It was completed and opened in September, 1761. Hilarius Becker was the German teacher, David James Dove the English teacher, Thomas Pratt the English usher. By the 16th of October there were 131 pupils-61 in the English and 70 in the German department. The school went on flourishing until the Revolution. In 1764 we find the Quakers objecting to certain lessons of politeness, and the trustees resolved "that the master shall give express orders to the children of persons of that society that they do not accost him or others by uncovering the head at any time." Greek, Latin, and the higher mathematics were taught in addition to the ordinary rudiments.

About 1776, "by reason of the troubled times," it was difficult to get a quorum of trustees. In July, 1777, a new teacher was appointed, because Thomas Dungan, the master of the English school, had joined the American army, in which he became a captain. In August, 1777, the school was about to be used as a hospital for the sick of Washington's army, but Israel Pemberton saw President Hancock, and the sick soldiers were taken to the hospital in Philadelphia, and the school was not interrupted. In October, 1778, it is stated that "on account of the distressed times no German or English school has been kept this good while." Nor do we find any minutes of the board of trustees, nor notice of the school having been again opened until after the

peace. In 1784 a charter was obtained incorporating it as "the Public School at Germantown," which was amended in 1786. The school was poor, the Legislature's finances, "so soon after a long and expensive war," could not furnish aid, so contributions were solicited. They struggled on for some years, getting gradually more prosperous from access of pupils, contributions, and legacies. In 1808 a lottery was held which yielded £93 128., but John Johnson resigned, and Treasurer John Bowman refused to receive the money.

In 1793, on account of the yellow fever in the city, the Legislature of Pennsylvania and Congress proposed to occupy it, but it was resolved that it be first offered to the President at a rent of $300 for the session. At the next attack of the fever, in 1798, the use of the cellar and lower story was granted to the banks of Pennsylvania and North America, they agreeing to paint the building and put on a new roof. When leaving it the banks thanked the trustees for the asylum afforded.

In 1810 the house opposite the school was bought for $3200 from James Matthews, who presented the insurance on it, and Mr. John Wister lent $1400 to make the purchase. From this period the school has continued to prosper and advance. The same trustees were constantly re-elected, some of them having been in the board from twenty to thirty years. Among them are the familiar Germantown names of Bensell, Rittenhouse, Lehman, Johnson, Galloway, Pemberton, Chew, Haines, Logan, Ashmead, Harvey, Watson, Forrest, Betton, Wister, and others of the best families. Mr. Reuben Haines was a particular friend of the school and active patron of science; and Mr. Charles J. Wister, a trustee for thirty years, presented a valuable philosophical apparatus.

The school possesses some curious relics, which are also symbolic of the past. On the spire is a crown, placed there by the loyal love of our ancestors for their government; in the steeple is a bell that came over in the ship that brought the tea which was thrown overboard into Boston harbor; in the library is a spy-glass used by Washington at the battle of Germantown. Each of these represents a portion of our history-colonial dependence, indignant resistance to royal power, war, Washington, and victory.

The centennial anniversary of laying the corner-stone was celebrated by the people of Germantown with great enthusiasm April 21st, 1860, by ringing of the bell, parade, one hundred guns, and in the evening by a short address and an ode by John S. Littell, a prayer by Rev. Charles W. Schaeffer, an oration by the late Sidney George Fisher, and a benediction by Rev. Henry S. Spackman.

THE MORRIS MANSION.

P. 41. The mansion occupied by General Howe and by Washington, on the Main street below Schoolhouse lane, was at that time owned by Isaac Frank; it afterward became the property of the Perot family; then of the late estimable and respected Samuel B. Morris, and now of Elliston P. Morris, Esq., his son. It is a large and most comfortable mansion, old-fashioned in its style of architecture, but in much better taste than many modern houses of more pretension. The hall is very fine, and the rooms are wainscoted and panelled from the ceiling to the floor, with a rich heavy cornice. The wood-work is admirably done, and perfect to this day. Mr. Morris retains, with rare good taste, the original appearance of it as near as possible. There is the old-fashioned door-knob, latch, and fastenings, which must have been handled by Washington many a time, and even some of his china. Mr. Morris's taste has preserved many fine pieces of antique mahogany and walnut furniture from his ancestors, so admirably in keeping with the house itself. It is a rare treat for the lover of antiquity to pass some hours in this house with its surroundings. The grounds possess some noble trees, many of considerable age, and are laid out with such skill as to give the idea of much greater scope than they possess. The grass is kept

in admirable order.

Capt. Turner, etc., pp. 39 and 60.-April 19, 1846, these eight bodies were disinterred in digging a grave, and were recognized by Peter Keyser's relation of some circumstances respecting them. He witnessed the battle, and was present at the interment, one having had part of his head blown off and another's legs being contracted and drawn in. The bones were undecayed, as well as some pieces of the regimentals, after lying there sixtyseven years.

Gilbert Stuart, p. 64.-The barn where Stuart painted and Washington sat was destroyed by fire 3d mo., 1854, from the act of an incendiary. Its walls are still standing and partially covered in. It adjoins the house Stuart lived in and occupied with his family from 1797 to 1800, now in possession of Mr. William W. Wister.

P. 79.-Norristown is the capital of Montgomery county, Pennsylvania. Montgomery was at one time a portion of Philadelphia county, and at that period the ground now occupied by Norristown was in Philadelphia county, but Montgomery county was formed in 1784, and since that time has ceased to have any connection with Philadelphia.

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P. 94. The old Episcopal church of St. Paul has been entirely demolished, and nothing but the vacant ground, which is

occupied as a burying-ground, left to mark the spot where it stood. It was intended to erect the new one on the spot, but the foundation was not thought secure; this is perhaps some apology for not leaving the old building stand, as the new one is on the opposite side of the street. It is a neat Gothic stone building, with a steeple. Sanderline's monument is standing within the new church; it unfortunately was broken in two by carelessness after its removal from the wall of the church, where it originally was placed. The date is difficult to be ascertained. The old church was opened by Rev. Mr. Talbot, an associate of the famous George Keith, by whom, Humphreys says, inaccurately, the first sermon was preached. (See Keith's Journal; Humphreys' account of Society for Propagating the Gospel, by whose patronage the church was supplied.) A letter written by John Moore, collector of this port, dated March 10th, 1713, to James Sandilands of Uplands, says: "It is my design to inform you that there is in my care a small bell which is intended for St. Paul's Church in your parish, which has been delivered at this port free of charges or duty, likewise a rich cloth and neat chalice, which are the gift of Sir Jeffry Jeffryes. . . . . Ye winter has been very long and dull, and we have no mirth or pleasure except a few evenings spent in festivity with my Masonic brethren," etc. The present city of Chester is called by Mr. Moore Uplands, thirty-five years after Penn is said to have named the place Chester, at the request of the undiscovered Pearson. If Penn ever made such a promise, no doubt the place alluded to was the county, not the town, of Chester. The records of St. Paul's Church, Chester, show that the bell was first rung on Christmas Day, 1713, and "Cuffy was paid 68. 6d. and Dick (David Roberts' boy) 18. for ringing the church-bell."

P. 98.-Orphans' Court 4th 1st mo., 1693, should be 1683. P. 101.-Pennsbury should be more properly described as between Bristol and Trenton, and is on the Pennsylvania side of the Delaware. It is about seven or eight miles above Bristol, and a quarter of a mile below Robbins's Ferry. In 1852, John F. Watson, Samuel Hazard, Townsend Ward, Dr. B. H. Coates, William Duane, Edward Ward, John Jordan, Jr., and George Northrop visited the place. It was occupied by Robert Crozier. But little remains to remind one of its former importance in the time of William Penn. The present dwelling rests upon a part of the wall of the old cellar; the well is in front of the house; there are several old cherry trees that were planted in Penn's time; and there is a large two-storied wooden building, believed to be the old malt- and brew-house. It is about thirty-five by fifty feet; the ground-floor is about two feet below the sill; there are several rooms both up and down stairs. It has a gable end toward the river. When you enter it you face a large stone fireplace, thirteen to fourteen feet wide. This was supposed to be

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