1HISTORICAL1.

ii1i
HUGH M. WILSON The ancient history of Frankford Is connected with the early settlements in Burlington, New Jersey, by the Friends in 1816. The folks who occupied that place then, having no road on the east side of the Delaware River, along which they could go from place to place and an Indian the Delaware. being open, crowed the Trail passing along the west side of river to the western side. They opened a road along the trail and so journeyed. This trail originally led to the Elm Tree at Shackamaxon (Kensington), and finally to the main town, Upland, as the Swedish called it, Chester as Penn named it. Other paths from different directions came to the tree. It was thought that under this tree Penn made his treaty' in 1683 with the Indians. At that time Penn describes the meeting at the Elm of the Samarkans. Kings or Chiefs of the various families or totems. While this trail was the least scenic and picturesque of the trails it was made for utilitarian purposes only. It was the most used by the Swedes and early peoplel generally. We mention this trail because it is the present Frankford Road, widened and improved -at various time, but with all uphill twistings and turnings it follows closely the path of the old Indian Trail. This trail has much to do with the history of Frankford. If the ancient settlers had not found this trail ready-made, it is doubtful if we would now have our existing Frankford Road. They soon laid out and built a twenty Loot road aIon it. As the Indians oned the ground, the right of way was of no importance. William Penn, when he came, opened it to forty feet and called it the King's Highway. The most troublesome part in the opening of a road is the securing of tha right of way. This mast b given by the title holders. Penn as the owner and title holder of all the land in the province could give tins. Penn promised to all who bought their land in England, before coming to this country, that all their holdings in the country should front on a forty foot wide main highway. So we have a number of Kings Highways in this vicinity. We also see Penn's anxiety and concern to extend this road through Frankford. Henry Woddy in 1683, an early inhabitant, was one who lad bought his ground in England. lHe settled and had his business on the King's Highway (Frankford Road). William Penn at first was the proprietor of the land. When it became a state it had the power of eminent domain. The state can delegate this power to municipalities and other state agencies. They can also give this right to railroads but only to acquire a right of way and the other contingent purposes. Railroads cannot take an old homestead if it stands in thei'.4 right of way.. They have to go arou'nd it and they cannot use the property for any other object. The state or municIpality or agency to whom they have delegated this power can take your property, but only after they hav 8. given the reason and design for which it was taken. They must also give you a fair price for the property. The Friends in the old and present day, thej English folk, the Swiss ahU German, and the peoples from other countries have all added to F'rankford's prosperity. There must have been a large German population in Frankford before the Revolutionary War. In 1769, as related in a previous article, they wanted a church Of their own. They wished to be independent of other churches. The German young people were a war-like race. Many of the young men Went to war and engaged in the above struggle. Captain Deatur, the father of the Commodore, was a privatiersman and commanded naval craft in the war. When, that war broke. out the commodore had not yet been born. We may date the expansion, the extending of the manufacturing and consequently the commercial business of Frankford to the coming of the folks from the old country. They brought1 the textile business and eontingent pursuits. Other factories and mills began to multiply. We have grown from a village of 2376 souls in 1840 to a town, of 85,000 in 1937. There was quite an increase in population and business. It takes move stores to supply the goods or 85,000 people than 2316. So there is more trade and traMc in FraEkford than ever before. It is still expanding and growing. It was then that Frankford begair to attract attention. It had the situation and streams to furnish the power. Steam power then had not become universal. The first or water power mills were built of stone. The homes of that period were erected of the same material. As steam was developed, the mills and factories were put up of brick. At the present time we have stone mills near Frankford Creek; brick mills near the stream and further out.. Weaving and the textile industry probably got their first impulse in Wra.nliford from the stable which was full of looms in the old brown frame house on Dr. Henry Taylor's estate. The profession or calling was of slow growth. It took it a long while to sprout to its present proportions. To Be Continued

THE FOUNDING OF FRANKFORD

HUGH M. WILSON

Frankford was original1 a Quaker In 1769 during the Stamp Ac or Friends' settlement, so naturally excitement and the meetings, the te the first church or meeting p4.ce 1 cargo of the brig "Polly" was sell waFj one of that denomination. The bacic from Philadelphia harbor t Friend8 were dissenters and fled j England. The Swiss-Germans an from England to escape persecution other Gern1answho had mostly corn of their sect. Their idea of religious from Germantown to, Frankford il. freedom was the one established by some number, wanted to have William Penn in tue province oi church of their own instead of de Pennsylvania. They came in large i pending on the mother church a numbers first to New Jersey and Germantown for their irregula afterward to Pennsylvania. Penn's I preaching as they had previousl influence was great because of the done. They built in 1770 on th character of fairness and help which I ot nie iaiie and Kings High he showed. I way (Church Street and Frankfor Befo.r William Penn came to the Road) and erected their first 101 province and founded Philadelphial church, the German Reformed. the Friends had a meeting in the In the meantime events were mov "iuse of Thomas Fairman at the jug tuwalu Inuepenuenee and Ihi Elm Tree at Shackamaxin in Kens- I Revolutionary War. After the wa ington. (In 1777 and 1778 during the young people (many cf thc Br'iHsh military body in this dis- I young men served their country ir triet, when all the trees were cut the Continental or American Arms down for fire-wood, having respect in this struggle) desired the service, for the memory of William PennI to be held in the English languagE placed a guard of soldiers around I instead of German as before. They the Elm Tree so it would not be cut were born in this country and wanted down.)' the worship in English; their native One of the first acts of Penn when tongue. The lder people disaphe arrived in this region was to proved, so there occurred a split in break up the meeting at Thomas j the church. Those in favor of the Fairman's home and move it to German language moved and left cijiladeiphia where it became the the building fo the others. As the Bank Meeting. It was sd called be- German Reformed Church accepted Cause it was situated on the Banks and was governed by Calvinistic of the L).cca..a.e tiver on Front doctrine it was a short step to asStreet above Arch. The Griscom I soctate themselves with the Presbyfamily of which Betsy Ross Amer- terian Church. In 1800 the remainican Flag fame was a daughter, be ing folks got in touch with the Presp bytery of Philadelphia and about longed to this meeting. Extracts from the minutes of the 1807 'they united with that body. fn Abington, Pennsylvania, York Road so doing they were converted into a which was Meeting: "At this time Thomas Fair-1 i(soyLOi'iau c.nurctc nai1 at tht request of William Penn,1 called the Presbyterian Church cf the'Governr.,r, removed himself and' 1rankford. The minister and sesfamily to acony, Frankford, where sion added a Sunday School and there was also a meeting appointed. - tarted immediately to do an outto be kept." The Frankford meeting standing progressive religious work was a Pi'epai'atoiy. one. The Friends which they have maintained to the have three meetings, Preparatory,l present time. The present manse iuonthly, and Quarterly, and repert1 was erected in 1840 and the church to one another in the order named.I building in 1859. Reverend John In 1683 the meetings were held in1 Baker Laird, the present pastor was the home o Sarah Scary and they 1 ordained in 1895. Ile preached in decided that they would build a meet-! that church as a divinity 'student! ing house; so they started to erect! from the Princeton Seminary. He I one. On March 5, 1684 the new! was called as a young man from the meeting hause was first used. This Seminary to that pulpit, and he has was a log buililnig. in i?6 the thd distinction of being one of the Flemish Bond brick buildirtg was few ministers who have had only one nut up which stands to this day. ministr.A . I Thus the first Church in Frankfordi Some of thq original families still! was a meeting house of the Friends belong to it. The Captain and Ann! at Unity and Waln Streets. Afterl Decatur, his wife, and mother of setting' up this meeting house, the! early maps showed Frankford, to be the Commodore, were members ci I still a country-place with one street I that Presbyterian Church and the qr road running through it, the commodore when he was home often Kings HighwayFrankford Rd., and attended the services.. Through the' lanes leading from' it near Frank-! efforts of the members of this ford creek. Bridle paths or roads' church missicns were maintained and to other settlements in the vicinity churches built in the other suburbs.1 joined it. The network of streets They have always done an outstandvhich we now see and use were then ing and progressive work. act 4 existence. To Be Continu cci