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In the parish and town of Kirkbride, 12 miles
west of Carlisle, Cumberland county, England, in the
17th century, dwelt Matthew and Magdalene Kirk-
bride. From whence they came we have no definite
information, but the family is supposed to have been
of Scottish origin. The quaint little town, with its
parish worship house, built in the days of " William the
Norman," and its one and a half story cut stone
houses, with 4 by 6 inch window panes and straw
roofs, bear evidence of the great antiquity of the
settlement.
Matthew and his young bride had become united
with the Society of Friends, early after its rise in 1652 ;
and between the years 1659 and 166S their five chil-
dren, viz : John, Matthew, Joseph, Sarah and Thomas,
were born. William Penn invited his fellow pro-
fessors to come away from the scenes of persecution
for their religious belief, to sustain which unsullied,
they had so severely suffered at the hands of priests
and magistrates — also those who longed for an outlet
for enterprise, which the pent-up channels of custom,
altogether restrained at home — and those who sighed
for more political liberty than could even be hoped
for under the regal government, to join him in
seeking an asylum in the then newly-acquired Pro-
vince of Pennsylvania ; of these large numbers
were found ready to leave the scenes of home and
life long associations, to encounter the perils of a voy-
age across the Atlantic, and the hardships of a settle-
ment yet to be made in the unbroken forest. The
people of Cumberland entered largely into the enter-
prise. Many of them had long looked out from their
hillside homes and moorland dwellings, upon the west-
ern sea, and thought over the reports which came to
them from those who had visited "the good land "
on the other side of the wild expanse of waters. The
"Province of Pennsylvania" had already become a
household word, and when the invitation came to join
the expedition then fitting out at Bristol, many of them
at once bid adieu to home and friends of childhood,
and the cherished associations of more mature years,
and proceeded to join the ship to go over as settlers.
Among these was Joseph Kirkbride, an apprenticed
youth of 19 years of age, who, without making such
arrangements as strict justice would require, left the
service of his master, and with his little bundle of
clothing and a flail which he carried with him as his
" stock in trade " from Cumberland, took passage in
the vessel " Bristol Factor," and arrived safely in the
Delaware the 29th of 7th month, 1682.
Joseph was soon heard of in the proprietor's em-
ploy at Pennsbury, but his stay here was not of long
duration. The settlements in West Jersey (or Nova
Cesarea, as it was then called), lured this adventurer
from the comforts of the Manor house, to seek a
settlement for himself in that province. During his
sojourn in Pennsylvania, his feelings had become
enlisted with those of Phebe, daughter of Randall
Blackshaw, who resided at the spot where the Newtown
leaves the Attleborough road, 54 m ^ e west °f Falb-
ington, and was the owner of a large tract of land in
that vicinity. In 1687, in compliance witli the good
order of the religious society of which they were both
members, Joseph and Phebe appeared at a Monthly
Meeting for discipline held at Falls, and publicly de
clared their intentions of marriage with each other.
In that day it was the practice among Friends thus pub-
licly to announce their intentions before two succes-
sive Monthly Meetings, ere they could have liberty
to proceed in accomplishing their marriage. The
minute of the meeting made on the occasion of their
first offering of proposals, says, — M as Joseph has mostly
resided in Jarsey, he is required to bring a certificate
of his clearness from similar engagements, &c." In
due course of time Joseph re-appeared, bringing with
him the required certificate from the Jersey Friends,
and the parties were united in marriage on the 14th of
1st month, 1688. They settled on a part of the
Blackshaw estate at Fallsington. Phebe Kirkbride
survived but a few years, leaving several young chil-
dren, named Joseph, Martha, Phebe, Hannah and
Jane. Her husband again found a companion
for himself, and care-taker for his little ones,
in Sarah, a daughter of Mahlon and Rebecca
Stacy. Mahl on was at that time a prominent man in
the affairs of New Jersey. This connection, like the
other, was destined to be of short duration. Sarah
Kirkbride was taken sick a few days after the birth of
her son, whom she named for her father, (Mahlon)
and after lingering three weeks, was removed at the
age of 29, to reap the reward of her short, but well-
spent life. Falls Monthly Meeting issued its testimony
of commendation of her worth, in which they say, —
" during the time of her sickness she uttered many
living expressions, saying, — ' I have not been afraid of
death these many years ; death has no terror for me,
my God has taken away its sting ; ' encouraging her
husband to give her up ; 'if it please the Lord to strip
thee of thy helpmeet again, my God will be thy rock ;
He hath been thy stay hitherto, and He will never
leave thee. The Lord will bring my soul to His holy
hill and I shall praise Him upon Mount Zion with
saints and holy angels ; I shall praise Thee, O my God,
and my Christ, world without end.' In answer to
the inquiry { how she did ? ' she replied, — ' I am sweetly
comforted in my affliction ; the Lord is exceeding
good to my soul ; He hath filled me with his love ;
but my bodily weakness is such that I cannot praise
Him as I wish to do.' A little before she died, she
said, — ' My God, my God, I come, I come,' and soon
after departed this life." Her little boy had four
aunts, sisters to his mother, with whom, and in part
under his father's care, he grew to manhood, early
giving promise of usefulness in religious and civil
society. Three of Mahlon Stacy's daughters married
and settled in Bucks county. Sarah we have just
accounted for ; of the other two, one was married to
Abel Janney, and the other to Reuben Pownall, whose
descendants are still amongst us.
Joseph Kirkbride appears to have had sufficient
education to qualify him for an active business life,
and he speedily became noted, and much looked up to
by his neighbors. He was early a minister of the
gospel of Christ, in the religious Society of Friends.
Proud, the historian, says, — "He is an instance of
advancement from low beginnings to rank of emi-
nence and esteem, through industry and a virtuous,
prudent conduct; he was many years in the Magis-
tracy, and frequently in the Assembly." In 1699 he
informed his friends of the general meeting of a con-
cern that attended his mind to pay a religious visit to
Friends in England, but was delayed by informal
proceedings in his Monthly Meeting. At the subse-
quent general meeting the way was made clear, and
he furnished with a certificate of the unity of his Friends
in America. Anthony Morris, writing to England,
says, — " I send this by my friend, Joseph Kirkbride,
whom I hope the Lord will attend with His
good presence, and keep him near to Himself, and
within His own protection, and if it be His good plea-
sure, return him safe to his family." Samuel Carpen-
ter, in a letter, says, — " This is intended to be sent by
our dear friend Joseph Kirkbride, who is gone down
towards the ship ; they are to be at Salem to-morrow,
and take their departure from Elsinborough." Whilst
in England, he traveled quite extensively, enjoying
the confidence of Friends there, as he endeavored to
fill up the measure of duty called for at his hands —
among which, while in Cumberland, one was to re-visit
his old master, whose employ he had so unceremoni-
ously left in past years, and make him satisfaction for
the time of service of which he had been unjustly
deprived. He returned to America in 1704, having
traveled 5365 miles in England and held 425 meetings.
After his return, he continued diligent in the prosecu-
tion of his religious engagements, though they were
sometimes inconveniently and unprofitably interfered
with by his many public civil appointments ; he was
often employed in important services in the Yearly
Meeting, and frequently wrote the epistles issued by
that body, particularly those addressed to the Yearly
Meeting in London. Proud says, — " he is said to have
been an exemplary and zealous promoter of the religion
of his profession, and a very serviceable person in
divers respects and capacities." Smith says, —"he
finished his course in the unity of his brethren, in
which he lived nearly fifty years."
When William Penn was about to leave the coun-
try for England, Pennsbury was to be left in charge of
his steward, John Satcher, and the stewardess, Mary
Loftis. As these were already betrothed for marriage,
the Proprietor urged a speedy consummation of their
prospects, for his own satisfaction, before taking his
departure from his fondly cherished home on the Dela-
ware ; accordingly at the next Monthly Meeting the
parties published their intentions of marriage, and the
meeting adjourned to that day week, at which time
they made a second avowal of their intentions. A
public meeting was appointed to be held the succeed-
ing day, at which time the marriage was accomplished,
and the Governor immediately consigned his domestic
affairs to the care of him whom he styles in after times
" Worthy John Satcher." In course of time Mahlon
Kirkbride, (now arrived at the age of 21 years,) was
united in marriage with their daughter Mary, and from
their numerous family the larger part of those who now
bear the family name of Kirkbride are descended, as well
as many families who derive their consanguinity from
the female line. Mahlon Kirkbride settled in Lower
Makefield, and in 1730 built a stone house on his farm,
which stood in good order until removed by his great-
grandson, Mahlon Kirkbride, in 1853, to make way
for a more modern structure. The old domicile, for
more than a century, was an ever-welcome sojourning
place for friends who traveled in the ministry, or
passed to and fro on other occasions, while under his
care and that of his son Jonathan, who succeeded him
in the homestead.
We now turn from these days to earlier times, and
introduce testimony from the other side of the Dela-
ware respecting the state of the country, and give a
glimpse of primitive life among our ancestors: Lord
Berkley having sold to Edward Billinge the right
which he held from the Duke of York to the western
half of New Jersey, and Billinge finding a load of debt
increasing upon him, conveyed to certain of his credi-
tors nine-tenths of the province in satisfaction of their
claims. Mahlon Stacy, a tanner of Handsworth in
Yorkshire, was one of these j and thus, without any
particular desire of his own, became a large landed pro-
prietor in America. He, with four others of his fellow
members, had one-tenth of West Jersey assigned to them
in payment of debts amounting to £3500, and by an
agreement signed "the third day of 3rd month, one thou-
8
sand six hundred and seventy six, the said Friends of
Yorkshire shall have free liberty to make choice of any
one tenth they please." The Commissioners of the
Yorkshire Friends chose the land " from the Falls of
Delaware downward." The town of Burlington was
laid out, one-half belonging to the Yorkshire Friends,
and the other half to a company of Friends in Lon-
don, who had purchased another tenth of the Province.
In the 8th month, 1678, (10th month, N. S.,)
with his wife and family, and several men and women
servants, Mahlon Stacy sailed from Hull in the ship
"Shield," Captain Daniel Towes, and had a favorable
voyage to the Delaware river ; as they passed up the
river by Coaquanock (now Philadelphia,) the tops of
the trees growing on the bank brushed into the rig-
gings ; it was some time in the 10th month, O. S.,
when the "Shield" dropped anchor and moored to
a tree in front of the village of Burlington, being the
first sea-going vessel that had passed so far up the
river ; the night was intensely cold, and the next
morning the ice was so strong that they passed over
it from the vessel to the shore.
Mahlon Stacy selected the upper part of the York-
shire purchase for his home, and fixed his residence in
what is now South Trenton. Here he took up on his
own account a tract of 800 acres, partly on the south,
but in greater part on the north side of the Assanpink
creek ; he built a log residence for his family there,
opposite the "Falls of Delaware," from which he
dated his letters. In 1680 he built a log grist mill one
and a-half stories high, on the Assanpink, the site of
which is now occupied by McCall's paper mill ; this
was the second mill built in the Province. In 1690 it
was sold to William Trent, who took down the log
mill, and rebuilt it with stone, two stories high ; this
mill stood until it was undermined by a flood in 1822,
when about one half of it fell, and was carried away. In
1 71 4 Mahlon Stacy, Jr., sold his tract of 800 acres to
William Trent, of Philadelphia, who built the present
mansion for his residence, near the site of grandfather
Stacy's log cabin. He was the first Chief Juscice of
New Jersey, and died in 1724.
Revell Stacy forwarded to his brother some of
the accounts disparaging both the Provinces of New
Jersey and Pennsylvania, then industriously circulated
in England. Mahlon Stacy replied, under date of 4th
month, 26th, 1680, — "as to the strange reports you
hear of us and our country, I affirm they are not true,
but fear they are spoken from a spirit of envy. It is a
country that produces all things for the sustenance of
man in a plentiful manner, or I should be ashamed of
what I have heretofore written, but having truth on
my side, I can stand before the face of all the evil
spies. I have traveled through most of the settled
places, and some that are not, and find the country
very apt to answer the expectations of the diligent ; I
have seen orchards laden with fruit to admiration,
their very limbs torn to pieces with the weight, and
most delicious to the taste, and lovely to behold ; I
have seen an apple tree from a pippin kernel yield a
barrel of curious cider, and peaches in such plenty
that some people took their carts a peach-gathering ; I
IO
could not but smile at the sight of it. They are a very
delicate fruit, and hang almost like our onions that are
tied on ropes. I have seen and known this summer,
forty bushels of bold wheat harvested from one sown.
We have from the time called May to Michaelmas, (9th
month, 29th,) great store of very good wild fruits, as
strawberries, cranberries and huckleberries, which are
much like billberries in England, but far sweeter, — the
cranberries much like cherries for color and bigness,
which may be kept till fruit comes in again. An excellent
sauce is made of them for venison, turkey and great
fowl. They are better to make tarts than either cherries
or gooseberries. The Indians bring them to our houses
in great plenty. My brother, Robert Stacy, had as
many cherries this year as would have loaded many
carts. (He came over in 1677.) From what I have
observed, it is my judgment that fruit trees in this
country destroy themselves by the very weight of their
fruit. As for venison and fowl, we have a great plenty ;
we have brought home to our houses by the Indians,
seven or eight fat bucks of a day, and sometimes put
by as many, having no occasion for them. My cousin
Revell (Thomas Revell came with Mahlon Stacy in
the "Shield,") and I, with some of my men, went last
3rd month (5th month, N. S.,) into the river to catch
herrings, for at that time they came in great shoals
onto the shallows. We had no net, but after the Indian
fashion, made a round pinfold about two yards over
and a foot high, but left a gap for the fish to go in at,
and made a bush to lay in the gap to keep the fish in.
When that was done, we took two long birches and
1 1
tied their tops together, and went about a stone's cast
above our said pinfold ; then hauling these birch
boughs down the stream, we drove thousands before
us, and so many got into our trap as it would hold.
Then we began to throw them on shore as fast as three
or four of us could, by two or three at a time ; after
this manner, in half an hour we could have filled a
three bushel sack with as fine herrings as ever I saw."
After getting through with the story of his fishing
party, our good grandfather goes on to say, — "as to
beef and pork, there is great plenty of it, and cheap;
also good sheep. The common grass of the country
feeds beef very fat ; I have seen, last Fall, in Burling-
ton, killed eight or nine fat oxen and cows on a mar-
ket day, all very fat." Referring again to the fish in
the Delaware, he says, — " Though I have spoken only
of herrings, (lest any should think we have little other
sorts,) we have great plenty of most sorts of fish that
I ever saw in England, besides several other sorts that
are not known there, as rock, catfish, shad, sheeps-
head, sturgeon ; and fowls as plenty, ducks, geese,
turkeys, pheasants, partridges, and many other sorts.
Indeed, the country, take it as a wilderness, is a brave
country, though no place will please all. There is
some barren land, and more wood than some would
have upon their land. Neither will the country pro-
duce corn without labor ; nor is cattle to be got with-
out something to buy them; nor bread with idleness;
else it would be a brave country indeed, I question not,
but all, then, would give it a good word. For my
part I like it so well I never had the least thought of
12
returning to England, except on account of trade."
Under the same date, he wrote to William Cook, of
Sheffield, and others of his friends at home, — " This
is a most brave place, whatever envy and evil spies
may say of it ; I could wish you all here ; we have
wanted nothing since we came hither, but the com-
pany of our good friends and acquaintances. All our
people are very well, and in a hopeful way to live
much better than ever they did ; and not only so, but
to provide well for their posterity. I know not one
among the people that desires to be in England again
since settled. I wonder at our Yorkshire people that
they had rather live in servitude, work hard all the
year, and not be three pence the better at the year's
end, than to stir out of the chimney corner and trans-
port themselves to a place where with the like pain?, in
two or three years, the}- might know better things. I
live to my content, and in as great plenty as ever I
did, and in a far more likely way to get an estate."
Mahlon Stacy.
From the Falls of Delaware, in West Jersey, the 26th of 4th
months 16S0.
Mahlon Stacy was a man of large property, enter-
prise, and abilities superior to most, which gave him a
large share of public employment. A heavy responsi-
bility rested on him as Commissioner for setting and
regulating lands; as a member of the Assembly, Coun-
sellor, Justice of the Peace, &c. While thus much
rested on him for the good of the community and wel-
fare of the Province, he did not lose sight of his own,
particularly keeping in view the necessity of knowing
J 3
his own "calling and election, made sure by faith in,
and obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ," of whose
gospel he was never ashamed. He occupied the sta-
tion of a minister among Friends. In 1683, Philadel-
phia Yearly Meeting appointed a committee of its
most influential members, (of which Mahlon Stacy was
one,) to see if arrangements could be made to gather
all the Friends on the American continent into one
General Yearly Meeting. The prospect was never
consummated. It was his very frequent practice to
paddle his own canoe across the Delaware, below the
falls, and walk to Fallsington, on meeting days, to min-
gle with his brethren at that place in their public wor-
ship, which practice, and that of signing the many
marriage certificates issued by that meeting, he con-
tinued in to near the close of his earnest, active, and
dedicated life. His death took place the 3rd of 2nd
month, 1704.
One son survived him, named Mahlon, who, it is
supposed, never married, as by his will, dated 7th
month, 22nd, 1734, he distributed his property,
amounting to 6000 acres of land, and ^1200, (as it
is ascertained by Queen Anne's Royal Proclamation,)
among five sisters, named in the will, as follows, viz :
Mary Pownall, Ruth Atkinson, (formerly Beaks,)
Rebeckah Wright, Elizabeth Janney, and Sarah Kirk-
bride. Beside the above-named bequests, his execu-
tors, Mahlon Kirkbride and Stacy Beaks, were directed
to sell certain houses and lots to enable them to pav
debts, expenses, &c. His residence at the time of his
decease, was near the present Moorestown, Burlington
14
county, New Jersey, but little is now known of him,
either in a domestic or public capacity. His brother-
in-law, Joseph Kirkbride, appears to have been a man
more after the father's own heart. Their fellowship
was close. Both were in the station of ministers in
the Religious Society of Friends. They often sat side
by side in religious meetings, waiting for the arising of
the secret springs of life, that they might be enabled to
"worship the Father in spirit and in truth," and
should " a word M be put " into the heart and into the
mouth" for the people, first one and then the other
would convey from Him, in whose cause they labored,
to the expectant assemblage. Tamanend, the Dela-
ware Indian King, who was so much confided in by
Wm. Penn for his tried virtues and integrity, at times
sat these meetings with Friends, and, if not a convert
to the doctrines, was, at least, one who practiced what
they preached, walking very much " by the same rule
and minding the same thing " that governed them in
their intercourse with mankind. Tamanend died in a
cabin in Buckingham, Bucks county, Penn'a., and a
white neighbor who found the corpse, performed the
last kind office of interment to his remains. Joseph
Kirkbride was an active land surveyor, whose opera-
tions were extended far and wide, affording him facili-
ties for business observations on the value of different
sections of the country, and opportunities for purchas-
ing lands that met his views as they came into the mar-
ket, until he became the owner of 13,4.39 acres, which
he held at the time of his decease. These lands were
scattered here and there from Suckasunning, in Morris
i5
county, to Woodbridge, on Staten Island Sound ; and
to Saiem and " the head of Morris river, in New
Jersey;" from New Britain and Plumstead to the
town of Bristol, in Bucks county ; and on the river
Schuylkill, in Philadelphia ; which he distributed by
will among his family, besides a farm to each of his
sons Joseph, Mahlon, and John. Legacies were also
given amounting to about ^2000 — " money of New Jer-
sey at 8 shillings to the ounce." To his son Joseph, he
gave his ''three nigeroboys, Isaac, Cuffe, and Ishmael,"
a stain on his otherwise fair reputation we are unable
to wipe out, but over which action, so far as may be in
our power, we draw the mantle of charity, as having
been transacted in a day when the light of truth and a
just regard for human rights had not so fully dawned
on men's minds as has since been the case. He also
gave small legacies in money to his " cousins Thomas
Kirkbride and Joseph Kirkbride, both of whom must
have been of Cumberland origin, and emigrants, like
himself. His brother, Matthew Kirkbride, came to
America- His name is found on many of the early
marriage certificates as one of the witnesses. In 1704
he married Mary, widow of Enoch Yardley, who was a
daughter of Robert Fletcher, of Philadelphia. Noth-
ing further can now be found respecting him, except
the record of his death, which occurred 2nd month,
1705, aged 46 years.
Joseph Kirkbride, the 2d, a son by the Blackshaw
marriage, was a man of more quiet temperament than
his father, finding his sphere of usefulness very much
in private life and domestic engagements, though he
i6
submitted to serve as a Representative in the Assembly
a few times, and also occupied the position of a Justice
of the Peace, but the records of the Monthly Meeting
go to show his greater interest lay in the well being of
religious society, and the consistent walking of his
fellow-members, among whom he filled the station of
an elder in the church. In 1724, being a widower,
he married Sarah, daughter of Robert Fletcher, of
Abington, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania. The
accumulation of acres upon acres was not his chief
concern, and at his death, which occurred in 1748, he
only had to bequeath to his widow and son Joseph
(then a minor) his " Farm and nigeros," and to his
five daughters, viz: " Phebe, Hannah, Mary, Eliza-
beth, and Sarah, the residue and remainder " of his
estate, without reference to where it was to be found,
or in what it consisted.
This son Joseph, the 3d, who was'born 6th month,
13th, 1 731, caught the spirit of Republican enthusi-
asm, which was agitating the Colonies, and when the
Revolution became fairly inaugurated, joined the
American army, and was soon promoted to the rank
of a Colonel. Much duty belonging to the service of
raising troops and funds in Bucks and Philadelphia
counties, was assigned to him. After the close of the
war he resided for a time on his farm in Penn's Manor,
nearly opposite Bordentown, and subsequently re-
moved to Bordentown, where he died in 1803, and
was buried in the Borden family burying ground.
A broad marble slab now covers his earthly remains
in that place.
I 7
Mahlon Kirkbride, the son by Joseph Kirkbride's
second marriage, (with Sarah Stacy,) partook more of
the activity of his father and grandfather Stacy. Early
in life his name appears on Friends' records as one in-
terested in the affairs of the society, and he was placed
in the station of an elder in the church, to watch over
the state of the ministry, for the encouragement of the
fearful and timid ones ; and clothed with authority
to suppress unruly spirits, and those in whose commu-
nications no savor of the " Holy unction," (which is
the life of all true gospel ministry,.) could be found.
He served in the Assembly, the Magistracy, and many
other civil appointments were from time to time allot-
ted to him. From his will, made in the time of health,
(1776,) we extract the bequest to his widow, as a fair
specimen of the tenor of wills made in that day, the
minute manner of their details, and the constant fear of
widows forming second connections in marriage, was
one of the marked features of the times ; " 1 give and
bequeath unto my beloved wife, Mary, two of my best
beds, and the furniture to them belonging ; also my
best case of drawers, six of my best chairs, and my arm
chair with rockers ; my walnut stool and its fixtures ;
all my silver spoons ; all my pewter ; the tea stand ; tea
kettle ; tea cups and saucers, with the tongs and spoons
thereto belonging ; also two looking glasses ; a dressing
table ; my warming pan ; one iron pot and brass kettle ;
fire shovel and tongs; pot hook and pot racking ; one
of my best cows, and my mare Bonny ; my riding chair
and the harness thereto belonging ; the great Bible ;
Thos. Chalkley's Journal, and Piety Promoted; one
i8
thousand pounds, current money of the Province ; with
privileges while she remains my widow, viz : The par-
lor where we lodge, and the great chamber over the
common room, with free liberty to use the pump, milk-
house, kitchen, smoke-house, cellar and garden ; lib-
erty to get apples in my orchard for eating, baking,
and making cider ; pasture in summer, and hay in win-
ter for her two creatures, during her widowhood, to-
gether with the use of the clock, desk, table, and cup-
board, in the room where we lodge ; and firewood cut
and brought to the door, during all the time of her
widowhood ; and the use of the family carriage, as she
may have occasion, to go to meeting or elsewhere,
while she remains my widow." At the time of his
decease he distributed property amounting to ^3000,
and 4000 acres of land, among his children and grand-
children, mostly in New Jersey and Virginia — the lat-
ter to the ancestors of the Taylors', now residing in
Loudon county, in that State. Property had accumu-
lated on his hands, the result of untiring industry. He
had seen the companions of youth, and friendships of
more mature years, rise, flourish for a season, and be
gathered to the harvest of death. A large family had
grown up beneath the paternal roof, under the guid-
ance of both the parents, whose first concern for their
offspring was, that they themselves might be enabled
to direct their footsteps into those paths which " lead
to the mansions of everlasting rest." One by one they
had married and left the old hearthstone, where the
cheerful wood fire used to blaze far up the wide throat
of the ancient chimney during the long winter evenings,
*9
affording ample light for the girls to ply the social
knitting work, or hum the busy wheels. The end of
the back log afforded a seat for a boy or two, while a
" tallow dip " in the window lent its aid to the others,
who strove to "get their lessons through," to be in
readiness to meet their Irish schoolmaster in the morn-
ing, whose potent remedy for dull scholarship lay in
the twigs of river birch. Nuts from the woods, apples
from their own trees, doughnuts from the cupboard,
pleasant converse with parents, and the solemn reading
of "the quieting chapter," completed the evening
round of this once large and united household. Days
come and go, and seasons change ; with them change
the pursuits, the views, and the feelings of men. Sev-
enty winters had been busy bleaching the locks of the
patriarch, and arousing him to the fact that his days
were fast drawing to a narrow span. Children's chil-
dren played about his chair, and as they climbed his
knee, prattled the startling word, " grandfather."
" Setting his house in order," he withdrew into
retirement, and there awaited the coming of the sum-
mons from his Divine Master, whom he had long
striven to serve in the obedience of faith, and three
years after was "gathered from works to rewards,"
nth month, 19th, 1776, aged 73 years. His beloved
companion, Mary, the wife of his youth, the compan-
ion and fellow burden-bearer through a long life of
usefulness, survived him about three years, when she,
too, put off mortality, and we trust, while exchanging
corruption for incorruption, was found worthy to re-
ceive a crown immortal, which will never fade away.
20
Among their little flock, " the twin boys," Jona-
than and David, were objects of a general family
interest, which did not altogether meet with a full
reciprocation from them. Thrown together from the
time of reason's earliest budding, their wants, their
pursuits, and their enjoyments, were one ; to such a
degree, that at a very early age they set up a little
republic of their own in the household, and disregard-
ing even the dialect of those about them, presented the
anomaly of having originated and used a language of
their own, in which they found sufficient scope for
communication with each other, and which the family
was, in a measure, obliged to learn in order to know
their needs, and what was "going on with them."
Jonathan was a delicate boy, and as he grew to man-
hood, was much employed by his mother in domestic
concerns, she teaching him, among other avocations,
the useful arts of sewing and knitting, which contribu-
ted to afford much useful pastime in his advanced
years. David was removed by death in 1764, at the
age of 24 years — an almost irreparable loss to his
brother Jonathan, who, in course of time, sought com-
panionship with Elizabeth, daughter of Joseph and
Ann Curtis, of Chesterfield, New Jersey They were
united in marriage nth month, 18th, 1767, on which
occasion, the bride's father's mill ceased its daily
round of grinding, and was fitted up as a place for the
nuptial reception and entertainment. Dwelling houses
in that day were small, and the social habits of the
people in all newly-settled countries, did not permit
marriage connections to take place without old and
21
young coming together to partake of the bounteous
rural repast, and pay their respects to the newly-
married pair. Elizabeth Curtis Kirkbride was about
the medium height of her sex, with dark complexion,
black hair, and long silken lashes, shading bright hazel
eyes. After the " home bringing " was fairly through
with, she entered on the duties of her new situation,
with the resolution to become a wife to be prized, and
a member of the community to be entitled to respect,
both of which enviable positions she long filled to the
satisfaction of all about her, and when slow consump-
tion, which was her allotment for seventeen years,
completed its work, hope crowned her exit from the
things of time, while the religious society of Friends,
her family, and all who knew her, spoke her praise as
of one they loved, whose place would not again be
filled. Motherly to all who approached her ; ever
ready with " the pleasant word that cheers the soul ; "
her stores were freely dispensed to the sick and desti-
tute, who, through her friendly intervention and care,
often were enabled to come up from the bed of lan-
guishing "to call her blessed." She lived to see her
children's children gather about her dwelling. Her
quiet spirit rejoiced in their happiness, as she watched
the unfolding of their innocent minds, until the sum-
mons came to leave the things of time and the associa-
tions of many years. "The inevitable messenger of
death " found her with " the lamp trimmed and burn-
ing," ready to answer the call, and we doubt not
she was found worthy before the judgment seat of
Christ, to enter with Him into the Father's kingdom.
22
The confidence of Friends was, in a great degree,
reposed in her, from the time of her first coming among
them in Pennsylvania, to the day of her death. She
filled the important station of an elder in the church,
and that of an overseer of the flock, for many years,
and for more than twenty years, that of clerk of the
Women's Monthly Meeting. Her decease occurred
6th month, 4th, 181 7, in the 73rd year of her age.
Jonathan Kirkbride was, naturally, of an entirely dif-
ferent temperament from his quiet, meek-spirited wife :
he was about five feet nine inches in height, square
shouldered, light complexion, with flaxen hair, promi-
nent nose and chin, small eyes set near together,
which twinkled from beneath prominent brows, bear-
ing evidence in their expression, of the nervous tem-
perament that lurked within the man ; his step was
quick, and his words, (though obstructed with a slight
impediment of speech,) came forth sharp and to the
point. Of an independent spirit from the beginning,
it did not wholly leave him during the eighty-four
years to which his life was prolonged. When he spoke,
it was with a tone that looks not for contradiction ; but
when it came his turn to yield an opinion, it was not
always hastily acceded to, he only relinquishing his
ground inch by inch, and from full conviction of mind.
Of a naturally delicate constitution, and his parents not
expecting to see him reach the age of maturity, he was
much his mother's companion, and profited by her
seasonable words of counsel and instruction, so that
when the visitations of divine grace tendered his spirit
with the call to dedication and duty, the ground was
2 3
found already prepared for the word of life, (the seed
of truth,) to take root and flourish, to the praise of
Him who forgets not the workmanship of his own
hands, and who found Jonathan ready to surrender to
the Holy call. A testimony was early given him to
bear to the goodness, the mercy, and the reward in
Christ, which all those experience who are willing, at
His call, to come away from the fashions, the follies,
and the pride of this life, to enlist under His banner,
and receive fresh from His spirit, the words of life, and
the promptings to each act of duty in their walks
through an unregenerate world. His gift in the min-
istry was early recognized by his friends, as being
accompanied with the evidences of divine origin, with-
out which, all speaking (professedly though it be, ) in
the name of the Lord, is but as tinkling brass. Under
the impressions of duty required at his hands, he fre-
quently travelled to distant places, bearing the mes-
sage of divine love to others, for whose souls' welfare,
his spirit now yearned, and to whom he was often
made a helpful instrument. On these occasions he
went out mounted on a pacing horse, a pair of leather
saddle-bags, containing his wardrobe, hung behind the
saddle ; a silk oil cloth cover for his hat, and an oil cloth
cape over the shoulders, which came down nearly to
the saddle, as a protection from storms. Stout cour-
duroy overalls, with rows of buttons on the outside, to
close them on, protected the breeches and stockings.
A light walking stick did double duty, as a cane when
on foot, and riding whip when mounted. Thus
equipped, he went out on his religious errands without
24
regard to wind or weather — very much in the same
style of outfit that many valuable ministers of the gos-
pel of that day went to and -fro doing their Heavenly
Father's bidding. It was always his concern to "do
what his hands found to do," and when the service
was accomplished, to return as speedily as possible
to his wife and family, for whose welfare, a con-
stant travail of spirit was felt. Occupying the
homestead of his fathers, and both he and his wife
being widely known, their house — ever open to all —
was often the resting place of many co-workers in the
cause of truth, who, with others, always found the
latch-string out, and a cordial welcome within. On one
occasion — the parents both being absent at Yearly Meet-
ing—Anna Lee, with her unorganized society of Sha-
kers, in passing through Bucks county, rode up to the
house in single file, nine or ten in number, and in-
quired if they could have accommodations for the
night. The children, seeing a company of Friendly
looking strangers, invited them in, as they had been
taught to do, and showed the men where to dispose
of their horses. Anna soon took possession of her cham-
ber, and was seen no more by the family until ready to
depart next morning. The other women took possession
of the kitchen, where they made themselves entirely at
home, and after a frugal meal of their own preparing,
proceeded to iron a large lot of rough, dried cloth-
ing, emptied from their capacious saddle-bags. All
went on well for a time, to the amusement of the chil-
dren, who thought they had never seen quite such
guests at the house, when, at a signal given by one of
25
the number, to the utter astonishment of their young
hosts, everything was at once abandoned — clothes on
the table, irons at the fire, all was left as they were —
and, falling into rank, round and round they circled,
with measured tread, chanting as they went :
" As David danced before the Lord,
So will we, and so will we ;
And there was a woman sent from God ;
Her name was Anna Lee, and her name was Anna Lee."
This exercise having been continued for some time,
they again went to their work, and after a few more
repetitions of the same scene, they retired for the
night. Next morning they went off quietly, riding in
single file. When the parents came home, the chil-
dren made eager reports of the guests and their doings.
The parents smiled at their adventures, and renewed
the oft-repeated counsel, " remember thy kindness to
the stranger within thy gate>." During the war of
the Revolution, Jonathan Kirkbride was brought into
much exercise of mind, not on account of actual suf-
fering from the depredations of the army, ( for he and
his property were treated with the greatest respect, )
but because of the multiplied horrors of war, the
destruction of human life, the souls of men hurried
unbidden and unprepared into the presence of their
Maker, and the devastations and wasting apparent on
every side. Still his heart and hand were ever open to
the warriors' physical needs. At one time, his house
was daily surrounded with armed men from the camp
on his own farm, and when he saw r his children amus-
ing themselves by throwing his apples from the garret
26
windows, among their war-worn visitors, he enjoyed
equally with the children, seeing their guests scrambling
for the much-coveted fruit. The army passed away,
leaving all his property undisturbed, while he, careful
to offend in neither word or deed, strove to fill up the
measure of duties as a citizen, without compromising
any of the testimonies of truth as professed by Friends,
and without taking part with either side in the contest.
Still, public opinion allotted him a position, in which
the Whigs respected, and the Tories feared, his influ-
ence. As years advanced, the quietude of the family
circle afforded the greatest enjoyment for him, and the
good old man, now nearly blind, and dull of hearing,
seldom went from home, except to visit his married
children, a few choice friends, and regularly to attend
the different meetings of the society of which he was a
member, and in which he was, till late in life, fre-
quently engaged in gospel ministry. On these occa-
sions he was careful not to attempt to minister until
the warrant from the sanctuary was clearly manifest,
and when he felt the gospel flow to cease, ceased his
public declarations. While at home, (though never
able for much active labor on the farm,) he loved to
be among his business, and to indulge a particular
fondness for domestic animals. His "feathered
friends," (as he used to call them,) — black and white
speckled chickens, and black turkeys — continued to
afford matter of interest long after he had dispensed
with business, and became a feeble old man. He used
to wear a black beaver hat, with a broad brim, turned
up at the sides, so as to form a point in front, and
27
rolled up behind ; a drab coat, with broad skirts reach-
ing to the knee, with a low, standing collar ; a collar-
less waistcoat, bound at the neck, reaching beyond the
hips, with broad pockets, and pocket flaps over them ;
a white cravat served for a collar ; breeches with an
opening a few inches above and below the knee, closed
with a row of buttons and a silver buckle at the bot-
tom ; ample silver buckles to fasten the shoes with ;
fine yarn stockings, of his own knitting, completed the
summer outfit. In winter, shoes gave place to high
boots, reaching to the knee in front and cut lower
behind to accommodate the limb. After the loss of
both sight and hearing, in extreme age — he did not go
from home — he now adopted pantaloons in place of
small clothes, which, before this time, had very gen-
erally been discarded by both young and old. These,
he said, he found more convenient for a blind man,
but they felt "so slawney flapping about the ankles,"
that he could never feel fully dressed with them on.
He still found means to pass away the time pleasantly,
engaged with his knitting, and thankful to the cher-
ished memory of his mother, for her early care. He
who had "nourished and brought up children," now
"gathered his sheaves" in the enjoyment of that
untiring care which was bestowed on his closing years
by his daughter Anna Taylor, and her daughters,
which knew no lack until the day " the silver cord was
loosened — the dust returned to the dust as it was, and
the spirit unto God, who gave it."
GENEALOGICAL.
No record is preserved of the marriage or decease of our ances-
tors, Matthew and Magdalene Kirkbride.
Their children were: John, — born 1656; Matthew, — 1659;
Joseph, — 1662 ; Sarah, — 1665 ; and Thomas,- -1668.
Joseph, their third son, came to America in 1682. He mar-
ried Phebe, daughter of Randall Blackshaw, of Fallsington, Penn-
sylvania, in 1688.
Their children were: Joseph,- —Martha, — Phebe, — Hannah,
and Sarah. No record is to be found of the dates of the births of
these children, or the decease of their mother.
Joseph Kirkbride was married (the second time) to Sarah,
daughter of Mahlon and Rebecca Stacy, the 17th of 10th month,
.702.
Their son Mahlon was born in 1703.
Sarah Kirkbride deceased 1703.
In 1704, Joseph Kirkbride was married (the third time) to
Man-, widow of Enoch Vardley, and daughter of Robert Fletcher,
of Philadelphia
Their children were : John, — born in 1707; Robert, — 1708;
Mary, — 1712; Thomas, — 1713 ; Sarah, — 1 714 ; Thomas — 1716;
and Jane, — 1719.
Joseph Kirkbride, father of the above-named children, deceased
the 1st of 1st month, 1738, aged 75 years and 6 months.
Joseph, son of Joseph and Phebe Kirkbride, married Hannah,
daughter of John and Mary Satcher, the 26th of 8th month,
1720. In 1724, he was married the second time to Sarah, daughter
of Robert Fletcher, of Abington, Montgomery county, Penn-
sylvania.
Their children were: Phebe, — Hannah, — Mary, — Elizabeth, —
Sarah, and Joseph. Of these, Mary married Samuel Rogers, Eliza-
2 9
beth married Daniel Bunting. Sarah married Langhorn Biles, and
Joseph married Mary Rogers, and died at Bordentown, in 1803.
Martha, daughter of Joseph and Phebe Kirkbride, married
Thomas Marriott.
Phebe married John Hutchinson.
Sarah, daughter of Joseph first, and third wife, married Israel
Pemberton, son of Israel, in 1737.
Jane married Samuel Smith, son of Richard Smith, in 1 741 .
Mahlon Kirkbride, son of Joseph first and Sarah Stacy Kirk-
bride, married Mary, daughter of John and Mary Sateher.
Their children were: Stacy, — torn 1725; Hannah, — 1726;
Mar),— 1727; Sarah.— 1729; Rebecca,— 1 731 ; Ruth,— 1732 ;
Latitia,— 1734; Mahlon,— 1736; Robert,— 1737 ; Jonathan and
David. — 1739; and Joseph, 1745. Of these, Mary married Bernard
Taylor, in 1746 ; Letitia married Timothy Taylor, in 1752 ; Sarah
married William \ ardley, in I; Stacy married Frances Smith;
Mahlon married Ann Rickey; Robert married Hannah, daughter of
William Bidgood; he was married the second time tu Hannah Wil-
son, in 17S6. Jonathan Kirkbride married Elizabeth, daughter of
l«»>eph and Ann Curtis, the 1 8th of nth month. 17
The children of Stacy and Frances Kirkbride were : Mary,
who married Joseph Potts; Prudence, married Edward Thomas ;
Sarah, born 1757, and married Jonathan Buckman ; Joseph, born
1701, married Mary Paul.
The children of Robert and Hannah B. Kirkbride were : Mary,
— born 1759; Esther,— 1 76 1 , married John Longstreth, in 1779;
Mahlon. — born 1765; Hannah, — born 1767, married Samuel East-
burn, 17SS: Letitia, — born 1 77 1, married Jonathan Good; Robert, —
born 1773, married Mary Roger- ; I 'avid. — born 1775, married Han-
nah Jones ; Ann. — born 1778.
The children of Jonathan and Elizabeth Kirkbride were :
Mary, — born 1769, died 1846; Letitia, - born 177 1 , died 1777:
Mahlon, — born 1772. died 1S51 ; Joseph, — born 1775, died 1821 ;
John, — born 1777, died 1S64; Anna, — born 1780. died 1863.
Mary married Joseph Knowles, Anna married William Taylor, Jos-
3°
eph married Eleanor Baldwin, John married Elizabeth Story, and
Mahlon married Mary Warner.
The children of Joseph and Eleanor Kirkbride were : Jona-
than, —Joseph Baldwin, and Margaret.
The children of Mahlon and Mary Kirkbride were : Ann, —
born 1 817, and Mahlon and Mary W., in 1 81 9.
The children of John and Elizabeth Kirkbride were : Thomas
Story, — born 1809; Mahlon Stacy, — 1811; Mary, — 1813; William,
— 1815; Elizabeth, — 1817 ; Rachel Story,— 1820; Rebecca Spen-
cer, — 1826; and Anna, — 1829.
Jonathan Kirkbride, son of Joseph and Eleanor Kirkbride,
married Mary W., daughter of Mahlon and Mary Kirkbride. Jos-
eph B. Kirkbride, son of Joseph and Eleanor, married Sarah Yeo-
mans.
Mahlon S., son of John and Elizabeth Kirkbride, married
Phebe Ann, daughter of David and Anna Heston, 1837. Eliza-
beth, daughter of John and Elizabeth Kirkbride, married Joseph J.,
son of Abraham and Mercy Garble, 1839. Thomas S., son of John
and Elizabeth, married Ann W., daughter of Joseph R. and Ann
Jenks, 1839; in 1866 he married Eliza Ogden, daughter of Benja-
min and Harriet Butler. Rachel S., daughter of John and Elizabeth
Kirkbride, married Samuel, son of Samuel and Mary Hulme, 1843.
Joseph Kirkbride, only son of Stacy and Frances Kirkbride,
married Mary Paul, in 1788.
Their children were : Frances Maria, who married Dr.
Nathan Shoemaker ; John Paul, married Ann Eliza Gregg ; Julia
Ann, married David Glark ; Joseph, died in infancy ; Mary Ann,
married Jonathan Williams ; Harriet,, married Asher Howell ; Eliza
P., married Joseph John Gurney ; and Sarah Ann, married George
Yaux Bacon.
c^
