~ Doylestown Township


CHAPTER XLIII or CHAPTER XIII (Vol. II), 1905 ed. DOYLESTOWN TOWNSHIP. 1818 Walter SHEWELL. ~PAINSWICK hall. ~Nathaniel SHEWELL. ~The MEREDITHS. ~Thomas MEREDITH. ~Doctor Hugh. ~The SNODGRASSES. ~Death of Benjamin. ~David JOHNSON. ~Gabriel SWARTZLANDER. ~Embraced in tract of Free Society of Traders. ~Langhorne's purchase. ~Tracts of CUDJO and Joe. ~Joseph KIRKBRIDE. ~Edward and William Doyle and descendants. ~Township organized. ~Area. ~The MANNS. ~The BROWERS. ~Christopher Day. ~Bridge Point. ~Bridge built. ~Doctor Samuel Moore. ~Robert Patterson. ~Carding machines. ~Duncan MCGREGGOR'S school.* John FITZINGER. ~Bering. ~ The TURK... A candidate for county seat. CROSS KEYS. Mennonite church. Roads. -KIRKBRIDE house burnt. -Population. The early history of Doylestown TOWNSHIP is merged in New Britain, Buckingham and Warwick, out of which it was carved in 1818. Among the early settlers in that part of New Britain which fell into Doylestown, was Walter SHEWELL, who immigrated from Gloucestershire, England, in 1732 [1722]. Landing at Philadelphia, he soon made his way to Bucks COUNTY, where he purchased a tract of land, a part of which, with the mansion, is still in the possession of his descendants, lying on the Lower State Road, two miles from Doylestown. On this he built a handsome dwelling in 1769, which he named "PAINSWICK Hall," after his birthplace in England. He married Mary KIMMER [Kimber], of Maryland, and had a family of sons and daughters. Robert, the youngest son, born January 27, 1740, and married Mary [Sarah*] SALLOWS, January 15, 1764, became a distinguished merchant of Philadelphia, but retried early from business to PAINSWICK, where he spent the remainder of his life, dying December 28, 1832. Of the eight children of Robert SHEWELL, five sons became merchants of Philadelphia, Thomas, the youngest, born July 13, 1774, being the most distinguished. He became partner in a Philadelphia house at the age of 18, at 22 making a voyage to the West Indies for his health, and thence to England, where he remained three years in a London house. Betsy SHEWELL, the wife of Benjamin WEST, the artist, was a member of this family, and while Thomas was in London he spent his Sundays at West's house. On his return home, in 1799, Mr. SHEWELL resumed business, which he continued until 1832, when he retired and passed the remainder of his life in ease, dying in Philadelphia March 22, 1848. He was thrice married, and was the father of seven children. Nathaniel SHEWELL, a leading character of this vicinity, and a descendant of Walter, is remembered by many persons of the present generation. He used to relate that, when a boy, shad came up the Neshaminy as far as Castle Valley bridge, which would argue that there were no dams in the stream at that day to impede their passage. [He was elected sheriff the fall of 1799; served a term of three years, and died in 1861. Davis' History of Bucks County,
Doylestown was incorporated as a borough in 1838. History of Borough -

CHAPTER XLIII or CHAPTER XIII (Vol. II), 1905 ed.

DOYLESTOWN TOWNSHIP. 1818

Walter SHEWELL. ~PAINSWICK hall. ~Nathaniel SHEWELL. ~The MEREDITHS. ~Thomas MEREDITH. ~Doctor Hugh. ~The SNODGRASSES. ~Death of Benjamin. ~David JOHNSON. ~Gabriel SWARTZLANDER. ~Embraced in tract of Free Society of Traders. ~Langhorne's purchase. ~Tracts of CUDJO and Joe. ~Joseph KIRKBRIDE. ~Edward and William Doyle and descendants. ~Township organized. ~Area. ~The MANNS. ~The BROWERS. ~Christopher Day. ~Bridge Point. ~Bridge built. ~Doctor Samuel Moore. ~Robert Patterson. ~Carding machines. ~Duncan MCGREGGOR'S school.* John FITZINGER. ~Bering. ~ The TURK... A candidate for county seat.

CROSS KEYS. Mennonite church. Roads. -KIRKBRIDE house burnt. -Population. The early history of Doylestown TOWNSHIP is merged in New Britain, Buckingham and Warwick, out of which it was carved in 1818. Among the early settlers in that part of New Britain which fell into Doylestown, was Walter SHEWELL, who immigrated from Gloucestershire, England, in 1732 [1722*]. Landing at Philadelphia, he soon made his way to Bucks COUNTY, where he purchased a tract of land, a part of which, with the mansion, is still in the possession of his descendants, lying on the Lower State Road, two miles from Doylestown. On this he built a handsome dwelling in 1769, which he named "PAINSWICK Hall," after his birthplace in England. He married Mary KIMMER [Kimber*], of Maryland, and had a family of sons and daughters. Robert, the youngest son, born January 27, 1740, and married Mary [Sarah*] SALLOWS, January 15, 1764, became a distinguished merchant of Philadelphia, but retried early from business to PAINSWICK, where he spent the remainder of his life, dying December 28, 1832. Of the eight children of Robert SHEWELL, five sons became merchants of Philadelphia, Thomas, the youngest, born July 13, 1774, being the most distinguished. He became partner in a Philadelphia house at the age of 18, at 22 making a voyage to the West Indies for his health, and thence to England, where he remained three years in a London house. Betsy SHEWELL, the wife of Benjamin WEST, the artist, was a member of this family, and while Thomas was in London he spent his Sundays at West's house. On his return home, in 1799, Mr. SHEWELL resumed business, which he continued until 1832, when he retired and passed the remainder of his life in ease, dying in Philadelphia March 22, 1848. He was thrice married, and was the father of seven children. Nathaniel SHEWELL, a leading character of this vicinity, and a descendant of Walter, is remembered by many persons of the present generation. He used to relate that, when a boy, shad came up the Neshaminy as far as Castle Valley bridge, which would argue that there were no dams in the stream at that day to impede their passage. [He was elected sheriff the fall of 1799; served a term of three years, and died in 1861.

Davis' History of Bucks County,

Doylestown was incorporated as a borough in 1838.

History of Borough -

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ABRAHAM LINCOLN (1864) 2nd Inaugural

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This website was created as a guide to the history and genealogy of Bucks County Pennsylvania. All efforts have been made to be accurate and to document sources. Some of the material has been contributed and published, with permission, in good faith. All effort has been made to be accurate as possible, and to refer to sources used. If you see an error, please let me know. This website was designed to be informative, a guide to Bucks County history and genealogical research, and hopefully fun. I can't guarantee that all the data is accurate.

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September 17, 2021