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Pennsylvania Genealogy Express

A Part of Genealogy Express
 

Welcome to
LANCASTER COUNTY
History & Genealogy

Source:
LANCASTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
with
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
of Many of It's
PIONEERS AND PROMINENT MEN
- ILLUSTRATED -
Published:
Philadelphia:
Everts & Peck
1883

CHAPTER XLVI.
CONOY TOWNSHIP1
Pg. 748 - 757

     CONOY is in the northwestern corner of Lancaster County.  It is bounded on the north by Dauphin County, on the east by West Donegal township, and, on the south and southwest by the township of East Donegal and the Susquehanna River.  It is crossed in the southern part by Conoy Creek, on which
are several mills, and in the northern part by a small stream called Brubaker’s Run, on which are a grist-mill and a saw-mill.  Another smaller stream, called
Stony Run, crosses the township still farther north, and Conewago Creek forms its northern boundary and separates it from Dauphin County.  The surface
is undulating, and the soil is exceedingly fertile, producing the great staples of this region, wheat and tobacco, in abundance.
     This township enjoys excellent facilities for travel and transportation.  The Pennsylvania Railroad and Canal pass through it along the Susquehanna River, and several principal highways cross it from east to west.  The river road, which was an early thorough-fare, traverses the township in a northerly and southerly direction along the river.
     The name of the township was derived from that of a tribe of Indians that formerly inhabited the region, though it is believed that this name is somewhat corrupted.
     Conoy was separated from West Donegal and erected into a township in 1842.  Its population in 1880 was two thousand one hundred and fifty-five.   The justices of the peace elected in the township since its organization have been:
     Magistrates. - The justices of the peace in Conoy have been:  Thomas Eagan, 1843; Jacob Foreman, 1844; M. W. May, 1847; Jacob Foreman, 1849; John Filbert, 1852; Joseph Engle, Joseph Foreman, 1854; Christian S. Erb, Jacob Foreman, 1859; C. S. Erb, Jacob T. Bare, 1864; Jacob T. Bare, 1869; C. S. Erb, Frank McNeill, 1874; Frank McNeill, 1879.
     Members of Assembly. - Bertram Galbraith was the first citizen within the present limits of Conoy township who was elected to the Assembly.
     Frederick Hipple was a county commissioner in 1842, and was at one time a member of the Assembly.
     Jacob Foreman, a native of Maryland, was a merchant in Bainbridge.  He was elected to the Assembly in 1840-42.
     Pioneer Settlers. - The first white settlers and land-owners were Indian traders.
     The following letter of James Logan to Isaac Taylor, the surveyor of Chester County, gives the date when the first surveys were made in the township.  All of those named lived in the neighborhood for a number of years prior to the date of this letter.  What is known in early history as “Old Peter’s Road" was thus named from Peter Bizaillon, who had a trading-post at Conoy Indian Town, and which ran from "Moor's Mill," at Downingtown, Chester County, to Conoy Town.  This letter was a private one, and not intended for old Peter’s eyes:
 

"PHILADa, 4th, 9 mo., 1719.

"ISAAC TAYLOR:
          "Loving ffriend.
     "Thou wilt receive from Peter Bizaillon himself the warrants on orders for surveying a thousand acres of land to his wife and her brother, in executing of which I doubt it will be difficult to reconcile his and Anne Le Tort's expectations, but I request thee to use thy endeavours.
     Peter will talk high, but generally harkens to reason.  However, his an M. Combs' conveniency are principally to be regarded, tho' on the other hand I am very desirous the old gentlewoman should have some land that she may be fixed, and leave something to her grandchildren.  Pray see that it be laid out of a sufficient depth; I think a mile and a half or a quarter, at least, is little enough, but this is left to three, and thou art by no means to produce or mention this letter.
     "J. Le Tort is also to have 500 acres laid out in the same manner, but remember that if any person whatever shall pretend to say that if they cannot have it in such or such a manner they will have none, doe thou appear willing to take them at their word, wch is ye only way to make them easy.  Keep this wholly to thyself.
          "They real friend,

"J. LOGAN."

     In pursuance of these instructions Mr. Taylor proceeded to the Susquehanna River in the fall of 1719, and commenced his surveys at or near the mouth of Conoy Creek, and located three hundred acres for James Logan, which he afterwards let Jonas Davenport have, who never took out a patent for the land, and was compelled to part with it again.  Immediately below Logan’s tract he laid out four hundred and fifty acres for Moses Comb, who was a brother of Martha Bizaillon, and who sold or conveyed the same to his brother, John Comb.
     Below that tract seven hundred acres was surveyed for Martha Bizaillon, and adjoining this last-mentioned tract on the east, nine hundred acres was surveyed for James Le Tort, who, after occupying it for a few years, sold it to James Logan, who took out a patent for it for the first time.
     This last-mentioned tract extended a short distance below Groves’—Shock Run. When these several tracts of land were sold and by whom purchased, is fully described elsewhere.
     As a general rule the frontage on the river was about one-third of the depth of the land.  Le Tort’s tract was, however, nearly square.  As has been already shown elsewhere of the Indian traders, it is not necessary to give a more extended sketch.  The land upon which Conoy Indian Town stood was upon the McComb purchase.
     PeterBezellon” died July 18, 1742, aged eighty years.
     John Combs died Sept. 12, 1736, aged seventy-eight years.
     Moses Combe, the brother of John, died about the same time.
     Martha, the wife of Peter Bizaillon, died about the year 1746. She was the sister of the Combes.  All

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1. By Samuel Evans, Esq.

[Pg. 749]
are buried at St. John's Episcopal Church burying ground at the "Compass," a few yards east of Salisbury township.
     Bertram Galbraith was the son of James Galbraith, Jr., and Elizabeth Bertram (the only daughter of the Rev. William Bertram, the Presbyterian minister who located at Swatara, and preached at Paxton and Derry Churches in 1729).  He was born in Donegal in 1738.  He received the best education the schools of that period afforded.  In connection with his other studies he was taught surveying, and became an accomplished land surveyor, which is fully attested by the large number of his surveys now on file in the Land Department at Harrisburg.  While yet in his minority he raised a company of "Rangers" during the French and Indian war of 1755-58 and marched to Fort Hunter, located along the left bank of the Susquehanna River, several miles above Harrisburg.  He displayed a great deal of military talent, which, in connection with his patriotic spirit, was of incalculable service to his country, which he served faithfully during the trying period of the Revolution.  Before this conflict came, and during the repose which pervaded the province between the Indian wars and that period, he was one of the foremost, and rendered the most valuable aid in behalf of the improvement  of the navigation of the Susquehanna River.
     When the tocsin of war was sounded at Boston Harbor he raised a battalion of troops in the township of Donegal and vicinity.  He was appointed the first lieutenant of the county whose business it was to organize, equip, and place troops in the field.  He was required to meet every requisition made upon him by the Supreme Executive Council or other proper authority.  In cases of emergency he was compelled, upon short notice, to select a quota of militia from the various classes and put them in the field.  He had sub-lieutenants in various sections of the county, who rendered valuable assistance.  They met with great opposition in half of the townships in the county from the farmers, who refused to pay their military tax, and in many instances used physical force to prevent the enlistment and calling out of the militia.  Col. Galbraith was in the saddle night and day often in performance of his onerous duties.
    In the spring and summer of 1777 the republican cause was in great peril.  Several drafts of militia in the several classes were called out and additional excise tax levied.  Bertram Galbraith writes to President Wharton from Donegal, May 19, 1777, as follows:

     "By this I'm to inform you that I have hitherto lost no time in endeavoring to embody the militia of this county, since my appointment, but find it an arduous task - I have got Six Batallions out of Nine formed, the three yet to form are in the heart of the Mininists Settlements in our County, who pamper with the Constables and prevent them of making their Returns, by which I'm rendered unable to do anything with them; I have heard it reported that they mean to withstand the measures . . . .  If your Curiosity should lead you to enquire further into the State of this County I refer you to Col. Lowrey, who will be with you and can inform you particularly."

     Again he writes to Mr. Wharton, June 2, 1777, stating that he called a meeting of the sub-lieutenants appointed to his assistance, and that he divided the county into nine districts, and that on the 5th day of April last he issued warrants to the constables of the different townships for returning to him the names of all the male white persons between the ages of eighteen and fifty-three years.
     After the time allowed for making their returns, he waited at Lancaster for the receipt of them, and received returns from Lancaster borough and twenty-four townships out of thirty-three; eight townships remained unreturned, and seemed to give violent opposition to the measures.  He sent a guard for two of the constables, whom they arrested.  They had to give bonds for their appearance at court to answer.  Six hundred of these militia were ordered to march to Chester.  A number of persons opposed to bearing arms assembled in different sections off the county to oppose the march of these militia to Chester.  He offered ten pounds per month for substitutes, but could not procure them.  In eight townships violent opposition was made to the draft and the payment of taxes.
     John Bayley writes from Donegal, June 27, 1777, stating that armed resistance was made by Samuel Albright and twelve or fourteen others to the collection of the tax, and they killed one of the militia who went to assist the constable.
     On the 28th of June, 1777 Col. Galbraith writes again from Lancaster, stating that he alone, with a few individuals, became the “butts” of the whole county, and that he had been threatened, but paid no attention to them.  He also says that unless something spirited is done, “I know not whether I may be safe, as they have begun with so much violence.”  On the 5th day of August, 1777, in answer to a pressing demand from President Wharton for troops, he stated that he sent expresses to the several colonels of battalions to get their companies together and march as quick as possible to Chester. 0n the same day he would have a guard in readiness to receive the prisoners of war and Tories at Anderson Ferry on their arrival- They were being Sent to Frederick, Md.
     On the 14th of August, 1777, he writes to the President that he set nearly three-eighths of the battalions on foot for the camp at Chester.  This number was supposed to be one thousand.  The militia of Lancaster borough were detained to guard the prisoners.  The gunsmiths wanted nine pounds for "musquetts and bayonets," a shocking price.  He also says he had to ride eighteen miles that day to hold an election.
     On the 19th day of August, 1777, he writes that he ordered double guards for prisoners in Lancaster.
     On the 2d of September, 1777, he writes that the Hessian prisoners were sent to Lebanon, and that it took three companies to guard them.
     The letters give but partial account of the trying times of 1777.  Councilman Bayley writes from Don-

[Pg. 750]
egal in 1777 that Col. Galbraith and Col. Lowrey were in the saddle night and day, and were worn out.
     In July, 1778, he called out four hundred militia.  Many of these militia were sent to the frontiers to protect the settlers from the Indians.
     On the 28th day of February, 1738, his cousin, John Galbraith, took out a warrant of survey for four hundred and forty acres of land, which he located at the mouth of Conoy Creek, the bulk of which laid upon the west side.  On the 29th day of December, 1757, John Galbriath and his wife, Dorcas, sold three hundred and eighty-three acres of this tract to his cousin James, the father of Bertram.  This part of the tract lay on the west side of Conoy Creek.
     On the 8th day of March, 1760, James and Elizabeth Galbraith sold this land to Patrick Work.  It was afterward sold by the sheriff and purchased by Samuel Scott, who kept tavern at Big Chikis Creek, on the old Paxton and Conestoga road, for nineteen hundred and fifty pounds.  Samuel Scott died in 1776, and left his large estate to his nephews and nieces, among whom were the children of his brother, Josiah Scott, whose daughter Bertram Galbraith married, and through whom he came into possession of this valuable farm at Conoy Creek.
     On the 4th day of August, 1735, James Logan took out a patent for four hundred acres of land adjoining John Galbraith’s tract on the west.  On the same day Logan sold this tract to Christian Grofl' and Jacob Hertzler, and on the 4th day of October, 1758, the heirs of James Logan and Jacob Hertzler sold two hundred acres of the four hundred acre tract to Michael Graff, of Martic township.
     On the 25th day of March, 1760, Michael Grafl' and his wife Elizabeth sold this tract to James Galbraith, Jr., who on June 4, 1773, conveyed the same to their son, Bertram GalbraithLogan had established a ferry where Bainbridge now is.  Bertram Galbraith erected a large stone ferry-house and mansion, which was destroyed by fire some years ago.  Its bleak and ponderous walls stood for many years after the fire did its work, a reminder of the once magnificent and costly structure.  The walls were torn down within a year or two, and the material was used in the construction of other houses.
     Melchoir Breneman, the pioneer settler of that name in the county, was a Mennonite preacher, and was born in the Upper Palatinate.  With other
friends of this denomination he fled from the religious persecution then prevalent in Europe, and came to Lancaster County with the Brubakers, Hostetters, Greiders, Hersheys, Stonemans, Leamans, Swarrs, Tuberts, Kauffmans, and other Swiss Mennonite refugees, early in the fall of 1717.  On September 7th, in that year, he took out a warrant for five hundred acres of land, and subsequently two more tracts adjoining this on the east, one of which contained ninety acres and the other about one hundred and twenty-five acres.  This land is located due south from Lancaster borough, and lies upon both sides of Mill Creek.
     On the 3d day of December, 1728, Melchoir Breneman purchased seven hundred acres of land from Martha Bizaillon, which was situated on the western boundary of the Le Tort-Logan tract.  On March 30, 1730, Melchoir Breneman and his wife Elizabeth conveyed to their son Adam one hundred acres of the first mentioned tract.  Adam died in 1753.
     In 1719 there was surveyed for John Combe, brother of Martha Bizaillon, four hundred and fifty acres, adjoining the latter's tract of seven hundred acres on the west.  Both of these tracts lay along the river below Conoy Creek.
     On the 5th day of April, 1738. John Combe conveyed his tract of land to his sister Martha, who, on the 14th and 15th days of March, 1739, conveyed the same to Christian Breneman, who resided upon the Bizaillon tract, purchased by his father in 1728.
     On the 2d day of August, 1746, Melchoir Breneman (No. 1) conveyed to his son, the aforesaid Christian, seven hundred acres, the same which he purchased of Martha Bizaillon.
     On the 7th day of May, 1751, Christian Breneman and his wife Susannah conveyed to their son Melchoir one hundred and eighty-seven acres, which was made up and taken from the Combes and Bizaillon tracts; and on the same day and year be conveyed one hundred and eighty-seven acres to his son-in-law.  John Stoneman (Stehman).  Prior to this time Mr. Breneman and his wife conveyed four hundred acres of the Bizaillon tract to Abram Hess.
     Melchoir Breneman (2d) was a Mennonite minister.  He died in the year 1809, aged eighty-three years, and was probably buried upon his own land. 
There is nothing to mark the spot where his remains were interred.
     Jacob Haldeman, the ancestor of that branch of the family in this vicinity, was born in German Switzerland, Oct. 7, 1722, came to America with two brothers, and settled in Rapho township between the years 1740 and 1750.  He died in the summer of 1783.  John, his son, was one of the boldest and most successful business men in the State.  He surmounted every difficulty and impediment which stood in his way and threatened to wreck his financial ventures.  He gradually increased the number of his acres and extended his business.  In 1790 be erected a large grist-mill at the mouth of Conoy Creek.  He also carried on distilling ‘extensively.  He sent his flour and produce down the river in keel-boats as far as "Wright’s Ferry," thence to Philadelphia.  He in vested his surplus means in the purchase of lands in various sections of the State.  He purchased several hundred thousand acres of land in North Carolina.  He was elected to the Legislature in 1800.
     He gave his eldest son, John B., the mill and homestead at Conoy Creek, which was subsequently conveyed to his fourth son, Henry.

[Pg. 751]
     After a successful business career he retired to a life of ease and leisure in Columbia.  He took his youngest son, Peter, with him, and established him in the mercantile business in 1812, which is now carried on successfully by George W. and B. F. Haldeman, sons of Peter. Some idea of John Haldeman's extensive business ventures may be gleaned from the fact that between 1812 and 1815 his deposits in the office of discount and deposit in Columbia amounted to two hundred and fifty thousand dollars.
    

 

 

[Pg. 752]

 

 

[Pg. 753]

 

 

[Pg. 754]

 

 

[Pg. 755]
stands at Locust Grove, on Conoy Creek, near the Susquehanna River, a mile below Bainbridge.  The tract of land on which this mill was built was taken up by John Galbraith in 1738, purchased by Mr. Haldeman in 1786.  It is worthy of note that Bayard Taylor’s grandfather, who was a mason, worked on this mill when it was erected.  It was burned about 1800, but was at once rebuilt, larger than at first, by Mr. Haldeman.  It had four runs of stones, and it has had only ordinary repairs since it was rebuilt.  It is a large building, and has facilities for storing large quantities of grain.  It has always been both a merchant- and custom-mill.
     Henry Haldeman, a son of John, succeeded the latter in the ownership of the mill, and his son, Cyrus S. Haldeman, inherited it from him.  In 1855 it was purchased by John H. Smith, who sold it to John Wiley, the father of Henry H. and John E. Wiley, the present owners.

 

 

 

 

 

 

     The Lutheran and Reformed Church of Bainbridge1 was

 

 

 

     Church of God. -

 

[Pg. 756]

 

 

 

     Bainbridge Methodist Episcopal Church1 was

 

 

     Methodist Episcopal Church of Falmouth -

 

 

     River Brethren. -

 

     Bainbridge Cemetery. - At an early day interments were made in a cemetery within the present limits of the town of Bainbridge, but when the town was laid out some of the streets were made to pass through this burial place, and two stables now stand on a portion of it.  Another graveyard was on a hill one-fourth of a mile north from the town, on land now owned by Christian Herr, butt this has ceased to be used.  After the town came into existence the Lutheran churchyard was used as a place of burial and the town owned two lots therein.
     In 1874 an association was formed and incorporated under the name of the “ Bainbridge Cemetery,” with a capital of two thousand five hundred dollars in shares of fifty dollars each.  The corporators were Israel M. Grofl, Henry C. Fahs, John Hykes, John Marlrley, Thomas Haden, Samuel Hackenberger, George W. Hackenberger, Harrison Hipple, Peter Sides, and George Beane. Of these Samuel Hackenberger, George Beane, John Markley, Henry C. Fahs, and Harrison Hipple were the first directors.  A lot of‘ five acres, just south from the town, was purchased, inclosed, and laid out for a burial-place, and interments have since been made there.
     The remains of many who had been buried elsewhere have been removed to this more tasteful and better kept cemetery, and the place is assuming more
and more the attractive appearance which is generally given to modern cemeteries.  The presidents of the association have been Israel M. Grofl' and Samuel Hackenberger, the present incumbent of the position.

     Bainbridge Lodge, No. 627, I. O. O. F. - This loge was instituted in the spring of 1868, with Dr. George T. Deseman, N. G.; John B. Small, V. G.; R. G. Galbraith, Sec.; John Markley, Treas.; and E. K. Davis, H. C. Fahs, A. M. Smith, A. K. Stoner, Jefferson G. Galbraith, Dr. George D. Beane, John F. Galbraith, Henry Isaac, John H. Finley, B. Doyle, John Killinger, Jacob Piper, G. H. Feltenberger, Frank Feltenberger, Simon C. Camps, and James Murphy, charter members.
     The Noble Grands have been Dr. George T. Deseman, John B. Small, John Markley, A. M. Smith, H. C. Fahs, B. G. Galbraith, Henry Isaac, John F.

[Pg. 757]
Gailbraith, B. Doyle, Jacob Piper, G. H. Feltenberger, Frank Feltenberger, Joseph H. Walton, Jacob Shoaff, Jacob R. Brenner, A. K. Stoner, E. Fullerton, M. Ressler, George E. Good, George Walton, E. Walton.
  
 The lodge has enjoyed uniform prosperity, and although it has paid large sums in benefits it has now in its treasury about two thousand dollars.  It
has also a lot in the town, on which the erection of a hall is contemplated.

 

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1. By Rev. J. E. Granley, pastor

[Pg. 757]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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