Search Results for: george douglas

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Family History
George Douglass was descended from Scottish nobility and spent his formative years in Salisbury Township in eastern Lancaster County. George’s father, Andrew, was the son of a Lord Douglass and is buried at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Pequea, PA. Andrew had emigrated from Scotland. George Douglass married a Mary Piersol—another resident of Salisbury Township—in 1747. A 1750 tax list shows him still residing in Salisbury Township, but the 1754 and 1760 tax lists show him as a renter in Reading. It is likely he was one of many inn or tavern keepers in the busy county seat and market town because at the time he bought the White Horse Inn, in 1762, he was referred to as “innholder.”

Douglass was thirty-six years old when he came to Morlatton. During the 1760’s, Douglass was active in petitioning for road creation. George Douglass lived from 1726 to 1799, was a Revolutionary War veteran (fighting in the battles for Long Island as a captain in the Berks County militia) and is buried in St. Gabriel’s church yard.

Douglass was an extremely wealthy man. A reference to his wealth can be found between 1781 and 1794 on tax lists because he is listed as owning one pound of silver plate. The 1795 tax list shows Douglass owning fifty ounces of silver plate. He was even taxed in 1785 for his family wagon.

According to a receipt book located in the files of the Historic Preservation Trust of Berks County, a Mary Douglass spent the year 1833 collecting debts owed to her deceased husband’s store. George Douglass Jr. had died in 1833.

Social History
George Douglass was a Justice of the Peace for Berks County from 1764-1776. Two important factors for the post were high local social and economic status, and potential usefulness to the Proprietary government as a local political organizer and exerter of influence for the Proprietary interest. As a Justice of the Peace in the 18th Century, George Douglass would have conducted county business from his home. Local residents would have gone there to deal with land disputes, wills, water right agreements, and probate records, as well as crime.

In addition to being a Justice of the Peace, he served as a vestryman at St. Gabriel’s Church from 1763 to 1778. In addition to being a vestryman, he was listed as the church’s money collector in 1764. George Douglass would have been a well-known and respected man. As a respected man, Douglass would have been asked to officiate over such things as lotteries. An example of one such lottery was found in the December 17, 1761 Pennsylvania Gazette as follows:

A LOTTERY, For raising Five Hundred and Sixty two Pounds, Ten Shillings, for paying the Arrears due to a Company of Rangers, raised in Tulpehocken, in Berks County, for the Protection and Defence of the Inhabitants of that County in the late Indian War. The Occasion whereof is as follows. IN the Year 1755 the Savages entered the Frontiers of that County, scalping, burning and destroying wherever they came, with the most cruel and merciless Rage, and driving the whole Settlements before them, whereby that Part of the Province became as a Desart. To prevent the like Desolation coming into the interior Parts of the Province, 32 of the Inhabitants of Tulpehocken and Heidelberg associated and agreed to raise and pay 132 Soldiers to range on those Frontiers, for a certain Time. They were raised, and continued in that Service the Term agreed on, and the aforesaid Sum is still due to them: And altho’ the People of that and the neighbouring Counties received equal Benefit and Protection from that Service with Associators, yet no one has been king enough to contribute to defray the Expence; and Obligation therefore of paying for this real public Service rests wholly on those Associators, many of whom being in narrow contracted Circumstances, must be ruined if Suits at Law (with which they are threatened) should be brought against them. They therefore humbly beg Leave to apply to the Public, by Way of a small Lottery, for their Relief, and hope their circumstances, on this interesting Occasion, will recommend the Sale of their Tickets to all who desire to live in Peace and Safety….

In this Scheme there are not two Blanks to a Prize. The Managers appointed are, Peter Spycker, Esq; Messieurs Christian Lauer, Michael Reis, John Zerbe, Frederick Weiser , and Samuel Weiser . The Drawing will certainly begin on the 29th of January next. The Prizes will be published in this Gazette, and the Dutch Newspaper, and will be paid, (after a Deduction of 15 per Cent.) when the Drawing is finished, by the Managers, who sign the Tickets respectively. Tickets are now selling by the Managers, and by John Ross, Esq; and George Honey, in Philadelphia; Jacob Levan, Esq; in Maxatawny; George Douglas in Amity; and Henry William Steigel, at Elizabeth Furnace.

In addition to the political and social positions held by Douglass, he also ran a store at his property. The store which the Douglass family ran at this location was apparently dealing with mass quantities of iron from the local ironmasters in this iron-rich region. Some letters shed light on this fact. In June 1796, David Rutter owed the Douglass’ L168 for “boating iron.” In 1801, Dewees—a local ironmaster—informed George Douglass, Jr. that he had a load of iron ready for him. That same year, Andrew Douglass, brother to George Jr., was running an iron business in Philadelphia and was in hopes that a fine parcel of iron could be sent down as he was sure there were a few tons of plates for sheet iron lying around.

The 1781 tax list had George Douglass owning 1,350 pounds of merchantable goods. In 1769, the store was robbed and a notice for reward (which sheds light on the kinds of goods the Douglass’ were dealing in) was posted as follows:

“FIFTEEN POUNDS Reward. BROKE open and robbed, the shop of the subscriber, living in Berks county, of the following articles and cash, on the 11th instant at night; 1 piece fine Holland, marked 6s. 6d. per yard, sundry remnants coarser linen, sundry remnants apron check, sundry pieces and remnants shirting ditto, 1 piece half yd. wd. Cross barred red and white Damascus, 1 piece ditto 3 yrds. Wd. White and yellow, 20 yards green narrow Persian, 1 remnant black ditto, 3 yards black peeling, 10 strings mock garnet beads, sundry silk handkerchiefs, 8 yards white silk gauze, 8 pair mens worsted hose, 4 pair mens buckskin gloves, 20 yards embossed flannel, blue, red, and yellow flowers, 1 new great coat of grey duffel, 1 dozen fine checked Holland handkerchiefs, 4 pair oiled leather breeches, 1 middling buckskin, 1 small ditto, English dressed, 1 copper teakettle, pewter tankard, tea, sugar and loaf ditto, gartering, and sundry things, not now mentioned; the cash chiefly silver, copper and small bills, to the amount of about Three Pounds. Any person that will apprehend the thief or thieves, with the goods, so that the owner may have them again, and the thieves brought to conviction, shall have the above reward, or TEN POUNDS for the goods only, paid by George Douglass.”

After George Douglass, Jr. inherited the property, he too became active in local affairs. Like his father, he was a vestryman at St. Gabriel’s from 1800 to 1806. In 1829, the section of the building which once housed the store was established as the Douglassville Post Office. During the early 1900’s, the building housed a restaurant and barber shop.

Architectural History
After purchasing the White Horse Inn, George Douglass decided to build himself a separate sandstone Georgian mansion. The two and a half story structure provided ample living space for his family. The mansion must have been one of the first full-blown Georgian structures in the region. It is a central passage, double pile, Georgian-type structure with five principle façade bays. There was a western corner entry that was a later alteration, even though it appears that the dormers are original to the structure. During a recent roof restoration, the dormers were removed and are currently stored in the attic space. The exterior consists of fine cut stone, a plaster cove cornice, and evidence of a pent roof. There is a date stone with an unusual arrangement of initials and numerals.

The interior of the structure is currently in a poor state of repair and is in the process of being restored. Much of the first floor’s original woodwork has been lost. There is evidence that the first floor walls had been fully paneled. The fine corner cupboard in the southeast room is probably a Federal period addition. However, the second floor and attic retain much of their original woodwork and hardware.

The 1799 Amity Tax List describes the property as having one stone house and one stone barn. Sometime after the Georgian period, the house was enlarged to accommodate Douglass’ general store operation, which was growing rapidly. The three-bay section to the east was added in 1834 and was probably used as the store. Also added in 1834 was the recessed rear porch. These 1834 additions were completed by George Leaf (George Douglass Jr.’s son-in-law) who was the third owner of the store enterprise.

The one story section to the east of the original section of the house is very rough in construction and character. This rough section was apparently used as either a kitchen or other domestic work building. There is a small vaulted spring cellar and a chamber above that for smoking meat. It appears that this one-story section was in existence prior to the 1834 addition. There is a rarely-seen stone privy to the rear of the house which appears to be an early structure.

Property History
The property would have originally been within the boundaries of Mounce Jones’ land in the early 1700’s. In the early 1760’s, George Douglass purchased the property and it was owned by him and his heirs until at least 1944.

There is an incredible amount of tax information on Douglass. The 1765 tax list lists him with 70 acres of cultivated land, 50 acres of uncultivated land, 45 Pounds of rental income, 2 horses, 2 cattle, and he paid 4 Pounds 4 shillings of quit rent to the Proprietor. In 1767, George Douglass was listed as a shopkeeper, owned 175 acres, 1 horse, and was taxed 30 Pounds. The 1778 tax list shows Douglass with 120 acres of land (70 of which were cleared), 1 mare, 1 cattle, and paying 3 Pounds in taxes. In 1781, the tax list showed 120 acres (106 of which were in Union Township), 1 mare, and 2 cows. The 1785 tax list shows Douglass as a shopkeeper with 120 acres of land, 1 mare, and 6 cows. In 1786, he is listed as a shopkeeper with 120 acres of land, 1 mare, and 2 cows. The 1789 list has him as a storekeeper with 120 acres and 2 cows. The 1791 list has him as a storekeeper with 120 acres (100 of which were in Union Township), 1 horse, 1 mare, and 2 cows. In 1792, Douglass is listed as a storekeeper with 120 acres, 2 horses, and 2 cows. The 1794 list shows him as a storekeeper with 120 acres, 3 horses, and 2 cows. In 1795, the tax list has Douglass as a shopkeeper with 90 acres, 2 horses, and 2 cows. The 1799 list shows him as a shopkeeper with 100 acres, 2 horses, 1 mare, and 2 cattle.

A Mr. Miller lived in the building during the early 1900’s, paying rent to the Douglass heirs. In 1969, the home was occupied by Edgar Webster. The Historic Preservation Trust of Berks County purchased the property in 1988 and began a ten-year restoration project.

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Family History
The Jones family is descended from early Swedes who had settled along the Delaware River. The colony of New Sweden was founded by the New Sweden Company in 1638. Beginning at Fort Christina (present-day Wilmington, Delaware), the colony quickly spread up the Delaware River towards present-day Philadelphia.

Among the early settlers of New Sweden was Mounce Jones’ father, Jonas Nilsson. He was born in 1621 in Sweden, emigrated with Governor Johan Bjornsson Printz in 1643 and settled at Fort Christina. Although he was a tailor by trade, he was a member of the Royal Swedish Army and served from 1643 to 1645 with the Swedish garrison at Fort Elfsborg. A 1644 Governor Printz report listing the inhabitants of the colony has a “Joenn the Tailor” labeled as a member of the garrison of Fort Elfsborg. Whether or not this tailor is Jonas Nilsson or not has not been confirmed, however. Fort Elfsborg was designed to protect the colony of New Sweden; it was located near present-day Elsinboro at the mouth of Salem Creek in Salem County, New Jersey. The fort had iron and brass 12pd cannons mounted on earth and wooden palisades and was garrisoned for at least one year.

Eventually, Jonas Nilsson would acquire two hundred acres at Kingessing in modern-day West Philadelphia and made his home near present-day 77th Street and Laycock Avenue. Jonas married a Gertrude and they had four daughters and seven sons. The wealth of Jonas Nilsson was accumulated by trading for furs with the local Native American population. Eventually, he became the business advisor of Armegot, the daughter of Governor Printz. She had become responsible for her father’s holdings when he returned to Sweden. Later, he would acquire an additional two hundred and seventy acres at nearby Aronameck from Peter Yocum and he divided this land up amongst his three eldest sons—including Mounce Jones. In September of 1671, Jonas was a member of the Swedish militia and is known to have buried two servants that had been killed by Indians on Burlington Island. Jonas died at the age of seventy-three in 1693 and was buried at Old Swedes Church in Philadelphia.

Mounce Jones was born in 1663 and eventually settled on the land he acquired from his father and built a modest stone dwelling. He married Ingabor Laicon around 1690 at Gloria Dei Church (the Old Swedes Church in Philadelphia). Their known children were Margaret (1691), Peter (1693), Christina (1695), Jonas (1698), Andrew (1702), and Brigitta (1704). When he moved to present-day Berks County, Mounce Jones deeded the stone house he had built in West Philadelphia to his son-in-law, Frederick Schopenhousen, which was later incorporated into John Bartram’s “Bartram’s Garden.”

The Jones family was one of four large families which settled together in the Oley Valley. The Swedish enclave which arose in southeastern Berks County was mostly related to Jones through either blood or marriage. Mounce Jones died in 1727 and is buried in the St. Gabriel’s church yard in Douglassville, Pennsylvania. In 1735, Brigitte Huling (granddaughter of Mounce Jones) married William Bird of Hopewell Furnace fame. Andrew Jones (son of Mounce) married Dorothy Gouther in 1736.
John Kirlin, a later owner of the property, was living in the Morlatton region by 1754. John and his wife, Elizabeth, have a son named Samuel in 1762. Also, Kirlin was a vestryman at St. Gabriel’s Church from 1763 to 1767. The late eighteenth century and early nineteenth century history of the property is directly related to the Douglass family.

Social History
The history of the Mounce Jones property and its surrounding area are directly linked to the Schuylkill River. Apparently, at the earliest period canoes were the primary form of transportation, even to Philadelphia. Nevertheless, in 1709, Mounce Jones signed a petition to have a road made to Manatawny. Jones was appointed to lay out this road, but it was never approved and therefore never created. Probably during the ownership of Andrew Jones (son of Mounce) and definitely prior to 1820, the house was used as a tavern and known as the Lamb’s Inn. The tavern was probably operated by Mounce Jones’ grandson, who also may have built the adjacent Bridge Keepers house. Much like the White Horse Inn, choosing to operate a tavern from this location was wise due to the proximity of the ford and the road junction near the house.

Probably due to the ford being located near his home, Mounce Jones was a known confidant with the local Native American population. Among Mounce Jones’ possessions at the time of his death in 1727 was a “box of Indian goods” valued at two pounds currency and “skins” worth three Pounds. However, all his movable goods were valued at 185 pounds. It may be possible that Jones kept some Indian items around to help maintain amicable relations with Native Americans by bestowing occasional gifts. Also, the area was the site of an Indian encampment of the Indians of the Five Nations as reported in the minutes of the Provincial Council dated May 13, 1712. The Indians of the Five Nations are better known as the Iroquois Confederacy and included the Mohawk,Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, and Seneca tribes. On May 13, 1712, Charles Gookin, Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania, wrote as follows:

“The Governor having received a letter from Mouns Jones of Manatawny dated 4th purported that four Indian kings were there and desired ye governor to meet them on the 8th at the said house of Mouns Jones which letter came but to the Governor’s hands on the 9th and now the Governor desires the opinion of the board, whether he should go or send to them, being it said in the letter they are going with their belts of the Five Nations, and it is the opinion of the board, the assembly now sitting, and the Governor’s presence being required here and the letter coming too late to his hands, the sheriff or some other sufficient person be immediately dispatched to enquire further of their business to acquaint them of the time the Governor received their letter and engage them to Philadelphia in their way if it may be with their convenience or appoint some nearer place to meet the Governor. The public affair here requiring his presence.”

Later in life, Mounce Jones would donate a portion of his land for the construction of St. Gabriel’s Church. Services were held as early as 1708 in the region by Reverend Andrew Sandel. Morlatton Church (St. Gabriel’s) would operate from 1719 to 1753 as a de facto interdenominational congregation consisting of Swedish Lutherans, German Lutherans, and Anglicans. Morlatton Church was the first organized religious congregation in the county. In 1763, St. Gabriel’s completed its conversion to the Church of England. According to Raymond Elliott, “When the Swedes could no longer secure a supply of missionary clergy from their own country, they decided not to keep a separate organization but entered into full communion and fellowship with the Church of England.”

The original church was a hewn log structure and was later replaced by the stone chapel. The log building stood near the eastern edge of the St. Gabriel’s property, was a twenty-four foot by thirty foot, one story structure that had a doorway which faced east. The old stone chapel was completed in 1801. After the stone building was put into use, the log structure was used as a school house until it burned in 1832. The tuition to attend the school was four cents a day or $2.50 for three months. The current chapel at this location was built in 1884. The old stone chapel on the St. Gabriel’s Church property was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 8, 1978.

After John Kirlin acquired the Mounce Jones property, he built a smith shop on the property. Kirlin’s blacksmith shop was probably directly across the street from the George Douglass mansion. The stone foundation under the modern house at this location consists of sandstone laid in an eighteenth century fashion. It is possible that the current house sits upon the foundation of Kirlin’s blacksmith shop.

During the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the house went through a variety of uses. For a time, the house was used as a hotel by lumber raftsmen from Schuylkill County. By 1915, the building was used as a club for lawyers and as a place to picnic. On June 17, 1916, a 200th Anniversary celebration was held at the property and was attended by the Historic Society and by a descendant of Mounce Jones. Then, the building was used as dwelling until 1932.

Architectural History
The house is the oldest documented dwelling in Berks County. It was built in 1716 by Mounce and Ingabor Jones. While this building is considered to be the oldest extant structure in the county, it is by no means the first structure that was ever built in Berks County. Also, considering the amount of restoration and reconstruction that the building has gone through, it is hard to truly consider it the oldest standing structure in the county. The original structure on the property was probably a log structure located somewhere on the river side of the current structure. A foundation for this structure had been located during the restoration of the house.

The current house itself stands at the south end of what was the original 498 acre tract acquired by Mounce Jones in 1701. It is a two and a half story sandstone structure. Stone construction was adopted by the Swedes only after the mass immigration of English and Welsh Quakers to Pennsylvania in the 1680s. Prior to this period, the Swedes were known for their log structures. Clearly, this house reflects the fact that the Swedes were quickly becoming acculturated into Anglo-American society. Originally, the building would have been a 20 by 36 foot home in the style of an English hall-parlor home with casement style windows. There also was a deep cellar which was filled in over the years by continuous flooding by the Schuylkill River. At some point, the original partition wall on the first floor was removed—this wall would have divided the hall and parlor. There is a corner fireplace in the parlor (representing lingering Swedish influence) and a gable roof. At some point, the second floor had been divided into three small rooms with a hall running from east to west for access on the river side.

The house was one of the few river front properties to survive the 1850 flooding of the Schuylkill River. During the nineteenth century, the property suffered much flood damage. By 1916, the property was being flooded regularly. At least by 1937, the house’s stone walls and been plastered over and the roof was covered by slate shingles. In 1952, while workers were burning debris during the removal of the Douglassville Covered Bridge, the roof caught fire and later collapsed from heavy snowfall in 1958.

By 1961, the structure was in ruins and was regularly being flooded by the Schuylkill River and contained a heavy deposit of silt in the cellar and first floor. The roof and second floor had collapsed along with the entire eastern elevation. Part of the northeastern chimney had fallen as well. The area around the house was heavily wooded and overgrown. In 1963, the original date stone was stolen from the building. However, it was later recovered while the house was being restored.

The Historic Preservation Trust of Berks County began restoring the property in 1965 and it took three years to complete the work. Some of the lumber from the covered bridge was used to make window frames during the restoration. Then, in January of 1978, a Proof of Loss claim was filed with the Department of Housing and Urban Development due to severe flooding that had occurred at the property once again in the early 1970s. This flood was probably the one that occurred in 1972 when Hurricane Agnes hit the region. Currently, the Mounce Jones is mostly restored and in a fine state of repair. It is open to the public periodically during the year.

Property History
The house is erected on land granted to the Swedes on October 21, 1701 by William Penn. Andrew Rudman, a Swedish minister, made the application to William Penn in 1701 for 10,000 acres. The land grant was an attempt by Penn to appease the Swedes over poor land dealings. The Proprietary family had refused to fully acknowledge the land rights held by Swedes in the Philadelphia area under the earlier Swedish and Dutch (1655-1664) colonial governments. The “Ancient Swedes” were descendants of the colonists of New Sweden along the Lower Delaware River Valley. In order to get the Swedes off the Delaware River who had settled there as members of the New Sweden colony, Penn granted this 10,000 acre tract to them. Another reason Penn wanted the Swedes moved was because they were living where he wanted to build his “City of Brotherly Love.”

Between 1704 and 1705 Swedes took up tracts within this land grant. Not only did these Swedes receive large land holdings, but they did not have to pay for them either. The only compensation that Penn received from the Swedes was an annual quit rent of one bushel of wheat per one hundred acres. Ironically, very few Swedes actually settled on these lands. Only seventeen Swedish families actually acquired land grants in eastern Berks County. Of these seventeen families, only Mounce Jones and his family moved into Berks County. By 1740, only 1,350 of the original 10,000 acres were still in Swedish lands.

In 1719, a petition was presented for the creation of Amity Township. However, it was not signed and approved until 1744. Amity Township was the first township in what eventually became Berks County. The township’s boundaries are almost identical to the boundaries of the original 10,000 acre Swedes’ tract. The name Amity derives itself from the peaceful relations the settlers had with the local Native American population.

Mounce Jones acquired 498 acres of land from the Swede Tract on October 21, 1701. However, this tract of land was not actually patented to him until May 15, 1705. From the Journal of Andreas Sandel—pastor of Gloria Dei Church of Philadelphia—it reads in 1704: “The 15th of October I traveled together with Gustav Gustafson, a Swede, and Daniel Falckner, a German, to Manatawny, where the Swedes have 10,000 acres, and one Swede, Mans Jonasson, has begun to dwell there.” The tracts of land which the Swedes acquired were long and narrow with a very small river-side frontage. These tracts of land were shaped this way so that each settler could have access to the Schuylkill River. Everyone having equal access to the river is indicative of the importance of the river to these people—remember there were no roads yet. Similar land patterns can be found in French Canada along the St. Lawrence River.

Jones had to pay an annual quit rent of 165 bushels of wheat to the Penn family for this land. In 1725, Mounce Jones is known to have owned about 740 acres with three homesteads. When Mounce Jones died in 1727, his son Andrew inherited the property. At the time Andrew Jones received the property, it contained 264 acres. Two hundred acres of the original property had been deeded in 1721 to Jones’ brother-in-law Andrew Laicon. Also, Mounce and Ingabor Jones donated the land for Morlatton Church (today Saint Gabriel’s Church) around 1719. The 1734 tax list shows Andrew Jones owning 220 acres. In 1745, William Bird purchased the property from Andrew Jones. On July 29, 1746, Bird sold the land to Thomas Banfield.

John Kirlin, the last Swede to own the property, acquired the house in 1757. The 1767 tax records have John Kirlin listed as a blacksmith with fifty acres of land and a tax of 2 pounds. In 1804, George Douglass, Jr. purchased the property from John Kirlin. In 1944, the estate of the Douglass family (which had owned the land since 1804) sold the property to Earl Schurr, at which time it contained five acres. In 1961, the property was owned by Roy Schurr (who had acquired it from his brother) but was unoccupied and unused.

The Historic Preservation Trust of Berks County acquired the house along with 1½ acres of property in 1965, through a gift of the Roy Schurr family under the stipulation that it be restored. It was in a state of ruin at this time. Apparently, the last occupants of the structure were chickens, judging by the condition of the interior at the time of transfer of ownership. On January 21, 1974, the house was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. Currently, the house is a fully restored 18th century structure nestled along the edge of the Schuylkill River and maintained by The Historic Preservation Trust of Berks County.

Interested in learning more about the Mouns Jones House and the Historic Preservation Trust of Berks County?  Search records, pictures, images, architectural drawings and more in our Online Archive .

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Historic Preservation Trust of Berks County | Autumn 2011 Newsletter

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Historic Preservation Trust of Berks County | Winter 2010 Newsletter (Part 1)

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Historic Preservation Trust of Berks County | November 2008 Newsletter

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2007

Historic Preservation Trust of Berks County | October 2007 Newsletter

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2006

Historic Preservation Trust of Berks County | November 2006 Newsletter

Historic Preservation Trust of Berks County | August 2006 Newsletter

Historic Preservation Trust of Berks County | April 2006 Newsletter

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Reports

George Douglass House Paint Report

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Family History
The first person to utilize the property as a public house location was Marcus Huling. Huling, a Swedish Indian trader, was married to Mounce Jones’ daughter Margaret. Marcus Huling lived from 1687 to 1757 and is buried in the St. Gabriel’s church yard. Huling was a well known Indian interpreter and a man of great wealth. He was a vestryman at St. Gabriel’s Church in 1753. Perhaps due to his association with a tavern, Huling was very active in the 1730s and 40s in seeking roads through petition. In 1744, Huling signed the petition which created Amity Township.

In the 1750s, the property was owned by Philip Baltsar Craesman and his wife Anna Marie who had son Philip, Jr. in 1752. After George Douglass acquired the inn, he hired innkeepers to run the establishment. Between 1765 and 1767, Douglass’ hired innkeeper, Philip Cole, had to pay L45 a year in rent. In addition to paying rent, Cole is listed as owning 2 horses and 10 cattle. By 1772, Douglass had lowered the rent to 35 Pounds per year. Among these people were William Whitman, Dieter Bucher, and Henry Haffa. By 1780, the innkeeper was Henry Haffa. Haffa had worked as a boot maker and as custodian for Hessian prisoners in Reading previously.

The White Horse was visited by Duke of Rochefoucault de Liancourt in 1795. The Duke fled France during the Reign of Terror. The Reign of Terror occurred during the French Revolution from 1793 to 1794 and its purpose was to liquidate all internal counter-revolutionary elements. On May 7, 1795, Duke De Rochefoucault wrote,

“Traveling through the United States of N.A. we stopped at the White Horse Tavern, four miles from Pottsgrove. This inn is kept by a Frenchman, a native of Lorraine, who has married an American woman, the daughter of a native of Avignon, by a woman from Franchecomte. The whole family speaks bad English and bad French but probably good German. They pay a rent of $86.00 for 50 acres of land and the house; their owner lives very near & keeps a shop. The house and the land which is of very good quality, would have been worth $60 more had it been let to a private family. But the shopkeeper had very justly calculated that a good tavern so near his house was of more value to him than $60, and that a well frequented inn could not but procure customers to his shop, from whom he would be likely to derive advantages far exceeding the sum which he thus sacrificed. The good people of the inn enquired with much eagerness for news from France, etc. The situation of this borough and likewise of all the other places on the road from Pottsgrove to Reading is delightful.”

By 1915, when the building had been made into apartments, the eastern apartment was used by a Thomas Clark, the middle one by Ed Knauer, and the western one by Henry Knauer who also had a shoemakers shop. Another tenant of the eastern apartment at another time was William Bush who had a disabled Civil War veteran living with him. This veteran was confined to a wheel chair at the time. Also, a Pat McGovern occupied the center apartment for a time and was a puddler at the Douglassville Iron Works which were owned by David Knauer. At another time, Mrs. Moser lived in the eastern apartment while she ran the boarding house that was here.

Social History
Early in the tavern’s existence, it was known as the “White Stag.” Nevertheless, the White Horse Inn was the first stop on the highway from Reading to Philadelphia. Near here was a ford originally known as the “White Horse Ford.” The ford was apparently located slightly upriver from here. The Philadelphia stage would have passed by the inn twice a week. This inn would have been well known since it was a day’s journey from Philadelphia and located near a ford of the river. The White Horse was the Oley Valley’s first house for public entertainment and accommodation. After the covered bridge was built, the White Horse’s business declined because traffic began to bypass its location and people began to use the Black Horse Tavern (present-day Douglassville Hotel).

Soon after the Swedes began settling the region, the roads that would make this area a major intersection, began to be created. Although no confirmation date has been found, as early as 1709, petitions were recorded for the creation of the Great Manatawny or King’s Road which is modern-day Old Philadelphia Pike. The King’s Road was the major road from Philadelphia into what is today Berks County. Then, in 1718, a petition was made for Andrew Robeson’s Road which roughly followed east-bound 422 between Route 662 and terminated near the Lincoln House on Lincoln Road; this road was an extension of the King’s Road (Old Philadelphia Pike) toward Reading. It is important to realize that Reading was not officially founded until 1748—therefore, there was still no need for a road to extend all the way to present-day Reading. Confirmed in 1719, the Great Road from Oley to Philadelphia roughly followed Route 662 from Route 422 to Route 73 by way of Pleasantville. Therefore, by 1719, three major roads in Berks County met near the White Horse Inn.

By the 1730s, interest began to be shown for roads on the Union Township side of the river. In 1731, the Great Schuylkill Road was created to run from Millard’s Mill to Nutt’s Ironworks (this ironworks were located in what is today the Coventry area of Montgomery County). This is modern-day 724, from near Coventry Mall to near Cavatto’s Restaurant in Union Township. The road was extended above the Morlatton area in 1735. By 1768, the lane to the Mounce Jones house was part of a connecting road between the Reading-Philadelphia Road and the Reading-Chester Road; this road would have utilized the White Horse Ford to cross the river. In 1770, the Great Road from Reading to the White Horse was confirmed. This included east bound 422 and Old Philadelphia Pike.

The important thing to realize is that by 1770 the only road from Reading to Philadelphia passed the White Horse, the ford across the river that most people used to get to Thomas Millard’s mill was near here with a road across it, and the road to Oley terminated near the Douglass House. Therefore, this was a major eighteenth century crossroads. This would have been a very good place to locate an inn. By 1751, the Pennsylvania Gazette described the location as a “thriving inn.”

More fascinating than the list of owners of this property is the type of activities which were done at the inn. A 1740 issue of the Pennsylvania Gazette listed an advertisement seeking to recruit troops for a British expedition against the Spanish West Indies. This same advertisement, which was during the War of Jenkins’ Ear, advised all potential army enlistees for an expedition to the West Indies that “Mr. Huling’s in Manatawny” was serving as one of twenty recruiting stations in the province. The War of Jenkins’ Ear was a struggle between England and Spain that grew out of commercial rivalry and ultimately led to the War of Austrian Succession. In 1740, Pennsylvania was a still a colony of England and liable to support her in such matters. During the Revolutionary War, the tavern was a mustering place for the Continental levies and a training ground for militia.

It was apparently common for inns to not only be recruiting stations in the 18th Century but also locations for public meetings and public announcements to be posted. Voting of local townships would also have taken place here. In 1746, Huling’s neighbor Andrew Sadowski posted the following notice:

“On the 4th of this instant was lost from Andrew Sadowski, of the Township of Amity, the sum of about thirty pounds, in gold, viz., three half johanneses, one double doubloon, and the remainder in muicores. It was tied up in a piece of linen cloth, with a hickory bark about it. Whoever shall find the said gold, and send it to Marcus Huling, shall have five pounds reward.”

Later, Sheriff Sales, election parties, and meetings of the Society for the Prevention of Horse Thievery were also held at this stagecoach stop. In 1801, notices in Reading newspapers invited, “all friends of the Christian religion to attend the cornerstone laying of the Episcopal Church at Morlatton at the White Horse in Amity Township on Saturday, June 6, 1801, at eleven o’clock a.m., when there will be preaching in both English and German…” On March 2, 1803, John Yocum advertised a $40 reward for the return of a dark bay horse which was stolen out of his stable near the White Horse Tavern on the night of February 27th or 28th.

By 1778, tavern licenses cost three Pounds annually for the retailing of wines and liquors. According to records found in the Pennsylvania Historical Society, a William Shippen sold one pipe of Madeira wine from a government hospital store to Henry Haffa who kept the inn for 400 Pounds.

During its existence, the tavern housed many notably people. George Washington visited the property twice. On November 10, 1793, during an inspection tour of Reading in the aftermath of the yellow fever epidemic, he stopped at the inn. Washington was riding a Rappahannock mare and was traveling with his secretary and nephew, Bartholomew Dandridge. In addition to inspecting Reading as a temporary capital location, Washington took the opportunity to view the Union Canal which was being built at the time.

Washington, in 1794, again stopped during his journey west to suppress the Whiskey Rebellion. He traveled in a coach of state with a military escort at the head of a militia column. The Whiskey Rebellion was an insurrection in the Pennsylvania counties west of the Alleghany Mountains in response to an excise tax which had been placed on whiskey by the government. Most people in this region made a living by producing whiskey.

It is also believed that Henry Melchior Muhlenberg stayed here when was preaching at St. Gabriel’s Church. He preached there every two weeks from 1745 to 1752 and then occasionally until 1761. In 1780, Muhlenberg wrote in his diary that a glass of rum at the tavern cost $8.

Later, the building was used as a boarding house for railroad workers.

Architectural History
Sometime around 1727, Marcus Huling constructed the first inn building. A 1727 map shows not only the inn, but also Marcus Huling’s house situated right on the river similar to the location of the Mounce Jones house.

The current structure is of the Georgian style and its principle façade is constructed of coursed, dressed sandstone. The remaining three facades are also constructed of sandstone but they are not dressed. The original section of the structure was the eastern section and was of the double cell type; this section consisted of two rooms on each floor. Today, this section includes the main entrance room, the “meeting” room, and the office and storage rooms on the second floor. Around 1762, George Douglass enlarged the structure to the west. Douglass’ addition consisted of one room on the first floor with two rooms above. Today, this would include the tap room and the caretaker’s apartment on the second floor. The western door opened into the bar and the eastern door opened into a women’s sitting room in the eighteenth century.

By 1915, the second floor had been divided into a series of apartments. The building was purchased by the Historic Preservation Trust of Berks County in 1971 and has undergone restoration—including the addition in the 1970s of the adjoining kitchen-service area. The addition is an improvement that replaced a shed roof construction that was washed away by a flood. In 1972, Hurricane Agnes flooded the entire area and water rose to fourteen feet high on the tavern walls. Restoration work on this property was done until 1985.

Most of the structure, however, is restoration work with little original materials remaining. The oak flooring in the north room (the “meeting” room) on the first floor is original. Also, the head and jamb panels on the windows in the second floor’s south room are original (this is one of the storage rooms).

The current pump on the property is over an early well. There is also evidence that there was another well just to the west of the building’s current configuration. At one time, there would a have been a stable one hundred feet long to the rear of the property.

Property History
The White Horse Inn is located at the southern end of what was originally a 1,000 acre tract that was initially taken by Justa Justasson in 1701. At that time the quit rent consisted of one bushel of good merchantable wheat per one hundred acres; this is similar to what Mounce Jones was paying for his land. Marcus Huling purchased the property adjacent to Mounce Jones’ in 1717 from descendants of Justa Justasson. At this time, the property contained approximately 200 acres. In 1725, Marcus Huling owned 220 acres and a homestead. The 1734 tax list shows Huling owning only 200 acres, however.

After the death of Marcus Huling, the inn and 120 acres were acquired by Phillip Balthasar Craesman in 1757. However, by 1750, Craesman was apparently living there. After one year of ownership, Craesman was advertising to sell the property in Christopher Sower’s Germantown newspaper:

“Philip Balthaser Craesman, in Amity Township, 42 miles from Philadelphia, 14 miles from Reading Town, makes known that he wants to sell his plantation, which lies on the road by the Swedes. There is an inn, the White Stag, a thriving place, where Marcus Huling formerly resided. There are 140 acres of good land, with a good orchard, good meadow, and other amenities.”

Craesman sold the property in 1757 to Samuel Cookson who eventually sold it in 1762 to George Douglass. In 1775, George Douglass still owned the property which included two homesteads. These, presumably, included the inn and the mansion.
A 1785 sales description of the property is as follows:

“ALL that PLANTATION, formerly in the possession of Ellis Griffith, containing about 112 acres, situate in Amity township, Berks county, adjoining Mountz Jones’s plantation, one mile from Schuylkill, and, on the new road, 10 from Reading. The improvements are a dwelling-house, barn, stables and other out buildings, a young orchard of about 200 apple trees of choice fruit, about 50 acres of good wheat land cleared, under good fence, 6 acres of meadow, and more may be made at a small expence, and the whole watered in the driest season; the remainder is well timbered land. For viewing the premises and knowing the terms of sale, apply to George Douglass, Esq; near the land, or for the terms of sale only, to John Wilson, at Samuel Pleasant’s, in Philadelphia, or to the subscriber, near Mountholly, New Jersey, who will make a good title to the purchaser, and allow a reasonable time for payment of part of the purchase money.”

This was signed by a John Lee on September 25, 1785.

Again, in 1791, another sales description was posted as follows:

“THAT noted Tavern, known by the name of the White-horse on the main road leading from Philadelphia to Reading, 41 miles from the former, and 13 from the latter, with 120 acres of land, part excellent meadow, with two bearing orchards, on which is erected a large commodious stone dwelling house, kitchen and out-houses, good barn and stabling, with sheds for 30 teams. For particulars, enquire of George Douglass, adjoining the premises.”

When George Douglass, Jr. died in 1833, his daughter Elizabeth Buckley inherited the property. Elizabeth and her descendants owned the building until 1944. In 1944, Earl Schurr bought the property. The Historic Preservation Trust of Berks County acquired the property in 1971. On April 21, 1975, the structure was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Interested in learning more about the White Horse Inn and the Historic Preservation Trust of Berks County?  Search records, pictures, images, architectural drawings and more in our Online Archive .

Click here to search our online archive for documents and images associated with this building.

Social History
The ford, which was located slightly upriver from this location, was used until 1832 when the bridge was erected. Across the river and half a mile down from here was Thomas Millard’s grist mill. In operation by 1713, it was the only one that serviced the Oley Valley region for several years. Since a grist mill was located so close to the ford, the area was a popular crossing spot.

Eventually, the property became the home of the custodian and toll-keeper of the double lane Douglassville covered-bridge which crossed the Schuylkill River at this location. It was the job of the custodian to light and hang lanterns on each end of the bridge and, in winter, to shovel snow into the structure so that the sleighs could run more smoothly. The caretaker was paid by the county and was also required to sweep out the interior each night.

Prior to an explanation of the Douglassville Covered Bridge, it is important to understand how the bridges were put together. Bridges were covered to protect their wooden members or supporting beams. Once covered, the interior supporting beams were protected from the elements and this theoretically extended the life of the bridge. The strength of the bridge depended on the wood being seasoned except for the arch which could be slightly green. Only heart wood was used for supporting timbers. The quality of workmanship was as important as the quality of the wood. All the individual pieces and members of the bridge including the side boards would be cut and fitted in a nearby field prior to being inserted into the structure itself.

The construction of the bridge was taken on by the Douglassville Covered Bridge Company of which George Douglass, Jr. was a commissioner. The Douglassville Covered Bridge Company was a stock holding enterprise. The Douglassville Bridge was one of twelve covered toll bridges in Berks County. This bridge was a private enterprise and was not run by the county. The bridge was 340 feet long, 24 feet wide, had two lanes, and had two spans meaning there was a support pier midway across the river. The road from this bridge led onto the King’s Highway. The King’s Highway is modern-day Old Philadelphia Pike. Also, the road that led to the bridge (today’s lane to the Mounce Jones house) apparently followed an eighteenth century property line.

On September 2, 1850, a flood damaged the bridge to the point that it had to be rebuilt. This 1850 flood washed away every bridge over the Schuylkill River from Pottsville to Royersford when the river rose twenty-five feet. When the Klapperthal Dam was breached, a canal boat broke loose and floated down stream and eventually rammed the northern span of the Douglassville Bridge, carrying it away.

The Douglassville Bridge Company contracted Messrs’ McKently and Linderman to rebuild the bridge. They bought what was remaining of the Lancaster Bridge span at a cost of $1,600. In 1851, the bridge was rebuilt using one span from the Lancaster Bridge which had been washed down river to a meadow near Douglassville in the same flood that ruined the Douglassville Bridge. The Lancaster Bridge had been located at Bingaman Street in Reading. The washed away portion of the Douglassville Bridge was used to replace a span at Kenilworth in Montgomery County. Scarcity and high prices of lumber was a burden in repairing bridges. The Douglassville Bridge was the second bridge to be rebuilt in the county after the flood.

Then, on October 4, 1869, another flood washed out the eastern half of the bridge. During this flood, the Schuylkill River rose twenty-three feet. The first toll house stood on the Douglassville side of the bridge, but this was later replaced by one on the Union Township side. In a May 8, 1869 article from the Berks and Schuylkill Journal was found the following:

“Auctioneer Lyon sold last Tuesday afternoon at the commissioners office, Reading, the stocks hold by the county in the several bridge companies within its limits. The stock was sold in lots of 5 shares each, and was purchased by different individuals at the following rates…55 shares of Douglassville Bridge stock at from $20.00 to $25.00 per share.”

A May 17, 1876 Reading Eagle article had the following information: “A Union Township father filed suit against the bridge company for trying to charge a one cent toll for his children on their way to and from school.”

Another Reading Eagle article from October 19, 1876 stated that local citizens were petitioning to make the bridge free from tolls. People could pay their toll when they crossed or pay a set price for the entire year. Each individual bridge company determined its own prices. Typical tolls for the period were:

1 cent/foot passenger, 6 cents/20 sheep, 10 cents/20 swine, 20 cents/20 cattle, 4 cents/horse or mule, 6 cents/horse with rider,12 1⁄2 cents/sulky and horse, 25 cents/carriage with 2 horses, 37 1⁄2 cents/carriage with 4 horses, 20 cents/stage coach with 2 horses, 30 cents/stage coach with 4 horses, 6 cents/sleigh and each horse, 5 cents/draft sleigh and horse, and 6 cents/wagon or cart and horse.

The bridge was bought from the Douglassville Bridge Company in 1885 by the county for $9,000. In 1886, the bridge was made free of tolls.

In 1902, yet another flood damaged the bridge. During this flood, the river rose 24’ 6”. Then, in 1909, the original pier was taken down and replaced by a new one at a cost of $4,100. In 1930, the bridge began to sag and lean downstream, so it was closed to vehicular traffic but remained open to pedestrians. A March 1, 1946 Reading Eagle article announced that the bridge would be replaced by a concrete span. Cables were attached from the bridge to posts and trees to help strengthen the bridge and keep it from collapsing. The new steel and concrete bridge cost $400,000 to construct. The covered bridge was last used in 1951 and was torn down in the same year. Prior to being razed, the Douglassville Covered Bridge was the last wooden bridge spanning the Schuylkill River.

Architectural History
Located adjacent to the Mounce Jones house, it is a 1½ story sandstone structure with a single interior-end chimney. It is a one-room building with a relatively large open attic space. However, the house apparently contained four rooms at some point. Unlike the Mounce Jones house, this property still has a full basement.

Property History
Originally part of the property which Mounce Jones had, the land eventually passed to George Douglass and George Douglass, Jr. The house has been vacant since 1957. The Schurr family acquired the house and one acre and sixteen perches from the George Douglass estate. The Historic Preservation Trust of Berks County acquired the property in 1965 at the same time that the Mounce Jones house was acquired.

Interested in learning more about the Covered Bridge Keeper’s House and the Historic Preservation Trust of Berks County?  Search records, pictures, images, architectural drawings and more in our Online Archive.

Michael Fulp House Preservation Pennsylvania Application – MFH PresPA restorapprev

Morlatton Village represents pieces of an early Swedish Settlement begun in the early 1700’s, when Berks County was still the frontier.  Structures constructed slightly later in the 1760’s also comprise the village.  During Colonial times, the area became a center of commerce for the region as a routing center for refined iron from Pennsylvania’s earliest furnaces and for grains from the Oley Valley heading downriver to Philadelphia.  Morlatton’s importance grew as roads leading to Tulpehocken, Oley, Reading, and Philadelphia all intersected at its doorstep.  Morlatton Village can be viewed as where Berks County began, and also as its gateway.

Today, Morlatton Village consists of the following preserved, historically significant buildings (and is paralleled by the Thun Trail):

Mouns Jones House (1716)
Built by early Swedish settler Mouns Jones and his family, the house is the oldest documented dwelling in Berks County and considered to be the oldest extant structure ever built in the county.  It is a two-and-a-half story sandstone structure containing two chimneys.  The corner chimney is derived from Swedish architectural traditions.  The home has endured several monumental floods and additional accidental fire damage, and by 1961 was in a complete state of disrepair.   The Historic Preservation Trust of Berks County embarked on a three year restoration project beginning in 1965.

Bridge Keepers House (1730 or 1830)
The Bridge Keepers house is a one-and-a-half story sandstone structure with a single interior chimney.  It is a one room building with a relatively large, open attic space.  Vacant since 1957, the building was donated to the historic Preservation by the Trust.  Since its donation, the Trust has diligently restored the building despite numerous flooding and other structural challenges.  The Bridge Keepers House is adjacent to the Mouns Jones House on the banks of the Schuylkill River.

George Douglass Mansion (1763)
The George Douglass Mansion is two-and-a-half mansion that was one of the first full-blown Georgian structures in the region.  The building is a central passage, double pile, Georgian-type structure with five bays.  The exterior consists of fine cut sand-stone, a plaster cove cornice, and evidence of a pent roof.  The interior of the building is currently under restoration.   Douglassville, PA, home to Morlatton Village, is named after George Douglass.

White Horse Inn (Circa 1762)
The White Horse Inn is of Georgian Style and its principle façade constructed of dressed sandstone.  Built circa 1727 by Marcus Huling and later enlarged by George Douglass the building served as a tavern during Colonial times.  The White Horse was purchased by the Trust ion 1970 and has undergone significant restoration since.  Today, the building is fully restored, including the addition of an adjoining kitchen.  The Historic Preservation Trust of Berks County houses it office within the confines and the White Horse Inn is also available for private gatherings and event.

Secondary Morlatton Village Site Information
Douglassville Covered Bridge (1832-1952):  The Douglassville bridge was one of twelve covered toll bridges in Berks County, and spanned the Schuylkill River.  From the edge of Morlatton Village, parts of the original structure can be viewed submerged in the river.  The resident of the Covered Bridge Keepers House was responsible for the upkeep of the bridge, including snow shoveling during winter.

Thun Trail
Dedicated in 2006, the Thun Trail provides a biking/hiking link to Historic Morlatton Village.  The Thun Trail connects the Schuylkill River Heritage Area trail from Pottsville to Philadelphia.  The trail was constructed on the rail bed of the former Pennsylvania Railroad (est. 1883).

July 4, 2022 • 2pm – Summer Open House & Declaration of Independence Reading 

July 16, 2022 • 11am – 3rd Saturday Program “The French and Indian War in Pennsylvania, 1749-1758” 

August 20, 2022 • 11am – 3rd Saturday Program “Founding Females – Women of the Revolution” 

September 17, 2022 • 10am-3pm – Archaeology Site & George Douglass Mansion Open House 

(See Events Calendar drop-down menu for event details).

Our Mission

The Historic Preservation Trust of Berks County is a diverse group of individuals united in a quest to acquire, preserve, and maintain historically and architecturally significant properties in Berks County, Pennsylvania. The Trust seeks to foster community involvement and support in promoting awareness and appreciation for the role these sites played in our American history.

The Trust currently owns and maintains eight historically significant buildings in the greater Reading/Berks County, PA area.

Our Hours

Buildings in Morlatton Village in Douglassville are open Wednesdays and Saturdays from 9a.m.- 12 p.m., April through October. On Wednesdays and Saturdays, volunteer archaeologists are on-site at the Mouns Jones House and can provide tours of this building, as well as others in the Village. We also schedule tours of any of our buildings by appointment, and offer special events throughout the year at our various properties.

Historic Properties

Morlatton Village, found just off the banks of the Schuylkill River, consists of five historically and architecturally significant buildings: the Covered Bridge Keeper’s House, the Douglassville Covered Bridge, the George Douglass Mansion, The White Horse Tavern, and the Mouns Jones House.

The Mouns Jones House is the oldest standing structure in Berks County, dating back to 1716.

Morlatton Village, located in Douglassville, PA, presents a great opportunity for a day out.  A picnic in the field, a bike ride down the Thun Trail, or time spent taking photographs of historically significant architecture, are just some of the ways you could spend a day at Morlatton Village.

The Hottenstein House, Johan DeTurk Cabin, and Jacob Keim Farmstead, located in Kutztown, Oley, and Pike Township, PA, respectively, round out the Trust’s portfolio of historically significant properties.  Tours are available by appointment.  Please contact the Trust for information.

An all volunteer organization, the Trust also hosts events such as the Mouns Jones Country Fair & Harvest Festival, the annual Christmas Tea, and various other luncheons, outings, and gatherings.

Additionally, for a small donation to the Trust, our buildings and grounds can be used for your group events or gatherings such as camping trips, scout trips, birthday parties, weddings, or anniversaries.  For more information about using a Trust property for your event, please contact us for more information.

The Trust is always looking for new members.  If you are interested in becoming a member, volunteering, or donating, feel free to contact the Trust today.