Germantown

GERMANTOWN, a residential district and former suburb, now a ward of Philadelphia, Pa., U.S.A., on Wissahickon Creek, in the northern part of the city. There are many old colonial houses along Main street (the old Germantown road or avenue). Prominent among the historic houses is Cliveden, or the "Chew House," built about 1761 by Benjamin Chew (1722-181o), who was chief justice of Pennsylvania in 1774-1777 and was im prisoned as a Loyalist in 1777, and whose home during the battle of Germantown was occupied by British troops. The well-pre served Morris House (1772) was the headquarters of General Howe at the close of the battle. Three doors above stood until 1904 the Ashmead House, used for a time by Count Nicholas Lewis Zinzendorf and his daughters for their Moravian school. In the same street is the old Wister Mansion, built as a country seat in 1744 and occupied by British officers during the battle of the Revolutionary War. In another old house (now Nos. 5275– , 5277), John Fanning Watson (1779-186o), the annalist of Phila delphia, did most of his literary work. In this vicinity the first paper mill in America was erected in 169o. The King of Prussia inn, built about 174o, and the Mermaid hotel, as old or older, are interesting survivals of the inns and taverns of old Germantown. The Germantown Academy was built in 1760, and after the bat tle of Germantown was used by the British as a hospital. In Ger mantown are also a Friends' school, a Friends' free library, and the Germantown branch of the Philadelphia public library. The first school in Germantown was established about 17o1. For the first 18 years it was under the mastership of Francis Daniel Pastorius (1651-1719), the leader in founding the town, who lived in a house that stood on the site of the present First Methodist Episcopal church, High street and Main street. He compiled a primer which was the first school book produced in the State. Later the same school passed to Christopher Dock (d. 1771), who in 1770 published an essay on teaching (written in 175o), which is said to have been the first book on pedagogy published in America. The first Bible printed in America in any European language was published in Germantown in 1743 by Christopher Sauer (d. 1758), who in 1739 established Germantown's first newspaper, The High German Pennsylvania Historian, or Collec tion of Important News from the Kingdom of Nature and of the Church. The Friends were the first sect to erect a meeting-house of their own (about 1693). The Mennonites built a log meeting house in 1709, and their present stone church was built in 17 7o. Germantown manufactures textiles, knit goods and yarns.

Germantown was founded in Oct. 1683, by 13 families from Crefeld, Germany, under the leadership of Francis Daniel Pas torius. The borough of Germantown was incorporated in 1689. For many years it was a struggling village, but after 175o its growth was more rapid. It was annexed to Philadelphia in See Samuel W. Pennypacker, The Settlement of Germantown, and the Beginning of German Emigration to North America (Philadelphia, 1899) ; S. F. Hotchkiss, Ancient and Modern Germantown, Mount Airy and Chestnut Hill (Philadelphia, 1889) ; N. H. Keyser, "Old Historic Germantown," in the Proceedings and Addresses of the Pennsylvania-German Society (Lancaster, 1906) ; and Herbert Pul linger, Old Germantown (Philadelphia, 1926).

The Battle of Germantown.

This famous encounter in the American War of Independence was fought on Oct. 4, Following the battle of Brandywine (q.v.) and occupation of Phil adelphia, the British force commanded by Sir W. Howe encamped at Germantown, where Washington determined to attack them. The Americans advanced by two roads, Gen. Sullivan leading the column on the right and Gen. Greene that on the left. Washing ton himself accompanied Sullivan, with whom were Stirling and Anthony Wayne. The right at first met with success, driving the British advanced troops back on the main body near the Chew House. Col. Musgrave, of the 4oth Foot, threw a portion of his regiment into this house, and Gen. Agnew came up with his corn mand. The Americans under Stirling attempted to dislodge Mus grave, thus losing time. Gen. Greene on the left was even less fortunate. Meeting with unexpected opposition at the first point of attack his troops were thrown into confusion and compelled to retreat. One of his brigades extended itself to the right wing, and by opening fire on the Chew House caused Wayne to retreat, and presently both of the American columns retired rapidly in the direction of their camp. The surprise had failed. Washington went into winter quarters at Valley Forge, 4om. W. of Philadel phia. The British wintered in and around the city.