The History of Bensalem Part II: The Revolutionary Years (1770-1790)

Perhaps some of the most interesting moments of Bensalem's history occur during the Revolutionary War. Not only did a majority of important figures frequently travel to Bensalem, but the township is also the site of some wartime action. Many individuals who played a large part in the history of the town were involved with the war on both sides of the fence – there were strict patriots, such as George Washington and John Adams, and a fair amount of loyalists, including the famous Joseph Galloway.

 Pre-War Era

 As mentioned in , the Society of Friends (Quakers) were a very influential religion at this point in time. As their name implies, the group was quite against the idea of war, but they certainly had little qualms about partaking in the fight for independence. For one, the society managed to raise a significant amount of money to support those who were facing strife in Philadelphia. Meanwhile, another Quaker, John Lacey, raised a company of soldiers to fight in the upcoming war. Lacey would become famous for engaging a series of notable battles throughout the Philadelphia area.

 In Bensalem, Joseph Galloway had already established himself as one of the upper-crust of society and was living in Growden Manor with his wife Grace Galloway (nee Growden). Born in Maryland 1731, Galloway had studied law and eventually embarked on a political career. By 1774, he was a member of the Continental Congress (as was my supposed ancestor Charles Thomson) and frequently had correspondence with Ben Franklin. It was around this time that Galloway's sympathies for the British crown became apparent, but he didn't defect to the British side until the war broke out in 1776.

 The Revolutionary War

 Bensalem is intricately linked with the Revolutionary War. In the book The History of Bucks County author William Davis explains why Bensalem saw so much action: “The proximity of Bensalem to Philadelphia induced the British troops to make several incursions into the township while they held that city . . . and during the war the inhabitants suffered from the depredations of both armies.”

 While it is evident that the British enjoyed coming into Bensalem, so did the patriots. Some of the older readers may remember the famous Red Lion Inn that was on Bristol Pike, formerly known as King's highway. Built in 1748, the building itself was originally named Strickland's before the name change in the 1770s-80s. It is said that John Adams, Samuel Adams, and a host of other important colonial figures dined there in August 1774, with John Adams returning occasionally over the years. During the war, however, the Red Lion Inn had a reputation as being the place where high-ranking army officials met together to go over the negotiations to exchange prisoners of war. This meeting occurred in 1778, the year of the Continental army's harsh winter at Valley Forge and the British army's occupation of Philadelphia.

Not all the transactions that occurred in Bensalem were of a peaceful nature. After all, there was a war going on. While Washington was petitioning the continental congress for more troops and better supplies, the Americans were being ordered to assistant Washington with anything he needed -- including the fortification of vulnerable access points. One such fortification was at Dunk's ferry, in Bensalem. Colonel Nixon guarded the ferry by building forts and readying artillery should the British attempt to cross the river at any point. Some sources suggest that there was even bullets and bloodshed at Dunk's ferry.

 Violence, however, is confirmed at one particularly famous Bensalem landmark. Both the Bensalem Historical Society and the historian William Davis agree that the bullet holes found in the iron door of Growden Manor occurred when a plundering party encroached upon the property in 1778.

 While Bucks County has an incredibly rich history with the Revolutionary War, it seems as though Bensalem Township didn't see much actual combat. Once the war was over, the town seemed to settle down once more and resume its docile existence.

 What comes next?

My history books are thinning as I come closer and closer to the modern age. I would, however, like to devote an entire segment to the pre-Civil War era and that includes a very interesting murder case, one that even a historian documents in sensational detail! And since I'm running out of material on my end, I think it's time I take a trip to the Bensalem Historical Society to get more questions answered.