HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.
 

OD i
 

CHAPTER  XLII.
 

MORRISVILLE.
 

1804.
 

Situation.—Tlie falls came early into notice.—First European settlement.—FirsI
owner of site.—Oldmixon in 1708.—First mill erected.—Origin of name.—Kob-
ert Morris settles there.—George Clymer.—General Moreau.—Residence burn^
down.—Morean's will, and sale of property.—Bridge across the Delaware.—
Freshet of 1841.—Ferry below the falls.—Colvin's ferry.—Borough organize<l.—
Capital of United States fixed at Morrisville.—Fine water privileges.—Indus¬
trial establishments.—Population.
 

Morrisville, situated on the DelaAvare opposite Trenton, is, next
to Bristol, the oldest borough in the county.

The "Falls of DelaAvare" was one of the first localities in the
county to come into notice, and several tracts of land were taken up
on the river, just below, under the government of Sir Edmund
Andros. It Avas on the great highway of travel betAveen the lower
DelaAA^are and Ncav York half a century before William Penn's
, arrival, and here the overland route crossed the rivier by ferriage.
The first settlement of Europeans in Bucks county was made by the
Dutch West India company, on a email island just below the falls,
near the AATstern shore, Avliere there was a trading-post, AA'ith three
or four families, from 1624 to 1627. The remains of the island is
now a sand-bar, nearly opposite Morrisville, containing some sevonty-
tive acres, and is called Fairview.
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