664
 

HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY.
 

CHAPTER   XLIII.
 

DOYLESTOWN.
 

1818.
 

Early historv.—Walter Shewell.—Painswick hall.—Nathaniel Shewell.—The Mere¬
diths.—Thomas Meredith.—Doctor Hugh.—The Snodgrasses.—Death of Benja¬
min.—David Johnson.—Gabriel Swartzlander.—Embraced in tract of Free Society
of Traders.—Langhorne's purchase.—Tracts of Cudjo and .Joe.—Joseph Kirk¬
bride.—Edward and William Doyle and descendants.—Township organized.—
Area.—The Manns.—The Browers.—Christopher Day.—Bridge Point.—Bridge
built —Doctor Samuel Moore.—Robert Patterson.—Carding machines.—John
Fitzinger.—Bering—The Turk.—A candidate for county-seat.—Cross Keys.—
Mennonite church.—Roads.—Kirkbride house burnt.—Population.

The early history of Doylestown toAvnship is merged in Ncav
Britain, Buckingham, and Warwick, out of AAdiich it was carved in
1818.

Among the early settlers in that part of Ncav Britain which
fell into DoylestoAvn, Avas Walter ShcAvell, who immigrated frotn
Gloucestershire, England, in 1732. Landing at Philadelphia, he
soon made his way to Bucks county, where he purchased a tract of
land, a part of Avhich, with the mansion, is still in the possession of
his descendants, lying on the loAver state road, tAvo miles from
Doylestown. On this he built a handsome dAvelling in 1769, which
he named Painswick hall, after his birthplace in England. He
married Mary Kitnmer, of Maryland, and had a family of sons and