860
 

HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY,
 

CHAPTER   LV.
 

KELIGIOUS EXCITEMENT; MEEINO SHEEP AND MULTICAULIS ;

NAVIGATION OF THE DELAWARE ; SHAD ;

ELECTIONS AND TAXES.
 

Plummerites.—Church built.—Mr. Archambault.—Free church.—Keligious awaken¬
ing.—The hedge-pulpit.—The Tabernacle.—Plumstead Presbyterian congregation.
—Merino sheep.—Morus multicaulis.—High price of trees.—Money made and
lost.—Floods of 1841 and 1862.—Attempts to improve the navigation of the up¬
per Delaware.—Steamboat to Easton.—Shad fisheries.—First election.—Election
districts.—Andrew Hamilton.—Change in provincial politics.—Vote polled.—
Taxes.—County expenses.—Early education.—Public schools.—Agricultural pro¬
ducts.—Minerals.—Horse companies.—Physicians.

About 1830 considerable religious excitement was created in por¬
tions of the county by the preaching of Frederick Plummer, an
eminent and eloquent minister. He had a large followdng wherever
he went through the lower townships, and his followers, known as
"Christians" and "Plummerites," w-ere enthusiastic in the cause.
In pleasant weather his meetings were generally held in the woods,
but at other times they sought the shelter of some friendly roof.
Newtown became one of Mr. Plummer's centres, and he was in the
habit of occasionally preaching in the academy; but as that was
under the control of the Presbyterians, they finally closed the doors
against liim. But this action only infiamed his followers the more,
and aroused a new enthusiasm for their minister and free preaching.
Joseph Archambault, the landlord of the Brick hotel, Newtown, and
a great admirer of Mr. Plummer, invited him to have his meetings