Charles Harper Smith Editor: Kevin Winters Published: August 9 2025 Acknowledgement This article is taken from the introduction of The Settlement of Horsham Township by Charles Harper Smith, by DT Shannon, President of The Millbrook Society which reprinted this book in 2016. You can read the about the early settlers here here. This book is available in the HPHA library. Charles Harper Smith It has been 70 years since Charles Harper Smith (1878-1946) passed into memory. He was a common man of uncommon intellect who embraced his own heritage and that of our...

Early Settlers of Horsham Township Author: Charles Harper Smith Editor: Kevin Winters Published: August 9 2025 This article is taken from the second chapter of The Settlement of Horsham Township by Charles Harper Smith. You can read the first chapter here. This book is available in the HPHA library. Comments by Mr Smith enclosed by (). Comments by Editor enclosed by []. The First Landowners The new English colony on the Delaware became immediately popular in Europe, and attracted many men of wealth and distinction to these shores. [Editor: William...

Countryside Gardeners Author: Lydia Parry Lewis Published: August 8 2025 Countryside Gardeners was founded in 1933 after much discussion by three women interested in the art and science of gardening. These women were members of the Doylestown Nature Club. Some women felt the need for a smaller club in the Bucks County area. On September 6, 1933, fifteen women met to discuss club names. Garden Rakes was proposed, but many felt it was too rakish for such earnest gardeners. Countryside Gardeners was the accepted title. Margaret Strawbridge...

Margaret Van der Schure (Jasper) Penn: Mother of William Penn By: Kevin Winters June 29, 2025 Margaret Van der Schure (Jasper) Penn: Mother of William Penn The information on Margaret Penn is taken from the following two sources McNeil (14) and McNeil (15) . Margaret van der Schure Penn – date and artist unknown (from American Aristocracy) Not much is known about the background of Willam Penn’s mother, Margaret van der Schure. She apparently came from a wealthy family based on the estates in Ireland that Oliver Cromwell restored to her after...

Admiral Sir William Penn By: Kevin Winters June 29, 2025 Admiral Sir William Penn – date and artist unknown ) William Penn Sr was born in 1621 and went to sea on merchant ships at an early age. He served his apprenticeship with his father, a merchant ( Wikipedia (no date) William Penn (Royal Navy officer) [49] ) He married Margaret Jasper Van der Schuren June 6, 1643 (McNeill [15] ) and they had three children. William Jr was the oldest. A bout with smallpox at the age of four caused him to lose his hair and he wore wigs for much of his life. (NPS ) He had a sister...

William Penn By: Kevin Winters June 29, 2025 William Penn William Penn is likely well-known to most readers as the founder/proprietor of the colony of Pennsylvania. While the township of Horsham is part of that colony it is likely that Penn had very little, if anything, to do with the township and likely never visited since the land was still wilderness (the 1st settler in Hatboro reaching this area only by 1701 [Smith 1945 p17 ]) which is the year that Penn left the colony for good. (Independence Hall Association (3) -no date ) He had sold off the land that would become...