Buck County Race of Giants

HISTORY OF BOWMAN’S HILL

The Story of New Hope’s Beginning

By Dr. J. E. SCOTT

The following paper on “Bowman’s Hill and Its Historical Setting” was read before the Bucks County Historical Society by Dr. J. E. Scott, of New Hope, on Tuesday, May 27th, in the Thompson Memorial Presbyterian Church, Brownsburg.

As one travels along the Delaware river, noted in song and story for its quiet, romantic beauty and for its sparkling, crystal clear water, one of the objects that most deeply impresses and attracts the traveler is “Bowman’s Hill.” It may be seen for many miles from almost any direction; and from whatever angle it is viewed, it is conspicuous and beautiful.

One is impressed with the thought that some prehistoric race of giants must have piled up this huge elongated pyramid as a monument to some ancient king, greater than a Cheops or Suphis.

Upon what stirring scenes in nature this old hill must have looked down, and of what great convulsions of nature it must have been a part. It was hoary with age when Adam and Eve met the serpent in Eden, and has changed but little since the day when the mastodon and pterodactyl sported in the waters that bathed its base.

Its contour, when taken in connection with other formations in the neighborhood, would lead us to believe that at one time it formed part of the rim of a great inland lake, and that in some great convulsion of nature it was burst asunder and that since then the Delaware has flowed unfettered to the sea. But we are content to leave the question of geological formation to those who are able to read the riddle of the rocks.

For centuries of its history, the Indian was in undisputed possession of it and its surroundings and we are told that the red man lingered

in this immediate vicinity until his brethren of the surrounding country had removed their tepees farther to the westward.

It is very probable that this hill was first beheld by the eyes of white men in the year 1616 when three romantic and adventuresome Germans set out from Nassau, now Albany, N. Y., crossed the wilds of northern New Jersey, struck the upper reaches of the Delaware, down whose current they drifted to the mouth of the Schuylkill.

What must have been their exclamation as they floated down, to see this seeming barrier stretching forbiddingly athwart their pathway! Exploration and settlement of this region did not begin till many years later. There were some straggling settlements along either side of the lower Delaware soon after the middle of the century; but nothing definite and durable was done until after William Penn had consummated his notable purchase from the English king. Penn’s innate sense of justice impelled him to buy the land from the Indians, the rightful owners, as well as from the king, the technical possessor.

The first purchase of what is now Bucks County was made in 1682. This had for its northern limits a line extending from a spruce tree, one hundred and four rods north of the mouth of what was afterward called Knowles Creek, thence along the foot of Jerico Mountain, through the edge of what is now the village of Wrightstown to the Neshaminy Creek. For this land, the Indians were paid some wampum, some blankets, guns, beads, kettles, and trinkets.

It is alleged that a treaty was made with the Indians in 1686 by which a body of land lying to the northward of the line from the spruce tree, which stood by the river a little below the present Brownsburg schoolhouse, and extended to the Neshaminy, was acquired. There is nothing recorded to substantiate this claim, and the fact that it was acquired by the walking purchase of 1737 would seem to dispose of the claim.

THE MANOR OF HIGHLANDS Notwithstanding these facts, in the year 1795, one Thomas Holme laid out a tract on the Delaware of 7500 acres for William

Penn, to be known as the “Proprietary’s Manor of Highlands.” Upon this tract, settlement was not encouraged. The southern boundary of these lands was probably what is now known as the Pineville road, a road leading from Taylorsville to the Eagle. It extended westward into Wrightstown Township, and its northern boundary was in Solebury, possibly joining the grant to Robert Heath, who acquired 1000 acres

covering the site of New Hope in 1700. Thus we see that all of the land in this immediate neighborhood was once a part of William Penn’s personal holdings.

The London Company purchased 5000 acres surveyed to them in 1709. This purchase also probably covered all of the land in this vicinity to the southward.

In 1709, Jonathan Pidcock bought 500 acres of the Manor lands to the north of the London Company tract. A tradition handed down in the Pidcock family says “that Jonathan Pidcock together with a more or less known as Dr. John Bowman, settled here.” A house, gristmill, and sawmill were built, and a copper mine was opened. The creek took its name from the owner of the land and is still known as Pidcock’s creek. The gristmill is still faithfully doing its work, though it has degenerated into a common feed mill. The tooth of decay has eaten up the house and the sawmill, though the ruins of both can be seen close together, east of the north end of the covered bridge. The stone house on this property, important for its associations hereinafter to be mentioned, is being permitted to go into most regrettable decay. The time and the builder of this venerable landmark seem to be unknown. It would seem to have been built at three different periods. The middle section seems to be the oldest and was probably built first. The east end was added later and after Robert Thomson acquired the property, he added the west end in 1757, as told by the date stone over the front entrance.

THE COPPER MINE

The copper mine, which has been the source of a great deal of romance, mystery, and curiosity, is north of the hill and across the creek. It penetrates the hill some 60 feet, has two considerable chambers, and a central shaft that sinks to a depth of some 40 feet. Some copper is present; however, not in paying quantities.

Jonathan Pidcock finally closed the mine, disposed of his property, and moved to New Jersey. According to a legend of the Pidcock family, he built a house and mill in the lower end of what is now

Lambertville. This may have been the genesis of the “Prince Hope Mills” of Benjamin Parry.

The beautiful hill, which is the central figure in this narrative, was called by the Indians “Nenehawcachung.” You can each put your interpretation upon this name. It ought to mean “Magnificent Hill” or something like that. This hill, always beautiful, is at its best in October when the frosty blasts of the north wind have tinged the foliage with a thousand tints and hues and made it a dream of marvelous beauty.

Nenehawcachung belonged to the tract purchased by Jonathan Pidcock and was the favorite haunt of John Bowman. There is some difference of opinion concerning this somewhat mysterious individual. But for the present purpose, I have chosen to take the old and almost universal tradition that has been handed down among the honest and simple-minded country folk of the neighborhood.

THE CAPTAIN KIDD PIRACY John Bowman was an Englishman. In 1696, he was made surgeon of the fleet sent out under the command of Captain Kidd to suppress piracy on the high seas. After a time, Kidd and his crew hoisted the black flag and became one of the most cruel bands of pirates that ever sailed the seas. Kidd was hanged in 1700 and his crew scattered. Bowman came to Newtown, but being under suspicion of belonging to the robber crew, he soon disappeared. With the advent of Jonathan Pidcock, Bowman reappeared and built a house at the foot of Neshaminy Hill. What his relations were with Jonathan Pidcock, we are not able to determine. He was reputed to be an eccentric and contemplative man. He loved the beauties and solitudes of nature. Daily, he would climb to the summit of old Neshaminy Hill and sit for hours in moody silence, disturbed only by the song of the birds and the bark of the squirrel. He loved the old hill and often expressed a desire to be buried on its summit, saying it was as near to heaven as he ever expected to get. Late in life, he went to Newtown and lived in a little house on the edge of the village. One day he was found dead there. His friends remembered his oft-expressed desire and brought his body back to the spot he loved and buried him on the eastern apex of the old hill. From this time, probably 1712, the name was changed to “Bowman’s Hill.” And the venerable mountain became at once his sepulcher and his abiding monument.

BOWMAN’S GRAVESTONE Someone placed a stone over his grave with a large “B” carved upon it. Some years ago, vandals broke it off and carried it away, and at the same time despoiled the grave. The object of the search was probably the treasure that Dr. Bowman was supposed to have secreted in the hill, it being his share of the booty of Captain Kidd’s depredations. The grave was not filled up, and two weeks ago when the writer visited the grave, he picked up three metacarpal bones of a human hand-presumably the hand of John Bowman.

A story is told among superstitious people that runs thus: If you will prostrate yourself by the grave of John Bowman and repeat the words, “John Bowman, what killed you?” He will answer, “Nothing.” Aaron McCarty, an old steamboat captain, lived until a few years ago in the stone house on the eastern slope of the hill. Just before his death, he told the writer this story: “One evening about nine o’clock, there was a rap at my door. Upon opening the door, a total stranger presented himself and asked to be lodged overnight. He said he was a stranger to all this region but seemed deeply interested and asked many pertinent questions. The next day they walked together about the vicinity and over the hill, the stranger showing peculiar knowledge and very unusual interest. Finally, he divulged the fact that his name was Bowman-a relative of John Bowman, the man who was buried on the hill.

THE CAPTAIN KIDD PIRACY John Bowman was an Englishman. In 1696, he was made surgeon of the fleet sent out under the command of Captain Kidd to suppress piracy on the high seas. After a time, Kidd and his crew hoisted the black flag and became one of the most cruel bands of pirates that ever sailed the seas. Kidd was hanged in 1700, and his crew scattered. Bowman came to Newtown, but being under suspicion of belonging to the robber crew, he soon disappeared. With the advent of Jonathan Pidcock, Bowman reappeared and built a house at the foot of Neshaminy Hill. What his relations were with Jonathan Pidcock were, we are not able to determine. He was reputed to be an eccentric and contemplative man. He loved the beauties and solitudes of nature. Daily he would climb to the summit of old Neshaminy Hill and sit for hours in moody silence, disturbed only by the song of the birds and the bark of the squirrel. He loved the old hill and often expressed a desire to be buried on its summit, saying it was as near to heaven as he ever expected to get. Late in life, he went to Newtown and lived in a little house on the edge of the village. One day he was found dead there. His friends remembered his oft-expressed desire and brought his body back to the spot he loved and buried him on the eastern apex of the old hill. From this time, probably 1712, the name was changed to “Bowman’s Hill.” And the venerable mountain became at once his sepulcher and his abiding monument.

BOWMAN’S GRAVESTONE Someone placed a stone over his grave with a large “B” carved upon it. Some years ago, vandals broke it off and carried it away, and at the same time despoiled the grave. The object of the search was probably the treasure that Dr. Bowman was supposed to have secreted in the hill, it being his share of the booty of Captain Kidd’s depredations. The grave was not filled up, and two weeks ago, when the writer visited the grave, he picked up three metacarpal bones of a human hand – presumably the hand of John Bowman.

A story is told among superstitious people that runs thus: If you will prostrate yourself by the grave of John Bowman and repeat the words, “John Bowman, what killed you?” He will answer, “Nothing.” Aaron McCarty, an old steamboat captain, lived until a few years ago in the stone house on the eastern slope of the hill. Just before his death, he told the writer this story: “One evening about nine o’clock, there was a rap at my door. Upon opening the door, a total stranger presented himself and asked to be lodged overnight. He said he was a stranger to all this region but seemed deeply interested and asked many pertinent questions. The next day they walked together about the vicinity and over the hill, the stranger showing peculiar knowledge and very unusual interest. Finally, he divulged the fact that his name was Bowman – a rela

1. The Lambertville record. [volume], October 01, 1920, Image 5