Death of William Spohn Baker.

As we go to press, the sudden death of MR. WILLIAM SPOHN BAKER, on Wednesday morning, September 8, 1897, is announced. He was elected a member of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania April 28, 1873, and for many years has served as one of the Vice-Presidents and a member of the Council.

MR. BAKER was widely known through his researches in all that pertained to the life and character of Washington, and his last contribution, "Washington after the Revolution," is concluded in the present number of the PENNSYLVANIA MAGAZINE, to which he was an esteemed and frequent contributor.

NOTES AND QUERIES.

Notes.

Dr. Edmund Porter, "PRACTITIONER IN PHYSIC."-Dr. Edmund Porter, the writer of the following letter, was born in Haddam, Connecticut, June 18, 1791, and died at Frenchtown, New Jersey, July 12, 1826. He married Mary Moore, September 28, 1816. Dr. Porter became a resident of Frenchtown in June of 1820. He was one of the founders of the Medical Society of Hunterdon County, and one of its first delegates to the State Medical Society; served as a member of the State Assembly, and was a successful and popular physician and surgeon. He was also a frequent contributor to the medical journals and the press of the State. He was a licentiate in medicine of the Connecticut Medical Society; the Medical Society of St. Bartholomew, W. I.; and the Union Medical Society of Pennsylvania. Dr. Porter's letter is addressed to his cousin, Miss Laura Anderson.

"FRENCHTOWN, N. J., 1st May, 1824.

A Period of Thirteen years has gone by since I had the happiness of beholding you (I fear for the last time). In that period 3380 days, [?] I have seen much of the follies and vanities of life, I have been goaded by the lash, and flattered by the smiles of Fortuna. To recount all the adventures since I saw you last would require a Bibliographer. In the period mentioned, I have been in several parts of North and South America, I resided nearly one year in the West Indies. Dr. Miner informs me that you are still 'In a state of single blessedness' What the 'duce' has become of your standing beau, or the crowd of admirers who once danced attendance to your mandates-Dr. M. speaks of you in most flattering terms, has he any designs upon you? As this letter is not entirely sentimental, I shall communicate only such events in my own career and ask such questions of your self as are only interesting to long separated friends.

"In 1815, May 8th, I arrived at New Haven on my return to the United States; health much better, as that was the chief object of my voyage. I then visited Boston and Salem where I had bills of Exchange on the firm of Own & Co. of the latter town for something like $2000.— Protested, All lost, no property left. Was engaged in a love affair of long standing. On my way to Haddam, Conn. visited my sister Mrs. Mary Noble, at Springfield, Massachusetts; hospitably treated. Then our uncle James Anderson and family in Hartford, Conn. Then my native town Haddam. Did not marry nor neither was I given in marriage. Visited New York, and my friends and acquaintances there, then shaped my course for the western and southern states; remained two weeks at Newton, Sussex County, New Jersey. Then traveled to Easton about forty-five or fifty miles distant, a thriveing Borough situated on the West side of the Delaware River surrounded by mountains and intersected by rivers, containing about 300 well built houses and 2000 inhabitants, principally Germans or of German extraction. At two outs and one in -Out of money, out of credit, and in debt, if $12.00 makes a man so after a months board. I then proceeded to Allentown, or as it is sometimes called the Borough of Northampton in Lehigh County, Pa., where I quitted for a time 'pills and boluses,' for to instruct their principal

school, where I realised on an average about $100. per month, for nearly nine months. I then bought a fine horse rather superior to ' Fiddlesticks,' on which the immortal Goldsmith began his novel tour, and commenced my own to the town of Hummelstadt on the delightful banks of the Swatara Creek in Dauphin County, Penna. where I commenced the practice of medicine and Surgery in the vacancy occasioned by the death of my predecessor Dr. Patton.

"I have long retained the names of many of my scholars at Allentown, among a mass of manuscript which begin to lumber on my hands, therefore as this is merely a detail of events to my cousin, in connection, a catalogue of those whom I instructed may at some future period prove interesting to my own children. Hence I have inserted their names viz: "Girls. Saphrona Smith Hannah Echherdt Eve Clader Sally Schooley Hannah Clader Henerrietta Wagner Eliza Wagoner Julia Ann Miller Abigal Seagraves Mary Ginginger Matilda Phue Lucina Sneider Rebecca Hanse Eliza Eckhardt Amy Sager.

"Boys. Thomas Wilson William Wilson Francis Wilson Thomas Savits Abraham Gross William Mince John Miller Peter Young Jacob Stein Thomas Ginginger Peter Huber Jacob Newhard John Newhard George Gross Daniel Wagner David Kiper William Knicht Chas. Stein William Horn Mannasa Sneider Edward Sager William Gongware William Sneider Miles Echhardt Thomas Newhardt Augustus Joseph Miller William Saeger Charles Seipes Charles Wagoner Charles Martin Henry Weaver John Dorney Joseph Walman Edward Martin Obediah Weaver James Seagraves Jacob Gross John Haughenbock George Buckman Jesse Oberly Thomas Sager Thomas Worman Charles Keckt John Stein Abraham Stein John Sneider Solomon Raver George Kecht Solomon Kecht Jacob Nagle Joseph Gross James Swander John Gross Geo. Gross Jacob Klader Valentine Klader Charles Fatzinger Samuel Troxel Edward Wise Peter Schooley Ruben Coffman Francis Gross John Gross Charles Gross Thomas Sneider Peter

Rhinesmith George Tribal Smith Thomas Gangware Tilghman Wagner Thomas Hopkins Delia Hopkins Nancy Bell James Gongewar Geo. Hoffman Joseph Fatzinger Conrad Koker Eliza Eckhart Samuel Ginginger Augustus Rhine Edward Rhodes Henry Worman Francis Horn Chas. Kickline Jacob Henry Samuel Newhard Thomas Klauder William Echhardt Isaac Sager Daniel Lair (1815 & 1816.)

"The 28th of September 1816 I was married to Miss Mary Moore, a Lady of Easton, Penna., where like Dr. Franklin, (who tells the story of his after wife Mrs. Read) I became acquainted with her under circumstances more unfavorable than Franklin. He had 'two rolls of bread,' I had none. We have had five children. Two first dead. The three last are now living, viz: Edmund Porter, Leonidas Samuel Miner Porter, and Thomas Miner Anderson Porter.

"After I was married I lived in Easton near four years. I dealt in drugs, medicines, paints, millinary &c. &c., and on the 29th of May, 1820 I failed in business, to a small amount comparatively speaking, when you learn that I commenced on a credit of 5 or $600 and that only $1000. was lost after doing nearly $30,000. in trade, persecuted, and bourn down by the rich reptiles, the Worms of accumulation, and Banking speculation, who rioted on the nerves & sinews of the public during our last war with the 'mistress of the ocean.' The redemptioners of continental Europe who had become the inhabitants of the fairest part of North America, seemed desirous to lord it over the sons of those who

nursed the revolutionary cradle. Hessians, Hanoverians, Westphalians, Polanders, Germans, Austrians, Waldechers and all the Northern Hord seemed anxious to bow-down the energies of a youth, at once intent on being serviceable to them and beneficial to his country, whose aim was the privelege which the constitution of that country granted him, 'Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness' But enough, I removed to Frenchtown the 10th June, 1820, and have done as much business in my professional line as any, who call themselves Doctors, for the last four years. Money is scarce. The pay is tolerable. I enjoy myself tolerably well. I am getting old and fleshy. I have not that puny pale look which I had twelve years ago.

Next 18th June I shall

be (34) years old. Dr. Miner informs me that your father is dead. I feel sensibly your misfortune, and deplore the irreparable loss which you have sustained. I would thank you to inform me of every particular of my old acquaintances, and all that relates to your family. Is uncles Robert and James Anderson alive? Where are your Brothers? What has become of your sister and her family. Is Dr. Smith in Lynne. How comes on the 'Eel skins, and . . . of North Quarter.'

...

"E. PORTER."

A RAILROAD AND CANAL-BOAT JOURNEY FROM PHILADELPHIA TO NORTHUMBERLAND IN 1835.-A lady in June of 1835 writes,

"We arrived at Northumberland yesterday about Eight o'clock in the morning, and I never performed the journey with so little fatigue of either body or mind. At the depot in Broad Street, I had the pleasure of meeting cousin Edward. . . . We had the fortitude to ride up the inclined plane, . . . the air absolutely cold when we reached the summit. .. At intervals we travelled at the rate of twenty miles an hour, the wind ahead, and sparks flying as thick as hailstones-for a time this was frightful, from the apprehension that we should take fire, which sometimes did not seem improbable, for with all our activity it was impossible to prevent the sparks from burning our dresses more or less, indeed they were riddled." Not long had we been disturbed by the lighting of sparks upon us, before we were surprised by the sudden stopping of the cars and upon inquiry found the car immediately before us was on fire; it was fortunately extinguished without injury to any one, save that which fright occasioned. Some time after there was another commotion, from the burning of a coat on the top of the car, by the time this was put out there was another conflagration at the extreme line of cars-this was also adroitly managed, and we again passed on, when we were suddenly stopped by a heavy jolt, this arose from a bolt giving way, and last of all, a switch being out of order in the rails impeded our progress for a short period. . . arrived at Columbia about four, here we met with excellent accommodations. . . . The next morning we were on board the General Jackson at eight o'clock, and passed up the Susquehannah canal as far as Duncan's Island, before night, the scenery, wild, picturesque and magnificent. When we turned into our berths for the night; although they were as comfortable as we could expect, it requires much philosophy not to complain of confined air, narrow beds, and scanty supply of water for morning ablutions, with little or no space to lay down the articles you take off, . . . when up, the next thing to do was to go upon deck, but the morning was too cold and damp to allow us to do this for more than a few minutes at a time, with thick shawls and cloaks wrapped close around, and a return to the cabin was hardly to be borne. . . In passing under one of the canal bridges, one or two of our party were very near meeting with a serious accident. It was

mentioned before we came up to the bridge, that we had better go down, or more towards the edge of the boat, as the top there was lower than in the centre where we were standing; some of us had the prudence to go below, Mary, Mr. D., and another passenger, not of our company, remained on top to run their chance. . Mary, notwithstanding she laid down flat, was so tightly pressed by the beams of the bridge that her arm was scratched and quite sore, Mr. D., more upon the rounding, escaped with a scratched sleeve, the other passenger, finding the space likely to be small, jumped upon the bridge while the boat was passing under, a very adroit manoeuver, in which had he not succeeded, death would have been the consequence. . .

EXCERPTA 1809-1810.-"My feelings were sadly tried yesterday on perusing the Lancaster paper of this week [Dec. 15, 1809], it is there mentioned that Peyton Smith, second son of General John Smith, near Winchester fell in a duel fought with a Mr. Holmes. My poor nephew was but eighteen, and a lad of uncommon promise-so ends human expectation! His beauty, his talents, his fine figure, his wealth, highly as they were prized by the admiring multitude, were insufficient to ward off the shaft of Death. . . ."

The turnpike to Reading is executed in a masterly style-far superior to the Lancaster... if you had one spark of the patriotism that warmed you when you saluted the lips of General Washington, you would come up, were it only to witness the improvements of your country. . . ." I arrived at Princeton within four hours after I parted with you. But how I wished for the privilege of our male friends, to make an acquaintance with one of the gentlemen that sat behind mehe chatted to the man, his companion, with the most enchanting vivacity, on a variety of interesting topics, all of which he discussed with the acumen of a scholar, and the ease of a gentleman, frequently varying his discourse, in the hope (I believe) of at length touching on a string that might produce a correspondent vibration in the company-but all in vain; you know the talents of the Hartshornes for silence speaking of our President Washington, he said that when he was a student at Yale College, he heard Dr. Dwight, who, he supposed, was the proudest man in America, say that he never felt himself abashed in mortal presence, but the President's, that tho' his manners were not repellant, he was environed by Dignity, in a species of atmosphere that rendered him intangible; how true that observation was, the multitude bear witness; but I could have told him of Beauty stealing kisses from those lips that he believed to be so awfully inapproachable-perhaps memory can furnish you with a case in point."

ABSTRACT OF RECORDS FROM THE BIBLE OF THE BRUNER FAMILY, OF GERMANTOWN.-We are indebted to the courtesy of a valued contributor for a transcript of the family records in the Bible of the Bruner family, of Germantown. The early entries being in German, we have translated them into English, and all duplications of marriages and births have been omitted in our abstracts.-ED. PENNA. MAG.

Die Bibel hab Ich Heinrich Bruner gekauft den 15ten day Nofember in Jahr unseres Herrn und Heylandes Jesu Christi 1766, vor £2. 15s. Od.” Frederick Bruner was born in the Canton Basel, Switzerland, September [], 1744.

George Bruner was born in the Canton Basel, Switzerland, April [ ],

1749.