Diary of Edward Marshall

Pocopson Township – Historical Diaries

 

In the mid-1800’s, our community was focused on education, politics and community debate. Resident often attended educational events or “lyceums”. Edward J. Marshall, a teenager from Pocopson Township spoke of such events in his dairy:

 

1860

  • September 11 . Tuesday – We all went to Chadds Ford to a political meeting – went in the two-horse wagon.  The meeting was very large.  There was about 5 or 6 thousand persons in attendance. 

1861

  • April 19 – The National Guard of West Chester have offered their services to Governor Curtin. They leave for Harrisburg on second day. 78 recruits left West Chester today.
  • April 22 Monday – There was a meeting there ( Unionville) tonight for the purpose of organizing a company to be called the Home Guards to protect the townships of East And West Marlborough, Newlin and Pocopson from any marauding bands that may come from the Confederate States. Pap and I got back at 11 o’clock.

1863

  • March 20 Friday – Sarah, Caroline and I went to Exhibition of Unionville Academy in Odd Fellows Hall.  Declamations, Original Orations, Essays, Dialogs and theatrical pieces.  Very creditable to school and scholars.
  • July 19 Sunday – Pap came in afternoon, read speech of ex-President Peirce to Alice, Peter and I.
  • September 23 Wednesday – Pap and I went to West Chester.  Were at the Abolition meeting at the Fair Grounds.  Governor Curtin ( a judge and a senator) and several others spoke.  About three thousand persons present.
  • October 3 Saturday.  I went up to the Democratic Club meeting in evening.  There was a pretty large gathering.  The meeting was addressed by John H. Brinton and R.E. Monaghan, Esqrs.
  • October 8. Thursday.  We all went to the Democratic meeting at Downington…. It rained so heavily about 3 or 4 o’clock that most of the people went home.  There was an escort of ladies dressed in white and riding white horses.  They were from Chester Springs.  There was also 2 or 3 hundred horsemen from the Springs.  The West Bradford delegation joined by one from Fallowfield.  Some people from Romansville and some from West Chester made quite a display.  They had several good flags and banners and a ban from Philadelphia.
  • December 5.  Saturday  Alice, Caroline and I walked up to Marshallton in evening to the Lyceum.  Uncle Jona. Gause gave a lecture and debated with Rev.  Mr. Kurtz.  Subject of the debate “ Resolved that intemperance is a greater evil than war.”  The schoolhouse was crowded with people from some distance.
  • December 19.  Saturday Wm. Marshall and I went to the Lyceum in Marshallton in the evening.  Skakepeare’s piece entitled “The Merchant of Venice” was spoken.

1864

  • February 13 Saturday.  Alice, Caroline and I walked up to Marshallton in evening to hear Dr. Sumner Stebbins lecture before the Lyceum.  Subject: “Homeopathy”  He gave an interesting lecture.
  • April 9 Saturday.  I went to Marshallton to hear Dr. J.P. Wood deliver a lecture before the Lyceum, which he called “Homeopathy and Allopathy Contrasted”.  There was not a full house on account of stormy weather.