Tredyffrin Easttown Historical Society
History Quarterly Digital Archives

Source: January 1939 Volume 2 Number 1, Pages 16–17

Local titles in Easttown and Tredyffrin : Article IV:
John Frick, David Ryan and part of Pennsylvania Railroad tracts in Easttown

Howard S. Okie

Page 16

In the preceding issue of this magazine it was shown that by deed recorded in Book G-5 - 242, a tract of 66 acres and 66 perches known as the Spring House Tavern Tract, was conveyed in 1847 by Benjamin Kugler and his wife Susanna to John Kugler. This land extended from the Weatherby property north to the Old Lancaster Road in Tredyffrin Township.

Twelve years later, John Kugler of Charlestown Township and his wife Hannah, by K-6 - 480 and for the consideration of $1584.84, sold to Thomas Matthews of Easttown a house and land partly in both townships, containing 17 acres 2 rods and 17-2- perches. This is the ground shown in the accompanying plan kindly supplied by Mr, Boyle Irwin.

The James G. Francis house is probably on the site of the old house, east of the ruins of the old farm barn and west of the old dug well. Nothing earlier has been developed, however, after a somewhat limited investigation; but it is altogether likely that the original buildings on the Spring House Tavern Tract were at the spring near the Lincoln Highway and that the buildings on the former Matthews tract came later.

In 1877 Thomas Matthews and his wife Matilda, for a consideration of $700, conveyed 1.907 acres to The Pennsylvania Railroad Company, by W-8 - 31.

In 1879, by J-9 - 122, they sold the triangular piece to David Ryan for $1043.44.

And in 1882, they sold the remaining part of the tract to John Frick of Philadelphia for $8000. P-9 - 166.

While this is as far as it is intended to carry this title it is of some interest to note that five acres with improvements were bought in 1886 by the late Mr. James G. Francis for $10,500.

Page 17

Boyle Irwin Reg. Prof. Engineer 1938, Conveyances by Thomas Matthews