Personal Stories of Bucks County, Pennsylvania


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Linda Musgrave

Home Page, email: [Contact David Hanauer for this e-mail address]

I am a descedent of the Beans family of Bucks County and have much information on "Indian Springs farm" that had been in the Beans family since Matthew Beans' time, until my mother's cousin Warren Beans,sold it in 1927. (Mechanicsville Road and Indian Springs Rd., Bucks County)

It is registered with the Pennsylvania Historical Society (and has been crowded out by "new" homes all around it!). Also Benjamin Barnes (employee of Dr. Mercer) was my mother's first cousin and I have a news paper article on him and the pottery that you might find interesting.

My father, Joseph Wilmer Skill was a Real Estate Broker and Land Developer. My mother worked for the Federal Government. I was born in Cape May, New Jersey. I have two brothers that were born before me, son's of my father's first wife, Anna and one brother that was born after me, the son of my father's third wife Helen.

This makes for some confusion when doing a genealogy research. Fortunately, Genealogy is my hobby and I dearly love my brothers, so I find my searches fascinating!

Especially so, my mother's family. They descended from King Donalbain of Scotland. His brother is far more well known, since Shakespeare included his "story" in "Mac Beth". Malcolm and his brother Donalbain (my ancestor) were the sons of King Duncan of Scotland.

Although Shakespeare elaborated on Malcolm's true story, he did bring out the very real differences between the two brothers. Donalbain was not anxious to be a king, but ascended to the throne at the death of his father, only to be replaced by cruelty and treachery.

The rest of the story is in the history books of Scotland. Many years later, his descendents landed in Pennsylvania. Our family, in Bucks county, PA, known as the Beans family.

My father's family originated in Gloucester County, New Jersey in this country. I am currently tracing the family back from my Great-Great Grandfather, John Skill that married Hester Jones of Delaware in 1804.

I have many photos of people in the late 1800's and early 1900's that lived in Bucks County, PA and surrounding areas. If anyone would like to contact me about the family or the photos or just to say "Hello", write to me.

Indian Spring Farm, 1908

Boys on Indian Spring Farm

Photograph of Benjamin H. Barnes, originally from an article in the Daily Intelligencer, circa 1967. The caption reads "Benjamin H. Barnes, who was employed at the Moravian Pottery and Tile Works for 46 years, exhibits an anchor, pitchers, bowls and [...missing...] items produced in the pottery esablished by Dr. Henry Chapman Mercer. It was in operation from 1910 to 1954."
Barnes also wrote a short booklet entitled "The Moravian Pottery: Memories of Forty-Six Years" which was published by the Bucks County Historical Society in 1970.

An advertisement from L.L. Beans asking to buy old oil paintings. He was described in a newspaper article as "an ardent collector of Washington items and Edward Hicks paintings." In December, 1949, Beans held an exhibition of his paintings to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Washington's death and the 100th anniversary of Hicks's death.

My grandparents, Samuel and Esther Beans, and their home in Newtown,PA (Bucks County)

Death card for Elizabeth Beans, 1837-1887.

Dennis Sutton's Extracts from the Hunterdon County Democrat

August 15, 1882, Forty-Fourth Volume, No. 52
Drowned in the Delaware

Mr. Frank Beans, residing near Mechanicsville, Bucks county, in company with his brother and several others from the vicinity in which he lived, went over to Lower Black's eddy, in the Delaware river at Point Pleasant, to fish, on Saturday. During the afternoon they took a bath, and all, with the exception of Frank, soon went to fishing again. He remained in a while longer and was about to swim to Jersey when he disappeared from view, and no cry of distress having reached the ears of his conrades they did not miss him for some time.... Mr. Beans was about twenty-five years of age, and leaves a wife and one child, besides a large circle of relatives and friends to mourn his demise...

Notice about the death of Frank Beans, who drowned in the Delaware River in 1882.

Henry Hough Beans -- My Great Grandfather

Alfred Appleton, my Great-Great Grandfather. Alfred Appleton and his wife Mary Anna Cooper-Appleton were my Great-Grandparents, parents of my Grandmother - Esther Appleton Beans. They lived on the River road and I have a copy of the deed to the house. I just need to locate it for accurate location. (I have been there many times) and the current owner is a friend of mine also.

Alfred Appleton's House. The Appleton house is on River road between Point Pleasent and Doylestown, about 2 miles from Bowman's hill as near as I can remember. The house still looks pretty much the same, only with less sidewalk in front of it! sits almost on the road. My Uncle Will would have a fit if he knew!