Christmas in Newtown, 1777

by Doug Humes

Major Clark's outpost house, Goshen Rd., Newtown Square.

Photo Courtesy of Newtown Square Historical Society

There were no silent nights in Newtown in December of 1777. The British army had marched through during the fall, fighting a series of battles, and now occupied the American capital of Philadelphia. 17,000 soldiers had to eat, and so they sent raiding parties out into the country on a regular basis. Washington and his troops were then camped at Valley Forge, but he had various spies as his eyes and ears in the countryside, including Major John Clark, who had requisitioned a Quaker farmhouse on Goshen Road in Newtown Square [still there!] as his base of operations.

The Fox Chase on today. West Chester Pk., Newtown Sqaure, PA

Photo Courtesy of Newtown Square Historical Society

Clark wrote on 12-21 to Washington: “A spy from the city… confirms the account of the enemy’s intentions to plunder. They intend to visit Derby, Marple and Springfield townships this week.” On the next day he wrote, “At 8 this morning, about 20 dragoons of the enemy came up to Fox Chase [still in existence on West Chester Pike] to give the alarm, and then took the route to Derby [Marple road to Darby road and then back to the city].” On Christmas Day, “our troops have retired to Springfield Meeting house and are endeavoring to get some refreshments.

Springfield Friends Meeting House- Period Sketch

The wretched situation of the troops here is much to be lamented, no provisions for them, ill clothed, many of them no shoes, and they are scattered in sixes and sevens all about the neighborhood.” Soldiers of both sides were showing up at homes in the vicinity, staying in them, and eating the food found at each farm, and at times carting it off together with the livestock. The local inhabitants were mostly Quakers, opposed to war, and willing to sell their goods for hard money, which the British had and the Americans did not. Better to sell their crops and livestock then simply have them stolen by both armies. But the Continental Congress had announced, in an article published in the Pennsylvania Packet on Christmas Eve, that any person who was found to have supplied the enemy with supplies would be treated as a traitor, tried by military court-martial, and sentenced to death. A Newtown farmer had to weigh the consequences of his decisions. Christmas in Newtown was not a merry one that year.

For more history on Newtown Square, Delaware County, and membership information, please visit the web site of the Newtown Square Historical Society at www.HistoricNewtownSquare.org