LANCASTER COUNTY. 34t 



magistrates to suppress them, and preserve peace and 

 good order, liaving no house of correction for the punish- 

 ment of such offenders. A law was passed— a house of 

 correction, or luork house, erected. "This was the 

 work house in which the Indians were ^ despatchecP hy 

 the Paxton Rangers, Tuesday, the 27th of December, 



1763. 



For several successive winters, and especially in the 

 year 1763, the frost was severe upon the winter and 

 summer grain, in the low lands and limestone soil. — • 

 This circumstance, and the heavy timber, induced many 

 of the Irish to seat themselves, in 1763, along the 

 northern line of the counties of Chester and Lancaster, 

 well known at an early period by the name of Chestnut 

 Glade. The Germans purchased their little improve- 

 ments, and were not intimidated either by the dilhculty 

 of clearing their lands, the scarcity of water, and the 

 liability of frost which, at this period, was experienced 

 every month of the year.* 



About the year 1760 or 61, ]\Ir. Steigel, who managed 

 the Elizabeth iron works for many ^rears, wlien they 

 were owned by Benezet &:Co. of Philadelphia,commenced 

 his singular career. He was well known as the eccentric 

 German Baron, or Wilhelm Heinrich Steigel, proprietor 

 of Manheim. Having purchased two hundred acres of 

 land from the Messrs. Stedmaiis of Philadelphia, he 

 erected a grand chateau, (castle) very singular in its 

 structure,! and afterwards laid out a town, to which he 



•Haz. Reg. V. 12. 



* 



f This house is now occupied by Mr. John Arndt, merchant, 

 who, we state it with regret, in improving the house, made such 

 alterations that the original of the internal arrangement is so 

 materially altered as to leave neither the Baron's pulpit, from 

 ifhich, in a large upper saloon, he, in the capacity of a preacher, 



