204 



HISTORY OF BUCKS COUNTY. 



ciety of Friends, also a well known anti- 

 slavery man, and it was largely throngh 

 his efforts that the Friends Society took 

 strong steps against slavery and gave 

 up the slaves that were in their posses- 

 sion. He spent a considerable portion 

 of his time in religious work and writ- 

 ing. His book, "The Journal of John 

 Woolman," is a representation of the 

 man; it has a very lengthy introduc- 

 tion by John Greenleaf Whittier, the 

 celebrated poet, and Charles Lamb, an 

 Englist poet and essayist, is of the opin- 

 ion that every one should memorize the 

 M^ords of John Woolman. 



(IV) Samuel Comfort, the eldest son 

 of John and Mary (Woolman) Comfort, 

 was born near Mount Holl)^ New Jer- 

 sey, in 1776. When fourteen years of 

 age he removed to the home now- occu- 

 pied by his granddaughter, Annie Com- 

 fort, whose name heads this sketch, in 

 Falls township, Bucks county. Pennsyl- 

 vania, and there he remained until his 

 decease, giving his entire attention to 

 agricultural pursuits. His influence 

 was a recognized factor for good in the 

 community in wdiich he resided for so 

 many years. He was a preacher in the 

 Society of Friends, as was also his sec- 

 ond wife, and when his son, George 

 Comfort, took possession and manage- 

 ment of the old homestead, he devoted 

 most of his time to religious work, trav- 

 eling and preaching throughout many 

 states, being accompanied by his second 

 wife, and in this way they were enabled 

 to perform a large amount of good 

 work. ]\Ir. Comfort married Miss Rebecca 

 Moon, and they were the parents of six 

 children: Martha, who became the wife' of 

 ]\Iark Wright; Mary, who died unmarried; 

 Sarah, who became the wife of Ezekiel 

 Combs ; George, mentioned hereinafter ; Re- 

 becca, who became the wife of James Law- 

 rence ; and Ann, who became the vnit of 

 John Simpson. Three years after the death 

 of Rebecca (Moon) Comfort, which oc- 

 curred in 1836, Samuel Comfort married 

 Mrs. Elizabeth Cox, who was a minister 

 in the religious society of Friends. She 

 survived him a number of years. 



(V) George Comfort, son of Samuel 

 and Rebecca (Moon) Comfort, .was born 

 on the old family homestead in Falls 

 towmship, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, 

 in 1808. For a few years after attaining 

 manhood he taught a private school in 

 the city of Philadelphia, T)ut later re- 

 turned to Bucks county and took pos- 

 session of the old homestead, giving his 

 entire attention to the quiet but useful 

 calling of agriculture until his death. He 

 M^as a man of the strictest integrity and 

 took an active part in everything that 

 tended to the betterment of the neigh- 

 l)orhood, rendering efficient aid in every 

 enterprise, whether of a religious, edu- 

 cational or social character. He was 

 held in peculiar honor by his fellow 

 citizens for his manv nolile and manlv 



characteristics, and his daily walk and 

 conversation was well worthy of emu- 

 lation. He was a true friend to all who 

 were in distress,' giving liberally of his 

 substance, and throughout his lifetime 

 followed and obeyed the scriptural 

 proverb "It is more blessed to give than 

 to receive." He was one of the direc- 

 tors of the Fallsington Library, and for 

 the long period of thirty-five years 

 served in the capacity of school direc- 

 tor of Falls township. He was a regular 

 attendant and stood high in the Friends 

 Society. In politics he was an adherent 

 to the principles of the Republican party. 

 Mr. Comfort married Miss Susan 

 Lower, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 

 and their children are: Rebecca, who 

 became the wife of Joshua Palmer; Sam- 

 uel, wdio has spent many years abroad; 

 Annie, whose name heads this sketch; 

 Susan E., deceased, was the wife of 

 the late Milnor Gillingham; and Geor- 

 gina, who became the wife of Charles 

 Satterthwaite. George Comfort, father 

 ■ of these children, died at his home in 

 Falls township, in 1887, leaving behind 

 him the memory of a good name and an 

 untarnished reputation. 



SAMUEL COMFORT, son of George 

 and Susan (Lower) Comfort, grandson 

 of Samuel and Rebecca (Moon) Com- 

 fort, great-grandson of John and Mary 

 (Woolman) Comfort, was born at the 

 Comfort homestead near Morrisville, 

 Bucks county, Pennsylvania, May 5, 

 1837. He was educated under private 

 instructors and at the Trenton Acad- 

 emy. At an early age he developed 

 special talents in mathematics and 

 sciences, and attained considerable dis- 

 tinction as an inventor of improvements 

 in mowing and reaping machines, sew- 

 ing machines, counting :nachines, etc., 

 for which he received numerous patents. 



Samuel Comfort joined the union 

 army in October, i86t, and served in 

 Captain Palmer's "Anderson Troop." the 

 bodyguard of General D. C. Buell. in 

 Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, and 

 Northern Alabama, and was present at 

 the battle of Pittsburg Landing. After 

 eleven months' service in this command 

 he was honorably discharged from the 

 service on account of physical disabil- 

 itv contracted in the service. In June, 

 1863, under special authority from Gov- 

 ernor Curtin. of Pennsylvania, he re- 

 cruited an independent company of cav- 

 alry in Bucks and Montgomery counties 

 and the city of Philadelphia which was 

 mustered into the service of the United 

 States for a term of six months under 

 the name of "Captain Samuel Comfort, 

 Jr.'s Independent Companv of Cavalry, 

 the Bucks County Troon." This com- 

 pany served on escort and provost guard 



