The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-12-24


to inspect the condition of the buckets, bags,
ladder, and engine, and report to the company
at the next meeting The company was not to
consist of more than thirty members. The
regulations, with list of the names, were re-
quired to be kept hanging up in the dwelling
of each member near his fire buckets. These
regulations were the models upon which The
articles of the fire companies which succeeded
the Union were formed.
Mr. Westeett further states that, besides Ben
jamin Franklin, the following citizens we're
members of the Union Fire Company, viz,
Isaac Pascal, Philip syme, William Rawle, and
Samuel Powell, and that there is reason for
belief that the house where this engine stood
was in Grindstone alley, above Market street.
In later number of the Dispatch Mr.. West
colt says
'In our chronicle of events we gave such par
ticulars as are now known in relation TO the
establi shment of the Union Fire Company, the
first voluntary association of that character
formed in the city, aud probably in the world.
The example afforded to citizens by the crea-
tion of such a company had its effect in creating
others.
''The number of members to which the Union
Fire Company were restricted was thirty, and
this complement being filled up in about year,
a second company was formed, and its iastitu-
ton dated March l, 1885, This association was
named the
FELLOWSHIP FIRE COMPANY.
I'm 174S the members Of the Fellowship Fire
Company were thirty-three in number. The fire
engine belonging to the company was placed in
house on Second street, on q lot belonging to
the Friends Meeting. The ladder was kept
under the caves of the butchers shambles, on
the south side, near the meal market. There
were seven other ladders in various other places.
"On the 1st of March, 1742, the third fire
company was formed. This company was
called the
HAND-IN-HAND.
1.-THE fourth volunteer company, established
February %, 1743, was called the
HEART-IN-HAND.
''The fifth company, named the
FRIENDSHIP FIRE COMPANY,
was founded July 80, 1747.
"rhe fire companies established after the
Union slightly increased the number of their
members. The Fellowship had thirty-ive
members; the Hsnd-in-Hand, the Heart-in-
Hand, and the Friendship, each had forty men,
bers.
THE BRITANNIA FIRE COMPANY
was probably established in 1850 or 1851. The
only trace that we have of its existence is in an
advertisement which gives list of some articles
lost belonging to that company; this advertise
ment appeared in April, 1853.
''All of these companies, with the exception
of the Britannia, were in service until the RsvC-
luton, when the latter, possibly in consequence
of the unpopularity of its name, was discon-
tinued. In the year 1791 the Union, Fellow
ship, Hand-in-H Hand, and Heart-in- Hand were
in full service, and made return of the condition
of seir apparatus, including engines, buckets,
ladders, bags, baskets, and "hauses" (hose). Of
the latter, the Union had one of eighty feet and
the Friendship one of one hundred and twenty
feet. Each of these companies had one engine,
except the Friendship, which had two. The
same company also had two hundred and forty
buckets, number only equalled by that in pos
session of the Union"
THE OTHER COMPANIES PRIOR TO THE REvo-
LUTON.
In still later publication of the Dispatch
Mr.. Westcott says-"The six fire companies
which were in existence in the city in 1850 were
reinforced by several new associations estab-
lished between the latter year and the time of
the Revolution. They were as follows
"Hibernia Fire Company, founded February20,
1859, located on the corner of Second and Wal
nut streets.
Northern Liberty Fire Company, founded May
/, 1856; located on the northeast corner of Cable
lane and Gallowhill street.
''Vigilant Fire Company, founded January 2,
17G0; supposed location, east side of Second
street, below Vine.
''King George III, afterwards Delaware,
founded March 81 1761; supposed location, on
Water street. below Arch.
"Queen Charlotte, afterwards Fame Fire Com
pany, founded March 30, 1864; located on north
side of Cherry street, below Fourth street.
american Fire Company, founded before De-
cember, 1884.
'Sun Fire Company, founded February %,
1865; location not known.
Grown and Beaver Fire Company, founded
before March, 1865; location not known.
''Cordwainer Fire Company, founded before
February, 1863; location not known.
"New Market Fire Company, founded March l.
1769 located at the north end of the market at
Second and Pine streets.
"Amicable Fire Company, founded August T.
1863; located on Fifth street. above Market.
Neptune Fire Company, founded January II
1774; located on Race street, below Third.
THE HIBERNIA FIRE COMPANY
THE Hibernia Fire Company was founded at
a meeting, held at Evans tavern, by Hugh
Donaldson, Randle Mitchell, Walter Shee
Samuel Wallace, Abram Usher, William Henry,
Plunket Fleeson. William West, John johnson,
John Fullerton, Robert Taggart, BENJAMIN Full
Ter, George Bryan, James Fullerton, James
Mease, James Haldaue, James Hunter Blair
McClenachan, John Mitchell, George Fullerton,
George Campbell, Samuel Duffield, Sharp Delany,
Edward Bachelor, William Alison, William Bur-
rail- and William Miller To these members
were added, before 1776, James Caldwell, John
White, Henry Hill, John Mease John Boyle