Lower Salford Township

Lower Salford Township was established in 1741 when Sulford Township was divided into the present day townships of Marlborough, Lower Salford and Upper Salford. Large farms, mills and churches were the only types of buildings scattered across the township, an exclusively rural way of life that lasted well into the 20th century.

The original Salford Township was established about 1727. But the expanse of the original township configuration proved too difficult for the local constable to serve and it was eventually divided into what became Lower Salford, Upper Salford, Franconia and Marlborough townships. The name "Salford" was given to the township from a town and several parishes of this name in England. The earliest known settlement was a warrant granted September 10, 1717, to David Powel, of Philadelphia, for 3,000 acres of land, to be located between the "Skepeck" and a branch of the "Parkyooman."

This tract was irregular in shape and it was broken up and sold to: "Garret Clemens, 640 acres 14 Feb 1717/18; Gabriel Shuler, 500 acres (which was divided into no less than 11 portions); Henry Ruth, came from New Britain, Bucks Co., 200 acres 15 Aug 1719; John Isaac Klein, 250 acres; Claus Johnson, of Bebber's Township, 207 acres; Conrad Custer, about 200 acres, Hans Reiff, 243 acres; Andrew Lederach, about 120 acres; John Lederach, 150 acres; and Dillman Kulp, about 300 acres," which apparently comprised almost all of Powel's original purchase. On March 5, 1719, another warrant was granted to Humphrey Morrow and John Budd, "... to survey 1,920 acres, as a part of a 5,000 acre purchase and conveyed to Derrick Johnson, 4 & 5 Apr 1720, 500 acres. Derrick Johnson's tract was located at or near Indian Creek...."

Franconia Township

The name Franconia signifies "the land of the Franks," derived from an old German Duchy. It broke away from the original Sulford Township in 1731. In 1734 there were 34 taxables and landholders in Franconia, nearly all German. At that time, there were not more than 175 inhabitants, two gristmills, one tannery, 153 horses, 266 head of cattle and one tavern. On a 1682 map, Franconia is called "The Dutch Township," inferring a predominance of German settlers. Descendants of these original settlers are still found today in large numbers in Franconia and the boroughs of Souderton and Telford, which were a part of Franconia until the late 19th century.

Towamencin Township

The first settlers in Towamencin Township were farmers of German, Welsh, and Dutch descent who arrived around the turn of the 18th Century. The first grant of land in Towamencin Township, 1,000 acres to Benjamin Furley, was approved on June 8, 1703 by William Penn's commissioners. In March of 1728 the settlers of the area petitioned Penn's commissioners for Towamencin to become a township, which was granted and a charter given. The land was surveyed and recorded, outlining the boundaries of the township, which were similar to what they are today. In the Enumeration of 1734 there were 32 landholders within the township, with William Tennis having the most property at 250 acres.

Hatfield Township

The Court of Quarter Sessions of Philadelphia County confirmed Hatfield Township on March 9, 1730 at the same time the first European settlers found their way to the township. While folklore has it that the township was named after an early Welsh settler, John Hatfield, there is no documentation of such a person living in the area at that time. More likely the township was named after a Welsh village in Hertfordshire, England. The last encampment of the Lenni-Lenape Indians, located along the Neshaminy Creek off of Orvilla Road (behind the Brethren Church), was abandoned in 1777 when the tribe moved west. The 1800 census records show that 520 people inhabited the township at that time, mostly Mennonite, Quaker, and Welsh farmers.

Hilltown Township

Founded around 1722, Hilltown Township is bordered to the north in Bucks County by Bedminster Township, to the northwest by West Rockhill and East Rockhill townships, to the south in Montgomery County by Franconia and Hatfield townships, and to the east in Bucks County by New Britain and Plumstead townships.

Hilltown Township was the first township organized northwest of Buckingham, and it was partially incorporated inside William Penn’s original Manor of Perkasie. Previously known as Aberystwith Township in 1723, Hilltown Township for its first 30 years was also known as Hilton Township. The present name appears to be a corruption or adaptation from old maps that document the area as "Hill Township" (MacReynolds, 191-193). It has also been proposed that the township was named in honor of William Hill, mayor of Philadelphia in 1710, and speaker of the Assembly in 1715 (Davis, Chapter XXII, "Hilltown Township") The boundaries of Hilltown Township remain virtually unchanged since its inception, and Hilltown is one of the largest townships within Bucks County, containing 26.91 square miles.

Topographically, Hilltown Township has gently sloping hills that form an elevated plateau in the center of the township where the Perkiomen and Neshaminy creeks form (Kramer, 20). The first European settlers, who were mostly Welsh Baptists, belonged predominately to the Montgomery Baptist Church in Montgomeryville (McNealy, 77). Inconvenienced by the travel distance, the Hilltown Township Baptists formed their own congregations in Hilltown Township in 1737 and 1744 (McNealy, 78). Germans arrived in Hilltown Township later, establishing their own Lutheran and Reformed Churches (MacReynolds, 193). Mennonites flourished in the area as well, constructing a log church in 1735, and replacing their house of worship in 1823 (Kramer, 22).

The largest original landholders in Hilltown Township included James Logan, Jeremiah Langhorne, Israel Pemberton, and Reverend William Thomas, who founded the Hilltown Baptist Church. The Lewis, Mathias, Morris and Lunn families dominated early local history (Davis, Chapter XXII, "Hilltown Township"). Villages and towns within Hilltown Township include Line Lexington, Leidytown, Mount Pleasant, Fricks, Silverdale, Fairhill and Blooming Glen, while Dublin and Griers Corner straddle adjacent townships in Bucks County. Agriculture historically dominated most of Hilltown Township, as did dairy farming.

Hilltown Township was a hub for early travelers. Line Lexington was an early stagecoach stop where drivers received fresh relays, and old Bethlehem Road, which followed an old Native American trail, carried mail bi-weekly. Around 1849 the first turnpike roads were laid out in Hilltown Township (Kramer, 22). In 1875 Hilltown Turnpike was established from Line Lexington to Loux’s corner, running 5 _ miles. Most major roads remained turnpiked in Hilltown Township until the early 1920s.

Today Hilltown Township is home to about 12,100 residents and retains much of its early agricultural flavor. It contains two parks and is poised to acquire more recreational land.