In a message dated 2/14/2007 3:36:57 PM Eastern Standard Time, Nrtennison writes: I guess I barked too soon, but now we all know about the barracks of Northern Liberties; >From Watson's Annals of Philadelphia and Pennsylvania, written 1830-1850 Volume One Chapter 57. THE BRITISH BARRACKS These were built in the Northern Liberties soon after the defeat of Braddock's army; and arose from the necessity, as it was alleged, of making better permanent provision for troops deemed necessary to be among us for our future protection. Many of the people had so petitioned the king -- not being then so sensitive of the presence of "standing armies" as their descendants have since become. The parade and "pomp of war" which their erection produced in the former peaceful city of Penn, gave it an attraction to the town's people, and being located far out of town, it was deemed a pleasant walk to the country and fields, to go out and see the long ranges of houses, the long lines of kilted and bonneted Highlanders, and to hear "the spirit stirring fife and soul inspiring drum!" Before that time, the fields there were a far land, severed from all connexion with the city by the marsh meadows of Pegg. No Second street road before existed; and for the convenience and use of the army a causeway was formed across those wet grounds in the line of the present Second street, along the front of what is now called Sansom's row. The ground plot of the barracks extended from Second to Third street, and from St. Tamany street to Green street, having the officers' quarters -- a large three-story brick building, on Third street, the same now standing as a Northern Liberty Town Hall. The parade ground fronted upon Second street, shut in by an ornamental palisade fence on the line of that street. The aged John Brown told me the whole area was a field of buckwheat, which was cut off, and the barracks built thereon and tenanted by three thousand men, all in the same year; the houses were all of brick, two stories high, and a portico around the whole hollow square. These all stood till after the war of Independence, when they were torn down, and the lots sold for the benefit of the public. It was from the location of those buildings that the whole region thereabout was familiarly called Campingtown. In 1758, I notice the first public mention of "the new barracks in Campingtown"; the Gazette stating the arrival there of "Colonel Montgomery's Highlanders", and some arrangement by the City Council to provide them their bedding, &c. An earlier attempt had been made to construct barracks out Mulberry street, on the south side, west of Tenth street -- there they proceeded so far as to dig a long line of cellars, which having been abandoned, they lay open for many years afterwards. In the year 1764, the barracks were made a scene of great interest to all the citizens -- there the Indians, who fled from the threats of the murderous Paxtang boys, sought their refuge under the protection of the Highlanders; while the approach of the latter was expected, the citizens ran there with their arms to defend them and to throw up intrenchments. Captain Loxley of the city artillery was in full army with his band. In time those Indians became afflicted with the smallpox, and turned their quarters into a very hospital, from which they buried upwards of fifty of their companions. It may serve to show the former vacant state of the Northern Liberties, to know, that on the king's birthday, as late as June 1772, "it was celebrated at the British barracks by a discharge of twenty-one cannon". Indeed, the artillery park, and the necessary stores erected along the line of the present Duke street, gave to that street its well-known former name of "Artillery lane". Nelson Tennis In a message dated 2/14/2007 2:34:00 PM Eastern Standard Time, TAORMINA5 writes: I'm anxious to get an answer to your query, because I received both of these this week, so it's also pertinent to my research. I'll be checking the list for a reply. Beth Taormina Pennsylvania Packet [Phila.] - 8-2-1783 $4 reward - Strayed or stolen out of the Widow Masters at the upper end of 4th St., a brown-colored horse [very detailed description]. Whoever has taken up such horse or will give information to the Printer or to Mr. Henry Faunce above the barracks, shall have the reward. Pennsylvania Packet & Daily Advertiser - 7-14-1789 $3 reward for return of two mares. Whoever takes up said mares and returns them to Mr. Henry Faunce, living just above the old barrack lot in 2nd St, shall have re