DURHAM

Riegelsville Borough

Durham Historical Society

Durham was organized in 1775. Durham, at the extreme north point of the county, and the last of the original townships to be organized, was one of the earliest in the upper end to be settled. The Proprietary government knew of the deposit of iron ore in the Durham hills as early as 1698. Durham furnace was one of the earliest erected in the United States. Original owners of the tract were Jeremiah Langhorne, of Bucks, Anthony Morris, James Logan, Charles Reed, Robert Ellis, George Fitzwater, Clement Plumstead, William Allen, Andrew Bradford, John Hopkins, Thomas Linsley, Joseph Turner, Griffith Owen, and Samuel Powell, of Philadelphia, formed themselves into a stock company for the purpose of making iron.

The Fackenthalls, spelled originally Farenthal, and Longs are among the oldest of the present Durham families. The former is descended from Philip Fackenthall, who immigrated from Rotterdam to America, in 1742, landing at Philadelphia September 24th.  he settled in Springfield township where he bought land, passed his life, and was buried in the graveyard of the old Springfield church.  His son Michael, born May 23d, 1756, settled in Durham, where he died January 21st, 1846.  In 1776 he was a sergeant in Captain Valentine Opp's company, and the 17th of November he assisted to capture a body of Hessians at Richmond, on Staten Island.  In 1781 he performed a tour of military duty as second lieutenant of captain Christopher Wagner's company of militia, and was discharged at camp below Trenton.  he left three sons, John, Peter, and Michael, and three daughters, all deceased.  John was a member of assembly, and held the office of register of wills of the county, and they were prominent in local politics.  the longs have been in the township an hundred years.  Thomas Long, the ancestor, born in Ireland in 1740, immigrated to this province and settled in Williams township, Northampton county; thence he removed to the Jacob Uhler farm above Riegelsville, and about 1775 or 1776 to what is known as the Long homestead, in the middle of the township, and still owned by his descendants.  About 1766 he married Rachel Morgan, who was born in England in 1748.  He was the grandfather of William S. Long, of Durham, and his son, William Long, was appointed associate-judge of the county in 1824.¹

	SOLDIERS OF THE CIVIL WAR - 1861-1865 Soldiers who entered the army from Durham and vicinity,
	Riegelsville Buildings of Riegelsville
	Riegelsville Suspension Bridge 1904 Riegelsville, PA to Riegelsville, NJ -- A fully functional suspension bridge spanning the Delaware River. Note, the date given above corresponds to the first crossing of the Delaware River at this location and not the current span. Two of the piers that exist today are from the original structure built in 1835.
	Funeral Home Robert W. Snyder Funeral Home 327 Easton Road Riegelsville, PA 18077
	Durham Iron Works
	History of Durham Iron Works
	Riegelsville Inn Historic Hotel on the Delaware River Established 1838.  Built by Benjamin Riegel, founder of Riegelsville.  Although suffering some minor damage in the recent floods, the Riegelsville Inn continues to operate as it has for over 160 years. Still operating as an Inn and Restaurant today. 610.749.0100