The Shoemaker Farm - Blue Bell, PA
- Yen Ho
- Jun 12
- 4 min read
The Plymouth Plantation, also known as the Shoemaker Farm, was one of the colonial homes that still stand til this day. Inside the home you can not only see the historical architectural features, but you will also dive deep into the history of the home itself from the first Shoemaker to live in this home.
Mathias Shoemaker
Mathias Shoemaker (1736-1816) was the son of Jacob W. Shoemaker, one of the early settlers of Philadelphia County. On March 28, 1777, Mathias purchased from John Yedder 47 acres of land in Whitpain Township where the Shoemaker family lived throughout the 19th century. On April 30, 1796, he added 33 acres from his original tract. The 33 acre lot was sold by Henry Conard and his wife. After he died, the property was passed onto his only son Thomas Shoemaker (1771-1853).
In 1857, Thomas's son Charles K. Shoemaker (1819-1892) purchased the family farm from his heirs.
... although involving himself in a large bonded debt, with little or no capital beyond good health and a strong determination to succeed in life, he has, by honest industry and frugal habits, relieved himself from all financial obligations, reared a large and highly respected family..."
- Theodore Weber Bean, History of Montgomery County, PA (1884), 1178
The son who assisted Charles on the farm was Jesse C. Shoemaker (1854-1929). He was the next to occupy the Shoemaker farm after marrying Catharine Annie Smith in 1880. He lived there for 15 years as a managing farmer and dairyman. After that, he moved to the Washington Square district in Whitpain where he resided ever since.
Charles's other son, Albert Shoemaker (1851-1937), was a successful contractor and builder in Norriton township. He was known to build several important buildings in the township:
A 12-roomed house on the Path Farm
Remodeling of the William Rittenhouse mansion
His own three-story brick home at Jeffersonville
Architecture
Over time the land was subdivided, separating the Shoemaker homestead and the barn. What's left at the farm was the springhouse and the well.
According to the PA Historical Resource Survey Form, the architectural style of the Shoemaker homestead is Federal with the 3x2 windows on the third floor and the non-symmetrical front facade. The left side of the home was added some time in the 19th century, which explains why there are two chimneys on the home.
Looking inside the home there were some noticeable Colonial features:
The Palladian window in the living room
Timber-framed wood exposed on the ceiling of a few rooms
Exposure of stone structure in the kitchen (possibly where the hearth was located)
Huge fireplaces
Meanwhile the barn was converted into a residential home in 1958, according to the PA Historical Resource Survey Form.
Sergeant Matthias Shoemaker
Charles's eldest son, Sergeant Matthias Shoemaker (1843-1864), joined the Union on August 25, 1862 after President Lincoln's three-month call for troops a year before. He was part of the 13th Regiment, PA Calvary, Company H. With his "strict obedience" and "soldierly-bearing," he was promoted to second lieutenant.
It was in September 1863 when he was on picket duty and was captured by the Confederate soldiers. Matthias was consigned to Libby Prison, and was then transferred to the "hell of the Southern chivalry," the Andersonville Prison. He starved to death in June 1864. Matthias was described as a "noble martyr."
To learn more about the foods the POWs ate during the Civil War, watch the video below by Max Miller of Tasting History!
Bibliography
"1399 Penllyn Blue Bell Pike, Blue Bell, PA 19422." Redfin. Accessed October 13, 2024. https://www.redfin.com/PA/Blue-Bell/1399-Penllyn-Blue-Bell-Pike-19422/home/39122554.
"13th Pennsylvania Cavalry Company H." PA Roots. Accessed October 13, 2024. https://www.pa-roots.com/pacw/cavalry/13thcav/13hcavcoh.html.
Bean, Theodore Weber. History of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Volume 2. (Philadelphia: Everts & Peck, 1884): 1177-1180.
"Charles K Shoemaker." Ancestry. Accessed October 6, 2024. https://www.ancestry.co.uk/genealogy/records/charles-k-shoemaker-24-gq3yr/.
"Jacob Shoemaker." RootMagic. Accessed October 6, 2024. http://sites.rootsmagic.com/Worland/individual.php?p=3439.
"Jacob Wall Shoemaker." FamilySearch. Accessed October 6, 2024. https://ancestors.familysearch.org/en/LVN4-SJD/jacob-wall-shoemaker-1703-1784.
Kenderdine, Thaddeus Stevens. Kenderdines of America: Being a Genealogical and Historical Account of the Descendants of Thomas Kenderdine, of Montgomery Shire, Wales, Who, Two Hundred Years Ago, Settled in Philadelphia County. (Doylestown: Doylestown Publishing Company, 1901): 32-34, 50, 73, 136.
Morris, William E, and Smith & Wistar. Map of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania: from original surveys. [Philadelphia: Smith & Wistar, 1849] Map. https://www.loc.gov/item/2012590207/.
Roberts, Ellwood. Biographical Annals of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Containing Genealogical Records of Representative Families, Including Many of the Early Settlers and Biographical Sketches of Prominent Citizens, Volume 1. (New York: T.S. Benham, 1904): 164-165.
Scott, J. D. Montgomery County 1877, Whitpain, Rahn Sta., Grater's Ford, 1877.
“Whitpain... Crossroads in Time.” Wissahickon Valley Historical Society. Accessed October 13, 2024. https://www.wvalleyhs.org/whitpain-crossroads-in-time/.
Wiley, Samuel T. Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania: Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens of the County, Together with an Introductory Historical Sketch. (Philadelphia: Biographical Publishing Company, 1895): 241-242.
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