PRINTER'S NO. 2787
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
623
Session of
2017
INTRODUCED BY DALEY, BRIGGS, QUIGLEY, HENNESSEY, MILLARD,
TOOHIL, READSHAW, RYAN, DAVIS, LONGIETTI, MARSICO, KINSEY,
VITALI, BARBIN, NEILSON, CORR, CALTAGIRONE, WATSON, PASHINSKI
AND DiGIROLAMO, DECEMBER 7, 2017
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
DECEMBER 7, 2017
A RESOLUTION
Commemorating the 240th anniversary of the Battle of Matson's
Ford and recognizing the historical significance of the
Matsonford Bridge in Montgomery County.
WHEREAS, The Battle of White Marsh was a military action on
December 5, 1777, that preceded the Battle of Matson's Ford and
represented General George Washington and the Continental Army's
attempt to forestall a covert plan by the British to destroy
General Washington's army prior to the onset of winter; and
WHEREAS, Following General Washington's successful efforts at
repelling British-led attacks, General Washington and the
Continental Army set out to relocate their winter quarters to a
site west of the Schuylkill River in Valley Forge; and
WHEREAS, The Battle of Matson's Ford occurred on December 11,
1777, which was a battle in the Philadelphia campaign of the
American Revolutionary War in the area surrounding present-day
Conshohocken and West Conshohocken; and
WHEREAS, Comprised of a series of military skirmishes during
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the morning of December 11, 1777, both a picket of Continental
soldiers stationed at Middle Ferry and the militia stationed at
the Black Horse Inn and Harriton House fired upon a British
foraging expedition leaving Philadelphia, which subsequently
resulted in them being overrun by British forces; and
WHEREAS, In an effort to find adequate cover from British
attacks, Continental troops and militiamen retreated back
through Gulph Mills to Swede's Ford, which is present-day
Norristown, Pennsylvania; and
WHEREAS, Under the direction of General John Sullivan, a
makeshift bridge consisting of lashed together wagons was
constructed for the purpose of enabling Continental troops and
militiamen to safely and efficiently travel across the
Schuylkill River; and
WHEREAS, As the British pursued the Continental troops and
militiamen, General Sullivan ordered the destruction of the
makeshift bridge in an effort to thwart the continued
advancement of British troops, effectively bringing the Battle
of Matson's Ford to a conclusion; and
WHEREAS, In 1833, a covered bridge was built by the
Matsonford Bridge Company in the location of the makeshift
bridge that was constructed by the Continental Army in 1777; and
WHEREAS, In 1872, the Matsonford Bridge was replaced by a
steel bridge after falling into a state of disrepair; and
WHEREAS, In 1921, the Matsonford Bridge was renovated to
include arches and other aesthetic features in response to
advances in our society's mode of transportation, which evolved
from horses and buggies to self-propelled automobiles; and
WHEREAS, In 1987, the Matsonford Bridge was once again
rebuilt as a result of the increased volume of vehicle traffic
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in the 20th century; and
WHEREAS, December 11, 2017, marks the 240th anniversary of
the Battle of Matson's Ford, a historical event that contributed
to the intricate motif of America's successful pursuit of
independence from Great Britain; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives commemorate the
240th anniversary of the Battle of Matson's Ford and recognize
the historical significance of the Matsonford Bridge in
Montgomery County.
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