Ferry Bell - French Azilum, Towanda, PA
Posted by: 
ripraff
N 41° 44.250 W 076° 18.619
18T E 391036 N 4621461
This is a ferry bell for Homet's Ferry.
Waymark Code: WMYDAB
Location: Pennsylvania, United States
Date Posted: 06/01/2018
Views: 0
sign: "Ferry Bell This bell was originally situated across the river at Homet's Ferry where the Homet family operated a mill and a ferry service from the early 1800s until the 1930s."
French Azilum (
visit link)
"Located on a bend in the Susquehanna River near present-day Towanda, Pennsylvania, Azilum provided refuge for a group of French exiles in the autumn of 1793."
(
visit link)
"Charles Frederick Homet
Born 15 August 1769 near Paris, France. Died 29 December 1838 (age 70) at Wysox, Bradford County, Pennsylvania. Early in life employed as a steward in the household of King Louis XVI. Emigrated from France to America in January 1793, fleeing the French Revolution. His ship landed at Bottle Hill (now Madison), New Jersey. Resided there about a year, during which time he married Mariah Scheilenger, who he met on the voyage to America. Their first child was born at Bottle Hill (now Madison), New Jersey. Charles and his family moved to Asylum Township, Bradford County, Pennsylvania in 1794, where he spent about two years constructing “the Queen’s House.” From there Charles moved his family to Terry Township, Bradford County (a little to the south) to prepare for arrival of the French royal family. A year or two later Charles moved his family back to Asylum Township, where he purchased a large amount of property from the French families who decided to return to France. John LaPorte did the same thing on a much larger scale. Charles turned his attention to farming, and was quite successful in that regard. After his 2nd marriage Charles moved his family to Wysox, Bradford County, Pennsylvania. He was one of the few refugees from the French revolution who did not eventually return to France."
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