Salford Forge

[Built] 1771

Montgomery County

The fact of Robert Coleman's connection with this forge is its chief interest. His first venture for himself, he came here shortly after his marriage in 1773, when the trouble with England was brewing. Mr. Coleman's grandson has a document of rare interest illustrative of Revolutionary experiences at Salford Forge. It is endorsed "Robert Coleman's memorial, presented August 26th 1776, asking permission for his clerk and three forgemen to be exempted from marching with army to Amboy "; it sets forth that he had rented a forge for three years at a rental of two hundred a year, the lease of which would expire in three months; and that the "principal part" of his workmen were Associators, who, if obliged to march with the militia, would cause him great loss and entirely prevent him from working up his stock in hand. The request of Mr. Coleman was granted the same day by the Council of Safety to whom it was addressed. While at this forge he manufactured chain bars, which were designed to span the Delaware for the defense of Philadelphia against the approach of the enemy's fleet.¹

¹ Ironmaking in Pennsylvania, by James Swank, p. 27.

Source: Committee on Historical Research, Pennsylvania Society of the Colonial Dames of America. Forges and Furnaces in the Province of Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: Pennsylvania Society of the Colonial Dames of America, 1914, p. 188.

Submitted by: Nancy.