Amity Township near Douglassville in Berks County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Welcome to Morlatton Village
Settled 1704
In 1701 William Penn granted 10,000 acres of land to seventeen colonists of Swedish descent who were living in present day Philadelphia. The village within the Swedes' Tract was called Morlatton and by 1719 the entire tract became Amity Township, the first municipality in Berks County. The origin of the name Morlatton (or "Molatton," its original spelling) is unknown, but may have derived from the name it was given by its earlier Native American inhabitants, the Lenape.
Morlatton was a diverse community settled by Swedes, Scots and Welsh, Ulstermen from Northern Ireland, Netherlands Dutch (including a partly Polish family), Germans, and English. A few Morlatton area families held African American slaves. Because of its location at a crossroads along the Schuylkill River, Morlatton became a thriving community during the 18th century, a popular meeting place and a center of commerce. Four of the original Morlatton Village structures remain today, maintained and preserved by the Historic Preservation Trust of Berks County.
Erected by Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the William Penn Foundation through the Schuylkill Highlands Conservation Landscape Initiative and the Schuylkill National and State Heritage Area.
Topics. This historical marker is listed
this page online
Location. 40° 15.21′ N, 75° 43.537′ W. Marker is near Douglassville, Pennsylvania, in Berks County. It is in Amity Township. It is on Old Philadelphia Pike just north of Britton Street, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 480 Old Philadelphia Pike, Douglassville PA 19518, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Pennsylvania and specifically in Pennsylvania Dutch Country. It is also in the American Northeast and in the Mid-Atlantic. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: White Horse Inn (a few steps from this marker); George Douglass Home (within shouting distance of this marker); Morlatton Village (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Morlatton Village Trailhead (about 300 feet away); Old Swedes House (about 300 feet away); Feuding Railroads (about 600 feet away); Michael Fulp House (about 700 feet away); Mouns Jones House (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Douglassville.
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), November 20, 2020
3. Visit Morlatton Village Marker
This is another marker on the grounds of the nearby trail.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 21, 2020, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 794 times since then and 38 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 21, 2020, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 3. submitted on November 27, 2020, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
