Biographical and genealogical history of the state of Delaware, Vol. I, Part 24

Author: Runk, J.M. & Co
Publication date: 1899
Publisher: Chambersburg, Pa.
Number of Pages: 1482

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The Rev. Dr. John Blair Smith married Elizabeth Fisher Nash, of Templeton, Va., and had issue: i. Rev. John Blair; ii. Dr. Sam- uel Blair, U. S. Army; iii. Rev. Robert, iv. Dr. Isaac; v. Mary Fisher; vi. Elizabeth Fisher.

Of the above issue of Rev. John Blair and Elizabeth Fisher (Nash) Smith, Dr. Samuel Blair was a surgeon in the U. S. Army, as al- ready stated, and married Margaret Ferguson, daughter of Col. Ebenezer Ferguson, of the Revolutionary army. The mother of Colonel Ferguson, who married Margaret George, was Margaret MeLane, sister of Colonel Allan MeLane, of Wilmington, Del.

Dr. Samuel Blair Smith was born July 10, 1784, married May 22, 1806, and died No- vember 28, 1834. His wife was born Sep- tember 16, 1787, and died 1861. They had issue as follows:

I. General Charles, U. S. A., born April 24, 1807, died April 25, 1862; II. Francis Nash Sharpe, born May 26, 1809, died April 27, 1810; III. Elizabeth Ferguson, born married Capt. Henry Stanton Burton, U. S. 1., December 5, 1840, and had issue an only daughter, Elizabeth Ferguson, who married Capt. Henry Clay Cochran, U. S. M. C .; IV. Ann Hill, born July 5, 1816, died February 17, 1892, married Richard Swann, of Alexan- dria, Va., October 7, 1834, and had two sons and two daughters; V. Francis Marion, born May 7, 1818, and died unmarried; VI. Henry F., born May 1, 1820; died September 26, 1820; VII. Caroline Laurens, born September 13, 1821, and died unmarried; VIH. Lucy Le Grand, born April 20, 1828; married Com- modore William Nicholson Jeffers, U. S. Navy, and had children: i. Ann Burton; ii. William Nicholson Jeffers.

Of the above named, Gen. Charles Fergu- son Smith, eldest son of Dr. Samuel Blair

Smith, married Fanny Mactier, of Baltimore, and has three sons and two daughters.

Of his two sisters, Mary Fisher Blair Smith died ummarried, and Elizabeth Fisher Blair Smith married Dr. Todd, of Illinois, and be- came the aunt of Mrs. Abraham Lincoln, wife of the President of the United States.

SAMUEL MCCLARY.

Samuel MeClary has been mentioned as the partner of Jacob Alrichs in establishing the first machine shop in Wilmington. Accord- ing to the researches of Henry C. Conrad, Esq., librarian of the Historical Society, he was a native of Wilmington, being the child of John and Mary ( Wallace) MeClary, and was born June 19, 1788. He learned the watch and clock-making business with Thomas Crow at the shop of the latter on Second street. When twenty-two years of age he formed a co-partnership with Jacob Alrichs, and they established the first machine shop in Delaware, using the firm name of Alrichs & MeClary. Aftera few yearsthe connection was dissolved, as Mr. MyClary's name appears in the di- rectory of 1814 as being alone in that business at the corner of Eighth and Orange streets. In 1827 he and Charles Bush went into busi- ness together, and it is said that the first steam engine built in Delaware came from their shop at the corner of Eighth and Orange streets in 1832.

Samuel MeClary evidently possessed me- chanical ingenuity, and was industrious and enterprising. Most of the clocks made by him were made between 1803 and 1816, as after the latter year his time seems to have been fully occupied in the machine business. Mr. Conrad says that a large mantel clock bearing his name is still in the possession of the descendants of his son, Samuel MeClary, Jr., at the residence of the latter on West street, Wilmington. A high elock of his man- ufacture has for years been in the possession of the MeCullough family, of Northeast.

Samuel MeClary died August 24, 1859, and is buried in the Wilmington and Brandywine Cemetery. He was a good citizen, a useful and successful man, and a pioneer among the men whose originality and mechanical ability tend- ed to make Wilmington the active and import- ant industrial center it is to-day. Great de- velopments, especially in the manufacturing

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line, are generally the product of the geuins of men in humble circumstances and compara- tively unknown. In these plain, unassuming clock-makers, MeClary & Alrichs, we find that genius which brought about a degree of industrial activity which we now see in the great iron and wood working establishments "of Wilmington.

That Samuel MeClary was recognized as a business man of high standing, is evidenced by the fact that for many years he was a di- rector in the bank of Wilmington and Brandy- wine. Ilis two sons, Samuel, Jr., and Thomas, followed in his footsteps, and achieved un- usual success in the lines of trade and business which they adopted. They were active and influential business men; both died within re- cent years, and their fair fame in business cir- cles is now upheld by a son of Samuel Me- Clary, Jr., and grandson of Samuel MeClary, the clock-maker and iron founder; we refer to William J. MeClary, the proprietor of one of the largest and most prosperous morocco plants in Wilmington. And the name of Samuel MeClary is perpetuated by Samuel McClary, 3, the only son of William J. McClary, who has just attained his majority.

DUNCAN BEARD.

Duncan Beard, who is described as a "clock- maker" in the early records, purchased in 1767 one acre of land in Appoquinimink hundred from William Hanson, Jr. The land lay in New Castle county, and the price he paid for it was eighty pounds in English money. The small price indicates that he purchased only the bare ground, without buildings, so that he seemingly began his active business life with that purchase. Librarian Conrad, of the Ilis- torical Society, is of the opinion that on this ground he erected a small house and shop in which to live and carry on his business.

The tradition is that "Duncan Beard, Scotchman and skilled worker in metals," lived here a hundred years ago. His "acre" was on the King's Highway, between Cant- well's bridge and Blackbird, "at both of which places," says Mr. Conrad, "the creaking sign of the country tavern sent forth a rather melancholy invitation to all passers-by to come within and find refreshment for man and beast." Here Duncan Beard built and made his home. A little more than a mile south of

Cantwell's Bridge, just across the marsh that skirts the sluggish Appoquinimink, and within a stone's throw of the colonial home of James Moore, of the Delaware Line, who entered Col. John Haslet's regiment as a lieutenant and came out a major, bearing with him an almost mortal wound received at Germantown. Here Duncan Beard toiled, elaborating the delicate and complex mechanism which went to make up the sturdy and truthful timepieces of that day; everything by hand, from the tempered steel spring and the nicely balanced pendulum to the ponderous, clumsy weights.

The records still preserved of U'nion Lodge, No. 5, A. F. and A. M., show that Duncan . Beard became a member June 24, 1765, the year that it was instituted. This was the first lodge of Masons instituted in the state of Dela- ware, and it met monthly at Cantwell's Bridge, Beard being one of the most regular attend- ants at its meetings for a term of thirty years. The minutes show that he was senior warden within a year after his initiation, that he served as worshipful master from December, 1767, to December 1769, and treasurer for one year, 1772-73. The last mention of his name in the minutes is on November 27, 1794, three years before his death. Under date of Sep- tember 25, 1777, a minute is made that "The lodge did not meet last month on account of the enemy landing at Elk." This recalls the stirring events of the Revolution. The Brit- ish landed at the head of the Elk early in Sep- tember, and the battle of Brandywine was fought on the 11th of the same month. Here was a small country village, fifteen miles away, so alarmed and excited over the advent of "the enemy" that a quorum of the lodge could not be brought together.

It was the custom of the lodge to go once a year to Parson Read's meeting-house to hear a sermon from old Dr. Thomas Read, the pa- triotie preacher at old Drawyers, who, during "the times that tried men's souls," ministered in holy things to the whole countryside, and was beyond question the leading man of that community. Robert Kirkwood, the gallant major of the Delaware regiment, joined the same lodge in 1783, after his settlement at Cantwell's Bridge, at the close of the war. Union Lodge, a good many years after its in- stitution, was removed to Middletown, where it is still in successful operation. In the pres- ent lodge room in Middletown is a Duncan

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Beard clock, presented to the lodge several years ago by Richard T. Lockwood; this clock had been in the possession of the Lockwood family of St. George's hundred for several generations. It is a plain old timepiece, in running order, and apparently but little the worse for wear, notwithstanding its hundred years and more of life. In addition to the clock the lodge has a trio of candlesticks (wood gild- ed) and a chest, that were made by Duncan Beard for the lodge on its express order.

In religious belief Duncan Beard was a Presbyterian; so it is not strange that when Parson Road succeeded in enlisting his mem- bership in the building of a new meeting ing-house to take the place of old Drawyers, which, after three-quarters of a century of use, was falling into decay, that Duncan Beard was named as one of the building committee; and the substantial, dignitied structure which was built under his direction, and dedicated in 1773, still stands as a memorial to Duncan Beard, "the skilled worker."

The will of Duncan Beard was proved be- fore the register of wills, New Castle county, June 29, 1797. This will, the original of which is still preserved, was written by his own hand, and he begins with the words, "I, Dun- can Beard, clock-maker of Appoquinimink hundred, we." It is neither dated nor signed, but the requirements of the law regarding two witnesses having been complied with, it was proved and allowed after his death. Two of his neighbors, Christopher Weaver and Rich- ardson Armstrong, served both as witnesses and executors. The will mentions his wife, Rebecca, but no children. There is a small bequest to Duncan Beard, son of John Beard, who, probably, was a nephew or other relative. Provision is made that after the death of his wife, his real estate shall go to "Drawyers Meeting House," and the will also contains this item: "I give and bequeath unto the con- gregation of Drawyers Meeting House my sil- ver pint for the use of the sacrament of the Lord's Supper and that forever." But it is unknown what became of the "silver pint," as no trace of it can be found.

It is a source of much regret that the birth and parentage of this good old man are un- known. Neither is it known who his wife was, or when she died. ITe died more than a hun- dred years ago and his mortal remains were laid at rest in the quiet graveyard beside

Drawers Creek, in the shadow of the church he loved so well; but many of the clocks which his mind and hand fashioned are still marking time with a regularity and fidelity that im- presses all who behold them; they stand as mute reminders of him who set their wheels in motion when this now mighty republic was in its infancy.

ADOLPH ULRIC WERTMULLER.

Adolph Ulric Wertmuller, the first famous portrait painter of Delaware, was born in Stockholm, Sweden, February 18, 1751, and died on his plantation on Naaman's Creek, in the upper end of New Castle county, October 5, 1811. Through the researches of Librarian Conrad, of the Historical Society, we are placed in possession of some interesting facts relating to the history of this early and dis- tinguished artist. At twenty-one years of age he went to Paris and put himself under the instruction of his cousin Roslin, one of the chief portrait painters of the French capital, and afterwards received instruction from Vien. Hle was admitted as a member of the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture on July 30, 1784, upon the presentation of two por- traits of certain eminent men; in the year be- fore he had been breveted "First Painter of the King of Sweden."

Upon this appointment he painted, for Gus- tavus III., "Ariadne," and "Marie Antoinette With Her Two Children in the Garden of the Little Trianon," both now in the National Mu- seum at Stockholm. In 1787 he painted his famous picture of "Danae Receiving Jupiter in a Shower of Gold," which, for both concep- tion and purity of execution, entitles him to a commanding place among the painters of his time.

Mr. Wertmuller was finally driven from France by the disorders and perils of the French Revolution, and sought a home in America. He reached Philadelphia May 13, 1794, where he lived for two years. On ac- count of the death of his agent he was called to Sweden, where he remained four years en- gaged in the settlement of an estate which ho inherited. Returning in November, 1800, he resinned his residence in Philadelphia, where he remained until 1803, when he bought a plantation containing one hundred and forty- five acres in Brandywine hundred, near the

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Pennsylvania line. This plantation was situ- ate at the confluence of Naaman's Creek with the Delaware River. Here he lived in peace and quiet until his death, as stated above, on the 5th of October, 1811.

Adolph Ulric Wertmuller, on January 8, 1801, married Elizabeth, granddaughter of Hon. Gustavus Hesselius, one of the early Swedish settlers on the Delaware. Hesselius was also an artist and is said to have been the first organ builder in the colonies. He was a brother of Andrew and Samuel Hesselius, who served as pastors of the Old Swedes' Church in Wilmington at different times. After Wert- muller's removal to Delaware he seems to have relinquished his brush and devoted his time largely to farming pursuits; but his death is said to have resulted from the noxious effects of paint on his system. Ile was only in his sixty-first year when he died.

When actively engaged in his profession he had the honor of painting a portrait of General Washington. Three months after his arrival in Philadelphia-in August, 1794-he was accorded this honor and painted the portrait from life. His journal states that Washington sat for him in the Senate chamber. Under date of November 8 of the same year he made this entry in his journal: "Finished the por- trait of General Washington, first President of Congress, a black velvet coat, bust, half length canvas. This portrait is for myself."

Ilis original portrait of Washington, serupu- lously preserved, was, after his death, sold at auction in Philadelphia with his other pic- tures for the small sum of fifty dollars. It is now owned by John Wagner, of Philadel- phia. Among a number of copies made for eminent men of that day was one for Robert . Morris, the great financier of the Revolution.

The will of Mr. Wertmuller is dated Decem- ber 23, 1802, while yet a resident of Philadel- phia. He describes himself as a portrait painter. He devised all of his estate to his wife Elizabeth, mentioning in particular a share to which he was entitled by the will of one Joachim Wretman, a merchant of Am- sterdam, he being one of several children to whom a legacy of forty thousand forins of Holland was bequeathed by said will. Under date of July 3, 1811, Wertmuller made a codicil to his will in which he states that since the making of his will he had become pos- sessed of the farm on Naaman's creek. This,

too, he devised to his wife. The will was evi- dently proven in Philadelphia, and a copy was recorded in the office of the register of wills of New Castle county, Delaware. His name is signed to the will simply as "A. Wert- muller." He was buried in the old graveyard of Swedes' Church, Wilmington, among those of his countrymen who had gone before. His wife survived him only three months, and was laid by his side in the sacred ground where the ashes of so many of the first settlers on the Delaware repose. So far as known there were no children, and the name of Delaware's first artist and painter has become extinct.

MAJOR PETER JAQUET.

Major Peter Jaquet, one of the Revolu- tionary heroes of Delaware, was born on Long Hook farm, near Wilmington, April 6, 1754, and died September 13, 1834. His grand- father, Jean Paul Jaquet, was a French Prot- estant refugee, but the date and place of his birth are unknown. He came to this country with his family in 1654, bearing a letter of in- troduction from the directors of the West India Company to Governor Stuyvesant. This letter stated that Jaquet had served the com- pany faithfully in Brazil, and as he came to this country with the view of becoming a planter, and was a worthy man, Governor Stuyvesant was requested to interest himself in his behalf.

With this strong endorsement Jaquet was not permitted to remain long in idleness. It becoming evident that better government was necessary in the lower settlements, Stuy- vesant appointed Jaquet vice-governor on "South River," as the Delaware was then called, and gave him a commission dated No- vember 29, 1655. He was directed to make arrangements for trade and keep order among the people. He fixed his official place of resi- dence at Fort Cassimer, and there he laid out the town of New Castle in December, 1655, and organized a government for the settle-' ments.

Governor Jaquet proceeded vigorously to work. On the 26th of February, 1656, it was resolved in Council "that all the inhabitants should enclose their farms and lots by the middle of March, under a penalty of six guild- ers; that all who had goats should keep herds- men, or be answerable for damages; that no

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one should come into the fort either by land or water without first announcing himself; that ny places for building should be granted be- tween Sandhook and Christina; that the forests should be preserved for the use of the fort and of the town." And on the 22d of May, "that all owners of swine should put yokes on them within twenty-four hours, or have them shot down by soldiers."

A system of taxation for the support of the government was also devised; the history of taxation in Delaware begins, therefore, with the administration of Vice-Governor Jaquet. As might have been expected, the introdue- tion of crude laws for the regulation of the people, together with taxation, caused the gov- ernor to fall into disfavor. His administra- tion was denounced, complaints were lodged with Stuyvesant, who had appointed him, and he was charged with incompetency. Matters grew worse from day to day, until Governor Stuyvesant was forced to dismiss him, which he did April 20, 1657. That intrigue was used to effect his removal is apparent. Jacob Al- rich was appointed his successor in Holland by the burgomasters and council of Amster- dam, as governor of that city's colony. ITis commission was given to him in Amster- dam, December 19, 1656, and renewed in Fort Amsterdam (now New York) in the New Netherlands, April 12, 1657; his residence was fixed at New Castle, then called New Amstel.

Jaquet's administration was brief, lasting scarcely over a year, but it was a stormy one. His successor was charitable enough to admit that the complaints against him proceeded rather from hatred than from truth, having their origin very likely in his efforts to estab- lish law and order, and collect taxes.

Having retired from the cares of office, . a second lieutenant in Colonel Hall's Dela. Jaquet settled down to a quiet life of agri- culture. And after the capture of the country by the English in 1664, he became a subject of Great Britain; was appointed a justice of the peace and performed the functions of that office until the delivery of the territory to Wil- liam Penn in October, 1682. He took up a tract of 290 acres of land, the warrant for which was granted December 22, 1684. It lay on the Christiana, opposite the old town of Winnington, which then embraced a tract at the foot of Market street, east and west. Jean Paul Jaquet's traet was known as Long

Hook, and here he lived during the remainder of his life. The date of his death is unknown.

Little or nothing is known of the children of Governor Jaquet. He had a son named Peter, and a daughter named Maria, married to Baron Isaac Bauer, who came to this coun- try in 1695. He became reduced in circum- stances and died November 11, 1713, leaving his widow and four children destitute.

It is probable that there were other children besides Peter and Maria, for in later times there was a Rev. Joseph Jaquet, some time rector of St. James the Greater, at Bristol, who died in Philadelphia May 24, 1869. IIe was a distinguished scholar and philanthropist. He had an only daughter who married David W. Sellers, of Philadelphia.

Major Peter Jaquet, who as has been said was born April 6, 1754, was the son of Peter, and grandson of Vice-Governor Jean Paul Jaquet. His mother's Christian name was Elizabeth, but of what family she was is un- known. Neither is it known when his parents died.

Peter Jaquet was reared on the Long Hook farm, which finally descended to him. There his grandfather and father had lived and died, and there he died. The farm, therefore, had been in the Jaquet family for three long generations, or from 1684 to 1834, a period of one hundred and fifty years, when it passed out of the family name, because Peter left no descendants.

When the war of the Revolution broke out, Peter Jaquet at once identified himself with the patriots, and was commissioned ensign in Captain Henry Darby's company, Colonel Haslet's regiment of Delaware state troops, in Continental service, January 17, 1776. HIe was then twenty-two years of age. He became ware regiment, Continental Establishment, November 27, 1776, and captain in the same regiment April 5, 1777, and served to the close of the war. On retiring from the service he was breveted major September 30, 1783.

When Major Jaquet died, (September 13, 1834,), he had reached the ripe age of eighty years, five months and seven days. Hle was buried among his kindred in the graveyard of Old Swedes' Church, Wilmington, and a broad slab contains the following epitaph :

"Major Peter Jaquet, born April 6, 1754, and died September 13, 1834. Joined the

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Delaware regiment January 4, 1776, and was in every general engagement under Washing- ton which took place in Delaware, Pennsylva- nia, New Jersey, New York, and the Eastern States; was ordered South to the Southern army under Gates, and with the brave Baron De Kalb was in the battle of Camden, when the Delaware regiment of eight companies was reduced to two, of ninety-six men each, and when the command devolved on Kirkwood and himself as oldest captains. Was in the battle of Guilford, second bat- tle of Camden, siege of Ninety-six, and battle of the village of that name; battle of Eutaw Springs, and in every battle under Greene, until the capture of Cornwallis at Yorktown."

This is, as a writer remarks, "a little strong- ly drawn, but it is in the main correct." Ilis tomb, which is in an excellent state of preser- vation, is conspicuous in the historic church- yard and attracts the attention of many visi- tors.

Major Jaquet married Eliza P., daughter of Elisha Price, of Chester, probably after his return from the war. She was born Novem- ber 25, 1769 and died May 5, 1834, in her sixty-seventh year, having gone to her grave three months and eight days before her hus- band. She was more than fifteen years his junior. Her remains repose under the same slab with those of her warrior husband. They left no descendants.

Major Jaquet became a member of the Delaware State Society of the Cincinnati, and served as vice-president from July 8, 1795 to 1828, when it ceased to exist as a State or- ganization.

MAJOR KIRKWOOD.

Maj. Robert Kirkwood, one of Delaware's Revolutionary heroes, was a native of Mill Creek hundred, New Castle county. At the beginning of the Revolution, he was engaged in the mercantile business, but he quickly en- tered the service to fight for independence. He was commissioned first lieutenant in Capt. IIenry Darby's company, Colonel Haslet's re- giment of Delaware State troops in the Con-

tinental service, January 17, 1776. He rose to the rank of captain December 1, 1776, was transferred to Colonel Hall's Delaware regi- ment, Continental Establishment, as second ranking captain, and served to the close of the war as senior captain in command of the Dela- ware battalion; he was brevetted major Sep- tember 30, 1783. Major Kirkwood saw much hard service, and was recognized as a brave and meritorious officer. Having a taste for military life, he sought an appointment in the regular army, and when St. Clair's force was being organized to fight the northwestern Indians, he was commissioned captain in the Second regiment United States Infantry, March 4, 1791, and joined the army at Cin- cinati. He marched in that unfortunate ex- pedition under the command of Major Gen- eral Arthur St. Clair, and was slain in the battle near Fort Recovery. When the army was routed he refused to retreat, and fell at the head of his company "bravely sustaining," as is stated in Lee's Memoirs of the War in the Southern Department of the United States, "his point of the action. It was the thirty- third time he had risked his life for his coun- try, and he died as he had lived-the brave, meritorious, unrewarded Kirkwood."

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Biographical and genealogical history of the state of Delaware, Vol. I, Part 24

Author: Runk, J.M. & Co Publication date: 1899 Publisher: Chambersburg, Pa. Number of Pages: 1482

Author: Runk, J.M. & Co
Publication date: 1899
Publisher: Chambersburg, Pa.
Number of Pages: 1482