USA > Pennsylvania > Delaware County > Radnor > A Supplement to The history of old St. David's Church, Radnor, in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. Containing corrections of errors in original history and important additiona data 1906-1909 > Part 1
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org.
F 159 .R14 P8 Suppl.
A SUPPLEMENT TO THE HISTORY OF OLD ST. DAVID'S CHURCH
BYU LIB
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2017 with funding from Brigham Young University
https://archive.org/details/historyofoldstda00pleasup
An After-Meeting in the Sixties
974,814 271K Supp.
A SUPPLEMENT TO THE HISTORY OF
OLD ST. DAVID'S
CHURCH
RADNOR, IN DELAWARE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA,
CONTAINING CORRECTIONS OF ERRORS IN ORIGINAL HISTORY AND IMPOR- TANT ADDITIONAL DATA 1906-1909
PREPARED AT THE REQUEST OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE OLD EAGLE SCHOOL TREDYFFRIN, CHESTER CO., PENNA.
BY HENRY PLEASANTS Author of The History of Old St. David's Church, Radnor, Pa., etc.
THE JOHN C. WINSTON COMPANY PHILADELPHIA
Copyright, 1909, by THE JOHN C. WINSTON CO.
THE LIBRARY BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY PROVO, UTAH
Contents of Supplemental History.
I. Memorandum of Errata 5
a. Will of Edward Hughes 5
b. The Evan Harry Legacy. 5
II. The Welsh Settlers, 1718-1730 7
III. Diocesan Delegates, 1784-1909. I 2
IV. Additional Interments I5
MEMORANDUM OF ERRATA TO THE HIS- TORY OF OLD ST. DAVID'S CHURCH.
Page 26. For "Dr. Richard Wilton" read "Dr. Richard Welton."
Page 37. For "produced his accepts" read "produced his accpts."
Page 80. For "Tyron Lewis" read "Tryon Lewis."
Page 15. The will of Edward Hughes of Easttown, dated December II, 1716, was proven May 14, 1720, and registered at Philadelphia in Will Book D, page 155. In it testator appointed his son Edward and friend William Davis, of Radnor, his executors, and his friend Thomas Edwards one of the tutors and guardians of his children. No mention is made therein of Radnor Church nor is there anything in the remotest way to suggest that the testator held Orders in the Church.
There seems to be no reason whatever to doubt the identity of this man with the one buried at St. David's, December 16, 1716.
Page 119. Evan Harry (the Elder) by deed dated II, 21, 1717, reciting his contemplated marriage to Ann Edwards, conveyed 120 acres of land in Merion Township west of the present Wynnewood Station, Pennsylvania Railroad, to Thomas Edwards of Easttown, and William Davis of Rad- nor in trust for a life estate to said Evan and Ann, with provision that "in case the sd Evan and Ann should happen to leave but one child," then half of the land in fee to said child when of age.
(5)
6
Old St. David's Church.
The marriage was solemnized, and Evan died intestate, 1744, leaving one child, Evan, who by will dated July 2, 1748, and registered at Philadelphia in Will Book G, page 319, left a legacy of £50 to Radnor Church, fio in one year from his mother's death and fio each subsequent year until paid.
In deed of Ann Harry, widow, to Jane Warner, dated August 22, 1758, and recorded in Philadelphia Deed Book H, 12, page 138, the insolvency of the estate of Evan Harry, the younger, is recited, and the fact that his debts, includ- ing the legacy to Radnor Church, were advanced by his mother, who was his executrix.
This valuable information for which the author is in- debted to Benjamin H. Smith, Esq., establishes the identity of the Evan Harry legacy with that referred to by Mr. Currie (St. David's Church History, page 58), and explains the delay in payment. It also corrects the erroneous state- ments made on page 119 of History of St. David's Church, and the inferences there suggested.
THE WELSH SETTLERS, 1718-30.
At the time of the Welsh settlement of Radnor Township-about 1685-90-and for many years after- wards, all of the Pennsylvania wilderness west of the Schuylkill River and extending to the northern and western boundaries of the State, was nominally at least, within the limits of the original Chester county ; and so much as lay between the Schuyl- kill and Susquehanna rivers was called "Conestoga Township." When Lancaster County was estab- lished, in 1729, that part of this wilderness along the Conestoga Creek, for about six miles westwardly, was called "Caernarvon" Township, and that part north of the Chester County line along the Schuyl- kill River to the Tulpehocken Creek, was called "Robeson" Township, and later subdivided into Union, Robeson, Cumru and Spring Townships.
Into this unexplored territory occurred the strange "Trek" of the Welsh settlers, referred to on pages 33-4 of St. David's history. This movement of the Welsh began about 1718, and compacted mainly be- tween Conestoga Creek, or the Welsh Mountains, on the south, and the Tulpehocken Creek on the north, and extending from the Schuylkill River to the mouth
(7)
8
Old St. David's Church.
of Muddy Creek. South of this Welsh settlement was that of the Scotch-Irish, and west and north that of the Germans.
The cause of this "Trek" is very obscure.
The explanation of Rev. George Craig [St. David's history, page 34] that they found their settlement "too confined," is far from satisfactory; neither does lust of adventure, or lust of land satisfactorily ex- plain the act. It is more probable that each of these influences worked on the minds of men, already restive because of failure to secure the promised Welsh Barony, the object of the Welsh purchase.
The following brief biographical sketches of some of these Welsh Trekers, and reference to their work will be of interest because of their association with St. David's Church :
WILLIAM DAVIS [Davies in holographic will. Phila., F., I27]. From Radnor-shire, Wales. Prominent in establish- ment of St. David's Church, Radnor (see St. David's History, 4-14 and 15. Justice of Peace of Chester County, 1712 (2 Col. Rec., 561). One of the chief promoters of the "Trek." m. Ann Miles (sister of Richard Miles) and had children-Gabriel (prominent in history of Bangor Church), John, William, Ann, m. Evan Hughes, Mary, m. Hugh Hughes, agent for his father-in-law and Rev. Griffith Hughes, missionary, in warrant- ing large tracts in Conestoga and Robeson township; Susanna, wife of Nathan Evans, and Elizabeth, wife of David Jones. Mirick [or Myric] Davis, one of early Wardens of St. David's and coroner of Philadelphia County, 1721-29, was also a son. Philip and Edward Davis were probably brothers of William. He died 1729.
9
The Welsh Settlers.
He is to be carefully distinguished from William Davis, the Keithian Quaker, and later Baptist preacher, who was con- spicuous in the early part of the eighteenth century, and par- ticularly referred to in Dr. Sachse's Monograph on "The Sab- bath Keepers, or Seventh Day Baptists of Chester County and their old Graveyard at Newtown."
HUGH JONES .- Chief promoter of the emigration which settled in Conestoga Township. Married (St. Paul's Church, Chester), December 12, 1706, Jane Pugh. Owner of about 250 acres in Easttown near St. David's Church, of which he was a communicant member. Removed about 1726 to Con- estoga Township, where he located five distinct tracts- mill sites and fine farming land. Established an Episcopal Chapel in Cumru (whereof hereafter). Died September 19, 1734, aged sixty-two.
DAVID JONES, son of Hugh, married Lucy, daughter of Thomas Godfrey (she later became the second wife of Rev. William Currie, missionary), and removed to Tredyffrin, where he died 1771, leaving will providing for preservation of the church and graveyard established by his father (whereof here- after).
To be distinguished from David Jones, who married Eliza- beth, daughter of William Davis of Radnor.
THOMAS EDWARDS, son of Alexander, emigrated from North Wales, 1684, and settled in Montomery Township. Active in establishment of Lancaster County. Removed about 1718 to Conestoga Township. Justice of the Peace for Earl, Cocalico, Caernarvon and Robeson townships, 1729-1745.
He is to be carefully distinguished from Thomas Edwards, of Easttown, Chester County, one of the Wardens of St. David's Church [see St. David's Church history, 14-15].
CADWALADER, ELLIS .- Made first settlement of 500 acres in Conestoga Valley, November, 1718.
IO
Old St. David's Church.
THOMAS MORGAN .- One of the earliest settlers in Cones- toga Valley. Donor of Chapel in Caernarvon Township, Berks County. [See Perry's Collection, 387.]
HUGH HUGHES .- m. Mary, daughter of William Davis, for whom he acted as agent in securing warrants. He is probably the same person who is mentioned in St. David's history, page 37, as "Treasurer to ye Congregation."
By these settlers were established about the middle of the eighteenth century, four English (Episcopal) churches, viz :
I. ST. JOHN'S CHURCH, Compassville, in Caln Township. Chester County. The original church was probably erected about 1720. (See Futhey's History, Chester County, page 275, and Perry's Collections, 182-3 and 370.)
II. BANGOR EPISCOPAL CHURCH at Churchtown, in Caernar- von Township, Lancaster County. The original church was probably built of logs about 1733, on vacant ground. After wards-May 24, 1738-the land was warranted to Gabriel Davis "for a church thereon to be erected." Yet later- February 21, 1755-the land was patented to Lynford Lardner and John Davis "the present church wardens."
This is evidently the church organization to which Griffith Hughes, missionary at Radnor, refers in his letter quoted in history of St. David's Church, page 31.
III. A STONE CHAPEL at Morgantown, Berks County (later known as St. Thomas') built about 1764-5 under provisions of will of Thomas Morgan, probated 1741 in Philadelphia. [See valuable article by B. F. Owen, Esq., "Tradition vs. Fact," Publicats. of Lancaster Co. Hist. Soc., vol. vii, page 59.] This is evidently the "new church" referred to in the letter of Rev. Thomas Barton to the Propagation Society dated Au- gust 8, 1765, found in Perry's Collections, page 387.
II
The Welsh Settlers.
IV. A little chapel in Cumru Township, Berks County (re- ferred to in St. David's history, page 42), probably erected about 1732 by Hugh Jones on a part of his 264 acre tract on Wyomissing Creek. The church and graveyard adjoining were picturesquely located on a bluff rising abruptly about 450 feet south of Wyomissing Road and 1600 feet east of the Flying Hill Road, on the farm recently acquired by the Society of the Maccabees for establishment of a home for their aged members. Of the church and graveyard no trace remains save the enclosed lands and a few unmarksd graves The record of the place has, however, been well preserved in a valuable monograph by B. F. Owen, Esq., on "The Welsh of Cumru," read before the Berks County Historical Society, September 12, 1899.
The codicil to the will of David Jones (son of Hugh) refers to "a small piece of land in Cumru Township computed to contain 21/2 acres whereon is erected an Episcopal or Lutheran church," and devised "one-quarter of an acre part of the aforesaid lot to and for the use of said church forever to be surveyed off so as to include the church and burying ground."
Whatever doubt this codicil suggests regarding the connec- tion of this chapel is removed by the fact of Hugh Jones' con- nection with St. David's Church, and his legacy of "one bright bay young mare with star on her forehead" to Rev. Grif- fith Hughes, missionary there.
ALPHABETICAL LIST OF LAY DELEGATES FROM ST. DAVID'S CHURCH, RADNOR,
TO THE CONVENTIONS OF THE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN THE DIOCESE OF PENNSYLVANIA.
1784-1909.
St. David's Church was admitted to membership in the Convention September 14, 1786 [see Hist. St. David's Church, pages 91 and 92], but no Lay representation of the Church appears to have existed in the Convention from 1788 to 1812 inclusive, except in the years 1789-1791-1792-1811. Nor did any Lay representation of the Church exist in the Conven- tions of 1816-1841-1850-1851-1861-1864-1865-1866.
NOTE .- The dates after each name indicate the earliest and latest time of delegate service, although such service may not have been continuous.
A.
Adler, Dr. John M .- 1898-1899.
B.
Brooke, Benjamin-1845-1875. [Two (probably three) persons of the same name, undistinguishable, represented the church between these dates.]
Brooke, Hugh Jones-1842-1855.
Brooke, Jesse-1846-1857.
Brooke, John-1813-1818. Brooke, Mark-1849-1871.
Brooke, William-1811-1822.
(12)
1
I3
Lay Delegates.
C.
Campbell, John-1840.
Campbell, W. John-1889-1892.
Carter, Henry-1837-1838.
Coates, Henry T .- 1889-1909.
Coates, Joseph H .- 1885-1909.
D.
DeHaven, Hugh-1792.
H.
Heysham, Dr. Charles S .- 1852-1853.
Horton, Jacob-1826-1829.
Horton, John-1857-1867.
Humphrey, Thomas-1852-1854.
Hunter, John-1821-1839.
J.
Johnson, Barclay-1887-1888. Jones, John-1789-1791. Jones, Griffith-1844-1845.
M.
Mather, John-1854-1871. Matlack, Isaiah-1859-1863.
N.
Niles, Hezekiah-1894-1897. Norton, Isaac, 1830-1849. Norton, James-1828-1829.
O.
Okie, Dr. Richardson B .- 1891.
14
Old St. David's Church.
P.
Parke, William A .- 1876-1899.
Pleasants, Dr. Henry-1858-1860.
Pleasants, Henry, Jr. (lawyer)-1875-1876.
R.
Rush, Murray-1886-1888.
S.
Sachse, Julius F. [Litt.D]-1882-1886.
Sargent, Dr. Gorham P .- 1868-1870.
Sharp, Joseph W .- 1868-1891.
Sheaff, Philip-1811-1825.
T.
Thayer, John B .- 1871-1881.
W.
Wentworth, John Langdon-1873-1882.
Wetherby, Benjamin-1843.
Willing, Richard-1784-1787. [ [Representative at the pre- liminary meeting to establish the Convention and at first General Convention of the Church. Member of the first Standing Committee.] Wilson, Elwood, Jr .- 1879.
Wilson, George-1820-1827. Wood, R. Francis-1900-1909.
LIST OF ADDITIONAL AND CORRECTED RECORD OF INTERMENTS IN ST. DAVID'S CHURCH BURIAL GROUND.
-
N. B .- Corrections in prior list are marked with asterisk *.
A.
Adens, Harriet, dau. Cloe and Jacob; negro; unmarked. Adens, Mary Ann, dau. Cloe and Jacob; negro; unmarked. Allen, Katharine Keen, wife James C., 1834-1909.
*Andrews, Caleb, d. 3, 30, 1842; 4st year.
Armstrong, William Chamberlin, M.D., 1858-1905.
B.
*Bailey, Wenona A. Williams, wife Julius A., b. 1, 7, 1864; d. 12, 25, 1892.
*Barnes, Emily Leland Harrison, wife John Hampton, b. 3, I, 1866; d. 2, 23, 1902.
Bernard, Rachel.
Black, George F., b. 7, 1839; d. 12, 1905.
Bodine, William Budd, D.D., b. 3, 10, 1841; d. 9, 28, 1907.
Broadbelt, Mary A., 1821-1909.
*Broadbelt, Richard, 1818-1869.
Brooke, Jesse, d. 8, 14, 1868; aged 74 yrs. 9 mos. 18 ds. [Church Warden.]
Brooke, Mark, son Lewis and Annie B. G., d. 3, 1, 1865; aged 4 years.
*Brooke, Matthew, d. 9, 10, 1827; 44th year.
Brooke, Walter, b. 6, 7, 1862; d. 9, 18, 1906.
(15)
I6
Old St. David's Church.
C.
*Campbell, Morris T., son John and Lucy, b. 6, 24, 1878; d. 4, 21, 1885.
Coleman, Madeleine Herr, b. 10, 3, 1882; d. II, 22, 1892.
Cooper, Elizabeth (temporary mark).
Cooper, Israel (temporary mark).
Cooper, Rebecca (temporary mark).
Crosley, Charlotte W., wife Enoch, 1828-1906.
D.
*Dunn, Joseph, d. 11, 16, 1829; 44th year.
E.
Elder, Lucius W., b. 7, 18, 1851; d. 2, 26, 1907. Elder, Helen R., b. II, 30, 1884; d. II, 24, 1894. "Ernest" (a child's grave).
*Evans, Mary, d. 2, II, 1755; 30 years.
F.
Farr, Nahan Y., 1831-1897. Fox, Annie L., wife Nathan M., b. 4, 24, 1828; d. 3, 9, 1909.
Fox, Nathan M., b. 8, 28, 1833.
G.
Gardiner, Rebecca, 1842-1906. *Godfrey, Thomas, d. 8, 24, 1756; 80 years.
Griffith, John R., d. I, 7, 1908; 80th year.
*Groff, Carrie, wife C. H., b. 9, 11 1866; d. 12, 31, 1904. *Grover, Margaret, b. 9, 29, 1800; d. 1, 26, 1868.
H.
Haas, Jane, b. 6, 22, 1815; d. 5, 4, 1903. Hancock, Matilda McKennan, wife James, b. 8, 24, 1873; d. II, 30, 1906.
Additional Interments.
Halsey, Millicent, dau. [Rev.] Wm. F. and Elizabeth H., b. 6,7, 1871; d. 3, 28, 1908.
*Haner, Susanna Bailey, b. 6, 30, 1819; d. 2, 26, 1860.
*"Hannah," d. 5, 20, 1874 [footstone marked H. M. K.]. *Heath, Margaret, wife Uriah, b. 10, 10, 1814; d. 8, 9, 1896. Hibberd, Sarah J., dau. John and Rachel Campbell, b. 12, 7, 1829; d. I, 25, 1903.
*Holgraft, Washington, d. I, 20, 1847; 2 months. Horner, Katharine Beale, d. 1, 21, 1906.
Horton, Mary S., b. II, 19, 1843; d. 2, 8, 1909.
Hunter, Ann, d. 8, 2, 1774; 16th year.
Hunter, Hannah, d. II, 21, 1803; 84th year.
Hunter, James, d. 2, 17, 1782; 7Ist year.
Hunter, Peter, d. II, 6, 1779; 28th year.
I.
*Iredell, Caroline L., 1833-1900.
J.
Johnson, Margaretta Crawford, wife Leonard, b. 1863; d. 1906.
Jones, Robert, d. 4, 7, 1785; 87th year.
K.
Keyser, Eliza L., b. 7, 5, 1832; d. 6, 15, 1906. *Kirk, Mary Ann Way, dau. Benjamin and Roseanna, d. II, 27, 1866; 56 yrs. 2 mos. 26 days. "Hannah," d. 5, 20, 1874 [footstone marked H. M. K.].
L. Lentz, Joseph Kenton, b. 3, 28, 1843; d. 3, 7, 1908 Long, Cornelia, d. 12, 3, 1906; aged 44 years. Loughead, Estelle Hunter Brooke, wife Isaac M., b. 9, 25, I863; d. 1, 19, 1908.
2
18
Old St. David's Church.
M.
Macue, John, son Samuel and Ann, b. 8, 6, 1739; aged 22 years.
Margerum, Harriet Elizabeth, 1891-1906.
*Maris, John H., son Howel and Mary A., d. II, 25, 1846; 10 mos. 24 days.
Maris, Mary A., d. 1, 25, 1904; aged 80 years.
*Mather, Sarah, d. 3, 3, 1790; aged 58 years.
Mather, Mary, b. 5, II, 1836; d. 4, 10, 1881.
Mather, A. Lindsay, Jr., b. 4, 29, 1874; d. 3, 6, 1878.
*Mayhew, Moses, negro, Sergt. Co. D, 45th Regt. U. S. C. T. Miller, Ralph, son W. Bigler and Annie Wertz, b. and d. 8, 28, 1889.
Mills, Paul Denckla, Jr., b. 6, 23, 1906; d. 5, 13, 1907.
Moore, Anna Rebecca Burke, wife H. Jones, b. 5, 31, 1832; d. 5, 7, 1909.
Moore, John H., d. I, 27 1907; aged 86 years.
Moore Philip, d. 8, 25, 1813; aged 64 years.
*McAbee, H. Maria Gilbert, wife Jackson, d. 7, 2, 1888. McAfee, John, 1807-1896.
*McAfee, Joshua T., d. 5, II, 1867; 58th year.
McAfee, Margaret M., 1823-1897.
*McDermott, William, d. 9, 10, 1834; aged 34 years.
McLear, William Z., 1866-1907.
N.
Newhall, Eleanor Mercer, wife Daniel S., b. 7, 18, 1849; d. 6, 1, 1908.
*Nicolls, George W., son James and Martha, grandson Samuel R. and Deborah Griffiths, d. 12, 29, 1823; 5 ys. 2 mos. 5 days.
*Nuzum, Margaret J., b. 8, 5, 1843; d. 3, 16, 1867.
*Nuzum, Thomas P., b. 6 20, 1840; d. I, 24, 1881. Nuzum, William B., b. 12, 22, 1821; d. 4, 6, 1896.
19
Additional Interments.
O.
Ottey, Mary Elizabeth, dau. S. Channing and Annie M., b. 4, 3, 1906; d. 12, 30, 1907.
P.
Packard, John Hooker, M.D., b. 8, 15, 1832; d. 5, 21, 1907. *Parke, Dr. John Siter, b. 10, I, 1828; d. 10, 29, 1865. *Parke, Mary E., b. 9, 25, 1837; d. 10, 10, 1896. Paul, Frances K. Drexel, wife James W., Jr., d. 6, 16, 1892. Paul, James W., Jr., b. 8, 9, 1851 ; d. 9, 25, 1908.
R.
Reed, Alan Howard, b. 5, 9, 1851; d. 4, 14, 1906.
Rigby, John, b. 12, 2, 1836; d. 1, 15, 1907.
Rudolph, Martha, unmarked.
Rudolph, Morris, unmarked.
S.
Sharp, Joseph W., b. 1826; d. 1908. (Church Warden.) *Sheaff, Mary, wife Philip, Sr., d. I, 31, 1828; 94th year. Siter, Adam, unmarked.
Siter, Jane, wife Adam (neé Owen), unmarked.
Siter, Reece, son Adam, unmarked.
Smedley, Davis, b. 1, 8, 1831; d. 6, 19, 1906.
Smith, Edwin, carpenter, unmarked.
Steele, John Dutton, M.D., b. 2, 21, 1868; d. 5, 17, 1908.
T.
*Taylor, Slator C., b. II, 25, 1810; d. 8, 8, 1884. Thudichum Vault. Tilghman, Richard, b. I, 24, 1865; d. 6, 12, 1906. Tortat, Rev. Dr. A. E., 1831-1906.
Twaddell, Eliza Emily, wife John P., b. 10, 12, 1833; d. II, 15, 1907.
20
Old St. David's Church.
W.
*Weed, Elizabeth, wife George, d. I, 24, 1823; 52 years, 39 days.
Whelen, Henry, Jr., b. 8, 20, 1848; d. 5, 17, 1907.
White, Anna Rebecca, b. 10, 3, 1842; d. 8, 11, 1906.
Whiteside, Margaret, b. 4, 7, 1807; d. 10 29, 1871.
Williams, Margaret L., d. 5, 31, 1875.
Willing, Elizabeth Kent, b. 12, 20, 1905; d. 5, I, 1907. Wills, Michael, d. 10, 8, 1794; 86th year.
Woodworth, Charles, b. 12, 13, 1844; d. 8, 16, 1908.
*Worrall, Feddy, b. 2, 18, 1777; d. 3, 17, 1844.
BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY 3 1197 21294 2533
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.