USA > Pennsylvania > Philadelphia County > Philadelphia > An Historical sketch of the origin and progress of the Society of the Sons of St. George : also the charter, by-laws, and permanent resolutions, together with an alphabetical list of the members and associates, list of officers, etc., for one century, from April 23, 1772 to April 23, 1872, to April 23, 1897 > Part 1
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ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 02232 6752
GENEALOGY 974.802 P53SOC
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HER MAJESTY QUEEN VICTORIA IN HER ROYAL ROBES. [Painted from life by Thomas Sully for the Society of the Sons of St. George.]
Copyrighted 1897.
AN
HISTORICAL SKETCH
OF THE '
ORIGIN AND PROGRESS
OF THE
Society of the Sons of St. George
ALSO
THE CHARTER, BY-LAWS AND PERMANENT RESOLUTIONS
Together with an alphabetical list of the names of the members and associates, list of officers, etc., for one century, from April 23, 1 772, to April 23, 1872 ; also first quarter of second century, from April 23, 1872, to April 23, 1897.
PHILADELPHIA. ALFRED M. SLOCUM CO., Printers, 718-724 Arch Street,
1897
1633354
HISTORICAL SKETCH
OF THE
ORIGIN AND PROGRESS
OF THE
"Society of the Sons of St. George."
By a resolution of the Society, passed on the 23d October, 1839,* the Secretary was requested to prepare a new edition of five hundred copies of the Constitution and By-Laws, together with a list of the members and officers of the Society, from the earliest formation of the same, and such historical matter con- nected with the origin and progress of the Society, as may be thought interesting or important.
With an earnest desire to perpetuate the early incidents con- nected with the formation of the Society, the Secretary has cheer- fully complied with the wishes of its members ; but on entering upon his duty he found that the record from which he was princi- pally to glean his information, was unfortunately very concise in its details, and in many instances consisted merely of dry registers of the business of the meetings. The motives which governed the projectors of this benevolent association are suf- ficiently and beautifully indicated in the "Introduction " to the constitution and rules, which the reader will find hereafter at the head of the first meeting of the Society ; but in the midst of the
*At a Quarterly Meeting of the Society, held January 23d, 1854, a new edition of this pamphlet was ordered, and this sketch has been continued to that date.
At the Quarterly Meeting held July 23d, 1872, another edition of this pamphlet was ordered, continuing the Historical sketch up to April 23, 1872, being the Cen- tennial of the Society.
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array of distinguished and respectable names as set forth on that occasion, we are at a loss to know who were the most prominent, or to whom we owe the honors of the truly benevolent project. It would have been of much interest to the successors of these individuals, had we sufficient data from which we might receive particular information of their characters ; as in all associations of men, we can more readily comprehend the usefulness of any undertaking, when we are fully acquainted with the habits of mind of those who are engaged in it. At this remote period we are cut off from such desirable knowledge, and it is presumed that scarcely a single contemporary can be found in our com- munity, from whom we could derive the information we require. It is much to be regretted, that the early records of associations generally should contain so little of that minute matter which is so interesting to a lover of the past ; and that men should forget, when they are about to enter upon a good work, that their pos- terity will desire to know every particular concerning it. How . natural, for instance, will it be for a descendant of one of those honorable men who founded this Society, to inquire, Who were all these associates of my father ? "I should delight to know somewhat more of their history."
It is presumed that all those, or nearly all who signed their names at the first meeting, on the 23d April, 1772, were of English birth, and all of English parentage ; and we can well imagine that in their secret hearts might be found that deep- seated attachment to their native home which is strongly char- acteristic of our countrymen. They met together, consequently, with a warm fraternal feeling one towards another, as brothers who had been separated, and were now united again in a foreign land. But their meeting together on that occasion was not to indulge in personal considerations alone-they had a higher and nobler motive. They came thither from the pure dictates of Christian benevolence-to unite themselves into an association, whose ministrations were to be carried into the humblest abodes ; to succor the distressed, to assuage the anguish of the sick, to assist the unfortunate, to give good counsel to the stranger, to aid the industrious, and to carry out into effective exercise the principles of Him " who went about doing good."
Amongst that assembly we may mention, without any invidi- ous distinction, as persons well known and greatly esteemed in
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this community, and who most likely took a prominent part in the formation of the Society, our first President, the Rev. Dr. Richard Peters; our first Vice-President, Robert Morris, Esq., the able financier; and our first Secretary, the Hon. Judge Richard Peters; all of whom continued their connection with the Society for many years, and by their countenance and support were instrumental in establishing it upon a steady and honorable foundation. We perceive also the names of many divines of the Episcopal Church, highly respectable members of the medical- and mercantile professions, and officers of the army and navy, uniting their efforts in the common cause of humanity, for the express purpose of assisting their poor and distressed country- men.
They assembled together in this city, when these present United States were still Colonies of the mother country, and when this State was still called the Province of Pennsylvania, under the authority of his Excellency, Governor Richard Penn ; and it is a source of proud satisfaction to us, to know that as the first assembly met together to promote a good object without any mixture of political partisanism, in a like spirit has the Society proceeded quietly on its way ever since, regardless of political rule, and mindful only of the high objects of its institu- tion.
The Society first met together at Patrick Byrne's tavern in Front Street, below Walnut Street, on St. George's Day, the 23d of April, 1772 ; and the objects they had in view are perspic- uously set forth in the subjoined Introduction to the constitu- tion and rules adopted on that day.
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INTRODUCTION.
Were we to trace their origin to that primeval pair, with whom the Author of Nature completed the grand work of the Creation, we should find all mankind related to each other. Even at this remote period, when the sons of Adam are dis- persed through the world, differing in complexion, custom and manners, the civilized part of his descendants still retain a kind of fraternal affection, and are prompted by humanity and benevo- lence to relieve the distresses and solace the sorrows of their un- fortunate fellow-mortals, in whatever clime or country they drew their first breath. Pity, social love, and charity, are citizens of the world, and extend their benign influences to the whole human race. Yet these heaven-born virtues have bounds pre- scribed to them, as to the radiant lamp of day, which shines with but a feeble beam upon countries remote from its path, while with redoubled vigor it cheers, enlightens, and enlivens those more immediately in its presence.
Man, however boundless are the desires excited in him by benevolence and social affection, is still limited in his abilities and capacity ; and though his wishes may incline him to be service- able to all his fellow-creatures, he soon discovers that he has it in his power to be of use but to a very few. Conscious of this, he begins with those to whom the ties of blood have more im- mediately connected him, and widens the circle as far as his abilities will permit. Among the objects which present them- selves for his assistance and relief, after his particular relatives and friends, his countrymen are his peculiar care ; his predilec- tion for them is by no means the effect of narrowness of senti- ment, but proceeds from the same laudable motives which, ever since the establishment of civil society, have induced good citi- zens not only to love, but, if occasion required, to die for their country. Policy has ever been made use of to encourage this
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patriotic benevolence, and, in some states, honors and advantages have been decreed to those who saved the life of a citizen. Equally praiseworthy with preserving his life, must it be to rescue a fellow-citizen from the iron hands of penury and want, nay, in some cases, perhaps more so, for death is often more eligible than a life of wretchedness.
Men of merit are to be found in almost every nation ; but mankind in common prefer the meritorious of their own, to those of any other country. We cannot extend our beneficence- universally, and therefore must select the objects of our charity from the general class of mankind by some rule or other. In forming this rule, we are led to select those of our own particular nation, not only from a national desire every man has to relieve them, but because experience teaches us that his countrymen are the first to whom a stranger in distress thinks of applying for relief.
National attachments and prejudices are for the most part idle and unnecessary ; and when they operate so far as to make us injure or despise persons born in a different country from our- selves, they are indeed very reprehensible. But although na- tional distinction should on most occasions be avoided, yet the necessity of forming the present Society, is one proof that on some occasions it may answer the best purposes. Numbers of Englishmen have arrived in this city, and being disappointed in their expectations have been reduced to the lowest ebb of distress ; and not knowing where to apply for relief or advice, have sunk into ruin almost unnoticed, when perhaps a little good counsel, or a small pecuniary assistance, would have saved them from destruction, and made them useful members of society.
Lest such melancholy instances of wretchedness should hap- pen for the future, it is thought proper by the subscribers to form themselves into an Association, by the name of "The Society of the Sons of St. George, established at Philadelphia, for the ad- vice and assistance of Englishmen in distress." And this, not for the purpose of keeping alive any invidious national distinction- which ought particularly to be avoided between the different nations composing the British state in America, where all the freemen (from wheresoever they originally migrated) are breth- ren, friends, and countrymen-but merely that unfortunate
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Englishmen, and especially those who are strangers in America, may know where to apply for countenance and assistance.
It is therefore agreed by the subscribers, that they, and each of them, will become members of the said Society, and be sub- ject to the following rules and regulations for the conduct and good government thereof :-
Richard Peters, D. D.,
Rev. Mr. Robert Harding,
Robert Morris,
Captain William Heysham,
Daniel Rundle,
Captain John Hazlewood,
Richard Peters, Jr , Esq.,
Nathaniel Hyde,
William Parr,
Francis Jeyes,
Dr. John Kearsley,
John Jennings,
Richard Footman,
Wm. Haughton James,
Thomas Foxcroft,
Samuel Jeffries, .
Matthias Aspden,
John Kidd,
Charles Allen,
Llynford Lardner,
William Adcock,
Lieut. John Lennox,
Dr. Thomas Bond,
Mr. William London,
John Baynton,
Thomas Murgatroyd,
John Baron,
George Noarth,
Joseph Bullock,
Dr. William Pemberton,
James Buddon,
John Philips, William Pollard,
Edward Barret,
Thomas Roaker,
Thomas Bowlsby,
George Rundle.
Richard Bache,
Richard Rundle,
Jonathan Brown,
Charles Starton,
Captain Joseph Blewer,
William Snell,
Alfred Clifton,
Anthony Stocker,
Rev. Mr. John Carter,
William Sitgreaves,
Mr. John Coanes,
Captain James Sparks,
Captain Isaac Caton,
Joseph Stansbury,
Captain James Caton,
Robert Sherman,
Edward Cutbush,
Thomas Savadge,
William Drewry,
Rev. Mr. William Stringer,
Dr. John Day,
Dr. William Smith,
Emanuel Eyres,
John Tyler,
John Eyres,
Godfrey Twells,
John Foxcroft,
Peter Turner,
Mark Freeman,
Hon. Thomas Willing,
John Glover,
Richard Willing,
Thomas Goodwin,
Drewry Wake,
George Goodwin,
Thomas Charles Williams,
Dr. George Glentworth, Isaac Hazlehurst,
John Williams, George Wescotte,
William Hiorn,
Thomas West, Thomas Yorke.
John Heaton, Amos Hayton,
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Dr. Phineas Bond,
Captain John Mawbey,
Dr. Robert Bass,
On motion, the Society proceeded to the election of officers, -agreeably to the rules, and the following gentlemen were elected unanimously, viz .:
REV. RICHARD PETERS, D.D., President.
MR. ROBERT MORRIS, Vice-President. MR. DANIEL RUNDLE, Treasurer. MR. RICHARD FOOTMAN, MR. THOMAS FOXCROFT, WILLIAM PARR, Esq.,
Stewards.
DR. JOHN KEARSLEY, RICHARD PETERS, Jr., Secretary. JOHN AIREY, Messenger.
At the next meeting of the Society, in July, His Excellency Governor Penn became a member, and in October of the same year the Rev. Wm. White, afterwards the venerable Bishop of that name, was elected a member, and continued his connection with the Society up to the time of his death, a period of sixty- four years.
Directly after the institution of the Society the applications for assistance from poor Englishmen became very numerous, and we may infer that, even at that period, there was much want and poverty in the land. These applications were principally from weavers and other manufacturers, who thus early introduced the mechanical and manufacturing arts of Europe into this country ; and through the fostering care of this Society many were enabled to become prosperous citizens, and highly useful members of the community. Some artisans are to be found in the list of applications, who were induced to come out to this new country, confiding in the certainty of immediate prosperity, , but whose trades were not known here at the time, and who consequently suffered from the want of occupation ; amongst
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these were several silk weavers, who could find no employment ; a class who can even at this day scarcely support themselves in their own business in the United States.
At that time we find it was the custom of the Society to allow a small weekly stipend to those objects who were deemed worthy, as well as specific amounts in other cases ; and its good offices became so widely known, that the applications for relief became too numerous for the means at hand. In this dilemma. recourse was had to an appeal to their fellow citizens ; and the following address was inserted, in October, 1773, in the news- papers of the day :-
" TO ALL BENEVOLENT AND CHARITABLE ENGLISHMEN.
"' I was a stranger, and ye took me in,' is mentioned by the Fountain of Benevolence as one of the most meritorious among the actions of humanity. Happy are they of whom it can be said, thrice happy they who feel the effects of this kind of Chris- tian benignity. To receive and comfort the needy stranger, and. help the afflicted and those who are 'sick and in prison,' are exercises of virtue which exalt us above the level of mortality ; and to the performance of which we are excited by an example. no less than Divine.
" Among the many melancholy situations into which adversity plunges its wretched victims, there is none more peculiarly dis- tressing than that of him who wants perhaps the very necessaries. of life in a strange country, far from his relations and friends. His distress is doubly poignant, when he knows not of whom to seek for help ; the sting of affliction is doubly severe when he has none to sympathize in his sorrows. Under the influence of sentiments such as these, a number of gentlemen, English- men and sons of Englishmen, residing in Philadelphia, in the Province of Pennsylvania, struck with the frequent instances of wretchedness which they found among their countrymen who came to America upon speculation, or driven thither by a virtu- ous necessity, have formed themselves into a Society by the name of 'The Society of the Sons of St. George, established at Philadelphia for the advice and assistance of Englishmen in distress.' This Society consists of several of the principal and most respectable Englishmen in the city. The Honorable Rich-
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ard Penn, Esq., late Governor of the Province, is their President, and all the members are gentlemen of property and character. Their design is to reduce that charity which in their separate capacities they extended to their poor and unfortunate country- men accidentally, into a regular system of relief. For this pur- pose they are endeavoring by degrees to establish a permanent fund out of the interest of which they may assist the objects of their institution. Well digested rules have been made for the government of the Society, the proper officers appointed, whose . duty it is to manage the affairs of the Society, to inquire into the circumstances of distressed appliers, and distribute the charity to none but the virtuous and deserving. A few out of the many donations which this infant Society has made, are mentioned, and one of their rules copied below ; whereby the end and de- sign of their association may in some measure be seen. The numbers of the Society are at present so small, and the general demands of the needy of all nations settled among us are so great, that the members can spare but little towards this par- ticular charity. It has therefore been thought expedient by the Society to apply to our benevolent countrymen in England and elsewhere, requesting their assistance towards carrying on this our meritorious design, as we are well assured that they have never yet refused their aid when they could be satisfied that their charity would be properly applied.
" We trust that those of our countrymen who shall be applied to, will think our plan merits their countenance, and that they will contribute out of their abundance a small matter towards the support of a charity so necessary and commendable, and suffer us to enroll their names as honorary members of our Society and friends to their countrymen. For our parts, we shall receive their donations with thankfulness, and distribute them with economy and care."
This strong appeal would have met with a corresponding response from the community, had not the minds of the people throughout the provinces been kept in a continued anxiety in consequence of the difficulties with the mother country : this state of things no doubt affected the members generally, and less exertion was made to induce others to join the institution, or to augment the funds. These difficulties increasing throughout the year 1774, but few members were added to the Society ; and
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when they met together at the City Tavern to celebrate the anni- versary of St. George, on the 23d of April, 1775, the company were thrown into consternation at the reception of the news of the battle of Lexington. Robert Morris, Esq., was the presiding officer on that occasion, and his presence could not control the agitation of the members : many withdrew with precipitation from the table, and gloom and despondency all at once succeeded to festivity and rejoicing.
The meetings of the Society were but thinly attended after this event, and on the 24th July, 1775, the following resolution was passed :-
" Resolved, As it seems disagreeable to the majority of this Society to attend the stated meetings, owing no doubt to the general distress of this unhappy country, which prevents them from extending their wonted charity to any particular set of people ; it is thought expedient, and agreed to by us, that the future meetings of the Society shall be discontinued until the now President, Vice-President, and other officers of the Society shall think proper to call the members together for the benevolent purposes for which we were originally associated ; all fines for non-attendance to cease until the affairs of the Society flow in their former channel."
After this, a special meeting was called on the 4th March, 1776, when, after attending to the regular business, the following preamble and resolutions were unanimously adopted :-
" Whereas that Dr. * having shown himself inimical to the liberties of this country, and thereby rendered himself unworthy of being a member of this Society,
" Resolved, unanimously, that the said Dr. * be expelled, and no more considered a member of this Society, and the Sec- retary is directed to publish this minute in the public news- papers of this city.
" Resolved, That the Secretary is directed to issue the usual notices for the meeting of the Society on the next St. George's day."
The Society accordingly met together again on the 23d April, 1776, and then, as we suppose, influenced by the breaking out of the revolution, and the turbulence of the times, it ceased its
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operations entirely : at least for several years of the continuance of the strife between England and the United States. The So- ciety no doubt bore in mind the peculiar situation of its mem- bers, in regard to both the contending parties, and with a be- coming moderation refrained from every appearance of national feeling. Many of its leading members became deeply interested in the success of the American cause, but this feeling did not weaken their attachment to the Society, and we have peculiar pleasure in recording that several of the most zealous revolution- ists continued their connection with it after the clouds and shadows of those stormy times had passed away."
Some years elapsed after these celebrated events before the members felt warranted to meet again as an English society ; for although its objects were purely benevolent, it was feared that party sensibility would attribute other motives than the right ones to the meetings of Englishmen. They accordingly resolved to subdue for a time those keen national feelings, which it is the peculiar pride of our countrymen to cherish, rather than offend that community of which they were a part ; so that the most fastidious or the most patriotic might bear witness to the fact that the Society avoided every appearance of evil.
Moved by these considerations the Society postponed their assembling together until the 23d April, 1787, when they met at the City Tavern, and transacted the ordinary business. A committee was appointed at that meeting to revise the By-Laws, etc., and make them conformable to the altered state of society which then existed, and Messrs. Robert Morris and Richard Bache were appointed said committee.
It appears by the record that another association of English- men met together on that day at Dennison's Tavern, (George Inn, southwest corner of Arch and Second Streets) and sent a deputation to the Society, who stated " that the association they represented apologized for not being able to attend the meeting on account of a meeting among themselves which was proposed previously to the notification of the Society, but they assured the Society that at the next commemoration they would feel happy in uniting with them."
At this meeting of the Society the same officers were appointed that had filled the offices previously to the Declaration of Inde- pendence.
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In a short time after this reunion of the Society it received a large accession of members, and its means of doing good were proportionably extended ; among the members elected in October, 1787, was his Excellency Benjamin Franklin, and many other persons of great respectability.
The Society then moved steadily on in its career of usefulness for several years, until the middle of 1793. After that period, for about two years, there is no record of any transactions before the Society, and it does not appear that any cause was assigned for the interruption. On the 23d April, 1796, the Society met again and chose Robert Morris Esq., President, and transacted business, and distributed charity as usual. From this time we find the Society moving regularly on in its proceedings, and hold- ing its stated quarterly meetings without further intermission, from that day to the present.
In societies which are purely benevolent in their design, there is but little interesting matter to transcribe ; one meeting cor- responds with another in effect, and the only variation lies in the different names and circumstances of those who apply for re- lief ; the routine of business is the same ; the minutes of the previous meeting are read ; committees report ; applications for charity are brought forward and discussed, and these are re- ferred to separate committees for action ; new members are proposed for election, and others, previously nominated, are elected ; and in this manner the record of one meeting agrees in general with another.
We find, consequently, that no proceedings of interest occurred in the Society from the above date, until the 15th of December, 1808, when a special meeting was called to take into consider- ation the propriety of procuring a charter of incorporation, which resulted in the appointment of a committee consisting of Messrs. Thomas Ketland, Joseph Sims, John Vaughan, Dr. J. P. Glent- · worth, and T. B. Freeman, who were requested to take measures for that purpose. That committee, it is believed, entered actively upon their duty, but were unable to procure the passage of a law through the Legislature, for some length of time. In 1810, the committee renewed their application to the Legislature, but were as unsuccessful as before ; and it was not until the commencement of the year 1813, that they suc- ceeded in procuring from Gov. Snyder the present charter.
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