USA > Pennsylvania > Chester County > Downingtown > History of Downingtown, Chester County, Pa > Part 1
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ISD DOWNINGTOWN) ENNYPACKER
Downinglor Gry Perche ISD
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS
.
دصيمة
سعادام
一
THE OLD LOG HOUSE. BUILT 1710 ?
HISTORY
OF 11567
DOWNINGTOWN
, Chester County, Pa.
BY CHARLES H. PENNYPACKER, ESQ.
-
Semi-Centennial Anniversary of the Borough of Downingtown by the Historical Committee.
₹1 909
Downingtown Publishing Company.
SG.
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY 630123 ASION, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONE. 1912 L
FForeword
In the fall of 1908 there appeared in the Archive, the Down- ingtown weekly newspaper, an article calling attention to the fact that May 28, 1909, would .mark the fiftieth anniversary of the organization of the Borough of Downingtown, and suggesting its appropriate observance. Attention was especially called to the fact that. Downingtown, although an ancient settlement and with an honorable record, had no published history, and propos- ing that the semi-centennial should be marked by the preparation and publication of a town history. The article was received with marked approbation by many prominent citizens. The Council appointed a committee on the subject, with Mr. Isaac Y. Ash as chairman, and after deliberation it was decided to submit the question of the celebration to a called meeting of representative citizens, and this meeting was duly called, and was held in the . rooms of the Alert Fire Company on the evening of March 11, 1909. The assemblage was composed of representatives duly appointed from the churches, benevolent and patriotic organiza- tions and the industrial, financial and other interests of the com- munity, and was largely attended.
Organization was effected by the choice of Mr. Isaac Y. Ash as chairman and Mr. Frank Swarner as secretary. The repre- sentatives from the various organizations were heard in order, and the unanimous sentiment expressed in behalf of the organi- zations that the anniversary should be appropriately observed. The celebration was committed to an executive committee of tol persons, to be appointed by the chair, and, of which the chairman should be the presiding officer. . This executive committee con- sisted of the following citizens: Isaac Y. Ash, chairman; Dr. L. T. Bremerman, Horace Carpenter, J. , Havard Downing, Rev. J. H. Earp. James G. Fox, joseph H. Johnson, Charles F. Mc- Fadden, Frank T. McGraw, Rey, L. W. Rudge, D. D., J. Hunter Wills.
The meetings have been held frequently in the rooms of Mr. Joseph H. Johnson's office, and the organization of the com-
mittee was completed by the election of Mr. Charles McFadden as secretary and Joseph H. Johnson as treasurer. The committee decided that the main work should be the preparation of the History of . Downingtown, and Charles H. Pennypacker, Esq .. of West Chester. was engaged to write the history, assisted by the local committee, consisting of Rev. Lewis W. Mudge, D. D., chairman, and Mr. Isaac Y. Ash, associate. This committee charged itself with the task of aiding Mr. Penny- packer in accumulating historical material and with the en- tire work of securing brief histories of past and existing churches, organizations and enterprises that were worthy of place in such a record. The result is the present volume, which is commended to the favorable consideration of our citizens. Being the first serious attempt to record a history which covers a period of more than two centuries, and with scanty published records from which reliable material could be gathered, it is not pre- sumed that the history is complete, or that it will prove beyond criticism. No history ever written can be regarded as complete. But the committee can assert that it has been successful beyond its expectations, has received the hearty co-operation of numer- ous present and past residents, to whom our thanks are returned, anıl may claim to have secured many important matters from oblivion and laid the foundations for a more perfect building. It is a duty which each generation owes both to past and future generations to place on permanent record facts of historical in- terest and importance, and this duty the semi-centennial com- mittee has fulfilled to the best of its ability.
An enormous amount of time and thought has been freely gives to this labor of love, and we are abundantly rewarded if we shall have measurably succeeded in putting into permanent form this record of the past and the conditions of the present, and if the perusal of this record shall awaken the pride of the citizens in the past and their zeal in promoting the prosperity and welfso of Downingtown in the future.
LEWIS W. MUDGE, ISAAC Y. ASH.
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Chapter 1
Earliest Records-First Settlers-The Parke and Downing Families.
Downingtown is situated at the intersection of the Lancaster tusspike and the East Branch of the Brandywine Creek, about thirty-three (33) miles west of the city of Philadelphia, and about seven (?) miles northwest of the Borough of West Chester. It is located in what was originally Caln township, Chester County. The township was so called after Calne, in Wiltshire, England, from which locality some of the earlier settlers had emigrated. Caln township originally included the territory now embraced in Caln, East Caln, West Caln, East Brandywine, West Brandy- wine and a part of Valley township and that part of Coatesville lying east of the west branch of the Brandywine and the present Borough of Downingtown. In 1702 surveys were made extend- ing from the Welch tract ( the western line of Whiteland), on the 'east, to the west branch of the Brandywine on the west, mostly confining to the Chester Valley. These surveys were afterwards extendel northward and northwestwardly, and were among the early purchases in the County of Chester. Chester County was named after the town of Chester, in England, from whence a number of William Penn's companions, in the good ship "Wel- come," had departed on their journey to the new world. Chester in England, was so named because, eighteen hundred years ago, it was the site of an encampment of Roman soldiers, and the Latin word castra signifies such a camp, and from "Castra" was derived the title of Chester in our language. The circumstances under which Chester County (which is the mother county of Pennsylvania) was named were these: William Penn and Caleb Pusey landed on the shore of the Delaware. William, address- ing Caleb, inquired, "What shall we call this land?" and Caleb replied, "It is a goodly land, and we will call it Chester, in honor of the town on the River Dee, in England, from whence we have come." In 1:14 Peter Taylor was constable for Caln township, which shows an organization at that date. The assessment of 171; bore the following names :
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Aaron Mendenhall
Thomas Moore Peter Taylor William Cloud Isaac Vernon Joseph Cloud John Mendenhall
William Memin
James Swaffer Non-resident Land. John Baldwin.
William Taylor John Parker Daniel Smith
Philip Roman
Anthony Morris
Richard Webb Free Men.
John Richards . Thomas Efford
November 26. 1128, a petition to the following effect was presented to the court :
"That your Petitioners Labouring under many difficulties by reason of the Largeness of the said Township, which was never yet bounded but on the East Side Joyning Whiteland Town: That the said Town Extends in length above fourteen miles, and in breadth near fourteen miles. That the farthest Setlers back from the Great Road leading to Philadelphia. liv- ing so Remote from the Said Road Seldom have notice to come down to repair it, which often wants by reason its so abused and cut with the Dutch Waggons which daily pass and Repass along the Said Road.
"Inasmuch as the Said Township is large enough to be Devided into Two, your Petitioners Humbly desire for the Ease of the said Township that it may be Devided and that the Bounds of ye Township of Caln may begin at the line of Whiteland on the South side of the Said Town of Calu and so Extend from the Said line Westerly along the Valley Mountain to the West Branch of Brandywine Creek, then up the said Branch Northerly to the plantation of Joseph Darlington, then Easterly Along the Moun- tain Between ye plantation of Thomas Elderidg and the Indian Town to David Roberts, then to the Bounds of Uwchland.
"That the Remaining part of the Town being Large enough for a Township. its Humbly desired by your Petitioners it may be called Spef- forth. Wherefore your Petitioners Humbly Desire that you will take this into your Consideration and to allow the said Township of Caln to be- Devided and Bounded as is before set forth, and yr Petirs will pray, &c. "William Heald. Pierre Bizallion, Samuel Bishop, David Evans,
John Daveson,
Thomas Moore,
William Sinkler,
Peter Whitaker,
Will Nichols.
Robert Miller,
William Dunn,
Joseph Griffiths,
Richard Hughs.
Jason Cloud.
Thomas Vernon,
Aaron Mendenhall,
Arthur White.
Idlewelin Parry,
William Gregory, Edmund Gregory,
James Bruce.
Thomas Dawson,
Thomas Heald.
Edward Thompson,
Joseph Darlinton,
Thomas Eldridge,
Samuel Mckinley.
Thomas Parke,
Edward Irwin,
Peter Whitaker,
Thomas Ramsey."
In 1:02 surveys were made in Caln township in the right of
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purchases made in Englind, viz., for Joseph Cloud, 225 acres ; for Jeremiah Collett, 3:5 acres; for Robert Vernon, 600 acres, and for Daniel Smith, 1000 acres. The Collett tract was sold to Thomas Moore, and Thomas and his brother, John, purchased the Vernon tract, which subsequently became the property of Thomas Moore, who erected a mill on the east side of the Brandy- wine in 1216. The Smith tract was divided by a north and south line. The eastern half became the property of George Aston, who subsequently sold to Roger Hunt, while the western half was purchased by Thomas Lindley, who subsequently sold in 1724 to Thomas Parke. Roger Hunt came from Birmingham, in England ; George Aston came from the same place. They were both members of the Church of England. Roger Hunt was a commissary under Colonel Thomas Dunbar in the Braddock expedition. Joseph Cloud emigrated from the Isle of Skye, along the coast of Scotland. The family name was McLeod. Abraham Cloud, who landed at New Castle, Delaware, early in the cen- tury, was the first emigrant to drop the McLeod and write it Cloud.
Among the early families who settled in this neighborhood, or who settled in what is now Downingtown, was that of the Parke family, in May, 1123. After selling their stock of personal property at their home in Ireland, on the 21st of that month, Thomas Parke, aged 64 years; Rebecca, his wife, aged 62; their second child, Robert Parke, aged 29; their fourth child, Rebecca Stalker, aged 26; Hugh Stalker, her husband; their fifth child, Rachael Parke, aged 24; Thomas Parke, aged 19; Abel Parke, aged 11; Jonathan Parke, aged 15, and Elizabeth Parke, aged 13, embarked at Dublin on the vessel Sizarghs, bound from White Haven to Dublin, and then to Philadelphia. The passage from Ireland was a rough one. Robert Parke kept a journal of the voyage by daily notes, and on the 21st of August of that year, it appears that they arrived within the Bay of Delaware. They immediately commenced traveling in the adjacent country to view land. Part of the family remained in Chester about three months from the time of their landing, then they moved to a temporary residence two miles distant, and on December .2 Thomas Parke purchased a tract of land in the Great Valley of Chester County of five hundred acres at the price of three hundred and fifty pounds. Jonathan Parke, son of Thomas Parke, married Deborah Taylor, daughter of Abiah' Taylor, who lived on the Brandywine, south of Downingtown, near where Cope's Bridge is located. It was Deborah Taylor who gave the name to the rock on the west side of the stream, near that point, and all the story about the Indian maiden and her suicide from the top of the rock by jumping into the
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stream below is a fanciful myth. Bradford Monthly Meeting commended Thomas Parke in these words: "Thomas Parke came from Ireland about the year 1:24 well recommended by certificates from Friends there, and some years after was ap- pointed an Elder for Caln Meeting, in which Station he remained until his death, and was well respected by friends in general." Ile departed this life on the 31st of First Month, 1138, and was buried at Caln. About a year after his (Thomas Parke's) death, his son, Thomas, Jr., at the age of 34 years, married Jane Edge, by whom he had seven children. He died October 11, 1158. aged 53 years. , About five years after the death of Thomas Parke, Jr .. his widow married James Webb, the father of James Webb, who married Rebecca Parke, daughter of Jonathan and Deborah Parke.
An extract of a letter from Robert Parke to his sister, Mary, gives an interesting picture of the difficulties and opinions of the early settlers of this province. It says, "The land taken nip was beautifully situated, stretching from one hill to another, here on the Great Road leading from Philadelphia to the West." The first inn was erected by Abel Parke in August, 1:35. It was called "The Ship," and was for many years noted for the excel- lent character of its accommodations, and it was one of the most popular taverns along the great road leading to Lancaster. Of this 500 acres that Thomas Parke owned, he gave by will to his son, Abel, 100 acres: to his son, Robert, 124 acres, and to his son. Thomas, 215 acres, reserving thereout a maintenance for himself and his wife during life.
Robert continued single, and in 1727 went to Bristol, Eng- land, for traffic, and thence to Dublin. In the same vessel went Elizabeth Whartenby, a minister of the gospel of a society of Friends, on a religious visit. This trip was to obtain servants for the new settlers, for on his return, in 1728. there were 63 sery- ants on board, six of whom belonged to Robert Parke. This return voyage was, however, disastrous from the prevalence of smallpox, causing many deaths. Robert Parke, as usual, kept a diary. His style is quaint and sometimes amusing. Thus, "June 11, 1728, this day Margaret Darlington took the smallpox, and three of her children being down with it, our true course is judged to be south." What the following means I do not know : "June 14. . This day Samuel Ask and I paid our observing Muggs on the fore staff." July 3 he makes this note: "At 12 last night we seen a light right astern, which some called the half-way house, and said there lived one 'Pegg Trotter.' Then all hands were called on deck to see said house, and if possible to buy some buttermilk for the passengers; it caused great rejoicing
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among all hands fore and aft. It continued a light upwards for one hour and a half."
He kept store after returning to the United States and be- came a conveyancer. He died February 1136 or ", and Abel, being industrious and thriving, had bought the land from his brother for 200 pounds, thus having 224 acres, the southern sec- tion of the tract. This whole tract, however, came into Thomas Parke, Jr.'s, possession, who continued to keep the famous "Ship" tavern.
The following obituary notice of Thomas Parke, Jr., who died in 1158, though in somewhat stilted language, shows the public estimation in which he was held:
"On the death of Thomas Parke, in 1758, to the grief of his family and friends, and, although he kept a public house, he was adorned with so much regularity, that he gave content to most civilized persons that called at his house, indeed his whole economy was so full of decorum that at once the beholder ad- mired and loved him. He was a loving husband, a tender Father. He endeavored to train up his children in the way they should walk; a kind master to his servants, a good neighbor, a friend to the poor, ready to assist in ending disputes, just to all men. A man of bright genius, a ready scribe, making him serviceable both in church and state, he passed through the vicissitudes of this life cheerfully ; he was not raised at silly weights. (Not by silly folks.) Not subject to grieve at trifles, and as Kind Provi- dence favored him with riches, he always inclined his heart to seek and serve after a better, and as he lived beloved, so he died lamented. We rejoice we have so many proofs that he is now in the fruition of happiness, feeding upon the increase of his labor, and drinking of the springs of Eternal life, world without end."
"Time would fail and large volumes swell To trace his virtues, so I drop my quill." Saith Wm. Perdue.
Many of the descendants of Jonathan are yet living in the vicinity of Downingtown, which the family of Downing named, although one-half of the land belonged to that of Parke. Eliza- beth married John Jackson, and oblivion rests upon their descend- ants. Thomas Parke, Jr.'s, children prospered in life. Rob- ert, the oldest, by his father's will, got the northern section of the 500-acre tract, on which his father built a handsome stone house, intending to make it his residence, but died soon after it was finished. Robert married Ann Edge, and his descendants yet remain on the farm. Sarah, the next child, married Owen Biddle, and settled in Philadelphia. She died in 1794 whilst on a visit to her relatives, the children of her brother Robert, and
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was buried at Caln. Rebecca married her step-brother. William Webb, and settled about a mile from Lancaster, and died in 1816. Hannah was united to Benjamin Poultney, and lived some time in Lancaster. afterwards removing to Philadelphia, where she died of consumption, in 1281.
Thomas, to whom the southern section of the land was be- queathed, directed his study to medicines, for which purpose he moved to Philadelphia and placed himself under the care of Dr. Cadwallader Evans three years, and in order to prosccute this with more effect he visited London in 1721, where he enjoyed the friendship and kind office of the celebrated Dr. Fothergill, and, having proceeded to Edinburgh, he attended the lectures of Drs. Cullin. Black and Monro.
Returning to America in 1123, he commenced the practice of medicine at No. 18 Arch street, entering into partnership with his former master, but he dying in June, 1223, he stayed there two years, and then, having married Rachael, the eldest daugh- ter of James Pemberton, April 13, 1115, he fixed his habitation at No. 20 South Fourth street.
Jane, the next child of Thomas Parke, died an infant. Jacob, the last, never married. He resided some time in Lancaster, and afterwards in Philadelphia, and entered into the iron business, in which he continued until near his death, on March 10, 1817, aged 62 years.
In 1814 James Pemberton Parke, who was the son of Dr. Thomas Parke, who was the son of Thomas Parke, Jr., who was the son of Thomas Parke, the elder, who came to America in 1124, made this sketch of the Parke family. I am indebted to it and for many of these particulars to the courtesy of Dr. Thomas E. Parke, now residing in Downingtown. The Parke family, of Friendly origin in England and Ireland, were devout followers of the tenets of William Penn, George Fox and Robert Barclay. In the course of this sketch I shall not use the term "Quaker." because I do not believe in perpetuating the slang of an English Court room and calling it history. This Parke family sent several of its members across the Atlantic to America. Two of its represen- tatives settled in Chester County. One, as we have seen, in what is now called Downingtown, and the other in what is now called Parkesburg. If any relationship exists between the two families it is extremely remote, but that such relationship does exist the writer has no doubt whatever. Family characteristics survive through many generations. The Parkes of Parkesburg, the Parkes of Downingtown and the Parkes of Georgia resemble each other both physically and mentally. The writer has had the pleasure of knowing quite a number of them on the bench, at the bar and in the practice of the profession of medicine, and
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their currents of thought run in similar channels. They are sturdy, assertive, characteristic, energetic and exact. They have opinions and do not hesitate to express them, and under all cir- cumstances and in all the exigencies of life they have the courage of their convictions. Some of them have relinquished the Friend- ly idea, brought by their ancestors from abroad, and have become members of other churches. Dr. Latta once said that the society of Friends had produced a fine crop of Presbyterians. The Downing family conferred its name upon the subject of our sketch.
Thomas Downing was born December 14, 1691, at Brad- ninch, in Devonshire, England, and died at Downingtown, Ches- ter County, Pennsylvania, 1 mo., 15, 1172, aged 81 years. The name of his first wife is said to have been Ellen, and of the sec- end, Thomazine, who was perhaps the mother of all his children, two of whom were born in England. He was a taxable in Con- cord township from 1:18 to 1:32. At Concord Monthly Mecting, 6 mo., 3, 1430, "Thomas Downing and his wife made application to its meeting to come under the care of Friends ; they having produced papers from under several Friends' hands of their sober and orderly conversations where they have lived, this meeting receiveth them."
"The 3d of ye 10th Mo., 1:23: Recd of James Underwood for Richard Buffington Junr : Sixteen bushels and halfe of Wheat for ve use of Nathanl Newlin. Recd by Mee Thomas Down- ing. Weight 60 pounds per bushel." Nathaniel Newlin was the owner of a mill in Concord, which was probably operated by Thomas Downing.
In 1433 Thomas Downing removed to Sadsbury township, but two years later he was settled in East Caln township, at the place since known as Downingtown, and which was named for him, where he purchased from John Taylor five hundred and sixty-one acres of land by deeds of 3d and 4th of July, 1439. This was part of nine hundred and seventy-five acres, of which the remainder was purchased 11th and 12th November, 1:42, by Jonathan Parke, Amos Boake and Thomas Downing. Here they were members of Uwchlan Meeting and of Goshen Monthly Meeting, to which Thomas produced a certificate from New Gar- den, dated 11th mo., 31, 1136, which represented that they were "Circumspect in Life and Conversation, Diligent in attending our Meetings and in good Unity with us, so we recommend them with their children," etc. This was signed by twenty-one men and twelve women.
Thomazine Downing was living in 1750, but Thomas was again married 12 mo., 1456, at Uwchlan Meeting, to Jane Albin, widow of James Albin and daughter of John and Mary Edge.
She was a minister among Friends, and died lemo., 23, 1779. Children of Thomas and Thomazine Downing:
1. Thomazine, born 10 mo., 6, 1115 ; died young.
2. Thomas, born 3 mo., 27, 1717 ; died 11th mo., 19, 1736-7.
3. £ Richard, born 2 mo., 21, 1:19 ; died @ mo., 8, 1803 : mar- ried 3 mo., 21, 1741, at Uwchlan Meeting. Mary Edge, born in Upper Providence, ? mo., 2, 1721 ; died in East Caln 12 mo., 13, 1195; daughter of John and Mary (Smedley) Edge.
In 1764 Richard Downing was assessed in East Caln with one hundred and ninety acres of land and buildings, worth 35 pounds per annum ; one hundred and sixty acres uncultivated ; a grist mill and saw mill, worth 20 pounds per annum ; 76 acres in West Bradford and 100 acres in Uwchlan. 4 horses, 9 cattle and 9 sheep. His tax was £6:3:3, being the largest in the township, and his brother, John, was next below him. Richard was ap- pointed overseer of Uwchlan Meeting, ? mo., 6, 1763, in place of Evan Jones.
4. John, born 10 mo., 18, 1220; died 1796; married March 5, .1447, before Thomas Cummings, Esq., Elizabeth Hunt, born Aug. 13, 1730, daughter of Roger and Esther (Aston) Hunt, of East Caln.
John Downing continued to reside at Downingtown, where, in 1264, he was assessed with two hundred and forty acres of land and buildings, tavern, etc., worth 100 pounds per annum; sixty acres of uncultivated land, five horses, six cattle, thirteen sheep and one servant. He was a tavernkeeper from 1761 to 1111, at the eastern tavern on the Lancaster Road, then or subse- quently called the "King in Arms," and later the Washington Inn.
5. William, born 3 mo., 24, 1222 ; married 10 mo., 1741, at Uwchlan Meeting, Ellen John, born 2 mo., 26, 1718, daughter of Samuel and Margaret John, of Uwchlan. They received a certificate from Goshen, 4 mo., 20, 1748, to Sadsbury Monthly Meeting, and settled in Bart township, Lancaster County. He married again, 12 mo .. 19, 1765, Margaret Miller, widow of Samuel Miller. of New Garden. By the first he had John, Samuel, Sarah, Mary, Jane, Hannah, Ruth, Thomas and Wil- liam. Some of this family removed to Center County, Pennsylvania.
6. Jane, born 10 mo., 6, 1123 ; died 10 mo., 29, 1795 : mar- ried John Roberts, of Merion.
Sarah, born 8 mo., 13, 1225; died ? mo., 16, 1745 ; mar- ried Joshua Baldwin, of East Caln.
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