USA > Pennsylvania > Philadelphia County > Philadelphia > A history of the townships of Byberry and Moreland, in Philadelphia, Pa. : from their earliest settlements by the whites to the present time > Part 20
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 (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26
299
BYBERRY AND MORELAND.
1807; the "Philadelphia Primer," in 1808; "A New As- sistant," in 1809, and was one of the editors of the "Friends' Miscellany." His great delight, however, seems to have been among the musty records of bygone times; and to hunt up and note down every particular relative to family and local history, was one of the chief employments of his life. He collected much toward a history of his native and surrounding townships, and traced out the genealogy of many of the most prominent families who have resided in the vicinity. He was fre- quently applied to by those wishing information of this kind, and they were seldom disappointed. Being of an amiable disposition, and just in his dealings, he was hon- ored and respected by all who knew him. The even tenor of his life was rarely disturbed by surrounding circum- stances, and he passed through the scenes of this world in peace and contentment. He died at his farm in Byberry, Ioth mo. 19th, 1847, aged 69 years. His widow died IIth mo. Sth, 1862. Children : Mary and Robert.
(8.) EZRA, born in Byberry, 9th mo. 3d, 1781. He married Sarah Strickland, in 1804. He resided in By- berry for several years, after which he moved to Black River, in the northern part of New York. In 18- he returned to Byberry, where he spent the rest of his life. He died 8th mo. 27th, 1863; and Sarah died Ist mo. 17th, 1855. Children : Elizabeth and Isaac.
(9.) ETHAN, born 5th mo. 3Ist, 1784, remained in Byberry until 1804, when he removed to Philadelphia and became a merchant. He wrote several excellent miscel- laneous articles for the public papers. On account of an affection of the spine, he was induced to cultivate his taste
300
THE HISTORY OF
for drawing, so that he acquired very great skill and pro- ficiency in that art. He was a member of the Academy of Fine Arts in Philadelphia, and was much respected by all who knew him. He died 6th mo. 13th, 1865. Children : Allen, Eliza, and Henry.
DESCENDANTS OF GRACE, DAUGHTER OF HENRY AND AGNES COMLY.
(I.) GRACE COMLY, married, first, Benjamin, son of John Cadwalader, the preacher, in 1742, and settled on a farm adjoining Horsham Meeting-house. Benjamin died 4th mo. 14th, 1753. Children : Rachel, Phebe, Ben- jamin. and Cyrus. Grace married, second, Benjamin Powers. She died Ist mo., 1800, aged 79 years. Children by her last husband, Mary and Grace.
Benjamin and ( I) Grace Cadwalader's Children.
(2.) RACHEL, born 6th mo. 9th, 1743; died while young.
(3.) PHEBE, born 8th mo. 19th, 1747, married Charles Iredell, and settled in Horsham. Children: Rebecca, Grace, Rachel, Robert, Joseph, and Benjamin.
(4.) BENJAMIN, born 4th mo. 9th, 1749, married Hannah Bradfield. He lived on the homestead in Hor- sham till the decease of his mother, when he removed to Gill's farm, in Buckingham. During the latter part of his life he resided with his son-in-law, James Bonner, where he died, in 1834, aged 85 years. He was something of a poet, and was a very useful member of society. His children were Ure, who married James Bonner; Betsy,
30I
BYBERRY AND MORELAND.
who married John Rich; Benjamin, who married, first, Sarah Townsend, 2d, Sarah Landis; Yarley, who married Christianna Moore; Peter Y., who married Hannah Magill; David, who married Ann Robinson; John, who married Lydia Ann Merrick; and Silas, who married Rebecca Sheppard.
(5.) CYRUS, born 8th mo. 9th, 1752; died while young.
Benjamin and (I) Grace Powers's Children.
(6.) MARY, died while young.
(7.) GRACE, married John Carlisle. Children : Phebe and Amos. Phebe married John Burton, and settled at Fallsington, Bucks County; and Amos married Kinsey, and settled at Morrisville.
Charles and (3) Phebe Iredell's Children.
(8.) REBECCA, married Jacob Kirk, and settled on the Welsh Road, in Abington. Children: Phebe, Ruth, Re- becca, Charles, Aaron, Samuel, Hannah, Elizabeth, Abra- ham, and Rachel.
(9.) GRACE, married John Conrad, and lived in Hor- sham.
(IO.). RACHEL, died single.
(II.) ROBERT, married Mary Marple. Children : Oliver, who died young, and Ann, who married Dr. Hunt, of New Jersey.
(12.) JOSEPH, married Hannah Thomas, of Hatboro'. They resided in Jenkintown, and had one son, Charles, who went to Bristol, Bucks County.
302
THE HISTORY OF
THE DUFFIELD FAMILY .*
(I.) BENJAMIN DUFFIELD, son of Robert and Bridget Duffield, of England, was born September 29, 1661. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Susanna and Arthur Watts, and emigrated to Burlington, New Jersey, in 1679. He purchased a tract of land in the manor of Moreland, in 1685. He died in Philadelphia, May 5, 1741, and his tombstone may be seen at Christ Churchyard, at Fifth and Arch Streets, Philadelphia.
(2.) JOSEPH, eighth child of Benjamin and Elizabeth Duffield, was born in 1692. He owned a few slaves, which were willed to his wife at his death, in 1746.
Gen. W. W. H. Davis says that the Duffields are probably of Norman French origin. The name is spelled Du Fielde, De Duffeld, Duffeld and Duffield. The names Duffeld, Duf- feilde, Duffyeld and Duffield are found in the early records of Ripon Cathedral. A William Duffield was archdeacon of Cleveland in 1435 and died in 1452. Gen. W. W. H. Davis says that the family may be traced back to the reign of Edward II, when Richard was bailiff of York, 1535, and that the first of that name came from France with William the Conqueror.
The Duffields of Pennsylvania are descended from Benjamin, the son of Robert and Bridget, born 1661, who landed at Burlington, New Jersey, in 1678. He came on the "Shield," from Hull, along with William Biles. He is said to have been one of those who came across the river to welcome William Penn on his arrival. He after- ward moved to Bucks County and later to Moreland Township, Philadelphia. He married a daughter of Arthur Watts and was the father of thirteen children. He died in Philadelphia in 174I and was buried in Christ Churchyard. Samuel Willets places the date of his settlement in Moreland at 1682, 1683 or 1685. Alfred T. Duffield of Southampton was of the fifth generation of Pennsyl- vania Duffields. He was the son of Jacob Duffield who died at Sackett's Harbor in 1815 while in the military service.
* I am indebted to Wason Comly, of Byberry, for the greater part of the genealogy of this family.
¡Note by the Editor.
DUFFIELD HOMESTEAD, BENFIELD.
393
BYBERRY AND MORELAND.
(2.) Joseph Duffield's Children.
(3.) BENJAMIN, died young.
(4. ) ELIZABETH, married Dr. Samuel Swift.
(5.) MARY, died young.
(6.) SARAH, married Prof. Kinnersley, of the College of Philadelphia.
(7.) HANNAH, died young.
(8.) JOSEPH, died young.
(9.) JAMES, died young.
(IO.) EDWARD, born in 1720, married Mrs. Catharine Parry, daughter of Judge Smyth, of South Carolina. Sarah Franklin, writing to her father in Europe, under date of March 23, 1766, says, "Our dear friend Mrs. Smyth expired yesterday morning. Poor Mrs. Duffield and poor mamma are in great distress. It must be hard to lose a friend of fifty years' standing."
His name appears among the earlier members of the American Philosophical Society. He was also a Com- missioner to issue colonial paper currency, a specimen of which, with his autograph, is on exhibition in Independ- ence Hall. About the same time he was one of those charged with the erection of the Walnut Street Prison, and there is a tradition that when the British occupied Philadelphia, they seized him at his country residence, and, marching him past his city house, imprisoned him in the jail, the construction of which he had superintended.
He was a man of considerable talent, and was noted for his scientific acquirements and his skill in agricultural and mechanical pursuits. He is said to have made the first watch, from the raw materials, ever made in Penn-
304
THE HISTORY OF
sylvania ; and some of his clocks, among which is the one on Lower Dublin Academy, are yet to be seen in the vicinity,-monuments of his skill and ingenuity in me- chanism. He associated with such men as Kinnersley, Rittenhouse, and Franklin, the latter of whom reposed great confidence in him, often visited him at his residence, and made him one of the executors of his last will.
The only literary production we have met with, emanat- ing from his pen, is "Some Observations on the Applica- tion of Plaster of Paris," which was published by Judge Peters, in 1797. He was much interested in educational matters, and was one of the founders of the Lower Dublin Academy; he also was the means of having a school- house erected in his own immediate neighborhood. He died in 1803, aged about seventy-four years, and was buried at All Saints' churchyard. It is traditionally asserted that the first consultation by Jefferson and others, respecting the Declaration of Independence, was held at Edward Duffield's house.
*This last statement probably refers to his city residence at the northwest corner of Fifth and Market Streets.
The date of Edward Duffield's birth and death is given on a tomb- stone in the All Saints' Churchyard. The inscription reads as fol- lows : "Under this stone rest the remains of Edward and Katherine Duffield, late of the Manor of Moreland. Edward Duffield was born April 30, 1730, and died July 12, 1805. Aged 75 years 2 months 12 days. Katherine Duffield was born October II, 1729. Died Oc- tober 6, 1796. Aged 68 years II months 25 days."
Edward Duffield called his place Benfield in memory of his grand- father, Benjamin Duffield. Benfield may have signified Ben's fields, or it may have been formed by the union of Ben, the first syllable of Benjamin, with field, the last syllable of Duffield. Both explana- tions have good authority.
Thomas Payne, writing to Benjamin Franklin from Yorktown on May 16, 1778, says: "I laid two nights at Mr. Duffel's (Duffield)
*Note by the Editor.
305
BYBERRY AND MORELAND.
in the winter. Miss Nancy Clifton was there and said the enemy had sold or destroyed a great quantity of your furniture. Mr. Duffel has since been taken by them and carried to the city, but is now at home."
During the British occupation of Philadelphia, Franklin's family resided much at Benfield. The youngest daughter of Edward Duf- field, Sarah, was introduced to Philadelphia society by Sarah Frank- lin. She was much admired by the French ambassador.
During the winter of the British occupation, Edward Duffield, Sr., secured some weavers to make him eighteen yards of cloth on condition that he should make three or four shuttles in return. Writ- ing to her father on September 14, 1777, Sarah Franklin says: "I can assure you, my dear papa, that industry in this house is by no means laid aside. Mr. Duffield has hired a weaver that lives on his farm to weave eighteen yards by making three or four shuttles for noth- ing and keeping it a secret from the country people, who will not suffer them to weave for those in town. I think myself lucky to have such a friend."
Edward Duffield was a famous instrument maker of his day. His establishment was at the northwest corner of Second and Arch Streets. In this establishment he was much annoyed by people ask- ing him the time. He therefore hung a clock with two faces from the second-story window. This was the first public timepiece in Philadelphia. It is said that he entered Braddock's Army as an assistant surveyor. In this position he noticed that his superior did not understand his instrument. He mentioned this to a superior officer. "How do you know?" said the officer. "Because I made the instrument," answered Duffield. In his will, he bequeathed to his son, Edward, a clock-like instrument, "that can be attached to the wheel of any carriage." His country shop fell to the ground in 1898.
In 1800 Aaron Walton came to Edward Duffield and asked for land on which to build a school. Duffield answered that he would give half, if Aaron Walton would give the other half. Walton agreed and Maple Grove School was the result.
At another time he had taken a load of bark to Frankford. The tanner's prices were not satisfactory. Duffield therefore complained. "If you do not like my prices," said the tanner, " you can go into the business yourself." "I will," said Duffield, and going home, he established a tan yard.
Duffield kept slaves and tame deer on his property. His slaves are supposed to have been buried at the end of the lane near some lilac bushes. He was a member of the Byberry Library and was for some time President of the Lower Dublin Academy. He was a delegate to the first General Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church, September 7, 1785.
Edward Duffield's executors were: John Jay, Farncis Hopkinson, Henry Hill and Edward Duffield, Jr.
20
306
THE HISTORY OF
(II.) Uz, eaten by the wolves when three years of age.
(10.) Edward and Catharine Duffield's Children.
(12.) MARY, JOSEPH, CATHARINE, all died in youth.
(13.) ELIZABETH, married Francis Ingraham.
(14.) BENJAMIN, was born November 3d, 1753. He was educated at the College of Philadelphia, where in 1771, he received the degree of Master of Arts, and de- livered on Commencement day, a poem entitled "Sci- ence." He became a medical student in the office of Dr. John Redman, and after attending the lectures of Morgan and Shippen, in 1775, he went to Edinburgh and com-
pleted his education. On his return from Europe, he married Rebecca, daughter of John Potts, of Pottsgrove, and sister of Dr. Jonathan Potts, Director General of the Hospitals of the Middle and Northern Departments dur- ing the Revolutionary War. In 1793, while the yellow fever was raging in Philadelphia, he had charge of the Bush Hill Hospital, and, in 1798, the managers of the Marine and City Hospitals voted him a sum of money, in appreciation of his services. He was the first lecturer on Obstetrics in America, and was a member of the American Philosophical Society. A poem of his inscribed "To the Memory of the late Dr. Rittenhouse, by his sincere ad- mirer," is still extant. In the life of Judge Iredell, one of the first Associate Judges of the Supreme Court of the United States, are several letters from Dr. Duf- field, who was the Judge's family physician. Dr. Duf- field resided in Front Street, Philadelphia, where his wife
307
BYBERRY AND MORELAND.
died in February, 1797. He died in December, 1799, aged 46 years, and left several children.
(15.) SARAH, married Stacy Hepburn.
(16.) EDWARD, remained a bachelor, and occupied the old Duffield homestead, devoting his time to reading and agricultural pursuits. He is still remembered by some of the inhabitants as a gentleman of the old school. He died in 1836 or '37, and then the old Duffield homestead was purchased by John Murray, who still occupies it.16
Francis and (13) Elizabeth Ingraham's Children.
(17.) FRANCIS and CATHARINE, buried at All Saints'.
(18.) EDWARD D., a distinguished lawyer and biblio- maniac, of Philadelphia; married first, Mary Wilson, of Snow Hill, Md., and second, Caroline Barney, of Balti- more.
(19.) ALFRED, married Elizabeth, sister of Major- General Meade, and removed to Mississippi, where they have a numerous family.
(14.) Benjamin and Rebecca Duffield's Children.
(20.) CATHARINE, born April 9th, 1779, married Dr. John Church, of Philadelphia. She died in 1804, child- less.
(21.) MARTHA R., born August 9th, 1780, married Dr. Henry Neill, of Snow Hill, Md. She died in Phila- delphia, June, 1856.
(22.) EDWARD, born December 13th, 1782, married Miss Nolan.
16 Edward Duffield, Jr., was born on the IIth day of January. 1764, and died on the 17th day of July, 1836, aged 72 years 6 months 6 days.
308
THE HISTORY OF
(23.) JOHN POTTS, born November 2d, 1784, married first, Miss Handy, of Snow Hill, Md., and second, Miss Bishop, of the same place. He died at Snow Hill, in 1830. (24.) REBECCA, born September 7th, 1786, married Dr. John S. Martin, of Snow Hill, Md., where she resided until her death in November, 1843.
(25. ) MARY, born 1787, died in infancy.
Stacy and (15) Sarah Hepburn's Children.
(26.) JAMES, married in New Orleans, La.
(27.) FANNY, married James Strawbridge and moved to New Orleans, La.
(28.) ELIZA, married John J. Vanderkemp.
THE GILBERT FAMILY .*
The ancestor of this family was (I) JOHN GILBERT, who came over in the ship "Welcome" from England, in 1682.17 He is supposed to have been the John Gilbert who, during the persecution of the Quakers in England, was taken out of a meeting and sent to Lancaster jail, in 1663.18 He first settled in Bensalem, but in 1695 he pur- chased six hundred acres of land in the eastern part of Byberry, of Nicholas Rideout. One-half of this tract he afterwards conveyed to his son Joseph, and the other half he sold to John Carver, after which he removed to Phila- delphia, where he became a prominent merchant. He
* I am indebted to Gilbert Cope, of West Chester, for a portion of this account.
17 From Gilbert Cope I learn that John Gilbert, in all probability, did not come on the ship "Welcome."
18 This should be Launceston, not Lancaster jail.
309
BYBERRY AND MORELAND.
remained in the city until his death, on the 13th of 8th mo. (October), 1711. He was married while in England, and his wife's name was Florence. Their children, as far as known, were John, Joseph, Sarah, Mary, Joshua, and Abigail.
(I.) John and Florence Gilbert's Children.
(2.) JOHN, came over with his parents in 1682, and settled in Bucks County, near the Poquessing Creek. Little is known of him except that he was a peace-loving man in the favor of William Penn, and ardently attached to religious worship. He died in Philadelphia Ist mo. 7th, 1701-2, leaving two sons, John and Samuel.
(3.) JOSEPH,19 married Rachel Livezey, of Abington, in 1699, and settled in Byberry. He was one of the prominent men of his time, being an elder and leading member of Byberry Meeting. This position he filled with great satisfaction ; and by his strict integrity, undeviating attention to moral and religious duties, and earnest sup- port of what he believed the testimonies of Truth, he gained the esteem and respect of all who knew him. He was a man of very correct judgment, and had a strong mind, so that he was seldom deterred from doing what he believed to be his duty or led away from a Christian's path. His views were far in advance of those of his con- temporaries, and were tempered by justice and modera- tion. He regularly attended meetings for religious wor- ship, and encouraged his family and neighbors to observe the same practice. Although he furnished intoxicating
" From Gilbert Cope I learn that Joseph Gilbert's wife was the widow of Jonathan Livezey, formerly Rachel Taylor, daughter of Robert Taylor of Springfield, (now) Delaware County, Pa.
310
THE HISTORY OF
drink to his hands in the harvest-field, yet he refrained from its use, and on such occasions drank water which was taken from a neighboring brook and kept in a jug in the open sunshine. He was opposed to holding slaves, and united with Benjamin Lay and other Friends in bearing testimony against the evil; and in order to make his example correspond with his precept, he liberated several slaves in his possession. He was opposed to usury, and being a man of considerable wealth, he put his views in practice by frequently lending money without interest to those in necessitous circumstances. On one occasion a traveling Friend held a meeting at Byberry, when Joseph informed his hands that they might attend the meeting without loss to themselves, but that those who refused should not perform any duty during his absence. He retained his mental and physical energies unimpaired to the close of his life, and when four-score years old led his hands in the harvest-field. He had such control over his dispositions that for many years of the latter part of his life he was rarely, if ever, known to be in a passion. He traveled with Thomas Chalkley on a religious visit to Friends on Long Island. He died in 1765, at the advanced age of ninety years, and it may be truly said that few men of his time were more honored while living or more lamented when dead. He left several children, among whom was Benjamin, the Indian captive. He resided on a place now owned by Thomas James,20 and built the farm-house, which is still standing, in 1722.
(4.) SARAH, married Henry Elfreth, in 1702. She died in 1728, leaving children.
" This property now belongs to the heirs of Thomas James.
3II
BYBERRY AND MORELAND.
(5.) MARY, married - Ballard. Their children were Samuel, William, and probably others.
(6.) JOSHUA, was born 6th mo. 10th, 1684, being the first child of the name of Gilbert born in America. He married Elizabeth Oldham, 8th mo. 19th, 1707. They had one daughter, Elizabeth, who married William Par- ker. Joshua was a blacksmith in Philadelphia, where he died, 7th mo. 19th, 171I.
(3.) Joseph and Rachel Gilbert's Children.
(7.) SARAH, born 4th mo. 2Ist, 1700, married John Baldwin, in 1725.
(8.) PHERE, born 12th mo. 7th, 1701, married Henry Comly, of Moreland, 7th mo. 26th, 1728. She died 2d mo. 14th, 1773.
(9.) JOSEPH, born Ioth mo. 13th, 1703; died in 1730, unmarried.
(IO.) REBECCA, married Patrick Ogilby, of Long Island, in 1735.
(II.) BENJAMIN, was born in Byberry, in 171I. He was one of the most extraordinary characters of his day. In June, 1731, at the age of twenty-one years, he married Sarah, daughter of Benjamin Mason, of Fair Hill.21 After this event he remained in Byberry several years, and then removed to the great swamp, in Richland, Bucks County, where he was in 1748. While there he was rather irregular in his life, and was disowned by the Society of Friends, of which he was a member. Soon after this he saw proper to change his life, and, from his general good
21 This should be Richard Mason, not Benjamin Mason.
312
THE HISTORY OF
conduct, Friends reinstated him as a member of the Society, in 1749. In this year he removed to a mill in Makefield, Bucks County; and, in 1755, he returned to his native place to take charge of his father's farm. Four years later he purchased one hundred and thirty-six acres of the Ellis tract, near the centre of Byberry, on the Byberry Creek, and on which he soon afterward erected a grist-mill-the one now owned by Charles B. Comly.22 In 1759 he lost his wife. Soon after this his life again became irregular, and he was a second time disowned. His father, who had died a short time previous, was very wealthy, and had left the most of his property to Benja- min, his only surviving son. It might be supposed that such an ample fortune would satisfy any one; but Benja- min was of a roving disposition, delighting in change, and was, therefore, not long contented in any one place. In 1760,23 he married Elizabeth, widow of Bryan Peart, and daughter of Benjamin Walton, of Byberry. In 1770, he offered a written acknowledgment of his offence to the Meeting, but it was not received, and, in 1776, he made another to the same Meeting, and was again reinstated. By this time he was advanced in age, and had seen several of his numerous family of children comfortably settled around him; but others remained to be provided for, and he, in 1775, at the age of sixty-four years, embarked in a new enterprise for this purpose. He disposed of his mill property in Byberry, and purchased lands on Mahoning Creek, in Northampton County, then one of the frontier settlements of Pennsylvania, whither he removed with his
" This property is now owned by Charles Comly's son, Edward 23 This should be 1761.
313
BYBERRY AND MORELAND.
family in the spring of that year. On this property was an excellent mill site, where he erected a saw and grist- mill, and carried on an extensive and prosperous business, and lived at peace with all his neighbors, both whites and Indians. At this time the latter were very troublesome, and Benjamin was frequently warned of the danger; but being innocent himself, and never having taken any part in the contest, he thought he could rest in security and peace. In this, however, he was mistaken, for, on the 25th of April, 1780, a party of eleven savages came to his house about sunrise, armed with guns, tomahawks, etc. Benjamin met them at the door, and they shook hands with him, and called him brother, but immediately pro- ceeded to tie his arms so that he could not use them. They then secured the rest of the family, and proceeded to rob the house, and loaded several horses with the plunder. Two of the Indians remained behind to set fire to the buildings, while the remainder marched with their prison- ers-fifteen in number-and plunder through the wilder- ness. After enduring innumerable sufferings and hard- ships, they reached Niagara just one month after they had been taken captives, where Benjamin, his wife, and son Jesse, were surrendered to Colonel Johnson, but the others were detained among the Indians. From Niagara they were sent to Montreal, and at the mouth of Lake Ontario were placed in open boats to descend the St. Law- rence River to that place. Benjamin was sick before leaving the fort, and a heavy rain falling upon him in- creased the disorder, so that on the 8th of the 6th mo., 1780, his eventful life was terminated at the age of 69 years. On the next day he was buried under an oak tree
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.