Colonial and revolutionary families of Pennsylvania; genealogical and personal memoirs, Vol. I, Part 45

Author: Jordan, John Woolf, 1840-1921, ed; Jordan, Wilfred, b. 1884, ed
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: New York, NY : Lewis Historical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 710

USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial and revolutionary families of Pennsylvania; genealogical and personal memoirs, Vol. I > Part 45

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).

When Paul Revere, after his famous ride from Boston, reached Philadelphia, May 20, 1774, a meeting was called at the City Tavern, where a Committee was appointed to act as a general committee of correspondence, and also particularly to write to the people of Boston assuring them of sympathy, commending their firmness, declaring their cause to be that of all the colonies, and promising to stand fast for the right. This committee consisted of John Dickinson, William Smith, Edward Penington, Joseph Fox, John Nixon, and others. The next day they delivered a letter to Mr. Revere to take back to Boston.

Christopher Marshall informs us that Joseph Fox was spokesman for the committee which, January 18, 1775, waited on the Carpenters' Company for the use of their Hall for the Meeting of the Provincial Committee. The price asked was ten shillings a day. Marshall also writes under date of October 4, 1776: "Some day this week Joseph Fox and John Reynolds refused to take the Conti- nental Money for large sums due them by bond, mortgage, etc., as it is said." Perhaps this is why, in Scharf and Westcott's "History of Philadelphia," it is said that Joseph Fox developed Tory proclivities. On the other hand, Robert Morton, who kept a diary in Philadelphia in 1777, while the city was occupied by the British, writes on November 22: "They have destroyed most of the houses along the lines except William Henry's, which remains entire and untouched, while J. Fox and Dr. Moner and several others are hastening to ruin."

There is no evidence that Mr. Fox had taken part in public affairs for some time before he took the oath of allegiance to the State of Pennsylvania on the 25th of

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July, 1777. It was in form as follows: "We, the subscribers, do swear (or affirm) that we renounce and refuse all allegiance to George Third, King of Great Britain, his heirs and successors, and that we will be faithful and bear true allegiance to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as a free and independent State, and that we will not at any time do or cause to be done anything that will be prejudicial or injurious to the freedom and independence thereof, as declared by Congress, and also that we will discover and make known to someone Justice of the Peace of the said State all treasons and conspiricies which we now know or hereafter shall know to be formed against this or any of the United States of America." His son Joseph subscribed to the same two days later.

Strong as the above may seem, it was concluded that it did not cover all the ground required. In the autumn of the following year, both Joseph Fox, Gentle- man, and Joseph Fox, Jr., subscribed to this form: "I (the subscriber hereof) do solemnly and sincerely declare and swear (or affirm) that the State of Pennsyl- vania is, and of right ought to be a free, sovereign and Independent State, and I do forever renounce and refuse all allegiance, subjection and obedience to the King or Crown of Great Britain; and I do further swear (or solemnly, sincerely and truly declare and affirm) that I never have since the Declaration of Independ- ence directly or indirectly aided, assisted, abetted or in any wise countenanced the King of Great Britain, his generals, fleets, armies or their adherents in their claims upon these United States, and that I have ever since the Declaration of Independence thereof demeaned myself as a faithful citizen and subject to this or someone of the United States, and that I will at all times maintain and support the freedom sovreigny and independence thereof, so help me God."

In 1777, while the British occupied Philadelphia, the city was for a time so closely surrounded that the troops suffered for want of blankets and provisions, in order to procure which a petition to the citizens was signed by a great number of the residents who had remained in the city, Joseph Fox being among them.

In contrast with the more serious occupations of Mr. Fox, are the mentions found in Hiltzheimer's Diary. Under date of December 30, 1765: "Dined at Garlick Hall on invitation of Robert Erwin, with Joseph Fox, Thomas Willing, William Parr, Joseph Wharton," etc., and through this Diary are many mentions of Joseph Fox's meeting with the men of his time in social converse. One dinner was given at a rather peculiar place, for, August 20, 1766, Hiltzheimer records that Robert Erwin gave a beefsteak dinner at the Bettering House to J. Fox, Jacob Lewis, etc. The Bettering House was a kindlier name for the Alms House in the early Philadelphia Quaker Days. On January Ist, 1767, "Very, very cold, Delaware frozen over. Three sleigh loads of us went to Darby to Joseph Rudolphs-Joseph Fox, Robert Smith, Robert Erwin and wife, etc.," and on February 27, Hiltzheimer, Fox and others went to a barbecue at Robert Smith's. Under date of September 27, 1770: "This afternoon went to Town meeting at State House, where it was agreed that further non-importation was necessary, a few articles only excepted. Joseph Fox, who was chairman, requested Charles Thompson to speak for him." This request was certainly not because of any lack on his part, but in recognition of Charles Thompson's remarkable ability. The meeting was called in response to an advertisement which was published in the papers and distributed in hand bills around the city and suburbs. The call was as follows: "Many respectable Freeholders and Inhabitants of this City, justly

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alarmed at the Resolutions formed by a Number of the Dry Goods Importers, on Thursday last, at Davenport's Tavern, which reflect dishonour on this City and Province, earnestly request the Freeman of this City and County to meet in the State-house, this Afternoon, at 3 o'Clock, to consider and determine what is proper to be done to vindicate the Honour of this City, and to avert the danger that threatens their Country." In consequence of the advertisement, "a large Body of respectable Inhabitants assembled at the Time and Place appointed, and having unanimously chosen Joseph Fox, Esq., Chairman," they passed nine resolutions, the first of which was, "That the Claim of Parliament to tax the Colo- nies, and particularly the Act imposing Duties on Tea, &c., for the Purpose of raising a Revenue in America, is subversive of the constitutional Rights of the Colonies."

On October 20, 1770, Hiltzheimer again dined at Greenwich Hall with Joseph Fox, Samuel Swift, John Cadwalader, John Biddle and others. Unfortunately there is a lapse in the diary by which we probably lost much that would have been of interest. When the entries again begin we find the dinners still continued at intervals. "On November 6, 1773-Went down with Mr. Lawrence and Allen to Robert Erwin's place called Primfield, to dine on beefsteaks with a number of gentlemen," of whom was Joseph Fox.

At Greenwich Hall, that favorite resort, Mr. Fox dined with others, February 5, 1774, and three days later Mr. Hiltzheimer invited Timothy Matlack and Joseph Fox to go with him to see weighed the carcass of his great six-year-old steer, Roger. The weight, we are told, was 1332 pounds. On February 12, Mr. Fox was one of the guests at Mullins', on the Schuylkill, where they dined on "Roger" beefsteaks. On March I, of the same year, Joseph Fox, Michael Hillegas and others went to Province Island to attend the vendue of Samuel Penrose and dined at the Ferry House. The last item in this connection which the Diary gives is under date of September 10, 1774, when a part of the new goal opposite the State House was raised. Joseph Fox and Edward Duffield, the managers, gave the workmen a supper and subsequently asked a few of their friends to dine with them in the northeast corner of the building.

Joseph Fox was an early member of the Fort St. David's Fishing Company, a social club of the times, afterwards merged with the State of Schuylkill Fishing Company, an organization which still exists.

Trivial matters these, perhaps, yet they serve to complete the picture and give a sense of nearness to the life and times of which they treat.

It is from Hiltzheimer and similar sources that must be gleaned anything of the personal life of Joseph Fox, for he left no records, and indeed, as far as is known, there is not even a letter written by him in existence; some signatures to public documents and a few pieces of furniture owned by him are the only things that can now be associated with him and his life of many activities.

Joseph Fox was a member of Society of Friends at the time of his marriage, and his death is noted in their Meeting records, but in 1756, when a number of the Quaker members resigned from Assembly, Fox was not among them. He was evidently remonstrated with by the meeting, for he is recorded as "having violated our testimony against war," and was disowned in consequence on 4mo., 30, 1756.

A side light is thrown on the character of Joseph Fox by letters of James Tilghman and William Allen to Thomas Penn. In 1766 Mr. Tilghman writes :

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"Honored Sir

"A case has lately occurred, the first of the kind since I had the Secretary's Office, in which I must begg leave to trouble you for your Direction-

"Mr. Joseph Fox, a Member of the Assembly, a person of some Influence in the City, and I believe at present not indifferent to the Government, a good many years ago, purchased some old Rights of Liberty Lands * * * and now he applies for a warrant to take up

the Liberty Lands * * * I shall not do anything in the affair until I can be instructed.

* * * Mr. Fox pressed the matter very much, and thought hard to wait an Answer from you, and intimated a design to do himself Justice, upon which some Warmth passed between us, since which I have not heard of the matter. I shall be obliged for your instructions as soon as it may be convenient to you."

Whether Thomas Penn paid attention to this or, (as was the custom with the descendants of the Founder,) he left the matter to right itself, we do not know, but Fox, having made his claim, did not suffer it to rest, for William Allen, two years later, writing from Philadelphia, February 27, 1768, on the subject says :

"Sir :

"Since writing a long letter by this opportunity I have recollected something that has frequently been the subject of conversation between Mr. Tilghman and me, which he says he mentioned to you some time since, and on which he promised again to write to you, and desired me to do the same, which is an application to the office from Mr. Joseph Fox, who was Speaker of the Assembly two years ago. The case stands thus. He conceiving that he had right to use some liberty-land had made a bargain with a man who has overplus lands within his lines, and having improved the land, and not caring to have any future disputes was desirous to buy rights to cover the overplus.

"It seems the liberty-land of some old right belonging to Mr. Fox had not been surveyed within the liberty, but, as it is said, was included in the surveys made in the usual way in other parts of the Country, which fact Mr. Fox conceives no way clear, but admitting it had been so, he conceives, and is so told by his lawyer, that by the words of your father's grants, the purchasers are intitled to lots on liberty land. There are precidents both ways in the office; Though, of late, chiefly again him. He is a man of wealth, but no way avaritious, of great spirit, and esteemed a very honest man; he at present heartily wishes he never had been entangled with the bargain; but as he has entered into it, he thinks his reputation is con- cerned in the affairs, as he may be reflected on of having sold lands for which he had no title, for which reason he has it much at heart to compleat his bargain on the foot of the claim he makes. * * *

"The precident of your allowing him to laying his rights in the manner he desires cannot be injurious to your interest, as that matter is now over, but may rather be of service with regard to overplus-land in other parts of the Country, as that a man of his Character Thought it but right to cover Overplus land with other rights.

"I would not have presumed to have troubled you on this head, but as I have, and per- haps for some short time longer may be ingaged in our Political disputes, and Mr. Fox has zealously Cooperated with me in our Assembly in opposing the extravagant conduct of a malignant party among us, I think he has in this great merit; he formerly had been as well as many others, lead away by the specious pretences of that party. But for near four years past, having seen into their designs, he has frequently told them that their schemes were so bad that an honest man could not act with them. He has shown himself, to the great regret of the party, one of the warmest friends of the Government; was greatly instrumental in restoring peace for this two years past, for which they outed him from the Speaker's chair, and he is at present, except myself, the most obnoxious to them of any person: They have this present session used many arts to bring him into their measures, fawned, cajold and threatened him, but he laughs them to scorn, and in our late disputes opposed their violent and truly ridiculous measures with a becoming zeal.

"I need not hint to you that in Government affairs some things may be done prudentially, and I hope and request that this matter may be seen at least in this light, and that an honest man, though he should be mistaken in what he conceives to be his right, should be rather incouraged than otherwise, to persist in his duty.

"I should not have presumed to have said so much upon this head, but I conceive your readily assenting to his application may be of use to your friends and tend to strengthen their hands, and can be no way prejudicial to you."

The will of Joseph Fox was dated April 20, 1779, at which time he was "in good bodily health." It was proven, March 22, 1780. His death is recorded in Friends' Meeting records, and he was probably buried in their grounds.

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Issue of Joseph and Elizabeth (Mickle) Fox:

Thomazine Mickle Fox, b. June 15, 1748; d. Nov. 7, 1821; m. Feb. 20, 1772, at Phila. Meeting, George Roberts, b. 1737, d. Sept. 17, 1821, son of Hugh and Mary (Calvert) Roberts. Had issue :

Hugh Roberts, b. Nov. 29, 1772; d. April 19, 1835;

Joseph Roberts, b. May 20, 1774; d. Aug. 10, 1796; unm .;

George Roberts, b. May 24, 1775; d. April 28, 18 -; m. Elizabeth Emlen ;

Elizabeth Roberts, b. Nov. 1777; d. unm .;

Mary Roberts, b. May 25, 1784; d. March 29, 1824; m. John J. Smith; Charles Roberts, b. Oct. 13, 1789; d. 1836; unm.

Hannah Fox, b. Oct. 9, 1750; d. Feb. 19, 1824; unm .;

Elizabeth Fox, b. Dec. 26, 1752; d. June 16, 1753;

Samuel Mickle Fox, b. Aug. 18, 1754; d. Feb. 18, 1755;

Justinian Fox, b. Aug. 12, 1755; d. Feb. 25, 1756;

Joseph Mickle Fox, b. Sept. 15, 1757; d. Jan. 18, 1784, as the result of a fall from his horse;

GEORGE Fox, b. Nov. 27, 1759; d. Sept., 1828; m. (first) Mary Pemberton; (second) Mary Dickinson;

Samuel Mickle Fox, b. Sept. 9, 1761; d. Oct. 17, 1762;

SAMUEL MICKLE Fox, b. Oct. 4, 1763; d. April 30, 1808; m. Sarah Pleasants;

Elizabeth Fox, b. July 16, 1765, d. Sept. 25, 1765;

Elizabeth Fox, b. April 13, 1767; d. July 18, 1767;

Elizabeth Fox, b. June 30, 1768; d. July 19, 1768;

Elizabeth Hill Fox, b. Oct. 14, 1771; d. Jan. 23, 1861; m. Joseph Parker Norris.

GEORGE Fox, (Joseph, Justinian,) born November 27, 1759; died September, 1828. Married (first) in Philadelphia Meeting, November 25, 1789, Mary Pem- berton, born March 25, 1771, died July 2, 1801, only daughter of Charles and Esther (House) Pemberton ; married (second), October 3, 1803, Mary, who died March 28, 1822, daughter of Philemon and Mary (Cadwalader) Dickinson.

George Fox graduated from University of Pennsylvania in 1780. In 1784 he was made a member of the Philosophical Society ; in 1789-91, 1812-28, he was a trustee of the university ; and in 1800 represented the city in Assembly. In 1799 he was one of the directors of Bank of the United States, and probably in other years also.

Townsend Ward, in his "Second Street and Second Street Road and its Asso- ciations," gives the following account of "Champlost," home of George Fox, which lies half a mile from the York Road and near the present Fern Rock station on the Reading Railroad :

"Half a mile west of our route, is Champlost, a charming place, where the Fox family have long lived. In 1722 it became the property of James Portues by whose will, in 1743, it went to Joseph Fox, whose town house, 48 N. Third Street, now bears the two nos. 46 and 48 N. Third Street. * *

* In 1782 his son Joseph M. Fox succeeded to the property, and on his death in 1784 it was inherited by his brother George, who held it until his death in 1828, when it went to his children. * * *

"On his travels abroad he (George Fox) was a long time in France, and there, in 1780, at the dinner-table at the chateau of the Count de Champlost, was seized with illness. He was removed at once to Paris, and after a time, died, as was supposed, and was consigned to the care of the Capuchins to be buried. A little warmth in his hands being perceptible, led to the application of restoratives by which he was revived. On his return he gave to this beautiful seat the name of the French place he had cause to remember so well."

George Fox was at one time owner of the largest part of the Franklin papers. (See introduction to Smyth's "Life of Benjamin Franklin," from which the fol- lowing account is taken.) Franklin by his will bequeathed all his manuscripts and

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papers to William Temple Franklin, his grandson, who had acted as his secretary in Paris, and who was very dear to him. He seems to have entertained an exag- gerated notion of William Temple's abilities, and to have believed him capable of properly sorting, arranging and editing these multitudinous papers and giving them permanent literary form. But William Temple Franklin had neither literary faculty or historic sense ; he was indolent and timid, and was aghast at the magnitude of the task before him. He culled out what he imagined to be the most important of the manuscripts and carried them to London with the apparent intention of devoting himself to his editorial task.

The papers left by him in Philadelphia, by far the greater part of the whole collection, he bequeathed to his friend George Fox, from whose son, Charles P. Fox, they came to The American Philosophical Society, where they are now care- fully guarded. The announcement of the intention to make the society custodian of these historical documents was made in a letter from Charles P. Fox to John Vaughan, Librarian, September 17, 1840: "Upon conversing with my sisters respecting the papers of Dr. Franklin, bequeathed by William T. Franklin, Esq., to my father, we have concluded they cannot be better disposed of than by pre- senting them to the society of which he was the founder.

Not all of these papers, however, went to the American Philosophical Society, for after the bulk of them had been delivered some still remained for many years in a garret over the stable at Champlost. About 1862 Miss Fox, who was probably ignorant of their historical importance, gave orders that they should be sold for old paper ; but fortunately Mrs. Holbrook, who was visiting Miss Fox at the time, saw the papers being carried out and remonstrated. They were brought back, all but one unlucky barrel, which had already gone to the mill. Miss Fox retained some and gave the rest-a generous trunkfull-to Mrs. Holbrook. From her they descended to her son, George O. Holbrook, from whom they were purchased, 1903, through the efforts of Dr. S. Weir Mitchell, and deposited in the Library of University of Pennsylvania.

Issue of George and Mary (Pemberton) Fox :-

Charles Pemberton Fox, b. July 3, 1792; d. Oct. 10, 1866; unm. Received degree of A. B. Univ. of Pa., 1811, and A. M., 1816. Joined First City Troop May 10, 1813, of which he was made Corporal in 1816, and Quartermaster-Sergeant in 1822. Made his home at "Champlost." It was he who with his sisters presented the Franklin papers to American Philosophical Society;

Eliza Mary Pemberton Fox, b. May 30, 1794; d. May 17, 1873; m. Feb. 18, 1819, John Roberts Tunis, who d. Oct. 30, 1819, son of Richard and Jane (Roberts) Tunis. No issue;

Esther Pemberton Fox, b. Oct. 25, 1797; d. July 24, 1798.

Issue of George and Mary (Dickinson) Fox :-

Joseph Dickinson Fox, b. 1804; d. Oct. 19, 1825; entered Univ. of Pa. 1821; was Mod- erator of Philomathean Society, and Latin Valedictorian of class of 1824;

Mary Dickinson Fox, b. Dec. 13, 1807; d. Feb. 19, 1895, at Champlost, unm.

SAMUEL MICKLE Fox (Joseph, Justinian), born in Philadelphia, October 4, 1763; died there April 30, 1808; married, November 27, 1788, at Market Street Meeting-house, Sarah Pleasants, born November 3, 1767; died February 3, 1825; daughter of Samuel and Mary ( Pemberton) Pleasants.

Samuel M. Fox was so impressed with a belief in the ultimate value of the land

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in the northwestern part of the state, which came into the market after the Indian treaties of 1784 and 1785, that he sold Philadelphia real estate and purchased largely of what were then known as back-hands. At his death, one hundred and eighteen thousand acres, not including his land in Venango, now Clarion county, were divided. In what is now Clarion county there were a number of warrants granted to George and Samuel M. Fox between 1785 and 1789. About 1795 they took out eight one-thousand-acre warrants, seven of which lay along the Alle- gheny, north of the Clarion River. These were patented in 1796 and became the sole property of Samuel M. Fox. Much of the land was afterwards disposed of, but a considerable portion of the original purchase at the confluence of the Allegheny and Clarion rivers is still a family possession. The story of its devel- opment belongs to a later generation.

Samuel M. Fox was an incorporator of bank of Pennsylvania in 1793, and in 1796 became its president, which position he held until his death. In 1796 he was a member of Select Council of Philadelphia, and a member of a committee to take into consideration the finances of the city, etc., whose report of the then sources of the city revenue is contained in a small pamphlet of much interest. He also served on one or more of the "watering" committees of Philadelphia, and was at one time one of the trustees of University of Pennsylvania.

Issue of Samuel Mickle and Sarah (Pleasants) Fox :-

Mary Pleasants Fox, b. Sept. 29, 1790; d. Jan. 16, 1872; m. Nov. 20, 1813, William Wharton Fisher, b. Oct. 1, 1786, son of James C. and Hannah (Wharton) Fisher; issue :

Mary Pleasants Fisher, b. Sept. 10, 1814; m. George W. Norris;

Hannah Wharton Fisher, m. Charles R. King, M. D .;

James Cowles Fisher, m. Mary Tesseire;

Samuel Fox Fisher, m. Emma Worrell;

Sally Fox Fisher, m. George T. Lewis;

William Wharton Fisher, b. June 23, 1822; d. March 4, 1856; unm .;

Coleman Fisher, m. Mary Wilson;

Nancy Wharton Fisher, d. Dec. 1905; became Oct. 1, 1872, second wife of Charles R. King, M. D .;

Thomas Wharton Fisher, d. May 18, 1873; unm.

Elizabeth Mickle Fox, b. Oct. 15, 1791; d. Oct. 10, 1872; unm .;

Hannah Morris Fox, b. Dec. 13, 1793; d. April 3, 1866; unm .;

Ann Pleasants Fox, b. Oct. 28, 1795; d. Jan. 16, 1861 ; m. July 28, 1829, George Newbold, b. May 29, 1780, d. Sept. 8, 1858. Issue :

George Newbold, b. April 17, 1834; d. Nov. 28, 1891.

Caroline Fox, b. March 19, 1797; d. Sept. 19, 1804;

Sarah Pemberton Fox, b. Aug. 26, 1798; d. June 6, 1873; unm .;

JOSEPH MICKLE Fox, b. Oct. 25, 1799; d. Feb. 12, 1848; m. Hannah Emlen;

Samuel Mickle Fox, b. March 29, 1800; d. Dec. 19, 1849, New York City; m. Oct. 17, 1826, Eliza de Grasse Depau, b. Nov. 20, 1803; d. Aug. 20, 1864, dau. of Francis and Silvia (de Grasse) Depau. Entered Univ. of Pa. in 1816, received degree in 1818, and graduated in medicine in 1822. Practiced his profession for a few years in Phila., but relinquished it in 1828 to remove to New York, where he became a member of firm of Bolton, Fox and Livingston, and so continued until his death; issue :

Silvia Depau Fox, b. July 28, 1827; d. Jan. 17, 1831 ;

Samuel Mickle Fox, b. Aug. 4, 1828; d. May 3, 1892; m. (first) Maria Livingston; (second) Ida Thorne; (third) Amelia Depau ;

Francis Depau Fox, b. Sept. 16, 1829; d. Jan. 1, 1884; unm .;

Alice Maude Fox, b. Oct. 16, 1834; d. June II, 1904; m. Oct. 5, 1870, Louis Liv- ingston;

Eliza Fox, b. Oct. 21, 1836; d. Jan. 1, 1888; m. Frederic Arthur St. John;

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De Grasse Fox, b. Aug. 23, 1838; d. Oct. 2, 1904; m. Harriet Biddle; Silvia Alexandrine Fox, b. May 28, 1841; d. March 16, 1843; Ella Augusta Fox, b. March 30, 1846; d. July 22, 1867; unm. Louisa G. Fox, b. March 15, 1802; d. Jan. 19, 1874; unm .;

Emeline Fox, b. June 23, 1803; d. Nov. 19, 1882; unm .;

George Fox, b. Jan. 31, 1805; d. Aug. 29, 1805;

GEORGE Fox, b. May 28, 1806; d. Dec. 27, 1882; m. Sarah D. Valentine;

Caroline Fox, b. Aug. 28, 1807; d. Jan. 19, 1859; unm.

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Colonial and revolutionary families of Pennsylvania; genealogical and personal memoirs, Vol. I, Part 45

Author: Jordan, John Woolf, 1840-1921, ed; Jordan, Wilfred, b. 1884, ed Publication date: 1911 Publisher: New York, NY : Lewis Historical Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 710

Author: Jordan, John Woolf, 1840-1921, ed; Jordan, Wilfred, b. 1884, ed
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: New York, NY : Lewis Historical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 710