Colonial and revolutionary families of Pennsylvania; genealogical and personal memoirs, Volume IV, Part 10

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: 898

USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial and revolutionary families of Pennsylvania; genealogical and personal memoirs, Volume IV > Part 10

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).

Mr. Biddle married, July 1, 1845, Julia Cox, daughter of John Cox by his wife, Martha, daughter of General William Lyman, of Massachusetts, United States Consul at London, England. John Cox, A. M., was born in Philadelphia, January 24, 1788, died in that city, February 6, 1864, son of James S. and Char- lotte (Sitgreaves) Cox, the former president of the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company, of Philadelphia, 1822-29 and 1841-44. Children of Thomas Alexander and Julia (Cox) Biddle :

I. John Cox, born April 21, 1846, died January 29, 1865.

2. Henry Williams, born April 7, 1848, died July 2, 1923.

3. Anna Sitgreaves, born January 31, 1850; married, in 1872, Andrew A. Blair, son of General Francis P. Blair.

4. Alfred, born December 15, 1851, died December 21, 1884.

5. William Lyman, born October 8, 1853, died July 5, 1920.

6. Francis, born October 31, 1855, died January 17, 1887.

7. Julia, born May 16, 1858; married, November 18, 1880, Arthur Biddle, son of George W. Biddle and grandson of Colonel Clement C. Biddle.

8. Frances, born in 1861, died in infancy.

The death of Thomas Alexander Biddle, which occurred on February 1, 1888, removed from the city of Philadelphia and the State of Pennsylvania a business leader of unusual ability, a man of broad vision, and one who worthily upheld the honor of an ancient name to which his own career brought additional prestige.

Biddle

Of more than immediate family interest is the Colonial and Revolutionary ancestry of Letitia Glenn (Mrs. Charles) Biddle, of Philadelphia, who is well known as a director of charitable work among hospitals in her home city.

(I) WILLIAM BIDDLE, pioneer ancestor of the well-known Biddle family of Philadelphia, was born near London, England, about 1630, and left that city in July, 1681, and came to New Jersey. He is said to have been an officer in the Parliamentary Army during the Civil War in England, but soon after its close joined the Society of Friends. His name appears among the list of persons imprisoned by Mayor Brown, 1660-61, for attending "non-conformist" meetings. He became one of the Proprietaries of West Jersey, and his purchase of land gave him title to 43,000 acres. The family lived at "Sepasswick," or Biddle's Island, in the Delaware River, for many generations. He served at different times as a jus- tice of Burlington County, a member of the Governor's Council, a trustee of the West Jersey Proprietorship, president of the board of trustees, and a representa- tive in the General Assembly of the Province. He died at "Mount Hope" in 1712. He married, 12 mo. 7, 1665, Sarah Kemp, born in 1634, died in New Jersey, 2 mo. 27, 1709. Of their children was William (2), of whom further.

(II) WILLIAM (2) BIDDLE, only surviving son of William and Sarah (Kemp) Biddle, was born December 4, 1669, died at "Mount Hope," New Jersey, in 1743. He acted for the Council of Proprietors of West Jersey to treat with the Indians concerning lands. He inherited more than twelve thousand acres from his father's estate. He married, about 1695, Lydia Wardell, granddaughter of Eliakim War- dell, who served at different times as sheriff of Monmouth County, member of the House of Deputies and member of the General Assembly; and great-grand- daughter of Thomas Wardell, French Huguenot, who settled in New England about the middle of the seventeenth century. Of the children of William (2) and Lydia (Wardell) Biddle was William (3), of whom further.

(III) WILLIAM (3) BIDDLE, eldest son and child of William (2) and Lydia (Wardell) Biddle, was born about 1697, and prior to 1730 removed to Philadel- phia, where with his brother, John, he engaged in the mercantile business. Through business reverses, he lost nearly all his fortune prior to his death, which occurred in 1756. He married, in April, 1730, Mary Scull, a descendant of Sir John Scull, a Norman, one of twelve Norman knights mentioned in Burke's "Landed Gentry," who accompanied Newmarch into North Wales and eventually conquered that country. She was the daughter of Nicholas Scull, Surveyor-General of Pennsyl- vania, by his first wife, Abigail Heap.

(IV) CHARLES BIDDLE, fourth surviving son of William (3) and Mary (Scull) Biddle, was born in Philadelphia, December 24, 1745. He started to learn the mercantile trade, but left it three years later to follow the sea. He crossed to Spain, and later was made second mate in the West Indies trade. Having become

BIDDLE

the owner of a ship, he sailed as its captain, and followed the sea in that capacity from 1767 to 1775. When the Revolutionary War was impending, he threw his lot in with the Continental Government, served on the sea, later as an infantry- man, and again as an ordinary seaman. He rose to acting sergeant of the "Quaker Light Infantry." After sailing from Philadelphia in the "Greyhound," for Port au Prince, he was taken prisoner with all on board and held captive for several months. He finally escaped, purchased a half-interest in a vessel at Jamaica and arrived at Beaufort, North Carolina, where he met for the first time his future wife, Hannah Shepard. He distinguished himself in the naval service and took an active part in the organization of the militia for defense of the coast and in the erection of fortifications at Newbern, North Carolina. He was made a member of the North Carolina General Assembly. Having returned to Philadelphia for a visit, he determined to renew his residence in Pennsylvania, and lived in this State the rest of his life. He again went to sea, with his old shipmate, Captain Decatur, was captured and afterward exchanged. After further sea ventures, he returned to port and was made a member of the Supreme Executive Council, then vice-president, with Benjamin Franklin as president, in whose stead Captain Bid- dle often served as presiding officer. This position made him the active chief executive of the State of Pennsylvania.

Captain Biddle was elected to the Legislature, but before taking his seat resigned to be clerk of the Supreme Executive Council, serving as such until the new Con- stitution became effective. He was elected prothonotary of Common Pleas Court, Philadelphia, and later served several terms as a member of the State Senate. He was appointed by the President to sign the treasury notes issued by the govern- ment, served as a member, later as vice-president of the State Board of Property, and was an original member of the Society of the Cincinnati, which he at one time served as treasurer. He was a director of the Bank of Pennsylvania for many years. During the French agitation, in 1799, he assisted in organization of a militia company for preservation of order at home. He was an intimate friend of Colonel Aaron Burr, and while the colonel was under a cloud by reason of the killing of Alexander Hamilton in a duel, he spent some time at the house of Captain Biddle in Philadelphia. Captain Biddle died at his home in the Quaker City, April 4, 1821.

Captain Charles Biddle married, November 25, 1778, Hannah Shepard, at Beaufort, North Carolina, and of their children, ten in number, was Nicholas, of whom further.

(V) NICHOLAS BIDDLE, fifth child and son of Captain Charles and Hannah (Shepard) Biddle, was born in Philadelphia, January 8, 1786. He was an intel- lectual prodigy, and completed his course at the University of Pennsylvania at the age of thirteen, and took his degree at Princeton University in his fifteenth year, dividing first honors with a much older classmate. Too young for admission to the bar, he went to Europe as secretary to General Armstrong, United States Min- ister to the Court of France, and was present at the coronation of Napoleon as Emperor in Paris. He was afterwards detailed to matters winding up the Louisi- ana Purchase, and later became secretary to James Monroe, then United States Minister at London.

PHOTOR CRAFTERS PHOTO

Charles Middle

BIDDLE

On his return to Philadelphia, he took up the practice of law and devoted much time to literary pursuits. He served in the Legislature, both Assembly and Sen- ate, and as a member of the latter body was of great aid in the government bring- ing the War of 1812 to a successful conclusion. Universal attention was attracted to his State paper, the reply to the address of the Hartford Convention. He was elected a government director of the Bank of the United States and later made its president. He was the first president of its successor, the United States Bank. In matters of internal improvement and commerce he was declared to have been one of the most far-seeing statesmen of his age. He was president of the Agri- cultural Society of Philadelphia for many years, and gave much attention to the development and improvement of the country residence, "Andalusia," inherited by his wife. The first to introduce the breeding of Alderney cattle, he also greatly encouraged cultivation of the grape, then a new industry in Pennsylvania. Gov- ernor Packer wrote of him that "he was twenty years in advance of the age in which he lived." He died at "Andalusia," February 27, 1844.

Nicholas Biddle married, in 1811, Jane Margaret Craig, daughter of Captain John Craig, and they were the parents of six children, of whom was Charles John, of whom further. -

(VI) CHARLES JOHN BIDDLE, second son of Nicholas and Jane Margaret (Craig) Biddle, was commissioned a captain in the United States Army, February 16, 1847, and served with distinction in the Mexican War. He was made major by brevet, September 13, 1847, "for gallant and meritorious services at the storm- ing of Chapultepec." His regiment was disbanded, August 29, 1848. He was commissioned colonel of the Thirteenth Regiment, United States Volunteers, June 21, 1861, but resigned his commission, December 11, 1861, having been elected to Congress, in which he served one term. He died September 28, 1873.

Colonel Charles John Biddle married Emma Mather, who was of English descent, and they had children :

I. Emma, married Thomas F. Dixon; they had six children, two sons and four daughters.

2. Charles, of whom further.

3. John Craig, married Delia Sturgess, and had a daughter, Delia.

4. Dillon, married Anna Everly.

5. Adèle; married Samuel Hinds Thomas. (See an accompanying genealogy.)

6. Alexander Mercer, married Harriet Fox, and had children, Harriet, A. Mercer, Jr., and Sydney.

7. Katherine Craig.

(VII) CHARLES BIDDLE, second child and eldest son of Colonel Charles John and Emma (Mather) Biddle, was born at the family's country seat, "Andalusia," Pennsylvania, September 20, 1857. His early schooling was received at the old Andalusia Academy, and after graduation from the Central High School, he elected the law for his profession. His legal training was received in the office of George W. Biddle, in Philadelphia, and after admission to practice he rose to a position of leadership at the Quaker City bar.

He was chosen counsel for the Philadelphia Rapid Transit Company and for various large financial institutions, serving in this capacity many years. He was a solicitor for the Philadelphia Saving Fund Society, of which he was also a direc- tor, and served in similar capacities for the Philadelphia Contributionship for Insurance of Houses Against Loss by Fire.

BIDDLE

The scope of Mr. Biddle's interests was represented by his active participation in their furtherance. He was president of the Athenaeum Library and the Phila- delphia Society to Protect Children from Cruelty. He was a member of the board of managers of the Institution for the Deaf and Dumb, and at one time was a director of the Pennsylvania Hospital and the Episcopal Hospital. Politically he was a Democrat. During the World War, he served as a director of the enforce- ment division of the Hoover Food Administration for Pennsylvania, Ohio, New Jersey, Indiana, and Michigan.

Mr. Biddle married, April 4, 1888, at Baltimore, Maryland, Letitia Glenn, born at Hilton, Catonsville, Maryland, October 12, 1864, daughter of John Glenn, of a prominent family of that State. (Glenn IV.) She finished her education at the well-known Miss Hall's School in Baltimore, Maryland, and all her married life has been active in missionary and charitable enterprises. She is especially inter- ested in promoting the aims and purposes of the Indian Rights Association, and for forty years has given much time and thought to missionary work among the American Indians. Hospitals of Philadelphia know her for her generous and sustained sympathy for the sick and injured, and her charities are wisely placed. Her politics is of the Democratic faith, which was that of her father, and her clubs are the Acorn and Garden clubs.

Of the marriage of Charles and Letitia (Glenn) Biddle, there is a son: Charles J. Biddle, named for his distinguished grandfather, Colonel Charles John Biddle, who was the commander of the famous Pennsylvania "Bucktails" Regiment in the Civil War. The younger Charles John inherited something of the martial spirit that animated his forebear, and he enlisted in the air service of the French army dur- ing the World War. After ten months of service with the French, a part of which was with the Escadrille Lafayette, he was transferred in January, 1918, to the United States Air Service with the rank of captain. He was later promoted to major and was first the commanding officer of the Thirteenth Pursuit Squadron and later of the Fourth Pursuit Group, American Expeditionary Forces. He was also an Ace. He was twice cited by General Pershing, the commander-in-chief, and decorated with the Distinguished Service Cross, the Legion of Honor, the Croix de Guerre with four palms, and the Order of Leopold of Belgium. Charles J. Biddle married, February 10, 1923, Mrs. Katharine Legendre Keep, and they have two children :

I. Charles, born August 15, 1925.

2. James, born July 8, 1929.

When it became known, on July II, 1923, that Charles Biddle, of this memorial, had closed his earthly career, the city of his professional triumphs and civic devo- tion shared with his family the deep sorrow with which they had been inflicted. Members of every class in the community mourned his passing. Everywhere pre- vailed the profound conviction that Philadelphia had lost one of its most valued citizens and the legal profession a member whose career had adorned the pro- ceedings of the bar. He inherited a name famous in the history of Philadelphia, and his record imparts to it additional luster.

(The Glenn Line).

The Glenn family in America was originally of Schenectady, New York, where the old mansion "Scotia" is still standing.

BIDDLE

(I) ALEXANDER GLENN, thrice great-grandfather of Mrs. Letitia (Glenn) Biddle, fought in the French and Indian wars.

(II) HON. ELIAS GLENN, son of Alexander Glenn, became a judge of the United States District Court at Baltimore City, Maryland. He married Ann Carson.

(III) JUDGE JOHN GLENN, son of Judge Elias Glenn, presided over the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, having followed in his father's steps and in the honors which he held. He was long a principal figure in the so-called "Court House Group" of leading lawyers who held political sway over the Whigs in Maryland. He built up a large and lucrative law practice. At the time of his death, in 1853, he was still a member of the court. He married Hen- rietta Wilkins. (For a more complete record of the life of Judge John Glenn see an accompanying biography.)

(IV) JOHN (2) GLENN, son of Hon. John and Henrietta (Wilkins) Glenn, was born in 1829. He was a graduate of Harvard. He was engaged in the real estate business, and rose to a position of prominence and influence in his commu- nity. He was chairman of the executive committee of the Charity Organization Society, and one of the founders of the present system. Mr. Glenn was a leader in the affairs of his locality until his death, which occurred March 30, 1896. He married, in 1859, Anna Correy Smith, granddaughter of Dr. William Smith, and daughter of John Correy Smith. The children of John (2) and Anna Correy (Smith) Glenn are:

I. John, Jr., born March 29, 1863, a leading lawyer and business man, of Baltimore, Maryland.

2. Letitia, who married Charles Biddle, a leading attorney and counselor-at-law of Phila- delphia, as hereinbefore mentioned. (Biddle VII.)

Thomas

Personal service on his own part, and distinguished records achieved by his forebears, make of particular interest the Colonial and Revolutionary ancestry of the late Samuel Hinds Thomas, well-known lawyer and outstanding philanthropist, of Philadelphia.

(I) EDWARD THOMAS, grandfather of Samuel Hinds Thomas, was born on the Island of Barbardos, British West Indies, in 1789, and died in Bristol, England, October 18, 1853. He was a planter. He married, January 7, 1815, Mary Anna Grasett, who died at Weymouth, England, in May, 1856, daughter of Elliott Grasett, born in 1742, died April 13, 1803, the owner of Golden Grove Plantation in Barbados. Elliott Grasett was a member of the House of Assembly of Bar- bados. He was thrice married, his second wife, Mary Ann Prescod, being the mother of Mary Anna. Edward and Mary Anna (Grasett) Thomas were the par- ents of six children, of whom was William Grasett, of further mention.

(II) WILLIAM GRASETT THOMAS, third son and child of Edward and Mary Anna (Grasett) Thomas, was born on the Island of Barbados, British West Indies, Easter Sunday, April 7, 1822. He was educated at the Hurlburt Private School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, having come to that city at the age of twelve years in the care of a cousin, Rev. William Prescod Hinds, who had been a clergy- man in Barbados.

On attainment of manhood, Mr. Thomas assumed charge of the family affairs and also of the Hinds estate (that of his wife's family). He was highly gifted as a linguist, having mastered Greek and Latin, and being also familiar with Spanish, German and Italian. His literary bent led him to the translation of a number of minor poems of Goethe, which was published in 1859. On the shelves of his library were works in many languages. He was an expert chess player, devoted to arbori- culture and the care of the beautiful estate of Hindsbury.

Mr. Thomas and his wife became naturalized Americans, and in the Civil War period he was an earnest adherent of the United States Government. He joined the Republican party, and for many years was a councillor of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. He was extremely interested in genealogy, and devoted much time to developing the Thomas, Hinds, and Grasett lines, all of which trace back to ancient origin.

William Grasett Thomas married, May 21, 1850, at the Church of the Ascen- sion (now the Diocesan Church of St. Mary), Philadelphia, Ann Hinds, daughter of Rev. William Prescod Hinds and Emily (Hinds) Hinds, of Barbados, where Mrs. Thomas was born November 24, 1826. She died at the country home of the family on the Hindsbury estate, near Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, September II, 1897. Her husband passed away at Bryan Mawr, November 19, 1910. They were the parents of nine children, of whom was Samuel Hinds, see further.

(III) SAMUEL HINDS THOMAS, eldest son and second child of William Grasett and Ann (Hinds) Thomas, was born May 24, 1852. He received his

MMA

tummeltfondo Thomas

THOMAS

early training under the very capable preceptorship of his learned father, and took a year's post-graduate course in chemistry as a special student at the University of Pennsylvania. He then went abroad and pursued further study at St. John's Col- lege, Cambridge, England. From the University of Cambridge he received the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1877 and his Master's degree in 1884. He subse- quently made an intensive study of the law and was admitted to the bar of Phila- delphia County in 1880. Before he returned to the United States, he spent much time in observation and travel in the British Isles and on the Continent of Europe, but he always loved Philadelphia best of all the cities, because it was the seat of his alma mater and the academic home of his class (1872), in whose interest he expended much time and thought.

Mr. Thomas practiced law many years with notable success, but his legal attain- ments were virtually exercised in behalf of the philanthropies with which he was closely identified over a long period. The cause of the poor and needy was much on his mind and heart, and his charities were consistently and generously dis- bursed. He loved all people, and to those in actual distress did his affection go forth in a practical manner that was characteristic of the man. It might be said in all truth that he gave his life to charitable performances, and among the offices he filled was manager of the Children's Hospital and manager of the Howard Hos- pital. He was also a firm friend of dumb creatures, and for thirty years served as treasurer of the Antivivisection Society. His religious zeal found expression through his services in the office of warden of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, Philadelphia, and of All Saints' Church at Torresdale. He was a member of the Rittenhouse Club, and in politics in his latter years he was an enthusiastic member of the Republican party, although in earlier life he had not clung tenaciously to partisan lines.

Samuel Hinds Thomas married, April 23, 1884, at Holy Trinity Church, Phila- delphia, Adèle Biddle. (Biddle VII.)

The death of Mr. Thomas, which occurred on November 24, 1930, removed from Philadelphia one of its most useful and deeply loved citizens. His life had meant more to the real issues of life than the spoken or written word could ade- quately convey. Endowed with learning more profound than that which could be boasted by many men, he never vaunted his mental gifts in an unseemly manner. People admired his quiet, unobtrusive personality; he was a likeable-yes, a lovable-man, one who translated into action that spoke louder than words the beautiful traits with which a rich ancestry had endowed him.

(The Biddle Line).

C. & R. 1-6

THOMAS

justice of Burlington County, a member of the Governor's Council, a trustee of the West Jersey Proprietorship, president of the board of trustees, and a Repre- sentative in the General Assembly of the Province. He died at "Mount Hope," in 1712. He married, 12 mo. 7, 1665, Sarah Kemp, born in 1634, died in New Jersey, 2 mo. 27, 1709. Of their children was :

I. William (2), of whom further.

1. William (3).

(III) WILLIAM (3) BIDDLE, eldest son and child of William (2) and Lydia (Wardell) Biddle, was born about 1697, and prior to 1730 removed to Philadel- phia, where with his brother, John, he engaged in the mercantile business. He lost nearly all his fortune through business reverses prior to his death, which occurred in 1756. He married, April 3, 1730, Mary Scull, a descendant of Sir John Scull, a Norman, one of the twelve Norman knights mentioned in Burke's "Landed Gen- try," who accompanied Newmarch into North Wales and eventually conquered that country. She was the daughter of Nicholas Scull, Surveyor-General of Penn- sylvania, by his first wife, Abigail Heap.

(IV) CHARLES BIDDLE, fourth surviving son of William (3) and Mary (Scull) Biddle, was born in Philadelphia, December 24, 1745. He started to learn the mercantile business, but left it three years later to follow the sea. He crossed to Spain and later was made second mate in the West Indies trade. Having become the owner of a ship, he sailed as its captain, and followed the sea in that capacity from 1767 to 1775. When the Revolutionary War was impending, he threw his lot in with the Continental Government, served on the sea, later as an infantryman, and again as an ordinary seaman. He rose to acting sergeant of the "Quaker Light Infantry." After sailing from Philadelphia in the "Greyhound," for Port au Prince, he was taken prisoner with all on board and held captive for several months. He finally escaped, purchased a half-interest in a vessel at Jamaica and arrived at Beaufort, North Carolina, where he met for the first time his future wife, Hannah Shepard. He distinguished himself in the naval service and took an active part in the organization of the militia for defense of the coast and in the erection of fortifications of Newbern, North Carolina. He was made a member of the North Carolina General Assembly. Returning to Philadelphia for a visit, he determined to renew his residence in Pennsylvania, where he lived the rest of his life. He again went to sea, with his old shipmate, Captain Decatur, was captured and afterward exchanged. After further sea ventures, he returned to port and

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.

Colonial and revolutionary families of Pennsylvania; genealogical and personal memoirs, Volume IV, Part 10

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: 898

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: 898