Colonial families of Philadelphia, Volume II, Part 19

Author: Jordan, John Woolf, 1840-1921, ed
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: New York : Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 978

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Edith Harrold Gillingham, b. 4mo. 14, 1896.

ELLIS LEWIS, the maternal ancestor of Lucy Lewis (Eddy) Gillingham, was one of the early settlers in the Welsh tract, Chester county, Pennsylvania, born in Wales, about 1680, like most of the other early Welsh immigrants to Pennsyl- vania, was a descendant of ancient Welsh princes, and through them to the Kings of ancient Britain. Recent researches show that he was of the same line of de- scent as Rowland Ellis, the eminent Welsh minister of the Society of Friends, who though concerned in the first purchase of lands in Pennsylvania for the settlement of a Welsh colony, did not remove permanently to this Province until 1697. The common ancestry of Rowland Ellis and Ellis Lewis, for fifteen generations, is as follows :

(I) Bleddyn, son of Cynfyn, Prince of Powys, married Isabel, daughter of Picot de Say, a Norman knight, and was murdered in 1072. He had by her,

(II) Cadwgan ap Bleddyn, Lord of Ystratywy, Cardigan and Nannau, in Merionethshire, who was also assassinated in 1109. He married Gwenllian, daugh- ter of Gruffydd ap Cynan, Prince of Gwynedd, who subsequently married Gruf- fydd, Prince of South Wales. By her Cadwgan had a son,

(III) Madoc, ap Cadwgan, who succeeded his father as Lord of Nannau. He married Eva, daughter and heiress of Philip ap Uchtryd, ap Edwin, Lord of Tegeingle, ap Gronwy, ap Einion, ap Owen, ap Howell Dda, King of all Wales, and had issue,

(IV) MEURIC, ap Madoc, Lord of Nannau, who married Gwenllian, daughter and heiress of Ierwith, ap Predyr, ap Gronwy, ap Adda, ap David Goch, from Ednowain, ap Bradwyn, Head of the Fifteenth Noble Tribe of Wales, and lineal descendant of the Kings of Britain, and had issue :

(V) YNR, ap Meuric, Lord of Nannau, who married Gwyrvyl, daughter and heiress of Madog ap Llowarch, Vychan, ap Llowarch Goch, ap Llowarch Hol- bwrch, Treasurer of Gruffydd, Prince of Wales, and had issue :

Einion ap Ynr, consecrated Bishop of St. Andre's, October 21, 1268, and

(VI) YNR, ap Ynr, generally known as Ynr Vychan, Lord of Nannau, who married Gwenhwyvar, daughter of Gruffydd, ap Gwynn, ap Gronwy, ap Einion, at Seissyllt, Lord of Mathafon. Ynr Vychan presented a petition to Edward, Prince of Wales, at Kensington, in 1304-5, for the office of Raglor of the Comot of Talybon, stating that the King had given it to him for capturing Madoc ap Llewllyn, when the last war had made himself Prince of Wales. His petition, however, was rejected. Ynr ap Ynr was charged with others in the Parliament

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of 1322-3 with attacking the castle of John Grey, of Ruthen, and setting fire to the town, on the next Wednesday after the feast of St. Gregory, in the fifteenth year of Edward II., 1322. He had by Gwenhwyvar :

(VII) MEURIC ap Ynr Vychan, Lord of Nannau, living in 1347-8, upon whose tomb in Dolgelly Church, Merionethshire, is his effigy in mail and plate armor, with a shield on his breast, on which is carved a lion, and bears the inscription, "Hic Jacet Meuric Filius Ynyr Vachan." He married Angharad, daughter of Gruffydd, ap Owen, ap Bleddyn, ap Owen Brogyntyn, Lord of Dinmael, and Ediernion, ap Madog, ap Meredyth, ap Bleddyn, Prince of Powys, and was suc- ceeded by his son,

(VIII) MEURIC LLOYD, ap Meuric, Lord of Nannau, who died before 1400 A. D. He married Mallt, daughter of Howell Pickhill, ap David, ap Gronwy, ap Ierwith, ap Howell, ap Meredyth, ap Sandde Hardde, Lord of Morton, in Den- bighshire, and had issue :

Gruffydd Derwas, living in 1416, Esquire of the Body of Henry VI., with whose descendants those of his brother later intermarried, and,

(IX) HOWELL SELE, of Nannau, who was killed by his cousin, Owen Glen- dower, because he refused to join him in Rebellion, and his body secreted in a hollow oak, where it remained until the secret crime was revealed by Glendower on his death bed. Howell Sele married Mali, daughter of Einion, ap Griffith, of Cors-y-Gedol, and had a son,

(X) MEURIC VYCHAN, of Nannau, who with his uncle, Griffith Derwas, was named among the heirs of a "Wele" of free land in the township of Nannau, in the seventh year of Henry V., 1419-20. Meuric was on a grand jury, at Caer- narvon, in 1444, and was buried in second year of Henry VII., 1486, a very aged man. He married Angharad, daughter of David ap Cadwgan, ap Philip Dorddu, ap Howell, ap Madoc, ap Howell, ap Griffith, ap Gronwy, ap Gwrgenen, ap Hold- lien Goch, ap Cadwgan, ap Elystan Glodrydd, Prince of Fferlys, and had a son,

(XI) DAVID ap Meuric Vychan, of Nannau, who married Ellen, daughter of Howell ap Rhys, ap David, ap Howell, ap Griffith, ap Owen, ap Bleddyn, Lord of Dinmael, ap Owen Brogyntyn, grandson of Bleddyn, Prince of Powys, whose son,

(XII) HOWELL ap David, of Nannau, is named on the rolls of the county of Merioneth in 1510. He married Ellen, daughter of Robert Salisbury, of Llanwrst, son of Thomas Salisbury, living in 1451, son of Sir Henry Salisbury, a Knight of the Holy Sepulchre, who was a son of Rawlings Salisbury, and grandson of Will- iam Salisbury, member of Parliament in 1322. Howell ap David and Ellen Salis- bury, had issue, Griffith ap Howell, Lord of Nannau, and two daughters, Elizabeth and Margaret, who married William ap Tudor, ap Griffith, ap Edyrfedof Egryn Abbey.

(XIII) GRIFFITH ap Howell, lord of Nannau, living in 1541-2, married Jane, daughter of Humphrey ap Howell, ap Ievan, of Yns-y-Maen-Gwynn, a lineal de- scendant of Henry IV., of England; her mother being Anne, daughter of Sir Richard Herbert, Knight of Colebrooke. Griffith and Jane had two sons, Hugh Griffith, who signed the pedigree as head of the family, July 24, 1588, and,

(XIV) JOHN ap Griffith, who married Elizabeth, daughter of David Lloyd, of Trawsfynedd. He held lands in the township of Dyffrydan, in Dolgelly parish, and elsewhere. He had issue three children, Ellen and Jane, and,

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(XV) LEWIS ap John, of Dyffrydan, who was living August 28, 1654, then holding lands in Dyffrydan. He married Ellen, daughter of Howell ap Griffith, and had two sons, Rees Lewis, of Dyffryn, grandfather of Rowland Ellis, who later came to Bryn Mawr, Chester county, Pennsylvania, which was named for the seat of the family less than a mile from the market town of Dolgelly in Merionethshire, built by Rees Lewis in 1617, and where he was living in 1649; and another son,

(XVI) OWEN ap Lewis, who married Mary, daughter of Tudor Vaughan, of Caer-y-Nwen, in Merionethshire, a lineal descendant of Griffith Derwas, before mentioned, and had issue :

(XVII) ROBERT ap Owen, who married Margaret, daughter of John ap Lewis, and had issue, among others, Margaret, who became the second wife of Rowland Ellis, of Pennsylvania, and at least one son,

(XVIII) LEWIS ap Robert, who married Mary - (who married (second) Owen Roberts), and had by her one son,

ELLIS LEWIS, the emigrant to Pennsylvania, mentioned at the beginning of this narrative.

ELLIS LEWIS, son of Lewis ap Robert, by his wife, Mary, was born near Dol- gelly, Merionethshire, Wales, in the year 1680. His father died when he was quite young and his mother married Owen Roberts, as shown in the preceding pedigree. About 1698 Owen Roberts and his family, including his stepson, Ellis Lewis, concluded preparations to embark for Pennsylvania, and their goods were already on board the ship that was to carry them to Penn's colony in America, where a number of their kindred had previously found homes, when sickness in the family prevented them from sailing and their goods crossed the sea without them.

Sometime after arriving at mature age Ellis Lewis removed to Ireland, and from there embarked for Pennsylvania, bringing a certificate from a Friends Meeting at Mount Mellich, Ireland, dated 5mo. 13, 1708. On arriving in Penn- sylvania, he made his home for a time with his cousins, the family of Rowland Ellis, who had not yet removed from Haverford. He later took up his residence in Kennett, Chester county, and was for many years an esteemed Elder of Kennett Meeting, removing later to Wilmington, Delaware, where he died 6mo. 31, 1750.

Ellis Lewis was twice married, (first) at Concord Meeting, Chester county in 1713, to Elizabeth, born Imo. 3, 1687-8, daughter of Nathaniel Newlin, who owned large tracts of land, and settled in what was named Newlin township, Chester county. He was a member of Colonial Assembly from Chester county, 1698- 1722; justice of the county courts from September 25, 1703, until his death in 1729; and was one of the Proprietaries Commissioners of Property for some time prior to his death (1722-29), as well as a trustee of the General Loan Office of the Province. He was married (first) April 17, 1683, to Mary Mendenhall, of the county of Wilts, England; and (second) to Mary Fincher, 2mo. 17, 1729, who survived him but left no issue. She was daughter of John and Martha (Taylor) Fincher, of London Grove, Chester county.

Nicholas Newlin, father of Nathaniel, an Englishman by birth, emigrated to Pennsylvania, with his grown up family in 1683, bringing a certificate from Mount Mellich, Queen's county, Ireland, in 1683, and settled in Concord township. He

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was justice of the Chester county courts from 1684, until his death in 1699, and a member of Provincial Council, 1685-7.

Ellis Lewis married (second) at Falls Monthly Meeting in Bucks county, Imo. II, 1723, Mary Balwin, a widow, who survived him, but had no children by him.

Issue of Ellis and Elizabeth (Newlin) Lewis:

ROBERT, b. Imo. 21, 1714; of whom presently;

Nathaniel, b. Iomo. II, 1717, d. s. p., imo. 7, 1757;

Ellis, b. 3mo. 22, 1719, grandfather of Ellis Lewis, Chief Justice of Supreme Court of Penna. 1854-57;

Mary, b. Imo. 6, 1716, d. 8mo. 22, 1760; m. at Kennett Meeting, 8mo. 29, 1734, Joshua Pusey.

ROBERT LEWIS, eldest son of Ellis and Elizabeth (Newlin) Lewis, born Imo. 21, 1714, was a member of Colonial Assembly from Chester county, 1745-46, but soon after that date removed to Philadelphia and engaged in mercantile pursuits for the remaining years of his life. He was buried at Philadelphia Friends' bury- ing-ground, 4mo. 13, 1790.

He married at Concord Meeting, Chester county, 3mo. 23, 1733, Mary Pyle, born 1714, died 6mo. 26, 1782. She was a daughter of William Pyle, of Thorn- bury, Chester county, who was a member of Colonial Assembly, 1721-3, and a Justice of the Chester County Courts, 1724-8. He was a son of Robert Pyle, of Horton, parish of Bishop Cummings, in the county of Wilts, and Ann, of Hilper- ton, daughter of William Stovey, an eminent and early Friend of Wilts, who suffered much persecution for preaching the doctrine of Friends. Robert Pyle and Ann Stovey were married at a Meeting of Friends in Wiltshire, 9mo. 16, 1681, and soon after with Nicholas Pyle, a brother of Robert, emigrated to Penn- sylvania, and settled in Bethel township, Chester county. Robert was a member of Colonial Assembly, 1688-1705, and a Justice 1684-5. His brother, Nicholas, was also a justice and assemblyman for many years. William Pyle, third child of Robert and Ann (Stovey) Pyle, was born in Chester county, I Imo. 26, 1685, and died in 1734. He married, in 1707, Olive Bennett.

Issue of Robert and Mary (Pyle) Lewis:

ELLIS, b. July 15, 1734, d. in Phila., 7mo. 24, 1776; of whom presently; NATHANIEL, m. Lucy Lawrence; of them later; Robert, m. Frances Smith; William, m. Rachel Wharton;

Phœbe, m. (first) Samuel Morton, and (second) James Pemberton;

Eli, b. Aug. 3, 1735; Elizabeth, b. Dec. 17, 1736;

Mary, b. July 24, 1739, d. March 4, 1794; Lydia, b. Feb. 5, 1745-6;

Joshua, b. Dec. 29, 1749; Anne, b. Dec. 26, 1753.

ELLIS LEWIS, eldest son of Robert and Mary (Pyle) Lewis, born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, July 15, 1734, grew to manhood in Philadelphia, and be- came one of the eminent and successful business men of that city. He lived for a number of years in the old "Governor's House," built by Mayor Shippen in 1693, that had been the residence of several colonial Governors of Pennsylvania, includ-

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ing Penn, himself. He also maintained a country place, where he and his family spent the summer months. He died in Philadelphia, July 24, 1776.

Ellis Lewis married (first) Hannah Miller, and had by her one daughter, Mary Lewis, who married William Green. He married (second), June 16, 1763, Mary, daughter of David Deshler, son of Captain David, and Marie (Wister) Deshler, who accompanied his uncle, John Wister, to Philadelphia, in 1727, and was asso- ciated with him in the mercantile business.

Issue of Ellis and Mary (Deshler ) Lewis:

David, m. May 22, 1794, Mary, dau. of Col. Thomas Darch, of Pine Hill, near Sunbury, Pa., who had emigrated from Netherclay House, Co. Somerset, Eng. David Lewis, an active and successful business man, was member of firm of Wharton & Lewis; was president of Phoenix Insurance Co .; Lieutenant of militia during the Whiskey Insurrection, and when war with France was threatened;

Robert, m. Sarah Fish;

Phobe, m. Hon. Robert Waln, member of Congress from Phila. 1798;

Hester, b. 1770, m. George Eddy, about 1791, and had issue :

George Eddy; Charles Eddy ;

James Eddy ;

Lewis Eddy;

Mary Ann Eddy, m. Dr. Pickering;

Hester, m. Nathaniel Lewis;

Phœbe Waln Eddy, b. 1798, d. May 31, 1833;

Catharine Eddy, m. Samuel L. Chapman;

Lucy Lewis Eddy, b. May 10, 1803, d. Sept. 1, 1836; m. at Frankford (Phila.) Meeting, December 12, 1823, Samuel Harrold Gillingham.

NATHANIEL LEWIS, second son of Robert and Mary (Pyle) Lewis, born in Chester county, came with his parents to Philadelphia in 1749. He officiated as one of the executors of his father's will in 1790, and of that of his brother, Robert, in 1795. He married Lucy Lawrence, and had, among other children, Lawrence Lewis, who married Anna Maria Stocker, and their son, Robert Morton Lewis, born in Philadelphia, November 7, 1828, graduated from University of Pennsyl- vania in 1846, married Anna Elizabeth, daughter of Richard and Anna Elizabeth (Farmer) Shippen.

GRISCOM FAMILY.

ANDREW GRISCOM came from England in 1680. He purchased a large tract of land, on which that part of the city of Camden, known as South Camden, now stands, and settled thereon. He married Sarah Dole, probably of the same fam- ily as Joseph Dole who came to New Jersey, from Newbury, Essex county, Massa- chusetts. They had issue, Tobias and Sarah Griscom.

TOBIAS, son of Andrew and Sarah (Dole) Griscom, settled on lands inherited from his father at "Newton," Gloucester county, New Jersey, now in the limits of the city of Camden, where he died in the winter of 1719-20, his will, dated Decem- ber 30, 1719, being proven three weeks later, January 21, 1719-20. He married Deborah Gabitas, who survived him, and died prior to 1736.

Tobias and Deborah (Gabitas) Griscom had issue:

Tobias Griscom;

ANDREW GRISCOM, of whom presently; Mary Griscom, m. Tobias Holloway; William Griscom;

Samuel Griscom, settled in Phila. and became shipbuilder, a prominent industry in that city during colonial days; became possessed of a large landed estate in Phila .; assisted in erection of Independence Hall and was man of prominence, and lived on Arch street between Third and Fourth streets; m. Rebecca James, of Phila., Feb. 6, 1741; had several children, one of them, dau. Sarah, m. William Donaldson, at Christ Church, Dec. 31, 1770.

ANDREW GRISCOM, son of Tobias and Deborah (Gabitas) Griscom, settled near Tuckahoe, on lands that his grandfather had purchased many years previously. He married Susanna, daughter of John and Mary (Chambless) Hancock, of Allo- way's Creek, Salem county, later known as Hancock's Bridge, from a bridge erected by John Hancock over Alloway's Creek in 1708. This John Hancock was a native of London, and came to New Jersey in 1679. He was the founder of a family long prominent in the affairs of New Jersey. The old family mansion at Hancock's Bridge, erected in 1734, was the scene of the massacre of defenceless non-combatants by the British soldiers under Col. Mawhood in 1778. Andrew Griscom married (second) Mary

WILLIAM GRISCOM, son of Andrew and Susanna (Hancock) Griscom, born in Salem county, New Jersey, married there in 1773, Rachel, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Bacon) Denn, of Cohansey Creek, Salem county, New Jersey ; grand- daughter of John and Elizabeth (Oakford) Denn, and great-granddaughter of James and Elizabeth (Maddox) Denn.

James Denn (son of John Denn, one of the first settlers on Alloway's Creek, Salem county, New Jersey, who died there June 24, 1685, leaving a widow, Mar- garet and several children), married, in 1688, Elizabeth Maddox, who was born in London, England, in 1671. Her father, John Maddox, son of Ralph Maddox, was born in 1638. He located in London in 1668, and in 1669, when he married Elizabeth, widow of Joseph Durham, was residing in the parish of St. Sepulchre, where his daughter, Elizabeth, was born in 1671.

In 1678 John Maddox, his wife, daughter, Elizabeth, stepson, Richard Durham,

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and three servants, sailed from London in the ship "Surrey" and arrived at Salem, New Jersey, in November, of the same year. In 1682 John Maddox purchased of Isabella Hancock, widow of William Hancock, who had died 1679, one-half of the latter's allotment of 1000 acres on Alloway's Creek, and settled thereon. He died December, 1693, leaving a daughter, Margaret, born June 29, 1689, and a son, John.

John Denn, only son of James and Elizabeth ( Maddox) Denn, born at Allo- way's Creek, Salem county, New Jersey, August 11, 1693, married, March 1, 1717, Elizabeth Oakford, born on Alloway's Creek, May 17, 1698, daughter of Charles and Mary Oakford, and settled on his father's plantation, on which he erected, in or about the year 1725, a stone house on the banks of the creek, which is still standing and owned by his descendants. Elizabeth (Oakford) Denn died in 1727, and John Denn married (second), in 1728, Leah Paul. He died in 1733. By his first wife he had issue, Naomi, born 1718, and John Denn, Jr., born September 28, 1727, and by his second wife, son Paul Denn, born October 18, 1731.

John Denn, Jr., son of John and Elizabeth (Oakford) Denn, born September 28, 1727, married Elizabeth Bacon, of Cohansey, Salem county, a daughter of John Bacon, of the celebrated Bacon family of Bacon's Neck, by his wife, Eliza- beth Smith, and had issue, Rachel Denn, who married William Griscom, above mentioned; James Denn, born January 19, 1746-7; John Denn, born 1751 ; David Denn, born 1756; and Martha Denn, born 1758.

William Griscom and his wife, Rachel Denn, lived for a few years in the village of Hancock's Bridge, and then he purchased a plantation in the township of Man- nington, Salem county, near Guineatown, where they resided the remainder of their lives.

Issue of William and Rachel (Denn) Griscom:

John Griscom, removed to N. Y., where he was considered an eminent scholar and was elected Prof. of Chemistry; when past middle life went to Europe, whence his fame as scholar had preceded him, and on his arrival was at once introduced among emi- nent literary people. On return to America, after extensive tour, he published an account of travels under title of "Tour of Europe," which was much read and greatly admired at time for its easy and beautiful language, and has preserved his name as scholar. Soon after his return from Europe, Prof. Griscom travelled through Eastern and Middle States, lecturing on Joseph Lancaster's system of education in Common Schools, which was generally adopted, and he may be considered father of that system in this country; m. (first) Miss Hatch, and (second) cousin, Rachel, daugh- ter of John and Phœbe Denn, of Salem, N. J .;

WILLIAM GRISCOM, of whom presently;

Everett Griscom, drowned at age of sixteen, while bathing. Like all rest of Griscom family, was remarkable for scholarship, being far advanced in studies at his prema- ture death; he even excelled brother, John, the eminent scholar, above mentioned, and acquired knowledge with greatest facility;

Samuel Griscom, lived in Phila., where he was Supt. of Schuylkill Navigation Co .; m. Ann, dau. of Jeremiah Powell, of Alloway's Creek, Salem co., N. J .; Rachel Griscom;

David Griscom, was also above average man in mental abilities, and a noted educator, having select school near Frankford, Phila. After death of his first wife he moved to N. Y., and associated with Joseph Walker, an English Friend there, as tutor of his children. During this time, they all made an extensive tour in Europe, i. e., Joseph Walker, his two sons and David Griscom. After return to America and second mar- riage, Mr. Griscom purchased land near Woodbury, N. J., and started nursery. His physical health was never very good; m. (first) Anne Whitlock, and (second) her sister, Jane Whitlock.

WILLIAM GRISCOM, second son of William and Rachel (Denn) Griscom, mar- ried Ann, daughter of Samuel and Sarah Stewart, of Salem, New Jersey, and

John Abriscom

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resided in the early part of their married life in that county, but in later life with their sons, Samuel and William, near Frankford, Philadelphia.

Issue of William and Ann (Stewart ) Griscom:

Samuel Griscom, who when quite young opened boarding school at Clermont, near Frankford, at same place where his uncle, David, had conducted school several years previously. These Griscom schools (or more properly, this Griscom school, as Samuel probably succeeded his uncle directly) were patronized by best people in that day, and are probably still remembered by some of older residents of the city, who were students there. Samuel Griscom's parents resided with him at Clermont until his marriage with Sidney, dau. of Yeamans Gillingham, soon after which they resided with son, William, as above stated. Samuel Griscom and family moved to Petersburg, Va., when be be- came engineer of that city.

William Griscom, m. (first) Mary, a cousin, dau. of James and Anne Stewart, of Cum- berland co., N. J .; (second) Sarah Whitlock, of Frankford, Phila. co., Pa., dau. of Isaac Whitlock;

George Griscom, member of Phila. Bar, m. Mercy Brown;

JOHN DENN GRISCOM, b. in Salem, N. J., March 25, 1809, d. July 23, 1890; of whom presently ;

Mary Griscom, m. Samuel Stewart, of Ind., son of James Stewart, of Alloway's Creek, Salem Co., N. J. They had no children; in 1876 her husband having died, Mary re- turned to N. J. and was living at Woodbury;

Charles Griscom, m. Elizabeth, widow of Joseph Powell, and dau. of William Denn, a cousin in some degree. He d. prior to 1876, leaving widow and six children.

JOHN DENN GRISCOM, M. D., son of William and Anne (Stewart) Griscom, studied medicine, graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1838, and became one of the prominent members of the medical profession in Philadelphia. In later life he spent much time in Europe for the benefit of his health. He mar- ried, November 6, 1839, Margaret W. Acton, born in Salem, New Jersey, Novem- ber 23, 1819, died December 5, 1896, daughter of Clement Acton, of Salem, New Jersey, by his second wife, Hannah, born 1780, daughter of James Mason Wood- nutt, by his wife, Margaret, daughter of Preston and Hannah (Smith) Carpenter, of Carpenter's Landing, New Jersey, and a descendant of Governor Thomas Lloyd, and of Samuel Carpenter and Samuel Preston, Provincial Councillors of Pennsylvania.

Benjamin Acton, the first American ancestor of Margaret W. (Acton) Gris- com, is first mentioned in the records of Salem county, New Jersey, in or about the year 1677 ; therefore, though there is no exact record of the time of his arrival, he probably came with Christopher White, William Hancock, et al, in the "Kent," which landed at New Salem, August 23, 1677. He purchased of John Fenwick a lot of sixteen acres on Fenwick street, now called East Broadway, on which he built his house. He was also the proprietor of a tannery, an industry engaged in largely by the upper class of the early colonists. He was a worthy and able mem- ber of the Society of Friends, and in 1682, he and another were appointed to re- pair and build an addition to the meetinghouse. When the town of New Salem was incorporated in 1695, Benjamin Acton was chosen Recorder. He was also one of the official surveyors, and took part in laying out the county lands and high- ways. In 1727 he built a brick house on his Fenwick street lot, which is still stand- ing ; it was hip-roofed and is now one of the ancient landmarks of the city of Salem. Benjamin Acton married, about 1689, Christiana --- , and had issue :

Elizabeth Acton, b. at Salem, Feb. 26, 1690-1; m. Dec., 1712, Francis Reynolds;

Mary Acton, b. Dec. 17, 1692; m. 1715, William Willis;

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BENJAMIN ACTON, JR., b. Oct. 19, 1695; of whom presently;

Lydia Acton, b. Jan. 24, 1697-8;

Joshua Acton, b. Sept. 9, 1700.

BENJAMIN ACTON, JR., born October 19, 1695, inherited his father's lot on Fen- wick street, and in 1729 erected on another part of it a much larger brick dwell- ing, of which, though partly remodelled, the original walls still remain. He also inherited the tannery which he conducted. He married, in 1727, Elizabeth, widow of Thomas Hill, and they had issue, five children, viz .:

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Colonial families of Philadelphia, Volume II, Part 19

Author: Jordan, John Woolf, 1840-1921, ed Publication date: 1911 Publisher: New York : Lewis Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 978

Author: Jordan, John Woolf, 1840-1921, ed
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: New York : Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 978