Colonial families of Philadelphia, Volume II, Part 60

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

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Joseph and Pleasant Paulin (Milner) had issue :

Joseph Milner, b. June 1, 1691; inherited a portion of his father's land, and has de- scendants living in that vicinity ;

Mary Milner, b. Nov. 27, 1692, of whom we have no further record;

Sarah Milner, b. July 27, 1694; m. Sept. 5, 1716, John Knowles, and settled on part of her father's tract, on "Knowles' Creek," Makefield township, where descendants of the name resided to the present generation;

JOHN MILNER, b. March 18, 1695-6, d. at Burlington, N. J., Aug., 1741; m. Martha Tay- lor; of whom presently;

Jane Milner, b. April 26, 1698, d. May 12, 1698;

Rachel Milner, m. Jan. 2, 1716-17, Timothy Smith, Sheriff, 1728-30, and 1734-36; and he purchased 200 acres of the original tract surveyed to his father-in-law, Joseph Milner, of his brother-in-law, John Milner, in 1723.

JOHN MILNER, second son of Joseph and Pleasant ( Paulin) Milnor, born in Makefield township, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, March 18, 1695-6, married under the care of Falls Meeting, in 1717, Martha Taylor, permission granted at the Monthly Meeting held February 6, 1716-17. She was a daughter of Philip and Juliana Taylor, early settlers in Oxford township, Philadelphia county, and the founders of the prominent family of the name in Bucks county, for whom Taylorsville was named. It is not known that Philip Taylor ever lived in Bucks county, and his daughter Martha probably accompanied her brother Benjamin when he settled in Makefield township. Elizabeth Taylor, another sister of Ben- jamin, married John Hough, son of Richard Hough, Provincial Councillor, etc .. and they settled on the Richard Hough plantation on the Delaware, called "Hough- ton," adjoining the Milner tract. John Milner continued to reside in Makefield, probably on his inheritance of two hundred acres of his father's tract until 1723. when by deed dated May 29, 1723, he conveyed it to Timothy Smith, and at about that date removed to Burlington county, New Jersey. He was one of the trus- tees of Falls Monthly Meeting, to whom the land belonging to that meeting was conveyed in 1721.

The will of John Milner, of Burlington, is dated August 10, 1741, and was proved five days later, August 15, 1741. It mentions his "loving wife Martha," who is to bring up their sons, Thomas and William, till they be fit to learn some trade, she to act as their guardian until they be of the age of twenty-one years, if she long remain his widow ; in case of her re-marriage his son Joseph is to act as guardian and in case of his death the second son John. It also mentions daughters Martha and Mary. Martha (Taylor) Milner married (second) June 2, 1752, Reese Peters, of Philadelphia, and removed with him to that city.

WILLIAM MILNOR, born at Burlington, New Jersey, 1737, the father of Anna (Milnor ) Klapp, was the youngest son of Jolin and Martha (Taylor) Milner. He accompanied his mother to Philadelphia on her second marriage, then a lad of fifteen, and in compliance with the direction in his father's will, and the almost universal custom of the day, that boys of whatever station should be apprenticed to some useful trade, he was apprenticed to the cooper trade, which he followed

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for some years, later engaging in trade, and shipping business at the "Old Ferry" at the foot of Walnut street, where he was located at the outbreak of the Revolu- tion. Though a birthright member of the Society of Friends, and affiliated with Philadelphia Monthly Meeting, where his marriage took place in 1760, his patri- otism led him to violate the ultra peace principles of that Society, by becoming a member of the Associators of Philadelphia, the first armed force organized for the defence of the liberties and rights of the Colonies, under the direction of the Committee of Safety, and we find him enrolled as a member of Captain Cowper- thwaite's company, First Battalion, Philadelphia Militia, in 1776.

From correspondence in the possession of his descendants in Philadelphia it appears that William Milnor was personally associated with George Washington, and enjoyed his confidence and friendship. From one of these letters bearing date January, 1776, it appears that William Milnor had previously to that date applied for a captain's commission in the Continental service, but later withdrew it; the letter stating the reasons for withdrawing. A letter from Washington also shows that the latter was in some way associated with William Miller in the matter of salting and shipping fish, as Washington states in this letter, "I have not been unmindful of my promise in reference to the fish-house." A tradition relates that William Milnor was factor for Washington at Mt. Vernon, but it seems hardly probable, as Milnor was during this period in business in Philadelphia.

The letter to General Washington of January, 1776, is in part as follows :

"Your kind favor of 20th December came safe to hand and gave me relief. I am happy in assurances that I have not displeased you in my conduct so far I am unhappy however, because I cannot get into the Army -- I had thrown in a petition for a Captaincy and had the greatest prospect of Success, Mr. Franklin, in consequence of your letter had made the way clear for me * * There follows some explanation in reference to the objections of his family and the necessity of continuing his business or suffer such loss as would place his family in danger of want, he continues, "Their reasonings, together with the entreaties of my dear partner, prevailed on me to withdraw my petition. I never found any prospect of fatigue an annoyance to any undertaking, when a probability of a good genteel sustenance for my little flock offered in view; and this business would be very agreeable one to me if these unhappy disturbances were at an end. But I cannot conclude this letter until I have assured your Excellency that I shall remain a poor, unhappy wretch, as long as I am chain- ed, and cannot take an active part in my Country's cause. Whether a true patriotic concern for my Country, or secret thirst after honor, or both combined, is the spring by which my spirits are actuated, I have the vanity to believe the former is the chief motive, and that only the experience is wanted to make me a soldier."

The name of William Milnor appears on the list of those taking the oath of allegiance to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and renouncing allegiance to the English crown, less than two weeks after the passage of the act requiring such oath.

William Milnor was disowned from the Society of Friends for his activity in military affairs, and at the close of the Revolution was one of the founders of the Society of Free Quakers, to which a number of prominent Philadelphians, who like him had been disowned, belonged.

At about the time of the adoption of the Constitution, William Milnor was appointed United States Gauger for the Port of Philadelphia and held that posi- tion until his death, February 5, 1807, at the age of seventy years. His will shows that his son Isaac had largely fulfilled the duties of the office during the later years, when his father's age and debility had prevented his active participation therein, and Isaac was named as his successor and held the office many years.

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William Milnor resided at the time of his death on "the north side of Morris Alley," which property he devised to his wife Anna. He also owned property in Frankford and at Bush Hill, which he directed to be sold.

William Milnor married at Philadelphia Monthly Meeting, November 20, 1760, Anna, daughter of John Breintnall, by his second wife, Hannah Sharpe, and granddaughter of David Breintnall, who came to Philadelphia from London, England, in 1681, bringing a certificate from Breach Monthly Meeting, in Derby- shire, dated 8mo. (October) 10, 1681, addressed to "ffriends at London or to whom it may concern." He married at Philadelphia Monthly Meeting, December 6, 1683, Jane Blanchard, who had produced a certificate from Ringwood, Hamp- shire, dated IImo. (January) II, 1682-3, theirs being, it is said the second mar- riage solemnized under the care of Philadelphia Monthly Meeting. David Breint- nall engaged in the mercantile business in Philadelphia until his death in 1732. His will dated October 2, 1732, was proved December 30, 1732. It mentions his sons, David and John, daughters, Jane Harper, Hannah Breintnall, Sarah Lancaster ; son-in-law, John Harper, and grandchildren, Jane, Hester, Sarah and Anna Breintnall, daughters of his son Joseph ; Mary and Hannah Harper ; David, Mary, Rachel and Elizabeth Breintnall; and Jane, Thomas, John and Sarah Lancaster. Jane (Blanchard) Breintnall died August 25, 1725.

Of the children of David and Jane ( Blanchard) Breintnall. David Breintnall Jr. married, February 23, 1710-1I, under the care of Philadelphia Monthly Meet- ing, Grace, daughter of George Parker, of New Jersey, by his wife, Esther, daughter of Samuel Andrews, an early settler of New Jersey, a near relative of Sir Edmond Andross, Governor and Captain General under the Duke of York, for New York and New Jersey, as Elizabeth Andrews, of Philadelphia, a sister of Esther, devises to her grand-niece, Mary (Breintnall) Peters, daughter of David and Grace ( Parker) Breintnall, and wife of William Peters, and mother of Judge Richard Peters, "a silver tankard marked 'E A' formerly belonging to Sir Edmond Andrews, heretofore Governor of New York"; she also devises to Mrs. Peters silverware "that have my father's arms and my own cypher engraved on them."

Jane Breintnall, daughter of David Sr., married, January 11, 1704-5, Nathan Faucit, of Philadelphia, who died in 1708; (second) November 28, 1710, John Harper, mentioned in her father's will as "son-in-law."

Joseph Breintnall, second son of David and Jane, married, December 27, 1723, Esther, another daughter of George and Esther ( Andrews) Parker, and she and her children, George, Jane, Esther, Sarah, and Anna, are mentioned in the will of Mary Andrews before referred to. Joseph Breintnall died intestate in 1746, and his widow Esther, October 18, 1762, aged sixty-four years.

Hannah Breintnall, mentioned in her father's will above quoted, died unmar- ried, October 12, 1737. Sarah Breintnall, remaining daughter, married, July 22, 1714, John Lancaster.

John Breintnall, father of Anna ( Breintnall) Milnor, and grandfather of Anna (Milnor) Klapp, was probably the third son of David and Jane (Blanchard) Breintnall. He was born in Philadelphia, and was a birthright member of Phila- delphia Monthly Meeting, and married under their care, May 23, 1717, Susanna, daughter of Jacob Shoemaker, by his wife Margaret. They came to Philadelphia in the ship, "America," with Francis Daniel Pastorius, in 1682. Susanna (Shoe-

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maker ) Breintnall died February 22, 1719-20, leaving two children: David Breintnall, 3d., and Mary, married February 10, 1742-43, Thomas Kite, and not William Peters as stated in the Peters Genealogy.

John Breintnall married (second) at Northampton Meeting House, Burlington county, New Jersey, under the auspices of Burlington Monthly Meeting, October 29, 1724, Hannah, born 1707, daughter of Hon. Hugh Sharpe, of Eellingborough township, Burlington county, by his wife, Rachel (French) Allen.

Hugh Sharpe, was in his youth and at the time of his marriage a resident of Gloucester county, New Jersey, and was of the same family, possibly a son of Thomas Sharpe, one of the earliest English purchasers of land in the Fenwick Colony, who on September 19, 1681, with Mark Newby, William Bates, Thomas Thackera, and George Goldsmith, "sett saile from ye harbour belonging to ye City of Dublin, in ye Kingdom of Ireland, in a Pink called Ye Owner's Adventure. whereof Thomas Lurtin, of London, was Commander-who being taken sick, his mate John Dagger took command, * and be ye good Providence of God, we arrived in ye Capes of Dellaware ye Eighteenth day of November fol- lowing, and so up ye bay until we came to Elsinburgh and were landed with our goods and Families att Salem, where we abode ye Winter." So reads the narra- tive of Thomas Sharpe of his coming to America, and continues, "It being favor- able weather, purchasing a boat amongst us, we had an opportunity to make search up and down yt wch was called ye Third Tenth which had been reserved for ye Proprietaries dwelling in Ireland." As a result of these "searches up and down ye Third Tenth" Thomas Sharpe and his party "pitched down by Newtowne Creeke" in what became later Newton township, Gloucester county, where Sharpe took up a large tract of land and continued to live until his death in 1729, having filled a prominent place in the affairs of the Province. His will does not mention a son Hugh, but neither does it mention other children whom contemporary records show to have belonged to him. His son, John Sharpe, took a certificate from the "Monthly Meeting held at the House of Thomas Shakle" on Cooper's creek in Newton township, dated January 8, 1707-8, to Philadelphia Monthly Meeting, where it was received on January 30, 1707-8. He, like Hugh Sharpe, later set- tled in Burlington county, where he died in 1725. The name of Hugh appears in the family line of this branch of the family in nearly every generation.

On April 10, 1710, Hugh Sharpe and Rachel, his wife, took a certificate from this "Monthly Meeting at the House of Thomas Shackle" to Chesterfield Monthly Meeting, and settled in Wellingborough township in Burlington county, where he is closely associated with John Sharpe and his family, a witness to the will of John and his son John, and to numerous deeds made by that family.

Hugh Sharpe was elected to the Provincial Assembly of New Jersey in 1707, and "being a Quaker" made his declaration as such on taking his seat in that body, March 3, 1708, and his name appears on the Journal of the Council of New Jer- sey, as having appeared before that body as one of a committee from the Assem- bly in 1709-10-13. He was commissioned as one of the "Commission of ye Peace of ye County of Burlington" March 28, 1719, and was again commissioned as a Justice of Burlington county in 1739, and probably served from the date of his first commission until his death in 1742. In 1715 he purchased of Thomas More, of New Inn, county Middlesex, England, "one full share or Proprietary right,

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being one-ninetieth share" in the Province of West Jersey, and there was sur- veyed to him thereunder several large tracts in different localities, notable among them being a great tract in Wellingborough township, whereon he resided, known as "Neninave's Land." He was very prominent in the affairs of that locality, his name appearing frequently on the official records, as officiating in the settlement of estates, etc., being usually denominated in these records as "Gentleman" though sometimes as "Yeoman." His will dated October 5, 1741, proved January 13, 1742, devises to his wife Rachel a lot fronting on Pearl street in Burlington and thirty pounds annually for life; to his "daughter-in-law" (stepdaughter ) Mary Mickle, wife of John Mickle, "all manner of debts owing to me by her ;" to Friends Meeting at Burlington five pounds; "having sold to my son-in-law Will- iam Coate my plantation whereon I now dwell" for 800 pounds, he directs that Coate pay 400 pounds thereof to his other son-in-law, John Breintnall ; and after the death of his wife all his estate is to be divided equally between his two sons- in-law, William Coate and John Breintnall, who are also named as executors.

In 1711 Hugh Sharpe received a certificate from Burlington Meeting to return to England, but we have no record to show that he made such a journey.

Hugh Sharpe married, about the year 1705, Rachel (French) Allen, widow of Matthew Allen, of Chester, Burlington county, New Jersey, and daughter of Thomas French, of Whitton, Northamptonshire, England, who married there June 12, 1660, Jane Atkins, and as shown by an entry in his family Bible, "i and my wife and nine children through the great mercy of God came to this country and landed at Burlington on the 23d of the 7mo. 1680." His wife Jane died October 5, 1692, and he married (second) at Philadelphia, October, 1696, Elizabeth Stan- ton. Thomas French died in 1697 or 1698, when about to re-embark for England. The record of the baptism of his children, nine of whom accompanied him to New Jersey, appears of record at Whitton, and Rachel, the third and eldest surviving child, was baptized April 3, 1664. She accompanied her parents to New Jersey in 1680, and married (first) Matthew Allen, of Chester, aforesaid, one of the largest landowners in West Jersey, son of Jedidiah Allen, who had come to New Jersey from New England. Matthew died in 1701, leaving sons Matthew and Thomas, and daughters, Mercy and Mary, the latter, who married (first) Jarvis Stockdell, and (second) John Mickle, being the "daughter-in-law" mentioned in Hugh Sharpe's will. Hugh Sharpe was appointed guardian of Thomas Allen, February 12 1708-9, the letters of guardianship stating that he had married Rachel Allen, the mother of the minor.

Hugh and Rachel (French) Sharpe had two daughters, Hannah, married John Breintnall, in 1724, and Rebecca, married William Coate, at Burlington Meeting in 1727.

The will of John Breintnall, of Philadelphia, dated June 5, 1747, and probated July 1, 1747, nine days after his decease, devises all his estate to his wife Hannah, and his six daughters by her, naming her as executrix. The will of his widow, Hannah Breintnall, dated June 26, 1769, and proven August 27, 1770, devises her estate to her daughters, Rachel Lewis, Rebecca Weyman, Elizabeth Ackley, Martha Lowther, Letitia Tillyer and Anna Milnor. Thomas Say, of Philadelphia, is named as executor. Hannah (Sharpe) Breintnall was a member of Philadelphia

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Monthly Meeting, having brought a certificate from Burlington Monthly Meeting, dated 6mo. 27, 1725.

Of the son of John Breintnall by his first wife, David Breintnall 3d., little is known; he was devised "one shilling and no more" by his father's will. The daughter Mary, by first wife, married at Philadelphia Monthly Meeting, February 10, 1742-43, Thomas Kite, son of Abraham and Mary (Peters) Kite, of Blockley, and grandson of James Kite, by his wife, Mary Warner, of the Warners of Blockley, an account of which is given in these volumes. The record of the mar- riage of Mary Breintnall to Thomas Kite states specifically that she was a daugh- ter of John Breintnall by his wife Susanna, deceased, and thus proves that the statement in the Peters genealogy that she married William Peters in 1743 is an error; the Mary Breintnall who married William Peters being her cousin, the daughter of David Breintnall, Jr., by his wife Grace Parker. The latter fact is abundantly confirmed by the will of Mary Andrews, before quoted, which specifi- cally states that Mary Peters was her grandniece, granddaughter of her sister Esther (Andrews) Parker; no relationship existed between Mary Breintnall, daughter of John and Mary Andrews.

John Breintnall and his second wife Hannah Sharpe had issue:

Rachel Breintnall, m. at Phila. Monthly Meeting, Nov. 26, 1747, Jonathan, of Phila., son of Evan and Mary Lewis, of Merion;

Rebecca Breintnall, m. at Christ Church, Phila., July 5, 1751, Edward Weyman;

Elizabeth Breintnall, m. at Phila. Monthly Meeting, May 28, 1752, Thomas, son of Thomas Ackley, of Oxford;

Martha Breintnall, m. May 11, 1752, at Christ Church, James Lowther;

Letitia Breintnali, m. - Tillyer, mentioned in her mother's will;

Anna Breintnall, m. at Phila. Monthly Meeting, Nov. 20, 1760, William Milnor, of Phila., before mentioned.

William Milnor and his wife, Anna Breintnall, had issue as follows:

John Milner, b. June 18, 1761. d. July 11, 1761 ;

Isaac Milnor, b. Jan. 2, 1763, d. Oct. 20, 1820; m. Hannah Parrish. He was elect- ed a member of the State in Schuylkill, June 24, 1810. He assisted his father in the duties of U. S. Gauger of the Port of Phila., and succeeded to that posi- tion in 1807, and filled it until his death in 1820;

Rachel Milnor, b. Feb. 16, 1765; m. Jonathan Roberts, and had a number of chil- dren, whose births are recorded in a book in possession of the Klapp family; Rebecca Milnor, b. July 30, 1767, d. Aug. 14, 1767;

Hon. William Milnor, b. July 26, 1769, d. Dec. 13, 1848; resided for a time in Penn's Manor, Bucks co., where he owned a farm. He was elected to the U. S. Congress from Bucks co. in 1808, and re-elected in 1810. At the expiration of his second term he removed to Phila. (1812), and engaged in the wholesale iron business. He was again elected to Congress from that city, 1815, and again in 1821, serving in the 10th, 11th, 14th and 17th congresses. He was elected a member of the State in Schuylkill, Oct. 2, 1816, was one of the committee who selected the second site of the Castle near Grays Ferry in 1821; was elected a Councillor in 1822, and Secretary of State in 1825. He was one of the Re- ception Committee when the State entertained Lafayette in 1825, and in 1829, wrote a "History of the State in Schuylkill," which was published in the fol- lowing year. He was elected Mayor of Phila, in 1829, and at the expiration of his term in 1831 removed to Burlington co., N. J., where he resided until his death in 1848. He m. Aug. 10, 1792, Margaret Purves, b. Aug. 10, 1773, and they had five children :

Dr. William Milnor, physician, and a surgeon of the U. S. N .:

Anna ;

John Milnor, removed to Baltimore, m. and left issue;

James Milnor, d. in Phila., at the age of twenty-one.

Thomas Milnor, youngest son, b. Jan. 13, 1804, was a druggest in Phila. until 1833, when he removed to Burlington, N. J. He d. at the latter

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place, March 16, 1868. He was Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Burlington co., and had served as a member of City Council while a resi- dent of Phila. He m. Marianne Van Reynegom, and had issue:

Francis William Milnor, b. May 25, 1830, d. Sept. 24, 1895; m. May 9, 1865, Jane Maris, dau. of Henry and Margaret (Maris) Morris, b. Sept. 5, 1831, and had issue :

Thomas William Milnor, b. Oct. 27, 1866; m. Alice, dau. of Robert Franklin and Mary Frances Baley, b. Sept. 29, 1866; Francis William Milnor, b. Nov. 30, 1871, d. inf .;

James Rockwell Milnor, b. 1833, d. 1855, unm .;

Anna Purves Milnor, b. 1835; m. 1857, Caspar Wistar Morris, b. 1832, d. 1895; had issue :

Thomas Milnor Morris, b. 1859; m. 1886, Mary Wasser;

Caspar Wistar Morris, b. 1861;

Marian Milnor Morris, b. 1864; m. 1892, Richard Wistar Davids, b. 1861, and had issue: Elizabeth Jacobs Davids, b. 1895 ;

Jacob Giles Morris, b. 1867; m. 1898, Bertha Haydon, and had issue : Ellen Haydon Morris, b. 1899, d. inf .;

Rebecca Davids Morris, b. 1870; m. 1889, Philip W. Heraty, b. 1868, d. 1903, and had issue :

Edward John Heraty, b. 1890; Margaret Louise Heraty, b. 1891 ;

Philip Heraty, b. 1896; Marian Morris Heraty, b. 1900.

Rebecca Davids (Morris) Heraty, m. (second) 1904, Dr. J. E. Wasser, and had issue : Anna Rebecca Wasser, b. 1905; John Edward Wasser, b. 1906.

Jeanie Frances Morris, b. 1875; m. 1897, Norman Prentice Sloane, and had issue :

Worrell Wistar Sloane, b. 1898;

Winifred Morris Sloane, b. 1900; Henry Milnor Sloane, b. 1902; Marian Morris Davids Sloane, b. 1904; Norman Prentice Sloane, b. 1905.

Benjamin Milnor, b. June 12, 1771, d. July 8, 1772;

Hon. James Milnor, D. D., b. in Phila., June 25, 1773, was a student at the Univ. of Pa., entering the Coll. Dept. in 1789, and taking his degree in 1793. He studied law under William Rawle, Esq., and on his motion was admitted to the Phila. Bar, in 1794. He practiced his profession in Phila. until 1813, and was known as the "honest lawyer," a tribute paid him by Stephen Girard. He was a member of Common Council, and also of Select Council, 1808-13, serving as president of the latter body, 1808-09. He was Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Masons of Pa., 1805-13. He was a representative in the Twelfth U. S. Congress, 1812-14. Taking up his studies for the ministry he became assistant rector of Christ Church and St. Peter's in 1814, and served until 1816, when he was appointed rector of St. George's Protestant Episcopal Church, which charge he filled until his death in that city, April 8, 1845. He was a man of fine intellectual ability, a great student, and one of the most eminent and learned divines, and controversial writers on religious subjects of his time. He m. Eleanor, dau. of Henry Pauling, of Norristown, Pa., of a family long prom- inent in Montgomery co., and doubtless of the same ancestry as his great-great- grandmother, Pleasant Paulin. They had two sons, viz .:

William Henry Milnor, b. in Phila., 1807; studied medicine with his uncle, Dr. Joseph Klapp, and graduated from the Medical Dept. of the Univ. of Pa .; practiced medicine in New York City, until the outbreak of the Civil War, when he entered the U. S. A. as surgeon, and d. in the service at Savage's station, five miles from Richmond, Va., in the spring of 1862. He was twice Grand Master of the Masonic fraternity of the State of New York. He m. (first) his cousin, Anna Milnor, dau. of his uncle and preceptor, Dr. Joseph Klapp, by his wife, Anna Milnor (see forward) ; and (second) in 1840, her sister, Margaret Milnor Klapp; by the latter he had issue :

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Colonial families of Philadelphia, Volume II, Part 60

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