Colonial families of Philadelphia, Volume II, Part 94

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

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MARY PIERSON STEEL, born November 3, 1832, died May 14, 1888, daughter of Canby and Amelia Pierson Steel, married, May 20, 1852, Alfred Kirk, born No- vember 1, 1825, died February 1, 1890, son of John and Tabitha Lukens Kirk. Their children : William, Amelia, Hannah, Ellwood, William, Mary.

PER

ACUTA

CARPENTER ARMS.

CARPENTER FAMILY.

MILES CARPENTER, a native of England, came to Philadelphia when quite young, at the invitation of an aunt whose name has not been preserved. This relative, however, died before his arrival, after having made provision for her expected relative. On his arrival he found a home in Germantown and resided there all his life, dying in 1791. He married, by license dated March 2, 1763, Mary, daughter of Conrad Steer, of Germantown.

Issue of Miles and Mary (Steer) Carpenter:

CONRAD CARPENTER, b. 1766; d. Oct., 1823; m. Ann Adams; of whom presently : Benjamin Carpenter: Charles Carpenter ; Mary Carpenter ; Margaret Carpenter ; Sarah Carpenter.

CONRAD CARPENTER, eldest son of Miles and Mary (Steer) Carpenter, born in Germantown, Philadelphia, 1766, was a successful business man, and became an extensive landholder there and elsewhere. He was a speculator in real estate, and between the years 1812 and 1820 purchased many large tracts of land in the coun- ties of Philadelphia, Bucks and Montgomery, as they came into the market, and dividing them into smaller tracts to suit purchasers, soon marketed them at a large profit. He was one of the first directors of the first bank at Germantown, and a commissioner of the Schuylkill Navigation Company. He died in October, 1823.

Conrad Carpenter married Ann Adams, descendant on the maternal side of Wigard Levering, native of Gemen, Westphalia, and his wife, Magdalena Boker. native of city of Leyden, who came to Pennsylvania, 1685, and settled in German- town, later removing to Roxborough.

Issue of Conrad and Ann ( Adams) Carpenter:

Benjamin E. Carpenter ; Charles Carpenter; Miles N. Carpenter ; GEORGE W. CARPENTER, of whom presently: Mary Carpenter; Eliza Carpenter; Caroline Carpenter ; Albert G. Carpenter ; Almira Carpenter.

GEORGE W. CARPENTER, fourth child of Conrad and Ann (Adams ) Carpenter. was born in Germantown, Philadelphia, July 31, 1802. He was educated at the Germantown Academy, then a famous institution of learning, receiving an excel- lent classical education, as evidenced by his excellent knowledge of Latin and other languages, shown in his writings in later life. His training in the sciences was evi- dently quite as thorough, and with his taste for scientific research, later made him eminent in that field.

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At the age of eighteen years Mr. Carpenter entered the drug store of Charles Marshall, and serving an apprenticeship in that well-known establishment, re- mained there for eight years. In 1826 he engaged in the drug business on his own account, and for many years conducted a large and successful business, becoming one of the prominent business men of Philadelphia.

During his association with the Marshal drug store, Mr. Carpenter became ac- quainted with Thomas Nuttall, the celebrated naturalist, from whom he acquired a taste for research in the field of natural science, to which he gave much attention throughout his life. He became a member of the Academy of Natural Science, of Philadelphia, 1825, and thereafter took an active part in its proceedings, and in the collection of its exhibits. His opinion on local geology was of recognized value, and his collection of minerals, with descriptions of their characteristics and localities, was furnished to Prof. Cleveland, who introduced Mr. Carpenter's classi- fication in the second edition of his "System of Mineralogy."

George W. Carpenter soon became known, through his publication and re- searches, and his correspondence with men of science and learning, as a man of some note in the field of scientific research, and at an early age was made a corre- sponding and honorary member of many scientific societies of Europe. His leisure hours were spent in mineralogical investigations and in recording his experience and views upon various scientific subjects. He was elected treasurer of the Acad- emy of Natural Sciences, 1828, and filled that position until his death. He was also a member of numerous other scientific associations, both in this country and in Europe. In 1836 he purchased 500 acres of land in Germantown, and erected thereon his magnificent home, called in honor of his wife, "Phil-Ellena."

The Carpenter homestead, "Phil-Ellena," was located at the corner of Main street and Carpenter lane, Germantown. The grounds contained more than one hundred acres and extended from Main street to Wissahickon avenue, and from Upsal street to Carpenter lane. They contained extensive lawns, dotted with a re- markable collection of fine forest trees, a deer park, two lakes, extensive drive- ways, twenty-five acres of woodland, extensive kitchen and flower gardens, etc. A high stone wall enclosed the grounds for nearly a mile in length on the north.

The mansion stood about two hundred feet back from Main street. It was commenced in 1841, and finished in 1844; was of Grecian architecture, about one hundred and sixty-five feet in length, with large porticos front and back, supported by Ionic columns, with Capitals copied from the Temple of Minerva Palos, at Athens. Within it was fitted up in the most luxurious manner. The ceilings on the first and second floors were frescoed by the famous Italian artist, Monachesi, and were supported, on the first floor, by Scagliola columns. One room was a pic- ture gallery containing paintings by European and American artists, several of them from the collections of Joseph Bonaparte, at Bordentown, New Jersey. Sev- eral pieces of statuary were also from this collection, among them was a bust of Napoleon, by Conova. To the north was the clock tower, sixty-five feet high, faslı- ioned after the style of a Chinese Pagoda, from which for sixty years the great clock beamed with its great face upon all passers-by on Germantown road. To the south was the museum, an oblong building of Grecian Temple style. It contained thousands of specimens of various departments of natural history, many of them very valuable. Not only Thomas Nuttall, the owner's friend, but men like John J. Audubon visited this museum with pleasure.

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Extensive greenhouses and a grapery contained rare plants raised from clippings given to Mr. Carpenter by the distinguished botanist, Nuttall. This collection was given to the city of Philadelphia, by his daughter, Mrs. Ellen D. C. Bennett, 1893, and is now in Horticultural Hall, Fairmount Park, in a wing especially erected to receive them.

Mr. Carpenter also took a practical interest in agriculture ; he owned three farms which he stocked and had worked under his own direction or supervision ; besides holding several other farms which he rented. He was a large real estate holder in the city and county of Philadelphia, owning 400 houses, stores, and factories there.

The success of several railroads, in which George W. Carpenter took an active part, gave him in public estimation, some reputation as a manager, and he became an active member of boards of directors of several railroads located in different parts of the state, which were built principally by Philadelphia capital, and were calculated to promote the trade of the city.

He was one of the directors of the Germantown and Norristown Railroad Company for many years, and when that company was threatened with bank- ruptey and an entire abandonment of the road, it was largely through his efforts and influence that it was placed upon a solid financial basis and became one of the best paying roads in the country. He was one of the committee of organization of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, and a member of its board of directors until his death. As a member of the organization committee, he not only sub- seribed liberally to its stock, but induced other Philadelphia capitalists to give it their financial support. He was at one time a director of six other railroad com- panies ; a director of the Germantown Bank, also a director of one of the leading insurance companies of the city, and filled a number of official positions in other associations, and frequently acted as executor and trustee of large estates. He very naturally shrank from the duties and responsiblities of so many enterprises, but was persuaded to accept them by pressing solicitations of friends and by a de- sire to promote, as far as he was able, objects of so great importance to the inter- est of his native city. He died at "Phil-Ellena," June 9, 1860.

George W. Carpenter married (first), December 11, 1836, Annabelle Wilbank, by whom he had one son,

GEORGE W. CARPENTER, JR., b. Oct. 22, 1837; m. (first) Mary Rodman Fisher, ( second) Susan Emlen (Jones) Heath ; of whom presently.

He married (second ). February 16, 1841, Ellen, born in Philadelphia, Decem- ber 9, 1823, died May 18. 1900, daughter of Joseph Douglass, by his wife, Cath- arine Bitting (a granddaughter of Jacob Graff. who came to American, 1741, by his wife, Catharine Able, and great-granddaughter of Jacob Graff, of Heilder- sheim, Germany), and granddaughter of Capt. John Douglass, of the Revolution.

Capt. John Douglass was a son of another Capt. John Douglass, from London, England. by his wife, Elizabeth Crispin, and was born in Philadelphia, July, 1750. At the outbreak of the Revolution he raised a company of riflemen, which was in- corporated into the old Eleventh Regiment, Continental Line. Col. Richard Hump- ton, and was commissioned its Captain, November 13, 1776. It is related that Capt. Douglass sold his property to raise funds with which to clothe and equip his company. The Eleventh Regiment was badly crippled at the battle of the Brandywine, and was incorporated into the Tenth Regiment. July 1. 1778. Capt.

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Douglass served throughout the war, and at its close returned to Philadelphia, and filled a number of positions of honor and trust. He was High Sheriff of Phila- delphia, 1823, and died in that city in 1840. As shown by the church records, he was buried with military honors, his funeral being attended by a very large con- course of people. Among the distinguished persons present were Hon. Richard M. Johnson, then Vice-President of United States, under whom Capt. Douglas is said to have served in the War of 1812-14, and was present when Col. Johnson shot and killed Tecumseh, the Indian chief, at the battle of Tippecanoe.

Capt. John Douglas married Anne Jones, of Kingsessing, Philadelphia, and their son, Joseph Douglas, born 1779, married, 1809, Catharine Bitting, and was father of Ellen Douglas, who became second wife of George W. Carpenter.

Issue of George W. and Ellen (Douglas) Carpenter:

John Quincy Carpenter, b. at "Phil-Ellena," Germantown, Phila., Aug. 6, 1842; d. at Rome, Italy, March 16, 1910; received his early education at the Germantown Acad- emy, and at Dr. Lyon's famous school at Haverford, and later was graduated from the Univ. of Pa., class of 1860; impelled by a sense of patriotism he left the university when only eighteen years of age, and enlisted as private in the Commonwealth Artil- lery for three months; later he enlisted in, and aided in recruiting, the One Hundred and Fiftieth Regiment, to form part of the "Bucktail Brigade"; was commissioned, Sept. 1, 1862, Second Lieutenant of Company E, and on Col. Langhorne Wister taking the command a week later, was selected by him as a member of his staff; Lieut. Car- penter had command of his company on the first day of the battle of Gettysburg, July 1, 1863 (having been promoted to First Lieutenant, Oct. 16, 1862) ; was captured by the Confederates, and on the 3d. was started on his march for Richmond, and after an unsuccessful effort to escape, reached there and was confined in Libby Prison until May, 1864, when with others he was transferred to Macon, Ga., and in July, 1864, was one of those drawn by lot to be placed under fire at Charleston, and was confined in the City Hall there, while the city was under bombardment by the Union forces on Morris Island; was removed to Columbia, S. C., in Sept., where he and his brother, Brevet Lieut. Col. Emlen N. Carpenter, after two ineffectual efforts, succeeded in escaping, and remained in hiding until rescued by Sherman's forces on their arrival at Columbia; he accompanied Logan's Corps to Fayetteville, and made his way north; resigned June 7, 1865; commissioned Captain, Jan. 23, 1864, but was never mustered into service with that rank, being at the time a prisoner of war. He was graduated with the degree of A. B. by the Univ. of Pa., while serving in the field. He was one of the earlier members of the Union League and of the Loyal Legion. He studied medicine at the close of the war, and graduated from the medical department of the Univ. of Pa., 1867. He was a member of Delta Chapter, Delta Psi Fraternity. He m., Sept. 6, 1866, Mary Dorrance, dau. of Robert D. Dunning, a descendant of Gov. Bradford, who came to America in the "Mayflower." From 1869 to 1874, he lived abroad; returning to "Phil-Ellena," he resided there until 1885, when he once more went abroad and his death occurred in Italy as previously stated. One daughter:

Sophie Casey Carpenter, m. Signor Eduardo Gordigiani, of Florence, Italy.

Emlen Newbold Carpenter, b. at "Phil-Ellena," Germantown, Jan. 18, 1845; was edu- cated at Germantown Academy, and Dr. Lyon's School at Haverford, Pa .; at out- break of Civil War was preparing himself to enter Harvard University, but aban- doned his studies to enter the military service in defence of the Union, enlisting, first, in a cavalry company, being raised in the neighborhood of Chestnut Hill, finding it was improbable that the organization would be accepted by the government, enlisted as a private in the First Troop, Philadelphia City Cavalry, April 29, 1861, and served with this command three months; mustered out Aug. 17, 1861 ; immediately re-enlisted for three years service in the Sixth Pennsylvania Cavalry, and was commissioned, Sept. 17, 1861, Second Lieutenant of Company D; promoted First Lieutenant, April 15, 1862; Captain of Company E, Feb. 5, 1863; served with distinction during Penin- sular campaign; later with Army of the Potomac, at Chancellorsville and Gettysburg; at the latter battle was aide-de-camp to Gen. George G. Meade, and displayed such gallantry and efficiency that he was highly complimented by the General; Oct., 1863. with his company, rejoined his regiment; at Todd's Tavern, Va., May 7, 1864, in a gallant effort to rescue from the enemy a desperately wounded brother officer, Capt. Carpenter was taken prisoner, and was taken to Libby Prison, thence to Columbia, S. C., and with his brother, Lieut. J. Quincy Carpenter, was rescued by the advancing column of Sherman's Army ; was detailed on the staff of Gen. Howard, and served until March, 1865, when he had a leave of absence to return home to visit his family, and was mustered out May 11. 1865; on March 13. 1865, he was brevetted Major, for

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gallant and meritorious services at Gettysburg; Lieutenant Colonel for like services at Todd's Tavern: his health badly shattered by the hardships endured, he lived for some years abroad, devoting himself to the study of art, later returning to "Phil-Ellena," where he resided until his death, March 17, 1891, sincerely mourned by his many friends; m., May 17, 1866, Hannah Bullock, dan. of William W. Longstreth, of Phila., who survives him; issue :

Ellen Longstreth Carpenter, b. at "Phil-Ellena," July 28, 1867; d. at Ridgefield, Conn., Dec. 30, 1896;

Samuel Emlen Carpenter, b. at "Phil-Ellena," Nov. 24, 1869; m., June 16, 1897, Eleanor, dau. of George W. Crouse, of Akron, O .; five children, all born at Ridgefield :

Emlen Newbold Carpenter, b. June 23, 1898; d. May 9, 1899;

Samuel Emlen Carpenter, Jr., b. June 6, 1899;

Edith Kingsley Carpenter, b. June 16, 1900;

Eleanor Longstreth Carpenter, b. June 16, 1900;

Mildred Douglass Carpenter, b. Nov. 6, 1901.

Frank Carpenter, b. at "Phil-Ellena," May 24, 1847; d. Jan. 4, 1856;

ELLEN DOUGLAS CARPENTER, of whom presently;

Frances Graff Carpenter, b. at "Phil-Ellena," May 22, 1853; m., June 2, 1883, John Da- Costa Newbold, president and treasurer of Eagle Works, Norristown, Pa., son of Richard and Ellen (DaCosta) Newbold ; issue :

Richard Sydney Newbold, b. June 15, 1884;

George W. C. Newbold, b. Feb. 9, 1886; d. Feb. 12, 1901;

John DaCosta Newbold, Jr., b. Ang. 10, 1887;

Ellen Douglas Newbold;

Angela DaCosta Newbold.

A. Sydney Carpenter, b. at "Phil-Ellena," Aug. 25, 1856; graduated at St. Paul's School, Concord, N. H., after which he continued his studies with Rev. Mr. Coleridge, in England, and spent several years in travel abroad; m., Jan. 20, 1891, Amanda, dau. of Hamilton Disston, of Phila .; issue :

Hamilton Disston Carpenter, b. Nov., 1893.

GEORGE W. CARPENTER, JR., only son of George W. and Annabelle ( Wilbank ) Carpenter, of "Phil-Ellena," Germantown, born October 22, 1837, married (first), February 1, 1860, Mary Rodman, born in Philadelphia, August 20, 1838, daughter of Thomas R. Fisher, of "Wakefield," by his wife, Letitia Harvey, born at Ellicott City, Maryland, July 27, 1830, tenth child of Jonathan Ellicott, born in Bucking- ham, Bucks county, Pennsylvania. November 9, 1756, died in Baltimore, Maryland, September 25, 1826, by his wife, Sarah Harvey.

Andrew Ellicott, of Callumpton, Devonshire, England, great-grandfather of Jonathan Ellicott, above mentioned, married, June II, 1677, Elizabeth Hodge, and their eldest son and fourth child, Andrew Ellicott, born at Callumpton, Devonshire, January 3, 1683, was for a number of years engaged in the manufacture of woolen goods at Callumpton ; he married Mary, daughter of Francis Fox, of Cornwall (see Fox family), February 10, 1707, and their eldest son. Andrew Ellicott, Jr .. was born at Callumpton, July 11, 1708.

In 1730 Andrew Ellicott, Sr., having met with business reverses, came to Penn- sylvania with his son, Andrew. Jr., intending to return to England, but his son, Andrew, Jr., having met an become enamored of Ann, daughter of Thomas Bye, of Buckingham, Bucks county, induced his father to remain with him in Pennsyl- vania, and marrying the lady of his choice settled on a farm in Solebury. Bucks county, where he died in 1741. The father died in Bucks county, 1756, and the mother, Mary (Cox) Ellicott, Cornwall, England, 1759.

Andrew and Ann (Bye) Ellicott were married, August 17. 1731 ; after Andrew's death, in 1741, the widow married (second) George Wall, and was the mother of

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Col. George Wall, of the Revolution; Sheriff of Bucks county, member of Su- preme Executive Council, etc.

Andrew and Ann ( Bye) Ellicott were the parents of five sons : Joseph, Andrew, Nathaniel, Thomas and John. Of these Joseph, Andrew and John joined in the purchase of a large tract of land on the Potapsco, in Maryland, and built exten- sive mills and factories at what was known as Ellicott's Mills, now Ellicott City.

Andrew Ellicott, fourth of the name in succession, second son of Andrew and Ann (Bye) Ellicott, born in Solebury township, Bucks county, January 22, 1734- 35, married (first ), December 31, 1755, Elizabeth Brown, who died May 23, 1766, ( second) her cousin, Esther Brown. He joined his brothers, Joseph and John, in the Maryland purchase of May 16, 1771, but his wife objecting to remove thither, he remained in Bucks county until 1797, and then joined his brothers on the Potapsco.

Jonathan Ellicott, eldest son of Andrew and Elizabeth ( Brown) Ellicott, born November 9, 1756, removed to Ellicott's Mills with his uncle, John, 1771. He was a Captain of the Maryland Militia in the Revolutionary War, and was dis- owned therefor by the Friends, but was reinstated after the close of the war. Like his uncles and cousins he was an enterprising miller, engineer and business man ; for many years engaged in the manufacturing business in Maryland, senior member of the firm of Jonathan Ellicott & Sons. He was the originator of the first water company of Baltimore, in 1797, and its president in 1804. He died September 25, 1826, in his seventieth year. His daughter, Letitia Harvey Ellicott, born July 27, 1803, married, as before stated, Thomas Rodman Fisher, of Phila- delphia, and their daughter, Mary Rodman Fisher, born August 30, 1838, married, 1860, George W. Carpenter, Jr.

George W., Jr., and Mary Rodman ( Fisher ) Carpenter resided at "Phil-Ellena," later at "Wakefield," the old family seat of the Fisher family, where their children were born and where Mrs. Carpenter died. George W. Carpenter, Jr., married (second), November 28, 1901, Susan Emlen (Jones) Heath, widow of Mortimer Oldham Heath, and daughter of Richard Jones, of Philadelphia.

Issue of George W. and Mary Rodman (Fisher ) Carpenter:

Letitia Elliott Carpenter, b. at "Phil-Ellena"; m. William Redwood Wright, son of Rob- ert Kemp and Henrietta H. Price;

Elizabeth Rodman Fisher Carpenter, b. in Paris, France; m. Robert Glendinning.

ELLEN DOUGLAS CARPENTER, fourth child of George W. and Ellen ( Douglas) Carpenter, born at "Phil-Ellena," her father's seat at Germantown, Philadelphia, October 27, 1851, was educated at Madame Clement's Select School, at German- town, and finished her education by a course of study in France and Italy. She married, October 13, 1869, Dr. William Henry Bennet, born in Philadelphia, Sep- tember 17, 1843, son of Edward A. and Judith B. Bennet. He was educated at Brown University, being a member of the class of 1869. He received the degree of Doctor of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, 1869, and honorary degree of A. M. from Brown University, 1884. In 1875 he was attending physi- cian to the Episcopal Hospital, and has been physician-in-charge of the Children's Seashore House at Atlantic City for Invalid Children from 1874 to the present time (1908) ; has been president of its board of managers from 1905. He was the originator of the Seaside House for Invalid Women at Atlantic City, New Jersey.

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1878, and has been its physician-in-charge since its organization, and president of its board of managers since 1891. He was the originator of St. Christopher's Hospital for Children, Philadelphia, 1876, and its physician-in-charge from that date to 1894. In 1886 he studied his profession abroad.

Dr. Bennett has been secretary of Brown University Club of Philadelphia from 1880 to the present time. He is consulting physician to the Widener Memorial Home, member of College of Physicians of Philadelphia, Philadelphia County Medical Society, Pathological Society, Pediatric Society, and of the American Medical Association. He is an active practitioner of his profession in Philadel- phia, and also in the summer months at Atlantic City ; is much in demand pro- fessionally and socially.

ELLIOTT FAMILY.

JOHN ELLIOTT, founder of the Elliott family in Philadelphia, came of a family in the county of Rutland, England, where his grandparents, Daniel and Mary Elliott, lived and are said to have been natives. Little, however, is known of the lives or ancestry of Daniel and Mary Elliott, nor, with the exception of those of their son, John, of their descendants. A daughter is said to have married a Clay- poole, and another son is said to have emigrated at an early day to South Caro- lina and founded the Elliott family of that Colony, which included Stephen Elliott, naturalist, his son, Bishop Stephen Elliott, and the latter's sons, Brigadier General Stephen Elliott, C. S. A., and Bishop Robert Woodward Barnwell Elliott.

JOHN ELLIOTT, of Manton, county of Rutland, England, son of Daniel and Mary Elliott, was born September 1, 1686, died March 4. 1713. He married, May 19, 1710, Hannah, born August 12, 1684, daughter of Samuel Fish, of Keythorp Lodge, Leicestershire ; issue :

A daughter, m. Joseph Johnston, in England;

Hannah, m. William Dickman (see abstract of will of John Elliott, of Phila., hereafter given) ;

JOHN, b. Aug. 9, 1713; of whom presently.

JOHN ELLIOTT, son of John and Hannah (Fish) Elliott, was born at Bolton. England, August 8, 1713, and about the year 1737 married Annabella, born April 18, 1713, daughter of Com. Thomas Bonnyman, of London, by his wife, Mary, daughter of Dr. John Bate, of near Ashford, county Kent, England. Annabella Bonnyman's father died while she was quite young, leaving her to the care of her maternal grandfather, Dr. John Bate, and she lived until her marriage on the latter's estate near Ashford, Kent.

On their marriage, John and Annabella Elliott went to live in the city of Leices- ter, where their children, with the exception of the youngest, were born. Their grandson, Caleb Cresson, visited their old home in 1815, and in a letter dated at Manchester, December 17, of that year, to one of his relatives in Philadelphia, has this to say about the one time home of his grandparents, and their relatives resid- ing near there:

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Colonial families of Philadelphia, Volume II, Part 94

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