Colonial families of Philadelphia, Volume II, Part 96

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

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On May 26. 1772, while pastor of the Germantown Lutheran Church, Rev.

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Johann Friedrich Schmidt married Anna Barbara Schauwecker; the ceremony being performed by his friend and colleague, Rev. John Henry Christian Hel- muth, then pastor of Zion Lutheran Church, Philadelphia. Nothing is known of the ancestry of Anna Barbara Schauwecker (Showaker), but she had two sisters, Margaret, who married a Rittenhouse, and Catharine, who married, Sep- tember 14, 1772, William Rush, of Philadelphia, from whom have descended many prominent residents of Philadelphia.

Rev. Johann Friedrich and Anna Barbara (Schauwecker) Schmidt were parents of eleven children, seven of whom died of yellow fever during the scourge of 1793.

FREDERIC SMITH, eldest child of Rev. Johann Frederich Schmidt, by his wife Anna Barbara Schauwecker, was born in Germantown, Philadelphia county. Pennsylvania, March 1, 1773. He prepared for college under the supervision of his father, and entered University of Pennsylvania (where his father was Pro- fessor of Mathematics and Astronomy), 1789, received degree of A. B. 1792, and taking a post graduate course, received degree of A. M. 1795. He studied law in Philadelphia, and removing to Reading was admitted to the Bar of Berks county, August 7, 1795. A man of eminent ability and equipped with a superior classical and legal education, he soon achieved prominence in his profession and became one of the most distinguished men that Berks county has ever produced. He was a leading counsellor and attorney in important litigation, and soon became active in political affairs. He was a member of General Assembly of Pennsylvania from Berks county, 1802-03, was commissioned Deputy Attorney-General for the county, 1818, and served in that position for three years. On the election of John Andrew Shulze to the governorship, he was appointed, December 18, 1823, Attor- rey-General of Pennsylvania, and filled that position until January 31, 1828, when Gov. Shulze appointed him Associate Justice of Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, a position he filled until his death, October 4, 1830. His judicial career, though brief, was distinguished ; his decisions have been cited as emphatic expositions of the law, and were characterized by clearness and logical force of reasoning Judge Smith was a man of genial spirits and affable manners, a fluent and excep- tionally intelligent conversationalist, and was much admired and respected by a large social circle. He died at his residence in Reading, Tuesday, October 4. 1830, very suddenly, after partaking of his evening meal. He was buried in the cemetery of the Roman Catholic Church, from whence his remains were later removed to the Charles Evans Cemetery. His funeral was largely attended by the most prominent people of Pennsylvania, and the members of the Reading Bar, Marks John Biddle, presiding, passed highly eulogistic resolutions of respect to his memory ; as did the Philadelphia Bar Association, at a meeting in the Law Library, of which William Rawle was Chairman, and Thomas Lloyd Wharton, Secretary.

Judge Smith married, April 30, 1797, Catharine Spangler, daughter of George Leaf, Esq., of Pottstown, by his wife, Anna Spangler.

Judge Smith, by this marriage, had sons, John Frederick, of whom presently ; George ( father of Hon. Edmond L. Smith, and Hon. J. Bright Smith, of Reading Bar, the former prominent in the political affairs of Berks county ; the latter sometime Justice of Supreme Court of Colorado) ; and Hon. Henry W. Smith, of Reading Bar, born January 4. 1804, died August 27, 1878, after a lifelong

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activity in the affairs of Berks county; and two daughters: Mary, and Fred- erica, wife of Edward P. Pearson, law partner of Hon. Henry W. Smith. F. Leaf Smith, son of Henry W., was also a prominent member of Reading Bar. Edmond L. Smith, son of George, entered the Union army as a member of Ringgold's Battery, and served throughout the Civil War, attaining the rank of Major, and suffering imprisonment in Libby Prison for thirteen months; was later associated with his brother, Hon. J. Bright Smith, in the practice of law at Denver, Colo- rado.

JOHN FREDERICK SMITH, of Reading, Berks county, Pennsylvania, son of Hon. Frederick Smith, was born in Reading January 20, 1800. He married Anna Ritter, daughter of Hon. Jacob Schneider, founder of the Readinger Adler, now the oldest German newspaper in America.

Jacob Schneider was born in Exeter township, Berks county, where his pioneer ancestor, Hans Schneider, born in the Palatinate, Germany, 1708, settled soon after his arrival in the good ship "Harle" at the port of Philadelphia, September I, 1736. The land taken up by this German pioneer descended to his son, Peter Schneider, who died thereon, 1797, leaving a will dated August 28, 1793, proved June 1, 1797 ; which mentions his wife Eve Appollina, and his children, Barbara, wife of Francis Ritter; John; Benjamin; Daniel; Peter ; Catharine Hill; Eliz- abeth Feger, and Jacob Scheider, above mentioned.

Jacob Schneider, youngest son of Peter and Eva Appollina Schneider, was born in Exeter township, Berks county, and when a young man came to Reading and learned the trade of a printer. He founded the Adler there, the first number appearing November 29, 1796. He had as a partner in his journalistic venture for the first six years, George Gerrish; on June 29, 1802, John, son of Francis and Barbara (Schneider ) Ritter, and nephew of the senior member of the firm of Schneider & Gerrish, became junior partner, his father having purchased for him Gerrish's one-half interest in the business. This John Ritter, born near the Schwarswald Church, in Exeter township, February 6, 1779, became sole pro- prietor of the Adler later, and its publication was continued by his sons and grandsons. Jacob Schneider retired from the firm of Schneider & Ritter, 1804, and was succeeded by Carl Kess, who had married a sister of the junior partner.

Jacob Schneider took an active part in public affairs. On his retirement from the Adler, 1804, he was commissioned an associate Justice of Berks county, and filled that position until shortly before his death, 1829. He was a member of the Assembly of Pennsylvania from Berks county, 1809, and, December of the same year, was commissioned Register and Recorder of the county, a position he filled eight years.

Joseph Frailey Smith, son of John Frederick and Anna (Schneider) Smith, was born in Reading, Berks county, Pennsylvania, January 10, 1834. In his early childhood his parents removed to Philadelphia and he was reared and educated there, graduating from the Central High School, 1850, at sixteen. He entered the mercantile house of Wyeth, Rogers & Company the same year, and remained with them two years ; he became an employee of the dry-goods commission house of Slade, Gemmill & Pratt, 1852, and after acquiring a thorough knowledge of the business was admitted as a member of the firm, 1858, the firm name becoming Alfred Slade & Company. On the death of Alfred Slade, some years later, Mr. Smith became associated in the business with Jarvis Slade, under firm name of

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Slade, Smith & Company. On the dissolution of this firm some years later, Mr. Smith became a special partner in the dry-goods commission house of Lewis, Boardman & Wharton, and 1866, became an active partner of the same firm under the name of Lewis, Wharton & Company; retiring from active business, however, the following year ; though he made the store of the succeeding firm of Lewis Brothers & Company, at 238-249 Chestnut street, his official headquarters and office, where he transacted business in connection with his positions as an official of various prominent corporations.

As a merchant Mr. Smith attained a high reputation for honor, integrity, and untiring industry, which with his business ability, made his services in demand outside of his legitimate business as a merchant, in which he had prospered.

During the Civil War, Mr. Smith was earnest and devoted in his loyalty to the Union, contributing liberally his time and means to the support of the army in the field and the suffering in the hospitals at home. He became a member of the Union League at its institution, was one of its original board of directors and many years one of its vice-presidents. At the time of the election of Hon. George H. Boker to the presidency of the league, Mr. Smith was tendered the position, but declined in favor of Mr. Boker, whom he deemed better entitled and qualified for the position, by reason of age and experience.

J. Frailey Smith was chosen a member of the board of directors of the North- ern Pacific Railroad Company, on the failure of Jay Cooke, 1873, and continued to serve on the board until his death, 1880. He was also a member of the board of directors of the Merchant's National Bank.

In 1879 Mr. Smith was prominently mentioned and supported for the position of Postmaster of Philadelphia, by leading merchants and business men of the city ; and on the retirement of ex-Governor John F. Hartranft, who was then appointed, Mr. Smith was again urged as his successor, and is said to have been appointed to the position the evening before his death, though he had previously expressed his intention to decline the appointment. He died June 26, 1880.

Joseph Frailey Smith married Harriet Louise, daughter of William and Han- nah Elizabeth ( Height) Hinckle, of Germantown, Philadelphia, and they had issue :

William Hinckle Smith, of Phila., m. Jacqueline Harrison; whose ancestry is hereafter given ; and they had issue :

Hoxie Harrison Smith.

Anna Mary Smith, m. Mason Woodward Zimmerman, M. D .:

Joseph Frailey Smith, Jr., m. May Callaway ;

Bertha Elizabeth Smith, m., May 9, 1894, Samuel Johnson Walker, of Chicago, son of Samuel Johnson and Amanda ( Morehead) Walker; they have issue :

Samuel Johnson Walker, Jr., b. Feh. 23, 1895;

Helen Louise Walker, b. March 22, 1896.

JACQUELINE HARRISON, now Mrs. William Hinckle Smith, of Philadelphia, is a descendant of Richard Harrison, of West Kirby, Cheshire, England, who, with his son, Richard Harrison, Jr., emigrated to Virginia, and prior to 1644 settled in New Haven, Connecticut, where,

RICHARD HARRISON, SR., took the oath of allegiance to the theocratic govern- inent of the New Haven Colony, in that year. In 1651, when Branford was a.Imitted to the New Haven Confederacy, the Harrisons located in that town,

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where Richard Harrison died October, 1653, leaving a son, Richard, Jr., and two daughters, Mary, wife of Thomas Pierson, and Elizabeth, wife of John Morris.

RICHARD HARRISON, JR., born in West Kirby, Cheshire, England, accompanied lus father to New England, and was sergeant of the town of Branford, Con- necticut, under the jurisdiction of the New Haven Colony. He was among the New England Colonists to whom the restoration of the Stuarts was obnoxious, and who sought to remove themselves from under the jurisdiction of the English Crown, 1661, by securing territory upon which to settle, under the Dutch rule of New Netherlands. On November 8, 1661, Matthew Gilbert, Deputy Governor of the New Haven Colony, wrote from Milford to Gov. Stuyvesant, at New Amster- dam, informing him that a "considerable Companie that came to New England that they might Serve God wth pure conscience and enjoy such privileges, both Civil an Ecclesiastical as might best advantage unto and strengthen them in the end and work aforesaid wch alsoe thro the mercy of God they have enjoyed for more than twentye yeares together ; the Lord haveing blessed them with poster- ity, soe that their numbers are increased & they being desirous to provide for their posterities so as theire outward comfortable subsistence and their soule's welfare might in the use of suitable means, thro the blessings of the Almighty be attained." And that they had appointed a committee of four persons with Robert Treat at its head to treat with the Dutch Governor for a grant of land where they might settle and enjoy the privileges of civil and religious liberty.

In response to this appeal Gov. Stuyvesant despatched messengers to New Haven, asking the Puritans to settle in the Province of East Jersey. As a result of these negotiations there was selected in the autumn of 1665, a tract of land on the Passaic River in New Jersey, and in the spring of 1666, a colony of about thirty persons embarked for the promised land in two small vessels and on May 21, 1666, landed near Elizabethtown, and founded the first settlement. New grants of additional land were later made and other New Englanders followed. Among the twenty-three heads of families from Branford who acquiesced in the proposed union with about a like number from Milford, in an agreement for the government of the new colony in New Jersey, signed October 30, 1665, were Richard Harrison, Ebenezer Canfield, and Edward Ball, all lineal ancestors of Mrs. W. Hinckle Smith, and the first installment of the colony were more or less connected by ties of consanguinity or marriage.

Sergeant Richard Harrison, of Newark, who had accompanied the first colony from Branford, died prior to 1671, leaving a widow Katharine and at least seven children, viz: Samuel, who died at Newark, New Jersey, 1724, leaving a widow Mary (Ward), and seven children; Elizabeth, wife of Henry Lyne; Benjamin; John, who died at Newark, March, 1675-76; Joseph, who married Dorcas Ward, and died 1742, aged ninety-nine years ; George, born 1658, died at Newark, New Jersey, April 22, 1715, leaving widow, Mary, and children : Isaac : George ; Mary; and Daniel, of whom presently.

DANIEL HARRISON, youngest son of Sergeant Richard Harrison, born at Bran- ford, Connecticut, 1661, removed with his parents to the Passaic, 1666, and died at Newark, New Jersey, December 10, 1738. He married Abigail, daughter of Edward Ball, of Branford, Connecticut, one of the original patentees of the Con- necticut settlement on the Passaic, in New Jersey, and was Sheriff of Essex county, New Jersey, 1693.

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JONATHAN HARRISON, third son of Daniel and Abigail ( Ball) Harrison, born in Newark, New Jersey, 1711, died December, 1732, before his father, leaving an only son Jonathan, named in his grandfather's will. Jonathan Harrison, the elder, married Hannah Baldwin, whose ancestors were likewise New England settlers in New Jersey.

JONATHAN HARRISON, JR., only child of Jonathan and Hannah ( Baldwin) Harrison, born 1732, the year of his father's decease, married Temperance, daughter of Abraham and Ruth (Butler) Shipman, and granddaughter of John Shipman, by his wife Martha Humphrey, of Puritan ancestry.

Martha (Humphrey ) Shipman, born October 5, 1663, was a daughter of Michael Humphrey, from Lyme-Regis, Dorsetshire, England, by his wife Pris- cilla, daughter of Matthew Grant, pioneer ancestor of Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, who came to Dorchester, Massachusetts, in the "Mary and John," 1630, and was among the founders of Windsor, Connecticut, 1635.

Michael Humphrey was a son of Samuel and Susan Humphrey of Lyme-Regis, and belonged to one of the oldest families in Great Britain, where the name appears as far back as the sixth century. "A family that had showed its love of enterprise, self reliance, and contempt of danger, in the Crusades, the Conquest, in the Wars of the Roses, and in the founding of the East India Company, before the founding of the Puritan Colonies in America." They were among the earliest supporters of the Protestant religion, and Martin Humphrey, of the same family, suffered martyrdom at the stake in the reign of "Bloody Mary."

Michael Humphrey was engaged in the mercantile and shipping trade prior to his coming to Windsor, Connecticut, about 1643, and is said to have arrived at that port in his own vessel. He engaged in the manufacture of tar and turpentine, which he shipped to his brother at San Malo, on the coast of Brittany, nearly opposite to Lyme-Regis, and received in return large invoices of goods for the use of the colonists and for trade with the Indians. He married Priscilla Grant, before mentioned, October 14, 1647, and died in 1695, leaving several sons and one daughter, Martha, above mentioned, who became wife of John Shipman, May, 1686. Many of the descendants of Michael Humphrey achieved distinction in the various walks of life, a grandson was a general under Gen. George Washington, and one of his trusted friends and advisers.

DANIEL HARRISON, son of Jonathan and Temperance (Shipman) Harrison, born at Newark, New Jersey, 1768, died 1820; married Lydia Camfield (1765- 1831) daughter of Abiel, and great-great-granddaughter of Ebenezer Canfield. one of the signers of the agreement between the Branford and New Haven pioneers in New Jersey, 1666.

Matthew Canfield, father of Ebenezer, born in England, was at New Haven as early as 1639, and signed the agreement of the first settlers of that theocratic colony July 1, 1644. He resided in New Haven until 1652, when he sold his house there and removed to Norwalk, Connecticut, where he resided until the removal to New Jersey, 1666, and died at Newark, in the latter Province, June, 1673. He took a prominent part in Colonial affairs in Norwalk, representing that district in the General Court almost continuously, 1654-66; was Assistant Magis- trate, 1654,58; was appointed by the General Court in the latter year to prove wills and grant letters of administration for the settlement of estates at Norwalk, for that town and those of Stratford and Fairfield. On March 9, 1658-9, he was

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made Collector of Customs; and was appointed a magistrate to hold court, 1659, and regularly re-commissioned thereafter, until his removal to New Jersey. His will, dated March 19, 1672-73, proven June 11, 1673, names his wife Sarah, sons, Samuel, Ebenezer, Mathew and Jonathan and daughters, Mary, Hannah, Ruth and Sarah. He had married, 1644, Sarah, (born 1620, baptized December 3, 1620), daughter of Richard Treat, Deputy to General Court from Weathersfield, Connecticut, and member of Governor's Council, December 17, 1663, to July 1, 1664, by his wife, Alice Gaylord, whom he married in Pitminster parish, Somer- setshire, England, April 27, 1615. He was baptized at Pitminster, August 28, 1584, and died at Weathersfield, Connecticut, 1669, having emigrated to New England, 1637. He was a son of Robert Treat, of Pitminster, buried there Feb- ruary 16, 1599, by his wife, Honour, buried at Pitminster, September 17, 1627; grandson of Richard Treat, born at Staplegrove, near Taunton, Somersetshire, buried at Otterford in the same shire, 1571, by his wife, Joanna, buried at Otter- ford, August 14, 1577; great-grandson of William Treat, or Trotte, of Staplegrove, whose name appears on the Taunton Rolls for the Hundred of Staplegrove, 1503-10; and great-great-grandson of John Treat, of Staplegrove, whose name appears on the Calendar of Taunton Manor Rolls, 1458-79.

Richard Treat, father of Sarah (Treat) Canfield, was one of the first settlers and founders of Weathersfield, Connecticut, 1635, and owned a large tract of land there, which he gave to his son, Richard, and a part of which is still retained by his descendants. His second son, Capt. Robert Treat, settled in Milford, Con- necticut, where he was Town Clerk, 1640. He became an Assistant Magistrate of the New Haven Colony, 1659, and was delegated by Gov. Matthew Gilbert, to negotiate with Director General Stuyvesant, for a place of settlement in New Jersey, as hereinbefore recited, 1661, and removed to that Province 1666, but returned to Connecticut, 1672, receiving a dismissal certificate from the Church of Christ at Newark, as "Major" Robert Treat. He was Commander-in-Chief of Connecticut troops, 1675; Deputy Governor, 1676, and Governor of Connecticut from 1683 until the year of his death, dying July 12, 1710, aged eighty-eight years.

Ebenezer Canfield, son of Mathew and Sarah (Treat) Canfield, born at New Haven, Connecticut, 1649, came with his parents to Newark, New Jersey, and on his arrival at manhood took an active part in the affairs of the new colony until his death, 1694. As eldest of the three sons of his father, who accompanied him to New Jersey, Samuel, the eldest, remaining in Norwalk, Connecticut, he inher- ited a large portion of the land taken up by his father in 1667, which by his will dated at Newark, November 11, 1694, and proven November 21, 1694, was devised to his only son Joseph, after the death of his wife, Bethia (Wheeler) Canfield, who was named as executrix.

Joseph Canfield, above named, died at Newark, New Jersey, December 14. 1733, aged fifty-one years. He married Rachel, daughter of Robert Dalglish, a patentee at Newark in 1676; and had by her five children, Benjamin, Abiel, Ebe- nezer, Bethya, and Rachel. Joseph Canfield was chosen Deacon of the First Presbyterian Church of Newark, and filled that position until his death. At the time of his death he was a farmer and Assessor.

Abiel Canfield, second son of Deacon Joseph and Rachel (Dalglish) Canfield, married Joanna Johnson, and died at Newark, leaving a will dated December 2. 1745, which was proven February 14. 1745-46, leaving an only son,

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Abiel Canfield, Jr., born August 30, 1744, died August 7, 1815. He was promi- nent in the affairs of Newark, holding the offices.of Collector, 1784; Freeholder of Essex County, 1785; Overseer of the Poor, 1794-1805; and Poundmaster, 1801-15. He was one of the committee having in charge the erection of the First Presbyterian Church of Newark. His wife Mary, born August 10, 1744, died April 6, 1811, and both are buried at the First Presbyterian Church of Newark. Their daughter,

LYDIA CANFIELD, born August 10, 1765, died November 3, 1831 ; married, ( first), Benjamin Crane, and had one child; (second), Daniel Harrison, above mentioned, and they were parents of eight children.

Jabez Harrison, son of Daniel and Lydia (Canfield) Harrison, born in Newark, New Jersey, died in Paris, France, where the last twenty years of his life were spent. He married Mary Baldwin, and their son,

Daniel Harrison, who died in Algiers, Africa, married Marie Louise, born January 22. 1843, died March 9, 1870; daughter of Joseph Hoxie, of New York City, by his wife Jacqueline, daughter of Capt. John Barry, by his wife Anna Lockwood.

JACQUELINE HARRISON, daughter of Daniel and Marie Louise ( Hoxie) Harri- son, married William Hinckle Smith, and had one son, Hoxie Harrison Smith.

LODOWICK HOXIE, pioneer ancestor of Marie Louise ( Hoxie) Harrison, came from England to Sandwich, Massachusetts, in or about 1650, and died there 1702. He married, December, 1664, Mary, born May 10, 1641, daughter of John Pres- bury, of Sandwich, Massachusetts.

JOSEPH HOXIE, one of the seven children of Lodowick and Mary (Presbury) Hoxie, born in Sandwich, Massachusetts, March 15, 1667, removed to Kingston, Rhode Island. 1698. He married Sarah, born 1674, died 1727, daughter of Henry and Martha Tucker, and had twelve children, Peleg, Zebulon, Mercy, Joseph, Mary, Anna, Gideon, Lodowick, Sarah, Martha, Deborah and Ann.

JOSEPH HOXIE, JR., son of Joseph and Sarah (Tucker) Hoxie, born at Sand- wich, Massachusetts, 1696, was an infant when his parents removed to Kingston, Rhode Island, where he married, October 17, 1728, Deborah, daughter of Job Babcock, of South Kingston, and had five children. The family later removed to Charlestown, Rhode Island.

GIDEON HOXIE, eldest son of Joseph, Jr., born at Kingston, Rhode Island, De- rember 4, 1729, died in Charlestown, Rhode Island, June 13, 1805, was Lieutenant- Colonel of Col. William Richmond's Regiment, raised under resolution of Provincial Congress of Rhode Island, of August 17, 1776; his commission bearing date September 7, 1776; and was re-commissioned in the two new battalions, Feb- ruary 3, 1777. Col. Gideon Hoxie married Dorcas, born 1729, daughter of James Congdon, by his wife, Dorcas Gardiner Westcott ; and they had two sons, Gideon and Peleg, and a daughter Martha.

PELEG HOXIE, son of Col. Gideon, was born at Charlestown, Rhode Island, September 15, 1756. He was commissioned Lieutenant in Second Regiment, Green's Battalion, Rhode Island troops, 1777, and served throughout the war. IIe married, July 1, 1777, Lucy, daughter of Ichabod Babcock, by his wife Esther Stanton, whose ancestry is hereafter given.

ICHABOD BABCOCK HOXIE, son of Lieut. Peleg, born April 7, 1791, died August 27, 1857 ; married, May 9, 1813, Electa Norton, of Woodstock, Vermont.

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JOSEPHI HOXIE, son of the above, born October 1, 1820, died September 13, 1858; married Jacqueline, daughter of Capt. John Barry, by his wife Anna Lock- wood; and they were parents of Marie Louise Hoxie, who married Daniel Har- rison, before mentioned.

ROBERT LOCKWOOD, pioneer ancestor of Anna (Lockwood) Barry, came from England 1630, and settled in Watertown, Massachusetts, where six of his ten children were born. He was made a Freeman March 9, 1636-37. He removed to Fairfield, Connecticut, 1646, and was made a Freeman there May 20, 1652; was Sergeant of Fairfield militia, May, 1657. Letters of administration were granted on his estate to his widow Susanna (nee Senison), October 20, 1658; she married (second), Jeffrey Ferris, and died at Greenwich December 23, 1660.

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Colonial families of Philadelphia, Volume II, Part 96

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