USA > Pennsylvania > Philadelphia County > Blockley > Historic Lower Merion and Blockley; also the erection or establishment of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania > Part 4
USA > Pennsylvania > Montgomery County > Lower Merion > Historic Lower Merion and Blockley; also the erection or establishment of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania > Part 4
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The course of the old roadbed can frequently be traced by blocks of stone abandoned along the way. Some of these blocks may be seen at the Junction, Park Trolley, near the Methodist Home. Also between the Bala and Cynwyd railroad stations, where the bed of the old railroad may plainly be seen; also at Parson's corner, where the Ford Road joins the Old Lancaster Road. And on the prop- erty of A. C. Shand, Jr., in Narberth, there are six stone blocks undisturbed, in their original position. In carly days there were no ties used, but the rails were bolted into stone cubes, planted in the ground. The first cars to run on iron rails were not drawn by steam engines, but by mules. Just below Bala was an inclined plane by which cars were raised and lowered between the Columbia bridge and the high ground. The first train over this railroad drawn by a locomotive was in 1834-the engine, as I said before, was called the "Black Hawk"-and the train ran to Lancaster in about eight and a half hours. Engines were not used entirely until several years later.
"Bowman's Bridge" was a well-known settlement. It was at the Ford Road, near where it ran into the Old Lan- caster Road that the bridge was built. This was on a part of the land granted to Roger Bowman in 1798. An old
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Historic Lower Merion and Blockley
deed transferring the property from Joshua Bowman to William Potts and John Wainwright begins the descrip- tions as follows: "Beginning at the bridge leading across the railroad, thence on the line of said railroad, etc." The portion of the property sold to William Potts was called "Juniper Bank." John Wainwright's place was named "Elm Hall." About thirty years ago General Wendell P. Bowman, a lineal descendant of Roger Bowman (who came to America from England in 1754), bought this place from the Wainwright heirs, so it once more belongs to the Bowman family. A toll gate stood for more than two centuries at "Bowman's Bridge," later called "Merionville ;" also "Academyville" because Levering Mill Road, which leads to the Old Academy begins there. The old toll gate was removed in 1917 when the Old Lancaster Road was taken over by the State.
Memorial Stone Erected by Merion Chapter, D. A. R.
On September 14, 1777, Washington's Army encamped on a field just above Merion Meeting House, on the Old Lancaster Road. (This was five days before the bloody massacre of Paoli.)
Merion Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolu- tion, unveiled and dedicated a memorial stone to mark this spot, on September 14, 1896, the one hundred and nine- teenth anniversary of the day, in the presence of five or six hundred people.
The ceremonies began at 2.30, with patriotic airs by the Wyoming Band of Philadelphia, stationed on a plat- form draped with American flags. The Regent of Merion Chapter presided and made some introductory remarks, which were followed by a prayer by the Rev. Charles S. Olmstead, then rector of St. Asaph's P. E. Church, Bala, and afterwards Bishop of Colorado.
Hon. Jacob Weidel, who was Mayor of Reading at that time, delivered a short address. Miss Margaret B.
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And Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
Harvey, Historian of the Chapter, read an historical paper in which she specially referred to the day spent by Wash- ington's Army in Lower Merion.
Then the Regent unveiled the stone, while Battery A of Philadelphia, under command of Captain M. C. Stafford.
ON THIS AND ADJACENT GROUND WASHINGTON'S ARMY ENCAMPED SEPTEMBER 14.1777
ERECTED BY MERION CHAPTER. DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION SEPTEMBER 14,1896.
CROUND PRESENTED BY SAMUEL R.MCDOWELL.
with thirty men, fired a national salute of forty-five guns, and the band played "The Star-Spangled Banner." Fol- lowing the unveiling Major Moses Veale delivered the oration.
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Historic Lower Merion and Blockley
The stone is a rough granite pillar, four feet high, two feet wide and two feet thick. The face towards Montgom- ery Pike (as that part of the Old Lancaster Road is now called), is polished and on it is cut the following inscrip- tion :
On this and adjacent ground Washington's army encamped September 14, 1777
Erected by Merion Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, September 14, 1896.
Ground presented by Samuel R. McDowell
Camp Ground of the Georgia Continentals
During the summer of 1777, the North Carolina troops under General Francis Nash, encamped in "Governor Penn's Woods," which means "Lansdowne" in West Fair- mount Park. Governor Penn's house stood where Horti- cultural Hall now stands. General Nash was killed at the Battle of Germantown. In the diary of Jacob Hiltzheimer, of Philadelphia (1765-1798), published by his great-grand- son, Jacob Cox Parsons, of Brooklyn, N. Y., one entry says, "June 30, 1777-Found the Schuylkill stables filled with light horse; visited also Gov. Penn's Woods to see the Camp of the North Carolina Troops."
The Continental Army occupied both banks of the Schuylkill from the Middle Ferry (where the Market Street bridge now stands) to the Falls. The main body under General Washington was encamped near Queen Lane. This spot has been marked by the Sons of the Revolution.
The Georgia troops under General Lachlin McIntosh took part in the campaign about Philadelphia. During the summer of 1777, the Fourth Battalion, under Colonel John White encamped in the open fields where Cynwyd and Bala now lie. The inspiration to mark this spot is due to Merion Chapter's Historian, the late Margaret B. Harvey, A. M.
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And Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
In the Third Smithsonian Institution Report, of the National Society, Daughters of the American Revolution, Washington, D. C., 1901, page 235, appears the following : "Miss Margaret B. Harvey, Historian of Merion Chapter, copied an orderly book and several letters, the work of Revolutionary soldiers, and sent them to the State Librar- ian at Harrisburg, Pa., to be embodied in the Pennsylvania Archives. While working on these Archives she found that a Battalion of Georgia Continentals, under Col. John White, were encamped near Bala, August, 1777. Step by step she has followed those ragged, footsore men through many musty manuscripts and pages of history, wherever she could find a trace of them, picking up a name here and there, until she has gathered up 2,609 names. Such inde- fatigable work undertaken for the glory of another state than her own is rare. She believes that those early pioneers whose bones are moldering on many fields far distant from their homes will rise up against her on the day of Judgment, if she omits one name which any possible research might have revealed and saved to posterity."
Becoming interested in these same Georgia Conti- nentals, Miss Harvey continued her work for Georgia and compiled the first Archives that state ever possessed.
In the Pennsylvania Archives, second series, Vol. III, page 103, we find that on August 15, 1777, "A Petition of divers Inhabitants of the Townships of Merion and Block- ley" was sent to His Excellency, Thomas Wharton, Jr., Esq., President of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, complaining that the soldiers from Colonel White's Bat- talion of Georgia troops encamped in the Townships were overrunning their fields, and taking their fruits, etc. The closing paragraph says: "We have, moreover, the addi- tional apprehension that as the Indian corn, which is a principal support of the Farmer and his cattle, is drawing to a state of maturity, in a few days, we may be deprived thereof." The letter was signed by every property holder in the locality. They were as follows:
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Historic Lower Merion and Blockley
Algernon Roberts, Anthony Tunis, Thomas George. Richard Tunis, Lewis Thomas, Nehemiah Evans, David George, Edward Roberts, Wm. Stadelman, John Zell, David Zell Abram Streeper, Jno. Roberts, Jacob Jones, Isaac Lewis, John Robinson, James Jones, Jr., Rees Price, Robt. Holland, Silas Jones, Paul Jones, Amos George, Jesse Thomas, Abel Thomas, Anthony Levering, John Leacock, John Smith, James Jones, Bostine Eals, Rudolph Latch, Lawrence Trexler, Jesse Jones, Michael Smith, Anthony Warner, Martin Garrett, Jno. Price.
Many of these names are found on the rolls of the Pennsylvania Militia. These were the men who went out to fight in an emergency, then came home to gather their crops and were ready to be called again should necessity require. It seems natural that they should resent the idea of their fruits and grains being taken during their absence, and also quite as natural for the soldiers to help themselves to the fruits in the vicinity. The majority of these men were Friends, and are buried at Merion Meeting.
John Leacock, one of the signers of the petition, we are told in Scharf and Westcott's "History of Philadel- phia," Vol. I, page 265, "set up a lottery in ye Township for ye cultivation of ye vine." (His place was always called "The Vineyard." The old house is still standing close to the Schuylkill Valley branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad, between Bala and Cynwyd stations.) As the soldiers were encamped in these fields in August. and the grapes would be ripe in September, we can well under- stant John Leacock's anxiety for the safety of his vines. From the minutes of Radnor Meeting, 10th, 5th, 1776, page 456, Isaac Warner. Col. 7th Battalion . Algernon Roberts. Lieutenant Colonel of same; Isaac Kite, Jr., and Richard Thomas were dismissed from the Society of Friends for bearing arms. (They were afterwards reinstated.)
On February 22, 1919 (Washington's Birthday), at 4 P. M., Merion Chapter, Daughters of the American Revo- lution, unveiled a bronze tablet on the lawn of St. John's
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And Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
P. E. Church, Cynwyd Lower Merion, marking this camp ground. The program was as follows:
Opening Address and Invocation-Major Henry A. F.
Hoyt, D. D., Chaplain, N. G. P. (Retired), Rector of St. John's P. E. Church, Lower Merion, Pa. Salute to the Flag :
"I pledge allegiance to my Flag, and to the Republic for which it stands-One Nation, indivis- ible, with Liberty and Justice for all."
DURING
THE REVOLUTIONARY THE GEORGIA CONTINE VIAL COMMANDED BY
GEN. LACHLIN M INTOSH TOOK PART IN THE CAMPMIL ABOUT PHILADELPHIA
THE FOURTH BATTALION UNDER COLONEL JOHN WHY ENCAMPED UPON THIS AND ADJACENT GROUND IN AUGUST. 1777
TABLET FRECTED BY
PIONE CHAFTER DAUGHTERS OF ALL AMERICAN
REVOLUTION 1919
Inscription
DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR THE GEORGIA CONTINENTALS COMMANDED BY GENERAL LACHLIN MCINTOSH TOOK PART IN THE CAMPAIGN ABOUT PHILADELPHIA. THE FOURTH BATTALION UNDER COLONEL JOHN WHITE ENCAMPED UPON THIS AND ADJACENT GROUND, IN AUGUST, 1777. TABLET ERECTED BY MERION CHAPTER, DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. 1919
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Historic Lower Merion and Blockley
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PARISH HOUSE AND RECTORY, ST. JOHN'S CHURCH, LOWER MERION, PA.
Tablet to Georgia Continentals, erected on the lawn of this church, by Merion Chapter, D. A. R .. was unveiled February 22, 1919.
And Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
"America."
Historic paper-Dora Harvey Develin (Mrs. John F.) Regent of Merion Chapter, D. A. R.
Unveiling of Tablet-Mrs. S. Harold Croft, Mrs. Spencer Wright, Jr., and Miss Jane I. Magee, (lineal descendants of Nehemiah Evans, one of the signers of the petition).
"Red, White and Blue."
Rev. Leighton W. Eckard, a great-grandson of General Lachlin McIntosh, made a short address, which was very interesting.
Benediction-Chaplain Harry Leo, of the Loyal Legion.
The flag used at the ceremonies is one of the Chapter "Flags of 1776" and was made by the thirteen charter members in 1895.
"Harriton"
"The Welsh Tract" not only included the 10,000 acres granted John ap Thomas and Edward Jones. On Holme's Map of 1681, the part of Lower Merion near the Schuylkill is marked "Edward Jones and Co., 17 families." Further westward are two tracts marked "Rowland Ellis and Thomas Ellis," both being in the neighborhood of the pres- ent Bryn Mawr.
Rowland Ellis was a great scholar and a preacher in the Society of Friends. He is said to have been a descend- ant of King Henry III of England. He settled on his plantation about 1686. In 1704 he built a substantial stone mansion still standing. (This afterwards became the prop- erty of Charles Thomson.) This, with its surrounding acres, he called "Bryn Mawr," or "Great Hill," after his early home in Wales.
The property passed into the hands of Richard Har- rison, a wealthy slave holder, who named the place "Harri- ton." Charles Thomson, Secretary of the Continental Congress, married for his second wife, Hannah Harrison, and became the master of "Harriton." After Secretary Thomson retired from public life he spent many years at
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Historic Lower Merion and Blockley
"Harriton" in making a translation of the Bible. He died in 1824, aged 95 years. At his death the property returned to his wife's kindred, the Morris family, who still hold it.
In the woods near the Baptist Cemetery, is the Harri- ton family burying ground, enclosed by a stone wall. A tablet in the wall records the fact that here were once interred the remains of Charles Thomson, Secretary of the Continental Congress.
When Laurel Hill Cemetery was opened, Charles Thomson's nephew and other professed admirers, removed the patriot's remains surreptiously, and re-interred them
"HARRITON," (the original, Bryn Mawr)
Built 1704
in the new burial ground. To remove Secretary Thomson's body was trespass, as to reach the family burying ground it was necessary to cross private property ; but as the Morris family were Friends, they felt bound to follow the doctrine of non-resistance. Hence they never demanded the return
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And Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
of the body. But Mr. George Vaux, of Philadelphia, whose summer home is at "Harriton," is doubtful whether the trespassers succeeded in finding the right body.
More than forty years ago Mr. Vaux and his wife erected the historical tablet now in the wall, as well as the one with name and date on the outside, which tablets are inscribed on two sides of a single block of stone. Mr. Vaux also prepared the inscription from reliable family papers. The interior tablet took the place of an earlier one, which contained a shorter and more imperfect inscrip- tion.
Thomas and Rowland Ellis were nephews of the emi- grant John Humphrey. A great part of Bryn Mawr is built upon what was the Humphrey Land-grant, including Bryn Mawr College and Bryn Mawr Hotel; while the settlement now known as Bryn Mawr has grown around the old-time village of Humphreyville. Bryn Mawr Col- lege was founded by Dr. Joseph W. Taylor, of Burlington, N. J., and is under the care of the Society of Friends.
Old Dutch Church, Ardmore
This little stone building was erected in 1787. This date appears on two quaint tablets set in the wall. The gable end turned away from the road is the more pictur- esque, as it shows the grey pointed stone. This old church succeeded a log building erected in 1769. A larger stone edifice was built in front of this little one in 1800. This was torn down in 1873 and a new church erected on Lan- caster turnpike, on ground given by Charles Kugler.
The proper name of the "Old Dutch Church" is St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran. It was organized before 1765. From Col. Bean's "History of Montgomery County" we learn that the first communion was held in 1767, in which forty-three persons participated. The founders of the church were William Stadelman, Frederick Grow, Stephen Goodman, Christopher Getzman, George Bassler and Simon Litzenberg.
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Historic Lower Merion and Blockley
From the Pennsylvania Archives, second series, Vol. II, we find that William Stadelman, of Germany, was naturalized April 11, 1762; Stephen Goodman, April 1, 1763. The patriot paper-maker, Frederick Bicking. of Mill Creek, was naturalized April 1, 1763.
The Lutheran communities of Montgomery County, were settled north and westward from Lower Merion, through the central townships to the Berks County lines. The Germans in those early days were intensely loyal. the Muhlenberg family conspicuously so.
During the Revolutionary War the Dutch Church, near Ardmore, met with many reverses. There was a divided sentiment in the community, some of the congregation be- lieving in the Quaker and Mennonite doctrine of non- resistance, just as we see in many sections today (1918).
The church had been founded a great many years before there were regular preaching services. Among those who preached in the old church was the famous Rev. Dr. Henry Melchior Muhlenberg, of the Trappe. The old graveyard in which both soldiers of the Revolution and the War of 1812 are buried, has been in use for more than 150 years. (The German language was used in the church service until 1858.) At various times school has been "kept" in this old church. A curious tulip design is carved over the door of this quaint little building.
Lower Merion Baptist Church
Lower Merion Baptist Church was founded in 1808-9. by Rev. Horatio Gates Jones, D. D. It is an offshoot of the Great Valley Baptist Church, of Treddyffrin, founded by Welsh Baptists in 1710. Rev. Horatio Gates Jones was a son of Rev. David Jones, pastor of the Great Valley Baptist Church during the Revolutionary period, and Chaplain of Washington's Army. Rev. David Jones named his son after the victorious General Gates.
Rev. Horatio Gates Jones was the pastor of the Lower Merion Baptist Church for forty-four years. He died in 1853, aged 77. His two sons, well-known in public life,
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And Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
were Charles Thomas Jones and Horatio Gates Jones, of Roxborough. His daughter, Miss Hetty Jones, made a noble record as an Army nurse during the Civil War. The Hetty Jones Post, G. A. R., of Roxborough, was named in her honor, and a notable monument to her memory may be seen in Leverington Cemetery.
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PART II Early History of Blockley
LOCKLEY and Merion Townships were both in Philadelphia County prior to, and during, the Revolution. In fact, Montgomery County was not separated from Philadelphia County until 1784. Norristown, the County seat of Montgomery County, noted this event in its Centennial celebration in 1884. (Hon. Joseph Fornance was President of the Mont- gomery County Centennial Association, and F. G. Hobson, Esq., was Secretary. James B. Harvey was Chairman of the Auxiliary Committee of Philadelphia, with the follow- ing members: Saunders Lewis, of Ambler ; Miss Elizabeth Croasdale, Hon. John Wanamaker, Ex-Governor J. F. Hart- ranft, William M. Singerly, General W. B. Thomas and Horatio Gates Jones.)
Blockley extended from the neighborhood of the Uni- versity of Pennsylvania and the Almshouse, up along the Schuylkill to Pencoyd. City Avenue was its western boundary. Blockley took in all of Haddington, being separated from Delaware County by Cobb's Creek. South- ward it touched the old Swedish township of Kingsessing. On Holme's map of 1681, Blockley is included in the "Liberty Lands," or lands unsettled and outside the City plan. On the eastern bank of the Schuylkill, the territory from Vine Street to the Wissahickon and Germantown were afterwards known as "Northern Liberties."
When we say "Blockley" most people think of the Almshouse, but "Blockley" as applied to the Almshouse is simply a survival of a name. "Blockley Baptist Church" is another. The Old Lancaster Road was called for many years the "Blockley and Merion Turnpike, or Plank Road."
A portion of what is now Sixty-third Street, West Philadelphia, was called "Blockley Avenue." "The Block- ley Library" was in the old Hestonville Hall, Fifty-second
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And Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
and Lancaster Avenue. "Blockley Post Office" in the antiquated store which stood at Lancaster Avenue and Paschall Street (now Master Street). "The Blockley Brass Band" afterwards called the Washington Cornet Band, was quite a noted band in its day.
The first settler who "penetrated the wilds of Blockley" was William Warner, of Blockley, England. He was a resident as early as 1677, having arrived before the great influx of either Welsh or English colonists. William Warner built his house on what afterwards was Forty-fifth and Westminster Avenue. He named his plantation "Blockley" after his home in England. (The writer remem- bers, when a school-girl, often passing the quaint brick structure, with shingled pediments, and overhanging por- tico, similar to what is popularly called "Queen Anne." This was the Warner Homestead.) He landed at Upland, now Chester. His title was confirmed by William Penn.
John Warner, a brother of William, soon followed him, coming over with Penn, and settled nearby. Both were members of the first Pennsylvania Legislature, along with Thomas Duckett (keeper of the Middle Ferry.)
The Speaker of the First Pennsylvania Legislature was Dr. Thomas Wynne. (See "WYNNSTAY.") So we see that Blockley was settled by the English coming up from Chester, by way of the Swedish settlement of Kingsessing, and by more Welsh coming down from Merion.
On Scull and Heap's map of 1750 appear the following names of principal landowners in Blockley : Warner, Mere- dith, Wenns (Wynne), Jones, Roberts, Garrig (Garrett). A large part of the property held by these families is now included in West Fairmount Park.
From the letters of William Penn, Gabriel Thomas and others, we learn that the woods of Blockley were majestic, but not savage. They were picturesque, but not densely tangled. The Indians kept them particularly cleared so that it was possible to travel long distances through the country without paths, yet without meeting with serious obstacles.
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Historic Lower Merion and Blockley
The name Garrig later was called Garrett. Charles V. Hagner's "History of the Falls of Schuylkill" says this family was of Swedish origin and claimed a considerable strip of territory along the western bank of the Schuylkill, from the old Columbia Bridge to the Falls. Opposite Laurel Hill was Garrett's Ford. (See Fords and Ford Road.)
The first general tax-list for Philadelphia County was made in 1693. The original assessment list is in the pos- session of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. It is copied entire in the "Memorial History of Philadelphia," by John Russell Young (see page 123). Below is the assessment for townships "Beyond the Schoolkill." The assessor was Thomas Pascall, Junr.
William Smith, £250, 10s., 10d.
Paul Sanders, £100, 8s., 4d.
John Gardner, £20, 2s., 6d.
Johnathan Duckett, £100, 8s., 4d.
Thomas Duckett, £100, 8s., 4d.
John Roads, £120, 10s.
William Powell, £100, 8s., 4d
John Albore, £-, 6s.
William Wilkins, £50, 4s., 2d.
James Keight, £10, 3s., 4d.
William Warner, £120, 10s.
John Warner, £40, 3s., 4d.
John Boles, £150, 12s., 6d.
Georg Scottson, £60, 5s.
John Scootson, £ 120, 10s.
William Bedward, £30, 2s., 6d.
Thomas Pascall, £150, 12s., 6d.
George Wilcox, £170, 14s., 2d.
The tax was assessed under the Act of the Assembly in 1693, during the administration of Governor Fletcher. It was entitled "An Act for Granting to King William and Mary the rate of one penny per pound upon the clear value of all real and personal estates, and six shillings per head upon such as are not otherwise rated by this Act, to be
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And Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
employed by the Governor of this Province of Pennsylvania and territories thereof for the time being towards the sup- port of this Government."
Thomas Duckett and William and John Warner we have already mentioned as first settlers and prominent office holders. James Keight, whose name is also spelled in other old records Keite, and Kite, was a son-in-law of William Warner. Also an early member of Schuylkill Friends' Meeting. John Roads was an ancestor of the late Professor James Rhoads of the Boys' Central High School, Phila- delphia. The Rhoads property was near Haddington, not very far from the Delaware County line.
William Powell was an ancestor of the Powell family. who built the old "Powell Mansion" and gave the name to Powelton Avenne. "Powell's Ferry" was near the old mansion, a short distance below the Spring Garden Street bridge. The name Powell is an abbreviation of the Welsh name "ap Howell." The prefix ap meaning a son of, or a child of. The name William Bedward appears in the list above. This name is a contraction, or abbreviation, of William ap Edward. He was a Quaker preacher and lived in what is now "Overbrook Farms." He was one of the Welsh of Merion who crossed over into Blockley, and an ancestor of Jesse and Rebecca George. According to Welsh custom the eldest son reversed his father's name- so William Edward had a son named Edward William. (The s was gradually added as a possessive, to take the place of ap. This explains such Welsh names in Pennsyl- vania as Roberts, Edwards, Richards, Walters, etc.)
The name of Duckett, Warner, Kite and others, all early members of the Schuylkill Friends' Meeting, appear on the records at the Friends' Meeting House, Fifteenth and Race Streets, Philadelphia. Mary Warner, danghter of William Warner, married Thomas Wynn, grandson of Dr. Thomas Wynne.
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