USA > Pennsylvania > Delaware County > Chester > Historical sketch of Chester, on Delaware > Part 15
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gratefully remembered by several of our citizens-themselves now verging on to three-score and ten-for his consideration of the finer feelings of those who at that time were impulsive young men. Samuel and Mary Ann Shaw had two sons and a daughter. James, the eldest, was for many years a merchant in Chester, and is to-day a successful manufacturer at New Castle, Delaware, where he mar- ried Virginia, daughter of the late Major Joseph Carr. John Eyre Shaw, the second son, is a member of the Philadelphia bar, and, having devoted his attention to patent cases solely, has attained marked prominence in his profession, and a large and remunerative practice in the special line he has chosen. Emily Ann Shaw mar . ried William M. Burgin, of Philadelphia, and resides in that city.
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The James Barber House.
On the north side of Second street west of Market stands an old brick house, with pent roof extending over the window of the first story, which building has in recent years been used as a bottling establishment and a restaurant. Its exact age I do not know, but the lot was conveyed by David Lloyd, James Lowns, and Susanna, his wife, to James Barber, November 27-28, 1712. This James Barber was, I presume, a brother of Robert Barber, the early set- tler of that name, who in 1690 married Hannah Ogden, and it may have been that it was Robert, a son of this James, to whom Robert Barber, the settler, devised his estate. At all events James Barber built the house, and in the deed, September 13, 1732, to Thomas Cummings, it is designated as " the house where James Barber now dwells " The purchaser was a inember of the society of Friends, for in a declaration of trust, May 18, 1758, respecting a lot of ground on the east side of Edgmont avenue, south of Fourth street, which had been conveyed, August 26, 1757, to several per- sons by John Baldwin " with the intent that a school house shall
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be erected and built upon the said lot in the said township of Chester," Thomas Cummings is mentioned as one of the grantees, and is designated as " cordwainer." He liad, however, previous to that date been a member of the Legislature, for in 1735, and sub- sequently for ten terms he was one of the eight members returned from Chester county to the General Assembly. He died previous to August 22, 1766, for his will was probated at that time, whereby he devised all his estate to his wife, Alice. She survived her hus- band many years, and by will, June 2, 1785, devised the estate to her nieces, Hannah Cummings and Elizabeth Pedrick, in equal shares, and they in turn, October 26, 1788, sold the house to Adam Grubb.
The latter by will, March 9, 1790, devised the premises to Mary Grubb, his wife, with remainder to his cousins, John Grubb, Sr., and Isaac Grubb. The remainder men outlived the widow, for May 12, 1794, they sold the property to Jonas Preston, and he conveyed it, January 17, 1806, to Jonas Eyre, while the latter, March 28, 1811, transferred it to Thomas B. Dick, from whom the property descended to his son, Archibald T. Dick. Almost all the owners of this old house have been fully referred to in previous sketches, and it is unnecessary to recapitulate what is there said of them, and as respecting the tenants of the dwelling, I have learned but little of interest. Previous and subsequently to 1824, George W. Hill, who was a clerk in the Bank of Delaware County, resided there, and was succeeded by Zedekiah W. Flower, who had married a daughter of Archibald T. Dick, and from 1831 to 1835 it was the parsonage of St. Paul's Church, being occupied as such by Dr. John Baker Clemson, while rector of that parish. He was followed by George W. Piper, who, after his marriage resided in the pent roof house for several years. Archibald T. Dick having died in the meantime, liis estate was sold by Samuel Hibberd, Sheriff, in pro- ceeding in partition, May 27, 1844, to Edward Darlington, trustee of Sarah B., wife of Major Price. After the latter acquired title, Rev. Anson B. Hard, while associate rector of St. Paul's, lived there and was succeeded in time by Major Price himself. The property is still owned by the heirs of Samuel A., and Sarah B. Price, but the old house has drifted downward until, as with a goodly number of the historic buildings of Chester, it only awaits
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the advancing march of trade to be removed to make room for manufacturing and business establishments. And the time is al- most at hand when that decree will become imperative.
The Caldwell Mansion.
The handsome dwelling on the west side of Edgmont avenue. north of Twelfth street, since it was modernized by Col. Samuel A. Dyer, during his ownership of the property, is, nevertheless, an an- cient building. The ground upon which it stan is is part of a tract of one hundred and twenty acres which was patented April 2, 1688, to Eusta Anderson. June 21, of the same year, Anderson conveyed it to Charles Pickering, who, it is said, came over with William Penn, and had, in his wandering in search of precious metal dis- covered silver ore near Pickering creek, a tributary of the Schuyl- kill. Col. Pickering, for such was the title he was known by, re ceived a patent to the lands in Chester county bordering on that stream. In 1683, he was tried for privately coining " Spanish bits and Boston money," and was sentenced to a fine of forty pounds " toward building a court house," and to redeem all the currency he had issued. He appeared in a criminal case in Chester in 1686, as attorney for the King, the first appearance of an attorney in be- half of the government in the Commonwealth. He was drowned while on a voyage to Europe, subsequent to 1688, and by will he devised his real estate in Chester county, which was large, to six- teen of his friends. He had, however, October 13, of the year last mentioned, conveyed the property purchased from Anderson to David Lloyd, and he in turn sold twenty acres of it, subject to a yearly rent of one silver shilling, to John Hoskins, the elder, who dying seized of the estate, it passed by descent to his son, John Hoskins, the younger. The latter dying intestate, his widow, Ruth, and his son Stephen Hoskins, and his daughter Mary Hos-
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kins, and her husband, John Mather, in 1733, released their inter- est in the premises to Joseph Hoskins, another son of John Hos- kins, the younger, and he in turn, April 9, 1741, conveyed the land to Stephen Cole. This Stephen Cole, at the time mentioned, was a resident of Chester. His house then stood about opposite H. B. Taylor's present store. Cole died in 1744, and by his will, Decem- ber 26, of the same year, he appointed his wife Martha, and his friends, Thomas Cummings and Rev. Richard Backhouse, execu- tors, with full powers of sale, and in exercise thereof the latter, April 17-18, 1746, conveyed the premises to John Caldwell, who shortly after he acquired possession of the estate built the mansion house, still standing. He was a native of Dublin, and is said to have been the son of an Irish nobleman. He came to this country early in the last century and seems to have acquired considerable property. He died subsequent to June 5, 1772, and in his will which bears that date, he devised his real estate to his two sons, two shares to the eldest, and the other share to the youngest. Af- ter the death of their father, John purchased the one-third interest of his brother George in the homestead. John, known to the last generation as 'Squire Caldwell, was a carpenter and builder by trade, and was born and died in the old dwelling. He is said to have been a private in the Continental army during the Revolu- tionary war, and the musket he carried-one captured from the Hessians, at Trenton-is now owned by James Black. He is also said to have been a Lieutenant in the American service and fought against the Indians on the frontier who were waging war on the colonists in the interest of the crown. When the Royal forces were in possession of Philadelphia, and the English squadron lay off Chester, the 'Squire was much troubled with foraging parties from the fleet. John Caldwell stood it for a time, but every fresh visit from the enemy aroused his indignation until he could remain quiet no longer, and in a small boat he rowed out to the flag-ship, demanding an interview with the Admiral, Earl Richard Howe. He was kindly received, and in the conference he informed the English commander that his men had taken from him all his pork, provisions, milk and butter, until his family had been left in want of the necessaries of life. The Admiral listened attentively, said that he would prevent any more depredations on the 'Squire's property,
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and asked the latter to make out a bill for articles already taken, which was done, and the paymaster was ordered to discharge his claim immediately. John Caliwell returned to his home, the un- accustomed clinking of broad gold pieces in his pocket making his heart lighter and mitigating his angry feelings until he almost wished the foraging parties would visit his farm once more, that a like cure for his injuries could be again prescribed by the British officer.
'Squire Caldwell acquired considerable estate. He purchased and added to the homestead plot the triangular lot at the intersection of Edgmont and Providence avenues, which was known in early times as " Hangman's Lot," because public executions had there formerly taken place. . Fitzpatrick and Elizabeth Wilson were there hanged. The culprits were suspended from a wild cherry tree, on one of the lower branches which extended some distance almost at right angles to the trunk, and it is traditionally related in the Caldwell family, that on one occasion from the windows of the mansion across the street the inmates of the old dwelling saw pendant from that fatal branch a man who was executed for steal- ing a laly's workbox. which stood temporarily on the sill of an open window, so that he could filch it without difficulty. John Caldwell died November 24, 1834, intestate, and on February 23, 1835, Thomas Caldwell, his eldest son, elected to take the home- stead at the valuation placed on it in proceedings in partition. The latter was owner of the old house only for a brief season, for he died August 20, 1835, and the estate was held in common by his heirs, during which time it was occupied as tenants by Dr. Porter, Rev. Anson Hard, John Burrows Mckeever, and finally by John A. Caldwell, who lived there until the property was sold by Abra- hanı Vanzant, Sheriff, May 22, 1864, to Henry B. Edwards, to set- tle the estate. Mr. Edwards for a short time resided in the old mansion, when he rented it to Capt. John Morris, who was succeed- ed by Robert E. Hannum, Jr., then by Henrietta G. Ashmead, widow of John W. Ashmead, and in the spring of 1870 Samuel A. Dyer purchased the premises. He altered and modernized the an- cient dwelling so that it became one of the most attractive resi- dences at that time in the city. November 21, 1872, Col. Dyer conveyed the premises to A. L. Bonnaffon. During the latter's
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ownership the house was occupied by James Stotesbury, and sub- sequently by the Rev. Thomas McCauley, who still resides there. The property was subsequently purchased by Anthony A. Hurst, and is now owned by Godfrey Keebler, of Philadelphia.
The Cobourn (Flickwir) House.
The ancient brick structure on the south side of Third street, adjoining the banking house of Samuel A. Dyer, was built by Ro- bert Cobourn before the middle of the last century. He was a hatter, and the store room to the west of the main building, now occupied by Col. W. C. Gray as an office, was erected by him as a hatter's shop. The second story, and attic rooms, however, over the store, were added many years subsequent to the building of the dwelling proper. Robert Cobourn, by his will, January 1, 1778, devised the estate to his wife for life with remainder to his seven children equally as tenants in common. He died before 1789, as did his widow, Elizabeth, previous to April 15, 1796, for in a deed of that date, whereby Robert, Israel and Mary Cobourn, children of Robert Cobourn, convey the premises to their elder brother, Aaron, the death of Elizabeth is mentioned, as also that of two of the other children, in their minority. Robert Fairlamb, Sheriff, seized the premises as Aaron Cobourn in foreclosure of a mortgage, and sold them April 17, 1818, to William Eyre. The latter did not immediately occupy the house, but leased it to Butler & Worth- ington, who in the fall of the year 1819, issued the first newspaper ever printed in Delaware county-The Post Boy-and continued its publication until April 20, 1824, when Butler retired and Eliphalet B. Worthington issued the paper until he sold the establishment to Joseph M. G. Lescure. William Eyre, however, subsequently re- sided in the house until he retired from business, and then rented it to Breese Lyons, who carried on the tailoring business therein.
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Martha Cowgill afterwards occupied the premises for some time, and was succeeded by Lydia E. Finch, who purchased the dwelling August 30, 1843. Miss Finch came to reside in Chester in 1822, as governess of the children of Israel Haycock, who then resided at Lamokin Hall. In 1823, she established a school in the old Lo- gan House, but several years afterwards abandoning that occupa- tion she opened a dry goods and trimming store at the same place, and as a sign used a band-box suspended on a pole, which gave to the store the nime of the " ban I-box." Her taste in selecting goods was so noticeable that she soon acquired a large trade, and, as stated, purchased the Cobourn House in 1843. It is related that Miss Finch was exceedingly fearful of thunder-storms. On one occasion Dr. Porter called to see her professionally, and just as he was about going, a clap of thunder rattled overhead. Miss Finch, clinging to the doctor, said: " You can't go now, doctor ; you mustn't go." The physician knowing her peculiarity, replied . "Good Heavens! madam, I'm a doctor; not a lightning rod." She carried on business in the house until she sold the premises to Jere- miah W. Flickwir. After Miss Finch retired, she purchased a dwelling on Fifth street, near Madison, where she resided until Oc- tober 9, 1871, when she sold that property to Simon Brandeis, who still owns it. Miss Finch, after boarding for a time in Chester, with a life long friend, removed to the house of Mrs. Taws, in Ger- mantown, where she died October 24, 1881. She was peculiarly reticent respecting her age, and previous to her death she destroyed all papers which in anywise touched thereon. She was, however, known to have been an octogenarian.
Jeremiah W. Flickwir purchased the premises March 13, 1866. He married Jemima E., daughter of Richard Flower, of Lamokin Hall. Mr. Flickwir was a druggist, and carried on that business in Philadelphia for many years. In 1839, he purchased " Fairview Farm," just beyond the western line of the old Borough of Chester, where he resided during the summer time, and for several years made farming his exclusive occupation, until 1861, when he sold the estate to James Garland, removed to Chester, where he opened a drug store, and became Deputy Collector of Internal Revenue, and was elected Alderman of the Middle Ward. He died October 27, 1866, and by will, May 3, 1854, he devised his estate to his wife
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absolutely. His widow resided in the old dwelling until 1877, when she rented it to John Rumford. The building is now used as offices. John B. Hinkson, Esq., now occupies the lower floor of the original dwelling, and Col. W. C. Gray that which was formerly the store room.
The Parker House.
The building to the north and immediately adjoining the present residence of Jonathan Pennell, on the west side of Edgmont ave- nue, I presume, was the early residence of Joseph Parker, previous to his purchase of the Logan House; at all events it was owned by him and descended to his daughter, Mary (Parker) Norris, who sold it April 10, 1773, to Henry Hale Graham. The latter died seized of the property, and his only son, William Graham, who acquired the real estate belonging to his father, conveyed it, May 20, 1800, to William Anderson, and the latter in turn sold it, March 26, 1801, to James Barnard, who had been Sheriff of Delaware county from 1792-'95, and a vestryman of St. Paul's Church in 1801-2-3. The latter is said to have occupied the house as a tenant long pre- vious to his purchase of the property. In this dwelling Isaac D. Barnard, the fourth generation in descent from Richard Barnard, the first settler of that name, was born in 1791. His father, James Barnard, died previous to November 19, 1807, for on that date let- ters of administration were granted to his widow, Susanna, the ex- ecutors named in his will failing to act. In his testament, James Barnard devised his estate to his wife for life, and the remainder to his children in unequal share, coupled with the condition that if Isaac D. Barnard did not assign to his brother and sister certain portions of the estate devised to him (Isaac) by his brother James D. Barnard, that in that event he should be debarred from receiv- ing anything under his (the father's) will. Isaac D. Barnard en- tered the law office of William Graham, and was admitted to the
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bar of Chester county in 1816. During the second war with Eng- land he was commissioned Captain of the Fourteenth United States Infantry, and took part in the battle at Fort George, where his sig- nal bravery and ability earned for him promotion to the rank of Major. He served faithfully in the campaign of the Northeastern border, and at the battle of Plattsburg, owing to the death and disability of his superior officers, the command of the corps de- volved on him. He also so distinguished himself at the battle of Lyon's creek, that he was honorably mentioned in the official re- ports of the Major and Brigadier Generals commanding. So gal- lant was his charge on that occasion that when the Marquis of Tweedsdale, who commanded the One Hundredth British Regi- ment in that battle, after peace was proclaimedl came to Philadel- phia, and during that visit, we are told by Gilbert Cope-to whom I am indebted for much of the information respecting Barnard- the Marquis remarked to several persons : " I would be glad to make the acquaintance of the young gentleman, Barnard, who so gallantly drove me from my position at Lyon's creek."
At the close of the war the Government desired Barnard to re- main in the army permanently, but he declined, and locating in West Chester he began the duties of his profession, where he soon attained a large practice, and within a year after his admission was appointed Deputy Attorney General for Chester county. In 1820, he was elected from the district comprising Chester and Delaware counties, State Senator, and in 1824, he was tendered the President Judgeship of Lancaster and Dauphin counties, which he declined. In 1826, he was appointed by Governor Shulze, Secretary of the Commonwealth, and the same year was elected by the Legislature, Senator of the United States, a position he acceptably filled until 1831. He died February 18, 1834, and his will was probated the 24th of the same month. In it he gave David Townsend, his ex- ecutor, power to sell, but the latter failed to carry out the instruc- tions of the testator, and February 3, 1881, Joseph W. Barnard, who had been appointed administrator, sold the estate to William J. Doffin, of Philadelphia. The latter had married Lucy Barnard, one of the heirs, and the same day the heirs and legatees of Isaac D. Barnard made a deed of confirmation to Doffin. He an.l Sid- ney P., his wife, April 8, 1881, conveyed the premises to Jonathan
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Pennell. During the ownership of the old house by the Barnard family it was tenanted by Breese Lyons, and subsequently by Jo- seph Taylor, the Prothonotary and Clerk of the Courts of Delaware county, and later Surveyor of Chester, who, almost an octogenarian, is still a resident of our city. After Taylor vacated the premises they were occupied by Dr Joshua Owens, although during all this time Thomas, a brother of Isaac D. Barnard, lived in part of the house, as did more recently Mary D. Barnard.
The Anderson (Potter) House.
The title to this old dwelling is the same as that set forth in the account of the Porter (Lloyd) House, until the property passed into the ownership of Major William Anderson, May 21, 1808. The dwelling, I. Engle Cochran, Sr., states, was erected by the Major between the date of his purchase and the sale of the estate, May 26, 1823, to John Cochran. The latter was the son of Alexander Cochran, who came to this county early in the present century and settled in Nether Providence, near the residence of his kinspeople, the Leiper family. John Cochran, the elder, was a farmer and drover, accumulating considerable means in his business and ac- quiring a large farm, part of which was the tract where this house was built. He died October 31, 1843, intestate, and in proceed- ings in partition, Isaac E. Cochran, and John Cochran, the younger, acquired title to the homestead tract comprising over one hundred and thirteen acres. John Cochran, January 30, 1849, conveyed his interest in seventy acres of ground, including the mansion house, to his brother, Isaac Engle Cochran. The latter, after residing in the dwelling for several years, March 27, 1852, conveyed the premi- ses to Frederick Wiggin and Augustus Wiggin, the price paid being $15,000, and the latter, in April of the same year, sold the mansion house and ten acres of ground to Right Rev. Alonzo Pot-
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ter, and Sarah B., his wife. Alonzo Potter was born in Duchess county, New York, in 1800, and after graduating at Union College came to Philadelphia, where he devoted himself to theological studies, until he was called in 1821 to the Professorship of Mathe- matics and Natural Philosophy at Union College. This position he relinquished when at the age of twenty-five, he accepted the rec- torship of St. Paul's Church, Boston. In 1835 he was again called to Union College to fill the professorship of Ecclesiastical History. In 1845 he was elected Bishop of the Diocese of Pennsylvania, the third person holding that office from the forination of the Diocese of Pennsylvania, after the determination of the War of Independ- ence. Bishop Potter died July 4, 1865. A year previous to his death, February 6, 1864, Alonzo Potter and his three sons-liis wife Sarah ( Benedict) being dead-joined in a deed of the estate to Abram Blakeley, the present owner.
Abram Blakeley was born in Dewsbury, in the West Riding of Yorkshire, England, in 1806. He attended at an early age the Free Episcopal School there until his fourteenth year, at which time he began weaving cotton sheeting in his father's house and was so employed for two years, when he went to Staleybridge, where he first learned to weave on a power loom. He continued there for several years, and when twenty-two came to the United States. He obtained employment at Bullock & Bancroft's factory, and in 1830 went to Pottsville, where he labored in the mines as a bunks- man-one who keeps account of the coal as it comes from the mines. In 1841 he moved to Rockdale, in this county, where he worked as a beamer in the mill of James Houghton, but in the fall of that year returned to the coal regions and resumed the duties of bunksman, and at the same time became " a hunter for black dirt," that is, one who examines land to ascertain if it exhibits any indi- cations of coal deposits. In 1833, he obtained employment with John P. Crozer, at West Branch, as a cloth taker, or inspector of cloth as it comes from the looms, and remained there for thirteen years, until in 1846, he, with Phineas Lownes, began manufacturing at Knowlton, the firm being Lownes & Blakeley. After struggling for seven years, they sold their business to Mr. Lewis, and in the spring of 1854, Mr. Blakeley, in connection with Dr. Bonsall, as special partner, purchased the Arasapha Mill, erected by John
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Larkin, Jr., and began manufacturing in Chester, the firm continu- ing in business until the death of Dr. Bonsall dissolved it. In 1866, Mr. Blakeley took his son, Benjamin W., into partnership, and since that time William S. Blakeley, another of his sons, has been admitted into the firm.
I mention the facts in Mr. Blakeley's life to show the opportu- nities which thirty years ago presented themselves to the indus- trious and energetic young man without means to push himself forward in his avocation, and because I believe that such success hereafter will be exceptional in this country, in the Eastern Atlantic States at least, as it has been in old England for nearly a century.
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