History of Chester County, Pennsylvania, with genealogical and biographical sketches, Part 137

Author: Futhey, John Smith, 1820-1888; Cope, Gilbert, 1840-1928
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia, L. H. Everts
Number of Pages: 1162

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Perhaps here would he a auitable place to state that this short necount, which was placed here that the memory of the just might live, and also to show the crowning result of a retiring, unspeculative life of integrity and true holineas, owes its position in this volume principally to the suggestion of my friend, Eli K. Price, whose father and mother, Philip and Rachel Price, were among the most intimate friends of Benjamin, Rachel, and Rest Cope. Eli K. Price apeaks of him aa follows : " I have a clear and distinet remembrance of B. Cope, particularly his general appenrance and countenance. His features were symmetrienl, his expression was friendly, benign, benevolent; and all his movementa were in harmonious accord with these expres- siona. All of these indicated truly the character of the man, and that it sprang from the inward life that made the mild, gentle, sincere gentleman ; a gentleman of the truest stamp, one who must do to others as he would have others do unto him ; one who must obey the religious powers always operating within him. He was a good man, a holy man."

And there are many more still living who well remember bis fatherly enre for their temporal and apiritual welfare; how by unwnv- ering example and kindly precept he endenvored to direct their steps in the path of wisdom and virtue; and none have better enuse than those of his own immediate family, for he was a pattern of dignity, integrity, and uprightness in all the departments of life. Also many of the late worthies, who, we have good reason to believe, have been safely gathered home with him, have left like testimony behind them concerning him.

Hannah Rhoads, writing to me after his denth, observes, " What a loss the church sustaina in the removal of auch pillars ! May a deep consideration of this impress the minds of some of the younger membera !"

James Emlen (who wns himself a remarkably upright standard- bearer in the Lord's army), coming to ace him about the commence- ment of bia last sickness, remarked to him, " I have always eateemed thee as a father in the church." Benjamin wna silent for n short time, and then anid, "I have not seen how this sickness will terminate, but I feel quiet on looking back on my getting along through life. I do not knuw whether, if I had my time to live over ngaio, I should mend it much. What a satisfaction to experience such a solemn quiet ! I enjoy it more than I can express in words."

Here is a declaration that speaks volumes, nn nutobiography that but few cun lenve behind them; aod ou viewing the course of bis con- duct through every relation in life, I think there are but few who could more truly bear auch n testimony.

Verily, the work of righteousncaa is pence, and the effect thereof quietness and assurance forever. But this can be but a brief index to the history of a long, useful, and eventful life, which was a perpetual rebuke to the ungodly. As he lived so he died, retaining hia mental facultiea bright and clear up to his Intest moments, leaving behind him a rich legacy in instructive remarks and exbortations which my preaent limits will not permit me to publish.

On Second-dny morning, the 15th of 12th mo., 1845, he appeared for some time to be engaged in supplication, but in ao low n tone that we could not gather any part of what he said till neur the last, when in a sweet meludious voice he continued, " Oh, Holy Father, I cannot relieve my apirit! Oh, Holy ! Holy ! Holy ! forever and for evermore ! I believe I know all of you. What shall I say ? Farewell ! farewell ! farewell !"

Four o'clock : "Oh that I could but be relieved ! poor creature ! It seems ne if a little more would gather me home. Oh Lord, if thou wouldst gather me! gather home !"

And here begen the song of the heavenly host, the song of Holy! Holy ! Holy ! which gradually became leas distinct ns his breath grew

shorter and fainter, till both at once, in awful, solemn silence, ceased forever.

What joy to grasp a father'e hand Whe calmly meeta his doom,

And hear him apeak about the land Which lies beyond the gloom ! To hear him with hie tateat breath Begin the eternal aong,-

Triumphant pass the gatea of death, The heavenly host among ! C. S. COPE.

CORNETT, SAMUEL, of Schuylkill township, Chester Co., Pa .- John Cornett, an emigrant from Ireland, early in his life settled in this county, and married Jane Knowles, by whom he had nine children, -Samuel, William, Joseph Latta, James Alexander, Sarah, m. to Samuel L. Rhoades, of Berks County ; Jane, Joseph P., and Elizabeth Ann. John and his wife Jane were members of the Great Valley Presbyterian Church, in which faith they reared their chil- dren. John, by his industry and economy, was enabled to raise an interesting and amiable family, of which he was long spared to be an honored head. He died March 24, 1847, and his wife Jane, Aug. 26, 1874. Samuel, their oldest child, was born Dec. 8, 1808, and in addition to a good common-school education enjoyed the educational fa- cilities of the Chester County Academy. After leaving this school lie followed his trade of stone-mason for fifteen years, when he accepted a position from Whitaker & Gar- rett, at their iron-works in Cecil Co., Md. He afterwards returned to Phoenixville, in this county, and commenced the mercantile business, under the firm-name of Cornett & Whitby, which continued for five years, when, upon the dissolution of this partnership, he assisted, for a short time, Joseph Whitaker in the Phoenix Iron-Works. He then re-entered the mercantile business, under the firm-name of Cornett & Co., with John Vanderslice and James Mellon as partners, afterwards Reeves & Cornett, which was for twenty years a well-known and well-patronized store, on the corner of Main and Bridge Streets, Phoenixville. His close confinement to business caused his health to give way, and he sold out his interest to John F. Starkey, and purchased his father's old homestead and farm, one mile west of Phce- nixville, where, by his wonted and close attention, he is now known as a very successful and enterprising farmer. He also owns considerable real estate in Phoenixville, and no man is better known or more highly respected io this part of the county. In early life he was a Democrat, and held the office of postmaster in Phoenixville under Jackson and Taylor. From the formation of the Republican party he supported its nominees until the question of the legal sup- pression of the liquor traffic became a political issue, and finding that the Democratic and Republican parties were unwilling to support the principle of prohibition, and upon the repeal of the local law, becoming convinced of their de- termined hostility, he has acted with the Prohibitionists. All his life Mr. Cornett has been a total abstainer and ac- . tive temperance man, and from education and principle was prepared to receive the platform of the Prohibition party, both National and State, and actively participated in the campaigns of 1875, '76, '77, '78, '79, '80. He was the candidate of the Prohibition party in 1877 for State treas- urer, and in 1880 for Congress. He is a man of great probity of character, large and varied business experience

Samuel Cornett

BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL.

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and acquaintance in Chester, Philadelphia, Montgomery, and Delaware Counties, where he commands the confi- dence and esteem of the people, hence his party did wisely and well in often selecting him as one of its standard- bearers. Of his brothers and sisters, the only ones living are Jane C., Elizabeth Ann, and Dr. Joseph P. Cornett. Another brother, Dr. James Cornett, was in the 5th Penn- sylvania Cavalry in the Rebellion, was taken prisoner on Wil- son's raid, taken to Andersonville, and died shortly after his return home. Dr. Joseph P. was first lieutenant in Company G, 176th Pennsylvania Regiment, re-enlisted in 99th Regiment, and was at the capture of Lee at Appo- mattox. Samuel Cornett was many years a director in the Iron Bank of Phoenixville, and is now vice-president of the Mutual Benefit Association of that place.

COWAN, REV. JOHN F., son of Adam Cowan, was born in Sadsbury township, May 8, 1801. He learned the printing business in Lancaster, but at the termination of his apprenticeship entered upon studies with a view to the ministry. He graduated at Jefferson College in 1824; studied theology in the seminary at Princeton, and was licensed to preach April 8, 1829. He had charge of Pres- byterian churches in Missouri until the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion, when he became chaplain of the mili- tary hospital in St. Louis. He there incurred the disease which terminated his life, Sept. 29, 1862. He was in the fullest sense an evangelist, and was instrumental in found- ing and strengthening a number of churches in Missouri.

He has two sons in the ministry, the Rev. John F. Cowan and Rev. Edward Payson Cowan, the latter now of Ger- mantown, Pa.

COX, JOHN, from England about 1708, settled in the neighborhood of Kennet, and is supposed to have been the father of Richard Cox, who married, 3, 26, 1712, Mar- garet Potts, of Abington Monthly Meeting. The children of Richard were Anna, b. 8, 29, 1713; Sarah, b. 12, 15, 1715; Richard, b. 2, 17, 1718; Jonathan, b. 6, 11, 1720 ; Joseph, b. 2, 18, 1723; Benjamin, twin with Joseph ; John, b. 8, 9, 1725. Io 1728 they removed near to the Schuylkill River, and Richard died in Vincent township about 1760.

Benjamin Cox and Elizabeth, his wife, had children,- Richard, Margaret, Jonathan, William, Joseph, Hannah, Mary, Sarah, Benjamin, and John. William, born 12, 21, 1751, married, 6, 15, 1780, at Goshen Meeting, Lydia Garrett, daughter of Thomas and Hannah, of Willistown, where they settled. Their children were Hannah, Benja- min, John (of Longwood), Abner, Thomas, Elizabeth, Levi, Jonathan, Lydia, and William.

HENRY HAMILTON Cox .*- In an article written by Bayard Taylor, and published in the Atlantic Monthly some fifteen or sixteen years ago, under the title of " A Strange Friend," a story is told of an Irish gentleman of noble family, who, accompanied by his wife and children, came to East Marlboro', Chester Co., and remained there in seclusion in the disguise of a member of the Society of Friends, leaving his Irish estate in the hands of a steward till the rents and profits should discharge the debts by

which they were encumbered. The gentleman is there represented to have assumed the dress, manners, and forms of speech peculiar to the Friends, playing the part of one thoroughily convinced of their principles, and conforming by choice to their usages from motives merely of policy or convenience, and, as soon as his estates were disencumbered, to have suddenly thrown off his disguise and resumed at once his original character as a man of the world. The story rests on a basis of well-known facts, but the facts are somewhat colored and embellished by the fertile fancy of Mr. Taylor. The original of the picture drawn by the artist was Henry Hamilton Cox, better known as Henry Cox. I have taken considerable pains to become ac- quainted with his history, as far as it is known in this region, and I will proceed to state the result of my in- quiries.

Henry Hamilton was a member of an Irish family con- nected with the nobility, but was not himself a noble, though generally reputed so to be while in America. In his youth he held a commission in the British army, and served in India with a rank not exceeding that of captain. A considerable landed estate, owned by his grandfather, Sir Michael Cox, was devised to him by that gentleman. The title, of course, did not accompany the devise, but went by descent to the next heir-at-law. The devise was subject to a condition that the devisee should take the sur- name of Cox, which he immediately did, whether by vir- tue of an act of Parliament or by voluntary assumption I am not informed. His great-grandfather, who bore the same name as his grandfather, was also a baronet, and for many years chancellor of Ireland. For a time after the devise took effect he wrote his name H. Hamilton Cox, but subsequently dropped the Hamilton and was called Henry Cox. In 1799 he emigrated with his family to this coun- try. The first trace we have of him here relates to a trans- action with the Philadelphia Library Company. He brought with him a number of volumes of original manuscripts con- taining correspondence between the military and civil de- partments of the British government during the reign of William and Mary. Of these he made a free gift to the Philadelphia Library Company. During Hepworth Dixon's visit to this country, in the early part of this century, the volumes were shown to him. He immediately recognized their value, and on his return home he discovered that they would fill a hiatus in a series of similar volumes be- longing to the British government, and deposited in a pub- lic library at Dublin. Application was thereupon inade for their restoration to their proper place in that series, and to that application the Philadelphia Library Company promptly acceded. From the time of William and Mary till 1799 these volumes had been in the hands of the family of Henry Cox, whose lineal ancestor was connected with the govern- ment during the period to which the manuscripts relate, and had the custody of the rolls. And whatever may have been the facts which attended the possession of the papers in the first instance, no blame could be attached to the last possessor by reason of any conduct on his part respecting them.

Soon after his arrival in Pennsylvania he took a lease of a farm in York County, within the limits of York Monthly

* By Joseph J. Lewis.

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HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Meeting of Friends. He was at that time, it is believed, about forty years of age. He professed to be a Friend, dressed very plainly, and conformed to all the usages of the sect. He was particularly strict in requiring that the dress of his children should be entirely plain, and would tolerate no approach on their part to the fashions of the world. So far as the records of the York Monthly Mecting show, he does not appear to have produced a certificate of member- ship from any other Monthly Mecting, but seems to have been allowed the privileges of a member without evidence of any right. His wife did not profess to belong to the society, nor did her mother, who was a member of the family. It appears by the minutes of the proceedings of the York Monthly Meeting, dated 9th month 9, 1801, that he on that day made request that his eight children- Joshua, Richard, David, Martha, Mary, Sackville, Eleanor, and Henry-should be reccived into membership. His re- quest was complied with. Under date of 9th month 10, 1806, at his request, his children Henry Washington, Catharine Anne, Alexander James, and Arabella Dorothca were received into membership. Under date 11th month 6, 1811, there is on the same minutes this entry : " Henry Cox requests the right of membership for his two youngest children, namely, William John and Jane Eliza, which, being considered, was united with, and they received into membership." The same book of minutes shows an entry to this effect : " 1806, 4, 19 .- Henry Cox expressed a desire to attend the ensuing yearly meeting in Philadelphia. We inform he is a member in good esteem amongst us. The clerk is directed to furnish him with a copy of this minute signed on behalf of the meeting." By two other minutes it appears that in 1808 and 1809 he was appointed to rep- resent the Monthly Meeting of York at the Quarterly Meet- ing of which it is a constituent part. From this it must be inferred that he was a recognized member of the society in good standing.

He continued to reside in York County until the spring of 1813, when he removed with his family to Chester County, and became a lessee of a large farm of about four hundred aeres belonging to Isaac Pennock, in East Marl- borough township, within the limits of Londongrove Monthly Meeting .* Prior to his removal, under date of 3d month 10, 1813, he obtained a certificate from York Monthly Meeting to that of Londongrove for himself and his minor children. His four elder children,-Joshua Hamilton, Richard,. David Hutchinson, and Martha,- who had attained majority, applied for and obtained at the same time certificates for themselves.

During his residence in York County he was punc- tual in his attendance at meetings both for worship and discipline. In the former he sometimes spoke by way of exhortation, but not very acceptably, and was never acknowledged as a minister. In meetings for discipline he frequently took an active part. On some occasions it is said that, forgetful of his surroundings, he addressed the meeting as " My Lords," as though speaking to the peers of the Upper House of Parliament, though he certainly

never was a member of that body. Some of the elderly people in the neighborhood of York remember his convey- ing his large family of young children to meeting on Sun- days in a cart, he acting as driver, and on arriving near the meeting-house door, of his withdrawing the tail-board and " dumping out his load as he might have done a cart-load of potatoes." This instance of eccentricity, and others of a similar character, affected him unfavorably in the consid- eration of his neighbors, and caused among the Friends more or less distrust as to his real character, notwith- standing his superior intelligence and unexceptionable moral deportment.

In the summer of 1817, Henry Cox received informa- tion that his Irish estates werc at length disencumbered, and he immediately commenced preparations for leaving America during the following spring. It appears by a minute on the Londongrove Monthly Meeting, dated 9th month 17, 1817, that he applied for and obtained a certifi- cate at that date certifying his membership to Friends in Dublin. Before those preparations were completed his son Richard, a young man, well educated and of great promise, was killed by a fall from his horse. This sad accident was a terrible shock to the father, mother, and family, and awakened the sympathy of the neighborhood. This sym- pathy was manifested in so considerate and kindly a man- ner as to inspire in the bereaved family the most grateful recollections of the kind-hearted people among whom he had previously dwelt without quite comprehending them. The accident which was fatal to Richard occurred Dec. 29, 1817, and Henry Cox, having completed his arrange- ments, sailed for Liverpool early in the following spring. When he reached the town upon which his lands bordered, he was met by his tenantry in a body with demonstrations of joy. His horses were taken from his carriage, and he was drawn by the crowd to his old mansion, where he was welcomed by the acclamations of his people. Immediately previous to his departure he published a poem written during his residence in East Marlborough. It was issued in a little volume from the press of Kimber & Sharpless, No. 93 Market Street, Philadelphia, and was cutitled " The Pennsylvania Georgics." It was a pastoral poem in imita- tion of the Georgics of Virgil, and descriptive of a farmer's life in Pennsylvania, The author directed that after Kim- ber & Sharpless should be fully repaid the expense of print- ing and publishing from the proceeds of sale, the residue of the profits, whatever they might be, should be handed over to the Widow's Asylum, of which Mrs. Sarah Ralston was the head. After disposing of as many copies as would fully indemnify them, the publishers sent the remainder of the edition to the Widow's Asylum. About the time his little volume came from the press an error was discovered, which was a subject of some mortification to the author. Two lines in the early part of the poem were repeated in the latter part. He called at the store of Kimber & Sharp- less and requested that the latter couplet should be stricken out. Mr. Isaac Pugh, who was then in attendance in the store, pointed in answer to the motto on the title-page,-

"No line, which dying I would wish to hlot,"

and observed that, after adopting such a motto, the blotting

* This farm is about one mile east of Londongrove Meeting, and on the north side of the Street road, and is the property lately owned and occupied by Samuel Moore, now deceased.

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BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL.

of the two lines would not look well, and that, at all events, not one reader in twenty would observe the repetition. Mr. Cox insisted, however, upon the obliteration, and a dozen or two of copies were treated as he desired. I happened to be in the store at the time of this interview, and well recollect Mr. Pugh informing me of what had occurred im- mediately after Mr. Cox had withdrawn. He, if I recol- lect aright, was then on his way to New York to embark for Liverpool. He was dressed as one of the plainest of the Friends. I soon after learned, however, that on his way from New York to Liverpool he doffed his plain coat, threw his broad-brimmed hat into the sea, and appeared in the ordinary dress of a man of the world. The news of this transformation caused a good deal of talk among those who had known him in America, and strengthened the sus- picions that were previously entertained, that liis connec- tion with the Friends was a matter of caprice or policy, rather than of principle.

Henry Cox, after his return to Ireland, in the course of a few years became involved in the troubles which have ob- tained for centuries between landlords and their tenants in that unhappy and ill-governed country. These caused him much annoyance and anxiety of mind, and are supposed to have hastened his death. He died in the year 1822 of in- flammation of the brain.

During his residence in America he pursued the avoca- tion of a farmer, upon rather a large scale, with energy and industry. He did not immediately adapt himself to the modes of tillage in vogue in Pennsylvania, but adhered for some time with characteristic pertinacity to the course of farming with which he was acquainted in Ireland, under different conditions of soil and climate, This want of readiness on his part to adopt new modes, made necessary by circumstances, interfered with his success. Some fail- ures, however, taught him the lessons which he was slow to learn, and be came at length to follow our ordinary agricul- tural processes, He did not depend upon the products of his farm wholly for his support, but received occasionally moderate remittances through William Warder, of Phila- delphia, from his steward in Ireland.

He was a man of large frame, of good features strongly marked, and of somewhat decided and resolute aspect. His manners were those of a well-bred gentleman, accustomed to society, yet he had somewhat of a soldierly air and a bearing that was deemed aristocratic. This made him un- popular with the people generally of the neighborhood, with whom he did not seem ready to associate on terms of equality. In his intercourse with persons of education and culture he was habitually cordial and agreeable, and there was no assumption of superiority. In a word, his adoption of the principles of Friends did not alter his notions of social distinction, and he could not readily accommodate himself to the republican level to which his neighbors ex- pected him to conform. He was strictly honorable in his dealings. But he did not patiently brook opposition, and he had an imperative way with him that seemed to indi- cate a consciousness of the right to command. I recollect, when a boy under fourteen, meeting with him unexpect- edly. I had been sent on an errand to his landlord, Isaac Pennock, and stopped at his house to inquire the way. He

came out into the piazza in front of his dwelling on my summons, and gave me courteously and explicitly the di- rections that I needed. I was so much struck with the appearance and gentlemanly demeanor of the man that I mentioned the circumstance to my father on my return home, and told him that I had noticed a scar on the back of one of his hands as he placed it on the rail of the piazza while speaking. My father then informed me who he was, and what were his objects in removing to this country, and also that he had been an officer in the British army and had served in India, and that the scar which I had ob- served was caused by a cannon-ball, which had grazed hia hand in action and taken off the skin without inflicting permanent injury.

When Henry Cox left this country he had the appear- ance of being a man about sixty years of age. His family accompanied him to Ireland, and one of his sons took with him a wife, whom he married in this country. Richard, at the time of his death, was under an engagement of mar- riage with Miss Alison, a sister of the late Oliver Alison, Esq. The daughters of Henry Cox corresponded with Friends in America for some years after their return to Ireland. Two of them, Katharine A. Cox and Arabella Lucas, are still living in Queenstown, Ireland, and he has a grandson, Richard S. Cox, Esq., who now resides in Toronto, Upper Canada.

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History of Chester County, Pennsylvania, with genealogical and biographical sketches, Part 137

Author: Futhey, John Smith, 1820-1888; Cope, Gilbert, 1840-1928 Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Philadelphia, L. H. Everts Number of Pages: 1162

Author: Futhey, John Smith, 1820-1888; Cope, Gilbert, 1840-1928
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia, L. H. Everts
Number of Pages: 1162