History of Chester County, Pennsylvania, with genealogical and biographical sketches, Part 178

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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ELISHA C. PINKERTON.

in his township as supervisor and inspector, and was a liberal con- tributor to the churches, especially the Baptist and Methodist. Was a Democrat in his politics, but never sought office. After 1853 be retired from weaving and attended to his farm, which at his decease consisted of one hundred and eleven acres, now owned by his son George S. His son Morgan H. was in the nine months' Pennsylvania volun- teers in the Rebellion, and died in the service of the United States. His son George S. was born Nov. 5, 1835, and attended the boarding- school of Jesse E. Philips, in East Nantmeal township. He married, March 8, 1865, Elmina McCachran, of Lancaster County, by whom he had two children, Eudora and Clara May. Feb. 26, 1877, his wife died, and March 6, 1879, he married Sally A. Dowlin, of East Brandy wine township, the fruits of which union are one girl, Lizzie. He is a farmer and grazier, a Demo- crat in politics, and member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He belongs to Patrons of Husbandry, Grange Lodge, No. 58, and like his father, Elisha C., is a man uni- versally respected in the commu- nity for his probity of character and habits of industry.

Elisha & Pinkeitori

RESIDENCE AND FARM OF GEORGE S. PINKERTON, UPPER UWCHLAN.

673

BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL.

PARKE, THOMAS, born abont 1660, married Rebecca Hooper (?), who was born abont 1672. They had the fol- lowing children, all born in Ireland : Mary, b. Sept. 18, 1693, m. Thomas Valentine ; Robert, b. March 23, 1:694-5, d. Feb. 9, 1736-7 ; Susanna, b. Dec. 22, 1696 ; Rebecca, b. Jan. 22, 1698-9, m. Hugh Stalker ; Rachel, b. Dec. 26, 1700, m. William Robinson ; Jean, b. April 6, 1703, d. April 12, 1705; Thomas, b. March 13, 1704-5, d. Oct. 17, 1758 ; Abel, b. Feb. 22, 1706-7, d. July 21, 1757; Jonathan, b. April 18, 1709, d. April 5, 1767 ; Elizabeth, b. Oet. 5, 1711, d. April 16, 1746, m. John Jackson.

Thomas Parke appears to have been a farmer in Ireland, and in the year 1720 owned some land in Ballileau, Ballagh- more, and Coolisnaetah. On May 21, 1724, with all of his family except Mary and Susanna, he went on board, at Dub- lin, the ship "Sizarghs," of Whitehaven, Jeremiah Cowman commander, and on Angust 21st they arrived in Delaware Bay. Thomas Parke leased a property from Mary Head, near Chester, as a temporary home, but on December 2d pur- chased 500 acres from Thomas Lindley in the Great Valley, on the west side of what is now Downingtown. Of this land he gave to his son Abel 100 acres, to Robert 124, on which was a very large spring, and to Thomas, Jr., 276 aeres, retaining a life-estate therein. He died 1, 31, 1738, and his widow 6, 21, 1749. He was an elder of Caln Meeting, and well esteemed by Friends.

Of his children, Robert followed conveyaneing and elerk- ing at Chester, and acted as recorder of deeds under Joseph Parker for some years. He died unmarried. Thomas, Jr., married Jane Edge, 2, 26, 1739, and became the owner of all the original tract, inelnding the " Ship" tavern, which was first opened by his brother Abel. His children were Robert, m. to Aun Edge; Sarah, m. to Owen Biddle ; Re- becca, m. to William Webb; Hannah, m. to Benjamin Poultney ; Thomas, m. to Rachel Pemberton ; Jane, and Jacob.

Jane Parke continued to keep the Ship tavern after her husband's death until her marriage, 8, 10, 1763, to James Webb, of Lancaster County.

Jonathan Parke married, 2, 29, 1731, Deborah, daughter of Abiah and Deborah Taylor, of East Bradford, and set- tled on 200 aeres of land which her father conveyed to them. He also owned land in the southeast part of the borough of Downingtown, and is said to have built a sub- stantial stone house, now near the toll-gate. His son Abiah lived on this last property, and may have built the house.

The children of Jonathan and Deborah were Joseph, Deborah, m. to Samuel Cope; Abiah, m. to Ruth Jones ; Rebecca, m. to James Webb, Jr. ; Alice, m. to Col. John Hannum ; Jonathan, m. to Jane Buchanan ; and Mary.

Joseph Parke remained at the homestead, and lived almost a century. He was twice married, and by his first wife had one son, Abiah, who took sides with the British during the Revolutionary war, and for one of his exploits piloted a party of the enemy by night to capture his unele, Col. Hannum, then keeping the " Centre House," in Mar- shallton. The final turn of events making it unsafe for him to remain in the neighborhood, he " left the parts" and went to Canada, but was never heard of after alive. Several years ago Edward Townsend, son of John Town-

send, of West Chester, being in the West, fell in company with a half-breed Indian named Joseph Parke, as he was descending the Missouri in a steamboat. From their mu- tual inquiries, with subsequent developments, it appeared that Abiah Parke had married a woman of the Shawnee tribe of Indians, then near Malden, in Canada, and had left two sons, Joseph and William. The tribe had removed to the waters of the Maumee, in Ohio, and from thence to Kansas. Joseph Parke, being a person of energy and ability, became the chief of the tribe, but lived in a style of civilization. In 1852 he visited Chester County and made some effort to obtain a share of his grandfather's estate, but did not succeed. His death occurred about 1857, and that of his brother William three years pre- vionsly.

THOMAS PARKE, son of Thomas and Jane, was born in the township of East Caln, Chester Co., Ang. 6, 1749. Having a desire to engage in the study of medicine, he went to Philadelphia at the age of sixteen years, to ac- quire a preliminary education, and there became a pupil of Robert Proud, the Quaker historian. In 1767 he began his medical studies under Dr. Cadwalader Evans, of Phila- delphia, and took the degree of Bachelor of Medicine at the college and academy in the same city on June 5, 1770. In the year 1771 he crossed the Atlantic to avail himself of the advantages of medical instrnetion in Great Britain. He first visited London, where he enjoyed the friendship and kind offices of the justly distinguished Dr. John Foth- ergill. He next proceeded to the school at Edinburgh, then in the zenith of its strength, where he attended the lectures of Cullen, Black, and Monro.

Returning to London, he attended the clinical practice of Guy's and St. Thomas' Hospitals, and finally set his foot on his native shore in the year 1773.

In 1775 he was married to Rachel, eldest daughter of James Pemberton, and immediately established himself in the practice of physic at No. 20 Sonth Fourth Street, Philadelphia, where he remained upwards of forty years, well known as a skillful, kind, and attentive physician. In 1816 he removed to Locust Street, where he resided during the remainder of his life.

He lost his wife, to whom he was most affectionately de- voted, in the year 1786, and never again married. He was a member of the principal scientific, literary, and benevo- lent institutions of the city. In 1774 he was chosen a member of the American Philosophical Society. In 1776 he became a contributor to the Pennsylvania Hospital, and in May, 1777, was unanimously appointed one of the phy- sieians of that institution,-a station which he held unin- terruptedly for more than forty-five years. In 1778 he was elected a director of the Philadelphia Library Com- pany, in which situation he was continued until his death, -a period of nearly fifty-seven years. In 1787 the Col- lege of Physicians was established, of which he was one, and continued a member until his death. At the decease of Dr. Adam Kuhn he succeeded that gentleman as presi- dent of the college, in July, 1818.

Dr. Parke died on Jan. 9, 1835, in the eighty-sixth year of his age, being at that time the oldest physician in Phila- delphia. He was not only an excellent physician, but also

674

HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

a public-spirited citizen and an excellent man,-at all times the intimate, the constant, and highly-valued friend of Humphry Marshall.

ARTHUR PARKE was a native of Ballylagby, in county Donegal, Ireland. He, with his wife, Mary, and four children,-Joseph, John, and Samuel Parke, and a daugh- ter, the wife of William Noblett,-came to this coun- try prior to 1724. He took up a large tract of land lying along the Limestone road, in West Fallowfield township, embracing what is now divided into seven farms. He died in February, 1740, and his real estate came by devise to his sons, Joseph and Johu. They divided it between them, Joseph taking the southern and John the northern portion. Joseph resided for some years on his tract, which included the homestead, and then sold it and removed to Georgia. John erected buildings on the part taken by him, where the present John A. Parke resides. He died July 28, 1787, at the age of eighty-one years. His wife, Elizabeth, died May 21, 1794, at the age of eighty-two years. Their children were Arthur, Joseph, John, William, Mary, Eliza- beth, Jane, David, and Samuel. The entire Parke family in the western part of the county, together with many families bearing other honored surnames, are their de- șcendants.

Arthur Parke (son of John) was born Sept. 12, 1736, and died July 11, 1822. He left eight children, the de- scendants of whom are numerous, among them Rev. John L. Withrow, now pastor of the Park Congregational Church, Boston, and Alfred P. Reid, Esq., now a member of the bar of Chester County.

Joseph Parke (son of John) was born Dec. 21, 1737, and died July 2, 1823. He was twice married. His children by his first wife were John Gardner, Joseph, and Keziah, and by his second wife, George W., James, Letitia, David, Samuel, William, Agnes, and Harriet. John G. Parke (born Nov. 21, 1761, died Oct. 25, 1837) was a member of Assemby in 1818, and was the founder of Parkesburg. His children were Joseph, Samuel, Robert, John, Francis, and David. Of these, Samuel was a mem- ber of the bar of Lancaster County, and Robert was a member of Assembly in 1843-45, and for six years associ- ate judge. Keziah Parke was the wife of Col. Joseph Mcclellan, a noted patriot of the Revolution, a sketch of whom is given in this volume ; George W. (born Oct. 18, 1780, died Feb. 25, 1860) was at one time register of wills ; Letitia was the wife of the late Henry Fleming, of West Chester ; and Samuel (born Nov. 25, 1788) graduated at Dickinson College in 1809, studied divinity with Rev. Na- than Grier, at Bandywine Manor, and was pastor of Pres- byterian Churches in York County for forty-three years. He died Dec. 20, 1869. His wife was a daughter of his preceptor, Rev. Nathan Grier. His son, Rev. Nathan Grier Parke, graduated at Jefferson College in 1840, and at Princeton Theological Seminary in 1844, and is now pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Pittston, Pa.

John Parke (son of John) was born in 1739, and died Nov. 15, 1823. His children were Elizabeth, Mary, Ar- thur, Jane, and John. Elizabeth married Thomas Mc- Clellan ; Mary married Samuel Thompson, and was the mother of the wife of Hon. Walter H. Lowrie, late chief

justice of Pennsylvania, whose son, Rev. Samuel Thompson Lowrie, was a professor in the Western Theological Semi- nary, at Alleghany, and is now pastor of a church in New Jersey ; Arthur was the father of Samuel R. Parke, now president of the Parkesburg National Bank ; and John was the father of John Andrew Parke, who now owns and re- sides at the old homestead in Highland township.

PARKER, ABRAHAM, of Ravenroyd, near Binglay, in Yorkshire, was buried at Binglay March 5, 1670. Isabell Parker was buried at Binglay July 20, 1667. Their chil- dren were Sarah, b. May 29, 1656; Jonas, b. Sept. 9, 1660; John, b. May 26, 1664.

It appears that John Parker came to Chester County prior to 1688, and in 1695 returned to England. In 1700 he had come back, but was now removed to Philadelphia, to which place he received a certificate from Chester Monthly Meeting, and in the same year married Mary Doe. Their children were Jane, b. 1, 24, 1701-2, m. Samuel Gilpin in 1722; Abraham, b. 10, 9, 1705 ; Johu, b. 12, 28, 1709- 10, d. 6, 9, 1719. The father, who was styled a "skinner," probably a leather-dresser, died 3, 7, 1717. He owned near 500 acres of land in East Caln township, which was sold after his death.

Abraham Parker came to Chester County and married, 9, 19, 1735, Eleanor, daughter of Isaac and Catharine Richardson, of Whiteland. He was a carpenter by trade, but appears to have engaged in tavern-keeping. He was at the " Anvil" tavern in 1750 and later, but is supposed to have been in Wilmington for some years prior to that time. He died about the close of 1752, and his widow married, 10, 4, 1764, William Wickersham. She was born 10, 28, 1714, and was buried 12, 17, 1791. The children of Abraham and Eleanor Parker were Mary, b. 9, 23, 1736, m. David Reynolds in 1756; Elizabeth, b. 4, 13, 1738, m. William Reynolds in 1761; Lydia, b. 1, 22, 1740; Han- nah, b. 8, 7, 1742 ; Ruth, b. 11, 19, 1744; Sarah, b. 9, 4, 1746; John, b. 8, 22, 1748; Kezia, b. 8, 5, 1750, m. Peter Wickersham, 5, 19, 1773.

John Parker, son of Abraham, was a noted minister of the Society of Friends. He settled at Parkerville, which was so named in honor of the family. He was married, 6, 2, 1774, at Kennet Meeting, to Hannah, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Milhous, by whom he liad the fol- lowing children : Abraham, Isaac, Elizabeth (married to Jacob Baily), Thomas, Joseph, Benjamin, Richardson, John, Hannah, Susanna, Wistar, Caleb, and Mary. The father died 7, 12, 1829.

John Parker, Jr., married Rebecca, daughter of William and Jaue Webb, and left one son, William W. Parker, who resides at Parkerville.

Wistar Parker married Abigail N., daughter of John and Mary (Speakman) Jackson, born 9, 13, 1801, died 3, 3, 1874. They resided at Parkerville, where Wistar died 6, 18, 1847, leaving children,-John J., for several years a coal merchant, and now in the brick-making business at- West Chester; Samuel J., a dry-goods merchant at the same place ; Mary S., wife of S. Townsend Brown, dentist, re- siding in Germany; Heury, deceased ; Dilwyn, ex-recorder of deeds for this county ; and Ellen B., wife of Dallas Reeve, of Churchtown, Md.

BENJAMIN PRIZER.

The Prizer family is of German desoent, and was found early in the settlement of Pennsylvania. John, son of Henry Prizer, mar- ried Margaret Place, to whom were born twelve children,-eight sons and four daughters,-of whom the third son and fourth child was Benjamin, born in Skippack town- ahip, Montgomery Co., Nov. 14, 1806. His brother Henry, the eldest of the family, established the first hoarding-school in Mont- gomery County, and in his young days was a pupil of ex-Governor Francis R. Sbunk and Joseph Royer, both noted pedagognes in their day. His father, John, was a stone-mason, and was born and died in Upper Providence towa- ship, Montgomery Co. Benjamin was raised on n farm, but early learned the milling business. In 1829 he started in East Coventry in a grist- and saw-mill, where he continued six years. He then came to Kimberton, in East Pike- land, and began milling in en old mill which he bought and re- paired. Here he continued until 1867, when he erected his present substantial mill, now in successful operation. He was married Dec. 8, 1835, to Catharine, daughter of Jacob Chance, of Lawrenceville. They have had five children, of whem Benjamin F., Catharine, Em- eline, and Elizabeth are deceased. John is the only one living. The latter 'operates the mill, and, with

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his family, resides with his pa Mr. Prizer began life with a hined capital of good char energy, and industry, and acquired a competence of world's goods and a respected r He served as a director io Phoenixville National Bank and a half years, being electt its first heard, and is now a dir in the Spring City National B having been elected ut its firs ganization, Originally a W then a Republican, he is now 1 actively identified with the T perance Prohibition party. tends the Lutheran Church, bn a member of no denomination. has by bis example and influe ever greatly aided the tempera cause. He has ninety acres land, on which, in 1878, his re dence, one of the finest in . township, was erected. He now erecting another substant building of stone adjoining 1 mill.

He has beon repeatedly call upon to view and lay out roads, & sess lands, and often appointed an administrator, committee on i sane, and guardian of children. H real estate is a part of the origin Pena purchase, and is most plea antly located. Mr. Prizer desigue the plans for the erection of h mill und handsome residence, th latter one of the best laid ou dwellings in this part of th county.

RESIDENCE AND MILLS OF BENJAMIN PRIZER, EAST PIKELAND.

675

BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL.

PARRY, JAMES, of Tredyffrin, in his will, dated Dec. 28, 1725, proven Oct. 1, 1726, directed the payment of one pound " unto ye Trustees of the Buildings of ye Pres- beterian meeting house in Treduffrin aforesaid, within six months after my deccase, towards paying the Charges & Debts of the sª Buildings." To his son David he gave £25, "as also one year's diet if he continues Teaching school in the place where now he is in this Township of Trydufferin." To eldest son, John, all the real estate. His wife's name was Ann, and his other children were Lettice (wife of Lewis William), Elizabeth (wife of James Davies), Margaret, Mary, and Hester Parry.

John Parry died without issue in 1747, and devised his land, purchased by his father in 1713, to his brother David; also mentions his cousin, Rowland Parry, of Haverford. He was a justice of the peace at the time of his death. Among the marriages recorded by the First Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia, are those of David Parry and Eliza- beth Jones, March 6, 1727; John Parry and Martha Jones, Jan. 5, 1729; and Mary Parry and Malachi Jones, Jan. 27, 1729,-perhaps two brothers and a sister.

David Parry was married by Rev. Jedediah Andrews, and his wife was probably daughter of Rev. Malachi Jones, of Abington, who died prior to May 22, 1729, being the first minister at the Abington Church. The children of David Parry were baptized at that church by Rev. Michael Treat, as follows : Ann, Dec. 4, 1728; James, Nov. 4, 1731; James (2), July 8, 1733; Caleb, Feb. 9, 1734-5; Tabitha, March 3, 1736-7; Joshua, Jan. 28, 1738-9.

David Parry, of the Great Valley, died in February or March, 1747-8, leaving widow, Elizabeth, and children, Caleb, Tabitha, and Joshna, from which it appears the others died young. Caleb inherited the land, one-half when of age, and the rest at death of his mother. He, with his mother, conveyed to Joshua, who was a blaek- smith, 5 acres 25 perches of the land, Feb. 9, 1761, and Joshua, with his wife, Ann, sold the same Aug. 21, 1762, to David Jones, of Tredyffrin. April 3, 1762, Caleb Parry purchased from James Martin and wife one-half of mills and two tracts in East Whiteland (now of Norris Hib- berd), and afterwards became owner of the other half. March 27, 1769, he sold the same to Michael Wayne, Thomas Hall, and George Hoopes. In 1768 and 1769 he was keeping tavern at the " Admiral Warren," and at the breaking out of the war is said to have been at the "Leop- ard," in Easttown. His father had been an " Associator" in his day, and the son, inheriting the military spirit, was one of the first to take up arms. In March, 1776, he was commissioned lieutenant-colonel of Col. Samuel J. Atlee's regiment, and soon after marched with his command to the defense of New York. April 26, 1776, an order was drawn in his favor for £250 for the use of the Musket Battalion in the service. He was killed in the battle of Long Island, Aug. 27, 1776, and tradition says that his hat, through which the fatal ball had passed into his forehead, was brought home and kept for a considerable time. He mar- ried, Dec. 15, 1761, Elizabeth Jacobs, daughter of John and Mary (Hayes) Jacobs, by whom he had five children, -Rowland, m to Esther Carter, d. 1796; John Jacobs; m. July 28, 1804, to Margaret Palmer, and d. April 29,

1835, in Philadelphia; Esther, m. July 17, 1790, to Gwil- liaem Aertsen, of Charleston, S. C., d. April 9, 1815, aged fifty years; Hannah, m. June 17, 1794, to Thomas Mc- Ewen ; Mary, m. Aug. 16, 1795, to James Musgrave.

Col. Parry's widow and children received patents for nearly 2000 acres of land in Westmoreland Co., Pa., in consideration of his services in the Revolution.

. ROWLAND PARRY, of Haverford, tanner, " having a rcs- olution to go to sea, and thence to the Island of Barba- does," made his will Feb. 10, 1713-4 (proved Nov. 22, 1737), in which he mentions his daughter Anne, wife of Hugh Pugh, sons David and John, and daughter Emma Parry.

John Parry, of Haverford (son of Rowland), in addition to his homestead of 380 acres, purchased from William Allen, Esq., the manor of Bilton, containing near 3000 acres, now the southeastern part of the township of Charles- town. He was probably the sheriff of that name who " ex- eeuted that office with great Integrity and a becoming Res- olution in difficult times" (Col. Rec., iv. 309); was also for several years a member of Assembly and one of the jus- tices of the Common Pleas. In his will, dated July 14 (proved Oct. 2), 1740, he mentions his wife Hannah, daughters Mary, wife of Jacob Hall, Susanna, Margaret, Hannah, Sarah, and Martha Parry. To his son Rowland he devised the homestead ; also mentions his brother, David Parry, and his two children, sister Ann Lewis' children, and sister Emma's children, appoints his kinsman, John Parry, one of his executors, and gives him his watch.

LEWELLYN PARRY was an early settler in Whiteland, near the line of Caln township. His wife was a daughter of Richard ap Thomas, of Whitford Garden, in Flintshire, Wales, by whom he had several children. (See Thomas.)

JOHN PARRY married, 11, 4, 1775, Hannah Dilworth, daughter of James and Lydia, of Birmingham. A son married Eleanor Gibbons, daughter of James, and was the father of Gibbons Parry, now or late of Florida, Ohio. This John may have been the son of John Parry, who married, 9, 16, 1737, Margaret Pusey, both of Marlborough.

PASSMORE, JOHN, from the parisli of Husk, in Berk- shire, England, with his wife, Mary, daughter of Humphrey Buxeey, settled in Kennet, now Pennsbury, as early as 1714, afterwards removing to West Marlborough, where he died about 1746. His brother, William Passmore, was a resident in Philadelphia, and appears to have been in good circumstances. The children of John, so far as known, were William, b. 11, 16, 1703, m. Mary Heald; Jolın, m. 3, 18, 1727, to Elizabeth Harris ; Eleanor, m. 4, 16, 1736, to George Kerson, or Carson ; Augustine, b. 7, 27, 1714, m. Judith Farlow and Hannah Howard; George, b. 2, 23, 1719; Mary, m. William Pusey; Samuel, m. Susan Buteher.

George Passmore married, 9, 10, 1742, Margaret, daugh- ter of John and Magdalen Strode, of West Marlborough, and had children,-John, George, Margaret, Mary, Thomas, Elizabeth, Margery, and Ann. John, born 7, 2, 1743, mar- ried, 4, 24, 1765, Phebe, daughter of Joshua and Mary Pusey, of Londongrove, and had children,-Mary, Marga- ret, Susanna, Ellis, Margery, Hannah, Mary, Lydia, Phebe, Sarah, George, and Elizabeth.

676

HISTORY OF CHIESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Ellis Passmore, born 3, 1, 1771, son of John and Phebe, married Ruth Moore, and was the father of Phebe, Ruth, Ellis P., Andrew M., John W. (father of Col. J. A. M. Passmore, of Pottsville), George B., Benjamin J. (late asso- ciate judge), and William Passmore.

George Passmore, born 7, 28, 1748, died 1, 17, 1834, son of George and Margaret, married, 4, 24, 1776, Mary Pennock, daughter of Levis and Ruth, of West Marl- borough, and settled in Londongrove. Their children were Levis, Margaret, Abiah, John, William Pennock, Rachel, George Strode, Pennock, Joseph, Mary, Thomas, and Imlah, all now deceased.

PEARCE, COL. CROMWELL .- His ancestors for several generations resided in the town of Enniskillen, county Fer- managh, Ireland, a place celebrated for the martial spirit of its inhabitants. Col. Cromwell Pearce's great-grandfather (whose name is not preserved) was a member of the Church of England, a zealous supporter of the rights of man, and, with four of his sturdy brothers, served in the Enniskillen corps at the famous battle of the Boyne, July 1, 1690. His son Edward was born in Enniskillen, Aug. 6, 1701, and had several brothers, three of whom were named Cromwell, William, and Peter. Edward married Frances Brassing- ton, of Dublin, of whose family it is only known that she had several brothers and sisters; that three of the brothers were named Richard, John, and Marmaduke, the latter an eminent physician in Dublin, and that one of the sisters married a gentleman named Dillon. This side of the fam- ily was also connected with the Established Church. Ed- ward and Frances (Brassington) Pearce had three children born in Ireland, with which little family they sailed for America in May, 1737. Two of the children died of smallpox on the passage. They arrived in Philadelphia in August, having been thirteen weeks in crossing the ocean. Cromwell, the surviving child, was born in December, 1732, and was nearly five years old on his arrival in Pennsylvania. The family remained in Philadelphia until the spring of 1738, when they removed to the neighborhood of St. David's church, in Radnor township, Chester Co., where they continued to reside for some time and buried two chil- dren. Edward Pearce was by trade both mason and car- penter. In 1744 he built St. Peter's church, in the Great Valley ; also, in subsequent years, its gallery, stables, and the churchyard inclosure, and on April 15, 1745, he was chosen its first senior warden. Edward's brother Peter died in 1775, leaving several children, the only surviving one of whom, Margaret, married Alexander Trimble, and with her husband came to this country in 1783. In 1750, Edward Pearce purchased from George Aston the farm in Willistown where, twenty-seven years afterwards, the mem- orable " Paoli massacre" occurred, and on which the monu- ment now stands. Upon this farm he spent the remainder of his days, and died March 6, 1777, in the seventy-sixth year of his age. He and his wife (who died March 26, 1783) were interred at St. David's church, Radnor, in one grave. Edward Pearce was a man of a stout, robust frame, six feet in height, of industrious and sober habits, and left to his de- scendants an unblemished reputation. Three children sur- vived these worthy parents, viz. : Cromwell, before mentioned, and born in Ireland; the other two in this country, viz.,

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History of Chester County, Pennsylvania, with genealogical and biographical sketches, Part 178

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