History of Chester County, Pennsylvania, with genealogical and biographical sketches, Part 185

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

USA > Pennsylvania > Chester County > History of Chester County, Pennsylvania, with genealogical and biographical sketches > Part 185

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PYLE .- The first document recorded in our oldest deed-

HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

is a power of attorney from Robert Pyle, " of Stan- Barnard, in the county of Wilts, yeoman," to Robert , Jr., and Nicholas Pyle, of Pennsylvania, dated Aug. 688. The latter were probably sons of the former, they had a brother Ralph, who was also among the settlers.

OBERT PYLE, of Horton, in the parish of Bishops ing, Wiltshire, England, maltster, was married to Ann, laughter of William Stovey, of Hilperton, in the same ty, yeoman, the 16th of 9th mo. (November), 1681. exact time of the migration of this young couple to rica is not known, but we find them settled in Bethel irly as 1684. They were both in membership with ids, but Robert was by no means a nominal member. y gatherings of the Chichester Meeting were sometimes at his house, and in 1706 he was one of a committee tablish a meeting at Nottingham. In civil affairs also as frequently called upon to take a part. He was a sentative in the Provincial Assembly several years, and served a long time as one of the justices of the County t. His children were Sarah, b. 11, 27, 1682, d. 12, 1706, m. John Vernon; Robert, b. 7, 17, 1684, m. ibeth Swaffer, 1709; William, b. 11, 26, 1685, m. e Bennett, 1707; John, b. 6, 8, 1687, m. Lydia nas and Susanna Chamberlin ; Mary, b. 11, 13, 1688, Thomas Moore, 1713; Jacob, b. 1, 5, 1691, m. Alice ater, 1713; Joseph, b. 11, 5, 1692, d. 1754, m. Sarah :s in 1715, and Sarah (Pennell) Gibbons in 1732; Dan- . 5, 29, 1694, m. Mary Chamberlin in 1717, and Mary nell in 1727.

obert Pyle married, in 1725, a widow, Dorothy Turner, died in Bethel in 1730.

aac Pyle, son of William and Olive, married Elizabeth ington, and settled in Marlborough, where he died 11, 794. His cousin Moses, son of John and Lydia, mar- her sister, Mary Darlington, and settled in Newlin. y, daughter of John and Susanna, married Benjamin ,0, 9, 29, 1753.

oseph Pyle, son of Joseph and Sarah, of Concord, 'ied, 9, 20, 1753, Alice, daughter of James Smith, of peter, Lancaster County, and settled in West Marlbor- 1, near Londongrove Meeting. His children were as ws: Alice, b. 11, 21, 1754, d. 2, 6, 1822, m. Thomas tinson ; Joseph, b. 7, 17, 1756, d. 5, 15, 1788; Sarah, 2, 1758, d. 12, 25, 1834, m. Allen Chandler ; Rachel, 1, 9, 1760, d. 11, 22, 1763; Ann, b. 11, 24, 1762, d. mo., 1801, m. Levi Baker; James, b. 3, 22, 1765, d. 10., 1846, m. Mary Bunnell; Betty, b. 4, 19, 1767, m. 1 Thompson ; Rachel, b. 3, 14, 1769, d. 12, 31, 1774; , b. 12, 13, 1771, d. 3, 12. 1809, m. Jehu John ; ert, b. 4, 22, 1774, d. 2, 22, 1859, m. Hannah Clark ; :h, b. 3, 8, 1776, d. 5, 21, 1801; Susanna, b. 2, 6, }, d. 5th mo., 1818.

ba Pyle, son of Job, and grandson of Isaac and Eliza- (Darlington) Pyle, was born in Londongrove township, ter Co., Nov. 1, 1785. He read law with the Hon. ph Hemphill, afterwards judge of the District Court hiladelphia, and was first admitted to the Philadelphia and after practicing there for a time removed to West ter, and was admitted to the bar of Chester County in

the year 1808. He continued in the practice of his pro- fession until his death, Feb. 4, 1851.

During a considerable portion of this period his practice was extensive. He was for many years solicitor of the Bank of Chester County, and for several of the sheriffs, and was also a commissioner under the bankrupt law of 1841. He was at his death the oldest member of the bar.

Mr. Pyle was a man of profound learning in the law, and of skill in its administration, and was so regarded by all his associates. The profession never had a member in its ranks whose life was more unsullied, or who better deserved the reputation of a strictly honest and upright man. He was singularly retiring and unobtrusive in his disposition, but was nevertheless a most cheerful companion to all who sought his society. To the younger members of the bar he was peculiarly kind and courteous, ever ready to assist them, and to guide their inexperience by his own mature opinions. It seemed as though his nature was incapable of harboring enmity against any one. His legal skill, integ- rity, and conciliatory spirit made him ever a sure and kind guide to his clients and an honorable example to his pro- fessional brethren.

He left five children,-three sons and two daughters. Two of his sons, B. Franklin Pyle and Isaac Darlington Pyle, became members of the bar, the latter of whom died Aug. 19, 1857. A granddaughter is the wife of George B. Rob- erts, the president of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company.

NICHOLAS PYLE, the emigrant, married, in 1688, Abi- gail, daughter of Joseph Bushell, and settled first in Bethel, but about 1696 removed to Concord and built a brick house, which was torn down by Benjamin W. Passmore a few years ago. In 1713 he married Ann Webb, of Philadel- phia, and died about the year 1717. He appears to have been a man of good business qualifications, and accumulated a considerable property before his death ; was one of the owners and projectors of the " Concord Mills," and was otherwise useful as a pioneer iu developing the resources of the country. He represented Chester County in the Pro- vincial Assembly six years, and served in many other eivil employments. Iu religion he was earnestly devoted to the doctrines and principles of Quakerism.

The children of Nicholas and Abigail Pyle were Mary, b. 6, 23, 1689, m. Joseph Sharp ; Edith, b. 1, 20, 1695, m. Nicholas Newlin ; Nicholas, b. 2, 26, 1697, m. Sarah Wor- rilow ; Samuel, b. 12, 21, 1700, was a physician, and set- tled in Kennet, where he died, 1749 ; James, b. 10, 2, 1703; Joseph, b. 2, 15, 1706 ; Sarah, m. to Joseph Way.

RALPH PYLE, unlike his brothers, does not appear to have been a Friend. Some of the family were buried at St. John's church, in Concord. He lived in Coneord town- ship, and was active in public affairs. His son William married Betty, daughter of Francis Chads, and settled in Birmingham, where he died June 1, 1746, leaving children, -Ralph, Joseph, John, William, Elinor, Mary, and Sarah.

QUINN, JOHN H., M.D., was the son of John and Su- sanna H. Qnion .* His mother was a daughter of James Hemphill, of Goshen township, Chester Co. He was born at the house of his grandfather Hemphill, Sept. 3, 1793,

# John Quinn and Susanna Hemphill were married, Oct. 30, 1792, at St. James'. church, Perkiomen ..

703

BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL.

a short time after the death of his father. He received the early part of his education at a school in the neighbor- hood, and afterwards was placed under the care of Rev. Nathan Caldwell Grier, pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Brandywine Manor, to complete his English and classical education. He pursued his professional studies in the office of Dr. Jacob Ehrenzeller, in West Chester, and after at- tending the lectures at the University of Pennsylvania, he received the degree of Doctor of Medicine from that insti- tution in the spring of 1814. In the same year he began the practice of medicine in West Chester, and continued it four years, when be removed to Pottstown, Montgomery Co., but remained only a short time, returning to West Chester. With the exception of this brief absence from the borough, and a short sojourn at Marshallton, Chester Co., he resided in West Chester, attending to his profes- sional duties until disabled by disease.

In the year 1814 he married Jane, daughter of Samuel Osborne, of Pennsbury township, Chester Co. He had four children, all living at his death,-two sons and two daugh- ters. The latter, Catharine Ann and Elizabeth Hemphill, married twin brothers, John and Jeremiah Colflesh, and settled in Philadelphia.

After lingering several months with consumption he died, Dec. 1, 1823 .*

RALSTON, HON. JOHN, was born in Vincent (now West Vincent) township, Chester Co., Nov. 4, 1744. His grandfather, John Ralston, was a native of the north of Ireland ; was in the battle of the Boyne Water, under King William, July 1, 1690 ; emigrated to this country in Au- gust, 1728, and settled in Pikeland (now West Pikeland) township, Chester Co. He brought with him his son, Robert Ralston (father of the subject of this sketch), who had been born in Ireland, Oct. 3, 1722. Robert Ralston was several years a member of the State Legislature, and died at his residence in Pikeland township, Feb. 19, 1814, at the age of ninety-one years. .

Hon. John Ralston was on the side of independence in the Revolution, and in the service both as captain and colonel. When Gen. Washington was about removing his headquarters from the Yellow Springs to Reading, he sent for Capt. Ralston, who was then at home on a furlough, putting in his crops, and engaged him to pilot him part of the way. This Capt. Ralston did, escorting him as far as the falls of French Creek, when another guide was pressed into the service, and he returned home. On one occasion his dwelling was burned by English scouts, and he thrice secreted himself in a barn to prevent being arrested by the enemy.

The various other public employments he was intrusted with in those eventful times bear testimony to his character for patriotism. He was for forty-one years an active, useful, and intelligent magistrate, and the leading man in the part of the country in which he resided. All the law transac- tions of his neighborhood passed in a manner through his hands.

He took his seat on the bench of the County Court when the courts were held by the justices of the peace, in Novem-

ber, 1784, and continued in that station until the formation of the constitution of 1790, under which, on August 26, 1791, he was again commissioned a justice of the peace by Governor Mifflin. April 7, 1802, he was appointed by Governor Mckean an associate judge of the courts of the county, the duties of which office he performed with sin- gular fidelity the last twenty-three years of his life.

He lived a life of usefulness rarely witnessed, and died at his residence in Vincent township, Sept. 1, 1825, in the eighty-first year of his age. He was interred at St. Peter's church, in Chester Valley, and the great concourse which attended his remains to the grave testified to the high es- teem in which he was held by his fellow-citizens.

At a meeting of the court and members of the bar of Chester County, held on the occasion of his death, it was

" Resolved, That the meeting entertain a high sense of the long and faithful services of Hon. John Ralston, late an associate judge of the courts of this county ; that we cherish a sincere respect for his memory as a man, and for his character as an officer of the court, and deeply lament the loss which, in common with the public, we have sustained by his death."

He married Catharine Miller, and had five sons and two daughters,-Robert, William, John, James, Mary, Catha- rine, and George, of whom Mary alone survives. William married Mary Heffelfinger in 1805, and died in 1825. Catharine became the wife of Samson Davis. Mary mar- ried John Bingaman, and after his decease became the wife of Henry Rimby.

ROBERT RALSTON was of Irish descent, and born at Little Brandywine, Chester Co., on Dec. 18, 1761. His education was not of an extended character, and probably designed to fit him for the line of life in which he intended to move. He did, however, acquire sufficient knowledge of the Latin language to enable him to translate with facility the quotations which occurred in the course of his reading. His attention appears to have been principally to the Eng- lish language, the beauties of which he was capable of rel- ishing. He commenced business in Philadelphia, probably very soon after he became of age, with very little capital, but with a character, in the leading traits of which those who had an opportunity with him had confidence, and this, under divine blessing, enabled him to progress steadily in the enlargement of his business. His qualities as a man of business were of the highest order. Take him altogether, he has been justly considered as a beautiful model for the character of the merchant. Let us add that he did not make haste to grow rich, and thereby preserved himself from many of the sorrows with which multitudes have pierced themselves through. In November, 1785, he was married to Miss Sarah Clarkson, daughter of Matthew Clarkson, Esq., in his day one of the most respectable citi- zens, and for several years the chief magistrate, of Philadel- phia. This connection was one of affeetion, harmony, and happiness till it was dissolved by her death, Dec. 29, 1820, in the fifty-fourth year of her age. He was ordained as a ruling elder of the Second Presbyterian Church, Dec. 2, 1802, and lived in the communion of this church for the space of fifty years, and for nearly thirty-four years officiated as one of its elders. But these bonds, with all others which united him to carth, were dissolved Aug. 11, 1836, in his seventy. fifth year of age.'

* Medical Reporter, vol. ii. p. 128.

HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

tegrity was the basis of his character, and he was dis- Lished for his humility, meekness, gentleness, and tesy of manners.

AMES GRIER RALSTON, third son of Samuel and Nancy (Grier) Ralston, was born in West Nantmeal, Dec. 28, i, and his education began in a log school-house which I ou the site of the present West Nantmeal Seminary. ixteen he entered New London Academy, and remained t a year, when the school was permanently closed, and hen went to Hopewell Academy, where he continued the autumn of 1833, when he was admitted to Wash- o College, Pa., and was graduated thence in September, 3. In November of that year he began teaching in re Academy, Steubenville, Ohio, the principal and pro- or being Rev. John W. Scott, D.D., under whose di- on he devoted half his time to the study of theology. entered the Theological Seminary of Princeton, N. J., : 16, 1840 ; was licensed by the Presbytery of New le, April 14, 1841, and at once commissioned by the asylvania Board of Domestic Missions as a missionary he Winnebago Indiaus in Wisconsin. Failing health ented his entrance into this field of labor, and he as- ed charge of a female seminary at Oxford, Pa., remain- until 1845, when he was ordained, and removed to Nor- wn, Pa., where he opened the Oakland Female Institute, ne of the most successful educational institutions in the Itry. Commencing with only four pupils, the number increased, and before the close of the second term it necessary to provide additional room. With the ex- ion of three years-1874 to 1877-the school was kept i until his death, during which time over twenty-five dred young ladies had been under his instruction, ing from all the States of the Union, as well as from ada, South America, Cuba, Great Britain, and other opean countries. While thus engaged he found time oursne some special studies which had early attracted

. He became an expert and enthusiastic mineralogist, his private cabinet of minerals, which he left arranged admirable manner, is very full and valuable. In other atific studies he was also proficient, nor was he wanting public-spirited citizen, leading in all plans for improve- t, and helpful to the upward-struggling individual.

n November, 1864, Mr. Ralston preached an eloquent impressive sermon on the occasion of the semi-centen-' anniversary of the settlement of his kinsman, the Rev. Grier, over the Presbyterian Church of Brandywine lor; and for the centennial jubilee of 1876 he pre- d a valuable historical sketch of the First Presbyterian irch of Norristown, of whose board of trustees he was ident from 1856 until his death. Both of these meino- ; have been preserved in print. Of the Montgomery nty Bible Society-a non-sectarian body-he was choseu ident in 1863, and re- elected annually. In 1865 La- tte College conferred upon him its doctorate of laws, Washington and Jefferson, in 1868, its doctorate of di- ty ; was elected a member of the Numismatic and An- arian Society, May 3, 1866, and served respectively on committees of Antiquity and Genealogy, being chair- of the latter for 1879 and 1880. Dr. Ralston was ried April 11, 1842, at Steubenville, Ohio, to Miss

Mary A. Larimore, who, with three daughters, survive him. He died at Norristown, Pa., Nov. 10, 1880.

RAMSEY, JAMES READ .- Among the early settlers of Pennsylvania who emigrated from the north of Ireland in the first part of the eighteenth century, was William Ramsey, who purchased a large tract of land in East Not- tingham township, Chester Co. His son William married Rebecca Wilson, a daughter of the Rev. James Wilson; D.D., a prominent Presbyterian minister of Lancaster County. She was a niece of the Rev. Dr. Read, of Wil- mington, Del., and a connection by marriage with the Wise family, of Virginia, and the Polk family, of Tennessee. From this marriage came the subject of this sketch, James Read Ramsey, who was born in Bart township, Lancaster Co., Feb. 14, 1815. He received his education at Hope- well Academy and at Washington, Pa., under his uncle, the Rev. Obadiah Jennings, D.D., who was connected with Washington College. He was with the Messrs. Dickey Brothers, extensive merchants and cotton manufacturers, at Hopewell, Pa., for some years. He married Mary, a daughter of Samuel Dickey, June 6, 1845, a descendant of one of the earliest settlers in the county. His widow with three sons are still living,-William W., a merchant in Chicago, Ill .; Samuel D., a lawyer in West Chester ; and J. Everton Ramsey, cashier of the First National Bank of Oxford. Owning an extensive farm in Chester County, he was largely interested and took an active part in the public improvements of his district. He was one of the corporators and aided in the construction of the Philadelphia and Baltimore Central Railroad, of which he was a director, and at the time of his death the treasurer. He assisted in the organization of the Oxford Public Li- brary and the Oxford Agricultural Society, acting as the first president of the former and the treasurer of the latter. He was also, for many years and at the time of his death, a director of the Bank at Oxford. He was trustee and treasurer of the Oxford Presbyterian Church, and the active member of the building committee in the construc- tion of the present handsome edifice. Having decided views on all subjects, he was a warm supporter of the Re- publican party, and a member of the Union League. He died Dec. 24, 1871, in the prime of life, aud in the midst of a career whose sudden close was felt as a great loss to the community.

CHARLES RAMSEY, whose grandfather, tradition says, fought on the Protestant side at the battle of Boyne, 1690, came to Pennsylvania about 1770, and lived several years with David Watt, of New London. He was married Nov. 7, 1776, to Rebecca Scott, and thus came into possession of land now the western part of Lumberville, Cecil Co., Md. From thence he moved in 1800 to property now in posses- sion of his grandson, of the same name, in Elk township, below "Spring Lawn" paper-mill, where he died. His children were Samuel, b. 1780, James Scott, Sarah, Thomas, Mary, David, and Rebecca, the last by a second wife.

Samuel went to Cadiz, Harrison Co., Ohio. James Scott lived near Hickory Hill, was a justice of the peace, and died 1866. Thomas married Catharine Sherer, and re- mained at the homestead. David married Mary Jones, and went to Ohio. Mary married John Sherer.

JOHN RANKIN.

James Rankin was an emi- grant from North Ireland, and in 1773 purchased the place, one hundred and eighteen acres, now owned by Abbie A. Hinkson, in Highland town- ship. He married Mary Ar- buckle, and their son James married Susanna Riddle. To them were born eight children, of whom John was the eldest son and second child. He was raised on the farm, educated in the common schools, and became a great reader, storing his mind with useful informa- tion. He taught school in his younger days, and was a pupil under the noted John Sloan, an Irish teacher of distinction. He was married March 9, 1820, to Martha, daughter of Alex- ander and Abigail Andrews, of Andrews' Bridge. Their only child, Abbie Ann, was born March 15, 1821, and was married Jan. 20, 1842, to Eli W. Hinkson, of Highland township, who died June 5, 1873. John Rankin, like his ancestors, was a rigid Presby- terian, and many years an elder in the church at Fagg's Manor. He was a strong anti-slavery man, and took part in the agi- tation of the great slavery

JOHN RANKIN,

question when it began, about 1828, and when it was attended with great perils to life and property. He was prominently identified with the temperance movement, and was the first in his section to banish liquor from the harvest-field. He was very active in politics, being an ardent supporter and advo- cate of the principles of the Republican party up to the time of his death. He was a man of strong convictions, clear judgment, and possessed moral courage to the highest degree. His wife, Martha Andrews, was of the same nationality and religion, -- North Irish Presbyterian. He died April 4, 1851, and was buried at Fagg's Manor churchyard, and in his death passed away an upright citizen, who lived for humanity's cause and prog- ress. His daughter and only child, Abbie A. Hinkson, has had eight children : Martha R., married to E. Mancill ; J. Al- fred, deceased ; Harriet Newell, married to Henry B. Burn ; Edwin E. ; J. Rankin, married to E. Duncan ; Annie M., mar- ried to David B. Clark; Ella A. ; and Horace F., deceased. This farm has been in the pos- session of the Rankin family one hundred and eight years.

RES. AND FARM OF ABBIE A. HINKSON HIGHLAND TP. CHESTER CO. PA.

FICO. AND ITWILL

..........

RESIDENCE OF JOHN T. HARRAR, EAST WHITELAND.

BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL.

705

James R Panny

(For biography see page_704.)

READ, REV. THOMAS, D.D., was born in March, 1746, in Nottingham township, Chester Co. His parents were Scotch-Irish immigrants, from the north of Ireland. They were in prosperous circumstances, and gave their children the best opportunities which the country afforded for the culture of their minds. Thomas Read was educated at the Philadelphia Academy, under the charge of Dr. Francis Alison. He graduated in 1764, and was for a time tutor in the Newark Academy, in the State of Delaware. In 1768 he was licensed as a Presbyterian minister, and was pastor of the church at Drawyer's Creek, in Delaware, from that time until 1798, when he removed to Wilmington, Del., and became pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church of that place. He filled this position until 1817, when he re- signed. He afterwards preached, as his health permitted, for the First Presbyterian Church of Wilmington, which was without a pastor.

In the Revolutionary war he was an earnest, active patriot. In 1776 he and some fifty others, neighbors and members of his congregation, shouldered their muskets and marched to Philadelphia. The success which had then recently attended the American arms at Trenton and Princeton rendered their services at that par- ticular juncture unnecessary, and they returned to their homes. On Aug. 25, 1777, the British army landed at Elkton. Gen. Washington was encamped near Stanton, some six miles below Wilmington. The position of the American army was such as to render it exceedingly danger- ous to give battle, and to retreat by the great road, with the disciplined British army in the rear, was still more so. Gen. Washington made preparations for departure, but could ob- tain but little information upon which he could presume to

act. At night a council of war was held, and, while the greatest anxicty prevailed, one of Gen. Washington's staff came in and exclaimed, " I know the man that can extricate us." " Mount and bring him without a moment's delay," was the immediate order of Gen. Washington. The officer went to the house of Rev. Thomas Read, then residing about five miles distant, roused him from his bed, and brought him under whip and spur to the camp. He drafted on paper for Gen. Washington the whole adjacent country, with which he was very familiar, with all the cross-roads and by-ways. The army was immediately put in motion, and a safe retreat made to Chads' Ford, where, Sept. 11, the battle of Brandywine was fought. In 1796, Thomas Read received from Princeton College the degree of Doctor of Divinity. He was twice married, first, to an Eoglish lady, of the name of Stanley, and second, to Mary Stuart, of Bohemia Manor, Md., who survived him. He was a man of commanding appearance and of remarkably dignified manners, a learned theologian, and of substantial and en- during worth. Among the people to whom he ministered he was regarded with great esteem and reverence. He died June 14, 1823. His widow died Dec. 11, 1845, at the age of eighty-four.

THOMAS READ, the great-grandfather of Thomas Bu- chanan Read, had four soos,-John, William, James, and Davis. James, his grandfather, was a school-teacher, and married first Sarah, daughter of John and Elizabeth Steel, of Newtown. His second wife was Hannah Bu- chanan, hence the middle name of the poet. By this second wife James had seven children,-John, Davis, James, Sarah, Sidney, Elizabeth, and Jane.

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History of Chester County, Pennsylvania, with genealogical and biographical sketches, Part 185

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