History of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, Part 156

Author: Ashmead, Henry Graham, 1838-1920
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : L.H. Everts
Number of Pages: 1150

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THOMAS PRATT.

Thomas Pratt, the father of the subject of this bio- graphical sketch, who was of English descent, mar- ried Hannah Haycock, of the same county and township, and had one son, Thomas, born on the homestead in Middletown township, now occupied by his son, William H. Pratt, on the 11th of February, 1818. After receiving a substantial English educa- tion at the popular Friends' boarding-school at West- town, Chester Co., Pa., he returned to the parental roof and engaged in labor on the farm. He married, in 1839, Mary Worrall, of Middletown township, a descendant of John Sharpless, and had children,- Elizabeth (Mrs. Jesse Darlington), William H. (mar- ried to Clementina M., daughter of Charles Johnson, who has four children), T. Mitchell (married to Eva Woodward, of Chester, who has three children), Peter W. (who married Barbara Herr, of Lancaster County, and has five children), Phineas (deceased), and Anna Mary (Mrs. Thomas Byers). All the sons reside upon the family estate. Mr. Pratt was a second time mar- ried June 15, 1874, to Miss Sarah, daughter of Oliver and Emma Johnson, of Middletown, Conn., to whom was born Sept. 8, 1875, a daughter, Emma. By the

Edicard Darlington

Thomas Tratto

Charles Johnson

Joel Sharpless

633

MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP.

purchase of adjacent lands considerable additions were made to the homestead farm, which Mr. Pratt culti- vated and greatly improved. He was the pioneer in a branch of industry which has since grown to large proportions in the county,-that of the manufacture of ice cream. This was made on the farm and shipped before the completion of the railroad by boat from Chester to Philadelphia, where a ready market was fouud. The enterprise proved so profitable as to have induced many others to embark in the business. Mr. Pratt retired from active labor some years before his death, and ultimately removed to Media, where he died on the 5th of March, 1882. He was a Re- publican in politics, active in the defense of the prin- ciples of his party, and a strong and outspoken Abo- litionist. He served a term as commissioner of the county, and also held various minor offices. He was for several years identified with the Delaware County Mutual Insurance Company as its president. He was a member of the Delaware County Institute of Sci- ence, and a life member of the Pennsylvania Train- ing-School for Feeble-Minded Children, both of which institutions commanded his warmest interest. His in- fluence was ever given in the cause of temperance, both by precept and example. He was one of the board of trustees of the Charter House, in Media, a body with whom he met but a few days prior to his deatb. He was also one of the early projectors of the Farmers' Market of Philadelphia, now so success- fully establisbed. Mr. Pratt was from childhood a member of the society of Friends, and devoted to the faith he espoused.

CHARLES JOHNSON.

Humphrey Johnson, the great-grandfather of the subject of this biography, resided in Chester town- ship, Delaware Co. Among his sons was Joseph, who married Amy Rogers, and had the following ten chil- dren : Ann, Humphrey, Robert R., Phineas, Abram, Amy, Mary, Jethro, Sarah, and Hannah. Humphrey, of this number, was born in Delaware County, and when sufficiently advanced in years learned the trade of carpenter. He later abandoned this occupation for the healthful employment of the farmer, and re- moved to Cecil County, Md. He married Mary, daughter of John Slaughter, to whom were born children,-Jemima (Mrs. Thomas Donegha), Joseph, Charles, Anna M. (Mrs. I. P. Dutton), and Amy. Charles, of this number, was born Nov. 9, 1817, in Cecil County, Md., and in early youth removed to Delaware County. Here he enjoyed but limited ad- vantages of education, and having chosen the trade of blacksmith, on completing his apprenticeship, fol- lowed it successfully for seventeen years. In 1855 he purchased a farm in Middletown township, and has since been devoted to its cultivation and improve- ment. Mr. Johnson, on the 16th of March, 1842, married Mary S., daughter of Joseph Mancill, of

the same county, and has had children,-Clementina M. (Mrs. William H. Pratt), Anna Mary (Mrs. Evans Eachus), H. Winfield, L. Emma, Charles, William A. (who is deceased), and Laura F. (Mrs. Albert P. Ogden). In politics Mr. Johnson usually fraternizes with the Republican party, though he may with pro- priety be regarded as independent in his political views. He has held the important office of treasurer of Delaware County, and served as county commis- sioner and in minor township positions. He was in- structed in youth in the belief of the society of Friends, and still inclines to that faith.

JOEL SHARPLESS.

John Sharpless, of Ratherton, in the county of Chester, England, married Jane More, of the same place, in the year 1662. With their seven children they embarked for America two months previous to the arrival of William Penn, in 1682, landing at Ches- ter on the 14th of June of the same year. Joseph Sharpless, the youngest son, married Lydia Lewis, and settled in Lower Providence, on part of the orig- inal purchase of one thousand acres, and later re- moved to four hundred acres in Middletown town- ship. His nine children were Susannah, Benjamin, Samuel, Lydia, Nathan, Jane, Abraham, Jacob, and William. Samuel married Jane Newlin, daughter of John and Mary Newlin, of Concord, and settled on part of the original purchase. They had twelve chil- dren,-Mary, John, Thomas, Lydia, Abigail, Samuel, Hannah, Susanna, Phoebe, Rachel, Samuel, and Joel. Samuel Sharpless died in 1790, and his wife, Jane, in 1798. Their son, Joel, married in 1784, Hannah, daughter of Joshua and Lydia Mendenhall. They finally settled upon two hundred acres, the larger portion of which is now embraced in the farm of the subject of this sketch, on which his residence, "The Hermitage," stands. His three surviving children were Samuel, Joshua, and Lydia, who were early left orphans. Samuel married Ruth Iddings in 1808, and had children,-Beulah, Joel, Hannah, Lydia, Wil- liam, Amy, Sarah, Thomas J., Ruth Anna, Tamzen, Matilda, and Samuel. All these children were born at " The Hermitage," in Middletown, and all but one survive. The birth of Joel, the second child, occurred March 9, 1810. He was from childhood accustomed to labor, and received only such an education as could be obtained during the winter months after attaining his tenth year. At the age of nineteen he taught school, continuing this vocation at intervals for a period of several years. On the 25th of December, 1841, he was married to Miss Hannah, youngest daugh- ter of Abel and Lydia Minshall, of Middletown. Mrs. Sharpless died on the 10th of October, 1845, leaving one son, Minshall, whose death occurred in 1864. Mr. Sharpless was a second time married on the 6th of May, 1847, to Sarah Ann, daughter of Abel and Sarah Green, whose children are Josephine, Robert,

634

HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Gertrude, Margaretta, Willard, Joel, Sarah A., Henry, and Marian. Mr. Sharpless soon after his first mar- riage engaged in farming on shares, at a later date rented, and in 1848 purchased, the farm of his father, and in 1856 an adjacent farm of his brother. He re- sided for a time on the latter, but in 1867 removed to " The Hermitage." He received but little substantial aid in his business operations, and is indebted to his own industry and intelligence for the measure of suc- cess he has enjoyed. Mr. Sharpless has since 1854 been either a Whig or a Republican in politics, and filled various local offices such as school director, director of the poor, supervisor, etc. He has been since 1836 a member of the Delaware County Insti- tute of Science. His religious belief is that of the society of Friends, of which he is a member.

WILLIAM SEAL.

William Seal, the grandfather of the subject of this biographical sketch, who was of English lineage, re- sided in Birmingham township, Chester Co., in which county he married Mary Hunt, and had children,- Susan, William, Jesse, Thomas, Sidney, Eli, Joseph, and Benjamin. Jesse, of this number, was born on the homestead in Birmingham, and learned the trade of a carpenter, to which he later added the pursuit of an agriculturist. He married Miss Sarah, daughter of John Sharpless, of Concord, Delaware Co., and had children,-John, Alban, Eliza (Mrs. Enoch T. Wil- liams), Mary (Mrs. Caleb Windle), William, Joseph, Sally Ann, Lewis, and Susan (Mrs. Edward B. Ash- bridge). William Seal was born May 6, 1818, in East Goshen, Chester Co., and in early youth removed to Birmingham township. After receiving the rudi- ments of education he acquired the trade of a wheel- wright and carriage-builder, which was steadily pur- sued for a period of sixteen years, when he, in 1855, became a farmer, and removed to his present home. He was married the same year to Miss Jane P., daughter of Jonathan and Ruth Thomas, of Middle- town township. Mrs. Seal, who was born in 1812, was one of a family of nine children, and inherited from her father a portion of the farm, to which her husband added by the purchase of other land. She was a lady of remarkable industry and of many ad- mirable qualities of mind and heart. Her death oc- curred Nov. 28, 1881, in her sixty-ninth year. Mr. Seal was formerly a Whig, and is now a firm Repub- lican in politics, but is not a seeker after office, pre- ferring the quiet of his home to the less tranquil scenes of public life. He adheres to the worship of the society of Friends, though not included among its members.

JONATHAN THOMAS.

The Thomas family are of Welsh extraction. Ben- jamin Thomas, the father of Jonathan, resided in Montgomery County, where be pursued the trade of

a saddler. He was a citizen of high moral character, and of much influence. In politics he was an ardent Whig. He married Susanna Yarnall, of Delaware County, whose ancestors were of English descent. Their nine children were James, George, Job, Bevin, Owen, Jonathan, Benjamin, Seth, and Rebecca. Later in life Mr. Thomas removed to Springfield township, where his death occurred. His son, Jonathan, was born Jan. 1, 1776, in the latter township, and re- mained under the parental roof until sufficiently old to learn a trade, when he chose that of a carpenter, and became an apprentice to his brother, Owen. For the purpose of becoming more proficient, he repaired to Philadelphia, and worked as a journeyman until his removal to Chester County, Pa., where he con- ducted the business of a carpenter and builder on an extensive scale. Returning to Delaware County, he settled in Springfield township, and later removed to Ridley township. He purchased property in vari- ous portions of the county, including that particular farm known as the "Clayton" property, in Middle- town township, now owned by his daughters, Mrs. Sarah W. Webb and Mrs. Eli Yarnall.

Mr. Thomas was married in 1800 to Miss Ruth, daughter of John Young, of Chester County, Pa., to whom were born nine children,-Rebecca S. (de- ceased in yonth), John Y., Benjamin O., Susanna, Lydia Y. (Mrs. Eli Yarnall), Jane P. (Mrs. William Seal), Jonathan, Sarah W. (Mrs. Webb), and Ruth Hannah (Mrs. Crosby Fairlamb). Of this number the only survivors are Mrs. Webb and Mrs. Yarnall. Mr. Thomas was in his political preferences a Whig and later a Republican, and, though often tendered office, invariably declined such honors. He was identified with the Delaware County National Bank as director, and filled the same office in connection with the Delaware County Mutual Insurance Com- pany. He was an active leader in the society of Friends, in which faith he was reared. Mr. Thomas was a public-spirited citizen, and by his intelligence, exemplary character, and rare discernment in mat- ters of business enjoyed a commanding influence in the county. His death occurred on the 3d of Janu- ary, 1856, in his eightieth year.

CHAPTER XLVIII.

NEWTOWN TOWNSHIP.

THE first mention of this municipal district was at the court held Eleventh month 6, 1684 (January, 1685), when Thomas Norbury and John Humphrey were appointed collectors of the "Levie for the cort house and Prison for ye Township of Newtowne," and at the December court, 1686, Thomas Norbury was appointed constable for the township.

Newtown was largely settled by Welshmen, and

William Real

Jane Thomas (Seal.)

635

NEWTOWN TOWNSHIP.

the township was laid out with a "townstead" in the centre. The lots in the village were distributed to the purchasers of land in the township according to the number of acres bought by each settler. The name of the district is derived from the fact of the central town plot, and for a like cause Newtown town- ship, Bucks Co., received its name.

At the southwest end of the township, extending eastward to the original Newtown Street, was a tract of five hundred acres surveyed to Robert Dutton Jan. 18-19, 1681. Dutton appears never to have lived on this estate, which subsequently passed, April 6-7, 1723, to Robert Tippring. Prior to the Revolution much of the property was owned by the Hunter family, and the stream which ran through the land took its name Hunter's Run from that fact. Immediately north of this estate was a plot of five hundred acres, surveyed April 10-11, 1682, to Joshua Fearne, who also never settled on the land. David Sowter purchased two hundred and forty-five acres in the following July, and John Fincher a like number of acres on March 14, 1699. One hundred and seventy-two and a half acres were patented to Ellis Hughes on March 8, 1702, directly north of the Fearne tract, which was pur- chased by Daniel Williamson on Tenth month 19, 1707. Immediately above this was a tract of four hundred and fifty acres, surveyed to Thomas Rud- yard Fourth month 18, 1684, and on Ninth month 24, 1692, the estate was conveyed to Daniel William- son, who had probably settled on the land prior to that date. He was repeatedly a member of the As- sembly, and in 1727 he died while representing Ches- ter County in that body. His dwelling was on the Ashland farm, now the residence of William P. Thomas. Still continuing along Crum Creek, imme- diately above the Williamson estate were two hun- dred and seventy acres taken up March 21-22, 1681, by Henry Maddock and James Kennerly, neither of whom ever resided on the land. On Tenth month 10, 1698, it was conveyed to William Lewis. He was a Welshman, emigrating with his wife from the parish of Illan, Glamorganshire, about 1693, settling first in Haverford. He subsequently removed to this estate in Newtown, and there, in 1708, his wife and he within a few days of each other died. His three sons, Lewis, Evan, and William, all settled in the township, and were assessed there in 1715. On the Lewis lands the present West Chester road enters the tract at the northwest corner and diagonally crosses the estate to its southeastern corner, while Preston's Run traverses its entire length in a due easterly direction. Above this tract, on Tenth month 7, 1683, Luke Hanck had surveyed to him one hundred and eighty acres, which property subsequently passed into the Reese family, from which fact the stream of water flowing in an easterly course through it was named Reese's Run.

Above this land were one hundred and eighty acres, surveyed to Michael Blunston, of Darby, Tenth month 7, 1683, which land subsequently passed into the

ownership of William Lewis. Thomas Rudyard lo- cated six hundred and fifty acres, extending along Crum Creek to the Chester County line, on July 13- 14, 1681. John Reese purchased the property in 1698/9, and later one hundred acres at the south- western end of the Reese land were purchased by Wil- liam Lewis, Jr., and Evan Lewis, another son of Wil- liam Lewis, the settler, bought the remainder of the land. Lewis Run waters this tract. At the northeast- ern end of the township two hundred and seventy acres were taken up by William Wood, of Darby. Imme- diately south of this plot, extending from Newtown Street road to Radnor line, were ninety acres patented to Joseph Humphrey Eleventh month 17, 1684, who never settled on the land. South of this tract was a plot of one hundred and eighty acres, surveyed to William Hudson Tenth month 29, 1683, which sub- sequently passed to John Farmer; and finally, on April 10, 1700, James Price purchased one hundred and forty acres of this land and settled thereon, calling his estate "Penffmon." He was probably a Welshman, and possibly one of the sons of David Price, of Radnor. Below the Price estate was a tract of four hundred and fifty acres, patented Sixth month 2, 1684, to Philip England. The most, if not all of this property, ulti- mately came to William and Edward Thomas prior to 1715, and Thomas' Run traverses the estate in an al- most due westerly direction. Two hundred and seventy acres immediately south of the England land was sur- veyed to John Banbridge, Ninth month 28, 1683; Saw- Mill Run traverses this estate through its entire length from east to west. Below Banbridge's ground Edmund Cartledge took up one hundred acres, which was sur- veyed to him Fifth month 26, 1683. He was a resi- dent of Darby, and never settled on the Newtown land. Joseph Potter, March 16, 1682, had ninety acres surveyed to him just below the Cartledge prop- erty, which on First month 20, 1693, was conveyed to George Thomas, and he also purchased the one hun- dred acres surveyed to John Blunston, Second month 10-11, 1682. This property subsequently belonged to Morgan James, who was complained on for stopping a public highway through this land. Below the Blunston estate was one hundred and twelve acres, which George Willard received on Ninth month 6, 1692, it having been granted to John Hough in 1688. Two hundred and forty-five acres to the south of this plantation was taken up by Thomas Holme, the pro- vincial surveyor, which subsequently was conveyed, Feb. 1, 1694, to Richard Bonsall, who never located thereon. The main stream of Fawkes' Run, and almost the entire south branch of that water-course, is on this estate. Seventy acres to the south of the Bonsall tract was taken up by Rees Saint, Fourth month 7, 1687, and two hundred and seventy acres, the remaining land at the southeast end of the township, was surveyed to George Wood, Ninth month 30, 1683. Seventh month 5, 1796, the estate was sold to John Peirson.

The town lots or the townsteads being divided into

636

HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

parts which were assigned to the purchasers of out- lying lands in the township to correspond with the number of acres bought by these, it is unnecessary to specify the names of the several owners of the "new town," or village, as it was called.

The taxables in 1715 in Newtown township were as follows :

Daniel Williamson, Reece Howell, William Bevan, David Thomas, William Phillips, Thomas Reece, John Reece, Jr., Lewis Reece, Lewis Lewis, Evan Lewis, William Lewis, John Reece, John Ffawkes, Morgan James, Lawrence Peirce, Daniel Williamson, John Williamson, James Price, John Meredith, Edward Thomas, William Thomas.

Freemen .- John Goodwin, Adam Trebeall.

In 1799 the following was the return made of the taxables in the township at that date :

William Beaumont, George Bishop, Joseph Bishop, John Brooke, George Blake, Jonathan Bonsall, Thomas Bones, Amos Thomas, Thomas Courtney, Samuel Caley, Abram Calvert, Elizabeth Dunn, Nathan Davis, Joseph Davis (carpenter), Edward Evaue, Joseph Esrey (carpen- ter), John Esrey, Evan Evans (weaver), John Fawkes, Joseph Fawkes, John Free, Abraham Free (shop-keeper), Richard Fawkes, Jolın Gar- rett (joiner), James Gorman, John Fairlamb, Edward Hunter ( justice of the peace), John Hunter, George Hunter, Joseph Hood (cutler), James Jones, John Jorman, Lewis Lewis, Henry Lewis, Azariah Lewis, Didymus Lewis, Evan Lewis, John Lewis, Joseph Lewis (wheelwright), David Lewis (tanner and shop-keeper), Jesse Lewis (mason), Thomas Moore, Ahner Moore, Thomas Moore (joiner), Robert Mendenhall, Jonse Preston (physician), Gill Pennington, George Sites, Jesse Reece, Owen Shelton (shop-keeper), Hezekiah Thomas, Thomas Thomas, Jonathan Thomas, Ahiah Thomas, Gideon Thomas (cordwainer), Thomas Thomas (tailor and shop-keeper), Ezra Thomas (wheelwright), John Thompson (weaver), Isaac Thomas, Jr., Margaret Vernon, William Vandebee, John Williamson, Enos Williamson, Walter Williamson.

Inmates .- Joseph Thomas (carpenter), Hannah Hunter, Mary Reece, Rachel Matsou, Jenkio Lewis, Elizabeth Lewis, John Steel (wesvsr).

Single Freemen .- Aaron Russell (weaver), Cadwallader Evane, Edward Evans, Samusl Fawkes (chairmaker), John Williamson, Samuel Lisle, Elias Baker (carpenter). Thomas Thomas, David Lewis, Anthony Mat- 800, Elijah Matson, Nathan Robins, Lewis Reece, Jesse Lewis, Phineas Lewis, George Lewis (millwright), Jorman Hunter, James Crawford, John Logan, William Matson, Alexander Morrison, William Fulton, Jonas Alexander, Levis Maris (cordwainer), Michael Thomas (cord- wainer), George Mace (cordwainer), Reece Thomas, Samuel Thomas (millwright), Richard Thomas (millwright), Richard Hood, Andrew Mcclellan, Jamee Ramage (mason), Robert Berry, William Harlow, Jacob Dunn, Thomas Blake, Ezra Thomas (wheelwright).

Incidents of the Revolution .- During the Rev- olution, Newtown was several times visited by the foraging parties of the English army. After the interrupted battle near Goshen Friends' meeting- house, and the day previous to the massacre of Paoli, the enemy dashed into Newtown and carried off from the defenseless citizens considerable property. Capt. John Montressor records, under date of Sept. 19, 1777, " Lt. Col. Harcourt with a party of dragoons and Light Infantry made an Excursion on the Philadel- phia road and brought in 150 horses, which were much wanted, got from New Town square 6 miles from hence. They took, likewise, one captain and 8 rebel prison- ers."1 In December, 1777, when Cornwallis made his three days' raid into Chester County, extending along the Schuylkill as far as Matson's Ferry, some of the British soldiers entered Newtown, and well main- tained the account given of the action of the British

troops on that occasion, "Robing and plundering every person they came across." To such an extent was this carried that Gen. James Potter indignantly records, " My penn cant describe there Barbarity and Crualty, nor can you conseve the waste and Destruc- tion that attended there futsteps every where they go."" The damage inflicted on the residents of New- town during these raids is poorly represented in the list of claims recorded of spoliation done by the British, for much being taken from Friends, no de- mand was ever made for compensation under the act of Assembly. The following are the claims which were presented, but never paid :

From Samuel Caley, by the Queen's Light Dragoons, Col. Harriot, Sept. 19. £31 0 0 From David Thomas, by the Light Horse, on their return fromn an attack upon Capt. Lee, at East-town .... 27 3 3 From William Faris, by the British Army, under Corn wallis, on his route through Haverford 28 0 0

86 3 3

At the dwelling of Mr. Lewis, on the Goshen road, to the west of old Newtown Square, were the American outposts and headquarters of Gen. James Potter, or as he terms it in a letter to President Wharton, on Nov. 13, 1777, " from the camp at Mr. Lewes." At this house Maj. John Clarke, Jr., of Gen. Greene's staff, who was ordered to keep Washington supplied with information of the movements of the enemy, also made his head- quarters, for many of his letters to Washington are written therefrom. Although Lewis does not appear among the list of persons who had suffered by the war, we have actual information that he had lost largely by the presence of the enemy, for on the afternoon of Dec. 3, 1777, before Cornwallis' raid, Maj. Clarke writes, "On the 16th of September last, Baron Arendt took a mare from my landlord, valued at £100, and prom- ised to return her next day, but has never done it. Mr. Lewis begs he may be ordered to do it, as the enemy has taken the remainder of his creatures and he has done me many services for the United States. I have given his complaint a place in this letter and beg leave to recommend him as a person worthy of compassion." 3 At noon, on Dec. 12, 1777, Maj. Clarke wrote from Gen. Potter's headquarters at Lewes, " That a large body of the enemy was on the march to Darby, the numbers uncertain but formidable. At eight o'clock this morning about twenty dragoons of the enemy came up to the Fox Chase to give the alarm, and they then took the route to Darby."

Fitzpatrick, the noted outlaw, frequently visited Newtown, it being on the direct road to Philadelphia. One day, in the spring of 1778, it is related that Fitz- patrick, carrying a pistol in each hand, entered the bar-room of the old Newtown Square Tavern, then kept by Andrew Wilson, when several persons were present. He laid one pistol on the bar while he drank the liquor he had called for, then picking up the pis-

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History of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, Part 156

Author: Ashmead, Henry Graham, 1838-1920 Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : L.H. Everts Number of Pages: 1150

Author: Ashmead, Henry Graham, 1838-1920
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, Pa. : L.H. Everts
Number of Pages: 1150