History of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, Part 91

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

USA > Pennsylvania > Delaware County > History of Delaware County, Pennsylvania > Part 91

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Thomas Robinson was a captain in the merchant service, but during the Tripolitan war a lieutenant under Commodore Preble when that officer, in com- mand of the American squadron, bombarded Tripoli, June 21, 1804. Robinson was in charge of one of the bombards-vessels carrying mortars-on that oc- casion ; the shrouds of his vessel were shot away, and her hull so shattered that it was with the utmost diffi- culty she could be kept above water. During the war of 1812 he was a volunteer lieutenant in the navy, and was on board the frigate " President" when the latter vessel was captured. As will be remembered, Commodore Decatur, in command of the "Presi- dent," went to sea from New York, Jan. 14, 1815, and at daylight the following morning the American offi- cer discovered that the English squadron, comprising the seventy-gun ship " Majestic," the fifty-gun frig- ates " Endymion." " Pomona," and "Tenedos," were in chase of the vessel. By noon Decatur found that he was outsailing all of the enemy's ships except the "Endymion," which vessel had steadily gained on him, until, at five o'clock in the evening, that frigate had obtained a position on his starboard quarter, and opened a destructive fire on the sails and rigging of his vessel. Decatur was compelled to bear up and engage the enemy, in the hope of disabling her be- fore the remaining vessels could arrive to her assist- ance. A warm action of two hours and a half fol- lowed, which resulted in the British frigate dropping astern, her guns silenced, and her masts gone by the board. During the latter part of the battle with the " Endymion" Robinson had charge of the trumpet. It is stated that the first, fourth, and fifth lieutenants on the "President" were killed or wounded, and De- catur called for Lieut. Gallagher to take the trumpet, but Robinson, "hearing the hail, came up from the gun-deck," whereupon Decatur said, "Take the trum- pet, sir;" and Robinson took command of the deck. The American frigate made sail and attempted to escape, but the English squadron had come within gunshot of the "President" while that vessel was engaged in the encounter with the " Endymion," and being crippled by the heavy fire she had sustained, Decatur was compelled to strike his flag to the British frigates " Tenedos" and " Pomona."

Capt. Robinson, after his discharge as a prisoner of war (for the naval action was fought after the treaty of peace had been signed), returned to the merchant service, but the news of the loss of the American packet-ship " Albion" on the coast of Ireland, April 21, 1822, as well as the explosion of the steamboat "Etna," in New York harbor, May 15, 1824, under his command, and the frightful loss of life on those occasions, so impressed Robinson with the responsi- bility appertaining to the office of captain of a vessel that he refused ever again to take command of a ship.

Catharine G. Robinson, his wife, died Jan. 24, 1836, and by her will, Feb. 27, 1834, devised the house to her daughter, Sarah P. Coombe. The latter lived in the old house for many years, and vacating it, she rented the Coombe property. At her death, March 5, 1865, the estate became vested in her heirs, who still retain the ancient dwelling.

Lamokin Hall .- The original Salkeld house, built about 1708 by John Salkeld, Sr., as it now stands in the way of Norris Street, between Third Street and the Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore Rail- road, must shortly be removed to make room for im- provements on that thoroughfare. During the last half-century it was used as the tenant-house on the Kenilworth estate after John W. Ashmead built the large mansion in 1838 (since torn down), and also by Dr. William Young, who purchased the estate in 1849. The Perkins house, or, as it was known to a past generation, "Lamokin Hall," was erected many years afterwards by John Salkeld, a son of the noted original emigrant of that name.

John Bristow, to whom a large tract of land was granted by patent from the proprietary, died seized of the estate, and his son, John, an edge-tool maker, Feb. 25, 1702/3, conveyed to Henry Wooley a goodly number of these acres. The latter in turn, Jan. 27, 1706/7, conveyed the premises to John Salkeld, a man of means and education, whose ready wit and quickness in repartee made him noted in his generation, and many of his telling rejoinders are re- counted even to this day. Salkeld visited this coun- try in 1700, before he settled permanently here, and on the 9th of Seventh month, 1705, he and his wife, Agnes (Powley), sailed for Philadelphia. In the fol- lowing year he purchased the property mentioned and came to this vicinity to reside. He was an effec- tive preacher, and made many religions visits to neighboring meetings in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware, and several times to New England, Long Island, and on one occasion to Great Britain and the West Indies. He, as I have already stated, was a natural humorist, and a few of the stories which have descended to our own time will repay narrating.

One day Salkeld was wearing a new hat that had a button and loop, then quite fashionable, and he was remonstrated with by a Friend for adhering to the nsages and customs of the world. John tore off the

363

THE CITY OF CHESTER.

offending part of his apparel, remarking, "If my friend's religion consists of a button and a loop I would not give a button and a loop for it." On an- other occasion, when at a meeting of Friends, the speaker who was addressing the audience being so tedious that many in the assembly were almost asleep, Salkeld sprang to his feet, exclaiming, "Fire ! fire !" Every one was awake immediately, and many put the query, "Where ?" "In hell !" responded John, "to burn up the drowsy and unconverted." After he re- turned from a religious journey to New Jersey, he said, "I have breakfasted with the Ladds, dined with the Lords, and slept with the Hoggs," the names of the families that entertained him. One time as he walked from his corn-field, a Friend by the name of Cloud passing by, said, "John, thee will have a good crop of corn." Salkeld afterwards relating the cir- cumstance, stated that he heard a voice coming out of a Cloud, saying, "John, thee will have a good crop of corn." He rode at one time a horse with a blaze in its face, and a neighbor who thought to be merry with him, said, "John, thy horse looks pale in the face." "Yes, he does," he replied; "and if thee had looked as long through a halter as he has, thee would look pale in the face too."

He was personally about medium size, but his wife, Agnes, was very tall and muscular, hence her de- scendants, who are all noticeably tall, inherit this characteristic from her. John Salkeld died Sept. 20, 1739, and by will devised the farm of one hundred acres, on which the house stood, to his son, David Salkeld, and left the plot of ground whereon Lamokin Hall was subsequently built to his wife, Agnes, and she, by will Seventh month 11, 1748, devised the es- tate to John Salkeld, the younger. The latter, in 1731, had married Elizabeth Worrall, who became the mother of thirteen children. John Salkeld, the younger, by will Dec. 13, 1776, devised his real estate to his eight children (the others had died in child- hood) in equal parts, his whole estate, however, being charged with his wife's support. In the distribution of the property the land uuder consideration was al- lotted to his son, Peter, who built the western end of Lamokin Hall. Dec. 7, 1789, he sold the property to Jacob Peterson. The latter conveyed it to James Withey, who made the addition to the eastern end of the old house about 1796.

James Withey having become insolvent the pro- perty was sold by Sheriff Fairlamb, April 12, 1819, to Charles Justice and William Graham. The pur- chasers interchanged deeds, dated Feb. 27, 1821, by which Charles Justice acquired absolute title to the land south of the Post road, and William Graham that north of the same highway. The latter having trust-money belonging to his sisters in his hands at the time of his death, Lamokin Hall was in the dis- tribution of his estate transferred to his sister, Henri- etta, who had married Richard Flower.

John W. Ashmead, who had built the house on the

farm adjoining, after the death of his father-in-law, Mr. Flower, purchased the estate June 3, 1844, from the Hon. Edward Darlington, trustee to sell the pro- perty, for the purpose solely of adding a trifle over an acre to the lawn of his dwelling, so that his house should be located in the centre of the lawn. After thoroughly repairing Lamokin Hall he sold it Sept. 5, 1846, to Abram R. Perkins for six thousand dol- lars. The latter had been a successful merchant in Philadelphia, but his purchase of the property at that price, thirty-six years ago, was, perhaps, in the shaping of events, one of the most fortunate transac- tions in his business career, for the premises in that period have so increased in value that it alone has made his estate worth thirty times what it originally cost him.

Charles Justice, on his portion of the old Withey estate, which extended from about the present Ulrich Street on the east to Lamokin Run on the west, and from the Post road to the river, built (in 1828) the large brick dwelling, still standing, on Second Street east of Pennell Street, the brick used being made on the farm, and burned in a damp kiln. The property was subsequently purchased by Edmund Pennell, and the dwelling is still called the Pennell house.

The Thomas Barton House .- John Wade, of Essex House, on July 27-28, 1736, conveyed to Thomas Bartou a tract of land, which, from the pecu- liar bend in Chester Creek, its eastern boundary was known as the "Horseshoe." The plot contained a trifle over seventy-one acres, and was sold subject to the payment of ten shillings annually forever towards the support of a free school in Philadelphia. In Sep- tember of the same year John Wade conveyed twenty- one and a half acres to Thomas Barton, in addition to those already purchased, subject to two shillings yearly forever, for the like purpose, which charge on the land had been created by the will of Robert Wade. Subsequently the trustees of the school in Philadelphia accepted a ground-rent on Arch Street in that city, and discharged the Wade estate from the payment of the annual rent mentioned.

Thomas Barton, who was an Irishman, is said to have been a sea captain, and, retiring from that avoca- tion, he settled in Chester, where he married, and be- came the ancestor of the Barton family of Delaware County. He had, however, between the date of the purchase of this land and the conveyance of the estate to Jonas Preston, been engaged in coach- making, for in the deed to the latter, Feb. 19, 1759, the grantors are described as " Thomas Barton, coach- maker, and Susanna, his wife," and in referring to the Wade deeds, it is stated " the said Thomas Barton has since [1736] erected a brick messuage or tenement thereon." This house is still standing in the rear of Joshua P. Eyre's mansion on Seventh Street.

The Sandelands House .- The ancient dwelling standing on the west side of Edgmont Avenue, in- terposiug itself directly in the way of the extension

364

HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

of Fourth Street to Chester Creek, was built by Jonas Sandelands, the second son of James Sandelands, the elder, previous to Aug. 21, 1732, for at that date Arthur Shields and Mary, his wife, as the adminis- trators of Sandelands' estate (his widow, Mary, having married Shields) conveyed the premises as a mes- suage and lot to Jacob Howell, a tanner by occupa- tion, who, on May 1, 1733, conveyed the messuage and a portion of the land to John Wharton, a saddler, of Chester, who subsequently removed to Philadelphia, having first sold, July 20, 1749, the premises to Wil- liam Pennell. The latter, by will, Twelfth month 20, 1756, devised the property to his three sons,-James, Robert, and William. Robert and William Pennell, Dec. 20, 1762, transferred their interests to their brother, James. The latter, by will, Dec. 22, 1763, devised it to his son, Thomas, who died unmarried and without issue, and his title vested in his four brothers,-William, James, Nathan, and Jonathan. The three first named, April 9, 1782, conveyed their interests to Jonathan Pennell, the grandfather of the present owner.

Jonathan Pennell was a blacksmith, and at the time he purchased his brothers' interest did not reside in the house, which had been used as a hospital and bar- racks by the American troops during the Revolution- ary war, and was then in a dilapidated condition.

It is related that when he first proposed to locate here and purchase from the other heirs the entire interest in the property, he called on Henry Hale Graham, and desired his opinion as to his prospects of success in his avocation at Chester. The latter, in response, stated that he could not answer with any degree of certainty ; he simply knew that all black- smiths in the town, theretofore, had grown so desper- ately poor by crooking their little fingers that in a short time they could not keep iron cold. In other words, that intemperance had so reduced them that they could keep no stock in their shops, but were compelled to part with it to satisfy the cravings of their appetites. However, Pennell must have im- pressed Graham favorably, for he loaned him two hundred and fifty pounds, and stipulated that he would receive the principal at any time in sums of ten pounds. So industriously and energetically did Peunell labor that he succeeded far beyond his ex- pectations. He soon began making payments as des- ignated, and so often did he present himself with the stipulated amount of ten pounds in liquidation of the gross sum that one day, when he came on that errand, Graham, after he receipted for the money, said, " Good gracious, man, where do you get all this money ?" "I hammer it out of cold iron," was the reply of Pen- nell, who had not forgotten his first interview with the judge. He ultimately acquired considerable means, and became the owner of much real estate. Jonathan Pennell devised the house and lot to his son, Edmund, and the latter, Feb. 3, 1877, conveyed it to his son, Jonathan Pennell, who resides tberein.

Licensed Houses in Chester .- The Boar's Head Inn, heretofore mentioned as the noted public-house where Penn spent the winter of 1682-83, was early in the eighteenth century kept by Jonathan Ogden, until 1727, when James Trego made application for the license, and David Lloyd, chief justice of the province, recommended him in a letter to the jus- tice by a remonstrance against another applicant. "It is my opinion," he says, "that one will be suf- ficient on that side of the Creek to answer the true end of Inn-keeping, And If we had less on this side [the east] the Creek It would be much bet- ter." On Aug. 30, 1732, William Robinson had the license, but at the August court, 1734, it was denied to him because he then "Stands Indicted at New Castle for an Assault." On the 28th of the same month he boldly states that "being informed the jus- tices would not allow him a recommendation as usual . . . understand he is accused of some misdemeanor, but wishes to be heard face to face by his accuser," but without success. William Weaver, on May 27, 1735, informed the court that he "hath Taken to ffarm the house, with the appurtenances, Commonly Called and known by the name of the Spread Eagle Tavern, where William Robinson lately Dwelt, in the Township of Chester," which indicates that the old house had changed its name. In 1738, Abraham Taylor was the landlord, and in 1741-42 the petition of William Hays states that for some years past he had license at the "Spread Eagle," after which date the old inn passes out of the public records.

The Black Bear Inn .- The hipped-roof house at the northeast corner of Third and Penn Streets was erected early in the last century, for in the will of John Salkeld, Sr., Feb. 17, 1733/4, five years before his death, he devised the premises to his son, Thomas, and designated it as " the house and lot wherein my son-in-law, Anthony Shaw, now dwells." How long Shaw lived there after the date mentioned I have not learned, but John Salkeld, Jr., on Aug. 30, 1737, ou "Westerly side of Chester Creek, on great road to New Castle," presented his petition to court stating that he wished to keep "a publick house," and being a maltster by trade, desired license to sell " Beer and Syder." In 1746 it was kept as a public-house by John Salkeld, the younger, for in that year he, among other innkeepers, presented a petition to the Legis- lature, asking compensation for the "diet of Capt. Shannon's company of soldiers," quartered here during the early part of the French war. At this time he was a tenant of his brother, Thomas, for the latter in his will, June 21, 1749, after making specific devises of other lands, gave the residue of his estate to his brother, John Salkeld. The latter by his will, Dec. 14, 1775, gave an eighth part of his estate, which was large, to his daughter Sarah. He died early in 1776, for his will was probated January 29th of the same year. In the distribution of her father's estate, the Black Bear Inn became her portion. Sarah

365

THE CITY OF CHESTER.

Salkeld had married George Gill, an Englishman, several years before her father's death, for in the latter's will he leaves ten pounds to his grandson, John Gill, and in all probability she was then land- lady. George Gill was an outspoken Tory in the Revolutionary struggle, and so ardent was he in the defense of the English army and ministry that after the battle of Brandywine, at the time the residents of Chester were smarting under the outrages perpetrated on them by the royal troops, he was compelled to leave this neighborhood when the enemy abandoned Philadelphia, and was proclaimed a traitor to the colonies. When the British forces evacuated New York, at the close of the war, Gill followed them to Halifax. Subsequently he returned to Chester, was arrested, and thrown into prison, but was discharged therefrom by the act of Assembly, which, under cer- tain conditions, allowed free pardon to proclaimed traitors to the united colonies. The public-house was kept from 1785 to 1789 by William Hazelwood, and known as "The Ship in Distress." The dwelling subsequently became the property of Hon. Frederick J. Hinkson, and is now owned by his sons,-Henry and Frederick J. Hinkson, Jr.

The Blue Ball Inn .- The old dwelling at the northeast corner of Second and Market Streets was erected by Francis Richardson between the years 1765 and 1770. The land whereon it stands was devised to him in 1760 by Grace Lloyd. At the time he began the erection of this house Richardson believed he was on the high road to great business prosperity, but before he had finished it he became financially embarrassed, owing to mistaken efforts to advance Chester to the front rank as a commercial rival of Philadelphia. There were holes still in the brick walls until 1883, when the dwelling was re- paired and modernized, where, when the house was building, the timbers were inserted on which rested the boards of the scaffolding. It is said by Martin that in the days before the Mechanics' Lien law, when masons were not paid for their work, these holes were always left in the wall to indicate to their fellow-craftsmen that default had been made in that respect, and no mason would fill them in until the builders' claims had been discharged.

When the house was first built it was a noted inn, and from its peculiar sign-a blue ball suspended from the end of a pole or staff, which projected from a hole in the wall, in the gable-end on Market Street-it was known as "The Blue Ball Inn." Its then landlord was Samuel Fairlamb, who had married Hannah, the daughter of Francis Richardson. It was one of the dwellings struck by the balls from the English vessel of war which opened fire on the town in 1777, as narrated elsewhere, and the shot is said to have passed directly through one of the rooms in the second story.

The City Hotel .- On the 10th of December, 1700, James Sandelands, the younger, conveyed the land on

the northwest corner of Third Street and Edgmont Avenue, on which this building was afterwards erected, to David Roberts, and on May 26, 1714, Jonas Sande- lands, the brother of James, and Mary, his wife, con- firmed the tract of ground to Roberts, reserving, how- ever, a yearly ground-rent of three shillings to his heirs. I believe the building was erected by David Roberts shortly after his purchase from James Sande- lands. He received license there in 1717. In 1728, David Roberts sold the property to Ruth Hoskins, widow of Sheriff John Hoskins. On March 5-6, 1738, Ruth Hoskins conveyed the property to her son-in- law, John Mather. He was a prominent citizen, an attorney with a large practice, and a justice of the peace, an important dignitary in those days. John Mather leased the premises to James Mather, perhaps his brother, since John Mather named his only son, James, probably for the person mentioned. That James Mather kept the tavern here in 1746 we know, for he was one of the number of innkeepers who pe- titioned the Legislature for payment of certain claims, more fully referred to in the account of the Black Bear Inn, and in the journal of William Black, who was the notary of the commissioners appointed by Governor Gooch, of Virginia, to unite with those from the colonies of Pennsylvania and Maryland to treat with the Iroquois or Six Nations of Indians in refer- ence to the land west of the Alleghany Mountains. In describing the journey of the commissioners from Virginia and Maryland to Philadelphia, under date of Saturday, May 25, 1744, he records,-

"Nine miles from Wilmington, and at the line dividing New Castle and Cheater couotiea, were waiting tha High Sheriff, Coroner and under Sheriff of Chester county, who conducted us to Cheater Towo, six miles further, where we arrived a few minutes before nina at night, and put up at Mr. James Mathew, (Mather) the moat considerable house in the town; most of the company baing vary much fatigued with the day'e ride baing very warm, they inclin'd for beda soon after thay alighted, and tho' for my part I was not very much tir'd, yet I agreed to hug the pillow with the reat."

The next entry in his journal, doubtless after re- freshing slumber, is headed " Chester in Pennsylvania, Sunday, the 26," and he records his doings in, and impression of, Chester, of that day, thus :

" This morning, by the time the sun return'd to Enlighten My Bed Chamber, I got up with a Desigo to take a view of the town. It ja not ao larga as Wilmington ; neither ara tha Buildings so large in General, the Town etanda on a Mouth of a Creek of the same name, running out the Delaware and has a very large wooden Bridge over it, in the middle of the Town, tha Delaware is reckon'd three miles over at thia placa, and ia a vary good Road for Shipping; the Court House and Prison ia two tolerable large Buildings of Stone, there are io the Town a Church dedicatad to St. Paul, the Congregation are aftar the manner of the Church of England ; A Quaker Meeting and a Swead'e '(?)' Church ; about 10 of the Clock, forenoon, Comm'rs and ua of their Laeve woot to St. Paul's ; where we heard a Sarmon Preach'd by the Reverend Mr. Beckhouse, on the 16th Chapt. of St. Luka, 30 & 31st Varses, from thia aoma nf ue paid a Viait to the Friends' who were then in Meeting, but as it happened to ba a Silent One, after we had aat about 15 mio., they Shook hands and we parted, from thia Returo'd to our Inn, where we had a very good Dinner, and about 4 in the Evening Set out for Phila- delphia, Accompanied by the Shffs, Coroner, and several Gentlemen of the Town, past thro' Darby a Town 7 miles from Chester, Standing on a creek of the same nama and at a Stone Bridge about half a mile fur-

366

HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

ther, was met by the Sheriff, Coroner, and Sub-Sheriff of Philadelphia County. Here the Company from Chester took their leave of Ue Bnd reloro'd."1

James Mather subsequently purchased the lot on which National Hall was erected, and there in an old stone house for many years kept a public-house. It is so described in the deed from Mary Morris to Jonas Eyre.

Mary Hoskins, who had married John Mather, was a most admirable wife and mother. Her careful training of her daughters is evidenced by the fact that both of them became the wives of distinguished men, and are alluded to by writers of acknowledged position on several occasions for their personal ex- cellence and womanly worth. Ruth Mather, to whom the property was devised by her grandmother, mar- ried Charles Thomson, one of the most noted men in our national annals. He was a native of Ireland, and during all the difficulties with the mother-country was an ardent Whig. He was the first secretary of the Continental Congress of 1774, and continued in that office during the long struggle of the Revolution. In recognition of the faithful discharge of his duties, he was chosen to bear to Washington the intelligence of the latter's nomination to the Presidency of the United States. Of him John Adams, in his diary, writes, "Charles Thomson is the Sam Adams of Philadelphia, the life of the cause of liberty." He retired from public office, and during his latter days translated the Septuagint, which was published in four volumes in 1808. He died in Lower Merion, Montgomery Co., iu 1824, in his ninety-fifth year.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, Part 91

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