USA > Pennsylvania > Delaware County > History of Delaware county, Pennsylvania, from the discovery of the territory included within its limits to the present time > Part 59
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was frequently called upon to take a part. He was a representative in the Provincial Assembly several years, and also served a long time as one of the Justices of the County Court. His children were Sarah, Robert, William, John, Mary, Jacob, Joseph and Daniel. He was alive in 1717 when his brother Nicholas died.
PYLE, NICHOLAS, immigrated and settled in Concord as early as 1686. He was a brother of Robert Pyle who settled in Bethel. In 1688 he married Abigail, the daughter of Joseph Bush- ell, by whom he had six children, viz., Mary, Edith, Nicholas, Samuel, James and Joseph. He appears to have been a man of good business qualifications and accumulated a considerable pro- perty before his death, which occurred in 1717, while his wife was still living. He was one of the owners and pro- jectors of " the Concord Mills," and was otherwise useful as a pioneer in developing the resources of the coun- try. He represented Chester County in the Provincial Assembly six years, and served in many other civil em- ployments. In religion he was earn- estly devoted to the doctrines and principles of Quakerism. His brother Robert came from Bishops Canning in Wiltshire, which was probably the place of his nativity.
RADLEY, JOHN, settled in that part of Birmingham or Thornbury not included in Delaware County, was a worsted comber by trade, and as he left chil- dren in England, it may be supposed he was advanced in years at the time of his emigration. He died in 1703, the mansion property passing to his son William. Radley's Run has its name from this family. He appears to have lived in Westown in 1693, as he was appointed constable for that town- ship that year.
RUTHEROW, or RYTHERICH, REESE, from the parish of Llanwenog, County of Cardigan, Wales, was a large land holder in Haverford, and resided in that township temporarily as early as 1686.
RAWSON, OLLE, or WOLLEY, (Oele Raessen,) an early Finish or Swedish settler on Naaman's Creek, and one of
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the six grantees of Marcus Hook from Sir Edmund Andros. As early as 1668, in conjunction with Neals Laerson, he purchased land on the Jersey side of the Delaware, then under the govern- ment of Philip Carteret, which they had previously purchased from the Indians. In 1697 he sold the mills then erected near the mouth of Naa- man's Creek to Jasper Yeates. In 1681 he served the office of supervisor "from Marcus Creek to Naaman's Creek." In 1685 George Foreman made a convey- ance of property in Chichester to him and his wife Ebritta.
REES, HARRY, an early Welsh settler of Radnor township, died about the year 1705, leaving a widow, Elizabeth, and three children, viz., David, Gwenli- ana and Margaret. David was married and lived in Newtown at the time of his father's death. He died in 1706. David appears to have been a Quaker, but it is not certain in respect to his father.
REVEL, THOMAS, with his wife, family and servants, arrived at Burlington, a passenger on board of the Shield from Hull, in December, 1678. He was ap- pointed Clerk of the Court of Upland County at the first establishment of Penn's government, and was continued as Clerk after Chester County was organized, though it is not certain that he resided within the limits of that County.
REYNOLDS, HENRY, with his wife Prudence resided at Marcus Hook as . early as the 25th of the 5th mo. (July) 1680, when a daughter named Margaret was born to them at that place. He was on the first jury held under the government of the Proprietary, and his business about this time appears to have been that of keeping a .public house. He was at first a Quaker, but probably left the Society.
REES, THOMAS, (carpenter,) was set- tled in Haverford in 1687. When he emigrated from Wales is not known. In 1692, he was united in marriage with Frances Price at Haverford Meeting, they both being Friends. Their chil- dren were, Samuel, Sarah, Mary, David aud Isaac.
REES, THOMAS, also settled in Haver- ford, and in 1692 was married to Rebecca William of that township. They were Friends, and doubtless both were Welsh immigrants. They had one son, named Thomas.
RICHARDS, JOSEPH, with his wife Jane and family, was settled in Chichester as early as 1685. He was a Friend and took some interest in the business transactions of the Society. His chil- dren were, Nathaniel, Ann who inter- married with Humphrey Scarlet, and Susanna who intermarried with James Lownes of Springfield. They donbt- less all migrated from England. Joseph Richards died in 1710. His son Na- thaniel died in 1700 leaving four chil- dren, viz. William, Nathaniel, Elizabeth and Mary.
RICHARD, JOHN, with his wife Susan, from Dolgelly, Merionethshire, Wales, immigrated in 1683 or 1684 and set- tled in Haverford. They were Friends. Their children (born in this country) were Susanna, Richard, Jane and John. He died in 1696.
RICHARD, JOHN, from the County of Pembroke, South Wales, settled in Radnor in 1696. Was a member of the Society of Friends, but took no active part in meeting affairs.
ROADS, ADAM, " the sone of John and Elizabeth Roads of Wingreayes, County of Darby" England, immigrated to Pennsylvania in 1684, and settled in Darby (now Upper Darby) township. He was from Codnor in Derbyshire. In 1691 he was married at Darby Meeting to Katharine, the daughter of John Blunston. He was a good citizen, and attended diligently to his religious duties. His children were, John, Han- nah, Sarah, Elizabeth, Joseph and Adam. Katharine died in 1733, and Adam in 1744-5.
ROADS, JOHN, JR., came from Whit- low in Derbyshire. He was the son of John and Elizabeth Roads, and settled at Darby, where he resided several years. He probably removed to White Marsh.
ROADS, JOHN, the elder, father of the above named John and Adam Roads,
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immigrated to Pennsylvania sometime after the arrival of his two elder sons, accompanied by his youngest son Joseph, and probably by another son Jacob. He at first settled in Philadelphia, but removed to Darby previous to his death in 1701. It is supposed his wife Elizabeth died before lie left England. He devised to his son Joseph land in Marple and to his son John land in White Marsh.
ROADS, JOSEPH, the next year after the death of his father the above named John Roads, was married to Abigail the daughter of Richard Bonsall of Darby (now Upper Darby) in accord- ance with the usages of the Society of Friends. Their children were, John, Mary, Elizabeth and Abigail. Joseph settled in Marple on the land devised to him by his father which is still owned and occupied by his descendants.
ROBERT, ROGER, migrated from Hendremaur, Penllyn, Merionethshire, Wales, about the year 1699, and set- tled in Merion, where his wife Elizabeth died the next year. In 1715, he inter- married with Mary Roberts a widow, of Radnor, and went to reside in that township. He had become a Quaker from convincement sometime before removing to America, and took an active part in meetings of business. He was an overseer of Radnor Meeting at the time of his death in 1720. One of his sons took the name of Robert Rogers.
ROCHFORD, DENNIS, was from Ems- torfey, County of Wexford, Ireland, and arrived on board the ship Welcome in company with the proprietary, with his wife Mary, who was a daughter of John Herriot who died on the passage. Dennis lost two daughters at sea- Grace and Mary. He settled in Con- cord township, where he had located a large tract of land. In 1683, he represented Chester County in the Pro- vincial Assembly, but his name soon disappears from our records.
ROMAN, PHILIP, came to reside in Chichester as early as 1684. He doubt- less emigrated from England, and ap- pears to have been a widower at the time of his arrival. In 1685, he married Sarah, the widow of William Bezer, and after her death, he was married a
third time in 1690, to Amy the widow of John Hardin. He appears to have been a man of ability, and exercised a good degree of influence, both in the Society of Friends of which he was a member, and also in the community. He was one of the Justices of the Conrt, and one year represented the County of Chester in the Provincial Assembly. He had two sons by his first wife, Robert and Philip, and one daughter, who was married to Isaac Taylor the Surveyor, in 1694.
Ross, ALEXANDER, a member of the Society of Friends, migrated from Ireland, and settled within the bounds of Chester Monthly Meeting, early in the 18th century. In 1706, he married Catharine Chambers of Chichester, and in 1713 removed to Haverford, and in 1715, back again within the bounds of Chester Meeting, and from thence with- in the bounds of New Garden Meeting, where it appears he remained till about the year 1733, when he in com- pany with several other Pennsylvania Quakers, obtained a grant for 100,000 acres of land from the governor and council of Virginia, on a stream in that State called Opecan. To this place Alexander removed with his associates in the purchase, formed a settlement, and established a meeting, which is possibly still kept up. His children were Mary, Lydia. Rebecca, John, George and Albeinah.
ROUTH, LAWRENCE, with his wife Ann, emigrated from "ye Haws" in Yorkshire, England ; at first landed in Maryland, and for a short time so- journed in Talbot County. He arrived within our limits about the year 1688, and settled in Chester township, and called his place Weston. He was a Friend, but little else is known of him as he died in 1691. His children were Thomas and Lawrence, born in Eng- land; Rachel born in Maryland, and Francis born in Pennsylvania. In 1693, his widow intermarried with Humphrey Johnson of Chichester.
SALKELD, JOHN, an eminent Quaker preacher, the son of Thomas Salkeld of Cumberland, England, visited this country as a travelling Friend in 1700, and immigrated with his wife Agnes in 1711, and settled near Chester.
32
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Though a sincere man, he was naturally witty and eccentric. Many anecdotes are related of him, of which the following is the most singular :- Being in attendance at a meeting some dis- tance from home, in the midst of pro- found silence, he suddenly rapped his cane on the floor, and immediately re- peated these words :- " Resist the Devil this once, and he will not trouble thee again." In about a year after- wards, he visited the same neigborhood, when he was met by a man who told him, that he was the person for whom his singular sermon was intended- that for some time previously to the time of its delivery, he had been in a low desponding state of mind, and had that morning put a rope into his pocket with the purpose of putting an end to his life, but on his way to the spot selected, it came to his mind to go to meeting first, which he did, and there having met with such a well-timed and emphatic rebuke, his plans of self destruction were wholly frustrated, He thanked Salkeld for having saved his life. Salkeld died in 1739, aged sixty-seven years, and his wife in 1749, aged seventy- three years. Very much of the time of John Salkeld was taken up in making religious visits. Besides numerous journeys of this kind on this continent and to Barbadoes, he twice visited his native country ; in 1717, and again in 1725. His children were Joseph, Thomas, William, David, Sarah, John and Mary.
SANDELANDES, JAMES, was doubtless the earliest European inhabitant of Upland, who was not a Swede or a Dutchman; and this possibly may be true in respect to the whole State. He has been represented as a native of Scotland .* His acquaintance with the Delaware River, was made in the character of a soldier, in the service of the Government of the Duke of York, as may safely be inferred from the fol- lowing record of his discharge.
" Corpril Thomas Rosse,
James Sanderlyn,
discharged April 27th, given to Captn Carr." L
* Sandiland was a Scotch name in the neigh- borhood of Aberdeen in 1677, when one Robert Sandiland, with George Keith and others were imprisoned for being present at a Quaker Meet- ng .- Besse, ii. 533.
Sec. States office, Albany N. Y., (list of Discharged Soldiers for 1669.) Book Court of Assize, ii. 389.
As early as 1668, while still a soldier, he obtained a patent for land in Upland, and it may reasonably be supposed that he settled there immediately after his discharge. Here he soon formed a matrimonial alliance with Ann, the daughter of Urin Keen a Swede, and one of the six original grantees of Up- land ; if indeed that alliance had not already been formed while he was doing military service on the Delaware. Of mature age, intelligent and experienced in the river trade, he could hardly fail of success in business, and when Gov- ernor Markham came over in 1681 to initiate the Provincial Government, he found James Sandelandes one of the best qualified residents to aid him in conducting its affairs. He accordingly appointed him one of his council, and also made him a Justice of the Upland Court, as it was continued under his administration. His death occurred in 1692, at the age of fifty-six years. His daughter Catharine was then married to Jasper Yates, and another daughter to George Foreman of Marcus Hook. His other children were Jonas, Lydia, Christian, Mary and James, most of whom were then minors. The beauti- fully engraved frontispiece of the " Up- land Court Records," represents a tablet erected to the memory of this pioneer in the settlement of our Common- wealth ; and also to that of his wife, who survived him. The original, somewhat mutilated, is now preserved in St. Paul's Church at Chester, and "is interesting from the excellence of its execution, and as a specimen of early art."
SAUNDERS, PAUL, was one of the earliest immigrants who settled on the west side of the Schuylkill opposite Philadelphia. His marriage, which is the first registered in the Haverford Monthly Meeting Records, was accom- plished, 6th mo. 24th, 1684, at the house of Thomas Duckett, which stood a little above the Permanent bridge, and at which Friend's Meetings were then regularly held. Edith Hand, to whom he was married, was the servant girl of John Moon ; and before the mar- riage was allowed to proceed, a meet- ing committee was appointed to inquire
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if John Moon had been satisfied for the services of the young lady. Paul soon acquired a high standing in public estimation, as well as in that of the Society, and his bride, by her prudence and intelligence, proved herself worthy of his choice. In 1690, he was a repre- sentative from Philadelphia in the Provincial Assembly, and was frequent- ly charged with other important public appointments. Edith died in 1698, and in 1701, Paul removed to Chester where he carried on the tanning busi- ness for some years, but previous to his death, which happened in 1716, he removed to Philadelphia. So far as is known, he had but two children, Paul and Mary.
SCOTHORN, ROBERT, settled in Darby in 1684. He came from Oxton in the County of Northumberland, England. In 1692, he married Mary, the daughter of Henry Gibbons, and having that year purchased land in what is now Upper Darby, made his permanent set- lement there. By trade he was a shoe- maker, and in religious profession, a strict Friend. He died in 1708, leaving his wife and two sons, Samuel and Nathan to survive him.
SELLERS, SAMUEL, emigrated fromBel- per, in the " County of Darby," England, in 1682, and arriving the same year, set- tled in Darby, now Upper Darby, on a small tract of land, which is still in the possession of his descendants. In 1684, he was married to Anna the daughter of Henry Gibbons, who probably came over in the same ship. By trade he was a weaver, and carried on that business in connection with farming. As a man, he was upright and just in his dealings; as a Friend, he was attentive to his religious duties, and submissive to the discipline of the Society, even yielding his judgment to that of the meeting in private affairs, being "willing to give way," in the matter of the marriage of a daughter, to which he had interposed objections. He lived to an advanced age, and de- parted this life about the year 1732, his wife surviving him. In his latter years the Society indulged him with holding meetings at his house during the inclement season of the year.
SELLERS, JOHN, the youngest son of
Samuel Sellers and Jane his wife, and grandson of Samuel Sellers, the immi- grant, was born in Darby township, (now Upper Darby ) in 1728 at the place where the elder Samuel had first settled. John received but little if any more school education than was usual in the days of his boyhood, but he was regularly instructed in the art of weaving, which had been the occupation of both his grandfather and father; the latter having acquired a high reputation in the business as the inventor of a com- plex machine for twisting worsted, and as a coverlet and camlet weaver. John, in early life displayed a more enter- prising disposition than his father. By application to books and study, he acquired a knowledge of surveying, which he began to practice early, and soon became eminent as a land surveyor. His mechanical ingenuity, which he appears to have inherited from his father, was early manifested by his construction of Wire Rolling-screens, and sieves for cleaning wheat, flax seed &c., he being the first, as is believed, who made these articles in America. With the wire weaving business he combined the manufacture of Dutch grain-fans, but at the same time drop- ped that of common weaving. He improved his paternal and purchased estates by the erection of mills, and it is said of him, that during his life he had erected six mill-dams, and dug three miles of mill-race. He strongly felt the necessity of a bridge over the Schuylkill, and to further its erec- tion, constructed a model of one long before the erection of the permanent bridge.
He frequently served as a member of the Provincial Assembly, and before the revolutionary war, was appointed by the Governer and Council to run a straight line from the middle ferry on the Schuylkill to Lancaster, preparatory to laying out the Strasburg road, and by the same authority one of the com- missioners to lay out that road. He was also one of a commission to examine and ascertain the practica- bility of uniting the waters of the Schuylkill and Susquehanna by a nav- igable canal. In the revolution, his feelings were strong against the mother country ; and having sawed timber for military purposes, and signed paper money emitted for carrying on the war,
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he was dealt with and disowned as a member by the Society of Friends; in his own opinion unjustly. He was elected a member of the first assembly after the revolution, but being opposed to the principle of vesting the legislative power in one house, he declined serving in that body. He was a member of the Convention that formed the Constitution of Pennsylvania in 1789, and in the following year he was elected to repre- sent the County of Delaware in the State Senate under that Constitution. He was subsequently appointed an Associate Justice of the County Court, but declined serving. In 1786 he was chosen a member of the American Philosophical Society and took an interest in its proceedings. His death occurred in 1804 at the age of 75 years.
SHARPLESS, JOHN, emigrated from Hadderton, County of Chester, England, and landed at Upland (now Chester) on the 14th of the 6th month (August) 1682, more than two months before the arrival of William Penn. He was ac- companied by his wife, Jane, whose maiden name was Moore, to whom he had been married 20 years, and their children, Phebe, John, Thomas, James, Caleb, Jane and Joseph, the eldest being 19 and the youngest 4 years of age. Thomas died on the passage. John Sharpless was one of the original purchasers of land in England. He bought 1000 acres, which was located in three tracts (See map of first settlers,) and settled on the Ridley tract, be- tween Crum and Ridley Creeks, his first dwelling being the shelter afforded by the branches of a large fallen tree. In six weeks a cabin was erected against the perpendicular face of a large rock, which served at once for a side of the dwelling and the back of the chimney. The rock still bears the date 1682. This cabin was the family residence for about 20 years, when their youngest son Joseph having learned the carpen- ter trade, built a dwelling house which is still standing. The two daughters, Jane and Phebe, and their father, the elder John, all died in 1685 within two weeks of each other, and the son Caleb the next year, his death being occa- sioned by the bite of a venomous snake. Jane, the mother died in 1722 aged 84 years. John Sharpless the elder was
about 61 years of age at the time of his death. He had suffered persecution in England by distraint of his goods for attending the meetings of the Friends and for absenting himself from the national worship. (Besse i. 105, 108.) It does not appear that during the short period his life was spared after his arrival in this country, that he took any active part in public affairs or in those of his meeting. From Jolin Sharpless have descended all who bear that name in this part of the country, and many others.
SHARPLESS, JONN, JR. oldest son of the above named John was born in England in 1666 and immigrated with his parents. In 1692 he married Han- nah the daughter of Robert Penuell of Middletown, and continued to reside with his mother in the primitive dwell- ing erected against the rock. Their children were, Caleb, Jane, Hannah, John, Phebe, Rebecca, Margaret, Ann and Daniel, all of whom it is believed continued in membership with Friends. Hannah, the wife of John Sharpless Jr., died in 1721, while he survived her till 1747, when he died at the age of 81 years.
SHARPLESS, JAMES, the third son of the elder John Sharpless, was born in Cheshire, England, 5th of the 1st mo. 1671, and was only 11 years of age at the time of his arrival here. In 1698 he was married to Mary the daughter of John Edge, who did not survive her marriage but three months. In 1700 he married Mary the daughter of Ralph Lewis of Haverford and settled in Providence. His children by this mar- riage were, Lydia, Mary, James, Rachel, Thomas, David and Esther. Mary the second wife of James Sharpless was born in Glamorganshire, Wales, on the 10th of the 5th mo. 1674.
SHARPLESS, JOSEPH, the youngest son of the colonist John, was a child at the time of the immigration of his father. In 1704 he married Lydia the daughter of Ralph Lewis and sister of the second wife of his brother James. They at first settled in Nether Providence, but sometime afterwards removed to Mid- dletown. Joseph died in 1757 and Lydia in 1763. Their children were, Susanna, Joseph, Benjamin, Samuel,
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Lydia, Nathan, Jane, Abraham, Jacob and William.
SHARPUS, WILLIAM, emigrated from Trererigg in Glamorganshire, Wales, and settled in Haverford in 1683. He died in November of the next year, and was the first person buried in the grave-yard belonging to Haverford Meeting. His widow, Blanche, was married to Owen Morgan. His daugh- ter, Mary, was married to William Bevan of Newtown in 1705.
SHIPLEY, ELIZABETH, daughter of the colonist Samuel Levis, was born in Springfield Township in 1690. In the prime of youth she exhibited a serious turn of mind, and in her twenty-fourth year appeared as a minister among Friends. In 1725, in company with Jane Fenn, she paid a religious visit to New England, Long Island and Bar- badoes. In 1728 she was married to William Shipley, a widower, who a few years before had emigrated from " Lox- ley and Uttoxeter" in Staffordshire, England, and settled in Springfield. Here they resided till 1736, when they removed to the present site of Wil- mington, where Elizabeth was instru - mental in establishing a meeting. In 1743 she made a religious visit to England, Scotland and Ireland, and later in life made similar visits to dis- tant parts in her own country. Some time before her death, which happened in 1777, she removed to West Marl- borough. She was aged eighty-seven at the time of her decease, and had been a preacher sixty-three years. She is said to have been "lively and edifying in her ministry," and in prayer "awful and weighty." William Shipley had four children by his first wife, all of whom immigrated with him.
SIMCOCK, JOHN. No early settler in Pennsylvania possessed the confidence of the Proprietary to a greater extent than John Simcock. Arriving in the Province about the same time with Penn, he was immediately taken into his Conncil, a position he occupied till 1690. Besides being a member of the Free Society of Traders, he was on his own account one of the largest pnr- chasers of Pennsylvania lands in Eng- land. His place of residence was Ridley in Cheshire. Upon his arrival he located
2,875 acres of his purchase east of Ridley Creek, and immediately back of a tier of Swedish plantations that occu- pied the whole river front, in what subsequently became the township of Ridley-named no doubt from the place whence he emigrated.
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