USA > Pennsylvania > Chester County > Downingtown > History of Downingtown, Chester County, Pa > Part 2
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8. Thomazine, born 8 mo., 15, 1227 ; married Samuel Bond,
9
and they settled in West Whiteland.
9. Samuel, born 6 mo., 11, 129 ; died young.
10.
Joseph, born 10 mo .. 12, 1131 ; died young.
11. Joseph, born 4 mo., 30, 1734 ; died 10 mo., 7, 1804 ; mar- ried, 10 mo., 9, 1755, at Bradford Meeting, Mary Trim- ble, born 8 mio., 8, 1236 ; died 7 mo., 4, 1807 ; daughter of James and Mary Palmer Trimble, of West Bradford township. Joseph was born in Sadsbury, Lancaster County, and upon his marriage settled in the Valley, east of Downingtown. In 1764 he was assessed with three hundred and ninety acres of land, with buildings; one hundred and seventy-two acres of uncultivated land, six horses, eight cattle, twenty-five sheep and one servant.
Children of (3) Richard and Mary (Edge) Downing :
12. Hannah, born 1 mo., 19, 1741-2 ; died 4 mo., 5, 1752.
13. £ Thomas, born 10 mo., 13, 1743 ; died 4 mo., 12, 1752.
14. Jane, born 11 mo., 1, 1747 ; died 4 mo., 20, 1752.
15. John, born 12 mo., 17, 1148 ; died 5 mo., 20, 1:48.
16. Richard, born 5 mo., 14, 1450; died 1 mo., 15, 1820; married, 5 mo., 29, 1711, at Newtown Meeting, Elizabeth · Reese, born 3 mo., 2, 1:53 : died at Pughtown, 10 mo., 5, 1840; daughter of David Reese and Mary Garrett, of Newtown. They settled for a few years in Falls town- ship, Bucks County, but returned to Downingtown in 1128. In 1987 Richard was assessed in East Caln with one hundred acres of valley land, seventy acres of hill 1 land, seven horses, nine cattle and a merchant mill. At the same time his father was assessed with one hundred and thirty acres of hill land, a grist mill, two saw mills, fulling mill and a malt house. Richard and Elizabeth had seven children, Thomas, David, Mary, Richard, William, Elizabeth and Phebe.
17. . Mary, born : mo., 31, 1:52 : died 1 mio., 29, 1:19 ; mar- ried Daniel Trimble.
18. Thomazine, born 8 mo., 26, 1754; died 5 mo., 4, 1817; married Richard Thomas, colonel in the Revolution and member of Congress.
19. Jacob, born in Downingtown, 10 mo., 25, 1756; died 10 mo., 2, 1823 : married, 5 mo., 15, 1187, Sarah Sandwith Drinker, born 10 mo., 23, 161; died 9 mo., 25, 1807; daughter of Henry Drinker and Elizabeth Sandwith, of Philadelphia. Her mother was the author of "Diary of Elizabeth Drinker." written during the Revolution and published in recent times. Jacob had issue, Henry, Elizabeth, Mary, Henry, 2d, Sarah and Sandwith, all
10
of whom married except the first. Jacob Downing lived the greater part of his life in Philadelphia. He was engaged in the iron business at Atsion, New Jersey, where he owned a forge and rolling mill.
20.
William, born 1 mo .. 29, 1:59 : died 12 mo .. 24, 1159.
21. George, born 11 mo., 8, 1160; drowned in mill race, 8 mo .. 10, 1165.
Samuel R., born ? mo .. 4, 1163: died 1819 : married, 10 mo., 28. 1190, at Uwchlan Meeting. Jane Ashbridge, born 10 mo., 11, 1264, who survived him: daughter of George and Rebecca Ashbridge. of Goshen. He left one son, George A., who died unmarried.
23. Joseph R., born 6 mo., 19, 1265; died at Downingtown 1 mo., 11. 1855: married, 5 mo., 4, 1191. at Chester Meeting, Ann Worrall, born 11 mo., 11. 1111; died 11 mo .. 1. 1836 : daughter of William Worrall and Phebe Grubb, of Ridley township. He inherited considerable land, with mills, at Downingtown, and is styled a fuller in the old records. His children were William W., Samuel J. and Charles, of whom the last was the father of Joseph R. Downing, president of the Bank of Down- ingtown.
Children of (4) John and Elizabeth (Hunt) Downing:
24. Esther, born 12 mo .. 22. 1:48 ; died young.
25. Mary, born 11 mo., 17, 1:50 : married Israel Whelen.
26. Thomas, born 1 mo., 4, 1153 : married Sarah Jacobs. 21. Esther, born 6 mo .. 30. 1:55 : died young or unmarried. 2%. Hunt, born 1 mo .. 12, 115 : died 2 mo., 15, 1834: mar- ricd Deborah Miller, born 2 mo., 28. 1260 ; died 12 mo., 21. 1833: daughter of Joseph and Mary ( Williams) Miller. He began tavernkeeping at the Washington Tavern. in Downingtown. 1286, and contintied in that occupation for many years. He was the first post- master at Downingtown, and at the time of the Whisky Insurrection was quartermaster to some of the troops encamped near the . tavern. He had children. Joseph M., Isaac and Israel W.
29. John, died 10 mo., 1822 : unmarried.
30. Samuel, married Elizabeth Templin.
31. Elizabeth, married Richard Templin.
Children of (11) Joseph and Mary (Trimble) Downing:
32. Thomas, born 10 mo., 11, 1:56; died 10 mo., 31, 1829 ; married, in 1284. Sarah Smith, born 11 mo .. 29, 1165; died 11 mo., 19, 1835; daughter of George Smith and Elizabeth White. They continued to live near Down- ingtown and had children. George, Joseph, Elizabeth
11
D., Mary Ann, Thomazine, William S., Thomas and Sarah.
33. Jane, born 7 mo., 22, 1161 : died 6 mo., 20, 1813 ; mar- ricd John Gordon, of Uwchlan.
34. Mary, born 10 mo., 14, 1163 ; died 6 mo., 20, 1813 ; mar- ried Dennis Whelen.
35. Thomazine, born 3 mo., 31, 1765 ; married, 1794, Samuel Kennedy.
36. Joseph, born 4 mo., 9. 1169 ; died 12 mo., 28, 1841 ; mar- ried, 4 mo., 25, 199, Elizabeth Webster, born 4 mo., 15, 1111 ; died 4 mo., 1, 1840 ; daughter of Richard Webster and Phebe Smith, of Harford County, Maryland. He continued on the homestead in East Caln, and had chil- dren, Wesley R., Mary S., Phebe, Richard I., Sarah W. and Thomazine J. Of these, Richard I. Downing suc- ceeded his father at the homestead, and died in 1890.
37. James, born 4 mo., 11, 1111; died ? mo., 31, 1831; un- married.
39. Sarah, born 8 mo., 1, 1413 ; died 1851 ; married Samuel Webster, a Methodist minister, of Harford County, Maryland.
39. Richard, born 6 mo., 26, 1115; died ? mo., 2, 1801 ; un- married.
40. Ann, born 3 mo., 1, 1178; died 8 mo., 1811; married Dr. William A. Todd.
The Downing family are peaceful, quiet, non-assertive . peo- ple. They exemplify in their daily lives the principles and the practices of the Society of Friends. During the Civil War many of them served in the Union Army, but immediately upon the return of peace they returned to their former pursuits. They were followers in England and in America of the tenets of the founders of the Friendly Society. Along with large numbers of people from the midland counties of England they sought an asylum in America, where they could be undisturbed by criti- cisms or by persecutions. The character of the Friendly inhabi- tant is much misunderstood and has been made the subject of anamadversion. It has given strength and tone to the County of Chester, past and present, and this mother county of Pennsyl- vania is strong in the strength of her early settlers. She had the Scotch Presbyterians, and she had the English Friend, and she had the sturdy German to weld and to form the winners of the new Western civilization.
The Downing family and the Parke family were jointly and severally followers of William Penn. They came to America from England actuated by Friendly principles. While the Downings were quiet and loved the silence of retirement, the
I2
-
Parkes were equally followers of the Prince of Peace, but per- mitted the world to know that, while the planet moved, they moved with it. These families were at the beginning of Down- ingtown, and it was their cohesive force that gave vitality to the community. Some of them engaged in the business of public entertainment. In those early days the country inn was the center of business and social activity, dominated the thought and the action of the neighborhood. It was the appointed place for all public gatherings. It was the fixed custom for social entertainments to be there. Arbitrations and suits at law were held and determined at the Country Inns of Chester County, and the landlord was the dominant factor in the affairs of the countryside. It was then Milltown, so called because the grist mill was the first industry of the vicinity. To it came customers as far hence as the eastern portion of Lancaster County, as far north as the Warwick Hills, and as far south as the Doe Run Valley, and as far east as Tredyffrin township. in the Valley, to the Goshens, south of that point. At this distance of time and under present circumstances we cannot underrate the influence of the innkeeper. He possessed it because he deserved it, and he was a strict member of meeting; he was a faithful observer of all the proprietaries of life. His family occupied as good a social position as any in the community. Public houses were places of public entertainment. This was the condition of things in the first half of the eighteenth century. With the advent of a different immigration other conditions arose, but throughout it all the high character and exalted social station of the Friendly member were everywhere admitted and thoroughly understood. Whittier says :
'The Quaker of the olden time ! How calm and firm and true, L'uspotted by its wrong and crime. He walked the dark earth through. The lust of power, the love of gain, The thousand lures of sin Around him, had no power to stain The purity within.
With that deep insight which detects All great things in the small. And knows how each man's life affects The spiritual life of all. He walked by faith, and not by sight : By love, and not by law : The presence of the wrong or right Hle rather felt than saw.
13
He felt that wrong with wrong partakes, That nothing stands alone ; That whoso gives the motive, makes His brother's sin his own. And pausing not for doubtful choice Of evils great or small, He listened to that inward voice Which called away from all.
Oh! spirit of that early day, So pure and strong and true, Be with us in the narrow way Our faithful fathers knew! Give strength the evil to forsake, The cross of truth to bear, And love and reverent fear to make Our daily lives a prayer !
Chapter 2
Taxpayers and Taxables-The Hunt Family-Early Peti- tions for Houses of Entertainment
List of taxables of East Cain in 1785:
Peter Bizallion
Samuel Mastene
Peter Whitaker
Peter Grubb
William Logan
Moses Wright, Jr.
William Pim
James Clark
Nicholas Smith
Thomas Parke
Albert Buntin
James Henderson
Jabin Moore
James MacKalen
Thomas Eldridge
William Heald
. Mary Fleming Robert Irwine Jacob Lockart George Qurner
Llewellyn Pary David Johns
Satevich Miller
Robert Buntin
Francis Levis
Edward Thompson
Thomas Moore
Andrew Cook
Moses Wright, Sr.
George Aston
John Rowlton
Thomas Brice
Robert Miller
John Jenkins
James Warde
Thomas Green
James Love
James Fleming
Aaron Mendenhall
James McFarland
James Wellington
James Eldridge
William Hazlett
Samuel McKinley
Manassah Carter
John Stanton
William Smith
William Orton
Edward Irwin
John Arok
Oliver Lewis John Buntin
The heavies taxpayer was Peter Bizallion, who was a French-
man. He was one of the most noted Traders in the Province. He established himself at various points and penetrated the distant wild- erness to barter with the natives for their furs. About the year 1724 he settled down on a farm in the Great Valley, a short distance east of Coatesville. where he died in 1742. He names eight (8) slaves in his will. and his personal property was appraised at five hundred and seventy-three pounds. His widow, Martha Bizallion, by deed dated December 22nd, 1762, gave the farm of one hundred and fifty- eight acres to her nephew, John Hart. This land had been patented to them in 1740. He acquired a very considerable fortune at his business and his remains were buried at St. John's Church Yard, just west of the Compass Hotel, on the Laneaster Road, in Laneaster County. The next heaviest taxpayer was Thomas Moore, concerning whom we have already written.
List of taxables in 1773 in East Caln : Warwick Miller
320 acres and buildings
Robert Parkes
250 and buildings and tavern
Abel Parke
James Cunningham
16
Curtis Lewis Thomas Pimm John Edge James Stanley
Joseph Long
170
and buildings
37
of woodland
John Gilleland
320
..
and buildings
64
of woodland
Moses Scot
110
and buildings
William Long
90
and buildings
..
of woodland
Samuel Pikens
150
and buildings
Archibal Irvin
100
and buildings
James Jack
130
¥
and buildings
Robert Lockart
300
and buildings
James McGlaughlin
90
and buildings
William Green
190
" and buildings
Thomas Green
80
and buildings
Lenord Wilkins
ICO
and buildings
John Clark
150
and buildings
Adam Guthery
200
and buildings
James Guthery
200
.. and buildings
Peter Grimes
60
and buildings
James Clark
200
and buildings
Charles Jack
150
..
and buildings
Joseph Downing
650
and buildings, I servant
Jonathan Valentine
200
and buildings
Griffe Mendenhall
200
and buildings
Richard Dolbey
100
and buildings
John Hoops
960
and buildings
Richard Downing
12
and buildings
2 grist mills, 3 acres of barren land
James Miller
81 acres and buildings, I servant
George Erwin
200
and buildings
William Litler
200
and buildings
Robert Elton
100
and buildings
James M1. Calvey
100
= and buildings
Thomas White
100
¥
and buildings
John Walker
50
and buildings
James Tomson
100
and buildings
Peter Fleming
150
..
and buildings
Joseph Fleming
10
and buildings
Alexander Fleming
60
and buildings
Thomas Hart
300
..
and buildings
Moses Coates
120
and buildings
Isaac Green
80
..
and buildings
James Webb
IJ3
=
and buildings
75
Isaac Coates
120
..
and buildings
.6
in Bradford, and I servant
116
and buildings
383
..
and buildings
50
and a mill
...
220
and buildings
ICO
IO
.. of woodland
9
16
70
woodland, I servant
"
.6
woodland
150
..
..
..
66
..
=
woodland
100
..
and buildings
woodland and grist mill
220
of woodland
88
I7
James Coates
160°
66
and buildings woodland
John Walker
250
and buildings
Andrew Cox
115
66 and buildings
Mavey
50
and buildings
Thomas Scott
100
and buildings
Margaret Phipps
.
Bartholemon Carrol
James Battin
.. and buildings
George Wilson
70
and buildings
William Powell
50
and buildings
Humphrey Ellis
80
.. and buildings
William Meredith
80
and buildings
William W. Farlon
100
.6
and buildings
James W. Farlon
150
and buildings
High Glen
60
..
and buildings
Thomas Temple
100
and buildings
Rudolph Tuck
200
..
and buildings
Joshue Mendenhall
150
..
and buildings
Robert Kinkead
150
and buildings
Michael Miller
200
and buildings
Samuel Culbertson
20C
.. and buildings
James Culbertson
200
..
and buildings.
Andrew El'it
100
and buildings
Mordica Cloud
3CO
and buildings
Richard Cheney
IO
and buildings
George Bahanan
IOC
and buildings
Joshue Baldwin
300
and buildings, 2 servants
Abiah Parkes
ICC
..
and buildings
Robert Valentine
30
..
and buildings
Jonathan Parkes
140
and buildings
Samuel Hunt
25
and buildings
James Shuart
40
..
of land in Bradford
James Hood
65
..
of woodland
John Smith
280
and buildings
Theophiles Ervin
100
and buildings and buildings
Robert Darlington
200
and buildings
Andrew Culbertson
4
and buildings and tavern
John Karmieal
150
and buildings
Samuel White
100
..
and buildings
John Baldwin Lodwick Liget
320
..
and buildings
James Lockart
2.10
and buildings
Janies Erwin
50
and buildings
Joseph McKinley
200
.. and buildings
Richard Dounen
151
and buildings
10
woodland and grist mill
78
and buildings
200
.. and buildings
50
.. in Uwchlan
..
in Bradford
50
.6
and buildings
William W. Clean
90
50
of woodland
..
..
and buildings
35
and buildings
Thomas Fisher
200
200
and buildings
.6
..
James Richeson John Dounen
50
and buildings
and buildings
80
25
..
18
Richard Buffington
150
and buildings
Thomas Windle
150
and buildings
Samuel Tomson
80
.6
and buildings
Thomas Stocker
350
and buildings
Hannah Pimm
200
.6
and buildings
John Culbertson
50
and buildings
Rachel Roman
85
and buildings
John Lewis
80
..
and buildings
Henry Lewis
200
and buildings
Samuel Biars
250
and buildings, 1 mill
Phillip Singler
JO
and buildings
William Wilson
66
and buildings
Samuel Underwood
ICO
and buildings
Robert Wilson
100
and buildings
List of taxables in East Caln in 1785 :
William Anderson,
100 acres Caleb Baldwin,
300 acres
Samuel Baldwin,
100
Joshua Baldwin,
200
Samuel Byers.
300
James Battin.
200
Thomas Brook.
266
Joseph Botton,
200
Richard Buffington.
170
David Brannan.
1
William Beaty,
200
William Bailey,
123
Rev. John Charmichael,
180
William Clingan.
So
Samuel Culbertson
200
John Culbertson,
114
..
Isaac Coates,
125
Moses Ccates,
Mordicai Cloud.
200
Elisha Crisman.
James Clark.
350
Mary Cov.
50
..
Andrew Cox.
60
Samuel Caster,
40
..
Jacob Carn,
IC5
Joel Davis.
40
6.
Joseph Downing.
600
..
John Downing.
220
Joseph Dugan,
70
Robert Davis.
125
Joseph Darlington,
150
John Doulin,
100
Robert Eiton,
80
John Edge.
29
William Ellict
100
Peter Fleming.
200
John Darlington
100
Joseph Fleming,
150
John Fleming,
I 45
Thomas Fisher.
150
William Fisher,
100
John Foreman.
20
Able Freeman
100
James Green.
60
..
Joseph Gladney,
332
James Guthery.
200
Joseph Green,
70
6.
Joseph Griffith.
30
Isaac Gibson.
100
Henry Gray,
80
Adam Guthery,
220
James Miller.
8.4
Mary Green.
20
James McFarlan.
15.0
Peter Graham,
81
..
Griffith Mendenhall,
180
..
Samuel Hunt.
150
James Miles.
170
William Hambleton,
8.1
James McClane.
200
John Hughs,
25
Elizabeth Mckinley.
200
Samuel Holladay,
118
William Moore.
100
John Hoops, .
500
Samuel MeMicken.
100
Hannah Hughes,
200
Thomas Martin.
33
James Hood,
65
Joshua Mendenhall.
170
Theosilus Irwin,
125
James McGloughen,
07
William Iddim,
100
Roger North.
II3
Joshua Hunt was a merchant for many years and afterwards
..
Richard Downing.
300
..
Thomas Coates.
245
6.
120
..
12
..
..
..
Thomas Downing,
80
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
66
6.
..
200
land and fulling mill
Obed Lewis
180
.. and buildings
..
..
66
Tohn Culbertson, Jr.
150
66
.6
.6
6
.6
:
=
19
William Johnson,
100
Abiah Park,
2.45
James Jack,
1.46
Benjamin Phipps,
100
James Jack, Jr.
100
.. Samuel .Pickens,
Margaret Irwin,
200
.. William Powell,
70
..
James Pimm,
220
James Kinkead,
355
16
James Pimm, Jr. Isaac Pimm,
200
Obed Lewis,
100
..
John Proudfoot,
80
William Lockart,
189
Rachael Rummon,
50
William Long,
200
Joshua Rummon,
27
James Lockart,
100
Hugh Richards,
75
Henry Lewis,
100
William Ralston,
Isaac Lewis,
280
6
James Stalker,
180
Robert Miller,
140
James Stanley,
250
Isaac McFarlan,
90
John Smith,
200
Mary McFarlan,
69
16
Francis Taylor,
100
James Timey,
50
..
Trimble,
250
Jono. Valentine,
250
George Valentine,
100
..
Thomas Vickers,
73
46
Robert Valentine,
357
..
Rachel White,
250
Samuel White,
150
..
John Walker,
150
Elias Wampool,
450
Peter Whitaker,
20
Thomas Windle,
180
..
Thomas Powell,
25
Isaac Speakman.
100
..
Samuel McFarlan.
13
William B. Hawkley,
150
Roger Hunt, one of the Downingtown pioneers, married the daughter of George Aston, and in 1727 built upon property now located in West Downingtown a very fine house, then and ever since known as the Hunt Mansion. though long since passed from the family name. It was built in the old English style. The various colored brick. having been, according to tradition, imported from England, and its wide hall, sharp gables and heavy wainscoting, show that he was a man of no mean pretension, and through his wife, in 1739, Roger Hunt came into possession of a tract of five hundred acres of land on the west side of the Brandywine, partly within the limits of the Borough of Downingtown. Roger Hunt was a surveyor and it has been asserted that he laid out the city of Lancaster, and owned a large part of the ground on which the city is built, which was subsequently allowed to be sold to satisfy claims for taxes. During the French and Indian War, he was a Commissary in the service of George III, and his account books of that service are still in the possession of his descendants. Under the head of "Inci- dent Charges Extraordinary," though not in his own writing, are the following :
" 1759, June 18th, to expenses at the "Ship" in East Caln, .78. 6I. June 19th, to expenses at the same place, . 6s. 41.
66 June Igth, to expenses at the "Ship," from the 20th to Sept. 8th at sundry times. . 4 €. IIS. 8d. "1759. June 10th, to cash paid John Downing for bringing
3co bags from Phila. to my house, I £.
..
Elizabeth Kennady,
30
180
..
Robert Lockart,
1100
..
..
..
100
James Thompson,
100
John Maulsby,
90
Lamb Tolbert,
I20
William Temple.
70
Isaac Webb,
210
..
Joseph Wright,
100
..
..
..
.
183
.6
20
" 1759. August 10th, to cash paid Jane Parke for 2 nights hay for two horses 45.
" 1759, October 5th, to pasture of sundry horses impressed from East Marlbro, London Grove, Newlin, East Nottingham, West Nantmell and Uwchlan at Jane Parkes
.. To sundry expenses at the "Ship" from Sept. Sth. to
November 3rd, about the business of contractor .. I £. 11s. 6d. " 1760, January 29th, to 21 bushels of oats of Roger Hunt at 28., for impressed teams going out, .. 2 £. 28.
Distances from Lancaster to the "Ship" in East Caln, Chester County, Thirty-one and one-half miles and thirty-two perches.
From the "Ship" in East Calu to Philadelphia, Thirty-four and one- quarter miles and twenty-six perches.
Some account of wagons furnished by the Township of East Caln. Andrew Cox entered two Oct. 25th, and James Erwin entered one.
Andrew Cox and brother John credited with nine barrels of flour, Car- lile to Bedford, also eight barrels of flour from Carlile to Bedford.
Six barrels of flour from Bedford to Ligonier, also eight barrels of flour from Carlile to Bedford, and four barrels of flour from Bedford to Ligonier. Mileage for cach, 160 miles.
George Aston was a Justice of the Peace, an active citizen and was the owner of five hundred ( 500) acres of land in Caln Township on the western side of what is now called Downingtown, and it has been stated that he built what is known as the Hunt Mansion, but the authorities upon that subject seem to differ. His wife, Elizabeth, was the daughter of Peter Hunter, of Middletown, now Delaware County. He died in 1738, leaving a son, George. and a son, Peter, and a daughter, Mary, married to Joseph Few, 2nd mo., 18, 1733, and a daughter. Susanna, beside his daughter, Esther, of whom we have spoken. His son, George, married Esther, daughter of Owen Thomas, of East Whiteland, and became the owner of the Admiral Vernon (now Warren) Tavern. He left one son. Oliver Aston. George Aston, elder, was styled a "Quaker," but there is no evidence to that effect in the records of the Society, and the only evidence we have upon the subject is to be found in the following deposition, made in 1736:
"George Aston, of the County of Chester, in the Province of Pennsylvania, Sadler, aged abt. Fifty years, being one of the People Called Quakers, upon his Solemn Affirmation, according to Law did declare and Affirm, That Upon Some Conversation happening between Thomas Cresap, Robert Buchanan and this Affirmt. on the Road in sight of the city of Philadelphia, upon bringing the sd. Cresap Down from the County of Lancaster, The said Cresap said, Damn'it, Aston, this is one of the Prettyest Towns in Maryland. I have been a troublesome fellow; but by this Last Jobb I have made a present of the two provinces to the King, and that if the People found themselves in a better Condition by the Change, they might thank Cresap for it, or words to that Effect.
"Geo. Aston.
21
"Philadelphia. Decr. 3d, 1736.
"Taken before me.
"Clem. Plumsted, Mayor."
The estate of Roger Hunt was mostly woodland, and embraced an area of five hundred (500) acres. At his death it passed to his heirs, and Samuel Hunt, his son, inherited the family mansion, and the five hundred (500) acres adjoining it.
Joshua Hunt, the third of a family of five sons and two daughters, was born in the Hunt Mansion, and with his brother, Joseph, upon the death of their father, Samuel, became the joint owners of the property. One of the girls married John Hoopes, of London Grove, and their sons, Samuel H. Hoopes, Cyrus Hoopes, Francis Pratt Hoopes and William B. Hoopes, became distinguished citizens of Chester County in the business world. A daughter of John Hoopes married Abiah Scarlett, of New Garden.
Joseph Hunt was a merchant for many years and afterwards an extensive railroad contractor of Pennsylvania and Georgia, while his brother, Joshua, devoted his time to study and statesmanship. All the race were of stalwart build, slow in action and close observers as well as vigorous thinkers. Joshua was highly esteemed by his neighborhood ; was a kind of oracle in the vicinity, and filled all the stations in the township from Constable to school director, and was the umpire to whom all resorted for the maintenance of order, and was an authority on all questions of science and political economy. As a member of the General Assembly, he measured up to the standard of his contemporaries, such as Thaddeus Stevens, James Buchanan, Elijah F. Pennypacker, Nathan Pennypacker and other distinguished politicians.
He was also noted for the vigor of his judgment on public matters, and occupied an honorable station in the Legislature. His circumstances in life were such that the "bread and butter" struggle gave him no concern. and thus an assured competence engendered the love of ease, which if it had been replaced by ambition and energy might have secured other positions and higher stations in the service of his State.
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