USA > Pennsylvania > Chester County > London Grove > Two hundredth anniversary of the founding of London Grove Meeting by the Society of Friends at London Grove, Pennsylvania, tenth month third, 1914 > Part 8
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Ways Buildings Water Courses woods underwoods hereditaments and Appur- tenances Whatsoever to the said Ten acres of Land & premisses hereby Granted belonging or in any wise appertaining & the Reversions and Remainders rents Issues and Profitts thereof And all the Estate right Title Interest use possession property Claim and Demand whatsoever of them the said Tobias Collet Daniel Quare and Henry Goldney of in and to the said piece or parcell of Land and premisses hereby Granted or any part thereof and true Copies of all Deeds Evidences & writings Concerning the Same to be had and made at the Costs & Charges of the Said John Smith Joseph Pennock Caleb Pusey Junr William Swain and John Cook their heirs or assigns to have and to hold the Said Ten Acres of Land hereditaments and premisses hereby Granted or mentioned so to be & Every part thereof with their appurtenances unto the said John Smith Joseph Pennock Caleb Pusey Junr William Swain and John Cook & their heirs To the use of them the said John Smith Joseph Pennock Caleb Pusey Junr William Swain and Jolin Cook their heirs and assigns forever under the yearly Quit rent hereafter accruing for the Said Land unto the Lord or Lords of the ffee thereof and the said Tobias Collet for himself his heirs Exers and admrs and the Said Daniel Quare for himself his heirs Exers and admrs and the said Henry Goldney for himself his heirs Exers and administrators severally and not Joyntly nor one for another Do Covenant promise and Grant to and with the Said John Smith Joseph Pennock Caleb Pusey Junr William Swain and John Cook their heirs & assigns by these presents that they the said Tobias Collet Daniel Quare & Henry Goldney now have or some or one of them hath good right lawfull & absolute power & authority in themselves or in some or one of them to Grant bargain Sell and Convey all the said Ten acres of Land hereditaments and premisses hereby Granted and Every part Thereof with the appurtenances unto the Said John Smith Joseph Pennock Caleb Pusey Junr William Swain and John Cook their heirs & assigns in manner & form aforesaid and that they the said Tobias Collet Daniel Quare and Henry Goldney and their & Every of their heirs and all and Every other person and persons whatsoever Lawfully Claiming or to Claim the said Land and premisses hereby granted or any part thereof Shall and Will from time to time and at all times for ever hereafter upon the reasonable request Costs and Charges in Law of the said John Smith Joseph Pennock Caleb Pusey Junr William Swain & John Cook their heirs or assigns Make do Execute and acknowl- edge or Cause so to be all and Every Such further and other reasonable act and acts Deed or Deeds Device or Devices in Law whatsoever for the further and Better assurance and Confirmation of the Said land and premisses hereby Granted with the appurtenances unto the said John Smith Joseph Pennock Caleb Pusey Junr William Swain & John Cook their heirs and assigns as by them or any of them or by their or any of their Councill Learned in the Law Shall be Rea- sonably Devised Advised or required So that such person or persons required to Execute the Same be not Compelled to Travill from his her or their habitation or Dwelling above Ten miles and for the better Execution of these presents the said Tobias Collet Daniel Quare and Henry Goldney have Constituted appointed and in their place and Stead put and by these presents do Constitute Appoint and in their place and Stead put William Pusey and John ffincher both of the Said County Yoman & Either of them Joyntly or Severally their true and Lawfull
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Attorney or Attorneys for them and in their place and Stead to Enter in the said Ten acres of Land hereditaments and premisses hereby Granted or mentioned to be Granted or any part or parcell thereof in the name of the whole & quiet & peaccable possession and Seisin thereof in the name of the whole for and in the name of the said Tobias Collet Daniel Quare & Henry Goldney to have and to take and after such Entry had and made & possession and Seisin so had and taken as aforesaid to Deliver Quiet & peaceable possession and Seisin thereof and every part and parcel thereof or of any part or parcel thereof in the name of the whole unto the Said John Smith Joseph Pennock Caleb Pusey Junr William Swain and John Cook or to their Certain Attorneys in that Behalf Lawfully Authorized to take & receive the same to be had & held according to the Tennor form and Effect of these presents and whatsoever the Said Attorney or Attorneys of the said Tobias Collet Daniel Quare & Henry Goldney do and shall hereby ratifye Confirm and allow as fully as if they had been Present and Done the same in their own persons In Witness whereof the said parties to these presents have Interchangeably Set their hands and Seals the Day & year first ahove written.
TOBIAS COLLET (Seal)
DANIEL QUARE (Scal)
HENRY GOLDNEY (Seal)
Sealed and Delivered in the presence
of Sarah Dimsdale
John Estaugh
Elizabeth Estaugh
The above was acknowledged by Sarah Dimsdale and John Estaugh on their affirmations before Robert Assheton Esq. of Philadelphia, 13th of July 1723. Recorded 16th Nov. 1731, in Deed-Book E. p. 69 of Chester County.
In Michener's "Retrospect of Early Quakerism," it is stated that London Grove Meeting House was enlarged in 1743, which is quite prob- able, but the fact has not been elsewhere found stated.
At New Garden Monthly Meeting 9-3-1774 :
"On Consideration of the necessity of more convenient room being made or added to Londongrove meeting house in order to accommodate freinds at the time of our Quarterly Meetings it is agreed to appoint a number of freinds to confer together and Consider of the most Convenient addition and make some compu- tation of the cost, therefore William Jackson, Henry Chalfant, John Jackson, Joseph Pennock, Jacob Wright, John Baily, Isaac Jackson, Ellis Pusey, William Miller, Isaac Richards, David Harlan, Joel Baily, Joseph Pyle, Jeremiah Bernard & Joshua Pusey are appointed for that service and to make report thereof when ready."
2-8-1775 :-
"The Committee appointed several months ago respecting building an addition to Londongrove meeting house not having yet come to a conclusion concerning the same it is now thought best to give a hint of ye matter in our report to the Quarterly meeting in order if freinds are free thereto that some members of that meeting may be appointed to Join with the Committee of our meeting in that case."
At Western Quarterly Meeting, 2-20-1775 :-
"Newgarden Report mentions that a Committee of that Meeting has for some time stood appointed to consider of the most convenient Addition to be made to this House in Order the better to accommodate this large Quarly Meeting, Respecting which they have had some Conference & mention it here in Order that if Friends are free thereto some members of this Meeting may be appointed to join their Committee in a further Consideration of the Matter, which being now attended to This Meeting appoints John Churchman, Thomas Milhous, Willm Harvey, Thos Pimm, James Moore, James Gibbons & Willm Downing to join with the Friends of Newgarden in that Service & forward the Work as expeditiously as they can & report their Care to next Meeting."
At New Garden Monthly Meeting, 3-4-1775.
"Several of the Committee appointed by this meeting concerning the addition to the meeting house now report that most of them with a Committee from the Quarterly meeting have had a Conference together and have agreed on the size and situation and that they apprehend the cost will amount to near £300. On Consideration thereof William Miller, Isaac Jackson, James Lindley, John Jackson, Jeremiah Bernard, Stephen Cook and Joshua Pusey are appointed to take an account of freinds Subscriptions towards the same and produce an account of the amount thereof to next meeting. they are also desired to meet together at this house on the 20th Instant and if they have encouragement hy freinds sub- scriptions and sentiments they are to Inform the following freinds, to wit, John Jackson, Joseph Pennock, Joel Baily, Joseph Pyle, David Harlan & Joshua Pusey, who are appointed to proceed in providing necessaries for the building in case they receive the above-mentioned encouragement thereto."
At New Garden Monthly Meeting, 4-1-1775 :-
"The friends appointed to take in subscriptions towards the Meeting House report that the amount thereof is about £175 and that they expect some little more which gave them encouragement to inform the other friends last appointed who report they have made some essay towards the Building. On consideration thereof Joseph Pennock, Joel Baily, William Miller, Joseph Pyle and Joshua Pusey are appointed to agree with workmen, provide necessaries and forward the building this meeting from the encouragement given by the Quarterly Meeting that friends of that Meeting will raise the residue of the money to defray the expences of the Building."
5-6-1775 :-
"As some discouragements appear against forwarding the Building at London Grove meeting house at this time as heretofore directed, the Clerk is ordered to insert the purport of the last Minute of this meeting on that occation in our report to the Quarterly Meeting in order to have the mind of that meeting therein.
At Quarterly Meeting, 5-15-1775 :-
"Most of the Friends appointed at last Meeting to join with Friends of Newgarden in a further Consideration of the Proposal of enlarging this House,
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attended to the service, concluded to an Addition, & that the Building might go forward, & the Report from Newgarden mentions they have subscribed about £175, & that a Committee is appointed to forward the Work, which they are ready to do if sufficient Encouragement be given by the Quarly Meeting: I. is supposed it will take about £125 more: Which being considered it now appears necessary for some reasons that another Conference should be had by some Friends appointed by this Meeting to join Friends of Newgarden Moly Meeting in a further Consideration thereof, before the Building is forwarded, Therefore Thomas Milhous, Jag Jackson, Daniel Nichols, Joshua Brown, Thos Churchnian, Richard Barnard, Thos Fisher, Willm Downing & James Gibbons are appointed to join Newgarden Friends in a solid Consideration thereof ; & if they conclude on an Addition, & the Necessity of forwarding it speedily, the Friends appointed by this Meeting are desired to consider of & adjust the Proportions for the several Moly Meetings to pay towards the sum wanting; & that each of these Meetings, as speedily as they can, send up their several Proportions accordingly." At Monthly Meeting, 6-3-1775 :--
The Representatives all attended the Q. Meeting and paid our share of the yearly Meeting stock, and a Committee was appointed by that Meeting to advise friends of this Meeting respecting the discouragements that have appeared against building the addition to the meeting house who mostly have met at the place together with a considerable number of the members of this meeting and after a time of conference it was the advice of said Committee to go forward with the Building and gave such encouragement thereto as was in a good degree satisfactory to most friends present, and the building is now to go on and Isaac Jackson, William Miller, James Lindley, Jacob Wright, Jeremiah Barnard, Stephen Cook and Joshua Pusey are appointed to collect friends subscription for the same." At Quarterly Meeting 8-21-1775 :-
"Most of the Friends appointed respecting the proposed Addition to London Grove Meeting House attended to the Service & produced the following Report, Vizł:
Agreeable with the Appointment of last Quarly Meeting Seven of the Com- mittee met with a Number of Friends belonging to Newgarden Moly Meeting, & after free Conference concerning the proposed Addition to Londongrove Meet- ing House & hearing the most general sense of the sd Friends, we do unanimously Concur therewith, in Regard to the Form of the sd Addition, & also that the Work be forwarded as soon as conveniently may be & have divided the sum mentioned to be wanting as follows, Viz: Kennett £30: Nottingham £27: Bradford £21 : Sadsbury £27: Duck Creek £15: Deer Creek £5: in all £125. Signed by Thos Milhous, Daniel Nichols, Richard Barnard, Joshua Brown, Wm. Downing, Jams Gibbons. Which being read is concurred with, & the moly Meetings are desired to pay their several Proportions as soon as they well can to Joshua Pusey or some other of the Friends that have the Oversight of the Work."
Diary of Richard Barnard, 10-19-1775:
"at London Grove raising addition to meeting house."
The erection of the present building having been pretty fully set forth in the address of Davis H. Forsythe, it will not be repeated here.
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Attenders of Marlborough Meeting
The following persons are believed to have been attenders of the meeting at the house of John Smith, in East Marlborough, and the men's names appear in the tax lists of 1715, the earliest list preserved, unless otherwise indicated. They were also in London Grove Township (although this name does not appear till 1724,) unless Marlborough is stated. The latter township was divided in 1729 into East and West Marlborough.
JOIIN RENFROW or RENTFROW is said by tradition to have been one of the first settlers. His name does not appear in the meeting records, but a Mary Rentfroe, probably his wife, was appointed on a committee in 1722, and Susanna Renfrow "passed meeting" with James Cole 10-12-1719, but for some reason not given the marriage did not follow.
JOHN S'MITH, at Chester Monthly Meeting, 3-25-1713, "informs he is likely to Inhabit within the presincks of Newark Monthly Meeting" and requests a certificate. One was signed for himself and wife at the next meeting, 4-29-1713. They settled in E. Marlborough, as already stated.
FRANCIS SWAYNE and family came from England in 1710, and settled then or soon after in E. Marlborough.
THOMAS JACKSON, wife Ann and children, came from Ireland in 1713. He died in W. Marlborough about 1756.
JOHN FINCHER, with 2d wife Elinor, widow of Peter Cook, and their children by former marriages, removed by certificate from Chester Mo. Mtg. dated 3-28-1716.
JOHN ALLEN produced a certificate from Ireland 2-3-1714, and in 1719 married Amy Cox.
STEPHEN ALLES married about 1714, Mary Bowater, of Chester Mo. Meeting, from which she had a certificate some years later. Their children were members.
RICHARD TRANTOR brought a certificate from Concord, dated 4-13-1715, for self and wife, Elizabeth Dicks, whom he married 10-2-1714.
SHADRACH SCARLET and wife, Phebe Bowater, married at Concord about 5th Mo. 1717 and located in London Grove, but their certificate from Concord was dated 10-7-1719.
CALEB PUSEY, JR., married 9-5-1712, at Chester Meeting, Prudence Carter, daughter of Robert and Lydia Carter of Aston township, and they received a cer- tificate of removal 6-30-1714, but had doubtless settled in E. Marlborough at their marriage.
WILLIAM PUSEY married at Middletown Meeting, 9-5-1707, Elizabeth Bowater, and they received a certificate of removal 10-26-1715. He purchased 350 acres of land in London Grove, of which he sold 150 acres to Shadrach Scarlet.
CALEB PUSEY, SR., being removed from Chester, requested a certificate for himself and wife, which was granted 9-25-1717, and settled in E. Marlborough.
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ROBERT CARTER, son of Edward Carter, from Aston in the parish of Bampton, Oxfordshire, Eng., married in 1688, Lydia Walley, supposed niece of Robert Wade or his wife, and settled in Aston township. He was an active member of Concord Mo. Mtg., and of Chichester Meeting, but in 1708 changed his attendance to Chester Meeting. Several years later an estrangement arose between him and others of the meeting and he was disowned. He was taxed in Marlborough, 1718, and on 4-11-1720, his wife and daughter Mary produced a certificate from Chester to New Garden Mo. Mtg. Mary was married to Thomas Harlan about the 7th Mo. 1720, probably at the Marlborough Meeting, but the certificate does not appear to have been recorded.
WILLIAM WEBSTER was taxed in Marlborough in 1718, but was a member of Kennet Meeting. In 1721 he married Sarah James, doubtless at Marlborough Meeting, of which she was a member, and in 1721 he brought his certificate thereto.
JOSEPHI PENNOCK, as a small child, doubtless accompanied his parents to Pennsylvania about 1683. but his mother, Mary Pennock, becoming dissatisfied, returned to Ireland, taking her children, and was not again in this country. After the death of Christopher Pennock his son Joseph came over to look after his estate, which consisted of several thousand acres of land, some of which had been located and more remained to be surveyed. His membership, if anywhere, was in Ireland, and he did not ally himself for some time with Friends in Pennsylvania except by marriage to Mary Levis, and this was not by approval of Friends' Meeting. As he had large tracts of land at different places it is somewhat difficult to identify his residence for several years. From 1715 till the end of his life he was taxed in Marlborough.
At New Garden Mo. Mtg., 9-21-1721: "Joseph Penack offered a paper to this meeting Condemning his outgoing in time past from truth & Friends & also signifying his desire to come nearer to friends, which this meeting accepts of."
He and his family were doubtless attenders at the meeting in Marlborough for some time before this and were considered members thereof then, and thereafter of the one at London Grove.
JONATHAN FINCHER, taxed 1719, son of John and Martha (Taylor) Fincher, married Deborah Dicks, 4-29-1726.
JOHN COOK, taxed in 1718; born 7-2-1696, at Tarvin in Cheshire, son of Peter and Elinor (Norman) Cook: married 10th Mo. 1718, to Elinor Langdale, and brought a certificate from Chester 2-11-1719.
PETER COOK, taxed 1720, born 10-4-1700; brother of John; his mother, Elinor, now wife of John Fincher: married Sarah Gilpin in 1730.
JOHN JACKSON, taxed 1719; son of Ephraim and Rachel Jackson of Edgmont ; brought certificate from Chester, dated 2-27-1719: married in 1719 Jane Swayne, daughter of Francis Swayne.
JOSEPH JACKSON, brother of John, taxed 1722; brought certificate from Chester, dated 9-26-1722; married Hannah Pennell 8-18-1722.
WILLIAM CHANDLER, taxed 1720; married Christ Church, Philadelphia, 7-10- 1712, Ann Bowater, daughter of John and Frances, and sister to Mary Ailes,
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Elizabeth Pusey and Phebe Scarlet, above mentioned. She produced a certificate from Concord, dated 10-3-1722, and he appears to have been admitted to membership without minute.
HENRY TREVILLER (now Travilla), taxed in Marlborough 1720, but purchased land in London Grove later; son of Katharine Treviller, a widow who came over in 1699, with several children: married 9th Mo. 1720, under care of Kennet Mo. Mtg., Mary James, but does not appear otherwise as a member : died 1726.
RICHARD Cox, taxed 1720; married Elizabeth Scarlet of Chichester, 1726; probably 2d wife.
JOHN HOLTON, taxed 1721 ; said to have come from London ; married Elizabeth Brooks 1722.
ALEXANDER UNDERWOOD, taxed in 1721; said to have been born in Maryland, 1688; married Jane Harry ; removed later to York County.
SAMUEL BEVERLY, taxed in Marlborough, 1724; produced certificate from Ballynacree, Ireland, 12-9-1722-3, with wife Jenatt and children.
ROBERT LAMBORN, taxed 1722; son of Josiah and Ann Lamborn of Berkshire, Eng .; married Sarah Swayne; died 11-22-1775. :
THOMAS SPEAKMAN, taxed 1720; from Reading in Berkshire, Eng., 1712; married Ann Harry, 1714, and settled first in Kennet.
JOHN WICKERSHAM, taxed 1722; son of Thomas and Ann, from Bolney in Sussex, Eng .; brought certificate from Kennet, dated 8-5-1723; married 1-27-1723, Jane Thatcher.
JOSEPH TAYLOR, taxed in Marlborough, 1724; certificate from Chester, with wife, Mary Maris; married 9-29-1722, at Springfield.
Title Deeds of London Grove Meeting
14th of 3d Mo. 1722: Tobias Collett & Co. to John Smith, Joseph Pennock, Cakb Pusey Jr., and William Swain of Marlborough, and John Cook of London Tract, for 10 acres of land, beginning at a corner of land of Joseph Pennock ; thence South 40 perches, West 40 perches, North 40 perches and East 40 perches to place of beginning.
Articles of Agreement, 3d of 4th Mo. 1724, between Henry Travilla, Joseph Pennock, John Smith, William Swain and John Cook, for the sale and purchase of ten acres of land.
Deed dated 26th of May, 1732 :- William Levis of Kennet, Malster, and Joseph James of Easttown Township, yeoman, Executors of Henry Traviller late of Marlborough, to Joseph Pennock and others (trustees of London Grove Meet- ing), for ten acres of land in London Grove. This recites a deed from Samnel Bonham, Samuel Turner and John Midford, all of London, merchants, surviving feoffees of the Pennsylvania I and Company in London, to Henry Traviller for 72 acres in London Grove, part of 16,500 acres; who by will dated 9th Dec. 1725, appointed William Levis and Joseph James to be his executors. The ten acres begin at the south corner of the land of Henry Treviller, purchased from the London Company, thence N. 40 perches to a stone; W. 40 per. to a stone;
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S. 40 per. to a stone, and E. 40 per. to the place of beginning. (No mention is , made in this conveyance about its proximity to the former purchase from Tobias Collett and others, but it was immediately north of the latter.)
Deed-Book H., p. 201.
This was followed by a "Declaration of Trust," signed by the trustees, explain- ing that they held the property in trust for the use of the meeting. They had also executed a similar document in 1723, for the first purchase.
At New Garden Monthly Meeting, 6-1-1782: "London Grove preparative meeting reports the friends to whom the Land on which their meeting house stands was conveyed in Trust are all Deceased, & that that meeting has appointed Joshua Pusey, Joseph Richardson, Caleb Swayne, Jeremiah Barnard, Jur, & Thomas Wood to succeed them therein, desiring their names may be entered upon the records of this meeting as such, which is agreed to."
Neglect to renew the trust while some one of the trustees was yet living required releases from the heirs of the last survivor.
Decd dated 22d of 12th Mo. 1783: Joseph Pennock of East Marlborough, yeoman, and Phebe his wife, Levis Pennock of West Marlborough and Ruth his wife, sons and residuary legatees of Joseph Pennock late of West Marlborough ; William Pennock of East Marlborough, cartwright, and wife Mary, Caleb Pennock of East Marlborough, cartwright, and Ann his wife, Samuel Pennock of East Marlborough, wheelwright, and Mary his wife, Joshua Pennock of Chester Co., Taylor,-the four youngest children of William Pennock, deceased, of East Marl- borough, and grandchildren of Joseph Pennock, deceased; Joseph Pennock the younger of West Marlborough, yeoman, and wife Mary, Samuel Pennock the younger of West Marlborough, yeoman, and William Pennock the younger of same,-sons and residuary legatees of Nathaniel Pennock, deceased, of West Marlborough, son of Joseph Pennock, deceased,-To Joshua Pusey, Joseph Richard- son, Caleb Swayne, Jeremiah Barnard Junr, and Thomas Wood, all of Chester County.
This recites the conveyance from Tobias Collet and others to former trustees, as recorded in deed-book E., p. 69. Also deed from the executors of Henry Traviller to same trustees for the 2d tract of ten acres, as recorded in deed-book H., p. 201. Each tract is separately described without indicating their connection.
Deed-Book Y. p. 38.
A declaration of trust follows the above.
A renewal of trust was made by the assignment of Thomas Wood's interest, 2d of 3d Mo. 1807, to Caleb Swayne and Jeremiah Barnard, and of Joseph Rich- ardson's, Caleb Swayne's and Jeremiah Barnard's, 17th of 2d Mo. 1808, to Joseph L. Pennock, Samuel Swayne Jr., Francis Wilkinson Jr., Joseph Pusey and William Swayne.
Again, 5-27-1833, by Francis Wilkinson and others to Thomas Hicks and others. By Thomas Hicks and others, 9-26-1864, to Eli Thompson and others.
It is believed that all the title papers complete are with the other records in the safe.
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THE FIRST TRUSTEES
John Smith
Was the son of Eliezer Smith of Dartmouth, Mass., who married Aug. 12, 1680, Ruth Sprague. They had children, John, born June 23, 1681, Eliphal, Thomas, Rebeccah, James, Desire and Joseph. Ruth Sprague, born Feb. 12, 1659, was the daughter of John Sprague of Duxbury, who married in 1655 Ruth, daughter of William Bassett.
John Smith was married first to Ann Pusey, as has been stated. After her death he married 6-6-1728, at London Grove Meeting, Dorothy Windle, who is believed to have come from Ireland. By the first he had Lydia, and by the last Anne, John, Ruth, Thomas and Sarah.
Joseph Pennock
The second named in the deed of trust was born in Ireland 11-18-1677, and died in West Marlborough 3-27-1771. He was married May 3, 1703, at the house of Samuel Levis, in Springfield Township, (now) Delaware Co., Pa., to Mary Levis.
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