USA > Pennsylvania > Welsh settlement of Pennsylvania > Part 11
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Robert Owen, Jr., who, with his brother, Evan, was ad- mitted a freeman of Philadelphia in 1717, was b. 27. 7mo. 1695, and d. about 1730. He m. at the Philadelphia Monthly Meeting 11. 10mo. 1716-17, (sixty-one Friends signed their certificate), Susanna Hudson, (she m. secondly, John Burr, of Burlington, and d. 4. 3mo. 1757), daughter of William Hudson, mayor of Philadelphia, 1726 (by his first wife, Mary, daughter of Samuel Richardson, a provincial council- lor), and had three children. Of these, Hannah Owen, 1720- 1791, (will proved), m. first, 23. 8mo. 1740, at Arch Street Meeting, Philadelphia, John_Ogden, widower, of Philadel- phia, d. 6 Feb. 1742, will dated 31 Jan. proved 12 Feb. 1742, and had William Ogden,* d. in Camden, N. J., 13. May, 1818,
*See "Owen of Merion," Pen. Mag. vol. XIII, Glenn's "Merion in .the Welsh Tract," Browning's "Colonial Dames of Royal Descent," Pedigree XXXVII, Browning's "Americans of Royal Descent, 4th edition, pp. 592-596, and Browning's "Magna Charta Barons and their American Descendants," pp. 373-380.
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aged 77 years ; m. first, 1. 11mo. 1769, Marie Pinniard, and had by her, who d. 14. 7mo. 1775, Hannah, 1770-1827, who m. first at Christ Church, Philadelphia, 10 April, 1795, Capt. William Duer, drowned in 1800-1, and had Mary Ann, m. 5 May, 1825, Lewis W. Glenn, and had Edward, late of Ard- more, Pa., deceased, who m. secondly, Sarah Catherine Allen, and had Thomas Allen Glenn, author of "Merion in the Welsh Tract." Hannah Owen m. secondly, in 1754, his second wife, Joseph Wharton," of "Walnut Grove," in Southwark, Philadelphia Co., d. 1776, and had issue.
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Rebecca Owen, b. 14. 1mo. 1697; buried at the Merion Meeting House, on 21. 9mo. 1697, surviving her mother only one month.
The aforesaid Robert Owen should not be confounded with a contemporary Welshman of the same name. This other Robert Owen, of Dolserau, came over in the ship Vine, of Liverpool, sailing from Dolyserre, near Dolgules, Merion- eth, with his wife, Jane, son Lewis, and a servant boy and four maid servants, and arrived at Philadelphia in Sep. 1684. He had been a Justice of the Peace at Dolserau, near Dolgelly, (and near Bala), where he was incarcerated five years in the jail because he was a Quaker. He had been the Governor of Beaumaris, and became a Quaker about 1660. When he came over here, he settled on Duck Creek, in New Castle Co., where his son, Edward Owen, who had come over earlier, in Hugh Roberts's party, in Nov. 1683, was then settled. Both Robert Owen and Jane, his wife, died in the next year. They had altogether nine sons, and all were of age before 1684. Their son Lewis Owen returned to Wales to reside, but their son Dr. Griffith Owen, who bought his brother Edward Owen's land, in the Thomas & Jones tract, Merion, remained here, and became prom- inent in the Province. The mother of this large family, was Jane, daughter of Robert Vaughan, of Heng Wert, or
*See Pa. Mag. Vol. II, "Wharton Family."
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Hendri Mawr, near Bala, and of Nannau, Merionethshire, and a relative of the John ap Thomas family.
The late Dr. Levick recorded that the Pensylvania histo- rian, Dr. George Smith, was a descendant of the Merion settlers, Dr. Edward Jones, and Dr. Wynne, and also of "Robert and Jane Owen, that brave pair, who, whether as lord and lady of Beaumaris Castle, or for conscience sake, within the gates of Dolgelly jail, commanded the admiration and respect of all about them."
In the ship Vine, of Liverpool, William Preeson master, which sailed from Dolyserre, and arrived at Philadelphia on 17. 7mo. 1684, there were, besides Rees John William, or Rees Jones, one of the purchasers of "Thomas & Jones," or "Company No. 1," and the aforesaid Robert Owen and Jeane, his wife, the following other passengers :
David Davis, and his sister Katharine, and her daughter, Mary Tidey, and one man servant, named Charles Hughes, who had three years to serve. They were from Denbigh- shire.
Hugh Harris, and Daniel Harris. They were from Mac- chinleth, or Manhinteth, in Montgomeryshire, as were also the following :
John Richards, Susan, his wife, and daughters Hannah and Bridget, and one servant, named Susan Griffith, to serve six years.
Margaret, the wife of Alexander Edwards, and her daugh- ters, Margaret and Martha, and two sons, Alexander and Thomas.
Rees Prees, and wife Ann, and daughters Mary, Sarah and Phebe, and two sons, Richard and John. From Rad- norshire. ·
Jane Evans, widow, and four daughters, Mary, Alice, Sarah and Elizabeth, and a man servant, named Joseph.
Anne Jones, and her daughter, Ann Jones. From Car- marthenshire.
Griffith Owen, (the physician), his wife Sarah, and chil- dren, and servants, from Prescoe, in Lancashire.
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1
1
Lancaster 2).
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MERION
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Suvest
7
Trener
R. Jonge
a Bailart.
& Sfacciaman
FUND
Humphrey
+ Petros
Furry
+ Egeorge.
.
RODS 7
Williamit
Thomas Harford Road
*
Martin
SINKA
(8por. I 1 inch)
A SECTION OF SCULL & HEAP'S MAP, 1750
+
+ WYNNE
Hughes *
JOHN BEVAN'S LAND PATENT
Company No. 3 .- The deeds to grantees, who all resided in Glamorganshire, under the patent for 2,000 acres to John ab Evan, yeoman, (or John Bevan), of Trefyrliig, or Trevorrigge, Llantrissent parish, Glamorganshire, were dated after 16 Sept. 1681, and the grantees were, in part, as follows:
Charles ab Evan, (Bevan), of Trevorrigg, and Llantwit Vardre parish, Glamorganshire, brother to John.
John Richard, of Trevorrigg, tailor.
Elizabeth Prichard and Katharine Prichard, of Telcha, Llantrissent, spinsters, whose deed for 250 acres, dated 8 May 1682, was witnessed by Barbara Awbrey, John ab Evan, Jun'r, Evan John, and John Richard.
Matthew Jones, of Carmarthen, Carmarthenshire, Mer- cer, whose decd, dated 1 Aug. 1682, for 125 acres, was wit- nessed by Will Broadber, Ch Evans, Ebenezer David, and Jane Miller.
David Jones, of Carmarthen town.
Ralph Lewis, of Eglwysilan.
Eventually John Bevan bought back the lands taken by John Richard, and the Prichards, and Ralph Lewis.
The Commissioners' minutes relating to Welsh purchas- ers, however, give the following details. After getting deeds for their grant from Penn in Sept. 1681, John and Charles Bevan had laid out to themselves, 980 acres, in three tracts, 750 acres in Marple tp., and 170 and 60 acres in Haverford tp., on warrants, dated 23. 5mo. 1688. By deed of 1 March, 1698, Charles Bevan conveyed all his rights to his brother, John Bevan. Shortly, John sold the 170 acres in Haverford to Evan Williams, and to John Hayes, 275 acres of the
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Marple tract, and his "liberty land" to Benjamin Chambers, of Philadelphia, and then had 535 acres left. He then bought, in 1697, 250 acres in Haverford, the purchase of Katherine and Elizabeth Prichard, or Prichit (ap Richard), and about 200 acres in Haverford which he had sold to John Richard, from said John's heir, Lewis Richard, or Richards, in Haverford, and 1681/2 acres also in Haverford, from "William Howel, and his wife, Mary, relict and administra- tor of Evan Thomas, who by deed, dated 10 May, 1683, pur- chased 250 acres of Lewis David." This gave John Bevan three tracts in Haverford tp., or in all 678 acres there, this, with his balance of 475 acres in Marple tp., made him holder of 1,153 acres in Haverford and Marple tps., at one time,- when he sold to the Welsh.
By deed of 16. 5mo. 1684, John Bevan bought of Thomas Wynne 300 acres in Merion, at Wynnewood, which was confirmed to him by patent from the Commissioners, dated 9. 5mo. 1688, and then owned 1,453 acres.
The brothers, Ralph Lewis and William Lewis, relatives of John Bevan, came with their families from Eglwysilan, in Glamorganshire.
Ralph Lewis came over with Mr. Bevan, in 1683, having bought from him 250 acres, which were laid out in Haver- ford, next to the land of Thomas Rees. He sold part of it back to Mr. Bevan, and a part to David Lewis. He had several children by his wife, Mary. Hugh David, of Hav- erford, in his will, signed 27 April 1709, present Daniel Law- rence, Thomas James, Robert Jones, and Henry Lawrence, proved by wife Martha, 9 June, 1709, names children David, Ruth, Mary, Jonathan, Caleb, and Samuel, and to be over- seers, father-in-law, Ralph Lewis, cousins David Lewis and William Lewis, and Lewis David.
William Lewis, the other brother, arrived in Philadelphia on 11. 5mo. 1686. He purchased, by deed dated 13. 10mo. 1692, a plantation of 120 acres, adjoining his brother Ralph's land, but which had been a portion of the Lewis David
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("Company No. 5") tract of 3,000 acres. It lay in Haver- ford, to the south of the present settlement of Wynnewood, and near the old Haverford Road. Subsequently, he bought 50 acres in Radnor, and, by deed, 10. 10. 1698, he bought 300 acres in New Town tp., Chester Co.
William Lewis died in New Town, 9. 12mo. 1707-8. His will, signed 16 Jan. 1707-8, was proved at Philadelphia 12 March following. He had five children by his wife, Ann, namely: David, Lewis, Evan, William and Nathan Lewis, whose son Levi had a son Jesse, father of Levi Lewis, who was a practical farmer in Radnor tp. The latter's son, Tryon Lewis, born in 1839, was of the fourth generation of sons only born at the old Lewis home, and his daughter, Lydia T., was the first girl child born in this branch of the family in five generations.
William Lewis's son, David Lewis, was the father of Amos, who owned the farm near Bryn Mawr, purchased by the late George W. Childs, of Philadelphia, for a country seat. The will of David Lewis, of Haverford, signed 9 Sep. 1723, in the presence of Richard Hayes, John Parry, and John Jones, was proved 23 Sept. 1723, by wife Ann and eld- est son William, executors. Other children named, James, Edmond, Amos, Enoch, Elizabeth and Ellen Ann. "To the Quaker Meeting at Haveford." Brothers Lewis, Evan, and William Lewis, and Robert Jones to assist the executors.
The wills of the other two men, in Haverford, having his name, give the following data. "David Lewis, late of Landewi, Pembroke, now of Haverford," marked in the presence of Abraham Hardiman, David Lawrence, and David Lloyd, 26. 3mo. 1697; will proved 22 Jan. 1708. Ap- points son James Lewis executor, names son-in-law Pere- grine Lewis, and his three children. Codicil 26 Feb. 1707, witnessed by John Maris and David Jones. The will of the other "David Lewis, of Haverford, yeoman," marked 24. 1mo. 1714-5, in the presence of Lewis David (marked), Henry Lewis, Richard Hayes, and Henry Lawrence, proved
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28 Jan. 1715, by wife Katherine. Children, Joseph, Sus- anna, Hannah, James, and Sarah Lewis. Trustees, Lewis David, of Darby, Richard Hayes, Henry and Daniel Law- rence all of Haverford.
JOHN BEVAN, or John ab Evan, who was the trustee for this small company of settlers, was one of the early con- verts to Quakerism, and became an accepted minister among Friends. He apparently was a well educated man, and belonged to the landed gentry of Wales. He was the son of Evan ap John Evan, of Treverigg, Llantrisant parish, in Glamorganshire, and his wife, Jane, daughter of Rich- ard ap Evan, of Collena, in the same parish.
He and his first wife, Barbara, and their children, "their tender family," and some other relatives, removed to Pensyl- vania, coming over in the ship "Morning Star," with Hugh Roberts and party bound for the Thomas and Jones land, arrived at Philadelphia in Nov. 1683. He and his wife brought the usual certificates of membership and removal from the Treverigg Friends' Meeting, and the Men's Meet- ing of Cardiff and Trefrig, dated 10. 7mo. 1683. Among the many signers, William Lewis; Howell, William, Watkins, and James Thomas; Thomas, Edward, Jenkin, and Mireck Howell, John David, John Mays, and his uncle, (his mother's brother), Thomas Richard (or Prichard) ap Evan, of Col- lena, for whose daughters, Elizabeth and Catherine, John Bevan bought some Haverford land, which he bought back from them as above.
John Bevan left a copy (still extant) of the written account of himself and family, which, at the request of the Merion Preparative Meeting, or the Haverford Mo. Mtg. he had filed with it in 1704, beginning :- "Sometime before the year 1683, we had heard that our esteemed friend, William Penn, had a patent from King Charles the Second for that Province in America, called Pencilvania, and my wife had a great intention to go thither, and thought it might be a good place to train up children amongst sober
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people, and to prevent the corruption of them here, .... She acquainted me therewith, but I then thought it not likely to take effect, for several reasons." It further tells how he found the way clear to remove; of his voyage; of his experience here; of his travels as a minister into New England, in 1701; and of his final return to his home in Wales in 1704, with his second wife and young daughter, Barbara, as "the aim intended by my wife was in a good measure answered," where they lived the balance of their lives.
Though he lived here, off and on, only about twenty years, or till in 1704, John Bevan was a prominent man of affairs in the Welsh tract. He was chosen one of their representa- tives, in the Provincial Assembly, by the Welsh, in the years of 1687, 1693, and 1700, and was appointed a justice in Haverford tp., Philadelphia Co., in 1685, and for the same in Chester Co., in 1689.
He visited Wales on private matters, in 1694-5, and mar- ried his second wife. An extant letter, dated 29. 2mo. 1695, from Rees Thomas, of Merion to his father-in-law, William Awbrey, says "my unkle John Bevan came over very well, and a good voyage he had." In 1698, he went to his old home again, where he still owned property, and in 1704, went there to remain, as the Quakers were no longer persecuted in Wales, and there was too much unpleasantness in Penn's country.
After John Bevan had made several sales in right to these 2,000 acres he bought from Penn, as explained above, he had remaining, besides 25 acres of the liberty land that went with his purchase, for which he had warrant dated 5. 8mo. 1702, the farm of 300 acres in Merion, and 90 acres adjoining, located in Haverford, constituted his homestead here. This land lay to the south of the present Wynne- wood R. R. station, and South of the modern Lancaster Ave., across the old "Haverford Street," and along the lines of
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Haverford tp., and of the present Philadelphia Co. Some of this tract belonged to his descendants for about one hun- dred years,-not after 1810.
John Bevan lived to be about 80 years old, and died at his home, called "Treveyrig," or Treverigg, where he resided after his final return in 1704. His will, dated 1mo. 1724-5, was a very long, and full one, and was witnessed by his brother, Charles Bevan, and was proved at Llandaff Regis- try, in Glamorganshire, 21 Oct. 1726. Charles Bevan, Wil- liam Awbrey, of Pencoed, and others, named as the over- seers.
To his grandson, John Bevan, he bequeathed his mes- suage, called "Treveyrig," and a gristmill on this property, and mentions said John's children, his own great-grandehil- dren, to wit, Richard, Thomas, and Barbara Bevan. He mentioned his 90 acres in Haverford, and his 300 acres in Merion, and two other pieces of land that he had given to his son Evan Bevan.
John Bevan, when a young man, married Barbara, daugh- ter of William Awbrey, of Pencoed, or Pencoyd. She came over with him in 1683, and they returned to the old home in 1704, as he relates in his journal, as follows: "We landed at Shields in Northumberland, and staid over the meeting on first-day, next day we set forward toward our habitation in Wales, having near 300 miles to travel. We had several good meetings in our way, and about the beginning of the Eighth month, 1704, we came to our home at Treveyricke." Telling of his wife's last illness six years later, "in her last sickness she was sensible, she was not likely to recover out of it, she said, 'I take it as a great mercy that I am to go before thee, we are upwards of forty-five years married, and our love is rather more now towards one another than at the be- ginning,' she quietly departed this life the 26th of the Elev- enth month, 1710, aged 73 years, and about 4 months." It has been said that he had two wives, both named Barbara,
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but this wife was certainly the wife of his youth, as they were married in 1665, he being only 19 and she 28 years old. Of their children:
John Bevan, the eldest. He came to Pensylvania with his parents. He may have been the bachelor of this name, buried at the Merion Meeting 11mo. 13. 1715-6. It is also supposed that he returned to "Treveyrig" with his father, married and died there, before his father, having a son Jolin, who was a gentleman farmer and miller, enjoying the land of his inheritance, and whose children in 1724 were, (named in will of John Bevan, 1725), Richard, Thomas, and Bar- bara. The father of these children is also placed as a son of Evan, named below.
Jane Bevan, b. about 1667, d. 12. 10mo. 1703; m. at the home of William Howell, in Haverford, 1. 10mo. 1687, John Wood, of Darby, a member of Pensylvania Assembly 1704- 1717, a son of George Wood, a J. P., and Assemblyman, 1682-1683, and had seven children, A descendant is John W. Jordan, LL.D., of Philadelphia.
Evan Bevan, from whom all of this surname in Merion descended, was born about 1672. He visited his father at "Treveyrig," and from the Friends' Meeting there brought his certificate, dated 10. 5mo. 1707. He m. at the Darby Monthly Meeting, on 9. 11mo. 1693, Eleanor Wood, who ad- ministered on Evan's estate, 13 Aug. 1720, and had eight children. She was a minister among Friends, and d. 28. 11. 1744, and was buried at the Haverford Meeting House.
Evan Bevan resided on his father's Merion land, and died intestate before his father. His father bequeathed his Merion-Haverford plantation to his daughter-in-law in trust for his grandson, Evan Bevan, Jr., 1698-1746, and should he not live to enjoy it, then it was to go to Awbrey Bevan, 1705-1761, or Charles Bevan, other grandchildren of the testator, children of this Evan Bevan. Evan Bevan, Jr., was the father of Charles, who inherited the home farm,
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WELSH SETTLEMENT OF PENSYLVANIA
but generally resided in Philadelphia. His estate was ad- ministercd in Jan. 1800, his wife dead, and two children minors. One of these, Charles, Jr., m. Mary Lippincott, and died intestate, in 1809, in Merion, also leaving two children minors, named John L. and Henry C., who inher- ited the John Bevan property.
Ann Bevan, b. about 1676-7; m. at the Merion Meeting, 23. 1mo. 1696-7, Owen Roberts, of Merion, (son of the Friends' minister, Hugh Roberts), and had six children.
Elizabeth Bevan, b. about 1678; d. 1739; m. at Merion Meeting 30. 4mo. 1696, Joseph Richardson, d. 1752, son of Samuel Richardson, a Provincial Councillor, and had eight children. Descendants were Mrs. Arthur D. Cross, of San Francisco, and Judge Samuel W. Pennypacker, of Phila- delphia, former Governor of Pensylvania.
Barbara Bevan, b. in Pensylvania 5. 7mo. 1696. "She was the only child by his second wife," and went to Wales with her parents in 1704, where she m. William Musgrove.
Charles Bevan, of Lantwit Vardre, had a son Evan Be- van, or "Evan Bevan alias Jeuans," as he signed his name, porn in 1678, educated at Oxford, and became a lawyer, and a minister and elder among Friends, and d. in 1745. Testi- mony as to his good character made in the Monmouthshire Meeting, 17. 2mo. 1746. (See Memoir of him in the "Friends' Library," vol. XIII.) *
* The following item concerns another branch of this family.
A Mrs. Catherine Bevan was sentenced by the Court of New Castle Co. (Delaware), to be burned alive at New Castle, in 1731, for the murder of her husband. It was the intention of the kind-hearted sheriff to hang her by the neck over the pile of fagots, in the hope she would strangle to death before being burned. But some accident happened to the rope-it broke, slipped, or was cut, after the fire was well under way, when she dropped, bound hand and foot, into the blaze. Struggling to free herself from her bindings, she nearly escaped from the pyre, a'nd had to be pushed back into the flames, and held there by the sheriff and the crowd, while she died a lingering and horrible death, in conformity with the sentence of the Court.
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REES THOMAS, who came over with John Bevan, in 1683, was then a young and unmarried man. Nothing certain is known of his ancestry, but it is presumed he had lived in Glamorganshire, and was a relative of Mr. Bevan. In time, he became a prominent man in the Welsh Tract, a justice of the peace, and an Assemblyman, and a successful farmer.
About two months after his marriage, he bought his first land, some 300 acres in Merion, from Sarah, the relict and widow of John Eckley, by deed dated 15. 6mo. 1692, which land adjoined that of Ellis Hugh, of Merion. Later, he bought 170 acres adjoining this first purchase, from Ed- ward Prichard. These two tracts of land lay about where the village of Rosemont stands, and north and west of the P. R. R. station. From the Land Commissioners' minutes, it appears that "Rees Thomas, of Haverford," by deed dated 4 May, 1713, acquired 500 acres, with the usual bonus of a city lot, and liberty land, from John Clark, of Devizes, Wilt- shire, and on 12. 1mo. 1715, he desired warrant of survey to lay out this claim, but it is not evident that this was granted, or that he entered upon this land.
About this time, Rees Thomas and Anthony Morris, Jr., bought from William Awbrey, of London, (a relative of Rees's wife), executor to Richard Whitpain, the right of Whitpain to 7,000 acres "in the country," city lots and liberty land. This tract lay in West Town, Chester Co., in the "Welsh Tract," of that county, a distinct purchase from that of which I write. In 1717, when they applied to have this land laid out to them, they had considerable trouble over it with the relict and heirs of Whitpain, and had to · compromise, and on 30. 3mo. 1718, received warrant of survey for only a part, but subsequently were allowed an- other selection, and had 2,000 acres in Chester Co., and 4,500 acres in Philadelphia Co., and for all this land, they asked for a re-survey, 19. 3mo. 1726.
There is a copy of the following note from James Steel, who was one of the great land-grabbers of the time in the
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Lower Counties (Delaware). It is dated 17. 9mo. 1722, "To Rees Thomas, upon his brother's illness: I hereby cer- tify that I did agree with Rees Thomas, on behalf of his brother, William Thomas, for 200 acres of land in Radnor, formerly held by Rees Prees on Rent." The purchase price was £40 for the whole, in consideration that William Thomas also purchase the right in the land of Rees Thomas.
Rees ; homas's will, signed 10 Sept. 1742, was proved 12 Feb. 1742-3. He left the homestead farm, and 200 acres of the "Rosemont" land, bought of Eckley, to his son Rees, and the other tract there to son William.
Rees Thomas married at the Haverford Meeting, 18. 4mo. 1692, Martha Awbrey, who also came over in Mr. Bevan's party, in 1683. She died 7. 12mo. 1726. She was one of the ten children of William Awbrey, who was buried at Llanelyw parish church, in Brecknock, in 1716, aged 90 years, and his wife, and cousin, Elizabeth, a daughter of William Awbrey, eldest son of Thomas Awbrey, gent., of Llanslyw.
In an extant letter, dated 29. 2mo. 1695, Rees Thomas and his wife wrote a joint letter to her father in Wales, tell- ing him about their two children, their farm life, and asked the date of Martha's birth. Mr. Thomas concluded with :- "I doe understand yt thou were not well pleased yt my oldest son was not caled an Aubrey. I will answer thee I was not against it, but my neibors wood have him be caled my name, being [as] I brought ye Land and I so beloved amongst them, I doe admite to what thee sayes in thy letter yt an Aubrey was better known than I, though I am hear very well acquainted with most in these parts. He is ye first Aubrey in Pensilvania and a stout boy he is of his age being now a quarter."
Of the six children of Rees and Martha Thomas :-
Rees Thomas, Jr., b. 22. 2mo. 1693, who is referred to in the above letter. He m. Elizabeth, daughter of Dr. Edward Jones, of Merion.
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Awbrey Thomas, b. 30. 11mo. 1694, d. s. p. He m. Gu- leima, only daughter of William Penn, the younger. His mother was a sister of William Awbrey, the son-in-law of William Penn, the Founder. .
Herbert Thomas, b. 3. 9mo. 1696, d. s. p. He m. Mary, daughter of John Havard .*
William Thomas, who died at "Rosemont" before 1787. He married and had seven children.
*In the will of Lewis John, of Haverford, signed 2. 9mo. 1704, in the presence of Nathan Thomas, John Havard, William Sinkler (marked), and David Powell, proved by wife, Elizabeth, and daugh- ter, Margaret Lewis, the executors, 2 Dec. 1704, he mentions daughter, Elizabeth, wife of John Rees, and "my kinsmen John Havard and Nathan Thomas."
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