750 - HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA places, and in 1877 accepted her present situation. She is an enthusiast in her chosen vocation, in which she also ranks as an author, as will be seen under the chapter on Bibliography, pp. 324-5. URNER, ISAAC N.-The Urner family came originally from canton Uri, in Switzerland, as the name implies, the inhabitants of canton Uri being called Urners, as all who read Schiller's " Wilhelm Tell" know. Three brothers, John, Martin, and Jacob, sons of Uriah Urner, came from the province of Alsace, having been driven out of Switzerland by the persecutions of 1672 and later. They probably came over about 1708, as the Colonial Records show them to have been here in 1712. John died unmarried in 1743, and was the first person buried in the Brethren graveyard of Coventry. Martin Urner and his wife were two of the first six persons ever baptized by the Brethren in this country, in the Wissahickon, at Philadelphia, in 1723. In 1724 he moved to Coventry, in this county, organized the Coventry Church of the Brethren, over which he presided as preacher and bishop until the time of his death, in 1755, and was buried in the Coventry graveyard. His descendants are now found in Nottingham Co., Va., as well as in the States of Missouri and New York. The third brother, Jacob, settled originally in Pottsgrove township, near Ringing Hill, in Mongtomery County. He died young, in 1744, his wife, Ann, surviving him, with three children, viz. : Elizabeth Urner, married to Jacob Frick ; Hester, married to Ulrich Switzer ; and Martin, married to Barbara Switzer. This Martin Urner bought the farm of his uncle Martin Urner at the latter's death, which had been purchased by the first Martin Urner in 1718 of the Penns. This farm, of over 400 acres at the time of its purchase from the Penns, now called " Belwood," is now owned by the wife of the subject of this sketch, and has never been out of his family and that of his wife, the property being held from 1718 to 1811 by the Urners, and from 1811 to the time of purchase by the present owner by the Stovers, grandfather and uncle of Mrs. Eliza G. Urner. Martin Urner, last named, was the second preacher and bishop of the Coventry Brethren's Church from 1755 to 1799. This Martin Urner left four children, viz. : Martin, Jonas, Mary, married to David Reinhart, of Maryland ; and Elizabeth, married to Abraham Titlow, of Lancaster County. Martin, the first son, above mentioned, was born in 1762, and died in 1838. He was a farmer, and married Barbara Baugh, lived in Coventry, and left four sons, viz. : John, Daniel, Israel, and Jacob. John, the first child, was born in 1784, and died in 1827. He married first Susanna Grubb, and second Elizabeth Grubb, and his children by the second marriage were, viz. : Lydia, married to Gilbert Brower ; Isaac N. Urner. Jonas Urner, above mentioned, and son of Martin Urner (3), removed to Maryland in 1811, where many of his descendants are now living. Among them is Milton G. Urner, a member of the Forty-sixth and Forty-seventh Congresses. Daniel, Israel, and Jacob, sons of Martin Urner (3), have left numerous descendants in Pennsylvania and elsewhere. Isaac N. Urner, son of John, and grandson of Martin Urner (3), was born June 6, 1821, in North Coventry, on the old Urner homestead. He graduated at Dickinson College in 1845, and was married to Eliza Stover Grubb. He lived twenty-one years in the South, being admitted to the bar in Charleston, S. C., in 1850, but never practiced law. He was president of Mississippi College, the Baptist college of that State, for sixteen years, from 1851 to 1867. After resigning his connection with that institution, the degree of I.L.D. was conferred upon him by its trustees as a recognition of his services. To Mr. and Mrs. Urner three children have been born, viz. : Louis Grubb, born Oct. 10, 1854; Walter Hilman, born Oct. 9, 1857, and who died in infancy ; and John Rodolph, born Aug. 21, 1861. At the recent executor's sale of the late Owen Stover, deceased, the old Urner homestead, called " Belwood," was purchased by Eliza G. Urner, wife of Isaac N. Urner, and the family for several years past have lived and are now residing on the place, one of the finest and best improved farms in the county. VALENTINE, THOMAS, of Bally Brumhill, Ireland, married Mary, daughter of Thomas and Rebecca Parke, born Sept. 18, 1693. They produced a certificate from Carlow to New Garden Monthly Meeting, 2, 27, 1728, and afterwards removed to New Providence township, (now) Montgomery Co., where he died in 1747. Their children were Robert, Thomas, John, Jonathan, and perhaps others. Robert, b. 7, 21, 1717, at Bally Brumhill, d. 7, 21, 1786, m. 4, 4, 1747, at Caln Meeting, to Rachel Edge, b. 6, 29, 1725, d. 1, 31, 1779, daughter of John and Mary Edge, of Providence, Chester Co. They resided in East Caln, and were prominent members of Uwchlan Meeting. Robert became a recommended minister in 1764, and traveled considerably in that capacity, including a visit to Great Britain at the close of the Revolutionary war. Rachel Valentine was an elder in the meeting. Their children were Thomas, b. 3, 28, 1748, d. 3, 27, 1752 ; Mary, b. 7, 26, 1750, d. 3, 24, 1752 ; Robert, b. 6, 24, 1752, m. 5, 27, 1773, to Ann Bond ; Rachel, b. 10, 14, 1754, m. 2, 22, 1799, to Joseph Malin, of East Whiteland ; Jane, b. 10, 26, 1756, d. 2, 7, 1757 ; Sarah, b. 11, 14, 1757, d. 4, 7, 1758 ; Phebe, b. 6, 5, 1759, m. Abraham Sharpless ; George, b. 4, 16, 1761, d. 7, 11, 1801, m. 11, 20, 1788, Phebe Ashbridge ; Jacob, b. 10, 7, 1763 ; Susanna, b. 3, 26, 1766, m. 4, 19, 1792, to George Massey. Some of this branch removed to Bellefonte, Centre Co., and were largely interested in iron manufacture. Robert, son of Robert and Ann (Bond), married, 6, 23, 1811, Elizabeth Downing, and their daughter Anna is the wife of Jacob Edge, of Caln township. George, another son of Robert and Ann, married Mary, daughter of Jacob Downing, and their daughter is the wife of Thomas S. Downing, of East Caln. Thomas Valentine, the son of the migrants, was married by Rev. Wm. Currie, Nov. 23, 1752, to Rebecca Robinson, and died in Charlestown township in 1762. His widow married Robert Dunbar, May 19, 1768. The children of Thomas and Rebecca were Thomas, William, Mary, Rachel, and John. The last was born 11, 19, 1759, d. 1, 5, 1836, m. 10, 5, 1791, Mary Taylor, b. 9, 27, 1770, d. 4, 4, 1856, daughter of Francis and Mary Taylor. Their children, born in East Caln, were Thomas, Francis, Rebecca, Elizabeth, Esther, Emily, Joseph D., Mary, and Rachel. The family removed in 1811 to Sadsbury township. BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENE ALOGICAL - 751 Jonathan Valentine, son of Thomas and Mary, born about 1730, married, in 1755 or 1756, Lydia, daughter of John and Lydia (Pusey) Baldwin. They settled in East Caln, where Jonathan died about 1811. Their children were Absalom, Jehu, John, Jonathan, Elizabeth, Mary, Lydia (m. to Jesse Evans), and Thomas. Absalom married Mary Temple, daughter of Thomas (and Mary Jefferis?) Temple, of East Caln, and had children,—Abner, William, Lydia (Scott), Thomas, Benjamin, John, Elizabeth (Gray), Mary (Bentley), Samuel, Absalom, Temple, and Joseph. Of these, John was born April 23, 1787, and is still living. He is the father of John K. Valentine, Esq., of Philadelphia, and of the late Chalkley M. Valentine, of West Chester. VANDERSLICE, JOHN, a retired merchant, was born two and a half miles from Phoenixville, Pa., May 27, 1801. His father, also named John, was a prominent and prosperous farmer in Pikeland township, of which he was an early settler, and where his son, the subject of this notice, passed his youth and received his education. In 1826, after his marriage, for four years he worked on his father's farm upon shares. Two years subsequently he was engaged in butchering, after which he purchased a farm of eighty acres, for three thousand dollars, near Kimberton. During the ensuing seven years he cut some twelve hundred dollars' worth of wood upon this land, and disposed of most of the tract for nine thousand four hundred dollars, reserving about one acre, upon which he erected a house, which was his home but a short time, for nine months later he sold it for fifteen hundred dollars. He then purchased a seventy-five-acre farm in Phoenixville. In January, 1840, he established his home upon this land,—a piece of real estate which eventually realized him a fortune, inasmuch as one-half of Phoenixville has been built upon the lots sold by him since 1840. He erected upon these lots one hundred and twenty houses, thereby greatly advancing the growth and prosperity of the place. He now owns twenty-six houses, also built by himself, and which he leases to tenants. In the year 1841, Mr. Vanderslice, in partnership with Mr. Samuel Cornett, embarked in the coal and lumber business, connected with which for many years was a dry-goods and grocery store. These undertakings were financially successful. In 1855 he took his son, Addison S., into partnership, having previously purchased Mr. Cornett's interest ; the coal and lumber business was thus continued until Jan. 11, 1879, when Mr. Vanderslice retired from the firm, leaving his son to continue the business, and which he is still conducting. Mr. Vanderslice is a firm Republican, and did much, by liberal contributions and otherwise, to assist the Union cause during the war of the Rebellion. In 1822 he became a member of the Masonic fraternity, an order in which he has always been an active worker, and in which he has attained high rank, having taken the 32d degree ; he served as treasurer of Phoenix Lodge, No. 75, for thirty-three years, and has held the same office in the chapter since the year 1861. He was married in 1825 to Elizabeth Custer, a native of Evansburg, Montgomery Co., Pa., where she was born in the year 1805. Of the nine children born of this union seven are now living, viz. : Lavina C., wife of J. B. Morgan, cashier of the First National Bank of Phoenixville ; Engelbert F., formerly engaged in merchandising and farming, but now employing two teams in hauling ; Addison S., merchant; Angie C., wife of Dr. Levi Oberholtzer ; Nehemiah C., studied medicine but not now practicing ; John A., a farmer ; and Eliza, wife of Horace Lloyd, teller in the First National Bank of Phoenixville. All of his children are residing in Phoenixville or its immediate vicinity, the farm of his son John being in Montgomery County, about two miles distant. Mrs. Vanderslice was baptized Oct. 9, 1834, since which date she has been an earnest and faithful member of the Baptist Church of Phoenixville. Mr. Vanderslice has held many positions of honor and trust in the community in which he has so long resided, having been several times elected a member of the town council, serving for three years as a director of the First National Bank of West Chester, as a member of the school board of Phoenixville for several years, beside holding other offices of prominence, in all of which his sterling qualities and marked ability have been conspicuously displayed. He was one of the originators of the Phoenixville Bank. He sold the ground upon which the water-works are located, and was influential in promoting that enterprise. He was also the owner of the ground on which the Masonic Hall was subsequently erected, in the construction of which he was greatly interested. In 1865 he was one of the corporators of the Morris Cemetery, and one of the three persons who sold the land (21 acres) which constitutes this beautiful burial-place. He has also frequently acted as executor, administrator, and guardian, performing these trusts with scrupulous fidelity. In 1855 he purchased an extensive tract of land in the West, comprising 1800 acres, which he subsequently sold, realizing a handsome profit. Although but one of many large business transactions in which he has been engaged, this one bears witness to his skill and judgment. At the time of his marriage he possessed scarcely a dollar, but now, as the result of his foresight, energy, and enterprise, he ranks among the wealthier citizens of the county. He is in many respects a remarkable man. Considering his age—eighty years—his mental faculties are remarkably active and vigorous, while his physical appearance indicates a man of much younger age. His countenance is pleasant and agreeable, his manners courteous and affable, indicating that benevolence which has been one of his characteristics. Since Oct. 9, 1834, he has been a consistent member of the Baptist Church of Phoenixville. Mr. Vanderslice has been an extensive traveler. He has had several strokes of paralysis, the first occurring about eleven years since ; the second attack came near having a fatal termination, but after doctoring for three years with some of the best physicians of New York and Philadelphia without apparent benefit, he began to travel for his health. On May 15, 1851, he left Philadelphia in the steamer " City of Glasgow" for Liverpool, England.* He had a fine pas- * The steamer " City of Glasgow" returned to Philadelphia, took on over three hundred passengers, and started for Liverpool, but was lost at sea with all on board. 752 - HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA. sage of eighteen days' duration ; after spending four days in Liverpool, he started for London, stopping at all the prominent intermediate towns ; he remained in the great metropolis ten days, visiting the World's Fair, then went to Paris, from thence he traveled over nearly all Continental Europe, visiting its cities, watering-places, and other points of attraction. This trip was but the beginning of his journeyings. He spent one winter in Cuba, was in London and Paris five times, at Rome three times, in Egypt twice, and at Jerusalem ; he visited San Francisco and South America ; he has also been in every State of the Union and in four of the Territories. His last trip was one " around the world" ; he went across the continent to San Francisco,—it being his second visit to that place,—crossed the Pacific Ocean to Yokohama, in Japan, proceeded thence to Hong-Kong, Singapore, Bombay, and Calcutta ; crossed the Indian Ocean to Aden, traversed the Red Sea to its head, passing through the Suez Canal, visiting Cairo, Alexandria, Brindisi, Naples, Pompeii, Vesuvius, Rome, the Mont Cenis tunnel, Geneva, Paris, London, and Liverpool, whose port he left April 29, 1875, arriving home the 11th of May following. Mrs. Vanderslice is still living, at the advanced age of seventy-five years, and in the full possession of her faculties. This worthy couple have a pleasant home in Phoenixville, where, surrounded by their children, they are enjoying that ease and comfort which their lives of care, industry, and frugality have so well entitled them to enjoy. VAN LEER, DR. BERNHARDUS, the centenarian, was the son of the Hon., John George and Mary Von Loehr, the original ancestors of the Vanleer family in Pennsylvania, who emigrated from Germany to this country about the year 1697. Dr. Van Leer was born about the year 1686, in or near Isenburg, in Rhenish Prussia, and came hither with his parents when but eleven years of age. The family settled, soon after their arrival in Pennsylvania, in Marple township, Chester (now Delaware) Co., where the father died in 1748, leaving a wife, Rebecca. Bernhard remained a few years with his father, assisting him on the farm, and then returned to Germany to prosecute his studies. Such was the usage in those days, when colleges and universities were almost unknown in our country, though Germany then, as well as now, was renowned for her universities. That young Van Leer availed himself; with ardor and success, of the opportunities thus afforded him is manifest from the volumes which he left behind him —both manuscript and printed—in the Latin, French, and German, as well as English, languages. Under these favorable circumstances he appears to have prosecuted his classical and professional studies through the protracted period of seven years. He then returned to his adopted country and to his parental home, where he entered upon the practice of his profession as a physician. Shortly after engaging in professional life he was united in marriage, Feb. 25, 1734, with Mary Branson, the daughter of William Branson, a wealthy merchant of Philadelphia. The practice of Dr. Van Leer was conducted principally in his office. This was partly owing to the difficulties then existing in passing from one part of the country to another. Roads, except between some main points, were few, and most of them were but the pathways of the Indians through the forest. Streams were to be forded, and the location of the farmer's clearing to be guessed at. All these difficulties were enhanced by the sparseness of the population, rendering the distance to be traversed from settlement to settlement very considerable. His reputation has come down to us as that of a practitioner whose skill was tested widely and long, and who possessed in an eminent degree the confidence of those who resorted to him. But the duties of a medical man can never be performed to their fullest extent in the office. The physician must qualify himself for his duties at the bedside of the diseased, and can only discharge his responsibilities by personal visitation and searching inquiries in the sick-room. There was one feature, however, in Dr. Van Leer's practice in reference to himself that is worthy of special regard. He was through life a striking example of temperance, not only in the use of vinous and spirituous liquors, but also in diet generally. He abstained entirely from the use of all intoxicating liquors. His daughter stated that her father in his hundredth year rode with her on horseback to his farm in Chester Valley, a distance of thirty miles, in one day, and returned on the following day without complaining of fatigue. This vigor of constitution he retained to his one hundred and second year, when he received some injuries which caused his death, Jan. 26, 1790, having attained to the patriarchal age of one hundred and four years. His remains repose in the cemetery at Middletown, Delaware Co. Upon his tomb is this inscription : " Here Lieth the body of Bernhard Vanleer,   Physissian in Physick, Who departed this Life January the 26th, 1790, Aged 104 years. Friends weep not for me, For all your tears are vain : Prepare to meet the Lord, That we may meet again." By his first wife, Mary Branson, Dr. Van Leer had George, b. 1735, d. April 22, 1807, m. Elizabeth Roberts ; Thomas, d, 1754 ; Branson ; William, d. 1764, unmarried ; Benjamin, and Samuel. He married a second wife, Christiana , who died May 29, 1815, aged 88 years, 7 months. By her he had several other children, to one of whom, Mary, wife of Moses Moore, he devised the Blue Ball tavern and 180 acres of land in Tredyffrin. To his son Bernhard he gave the homestead. The latter was born Sept. 21, 1770, and died Feb. 9, 1814. Samuel Van Leer, one of the older sons, became the owner of the site of the old Reading Furnace (see p. 347), in what is now Warwick township. His wife was Hannah, daughter of Isaac and Elizabeth Wayne, and sister of Gen. Anthony Wayne. ISAAC WAYNE VAN LEER, son of Isaac W. Van Leer, Esq., long the public-spirited presiding officer of the Chester County Agricultural Society, and a grandnephew of the famous Gen. Wayne (known in Revolutionary times by the sobriquet of " Mad Anthony"), was born in the township of West Nantmeal, Chester Co., June 15, 1846. This extraordinary precocious and noble youth was a lineal descendant of Dr. Bernhard Van Leer, also inherited some of the Wayne blood of our ancient bailiwick, and we therefore need not be surprised to learn that in the days of a vile pro-slavery rebellion and national peril the generous, loyal, and high-spirited boy became a prompt and gallant soldier BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL - 753 of the republic. In the autumn of 1861 Isaac left his home without his father's knowledge of the movement, and went to Harrisburg, where he offered to enlist ; and subsequently attached himself to Company B, Capt. Potts, of the 53d Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, in Sumner's division. Being apprehensive that his extreme youth might be objected to, he at first tried to pass himself off as a lad of eighteen, though only in his sixteenth year ; and to prevent a discovery of his whereabouts he resorted to the romantic expedient of temporarily assuming a fictitious name. His father, aware of the military proclivities of the youth, and anxious to get him home again, requested Capt. Potts (a relative of the family) to keep a lookout for Isaac. The captain endeavored to persuade him to return to his father's house, but he replied, " I cannot go home : I feel it to be my duty to go to the war." Finding him determined, the captain was then requested to take charge of the lad in case he persevered, and thus it was arranged to keep him in the company. While they were at Camp Curtin Isaac was taken ill with typhoid fever. His accomplished and devoted sister went to Harrisburg, and nursed him until he was able to be removed, when she took him home with her to Philadelphia, and before he was able to carry his gun he insisted on returning to camp. He told his sister that he had repeatedly asked his father for permission to enter the service, but had always received a denial, and now he was determined to go. When his sister was about to part with him after nursing him through the fever, she said to him, as she passed her hand lovingly over his fair and smooth young brow, " Dear brother, if the rebels should put a bullet through this pretty head how it would spoil it." He replied, " Not more than any other man's,—and somebody's must be spoiled." At the battle of the Seven Pines, or Fair Oaks, Sumner's division was conspicuously engaged. The 53d Pennsylvania Volunteers were in the action all day. Capt. Eicholtz, who was then in command of Company B (in place of Capt. Potts, resigned on account of illness), says that in the midst of the fight some unauthorized person, in an adjacent regiment, gave the order to retreat. Company B, of the 53d Pennsylvania, being next them, also commenced falling back ; but Capt. Eicholtz, perceiving that the order was a mistake, stepped out, and ordered his company to advance. Young Van Leer was one of the first to spring forward, and when the captain saw him, towards night, he says the youth was fighting with the utmost coolness and bravery, and above all others his voice could be heard ringing out, shrill and clear, " Steady, boys! steady !" while working like a veteran. Isaac was first severely wounded in the ankle, and fell, being unable to stand. When his company at length fell back he lay midway between his regiment and the enemy, wondering, as he stated, into whose hands he should fall. After loading and firing a number of times while prostrate on the ground, he received a shot in the head, and then lay unconscious, with the battle raging over him. Somehow he was also badly wounded in the side and arm by a bayonet-thrust, which he could never account for. He lay nearly two days on the battle-field before his comrades had - 95 - an opportunity to remove him, and all that time without any nourishment except water. The muscles of his face became so paralyzed that he was unable to open his mouth. Capt. Eicholtz, although his own right hand was much shattered, paid every possible attention to his young friend, who was afterwards taken to Fortress Monroe, where he was nine days before the ball was extracted. Isaac was next taken to New York, whither his indefatigable sister went, and faithfully nursed him until he sank under the wounds he had received, which sad event occurred on the 19th of June, 1862, when he had just completed his sixteenth year. As an evidence of the unfaltering spirit with which this juvenile patriot engaged in the cause of his country, it may be mentioned that when near his end his sister inquired if he regretted the part he had taken in the eventful struggle. He responded, " Not for a moment ! in such a cause, he would do just the same thing again. Otherwise," added he, " what would become of our country?" VAUGHAN, REV. JOSHUA, was born in the year 1749, near the Yellow Springs, in Chester County. His parents were John and Ruth Vaughan, of Welsh extraction. In early life he learned the trade of a blacksmith, and followed the business near the old " Red Lion," in his native county. He married Jane Taggert, a native of Ireland. He was a man of vigorous, independent mind ; read much, and gained the regard and confidence of his fellow-citizens. During an important and perilous period of the Revolutionary contest, Joshua Vaughan was deputy sheriff of the county, and custodian of the prison at Chester, a situation in which he evinced signal firmness and courage. While in office he attended the ministry of the Rev. Philip Hughes, a Baptist, who often preached in Chester. He was converted under the preaching of Mr. Hughes, and was baptized by him in 1780. While going to the water with Mr. Hughes, some one inquired his destination, when Joshua replied, " We are Philip and the jailer." He became at that time a member of the First Baptist Church of Philadelphia. In 1787 he became a member of the church at Brandywine, when he was dismissed from the First Church to that of Brandywine. Finding that he possessed ability, the church desired him to exercise his gifts as a preacher, and in December, 1789, he was regularly ordained. As the Baptist churches were then small and unable to support their ministers, it was not unusual for these to engage in some active pursuit. So with Mr. Vaughan. When his office of deputy sheriff terminated he purchased a farm, on which he resided ; and while he thus provided for his own household, he employed his energies in preaching the gospel. For several years he preached once a month for the Bethesda Church, and a strong mutual attachment existed between him and that congregation. In summer-time the assemblages were often so large that he was obliged to leave the meeting-house and resort to an adjacent grove. He was a great preacher in his way, both doctrinal and practical, and his labors were greatly blessed. He was a fearless man. Of numerous characteristic personal anecdotes the following may be noted : In Mr. Vaughan's day baptism was often much ridiculed, and at the water there was sometimes much disturbance. On one occasion a couple of men of 754 - HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA. " the baser sort" took offense because he had baptized a friend of theirs, and they swore that the next time Mr. Vaughan baptized in the Brandywine they would put hint under its waters. Mr. Vaughan heard of the threat, and at the next baptism preached a powerful sermon, hoping it would do good, but he only saw on the bank around him a crowd of enraged men, who were evidently leagued with his enemies. As he closed he said he knew what had been threatened, and who were the leaders of the mob that meant to molest him. Quickly throwing off his coat and baring his stalwart arm, he stood out before them ; with his broad chest distended, and his countenance fixed on them, with a significant gesture said he was ready for the attack, but warned them, if they did not fear God, to fear him, for he was determined to hurl the first man that dared to interrupt him to the ground and plunge him into the stream, and grind him under his heel upon its rough rocky bottom. Recollecting many of his feats of strength and daring among hardened outlaws while deputy sheriff and keeper of the prison, these sons of Belial hesitated, then urged one another to the assault, but soon retired, each charging the other with cowardice, when the faithful servant of the Cross, calm and serene, proceeded to baptize the candidate. Joshua Vaughan was constitutionally courageous and self-possessed. His manners were remarkably courteous and polite. He died Aug. 30, 1808, aged fifty-nine years, and was buried in the graveyard adjoining his church. Dr. JOHN VAUGHAN, son of the Rev. Joshua Vaughan, was born in the township of Uwchlan, Chester Co , Pa., June 25, 1775. While young he manifested good abilities, and was regarded as a youth of fine promise. The limited circumstances of the family imposed the necessity of a plain, common education, though during a residence at Chester, while his father was deputy sheriff of the county, he made some progress in classical studies, and ultimately became a polished English scholar. His restricted means, to his lasting regret, debarred him from the privilege of attaining to the medical honors of the university ; but his talents, industry, and laudable ambition conducted him in due season to the first rank of his noble profession. He studied medicine with Dr. William Currie, of Philadelphia ; and when he felt himself prepared for its duties, commenced practice at the village of Christiana Bridge, in New Castle Co., Del. Shortly after this his inquiring mind was led to the consideration of the then recent discoveries of Galvani, Volta, etc., and his speculations resulted in an ingenious essay, entitled " Observations on Animal Electricity, in explanation of the metallic operation of Dr. Perkins," which essay, in a printed pamphlet, was dedicated to the American Philosophical Society, and was commended by his venerable friend, Dr. James Tilton. The skill and address of Dr. Vaughan soon acquired for him an enviable position in the community, and we next learn that in March, 1797, he obtained the hand of a charm• ing and accomplished daughter of Joel Lewis, Esq., of Christiana. In about two years after that happy event (viz., in April, 1799) his improving prospects induced him to remove to the borough (now city) of Wilmington, where he speedily became one of the most successful and popular physicians that ever adorned and blessed that beautiful town. Dr. Vaughan was not only a good practical physician, but his aspiring disposition and bright intellect led him to take part in the discussion of the important professional topics of his day. The periodicals of that time, and especially the pages of that able journal, the New York Medical Repository, bear ample testimony to his talents as a writer and medical philosopher. He gratified and instructed his fellow-citizens by popular lectures on chemistry and natural philosophy ; he became connected with various learned and scientific societies, and enjoyed the acquaintance and correspondence of such men as Jefferson, Dickinson, Rodney, Bayard, Logan, Rush, Mitchell, Mille?, etc. When, in 1802, Wilmington was visited by that fearful epidemic known as the yellow fever, Dr. Vaughan was the only physician of the place who bravely stood his ground and ministered to the medical necessities of a panic-stricken population. The public papers of that day contain the following just and touching obituary : " DIED, on Wednesday evening last [viz., March 25, 1807], of a nervous fever, Doctor John Vaughan. " The tears of the poor and friendless bedew his memory, for his bosom was the seat of humanity and feeling ; kindness beamed in his countenance, and active benevolence warmed his heart. As a physician and chemist, Dr. Vaughan was justly eminent; though snatched off in the summer of life, he had traveled far in the walks of science." [In the latter years of his life he became a licensed preacher in the Baptist Church, and the obituary adds :] "The doctrines of the blessed Son of Mary he firmly believed, and we have reason to hope that he is now enjoying the glorious rewards which belong to the departed Christian." VERNON, THOMAS, from " Stanthorne," County Palatine of Chester, England, arrived a little before or with the proprietary, in 1682. He served as a juror at the first court held for the county of Chester. He, with his brother, Randal Vernon, settled on adjoining tracts of land in Nether Providence, and for some time occupied but one dwelling, at which the Monthly Meetings of the Society of Friends in early times were frequently held. He was an exemplary member of the society and a good citizen. Thomas had not entirely escaped religious persecution in England. He died 10, 25, 1698, and his widow, Elizabeth, 3, 24, 1714. Their son Thomas, born about 1670, died 11, 4, 1754, married, 8, 13, 1702, Lydia Ralfe, and had the following children : Thomas, b. 5, 23, 1703, d. about 1760 ; Lydia, b. 1, 13, 1706, m. Nathaniel Ring ; Jonathan, b. 4, 3, 1707, died young ; Jonathan, b. 6, 11, 1708, d. 1785, m. 8, 19, 1738, to Ann (Cloud) Engle ; Nathan, b. 7, 10, 1710 ; Esther, b. 8, 10, 1712, m. Abraham Ashton ; Nathaniel, b. 12, 5, 1714, m. 7, 13, 1744, Mary (Engle) Salkeld; Hannah, b. 1, 3, 1716-7, m. John Calvert ; Mordecai, b. 2, 3, 1720, d. about 1792, settled in Marlborough, and had children,-Lydia (Hall), Elizabeth, Mary, Mordecai, Thomas, James, and Hannah. Nathaniel (sheriff) and Mary (Salkeld) Vernon had children,-Thomas, John, Job, and Frederick. He was a tavern-keeper at Easton, 1754. His property was confiscated on account of loyalty to the British crown. JOB VERNON, captain in the Revolutionary army, was born in Lower Providence, about the year 1750. He entered the army at the commencement of the Revolutionary war, and served faithfully and without intermission until its termination and the disbanding of the army. His name BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL - 755 appears in the lists, printed by order of Congress, of officers who served to the end of the war, and thereby acquired the right to half-pay and bounty lands, and also as one of the founders of the Society of Cincinnati. .He was commissioned ensign in Capt. Thomas Church's company of Col. Anthony Wayne's Pennsylvania battalion Jan. 5, 1776, and was promoted to be lieutenant in Capt. Thomas Robinson's company of the same battalion Oct. 1, 1776. In 1779 and 1780 he was paymaster of the 5th Pennsylvania Regiment, which was then commanded by Col. Francis Johnston, and in which he also held the commission of captain. This regiment was attached to the Army of the North, and seems to have participated in all its services up to the storming of Stony Point. Capt. Vernon died in Concord township about the year 1810. From fragments of his accounts and other documents in the possession of a relative, he seems to have been an intimate acquaintance and favorite of Gen. Wayne, and a very brave and judicious officer. FREDERICK VERNON, major in the Revolutionary army, perhaps a brother of the preceding officer, was also born in Lower Providence; but nothing of his personal history nor any account of his military services is known to be preserved. His name appears on the lists above referred to as one who served faithfully to the end of the war, and he was also one of the founders of the Society of Cincinnati. He was major in the 1st Pennsylvania Regiment of Infantry.. RANDAL VERNON, from " Sandyway,” Cheshire, England, no doubt immigrated to the province with his brothers, Thomas and Robert, and located his land in Nether Providence, between the tracts located by them. Besides being an active and influential member of the Society of Friends, he was frequently intrusted with public business. In 1687 he served as a member of the Provincial Assembly. He died in 1725, at the advanced age of eighty-five years, having survived his wife, Sarah, who died 12, 18, 1718-9. Their son Jacob married, in 1701, Ann Years-ley, and died in 1740, leaving children, of whom his son Jacob married Elizabeth (Hickman) Cheyney about 1730, and died 1748, in Thornbury. Their children were Abraham, m. 3, 30, 1751, to Mary Bennett, who after his death married Thomas Cheyney, Esq. ; Lydia, m. to David Lewis ; Elizabeth, died young ; Phebe, m. to Maj. John Harper ; and Jacob Vernon. ROBERT VERNON came from Stoke, in Cheshire, England. He was a member of the Society of Friends, but did not take such an active part in meeting affairs as Thomas and Randal, though the Monthly Meetings were sometimes held at his house. He conveyed his brick messuage and 330 acres of land, where he resided, to his son Jacob just before his death, which occurred in January or February, 1709-10. His wife, Elinor, who came with him, was the daughter of John Minshall, and sister of Thomas Minshall, a settler in Providence. She died 7, 24, 1720. Their children were Isaac, m. in 1710, Hannah Williams and Mary (Sellers) Marshall ; Jacob, m. 4, 5, 1712, Eleanor Owen, and settled in Philadelphia later in life ; John, m. in 1702, Sarah Pyle, who left three children,-Moses, Rachel (m. to Robert Green), and Aaron. Gideon Ver non, son of Moses, went to Nova Scotia at the time of the Revolution. VICKERS, THOMAS, of Plumstead, Bucks Co , son of Abraham and Mary, married, 9, 13, 1746, at Plumstead Meeting, Rebecca Dillon, daughter of Nicholas and Mary, of Bedminster. In 1775, Thomas and several of his children came to Chester County and settled in East Caln. He was a minister among Friends, and died 12, 30, 1793, while absent on a religious visit, aged about seventy-three. His children were Esther, b. 6, 9, 1747, m. William Michener, 12, 22, 1768 ; John, b. 8, 3, 1749 ; Mary, b. 3, 9, 1752, m. David Mendenhall, 6, 3, 1778; Rebecca, b. 7, 1, 1754, m. Joshua Roman, 10, 2, 1776 ; Thomas, b. 3, 8, 1757, d..9, 25, 1829 ; Rachel, b. 9, 6, 1759 ; Abraham, b. 1, 17, 1762 ; Mercy, b. 8, 19, 1764. Thomas Vickers, Jr., m. 6, 30, 1779, Jemima Mendenhall, daughter of Joshua and Lydia, of East Caln, born 12, 9, 1757, died 12, 5, 1851. Their children were John, b. 8, 8, 1780, d. 4, 24, 1860 ; Joshua, b. 9, 19, 1783, d. 9, 20, 1807 ; Martha, b. 3, 27, 1786, m. William Milhous ; Ziba, b. 10, 5, 1788, m. Lydia Kersey ; Thomas, b. 4, 14, 1791, m. Ann ____ : Isaac, b. 10, 10, 1792, m. Abigail ____ : Jesse, b. 4, 1, 1795; Rebecca, b. 9, 21, 1799, m. Evan Lewis. John Vickers, son of Thomas and Jemima, married, 10, 6, 1803, at Sadsbury Meeting, Abigail Paxson, daughter of Joseph and Mary, of Sadsbury, Chester Co., born ______, died 12, 12, 1818. After some years they settled in Uwchlan, where he carried on the potting business, and his house was one of the prominent stations of the Underground Railroad. His children were Martha, Ann (m. to Samuel M. Painter), Joseph, Jonathan, Jemima M., Mary H., Joseph, Aaron, Abigail C., Paxson. The last named, b. 7, 13, 1817, d. 10, 22, 1865, m. in 1840, Ann T. Lewis, daughter of Thomas and Sarah Lewis, b. 4, 20, 1818. He was member of Assembly, 1856-57. His daughter Sarah Louisa, b. in Uwchlan, May 20, 1841, m. Jan. 1, 1862, John Oberholtser, and they reside at Cambria Station, West Pikeland. WADDEL, REV. JAMES, D.D., the son of Thomas Waddel, was born in Newry, in the north of Ireland, in July, 1739. In the fall of the same year be was brought, an infant in his mother's arms, to this country. His parents settled on the White Clay Creek, Chester Co., Pa., where he grew up to manhood. Having been disabled by an accident, when a boy, in the use of his left hand, his parents resolved to seek for him a liberal education. He was accordingly sent to the school of Dr. Samuel Finley, at Nottingham, where he made rapid progress. His attainments in the classics were of so high an order that Dr. Finley promoted him at an early age to the office of tutor. On leaving this school he became an assistant in the school of Dr. Robert Smith, at Pequea. After a time he migrated southward, and was licensed to preach by the Presbytery of Hanover, Va., April 2, 1761, and was pastor at different times of various churches in Virginia. Some time after he had been in the ministry, he became incurably blind. He continued to preach, however, the different members of his family assisting him in his prepa- BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL - 757 7, 1739, m. John Hawk ; James, m. Hannah Marshall Rachel, m. to Thomas Harry ; Betty, m. to Stephen Hayes Hannah ; Amos ; Phebe, m. to John Holohan. Jacob purchased the homestead from his brother Joseph in 1728, the latter having received a deed for it from their father just before his death in 1725. Joseph's wife was Sarah Pyle, and he had children,—Susanna, Joseph Samuel, Sarah, William, and Nicholas. James Way, son of Robert and Hannah, was a black- smith, and lived in Thornbury at the time of his marriage 4, 8, 1738, to Mary Kerlin, daughter of Matthias, of Con. cord. They afterwards settled in West Caln, and in 1742 began tavern-keeping at " The Wagon," now Wagontown and continued till about 1755. James left one son, William, who died in his minority. WALTON.—Four brothers, Nathaniel, Daniel, Thomas, and William Walton, came to Pennsylvania at an early date, and settled in Byberry, Philadelphia Co. From these brothers have sprung an innumerable posterity, branching out into all the States of the Union. The family was originally of the Society of Friends. Several branches of the family have migrated to Chester County, and among the rest was Joshua Walton, who removed to New Garden township. His son Isaac married Isabella Starr, and his children were Reuben, David, William, Isaac, Sarah (married to George Meredith), and Elizabeth. DAVID WALTON was born May 17, 1798, and was reared on the farm, receiving only a limited school education. When sixteen years old he went into the dry-goods store of Townsend Sharpless, in Philadelphia, where he clerked three years. He then returned to Londongrove, and was fourteen years in the mercantile business. He then followed farming until 1853, when he retired from active business. He married Elizabeth Pusey, daughter of Jesse and Elizabeth Pusey, and has had the following children : Jesse P., deceased; Bennett S.; Elizabeth, married to Robert L. Pyle, one of the most successful merchants of the county ; David R. ; and Franklin Cardell, deceased young. Mr. Walton's wife died Aug. 4, 1853. He served thirteen years on the school board. He was postmaster nearly forty years at Londongrove, and resigned about 1868, when his son Bennett S. was appointed, and now acceptably fills that position. He has been repeatedly called to act as administrator, executor, guardian, etc., and has settled many estates, and had a dozen of wards at one time. His son Bennett S. has served several years as director of the poor, and is now a director in the new bank at West Chester. He is also a good surveyor, and does much conveyancing. Mr. Walton has resided at Londongrove sixty-one years, and accumulated by his industry and business tact a nice competence. He passed several winters in Florida, at the head-waters of St. John's River. In the winter of 1860-61 he traveled in the Southern States, just previous to the fall of Fort Sumter, and witnessed the preparations of the South for the corning rebellion. On this tour he was accompanied by his daughter, Mrs. Robert L. Pyle, and the wife of his son Jesse P. JOSEPH P. WALTON.—Elijah Walton married Rebecca Briggs, in Bucks County. Their son Abner married Eleanor Baker, and to them eleven children were born, of whom the sixth and only surviving child is Joseph P. 758 - HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA. He was born July 19, 1820, in West Fallowfield township, to which his father, Abner, removed about 1806. He was raised on the farm, educated in the common schools, and when twenty-four years of age embarked in the mercantile business in Londonderry township. Here he remained one year, and removed to Steeleville, where for six years he kept store, and the next four at Cochranville. He went to farming extensively for twelve years on his three farms of some five hundred acres in all. He then resumed business at Cochranville, in which he continued seven years. He is now engaged in farming. He was married Nov. 9, 1843, to Hannah C., daughter of John and Phebe (Strickland) Cochran. He has had ten children, of whom the following six are living : Eleanor P., m. Henry C. Thompson ; Susanna C., m. Charles Owens ; Abner B., m. Elizabeth Hartshorne Joen, m. Dr. Joseph JOSEPH P. WALTON. Dickinson, of Parkesburg ; Evelina, m. M. F. Hammill ; and Carrie A. P. He was three times justice of the peace, and repeatedly served in other township positions from the time he was twenty-one until four years ago. He was postmaster at Steeleville under the administrations of Taylor and Fillmore, and under the latter at Cochranville. He was originally a Whig, and since the dissolution of that party has been most actively identified with the Democracy. Mr. Walton has often served on the school board. He is a general farmer, as were his father and grandfather, and in farming and merchandising has accumulated a nice competence of this world's goods. WAYNE, GEN. ANTHONY.—Anthony Wayne, the famous military chieftain of Chester County, was born in the township of Easttown, Jan. 1, 1745. His father, Isaac Wayne, was a respectable farmer and useful citizen, having repeatedly occupied a seat in the Provincial Assembly, and often distinguished himself in expeditions against the belligerent Indians. His grandfather, Anthony, was a native of Yorkshire, England, but in early life removed into the county of Wicklow, Ireland. He commanded a squadron of dragoons, under King William, at the battle of the Boyne ; and being warmly attached to liberal principles, he migrated with his family to America in 1722. The subject of this notice received a good mathematical education, and for some years was employed in surveying, practical astronomy, and engineering. When the difficulties betwen the colonies and the mother-country arose, our Anthony Wayne was among the foremost and most active of the Chester County Whigs in counteracting the oppressive measures of Britain, and preparing the way for the Revolutionary contest. A large meeting of the inhabitants of the county was held at Chester in December, 1774, to devise measures for the protection of their rights as freemen, in pursuance of a resolution of the Continental Congress, and a committee of seventy was chosen, with Anthony Wayne as chairman, to aid in superseding the colonial government, and to take charge of the local interests of the county. He soon aspired to military service, and early in January, 1776, was appointed by Congress colonel of the Fourth Pennsylvania Battalion, which was sent to the frontier of Canada, and passed the year in the vicinity of Ticonderoga. In February, 1777, he was promoted to the rank of brigadier-general, and the following summer joined the main army, under Washington, in New Jersey, where he was placed at the head of a brigade. He was a man of imperious disposition, and soon became an admirable disciplinarian. At the battle of Brandywine, Sept. 11, 1777, Gen. Wayne commanded a division stationed at Chads' Ford, BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL - 759 for the purpose of resisting the column under Knyphausen. He maintained the contest with the utmost gallantry, until a large division of the enemy (through an unaccountable lack of vigilance on the part of the American scouts) had crossed the Brandywine above the forks, turned the right of Washington's army, and compelled a retreat. Some days afterwards, viz., on the night of September 20th, the enemy stole a march into Wayne's camp, near the Paoli, and perpetrated a cruel butchery, under the direction of Gen. Grey. At the battle of Germantown Gen. Wayne evinced his wonted valor, leading his division into the thickest of the fight ; and in covering the retreat he used every exertion which bravery and prudence could dictate. During a large portion of this campaign of 1777, owing to a combination of circumstances, he performed alone the duty of three general officers. While the army was suffering miserably at Valley Forge, in the ensuing winter, he performed valuable service on the eastern banks of the Delaware in securing cattle for the American troops, and destroying forage which could not be removed, and might otherwise fall into the hands of the enemy. He returned to the army about the middle of March, and, with his officers and soldiers, received the thanks of the commander-in-chief. In all councils of war Gen. Wayne was distinguished for support ing the most energetic and decisive measures. The characteristic anecdote is told of Wayne that he was accustomed to attend such consultations with a volume of " Tom Jones" or other interesting novel in his pocket, and would be quietly reading in one corner of the room while the anxious company were discussing the measures proper to be pursued. When they had severally given their views, the commander-in-chief would inquire, " Well, Gen. Wayne, what do you propose to do ?" " Fight, sir !" is said to have been his invariable answer. No wonder that his impetuous daring should procure for him the familiar sobriquet of " Mad Anthony !" Fighting was constitutional with him, and he was always ready for a fray. In the council which was held before the battle of Monmouth, he and Gen. Cadwallader were the only two of the seventeen general officers who were in favor of fighting. This engagement added to his reputation, his ardor and resolution having been so conspicuous that Washington mentioned him with particular distinction in his official report to Congress. In 1779 he had an opportunity to retaliate nobly on the enemy at Stony Point, by sparing the lives of many of the same ruffians who showed no mercy in the " Paoli massacre." For his gallantry on this occasion the thanks of .Congress and a gold medal, emblematic of the action, were presented to him. During the campaign of 1780, Gen. Wayne was actively employed, in command of the Pennsylvania line ; and in that of 1781—which ended in the capture of Cornwallis and the British forces at Yorktown—he bore a conspicuous part. He was next sent by Washington to take command in Georgia, where the enemy were making formidable progress. After some sanguinary encounters, he effected the establishment of security and order, and was presented by the Legislature of the State with a valuable farm for his services. Peace soon followed, when he retired to private life with a military reputation which, in the time of Gon salvo de Cordova, would have secured for Wayne the title of Gran Capitan." In 1783 he was elected one of the State Censors of Pennsylvania, and the next year a member of Assembly. In 1789 he was a member of the Pennsylvania Convention, and an advocate of the Constitution of the United States. In 1792, Gen. Wayne was appointed by Washington the successor of Gen. St. Clair in the Indian war on the Western frontier. By the admirable discipline of his troops, and the skill and bravery with which he fought and gained the battle of the Miami of the Lakes, he brought the war to a successful termination. The Chester County hero closed his splendid career and his valuable life at Presque Isle, in Pennsylvania, on the 14th of December, 1796, and was buried there, on the shore of Lake Erie. In the year 1809 the Pennsylvania State Society of Cincinnati resolved to erect a monument to the memory of their gallant brother-soldier ; and in the mean time his son, Col. Isaac Wayne, proceeded to the margin of Lake Erie, and brought the remains to the family cemetery at St. David's church, in the vicinity of the general's patrimonial estate. There were no railroads in those days, and Col. Wayne traveled in a gig or sulky. The remains were placed in a box, which was fastened to the vehicle, and in that way he brought them from Erie to his home. The colonel used to relate that at the inns where he stopped overnight the hostlers were rather shy when they learned what was in the box, of which he made no secret. On the 5th of June, 1811, the monument was erected with appropriate ceremonies, in the presence of the Cincinnati Society, all the troops of cavalry of the city and county of Philadelphia, an elegant troop from Montgomery County, and a large concourse of citizens. The farm on which Anthony Wayne, the emigrant, settled in 1722, and where his grandson, Gen. Wayne, was born and always resided, is situated in Easttown township, about one mile southeast of Paoli, and near the road leading from the latter place to the Leopard. The dwelling, which is of stone, was erected by Isaac Wayne, the son of the emigrant, and the father of the general, in 1765. The property descended from Gen. Wayne to his son, Col. Isaac Wayne, and was by him devised to Capt. William Wayne, the present owner, who is a great-grandson of Gen. Wayne. The furniture of the parlor remains much as it was in the days of Gen. Wayne, and the room is an admirably preserved relic of the olden time. Capt. Wayne is now (1881) a member of the Pennsylvania Legislature. A bust of Gen. Wayne, modeled by William Marshall Swayne, a native of Chester County, and executed in marble, adorns the court-room in West Chester. It is an admirable representation of the general, and is pronounced by connoisseurs to be a highly creditable work of art, and shows that Mr. Swayne possesses much more than ordinary ability as a sculptor. The bust was completed by Mr. Swayne in 1861, and was placed in the court-house in 1872. WEAVER, ANTHONY, and An ne Richards," of Northly of the county of Chester, haveing poblished thare intenshon of marige the seconte time and nothing apering to the contrary if Anthony weaver ownes himselfe to be non of us 760 - HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA. if hee is willing to sobmit to the order of frendes, soe is permitted to prose(' acording to the order of frendes." This was at Chester Monthly Meeting, held 5, 5, 1686. Northly appears to have been the name for Aston township at that time. Anthony 'Weaver did not live long after his marriage. He was a blacksmith, and letters of administration on his estate were granted to his widow, Ann, 4, 10, 1689, by consent of William Weaver, of Boston, brass-founder, who was present. It does not appear that he left any children, but his brother William, who remained in the county, left issue. February, 1692, William Weaver, of Boston, brass-founder, sold 125 acres to Humphrey Scarlet, which bad been purchased by Anthony Weaver, Feb. 20, 1681, from William Cecil, of England. Scarlet had married the widow, and the land was now in his possession or occupation. A survey for William Weaver of 250 acres in Cain township was made May 14, 1720, and on Dec. 4, 1727, letters of administration were granted on his estate to Mary Weaver. The land was sold by Thomas Moore and Richard Weaver, by order of Orphans' Court, March 1, 1735, and a letter written in 1737 refers to the property as " old Will Weaver's." On petition of Richard Weaver, of Chester, and Thomas Moore, of Whiteland, the children of William Weaver were allowed to choose guardians, Feb. 25, 1729-30, and the children-Nathan, William, Hannah, and Jonathan-made choice of the said petitioners. Whether Richard was an older brother of these children or otherwise related does not appear. Richard Weaver married Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas and Mary Baldwin, of Chester, and they requested, 1, 25, 1733, to be received into membership by Chester Monthly Meeting, together with their children, which request was granted. In 1737 their daughter Mary married -William Hay, who was not a Friend, and she left the society. Hay was keeper of the prison for some years, and Richard Weaver is frequently mentioned in connection with repairs to the jail and work-house. Early in 1749, Isaac Weaver and Mary, his wife, made acknowledgment for marrying out of meeting, but this wife must have died soon after, for he was again married, 7, 20, 1750, to Sarah Dell, daughter of Thomas and Rachel (Sharpless) Dell, of Ridley. He was a tanner by occupation at that time. In 1756, Elizabeth Weaver, widow of Richard, and all her children except Isaac, joined the Episcopal Church. The other children were Valentine, Judith, and Susanna, the first of whom appears to have spent much of his time during the next four years in the military service. The children of Isaac and Sarah (Dell) Weaver were as follows: Thomas Dell, b. 9, 27, 1751 ; Joshua, b. 12, 28, 1753, d. 6, 2, 1827 ; Isaac, b. 3, 1, 1756 ; Elizabeth, b. 7, 27, 1758 ; Baldwin, b. 11, 20, 1760 ; James, b. 3, 25, 1763 ; Richard, b. 7, 17, 1765 ; William, b. 1, 25, 1768 ; Abraham, b. 3, 31, 1770 ; Sarah, b. 9, 21, 1774. Thomas Dell Weaver was disowned in 1779 for taking the test. Joshua made an acknowledgment, 8, 25, 1777, for exercising in the military way, but was disowned in 1781 for paying fines. Baldwin was disowned, 6, 26, 1780, for military exercise. Joshua married Mary Trego, daughter of Benjamin and Mary (Pyle) Trego, of Goshen, now West Chester, where he settled, and became one of the most useful citizens of the place. His business was that of a surveyor and conveyancer, but he took part in all public measures ; was burgess and treasurer of the town, county commissioner, and clerk to the board of directors of the poor for twenty-seven years. His children were Isaac, Emmor T., Elizabeth and Sarah, unmarried ; Edith, m. to Gen. George Hartman ; Maria, m. to John Rutter, Esq. ; and Sidney, unmarried. Isaac Weaver, brother of Joshua, was a member of the State Senate from Delaware County, and Speaker of that body. WEBB, RICHARD, a settler in Birmingham, 1704, came from the city of Gloucester to Philadelphia in 1700. His wife, Elizabeth, a noted minister, had visited this country in 1697-98, and in 1710 paid a religious visit to her native land. (See also Birmingham Meeting, p. 234.) Richard Webb died in 1719. He had been a justice of the peace and an active citizen. His children were William, m. 1, 22, 1709-10, to Rebecca Harlan, and died about 1753 ; Mary, m. 1713, to George Brown, afterwards to John Willis, Jr., and Thomas Smith, died 1743 ; Esther, m. 1718 to Jacob Bennett ; Sarah, m. to William Dilworth ; Daniel, m. 9, 8, 1727, to Mary Harlan ; Benjamin, m. 1725, to Rachel Nicklin ; Elizabeth, d. young ; James, b. 11, 19, 1708-9, d. 10, 26, 1785, married three times, and removed to Lancaster County. William Webb settled in Kennet, and was an active man in public affairs, a justice of the peace, and for many years a member of Assembly. His son William, born 11, 13, 1710, married 9, 23, 1732, Elizabeth, daughter of Daniel Hoopes, of Westtown, and had children,-William, b. 9, 26, 1736, d. 6, 7, 1773, m. Sarah Smith ; Stephen, b. 12, 23, 1738, d. 9, 8, 1787, m. Hannah Harlan, 9, 17, 1766 ; Rebecca, b. 5, 25, 1741, d. 7, 22, 1775, m. Benjamin Taylor ; Ezekiel, b. 6th mo., 1747, d. 5, 26, 1828, m. Cordelia Jones and Elizabeth Hollingsworth ; Jane, m. to William White, Jr. With Richard Webb came his sisters Mary and Rachel, unmarried, who lived among their relatives here. John Webb produced a certificate to Philadelphia Monthly Meeting, 12, 28, 1700, from Gloucester Quarterly Meeting, held 6, 27, 1700, as did also Richard Webb, but we know nothing further of him. John Lea, wool-comber (baptized July 12, 1674), late of the parish of Christian Mal-ford, in the county of Wilts, son of John and Joane Lea, of the same place, was married, 12, 1, 1697, at Gloucester Meeting, to Hannah Webb, of the latter place, widow of Joseph Webb. These also came over at the same time as Richard and John Webb. The children of Joseph and Hannah Webb were Hannah, b. 3, 31, 1687, m. Nathaniel Allen ; Mary, b. 9, 26, 1688, m. Edward Pilkington ; Ann, b. 8, 12, 1691; Sarah, b. 3, 21, 1693, buried in Philadelphia, 5, 2, 1714 ; Joseph, who died before 1735, leaving children,-Hannah, Joseph, and Sarah. WERSLER, MAJOR JOHN G., was born in Charlestown (now Schuylkill) township in 1781, and died at his residence in Charlestown township, where he had lived for many years, Nov. 20, 1876. He served with distinction in the war of 1812, first as BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL - 761 captain of a company bearing the name of Great Valley Light Infantry, numbering forty men, and located at Camp Dupont. After their return from Camp Dupont the company was organized under the name of " Chester County Blues," their uniform being blue, with neat and tasty facings and trimmings. Some time after forming this company Capt. Wersler was advanced to the position of major of a volunteer battalion of this regiment, while at the same time holding the office of major of volunteers in this same brigade. He was a strict disciplinarian, and his efficiency as an officer was frequently spoken of in the most laudatory terms. In 1810 he was made deputy sheriff to Sheriff George Hartman, and a few years later was a candidate for the sheriffalty of this county, but was defeated in the nomination because of two weaker candidates combining against him. In 1818 he was appointed by Governor William Findlay to the office of prothonotary and clerk of the courts of Chester County, which position he held from March 25, 1818, to Feb. 29, 1821, discharging the duties with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of all who were brought in official contact with him. Maj. Wersler was a gentleman of the old school. He was courteous and unobtrusive in speech and manners, and abundantly possessed the soul of' truth and honor, by which he gained many friends and kept them to the end of life. WEST, THOMAS, of the family of' Lord Delaware, married Ann Gilpin, and had three sons,—William, Thomas, and John, who emigrated to Pennsylvania and settled in Chester County. WILLIAM WEST at first settled in Concord township, but had removed to Springfield as early as 1709, when he married Deborah, the daughter of Bartholomew Coppock. In about a year after his marriage, Bartholomew Coppock, his father-in-law, conveyed to him a farm in Springfield, upon which he resided. He was in membership with Friends, and in 1720 died without children. THOMAS WEST, of the parish of Wapping Stepney, county of Middlesex, cooper, son of Thomas, late of Crandon, in the county of Bucks, was married to Mary Dean, of Shoreditch, at Devonshire house, London, 10, 19, 1709. After his arrival here he purchased a small quantity of land in Concord in 1712. The children of Thonias and Mary were Thomas, William, Mary, Rachel, Elinor, Elizabeth, and Joseph. The most of this family removed to Wilmington about 1736. JOHN WEST, the father of Benjamin, the painter, immigrated some time after his brothers, Thomas and William. He was born at Long Crandon, in Buckinghamshire, in 1690, and is said to have married before leaving England, but his wife remained behind, gave birth to a son, and died. This son the father never saw until his return to England, many years afterwards. John West was not a Friend, as represented by Galt and others, during the residence of' his gifted son in America, and when he became a member of that society it was near the close of his life. He arrived in this country in the year 1715, and some time afterwards married Sarah, the - 96 - daughter of Thomas Pearson, but this marriage was not accomplished according to the good order of the Society of Friends. John West probably followed the seas as an occupation for some years. In 1722 he was a resident of Upper Providence, and owner of a small tract of land in that township. On May 29, 1733, he had " taken to ffarm the house with the appurtenances where James Trego Lately Dwelt on the Gieen near the Courthouse in Chester, where a house of entertainment hath been for some time and now is kept," and received a license. He continued in this location three years at least. Aug. 30,1743, he " has Rented a Comoudyas house & all other the Conveanances there and to belonging for a house of Entertainment on the Roade Leading from Darby To Springfield & from thence to Conistogo ; which is of late much frequented by the Duch waggons, to the number of 40 or 50 in a Day." His application for license on this occasion was granted, and it appears by his petition the next year that he was in Newtown township. In 1748 he was succeeded by Jonathan James. In 1737 and 1739 he was a taxable in Springfield township, and then it is to be presumed he occupied the farm and dwelling at which his son Benjamin was born ; but he did not own this property, and it has not been ascertained that he ever owned land in Chester County, except the small tract in Upper Providence which he first occupied. Notwithstanding all that has been said by Galt, in his life of Benjamin West, in respect to the strict Quakerism of the parents of the great painter, the records of the society have been searched in vain for any evidence to connect his father with the Society of Friends till the year 1759. In that year " John West, with the approbation of Newtown Meeting," made application to come under the care of Goshen Monthly Meeting of Friends. The usual committee was appointed to make inquiry in respect to the applicant, who report to the next meeting " that they understand he is at present indisposed in body." This was in the second month, and it was not till the ninth month that he was admitted into membership with Friends. On the 11th of 10th month, 1763, he obtained a certificate of removal to Philadelphia Monthly Meeting, which he did not produce to that meeting, but " resided chiefly in Maryland or the lower country" till 8th month 10, 1764, when " he had lately embarked for London." The Philadelphia certificate was at this time returned to Goshen Meeting, and another requested for him to London by his son William, which was prepared by the meeting and forwarded accordingly. lie died at Marlborough, in Oxfordshire, Oct. 5, 1776. His wife, Sarah, was born on the 8th of 2d month, 1697, in Marple township, and in membership with Friends. Of the ten children of John and Sarah, Benjamin was the youngest. BENJAMIN WEST, son of John West, was born in the township of Springfield, Chester (now Delaware) Co., Oct. 10, 1738. His native place, on the grounds of Swarthmore College, is in view on the north side of the railroad between Media and Philadelphia. In his seventh year he gave the first indications of his propensity for the pencil. As he was watching the sleeping infant of his eldest sister 762 - HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA. it smiled, and, struck with its beauty, he sought some paper and drew its portrait in red and black ink. His talent, as usual, was cultivated under difficulties. From some Indians he obtained red and yellow, and his mother gave him a piece of indigo. A relative, however, having sent him a box of paints and pencils, he opened a studio in his mother's garret, where he forgot to go to school, and excited both surprise and admiration by his performances. His indulgent mother kissed him with rapture on beholding them, and procured a pardon from his father and teacher for the delinquencies of the truant. With the aid and countenance of various patrons, he was encouraged to persevere in his art for several years in his own country. In 1760, by the kindness of some friends, he was enabled to proceed to Italy, and reached Rome July 10th of that year. In 1763 he went to London, where the prospect of success induced him to establish himself as a historical painter. Benjamin was engaged to Miss Shewell, of Philadelphia, before he visited Europe, and in 1765 she went to England under the escort of his father. Tradition gives a pleasant account of the affair. We are told that the lady's family were very much opposed to the match, and with a view to prevent it her brother undertook to be her custodian, and kept her in her chamber under lock and key. Being of age, Miss Shewell was not disposed to yield to such arbitrary treatment. She resolved to go to her betrothed, inasmuch as he could not conveniently come for her. The gentlemen of her acquaintance sympathized with her, and determined to secure her passage in a ship then about to sail for England. They verified the saying that " Love laughs at locksmiths," and applied such apparatus as enabled the lady to descend from her prison by night, through the chamber window, in time to take her departure, under the auspices of Mr. West, Sr.,-her intended husband's father,-who sanctioned the procedure, and accompanied her to England. There the old gentleman first saw his eldest son, then past the meridian of life. Among the liberators of Miss Shewell, it is said, was a reverend gentleman, then very young, and subsequently known as the excellent Bishop White, of this diocese, who, as the story goes, always justified the deed, and declared he would do so again under the same circumstances. The artistic career of Benjamin West in England is too well known to require a detailed history here. He was somewhat of a favorite with George III., though his political sympathies were always with his native land. In the time of the Fourth George, or Prince Regent, Benjamin was advised, as president of the Royal Academy, to be present at a public exhibition, inasmuch as Majesty was to be there and would expect his attendance. He was assured that the prince, out of regard for his age and infirmities, would probably dispense with the usual etiquette on such occasions. His reply indicated the feeling which influenced him, and the extent of his reliance on such promises. " No," said the old man ; " it is now many years since I have had cause to know the wisdom of David's advice,-' Put not your trust in princes.' " His valuable life was terminated on the 11th of March, 1820, in the eighty-second year of his age ; and if the mother of the Gracchi was excusable for the parade of her famous " jewels," surely the ancient county of Chester may venture to present such a son as Benjamin West. WHELEN, DENNIS, married Ann, daughter of John Townsend, of Westtown, and he not being a Friend, she was disowned, 8, 8, 1739, on account of her marriage. In 1741 she was received again into membership, and at Goshen Monthly Meeting, 2, 16, 1744, "Dennis Wheelan, with the approbation of Uwchlan Preparative Meeting, Requesteth to be joyned in society with us, who is also Received, as his Conversation Proves agreeable with our Principles." He was a tavern-keeper at various places, and was in West Nantmeal for several years after 1747, but about 1764 occupied the Red Lion, in Uwchlan. This last property be continued to own, though others were the landlords, until his death. He married a second wife, Sarah Thompson, 11, 8, 1749, and his death occurred in 1782. His children were Mary, b. 1, 28, 1740 ; John, b. 6, 19, 1742, d. 2, 2, 1794, m. Martha Eldridge ; Catharine, b. 9, 23, 1744, m. William Clayton ; Phebe, b. 8, 21, 1746, m. Richard Evans ; Ann, b. 8, 13, 1750 ; Israel, b. 12, 13, 1752, m. Mary Downing; Isaac, b. 8, 3, 1754 ; Sarah, b. 11, 20, 1756, In. Lewis; Townsend, a physician, died about 1790, unmarried ; Dennis. The children of John and Martha (Eldridge) Whelen were Dennis, b. 5, 5, 1764, m. Mary Downing; James, b. 3, 21, 1767 ; Joseph, b. 9, 21, 1769 ; Ann, b. 9, 19, 1773, m. William Cox ; Sarah, b. 5, 16, 1776 ; Phebe, b. 12, 8, 1778; Ann, b. 3, 26, 1782. Dennis Whelen, son of John, we believe to have been the founder of the Chester and Delaware Federalist, afterwards the Village Record. His wife was probably the daughter of John Downing, but there seems to be some confusion in the records. WHITE, REV. ROBERT, was born in Montgomery Co , Pa., about the year 1785 ; received his classical and mathematical education at Norristown ; studied theology under the direction of Rev. Nathan Grier, of Brandywine Manor, and was licensed to preach by the Presbytery of New Castle, April 4, 1809. The same year he married the eldest daughter of his theological preceptor, Mr. Grier. He became pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Fagg's Manor, Chester Co., in 1810, which relation he sustained until his death, Sept. 20, 1835. He was a man of fine talents, an instructive preacher, and a friend of thorough education. lie had no desire to gain the applause of man. There was nothing of an affected, sanctimonious manner about him. He could not act the part of a hypocrite, and no one could be in his company for any length of time without being impressed with his humble, Christian spirit. Religion with him was a reality, in the pulpit and out of it. It gave direction to all he did and said. The power of his example no man could gainsay. As a pastor he was laborious and influential, and he was regarded by his congregation with great affection. He was succeeded at Fagg's Manor by Rev. Alfred Hamilton. One of his sons, Rev. Nathan Grier White, who was licensed to preach Oct. 2, 1833, is pastor of the Presbyterian Church at McConnellsburg, Pa. JOHN W. WAGONER. John Miller, June 25, 1768, in consideration of eight hundred pounds English sterling, conveyed fifty acres and a grist-mill in West Caln township to John Wagoner. He died in 1794, leaving the following children : Peter, George, William, John, Susan (married to John Skiles), and Betsey (married to Andrew McGill). Of these, Peter and William took the property at its appraisement. Peter, after his brother's death by yellow fever, bought out his brother's half and became sole owner. He married Mary Wilson, of Lancaster County, and had eleven children, of whom John Wilson Wagoner, born Oct. 14, 1814, is the youngest. Peter Wagoner died April 1, 1832, and his wife, Mary (Wilson), in 1850. John Wagoner was an emigrant from Germany, and when he bought the place in 1768 the old log house, the original residence, was standing, and had been built over fifty years. In this old house John W. was born. He learned farming and also the milling business. Was educated in the common schools. He married, March 10, 1840, Jane, daughter of James and Sarah Skiles, by whom he had. two children : Sarah, married to Emanuel Hershey, and Mary S., who died in her thirteenth year. His wife, .lane (Skiles), died Feb. 24, 1877. He is a member of the Protestant Episcopal Church of Compassville, and is treasurer of the same. He is a Republican in politics, and was a Whig when that party had its existence. His post-office is Cains, Lancaster Co. He built the present gristmill in 1840, which is yet in active operation. He owns eighty-one acres of land in Lancaster County, besides another tract of sixty acres in West Caln. The mill property, then having thirty-four acres, he purchased of his brother, and to it has added, making this old homestead to consist of about fifty acres. Besides milling he is a general farmer, and cultivates tobacco very largely. PROPERTY OF JOHN W. WAGONER, COMPASSVILLE WEST CALN. O. L. WOODWARD. Richard Woodward, son of Robert, of Rockland Manor, New Castle Co., Del., and Birmingham, Chester Co., married, in 1705, Mary, the only heir of Henry Nayle, of Thornbury, and at his death left seven children, viz.: Henry, John, Richard, Thomas, Deborah, Mary, and Alice. Of these, Thomas was married Oct. 26, 1745, to Elizabeth Jacobs, relict of John Jacobs and daughter of Roger Kirk and Elizabeth Richards, at East Nottingham Meeting. Thomas was born Nov. 7, 1722-23, in East Bradford, and died June 15, 1785, and his wife, Elizabeth, was born Feb. 15, 1721, and died Jan. 25, 1812. Roger Kirk, from Lurgan, North Ireland, was among the pioneers of Nottingham, and located in East Nottingham as early as 1712, and purchased large tracts of land. He married Elizabeth Richards about 1714, the daughter of Nathaniel and Mary Richards, of Ashton township. Nathaniel was a blacksmith, and her grandfather was Joseph Richards, who, with his wife Jane, came from England, and settled in Chichester township (now Delaware County). Richard conveyed to Thomas Woodward, Dec. 12, 1740, one hundred acres in East Bradford. Thomas u as a Friend (member of Concord Monthly Meeting), and obtained, his certificate of removal to New Garden Monthly Meeting, dated April 5, 1749, which was about the time he settled in East Marlborough, and became a member of Londongrove Particular Meeting. He resided on Street road, one and three-quarters miles from the meeting-house. He was engaged in bookbinding, also in surveying and conveyancing. He held negro slaves, but after hearing John Woolman, a noted preacher of Friends and an antislavery man, preach against the sin of human bondage, he liberated them. Thomas had children, viz.: Rebecca, Elizabeth, Samuel, Thomas, Deborah, Timothy, and Susanna. Of these, Thomas was born March 17, 1753, and died June 2, 1837. He was married Oct. 15, 1777, at Londongrove, to Mary, daughter of Ellis and Susanna Pusey, of West Fallowfield. She was born March 12, 1756, and died Aug. 16, 1838. He was a farmer, and remained on the homestead. Their children were Deborah, Susanna, Elizabeth, Ellis, Thomas, Mary, Joshua, Ann, and Lydia. Of these, Joshua was born Feb. 9, 1792, and died Dec. 30, 1852. He was married Oct. 17, 1821, at Londongrove, to Rebecca, daughter of John and Mary Nutt. She died Dec. 17, 1822, and he was the second time married, to Rebecca, daughter of Isaac and Sarah Lewis. She was born Sept. 17, 1797, and died Dec. 19, 1833. His third wife was Ellen Todd, who died Sept. 20, 1853. Joshua Wood-ward's children were Mary, born Dec. 8, 1822, and married Jan. 9, 1855, to Caleb Wood ; Owen Lewis, born Aug. 12, 1829, and married Oct. 2, 1855, to Sarah, daughter of George and Hannah Ralston, born Feb. 13, 1831 ; and Sarah Ann, born Oct. 26, 1831, and married Dec. 30, 1858, to Nathan G. Buckwalter, son of Christopher and Mary Buckwalter. Owen Lewis Woodward has one child, H. Bell Woodward, born July 14, 1856. Joshua, father of O. L., removed to West Vincent. April 1, 1829, and purchased of Henry Kurtz a farm of one hundred and thirty-four acres, but which now contains one hundred and forty acres. Owen Lewis received a common-school education in his youth. He is a general farmer, and has made many additions to his buildings and improvements to the farm. He is a Republican, and has served eight years on the executive county committee of his party. He is a director in the Farmers' and Mechanics' National Bank of Phoenixville, and was for ten years also in the Iron Bank of the same borough. RESIDENCE OF O. L. WOODWARD, WEST VINCENT. BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL - 763 WICKERSHAM, THOMAS, of Bolney, in Sussex, England, came to Pennsylvania in 1700, bringing a certificate from the Monthly Meeting held at Horsham, in that county, 7, 11, 1700. This ancient document is now in possession of Caleb P. Wickersham, of Kennet Square. He settled in East Marlborough, and there died in the 4th month (June), 1730. His first wife, Ann, was probably related to Humphrey Killenbeck, who gave land to her children. His second wife, Alice Hogg, came with him, but her children were born here. The children of Thomas by both wives were as follows : Humphrey, b. 1687, died young ; Thomas, b. 7, 19, 1691, m. Abigail Johnson, and died in 1726, leaving children ; John, b. 9, 4, 1693, married and left children ; Ann, b. 2, 27, 1696 ; Alice, b. 7, 14, 1701, m. William Wilton ; Richard, b. 8, 11, 1703, m. Catharine Johnson, 7, 16, 1730, and Elizabeth McNabb, 1. 14, 1740 ; William, b. 2, 3, 1706, in. Rachel Hayes, 3, 26, 1730 ; Elizabeth, b. 11, 13, 1708-9, m. Hugh Harry, 1, 4, 1731 ; James, b. about 1712, d. 4, 12, 1804 ; Rebecca, b. 4, 1, 1715 ; Isaac, b. 1. 28, 1721. James Wickersham, of East Marlborough, inherited the homestead on payment of legacies. He married, 2, 22, 1736, Ann Eachus, of Springfield, daughter of Robert, deceased, and Elizabeth, of Goshen, by whom he had the following children : Abel, Enoch, Jesse, James, John, Thomas, Samson, Abner, Priscilla, and Elizabeth. William and Rachel (Hayes) Wickersham had sons,-William, b. 7, 20, 1740, d. 8, 2, 1822, and Peter, b. 2, 16, 1743. William, Jr., married Elizabeth Pusey, daughter of William, of West Marlborough, and settled in Newlin township. His children were Caleb, Mary, Rachel, William, Amos, Thomas, Enoch, Hannah, Reuben, Elizabeth, and Jane. Caleb, the eldest, born 2, 25, 1765, married, 11, 5, 1789, Rachel Swayne, of East Marlborough, daughter of Samuel and Hannah. Their children were Hannah, Joshua, Ann, Caleb, b. 12, 10, 1796, d. 1874, m. Abigail Pyle ; Phebe, Esther, Samuel, Nathan, Eliza, and Swayne. Caleb and Abigail (Pyle) Wickersham had children,-James P., Henry N., Louisa, Charles B., Swayne, Sarah, William H., Lydia B., Morris, and Edward. JAMES PYLE WICKERSHAM, LL.D., was born in Newlin township, Chester Co., March 5, 1825. He is the son of Caleb Wickersham, the fifth in descent from Thomas Wickersham, who bought a tract of land in Marlborough township in 1700, and soon after settled upon it and built a house, which is still standing, one of the oldest, if not the oldest house in the county. His mother was a daughter of James Pyle, also of old Quaker stock. His education was obtained mainly in common schools and at the Unionville Academy. At the age of sixteen he began to teach school, and while he taught he worked harder than any of his pupils, and by the time he was twenty he had become a good general scholar, being well versed in mathematics and in some of the natural sciences, and reading with facility several of the ancient and modern languages. As a teacher, Mr. Wickersham's success was marked from the beginning. The common schools he taught were considered among the very best. In 1845 he became principal of the Marietta Academy, Lancaster County, in which position he was very successful, and remained ten years. Upon the establishment of the office he was elected county superintendent of schools in the county where he lived, and a year thereafter founded the Normal Institute, at Millersville, out of which has eventually developed the first State Normal School in Pennsylvania, and, in fact, the whole normal school system. In 1856 he became the permanent principal of this school, and made it, in the ten years he remained at its head, one of the most flourishing institutions in the county, running the number of students in attendance up to a thousand. In 1866 he accepted the position of State superintendent of common schools, tendered him by Governor Curtin, and until the present year remained in charge of the school affairs of the Commonwealth, receiving appointments successively from Governors Geary, Hartranft, and Hoyt, and always being confirmed unanimously by the Senate. During his administration Pennsylvania has made great progress in her school affairs, and is now the acknowledged peer in this respect of any State in the Union. The educational exhibition made under his direction at the Centennial was unequaled by that of any other State or nation. While holding his place as State superintendent, he has been repeatedly offered positions of an honorable and lucrative character in other States and abroad, among them that of Minister of Public Instruction in the Argentine Republic, under President Sarmiento, who was his personal friend. Mr. Wickersham helped form the Lancaster County Teachers' Association, the Pennsylvania State Teachers' Association, the National Educational Association, and the National Superintendents' Association, of each of which he was among the earliest presidents. Some of his addresses before these bodies have been widely circulated in this country and translated into other languages and published abroad. The two works he wrote while principal of the Normal School, " School Economy" and " Methods of Instruction," have been more widely read at home than any other books of their class, and the " School Economy" has been translated into the French, Spanish, and Japanese languages. In addition to these works, he has written largely for the educational press, and has prepared and published fifteen volumes of common school and nine volumes of orphan school reports. Since 1870 he has been editor of the Pennsylvania School Journal, the most widely-circulated educational magazine in the country. Mr. Wickersham has been active outside of his chosen field of labor. In 1863 he raised and commanded a three months' regiment of soldiers. Soon after his return from the army he prepared, at the request of Governor Curtin, the original bill providing for the education and maintenance of the destitute orphan children of soldiers ; and in 1871 the Legislature placed the whole care of the soldiers' orphans in his hands, and he has expended in their behalf four millions of dollars. He is a member of the State Board of Agriculture, a trustee in the boards of three or four colleges, and a director of several large business enterprises. WILKINSON, JOSEPH, brought a certificate from Ballynacree, Ireland, to Bradford Monthly Meeting, 12, 16, 1737. Evan Wilkinson produced one to the same meeting, 764 - HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA. 5, 21, 1737 ; Samuel, one to Sadsbury, 12, 6, 1737-8, from the same place, dated 2, 23, 1737 ; and Ann Wilkinson, one to Bradford, 4, 15, 1738. These were probably brothers and a sister, who all came over together, but, owing to uncertainty of settlement, did net present their certificates at the same time. Joseph Wilkinson was married, 10, 31, 1740, to Elizabeth Fisher, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth, of Kennet. He settled in East Caln, but afterwards resided at other places. He died 9, 10, 1760, having had the following children : Francis, b. 12, 15, 1741 ; Susanna, b. 12, 29, 1743 ; Thomas, b. 12, 5, 1745 ; Elizabeth, b. 6, 30, 1748 ; Joseph, b. 7, 17, 1750 ; Mary, b. 3, 20, 1752 ; Ruth, b. 7, 27, 1754 ; Alice, b. 12, 10, 1755. Of these, Francis married, 4, 11, 1770, Hannah Mode, daughter of Alexander and Rebecca, of East Fallowfield, and settled in Londongrove. Their children were Rebecca, m. to William Hoopes ; Elizabeth, in. to James Trimble ; Joseph ; Hannah, m. to Joseph Pennock ; Francis, m. to Phebe Pusey ; Susanna, m. to Moses Way ; Mode ; Amy, m. to Thomas flicks ; William ; .Ruth, in. to John Edge. WILLIAMS.-This is a very common name among the Welsh settlers, and it must not be inferred that all are of the same family. ROBERT WILLIAM, of Merion, widower, was married at the house of Hugh Roberts, 4, 19, 1691, to Gwen Cadwalader. About the year 1700 they were settled in Goshen, probably on land then of Griffith Owen, at or near the present Goshen Friends' Meeting. He was sometimes called the King of Goshen, and it is claimed that he was the first settler in the township. Tradition says their first residence was a cave, and that on occasion, when their hearth-fire went out, he had to go seven miles to get it renewed. Goshen Meeting was held first, it is believed, at his house, though the record says at the house of Griffith Owen, but the latter doubtless lived in Philadelphia. In 1715 they lived in Uwchlan township, and in that year conveyed the Goshen homestead to their son Ellis. Though he had considerable land in Goshen, he appears to have been in straitened circumstances, so that in 1702 Friends of Haverford contributed £19 9d. 8s. to him to build a new house, he having received Friends " kindly and openhearted," and keeping the meeting in his house. In 1710, Edward Roberts complained of him for debt, and the meeting advised him to sell some of his land to pay it, and even appointed persons to assist him in doing it. He died in 1734, at the age of eighty-seven years. His children, so far as known, were,-1. Elizabeth, m. to William Philips, 1708 ; 2. Ellis, who died 1756, m. Mary about 1712 ; she died 2, 7, 1753 ; 3. Lewis, m. about 1720, to Ann, daughter of James Thomas ; 4. John, perhaps a son, m. Jane ____ ; 5. Ann, b. 1700, in. . Griffith John ; 6. William, m. 10, 3, 1723, at Uwchlan Meeting, Joan Pugh, daughter of James Pugh, of Uwchlan, d. in Vincent, 7, 17, 1744; 7. Grace, b. 3, 12, 1707, m. John Meredith ; 8. Hannah, m. John Morgan, Nov. 9, 1723 ; 9. Sarah, b. 1712, m. Timothy Kirk. Ellis and Mary Williams had issue,-10. Robert, b. 6, 29, 1715 ; 11. Esther, b. 11, 11, 1718; 12. Mary, b. 1, 3, 1720, m. Thomas Garrett ; 13. Ellis ; 14. Isaac, b. 7, 16, 1722, m. Esther Davies. Children of Lewis and Ann William : 15. Mary, b. 2, 16, 1721, d. 8th mo., 1722 ; 16. Nathan, b. 8, 19, 1722 ; 17. Lewis, son of Lewis, of Willistown, m. 1, 13, 1763, at Goshen Meeting, to Miriam Lewis, daughter of Thomas ; 18. Abraham, and perhaps others. Ellis Williams (13), son of Ellis and Mary, of Goshen, married, 2, 1, 1748, Lydia Haines, daughter of Isaac and Catharine, of Goshen, and had children,-Jesse, Ellis, Isaac, Nathan, Jane, and Lydia. Ellis (3) m. Jane Garrett, 11, 19, 1789, and had Lydia, Mary, Jesse, Ellis, Josiah, Nathan, Garrett, and Jane. The fourth Ellis, b. 11, 24, 1797, d. 12, 28, 1874. He and his father were the sextons at Goshen for a long period, and buried hundreds of bodies there. Lewis Williams. (17) had children,-Issachar, George, Enoch, Thomas, Tacy (who married _____ Goodwin), and Abraham. Abraham Williams, born 12, 26, 1783, d. 9, 3, 1862, married Rachel, daughter of Richard and Hannah White, born 8, 12, 1781, died 9, 13, 1850. He was a miller, and for many years operated Taylor's mill, in East Bradford. Afterwards lie owned land and resided in Westtown, near Hemphill Station. His children were Lewis W., b. 12, 20, 1804, d. 9, 19, 1873 ; Hannah, b. 8, 11, 1807, m. John T. Haines ; Richard W., b. 7, 31, 1809 ; Enoch, b. 6, 8, 1814, deceased ; Ann T., b. 4, 11, 1818. " Lewis White Williams departed this life at his residence, near the borough of West Chester, yesterday morning, 19th inst., after a prolonged and painful illness of some months. He was born in East Goshen township, Chester Co., on the 20th of December, 1804, and at the time of his death was in the sixty-ninth year of his age. For many years he resided by turns in Delaware and Chester Counties, where he was engaged in teaching, a business for which he was eminently fitted by his genial disposition. " When the Chester County Cabinet of Natural Sciences was or ganized in 1826, he was one of its earliest and most ardent members, and chose mineralogy for his branch of study. For his untiring industry in collecting, and acumen in discovering and developing the mineral treasures of this region, mineralogists are under many obligations, while foreign cabinets, as well as those of this country, are graced by the magnificent specimens collected and distributed by him with no miserly hand. His mineralogical expeditions were not confined to this region alone, but extended north and south into neighboring States and Territories. In 1857 he was appointed by the Buchanan administration assistant geologist and naturalist in what was termed 'The Camel Expediton,' under Lieut. Beale, U.S.A., to reconnoitre and lay out a wagon-road on the 32d parallel, from Texas to California. He entered on this work with enthusiasm, and he often related his escapes from Indians after having wandered from the train in search of minerals and fossils. His labors were frequently acknowledged in scientific publications, and his opinions on minerals and mineral localities were frequently sought by scientists and others. As a slight acknowledgment of his labors in the cause, Prof. Shepard named a variety of precious serpentine (Williamsite) after its discoverer. " Like a true votary of science, he loved mineralogy for the mental pleasure and gratification it afforded, and not for the paltry dollars and cents which it occasionally threw in his way, .a trait of character possessed by a class of naturalists now almost extinct. He was sincere in his attachments, and to those he especially regarded as among his scientific friends he was generous in the extreme." W. D. H. REV. JOSHUA WILLIAMS, D.D., was the son of Lewis Williams, an emigrant from Wales, and was born in the Great Valley, Chester Co., Pa., Aug. 8, 1761. When he was about two years of age his father removed to York Co., Pa. He graduated at Dickinson College, Carlisle,-then BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL - 765 under the presidency of Dr. Charles Nisbet,-in the year 1795, in the same class with Chief Justice Roger B. Taney, who ever retained a kindly remembrance of him. In 1798 he was licensed to preach by the Carlisle Presbytery. In 1799 he became pastor of the congregations of Derry and Paxton, in Dauphin County, where he remained about two years. In 1802 he took charge of the Presbyterian Church at Big Springs, in Cumberland County, and served it as pastor until 1829, when, on account of bodily infirmity, he resigned. He died Aug. 21, 1838, and was interred in the Big Spring churchyard. His talents and attainments were such as to command the highest respect from all who knew him. His intellectual powers were naturally strong and vigorous, and his judgment was sound and discriminating. He was familiar with the science of mental philosophy, and had a remarkable taste for metaphysical discussions. He was learned and able in his profession, and highly instructive in his discourses. WILLIAMSON, DANIEL, came from England under contract to work for Robert Taylor, and doubtless came from the same county, Chester, and in the year 1682. His sister Mary was the wife of John Howell, and married a second husband, Walter Marten, of Chichester. Daniel received from Robert Taylor 50 acres of land for his services, and he also received 50 acres from the proprietary for coming as a servant. The whole 100 acres were located in Marple, Oct. 22, 1683, with 300 of John Howell's, and patented to the latter. Daniel married Mary Smith in 1685 and settled in Newtown. His death occurred in 1727, while he was a member of Assembly. His children were Robert, b. 10, 3, 1686, m. Hannah Coppock ; Daniel, b. 8, 6, 1688, in. Hannah Malin ; John, b. 7, 11, 1690, m. Sarah Smedley ; Mary, b. 7, 25, 1692, m. Myrick Davies ; Thomas, b. 10, 10, 1694, m. Ann Malin ; Joseph, b. 2, 25, 1697, m. Mary Yearsley (?) ; Margaret, b. 12, 12, 1698, m. Joshua Thomson ; Abigail, b. 7, 16, 1702, d. 12, 28, 1775, m. John Yat nail and William Garrett. John Williamson was a somewhat prominent minister among Friends, and resided in Newtown. His children were Mary, m. to Abraham Hoopes ; Sarah, m. to - Calvert ; Margaret, m. to John Brinton ; Alice, in. to Be-Daniel Lownes and _____ Buckley ; Esther, m. to Samuel Mendenhall ; Jane, m. to Robert Regester and Abel Green; John, m. to Elizabeth Buckley ; Thomas and Ann (Malin) Williamson had children,-Margaret, m. to Nathan Hoopes ; Ann ; Thomas, m. to Abigail Jefferis ; Mary, Daniel, William, and Robert. William was born. Aug. 5, 1731, and died February, 1815. He first married his cousin, Sarah, daughter of Abraham and Mary Hoopes, by whom he had a son, Abraham, who married Esther James, 9, 18, 1777. William married a second wife, Phebe, daughter of Augustine and Hannah Passmore, born 9, 11, 1763, by whom he had Sarah, b. August, 1789, d. July 18, 1865, m. Abraham Hoopes ; Passmore, b. Oct. 8, 1790, d. July 11, 1819, unmarried ; Phebe, b. May 26, 1792, d. Feb. 19, 1866, unmarried ; William, b. Feb. 20, 1794, d. July 25, 1866 ; Thomas, b. March 3, 1796, d. Aug. 26, 1771 ; Cheyney, b. March 22, 1798, d. Feb. 7, 1833, m. Sarah Howard ; Augustine, b. Oct. 14, 1803. Of these, William Williamson, Esq., of the bar, was one of the leading citizens of West Chester, and took an active part in matters of public welfare. He married, March 7, 1822, Esther, daughter of Jesse Good, and had children,-Edward H., Caroline M., Elizabeth G., and Clara. His widow died Jan. 22, 1873. Thomas Williamson, his brother, was a conveyancer, doing an extensive business. He married Elizabeth Pyle and Deborah M. Garrigues, and died in Philadelphia. He was the father of Passmore Williamson. HUGH WILLIAMSON was born, of Scotch-Irish parents, in the township of West Nottingham, Chester Co., Dec. 5, 1735. These Scotch-Irish immigrants have been remarkable in our country for their. enterprise, and for the intellectual development of their descendants. His father, John Williamson (who had been a clothier in Dublin), came to Chester County about the year 1730. His mother, Mary Davidson, was a native of Derry ; came hither with her father, George Davison, while a child about three years of age. She died about 1804, in her ninetieth year. The parents of Hugh Williamson were married in 1731. They had ten children,_____ six sons and four daughters. Hugh was their eldest son. Being slender and delicate, his father resolved to give him a liberal education. After the common preparatory instruction, he was sent at an early age to learn the languages, at the academy at New London Cross-roads, under Rev. Francis Alison, the Busby of the 'Western hemisphere. Among the pupils of that seminary may be mentioned Charles Thomson, Dr. John Ewing, Thomas McKean, Benjamin Rush, etc. After Dr. Alison's transfer to Philadelphia, Hugh 'Williamson went to the academy at Newark, Del., where he prepared for college. He entered the Philadelphia College in 1753, remained there about four years, and graduated A.B. May 17, 1757. He was fond of mathematics, and became a proficient in Euclid. His father (who had, shortly before this, removed to Shippensburg, Cumberland Co., Pa.) died the year Hugh graduated, as above ; whereupon he became sole executor, and resided with his mother about two years, settling his estate. He became early impressed with a sense of religion, and while with his mother devoted much time to the study of divinity, under the auspices of the Rev. Dr. Samuel Finley, with a view to the clerical profession. In 1759, Hugh went to Connecticut, where he still pursued his theological studies, and was licensed to preach the gospel. He preached but a short time, not exceeding two years, when he found that his health and strength of lungs would not permit the duties of the office, and he was never ordained. Moreover, the memorable controversy in the Presbyterian Church between the adherents of White-field and the old Orthodox party proved a source of disgust to him, which induced him to withdraw from theological pursuits, to which he was sincerely attached. He accordingly left the pulpit, and entered upon the study of medicine. In 1760 he received the degree of A.M. in Philadelphia College, and soon after was appointed Professor of Mathematics in that institution, but continued his medical studies. 766 - HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA. Oct. 8, 1763, he gave notice of his intended resignation of the professorship, and in 1764 he went to prosecute his medical studies at the University of Edinburgh. He afterwards spent a year in London at his studies, and from thence crossed over to Holland, and completed his medical education at Utrecht. Having passed .the usual examination, and submitted a Latin thesis, he obtained the degree of Doctor of Medicine. Having spent some time in traveling on the continent of Europe, he bent his course towards his native country. Upon his return, Dr. Williamson practiced medicine in Philadelphia for a few years. In 1768 he was chosen a member of the American Philosophical Society. His health failing, he resolved to try mercantile pursuits, but meanwhile for a time devoted himself to literary and philosophical investigations. In January, 1769, he was ap- HUGH WILLIAMSON. pointed by the Philosophical Society on a committee, with the Rev. Dr. Ewing, David Rittenhouse, and Charles Thomson, to observe the transit of Venus, which occurred on June 3d in that year and soon after to observe the transit of Mercury, which took place Nov. 9, 1769. In that year, also, he philosophized on the comet. In 1770 he published observations on climate in the American, Philosophical Transactions. In 1772 he visited the West Indies to collect contributions in aid of the Newark Academy. In 1773, Governor John Penn certified to the " good credit and reputation" of Rev. John Ewing and Dr. Hugh Williamson, who were authorized to proceed to Europe and solicit further aid for said academy. They persevered under difficulties until the autumn of 1775, when hostilities with the colonies commenced. Dr. Ewing returned home, but Dr. Williamson resolved to remain and make further efforts for the academy. Dr. Williamson was the first to report the destruction of the tea at Boston. On that occasion he ventured to declare his opinion that coercive measures by Parliament would result in civil war. Lord North himself declared that Dr. Williamson was the first person who, in his hearing, intimated the probability of such an event. Dr. Williamson, while in London, was the man (probably with the aid or at the suggestion of Mr., afterwards Sir John Temple) who procured the letters of Hutchinson, Oliver, etc., and caused them to be delivered to Dr. Franklin, who sent them to Boston, for which Wedderburne, before the Privy Council, called Franklin a thief,—or, in other words, Homo trium Literarum [F U R]. After causing the Hutchinson correspondence to reach Dr. Franklin, it was deemed expedient by Dr. Williamson to take an early conveyance next day for Holland. It was supposed by John Adams that Mr. David Hartley, a member of Parliament, and a good friend of the Americans, was the person through whom the letters reached Dr. Franklin. On the Declaration of Independence, Dr. Williamson returned to the United States, and engaged for a time with a brother in trade with the West Indies. His residence then was at Edenton, N. C. In 1779-80, when the British took possession of Charleston, S. C., a large draft of militia from North Carolina was ordered for the relief of South Carolina on which occasion the commander, Governor Caswell, placed Dr. Williamson at the head of the medical department. After the battle of Camden, Aug. 18, 1780, which the doctor witnessed, he requested Gen. Caswell to give him a flag, that he might go and attend to the wounded North Carolina prisoners. The general advised BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL - 767 him to send some of the regimental surgeons, inasmuch as his duty did not require him to go. Dr. Williamson replied that such of the regimental surgeons as he had seen refused to go, afraid of the consequences. " But," said he, " if I have lived until a flag will not protect me, I have outlived my country, and in that case have lived a day too long." He went, and remained two months in the enemy's camp, rendering good service to the sick of both armies, where his skill was highly esteemed. At the close of the war Dr. Williamson served as a representative of Edenton in the House of Commons of North Carolina. He was next sent to Congress from the " old North State," where he continued for three years. Writing to President Dickinson, of Pennsylvania, from New York, while in Congress, Jan. 14, 1785, about John Franklin and the other Connecticut intruders at Wyoming, Dr. Williamson says, in the conclusion of a letter, "1 have taken the liberty of giving you the above information, as I cannot cease to feel myself interested in the peace and reputation of a State which gave me birth." In the year 1786 he was one of the few delegates sent to Annapolis to revise and amend the Articles of Confederation of the Union ; and in 1787 he was a delegate from North Carolina to the Convention which formed the Constitution of the United States. Dr. Williamson was a zealous advocate of the new Constitution, and was a member of the State Convention, in 1789, which adopted it. He served in the First and Second Congresses, and then declined a re-election. In January, 1789, he married Miss Maria Apthorpe, of New York, where he came to reside, and bad two sons, who both died young. He continued industriously to write on various philosophical subjects ; was an early advocate of the great New York Canal system ; an active promoter of philanthropic, literary, and scientific institutions ; and in 1812 gave to the world his " History of North Carolina." After a long life, devoted to the best interests of humanity, Dr. Hugh Williamson died suddenly at New York on May 22, 1819, in the eighty-fifth year of his age. Of him it may be safely predicated that he was an ornament of our common country, and one of the most eminent and useful men which the ancient county of Chester has yet produced. For an interesting account of Dr. Williamson, see Dr. Hosack's memoir, in the Transactions of the New York Historical Society. WILLS, MICHAEL, from Rathdrum, county of Wicklow, Ireland, came to Chester County in 1728, and settled in Whiteland at first, but appears to have lived afterwards in Lower Merion, (now) Montgomery County, his will, dated 1748, devising personal property to heirs in that locality. His son Michael married Jane Mather, ten years his junior, whose family emigrated at the same time. They had three sons-Jeremiah, Michael, and John-and three daughters, who married respectively Michael Mather, Jacob Whiteman, and John Mather. The father died 1794, aged eighty-six, and his widow ten years later,-both buried at Radnor. Michael Wills (3), born 1755, married Ann, daughter of Andrew and Elizabeth Keyser Wood, who owned a valuable estate in Roxborough, Philadelphia, and to them were born fourteen children, nine of whom-Elizabeth, Andrew Jane, William, Mary, Ann, Allen, Rebecca, and Sarah-lived to maturity. Michael died Jan. 15, 1829, and his widow April 29, 1832. Their son Andrew, born June 18, 1798, studied medicine, graduated at University of Pennsylvania in 1825, and married, Nov. 12, 1826, Sarah Hannum, born May 2, 1807, daughter of James Hannum and Sarah (Edge) Reese, who were married Dec. 13, 1803. He practiced medicine in Chester County forty-six years, and died July 7, 1871, at Lionville,-buried in cemetery of St. John's Church, Norristown. Elizabeth Wills m. Levi Evans ; Jane m. John B. Hahn ; William m. Elizabeth Marple, and had six children ; Mary m. John Hunter and (second) Francis Parke, and is now a widow, residing in West Chester ; Ann m. John Gorgas, and left one daughter, Susanna, now of West Chester ; Rebecca died in her minority, and Sarah never married ; Allen m. Elizabeth H. Evans, and resided at Downingtown, where he died Oct. 23, 1873. They had six children,-Rebecca, m. Dr. Samuel Ringwalt ; Anna, m. Daniel Baugh ; George, m. Thomazine Zook ; J. Hunter, a store-keeper in Downingtown ; Abner E., of Philadelphia; and Allen W., of Downingtown. Dr. Andrew Wills had fourteen children,-Sarah, d. in minority ; Mary, m. Washington T. Koplin, of Norristown ; Morgan R., m. Sept. 6, 1860, Mary Hitner, daughter of Daniel H. Dager, now deceased, of Whitemarsh ; Edward S., m. Fannie Homiston and (second) Annie Isbell ; Clara, m. Hunter E. Van Leer; Rebecca, m. D. Smith Talbot, Esq., of West Chester ; Andrew was killed at Fort Donelson ; Horace and Francis died young ; Ann, m. T. Lewis Vickers ; Elizabeth, m. D. Webster Evans ; Florence, m. George R. Hoopes, now sheriff of Chester County ; Susan died in infancy. Morgan Reese Wills, editor and proprietor of the Norristown Herald, was born in West Whiteland, Oct. 21, 1831, and in his sixteenth year went to learn printing with Caleb N. Thornbury, who started a temperance sheet about that time in the office of the Jeffersonian, at West Chester. This enterprise not succeeding, he entered the office of the Register, at Norristown, and remained till 1853. After a brief residence at Springfield, Ill., he returned to Norristown, where he has become a prominent journalist. In 1875 he and his wife made a tour of Europe, and were absent about four months, during which time their letters of travel, principally written by Mrs. Wills, appeared almost weekly in the Herald, and on their return were issued in book form by J. B. Lippincott & Co., bearing the title " A Summer in Europe." WILSON, REV. MATTHEW, D.D., was born in East Nottingham township, Chester Co., Pa., Jan. 15, 1731. He was the son of James Wilson, who migrated to Pennsylvania from the north of Ireland. He received his academical education in the academy of Dr. Francis Alison, at New London. He was licensed as a Presbyterian minister in April, 1754, and had charge of the congregations of Lewes, Cool Spring, and Indian River, in Delaware. He was regularly bred to the medical profession, and few physicians of his day had more learning, skill, or success in the healing art. His medical practice occupied much of his 768 - HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA. time, but such were his perseverance and industry that he acceptably fulfilled the duties of both his professions. He was also considerably skilled in jurisprudence, and highly esteemed for his counsel. Ile was ingenious, patriotic, and benevolent in an eminent degree, and held a high place in public estimation. In the Revolutionary contest he took the side of his country with great decision, and was zealous in the cause of American independence. He inscribed the word " Liberty" on his cocked hat, that no one might doubt his sentiments. His patriotic efforts were unremitted, and exerted much influence wherever he was known. He was a diligent student to a late period of his life, and seems to have had a habit of reading with pen in hand. The margins of his book were generally filled, sometimes to crowding, with manuscript notes, some of them graphic and interesting. It was common, about the middle of the last century, in printed volumes, to print emphatic words, especially in conspicuous positions, in red ink. Dr. Wilson was fond of introducing this practice into his letters. lie was said to have had two inkstands, one of black and the other of red ink, in every room in his house. The degree of Doctor of Divinity was conferred upon him by the University of Pennsylvania in 1786. He died March 30, 1790. He was the father of Rev. James P. Wilson, D.D., who was even more distinguished than his father, and who in learning had few equals. REV. BIRD WILSON, D.D., LL.D., was born Jan. 8, 1777. He was a son of Hon. James Wilson, one of the leading advocates of the Philadelphia bar, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, a member of' the Convention which framed the Constitution of the TJnited States, and one of the committee that reported the draft. In 1789 he was appointed by Washington a judge of the Supreme Court of the United States, and held the office until his death, in 1798. Bird Wilson graduated at the University of Pennsylvania in 1792, at the early age of fifteen. He studied law under the direction of Joseph Thomas, of Philadelphia, and soon after his admission to the bar obtained a place in the office of commissioner of bankrupt law. In 1806, when only about twenty-nine years of age, he was appointed by Governor McKean president judge of the judicial district composed of the counties of Chester, Delaware, Bucks, and Montgomery, then known as the Seventh Circuit, which office he held until 1818, when he laid aside the ermine and became a clergyman of the Episcopal Church. He was ordained deacon by Bishop White, March 12, 1819, and priest about a year afterwards. He became rector of the Episcopal Church in Norristown, where he remained until towards the close of 1821, when he was appointed a professor in the Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church, in New York. In this position he continued for twenty-nine years. He resigned June 25, 1850, and as a token of respect the trustees of the seminary appointed him Emeritus Professor in his department. He died in New York, on the 14th of April, 1859, at the age of eighty-two years. When he presided over the courts of this county he resided at Norristown. He was a man of talent, learning, of remarkable mildness of manner and amiability of character, united with inflexible firmness and decision. Asa judge he was distinguished for the soundness of his decisions, and it is said that only one was ever reversed by a superior court. He was held in high respect and esteem for his virtues as a man, and his integrity, uprightness, and ability as a presiding officer of the judiciary department. He is still remembered by many of the older citizens of Chester County. In 1813 he edited an edition of " Bacon's Abridgment of the Law," a standard English work. R. F. and J. D. WILSON.-" Shady Home" is the farm of some one hundred and seventy five acres of R. F. and J. D. Wilson, and which has been in their family over a century and a half. James Wilson and Jane, his wife, were emigrants from the north of Ireland, of the Presbyterian faith, and were the first of their family to settle in this county, about 1728. Their children were six, of whom Matthew was born Jan. 15, 1730, was devoted to God before his birth, and afterwards became an eminent Presbyterian clergyman, as was his son, James Patriot, as well as his son of the same name, and all three were respectively honored by colleges with the title of D.D. The second was Mary, born June 3, 1732, married to William Wilson, and left five children. Robert, the third, was born July 6, 1735. James, the fourth, born Nov. 14, 1741, was a pbysician, married, settled in Buckingham, Worcester Co., Md., became wealthy and prominent. The fifth and sixth were John and Rachel, who died young. James, the immigrant, died Feb. 28, 1747-8, and his wife June 29, 1749,-both buried in Louisville graveyard, in Elk township. Their son, Rev. Matthew Wilson, and his wife were riding on horseback during the Revolutionary war, when a bullet from the British or Tories pierced the horn of her saddle, and on the birth of her child they gave it the name of James Patriot, in token of the war event in which her life was jeopardized, and the child so named became a distinguished divine and author in Philadelphia. Robert served in the Revolutionary war, and built the house (see engraving elsewhere) in 1772, and in the oven in one end of it bread was baked for the soldiers of Washington's army. He married Elizabeth Grier, of Londonderry, Ireland, who died in 1825, and he died Nov. 25, 1783. His children were James, Martha, Matthew, Jean, Seth, Mary, George, Robert, Ann, and Grier, of whom Matthew, the only one married, was born July 27, 1762. He married, Aug. 27, 1792, Jenny Fulton, who died Jan. 19, 1797. He was appointed by the Executive Council of Pennsylvania, May 1, 1789, first lieutenant in 5th Battalion of Chester County militia, captain by Governor Mifflin in 1792, again in 1800 by Governor McKean, and in 1807 paymaster, which he held until 1814, making twenty-five years in the militia service. His children were Elizabeth, died young; John, m. Ann Boon about 1820, and left one daughter ; and Robert, b. July 1, 1796. The latter married Lydia Wilson, Nov. 25, 1828. Their children were six,--1. Matthew James, b. Jan. 11, 1830 ; m. Dec. 18, 1855, Rebecca C. McIntire, and has had children, viz., Robert Buchanan, Ella Franklin, Mary Harvey (deceased), Lydia Jane, Ann Elizabeth, Margaret Rebecca, James Clement, Josephine (deceased), Joseph McIntyre, Francis Bayard, and Mabel BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL - 769 Campbell. 2. Phebe Ella, b. Aug. 31, 1831. 3. Robert Franklin, b. Sept. 28, 1833 d. Feb. 27, 1836. 4. Tamer Jane, b. Feb. 8, 1836 ; m. March 23, 1875, William K. Warden ; d. leaving two children,—Robert and George. 5. Robert Franklin, b. June 23, 1839 ; m. Jan. 19, 1870, Agnes E. Thomson, by whom he has two children living,—Robert Thomson, b. Dec. 6, 1872, and William Jeffers, b. Feb. 15, 1879,—and one deceased in infancy,—Lydia Margaret, b. June 13, 1871. 6. John Davis, b. Jan. 11, 1842 ; m. Feb. 22, 1877, Sarah Elizabeth Thomson. Robert Wilson died April 3, 1862, and his wife, Lydia, Sept. 7, 1865. Robert's eldest son, Matthew James, served in the war of the Rebellion, in the 175th Pennsylvania Regiment. James, the emigrant, about 1730, entered 309 acres of land in East Nottingham township, all owned now by Matthew J., R. F., and J. D. Wilson. ROBERT WILSON.—During the emigration fever of 1798, Robert Wilson, born near Londonderry, Ireland, in 1775, was among the large number who came to America. He had spent his boyhood days on his father's farm, and learned the trade of currying and finishing leather at Waterside, a place separated by the river Foyle from Londonderry, with a Mr. Cathers, to whom he had been apprenticed. On his arrival at New York he came to this county and located near the old Grove meeting-house, where he found employment with Benjamin Swayne at his tannery. After five years' work here, in which by his industry he had saved a nice sum of money, he conceived the idea of returning to Ireland on a visit to see his friends, and with a view of combining business with pleasure he invested his money in flaxseed to take with him for sale at his old home for a profit. Mr. Swayne having a desire to import a blooded horse, intrusted to him one hundred and forty dollars for that purpose. When his visit in Ireland was over, and having realized a handsome profit out of his flaxseed, liberal and kind, he loaned his money to young men anxious to emigrate to America on the promise that as soon as they earned the money in the United States they would repay him. The ship in which he and his associates took passage was stopped in mid-ocean by a British man-of-war, and he and all the other able-bodied men on board were pressed into the British service. This involuntary service, which lasted a period of nine months, was so irksome and unpleasant that he felt at times that death by drowning would be preferable to the hopeless termination of this servitude. However, he made the best of it, and made friends among the officers wherever he could, and being a good performer on the violin, he soon worked himself into the good graces of the ship's officers. To one of these he made a small loan of money, and thus - 97 - secured his friendship, and who said he would remember him for it whenever an opportunity offered. The ship put into Halifax to winter, and while there the officer he had befriended took him out of the man-of-war by night, passed him by the guard, and concealed him in an old lodging-house, in a loft or garret, where the icicles at times hung suspended from the rafters. He and three or four others remained there for a period of six weeks, having only one blanket among them all. The only means of access to their place was through an opening in the second floor, which a cupboard standing on the first floor filled up, and communication with them was only had by removing some of the shelves. The officers searched in the house, but failed to find them. They suffered much from cold, and owing to a disagreement between the man and wife who kept the place, they lived in constant dread of being discovered. In the month of January he left his place of 770 - HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA. concealment, secured passage on a brig about to sail for Boston, but on the way was shipwrecked near Cranberry Island. His condition now was truly deplorable, being reduced to want and destitution in mid-winter. He had tasted slavery under British arbitrary rule, for six weeks suffered cold and hunger and dread of arrest in that cheerless garret, and now he was shipwrecked on a desolate coast. At last, after much experience in delays and sufferings, he reached his old Chester County home, and met with a warm reception from his old employer, Benjamin Swayne. He was now penniless, having lost all he had, including the money Mr. Swayne had given him to purchase a horse. Mr. Swayne again employed him, and out of his first earnings he repaid him the lost $140. Frugal and industrious, he in a few years accumulated sufficient money to commence for himself; he leased a tannery in Londongrove township for five years, and when his lease expired he had cleared five thousand dollars. In 1813 he married Rachel Swayne, a relative of his old employer, and in 1815 removed to East Fallowfield, where he bought, on the Strasburg road, a property having on it a site for a tannery, which he at once erected, long known as the " Wilson tannery on the Strasburg road." He operated it until 1837, when he retired from public business, and resided on his farm until his death, which occurred in 1870, at the advanced age of ninety-five years. His children are Joel S., unmarried, and living on the old homestead ; Robert, married, and living in Philadelphia ; Sarah, who married James Wilson, near Mortonville ; Jane, who became the wife of John Gilfillen, of Coatesville ; and Lucinda, wife of William McArthur, of Philadelphia. Robert Wilson was a man of probity and honor, and universally esteemed and loved. He was appointed justice of the peace by Governor Wolf; and discharged its duties with a view to amicably settle disputes instead of making money of the office. He possessed a good practical business education, was a ready and smooth writer, and was noted for the accuracy of his accounts. His information was general, and he was a most happy conversationalist. His sympathetic nature went out largely towards young men of limited means struggling to get under way in business for themselves, and many a one of these hold his name in grateful remembrance for the timely aid received from him when first starting out in business. WISTAR, CASPAR, son of Hans Casper Wister, was born at Hilsbach, Germany, in 1696. Although prospective heir to a competency, he determined to come to America and seek his own fortune, leaving the paternal estate to younger members of the family. He arrived at Philadelphia Sept. 17, 1717. He married Katherine Johnson, May 25, 1726, and had seven children,-Richard, Margaret, Katherine, Joshua, Rebecca, Sarah, and Caspar. He brought to this country a revolving double-barreled gun, which is preserved by his descendants. Not understanding the English language or pronunciation, he changed the terminal letters of his names from er to ar. A younger brother, who followed him to this country, retained the original spelling of Wister, and their respective descendants are distinguished by this peculiarity. Caspar Wistar, Jr., born Feb. 3, 1740, married, Nov. 7, 1765, Maria Franklin, and had five children,-Thomas, Catharine, Sarah, Mary, and John, probably all born in New York. About the year 1784 this family came to Chester County and settled on a farm on the Brandywine, lately owned by John Entriken, deceased. They were here members of Birmingham Friends' Meeting. The ford and bridge at this place were long known as Wistar's. Caspar died 10, 31, 1811, his son Samuel, 11, 26, 1812, and Thomas, 7, 30, 1814. Sarah was married to George Pennock, 10, 14, 1790, and Catharine F. to Abraham Sharpless, 12, 16, 1802. On the day appointed for the marriage of the daughter Sarah a violent storm raised the Brandywine so much as to prevent crossing to the meeting-house. The dwelling-house being small, a meeting was held in the barn of Caspar Wistar, and the marriage solemnized there. WOLLERTON, CHARLES, son of Charles Wollerton, of the town of Hicklin, in the county of Nottingham, England, weaver, came to Pennsylvania, and married, 3, 18, 1726, at Concord Meeting, Jane Chilcot. They were not Friends, but were allowed to marry before the meeting, according to the rules of the society. They settled in the northern part of East Bradford township, where he died at an advanced age, and was buried, 5, 13, 1781, at Goshen Friends' Meeting. His children were John Sarah, m. to _____ Finley ; James ; Mary, m. to Walter Lilley ; Jane, m. to Thomas Spackman, of East Bradford. James Wollerton, born Sept. 18, 1731, died July 2, 1805, -married Dorcas Few, born March 5, 1738, died May 24, 1815, daughter of Isaac and Jane Few. Their children were Joseph, Charles, Hannah, Mary, Isaac, James, Dorcas, John, and Jane. John Wollerton, son of Charles and Jane, died about 1794, mid Mary, his widow, in 1795. Their children were William, Ziba, James, John, Sidney (m. to William Mercer), Jane (m. to Caleb Gray), and Susanna (m. to Dell Price). William Wollerton, the eldest son of John, married, in 1789, Rebecca Harvey, a sister of Samuel Harvey, a prominent merchant of Philadelphia, and long time president of the Bank of Germantown. He was by trade a saddler, and carried on the business extensively in West Chester. In 1808 he purchased the Rankin farm of 100 acres, now in the southwestern part of this borough, and which he sold in 1829 to William Everhart. He then moved to UwchIan township, where he died. Of his thirteen children, but two sons and two daughters are now living. One of these, William, was elected prothonotary in 1851, associate judge in 1856, and is now president of the First National Bank of West Chester. WINDLE, FRANCIS, of East Marlborough, married Mary Jackson, 4, 14, 1733, daughter of Isaac and Ann Jackson, of Londongrove. One Dorothy Windle, perhaps a sister, was married, 6, 6, 1728, to John Smith, of Marlborough. The children of Francis and Mary were Thomas, Ann, William, John, David, Moses, Isaac, James, and Mary. The father died 9, 26, 1788, aged about eighty-seven years. The descendants of this family are pretty fully traced in the genealogy of the Jackson family. It is there stated that the son John died in his twenty-fifth year, but later inves- BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL - 771 tigations indicate that he went to the West and lived to a great age, leaving descendants. DR. LEWIS WINDLE.—Lewis Windle married Mary Stroude, to whom were born twelve children, of whom the fifth was Lewis. He was born Jan. 17, 1819, in West Fallowfield township. He passed his boyhood on his father's farm, educated in the common schools, and afterwards attended the Unionville Academy of Professor Jonathan Gause, where he was classically educated. He began reading medicine with Dr. Isaac Thurman Warld, and attended lectures at the Washington University, at Baltimore, where he graduated in high rank March 3, 1846. He immediately began the practice of his profession at Brandywine, where he remained one and a half years. He then removed to Cochrnville, where he was engaged in a very large and successful practice uninterruptedly to his death, April 20, 1879. During his. extended practice of thirty-three years he purchased the farm in Highland township where his widow, Sarah Baker Windle, now resides. He was married June 8, 1859, to Sarah Baker, daughter of Thomas and Ann (Rakestraw), by whom he had five children,—Horace L., Lewis B., T. Frank, Annie M., and William Clinton. Dr. Windle was noted as a skillful and learned physician, and was highly esteemed by the medical fraternity and the community at large. He was a member of the Baptist Church at Atglen, which his family attends. He was a Whig and subsequently a Republican, and was active for his party, although he was never a candidate for office. He was respected for his many personal qualities of heart and mind, and the impress of his busy life was largely felt in great good done to humanity in his profession of the healing art and of surgery. WOOD, THOMAS, with Mary, his wife, and son William, came from Warwickshire, England, and settled in Chester County. A daughter was born at sea on the passage, and was named Richmonday. She married, 3, 31, 1749, William Sheppard, of Menallen, (now) Adams County. William Wood, born in Warwickshire, 6, 22, 1723, died 4, 20, 1775, married, 10, 6, 1749, Margaret Holland, born 5, 18, 1730, in Prince George Co., Md., died 10, 29, 1775, daughter of Thomas and Margaret Holland. They settled in Londongrove, and had children,—Thomas, m. Susanna Pusey ; George ; Mary, m. to Caleb Swayne Joseph, Cassandra, William, Elizabeth, Margaret, m. to Garret Garretson ; Joshua, and Ruth. Thomas and Susanna Wood were the parents of Joel, William, John, Lydia, Nathan, Margaret, Thomas, Susanna, Pusey, Caleb, and Mary. Of these, John married Lydia Swayne, and was the father of Thomas Wood, of Doe Run. Joseph Wood, son of Thomas and Mary, died in 1797, aged sixty-seven years. He married, 1, 12, 1769, Katharine Day, and settled in West Nottingham. His children were Thomas, William, Joseph, Jesse, Lydia, Elizabeth, David, John, and Day. DR. JAMES BAYARD WOOD was born in New Castle Co., Del., Nov. 5, 1817. In 1820 his father, Joseph Wood, removed with his family to Londongrove township, Chester Co. The educational advantages of Dr. Wood were only those afforded by the common schools of the day, but he neglected no opportunity to cultivate his mind and fit himself for usefulness in life. He first learned the trade of a miller, which he followed about five years, and then engaged in the mercantile business in Chatham. On the 772 - HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA. election of William Rogers as sheriff, in the fall of 1840, he became his deputy, and held the position during his term and for a time thereafter. In October, 1844, he was elected sheriff, and held the office three years. In 1849 he engaged in merchandising in West Chester, and was also appointed postmaster. He held this office by appointment of the Postmaster-General and of the President until May, 1853. During this latter period he studied medicine, and graduated at the Homeopathic Medical College of Pennsylvania in March, 1854. Since that time he has devoted his attention almost exclusively to the practice of his profession, which is quite extensive, and in which he has been very successful. He has been honored with the position of president of the Chester County and State Homoeopathic Medical Societies, and has been one of the censors of the national society. As a politician he has been active, and he has filled various posts of honor in the parties to which he belonged. He has served in the councils of the borough of West Chester, and since April, 1879, he has been chief burgess. Through his instrumentality and persevering efforts the present beautiful and enduring monument at the " Paoli massacre" grounds was erected in 1877. His wife is a daughter of William Rogers, and his only son, Dr. Henry C. Wood, is a physician in West Chester. WOODSIDE, ARCHIBALD, born in Londonderry, Ireland, about 1720, arrived in this country in 1728, and it is presumed that his parents came with him, but their names do not appear. The first residence here was near Lewisville. He married Rachel Stewart, also from the north of Ireland, and settled near Somerset, in Upper Oxford, whence they moved about one mile east of New London. Rachel died 1786, and Archibald in 1806. Their children were ten in number, of whom one died in infancy. The others were,-1. John, b. 1747, d. 1810, went to the wilderness, where Danville now stands ; was a soldier in the Revolution, and in a skirmish with Indians was scalped and left for dead. He married Helen Montgomery, and had nine children, of whom his son Thomas is said to have been the first white child born in Northumberland Co., Pa. 2. Robert, b. 1749, d. unmarried ; 3. Archibald, b. Oct. 10, 1751, d. Feb. 2, 1828 ; 4. David, b. Feb. 4. 1753 ; 5. James, b. May 11, 1755 ; 6. William, b. April 4, 1758, d. Aug. 23, 1850 ; 7. Margaret, b. May 23, 1760, d. Jan. 15, 1832 ; 8. Mary, b. Aug. 5, 1762, d. Nov. 25, 1833 ; 9. Stewart, b. Sept. 10, 1769, d. Sept. 10, 1826. Robert, Archibald, Mary, and Stewart remained at the homestead unmarried, Archibald being a spinning-wheel maker. David and James, also unmarried, removed to Clearfield County when young. Margaret married Isaac Larue, near New London, and left a daughter Rachel, who married James Roney. William learned the blacksmith trade with his brother John at New London ; bought a farm between the present Penn Station and McDowell's mill ; married, in 1793, Eleanor, daughter of John McKissick, of Lower Oxford, and had four children,-1. John, b. Dec. 7, 1794, d. Oct. 2, 1871 ; 2. Rachel, b. Nov. 17, 1796, d. Sept. 6, 1862 ; 3. William Stewart, b. Jan. 27, 1801, d. Feb. 28, 1876 ; 4. Archibald, b. July 18, 1803. John married, Dec. 22, 1836, Margaret Creswell, was a BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL - 773 farmer, and lived at the homestead. Rachel lived with him, unmarried. William Stewart was a wheelwright near Penn Station several years married, Feb. 24, 1836, Caroline, daughter of William H. Crossby, of Hayesville, and had children,—John Whitfield, Robert Graham, James Crosby, Jane Dickey, David Byron, William Penn, George M., and Thomas Franklin. WORKIZER, CHRISTIAN, an accomplished German gentleman, entered the English army as lieutenant at Aschaffenburg, in 1743, when George II. was fighting in Germany. He subsequently rose to the rank of colonel, and came to Canada as aide-de-camp to Gen. Wolfe, in 1758. He was one of the three who bore his brave commander to the rear when mortally wounded on the Heights of Abraham. After the capture of Quebec, Col. Workizer retired from the British army, and marrying soon after Mademoiselle Girardin, of Quebec, a lady of French extraction, he and his wife came to Chester County and settled, purchasing the lands on which are now located the village of Howellville and the adjacent homestead farm. Having sworn fealty to the British crown as an officer, and having been truly attached to his late commander, Col. Workizer remained strictly neutral during the war of the Revolution. Col. Workizer was accompanied by his wife's brother, Mr. A. Girardin (Anglice Sheridan). This gentleman bought lands in and around Philadelphia, in Pittsburgh, and in Erie. He owned the Swan property, Race Street near Second, and the floating ferry at Fairmount, Philadelphia. April 27, 1779, he was married by Rev. Henry Muhlenberg to Miss Barbara Snyder, at Pikeland. Col. Workizer became the father of four daughters—Mary, Margaretta, Elizabeth, and Priscilla—and two sons,—John and Jacob Sheridan,--all born at or near Howellville, the hotel of that village having been the second homestead of the Workizer family. Jacob Sheridan Workizer, a fine Latin scholar, wrote for one of the Philadelphia papers. He was early engaged to an accomplished lady, Miss Evans, but died of consumption before the marriage was consummated. Hon. Jonathan Roberts, United States senator from Pennsylvania, his personal friend, said of him, " Sheridan Workizer was a youth of rare promise, and our society* felt his loss." He spoke admiringly of his bright intellect, and of his power of attracting his associates to him. Mr. John Workizer was very proud of his mother. He loved to tell of her walking all the way from Howellville to her brother's home in Philadelphia and returning with medicine, salt, etc., in pockets underneath her dress, having successfully eluded the British sentinels at their outposts. Gen. Washington, with his customary affability, had noticed the Workizer boys occasionally when he encountered them, and Mr. John Workizer loved to recall the general as he remembered him, descanting with almost boyish enthusiasm on the imposing figure and the grand face of the world's hero, with its serene and benignant expression. One of Col. Workizer's daughters (reputed to be belles in their day) married Mr. George Norman, who, accompa- * Alluding to a debating society. nied by his wife, her two sisters, and some members of Governor Snyder's family (their relatives), removed about 1820 to the vicinity of Cincinnati. Mr. Norman bought 400 acres of the Little Miami bottom lands, and built thereon his family homestead, where some of Col. Workizer's descendants still reside. The others live in Cincinnati, and Mrs. David Mills, of that city, a grandchild, retains as an heirloom in the family part of an old black velvet suit, presented to Col. Workizer by the mother of Gen. Wolfe, to be worn as mourning for her son. Mr. John Workizer, who inherited the village of Howellville, married Miss Mary Turner, whose roomy old home is still standing, near Spring City, Pa. The young couple removed to Valley Forge, and purchased considerable property in and around the village. In their old homestead at Valley Forge (now the Mansion House hotel) six children —five girls and one boy—were born to them, and some grandchildren, among the latter Gen. Galusha Pennypacker, United States army, the intrepid young officer who especially distinguished himself at Fort Fisher during the civil war. Mr. John Workizer's eldest daughter, Eloisa, married Mr. Morey, his second, Matilda, Mr. William Lewis, and his third Mr. Joseph E. Anderson. His fourth daughter, Anna Virginia, was a young lady of remarkable beauty and intelligence. Having as yet no son, Mr. Workizer educated this daughter to be his amanuensis in business, and there are many deeds, contracts, and other documents still extant written, not only for her father, but gratuitously for the neighboring farmers, in the clear, beautiful penmanship of this superior woman. John Sheridan, the only son, inherited and sold out of the family Howellville village. He subsequently removed to Indianapolis. WORRELL, or WORRALL, RICHARD, emigrated from Oare, Berkshire, England, in 1682, and arrived at Philadelphia a short time before the proprietary. He served as a juror in the last court held for Upland County, but it does not appear that he settled within the bounds of Chester County. He was a Friend, and had suffered some persecution on account of his religion as early as 1670. JOHN WORRALL was a Friend, and came from the same place as the next above. They both presented their certificates at the same time, and to the same meeting in Philadelphia, and were doubtless relatives. John removed to Chester, or the neighborhood of that place, where, in the early part of 1684, he was married to Frances, the widow of Thomas Taylor, after which he settled in Middletown. In 1695 he was a resident of Edgmont, where he continued to reside till the time of his decease, in 1742, when he had attained the age of eighty-four years. His wife, Frances, died in 1712, and in 1714 he married Sarah, the daughter of Thomas Goodwin, of Edgmont. It is not known that John Worrall had any children by his first wife except a son named John, b. 7, 26, 1685, who died young. By his second wife he had seven children, viz. : Elizabeth, b. 1, 29, 1715 ; Mary, b. 4, 27, 1717 ; John, b. 8, 26, 1719 ; Peter, b. 8, 26, 1719 ; Sarah, b. 7, 19, 1722 ; Thomas, b. 9, 21, 1724 ; Thomas, b. 5, 29, 1728. Sarah (Goodwin) Worrall was recommended as a min- 774 - HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA. ister by Chester Monthly Meeting, 12, 24, 1723-4, and afterwards paid a religious visit to Great Britain in company with Elizabeth Ashbridge. It is supposed that the name Worrall, or Worrell, was originally Warel, and that those bearing it are descended from Sir Hubert de Warel, who lost three sons at the battle of Hastings, the town at which William the Conqueror first landed. JOHN WORRELL, with his wife, Mary, and family, settled very early in Marple township. It has been supposed that he was a son of Richard Worrell, who settled in Philadelphia, but this is uncertain. His wife was a sister of Harry Lewis, of Radnor. He died in 1716, leaving six children, viz. : John, Peter, Joshua, Henry, Mary, and Hannah. His widow married John Bromfield, of Whiteland. William Penn, by deeds of lease and release, March 21 and 22, 1681, conveyed 500 acres of land in Pennsylvania to Peter Worrall, of Crude-lanes, in the county of Chester, England, and Joshua Worrall, of Newton, in the same county, tanners. The release is in possession of Thomas J. Worrall, Esq., late city solicitor of Philadelphia, but he is unable to trace his descent from the grantees. PETER WORRALL, of Marple, tanner, conveyed, 10, 11, 1699, to his son Peter, of the same place, 150 acres in Marple, part of the above 500 acres. This second Peter died about 1749, " being aged," leaving children,-John, m. 4, 20, 1723, to Hannah Taylor ; Jonathan, m. 7, 21, 1727, to Mary Taylor ; James, m. 5, 24, 1735, to Hannah Calvert ; Joseph, Peter, Mary (Moore), and Patience (Powell). William Worrall, born 11, 29, 1730, died 12, 23, 1826, son of Jonathan and Mary, married, 5, 3, 1759, Phebe Grubb, born 1, 18, 1732-3, died 3, 15, 1800, daughter of Nathaniel and Ann Grubb, of Willistown, and settled in Ridley township. Their children were Seth, b. 12, 28, 1761, d. 9, 4, 1765 ; Mary, b. 10, 17, 1766, d. 7, 17, 1790, m. Nathaniel Newlin ; Nathaniel, b. 8, 14, 1769, d. January, 1836, m. Mary Paul ; Ann, b. 11, 17, 1771, d. 11, 7, 1836, m. Joseph R. Downing, of Downingtown. WORTH.-Among the earliest settlers under William Penn came Thomas Worth, bringing with him his trusty Bible, printed in 1636, and still preserved by one of his descendants in the seventh generation. From the record therein it appears that he was born in 1649, left England the 21st of the 2d month (April, 0.S.), 1682, and landed in Pennsylvania about the beginning of the 6th month following,-before William Penn had sailed for his young colony. He is thus mentioned in " Smith's History of Delaware County": "Thomas Worth was from Oxton, in the county of Nottingham, England. He settled in Darby town immediately upon his arrival in 1682, and subsequently higher up in the township. He was a consistent and exemplary member of the Society of Friends; and having acquired a better education than was usual in that day, his services were constantly in demand in the performance of such duties as required an expert and ready penman. He was married in 1685 to Isabell Dauinson (Davidson), who emigrated from the county of Darby, and probably came in the same ship with her husband, bringing with her a certificate of good character, which she fully sustained in after-life. She died in 1709, at the age of fifty-four years. Thomas lived till 1731. In 1697 he represented Chester County in the Provincial Assembly. The descendants of this couple are numerous and respectable; those bearing the name being mostly settled in Chester County, where he had purchased a large tract of land. He was one of the original purchasers of land in England (from William Penn). His son Thomas removed to Bradford, 1739." The following documents, copied from the records of Darby Monthly Meeting, are given in the quaint style of the original, and will doubtless be of interest to many of the descendants of this worthy couple. It will appear that Thomas Worth's wife did not come over in the same ship with her future husband : " To ye monthly or Quarterly meetinges In Pensilvania or new Jersey or to Any of our ffriends In ye Service of Truth where our ffriends Thomas Worth & Samuell Bradshaw may Come. "Deare friends these few lines may Signifie unto you somethinge of our Bence and Judgment Conserninge ye aforesaid Thomas Worth do Samuell Bradshaw whose outward beeinge was att Oxton In ye County of Nottingham Amongst us theire Conversation & Manner of Life : ye walked Soberly Harmlesly And uprightly as becomes ye truth : Wee had unity with them And ye weare Concerned with us In Truth's Service And we know nothinge but yt ye are free & Cleare from any Ingagmen both Concerninge ye woman or Any other outward thinges : Soe In ye feelinge of ye pure and pretious truth & pure Life which floweth And stremeth from one Nation to Another ; In the feelinge of which our hearts are Greatly refreshed & our Souls Mutually Comforted though wee bee outwardly farr Seperated one from an other : In ye Fresh Inoyment of this pure Love of our God his mercys & his Goodness which hee from one day to Another makes us pertakers of; And In ye ,sent feelinge of his Continued presence which at this time is reveled And made knowne In this our Asembly we remaine your deare friends In ye service of truth. "From our Monthly meeting att ffarnsfeild this 20th of ye first month 1682 In ye County of Nottingham. "Will Malson,  Georg Cockrom, Will Watson, Robert Grace, Nathaniel Clay, John Lankford, Richard Bateman, Edward Asling, Mathias Brackney, George Hopkinson, John Oldham, Will. Blanc-" "This is to Certifie to them whom it may Concerns that Isabel! Davison of Anmenlayes Mill ; bath it In hir mind to Transport hir selfe Into Pensilvania in America : that ye said Isabel! Dauinson bath walked orderly & soe far forth as wee know is Cleare from all Men : Subscribed att our monthly meetinge att Breach House ye 13th day of ye 5th mon: 1682, by us whose names are heare under written. "Edmund Cartlidg, Michall Blunston, John Roades, Thomas Whittbe, John Blunston, Joseph Potter, Joshua Fearne, William Day, Richard Sarson, Adam Roades, Samuell ffox, Richard Lees, Elizabeth Roades, Mary Whittbe, Mary Holland, Sarah Day." " Att a monthly meetinge at Darby ye 7th day of ye 8th mo: 1685, Thomas Worth & Isabel Dauinson declared theirs Intentions of Marraige. "Georg Wood, John Smith, Elizabeth Bartrum, & Ann Wood to make enquirie Concerninge ye Clearnes of Tho : Worth lc Isabel Dauinson." " Att A monthly meetinge Att darby ye 4th day of ye 9th mo : 1685, Thomas Worth & Isabel Dauinson declared theire Intentions of Marriage ye second time; things beinge found Cleare." "This is to Certifie all whom it may Conoerne that Thomas Worth of ye towns of Darby in ye County of Chester, And Isabel Dauinson of ye same Towne haveing Laid there Intentions of marraige before two monthly meetings Accordinge to ye order of truth ; And things being found Cleare on both ptys ; now for ye full determination of ye Marraige Above said, ye s'd Tho : Worth and Isabel Davinaon upon ye 18th day of ye 9th mon : 1685 In A Publique meetinge of ye people of God declared as followeth: Thomas Worth standing up BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL - 775 & takeinge Isabel Dauinson by ye hand said as followeth : I doe in ye presence of The Lord & before you his people heare take Isabel Dauinson to be my wife, promising unto hir to be A Loveinge husband soe Long as as it shall please ye Lord to Lengthen out our dayes to gather, And the said Isabel Dauinson standing up & Takeinge Thomas Worth by ye hand said as followeth: I doe in ye Presence of ye Lord & before you his people take Thomas Worth to be my husband promising unto him to be a Loveinge and diligent wife. Wee whose names are under written beinge then A there present are witnesses to this marriage above written. Thomas Worth Isabel Worth. " Edmund Cartlidg, - Michall Blunston, Georg Maries, - John Smith, Georg Wood, - John Blunston, John Bartram, - Sam: Levis, John Wood, - Tho : Hood, John Marshall, - Sam : Sellers, John Roads, - Ellin Garratt, Anna Sellers, - Sarah Blunston, Ann Wood, - Hannah Wood, Eliner Smith, - Elfin Gibins, Eliz. ffearne, - Sarah Sharp." John Wood, The children of Thomas and Isabel Worth were John, b. 6, 9, 1686, d. 9, 23, 1716 ; Thomas, b. 1, 4, 1688, d. 12, 19, 1778 ; Sarah, b. 7, 28, 1691, d. 10, 8, 1696. Isabel Worth, wife of Thomas, died 3, 3, 1709, aged about fifty-four years, and her husband on the 10th of 2d mo. (April), 1731. At the time of his death he owned 222 acres in Darby, which he bequeathed to his son Thomas, and 500 acres in East Bradford, which he devised to the daughters of his son John. They sold 150 acres of the south end thereof to James Jefferis, and in 1738 conveyed the remainder to their uncle Thomas. 9 mo. 6th, 1695.-" Ordered at this meetinge According to ye advice of the yearly meeting that George Wood And Thomas Worth, be appoynted to take Care that things there in expressed be put in practise." 6 mo. 2nd, 1699.-" Agreed at this meeting that A meeting house sixty foot one way and twenty foot aded to the sid 21 foot wid in the cleare be built. John Bethel, John Hood, Michall Blunston, John Wood and Thomas Worth ordred to maniage the Concerne about the said house till furder order." 2 mo. 2nd, 1701.-"John Bethel, John Wood and Thomas Worth appoynted by this meeting to Continue ye carrying on of the worke which is to be done at the new meeting house in order to finish the Lane And to take money upon Intrist for which money John Blunston and Richard Parker (in the place of the fore mentioned Edmund Cartlidge) is to stand bound In behalfe of the meeting." (John Blunston and Edmund Cartlidge were appointed 12, 5,1700, to stand bound for the money.) 5, 4, 1722.-" Thomas Worth and Samuel Bradshaw are appointed for overseers for the ensuing year." John Worth was married in 1711 to Katharine Ormes, daughter of Richard and Mary Ormes, of Radnor, and left three daughters,-Sarah, b. 2, 6,1712 ; Hannah, b. 7, 20, 1713; Mary, b. 8, 18, 1715. These children removed with their mother to Abington after her second marriage in 1720, and the first became the wife of Joseph Shallcross, of Lower Dublin township, Philadelphia Co. Hannah was married to Jonathan Car-malt, of the Northern Liberties, and Mary to James Paul, of Warrington, Bucks Co. 5, 6, 1720.-" Robert Turner of Abington In the County of Philadelphia and Katherine Worth, belonging to this meeting declared their Intention of marriage with Each other the first time. Michael' Blunston and Samuel' Garrat appointed to see that Care be taken about Katherine Worth's Children and make Report to the meeting." 6, 3, 1720, they report that care is taken. 7, 7, 1720, the overseers (M. Blunston and John Wood) report things were well at the marriage. Thomas Worth, Jr., married Mary, daughter of Walter and Rebecca (Fearne) Fawcett, of Ridley, who was born 9th mo. 25, 1697. This marriage was not accomplished according to the discipline of Friends, and occasioned the following minutes of Darby Meeting : 4, 4, 1718.-" Josiah Hibard and David Thomas appointed to speak to Thomas Worth Jur. 5, 2, 1718.-" The persons appoynted to speak to Thomas Worth jur., made their return and the said Thomas Worth jur., gave no satisfaction to this meeting. Thomas Bradshaw, Samuel Garrat and Richard Parker appoynted to draw up a Testimony against Thomas Worth jur., and his actions and bring it to the next monthly meeting for approbation." (He and Mary disowned 6, 6, 1718.) The mother of Mary Worth was married about the close of 1706 to John Wood, of Darby. James Steel, writing to John Taylor, surveyor, Dec. 2, 1727, says, " Thomas Worth and John Wood have been with me for a piece of land in a fork of Brandywine which they tell me from thy information is vacant. If thou canst secure about five hundred acres for Thomas I shall take care to do for him the present needfull in the office." Whether this refers to the father or son is uncertain, but the latter obtained a patent for 318 acres in West Bradford in 1737. In 1738 he purchased from his nieces 350 acres in East Bradford, which had belonged to his father, and soon after removed from Darby to this land. A stone in the graveyard at Bradford Meeting bears the initials M. W. and date 1740, and perhaps indicates the spot where Mary Worth was buried. Respecting the removal of the family to Bradford the following minutes of Darby Meeting are given : 10, 5, 1739.-`Thomas Worth appeared at this meeting and Requested a Certificate for himself and family in order to recomend them to Bradford Monthly Meeting. "Therefore Samuel Bunting and John Davis are appointed to Inquire of the Clearness and Conversation of the above said and if Clear to draw a Certificate thereof and produce it at our next meeting for approbation." 11, 2, 1739.-"The Frds appointed to Draw a Certificate for Thoms. Worth Report that they do not find things Clear therefore this meeting appoints Joseph Bonsai' and John Davis to acquaint the said Thomas Worth with the reason and Desire him to be at our next Monthly Meeting." 12, 6, 1739.-" The Friends appointed to acquaint Thomas Worth with the reason why this meeting cannot comply with his Request have writ to him about it and a Copy of their said Letter was produced to this Meeting." 10, 3, 1740.-" Thomas Worth sent a paper to this Meeting acknowledging his misconduct which is taken for satisfaction and is as followeth : " ' Dear ffrds; I acknowledge that for .want of Due Care my Conduct in time past was in some Respect Inconsistant with the Rules of the society to which I Did belong which hath made a Separation between me & you and in Consideration that I have acted Disagreeable to the good order Established by the said society I am sorry and take the Blame to myself, Desiring you to pass by my former offence and Receive me again under your Christian care and Notice. " Thomas Worth.' "Thomas Worth having Requested a Certificate for himself and family in order to Recomend them to Bradford Monthly Meeting Therefore Samuel Bunting A John Davis are appointed to make Inquiry of the Clearness SL Conversation of the above said and If Clear to Draw a Certificate thereof and produce it at our next Mo'ly Meeting for aprobation." 776 - HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA. 11, 7, 1740.-"The Friends appointed to Inquire of the Clearness of Thomas Worth and family produced a Certificate which was read aproved and signed." In 1749, Thomas Worth was commissioned a justice of the peace and of the Court of Common Pleas, in which office he was continued by reappointment until or near the time of his death. He was buried at Bradford Meeting 12, 22, 1778. The children of Thomas and Mary Worth were Samuel, b. 1, 25, 1718, buried 12, 31, 1781 ; Susanna, b. 1, 12, 1720, d. 3, 13, 1777 ; Lydia, b. 9, 22, 1721, d. 6, 20, 1780 ; Rebecca, b. 4, 23, 1723 ; Hannah, b. 11, 12, 1724, d. 4, 13, 1776 ; Ebenezer, b. 6, 8, 1726, d. 1, 12, 1808 ; Joseph, b. 7, 18, 1728, d. 7, 29, 1728 ; Mary, b. 9, 17, 1729, d. 6, 22, 1812. Susanna remained unmarried. Lydia was married, 4, 19, 1744, to George Carter, who lived on the farm adjoining her father to the westward. Rebecca married Jonathan Vernon about 1742, and they removed to Virginia. Hannah died unmarried. Ebenezer Worth accompanied William Hunt, a minister, on a religious visit to Carolina in 1761. About 1770 he married Margaret, daughter of John and Frances Paschall, of Darby, and continued to reside at the homestead, which he inherited from his father. His widow died 8, 14, 1820, aged eighty-eight years, eleven months, seventeen days. They had no children. Mary Worth married, 6th mo. 3, 1756, John Lewis, of East Caln. Samuel Worth was married, 10, 27, 1744, at Birmingham Meeting, to Elizabeth, daughter of George and Elizabeth Carter, of East Bradford, her mother being then the wife of James Jefferis. His second marriage was 4, 30, 1778, at Bradford Meeting, to Jane Buffington, widow of John, and daughter of Jonathan and Mary Thatcher. She was married to a third husband, John Miller, of New Garden, in 1786. Samuel Worth reared in West Bradford. In the records of Bradford Meeting mention is made of his producing a manumission, dated 6, 21, 1777, for a mulatto boy named Caleb Creemer. The children of Samuel and Elizabeth Worth were John, b. 10, 5, 1745, d. 10, 17, 1790 ; Thomas, b. 12, 11, 1747, d. 2, 2, 1826 ; Joseph, b. 3, 2, 1755, d. 9, 9, 1775 ; Elizabeth, b. 2, 13, 1759, d. young. Lydia Worth, daughter of Samuel by his second wife, Jane, was born 1, 6, 1781. She married _____ Miller, and probably resided in Lancaster County. John Worth married Mary, daughter of George and Jane Bentley, who was born 12, 15, 1754, and died 12, 20, 1830. Tradition says her father came from England with an uncle, and married an Irishwoman. John Worth lived at Mortonville, where he owned a mill. He was commissioned a justice of the peace and of the Court of Common Pleas, April 11, 1789, for the district composed of the townships of Pennsbury, East and West Bradford, Newlin, and East Fallowfield. Thomas Worth was married at Bradford Meeting, 5, 31, 1781, to Ann Buffington, daughter of Richard and Ann, of West Bradford. She was born 9, 23, 1754, and died 4, 7, 1816. Thomas owned and kept Worth's tavern at the thirty-first milestone on the road from Philadelphia to Strasburg, in West Bradford. His children were Joseph, b. 2, 22, 1782, d. 4, 27, 1868 ; Samuel, b. 8, 28, 1784, d. 11, 14, 1190 ; Elizabeth, b. 8, 28, 1784, d. 2, 14, 1872 ; Phebe, b. 7, 6, 1786, d. 2, 9, 1864 ; Margaret, b. 11, 14, 1787, d. 9, 22, 1790 ; Ebenezer, b. 6, 12, 1789, d. 1, 30, 1875 ; Ann, b. 8, 15, 1791, d. 3, 4, 1865 ; Mary, b. 9, 20, 1793, d. 11, 25, 1865 ; Rachel, b. 8, 18, 1795, d. 2, 19, 1796. None of these were married except Ann, who became the wife of William Wickersham. The others continued to reside at the homestead until death claimed the last survivor. The children of John and Mary Worth were Thomas, b. 4, 28, 1774, d. 10, 6, 1821 ; Elizabeth, b. 5, 20, 1776, d. 5, 21, 1861 ; Ebenezer, b. 4, 10, 1778, d. 8, 5, 1845 ; Samuel, b. 12, 6, 1779, d. 8, 20, 1862 ; John, b. 6, 25, 1782, d. 1, 16, 1878 ; George, b. 1, 13, 1785, d. 3, 16, 1833 ; Emmor, b. 3, 1, 1787, d. 4, 1, 1877 ; Benjamin, b. 8, 5, 1789, d. 6, 17, 1831. Thomas married Lydia, daughter of Gideon and Rachel Williamson, who was born 11, 24, 1780, and died 6, 11, 1801. He built, for a long time resided at, and finally died at, the " Half-way House," just west of Romansville : probably took the mill for a while after his father's death. No descendants. Elizabeth married Jacob Marshall, son of James and Sarah Marshall, of West Bradford, who was born 2, 25, 1761, and died 8, 3, 1807. She was his second wife, and was the mother of two children,-Mary Ann and John Marshall. Ebenezer married at Pittsburgh, 6, 5, 1806, Margaret Perry, and settled at first about ten miles from that city, on the north side of the Ohio. Thence he moved to Moon township, sixteen miles below Pittsburgh and a mile from the river, where he built a mill and continued to reside. Margaret was born 2, 16, 1783, and died 2, 9, 1871; buried at Sharon graveyard. Their children were James Perry, b. 10, 26, 1807 ; Mary Ann, b. 5, 27, 1809 ; Hannah Irvin, b. 3, 10, 1811; Almira, b. 2, 9, 1813 ; John Bingley, b. 10, 21, 1814 ; Elizabeth, b. 2, 21, 1816 ; Asenath, b. 2, 7, 1819 ; Margaret Jane, b. 11, 13, 1820 ; Louisa, b. 8, 1, 1823 ; Lucinda, b. 8, 1, 1823. These were all married, and are all living except one son and two daughters. The sons were engineers on the river, and the daughters married farmers, except Hannah, who married a carpenter. Samuel Worth married Sarah Armitt, a niece of Margaret, wife of Ebenezer Worth, Jr., and daughter of Richard and Elizabeth (Paschall) Armitt. He settled at the old homestead in East Bradford with his uncle Ebenezer, from whom he inherited the land on payment of certain legacies. Sarah died 4, 4, 1823, and he married a second wife, Beulah Paschall, who died 2, 28, 1866. The children of Samuel and Sarah were Mary B., b. 2, 4, 1799, 4;1. 8, 25, 1877 ; Paschall, b. 8, 9, 1800, d. 8, 4, 1856 ; John, b. 10, 5, 1801, d. 3, 19, 1881 ; Ebenezer, b. 8, 28, 1803, d. 6, 16, 1877 ; Elizabeth, b. 8, 29, 1804, d. 8, 20, 1844 ; Margaret P., b. 2, 16, 1809, d. 3, 14, 1881. BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL - 777 Of these, Ebenezer inherited the homestead, but died unmarried, and the property is now held by Samuel Worth, the son of his brother John, and the latter owned and resided on the adjoining land, formerly of George Carter. John Worth married Lydia Carpenter, daughter of William and Rachel (Carter) Carpenter, and granddaughter of George and Lydia (Worth) Carter. She was born 2, 10, 1783, and died 10, 15, 1866. John settled first about half a mile south of Marshallton, afterwards removing to a farm immediately northwest of Romansville ; was a carpenter by trade, but farmed most of his life. He was a county commissioner at one time, and for about twenty-five years was a justice of the peace. The children of John and Lydia were Wm. C., b. 12, 14, 1805, d. 12, 3, 1874 ; Sheshbazzar, b. 12, 1, 1807, d. 11, 18, 1874 ; Richard J., b. 12, 20, 1809, d. 9, 9, 1856 ; Samuel A., b. 11, 20, 1811 ; Rachel Ann, b. 2, 28, 1814, d. 11, 11, 1864 ; John D., b. 3, 16, 1816 ; Lydia Maria, b. 6, 26, 1818, d. 8, 10. 1832 ; Elizabeth M., b. 8, 11, 1822. George Worth married Lydia Jefferis, daughter of Emmor and Charity (Grubb) Jefferis, of East Bradford. She was born 11, 29, 1789, and died leaving two children. Grubb and Emmor J., who died in early manhood. George married a second wife, Martha Keech, who was born 9, 26, 1788, and died 12, 10, 1864. They resided near Unionville, Chester Co., and had the following children : Mifflin, b. 1, 30, 1813, d. 6, 6, 1863 ; Thomas, b. 4, 29, 1814, d. 9, 15, 1831 ; Ephraim B.. b. 1, 10, 1816 ; Lydia J., b. 3, 25, 1819 ; Mary Ann, b. 1, 4, 1821 ; Emeline, b. 1, 11, 1823 ; Marshall, b. 1, 29, 1825 ; Joseph, b. 6, 23, 1827. Of these, Lydia married Israel Miller, whose mother was the daughter of John and Jane Worth, heretofore mentioned. Emmor Worth was married Feb. 6, 1812, to Rebecca Travilla, daughter of Jonathan Travilla, and for a time kept a store at Londongrove, afterwards removing to a farm about two miles eastward on the " Street road," where he kept a tavern for several years. His children 'were Mary Ann, Hannah T., Elizabeth, Jonathan T., Jacob M., Sarah, Emmor, Isaac B., Rebecca Ann, Paschall, Thomas T., Charles C., Margaretta. Benjamin Worth married Phebe Taylor, daughter of Titus and Rebecca (Hunt) Taylor, of Westtown, who was born 2, 25, 1789, and died 3, 29, 1868. He resided west of Unionville, Chester Co., but after his death his widow removed to West Chester. Their children were Caroline, b. 12, 14, 1811 ; Rebecca T., b. 7, 31, 1813, d. ______ ; Anna Maria, b. 3, 9, 1816, d. 8, 21, 1849 ; Thomas, b. 1, 17, 1819 ; Bentley, b. 1, 27, 1820 ; Titus T., b. 7, 13, 1823. Another branch of the Worth family settled at Nantucket before the above-mentioned Thomas Worth came to Pennsylvania. From thence some of the descendants removed to North Carolina, where they have been among the most respectable and intelligent citizens of that State. Of the number we may mention Dr. David Worth, of Guilford County, and his son, Governor Jonathan Worth. The latter died Sept. 5, 1869, in the sixty-seventh year of his age. WORTHINGTON.-The surname Worthington, like many other family names, is derived from the locality where the first-known progenitor of the family resided. Its etymology is from three Saxon words, viz., Wearth-in-ton,--i.e., Farm in Town. About twenty miles northeast of Liverpool, England, in the hundred of Leyland, and parish of Standish, is the township of Worthington. Here and on the adjacent manors resided for many centuries the family of Worthington, established in high repute from the time of the Plantagenets. They appear to have been distinguished rather by heroic acting than by the arts of courtiers. The main stock can be traced in the public archives as far back as Worthington de Worthington (20th of Henry III., 1236 -7), the progenitor of all the Lancashire Worthingtons. The old hall at 'Worthington, where the family resided for seven hundred years, was pulled down not many years since. All those who bear the name in this country, so far as known, derive their origin from two sources, viz., first, from emigrant ancestors, who settled in Pennsylvania, and second, from Nicholas Worthington, who came to New England in 1650. Three brothers-John, Samuel, and Thomas Worthington-emigrated from Lancashire, England, about the beginning of the eighteenth century, and reached Byberry, Philadelphia Co., in 1705. They were all members of the Society of Friends. One of the brothers, Samuel, resided in Byberry until 1732, and some time after removed to the Eastern Shore of Maryland, where he died. A descendant is said to have been a member of Congress, and another a governor of Ohio while it was a Territory. John Worthington, the eldest of these brothers, was a weaver, and married, about 1720, Mary, daughter of Thomas Walmsley, and settled on property since occupied by Joshua Worthington, in the northern end of Byberry. He died 1st mo. 14, 1777, and his wife 4th mo. 18, 1754. Their children were Elizabeth, Mary, Thomas, Hannah, John, William, Isaac, Joseph, Martha, Benjamin, and Esther. Isaac, born 6th mo. 13, 1735, married, Nov. 22, 1760, Martha, daughter of John Carver, of Buckingham, Bucks Co., and they removed to Chester County in 1783, he having purchased a farm in West Goshen, near the northeast part of the present borough of West Chester. He died in 1800. Their children were Mary, "William, John, Amos, Elizabeth, Eber, and Joseph. Of these, 'William married, Oct. 15, 1785, Amy, daughter of John Underwood, of West Chester. He was a justice of the peace and also sheriff of the county. He had (among other children) a son John, who, like his father, was a justice of the peace. He married Phebe Moore, and purchased the residence of his father in West Goshen (after his death), where he lived the remainder of his days. lie died Oct. 9, 1872. He was familiarly known as Esquire John Worthington, to distinguish him from his cousin, John T. Worthington. Eber Worthington (another son of Isaac) married Lucy, widow of John Patton, and daughter of John Underwood. He long kept the Turk's Head hotel, in West Chester. Their children were Emily, who married William Siter ; Harriett, who married Jesse Conard, Esq. ; and Francina, who married Daniel Buckwalter, Esq. Amos Worthington, another son of Isaac, born 9th mo., - 98 - 778 - HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA. 1773, married Jane Taylor, 10th mo. 24, 1799, and died Jan. 3, 1834. Their children were Isaac, John Taylor, Wilmer, Carver, Malinda, Amos, and Lewis. Wilmer Worthington was born Jan. 22, 1804, in West Goshen township. His primary education was received in the neighborhood school, and afterwards completed at West Chester Academy. He studied medicine under Dr. William Darlington, and graduated at the University of Pennsylvania in March, 1825. He located in Byberry township, Philadelphia Co., but at the end of six months removed to West Chester, where he continued to reside to the end of his life, a period of fifty years, nearly the whole of which was steadfastly devoted to the arduous work of his profession. He was married Sept. 28, 1826, to Elizabeth, daughter of William Hemphill, Esq., by which union eight children were born. In 1839, Dr. 'Worthington was appointed by Governor Porter physician at the Lazaretto, which he held for three years. He was one of the founders of the Chester County Medical Society, also that of the State, as well as of the " American Medical Association," to which he was a delegate at its first meeting in Baltimore in 1847. He was president of the State Society in 1850, and from 1863 to 1866 was one of the editors of the Medical Reporter, a quarterly journal issued by the medical societies of Chester and Delaware Counties. He was a director in the Bank of Chester County, and in the West Chester and Philadelphia Railroad Company; also president of the board of managers of the Oaklands Cemetery. In 1833 he was elected a member of the State House of Representatives, and was influential in securing the passage of the school law of 1834, the basis of the Commonwealth's present splendid educational system. He was originally a Democrat, but became a Republican on the formation of that party. He was elected to the State Senate in 1863, and re-elected in 1866, serving in all six years, and at the session of 1866 he was chosen Speaker. He was afterwards a member of the State Board of Charities, and its general agent and secretary, traveling the first year over eleven thousand miles, visiting the various prisons, etc. His health forced him, in 1873, to resign this position. He died Sept. 11, 1873, and in his death the State, the church, the cause of education, the medical profession, and the public generally sustained a great loss. In all the relations of life his character and example are worthy of imitation. Of the children of Dr. Wilmer Worthington, his son, William Hemphill Worthington, graduated M.D. at the University of Pennsylvania in 1849, and practiced his profession in West Chester, served as surgeon during the war in the 9th, 63d, 97th, and 99th Regiments Pennsylvania Volunteers, and died in 1865. Of the other children of Amos and Jane (Taylor) Worthington, Isaac married Rebecca Newlin, John T. married Rachel Matson, Carver married Ruth Reed, daughter of William and Mary (Branson) Reed, Malinda married John Marshall, Amos died young, and Lewis married Caroline Wilson. Carver Worthington owned and for many years lived on the old homestead of his father in West Goshen, but removed to West Chester before his death. His oldest daughter is the wife of Hon. William B. Waddell. The only child of John and Malinda (Worthington) Marshall is the wife of Evans Rogers, Esq. Dr. John Worthington was the second son of Isaac and Martha Worthington, and was born in Buckingham, Bucks Co., Jan. 21, 1771. He removed to Goshen township, Chester Co., with his father when about twelve years old. He received a tolerable English education prior to his entering upon the study of medicine. The first part of his medical studies was prosecuted in the office of Dr. Jacob Ehrenzeller, living on the adjoining farm to his father, and the latter part under the care of Dr. Joseph Moore, of West Chester. He attended the lectures of the University of Pennsylvania, and in 1795 began the practice of his profession in Pughtown, where he remained until 1801, when he removed to Byberry township, Philadelphia Co., where he continued in an extensive practice until his death, on Nov. 24, 1831. Nov. 1, 1804, he was married to Elizabeth Comly, by whom he had two sons and three daughters. He was a much-respected physician, and resided in Chester County eighteen years. He was an uncle of Dr. Wilmer Worthington, of Lewis, Carver, John Taylor, and Isaac Worthington, and of Mrs. John Marshall. LEWIS WORTHINGTON, born March 4, 1814, at West Chester, was the son of Amos and Jane (Taylor) Worthington, who were the parents of seven children, viz. : Isaac, John T., "Wilmer, Carver, Malinda (m. to John Marshall), and Lewis. Lewis was reared on a farm, and learned the business of a druggist, which he followed until his marriage. He was married Oct. 16, 1835, to Caroline E. Wilson, daughter of David and Eliza (Siter) Wilson, of Tredyffrin township. To them were born three children,--David Wilson, Jennie Taylor (m. to Charles Colfelt), and Amos E. (dec'd). Three years after his marriage he removed to East Whiteland township, and in 1864 settled on the present homestead of his widow, an elegant place, called Maplewood." He was engaged many years in the lumber, coal, and feed business at Malin's Station. His two sons were both married,-Amos E. to Alice Lee, and David Wilson to Sally M. Walker. He was township assessor for many years ; served in the school board, and was repeatedly called by the people to other local positions. At the time of his death, Feb. 14, 1872, he was a director of the Downingtown National Bank. He was a consistent member of Presbyterian Church, and took great interest in the cause of temperance, in the furtherance of which he was often at the head of the Sons of Temperance. Originally a Democrat, on the breaking out of the Rebellion he identified himself with the Republican party, and was an active supporter of the war. He always took a great interest in the County Agricultural Society. He was a man highly esteemed in the community for his integrity, public spirit, and many estimable qualities that made his name a respected one. YARNALL, FRANCIS, " of Stone Creek head," and Hannah Baker were married in 1686, and lived for some time in Springfield township, but he died in Willistown in 1721. Prior to his marriage he was a member of Darby Monthly Meeting, and afterwards of Chester. His children were as follows : Sarah, b. 5, 28, 1687, m. Wil- BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL - 779 LEWIS WORTHINGTON (See biography on page 778.) liam Askew ; John, b. 10, 24, 1688, m. 9, 21, 1722, to Ann Coppock, and 8, 31, 1728, to Jane Thomas ; Peter, b. 8, 20, 1690, m. Alice Worrilow in 1715 ; Moses, b. 10th mo., 1692, m. Oct. 28, 1726, to Dowse Davies ; Francis, b. 12, 24, 1694, In. 1717, to Mary Baker, and 1, 28, 1734, to Mary Morris, widow ; Joseph, b. 5, 13, 1697, m. Mary Townsend, 1, 25, 1736 ; Amos, b. 1, 28, 1700, died 12, 4, 1789, m. 3, 18, 1727, to Mary Ashbridge, and 12, 28, 1750-1, to Sarah Garrett, widow of Samuel ; Daniel, b. 7, 1, 1703, d. 1726, unmarried ; Mordecai, b. 7, 11, 1705, m. in 1733, Catharine Meredith, and in 1745 to Mary Roberts. Mordecai Yarnall was recommended as a minister 11, 17, 1731-2, and traveled considerably in that capacity. He resided in Willistown until 1747, when he removed to Philadelphia. His first wife died in 1741, leaving children,-Sarah, Ellen, Hannah, and Catharine. By his second wife he was the father of Mary, Mordecai, Edward, Lydia, Ann, Elizabeth, Peter, Deborah, and Jane. Peter Yarnall, his son, born 2, 17, 1754, was placed an apprentice within the limits of Uwchlan Monthly -Meeting, to which he was recommended by certificate dated 10th mo., 1770. Owing to a difference with his master he in 1772, at the age of eighteen years, left him and enlisted in the military service, from which, after some trouble, his friends obtained his release. After arriving at age he commenced the study of medicine ; but upon the revolt of the American colonies in 1776 he entered the American service, acting generally as surgeon's mate in various divisions of the army and in several hospitals. Towards the close of 1788 his health failed to such a degree that he was dis missed from the serice at his own request. He again resumed the study of medicine, and in February, 1779, the College of Medicine of Philadelphia conferred on him the degree of Doctor of Medicine. He immediately resumed his connection with the military service, and sailed as surgeon's mate on board the privateer ship " Delaware." He returned in the following June, and attended strictly to the practice of the Pennsylvania Hospital. A change now came over his religious feelings, he again united himself with the Quakers, and in 1780 appeared in the ministry. About this time he removed to Concord township and established himself in the practice of medicine. In 1782 he married Hannah, the daughter of Benjamin Sharpless, of Middletown. He continued to reside in Concord till 1791, when he removed to Horsham, Montgomery Co., where his wife died in 1795. In 1797 he married Hannah Thornton, of Byberry, but died in 1798, aged forty-five years. Peter Yarnall was a man of ability, was skillful as a physician, and became eminent as a minister of the gospel among Friends. PHILIP YARNALL was a member of Darby Monthly Meeting as early as 1684. He probably resided with his brother Francis, in Springfield, until his marriage, in 1694, to Dorothy Baker, when it is supposed he settled in Edgmont. He died in 1734, and his widow in 1743. Their children were as follows: John, b. 1, 5, 1694-5, d. 7, 5, 1749, m. Abigail Williamson, by whom he had five children ; Philip, b. 9, 29, 1696, m. Mary Hoopes, 2, 24, 1720 ; Job, b. 1, 28, 1698 ; Sarah, b. 8, 25, 1700, m. _____ Ellis ; Benjamin, b. 8, 20, 1702 ; Thomas, b. 6, 10, 1705, m. Martha Ham-mans, 9, 21, 1734 ; Nathan, b. 12, 27, 1707, d. 1, 10, 1780, 780 - HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA. m. Rachel Jackson, 8, 13, 1731 ; Samuel, b. 2, 122 1710 ; Rebecca, b. 6, 6, 1712, m. _____ Jones ; Mary, b. 8, 23, 1718, m. Samuel Milner. The descendants of this family are very numerous, and especially in Delaware County. YEARSLEY, JOHN, of Middlewich, in Cheshire, England, came to Pennsylvania in 1700, and settled in Thornbury, where he died in 1708. His wife's name was Elizabeth, and they had children,-Elizabeth, m. 12, 18, 1701, to Moses Key ; John ; Ann, m. Jacob Vernon, 1701 ; Sarah, b. 5, 28, 1690, d. 6, 9, 1690 ; Hannah, b. 3, 22, 1693, m. 1, 13, 1717-8, to Peter Hatton ; Martha, b. 4, 14, 1696, m. John Palmer, Jr., 9, 4, 1714. John Yearsley, Jr., m. in 1710, Sarah Conway, daughter of Thomas and Mary, of New Castle County, and had children,-Isaac, m. to Phebe Heald ; Elizabeth, m. to John Heald ; Jacob, m. to Susanna Chamberlin ; Mary, M. to Joseph Williamson ; Thomas, m. to Hannah Mercer ; Nathan, m. to Susanna Wright. John, the father, died 1748, and his son Thomas in 1770. Isaac, son of Thomas, married Mary Davis, 11, 11, 1784, and settled after a time in West Caln township. He had children,-James, Isaac, Thomas, Mary, John, Nathan, and perhaps others. YOUNG, DAVID.-Ninian Young, the first Young in East Fallowfield township, and one of his sons came from Yarmouth, county of Suffolk, England, on its east coast. In 1747 he owned in this township considerable land, and erected buildings thereon before he died, in 1765. In his will of Sept. 3, 1762, he bequeathed "Yarmouth" (homestead farm) to his wife, Eleanor, and after her death to their two younger sons, Samuel and Robert. Eleanor died prior to 1780. Samuel married Mary, daughter of John Coburn, and removed to East Fallowfield before 1780, and Jan. 4, 1780, released his portion of the one hundred and twenty-six acres to Robert Young. Robert was born Jan. 16, 1748, and married, in 1775, Martha Shields, and died June 24, 1814. She was the daughter of James Shields, and was born May 12, 1754, and died Feb. 13, 1837. After his marriage Robert lived on the homestead, now included in the farm on the Ercildoun and Coatesville road, immediately adjoining on southwest that sold by widow of late George Young (son of Robert) to and now occupied by John Newlin. Robert in the Revolutionary war was wagon-master in Pennsylvania forces. In 1777 was assessor of Newlin township. He was a Presbyterian and a strong patriot, but his wife was a Baptist. Of their thirteen children, two died in infancy, and the others were Mary, David, Eleanor, James, Robert, Thomas, George, John, Mary, Samuel, and Martha. Of these, David was born May 23, 1779, at " Yarmouth," now known as the Harlan place, assisted his father there and devoted some attention to carpentry till about 1796, when he went as agent for his uncle, Thomas Shields (his maternal uncle), to Wayne Co., Pa., the latter having invested quite largely in lands in that part of the State ; while there David married, Dec. 26, 1797, Elizabeth Conklin, born Nov. 18, 1773, and who died Feb. 17, 1824. Prior to 1813 he was a resident of Wayne County, and in November of that year bought of his brothers, James and Robert, Jr., one-half of one hundred and fifty-six acres in East Fallowfield, and there removed. On death of his brother James he purchased the latter's half of above tract and settled on same. His son James now occupies it, on the old Strasburg and West Chester road, one-fourth mile from Youngstown. In autumn of 1825 he was again married, to Elizabeth Lig- BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL - 781 gett, of East Nantmeal, and she died April 10, 1860. David was a man of most active habits, and lived a long life. Until the day of his death he continued to assist in the cultivation of his farm. He died suddenly when on his way to Wilmington, Del., with a load of hay, and when seven miles from home, of apoplexy, Feb. 15, 1853. His two wives were buried at Hepzibah. His children were, by his first wife, viz. : Martha, m. Robert Faddis, and dec'd ; Ellen, m. Robert Wilson, and dec'd ; Susan, m. Amos Speakman ; Elizabeth, m. Robert Faddis, and dec'd ; Mary V., dec'd, unmarried ; Thomas S., b. Sept. 27, 1808, is a farmer and lives on Coatesville and Ercildoun road, near the old Young homestead, and is unmarried; Hannah S., b. Feb. 12, 1812, is unmarried, and lives with her brother, Thomas S. ; Caroline, d. in her second year ; Emmeline, m. Thomas Truman ; David, Jr., m. first, Margaret Gordon, and second, Jane Burkalew ; James, m. Emma M. Pierce. David Young was a Presbyterian in religious faith, held various township offices, and was universally respected in the community. JOHN YOUNG, who is supposed to have come from England, purchased land in West Bradford about the year 1744, and settled there the following spring. He married Elizabeth, widow of Thomas Thornbury, and daughter of Richard 'Woodward, of that township. His son John married Rebecca, daughter of Thomas and Ruth Sheward, and their son, the third John, married, first, Ann Woodward, and second, Mary Gray. By the first wife there were nine children, and by the second seven, of whom only two are living. George Young, a son of the first wife, was born 9, 17, 1817, and married, first, Emily Jane Maxton, who left one child, Mary Phebe, married to Ebenezer Speakman. His second wife, Phebe B., is the daughter of Ellis and Ann (Marshall) Patterson, her mother being a daughter of James Marshall, a brother to Dr. Moses Marshall, Senior. They were married in 1848, and have had six children,—George Wilson, John Ellis, Emmarene (m. to Willis J. Hoopes, and now a widow), Susanna T., Sarah Elma, and Clara M. His farm in Newlin is part of the old Bentley tract of 400 acres, upon which John Bentley settled about 1727. Of this George Young has 258 acres, with 93 acres below. The homestead farm was bought in part by his grandfather, in 1813, from Richard Woodward, and in 1816 from the heirs of Robert Chalfant. His grandfather's descendants, though not numerous, own about 2500 acres of land in this vicinity. His great-grandfather died about 1793, his grandmother in 1820, and his grandfather in 1821. George is a plain, hard-working, and successful farmer, whose pride is in his well-tilled fields and good stock. JOHN RUSSELL YOUNG.—The family of this distinguished journalist is of Scotch-Irish extraction. His grandfather was born in the north of Ireland, and had five children,—William, James R., Thomas, George Rankin, and John Russell. The fourth son, George Rankin Young, was born about 1815, and married, in 1837, Elizabeth Rankin. They resided for some years in Downingtown, Chester Co., during which period their son, John Russell Young, the journalist, was born there, Nov. 20, 1840. The family in 1844 removed to Philadelphia, where the son attended - 99 - school until the death of his mother, in 1851. In November of the year following he went to New Orleans to live with his uncle, James R. Young, who was engaged in business at that place. He there attended the High School until 1855, working a part of the time as a printer's boy in the office of the Creole newspaper. He then returned to Philadelphia and entered the employment of William S. Young. In Mr. Young's office he was employed as proof-reader and printer for several years, and there early manifested a wonderful skill in the deciphering of all kinds of illegible manuscript,—an accomplishment perhaps to which he owes in part his subsequent preferment in certain quarters. While with William S. Young, John Russell, notwithstanding his daily employment was a sedentary one, devoted much of his spare time to such reading as was suited to his tastes. He seemed, too, to turn all good to account ; for whatever he heard read or learned he retained, and was ever ready in answering questions on almost any subject. In 1857 he went on the Philadelphia Press, being engaged in the proof-reading department of that paper. The next year he became its reporter. In 1860 he was made news editor. During 1861 he went to Washington as correspondent, joined the army, and was in the battle of Bull Run. He remained with our forces around Washington until McClellan went to the Peninsula, where lie witnessed the battle of Williamsburg. Being recalled by Col. Forney, in May, 1862, Young was made chief editor of the Press. In February, 1864, he went to New Orleans again. This time he accompanied Gen. Banks through the Red River country, being present at all the battles. In April, 1865, he resigned from The Press, and in September became a member of the editorial staff of the New York Tribune, of which he was made the managing editor by Mr. Greeley in May following. He subsequently accompanied Gen. Grant in his tour around the world, an account of which has been written by him and published. (See article on Bibliography.) ZOOK.—Ulrich and Peter Zug, brothers, came from Switzerland in 1719, family tradition says from the neighborhood of Lake Ziig, and that the cause of their leaving home was religious persecution. Ulrich settled near Elizabeth, in Lancaster County, and Peter near Germantown. Peter brought with him a German family Bible, of Luther's translation, which was printed in Zurich in 1589, and is still preserved in the family. He belonged to the religious sect termed Amish, or Omish, and for several generations his descendants remained of the same faith. In 1770, Morritz Züg, son of Peter, purchased and removed to the property in West Whiteland township now owned by his descendant, Jacob M. Zook. The family record of Morritz Züg, as found in the old German Bible. is John, born 1748 ; Christian, 1750 ; Henry, Ascension-day, 1752 ; Jacob, 1757 ; Ein Dochter ist geboren, 1759 ; Abraham, 1761 ; Francis, 1763. Jacob Züg, son of Morritz, on the death of his father, became the owner of the property. In his time the spelling of the name was anglicized to Zook. He was the father of thirteen children,—Magdaline, born 1780 ; Francis and a twin, who died an infant ; Nancy ; John, born April 1, 782 - HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA. 1786; Charity, Leah, Rachel, Elizabeth, Christian, and a twin, who died an infant; Jacob, born 1803; and Phebe, born 1808. The mother of these children, and first wife of Jacob Zook, was Gertrude Kenege. His second wife was Mary Willauer, by whom he had one son, Maurice, who died in infancy. John Zook, the eldest son of Jacob, inherited the farm of his father. He married, in 1815, Elizabeth Mast, whose grandfather, Jacob Mast, came from Germany, an orphan, aged twelve years, in 1750. John Zook was a man of strict integrity, and led a long and useful life. He died in 1868. His wife, Elizabeth, was a woman of marked usefulness, and ever ready to act the part of a neighbor in the truest sense of the term. Their children were Isaac M., born 1817; Elhanan, 1819; Jacob M., April 19, 1821; Rachel M., 1823; Mary, Ann, Elizabeth, John, and Elmira A. Jacob M. Zook married Rebecca, daughter of George G. Ashbridge, of Downingtown. Their children are Mary T., Rachel V. A., Elizabeth, Jane D., and Jacob. These children are the fifth generation of the family who have resided in the old homestead.