700 - HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA in East Nottingham township, Chester Co., Feb. 29, 1828. He was of Welsh descent, and of the fifth generation from the emigrant ancestor, John Pugh, from whom both his parents were descended. He was born on a tract of land which had been taken up by the emigrant, a portion of which had always remained in the family. At the age of sixteen he was apprenticed to learn the trade of a blacksmith, but his mind being of a literary and scientific turn, he was released from his indentures at the end of two years, and repaired to the Manual Labor School, at Whitestown, N. Y. After spending some time there he returned home and taught a district school for one winter, and then, about 1850, established a boarding- and day-school two miles south of Oxford, which he named the Jordan Bank Seminary. He was a very popular teacher, and his school was quite prosperous. In the autumn of 1853 he gave up his school and went to Europe, where he spent four years in the Universities of Leipsic, Gottingen, Heidelberg, and in Paris, a most diligent and successful student of natural and mathematical science, and especially of practical chemistry. At Göttingen he honorably sustained the examination for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, which was conferred upon him. From the outset his mind had been attracted towards agricultural science, and his studies shaped themselves more and more towards his future career. Early in the year 1857 he entered upon a series of investigations in the laboratory of J. B. Lawes, the well-known agricultural chemist of England, at his estate of Rothamstead; near London. He spent two years there, devoted to the solutions of questions upon which the celebrated chemists Boussingault and Ville, of the French Academy, were at issue, and succeeded by his experiments not only in settling satisfactorily the points in dispute, but in demonstrating that he possessed a rare degree of talent in handling scientific questions. While engaged in these investigations he prepared valuable papers, which were read before the British Association for the Advancement of Science, and which procured for him an election as a Fellow of the Chemical Society of England. Although Mr. Lawes was anxious to retain Dr. Pugh in his laboratory at a handsome remuneration, and notwithstanding the latter was passionately fond of scientific research, he returned home in the autumn of 1859, after an absence of six years, and assumed the presidency of the Farmers' High School, near Bellefonte, Pa., the name of which was afterwards changed to that of the Agricultural College of Pennsylvania. Dr. Pugh entered upon his new duties with characteristic energy and intelligence. He had visited and carefully studied the chief agricultural academies and schools of Europe, and his idea of what an American agricultural college should be was as definite as it was comprehensive and just. For over five years he labored untiringly in establishing the college on a broad and enduring basis, securing funds, planning and superintending the erection of buildings, besides taking the general guidance of the institution, and giving instruction in scientific agriculture, chemistry, mineralogy, and geology. In the midst of his heavy duties and still heavier cares, he continued vigorous and with every promise of long usefulness. During the summer of 1863, however, while returning from a business trip by night, he was thrown over an embankment, and received injuries from which he never fully recovered. On the 23d of April following he lectured before the senior class, and then endeavored to complete a BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL - 701 communication which he was preparing to lay before the Legislature. The hand of death, however, was upon him ; his pen ceased in the midst of an unfinished sentence, and was laid aside never to be resumed. He died six days thereafter, on April 29, 1864, at the age of thirty-six years and two months. Dr. Pugh was gifted with a mind of unusual vigor and clearness, enriched by ripe scholarship and varied culture, and he united to these a temper so genial, so fearless, and so just, and a judgment so mature, as to combine in rare measure the talent of felicitous instruction with that of successful administration. He was distinguished in a remarkable degree for the most high-toned purity and rectitude in thought, word, and deed. The Agricultural College of Pennsylvania-the first institution of the kind established in this country-was attaining a high degree of success and usefulness, as a result of the rare combination of scientific and practical knowledge with administrative ability and energy which characterized its president. Dr. Pugh was married Feb. 4, 1864, to Rebecca Valentine, of Bellefonte, who survives him. He left no descendants. A list of his published works will be found in the chapter on Bibliography, in this volume. DR. J. HOWARD PUGH is a great-grandson of Richard Barnard (3), and son of Elijah and Lettice (Barnard) Pugh. He was born at Unionville, and is now living at Burlington, N. J. He is a practicing physician, and president of Mechanics' National Bank at that place. Although an ardent Republican, he has represented in Congress the Democratic district in which he resides. He is a first cousin of Joseph B. and John B. Phillips, already mentioned. JOSEPH BARNARD PUGH, ESQ., a brother of Dr. J. Howard Pugh, above mentioned, died at his residence, Port Deposit, Md., in 1877, aged about forty-nine years. He was born in Unionville, Chester Co., Pa., and was educated for and admitted to the bar in Philadelphia. He settled at Port Deposit in 1857, and established, in connection with Mr. James Davis, under the firm-name of Davis & Pugh, an extensive lumber and forwarding business. In 1864 he entered political life, and was elected a member of the Maryland State Reform Constitutional Convention. He was chairman of the Maryland Republican State Central Committee from 1873 to 1875, and was eminent for his ability and eloquence as an orator. He was buried in the Friends' burial-ground at West Chester. PUSEY, CALEB, with his wife, Ann, and daughter of the same name, emigrated in 1682. By trade he was a last-maker. Perhaps no one among the early immigrants to Pennsylvania was better qualified to contend with the difficulties incident to the first settlement of a new country than Caleb Pusey. His place of residence, within the limits of this county, was at " the Chester Mills." In the establishment of these mills, and in the conducting of them many years afterwards, he was the active partner and master-spirit. It required more than ordinary energy to contend with the repeated misfortunes attendant on the first erection of this early improvement. Mill after mill was swept away by the flood, but the indomitable energy of Pusey was not overcome, and at length his efforts were crowned with success. But his whole time was not occupied with his private concerns. Much was devoted to civil affairs and to his religious duties. We find him " taking his turn" as a township officer, and serving as a juror ; in laying out roads and negotiating with the Indians ; in performing the duties of sheriff, and acting as a justice of the County Court ; as a member of the Provincial Assembly, and at length of the Executive Council. To religious matters he was equally attentive. His name constantly appears in the minutes of the Society of Friends among those who were most active in settling difficulties and in promoting deeds of benevolence. He frequently appeared in the ministry, and sometimes employed his pen in the defense of the doctrines of his sect. His reply to one Daniel Leeds was liberally subscribed for by the meetings. He was a firm man and of the strictest integrity, and though an intimate friend of the celebrated George Keith, when that gentleman chose to attack what was regarded by Caleb Pusey as true Quaker doctrine, he did not hesitate to sustain the testimony that was pronounced against him. It was from Caleb Pusey that Smith, the early historian of Pennsylvania, obtained much of the material from which his work was composed. His daughter Ann died in the 12th month, 1682, but another, of the same name, born 1, 12, 1684-5, was married, 1, 5, 1706-7, to John Smith, who settled in Marlborough. Another daughter, Lydia, born 7, 4, 1689, was married the same day as her sister, to George Painter. About the year 1717, Caleb and his wife removed to Marlborough, where she died 12, 5, 1725-6, and he 12, 25, 1726-7, in the seventy-sixth year of his age. He left no sons. JOHN PUSEY, a resident of London, whose wife's name was Frances, purchased land in Pennsylvania, but never came over to reside upon it. He is supposed to have been a brother of Caleb Pusey, and the father of the following : WILLIAM and CALEB PUSEY when young men appear to have resided with Caleb Pusey, Sr., at Chester, and were doubtless employed in the mill. William married, 9, 5, 1707, Elizabeth, daughter of John and Frances Bowater, and in 1715 removed to Londongrove, where he afterwards erected a mill. His children were John, b. 5, 16, 1708, d. 4, 17, 1766, m. Katharine Maris ; William, b. 1, 5, 1710-11, m. Mary Passmore ; Lydia, b. 6, 16, 1713, In. John Baily ; Joshua, b. 11, 9, 1714, d. 8, 16, 1760, m. Mary Lewis ; Elizabeth, b. 11, 14, 1716, m. John Baldwin ; Jane, b. 10, 2, 1719, m. Nathaniel Pennock ; Mary, m. 9, 25, 1742, to Joseph Dixson ; Hannah, m. 7, 5, 1750, to George Carson. Caleb Pusey, Jr., married 9, 5, 1712, Prudence, daughter of Robert and Lydia Carter, and about 1714 removed to Marlborough, where he died 4, 14, 1756. His children were Caleb, b. 9, 30, 1713, m. Margaret , and left four children,-Robert, b. 10, 16, 1715 ; Thomas, b. 6, 24, 1818, m. Mary Swayne ; Margaret, b. 8, 16, 1720, m. John Parry ; Ann, b. 4, 2, 1723, m. William Swayne ; David, b. 4, 19, 1726, m. Sarah Dixson. The Puseys were doubtless the builders of more mills in Chester County than any other family. PYLE.-The first document recorded in our oldest deed- 702 - HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA. book is a power of attorney from Robert Pyle, " of Stanton Barnard, in the county of Wilts, yeoman," to Robert Pyle, Jr., and Nicholas Pyle, of Pennsylvania, dated Aug. 29, 1688. The latter were probably sons of the former, and they had a brother Ralph, who was also among the early settlers. ROBERT PYLE, of Horton, in the parish of Bishops Canning, Wiltshire, England, maltster, was married to Ann, the daughter of William Stovey, of Hilperton, in the same county, yeoman, the 16th of 9th mo. (November), 1681. The exact time of the migration of this young couple to America is not known, but we find them settled in Bethel as early as 1684. They were both in membership with Friends, but Robert was by no means a nominal member. Early gatherings of the Chichester Meeting were sometimes held at his house, and in 1706 he was one of a committee to establish a meeting at Nottingham. In civil affairs also he was frequently called upon to take a part. He was a representative in the Provincial Assembly several years, and also served a long time as one of the justices of the County Court. His children were Sarah, b. 11, 27, 1682, d. 12, 16, 1706, m. John Vernon ; Robert, b. 7, 17, 1684, m. Elizabeth Swaffer, 1709 ; William, b. 11, 26, 1685, m. Olive Bennett, 1707 ; John, b. 6, 8, 1687, m. Lydia Thomas and Susanna Chamberlin ; Mary, b. 11, 13, 1688, m. Thomas Moore, 1713 ; Jacob, b. 1, 5, 1691, m. Alice Bowater, 1713 ; Joseph, b. 11, 5, 1692, d. 1754, m. Sarah Dicks in 1715, and Sarah (Pennell) Gibbons in 1732 ; Daniel, b. 5, 29, 1694, m. Mary Chamberlin in 1717, and Mary Pennell in 1727. Robert Pyle married, in 1725, a widow, Dorothy Turner, and died in Bethel in 1730. - Isaac Pyle, son of William and Olive, married Elizabeth Darlington, and settled in Marlborough, where he died 11, 8, 1794. His cousin Moses, son of John and Lydia, married her sister, Mary Darlington, and settled in Newlin. Mary, daughter of John and Susanna, married Benjamin Trego, 9, 29, 1753. Joseph Pyle, son of Joseph and Sarah, of Concord, married, 9, 20, 1753, Alice, daughter of James Smith, of Lampeter, Lancaster County, and settled in West Marlborough, near Londongrove Meeting. His children were as follows: Alice, b. 11, 21, 1754, d. 2, 6, 1822, m. Thomas Wilkinson ; Joseph, b. 7, 17, 1756, d. 5, 15, 1788 ; Sarah, b. 8, 2, 1758, d. 12, 25, 1834, in. Allen Chandler ; Rachel, b. 11, 9, 1760, d. 11, 22, 1763 ; Ann, b. 11, 24, 1762, d. 8th mo., 1801, m. Levi Baker ; James, b. 3, 22, 1765, d. 3d mo., 1846, m. Mary Bunnell ; Betty, b. 4, 19, 1767, m. John Thompson ; Rachel, b. 3, 14, 1769, d. 12, 31, 1774 ; Jane, b. 12, 13, 1771, d. 3, 12. 1809, m. Jehu John ; Robert, b. 4, 22, 1774, d. 2, 22, 1859, m. Hannah Clark ; Smith, b. 3, 8, 1776, d. 5, 21, 1801 ; Susanna, b. 2, 6, 1779, d. 5th mo., 1818. Ziba Pyle, son of Job, and grandson of Isaac and Elizabeth (Darlington) Pyle, was born in Londongrove township, Chester Co., Nov. 1, 1785. He read law with the Hon. Joseph Hemphill, afterwards judge of the District Court of Philadelphia, and was first admitted to the Philadelphia bar, and after practicing there for a time removed to West Chester, and was admitted to the bar of Chester County in the year 1808. He continued in the practice of his profession until his death, Feb. 4, 1851. During a considerable portion of this period his practice was extensive. He was for many years solicitor of the Bank of Chester County, and for several of the sheriffs, and was also a commissioner under the bankrupt law of 1841. He was at his death the oldest member of the bar. Mr. Pyle was a man of profound learning in the law, and of skill in its administration, and was so regarded by all his associates. The profession never had a member in its ranks whose life was more unsullied, or who better deserved the reputation of a strictly honest and upright man. He was singularly retiring and unobtrusive in his disposition, but was nevertheless a most cheerful companion to all who sought his society. To the younger members of the bar he was peculiarly kind and courteous, ever ready to assist them, and to guide their inexperience by his own mature opinions. It seemed as though his nature was incapable of harboring enmity against any one. His legal skill, integrity, and conciliatory spirit made him ever a sure and kind guide to his clients and an honorable example to his professional brethren. He left five children,-three sons and two daughters. Two of his sons, B. Franklin Pyle and Isaac Darlington Pyle, became members of the bar, the latter of whom died Aug. 19, 1857. A granddaughter is. the wife of George B. Roberts, the president of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. NICHOLAS PYLE, the emigrant, married, in 1688, Abigail, daughter of Joseph Bushell, and settled first in Bethel, but about 1696 removed to Concord and built a brick house, which was torn down by Benjamin W. Passmore a few years ago. In 1713 he married Ann Webb, of Philadelphia, and died about the year 1717. He appears to have been a man of good business qualifications, and accumulated a considerable property before his death ; was one of the owners and projectors of the " Concord Mills," and was otherwise useful as a pioneer in developing the resources of the country. He represented Chester County in the Provincial Assembly six years, and served in many other civil employments. In religion he was earnestly devoted to the doctrines and principles of Quakerism. The children of Nicholas and Abigail Pyle were Mary, b. 6, 23, 1689, m. Joseph Sharp ; Edith, b. 1, 20, 1695, m. Nicholas Newlin ; Nicholas, b. 2, 26, 1697, m. Sarah Worrilow ; Samuel, b. 12, 21, 1700, was a physician, and settled in Kennet, where he died, 1749 ; James, b. 10, 2,1703; Joseph, b. 2, 15, 1706 ; Sarah, m. to Joseph Way. RALPH PYLE, unlike his brothers, does not appear to have been a Friend. Some of the family were buried at St. John's church, in Concord. He lived in Concord township, and was active in public affairs. His son William married Betty, daughter of Francis Chads, and settled in Birmingham, where he died June 1, 1746, leaving children, -Ralph, Joseph, John, William, Elinor, Mary, and Sarah. QUINN, JOHN H., M.D., was the son of John and Susanna H. Quinn.* His mother was a daughter of James Hemphill, of Goshen township, Chester Co. He was born at the house of his grandfather Hemphill, Sept. 3, 1793, * John Quinn and Susanna Hemphill were married, Oct. 30, 1792, at St. James' church, Perkiomen. BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL - 703 a short time after the death of his father. He received the early part of his education at a school in the neighborhood, and afterwards was placed under the care of Rev. Nathan Caldwell Grier, pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Brandywine Manor, to complete his English and classical education. He pursued his professional studies in the office of Dr. Jacob Ehrenzeller, in West Chester, and after attending the lectures at the University of Pennsylvania, he received the degree of Doctor of Medicine from that institution in the spring of 1814. In the same year he began the practice of medicine in West Chester, and continued it four years, when he removed to Pottstown, Montgomery Co., but remained only a short time, returning to West Chester. With the exception of this brief absence from the borough, and a short sojourn at Marshallton, Chester Co., he resided in West Chester, attending to his professional duties until disabled by disease. In the year 1814 he married Jane, daughter of Samuel Osborne, of Pennsbury township, Chester Co. He had four children, all living at his death,—two sons and two daughters. The latter, Catharine Ann and Elizabeth Hemphill, married twin brothers, John and Jeremiah Colflesh, and settled in Philadelphia. After lingering several months with consumption he died, Dec. 1, 1823.* RALSTON, HON. JOHN, was born in Vincent (now West Vincent) township, Chester Co., Nov. 4, 1744. His grandfather, John Ralston, was a native of the north of Ireland ; was in the battle of the Boyne Water, under King William, July 1, 1690 ; emigrated to this country in August, 1728, and settled in Pikeland (now West Pikeland) township, Chester Co. He brought with him his son, Robert Ralston (father of the subject of this sketch), who had been born in Ireland, Oct. 3, 1722. Robert Ralston was several years a member of the State Legislature, and died at his residence in Pikeland township, Feb. 19, 1814, at the age of ninety-one years. Hon. John Ralston was on the side of independence in the Revolution, and in the service both as captain and colonel. When Gen. Washington was about removing his headquarters from the Yellow Springs to Reading, he sent for Capt. Ralston, who was then at home on a furlough, putting in his crops, and engaged him to pilot him part of the way. This Capt. Ralston did, escorting him as far as the falls of French Creek, when another guide was pressed into the service, and he returned home. On one occasion his dwelling was burned by English scouts, and he thrice secreted himself in a barn to prevent being arrested by the enemy. The various other public employments he was intrusted with in those eventful times bear testimony to his character for patriotism. He was for forty-one years an active, useful, and intelligent magistrate, and the leading man in the part of the country in which he resided. All the law transactions of his neighborhood passed in a manner through his hands. He took his seat on the bench of the County Court when the courts were held by the justices of the peace, in Novem- * Medical Reporter, vol. ii. p. 128. ber, 1784, and continued in that station until the formation of the constitution of 1790, under which, on August 26, 1791, he was again commissioned a justice of the peace by Governor Mifflin. April 7, 1802, he was appointed by Governor McKean an associate judge of the courts of the county, the duties of which office he performed with singular fidelity the last twenty-three years of his life. He lived a life of usefulness rarely witnessed, and died at his residence in Vincent township, Sept. 1, 1825, in the eighty-first year of his age. He was interred at St. Peter's church, in Chester Valley, and the great concourse which attended his remains to the grave testified to the high esteem in which he was held by his fellow-citizens. At a meeting of the court and members of the bar of Chester County, held on the occasion of his death, it was " Resolved, That the meeting entertain a high sense of the long and faithful services of Hon. John Ralston, late an associate judge of the courts of this count:: ; that we cherish a sincere respect for his memory as a man, and for his character as an officer of the court, and deeply lament the loss which, in common with the public, we have sustained by his death." He married Catharine Miller, and had five sons and two daughters,—Robert, William, John, James, Mary, Catharine, and George, of whom Mary alone survives. William married Mary Heffelfinger in 1805, and died in 1825. Catharine became the wife of Samson Davis. Mary married John Bingaman, and after his decease became the wife of Henry Rimby. ROBERT RALSTON was of Irish descent, and born at Little Brandywine, Chester Co., on Dec. 18, 1761. His education was not of an extended character, and probably designed to fit him for the line of life in which he intended to move. He did, however, acquire sufficient knowledge of the Latin language to enable him to translate with facility the quotations which occurred in the course of his reading. His attention appears to have been principally to the English language, the beauties of which he was capable of relishing. He commenced business in Philadelphia, probably very soon after he became of age, with very little capital, but with a character, in the leading traits of which those who had an opportunity with him had confidence, and this, under divine blessing, enabled him to progress steadily in the enlargement of his business. His qualities as a man of business were of the highest order. Take him altogether, he has been justly considered as a beautiful model for the character of the merchant. Let us add that he did not make haste to grow rich, and thereby preserved himself from many of the sorrows with which multitudes have pierced themselves through. In November, 1785, he was married to Miss Sarah Clarkson, daughter of Matthew Clarkson, Esq., in his day one of the most respectable citizens, and for several years the chief magistrate, of Philadelphia. This connection was one of affection, harmony, and happiness till it was dissolved by her death, Dcc. 29, 1820, in the fifty-fourth year of her age. He was ordained as a ruling elder of the Second Presbyterian Church, Dec. 2, 1802, and lived in the communion of this church for the space of fifty years, and for nearly thirty-four years officiated as one of its elders. But these bonds, with all others which united him to earth, were dissolved Aug. 11, 1836, in his seventy-fifth year of age. 704 - HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA. Integrity was the basis of his character, and he was distinguished for his humility, meekness, gentleness, and courtesy of manners. JAMES GRIER RALSTON, third son of Samuel and Nancy Hay (Grier) Ralston, was born in West Nantmeal, Dec. 28, 1815, and his education began in a log school-house which stood on the site of the present West Nantmeal Seminary. At sixteen he entered New London Academy, and remained about a year, when the school was permanently closed, and he then went to Hopewell Academy, where he continued until the autumn of 1833, when he was admitted to Washington College, Pa., and was graduated thence in September, 1838. In November of that year he began teaching in Grove Academy, Steubenville, Ohio, the principal and proprietor being Rev. John W. Scott, D.D., under whose direction he devoted half his time to the study of theology. He entered the Theological Seminary of Princeton, N. J., June 16, 1840 ; was licensed by the Presbytery of New Castle, April 14, 1841, and at once commissioned by the Pennsylvania Board of Domestic Missions as a missionary to the Winnebago Indians in Wisconsin. Failing health prevented his entrance into this field cif labor, and he assumed charge of a female seminary at Oxford, Pa., remaining until 1845, when he was ordained, and removed to Norristown, Pa., where he opened the Oakland Female Institute, —one of the most successful educational institutions in the country. Commencing with only four pupils, the number soon increased, and before the close of the second term it was necessary to provide additional room. With the exception of three years-1874 to 1877—the school was kept open until his death, during which time over twenty-five hundred young ladies had been under his instruction, coming from all the States of the Union, as well as from Canada, South America, Cuba, Great Britain, and other European countries. While thus engaged he found time to pursue some special studies which had early attracted him. He became an expert and enthusiastic mineralogist, and his private cabinet of minerals, which he left arranged in admirable manner, is very full and valuable. In other scientific studies he was also proficient, nor was he wanting as a public-spirited citizen, leading in all plans for improvement, and helpful to the upward-struggling individual. In November, 1864, Mr. Ralston preached an eloquent and impressive sermon on the occasion of the semi-centennial anniversary of the settlement of his kinsman, the Rev. Dr. Grier, over the Presbyterian Church of Brandywine Manor ; and for the centennial jubilee of 1876 he prepared a valuable historical sketch of the First Presbyterian Church of Norristown, of whose board of trustees he was president. from 1856 until his death. Both of these memorials have been preserved in print. Of the Montgomery County Bible Society—a non-sectarian body—he was chosen president in 1863, and reelected annually. In 1865 Lafayette College conferred upon him its doctorate of laws, and Washington and Jefferson, in 1868, its doctorate of divinity was elected a member of the Numismatic and Antiquarian Society, May 3, 1866, and served respectively on the committees of Antiquity and Genealogy, being chairman of the latter for 1879 and 1880. Dr. Ralston was married April 11, 1842, at Steubenville, Ohio, to Miss Mary A. Larimore, who, with three daughters, survive him. He died at Norristown, Pa., Nov. 10, 1880. RAMSEY, JAMES READ.—Among the early settlers of Pennsylvania who emigrated from the north of Ireland in the first part of the eighteenth century, was William Ramsey, who purchased a large tract of land in East Nottingham township, Chester Co. His son William married Rebecca Wilson, a daughter of the Rev. James Wilson, D.D., a prominent Presbyterian minister of Lancaster County. She was a niece of the Rev. Dr. Read, of Wilmington, Del., and a connection by marriage with the Wise family, of Virginia, and the Polk family, of Tennessee. From this marriage came the subject of this sketch, James Read Ramsey, who was born in Bart township, Lancaster Co., Feb. 14, 1815. He received his education at Hopewell Academy and at Washington, Pa., under his uncle, the Rev. Obadiah Jennings, D.D., who was connected with Washington College. He was with the Messrs. Dickey Brothers, extensive merchants and cotton manufacturers, at Hopewell, Pa., for some years. He married Mary, a daughter of Samuel Dickey, June 6, 1845, a descendant of one of the earliest settlers in the county. His widow with three sons are still living,—William W., a merchant in Chicago, Ill. ; Samuel D., a lawyer in West Chester ; and J. Everton Ramsey, cashier of the First National Bank of Oxford. Owning an extensive farm in Chester County, he was largely interested and took an active part in the public improvements of his district. He was one of the corporators and aided in the construction of the Philadelphia and Baltimore Central Railroad, of which he was a director, and at the time of his death the treasurer. He assisted in the organization of the Oxford Public Library and the Oxford Agricultural Society, acting as the first president of the former and the treasurer of the latter. He was also, for many years and at the time of his death, a director of the Bank at Oxford. He was trustee and treasurer of the Oxford Presbyterian Church, and the active member of the building committee in the construction of the present handsome edifice. Having decided views on all subjects, he was a warm supporter of the Republican party, and a member of the Union League. He died Dec. 24, 1871, in the prime of life, and in the midst of a career whose sudden close was felt as a great loss to the community. CHARLES RAMSEY, whose grandfather, tradition says, fought on the Protestant side at the battle of Boyne, 1690, came to Pennsylvania about 1770, and lived several years with David Watt, of New London. He was married Nov. 7, 1776, to Rebecca Scott, and thus came into possession of land now the western part of Lumberville, Cecil Co., Md. From thence he moved in 1800 to property now in possession of his grandson, of the same name, in Elk township, below " Spring Lawn" paper-mill, where he died. His children were Samuel, b. 1780, James Scott, Sarah, Thomas, Mary, David, and Rebecca, the last by a second wife. Samuel went to Cadiz, Harrison Co., Ohio. James Scott lived near Hickory Hill, was a justice of the peace, and died 1866. Thomas married Catharine Sherer, and remained at the homestead. David married Mary Jones, and went to Ohio. Mary married John Sherer. JOHN RANKIN. James Rankin was an emigrant from North Ireland, and in 1773 purchased the place, one hundred and eighteen acres, now owned by Abbie A. Hinkson, in Highland township. He married Mary Arbuckle, and their son James married Susanna Riddle. To them were born eight children, of whom John was the eldest son and second child. He was raised on the farm, educated in the common schools, and became a great reader, storing his mind with useful information. He taught school in his younger days, and was a pupil under the noted John Sloan, an Irish teacher of distinction. He was married March 9, 1820, to Martha, daughter of Alexander and Abigail Andrews, of Andrews' Bridge. Their only child, Abbie Ann, was born March 15, 1821, and was married Jan. 20, 1842, to Eli W. Hinkson, of Highland township, who died June 5, 1873. John Rankin, like his ancestors, was a rigid Presbyterian, and many years an elder in the church at Fagg's Manor. He was a strong anti-slavery man, and took part in the agitation of the great slavery question when it began, about 1828, and when it was attended with great perils to life and property. He was prominently identified with the temperance movement, and was the first in his section to banish liquor from the harvest-field. He was very active in politics, being an ardent supporter and advocate of the principles of the Republican party up to the time of his death. He was a man of strong convictions, clear judgment, and possessed moral courage to the highest degree. His wife, Martha Andrews, was of the same nationality and religion,—North Irish Presbyterian. He died April 4, 1851, and was buried at Fagg's Manor churchyard, and in his death passed away an upright citizen, who lived for humanity's cause and progress. His daughter and only child, Abbie A. Hinkson, has had eight children : Martha R., married to E. Mancill ; J. Alfred, deceased ; Harriet Newell, married to Henry B. Burn ; Edwin E. ; J. Rankin, married to E. Duncan ; Annie M., married to David B. Clark ; Ella A. ; and Horace F., deceased. This farm has been in the possession of the Rankin family one hundred and eight years. RES. AND FARM OF ABBIE A. HINKSON HIGHLAND Tp CHESTER CO. PA. BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL - 705 JAMES R. RAMSEY (For biography see page 704.) READ, REV. THOMAS, D.D., was born in March, 1746, in Nottingham township, Chester Co. His parents were Scotch-Irish immigrants, from the north of Ireland. They were in prosperous circumstances, and gave their children the best opportunities which the country afforded for the culture of their minds. Thomas Read was educated at the Philadelphia Academy, under the charge of Dr. Francis Alison. He graduated in 1764, and was for a time tutor in the Newark Academy, in the State of Delaware. In 1768 he was licensed as a Presbyterian minister, and was pastor of the church at Drawyer's Creek, in Delaware, from that time until 1798, when he removed to 'Wilmington, Del., and became pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church of that place. He filled this position until 1817, when he resigned. He afterwards preached, as his health permitted, for the First Presbyterian Church of Wilmington, which was without a pastor. In the Revolutionary war he was an earnest, active patriot. In 1776 he and some fifty others, neighbors and members of his congregation, shouldered their muskets and marched to Philadelphia. The success which had then recently attended the American arms at Trenton and Princeton rendered their services at that particular juncture unnecessary, and they returned to their homes. On Aug. 25, 1777, the British army landed at Elkton. Gen. Washington was encamped near Stanton, some six miles below Wilmington. The position of the American army was such as to render it exceedingly dangerous to give battle, and to retreat by the great road, with the disciplined British army in the rear, was still more so. Gen. Washington made preparations for departure, but could obtain but little information upon which he could presume to - 89 - act. At night a council of war was held, and, while the greatest anxiety prevailed, one of Gen. Washington's staff came in and exclaimed, " I know the man that can extricate us." " Mount and bring him without a moment's delay," was the immediate order of Gen. Washington. The officer went to the house of Rev. Thomas Read, then residing about five miles distant, roused him from his bed, and brought him under whip and spur to the camp. He drafted on paper for Gen. Washington the whole adjacent country, with which he was very familiar, with all the cross-roads and by-ways. The army was immediately put in motion, and a safe retreat made to Chads' Ford, where, Sept. 11, the battle of Brandywine was fought. In 1796, Thomas Read received from Princeton College the degree of Doctor of Divinity. He was twice married, first, to an English lady, of the name of Stanley, and second, to Mary Stuart, of Bohemia Manor, Md., who survived him. He was a man of commanding appearance and of remarkably dignified manners, a learned theological, and of substantial and enduring worth. Among t ae people to whom he ministered he was regarded with great esteem and reverence. He died June 14, 1823. His widow died Dec. 11, 1845, at the age of eighty-four. THOMAS READ, the great-grandfather of Thomas Buchanan Read, had four sons,—John, William, James, and Davis. James, his grandfather, was a school-teacher, and married first Sarah, daughter of John and Elizabeth Steel, of Newtown. His second wife was Hannah Buchanan, hence the middle name of the poet. By this second wife James had seven children,—John, Davis, James, Sarah, Sidney, Elizabeth, and Jane. 706 - HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA. THOMAS BUCHANAN READ,* the distinguished poet and painter, who attained such eminence in two entirely distinct yet congenial fields of art, was born March 12, 1822, in a modest farm-house, situate near the Great Valley of Chester County, in what is now East Brandywine township, near Downingtown, within the shadow of " the blue hills of Uwchlan," where his youth was passed, and from the romantic scenery of which locality were derived those inspirations and accurate descriptions of nature which frequently appear in his poetry. The writer of this sketch has frequently heard him relate that his first knowledge of the Bible was derived from hearing it read aloud in the family circle, and he would dwell at length upon the lasting impression made upon his youthful mind by its beautiful imagery, and as he listened to the scriptural narrative of the Saviour's ministry on earth, his boyish fancy would locate and associate all its incidents and events upon and with the hills and valleys which lay around him as he listened. The inroads of death caused a breaking up of the family while Read was still a mere lad, and at the early age of seventeen he was thrown upon his own resources for a livelihood. In the year 1839 he commenced his career as an artist, in the atelier of Clevenger, the sculptor, at Cincinnati. His tastes, however, soon led him on to a more congenial field of art culture, that of painting. His skill and success as a painter of portraits soon attracted attention, and obtained for him the favor and esteem of such distinguished *By Henry C. Townsend. patrons as Gen. Harrison, then a candidate for the Presidency, Maj. (subsequently Gen.) Anderson, the distinguished and heroic defender of Fort Sumter, Nicholas Longworth, and others. In 1841 he removed to Boston, and in its cultivated literary society his poetical talents were developed, first finding expression through the columns of the Boston, Courier. In his early literary career he received kindly and hearty encouragement from Longfellow, with whom his relations were always intimate and cordial, and in his art studies he enjoyed the friendship and counsel of Allston as long as that great painter lived. In 1846 he found a home in Philadelphia, where, by the force of his genius, his genial manner, wit, and cultivated intellect, he widened the circle of his appreciating friends and admirers, and devoted his time industriously to his twin mistresses, poetry and painting. At this time appeared his first volume of poems (Boston edition of 1847), which manifested so much poetic power, and gave such promise of future excellence, as to attract the favorable notice of the English critics. In a criticism of his poems from the pen of Leigh Hunt in the North British Review, his " Closing Scene" was pronounced worthy to stand beside " Gray's Elegy." In 1850 he made his first visit to Europe, spending some time in England, where he formed the acquaintance of her leading literary men and women, and subsequently reached Italy, where, dividing his time between Rome and Florence, he devoted himself diligently to the execution of the orders with which he had been intrusted by appreciating friends BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL - 707 in Philadelphia and elsewhere. In 1852 he returned to the United States, and passed the winter in Cincinnati. In 1853 he again returned to Europe, accompanied by his family, consisting of his wife and two young daughters, and made a home in Florence, where he surrounded himself with all that could make life pleasant and attractive. He was by this time recognized as a brilliant poet and a successful artist, and he fully realized and enjoyed the rewards of his distinction. His life at this time was full of enjoyment, but its happiness was soon and suddenly changed into the deepest sorrow. A prevailing epidemic, severely fatal in character, swept away hundreds of the inhabitants of Florence, and among them his wife and youngest daughter, his darling " Lilian," well known to his intimate friends as " the light of his household." It was during the mental depression produced by this profound domestic sorrow that, seeking refuge with his surviving daughter from the ravages of the pestilence, he repaired to the " Baths of Lucca," where, in the course of a few days, he wrote his remarkable poem, " The House by the Sea," which, by some competent critics, is regarded as the most original and imaginative of his works. After recovering somewhat from the severe shock of this domestic affliction, he again returned to America, remaining here only a few months, and then revisited Europe, and was residing in Rome, busily engaged at his easel, when the Rebellion of 1861 aroused his native land and stimulated all her patriotic sons to action on her behalf. Abandoning at once the attractions which surrounded him, and sacrificing the bright pecuniary prospects before him, and realizing that every loyal son of America owed a solemn duty to his country in her hour of extreme peril, he hastily returned home, entered the military service as a volunteer, serving fbr a time in the field upon the staff of Gen. Lew Wallace, and by his voice and pen, in patriotic addresses and poems, gave hearty encouragement to his countrymen in the great work of saving the national life. In this heroic struggle none surpassed Read in patriotic ardor and devotion, Gens. Grant, Sherman, and Sheridan having all left upon record their hearty appreciation of the value of his services. His ode known as " The Patriot's Oath," and his more widely known and spirited lyric, "Sheridan's Ride," are forcible expressions of his devoted loyalty and intense hatred of treason. The distinguishing characteristics of Read's nature were purity of thought, refinement of feeling, gentleness of manner, generosity of disposition, geniality and unselfish devotion to others, and the possession of all those qualities of mind and character which attract and attach friends. Tenderness of feeling and delicacy in treatment were marked traits in all his work, whether with the pen or the pencil. Gifted with an extraordinary genius, Read was unlike many other men thus formed by nature. He relied for success not upon sudden, uncertain, and spasmodic impulses, but was a faithful, diligent, and conscientious worker by turns in the two distinct yet congenial fields of labor to which his talents were devoted, finding his only rest and recreation in the alternate use of his pen or pencil. As an artist, his distinguishing features were originality and force in composition, the skill and grace with which the poetical creations of his pure and active imagination were placed upon the canvas. The same characteristics mark his genius in poetry. It may without exaggeration be said of him that his poems are pictures in their close fidelity to truth and nature, and his pictures are poems in the grace and beauty with which each face and form are outlined, and the harmony and effect with which his groups are combined. Among some of his more important paintings, the greater part of which have been executed for appreciating friends, and still enrich their galleries, may be mentioned " The Embarcation of Cleopatra," " The Culprit Fay," " Excelsior," " Diana and Endymion," " The Woodland Bath," " Time Rescuing Proserpine," " The Fall of the Last Pleiad," " Undine Rescued by the Knight," The Ivory Carver," The Spirit of the Age," " The Ascension of the Innocents," " Milton," " Dante," " The Spirit of the Waterfall," Abou Ben Adhem and the Angel." The popular appreciation of Read as a poet, and his industrious devotion to his pen, would seem to be manifested by the repeated editions of his writings called for by cultivated readers, and which were brought before the public by the following publishers, and in the order named : The Boston Edition of a modest volume in 1847. Lays and Ballads. Phila.; 1848. Poems. London, by Delf, and illustrated by Kenny Meadows ; 1852. Poems. Phila., by A. Hart ; 1853. Poems. Phila., by A. Hart, illustrated ; 1853. "The New Pastoral." Phila., Parry & McMillan ; 1855. "The House by the Sea." Phila., Parry & McMillan ; 1855. " Sylvia, or the Last Shepherd." Phila., Parry & McMillan ; 1857. Rural Poems. London, Longman, Brown & Co. ; 1857. Poems. Complete Edition, in 2 vols. Boston, Ticknor & Fields ; 1860. " The Wagoner of the Alleghanies." Phila., J. B. Lippincott & Co. ; 1862. " A Summer Story," and other Poems. Phila., J. B. Lippincott & Co. 5 1865. And the last complete edition in 3 vols., by J. B. Lippincott & Co. ; 1865. " Drifting." Illustrated. Philadelphia, J. B. Lippincott & Co. ; 1880. His own belief was that " The New Pastoral," which so truthfully and graphically describes the life and pursuits of a rural community such as he knew in his youth in Chester County, was his best work, and that his poetic reputation would rest chiefly upon that poem. Mr. Read was in failing health for some months prior to his decease, and although much enfeebled by disease, continued to work diligently through the long and sickly winter of 1871-72 at Rome. In the spring he felt an irresistible yearning to return to his native land, fully believing that it would be to die here. He left Rome in April, and sailed from Liverpool on April 20th. On board the steamer he was stricken down with pneumonia, but with the aid of tender nursing he was enabled to reach New York, and was carried to the Astor House, where, attended by his devoted wife and kind friends, he breathed his last on May 11, 1872, and his remains were deposited in North Laurel Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia. As an appropriate close to this inadequate sketch of, and sincere tribute to, the memory of his life-long friend, the 708 - HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA. writer adds an extract from a familiar letter written to him by Mr. Read, a short time before his decease, which will give his friends and admirers an insight into the inner life and character of this gifted son of genius. whose public writings and works have given him a world-wide reputation : "DUSSELDORF. "MY DEAR FRIEND,—Just as I write that word friend it seems to strike upon my heart as on a golden bell, setting it into interminable vibrations. There are few words so beautiful, so comprehensive. It includes devotion, self-sacrifice, defense against all things, including calumny and misfortune; but best of all, joy in another's joy, and exultation in his prosperity, this being in my mind the highest proof of friendship. It is easy to sympathize with misfortune,—the heart full of envy and malice might even do that,—but devoid of these must that beautiful soul be that can look upon a friend's success with gladness, having no other interest than that of pure enjoyment of his happiness. When I look abroad over the world I feel humbled—humbled before that high Benefactor, when I see how all unworthy as I am, with what a host of just such devoted and disinterested friends as yourself I am blessed. I have never yet lost a friend. Some fancied ones may have dropped away from me. . . . "But all this is not replying to your dear, kind, but too long-neglected letter. You are not one to believe that silence on my part implies indifference. On the contrary, I no sooner received your letter informing me of your bereavement than I indited these verses on its back : "Some stars there are with sudden glow Burst in full brightness on the gaze, And to the wondering world below A little season stand and blaze, Till on their unknown orbits whirled, Their disks with splendor overrun, They turn their glory from the world, Still gazing on their parent sun. And so the infant form of grace That beamed a while upon your sight; She has but turned her angel face To gaze upon her native light. "Again while writing you, an inspiration strikes me and moves itself in number thus: " We nightly die ourselves to sleep, Then wherefore fear we death? 'Tis but a slumber still more deep, And undisturbed by breath. " We daily waken to the light, When morning walks her way, Then wherefore doubt Death's longer night Will bring a brighter day ? " You see how deeply (in spite of silence) your heart of sorrow has poured itself into my own, making it to overflow in such melody as is native to it. Now let me show you how, the other day, on the anniversary of my darling Lily's departure, I sang with joyful sorrow. You see the poetry in these two words : "MY LILY ON THE VIRGIN'S BOSOM. " The sun was white in all the streets of Florence, The splendor burned upon the bridge and river; While Fate rained down her pestilence in torrents, Bereaving me forever. "Nay, not forever,—on the Virgin's bosom I see the emblem of my sainted daughter ; She holds my Lily in perpetual blossom ; I find her where I sought her. "Close to her heart, with all a mother's patience, She bears my flower, enticing me to meet her. Dear Virgin, at thy Son's appointed stations, I kneel and kneel and climb that I at last May greet her. "There having lain these flowers upon your altar draped in crape and white, and while the angels are still chanting a requiem in the choir, I reverently withdraw beyond the chapel door, bearing away with me a sense of benediction. I want to tell you now and solemnly that a deep sense of my duty to my God as well as to my fellow-man has gradually been descending upon me, and it is to me a source of infinite pleasure that I can look back upon all the poetry I have ever written, and find it contains no line breathing a doubt upon the blessed Trinity and the great Redemption of man. When I have written my verses I have been alone with my own soul and with God, and not only dared not lie, but the inspiration of the truth was to me so beautiful that no unworthy thought ever dared obtrude itself upon the page. This was entirely owing to the goodness of God, who saw what it was to be, and saved me from subsequent mortification and regret." REEVES, SAMUEL J.—The Phoenix Iron-Works at Phoenixville, in this county, is the largest establishment of its kind in the United States. Its mills and manufactories, which cover an area of sixty acres, are described in another department of this work.* These works were established in 1790, and, after various mutations, came into the possession of the late David Reeves and his then associates in 1827. These works were operated by the firm of Reeves, Buck & Co. until 1855, when it was dissolved, and " The Phoenix Iron Company" incorporated by an act of the Legislature. David Reeves and his son, the late Samuel J. Reeves, were the sole owners (with the exception of an insignificant interest) of the stock of this corporation, and the present proprietors are their lineal descendants. David Reeves was the first president of the company, and Samuel J. Reeves the vice-president and treasurer. The former held the office until his death, in March, 1871, and the latter succeeded him as president, and so continued until his death, in December, 1878, when he was, in turn, succeeded by his son, David Reeves, the present head of the company. In many respects the character of the two original proprietors presented striking features of resemblance. They were both men of remarkable learning and unusual intellectual resources ; and they possessed, in addition, an individual strength of purpose, and a degree of energy and enterprise, without which mere intellect is but as the sculptured pediment to the massive column. Both were endowed to an extraordinary extent with the power to resist and overcome adverse circumstances, and they were as strong in the face of disaster as they were signal in reaping the fruits of prosperity. In both a vigorous physical system was united to a mental determination and a moral force which no obstacles could subdue. Through the period of their incumbency respectively of the office of president of this company, there were many occasions when the manufacturers of the United States encountered reverses which, in numerous instances, were overwhelming in their consequences. Through them all those men, by their prudence, foresight, sagacity, and integrity, were able to conduct the company in safety. Father and son together met the financial storm which swept over the land in 1856, and averted its force. Again, from 1873 to 1877, when the iron-masters of Pennsylvania were threatened with annihilation, and hundreds of furnaces extinguished their fires, Samuel J. Reeves successfully maintained the business and credit of the company, and—though with greater responsibilities—his determined efforts, aided by his lofty character and the implicit confidence of the community, enabled him to overcome the accumulated trials of that disastrous epoch. So many mills for the manufacture of iron rails had sprung up during the period anterior to the incorporation of this company in 8 See Mills and Manufactures, p. 350. BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL - 709 1855, and such was the competition in this branch of the business, that it was deemed wise to carry on a more general system of manufacture. It soon became evident that the great railways of the country which were then in operation would be obliged to supply themselves with better and more durable bridges than those which had been originally erected, and which were already either falling into decay or inadequate to meet the needs of a vastly increasing traffic. To supply this want it was determined by this company to devote a large part of its energies to the manufacture of iron bridges and viaducts. Before this change had been fully accomplished the civil war broke out, and further effort in this direction was for a time suspended. The company then turned its attention to war material, and soon after—through the ingenuity and inventive talent of the general superintendent, John Griffen—a cannon was designed and submitted to the government. But a short time elapsed before this design was adopted, and the work of fulfilling the large orders thereupon received was commenced and actively carried forward. The gun was a rifle piece of three-inch calibre, and intended for field artillery. Several hundred were furnished, and their successful service upon many battle-fields was the best test of their utility. Indeed, it is a historical fact that the capture of any of these guns gave greater satisfaction to the enemy than any similar success. In 1862 active measures were recommended for the prosecution of the business of iron bridge construction and this was materially stimulated by the invention in that year of the hollow wrought-iron post or pillar, which, under the name of the Phoenix column, has attained a world-wide celebrity. This invention was the product of the genius of Samuel J. Reeves, the patentee, and its introduction at once effected a remarkable revolution in the art of bridge-building, and opened a new and most extensive field for the employment of wrought or rolled iron. Some idea of the magnitude of the business which it practically created may be formed from the fact that to, and including, 1880, upwards of thirty thousand tons of these columns were manufactured and shipped by the Phoenix Iron Company. In addition to bridge construction, this company has manufactured rolled iron beams for buildings and other structures in immense quantities for many years past. They have also in different forms entered largely into the construction of iron ships, and thousands of tons of Phoenix beams and angles are now afloat upon near and distant seas. Perhaps the greatest achievement of the Phoenix Iron Company has been the construction of the Metropolitan Elevated Iron Railway in the city of New York, and at the same time the manufacture of a large part of the material of which the New York Elevated Railway is composed. The former work was in great part designed, manufactured, and carried to a successful completion by this company, with the aid of the engineering firm of Clarke, Reeves & Co. It is a monument of mechanical skill and manufacturing enterprise. To enumerate the various structures which this company has either built from the foundation or in the erection of which it has furnished the iron, would be to swell this sketch far beyond the limit necessarily imposed. Some of its principal works besides those mentioned are the Girard Avenue bridge in Philadelphia, the railway bridges over the Hudson River at Albany, the great International bridge over the Niagara River near Buffalo, the bridges over the Illinois River at La Salle and the Mississippi at Quincy, and the numerous railway bridges in Canada, Cuba, Central and South America. In this latter connection it may be stated, in conclusion, that in the machine-shops of this company, by the application of the necessary machinery, great accuracy of work is obtained, and each part of an iron bridge can be exactly duplicated if necessary. This method of construction is entirely American, the English still building their bridges principally with hand-labor. Consequently, American iron bridges, notwithstanding the relative higher price of our iron, can successfully compete in Canada and elsewhere with the bridges of English or Belgian construction. REID, REV. WILLIAM SHIELDS, D.D., was a native of West Nottingham township, Chester Co., Pa., where he was born in April, 1778. He was the child of Adam and Martha Shields Reid, who had emigrated from the north of Ireland and settled in that township. He graduated at Princeton College with honor in 1802. In 1804 he became a professor in Hampden Sidney College, Virginia, and shortly thereafter succeeded Dr. Archibald Alexander as president of that institution. He retained his connection with the college about five years, when he resigned and removed to Lynchburg, Va., where he spent the remainder of his long and useful life. He had been licensed by the Presbytery of Winchester in 1806. Besides building up a Presbyterian Church in Lynchburg, to which he ministered, he established and conducted a female boarding-school, which was largely attended, and flourished for many years. In 1848 he retired from the active duties of life, and died June 23, 1853, at the age of seventy-five years. He possessed vigorous talents and uncommon energy of character, and performed at some periods of his life an amount of labor almost incredible. In the community in which he lived he was a general favorite, and was regarded with great affection and veneration. RENTGEN.—Clemens Rentgen and his wife, Catharine, and their children, came to the United States from Germany in 1793. The Sheeder family came in the same vessel. The name in Germany was spelled Roentgen, but the spelling was changed after they came to this country. They were familiarly called in early times the Rankys. They were steel-workers in Europe, at Saarbrücken, on the Upper Rhine. They first settled at the Falls of French Creek, but afterwards came farther down the stream and established iron and steel works near Kimberton, where they manufactured and furnished the government with ship iron during the war of 1812. Letters patent were granted them by the government. The ruins of the old slit-mill, as it was then known, can still be seen on French Creek, near Kimberton. Clemens Rentgen was born in July, 1754, in Saarbrücken, and died in Chester County, Dec. 15, 1833. His wife, Catharine, was born April 25, 1767, and died Dec. 3, 1845. Their children were William, Christian, Peter, and Cath- 710 - HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA. arine. William Rentgen worked at Lawrenceville, Harper's Ferry, and Philadelphia ; was master-armorer of the United States arsenal at Pittsburgh, and was afterwards in charge of the small-arms department at St. Louis, where he died of cholera in 1832, and was buried in the United States inclosure with military honors. He was twice married, and left a large family. One of his sons, Charles D. Rentgen, resides in Chester County, at or near Spring City. He occasionally writes poems for the papers. Christian Rentgen was born Aug. 18, 1786, and died Sept. 19, 1866 ; and Peter Rentgen was born Oct. 9, 1788, and died Nov. 7, 1873. Clemens Rentgen and his wife, Catharine, and sons, Christian and Peter, are all buried at Zion (Lutheran) churchyard in East Pikeland township. REYNOLDS, WILLIAM, is said to have married Margaret Exton, by whom he had John, b. 1650 ; Francis, b. 1652 ; and Henry, b. 1655. HENRY REYNOLDS came from England in 1676, and settled in Burlington, N. J., after a passage of twenty-two weeks. He mas married there 11, 10, 1678, to Prudence, daughter of William and Prudence Clayton, of Chichester, to which place he removed, and there resided until his death, 8, 7, 1724, at the age of sixty-nine years. There is a tradition that he raised corn near Dock Creek, in what is now the city of Philadelphia. He took up 1000 acres in the Nottingham settlement, which he devised to his sons Henry and William. To his son Francis he gave the homestead of 290 acres, and 210 more to his son John. The children of Henry and Prudence were as follows : Margaret, b. 5, 25, 1680, m. _____ Moulder ; Mary, b. 9, 13, 1682, m. Isaac Sharp (?) ; Francis, b. 8, 15, 1684 ; Prudence, b. 3, 20, 1687 ; Deborah, b. 4, 16, 1689 ; b. 5, 30, 1691 ; Henry, b. 8, 16, 1693 ; John, b. 12, 21, 1695 ; Hannah, b. 11, 11, 1697, d. 3, 13, 1726 ; William (2d), b. 7, 5, 1701. The mother died about 1728. Francis Reynolds married, 1712, Elizabeth Acton, of Salem, N. J.., and settled in Chichester township, where he died in 1760. His children were Prudence, b. 1, 16, 1713-4, m. John Dutton ; Lydia, b. 2, 24, 1716, m. Joseph Townsend, Jr., of East Bradford ; Christian, b. 4, 22, 1718, m. John Hoopes, of Goshen ; Henry, b. 4, 12, 1720, m. Sarah Davis ; Benjamin, b. 8, 26, 1722, m. Sarah Baker and Phebe White ; John, b. 10, 13, 1725 ; Samuel, and Francis. Henry Reynolds (2) married, in 1717, Hannah, daughter of William and Catharine Brown, of Nottingham, born 10, 31, 1701, died 12, 12, 1731-2. He married again, 3, 23, 1733, Ann, widow of William Howell, and 4, 23, 1743, Mary, widow of Jacob Haines. He died 12, 17, 1779, aged eighty-six years. His son, Jacob, born 9, 14, 1728, died 2, 6, 1799, married, 8, 10, 1751, Rebecca Day, and had a son of the same name, born 11, 10, 1755, who married, 10, 19, 1785, Esther Taylor. The third Jacob, born 5, 8, 1791, married, 11, 10, 1813, Anna, daughter of Joseph and Mercy Moore. Their children were William M., Mercy Ann, Esther T., Jacob, Adrianna, Benjamin C., Joseph T., Granville T., Stephen John, Anna, and Susan Jane. JOSEPH T. REYNOLDS was born 7th mo. 26, 1827. He was the first time married, 4th mo. 22, 1858, to ,Rebecca Pugh, and the second time, 9th mo. 16, 1869, to Elizabeth Pugh. By his first marriage there were three children,-Walter P., Elmer E., and William M. ; and by his second two,-Joseph Cecil and Elwood Abner. In 1862 he purchased his farm of 210 acres, situated about one mile from Oxford, and on it built his fine residence, and made many valuable improvements. His place is called " Peace and Plenty." He learned in his youth the miller's trade, which he pursued until his removal to this farm. He has repeatedly served in township offices and on the school board. His wife is a daughter of Abner Pugh and Charlotte Michener, both descended from old families. RHOADS, JOHN, and Elizabeth, his wife, of Derbyshire, had the following children : Adam, b. 6, 30, 1660 ; Mary, b. 11, 30, 1662 ; John, u. 6, 13, 1664 ; Elizabeth, b. 11, 7, 1667 ; Jacob, b. 12, 16, 1670 ; Abraham, b. 10, 11, 1672 ; Sarah, b. 3, 5, 1675 ; Hannah, b. 12, 15, 1677; Joseph, b. 2, 5, 1680. ADAM RHOADS, " the sone of John and Elizabeth Roads, of Wingreayes, County of Darby," England, immigrated to Pennsylvania in 1684, and settled in Darby (now Upper Darby) township. He was from Codnor, in Derbyshire. In 1691 he was married at Darby Meeting to Katharine, the daughter of John Blunston. He was a good citizen, and attended diligently to his religious duties. His children were John, Hannah, Sarah, Elizabeth, Joseph, and Adam. Katharine died 1733, and Adam in 1744-5. JOHN RHOADS, JR., came from Whitlow, in Derbyshire. He was the son of John and Elizabeth Rhoads, and settled in Philadelphia, where he married Hannah Wilcox in 1692. He probably removed to White Marsh. JOHN RHOADS, the elder, father of the above-named John and Adam Rhoads, immigrated to Pennsylvania some time after 1696, accompanied by his youngest son, Joseph, and probably by another son, Jacob. He at first settled in Philadelphia, but removed to Darby previous to his death in 1701. It is supposed his wife, Elizabeth, died before he left England. He devised to his son Joseph land in Marple, and to his son John land in White Marsh. JOSEPH RHOADS, the next year after the death of his father, the above-named John Rhoads, was married to Abigail, the daughter of Richard Bonsall, of Darby (now Upper Darby), in accordance with the usages of the Society of Friends. Their children were John, Mary, Elizabeth, Abigail, Rebecca, Joseph, Jane, Benjamin, and James. Joseph settled in Marple, on the land devised to him by his father, which is still owned and occupied by his descendants. He died in 1732, and his widow in 1750. JAMES RHOADS, son of Joseph, married, 6, 22, 1745, Elizabeth, daughter of John Owen, of Springfield, and had a son, Joseph, who married, 5, 27, 1779, Mary, daughter of George Ashbridge, of Goshen. They resided in Marple, and were the parents of James, George, Joseph, Elizabeth, Rebecca, Phebe, and William. The last named, born 4, 2, 1797, married Anne P. Levis and settled in Newtown, where his children-George, William, Esther, and Phebewere born. George, born 2, 20, 1833, married, 10, 20, 1853, Elizabeth Letchworth, born 11, 3, 1826, died in Philadelphia, 6, 13, 1866 ; second marriage, 6, 17, 1868, at Camden, N. J., to Abigail Ann, daughter of William R. and Sarah S. Braddock, born in Medford, N. J., 4, 1, 1834. BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL - 711 His children have been Robert L., b. in Philadelphia, 8, 24, 1854, d. 9, 14, 1861 ; Anna P., b. in Philadelphia, 12, 10, 1869 ; William, b. in Westtown township, 7, 25, 1873; George Elwood, b. 11, 30, 1874 ; Gertrude, b. 1, 6, 1877 ; Helen Elizabeth, b. 9, 26, 1878 ; the last three also in Westtown, where the family resides. RICHARDS, JOSEPH, of Newgate, in the parish of Whitney, and county of Oxon, mason, with his wife, Jane, came to Pennsylvania as early as 1685. He died in Chichester township about 1710. His children were Joseph, Nathaniel, Ann (m. to Anthony Weaver and Humphrey Scarlet), and Susanna (m. to James Lownes, of Springfield). Nathaniel, a blacksmith, married Mary, daughter of Richard Mason, and died in Aston in 1700, leaving children,-William, Nathaniel, Elizabeth, and Mary. Some time after this the widow married Thomas Rowland and removed to the Toughkenamon Valley, in New Garden, where they settled on a large tract (700 acres) of land, called Marberry. Thomas died in 1708, and the deed for the land was made to the widow October 2d in that year. She was married a third time, 8, 30, 1713, to Evan Powell, of Nottingham, who came to live on her property. Her children: William and Mary Richards probably died young, Elizabeth married Roger Kirk, and Nathaniel married Margaret, daughter of Allen Wiley. To him Evan Powell and wife conveyed 300 acres of the land in 1717, and 110 more in 1718. He died in 1730, leaving three sons,-William, Nathaniel, and Isaac. Margaret, his widow, married William Carpenter prior to 1735, and in 1748 was again left a widow. She died in West Bradford, 12, 5, 1796, aged ninety years, and leaving 113 descendants. The land of Nathaniel Richards was divided among his sons, William, the eldest, receiving 215 acres, Nathaniel 128, and Isaac 114 acres. William married, 4, 13, 1751, Joanna Jenkins, and 5, 10, 1759, Jane Miller. Isaac Richards married, 1, 17, 1753, Mary Gregg, of Kennet, and had children,-Thomas, Nathaniel, Isaac, William, Mary, and Lydia. Of these, Isaac, b. 4, 18, 1759, d. 6, 22, 1854, married, 12, 21, 1785, Ann Pusey, and, as second wife, Tamzen Hoopes. By the first wife he had children,-Joshua, Samuel E., and William ; and by the second, Ann, John, and Phebe. John was born 4, 8, 1804, and owns and occupies a part of the original homestead in New Garden. ROWLAND RICHARDS was an early settler in Tredyffrin. His children were Margaret, Elizabeth, Sarah, Ruth, Samuel, and perhaps others. Margaret married John Long-worthy in 1711, Elizabeth married Jacob Thomas, 1717, Sarah married Cadwalader Evans, 1722, and Ruth married Robert Evans, 1729. Rowland Richards, son of Samuel, of Tredyffrin, married, 5, 22, 1750, Mary Miles, daughter of Richard Miles, of Radnor. RICHARDSON, ISAAC, who appears to have come from Lancashire, England, in or before 1714, settled in Whiteland, where he died in 1726. His wife, Katharine, formerly Gandy, was born 7, 29, 1681, in Cheshire, and on her coming to this country received a certificate from Hartshaw Monthly Meeting, dated 12, 15, 1714, but it is thought that she had left England before that date. Her husband was not in membership with Friends. Their children were Mary, b. 5, 1, 1709, m. Jacob Wright, James House, and John Baldwin ; Elizabeth, b. 9, 10, 1710, m. John Chads ; Ellin, or Elinor, b. 10, 28, 1714, m. Abraham Parker and William Wickersham ; Martha, b. 3, 23, 1717, m. Robert Stewart ; Jehu, b. 9, 21, 1721. Isaac, the father, bought 550 acres of land from Richard Thomas, which was divided among his children. His widow married Robert Benson, of Uwchlan. RILEY, RICHARD, was born, of English parents, at Marcus Hook, Chester (now Delaware) Co., Dec. 14, 1735. He was appointed a justice of the peace in 1766, and was continued in that caphcity until the Revolution. When the public attention was directed to the controversy with the mother-country, Richard Riley was found with Anthony Wayne, Francis Johnston, Richard Thomas, William Montgomery and the other early asserters of American rights, attending the county gatherings of the people, to devise measures of defense. He was one of the Provincial Conference which appointed new delegates to the Continental Congress, with instructions to vote for independence, five of their immediate predecessors having flinched on that momentous question. When Chester County was divided, in 1789, Mr. Riley was elected to the Legislature from the new county, and continued two years. He was afterwards appointed associate judge of Delaware County, and died Aug. 27, 1820, in his eighty-fifth year. RICKABAUGH, DR. JACOB. - Adam Rickabaugh, an emigrant from Switzerland, on the Rhine, settled in Chester County before 1767, for in that year the records show that he purchased 125 acres of land in Tredyffrin township from David Jones. In 1771, in connection with Christian Zook, he bought of John Beaton 200 acres in Charlestown, and in 1804, 53 acres of John and Richard Penn. Besides this last tract, located in Tredyffrin, he bought several others. During the Revolution, on Washington's retreating from the Brandywine he passed by Adam Rickabaugh's farm, where his soldiers were fed. Adam's son, David, the youngest of fourteen children, married Elizabeth Young, daughter of Peter Young, who came to this country about the time Adam Rickabaugh arrived. To David and Elizabeth Rickabaugh were born six children,-four sons and two daughters,-of whom the third son and fifth child was Dr. Jacob Rickabaugh, born Feb. 6, 1815, on the farm he now owns. David died in his seventy-fifth year, and his wife in her eighty-second. She belonged to the German Reform and he to the Mennonite Church. Adam and David Rickabaugh were farmers and men of splendid physique. Dr. Jacob Rickabaugh spent his boyhood on the farm and went to the neighboring subscription schools. He also attended the famous classical school presided over by Prof. Joshua Jones, an eminent educator in his day and author of a standard work on grammar. He read medicine with Dr. James Francis Latta, of Tredyffrin, and attended lectures at Medical Department of Pennsylvania College, of Philadelphia, at which institution he was graduated in March, 1842. He now located at his old home in Tredyffrin, where he has since remained in active practice, succeeding his old preceptor, Dr. Latta, who died just pre- 712 - HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA. vious to his graduation. His practice has been large, successful, and remunerative. He married Anna S., daughter of J. S. Pound, of Walworth, Wayne Co., N. Y., by whom he has three surviving children,—David Walter, Nary Elizabeth, and Sarah Emma. One, Anna Catharine, died in her second year. Originally a Democrat, he has been an ardent Republican since the Kansas-Lecompton troubles of President Buchanan's administration. His medical preceptor, Dr. Latta, was an eminent physician, and son of Rev. 'William Latta, D.D., pastor for half a century of the Great Valley Presbyterian Church, which Dr. Rickabaugh's family attends, and to which, as well as to that of the Mennonites, the doctor is a liberal contributor. He has a pleasant home with beautiful surroundings. RING, NATHANIEL, purchased land in Bradford township in 1710 and 1712, and died there in 1714. His widow, Elizabeth, married George Strode. Nathaniel's children, so far as known, were William, eldest son, Nathaniel, Benjamin, Elizabeth, and Elias. Of William nothing further is known. Nathaniel, Jr., perhaps married, first, Elizabeth Coebourn ; he married Lydia Vernon, 4, 6, 1728, and Elizabeth, widow of Archibald McNeil, after 1742. He died Dec. 10, 1766, and was buried at Upper Octorara church, his residence being in West Marlborough. His son Nathaniel died March 26, 1766, aged twenty years, and was buried at the same place. A daughter, Hannah, married Thomas Gibson, of Birmingham, 9, 27, 1751. His only surviving son, Benjamin, married, 12, 6, 1758, Rachel, daughter of Samuel James, and was living near Chads' Ford at the time of the battle of Brandywine. He died 8, 10, 1804, and his wife 2, 27, 1804. Their children were Elias, Samuel, Thomas, Nathaniel, Lydia, Benjamin, Rachel, Joshua, and Elizabeth. Benjamin Ring, son of the first Nathaniel, was a joiner, and died in Birmingham, November, 1767, " being by accident sorely wounded," and left a wife Susanna, son Nathaniel, and daughter Elizabeth Chandler. Nathaniel married about this time Hannah, daughter of James and Mary Brinton, and was the grandfather of Nathaniel and Caleb Ring, near Chads' Ford. Elizabeth Ring, daughter of Nathaniel (1), married John Neild, of Aston, and about 1724 a second husband, William Jefferis. RINGWALT, JACOB, from Wiirtemberg, landed at Philadelphia, Sept. 28, 1753, and settled in Lancaster County. By his wife, Barbara Wagner, he had three sons, Jacob, Martin, and George, the latter dying at nineteen years of age, about 1777. Jacob married Catharine, daughter of Adam Diller, and they were the parents of fourteen sons and four daughters, of whom a son, Samuel, was born at New Holland, Lancaster Co., July 14, 1799, and died at Downingtown, Chester Co., May 13, 1875. He in early life took a prominent part in the affairs of Lancaster, his native county, where he filled many positions of trust and responsibility, and also served as deputy sheriff and brigade inspector. His duties in this connection brought him prominently before the public, who highly esteemed him for the genial courtesy of his manner and the integrity of his character. In 1840 he removed to Chester County, which continued to be his residence, save when his duties as brigade quartermaster under the gallant Meade called him to the field in defense of his country. BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL - 713 With Hon. John Hickman and other distinguished men of Chester County, Col. Ringwalt took a prominent part in protesting against the outrage attempted to be perpetrated by the passage of the Lecompton bill. He was a patriot in the fullest sense of the term, a valued and respected citizen, and a successful practical farmer. Col. John Forney, writing of him, referred to " his deep interest in scientific agriculture, his devotion to his State and country, and especially his experience in the war, when in his sixtieth year he entered the Union army and served honorably in a most responsible position. He was a type of the best condition of a Pennsylvania farmer. Down to the day of his death his fondness for books and society, his earnest devotion to the development of his town and country, and his advanced views in everything relating to the improvement and cultivation of the soil, were actively maintained."* He was married three times : first, on March 9, 1824, to Sarah McCausland, daughter of Maj. William McCausland, of Leacock, by whom he had one child, that died in infancy ; second, to Louisa Luther, by whom he had four children,—John Luther (born Oct. 18, 1828), George Bryan Porter, Louisa Catharine, and Samuel ; third, to Anna Parke, by whom he had Thomas Parke (died in infancy), Jacob Parke, Jane Edge, and Abiah Parke. John L. and George B. P. are residents of Philadelphia, and the former is well known in literary circles, being sometime one of the editors of the Press. ROBERTS, GEN. GEORGE W.—The Roberts family is of Welsh descent. Robert Roberts married Elizabeth Pratt, whose son, Pratt Roberts, was married to Ann, daughter of Charles and Ruth Wilson, of East Marlborough. Ann Wilson's grandfather, Charles Wilson, was an emigrant from Ireland, and her grandfather on her mother's side was Jesse Taylor. The eldest son, and one of five children of Pratt Roberts and his wife, Ann (Wilson), was George W. Roberts, born in East Goshen, Oct. 2, 1833. He was killed at Stone River (near Murfreesboro'), Dec. 31, 1862, in which battle he was acting brigadier-general under Sheridan. He spent his boyhood days on the home farm where born. He attended school in West Chester, under that famous teacher, Anthony Bolmar, at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., and at Haver-ford. He then went to Yale College, entering the Sophomore class in 1854, and was graduated with high honors in 1857. He had read law while at Yale, and on his return home continued his reading with Hon. Joseph J. Lewis, whose office he entered and with whom he completed his legal studies. He was admitted to the bar in 1858, at West Chester, and there practiced his profession until the spring of 1859, when he removed to Chicago. There, while in the successful practice of his profession, he determined to enter the army, and in company with David Stewart began recruiting for the 42d Illinois Volunteers. July 22, 1861, he received his commission as major of the regiment, and on September 17th was elected lieutenant-colonel, and upon the death of Col. Webb, Dec. 24, 1861, he was chosen colonel. With his regiment Col. Roberts took part in the well-known march of Gen. Fremont to Springfield, after which the 42d went into quarters * From "Memorial of the Diller Family." at Smithtown, Mo. After the fall of Fort Donelson the colonel proceeded with his regiment to Fort Holt, near Cairo, where he held command of the fort, at that time garrisoned by his regiment (42d Illinois Volunteers), 8th Ohio, and a battery of the 2d Illinois Artillery. Thence he was ordered to Columbus after its evacuation by the enemy, and next proceeded to Island No. 10, where he performed a most valuable service during a night expedition in spiking a number of guns. Here Col. Roberts made his first mark as one of the heroes of the army. Seeing the boats could not pass the island unless the upper battery was silenced, the muzzles of all the guns of which were but a few inches above water, and which could have sunk any boat which might try to pass, he conceived the idea of spiking their guns. On the dark and stormy night of April 1, 1862, when almost a hurricane lashed the waters of the Mississippi, he embarked with but forty men of his regiment, in five small boats, upon that perilous expedition. Its success is history,—noble, grand, and sublime. His regiment was next ordered to Fort Pillow, and from there accompanied Gen. Pope up the Tennessee, and took part in the engagement at Farmington. He distinguished himself in that battle, where he, with Company B of his regiment, covered the retreat. He then served under Brig.-Gen. Palmer, and marched from Decatur to Nashville in command of the 1st brigade, 1st division, Army of the Mississippi. Col. Roberts distinguished himself in several skirmishes with the rebels while intrusted with his command, particularly during the siege of Nashville and its bombardment, Nov. 5, 1862, in which he repelled the enemy from every point assigned to him to defend. Wearied with garrison life, he soon applied to Gen. Roseerans for more active duty, and was ordered to report to Gen. Sheridan. On the morning of Dec. 30, 1862, he had the advance of the 20th Army Corps, and his skirmish drove the rebels to their breastworks. On the 31st his brigade fought most bravely, engaging two rebel divisions at once,—one in front and one on the right flank,—and not until a third division of the rebels came on his left flank and rear did his troops fall back. He then changed front along the Wilkerson pike, and while gallantly inspiring his men with his words and deeds a fatal ball struck him, wounding him mortally. One incident is worthy of mention. While a rebel division (Cleburne's) were driving some of our regiments before them he asked permission from Gen. Sheridan to charge upon the enemy, which was granted. Galloping up before the 42d Illinois, he waved his cap and ordered them to fix bayonets. The men, filled with enthusiasm at this exhibition of bravery by their loved commander, rushed upon the rebel ranks with irresistible vehemence, and the enemy broke and fled in great confusion. The discomfiture of the rebel force at that moment was most opportune. It delayed their renewed attack upon our right wing for a considerable time, thus permitting the reforming of our broken columns, and unquestionably greatly contributed to stem the adverse tide of fortune and to the achievement of final victory. When he fell his commission was made out promoting him to a brigadier-generalship. George W. Roberts lives in the memory and affections of the people for his life-blood services to his country. - 90 - 714 - HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA. JAMES C. ROBERTS.-One of the numerous examples of poor boys rising by their industry, good character, and talents to become leading business men is that of James C. Roberts. He was born Sept. 5, 1822, at Pleasant Valley, Dutchess Co., N. Y., and was married, Sept. 5, 1842, to Asenath Kelly Reed, of Framingham, Mass., born March 16, 1825. The fruits of this union were seven children, -George C., Josephine, Charles N. (dec'd), Edward D., James C., Jr., Anna Elizabeth, m. Thomas A. Lloyd ; and George B. M. About the year 1850, Mr. Roberts came to Manayunk, in this State, where he lived two or three years, and then returned to Dalton, Mass., where he remained about one year. He then came again to Manayunk. and afterwards to Fisherville. There he began as a collier, rose to be manager, and obtained an interest in the woolen-mills, besides his salary under Mr. During. JAMES C. ROBERTS. He rented of W. D. McFarland the old mill and operated it two or three years, and then purchased it about 1862-63. There were then only seven houses at this point, and he built up the place, erecting houses and making additions to the mill. The average number of hands employed in this woolen-mill from the time he purchased until now was sixty. It is now operated by his son, James C. Roberts, Jr., is called Beaver Mills, is three miles from Downingtown, and is one of the best manufacturing establishments in the State. Mr. Roberts died July 5, 1872, aged forty-nine years and ten months. In 1849 he was elected a representative from Chester County to the State Legislature, and served one term with great acceptance to his constituents. He was ever a true friend of the poor and needy, and was universally esteemed, and his death in his prime of life made a, vacancy hard to be filled in the social and business circles of the county. He was a member of the Masonic and Odd-Fellows' orders, and most charitable in his intercourse with the world, giving largely to all the churches in his neighborhood. Was a Republican in politics and a warm supporter of the government in the war for the suppression of the Rebellion. He was self-educated, and never attended school after the seventh year of his age. JOHN ROBERTS, son of John, of Merion, married, 9, 3, 1720, Hannah, daughter of Robert and Lowry (Jones) Lloyd, of Merion, born 9, 21, 1699, died 1, 15, 1763. John died the next year, and his only child, of the same name, was born after his father's death. The widow married, 9, 22, 1722, William Paschall, of Whiteland, widower, and after his death became the wife of Peter Osborne, 4, 6, 1734. John Roberts, born 8, 15, 1721, died 11, 4, 1778, married, 4, 1, 1743, at Uwchlan Meeting, Jane Downing, daughter of Thomas and Thomazine, of East Caln, b. 10, 6, 1723, d. 10, 29, 1795. They lived in Merion, where their children were born, as follows : Thomas, b. 12, 7, 1743, d. 5, 25, 1799 ; Isaac, b. 1, 19, 1745-6, d. 6, 20, 1772 ; Hannah, b. 2, 12, 1748, d. 12, 5, 1821, m. Reece Price; Sarah, b. 11, 10, 1749, d. 2, 20, 1840, m. George Thomas ; Jehu, b. 9, 20, 1751, d. 1, 3, 1818, m. Elizabeth Jones ; Mary, b. 1, 13, 1754, d. 5, 1, 1797, m. William Hunter ; Jane, b. 5, 26, 1756, d. 9, 26, 1807, m. Richard Tunis ; Thomazine, b. 5, 2, 1758, d. 6, 25, 1838, m. Eli Yarnall ; John, b. 8, 10, 1760, d. 8, 24, 1763 ; John (2), b. 5, 24, 1765, d. 8, 31, 1769 ; Elizabeth, b. 3, 31, 1763, d. 4, 8, 1790, m. Isaac McPherson ; Ann, b. 6, 20, 1768, d. 11, 19, 1850, m. Richard Trimble. Jehu Roberts married, 11, 23, 1792, Elizabeth Jones, born 9, 10, 1764, died 5, 15, 1842, daughter of James and Ann Jones, and settled in West Whiteland. He was ap- BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL - 715 pointed an elder of Uwchlan Meeting 10, 8, 1795. His children were John, who married Harriet Fairlamb, and Ann J., who married Joseph Coates and Thomas R. Matthews. The children of John and Harriet occupy the homestead. ROGERS, JOSEPH, one of the first settlers in Vincent, is said to have lived in a cave on the site where the barn was afterwards erected. The time of settlement is fixed at 1712, when his son Joseph was two years old. He died about 1754 leaving children, ------ Joseph, Mary, and Hannah. Joseph, Jr., married, in 1741, Hannah, daughter of William and Hannah Watson, of New Providence, born 6, 23, 1717, died 12, 6, 1778. Joseph died 6, 13, 1778. Their children were Rebekah, b. 12, 23, 1742, d. 11, 21, 1807, m. Reuben Thomas and John Meredith ; James, b. 2, 27, 1744, m. Priscilla Griffith ; John, b. 8, 4, 1746 ; Mary, b. 12, 26, 1747 ; William, b. 9, 1, 1749, died young ; William, b. 6, 3, 1752 ; Jonathan, b. 2, 15, 1755 ; Hannah, b. 1, 12, 1757. William Rogers married, Jan. 26, 1779, Mary, daughter of William Evans, Esq., of Vincent, and had the following children : Sarah, Charles, John, George, William, Isaac, Evans, Mary, Hannah, Hannah, George, William, and Sarah. Jonathan Rogers married, 5, 11, 1780, Ann, daughter of William and Rebecca Jones, of Whitemarsh, and had issue,-Charles, William, Hannah, Rebecca, Joseph, Benjamin, Jonathan, David, James, Samuel, and Ann. Of these, William, born 8, 3, 1782, was at one time sheriff of the county, and his daughter is now the wife of Dr. J. B. Wood, chief burgess of West Chester. ROSS, ALEXANDER, resided in Scotland, where his son, John Ross, was born in 1637, and his grandson, John Ross (the son of John), in 1658. The latter removed with his wife and five children to the city of Derry, Ireland, in 1689. He was in the battle of the Boyne. His son, John Ross (the third of the name), was born in Scotland in 1685, and emigrated to America in 1706, when he was twenty-one years of age, to escape being pressed into the British army. He sailed in the ship " Northern Light," which was wrecked off the shoals of Cape May about the 1st of August of that year. He saved nothing but the clothes on his person, and traveled up the Jersey shore on foot to a point opposite New Castle, and there crossed the Delaware to that place, pledging his silver knee-buckles for the ferriage. He soon thereafter took his course into Chester Co., Pa., and stopped in New Garden with William Miller, to whom he had letters from Ireland. Here he taught school for two years, and then, in 1708, with remittances received from Ireland, he purchased a tract of land in the southern part of the township of Londongrove. These lands he named " Roscommon." A part of the first building he erected thereon is still standing. He married Margaret Small in 1722, and they had two sons and four daughters. He died in 1782, at a very advanced age. In his early days on the farm, the Indians were accustomed, especially during inclement weather, to sleep on the kitchen-floor, always departing early and never disturbing anything. There was an Indian burying-ground on the property, which was sacredly guarded from molestation by Mr. Ross and his descendants. Many Indian relics have been found from time to time. His youngest son, John Ross (the fourth of the name), was born in 1747, and in 1774 married Margaret Young, daughter of Samuel Young, Esq., of New Castle, Del. He inherited the farm, and resided thereon, and died Feb. 16, 1830. His wife, Margaret, died Oct. 24, 1808. Their children were Samuel, John, George, Washington, Elizabeth, the wife of John W. Cuningham, and Ann Graham. Washington Ross, his youngest son, was born Aug. 24, 1792, in the substantial stone mansion which had been built in 1780. He received the farm by devise from his father, and resided thereon until his death, in January, 1862. His wife was Margaret Cochran. He left three children,-Elizabeth, wife of Wilson Marshall, Margaret, wife of Rev. Henry Brown, of Chester, Pa., and John. The Ross family were always among the leading, intelligent, and influential citizens of the southern part of Chester County. DR. JOHN ROSS was born in Bucks Co., Pa., May 2, 1762. He was the son of John Ross, who was also a physician. His grandfather, Thomas Ross, was born in the county Tyrone, Ireland, in 1708, and came to America about the twentieth year of his age. He settled in Bucks County, and, becoming a member of the Society of Friends, joined the Buckingham Meeting. He soon became an approved minister among the Friends, and visited their meetings in various places. Towards the close of 1783 he was drawn to visit the churches in Great Britain and Ireland, whither he sailed in the 4th month, 1784. He died at Holdgate, near the city of York, at the house of Lindley Murray, Feb. 13, 1786, in the seventy-eighth year of his age. The subject of this notice received a plain English education, and with his brother Thomas learned the trade of a millwright. Soon after they were free from their apprenticeship the brothers conferred together, and both resolved that they would not pursue the laborious trade which they had learned ; and thereupon John went to study medicine, and Thomas studied law. Thomas was for many years one of the principal members of the Chester County bar, and died 10, 21, 1822. John Ross studied under a Dr. Derby, of New Jersey. He never graduated, yet by industry and close study he acquired a very respectable standing in his profession. When he had completed his studies he married a lady of the Fitz Randolph family, in New Jersey. Shortly after this he removed to New Garden, in Chester Co., Pa., where he commenced the practice of physic, and continued it for upwards of thirty years. In 1819 he removed to the State of Ohio, and died at Lebanon some two or three years after his removal to the West. He left four children, of whom Hon. Thomas R. Ross, his eldest son, was a lawyer, and formerly a member of Congress from Ohio ; a daughter, Mrs. Sarah R. Corwin, was the wife of Hon. Thomas Corwin, a distinguished representative and statesman of the " Buckeye State." Dr. Ross was faithful, respectable, and popular as a physician ; as a. citizen, high-minded and liberal ; as a husband and parent, kind and affectionate ; as a man, endowed with warm feelings, and generous to a fault. 716 - HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA. JAMES Ross, LL.D., was born in Oxford (now Upper Oxford) township, Chester Co., Pa., May 18, 1744. His grandfather, James Ross, resided in Carrickfergus, county Antrim, Ireland, and had three sons,—John, Hugh, and William,—who all came to America about the year 1723. John was a sea-captain, married in Connecticut, and had a son Robert, who was a Presbyterian minister. Hugh settled in York Co., Pa., and had a daughter, who married John Purdon, a merchant in Philadelphia. They were the parents of John Purdon, who was a lawyer, and the original compiler of the well-known " Purdon's Digest." William first settled in York County, afterwards came to Chester County, and took up and settled on a tract of land about one mile southeast of Russellville. He married Elizabeth Kidd, by whom he had eight children, among them James Ross, the subject of this sketch. William Ross died in 1799, at the age of ninety-four years. James Ross was educated at the College of New Jersey. He first taught a classical school in Philadelphia for a number of years ; was Professor of Languages in Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pa., from 1784 to 1792 ; teacher of the Greek and Latin languages, and rector of the Franklin Academy, in Chambersburg, Pa., from 1792 to 1802 ; principal of a classical school in the old Franklin College building, Lancaster, Pa., from 1802 to 1806, and then again removed to Philadelphia, where he was principal of a classical school in North Fourth Street, below Arch, until about the year 1826, one year before his death, when he was advanced in years, and old age disqualified him for his useful profession. His knowledge of mathematics and the physical sciences was but slender, and he would not teach any of the English branches,—not a line of arithmetic or geography, or of any common English study. Like the celebrated Rousseau, he could never clearly comprehend some of the simplest propositions in Euclid, and could not without difficulty calculate the change in the market when purchasing necessaries for his family. He was, however, pre-eminent as a linguist. His talents lay all in the direction of the classics, and in these—especially in the Latin language—he has had few, if indeed any, superiors in this country. His school was entirely classical. He required his pupils who were sufficiently advanced to speak in Latin, and he would answer no question from them in school except in that language ; and when they began the study of Greek, he required them to translate from Greek into Latin, not into English. He used Latin-Greek grammars and Latin-Greek lexicons. The consequence of this system of training was that his pupils were distinguished, in the colleges where they went to complete their education, for their knowledge of the ancient languages. A more thorough Greek and Latin teacher has never prepared boys for college. He possessed the rare gift of being able to inspire his pupils with a permanent and enthusiastic love for these studies. Among his pupils were several prominent men of the last and present generations. Of these may be named Rev. Nathaniel Randolph Snowden, the father of Hon. James Ross Snowden, late director of the mint at Philadelphia, who partially named his son for his learned preceptor and friend ; Rev. James P. Wilson, D.D., now of Newark, N. J., Rev. James W. Alexander, D.D., Hon. Henry A. Mulilenberg, of Reading. Pa., and Dr. Samuel Humes, of Lancaster, the latter of whom kept up his reading of the classics to the day of his death. Mr. Ross was also a frequent visitor of the celebrated botanist, Rev. Henry Muhlenberg, D.D., president of Franklin College, Lancaster, who had been educated at the University of Halle. Their conversation was often carried on in Latin. He taught three generations ; in some instances children and their fathers and grandfathers were his pupils in succession. He used to carry his cat-o'-nine-tails, his instrument of punishment, dangling from his little finger, and it is related of him that he not un frequently ate his dinner with it hanging that way. He is said to have been somewhat deficient in governing talent. Mr. Ross was a fluent speaker, and exhibited his learning on all occasions. He was rather eccentric in his manners, and as the classical languages were his hobby, his ordinary discourse was tinctured with a dash of pedantry. Of this amiable weakness, it is said, his scholars took advantage to quiz him. He wrote and published a grammar of the Latin language, which was greatly in advance of all its predecessors, and was for many years a favorite text-book in our colleges and academies, and was extensively used until superseded by those of more modern date. It was first published at Chambersburg in 1798, where the author was then principal of the Franklin Academy. The second edition was published at Lancaster in 1802, and the subsequent editions in Philadelphia. It passed through several editions under the supervision of the author, one of which appeared wholly in Latin, and received the commendations of the most learned classical scholars of the day. Among those who recommended it may be named Rev. Dr. Henry Muhlenberg, Rev. Dr. C. Becker, of Lancaster, Rev. Dr. Ashbel Green, Chief Justice Tilghman, Rev. Dr. James P. Wilson, and Prof. Wiltbank, of the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Becker's recommendation of the second edition was in these words : " Quo libro a me perscrutato, ex animo applaudo," which may be thus rendered in the vernacular, —" which book, being by me thoroughly examined, from my conscience I approve it." It is said that, owing to the deficiency of the author in the English branches, the preface to his grammar cost him more trouble in preparation than any other part of his work. This grammar is a most admirable work of its kind, and well deserved the popularity which it enjoyed, and there is certainly room to question whether those which have taken its place are better, if indeed as good. In all the essentials of a text-book—in simplicity, clearness of arrangement, accuracy of quantity and accent, and the absence of unnecessary details—it excels. And this is a rare merit. To a careless observer it may seem an easy thing to compile a good text-book, but every teacher who seeks what is exactly adapted to his wants knows that they are very hard to find, even amid the teeming multitudes that flood the land, and follow each other as the waves of the ocean. One feature in this grammar is worthy of note, which, while it betrays the eccentricity of the man, shows at the same time his love for the language and his desire to aid the learner, and BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL - 717 that is the quaint rhymes in which he sums up the exceptions under the several declensions of nouns. The prosody of Ross' grammar was, however, defective in many respects, and being for the most part in Latin, presented innumerable difficulties to the student. To remedy this defect, and to make the grammar correspond to the advanced state of classical philology, a new edition was published in 1844, with additions and emendations by Professor N. C. Brooks, of Baltimore. This edition is still in use. Besides the grammar, Mr. Ross edited editions of several elementary Latin books, among them " Cordery's Colloquies," "sop's Fables," " Select Colloquies of Erasmus," " Select e Profanis Historm," and " Ciceronis Epistol." He was most remarkably particular in the quantity and accent, and in these was very accurate. He translated the Presbyterian " Shorter Catechism" into Latin, and taught it in his school. He also compiled a Greek grammar, founded on the Westminster grammar. It was first published in 1813, and a second edition appeared in 1817. No portion of it was in English. It was entirely Greek and Latin. The trustees of the University of Pennsylvania directed it to be used in their grammar-school. He always retained the copyright of his books, and they yielded him a handsome revenue. In 1810, Mr. Ross wrote a Latin poem on the Yellow Springs, in Pikeland township. In 1815 he wrote a similar poem descriptive of the battle of New Orleans, then recently fought, which he addressed to Thomas Jefferson, and which was highly laudatory of Gen. Jackson, the hero of the battle. He also wrote a Latin ode addressed to Lafayette, on the occasion of his visit to this country in 182425. These poems were in imitation of the odes of Horace, and were published in the newspapers of the day. He was very fond of composing and reciting Latin verse, and a large quantity of manuscript in that language was found among his papers after his decease. He was a hard student, and had collected a large library, which was portioned out, as directed by his will, among his friends and relatives. It was his practice to write remarks on the margin of the book while reading it, such as " Hic ignare erras." As illustrative of his Latin proclivities, it is related of him that being in court during the trial of a cause, in which one of the counsel said there was no rule without an exception, Mr. Ross in an audible voice denied the statement, adding, by way of illustration, that " nouns of the second declension in urn are always of the neuter gender." He was an attendant of the First Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia, of which Rev. Dr. James P. Wilson was then pastor. His seat was in the gallery, and before him on a little shelf he had several books,—Hebrew Bible, Greek Testament, concordance, lexicons, etc. When the text was announced he would turn to the passage, and was always much interested in the critical explanation of portions of the Scriptures. He received the honorary degree of A.M. from Princeton College in 1818. He must have had that degree, however, in course, as in the first edition of his grammar, published in 1798, he styles himself " A.M." He was in after-life honored with the degree of LL.D. In the days of " Federal" and " Democrat" he followed the fortunes of the latter party ; was a great friend of home manufactures, and encouraged them by wearing domestic clothing when better could have been purchased of English manufacture at a much less price. Mr. Ross was tall and well proportioned, of erect carriage and ruddy complexion, dignified, but courteous and gentlemanly in his demeanor. He was of very quick temperament, nervous and excitable, and seemingly could not remain long in one position. He was an honest, upright man, of spotless moral character, and artless as a child. He died in Philadelphia, July 6, 1827, in the eighty-fourth year of his age. His remains were interred in the burial-ground of the Methodist church, at the old Academy, in Fourth Street, near Arch, Philadelphia, but were subsequently removed by his widow to Carlisle. He was twice married,—first to Rosanah Sharp, second to Catharine Irvine, of Carlisle, who survived him, and died at the latter place in 1846. He left no descendants. RUSTON, JOB, was born in Berwick, near the line between England and Scotland, and came to this country early in the eighteenth century. He was of the Presbyterian faith, and settled on Fagg's Manor, and in 1739 purchased from James Logan and Peter Lloyd, attorneys for Letitia Aubrey, the owner of that manor, 425 acres of it on its western side and near its southern boundary, and partly within the present limits of Upper Oxford township. On this tract he settled and erected buildings, including a mill, now known as McDowell's mill. His dwelling stood near the mill, and on the site of the present dwelling-house late of Marshall W. Aitkin, deceased. Here he resided during his life. The present mill building was erected by him, and took the place of a former mill near by, which had also been built by him. A pair of stones in the present mill, now in use, were sent to Mr. Ruston from England, it is believed by his son Thomas. He afterwards purchased 44 acres adjoining this tract, and also a tract of 436 acres situate in Penn's Manor, in the same township, a little northwest of Penn's Grove meeting- and school-house, and on and near the road leading from his residence at the mill to the present village of Russellville. One-half of this tract he sold to his son-in-law, Rev. John Evans Finley. He received funds from England, which enabled him to make these large purchases, and he was, for the times and locality, a man of considerable wealth. Job Ruston was one of the founders and stanch supporters of the Fagg's Manor Presbyterian Church, of which his son-in-law, Rev. John Evans Finley, was pastor from 1781 to 1793. During the French and Indian war he commanded a company from Chester County. He was one of the most intelligent, energetic, and useful men in the western part of the county. He was twice married. His first wife, Mary Ruston, died June 19, 1757, at the age of thirty-nine years. On her tombstone in the graveyard at Fagg's Manor it is recorded that " she bore unto him in twenty-two years twelve children," and underneath are these quaint lines : "The dame that lieth underneath this tomb Had Rachel's face and Leah's fruitful womb, Abigail's wisdom, Lydia's open heart, With Martha's care, and Mary's better part." 718 - HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA. Job Ruston died in January, 1785. Among his children were Dr. Thomas Ruston and Sarah Ruston. The latter married Dr. Samuel Kennedy. They were the parents of Dr. Thomas Ruston Kennedy, and grandparents of Joseph C. G. Kennedy, who is now connected with the Census Bureau at Washington. DR. THOMAS RUSTON, the eldest son of Job Ruston, was born in 1742, in Upper Oxford township. He was given the best education that the times afforded, and in 1762 was graduated at Princeton College. The following year he went to Europe, and graduating at the Medical Department of the University of Edinburgh, at once took such high rank in his profession as to be appointed surgeon in charge of the Devon and Exeter Hospital, at Exeter, England, where he remained for more than fifteen years. During this time he married Miss Mary Fisher, of London, and in the year 1785 they came to America, and resided in Philadelphia. The doctor was the first American who had graduated at Edinburgh, and only won his way by the severest study. His wife was possessed of an ample fortune, and she brought with her to this country forty thousand guineas, equal to two hundred thousand dollars, a large sum for those days. They lived in Philadelphia in style, and entertained lavishly, and had at their board from time to time the wealth and culture of the land. A diary was kept by Mrs. Ruston, now in the possession of one of her descendants, in which she recorded an account of the dinners given by them, and containing diagrams showing the position and names of the dishes on the table, and the names of the guests. Among those with whom they were on friendly terms was Dr. Benjamin Franklin. On Jan. 12, 1786, the year following Dr. Ruston's return to America, he addressed a letter to Dr. Franklin on the subject of " smoky chimneys," and a remedy to cure the evil, which was published in the Transactions of the American Philosophical Society. Dr. Ruston, after his return from England, engaged with others in extensive land speculations, which, although promising well, subsequently proved disastrous, and his wife's ample fortune, as well as his own, was dissipated. He died in Philadelphia in 1811. He wrote several books and pamphlets, which are referred to in another part of this volume. Although so identified with the early history of the county, the family name has become extinct. His father devised his real estate to him, subject to the payment of legacies to his other children. In the settlement of the estate litigation ensued, which was carried to the Supreme Court of the State. The case will be found reported as Ruston vs. Ruston, in 2 Yeates' Reports, page 54, and 2 Dallas' Reports, page 243. Dr. Ruston left three children,-Charlotte, Mary, and Thomas. Charlotte married Richard M. Hannum, a son of Cot. John Hannum, one of the founders of West Chester. Mary married first William Harrison, by whom she had one son, Charles Harrison, who became a lawyer, and second John Wheeler, by whom she had two children,-John and Mary. John was educated at the New London Academy, and subsequently resided in West Chester, and carried on the mercantile business with Cheyney Nields. Mary, born in 1807, at Valley Forge, married Uriah V. Pennypacker, Esq., of the Chester County bar, in 1834. Thomas Ruston, Jr., was engaged in the iron business at Valley Forge, and afterwards removed to Kentucky, where he died childless. RYANT, CHARLES, of Concord, became a member of Concord Meeting, 3, 2, 1752, by request, and married Ann Chamberlain, daughter of John and Lettice, of Aston, 5, 27, 1752. The name as recorded at this time was Reyon. By this marriage there were two children,-Lettice, who married Abraham Darlington, Jr., and Elizabeth, who married Charles Dilworth, 4, 22, 1790. Charles Ryant, now of Goshen, married Hannah Sharples, widow of Nathan, of Goshen, and daughter of Joseph and Martha Townsend, of East Bradford. They had two children,-Ann, born 1, 13, 1759, who married Caleb Haines, and Nathan, b. 8, 27, 1762, who died young. They lived on the Sharples farm, in what is now West Chester, for several years. Hannah died 12, 31, 1790, and he married again, 9, 22, 1791, Mary Carrell, but his further history is unknown. SAVAGE, SAMUEL, was admitted a freeman April 9, 1705 (of Philadelphia ), and paid for the same £1 2s. 6d. He married Anna, the eldest daughter of Thomas Rutter, of Germantown, and with him went up to the Manatawny region to establish iron-works. (See memorial of Potts family.) The will of Samuel Savage, of Mahanatania, in the county of Philadelphia, is dated Sept. 25, 1719, and proved July 19, 1720. He appoints his wife, Anna, sole executrix, but " she is to take the advice and consent of my brother, John Savage, and my father-in-law, Thomas Rutter." The children of Samuel and Anna Savage were Thomas, d. 1739, unmarried, in Coventry ; Samuel, d. 1742, m. Ann Taylor, 1731 ; Joseph ; John, died young, from bite of a rattlesnake ; Ruth, d. Jan. 7, 1786, m. John Potts, April 11, 1734 ; Rebeccah, d. 1800, m. Samuel Nutt, Jr., and Robert Grace. Anna, the mother, was born 8, 25, 1686, and died in August, 1760. She married a second husband, Samuel Nutt, of Coventry, who established iron-works in Chester County. He died near the close of 1737. Samuel Savage, Jr., married Ann Taylor, daughter of Isaac and Martha Taylor, of Thornbury. By indenture of May 5, 1740, his mother conveyed to him /10 of 9/24 of the iron ore on 250 acres on French Creek, his sister, Rebecca Nutt, being owner of the land and of 4 of the ore. By, another indenture, of May 6, 1740, his mother conveyed to him ½ interest in Warwick Furnace, and two tracts of 650 and 705 acres thereunto belonging. Samuel, by will dated Sept. 22, 1742, devised his interest in Warwick and the mine tract to his son Samuel, after his mother's death ; but the son died intestate, without issue, and it was inherited by his sisters, who sold their shares to Rutter and Potts. The children of Samuel and Ann (Taylor) Savage were Samuel, left no issue, probably unmarried ; Anna, m. Walker ; Martha, m. Thomas Hockley ; Ruth, m. James Hockley ; Mary, m. William Crooks. Samuel Savage (2) is styled of Warwick, iron-master, BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL - 719 in the conveyance from his mother in 1740, but in his will " of East Nantmell." SCARLET, HUMPHREY, married Ann Weaver, widow of Anthony, and daughter of Joseph and Jane Richards, and resided in Chichester, where he died about 1746. His children were John, m. Elinor Martin, 1715 ; Shadrach, m. Phebe Bowater, 1717 ; Susanna, m. Daniel Brown, 9, 22, 1721 ; Nathaniel, b. about 1700, d. 11, 2, 1784, m. Hannah Dutton, 8, 29, 1730 ; Elizabeth, m. 10, 15, 1726, to Richard Cox ; Mary, m. to Thomas Hall ; and Rebecca, m. to - Brown. John removed to Berks County, Shadrach to London-grove township, and Nathaniel to New Garden, where descendants may be found. SEAL, WILLIAM, supposed from England, settled in Birmingham, and married, 8, 31, 1718, Hannah, daughter of Joseph and Hannah Gilpin, of that township. He died in 1742, and his widow and the eldest two of his children in 1746. Their children were Rachel, b. 7, 19, 1719 ; Joseph, b. 11, 16, 1720 ; Hannah, b. 6, 2, 1724, m. John Bennett ; William,. b. 10, 17, 1726, m. Susanna Temple and Rachel Darlington ; Joshua, b. 8, 4, 1729 ; Caleb, b. 7, 17, 1731, m. Lydia Temple. William and Susanna Seal had children,-William, Joseph, Caleb, Benjamin, Hannah, Rachel, Thomas, and perhaps others. He died 10, 9, 1769. Caleb and Lydia Seal had the following : William, Thomas, Joshua, Thomas (2), Sarah, Hannah, Caleb, Hannah (2), Lydia, Rachel, William (2), and Caleb (2). The descendants of these are to be found in Wilmington. William Seal (3) married Mary Hunt, and lived in Birmingham. His children were William, Jesse, Thomas, M.D., b. 10, 15, 1785 (father of Thomas F. Seal, of Unionville), Eli, Joseph, Benjamin, Susanna, and Sidney. SEEDS.-Edward Seed married Abigail, daughter of Richard Buffington, of East Bradford. He died in 1754, and his widow married David Fling, a weaver. She died April, 1813, in her ninety-second year. The children of Edward and Abigail were Abigail ; Adam, m. to Alice White, 8, 2, 1770 ; Richard ; George, died Nov. 25, 1836, aged eighty-six ; James ; Mary, b. May 13, 1754, d. July 15, 1832, m. Daniel Graham. George Seeds married Margaret, daughter of Stephen and Martha Hoopes, born March 1, 1744-5, died March 29, 1823. Their son Emmor resided on his farm in the forks of Brandywine, in East Bradford, and from this family we have " Seeds' Bridge" and " Seeds' Station," now Wawasset. Emmor died Oct. 18, 1860, aged eighty-two years. His wife, Ann, born 3, 11, 1782, died 7, 5, 1857, was the daughter of Joshua and Ruth Cloud. Their children were Margaret, b. 4, 12, 1800, m. John Shaw, and still living in the forks of Brandywine ; Hannah, b. 4, 13, 1802 ; Sarah, b. 10, 2, 1804 ; Sidney, b. 2, 29, 1808; Eliza, b. 4, 25, 1810 ; Emmor, b. 4, 30, 1812 ; Ann, b. 7, 2, 1815 ; Ruth, b. 4, 25, 1818. Emmor holds a part of the homestead, and a view of his residence is herein given. SELLERS, SAMUEL, of Darby, and Anna Gibbons were married in 1684, and had several children. Their son Samuel, born 3, 12, 1690, married, in 1712, Sarah Smith, and his son, the third Samuel, born 5, 20, 1715, died 12, 31, 1785, m. 7, 28, 1737, Jane Wood, daughter of George and Hannah, of Darby. She was born 9, 5, 1716, and died 3, 5, 1790. They removed from Darby to West Bradford, now Pocopson, soon after marriage. Their children were Hannah, m. Isaac Peirce ; Sarah, m. Abel Wickersham ; Samuel, m. Mary Taylor ; Mary, m. James Trimble ; Ann, m. John Taylor ; Jonathan, m. Deborah . Taylor. JOHN SELLERS was born in Darby, Chester (now Delaware) Co., 7th mo. 19, 1728. His grandfather, Samuel Sellers, came from Derbyshire, England, in one of the vessels that came with William Penn, took up 100 acres of land in Darby, and followed his trade of weaving. His marriage is said to have been the first among the Friends in Darby. His father, also named Samuel, was born and lived on the same premises, followed the same trade of weaving, and was somewhat noted for his mechanical ingenuity. He erected the first twisting-mill, it is believed, in Pennsylvania (a complex machine for twisting worsted), and became famous for coverlet and camlet weaving. Samuel died in 1773, in his eighty-third year. John, the subject of this notice, was the youngest son. He was likewise a weaver. In early life he manifested a more enterprising disposition than his father had done. After receiving very little schooling (as was usual at that day), he acquired by his application to books a knowledge of surveying, which he began early to practice, and became eminent in the county as a land-surveyor. His mechanical ingenuity was early manifested by his construction of wire rolling-screens and sieves for cleaning wheat, flax-seed, etc., he being the first, it is believed, who made them in America. He discontinued the common weaving soon after he began the wire-weaving business, which latter he followed, together with Dutch fan-making, until the commencement of the Revolutionary war. The ingenious art of weaving wire seems to have been inherited by his descendants. His enterprise was manifested in the improvement of his paternal and purchased estate, in discovering sites for mills, erecting the first on a small scale proportioned to his means, then altering and improving as means were increased. In the course of his life he dug on his own estate about three miles in length of mill-race, and erected six mill-dams. He was several times (viz., from 1767 to 1771, inclusive) elected a member of the Provincial Assembly for the county of Chester. Some time before the commencement of the Revolutionary war he was appointed by the Governor and Council one of the surveyors to run a straight line from the middle ferry on Schuylkill to Lancaster, preparatory to laying out the Strasburg road, and by the same authority, in 1773, one of the commissioners for laying out said road. He was likewise appointed one of the commissioners, or engineers, to examine and ascertain, by surveying and leveling, whether a navigable canal (such as the present Union Canal) would be practicable between the waters of the Susquehanna and the Schuylkill. When the proprietary government was abolished and a new form established, he was chosen a representative for the county of Chester in the first legislative body that met under the new form of government, but declined to serve. He was always 720 - HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA. of opinion that it would not answer well to vest the whole power of legislation in a single house. In 1768 he was chosen a member of the American Philosophical Society. In 1789 he was elected by Delaware County a member of the Convention that modified the constitution of 1776, and in the following year he was elected to the State Senate from that county. He was also one of the surveyors who ran the division line between Chester County and the then new county of Delaware. While Thomas Mifflin was Governor he was appointed an associate judge of the County Court, but declined to serve. He was born and lived on the same spot where his grandfather had settled, and where his father had lived and died, and there he died, on the second day of the second month, 1804, in the seventy-sixth year of his age. SCOTT, ABRAHAM, of West Nottingham, died in 1749, leaving sons Abraham, Hugh, Josias, Samuel, and Thomas. THOMAS SCOTT died in 1757, leaving children,-Philip, Thomas, Rebecca, who married Charles Ramsey in 1776, and perhaps others. James Scott, a son or grandson of Thomas, lived on the east side of Big Elk, at what is known as Tweedville. He was killed by a fall from a tree in 1812, leaving three or four daughters, and sons Thomas, James, and Philip, who lived for several years at the homestead. Thomas now lives at Lewisville, and has been an active local politician. Philip Scott, son of the first Thomas, above named, was a justice of the peace, and known as Squire Scott. He lived between Hickory Hill and Oxford, and died at the age of eighty-four years. JOHN SCOTT, Esq., lived in New London in 1756, and was probably a son-in-law of Robert Hodgson. SHARP, JOSEPH W.-In 1857, about the time the Pennsylvania Central Railway began to put local trains on its road, Mr. Sharp built his elegant residence. It was one of the first handsome residences erected in this county on this road. The facilities in the past twenty years afforded by the railroads have enabled Philadelphians to come out, purchase lands, and construct valuable and beautiful edifices. In that period of time the habitations along the various net-work of railroads have largely changed, and instead of the old-style farm dwellings, uncouth and uncomfortable, large and elegant residences have been erected. Mr. Sharp's land has been in his family since 1839, when purchased by his father. It is situated in Easttown township, about one mile south of Berwyn Station, seventeen miles from Philadelphia. Mr. Sharp, when he built his residence, was in business in Philadelphia. His farm of two hundred and thirty-five acres is located in a beautiful region of country, and his building improvements are fitting types of the social progress made in rural architecture in the last few years. SHAFER, JOHN, of German descent, married Elizabeth Merkle, by whom he had Samuel, b. March 30, 1790, d. April 26, 1856 ; John, b. Dec. 2, 1793 ; Henry, b. May 22, 1796, d. March 9, 1872 ; George, b. July 13, 1799 ; Juliann, b. Sept. 14, 1801 ; Catharine, b. Feb. 24, 1805. Samuel Shafer, the eldest son, was born in Pottstown. He married, October, 1812, Martha McClintock, widow of James, and daughter of Col. Thomas and Ann (Hunter) Bull. She was born Feb. 20, 1779, and died March 12, 1850. By her first marriage, Aug. 4, 1799, she had three children, -Thomas Bull, b. June 6, 1804, d. July 6, 1804 ; Sarah May, b. Sept. 16, 1805, d. Dec. 1, 1807 ; Ann Hunter, b. June 4, 1808, d. July 17, 1834. The last named was married Aug. 2, 1831, to Joseph Neide, Esq., being his first wife. The children of Samuel and Rebecca Shafer were Rebecca, b. May, 1813 ; Elizabeth, b. Oct. 4, 1816, d. April 8, 1878 ; Sarah, b. Oct. 3, 1819, d. June 22, 1820 ; Martha, b. Jan. 8, 1821, d. Feb. 23, 1821; Levi Bull, b. May 5, 1822, d. Feb. 18, 1824. Rebecca Shafer married, Feb. 9, 1837, Joseph Neide, being his second wife. Elizabeth married Addison May, Esq., and died in West Chester. Samuel Shafer was commissioned an associate judge of this county March 8, 1849, and in 1851 was elected to the same office, and commissioned November 10th for the term of five years. He possessed the elements of a true man, and discharged the responsible duties of his station with singular propriety, discretion, and firmness. Sound and impartial in judgment, diligent in business, and most amiable in temper and disposition, he won universal regard, and secured the entire confidence of the community. In his intercourse with the members of the bar he was not only affable and courteous but kind and considerate, and was with them a universal favorite. It may be said of Judge Shafer, without disparagement to the other gentlemen who have occupied the same position, that no more honorable or noble-minded man ever adorned the bench. WILLIAM T. SHAFER.-John Shafer, son of John and Elizabeth, of Pottstown, married Martha Neilor. He went from Pottstown to Philadelphia, and was in a wholesale dry-goods store, and from thence, about 1822, went to the Ralston place and engaged in mercantile pursuits. In 1829 he removed to West Pikeland. To John and Martha (Neilor) Shafer were born seven children, of whom the second son and third child, William T., was born Feb. 17, 1825. He learned the carpenter's trade, and went to school under Joseph C. Strode, of East Bradford, and fitted himself for a teacher. He was engaged in teaching several sessions. From 1829 to the present time the mercantile business at Shafer's stand has been in the Shafer family,-to 1849 by John, and since then conducted by William T. The latter clerked many years for his father, who, like himself, combined farming with store-keeping. William T. was married in 1865 to Mary E., daughter of Abel and Ann Evans, by whom he has one child, Martha. He was elected in 1858 to the Legislature, and re-elected in 1859 and 1860. He sat in the extra session in 1861, in which was passed the bill creating the Pennsylvania Reserves and putting the State on a war footing. He has frequently been school director and auditor in his township. He is a pronounced Republican, and has always been prominent in its councils, and very active in politics. At present his various business cares, with his charge of his mother's estate,-the family living in the common possession of the same, as in his father's lifetime, absorbs his time and attention. Samuel, eldest brother of William T., went in 1839 to Philadelphia, and into the same business, in the same BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL - 721 house, and under the same individual (Capt. Stevenson) that his father had been with long years before. Samuel afterwards became paying-teller in the Commercial Exchange Bank, and later chief book-keeper in the city treasurer's office. William T. has been honored with many positions, one of which was aide-de-camp to Governor James Pollock, with rank of lieutenant-colonel. He is a good citizen and a thorough business man, but at present meditates closing up the mercantile business which he and his father have carried on at one place for fifty-two years. SHAFFER, THOMAS.—The Shaffer family emigrated from Germany prior to the Revolutionary war and settled in Westchester County, New York, in which State Thomas Shaffer was born May 22, 1815. His father and grandfather were both large manufacturers of paper, and the latter built a paper-mill in what is now known as the Five Points of New York City, and which during the Revolution was designated by Congress as one of the two mills to furnish the government with paper for printing the Continental currency. After peace was made the mill was removed to Spottswood, N. J., that place being selected on account of its excellent water-power,—then a wild tract of government land, but now immensely valuable. By a series of misfortunes, including the destruction of a will by interested parties, and the subsequent burning of the Capitol at Washington, which destroyed the records of the land department, during the British invasion of 1814, the rightful owners of the property have been defrauded and the true heirs dispossessed. - 91 - He was left an orphan at an early age, and had but spare educational advantages. Having to make his way in the world, his first employment was as an errand-boy in a paper-mill. When twelve years old he entered the Ulster Iron-Works, at Saugerties, N. Y., and having become a general favorite with employers and managers, he rapidly and thoroughly worked through all the branches of the trade, being afforded free access to all the departments of an establishment ranking the first in the country in the variety and excellence of its products. He was enabled through the imported Staffordshire worker, and also through the manager, who had acquired not only the skill of his native land but had also been employed in France, and was perfectly acquainted with the foreign manufacture of iron, to gain a full and complete insight into all the manipulations of the craft and the title of a finished American workman. During the time he was employed at the Ulster works he operated the first successful furnace, in 1837, used for heating iron by means of anthracite coal. During the last years of his service here he held the position of workman manager in charge of three trains of rolls, the highest station of a workman. His total connection with these works extended through eighteen years, having entered as a boy and left as a thoroughly educated mechanic. John Simmons was the Staffordshire worker under whom he learned, who was born May 22, 1777, at Deerfield (Cosely), in parish of Sedgely, England. In 1845 he became master-workman of a rolling-mill at Pompton, N. Y., where he remained a year, 722 - HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA. and then passed to the works of Thomas Hunt, of Philadelphia, where he was employed in a similar capacity. After a year's sojourn he was engaged at the Fairmount Iron-Works as mill manager and master-workman. In 1850 he removed to Safe Harbor, Pa., and, as superintendent, had charge of the rail- and puddle-mills of the iron-works at that place for seven years, with entire satisfaction to the proprietors, who tendered him on the eve of his departure the most complimentary written testimonials of their appreciation of his great merits and superior qualifications. In 1856 he received the appointment of mill manager in the extensive works of the Phoenix Iron Company, which position he has occupied the past twenty-four years. He is now organizing and putting into operation the new mill, erected some six years ago, but under the present revival of business being started for its first work. He is now employed by the third generation of the Reeves family, who are the proprietors of the works. In political matters he has been especially active, first as a Whig, then as a Republican. But though a patriotic politician from a sense of duty, he would never accept any political office. During the Rebellion he aided the Union army materially by his own active exertions, freely using his entire income for that purpose, excepting what was necessary for the support of his family. The care of the families of the soldiers was with him a special object, and he still continues his benefactions to the relatives of those who laid down their lives for their country. For thirty-two years he has been an acceptable member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and during nearly this whole period has served the congregations with which he has been connected in some official capacity. He was married in 1836 to Jane Vosburgh, of Ulster Co., N. Y., and of his family of three children two are living. His only son, Vosburgh N., received a liberal collegiate education, and is by profession a civil and mechanical engineer and iron manufacturer, having filled already several responsible positions. He is at present in the publishing business, and proprietor of the Independent Phoenix, a paper at Phoenixville. Mr. Shaffer holds in the highest regard and love the recollection of his employers in his long and busy life, and cherishes with great veneration his happy associations with them, and which feelings were mutual between him and those for whom he was engaged. He is strongly attached to the I. O. O. F., with which order he has been connected since 1852. SHARPLESS,* JOHN, of Ratherton, in Cheshire, England, m. Jane Moore, of the same place, in the year 1662. In the year 1682 the family removed to Pennsylvania, landing at Chester on the 14th of 6th mo., 1682, more than two months prior to the arrival of William Penn. John Sharpless had purchased 1000 acres from Penn, by lease and release of April 4 and 5, 1682, part of which they took up on Ridley Creek, about two miles northwest from Chester, " where they fell a large tree, and took shelter among the boughs thereof about six weeks, in which time they built a cabin against a rock, which answered for their chimney-back, and now contains the date of the * The name was formerly written Sharpies, and it is thought the last syllable was pronounced as in apples. year when the cabin was built, viz., 1682, in which they dwelt about twenty years, and where they all died except the mother and three sons ; in which time Joseph learnt the trade of house-carpenter, and when of age built the first dwelling-house, which is now standing (1816) and occupied by one of their descendants. Part of the original floors are still in use, being fastened down with wooden pins of about an inch in diameter, instead of nails. It is a sizeable two-story dwelling, the walls of stone." It is now occupied by Beulah E., widow of Daniel Sharpless. The remainder of the land was taken up, part in Middletown, near Darlington Station now, and part in Nether Providence. John Sharpless died 4, 11, 1685, aged about sixty-one years, and his widow 9, 1, 1722, about the eighty-fourth year of her age. The children were,-1. Phebe, b. 10, 20, 1663, at Mearemore, d. 4, 2, 1685 ; 2. John, b. 11, 16, 1666, at Blackenhall, d. 7, 9, 1747 ; 3. Thomas, b. 11, 12, 1668, at Hadderton, d. 5, 17, 1682 ; 4. James, b. 1, 5, 1670-1, at Hadderton, d. - ; 5. Caleb, b. 7, 22, 1673, at Hadderton, d. 7, 17, 1686 6. Jane, b. 6, 13, 1676, at Hadderton, d. 3, 28, 1685 ; 7. Joseph, b. 5, 28, 1678, at Hadderton, d. spring of 1757. Thomas died at sea, and Caleb from the bite of a snake. John Sharpless (2) was married, 9, 23, 1692, at a meeting at John Bowater's house, in Middletown, to Hannah Pennell, daughter of Robert and Hannah, of that township. He settled in Ridley, and had children,-8. Caleb, b. 7, 27, 1693, d. 2, 29, 1720, unmarried ; 9. Jane, b. 12, 24, 1695-6, m.. George Smedley ; 10. Hannah, b. 8, 5, 1697, d. 1780, m. Henry Howard ; 11. John, b. 8, 16, 1699, d. 8, 17, 1769, m. Mary Key and Elizabeth Ash-bridge ; 12. Phebe, b. 11, 9, 1701-2, m. Benjamin Hibberd ; 13. Rebecca, b. 12, 17, 1703-4, d. unmarried ; 14. Margaret, b. 4, 21, 1706, d. unmarried ; 15. Ann, b. 6, 23, 1708, m. Samuel Bond ; 16. Daniel, b. 12, 24, 171011, m. Sarah Coppock. Daniel had children,-Thomas, Rebecca (who married John Eyre), Phebe, Abigail (married Solomon Mercer), and Daniel, who married Hannah Thomas, of Willistown, in 1775, and settled at the old homestead. His son Enos, born 3, 1, 1781, married Beulah Martin, and was the father of the late John M. Sharpless, the founder of dyestuff manufacture at Chester. James Sharpless (4) married, 1, 3, 1697-8, Mary Edge, who died 2, 17, 1698, and he married again, 12, 20, 1699, Mary Lewis, daughter of Ralph and Mary Lewis, from Glamorganshire, Wales. They settled in Nether Providence. Children : 17. Lydia, b. 12, 20, 1701, m. Aaron Vernon ; 18. Mary, b. 2, 27, 1702, m. Joseph Garrett; 19. James, b. 9, 6, 1703, m. Elizabeth Taylor ; 20. Rachel, b. 5, 9, 1708, m. Thomas Dell ; 21. Sarah, b. 1, 27, 1710, m. Edward Woodward ; 22. Thomas, b. 8, 6, 1712, d. 8, 2, 1713 ; 23. David, b. 4, 24, 1715, m. Priscilla Powell ; 24. Esther, b. _____ -, m. Mordecai Taylor. Joseph Sharpless (7) married, 3, 31, 1704, Lydia Lewis, sister of Mary, and settled in Nether Providence, afterwards in Middletown. About 1737 they removed to West Caln with their younger children and remained seven years. Their descendants are very numerous, and outnumber the BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL - 723 other branches in the male line. Lydia died in 1763. Children of Joseph and Lydia : 25. Susanna, b. 12, 18, 1705, d. m. Joseph Chamberlain ; Joseph, b. 7, 8, 1707, d. 1, 4, 1769 ; 27. Benjamin, b. 11, 26, 1708-9, d. 3, 16, 1785 ; 28. Samuel, b. 12, 7, 1710-11, d. 11, 24, 1790 ; 29. Lydia,.b. 3, 7, 1713, m. John Martin ; 30. Nathan, b. 9, 2, 1715, d. 1755 ; 31. Jane, b. 12, 4, 1718, m. Jacob Pyle ; 32. Abraham, b. 5, 7, 1720, d. 1784 ; 33. Jacob, b. 10, 14, 1722, d. 7, 19, 1775 ; 34. William, b. 3, 31, 1725, d. 1751. Benjamin Sharpless (27) married, 2, 27, 1737, at Concord Meeting, Edith Broom, of Concord, daughter of James and Mary, deceased. She died 6, 13, 1744, in her twenty-sixth year, leaving three children. He married (second), 3, 21, 1746, at Concord Meeting, Martha Mendenhall, daughter of Benjamin and Lydia, of Concord, born 12, 8, 1724, died 10, 20, 1812. Benjamin resided on part of his father's land in Middletown. Children : 35. Joseph, b. 12, 19, 1737-8, d. 9, 1, 1763 ; 36. Benjamin, b. 10, 26, 1740, d. 6, 18, 1780 ; 37. Edith, b. 10, 30, 1742, m. Ziba Ferris ; 38. Joshua, b. 12, 28, 1746-7, d. 9, 21, 1826 ; 39. Isaac, b. 5, 16, 1748, d. 1, 23, 1780 ; 40. Rebecca, b. 10, 29, 1749, d. 2, 9, 1780 ; 41. Martha, b. 10, 28, 1751, d. 9, 7, 1763 ; 42. Ann, b. 7, 1, 1754, d. 9, 4, 1763 ; 43. Aaron, b. 8, 26, 1756, d. 8, 25, 1798 ; 44. Amy, b. 11, 17, 1758, m. Jesse Darlington ; 45. Enoch, b. 9, 15, 1760, d. 9, 15, 1763 ; 46. Infant, b. 3, -, 1763, d. 4, 3, 1763 ; 47. Hannah, b. 4, 9, 1765, m. Peter Yarnall ; 48. Esther, b. 5, 21, 1767, m. Jehu Garrett ; 49. Sarah, b. 9, 25, 1769, m. William Pool ; 50. Samuel, b. 11, 25, 1770, d. 1796. Nathan Sharpless (30), then of West Caln, married, 10, 10, 1741, at Birmingham Meeting, Hannah Townsend, daughter of Joseph and Martha, of East Bradford, born 6, 9, 1718, died 12, 31, 1790. They removed, perhaps in 1743, to part of her father's land, and in 1747 purchased 203 acres near by or adjoining, in Goshen, now a part of West Chester. Hannah married (second), 4, 13, 1758, Charles Ryant, and they resided on the farm of her former husband, in Goshen, until her son became of age. Children of Nathan and Hannah : 51. Joseph, b. 1, 24, 1754, d. young ; 52. Martha, b. 9, 16, 1745, m. Jacob Haines ; 53. Lydia, b. 7, 27, 1746, d. unmarried ; 54. Nathan, b. 9, 29, 1749, d. unmarried ; 55. William, b. 1, 9, 1752 (N.S.), d. 10, 11, 1817 ; 56. Hannah, b. 11, 15, 1753, m. Abel Otley. Abraham Sharpless (32) married, 8, 2, 1751, Ann Young, daughter of John and Mary (Barber) Young, of Chester, by whom he had nine children,-Mary, Phineas, Phebe, Esther, Abraham, Lydia, Grace, Rebecca, and Enoch. Abraham, Jr., born 10, 16, 1758, married Dinah Flower, daughter of Richard and Alice, of Londongrove, and left four children,-Lewis, Ann, Jesse, and Alice. Lewis died in East Bradford, 7, 2, 1865, leaving three children. Jacob Sharpless (33) married, 9, 23, 1748, at Concord Meeting, Ann Blakey, daughter of Charles and Susanna, of Philadelphia. She died in 1811, supposed to be about the eighty-sixth year of her age. They resided in Concord. Children : 57. John, b. 9, 28, 1749 (O.S.), d. 10, 29, 1834 ; 58. Susanna, b. 5, 23, 1751 (0.S.), died young ; 59. Nathan, b. 9, 28, 1752, d. 1, 9, 1837 ; 60. Lydia, b. 12, 31, 1754, m. David Dutton ; 61. Joseph, b. 6, 12, 1757, died young ; 62. Jesse, b. 11, 6, 1759 ; 63. Ann, b. 12, 28, 1761, m. James Carter and A. Jefferis ; 64. Jane, b. 10, 23, 1764, m. John Haines ; 65. Martha, b. 10, 4, 1767, m. Joseph Pyle ; 66. Hannah, b. 12, 8, 1770, m. William Phillips. William Sharpless (34) m. 10, 30, 1747, Abigail Sharp, of New Garden, daughter of Joseph and Mary Sharp, and settled at Newlin's Mill, in Concord ; Abigail married (second), 11, 22, 1752, Moses Palmer. Children : 67. Abraham, m. Phebe Valentine and Catharine F. Wistar ; 68. William. Joshua Sharpless (38), of Middletown, married, 12, 15, 1768, at Middletown Meeting, Edith Yarnall, daughter of Nathan and Rachel Yarnall, of Edgmont, born 3, 13, 1743, died 1, 18, 1787, having been a minister twelve years. They settled at first in Kennet, within the limits of New Garden Monthly Meeting, and remained about ten years, after which Joshua purchased a farm in East Bradford, now Birmingham, and became a prominent member of Birmingham Meeting. He married (second), 5, 20, 1789, Ann Trimble, daughter of William and Ann Trimble, of Concord, born 1, 19, 1752, died 9, 30, 1827. In the spring of 1800 they removed to Westtown Boarding-School to superintend that institution, and remained till the fall of 1811, when they returned to the farm. Children by both wives : 68. Benjamin, b. 8, 24, 1769, d. 2, 1, 1852 ; 69. Rachel, b. 5, 3, 1771, m. Benjamin Cope ; 70. Nathan, b. 12, 18, 1772, d. 4, 11,1863 ; 71. Martha, b. 4, 27, 1775, m. Cheyney Jefferis ; 72. Edith, b. 6, 15, 1777, m. Thomas Kite ; 73. Joshua, b. 8, 12, 1779, d. 12, 21, 1860; 74. Isaac, b. 9, 28, 1781, d. 11, 12, 1822; 75. Eli, b. 12, 30, 1783, d. 9, 12, 1784 ; 76. William, b. 1, 15, 1791, d. 3, 5, 1793 ; 77. Phebe, b. 3, 22, 1793, m. Nathan Middleton. William Sharpless (55) was but little over three years old when his father died. He served an apprenticeship with John Marshall, a cabinet-maker, who lived in East Bradford, on 32 acres, which William's grandfather Townsend had given his mother. When of age he took possession of the homestead, and built a shop on the Wilmington road. Later in life he kept a store in West Chester, at what is now the residence of Wm. W. Jefferis, adjoining the Bank of Chester County. He married, 10, 7, 1773, at Birmingham Meeting, Ann Hunt, daughter of William and Sarah (Fred) Hunt, of Westtown, b. 1, 15, 1755, d. 11, 5, 1820. Children : 78. Sarah, b. 7, 30, 1774, d. 2, 10, 1832, m. Philip Derrick ; 79. Lydia, b. 8, 8, 1776 ; 80. Nathan H., b. 5, 18, 1779, d. 3, 22, 1838 ; 81. William, b. 6, 9, 1783, d. 6, 10, 1784 ; 82. Hannah, b. 11, 6, 1785, m. Isaac Rogers ; 83. Rebecca, b. 6, 9, 1789, m. David Townsend ; 84. Nancy, b. 11, 10, 1792, d. 4, 30, 1806. John Sharpless (57) married, 1773, Elizabeth, daughter of Nathan and Susanna Yearsley, of Thornbury, and settled in Concord. She died 7, 31, 1796, and he married (second), 9, 28, 1798, Hannah Smith, daughter of Joshua and Lydia (Yearsley) Smith. She died 3, 31, 1843. Children : 85. Nathan, b. 8, 19, 1774, d. 1, 13, 1833; 86. Jacob, b. 12, 23, 1776, d. 11, 24, 1777 ; 87. Jesse, b. 4, 8, 1779, d. 724 - HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA. 6, 22, 1866 ; 88-9. Esther and Ruth, b. 4, 8, 1782, d. same day ; 90. Susanna, b. 8, 28, 1783, m. Emmor Hickman ; 91. Edith, b. 12, 22, 1785, m. Anthony Taylor ; 92. Sarah, b. 6, 29, 1789, m. Jesse Seal ; 93. Hannah, b. 1, 24, 1794, in. Eli Lewis ; 94. John, b. 7, 8, 1799, d. 9, 8, 1872 ; 95. Smith, b. 9, 28, 1802 ; 96. Samuel, b. 7, 29, 1804, d. 2, 22, 1872. Nathan Sharpless (59), then of East Bradford, married, 4, 24, 1783, at Uwchlan Meeting, Rachel Baldwin, daughter of Joshua and Rachel Baldwin, of East Cain, and about ten years later removed to her father's farm, of which he became the owner. Children : 97. A son, b. 3, 22, 1784, d. in infancy ; 98. Mercy, b. 8, 22, 1785, d. 8, 20, 1786 ; 99. Blakey, b. 6, 21, 1787, m. Mary Offley, and was the father of Edward, of Medford, N. J., and of Daniel 0. Sharpless, who with his wife and two children was drowned at Atlantic City, 7, 10, 1874 ; 100. Joshua B., b. 6, 24, 1789, d. 2, 21, 1866, father of Nathan J. Sharp-less, of Penn, and of J. Clemson Sharpless ; 101. Jacob, b. 8, 3, 1791, d. 2, 18, 1863 ; 102. Isaac, b. 7, 28, 1793, d. by accident ; 103. Ann, b. 10, 15, 1795, m. James Yarnail ; 104. Mercy, b. 1, 30, 1798, m. Jordan Harrison ; 105. Rachel, b. 7, 7, 1801, m. Thomas Maule. Jesse Sharpless (62) married, in 1784, Joanna Townsend, daughter of John and Joanna, of East Bradford, and settled in Philadelphia. They had ten children, of whom Dr. John T. Sharpless is yet living. Their son Townsend established the large dry-goods store at Eighth and Chestnut Streets. He was the father of Samuel J. Sharpless, of Thornbury. Benjamin Sharpless (68) married, 3, 27, 1794, Abigail Cope, daugher of Nathan and Amy, of East Bradford, b. 9, 6, 1767, and died 3, 22, 1823, without issue. Benjamin married (second), 2, 6, 1834, Sidney, widow of Abraham Hoopes, and daughter of Benjamin and Rebecca Jones, of Westtown. She had four children by her first marriage, and by the last a son, Benjamin, b. 10, 29, 1835, who married, 6, 5, 1873, Annie T., daughter of Norris M. and Susan Y. (Walter) Hannum, of West Chester, b. 12, 1, 1851. They reside at the homestead in Birmingham, and have children,-Mary Hoopes, b. 3, 3, 1874 ; Benjamin, b. 3, 26, 1876, d. 8, 12, 1877 ; Margaret Hannum, b. 1, 25, 1879. Joshua Sharpless (73) married Philadelphia Drinker, and settled at first near the Market Street bridge, Philadelphia ; afterwards removing to London Britain, Chester Co., where some of his children and descendants reside. Isaac Sharpless (74) married, 5, 30, 1805, Sarah Garrett, daughter of Aaron and Rachel, of Willistown, and settled on part of his father's farm. Their children died young, except Abigail, who married James R. Greaves, of Philadelphia, and Aaron, who was born 2, 13, 1809, and died 1, 14, 1876, at the homestead in Birmingham, now the residence of his widow and son Thomas. He was also the father of Isaac Sharpless, of Haverford College. Nathan H. Sharpies (80), of West Chester, married, 10, 11, 1804, Martha, daughter of Philip and Rachel Price, of East Bradford, born 11, 3, 1785, died 9, 11, 1852. He inherited the homestead of 110- acres in the southern part of the borough. He carried on the brick-making business for several years, and in connection with his brother-in-law, Philip Derrick, established The Literary Museum, a monthly magazine, which, being in advance of the age, survived but a short time. Children : Hannah, b. 10, 4, 1805, m. Edward Darlington ; William P., b. 2, 12, 1808, d. 5, 21, 1879, a well-known commission merchant on Broad Street, Philadelphia ; Philip P., b. 4, 26, 1810, residing in West Chester, and for many years prominently connected with our first railroad. He is the father of Stephen P. Sharpies, of Boston, State assayer of Massachusetts ; Henry P., b. 9, 16, 1813, a builder, of West Chester ; Ann, b. 4, 24, 1816, m. Stephen Paschall ; Alfred, b. 4, 3, 1822, m. Elizabeth, daughter of Lewis Sharpless, of East Bradford, and is well known under the name of " John Ploughshare" ; Samuel Emlen, b. 7, 28, 1828, is of the firm of Sharpies & Hall, dealers in lumber and coal, and adheres to the original spelling of the name. SHEEDER, JOSEPH.-Henry Sheeder was born in Germany, Oct. 23, 1745, and married, Aug. 16, 1774, Dorothea Helfenstine, born May 24, 1741, and to them were born the following children : Caroline, Frederick, Catharine, Henry, Philip, and Louisa. Henry, with his family, arrived in Philadelphia on Nov. 26, 1793, the first year of the yellow fever. He died Dec. 2, 1807, and his wife, Dorothea, Aug. 17, 1823. His son Frederick was born Feb. 20, 1777, in Nassau, Saarbröcken, Germany, and married, March, 1798, Anna, daughter of Nicholas Halderman, and who was born Nov. 6, 1778. Frederick was several years a tailor in Philadelphia, and there often saw and personally knew President Washington. He was a close reader, and familiar with all the events of our country from the time of his arrival to his death. He participated in the war of 1812, and was encamped at Marcus Hook. He wrote in 1846 a _history of Vincent township, from which information has been obtained for