In 1641, when all males over 18 had to swear an oath of allegiance to the King of England and the Protestant religion, Francis Searle was one of 69 men of Holbeton, Devon, to take the oath.1 It is commonly said that Francis Searle who immigrated to Pennsylvania was born in Holbeton in 1642, son of Francis Searle, probably the one who took the oath. There is no immigration record for Francis. He married Joan Philips and had at least one child before immigrating. Their son Arthur was baptized in Holbeton in 1683.

Francis and his wife Joan first appear in Bucks County records in 1690.  In 7^th month, Thomas King pleaded not guilty to spreading rumors about Joan Searle. “Hugh Marsh says in about the 3^rd month last past Thomas King said there was a witch near by. Being asked who it was, he said he suspected Francis Searle’s wife for she was an ugly ill favored woman and he did believe her to be one. Robert Marsh said he heard Thomas King say that there was a witch hard by.” The jury found King guilty of defaming her.2

In 1697 Searle bought his first known land in Bucks County, although the description of the land makes it clear he already owned an adjoining tract. He bought 400 acres in Bensalem from Joseph Growdon, bounded by land of Growdon, William Duncan, and other land of Francis Searle, paying £60.3 In 1714 Searle sold 100 acres of this land to his son Arthur.4 In 1697 Searle also bought land in Abington, Philadelphia County, jointly with John Carver. They bought 200 acres from the estate of Thomas Terwood, paying £130.5 Three years later they partitioned this land.6 In 1704 Francis Searle and Nicholas Waln requested a resurvey on a tract of 250 acres on Neshaminy Creek, originally laid out for Elizabeth Walmsley, now in the possession of Ralph Draycott. If there was any deficiency it was to be made up from adjacent tracts if possible.7 Searle was an overseer of the highways for Bensalem, serving several times.8 Other than that, he was not active in local government or in Quaker meeting affairs. He worked as a butcher.9

He made his will in January 1722; it was proved in May of that year.10 He left to Joan the rents from 100 acres that their son Thomas had settled on, plus two cows, a horse and 40 bushels of wheat, and a bed and furniture.11 He left cash bequests to his granddaughters Grace and Mary, daughters of his son Thomas deceased. The bulk of his estate was five tracts of land. The son Arthur received the plantation of 300 acres in Bensalem, while the daughter Mary, wife of Henry Walmsley, got the plantation in Southampton of 200 acres and 28 acres in Bensalem, also a plantation of 200 acres in Horsham and land in Abington. Mary and Arthur were the executors. He asked the meeting in Byberry to choose two men to see that the will is fulfilled. It is not known when Joan died.

Children of Francis and Joan:

Mary, married Henry Walmsley in 1699 at Middletown Mtg, lived in Bensalem, had two sons and seven daughters. Mary died in 1747; Henry died in 1759. Children: Joan, Elizabeth, Mary, Thomas, Rebecca, Francis, Sarah, Ann, Grace. All the children were living when Henry’s estate was probated in 1759.12

Thomas, b. ab. 1680 in England, died before 1722, married Sarah Naylor, daughter of John and Jane, in 1709, and left two daughters.13 Thomas and Sarah declared their intentions of marriage at Middletown Meeting on 9^th mo 1709.14 Children: Grace, Mary.

Arthur, b. 1683 in England, died in Middletown in 1737, married a daughter of John and Jane Naylor.15 Arthur was a maulster. He left a will naming eight children.16 Children: Thomas, Arthur, John, Jane, Mary, Rebecca, Sarah, and Elizabeth. His wife had died before him.

Thomas Ridge was born in 1728, the oldest son of William Ridge and Mary Walmsley. He grew up on his father’s farm in the northern end of Bensalem Township, Bucks County, and was a member of Byberry Meeting. In December 1759 Thomas and Rachel Duncan declared their intentions to marry and were cleared to proceed.1 Rachel was just 20 years old, the daughter of William Duncan and Mary Carver. Thomas was ten years older than she was. The same month Thomas bought 50 acres of land in Bensalem from Lawrence Growdon, taking out a mortgage from Growdon to pay for it. Thomas worked as a carpenter to support his family of nine children.

In 1807 Rachel’s brother William died, a bachelor. In his will he left his share in the Byberry Library to his nephew William Ridge, “for him to hold agreeable to the constitution of the library”. The nephew William was also one of the executors. William also left a one-fifth share of the residue of his estate to his sister Rachel.2

Thomas died in 1810 and his land was divided among the children. They first deeded it to the miller Ezra Townsend of Bensalem, who deeded a portion to seven (or possibly eight) of them.3 Administration was granted to the sons William and Thomas Ridge. They presented their final account to the Orphans Court in June 1813.4 After the debts were paid, the balance in their hands for distribution was $208.87.5 Rachel outlived Thomas and died in 7^th month 1818.6 They were members of Byberry Meeting and were buried in the Friends burying ground on Byberry Road.

Thomas and Rachel had eight or nine children, including one who is not well-documented and may not belong in this family. Most of the children stayed around Bensalem, and some of them had large families. However only one child is known to have married in a Quaker meeting, and several were disowned for marrying out of unity or mustering with the militia.

Children of Thomas and Rachel:7

Mary, b. ab. 1760, d. 4^th month 1834, m. Benjamin Adams, b. 1758, son of Jedediah and Rebecca.8 In 10^th month 1781 Mary and Benjamin appeared before the Abington women’s meeting to declare their intentions of marriage.9 They were members of Byberry meeting, where Benjamin was appointed in 1809 to tend the meeting house.10 This usually meant cleaning and providing firewood for the wood stove. Mary and Benjamin had eight children, born between 1783 and 1801: Rebecca, Thomas, John, Jedidiah, Amos, Ezra, Benjamin, and Rachel.11

William, b. ab. 1762, d, 1833, m. ab. 1785 Sarah Walmsley, married second an unknown wife after 1819. William was the oldest son of Thomas and Rachel, as he received a double portion of his father’s land. In about 1785 he married Sarah Walmsley, daughter of Henry Walmsley. They had thirteen children between 1786 and 1805, including two sets of twins.12 William and Sarah were members of Byberry Meeting, but several of their children were disowned.13 William himself was disowned in 6^th month 1803 for mustering with the militia.14 Sarah died in 12^th month 1819, and William later remarried. He died in 3^rd month 1833.15 Children of William and Sarah: Isaac, Daniel, Martha, William, Walmsley, Rachel, Esther, Anna, Samuel, Mary, James, Asa, Euphemia.16

Mahlon, b. Feb 29, 1764, d. September 30, 1844,  m. Hannah Hicks, daughter of George Hicks. In the 1810 census in Bensalem, Mahlon and his wife were over 45 years old, with seven younger people in their household. In 1820 he got a certificate for Miami Meeting in Ohio,  where he and Hannah owned a farm of 87 acres on Cesar’s Creek in Wayne township, Warren county, where Mahlon died in 1844, age 80. Hannah died in 1850.17 In his will Mahlon left the farm to Hannah, and named sons Simpson and John Comly as executors.18 The other children were Thomas, George, Charles, Lucy, Mary, Sarah, and Rachel.19

Thomas, b. ab. 1768,  possibly married Jane Campbell. In 12^th month 1802 Byberry meeting reported that William Ridge and Thomas Ridge Jr had both paid fines in lieu of mustering with the militia and that Thomas had also mustered with them.20 They were both disowned. It is difficult to separate records for Thomas from his father Thomas (who died in 1810) and possibly nephews. In 1807 Elizabeth Vansant of Byberry sold water rights to Thomas Ridge Jr, a miller of Southampton, probably the one who was there in the 1820 census with seven people in his household.21 In 1810 Thomas the miller bought more land in Southampton from Thomas and Rebecca Groom.22 In 1839, Thomas Ridge died, owner of 2 ¾ acres in Bensalem. This could be a small part of a tract that largely lay in Southampton.23 The name of his wife is uncertain, and the names of his children are unknown.

Joseph, m. Sarah. Her last name is unknown. He was single in 1796.24 In 1798 he was renting a house in Bensalem.25 He was still in Bensalem in 1800.26 He did not receive a portion of his father’s land in 1810, and does not appear in the 1810 census in Bensalem. It is possible that he died between 1800 and 1810.27 His wife Sarah died in 11th month 1822.28

Rachel, b. ab. 1774, d. 1841, m. about 1794 George Randall, a shoemaker.29 They lived in Bensalem, and had seven daughters and two sons, one of whom died young. George died in 1836; Rachel died in April 1841. Children: Mary, Grace, Rachel, Elizabeth, Esther, Sarah, George, Ann.30

Amos, b. ab. 1779, d. 1865, m. 1807 Jane. In 1808 Amos was disowned from Byberry meeting for marriage by a magistrate by a non-Quaker woman.31 They settled in Bensalem, where Amos was both a farmer and a weaver.32 In 1832 they granted land to Thomas Ridge Jr of Southampton, a mason, Amos’ brother?33 In 1860 still in Bensalem, Amos was age 80, a weaver, Jane was 71.34 Amos died on 31 Dec 1865, and was buried in Byberry.35 Jane outlived him and moved to Somerton, Philadelphia County, where she was living in 1870.36

Grace m. Joshua LaRue, son of Abraham and Elizabeth.37 In 1810 Joshua and Grace received her share of her father’s land.38 They lived in Bensalem, where Joshua was a farmer.39  Joshua wrote his will in 1828 and died in early 1833.40 He left the land to Grace while she lived, his apparel to son Abraham, and his watch to daughter Ann. He also mentioned a daughter Rachel deceased. Walmsley Ridge, Grace’s nephew, was appointed to administer.

John, b. ab. 1790. He was living in Bensalem in 1800, but was gone by 1810, and he did not receive a share of his father’s estate in 1810. A death date of 1840 is often given for him, but this may be another man. There are few other records of him, and no information about a wife or children.

William Ridge was probably born in England and first appears in Pennsylvania around 1725 when he married Mary Walmsley, daughter of Henry Walmsley and Mary Searle.1 There is no record of William and Mary’s marriage in Byberry Meeting or Abington Monthly Meeting. They must have remained in good standing with Friends, since their deaths and the births of their children were recorded there.2 William and Mary were not active in Byberry meeting.3

They lived in Bensalem, probably on the land bought from Stephen Townsend in 1737.4 It was at the northern end of Bensalem township, on the Southampton township line, originally part of the large tract owned by Joseph Growdon. William bought 56 ¼ acres from Townsend. This was very small for a farm holding, suggesting that William made his living as a craftsman. His son Thomas was a carpenter; perhaps William was also.5

Their five children were born between 1727 and 1743. The spacing between births was unusually large for the time; there may have been difficulties with pregnancies or children who died at birth. Four of the children stayed around Bensalem, while one moved up to the northeast corner of Bucks County.

In 1759 William and Mary inherited part of her parents’ estate. Her mother had died in 1747, but her father Henry lived on until 1759 and died at the age of 88.6 He left a tract of 220 acres in Bensalem, and after his death the seven married daughters sold their share of the land to their brothers Frances and Thomas.7 William and Mary got £40 as their share.

William made his will in November 1775.8  He left the plantation of 57 acres to his wife Mary, with the usual provision that one of the sons should provide firewood; this was the son Henry who was probably living on the land already, and who was to have it after Mary’s death. To the other four children William left cash legacies, to be paid after Mary died. The amounts were uneven, but he explained that this was in addition to what they have already had. Henry also received a plantation in Southampton of 48 acres.

William died in 4^th month 1776, aged between 78 and 79. His death was noted in the book of deaths kept by Henry Tomlinson, which included Henry’s neighbors around Byberry.9 This does not mean that William was a member of Byberry Meeting by the time he died. Mary outlived William by twenty years, and died in 1795, age 91.10

Children of William and Mary:11

Thomas, b. 1727, d. 1810, married in 1759 Rachel Duncan, daughter of William Duncan and Mary Carver. Thomas was a carpenter.12 In 1802 they granted to their son Mahlon 9 acres “off the southerly corner” of their land in Bensalem, for $200.13 The same day they granted 4 acres of the northeast corner of their land to their son William, for $315.14

Grace, b. 1731, m. Samuel Cooper, son of William Cooper and Mary Groom. Samuel, b. about 1732; the Groom family owned land near the Ridges in Southampton. Samuel is supposed to have “died very old” according to the Cooper Genealogy.15 He did not leave a will. He and Grace may have had children Grace and William.16

William, b. 1735, d. 1821, m. Catharine Marshall. She was born in 1743, the daughter of Edward Marshall and Elizabeth Oberfeld. Edward was notorious as one of the runners in the Walking Purchase. His family was targeted by an Indian raid in May 1757 and his wife Elizabeth was killed.17 Edward Marshall died in 1790, leaving 15 children including Catherine, wife of William Ridge.18 William and Catharine lived in Tinicum on land inherited from her father. William died there in 1821. In his will he named six sons and five daughters.19 It is not clear how William, from Bensalem, met Catharine, from Tinicum. They lived in opposite corners of  Bucks County.20

Mary, b. 1738, m. 1760 John Praul, the son of Peter Praul and Elizabeth Van Horn. They were married on Nov 6, 1760 at the Presbyterian Church in Abington. The Praul family was of Dutch ancestry, originally from Staten Island.

Henry, b. 1743, d. 1822, m. Elizabeth. Her last name is unknown. They lived in Northampton. Henry died in 1822, and left a will, naming his wife Elizabeth, and children William, Jesse, Aaron, Mahlon, Grace Searl, Rebecca Hicks, Elizabeth Fisher, son Henry deceased, Mary Walton, Lydia Scott.21

William Duncan, son of John and Margaret, was born in 1699.1 He grew up in Bensalem, the oldest of four sons. Like his father John, he was a member of Byberry Meeting and later became an elder of the meeting. William was a weaver and lived in Bensalem, where in 1729 he inherited land from his father.2 Part of the land was to be held for the benefit of his brothers Edmund and John who did not marry and became infirm.3 In 1732 William deeded some of the land to his mother Margaret and his brothers Edmund and John, in trust for her during her life and then to Edmund and John.4

In 1722, William married Rachel Carver, daughter of William and Mary.5 William and Rachel had nine children, several of whom probably died young. In 1737 he left 62 ½ acres in Bensalem to his son William, a blacksmith.6

William wrote his will in 12^th month 1773. Only three of his children were still alive, and he mentioned two of them in the will: William and Esther. He must have felt that his daughter Rachel, wife of Thomas Ridge, did not need his support. Oddly enough the will was not proved until July 1790.7 William died in 1781, an elder of Byberry Meeting, as the meeting record stated, “26^th 11^th mo 1781 in the 83^rd year of his age”.8 Rachel must have died before 1759 when two of her children were married at Byberry meeting, since she did not sign the wedding certificate as would have been customary.9

Children of William and Rachel:10

Mary, b. 16 Nov 1723, no further records

Margaret, b. 12 Apr 1726, d. 19^th mo 1744 unmarried11

William, b. 8 Nov 1728, d. 1807 in Bensalem. He was a blacksmith.12 William did not marry, the “learned old bachelor” described in Martindale’s History of Byberry. He must have trustworthy. In 1761 he was appointed as a guardian for the five children of William Groom, who died in 1760 leaving a widow Rachel.13 In 1772 he was an administrator for the estate of his brother John.14 In 1790 he was the executor for the will of his father William (who had died eight years before).15 In the 1790 census he was listed between Mahlon Ridge and William Giles, both of whom would feature in his will.16 In William’s will, written in 1805 and proved in 1807, he named sisters Rachel and Esther, and nephew William Ridge and four nieces—Rachel Duncan, Esther Briggs, Abigail Giles and Phebe Rich, daughters of his deceased brother John.17 He left his share in Byberry Library to his nephew William Ridge, and also named George Ridge, son of Mahlon Ridge.18

John, b. 2 Aug 1731, married Agnes Comly on 5^th day 12^th month 1759 at Abington. The witnesses included William Duncan, William Duncan Jr, Rachel Duncan, Esther Duncan—three of John’s siblings plus his father.19 Agnes and John had five daughters born between 1760 and 1767.20 John died in October, 1772. Administration on his estate was granted to Richard Walton, William Duncan (John’s brother), Thomas Ridge (John’s brother-in-law) and Daniel Walton.21 Agnes survived her husband and married again, in 1793 to Andrew Singley Jr. of White Sheet Bay on the Delaware River. She died in 1821.22

Sarah, b. 21 Jul 1734, no further records.

Joseph, b. 4 Dec 1737 (twin with Rachel), d. 1765, a house carpenter in Phila,  left a will, written in 1765, proved two weeks later, leaving his estate to his father William, weaver of Bensalem.23

Rachel, b. 4 Dec, 1737 (twin with Joseph), m. 19^th day 12^th month 1759 Thomas Ridge at Byberry Meeting, just two weeks after her brother John married Agnes Comly there. Thomas was the son of William Ridge and Mary Walmsley. Thomas and Rachel lived in Bensalem, where he died in 1810. Rachel died in 1818 in Bensalem. Children: William, Mahlon, Rachel, Thomas, and possibly others.24

Esther, b. 7 Apr 1742, alive in 1805, m. John Praul. In 1807 John Praul was named as the brother-in-law of William Duncan in his will, and served as executor. Esther Praul was named in the will.

Isaac, b. 4 May 1750, no further records.

John was born around 1667 in England and immigrated as a teenager with his parents William and Jane. They settled in Bensalem and were members of Byberry meeting. In 1698 John married Margaret Crighton at Falls Meeting.1 John owned 209 acres in Bensalem on Poquessing Creek, adjoining land of his father William and brother Edmond.2 A memorial to him after his death said that, “he was appointed an elder for Byberry meeting in 1725 and continued such to his decease, which was about the 61^st year of his age and was a useful member in the society.”3

John and Margaret had four sons. The oldest, William, was active in Byberry Meeting and served as its Clerk for many years. He worked as a weaver and lived in Bensalem. Two of his brothers, Edmond and John, were probably unmarried and died infirm and blind.4 The youngest of the four was Patrick, who married out of meeting and probably moved to Maryland.

In 1728 John wrote his will.5 He left land to his son William, and left the remainder of his estate to his wife Margaret. He intended for Margaret and William to care for the two sons who needed it. The executors were Margaret, William, and John’s brother Edmond. John died on 31^st of 12^th mo 1728/29.6 In April 1732 Margaret conveyed the land to her son William and the next day he conveyed it back to her, to be for the benefit of his brothers Edmund and John.7 Margaret did not leave a will and the date of her death is not known.

Children of John and Margaret:8

William, b. 1699, m. in 1722 Rachel Carver, daughter of William and Jane. William was a weaver and they lived in Bensalem.9 William and Rachel had nine children: Mary, Margaret, William, John, Sarah, Joseph, Rachel, Esther and Isaac. William died in 1781, an elder of Byberry meeting.10

Edmund, b. ab. 1701, in 1754 he was infirm and blind, and died in 3^rd mo 1757 blind.11

John, b. ab. 1703, in 1754 he was infirm.12 In 7^th month 1757 he wrote a will leaving the land in Bensalem to his brother Patrick, “granted by my deceased mother Margaret Dunkan to me and my late decd brother Edund Dunkan.” John died in 1760.13

Patrick, b. ab. 1705. He married Rebecca Pritchard at Christ Church in June 1730, and was testified against by Abington Monthly Meeting on 12^th month 1730/31 after a complaint by Byberry Meeting.14 In In 1758 Patrick and his brother John, both of Bensalem, deeded land to William Groom on Poquessing Creek, 209 acres, deeded to Patrick’s father William Duncan in 1697. In 1763 Patrick Duncan requested a certificate for himself and four children to Gunpowder Meeting in Maryland.15 It was probably this Patrick.16

William Cooper was born about 1699, the son of James and Hester Cooper.1 William grew up on Mulberry Street in Philadelphia, where his father was a shoemaker, and later a shopkeeper. When William was young his mother Hester died. His father did not remarry for sixteen years, about the time that William himself married.

About 1722, William married Mary Groom of Byberry about 1722. She was born about 1700, the daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Groom. Their marriage was not recorded in Quaker records, either in Philadelphia or Abington (which would have been the monthly meeting for Byberry). William may have met Mary six years before, when her parents sold land to his parents, and Mary served as a witness. She would have been about fifteen, just old enough to witness a deed. In the deed, Thomas and Elizabeth sold 260 acres of land to James Cooper.2 In 1725 James and Hester sold that land to their son Samuel. Years later Samuel would leave most of it to Mary’s children.

It is not clear where William and Mary lived at first. He bought a tract in Southampton, Bucks County, in 1724, but sold it two years later.3 At the time he bought it he was a “husbandman” of Philadelphia County. They were probably living on some of the land in Moreland that his father James bought in 1711. In 1732 James Cooper and his second wife Mary were buried on the same day. William and his siblings inherited valuable land from their father, to be shared equally. The heirs sold the tract in the Great Swamp of Bucks County to John Parratt in February 1734.4 Parratt paid £30, which had to be split among the six heirs. A more valuable inheritance was the land on Mulberry Street between 2^nd and 3^rd Streets, which was shared among the heirs. It was a simple procedure of drawing lots out of a hat, written up in a complex partition deed.5 William and his brothers and sisters met together in the Manor of Moreland and drew the lots. William drew paper number eight, a less valuable tract than the others, but the heirs balanced the values with a system of payments between themselves. Whoever drew lot eight would get yearly payments from the holders of three other lots. This appears to have been an amiable process, since it bound the siblings together in yearly payments for as long as they owned the land. The lots yielded not only payments from other Coopers, but also groundrents from craftsmen and tradesmen who rented there. Soon after, William and Mary sold the rents from their share to John Robinson, a merchant of Philadelphia, for £50.6

By 1734 William and Mary were living in Byberry and were taxed there for 150 acres.7 All six of their children were probably born by then. In 1736 Mary faced a double loss. William died, leaving her with six children.8 In the fall of 1736, her father Thomas died and made her his executor.9 Normally a son would be an executor, but Thomas’ only son William died four years before his father. Thomas left his daughter Mary the residue of 45 pounds reserved for his care, if not expended already. This suggests that she had been caring for him before he died. Her mother Elizabeth had died some time before, leaving him widowed.

William’s brother Samuel Cooper had no children of his own, and was generous to Mary and her children in his 1750 will.10 He left her a plantation “that I bought of her father Thomas Groom deceased”, probably the tract in Moreland that James bought from Thomas Groom and later sold to Samuel.11 After Mary’s death it was to go to her sons Joseph and Samuel. To her other sons Thomas and James, Samuel left two plantations in Buckingham, “to Thomas Cooper that plantation that William Preston did clear out of the woods and to James Cooper the other plantation that Nathan Preston did clear out of the woods”. He also provided for Mary’s daughters. After the death of his sister Rebecca Kelly, Samuel’s land at Huntingdon was to be sold and the proceeds shared between Mary’s daughters Rebecca and Letitia and several of their cousins.12 All six of Mary’s children also got a share of the residual estate.

Mary outlived her husband by many years, dying in the spring of 1772. Henry Tomlinson referred to her as “Mary Groom an ancient widow” in his book of local deaths.13 She was living in Byberry. In her will she named her surviving children. Thomas inherited the plantation she lived on in Byberry. Thomas was also the executor. Her son Joseph received £10, and her sons Samuel and James each got 20 shillings. Her surviving daughter Letitia got the wearing apparel.14 The inventory was taken on April 18, 1772. It itemized her clothes: four petticoats, some gowns, two aprons, a pair of gloves, two shifts, some caps and handkerchiefs. She had few household goods and no farm implements or animals or crops, suggesting that she already considered these as Thomas’ property.

Children of William and Mary:15

Rebecca, b. ab. 1724, d. 1757, m. William Hibbs, had a daughter Rebecca who m. William Trego in 1768.16

Thomas, b. 1726, d. 1805, m. ab. 1750 Phebe Hibbs, daughter of Joseph and Rachel, settled in Solebury. They were members of Middletown Meeting, and later transferred to Wrightstown. Children: Phebe, Thomas, and Mary.

James, b. 1729, d. 1795, m. at Christ Church in 1750 Hannah Hibbs, dau. of William and Ann, 2) 1778 Elizabeth Wager. James and Hannah had eight children, including a son William who became the father of James Fenimore Cooper. They later moved to Chester County, and are buried in West Caln.

Joseph, d. ab. 1730, d. 1789, m. Elizabeth Stevens; lived in Bensalem. Joseph left a will naming sons Joseph and Benjamin, and six daughters: Catherine, Mary, Rebecca, Charity, Ann, and Letitia. Elizabeth was the residual heir and the executor.17

Samuel, b. ab. 1732, m. Grace Ridge, b. 1731, daughter of William and Mary; the Ridge family owned land near the Grooms in Southampton. Samuel is supposed to have “died very old” according to the Cooper Genealogy. He did not leave a will. He and Grace may have had children Grace and William.18

Letitia, b. ab. 1733, m. about 1753 Abraham States, son of Abraham and Elizabeth, lived in Southampton. Letitia died in 1818 when letters of administration were granted on her estate. Abraham died before her.19 The Staats family was originally Dutch and moved to Bucks County from Staten Island. Abraham was christened in April 1730 at the First Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, and died after 1810.20 Children: William, Abraham, Letitia, Cooper.

Joseph Martindale wrote about the Duncan family in his history of Byberry. “The Duncans settled north of Byberry, in Bensalem. They were noted in their day as solid and exemplary Friends. Among these were John Duncan, Edmond Duncan, and William Duncan, for many years Clerk of Byberry Meeting. The last of the family was a ‘learned old bachelor’ who died at an advanced age, in 1808.”1 He makes them sound like the proverbial three brothers who immigrated together. In fact, William Duncan came with his wife and two young sons, John and George.2 After they immigrated they had two more children.

William married a woman named Jane while still in England.3 They must have married  by 1666, since their son John was born in 1667. Another son, George, was born about 1671. There is no record of when they immigrated or which ship they sailed on, but they arrived by 1683. They were members of Falls Meeting, and the birth of their son Edmund was recorded in meeting records as 1^st day 4^th month 1684.4

There is no record of William buying land early on, and some indication that they were poor. In early 1688 Jane Adkinson told Falls Monthly Meeting that William Duncan was in need of a house and that Friends should buy him one.5 This was an unusual request for a monthly meeting. Friends were accustomed to taking care of their poor, but only by giving them money, not by finding houses for them. They took up a collection instead, brought in by William Biles in 3^rd mo 1688.6 The land of Thomas Adkinson, which adjoined land of William Duncan, was sold after his death to support his children.7 This is probably the land that William Duncan sold in 1702 to Ann and Gabriel Baynes (mother and son), a tract of 145 acres, patented to Duncan in 1693.8

Jane Duncan was not active in Falls meeting, but when the widowed Jane Adkinson proposed to marry William Biles, Jane Duncan was appointed to investigate Jane’s clearness for the marriage.9 In 1693 William and Jane complained to the meeting that Edmund Lovett and his wife Martha were spreading false rumors about Jane. The meeting investigated and found that the rumors were not true, and also that the Lovetts were not guilty of spreading them.10 In 1699 both William and Jane signed a testimony for Thomas Janney, a noted minister among Friends.11

In 1697 William made another land purchase. He bought 600 acres on in Bensalem from Joseph Growden, paying £70.12 With such a large tract William was able to provide for his three sons. In 1708 William granted 184 acres to his son George and 259 acres to his son John, and in 1714 granted 120 acres to his son Edmund.13

William died in 11^th mo 1715 and was buried 7th day of 11th mo 1715 in Friends ground at Byberry.14 The date of Jane’s death was not recorded.

Children of William and Jane:15

John, b. ab. 1667, lived in Bensalem, died in 1729. He married Margaret Crighton in 1698.16 John was a member of Byberry meeting until his death in March 1729. A memorial to him in the minutes of the Yearly Meeting said that “he was appointed an elder for Byberry meeting in 1725 and continued such to his decease, which was about the 61^st year of his age and was a useful member in the society.”17 He left a will, naming his wife Margaret, and son William, and brother Edmund. His other two sons were infirm and had to be cared for by Margaret, and then William.18

George, b. ab. 1671, d. 1729 at age 58, m. before 1700 1) Mary Saunders, 2) Mary Ball. In 1715 George took a certificate from Abington Meeting to Cecil Monthly Meeting, Kent County, Maryland.19 His children included Joseph, William, Ebenezer, and James.20

Ellen or Eleanor, b. ab. 1680, m. 1702 Alexander Mode.21 In 1713 they sold their Byberry land to William Homer and moved to Kent County.22 They may have moved along with Ellen’s brother George. In 1735 Alexander was a witness at the wedding of George Duncan Jr.23 They may have spent time in Chester County, where the records of London Grove meeting show the birth of Alexander Mood in 1713, probably a son of Alexander and Eleanor.24

Edmond, b. 1684, m. 1708 Sarah Butler at Falls Meeting. Edmond died in 1760 and left a will, naming his surviving children: Edmond, Isaac, Catherine, Jane, Sarah, Helen, Ann and Mary. Edmund and Sarah also had a son George, born 1729, who must have died before Edmond wrote his will.25 Sarah was not named in the will and must have died before Edmond. The son Isaac moved to Plumstead, Bucks County.26

Thomas Cooper was born in 1726, the oldest son of William Cooper and Mary Groom.1 His father William died when Thomas was eight, leaving Mary with six children to raise. Thomas grew up in Byberry, Philadelphia County, on a farm on the Bucks County line.2 About 1750 Thomas married Phebe Hibbs, daughter of Joseph and Rachel of Byberry.3 By the will of his uncle Samuel in 1750, Thomas received “that plantation at Buckingham that William Preston did clear out of the woods.” Thomas and Phebe settled in Solebury, Bucks County.4 Solebury adjoins Buckingham and it might be the same land.

In 1768 they transferred to Wrightstown Monthly Meeting from Middletown, with their children Phebe, Thomas and Mary.5 In 1772 Thomas’ mother Mary died. Thomas inherited the plantation she was living on in Byberry.6 Thomas and Phebe probably did not move there, but instead rented out the land, since in 1779 Thomas Cooper’s “estate” was taxed in Byberry for £1.0.0. This does not mean that Thomas was dead, only that someone was renting land of his.7 In 1788 Thomas and Phebe were living in Upper Makefield. They sold a tract in Solebury to Charles Watson for £25, land that had been granted to them in 1779 by Jonathan Scholfield.8

Thomas wrote his will on the 23^rd day of the 6^th month in 1803.9 Phebe had died before him and was not named in the will. He died in 1805, “being advanced in years”. In his will he named his daughter Mary, five children of daughter Phebe (Groom) deceased (Phebe, Thomas, Evan, Mary, John), and four grandsons (sons of his son Thomas). Mary got the teakettle. The Groom grandchildren inherited £5 to be equally divided among them. His other grandchildren, the four sons of Thomas and Mary, got specific legacies: Joseph the riding mare and saddle, Thomas the desk and the beaver hat, Samuel the clock and feather bed, William the red chest, bed, and large Bible. His son Thomas inherited the residue and served as the executor.

The inventory was taken on August 29 and showed the household goods of a farmer. He bequeathed some of the goods—two beds, two chests, a desk, kitchen goods, a riding mare—to his family. The remaining inventory included “pocket books” perhaps for keeping accounts, a pipe, linens, two looking glasses, razors, coffee mills, tools, barrels, four hives of bees, five sheep and a cow. The total value of the estate was $846.21.10

Children of Thomas and Phebe:11

Phebe, b. 1750/1, d. before 1803, m. John Groom, son of Thomas and Lydia ab. 1780. John and Phebe were second cousins on the Groom side.12 John died in Upper Makefield in 1810. He did not make a will, and his estate was handled by the Bucks County Orphans Court.13 His personal estate was insufficient to pay his debts and even after the land was sold the creditors received only part of what they were owed.14 Children: Phebe, Thomas, Evan, Mary, John.15

Thomas, b. ab. 1759, d. 1839, m. Mary Merrick, lived in Solebury.16 Thomas died intestate, leaving children Joseph, Thomas, Samuel, William, Rachel, Martha, and Phebe. Thomas’ wife Mary apparently died before him. In 1840 Thomas’ heirs sold two farms in order to settle the estate.17

Mary, b. 1765, d. 1831, m. Benjamin Cooper, son of James and Hannah.18 Mary and Benjamin were first cousins; their fathers were both sons of William Cooper and Mary Groom. He could have been the Benjamin Cooper who died in 1798, leaving no will. The names of their children, if any, are unknown.

In September 1682 Edward Byllynge, one of the proprietors of West Jersey, sold 50 acres to James Cooper of Stratford upon Avon, Warwick, shoemaker, to be surveyed later.1 There are no records of when Cooper arrived, but he probably came in 1683, when many ships sailed from England full of Quakers bound for Pennsylvania and New Jersey.2 Cooper probably did not live on his West Jersey land, since by October 1683 he was in Philadelphia, getting a warrant from William Penn for a city lot to be laid out.

James married a woman named Hester; her last name is unknown. They were married either in England or Pennsylvania, but there is no record of the marriage.3 Since the records of Philadelphia Meeting are intact since its establishment, it is more likely that they married in England and immigrated together. James and Hester were both active as Quakers, but only after leaving and returning. Around 1692, James and Hester broke with the Philadelphia Monthly Meeting and followed George Keith, the charismatic founder of a separatist movement.4 Keith taught that reliance on the Inner Light as a source of truth was insufficient and urged Quakers to conform more closely to Scripture. The resulting schism led many to follow him out of their meetings, although some, like the Coopers, later rejoined.5 In 1695 James and Hester wrote a letter of acknowledgment to Philadelphia Monthly Meeting, where they had already returned.

“9^th day 11^th month 1695. Dear and faithful friends, brethren and sisters with whom formerly we have had dear fellowship in the spirit of Jesus (as also of late)… we are made sencible of that Spirit of Iniquity that doth Labour against the Operating Power of the Spirit of Truth and which hath captivated the soules of many and led in the way of untruth to witt prejudice enmity and seperation by George Keiths division and strive about things to no profit. Wherein as farr as we have bin concerned we do condemn disown and judge… we do desire we may be for the future kept in unity with you. Your poor afflicted Brother and Sister, James and Hester Cooper.”6

The experience of the separation seemed to deepen Hester’s religious feelings. She became a minister, one of a select group of men and women who were accepted speakers in the meetings. In 7^th month 1701 Hester was one of three women who joined with fifteen men to form a group of approved ministers, in response to concerns from the Yearly Meeting about people who spoke inappropriately in meetings for worship. “Inasmuch as some painful instances had appeared both amongst Men and Women, in their using unseemly noises, tones and gestures, drawing their words out to a great length, and drowning the matter, also in the use of many needless repetitions in Doctrine, prayer, etc. For prevention thereof, and that the respective Meetings may be supplied with able Ministers, especially Philadelphia, it was agreed that there be a Meeting of Ministring Friends…”7 This group was supposed to serve the meeting in Philadelphia and others within a “moderate distance from the City, as to be conveniently visited from thence in a morning.”8 They were asked to correspond to “know each others minds as to avoid too many being at some Meetings while others are left without any.” The men who signed included such eminent ministers as William Penn, Thomas Story and Griffith Owen. Hester was in elite Quaker company.9

The Ministers met weekly, kept their own minutes, and signed up to attend the nearby meetings for worship.10 At the following meeting they would often report back how they found the meeting they had attended, “well”, “easy”, “not very open”, “a good meeting”.  When Griffith Owen reported in 2^nd month 1702 that the meeting at Frankford had a “dark drowsie earthly spirrit”, the others presumably knew exactly what he meant. There was noticeably less travel in the winter months. Hester was not active in 1702, but from 1703 into 1706 she travelled to nine different meetings, usually with a companion. For example, in 9^th month 1704 she went to Radnor by herself, in 12^th month 1704 with Martha Chalkley to Abington, in 2^nd month 1705 with Anthony Morris to Bank Street meeting, the week after with Morris to Frankford, and in 4^th month 1705 with Henry Willis to the Phila High Street meetings, one in the forenoon and one in the afternoon.11 Besides Martha Chalkley she went to meetings with Mary Lawson and Elizabeth Durborrow. The women ministers did not go as frequently as the men, but they appeared in a variety of meetings.12 In 5^th month 1706 Hester went to Byberry with Hugh Durborrow and the Bank Street meeting with Ralph Jackson. This is her last appearance in the quarterly meetings of ministers.13

In 1701, the Philadelphia Meeting approved Hester’s request to attend the Yearly Meeting in Maryland, along with Elizabeth Key.14 Hester was included in John Smith’s 1785 list of “Persons eminent for piety and virtue among the people called Quakers”. As Smith put it,  “Elizabeth Morris informs me that she was reputed an innocent and acceptable minister and died at Philadelphia.”15 From 1702 into early 1706 she was active in the Women’s Meeting of Philadelphia, presenting young couples to the Men’s Meeting after they had been approved for marriage and inquiring about the clearness of young women who wished to marry (freedom from marital promises to others).16

In 3^rd month 1707, after she died, James Cooper came to the Women’s Meeting and presented a gift from Hester, “£2.10 as a legacy from his dear wife, which Friends accepts of as the last Token of her love.“17 Hester died in 10^th month (December) 1706. Her death was noted in the minutes of the Yearly Meeting, where she was “raised in testimony”, an exceptional tribute from her fellow Friends.18

James was not a minister like Hester but he was active in the usual Quaker committees. In 6^th month 1701 he was one of four Friends appointed to “look after the children that are disorderly or kept out of the meetings on First Days”.19 In 3^rd month 1703 he was appointed to attend the Quarterly Meeting, and in 7^th month to make inquiry about James Streator’s fitness for marriage.20 He was again asked to “take care that boys and young people be not disorderly about the meeting house on first days”, and was to discuss with workmen a new fence for the burying ground.21 In 1706 he and Hugh Durborough were appointed to take care of a matter about the widow Russell, reportedly in want because David Powell was detaining money from her.22

Some of James’ Quaker activities were not with his home meeting in Philadelphia but were instead with Byberry Meeting. Byberry was seventeen miles northeast of Philadelphia and would have been a long ride, although it was considered at a “moderate” distance for travel (as per the agreement of the Ministers in 1701). James’ first connection with Byberry Friends was in 6^th month 1694, when he witnessed Henry English’s donation of land for a burying place for Quakers. Previously Byberry Friends had been buried on land of John Hart, but after Hart left to follow George Keith, the Friends remaining in unity needed their own land.23 Why was James active in a meeting so far from his home in Philadelphia? Had he already repented of his Keithian affiliation, but still felt estranged from the meeting in Philadelphia?24

James and Hester bought the rights to 50 acres in West Jersey in 1682, and sold the rights three years later to William Dillwyn, a saddler of Philadelphia.25 In October 1683 James Cooper went to Penn’s land office in Philadelphia to get a warrant for a lot in the city. Originally these lots were given by Penn as a bonus for people who bought land in the countryside, but by 1683 Penn saw the profit to be made in selling city lots. His warrant directed Thomas Holme to survey a lot, “thirty foot in breadth and in length as the rest of the lotts there.”26 The lot was surveyed, a return was filed with the land office, and Cooper got a patent for the lot in December 1684. This lot was on Chestnut Street, between fourth and fifth streets. It was soon rented to Robert Row and finally sold to him in 1695.27

In 1686 Cooper bought a part of a lot from Joseph Phipps where he and Hester would live for the rest of their lives and raise their family, and which served as the basis for the family’s solid economic status. This lot, with the addition of the other half from Phipps a year later, was divided into lots and rented out, providing the family with a yearly income of over £20 from the ground rents. The first piece was along Mulberry Street (present-day Arch Street), extending westward from the corner of 2^nd Street. After buying the second lot from Phipps, Cooper owned most of the block of Mulberry between 2^nd and 3^rd  Streets, extending over 300 feet along Mulberry. Starting in 1719, he rented out portions of the Mulberry Street land to others, including John Head, Grace Parsons, James Estaugh, and Henry Jones.28 After James’ death this land was partitioned out to the heirs.

James was a cordwainer, a shoemaker. Later he called himself a merchant. It is commonly said that he had a store on the corner of Mulberry and 2^nd Street.29 He would certainly have sold shoes, and possibly other merchandise that people could not make themselves. Merchants of the time sold goods like paper, ink, nails, and cotton cloth.30 In 1693, Cooper just missed being in the top quartile of wealth in the city, with a valuation of £100 for his estate. (Samuel Carpenter led the list with £1300.)31 In 1710, with other merchants and tradesmen, James signed a petition to the General Assembly of Pennsylvania, asking for power for the Mayor and Aldermen to make ordinances, to build a watch house, erect a work house for the poor, and to repair wharves and bridges.32 In 1714 James Cooper requested a certificate from Philadelphia Meeting, since he “intends for New England upon his lawful occasions”.33 If this was James the merchant, he was probably going on a buying trip.

In 1706 Hester died, leaving James with eight children, most still living at home, and several still very young. As a well-off merchant he probably had a housekeeper to manage the household servants and supervise the children.34 He did not remarry for fourteen years, so the younger children were effectively raised without a mother. Perhaps that helps to explain why only two of the eight married in a Quaker meeting.

By 1711 the sons were growing close to maturity, and James bought his first land outside of the city, perhaps for his sons to settle on. He bought a 300-acre tract in the Manor of Moreland, in Philadelphia County from the heirs of Nicholas More. His sons James and Benjamin later lived on this tract.35 In 1714 Cooper bought 100 acres from John Brock of Byberry but sold it back to Brock a year later.36 In 1716 Cooper bought a larger tract, of 260 acres in Moreland, from Thomas and Elizabeth Groom. Nine years later James and Mary sold most of this to his son Samuel.37 Two other transactions were probably meant as investments, at a time when there were few options for getting a return on excess capital. In 1723 James bought 150 acres in Great Swamp in Bucks County, in the far northwest corner of the county, later called Richland Township.38 Originally too far from Philadelphia, land there became more settled about 1720. None of the family settled on the tract, and it was sold at a loss by the heirs after James died. Another transaction, for 200 acres on Neshaminy Creek in Northampton, Bucks County, was never completed.39

In 1722 James applied for a certificate of clearness in order to marry Mary Borrows of Falls Meeting. They were married the following month but had no children together.40 In 10^th month 1732, James and Mary were buried on the same day.41 James died before he could sign his will, and although it was admitted for probate there were blanks for the date and name of his executors. According to testimony of the witnesses, he intended to appoint his son Samuel to be executor, along with John Cadwallader. But Samuel lived out of the city, in Moreland township, and James wanted him to be there for the signing of the will. Sarah Elfreth said that when Cooper was at her house about ten days before he died, he told her that he wanted to settle his affairs and wished that his son Samuel was in town.42 The will was admitted to probate and letters of administration were granted to Samuel and to John Cadwalader.

The provisions of the will were typical of the time. Mary was to have one third of the rent from the real estate and one third of the personal estate. Esther received £10 per year from the rents. Isaac also got £10 per year, and “if he be restored to his former capacity” and marry, then his heirs were to have the annuity. Rebecca and the only named grandson, James son of James deceased, were to have an annuity, but only after the death of Mary and Isaac. The remainder of the estate was to be divided among Samuel, William, Benjamin, Isaac, Esther, Rebecca and the grandson James. The son Joseph had died before his father, leaving no heirs. There was no legacy to Philadelphia Friends, although some well-off Quakers did this.

The inventory shows that James was wealthy but does not suggest that he kept a normal dry-goods shop. There was a bountiful list of his household goods, plus the land in the Great Swamp and a 40-acre tract in the Manor of Moreland. The business is reflected in the bonds from 56 different people, from Philadelphia and Bucks County. Cooper probably kept an account book for his business, to manage these debts owed to him.43 The inventory did not include shoemaker’s tools or dry goods such as quantities of cloth or nails. It did include 2 ½ dozen knives, 1750 feet of boards,1200 feet of scantling (small lumber), and 3000 bricks. Was he in the process of building a house or did he sell building supplies? The total value of the estate was over £855, wealthy for the time.44

Two years after James and Mary died, the heirs faced the challenge of dividing the main asset, the land on Mulberry Street. James had not specified that in the will, leaving it for them to do. They solved the problem in an unusual way. There were seven of them, the six surviving children and the grandson James who was entitled to a double share, as his deceased father James was the oldest son. The grandson James and his wife Susannah sold their two shares to Samuel Cooper, leaving six people to divide the property into eight shares. They met together in the Manor of Moreland, and divided it up, numbered each share, put each number on a piece of paper, put them into a hat, shuffled them together, and took turns drawing out the numbers. Samuel went first and drew his three shares, and the others followed, each drawing one share. They wrote out the results in a complex partition deed and proclaimed themselves “fully satisfied contented and agreed”.45 Some of the lots were less valuable than the others, probably because some were vacant and others were rented out, but they balanced the values with a system of payments between themselves. For example, whoever drew lot eight would get yearly payments from the holders of three other lots, and the holder of lot six paid yearly to that of lot one. This appears to have been an amiable process, since it bound the siblings together in a web of yearly payments for as long as they owned the land.

It is noteworthy that only the two daughters married in Philadelphia Meeting. The sons either did not marry (Joseph, probably Isaac, possibly Samuel) or married outside of meeting (James, William, and Benjamin). All apparently stayed in or near Philadelphia.

Children of James and Hester:46

Esther, b. about 1683, m. in 1705 Jedediah Hussey of New Castle, Delaware. James and Hester went to the Philadelphia MM to give their consent to the marriage. Jedidiah, born in 1678, was from a large Quaker family that moved from Massachusetts to New Castle County.47 Esther and Jedidiah lived there and had four children: Rebecca, Jedidiah, Sylvanus and Esther.48 Jedediah died in 1734. In his will he left one third of his estate to Esther, £50 to his daughter Rebecca, the plantation and two mulatto girls to his son Sylvanus, a young colt to Susanna his former servant, a house and lot to his daughter Esther, a portion to his “poor afflicted son Jedediah”, which was to belong to Sylvanus for the care of Jedediah. It is not known when Esther died.

James, b. ab. 1684, married but his wife’s name is unknown, died before 1732, lived in Moreland, Philadelphia County.49 James was a member of Byberry Meeting for a few years around 1714 to 1717. He lent the meeting £50 to build a meeting house, repaid by subscription in 1723.50 In 1717 he was one of 19 signers of the certificate of Giles Knight who was returning to England.51 In 1718 James Cooper, of the Manor of Moreland yeoman, lent money to both Oddy Brock and John Brock; they each gave him a mortgage and both repaid the money.52 James’ only heir in 1732 was a son James, a shoemaker, who married Susannah Chaffin in 1733 at Christ Church.53

Joseph, b. ab. 1686, d. 1720. His death was noted in the records of Philadelphia Meeting: Joseph, son of James and Hester, died 7th month 4th day 1720.54 He left no heirs.

Samuel, b. ab. 1697, d. 1750, possibly unmarried.55 He lived in the city around 1734 and 1735 and called himself a cordwainer. By 1739 he was a yeoman of Moreland. He acquired valuable land in the city in the partition deed after his father died. In 1735 Samuel arranged with William Britton of Bristol Township, Philadelphia County. Samuel sold Britton the 210 acres in Moreland that his father had sold him in 1724, and left part of the purchase price (£200) in Britton’s hands in return for Britton “to provide the said Samuel Cooper in meat drink washing loading and mending of apparel during all the days of his natural life”.56 Samuel died in 1750. He left a will, leaving land to his sister-in-law Mary Cooper (widow of William) and her sons, to his sister Rebecca Kelly, and a residual legacy to his niece Esther Hussey, to Rebecca Kelly’s children, and to his cousin James (son of James). He also left £30 to Rachel Britton, wife of William Britton, perhaps in gratitude for her services in caring for him.57 The inventory of his estate showed comfortable furnishings for one room and a few luxuries like an ivory cane.

William, b. about 1699, d. 1736, married before 1726 Mary Groom, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth of Byberry. They lived in Byberry, where he was taxed in 1734. William and Mary had six known children: Rebecca, Thomas, James, Joseph, Samuel, Letitia.58 William died in 1736; he did not leave a will. Mary outlived him by many years, dying in 1772. William and Mary were the great-grandparents of James Fenimore Cooper, through their son James.59

Benjamin, b. about 1700, m. 1720 Elizabeth Kelly at Christ Church, Philadelphia, lived in Moreland. Taxed in 1734 for 100 acres there.60 It is not known when Benjamin or Elizabeth died. Since they do not appear in Samuel’s will, they probably died before 1750 and left no children.

Isaac, b. ab. 1701, in 1734 he was named in the partition deed as a tailor of Philadelphia. Since he does not appear in Samuel’s will, he probably died before 1750 without heirs.

Rebecca, b. ab. 1703, d. after 1735, married first 1726 Ralph Hoy at Philadelphia Meeting, married second in 1735 Daniel Kelly at Christ Church. Rebecca’s first husband, Ralph Hoy, was a weaver from Yorkshire, who arrived in 1725 at Middletown, Bucks County, but soon moved to Philadelphia, where he married Rebecca in 6^th month 1726. They had a daughter Elizabeth (who married Francis Kelly in 1747 at Christ Church). Ralph died by February 1734, when Rebecca signed a deed as his widow.61 In September 1735 she married Daniel Kelly. They had at least one child, mentioned but not named in Samuel’s will of 1750.62

The founding legend about the Carver family of Byberry is that there were four brothers who came together from England: John, William, Joseph, and Jacob.1 Joseph moved to North Carolina and Jacob died unmarried. Whether the story is true or not, only John and William appeared in Byberry. They both immigrated in 1682. John came on the Welcome with his wife Mary.2 William came in 1682, possibly on the Samson.

Life was difficult for these early settlers. “The frank and generous hospitality of the Indians to the original settlers deserved a kind and generous return. The descendants of the original settler, (Carver), have told me of a striking case of kindness. When his family was greatly pinched for bread-stuff, and knew of none nearer than Chester or New Castle, they sent out their children to some neighboring Indians, intending to leave them there until they could have food for them at home; but the Indians took off the boys’ trousers, tied the legs full of corn, and sent them back thus seasonably loaded.”3

First generation: the immigrant brothers

John, d. 1714, m. Mary Lane in England before 1682. Lived on Poquessing Creek, where John was a maulster. Children: Mary, Richard, John, Ann, James.

William, d. 1736, m. 1) 1690 Joan Kinsey at Middletown MM, m. 2) about 1693 Mary —, m. 3) 1723 at Falls MM Grace Carter. Children: Sarah (with Joan); William, Joseph, Rachel, Esther, Rebecca, Mary (all with Mary); Hannah (with Grace).

John and Mary lived on a large tract on Poquessing Creek. He had bought rights to the land before leaving England; in the record he was listed as a maulster from Hedly in Southampton.4  The Philadelphia Monthly Meeting reported in 1692 that “John Carver lost most he had by fire that fell out while he and his wife were at their usual meeting.”5 A collection was taken up for him at the meeting at Richard Wall’s and at Germantown. They worshipped at Byberry Meeting, where John was an overseer in 1695. During the Keithian schism around 1692, both John and William stayed with the traditional Friends.

In 1697 John bought 700 acres of land jointly with Francis Searl, perhaps to provide for his three growing sons. John and Francis partitioned the land four years later.6 John and Mary had five children. Their daughter Mary became an approved minister among Friends. In 1713 John made his will, naming his wife Mary, sons James, John and Richard and a daughter Mary.7 He left his wife the use of two rooms in the house and liberty of the cellar and privilege to keep a horse and a cow and to take fruit from the orchards.8 The land on Poquessing Creek was passed down through six generations, all the owners named John.9

In 1701 John and William had a dispute with their neighbor, William Hibbs, who claimed that they had moved his boundary post. The matter was taken before the Commissioners who heard land disputes in Philadelphia.10

“William Hibbs having purchased of Thomas Ffairman a Tract of Land contiguous to the above; there has been for some Time past a Contest between him and the said John Carver and his Brother William Carver about a Corner Post which Hibbs complains has been taken away and thereby the Bounds altered, … the Surveyor General being present affirmed he had executed to the utmost of his Power, being present himself at the Survey; it was to be presumed the Lines as returned were the true ones, unless it could be made appear to the contrary, which William Hibbs was not sufficiently able to do.

…It is Ordered that J. Carver’s Patent be no longer delayed by be granted forthwith…

The bad feelings apparently lingered from this. In 1707 John Carver and George Duncan took Hibbs to court, “unadvisedly and contrary to ye practice of Friends appeared before Justice Fenny and John Carver delivered a paper of accusation against William Hibbs, to ye Scandalizing of truth, which this meeting do Condemn.”11 In 1709 the boundary between John Carver and the widow Hibbs was still at issue, and Abington meeting appointed six Friends to view the land and put an end to it.12

William was a member of Byberry Meeting for worship. He witnessed marriages there in 1685 and 1686.13 For business purposes Byberry Meeting was part of Abington Monthly Meeting, where in 10^th month 1689, William got a certificate to proceed in marriage with Joan Kinsey of Middletown Meeting. She lived near Neshaminy Creek. William and Joan duly “published their intencions of marriage by affixing a paper on the meeting house doore of the people called Quakers.” In January 1690 the marriage was recorded.14 William and Joan settled on his land in Byberry.

In 1^st month William and Joan were involved in a lurid scandal. 1690 Nathaniel Harding requested a certificate from Middletown Meeting to go to England, normally a routine process.15 The meeting consented to his request, but then word came of an evil report concerning him. He wrote a letter of acknowledgment, but the meeting investigated further and found that he had been involved in a disorderly proceeding with William and Joan Carver. Middletown sent a committee to Abington Meeting to inform them, and Abington requested a joint gathering of Friends from both meetings to settle the difference between William and Joan and Nathaniel. The joint committee met and issued a statement on 4^th month 1690.16

Whereas there has been great reproach and infamy concerning Nathaniel Harding Jane and also William Carver making agreement with him it was brought under the consideration of the two monthly meetings whereunto they belong who appointed James Dilworth, Henry Paxson, William Paxson, Giles Knight, George Walker, John Hart, Anne Dilworth, Grace Langhorne, Mary Ellis and Elizabeth Cutler to meet together with the aforesd parties and examine the matter

Whereupon it does appear that William Carver and his wife are guilty of looseness in suffering Nathaniel Harding to lodge in bed with them which probably did excite lust in him to lie with her as appears that he used endeavor to tempt and allude her there unto by salutations wantoness and unseemly discourse and behavior which had too much acceptance with her and a second time also he having a like liberty of lodging with them hardened him with expectation that he should prevail with her and inviting her to his house she went alone then he made a second attempt though she refused to fulfill his desire yet did yield to his salutations wantonness and the like and afterwards when known to her husband William Carver he proceeded with him requiring satisfaction for the aforesaid attempts as a husband to his wife whereupon they reached an agreement for a certain sum of money without having regard to the order of truth among friends, all which actions condemnable and more especially that corrupt spirit prevailing in Nathaniel Harding to sin against God and endeavor the ruin of the woman and her husband – then after deliberate consideration and due rebuke to each person respectively it was agreed that the agreement made between them ought not to stand it being unfast on William Carver’s part – then the time being spent it was referred to Henry Paxson and John Hart to meet with them again and make a conclusion. The parties submitted themselves to friends acknowledged their guilt and willing … all such practice, taking shame to themselves—in testimony thereof they set their hands the 9^th of 4^th month 1690.

All three of them signed—Nathaniel Harding, William Carver, Jane Carver.17 Nathaniel’s fault was clear. He tried to seduce Jane on several occasions. Her fault was more subtle. She encouraged him, perhaps what we would nowadays consider innocent flirtation, but not using good judgment as a married Quaker woman. William’s fault was against the Quaker rules for handling disputes. Instead of taking Nathaniel’s behavior to the monthly meeting to be judged, he pushed Nathaniel into paying him damages, an agreement that was “unfast”, either because William wanted to retract it or because it was made improperly to begin with.

Nathaniel sent another letter of acknowledgment after the meeting, expressing his shame even more explicitly. “… With humility and contrite heart I repent of the evil of my doings in offering lewdness with Jane Carver, also all wanton carriage, rude discourse and unseemly behavior. I do free condemn it… I desire to be one with you that I may enjoy the assistance and benefit of fraternity in the truth.”18 The meeting finally gave Nathaniel his certificate and that was the end of the matter, at least in the written records.

A few months later Joan and William had a daughter, named Sarah. She was their only child, since Joan died sometime between late 1690 and 1692.19 Around 1693 William married again, to a woman named Mary. Her last name is not known.20 They had six children together.21 The births of the first two were recorded at Abington Meeting, showing that William was still in good standing as a Friend.22 The date of Mary’s death is not known; she might have died soon after the birth of their sixth child, around 1704, or it may have been later. In any case, in 1723 William married for the third time, getting a certificate from Abington meeting. His wife was Grace Carter of Falls Monthly Meeting. She was the daughter of John White, a gentleman of Philadelphia, and the widow of John Carter. When she married William her three children with Carter were in their teens: Robert, Mary and Martha. The records of Falls Monthly Meeting show that “Care to be given to secure what was left to Grace’s children by her former husband.” This was routine, and does not show any special concerns about William. William and Grace had a daughter Hannah together. By then William must have been in his fifties, a decade older than Grace.23 In 1726, William and his wife Grace leased a lot in the city to Thomas Chase, merchant, on the bank of the Delaware river between Front and King Streets. This must have been property that Grace brought into the marriage.

William wrote his will in 1733 and died in 1736. In the will he named his wife Grace and seven living children. His son Joseph must have died by then. The five older daughters were married, as was William Jr, the only surviving son. He left five shillings to each of his daughters, a token amount, so they must have already received a marriage portion. He left a feather bed and furniture to his wife Grace, which was to be appraised by two men, one chosen by Grace and one by William Jr. The bulk of the estate was to be divided between Grace and William. It is not clear how they were to share the land or the house.24 William Jr was the executor.

The inventory of William’s estate was sparse for the time. Besides the furniture and kitchenware, he owned one old horse, two ewes and a lamb, two cows and a sow. The value of the estate was only £24.15.4. Either William had been unsuccessful as a farmer or else he had given much of his capital to his children before his death. Grace died a year after William. In her will she named her four children: Robert Carter, Mary Deane (Doane), Martha Beale and Hannah Carver.25 The three older children each got one shilling, while Hannah got the rest of the estate. The inventory of her estate showed a value of £33, more than William’s.

Children of William and Joan:26

Sarah, b. 1690, m. 1) 1707 at Abington, John Rush of Byberry, 2) possibly William Marshall before 1733.27

Children of William and Mary:28

William, b. 1694, d. 1759, m. 1719 at Abington MM Elizabeth Walmsley, daughter of Henry Walmsley.29 They lived in Buckingham, where William died in 1759. Elizabeth survived him and died in 1772. Her will named their sons Joseph, William and Henry, son-in-law Isaac Worthington, daughters Elizabeth Buckman, Mary Wilkinson, Rebecca Schofield, and Martha Worthington, and some of the Worthington grandchildren.30

Joseph, b. 1696, d. before 1733, may have died young

Rachel, b. ab. 1698, d. 1771, m. William Duncan. William was born about 1699, the son of John and Margaret. Rachel’s death in 8^th month 1771 was noted in the records of Byberry Meeting.31 Rachel and William had a large family.

Esther, m. 1) 1722 at Abington MM Joseph Walton, son of Daniel and Mary, 2) 1728 Daniel  Knight at Abington Meeting. Joseph and Esther had two children, Richard and Rachel. Joseph died in the spring of 1727; letters of administration were granted to Esther on April 12. The daughter Rachel was born less than a month later. In early 1728 Esther married the widower Daniel Knight.32 Daniel and Esther had six children together, making a household of ten children since each of them had two from their first marriage. After Esther’s death Daniel married Mary Wilson. He died in 1782. 33

Rebecca, b. ab. 1702, m. —Brock34. Her marriage was not recorded in the local monthly meetings and the name of her husband is not known.

Mary, m. Samuel Worthington by 3^rd month 1724. Later in 1724 Samuel produced a paper of acknowledgment to Abington meeting; the first child was born too soon after the marriage.  In 1736 they moved to Buckingham in 1736 with a certificate from Abington Meeting, at the same time as Mary’s brother William and his family. Samuel died in 1775 in New Britain, leaving a will naming his wife Mary and seven surviving children. Children: Jonathan, David, Samuel, Sarah, Hester, Rachel, Pleasant.35

Children of William and Grace

Hannah, unmarried in 1733. She may have later married into the Beal family.