My grandmother Helen Worthington Tyson had a lot to say about her father Benjamin, none of it good. He was “moony”; his temper depended on the time of the moon.  He could be kind but could be “possessed of the devil”. He took up with another woman after his wife died and was not interested in Helen or her brother William. They had to make their own way in the world. As Helen put it, he “did not give a hoot about my brother and me.” She was estranged from him, although she still did his laundry.1

Benjamin Franklin Worthington was from an old Philadelphia County family, originally Quaker. He was born in November 1869.2 His father’s generation, two brothers and three sisters growing up in the mid-1800s, still used the “thee” and “thy” speech of the Quakers, although the family no longer were members of a meeting.3 Watson Worthington, Benjamin’s father, was a toll gate keeper for many years, on the Somerton-Bustleton Pike in Philadelphia County. His wife, Elizabeth Cornell, was of Dutch background, not “Pennsylvania Dutch” (which is actually German), but descended from Dutch families that moved down from Long Island and Staten Island in the early 1700s to Bucks County. They had their own Dutch Reformed church, spoke Dutch and intermarried for several generations. But by the 1800s that heritage was fading, just like the Quaker heritage of the Worthingtons.

In 1895 Benjamin got a license to marry Elizabeth Scott.4 Helen did not know much about her mother Elizabeth. “I regret that I know very little about my mother’s family but I was only thirteen when she died and not at all interested in who was who.” She did remember that Elizabeth’s father James F. Scott  ran a delivery business with his brothers. She told the story that Elizabeth’s mother had died in childbirth and her father remarried, to the sister of his first wife. The new wife did not want the baby, so Elizabeth was sent off to an orphanage to be raised. As it turns out, part of the story is true. James did run a delivery service. Scott Brothers appeared in Philadelphia city directories between 1872 and 1902. The business, variously described as express, teams, carmen, and livery, was what we would now call a delivery service. It was in business for over 20 years south of Washington Square, near the Delaware River.5 James was married three times, to women who were all born in New York state, so the any of them could have been sisters. However the mother Jennie did not die in childbirth; her daughter Elizabeth was eight years old at the time. Finally, Elizabeth did go to live in an orphanage, at least a residence and school for girls run by the Sisters of the Holy Shepherd. She stayed there for several years, learning housekeeping, sewing and English (probably reading and writing).6 During that time she probably became a Catholic, although she did not pass that faith on to her children.

In 1900 Benjamin and Elizabeth were living in Montgomery County, in Lower Moreland. They had been married for five years and had one daughter, Helen.7 There had been another child who died young, probably the Joseph Watson buried in January 1897 as a child of Benjamin’s parents. Benjamin was a farm laborer, and they were renting a house. By 1910 they were still in Moreland, with two children – Helen and William Emmor, as well as two “servants”.8 Benjamin was still farming, renting a farm on Chestnut Street, Bethayres.9

Elizabeth died in 1911 and is buried at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery outside Glenside, a Catholic cemetery.10 She was just short of her 44^th birthday, although her burial record and death certificate show a different age.11 Presumably she understated her age, and her husband did not have the correct information after her death.12 Letters of administration on her estate were granted to a local attorney, since Benjamin renounced.13

After her death the family fell apart, as Helen told the story. She and her brother both married in their late teens, while Benjamin disappears from the records until in 1925 he bought three tracts of land in Horsham, Montgomery County. This implies that he was doing well financially, but why did he need three pieces of land, and why did he only pay $1.00 for them?14

In the 1930 census, he was living with his son William in Horsham. Benjamin was working as a watchman in the aviation industry, probably for an airplane company or an airport.15 Benjamin died in Norristown in 1949, aged 79. At the time of his death he was living in a convalescent home.16 He was buried at Hatboro Cemetery, but has no tombstone.17

Children of Benjamin and Elizabeth:

?Joseph Watson, b. June 1896, d. January 1897; supposedly the child of Benjamin’s parents Watson and Lydia but this is almost impossible at Lydia’s age; more likely a child of Benjamin and Elizabeth born too soon after their wedding and buried as a child of Watson and Lydia.18

Helen Irene, b. March 30, 1898, died 1987, married in 1918 Raymond Tyson, son of William and Catherine (Rinker). Raymond died in 1959, and Helen married again twice in later life. Children (with Raymond): Raymond, Dorothy, Robert, Janet, and William. Robert and Jane died in infancy.

William Emmor,  b. 17 Jan 1901, d. Jan 1978, m. Mary June Haughton. William was a carpenter.19 In 1940 they were in Horsham.20 By 1959 they moved to Pompano Beach, Florida. Mary June died there in 1972; William died in 1978.21 Children: William E, Ruth, Helen.

Thomas Benjamin, b. Aug 29, 1904; died the next day.22

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Watson Worthington was born on November 17, 1839, the son of Benjamin Worthington and Lydia Groom. His parents moved around, and Watson grew up in both Bucks County and Philadelphia County. In 1860 he was still living with his parents, at age 21. He married Elizabeth Cornell about 1867. She was the daughter of Alfred Cornell and Rebecca Jane Van Buskirk. Her lineage was quite different from his English Quaker background. She was from Dutch families that came from New York to Bucks County in the early 1700s, kept their own church and language for several generations, and only gradually married outside of their culture.

In 1870 he and Elizabeth were living in Warrington, Bucks County, with two children, Henry and Benjamin. in 1876 Watson’s father Benjamin died; Watson renounced the administration. In 1880 they were living on the Welsh Road in Bustleton, and had added Nellie to their family.1 In 1900 they were living on the Somerton-Bustleton Pike, with their daughter May.2 Watson was a gate keeper. They were renting their house.

At first Watson was a farmer or farm laborer. Later he became a toll gate keeper, first on Bustleton Avenue (earlier known as the Philadelphia Road), then on York Avenue at the Hatboro Gate. The life of a toll gate keeper was not an easy one. Typically they lived in a house next to the road. The gates were closed at night and opened early the next morning. On some mornings they were opened at two or three o’clock so that the farmers could deliver produce and animals to the city. In return for the toll which the users paid to ride on the road, the turnpike company maintained the road, which was an unpaved surface. The wagons wore deep ruts in the road, which needed to be smoothed periodically.

He was a toll gate tender for 25 years, first at Somerton gate, then at Hatboro gate at County Line.3 There must not have been any more need for him in Somerton when the Bustleton Pike was made a free road. Elizabeth died in June 1906, and Watson moved in with his youngest daughter.4 He died in 1919 and was buried in William Penn Cemetery, in Somerton.5

My grandmother Helen knew the children of Watson and Elizabeth; they were her aunts and uncles.6

Children of Watson and Elizabeth:

Harry Clayton, b. 5 May 1867, d. 26 March 1935.7 He married Isabella Allen, born in Scotland, the daughter of James Allen and Elizabeth Louthers. Harry and Isabella lived in Lower Moreland and had daughters, Elizabeth, Gertrude, and Daisy. Harry was a mailman.8 Isabella died July 21, 1933.9 Harry died two years later.

Benjamin Franklin, b. 1870, d. 1943. In 1895 he married Elizabeth Scott, the daughter of James F. Scott and his first wife Jennie. The story came down through the family that Jennie died when Elizabeth was an infant, and James’ second wife did not want the baby, who was then sent away to be raised in an orphanage.10 Unfortunately the story did not tell how Benjamin met Elizabeth. They lived in Lower Moreland and had three known children, plus one probable (the infant Joseph born in mid-1896). Benjamin worked as a farmer, and later as a night watchman.11 In 1911 Elizabeth died, leaving him with two children, Helen and William Emmor.12 By 1930 Benjamin was living with his son William in Horsham, close to the Tyson family. Benjamin is buried at Hatboro Cemetery, but has no tombstone.13 Children: Joseph (possible), Helen, William Emmor, Thomas.

Nellie, b. ab. 1877 or 1878, d. January 1964, m. William Pierce; he was a printer of magazines in  Philadelphia, according to the 1910 census.14. In the 1920 census they were on Sickles Street in Philadelphia, where he was a publisher. They are buried at William Penn Cemetery.15 They had no children.

Edna May, known as May, b. 1885, d. 1952, m. Wilmer Craven. In 1930 census Wilmer was the superintendent at a water company. They had children Walter, a knitter in a hosiery factory, and Shirley, 8 years old.16 In 1920 they were in Hatboro with a daughter Elizabeth Ann, age 13 and Walter, age 11. Wilmer died in 1969 and is buried in Hatboro Cemetery with Edna.17 Children: Elizabeth Ann, Walter, Shirley.

? Joseph Watson, b. 1896, died Jan. 1897, age 7 months. He was buried at William Penn Cemetery. This is a very late birth for Elizabeth, and is more likely a grandchild born too soon after the parents’ marriage and buried as a child of the grandparents. I suspect he was a son of Benjamin and Elizabeth, since in 1900 they told the census-taker that they had two children, one living (Helen). Joseph could have been the other.18

John Worthington, son of Benjamin Worthington and Hannah Malone, was born in 1777 and grew up in Byberry, Philadelphia County. He married in 1805 Sarah Walton, daughter of Joseph and Deborah. Their marriage was contrary to discipline and they were disowned from Horsham Meeting in 6^th month 1805. They lived in Byberry and had seven known children there.1 In the 1850 census, they had no children still at home, but their son Walton lived next door with his wife Cynthia and four children. John was 72, Sarah was 68.2

John wrote his will in 1849. He provided for Sarah to stay in the house with an annuity. After her death the farm was to be sold and some of the proceeds to be used for the benefit of son Edward.3 The rest of the estate was divided among the other children. The inventory came to $304, but the expenses and his debts were more than that. John died in 1852; Sarah died in 1858.

Children of John Worthington and Sarah Walton:4

Edward, b. ab. 1806, married Susan Singley5. In 1870 he was a farm laborer, age 63, living with his sister Lydia Praul and her husband William in Northampton. Ten years later he was living with his niece Elmira Tomlinson and her husband Franklin in Somerton.6 Edward died on Aug. 23, 18887, a widower, age 82, died of dropsy and “general  debility”, lived on the Somerton Pike, buried at Byberry.8  Edward and Susan are not known to have any children.

Malvina, b. 1808, d. 1885, married Thomas Carter, son of James Carter and Phebe Tomlinson. They lived in Somerton, Phila. County in 1860, where Thomas was a farmer.9 By 1880, he had retired, at age 69. By then they had no children living with them. Thomas died in 1892. Both are buried at William Penn Cemetery.10 Children: Ann, Mary Louisa.11

Benjamin, b. 1813, d. 1876, m. Lydia Ann Groom, daughter of Evan Groom and Rachel Randall.  In 1848 he was keeping a store. In 1850 they were living in Bensalem, Bucks County, with four children. By 1860 they had moved to Moreland and had another child.12 By 1870 they had moved again, to Warrington Township, Bucks County, with children Rebecca, William, and Rachel.13 Benjamin died in 1876. In 1880 Lydia was living in Cheltenham, Montgomery County, with her daughter Annie and in the same household as her son Emmor and his wife Tamsen.14 In 1900 Lydia was living with Emmor and Tamysen, along with her daughter Rebecca.15 Lydia died in January of 1908, at the age of 89.16 She and Benjamin were buried at William Penn Cemetery. Children of Benjamin and Lydia: Watson, Elmira, Annie Rebecca, William Emmor, Rachel.

George W, b. ab. 1811, m. Harriet Comly, the daughter of Joshua Comly and Amelia Vansant.17 In 1850 they were living in Byberry where he worked initially as a farmer. By 1860 he was a bricklayer. George died in 1861, about fifty years old.18 in 1870, Harriet was living with daughters Mary and Ella.19 In 1880 Harriet was living with her daughter Ella and Ella’s husband James.20 She died on July 4, 1896, of “old age”, age 82, lived in Somerton, buried at William Penn21. Children: Elizabeth, Amanda, Mary, Ella.

Lydia, b. 1815, d. 1902, m. William Praul, lived in Northampton, Bucks County in 1880; he was a farmer. He was the son of John Praul and Martha Tomlinson.22 Lydia Praul died on Dec. 23, 1902, at age 86, a widow, died of “heart disease and debility”; living in Southampton, Bucks; buried at William Penn. William died in 1887 of apoplexy.23 Children: Edward, Lucinda, Theodore, J. Winfield, Thomas, William, Ida.24

Walton, b. 1818, d. 1902, m. Cynthia Tomlinson, daughter of Amos and Sarah. lived in Wrightstown, Bucks County in 1880.25 He died in Aug. 1902 at age 85, living in Wrightstown but buried at William Penn Cemetery.26 Cynthia died in 1889, age 72, also buried at William Penn. Children: Amos, Eugene, Louis, Amy and Sarah.

Asenath, b. 1820, d. 1901 of cerebral spinal sclerosis, m. Ezra Tomlinson, lived in Southampton, Bucks County in 1880. She and Ezra were cousins; he was the son of her aunt Martha Worthington Tomlinson. They lived in Southampton and Northampton, Bucks County. He was a farmer, and in 1860 a “restaurant keeper”.27  Ezra died in 1889 at age 69, married, a farmer in Bustleton, buried at William Penn.28 He left a will.29 The “house and garden at the corner” was to be sold to pay his debts, but his widow was to have “the house where I reside”. He wrote it in December 1881, and died in June 1889. He did not name any children; his seven children were grown by then. Asenath died in 1901 at age 85; widowed, living at Richboro; buried at William Penn.30 According to William Penn cemetery records she was living at Churchville. Asenath and Ezra had children Sarah, Martha, Mary, John, Hannah, Lydia and Francis (twins, Francis was a male).31

My grandmother Helen told me a story about her Worthington ancestors, passed down to her from her aunt May. She said that we were descended from Captain John and Sarah Worthington who sailed up the Severn River in Maryland and settled on a plantation called Pendennis. These turned out to be real people, even though the dashing Captain John was not related to our quiet Quaker farmers.1

Worthington was a common name in the north of England, around Lancashire and Cheshire. Some of them became Quakers and they were persecuted for it. James Harrison, a prominent Quaker from Bolton, wrote in 1679 to Roger Longworth, a traveling Quaker missionary, “I and mine are very glad to here from thee and of thy welfare.  Soe are friends here and heareaways Ph: (?) Worthington desired me to remember his love to thee when I writ … a bad bad spirit hath been at work and it is in Cheshire.” He then gives details of the persecutions, especially of James Worthington.2 When Pennsylvania opened up as a refuge for the Quakers, some of the Worthingtons emigrated and settled in Byberry township, north of Philadelphia. The usual story is that there were three brothers, John, Samuel, and Thomas, who reached Byberry in 1705.3 Since the first record of them is the marriage of John in 1720, they probably came about then as young adults.4 Worthington was a very common name at the time.5 From the earliest times there were two unrelated families, one in Byberry descended from John and Samuel, and the other around Wrightstown, descended from Richard Worthington.6

First generation: The immigrant brothers7

John, b. ab. 1697, d. 1777, married about 1720 Mary Walmsley, daughter of Thomas and Mary, lived in Byberry.

Samuel, b. ab. 1700, d. 1775, married 1724 Mary Carver, daughter of William and Mary, lived in Byberry, then Buckingham.

possibly Thomas, found only in a list of 1734 landholders in Byberry.

John Worthington was born about 1697.8 He probably immigrated as a young man with his brother Samuel. John married Mary Walmsley, daughter of Thomas Walmsley and Mary Paxson, about 1720, and settled in the northern end of Byberry. The marriage was not recorded at Abington meeting. All of Mary’s brothers and sisters were married under the auspices of Abington meeting; this strongly suggests that John and Mary were married there too, possibly at a time when the records were in disarray.9

In 1721 John subscribed to the collection for the poor of Byberry. In 1734 he was on the list of landowners in Philadelphia County with 25 acres. This would not have supported a family; presumably he made his living as a weaver.10 In 1732 Samuel’s house in Byberry burned down and two years later he and Mary moved north to Buckingham, Bucks County.

In 1752 John was elected as an overseer of the poor. The job was “to provide the necessaries of life to all who are unable to procure them, and not let any suffer.”11 This is one of the few times he appears in the records for his meeting or for the township. He was not active in religious or public affairs. In 1754 Mary’s father Thomas Walmsley died, followed three months later by his wife Mary’s mother Mary. In his will Thomas left 60 acres in Byberry to his daughter Mary Worthington. They may have moved to that tract, since in his will John mentioned a tract of 50 acres in Byberry “whereon I now dwell”. He eventually owned four tracts in Byberry, one in Bensalem and one in Buckingham. In the tax list of 1769 and 1774, he was shown with 160 acres in Byberry, three horses and four cows.12

He and Mary had eleven children born in the next thirty years, with their births recorded at Abington Meeting.

The oldest daughter was the first to marry.  Elizabeth married Joseph Tomlinson at the First Presbyterian Church  in 1744. This was the first of a series of marriages out of meeting for John’s children. In 1751 Thomas married Hannah Duncan at Trinity Church, Oxford. In 1765 William was disowned for going out in marriage with Esther Homer; a few years later he moved up to Buckingham Township, where two of his brothers were already living.

Benjamin, the youngest son, was the only one of them to stay in Byberry, while the others moved to Buckingham.

Mary died in 4^th month 1764.13 She buried two of her children, but lived to see four of them marry. John wrote his will in 1776, “somewhat disordered in body”. He was about 80 years old. He died the following March. In the will he named all his living children, distributed the household goods and referred to six separate pieces of land. In the typical pattern of the time he gave land to his sons and cash to his daughters. He provided for his unmarried daughter Mary. Four of the sons, William, Isaac, Joseph and Benjamin, were to build her a “suitable and convenient dwelling house”.

It is striking that of the ten marriages of their children, including the three of Joseph, only three were under the auspices of Friends meetings. John and Mary were not successful in keeping their children as Friends. Also, several married at an older age than usual, or not at all.

Children of John Worthington and Mary Walmsley:14

Elizabeth, b. 1^st month 1721, d. 1761, married 1744 Joseph Tomlinson, at the First Presbyterian Church in Phila15. He was the son of Thomas Tomlinson and Joan Walmsley.16 In 1757 Joseph was on the list of members of Byberry Meeting.17 They had seven children before Elizabeth’s death in 1761. Joseph died in Bensalem but did not leave a will.18 Children: Rebecca, John, Thomas, Joseph, Francis, Mary, Benjamin.19

Mary, b. 12^th month (February) 1723/24, died unmarried in 1785, provided for in her father’s will. She was called “honest old Mary Worthington” by Henry Tomlinson.20 She left a will naming her sisters, brothers, nieces and nephews.21

Thomas, b. 2^nd month 1726, d. 1798, married 1751 Hannah Duncan at Trinity Church, Oxford.22 He moved to Southampton, and left a will proved in 1796, providing for Hannah and naming ten children.23 Children: John, Nathan, Rebecca, William, Joseph, Isaac, Benjamin, Thomas, Amos, and Mary.

Hannah, b. 12th month 1727/8, married her cousin Joseph Carver, son of William Carver and Elizabeth, in 1776 at Buckingham MM.24 It was a late marriage for her; he was twice widowed; they had no children.

John, b. 2nd month 1730, d. 6^th month 1744.25

William, b. 7th month 1732, d. 1816, married in 1764 Esther Homer in the Presbyterian Church at Churchville.26 She was the daughter of William Homer and his second wife Mary Walton (daughter of Daniel). William and Esther had six children who lived to marry.27 He died in Buckingham and left a will, proved in 1816.28 He named Esther, and children William, Jesse, Benjamin, Hiram, Mary, and Esther. Esther died in 1832.

Isaac, b. 6th month 1735, d. 1800, m. 1760 Martha Carver at Christ Church, Philadelphia, daughter of William and Elizabeth. Isaac and Martha moved to West Goshen, Chester County, and died there. Isaac left a will naming Martha and most of the children.  Children: Mary, William, John, Amos, Eber, Elizabeth, Joseph.

Joseph, b. 6th month  1738, d. 1822, m. 1) Elizabeth or Esther Carver, daughter of Joseph, in 1767 at the Dutch church in Churchville29, 2) Sarah Malone (daughter of Patrick and Hannah) in 1773 at Buckingham MM, 3) Esther Kimble in 1778 , daughter of Anthony and Esther.30 Joseph had children with all three of his wives. He owned Indian Neck Farm, on the Neshaminy Creek31 and died in Buckingham, Bucks County. Joseph left a will, proved in 1822.32 He named his wife Esther, and ten of the children. Esther died in 1828.33 Children of Joseph and Esther/Elizabeth: Joseph, John.34 Children of Joseph and Sarah: Abner, Sarah.35 Children of Joseph and Esther: Anthony, William, Joel, Elisha, Amy, Hannah, Martha, Jesse, Esther, Isaac.

Martha, b. 1st month 1740/1, m. 1772 James Bonner. They were married by Justice of the Peace Wm Dewees.36 She was a member of Buckingham Friends but James was not, although he became a Friend later. He immigrated in 1764. She died in Buckingham, then he moved to Byberry, with a certificate from Buckingham and died there.

Benjamin, b. 12^th month 1742/3, d. 1813, m. 1774 Hannah Malone37, daughter of Patrick and Hannah, at Buckingham Meeting.38 They settled in Byberry and had eleven children, two of whom died young. Benjamin made his will in 1811 and signed it, then wrote another one after Hannah died. The second one was unsigned, but admitted for probate.39 Children: Mary, Asa, John, James, Benjamin, Mahlon, Hannah, Joseph, Elizabeth, Enos, Martha.

Esther, b. 12^th month 1749/50, d. 9^th month 1754.40

My grandmother Helen told me a story about her Worthington ancestors, passed down to her from her aunt May. She said that we were descended from Captain John and Sarah Worthington who sailed up the Severn River in Maryland and settled on a plantation called Pendennis. These turned out to be real people, even though the dashing Captain John was not closely related to our quiet Quaker farmers. He came to Maryland as a youth, and rose to serve as a commissioner, coroner, judge, and member of the House of Burgesses and the Legislative Assembly. He was active in the Severn Militia and fought against the Nanticoke Indians. With his wife Sarah Howard he had six children. But we are not descended from any of them.

Worthington was a common name in the north of England, around Lancashire and Cheshire. Some of them became Quakers and they were persecuted for it. James Harrison, a prominent Lancashire Quaker, wrote in 1679 to Roger Longworth, a traveling missionary, “…. heareaways Ph Worthington desired me to remember his love to thee when I writ, … a bad bad spirit hath been at work and it is in Cheshire.” ¹ Davis claimed in his History of Bucks County that the immigrant Worthingtons were from Standish Parish, Lancashire, where there is a town called Worthington. This must have been family folklore from someone whom Davis interviewed, since Martindale did not mention it in his History of Byberry and Moreland.

When Pennsylvania opened up as a refuge for the Quakers, some of the Worthingtons emigrated and settled in Byberry township, north of Philadelphia. The usual story is that there were three brothers, John, Samuel, and Thomas, who reached Byberry in 1705. We know that Samuel was John’s brother, since he named John’s son Isaac in his will. But there is no evidence that Thomas was related to John or Samuel. ² Furthermore there is no evidence that they came in 1705. If they actually came then, John and Samuel came as children. John would have been only about eight years old, while Samuel was probably slightly younger. They could not have come alone. They may have been orphans, sent with family, or perhaps their parents died at sea during the voyage. ³ A plausible alternative is that they came about 1719 as young adults.

Worthington was a very common name at the time, even in Bucks County. From the earliest times there were two clusters, one in Byberry and the other around Wrightstown. My grandmother knew this and assured me that we had no connection to the Wrightstown Worthingtons. Since they were descended from Richard Worthington, who seems to have no relation to the Byberry brothers, she was quite right. The oral tradition was remarkably accurate. She was descended from John and the Byberry Worthingtons, while her husband Raymond was descended from Samuel and the Plumstead Worthingtons. She never knew this, although it would not have surprised her. She spent her entire life in Bucks County, and once told me, “Don’t say anything bad about someone. You’re probably related to them.” ⁴