Radnor Historical Society Bulletin

THE BULLETIN
01
RA D NOR HIS TOR I CAL SOC I ET Y
Volume III
SUMMER, 1979
No.9
INCORPORATED APRIL 30, 1948
H eadquarters and Museum
TIlE FlNLEY HOUSE
113 WEST BEECH TREE LA NE
WAYNE, PENNSYLVAN IA 19087
Visitors Cordially Welcome . Telephone MUrray 8-2668.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Mrs. Harrison Therman, President
Mrs. Robert I. Cummin , Vice-President
Arthur H. Moss, Esq ., Secretary
John Todd Stewart, Treasurer
Charles E. Alexander
Mrs. Edward F. Beatty, Jr.
Theodore B. Brooks
Mrs. Salvatore Caltibiano
William M . Fletcher, Editor
John H. Grant
Herbert S. Henderso n
Mrs. Ro bert J. LaRouche
Miss Isabella Auld McKnight
Mrs. John Stuart McNeil
Mrs. Percival B. Moser, Jr.
Miss Caroline Robbin s
Mrs. John W . Watson
William L. Ziglar
ATTENTION HISTORIANS!
LIST OF PUBLICATIONS
FOR SALE AT THE RADNOR HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Historic Wayne, by Katharine H. Cummin . (The Graphics Center-Argus Printing Co. , 1975 ). 47
Pages, illustrations. $2.95 per copy .
"Com fortable Homes in the Suburbs on the Hillsides at Wayne and Sl. Davids, " pictorial
poster of 1890. ( Reproduction) $ .50
" Map of Radnor Township Showing Ownership in 1776", research by Katharine H. Cummin ,
drawn by Herbert S. Henderson (1976). $3 .00
" Rural Homes ," Wayne advertising phamphlet of 1890, illustrated . ( Facsimile) . $.50
Radnor in the War of the Revolution 1777-1778, by Francis James Dallett ( 1976 ) . 15 pag es, il lustrations . $1.00 per copy .
A Rare and Pleasing Thing: Radnor, By Katherine Hewitt Cummin, Owlswi ck Pr SS, 1977 ,
$19.75.
REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT
During the past year I am pleased to report that , as well as our usual requests for genealogical and historical information and the visits by school and scout groups, more people seem to
have become aware of the local significance of our Society. It has frequently been my privilege
to explain the history of the artifacts and memorabilia to our visitors to the Finley House and to
tell them of the outstanding collection of old photographs of early Wayne which are not usually
on display .
We were delighted to be a part of Radnor Day on April 14, sponsored by the Memorial Library
of Radnor Township under the able direction of Mrs. Salvatore Caltibiano, Mrs . George Amman III, and Mrs . Edward Veitch . Mrs . Robert Cummin was the guide on the bus which toured
Radnor Township for over an hour . It ended at the Finley House where an opportunity to see our
exhibits was afforded , followed by a buffet luncheon.
We are continuing in our implementation of plans for the refurbishing of the Wagon House
and Its exhibits and the restoration of the basement kitchen with its great fireplace and baking
ovens . A departure from the past , The Finley House now remains open all summer on Tuesday
afternoons from 2 to 5. Special appointments for reserarch , etc . may be made by calling either
the President or Vice-President.
Sincerely,
DOROTHY H. THERMAN
ACTIVITIES OF THE SOCIETY
October 24, 1978
Mr . Charles E . Alexander, one of the Directors of the Society presented a paper entitled " The
Playing Fields of Wayne ," at our meeting Tuesday, October 24 , 1978 in the Society 's rooms at
the Finley House . Mr. Alexander drew his title from the Duke of Wellington 's well known
remark that the Battle of Waterloo had been won on the playing fields of Eton and based his
very interesting summary of the lives of some of our recent illustrious military leaders on their
experiences at St. Lukes School in Wayne and its successor , The Valley Forge Military
Academy . We will be pleased to present a copy of these remarks in a forthcoming issue of this
Bulletin .
January 4, 1979
The Society met on the evening of Thursday, January 4 in the General Wayne room of the
Main Line Federal Savings and Loan Association in Wayne . We were privileged to hear a talk
by Ms . Nancy Webster and Ms. Susan Lucas on " The Pennsylvania Campaign of 1777-78,"
which was illustrated by slides of the reenactment of some of the action of this phase of the
Revolution. The effectiveness of their presentation was heightened by the costumes of the time
which they wore and by the many interesting accoutrements and military paraphernalia of the
day which they had on display . They are both members of the First Continental Regiment , the
organization which participated in the reenactment of the battles which were illustrated . Besides this activity, Ms Lucas is Curator of the Massey House on Sproul Road in Delaware County and Ms Webster is the Chairperson of the Sites Committee , which meets under the auspices
of Historic Delaware County , Inc .
March 7, 1979
Mr . Seymour L. Green , of Haverford , whose wife , Frances E . Hunter , is a collateral descendant of J ohn Pechin gave a talk on the John Pechin Diary before the Society in the General
Wayne Room of the Main Line Federal Savings and Loan Association on Wednesday, March 7,
1979. Because of its interest and the tact that it has never been published before we are reproducing it in full in this issue of the BULLETlN.
2
3
ACCESSIONS
RADNOR HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Annual Treasurer's Report
September 1, 1978 - May 20, 1979
May I, 1978 to April 30, 1979
RECEIPTS
Dues ...... ....... .. ....... .............. . . ..... ........ ..... .. . $ 960.50
Bequest Estate Helena Lienhardt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 625.00
Contributions ... ........ .. ............. .. . ...... ............... 1,132.00
Dividends .. . . . . . .. .. . . . . . . .. . . . . . .. . . . .. . . . . . . . . . .. . .. . . . . . . ... 849.77
Interest .... . ......... .... ... .. ..... ......... ......... ....... .. 1,339.44
Reimbursement from caretaker for utilities
Proceeds from publications
Balance checking account 5/1/78
$2,717.50
2,189.21
2,569.50
175.37
$7,651.58
1,386.63
$9,038.21
DISBURSEMENTS
House and yard maintenance . . ............... ...... ... ......... $ 850.43
House utilities . . . ................. ... ....... . ...... . ........... 3,512.45
House insurance (3 years) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 842.00
Printing and postage
Miscellaneous
Additions to endowment
reinvested dividends ..... ............................. .. .... $ 575.00
savings certificate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 1,000.00
savings account ..................... .. .... ............ .. . ... . ~
Balance checking account 4/30/79
$5,204.88
1,419.97
161.95
$6,786. 80
$1,637.91
$8,424.71
613.50
$9,038.21
ENDOWMENT FUNDS OF SOCIETY
In stocks . ........ . ................................. " . .... . ............. . . .. .. ... .. $ 9,616. 11
In savings certificates . ..... .. . ... ................. . .. . . .... . .. ........... . . .. .. . .. 16,000.00
In savings account. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 3,405.65
JOHN TODD STEWART,
Treasurer
Membership is open to all persons interested in the Society . Minimum dues are $3 .00 per year.
Contributions to the Society are tax deductible .
Contributing Membership .. .... ... ...... $10.00
Sustaining Membership ...... .. . ... . .... $25.00
Student Membership ... ...... ........ ... $ 1.00
4
All contributions are deductible
(to the legal limit) for United
States Income Tax purposes .
Mrs. Robert I. Cummin:
Membership application blanks .
Francis James Dallett:
Miscellaneous Photographs and clippings .
William P. Hutton :
Books:
Dictionary of Phrase and Fable
by E . Cobham Brewer (n.d.)
Genealogical and Personal Memorial of Chester and Delaware Counties by Gilbert Cope and Henry Ashmead (1904)
Mr. Currier and Mr. Ives by Russell Crouse (1930)
Select Cases and Other Authorities on the Law of Property Vols. I-III by J .
Chipman Gray (1889 and 1906)
Old Silver of Europe and America by E . Alfred Jones (1928)
American Pewter by J.B . Kerfoot (1924)
Historic Houses of Early America by Elsie Lathrop (1927)
Along the Western Brandywine by Wilmer W. MacElree (1912 ), two copies
New Hampshire Beautiful by Wallace Nutting (1923)
Old Silver and Old Sheffield Plate by Howard Pitcher Okie (1928 )
Annual Report of the Smithsonian Bureau of Ethnology edited by J.W. Powell
1880-1881 , 1881-1882 , 1882-1883 (three volumes on American Indians )
History of Philadelphia by J . Thomas Scharf and Thompson Westcott (1884)
Volumes II and III
History of Delaware County by George Smith (1862)
Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Chester County by Samuel T . Wiley
( 1893)
Mrs . Virginia Pechin Keen :
Water color, copy , early scene at Morgan 's Corner
Warren Lengel:
Two straight razors , printed preoclamation of Andrew Jackson , glass plates , Radnor High
School pictures (sports), miscellaneous Beadle papers.
Miss Isabella Auld McKnight:
White dogwood tree and Japanese maple and their planting .
Miss Caroline Robbins: Book , End of the Line by Patricia T . Davis (1978 )
Oscar Robertshaw:
Baseball used in the last game ofthe Main Line Leag ue, Wayne vs . Devon , 7 September 1914
Mrs. Edward Ten Broeck:
Picture of the Winsor sisters, award given the T ri -County Concert Associsation .
NEW MEMBERS
September, 1978 - May, 1979
Mr. John J. Dziedzina
Mrs . Eric F . Schwalm
Mr . John M. Groff
Mrs . Peter A. Sears
Mrs . Virginia Pechin Keen
Mr . Albert Spendlove
Ms. Dorinda Liebert
Valley Forge National Historical Park
Main Line Federal Savings & Loan Association
NECROLOGY
September, 1978 - May, 1979
Mr . Harry C. Creutzburg
Mrs. Henry Ecroyd
Mrs . George Vaux
5
John Pechin's Diary
On the evening of March 7, 1979, Seymour Green Esq. introduced the Radnor Historical
Society to the diary of John Pechin of Radnor . At the close of his talk he presented the thin,
leather-bound notebook to the Society as a gift from his wife in whose family it had descended.
It is a pleasure to print the text verbatim.
The diary covers the year 1844 and portions of 1845, 1848, 1849 and 1850. Writing for himself,
Pechin skimped on punctuation and made no attempt (why should he ?> to be consistent in
capitalization. He undertook agricultural activities in season, traveled, served as local
assessor and auditor , participated in the temperance movement and supported the Whip party.
He marketed goods in Philadelphia, attended to family financial interests, phrased legal documents for others and spent his winter evenings attending meetings of the Radnor Lyceum, the
Delaware County Institute of Science , the Singing Society and the local Debating Society which
took five weeks to resolve the question of Abolition .
The unmarried son of Peter and Rebecca (Hunter) Pechin with whom he lived, John was a
grandson of merchant J . Christopher Pechin of Philadelphia and of Squire Edward Hunter of
Newtown who was murdered in 1817. Peter Pechin had bought his Rosemont property (22
acres) in several pieces beginning in 1807 when he moved to Radnor to settle near his widowed
aunt, Mrs. George Gyger. He also owned other Radnor property and extensive acreage in
Lower Merion . Now , the diary :
(Inside cover) :
Amount of assessment in Radnor for 1844
A Lewis Esq.
assessor
Hiram Cleaver Assistants
John Pechin
$533 ,909 Real estate
18,112 Personal
41 ,000 Occupation
121 Dogs
UNION
SCHOOL HOUSE
Amount of assessment in Radnor for 1845
$523601 Real estate
Personal
48050 Occupations
40050 Money
1070 Carriages
1050 Household furniture
Pages 2 and 3
Dr . Columbia Bank & Br Co . in act. with Lindsay & Pechin Cr.l
1840
1840
MILLS
PHILIP
SHAEFF
LOWER
MERION
LUTHERAN
CHURCH
CooPERTOWN
ApI. 29 Cash---May 6 ditto
13 ditto
May 2 A Bruner
Benjamin F . Dean
13
do ,--- do ,--A Hine
14
A. M. Avery
Stephen Smith
15
284 22
137 92
120
542 14
ST DENIS .
CHURCH
15000
20000
62 50
100 00
2000
964
542 14
THE WORLD OF JOHN PECHIN
Page 4 is blank. Pages 5 and 6 have been torn out. The text begins again on Page 7, in mid-sentence. (The year was 1844.)
Union School house 2 the following question being continued over from previous evening" Is party spirit beneficial" but amended so as to read Is political party spirit as existing in this country
beneficial.
11 Went to store 3 for newspaper etc . in morning , at home remainder of day.
12. Assisting to fill ice house , in evening wrote advertisements for J acob Gyger for the sale of
goods etc. of B. Yard dec d .4
13. Went for newspaper etc . to store then to Sam'l Lindsay , attended lyceumS in evening
which was addressed by Doct. H.S. Patterson on the varieties of the human species it being the
last of a course of lectures on that subject before that institution .
6
7
Page 8
14. At home until evening then went to baptist Merion church
. 15. A~tern?on went to.Kinzies 7to see a grizzled bear from the rocky mountains, attended Sing-
Ing society In the evening
16 Went for newspapers , got my hair cut by J Oliver
17 Intended going to the funeral of Rebecca Ann Garrett who was to be intered today
a~ 10 0 Clock .but was prevented by the incessant rain , attended debating
. m~et
Society In the evening the question discussed was ; Which has recei ved the worse treatment at
the hand of the whites the Indians or Africans and the same question was continued
Page 9
Janr 18 Went to Phild a and purchased clothing & sundry other articles in the evening went t(
hear a discussion by the Union library8 company & lodged with Uncle J Pechin 9
19 Returned home from Phild a in the evening went to Sam! Humphreys for Rebecca lo
20 At home until evening then attended an adjourned meeting of the Radnor Lyceum
21 At home
22 Went for Newspaper & shoemakers
23 Wrote an advertisement for Jacob Gyger for the sale of the real estate of Benj Yard dec d . in
after noon went for newspaper & thence to Sam! Lindsay
Page 10
JanY .
24 Uncle Thomas and Aunt Alice Cornog & Aunt Hannah Hunter dined with US , ll I went to
debating Society in evening same question continued
25 Went to John Taylors sale l2
26 Went to store in evening
27 Helping to fill ice house Attended lecture in the evening at radnor lyceum by Doct. H.
Corson in opposition to Phrenology and craniology l3
28 Went to Church in the morning
29 Attended Sale of goods etc of Benjamin Yard dec d and served as clerk
30 Attended (at place of sale yesterday ) as clerk
31 Attended debating society in evening same question discussed as previous evening which
was decided .
Page 11
Feb 1 Went to John Moores & took tea and spent evening there in company with several
more l4
2 Sleighing to W Kuglers W McKever & Dr . I. Andersons l5
3 Went to Delaware County Institute Hall where there was to have been a lecture delivered by
the Rev . Mr . Moore but he did not attend , stoped
at Mrs . Bishop's and took tea , on my way
home
4 Attended Church in the evening
5 Attended Singing society in the evening Mr . Kendall not present
6 Took tea and spent evening at John Dunwoody in company with a number of others
Page 12
February
7 Attended debating Society in the evening " Would it be advisable immediately to abolish
slavery in the United States" was discussed
8 At home excepting for newspaper
9 At home until evening spent part of evening at Caleb West'sl7
10 Attended Lyceum in evening with Sister but no lecture, stoped at Mrs . Kinzies on returning
11 Went to church in morning & with Sister to Sam! Lindsays in evening
12 At smith shop in morning attended Singing society In the evening with sister
13 Attended the funeral of Susanna Hibbard at 2 0 Clock P M at Whiteland l8
14 Attended debating society in evening the same subject discussed and continued
Page 13
15 At home except for Newspaper
16 Engaged at home most of the day
17 Went to a lecture at Delaware County Institute Hall by Doct. Bryan on anatom y etc . illustr-
ated by the magic lantern
18 Went to church in forenoon took tea and spent evening at George'sl9
8
19 Attended singing society in the evening it being the last meeting
20 Went to Wm. Crawfords funeral intered at Norristown Presbiter yard attended court in the
afternoon
21 Assisting to survey R Phipps ' farm which he has sold to A Johnson for 901/2 Dols per
acre ,20 attended debating society in the evening at which the same question was discussed &
continued
Page 14
Feb 22 Attended in the evening at " White Hall " 21 a Clay Club meeting & supper of which more
than 100 partook
23. Engaged at home & to store
24 Do do in the evening attended lecture before the radnor lyceum on the character the
rights & the wrongs of the Aborigines of N. America by Col. Thomas L. McKenny
25 Went to church in morning
26 Triming apple-trees
27 Went to J Taylors22 sale in afternoon and in evening went to Mr . McKenney lecture on the
Origin , History etc of the Indians of N. America before the Radnor Lyceum
28 Attended debating society in the evening at which the same question was discussed and
continued
Page 15
Feb 29 Went to J C Evans & store etc
. ~arch 1 At~ended J. Gygers sa~e of 38 a 68 p (B Yards Estate) which sold for $1335 to Henry
Finigan of Philadelphia stoped With Jesse Brooke 23 to tea & went with him to the elecution read-
ing class taught by Mr. Lamburn
2 Engaged at home
3 Went to church in morning
4 Went to A Johnson 's sale in afternoon
5 Attended lecture on temperance by the Rev J Chambers at Methodist C
6 Attended debating society in eve abolition question as before discussed and decided that the
affirmative had produced best argument
7 Went to Philadelphia left E Lewis ' acct. with H Leach Esq for Collection
Page 16
8 At home & newspaper
9 Called on to go and invite to the funeral of Tacy Childs who is to be buried on the 11th at 10
OClock A.M. went to easttown Chester County inviting
10 Went to church in morning and to J E vans ' to tea in afternoon
11 Went to funeral of T Childs in morn and to Kinzie's sale in afternoon
12 Went in afternoon to Post Office with letter for R P Ash of Darby
. 13 At home until .evening then attended debating Society at which the following question was
discussed " Would It be an advantage to the State to sell the public improvements to the highest
bidder
Page 17
14 Engaged at home until evening then attended Township meeting for nominating candi-
dates for the various township offices
15 Went to the election in afternoon
16 At home except to store
17 Went in company with W.B. & J M Lindsay to Mr . Crawfords to tea stoped on our way at
singing school
18 At home
19 Went to vendue in the afternoon at Sam l . Garrigues'24
20 Attended debating society in the evening " Which has the greatest influence on mankind
Hope or Fear" was discussed after which the society adjourned for the season
Page 18
March
21 At home hauling hay __ (illegible )
22 Weighing hay etc. Do
23 Do , in the evening attended a lecture on animal magnetism etc with experiments in clairvoyance etc which appeared to me to be deception
24 Went to church in morning & to R Phipps in afternoon
25 At home plowing etc
9
26 Went to Marple for discription of Yards property
27 Wrote deed for Henry Finigen
28 Engaged at home
29 Writing Bonds , Mortgage etc
30 Went to Jacob Gyger & smith shop in morning at home rest of day
31 Went to Lower merion Lutherian church in afternoon
Page 19
April
1 Assisted Robinson Phipps to move
2 Filled judgment Bond for R. Phipps
3 & 4 Engaged at home
Do
do
5& 6
7 Went to Merion Baptist church in the morning and to Merion Lutherian in the afternoon at
which Mr . Finkle delivered his farewell address to a crowded house
8 Went in the afternoon to shop to get my carriage mended
9 Engaged about home
10 Assisted Mrs . Rudolph to move
11 Engaged about home
12 Went to J C Evans & T Humphreys25in morning and to A Lewis Esqr . in evening
Page 20
April
13 At home until evening then attended the Lyceum meeting
14 Went to Baptist church in the morning and to the same place in the afternoon to a concert of
instrumental and vocal music which was attended by a large number of people -- It has been
very warm all day uncomfortably warm with the windows and doors open
15 Attended a meeting of the auditors at Sorril horse hotel26 to settle Supervisors & treasurers
of the school directors accounts wm. Siter & Jonathan Tarrance supervisors & Jonathan P
Abraham treasurer Mark Brook Jos . McClees & myself auditors 27
Pages 21 and 22 have been torn out.
Page 23
1844
June
June lO Arrived home after a tour of six weeks ; to Pittsburg down the Ohio to its mouth then
up the Mississippi to Fever river up that to Galena and then to Chicago by stage then by the
Lakes to Buffalo thence by Niagara fall, Rochester , sinica lake, Pottsville Philadelphia & home
having traveled nearly 4000 miles
11 Engaged mowing in evening went to a lecture on animal magnetism
12 & 13 Mowing , making hay and in the afternoon of 13th went to sale of Mrs . Cleavers 28 lot
opposite which was bid to 830 Dols . not sold
14 & 15 Making hay etc weather dull
16 Went to church in morning and to Christopher 's29 in the afternoon
17, 18, 19, 20, 21 Mowing , making hay etc ---Page 24
1844
June
22 Went to Radnor Church to the funeral of Lewis Moore , to White Hall and paid car agent for
carrying newspaper and to Mrs . Lindsays to tea
23 Went to baptist church in the morning and to temperance lecture by Dr. H Corson in temperance grove in Lower Merion in the afternoon The Doctor explained the effects of alcohol on
the human system
24 Hauling hay & plowing corn
25 Dressing corn in the forenoon went to Philip Sheaff's30 in the evening some persons in Radnor have commenced cutting their wheat which is ripe
26 Making fence & went to Brother George's in the afternoon and took tea there
27 Went to wm Hunters 31 in the afternoon
28 & 29 Engaged about home
Page 25
June
10
1
J
30 Went to"Merion Baptist church in the morning and evening
July 1 & 2 Engaged harvesting wheat
Page 29
3 Went for newspaper & thence to White hall and in the afternoon cuting wheat
4 Attended temperance celebration at Spring mill spring , the day very pleasant
5 Hauling wheat from turnpike field crop very thin 134 doz from 3/4 of field
6 Horse-raked the wheat stubble etc
7 At baptist church in forenoon at home remainder of day
8 Threshing rakings of wheat stubble
(illegible)
9 Mowing grass in upper field
10 11 & 12 Engaged at hay and oats
13 Summoned to assess the damage done C. Smedley's sheep by dogs ,32 assisted by J McClees
10 wounded & killed, damage of $11 50/100 hauled crop of oats in the afternoon
Page 26
July
14 Went to Methodist church in morning at home remainder of day not being well
15 Went to store, wm Esrays33 & Mill very hot when walk
16,17, 18,19, 20, Engaged most of time about home
21 Attended Baptist church in forenoon and went to Mr . A Johnston & Mr. S Lindsay afternoon
22 Brought load of lime from Sam!. Coats 34
23, 24, 25, 26 Engaged hauling and spreading manure
27 Attended temperance meeting in the afternoon at Conshohocken and a whig meeting at
Radnor school house in evening
28 Went to Merion church in morning and to Coopertown in the afternoon
29 Preparing ground & sowing turnip seed
30 At home until evening then went to store & Lindsay
31 Attended whig meeting at White Hall at which a banner was presented by the Ladie's to the
Clay club of L. Merion & addressed by David P Byron
Page 27
August
1 & 2 Engaged about home
3 Attended Whig Convention at Chester said to be the largest ever held in the county addressed by Josiah Randel, Charles Gibbons & Judge Conard of Phila.
4 Attended Methodist church in morning
5 Engaged about home at harrowing etc
6 Hauled two loads of lime from Hughes
7 Engaged about home
8 Went to temperance harvest home at Hawkins on west chester road which was attended by a
very large number of ladies & gentlemen
9 & 10 Engaged about home
11 Went to Baptist church in the morning and to J & W Hoskins 35 in the afternoon
12 & 13 Engaged about home
14 & 15 Hauling lime from Shenline & Hughes 36
16 Engaged abouf home
Page 28
Aug 17 Working on road
18 Went to baptist church in the morning
19, 20, 21 Mowing & making hay
22 Mowing etc --23 & 24 Taking plank out of vats at tanyard
25 Went to Brother Edw d . & spent afternoon
26 Inviting to the funeral of Sam!. Humphreys who died yesterday afternoon
27 Attended the funerlll of Sam!. Humphreys at 10 O'Clock intered at Radnor friends
28 Went to Philad a . with Rebecca
2930 & 31 Engaged about home, flooring stable etc
Sept. 1 Attended the opening of the Chapel at the catholick college which was performed by
bishop Kenrick in the afternoon at 2 OClock attended the funeral of James Crowley , intered at
Haverford Chapel 38
11
Sept 2 Hauling out manure
3 Attended native meeting at Whitehall which was addressed by Mr. Spencer D. Chaner Mr.
White etc
Page 33
November
4, 5 & 6 Engaged at fixing steps, plowing etc
7 Plowing for wheat spent the evening at J G Hendersons
8 At baptist church in morning
9 & 10 Plowing & harrowing in wheat
11, 12, 13 Cuting of and shocking corn
14 Painting porch in front of house and attended lyceum meeting in evening
15 Attended Methodist church in morning
16 Hauling & jointing shingles
17 Engaged about home
18 At home in forenoon went to Brother Georges in the afternoon with Mother & cosins J . C. &
M. Pechin & Maria Ingle 39
Page 30
Sep 30 Attended a great whig meeting at Norristown which was addressed by Addison May
Prest. Dr . Hanna of Ohio Gen . Coombs of Ky . Gen . RogersofT e & others
20, 21 Picking apples, making cider etc
22 Attended baptist church in morning and at Mr . Ashbridges to tea
23, 24, 25, 26 Engaged about home
27 Took load of apples to Phil. & brought home a ton of coal , apples being very abundant this
year are worth only 20 to 25 cts
28 Brought ton of coal from Schuylkill
30 At home rainy
31 Making cider & preparing for apple butter
Oct 1 Attended whig procession at Phild.
2 & 3 Picking apples
4 Took a load of apples to market and brought up a load of coal
Page 31
1844
Oct. 5 Picking apples; received information of the death of Aunt Ingle who died on the 3rd Instant and funeral to take place today in Washington
6 Went to baptist church in the Morning and to Mr. Sam l . Lindsays to tea
7 Gathering apples for winter
8 Attended the election in the afternoon There was 260 votes polled ; for Governor 62 majority
by whigs x 54 Congress x 58 for assembly & 57 for Commission
9 Gathering apples for market etc
10 Took a load of apples to market and brought home a load of coal
11 Went to store & smith shop
12 Engaged at home & met the lyceum in the evening
13 Attended baptist church
Page 32
October
14, 15 Husking corn picking apples etc
16 Took load of apples & potatoes to market & brought home load of coal
17 Took load of corn to D Youngs & P Paist 40
18, 19 Engaged at home at the apples
20 Attended baptist church morning & evening
21 , 22 Engaged at the corn & apples
23 Went to Philad 8 . with load of apples and potatoes and brought home a ton of plaster
24 Husking corn (finished)
25 Went to Philda. in Carriage and Rebecca & Uncle J. Pechin returned with me
26 At the apples &
corn fodder
27 Attended baptist church
28, 29, 30 Engaged at the apples etc .
31 Went to market with apples & potatoes
Nov 1 Assisting to bucher in the morning went to the election in the afternoon
12
2 Painting portico in front of house
3 Attended Baptist church
4,5 Engaged about home
6 Called upon by James Cochran 41 to appraise his sheep kiled by dogs Valued damage at $17
Preparing apples for market in afternoon
7 Went to market with apples and potatoes and transacted other business
8 & 9 Engaged making cider etc
10 At baptist church & G Pechins afternoon
11 Went to A Kinzie's sale afternoon
12 Hauling manure
13 Called on by J Maul Jr .42 to appraise his sheep killed by dogs (damage $9)
14 Preparing apples for market
15 Took load of apples to market for Christopher
Page 34
16 Hauled load of lime from Hughes kiln
17 Attended baptist church in the morning and to Jackson Lyons43to tea
18, 19 Hauling corn from McNally's
20 Engaged at home (wet weather)
21 At home until evening then attended temperance lecture by Rev. Mr. Burris at baptist
church
22, 23 Engaged about home
24 Attended the funeral of J. Clever Rambo who was intered at Swedes church
25, 26, 27 Engaged about home
28 Engaged at home until evening then attended cotillion party at White Hall Hotel
29 At home
30 Went to A. Lewis Esqr & H. Clever thence to Esqr Wetherby , preparatory to assessing
Page 35 December
1 At home until evening then at C. Wests
2 Appraising sheep with J . McCleas for Wm . W. Dickinson 44 damage $10,00 hauled a load
of lumber in afternoon
3 Assisting about building stable , in the evening went to Union schoolhouse and heard Dr .
Gore lecture on Phronology
4, 5, 6 & 7 Helping about erecting a stable etc .
8 Attend Methodist Church
9 Hauled load of boards from lumber yard in the morning , went for kettle to McNallies
10 Assisting of bucher hogs etc .
11 , 12, 13 Engaged about home etc .
14 Hauling cornfodder , attended lyecum meeting in the evening
15 Attended baptist church
16 Assisting to thrash eats
17 Assisting Christopher to bucher
Page 36 Dec .r
18 A.,sisting to thrash & clean oats
19 Engaged about home & to shoemakers and to R.I. Hooper to get my hair cut
20 Went to A. Lewis Esqr to assist him and H. Cleaver to lay a valuation etc .
21 Went to H. Cleaver's to value etc . with him & A. Lewis Esqr , and attended musical concert
at White Hall in the evening
22 At baptist church and went to uncle T Cornog's in the afternoon
23 Went to Mark Bartleson 45 to assess damage done his sheep by dogs allow 21/2
24 Copying the assessment for the Assessor of Radnor township etc.
25 Went to J . Jones & S. Lindsays in the afternoon & caleb West's in the evening.
26 Copying the assessment etc.
Page 37
27 Engaged with A. Lewis Esqr & Hiram Cleaver in making out the assessment who met with
me
28 Hauling wheat from McNally's
29 Attended baptist church in forenoon
30 Preparing apples etc. for market
31 Went to market with apples etc . Stoped at Esq.r Leeches in respect to E . Lewis account the
13
time of which will be up 27th of January next 1845
Jan I , 2 Appraised sheep for J Maul and assessed damages at $17
3 Thrashing wheat
4 Engaged about home until 11 0 Clock Then went to Institute at which a lecture was delivered by Mr . Bowen of West chester on the bounds of science ; then went to John Pattersons in
Middletown
Page 38 1845 JanY
5 Left J Pattersons and came home
13 Assisting to bucher in the morning afternoon appraised sheep that was destroyed by dogs
for I Palmer $646
March 16 Attended funeral of Hannah Litzenhurg wife of Horatio Litzenburg47
Mar 18 At the wedding of Isaac C. Black and Elizabeth C. Lindsay at her father 's Married by
Rev . Mr. Cross
Pages 39 and 40 have been removed.
Page 41 1845
. .
April 14 Settled the Supervisors ~nd the Treasurers accounts of school fund $57.21 remammg
in Supervisors hands & $323.84 paid over by JP Abraham to M. Bartleson of school fund
April 23 Attended the funeral of Elenor L Wife of Charles Kugler intered at the Lutherian
Church L Merion 48
June 21 The harvesting of the wheat has commenced which is very good except in some low
places which has been injured by frost whilst in blossom June
Page 42
.
27 Commenced cutting our wheat
Page 43 contains one paragraph:
Emily Pechin daughter of E H Pechin died December 11th , 1848 between the hours of 11 &
12 P .M. in her 22nd year The body deposited in the vault at Lutherian church in Lower
Merion on the 14th. and removed from t here to the Baptist Church and intered on the 11th. of
April 1849
Page 44 , 1849
JanY 1st. Thrashing wheat went to smith shop then to A Lewis E sqr then met board of school
Directors
2 Went to A Kinzies two miles above Yellow Spring Chester County and retur ned good sleighing
3 Thrashing went to lecture at Radnor Lyceum by John Curwen M D49
4 Thrashing went to mill stor etc .
5 & 6 About home
7 At Baptist church to George Pechins in evening
8 Wrote to J C Walker prepared apples for market
9 Went to market Phild with apples & potatoes
10 Attended lecture at R Lyceum by Dr. Curwen
11 Went to smith shop in afternoon
12 Went to West Chester in respect to Alexander Kinzies business, stoped at J Pattersons
13 Fixing pump , afternoon went to J Dunwoodys thence to John Moors 50 to tea
14 & 15 About home
16 Attended the funeral of Mrs. Sibley 51
Page 45 11849
JanY. 17 Went to market with apples & potatoes and to lecture at Radnor Lyceum by Dr . Curwen
18 Attended John Leverings sale
19 & 20 About home filling ice house etc .
21 Attended Methodist church morning at home
22 Engaged at home until evening then went to Hoskins
23 Hauling and packing ice
24 Preparing apples for market until noon Then went to Uncle Wm. Hunters then to lecture at
R; Went to Phil. with apples & potatoes & to exhibition of the Mississippi painting at the
Masonick hall & to uncle J Pechin to sup . & lodge
26 Retur ned home from Philda .
27 Triming apple trees etc
14
28 Attended funeral of Abner Lewis Esqr
29 & 30 Engaged about home went to mill
31 At home, signed a petition to prohibit the sale of spiritous liquors in Delaware County went
to lecture in the evening at Radnor Lyceum
FebY. 1 At home until afternoon Supt. at Edw d
Page 46 1849 FebY.
2 About home at store
3 Met the Delaware Co Institute of Science
4 Attended church in the morning
5 Attended meeting of school directors at central school in respect to establishing a high
school which a majority was in favor of by each pupil payying $1.50 per quarter Snow fell to
the depth of 10 inches this morning
6 P reparing to take apples to market etc
7 Went to market & to lecture in the evening at R L
8 At home until afternoon , went to J Ashbridge
9 Hauling ice etc
10 Went to A Bakers Esqr to tea
11 At home reading etc .
13 At funeral of Dr Jenkins infant Laurel Hill52
14 Hauling ice & preparing apples for market and attended lecture on insanity by Doctor Curwen
15 Went to market with apples attended to business fo r Aunt Hannah Hunter etc.
P age 47 FebY.
16 Thermometer 3 deg . below zero at sunrise
17 Therm. 3 deg. above zero went to store and Dr . Jenkins
18 Therm 6 deg . do Attended Methodist church 2 times
19 Ther m 9 deg do
20 Therm 13 del! attended T Formans sale
21 Attended Lyceum meeting in evening
22 Visited radnor central school afternoon
23 & 24 About home, at mill & store
25 About home
26 J P hillips53 paid me amt. of REA Bond & Mortgage
27 Attended sale at J Notes dec d .
28 Hauling hay , at mill went to Mr. Lindsays
March 1 Went to Uncle Wm. Hunters to see Aunt Hannah Hunter, on business started for
Washing City by railroad to Philadelphia Settled Aunts bill with Doct Baugh Then went to uncle J Pechin and loghed (illegible) transfered state loans
2 Left Philad in cars went to Chester Subscribed for Pamphlet laws for Lyceum
P age 48
Took cars again at Chester for Wilmington then steamboat to New Castle then railroad to
French town then steam boat to Baltimore
3 Arrived at Baltimore at 3 0 Clock A M lodged at the American hotel for 2 hours took cars
at 9 0 Clock arrived at Washington about 12 0 Clock went to JP Ingles dined went to capital to
Mr. Campbels54
4 Attended Presbiterian Church
5 Attended the Inauguration of Prest. Taylor, went to a fair in evening
6 Went to Treasury Department then to Corkran & Riggs and rec d , interest on U Sloan ,
visited Patent office and Mr. Campbels, dined at Mr. Under woods then went to Presidents
House and to Mr . Middletons
7 Took cars at 6 0 Clock arrived at BaIt at 8 left at 9 in steamboat for Frenchtown
P ages 49 and 50 have been torn out
P age 51
12 Appraised T55 Davis sheep destroyed by dogs Damage $55
13 & 14 Engaged about home
15 Attended church in morning went to Georges to tea
16 Went to W.m56 Morgans in evening to have my account of school fund settled & audited by
Mr. Morgan & T (homas) Davis
17 Cutting rails at E H Pechins wood
15
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The 48th P age of the Diary
16
18 & 19 Snow fell to the depth of 5 or 6 inches
20 & 21 Engaged about home splitting rails etc
22 At church in morning & Saml. Lindsays to tea
23 Weighing hay & visited Central school (Mr. Hall) teacher
25 The snow that fell a week ago is still in places
26 Went to Phil. with father & transacted business
May 8 Wrote to J Sill Jr. register at Chester Visited E B Wetherells 57 school, met school
board
11 & 12 Planting corn
17 & 18 Roofing house at Whitesides
19 Paid last installment on 10 shares of Montgomery Co Bank stock also on 10 shares for
Rebecca and rec d . new certifficates
21 Went to Philad a . with Mother and Mrs . West rec d . interest of R W Pechin J C P note rec d •
dividend at Penn Township Bank
Page 52
May 31 Attended the funeral of Elizabeth McNally
June 4 Met the school directors at Central school
6 Went to Mark Brooke 's to levy school tax
7 Went with Mother & uncle J Pechin to J Ash
11 Commenced cutting grass , hired James McNally for 71/2 per month
Page 53 1850
March 9 Signed an article dated 8th of March of agreement with George Hart for a lot, two
shops, counting house and turnout on the P & C R road for which I am to pay him the sum of
$30 per annum for the term of three years with the privilege of three years more at the same
price per annum the said "Hart to pay all taxes the terms to commence on the 1st of April
next, I give a tailor the privilege of occupying a portion of the counting house for three
months from the first of April next
The turnout is not to be removed from the present place but it may be extended across the
next lot of "Harts
The next six pages are blank.
PAGE 60
The final entry is verse, dated 1848, headed by several effaced words, possibly a title and
author's name.
o where shall be my resting place, When life's dull scenes are o'er?
Will it be 'neath the willow tree, Or mid old ocean's roar?
Will this frail form at last repose, Beneath the created wave?
Or shall I by a sylvan bower, Rest in a quiet grave?
Will friends stand round my dying bed, The last farewell to give?
Or shall I die in unknown lands, Where none my fate shall grieve?
Must I alone, unpitied die, My eyes will strangers close?
And in the lonely churchyard- lie, In gloomiest repose?
If but at last the portal gates, Of Heaven shall open to me,
And glory's crown rest on my brow, When death shall set me free.
It matters not wher'er at last, This mouldring form shall lie,
If but my spirit may be borne, To realms beyond the sky.
Eight days after he signed the agreement with George Hart , John Pechin died . A member
of his family recorded the fact on a small piece of paper filed with the diary . "On the 17
March 1850 Departed this life John Pechin aged 38 years 2 month & 23 days The 20 was
deposited in the Vault of the Methodist Church in Radnor April 25 was Buried in the Baptist
buriel ground in lower Merion"
FOOTNOTES
1. The firm of Lindsay and Pechin seems to have been that of Samuel Lindsay and John
Pechin . What the firm sold or manufactured has not been ascertained . Samuel Lindsay
did own a lumberyard in Lower Merion .
2. The Union School House stood on the Goshen Road, where Radnor and Newtown Townships meet, on land given by Mordecai Lewis in 1827 for the use of a school for the inhabitants of those two townships . (Delaware County Deed Book R-198.)
3. Probably J.G. Henderson 's store in what is now the Conestoga Mill Restaurant, a short
walk from the Pechin House . Henderson was also the local postmaster,leaving Radnor
17
a while later when made ticket master in Harrisburg. (Bulletin of the Historical Society
of Montgomery County IV-3-199. )
.
4. Jacob Gyger, first cousin of John Pechin's father, lived on the Conestoga Road m ~os~­
mont. His aunt Catherine (Gyger) Yard died one week before her husband , Ben]a~m
Yard . Both in their eighties when they died , this couple lies in the Radnor Methodist
Church burying ground .
.
.
5. In 1870 a building was erected for the Radnor Lyce~m . at the corner of what IS now
Lancaster Avenue and North Wayne Avenue. This bUlldmg stands . Where the Lyceum
met in the 1840's has not been ascertained .
6. Henry S. Paterson M.D. , 1815-1854 , a graduate of t~e Un~versity .of Pennsylvania !dedlcal School, became physicians for the Almshouse m Philadelphia and professor m the
medical school from which he graduated .
.
.
7. Daniel Kinzie lived on 105 acres which fronted on Roberts Road m Radnor Township. He
was perhaps the man who had the bear.
. ,
.
8. The Union Library Co~pany, chartered by ~ennsylyama s Govern?r Denny m 1~59 ,
later merged with the Library Company of Philadelphia. (See Watson s Annals of Philadelphia (1887),1-462 and 111-335.)
..
.
9. Pechin's uncle , John Pechin, Gentleman , lived at 157 South lOth Street .m Philadelphia
(See McElroy's Directory for 1849) . Living with him was John C. Pechm who was em ployed in the Customs House .
10. Possibly Samuel, son of Joshua, who may have been the Samuel who, :-vith Thomas and
Benjamin Humphreys, bought eight acres of land off ~oberts Road .m Radnor ( Delaware County Deed Book N-410). The purchasers lived m L~wer Menon. Rebe~ca was
Pechin 's sister (1814-1891). She later married Joshua Ashbndge of Lower Menon .
11 . Hannah Hunter and Alice ( Hunter) Cornog, wife of Thomas Cornog, were sisters of John
Pechin's mother .
. .
12. Probably the John Taylor who owned 112 acres on the Conestoga Road m Radnor Township.
13 . Dr . Henry Corson
14. Probably John Moore , son of Elisha , who ran a tavern on property now owned by Wyeth
Laboratories.
15. The sleighing party took place in Lower Merion , not Rad.n or.
.
16. The Delaware County Institute of Science was founded m 1833 . Its headquarters still
stands at 11 South Avenue, Media .
17. Caleb West owned a house and small piece of land just west of the Pechin property on
the Lancaster Turnpike . They were close neighbors .
.
.
18. Susanna Hibberd , daughter of Josiah and Susanna (Owen) Hibberd died 11 February .
(See the Sharpless Genealogy - 1882 - p. 194)
. .
.
19. John Pechin 's brother George (1796-1859) and his wife Mary (Broades ) Pechm hved m
Upper Merion Township.
..
.
20. Robinson Phipps hardware merchant of Philadelphia , bought 110 acres m 1835 (Delaware County De~d Book T-350) . He sold 171/2 acres to Henry Lawrence in 1837 (U-23 )
and the remainder to Alexander Johnson in 1844 ( Y-735). The land began at the county
line and ran along Roberts Road .
21. The White Hall hotel, a summer boarding house, stood in Lower Merion where that
township meets both Radnor and Haverford .
22. John Taylor sold 112 acres on the Conestoga Road in 1844 (Delawar~ County Deed Book
W-255 , 270). The land lay just beyond Five Points , across from the Kmterra property.
property .
.
23 . Benjamin Yard's property lay in Marple . Jesse Brooke owned mills on Ithan Creek by
Clyde Road .
24 . Samuel Garrigues lived in Haverford Township on the Haverford Road.
25. Thomas Humphreys owned the Windon Farm now part of the Bryn Mawr College campus .
26 . The Sorrell Horse Hotel , a venerable hostelry , stood on the Conestoga Road a short distance east of Spring Mill Road. It was owned by Philip ~irk.
.
.
27 . William Siter (1798-1857) was son of William and Emily (Worthmgton ) Siter. West
Wayne Avenue was once considered the lane leading to his house . Jonathan Tarrance
lived at the corner of Sproul (then Spring Mill ) Road and Lancaster Avenue . Jonathan
P. Abraham was the son of Daniel and Eliza (Phillips) Abraham . Mark Brooke , son of
18
Nathan and Mary (Jones) Brooke operated a gristmill and tannery on Gulph Creek.
Joseph McClees, who had married Hannah Hunter , daughter of James and Martha
(Levis) Hunter of Radnor , lived near Jonathan Tarrence on the opposite side of Lancaster
Aven\le .
28. Jane (Abraham) Cleaver , daughter of Enoch and Hannah (Jones) Abraham and wife of Hiram Cleaver .
29 . Christopher Pechin (1800-1876) , brother of John , married to Christiana Righter , lived on
a large farm his father Peter had bought in 1816 on the King of Prussia Road.
30. Philip Sheaff, son of Philip and Mary (Tanger) Sheaff, owned a farm part in Radnor and
part in Haverford.
32. William Hunter , brother of John Pechin 's mother .
32. Clinton Smedley , son of Jesse and Mary (Matlack) Smedley , lived on the Dundale Farm
on the County Line Road in Radnor from 1839 to 1848 (Delaware County Deed Books
U-560 , P-2-104 ). He left Radnor for Philadelphia, later moving west where he is said to
have been killed by Indians while hauling quartz . See Ellwood Roberts , Biographical
Annals of Montgomery County, 11-157.
33. William Esray owned four acres of land on Roberts Road.
34. Samuel Coates lived in Upper Merion .
35. Joseph R. and William G. Hoskins had inherited a farm of 195 acres on Roberts Road .
36. Again, those sources of lime lay in Upper Merion .
37. Edward Hunter Pechin (1798-1858) also lived on his father 's property on the King of Prussia
Road .
38. James Crowley, one of Radnor's earliest Catholics, owned property in Radnor from 1813 until his death. The Haverford Chapel became St. Denis' Church . The Catholic College, of
course, is now Villanova University.
39. Maria Ingle was the daughter of Peter Pechin's sister .
40. A David Young ran the General Wayne Inn near the Merion Meeting House.
41. What property James Cochran occupied in 1844 has not been established .
42. Jacob Maule Jr. lived on his father 's property on a portion of the Radnor Chester Road now
by-passed by Sproul Road and near the Radnor Friends Meeting House.
43. Jackson Lyons (1817-1895) married Julia Ann Cornog , daughter of John Pechin's Aunt Alice
(Hunter) Cornog.
44. William Dickinson rented a large farm bounded by the County Line Road and Roberts
Road.
45. Mark Bartleson , long a tavern operator on property near Villanova College, closed his
tavern in 1844. He was later a County Commissioner .
46. Isaac Palmer owned 104 acres which now contain Sears , Altman's and other development.
47. Horatio Litzenberg and his father Henry lived in Lower Merion Township , operating the
Red Lion Hotel and a general store in its eastern rooms (the clerks doubled as bar-tenders ).
(See the Bulletin of the Historical Society of Montgomery County IV-2-96 ff.) Horatio 's
wife was Hannah , daughter of Aaron Johnson.
48. Elenor, first wife of Charles Kugler ,nwas a daughter of Abraham Levering .
49. John Curwen (1821-1901), son of George Fisher and Elinor (Ewing) Curwen, raised in
Lower Merion , practiced medicine in Philadelphia.
50. John Dunwoody lived in Marple .
51. Ann (Bevan) Sibley, wife of John Sibley of Lower Merion, died 13 January 1849 in her
fifty seventh year. She was buried at the Lower Merion Baptist Church.
52. James Jenkins M.D. of Lower Merion bought a Laurel Hill cemetery lot between 1
February 1846 and 1 May 1850, probably for the purpose of this burial. Ashmead, page
260 , says that Dr . Jenkins lived in Radnor in 1837.
53 . A John Phillips owned Caleb West 's property before West.
54. Possibly John H. Campbell , Congressman from Pennsylvania
55. Where Thomas Davis lived in 1849 has not been established.
56. William , son of Thomas and Patience (Miller) Morgan , lived on a large farm at
Morgan's Corner (now Radnor) .
57. Edward B. Wetherill , called "Schoolmaster" in the 1844 assessment list, owned property near the Radnor Methodist Church .
For information on the Pechin and Hunter families the editor of this diary is grateful to A.
Willing Patterson and Seymour Green .
Katharine Hewitt Cummin
19