THE BULLETIN

01

RA D NOR HIS TOR I CAL SOC I ET Y

Volume III SUMMER, 1979

INCORPORATED APRIL 30, 1948

Headquarters and Museum

TIlE FlNLEY HOUSE

113 WEST BEECH TREE LA NE WAYNE, PENNSYLVAN IA 19087

No.9

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. Henderson

Mrs. Robert J. LaRouche Miss Isabella Auld McKnight Mrs. John Stuart McNeil Mrs. Percival B. Moser, Jr. Miss Caroline Robbins 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.

"Comfortable 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 pages, il ­

lustrations . $1.00 per copy .

A Rare and Pleasing Thing: Radnor, By Katherine Hewitt Cummin, Owlswi ck Pr SS, 1977, $19.75.

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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.

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RECEIPTS

RADNOR HISTORICAL SOCIETY Annual Treasurer's Report

May I, 1978 to April 30, 1979

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

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

ENDOWMENT FUNDS OF SOCIETY

$2,717.50

2,189.21 2,569.50

175.37 $7,651.58 1,386.63

$9,038.21

$5,204.88 1,419.97

161.95 $6,786.80

$1,637.91 $8,424.71

613.50 $9,038.21

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

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All contributions are deductible (to the legal limit) for United States Income Tax purposes .

ACCESSIONS September 1, 1978 - May 20, 1979

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 League, Wayne vs . Devon , 7 September 1914 Mrs. Edward Ten Broeck: Picture of the Winsor sisters, award given the Tri -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

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UNION SCHOOL HOUSE MILLS

PHILIP SHAEFF

CooPERTOWN

THE WORLD OF JOHN PECHIN

6

ST DENIS . CHURCH

LOWER MERION LUTHERAN CHURCH

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

$533 ,909 Real estate 18,112 Personal 41 ,000 Occupation

121 Dogs

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

ApI. 29 Cash---- 284 22 May May 6 ditto 137 92 13

13 ditto 120 542 14 14

15

2

A Lewis Esq. assessor Hiram Cleaver Assistants John Pechin

A Bruner 15000 Benjamin F . Dean 20000

do ,--- do ,--- 62 50 A Hine 100 00 A. M. Avery 2000 Stephen Smith 964

542 14

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 house2 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 store3 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 decd.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 .

7

Page 8 14. At home until evening then went to baptist Merion church

. 15. A~tern?on went to.Kinzies7to see a grizzled bear from the rocky mountains, attended Sing­Ing 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

. m~et a~ 10 0 Clock .but was prevented by the incessant rain , attended debating 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 Philda and purchased clothing & sundry other articles in the evening went t( hear a discussion by the Union library8 company & lodged with Uncle J Pechin9

19 Returned home from Philda in the evening went to Sam! Humphreys for Rebeccalo

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 decd. 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 salel2 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 decd 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 anatomy 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 Brooke23 to tea & went with him to the elecution read­ing 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 Saml. 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 clair­

voyance 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 5 & 6 Do do 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 auditors27

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 . Cleavers28 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 Rad-

nor 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 Hunters31 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!. Coats34

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 ad-

dressed 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 Hoskins35 in the afternoon 12 & 13 Engaged about home 14 & 15 Hauling lime from Shenline & Hughes36

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 Edwd. & 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 Philada. 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 Chapel38

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 Ingle39

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. RogersofTe & 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 Ins-tant and funeral to take place today in Washington

6 Went to baptist church in the Morning and to Mr. Saml. 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 Paist40

18, 19 Engaged at home at the apples 20 Attended baptist church morning & evening 21 , 22 Engaged at the corn & apples 23 Went to Philad8 . 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 Cochran41 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. Dickinson44 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 Bartleson45 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 deliver­

ed 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 Merion48

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 there 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 Esqr then met board of school Directors

2 Went to A Kinzies two miles above Yellow Spring Chester County and returned good sleigh-ing

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 Moors50 to tea 14 & 15 About home 16 Attended the funeral of Mrs. Sibley 51

Page 45 1 1849 JanY. 17 Went to market with apples & potatoes and to lecture at Radnor Lyceum by Dr. Cur-

wen 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 Returned 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 Edwd

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 Cur­

wen 15 Went to market with apples attended to business for 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 decd. 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 recd, 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 Wetherells57 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 recd. new certifficates 21 Went to Philada. with Mother and Mrs . West recd. interest of R W Pechin J C P note recd•

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 Phila-delphia (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 em­ployed 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.nor. . 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 (Dela­

ware 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 cam­

pus . 26 . The Sorrell Horse Hotel , a venerable hostelry , stood on the Conestoga Road a short dis-

tance 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 un­

til 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 proper­

ty 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 .

19 Katharine Hewitt Cummin