Biographical Sketch of Robert EYRE (1877); Chester County, PA Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Judy Ardine [downeast@concentric.net]. Copyright. All Rights Reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ********************************************************* References to Robert Eyre in "Bethel Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania Thru Three Centuries" by George Walter Goodley, 1987: Chapter 15: THE EYRE FAMILY: Robert Eyre, the immigrant from Divizes in Wiltshire, in England, was born on January 30, 1648, the day King Charles I was executed. He served as an apprentice merchant and accountant in England, and married Ann, daughter of Francis Smith, before coming to America. He first settled in New Jersey, but moved to Bethel, where he settled on the tract he purchased from his father-in-law, Francis Smith, who moved on and founded Kennett Square. Robert Eyre was not a Friend, as were many of his neighbors in Bethel, but some of his descendants were prominent Quakers and civic leaders in Chester. From 1683 to 1690, Robert Eyre was Clerk of the Chester County Courts. Jonas Preston Eyre was the last Eyre landowner in Bethel. He sold several parcels from the original tract, which became well-known farms in the central part of Bethel. Chapter 3: As early as 1684, Robert Eyre became Clerk of Courts and apparently held that position for about 10 years. Chapter 4: Edward Bezer, Robert Eyre, John Gibbons, Robert Pyle and Robert Sothery vie for the honor of being the earliest settlers in Bethel Township. All were immigrants from England and had contracted for tracts of land before coming to these shores. Evidently, they all arrived with their families and settled in Bethel about 1683, the year the township is first mentioned and recognized as a township or hamlet. Robert Eyre was also an important "first settler" in Bethel. He married the daughter of Francis Smith, who received a Lease and Release grant of 500 acres, dated September 9-10, 1681. Robert Eyre purchased 150 acres from his father-in-law and in 1704 an additional 300 acres. Robert and his descendants were prominent in Bethel and in the County for many years. Jonas Preston Eyre was the last of the family to own land in Bethel. Altho he was not an original settler in Bethel, Robert Booth (*arrived 1712) ... purchased ... some 340 acres from the Robert Eyre tract. Chapter 5: The next Lease and Release was made to Francis Smith on September 9-10, 1681 for 450 acres, which soon passed to his son-in-law, Robert Eyre. Chapter 6: The earliest recorded list of taxables in Bethel was for the year 1693. It included the following names: .. ,Robert Eyre, ... and Robert Eyre for Thomas Copper. (For above: see Futhey and Cope, History of Chester County, page 33.) The 1722 listing (of taxables in Bethel) is interesting and noteworthy in that it includes the assessed values of the properties held. This listing is to be found in Dr George Smith's History of Delaware County, page 541: ... Wm Ayres (elsewhere spelled "Eyre") $50 ... The Eyres, Duttons, Booths, Bezers and Pyles appear to be the most affluent and influential families in the township. In 1760 when John Ford was collector, the tax record included 18 taxables, 6 freeman and 4 inmates, as follows: Wm. Eyre, ... Jon Larkin, ... Wm Larkin, ... The next record of significance was the 1790 Federal Census, the first under the 1787 Constitution. In 1790, according to the Census, Bethel has 39 households and a population of 224. Bethel Township in the first Federal Census (1790) Head of Household: ... Eyres, William - Free Males Over 16 Years ... 3 - Free Males Under 16 ... 2 - Free Females ... 1 Head of Household: ... Larkin, Isaac - Free Males Over 16 Years ... 1 - Free Males Under 16 ... 4 - Free Females ... 5 Head of Household: Larkin, Joseph - Free Males Over 16 Years ... 3 - Free Males Under 16 ... 3 - Free Females ... 4 Chapter 13: 24. The Eyre-Maher Homestead, 1679 South Garnet Mine Road. Built as early as 1822, by Jonas Eyre, a descendant of the original settler, Robert Eyre, whose home may have been on this site. Chapter 18: 1683 Robert Eyre named Clerk of Courts of Chester County and served at least until 1690. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chester (and its Vicinity) Delaware County, PA with Genealogical Sketches of Some Old Families. 1877 Philadelphia by John Hill Martin, Esq. pp 49 "Robert Eyre was born in England, Jan 30, 1648 OS. He served his apprenticeship with William Rogers, a merchant of Bristow, a town of some note in that day, on the borders of Somerset and Gloucestershire, in England. Here he acquired that ready use of the pen that fitted him for the duties he was subsequently called upon to discharge. After the expiration of his apprenticeship, he for some time followed the sea as a supercargo, but eventually migrated to Pennsylvania, where he married Ann, the daughter of Francis Smith, a gentleman of eduction and wealth, whose residence was Devizes, in the county of Wilts, and who was one of the original purchasers of land in England. On the authority of family tradition is is said Robert Eyre first settled in New Jersey, but as part of the land, (300 acres) purchased by Francis Smith, was in Bethel Township, Delaware Co, and was conveyed at an early date (1704) to Robert Eyre and his wife, this doubtless caused him to change his place of residence. Having been appointment Clerk of the Courts of Chester County in 1683, he held that office until 1690. His children were Robert, Ann, Jane, William and Francis. The time of his death is not exactly known; but he was alive in 1697. His son, William intermarried with Mary, the daughter of Lewis David, of Haverford, in 1723-4, and occupied the patrimonial estate in Bethel. Francis Smith, father in law of Robert Eyre, settled in Kennett, and it is said, named the township after the place in which he was born. See Biographical Sketches by Dr Smith, p. 462 History of Delaware County. Ann, widow of Robert Eyre, died in 1726.