Biographical Sketch of the William HASLETT (1881); Chester County, PA Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Sandra Ferguson . *********************************************************************** USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: Printing this file within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. http://www.usgwarchives.net/ *********************************************************************** from THE HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY, by Futhey and Cope William Haslett, then of West Fallowfield twp, in his will dated Aug1, 1791, devised his farm of 138 acres and 10 perches to be equally divided between his children - Dr William Wilson Haslett of New Castle, Del; Elizabeth, married to a Mr Ramsey; Judith married to Samuel Glasgow; Mary, married to Thomas Hood John David Moses; Washington and James. On 11-9-1812, Jane, widow of said William with her surviving children, conveyed by deed and property to James Haslett. James; grandfather, William Haslett, was one of the richest early settlers of Chester Co, and owned over 1300 acres of land. He built the Fagg's Manor Presbyterian Church, and in the Revolutionary War supplied the patriot army with provisions. He was aide-de-camp to Gen. Washington, and when killed in battle in New Jersey, Washington had 150 men raised, who had been buried, to find his remains, which were then buried with military honors. The sister of William - father of James Haslett - married Dr. Davidson Smith, a wealthy slaveholder, who entered 10, 000 acres of land in Missouri. James Haslett was born in 1781 and married Olivia, dau of Stephen Harry. He lived on the old homestead farm. His children were William B and Samuel G, twins; ;Stephen Harry, deceased; Dr John Davidson Smith, killed in Kentucky during the war, in the service of the Union army; Mary Ann, married to James C Clark (she is deceased, but left one child, Mrs Mary A J Ross, of Philadelphia); and Lydia Jane, married to Robert Fairlamb, who is deceased, leaving no issue. Stephen Harry died in Missouri in 1856 and his father, though an invalid, went to that state and brought his body back home, and soon afterwards was taken ill, and died Oct 5, 1858. The 2 only surviving children are Samuel G, a prosperous farmer in Highland twp, and William B, a leading business man of Parkesburg, where he is extensively engaged in the lumber, coal and warehouse trade. William Haslett, father of James, was one of the justices of the peace composing the first court held in West Chester as the shire town, on 11-28-1786; The subject of this sketch served in the war of 1812, first as a private and then as adjutant.