Biographical Sketch of the Caleb PUSEY (1881); Chester County, PA

Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Sandra Ferguson <ferg@intelos.net>.

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from Futhey and Cope's THE HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA (1881);

Pusey, Caleb, with his wife Ann, and daughter of the same name, emigrated in 
1682.  by trade he was a last-maker.  Perhaps no one among the early immigrants 
in PA was better qualified to contend with the difficulties incident to the 
first settlement of a new country than Caleb Pusey.  His place of residence, 
within the limits of this county, was at "the Chester Mills."  In the 
establishment of these mills, and in the conducting of them many years 
afterwards, he was the active partner and master spirit.  It was required more 
than ordinary energy to contend with the repeated misfortunes attendant on the 
first erection of this early improvement.  Mill after mill was swept away by the 
flood, but the indomitable energy of Pusey was not overcome, and at length his 
efforts were crowned with success.  But his whole time was not occupied with his 
private concerns.  Much was devoted to civil affairs and to his religious 
duties.  We find him "taking his turn" as a township officer, and serving as a 
juror; in laying out roads and negotiating with the Indians; in performing the 
duties of sheriff, and acting as a justice of the County Court; as a member of 
the Provincial Assembly and at length of the Executive Council.  To religious 
matters he was equally attentive.  His name constantly appears in the minutes of 
the Society of Friends among those who were most active in settling difficulties 
and in promoting deeds of benevolence.  He frequently appeared in the ministry, 
and sometimes employed his pen in the defense of the doctrines of his sect/  His 
reply to one Daniel Leeds was liberally subscribed for by the meetings.  He was 
a farm man and of the strictest integrity, and though an intimate friend of the 
celebrated George Keith, when that gentleman chose to attack what was regarded 
by Caleb Pusey as true Quaker doctrine, he did not hesitate to sustain the 
testimony that was pronounced against him.  It was from Caleb Pusey that Smith, 
the early historian of PA, obtained much of the material from which his work was 
composed.
    His daughter Ann, died in the 12th Mo, 1682, but another of that same name, 
b.1-12-1684-5, was married  1-5-1706-7 to John Smith, who settled in 
Marlborough.  Another daughter, Lydia, b 7-4-1689 was married the same day as 
her sister, to George Painter.  About the year 1717, Caleb and his wife removed 
to Marlborough, where she died 12-5-1725-6 and he 12-25-1726-7, in the 67th year 
of his age.  He left no sons.