Biographical Sketch of Edwin PUSEY (1904); Chester County, PA Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by John Morris . *********************************************************************** 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/ *********************************************************************** "Historical Homes and Institutions and Genealogical and Personal Memoirs of Chester and Delaware Counties, Pennsylvania", Vol. 2, edited by Gil- bert Cope and Henry Graham Ashmead, Lewis Publishing Company, New York, 1904, pp. 376-7. "EDWIN PUSEY. The Pusey family who are actively associated with the indus- trial, political and social affairs of the borough of Avondale, Chester county, Pennsylvania claim relationship with Caleb and Ann Pusey, who were numbered among the early settlers of the state of Pennsylvania, taking up their residence there about the year 1682. he was a last-maker by trade, and was largely instrumental in the establishment and management of sev- eral mills which were located at what was then known as 'The Chester Mills.' He served his township in the capacity of officer, juror, sher- riff, justice of the county court, a member of the provincial assembly and the executive council, and was one of the prominent factors in the laying out of roads and negotiating with the Indians. He was an adherent of the true Quaker doctrine, frequently appearing in the ministry, and his pen was often employed in defense of the tenets of his sect. About the year 1717, Caleb Pusey and his family removed to Marlborough, where his death occurred December 25, 1726 or 1727; his wife died December 5, 1725 or 1726. They left no sons to perpetuate the name. "The progenitor of the branch of the family to which Edwin Pusey belongs was John Pusey, supposed to have been a brother of Caleb Pusey, who was a resident of London, England; he purchased land in Pennsylvania, but never came over to reside on it. William and Caleb Pusey, sons of John and Frances Pusey, came to this country upon attaining young manhood and re- sided with Caleb Pusey at Chester, and from these two are descended all the members of that name who reside in that section of the state. "Joseph Pusey, father of Edwin Pusey, was born in London Grove township, Chester county, Pennsylvania, a son of Jesse and Elizabeth Pusey. He was reared to manhood in his native county, and received a good common school education which qualified him for the duties of an active business career. He married Elizabeth Barnard, and their children were: 1. Anna Mary, born in 1840, became the wife of Mahlon G. Brosius and six children have been born to them, namely: Willis, died in early life; Elizabeth; Charles; Howard; Emma L., wife of Thomas L. Passmore, and Edwin Brosius; 2. Edwin, subject of this sketch; 3. Henry B., born in 1843, married for his first wife Amy Hoopes and they were the parents of four children; after her death he married Annie T. Taylor; 4. Abigail B., born in 1845, wife of Harris Passmore, and their two children are: Benjamin and Pusey Passmore; 5. Howard J., born in 1848; 6. Philena S., born in 1851. "Edwin Pusey, eldest son of Joseph and Elizabeth Pusey, was born February 5, 1841, in the township of West Marlborough, Chester county, Pennsylvania. He was a student in the common schools of the neighborhood, and from the completion of his studies up to a few years previously, when he retired from the active duties of business life, his energies were devoted to farming, stock raising and dairying, in which lines of industry he met with a large degree of prosperity. Mr. Pusey has always enjoyed the respect of his fellow townsmen, and bears the enviable reputation of being a public-spirited and useful citizen, honest and true in all relations of life. "On March 25, 1869, Mr. Pusey married Elizabeth Hoopes, who was born De- cember 15, 1841, a daughter of Samuel and Hannah (Hicks) Hoopes. Their children are: 1. William J., born April 6, 1870; 2. Amy J., born November 15, 1871, became the wife of Edwin Buffington, October 21, 1897, and their children are: E. Pusey, born December 12, 1899, and Elizabeth F. Buffing- ton, born December 11, 1901; 3. Samuel H., born October 3, 1873, married Mary Wood, December 27, 1900; 4. Sue E., born November 11, 1877; 5. Helen, born September 13, 1880; 6. Marion B., born April 24, 1882. Mr. Pusey is a member of the Society of Friends, taking a keen and active interest in its religious and business transactions." Note (JMM): This sketch asserts that John Pusey was the father of the emigrant brothers, William and Caleb. A few years after this book was published, Gilbert Cope, one of the editors and a prominent American gene- alogist, particularly regarding Chester county genealogy, determined to find proof of this commonly-held belief. His research concluded that this John Pusey was NOT the father of William and Caleb. Unfortunately, his decades of earlier publications do not contain this correction.