BIO: Joseph JEFFERSON, Dauphin County, PA

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Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of Dauphin County, 
Containing Sketches of Representative Citizens, and Many of the 
Early Scotch-Irish and German Settlers.  Chambersburg, Pa.: 
J. M. Runk & Company, 1896, pages 201-202.
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  JEFFERSON, JOSEPH, was a native of England, born in 1776.  He was the 
son of a distinguished actor, who was the contemporary of Garrick.  It 
is well authenticated that the English Jeffersons, from whom Thomas 
Jefferson, the third President, claimed descent, and the ancestry of 
Joseph Jefferson the ender, were of the same county of England.  It is 
a fact also, that Mr. Jefferson, when President, sent for the comedian, 
then in Washington, and the interview satisfied both parties that they 
were of the same stock, and that conclusion was strengthened by a 
strong family resemblance.  The latter was asked to dine at the 
executive mansion.  He very courteously but firmly declined, saying 
that his gratification and pride in their possible connection was so 
great that it would be marred if the matter were known to the world, as 
any avowal of it would be misconstrued.  He was educated for the stage, 
and in 1795 came to Boston, where and in New York he performed until 
about 1803, when he located in Philadelphia.  Here he was quite a 
favorite, especially at the Chestnut street theater.  From 1825 to 1832 
he made Harrisburg his home, having a suite of apartments in the old 
Shakespeare building.  He died here on the 4th of August, 1832, greatly 
lamented.  His remains were interred in the burying ground attached to 
St. Stephen's Episcopal church, and from thence removed to the 
Harrisburg cemetery.  The inscription on his tomb was written by Chef 
Justice Gibson, and has often been quoted and admired for its diction.
  Of him the late John P. Kennedy wrote:  "He played everything that 
was comic, and always made people laugh until the tears came in their 
eyes.  Laugh!  Why I don't believe he ever saw the world doing anything 
else.  Whomsoever he looked at laughed.  Before he came through the 
side scenes, when he was about to enter he would produce the first 
words of his part to herald his appearance, and instantly the whole 
audience set up a shout.  It was only the sound of his voice.  He had a 
patent right to shake the world's diaphragm which seemed to be 
infallible.  When he acted, families all went together, young and old.  
Smiles were on every face; the town was happy.  The chief actors were 
invited into the best company, and I believe their personal merits 
entitled them to all the esteem that was felt for them."
  Mr. Jefferson possessed great taste and skill in the construction of 
intricate stage machinery, and was unrivalled in his peculiar 
personations.  His favorite characters were Kit Cosey, Old D'Oiley and 
Admiral Cop.  He is known as the elder Jefferson.  His son and grandson 
were alike great actors - the father of the second Joseph bequeathing 
to him his genius and his aspirations, with all that polish which 
rendered each so popular in his day.  And now comes a third Joseph 
Jefferson, who, since the days of Hackett, has made the character of 
Rip Van Winkle his own.