Bios: Biographical Notes on Peter II Dehaven, Philidelphia/ Montgomery Co, 1722- 1815 Copyright © 1997 by Don Shockey. This copy contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives. DEHAVEN-L@rootsweb.com USGENWEB 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. _________________________________________________________________ Biographical Notes on Peter Dehaven, Philidelphia/Montgomery Co, 1722- 1815. Peter Dehaven "Gentleman" He was a mason by trade as a youth and was later referred to as "Merchant of Philadelphia," He was a son of Peter Dehaven and Sidonia (Levering) Dehaven. He was born probably in Whitpain Township in 1722. He was first married to Sarah Hughes who was born in 1722 and died on 15 Sep 1760. On 18 January 1763, at Old Christ Church in Philadelphia, he was married to Elizabeth Knight. She was the widow of John Knight who died in 1761; In his will he left land to his wife, Elizabeth, and named daughter Rebecca and two minor son Charles and John. In clearing title to her land the following information is given, "John Knight by will dated fifth day of January 1761 devised...2 1/4 acres...to his wife, Elizabeth. Now she...by June 1763...had married Peter Dehaven formerly a widower. On 20 June 1751 Peter Dehaven, yeoman, of Whitpain and his wife Elizabeth...in consideration of their natural affection which they have toward him ye said Peter Dehaven ye son, and also for the sum of five shillings... Granted to him 48 acres of land situate in Whitpain. The grantee is referred to as Peter De Haven, Mason, "son of the aforesaid Peter De Haven" both of the same place. He bought the Isaac Hughs estate in 1774. On 4 July 1797 Magdalena (Dehaven) Supplee named as the executor of her will "her brother, Peter Dehaven, of Philadelphia." Other references of this kind and land transfers connect this Peter of Philadelphia with various members of the family. An old history says, "Peter De Haven, 1722 - 1815, conducted the public gun factories and powder mills of Pennsylvania, and in 1776 was ordered by the Council of Safety to make public the process of boring gun barrels. He declined to be agent for forfeited estates but aided the army by purchasing hay for winter quarters. He was born in Philadelphia where he died." The above named 48 acres received from Peter, the Elder, were from the 106 acre tract bought by him from Thomas Thomas of Radnor, June 10, 1720. In his will, written on 27 December 1806, Peter II refers to his son Hugh "who is my only child." Many Dehaven descendants dispute this. They say there were several children from the second marriage but the family was broken up and Peter disowned them. Several women have joined the DAR claiming Peter as their ancestor although no definite proof was given. In a tax assessors record of 1760/61 it says that Peter had 50 acres of land and three children at home. Peter died on 11 November 1815 and is buried at Old Christ Church in Philadelphia, His name and the name of his son, Hugh, are still on the church's wall. In Bulletin 5 of the Historical Society of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, it says "Yesterday morning in his ninety-sixth year, Mr. Peter Dehaven. Funeral this afternoon from the dwelling of his son, Mr. Hugh Dehaven, 45 North South Street (November 13, 1815)" In his will Peter left a house to Hugh that is described as a "three story house and lot...situate on the north side of Mulberry St. near Sixth St. in said City."