Biographical Sketch of the CRESSON Family; Philadelphia Co., PA Contributed to the PAGenWeb Archives by Diana Smith [christillavalley@comcast.net] Copyright. All Rights Reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ********************************************************* "Philadelphia, A History of the City and its People; A Record of 225 Years" Publisher: S. H. Clark; Philadelphia; 1912. Vol. 4, page 414 Author, Ellis Paxson Oberholtzer CRESSON FAMILY Walter Cresson was born in Philadelphia, March 11, 1815, and died at his home in Germantown, Philadelphia, March 29, 1893. His parents, John Head and Rachel (Walter) Cresson, were members of the Society of Friends, and in the doctrines of that faith he was carefully educated and trained. About the year 1842, however, he joined the Protestant Episcopal church, in which he was for many years an earnest and faithful worker. On May 29, 1844, Mr. Cresson married Alice Hannum, daughter of Joseph and Ann (Fairlamb) Hannum, of near Concordville, Delaware county, Pennsylvania. The Hannum family were among the early settlers of Delaware (formerly Chester) county, and the old homestead where this marriage took place had been occupied by them for several generations. The children of Walter and Alice H. Cresson were: John Head Cresson, who died in infancy; Anne Hannum Cresson; Alice Hannum Cresson, who married Edward Fox Pugh and had one son. Rev. Walter Cresson Pugh, Sarah Cresson; and Walter Cresson, who died in infancy. The Cresson family of Philadelphia is descended from Pierre Cresson, a French Huguenot, born in 1609 or 1610. The ancient family seat, it is believed, was Menil la Cresson (Cresson Manor), near Abbeville, Picardy. Pierre Cresson, fleeing from his native country at the time of the Reformation, took refuge in Holland, where he remained in exile about eighteen years -- in Sluis, Delft, Leyden and Ryswick. During the early pan of this period he acted as gardener to the Prince of Orange, thereby earning the soubriquet of Pierre Ie Gardinier, by which title he was in after life sometimes designated. He married Rachel Cloos or Claes, and they, in 1657, with their children, emigrated to America, settling first at New Amstel, on the Delaware river. But afterward going to Harlem, he was there one of the first magistrates, 1660, and took an active part in affairs. He removed to Staten Island in 1678, where be probably died, our last record of him being on August 3, 1681. His widow survived him some years. They were members of the Dutch Reformed church. Of the children of Pierre and Rachel Cresson, Suzamie married, in 1658, at New York, Nicolas de la Plaine, from whom are descended the family of that name in this country. To the oldest son, Jacques Cresson, belongs the distinction of being ancestor of the Philadelphia branch of the family. Jacques Cresson (Pierre) came to America with his parents. He, with his father, was among the early settlers of Harlem, both receiving allotments of land in the laying out of the settlement. On September I, 1663, he married Marie Renard. (Her sister, Catalina Renard, being wife of Nicolas du Puis they became ancestors of the Dupuys and Depews of New York and vicinity.) Jacques Cresson while living in Harlem was private in the company under his father's command, in 1663. He died in New York, August I, 1684, whither he had previously removed with his family and where they were members of the Dutch Reformed church. From the records of this church we learn that the widow of Jacques Cresson, shortly after his death, left New York for Curacoa. On November 3, 1696, she purchased a house and land at the northeast comer of Fourth and Chestnut streets, Philadelphia, fronting seventy-four and a quarter feet on Chestnut street and running back one hundred and seventy-eight feet on Fourth street. A portion of this property was held by the family for many years thereafter. Her sons James and Solomon, were members of the Society of Friends in this city, and her own death is recorded in their books, 8 mo. 10, 1710. The births of the children of James Cresson, son of Jacques and Marie are also found in the Friends' records of Philadelphia, but he probably removed to the West Indies. He may have gone to Curacoa with his mother in 1685, returned to New York, and was of Philadelphia, 1692-99. Rachel Cresson, youngest child of Jacques and Marie Cresson, born in New York in 1682, married first, in 1705, at First Presbyterian church, Philadelphia, Henry Sluyter, of Bohemia Manor. They were the progenitors of the late Dr. Edward Oram Shakespeare. Solomon Cresson probably removed to Curacoa in 1685, with his mother New York city, June 3, 1674; died in Philadelphia, 9 mo. 10, 1746; married at Philadelphia Friends Meeting, 11 mo. 14, 1702, Anna Watson. Solomon Cresson probably removed to Curacoa in 1685, with his mother and brother James. Of the next ten years there is only family tradition to depend on. The Journal of Jonathan Dickinson, however, first published in 1600 records these facts: ' Jonathan Dickinson and Solomon Cresson were both on the barkentine Reformation, sailing from Port Royal, Jamaica, August 23, 1696, for Philadelphia. A rough and stormy voyage was experienced from the first, and finally, on September 22, the doomed vessel was wrecked off the Florida coast. The passengers and crew landing on a desolate shore were soon discovered by Indians, tribes hostile to the English. It was owing to Solomon Cresson's proficiency in the Spanish language that the party were enabled to pass themselves off as Spaniards and, after enduring great deprivation and hardships, reached St. Augustine, where they remained for a time to recuperate before proceeding to Charleston and from thence by water to Philadelphia. Solomon Cresson acquired considerable property, which at his death he bequeathed to his children and grandchildren. The children of Solomon and Anna (Watson) Cresson who married and left issue, were: James Cresson, who died in 1746, and married Sarah Emlen; Rebecca Cresson, who died in 1794, and married Isaac Lobdell; and John Cresson, who died in 1771, and married Rebecca Briant. Of the children of James and Sarah (Emlen) Cresson, Caleb Cresson was prominent in the affairs of the Society of Friends, having important trusts and devoting much time to the Meeting's business. But two of his children lived to maturity: John Elliott Cresson and Caleb Cresson. They were both of the second marriage, that with Annabella Elliott. From the former of these John Elliott and his wife Mary (Warder) Cresson, was Elliott Cresson, an eminent philanthropist, and in compliment to whom the mountain resort, Cresson, in the Alleghenies has its name. From them, too, though in a later generation, is Ezra Townsend Cresson, now and for many years connected with the Franklin Insurance Company of Philadelphia. Caleb Cresson, younger son of Caleb and Annabella (Elliott) Cresson, married Sarah Emlen. Of him it has been written, that he was one of the most eminent and highly respectable merchants of Philadelphia. Having amassed a large fortune he retired from business and devoted his time to objects of public utility and benevolence. Always of a philanthropic mind he became interested in forwarding projects for the benefit of his fellowmen. This characteristic has been strongly manifested in his descendants. The children of Caleb and Sarah (Emlen) Cresson were: Mary Emlen Cresson, married Joseph P. Smith; Emlen Cresson; married Priscilla Prichett and they left a large bequest to the Academy of Fine Arts, as a memorial to their son William Emlen Cresson; Caleb Cresson married Hannah M. L. Gordon; William Penn Cresson, a well known philanthropist and prominent in interests of the Protestant church, married Susan Vaux and had the following children: George Vaux Cresson, who married Mary B. Cooke; Caleb Cresson, who married Isabella B. Gumbes; Mary Emlen Cresson, who married Caleb Cresson Wistar; and Elizabeth Vaux Cresson, who married Hillborn T. Jones (name changed by Act of Legislature to Cresson); Charles Caleb Cresson, M. D., is the next of the family; Annabella Elliott Cresson married Bartholomew Wyatt Wistar. Joshua Cresson, the other son of James and Sarah (Emlen) Cresson who lived to maturity, married Mary Hopkins, sister to Sarah Hopkins, the first wife of his brother Caleb. These sisters were great-great-nieces of Elizabeth Estaugh, immortalized in Whittier's beautiful Quaker poem. John Cresson (Solomon, Jacques, Pierre) married Rebecca Briant . Their oldest child, Jeremiah Cresson married first Hannah Crean and second Martha Rickey. His children, all by the first marriage, leaving issue, as follows: Rebecca Cresson, who married William Prichett; Mary Cresson, who married Samuel Rickey; Hannah Cresson, who married Joseph Matlack; Richard Crean Cresson, who married Elizabeth Stroud; and Eleanor Cresson, who married Richard Massey. James Cresson, second son of John and Rebecca (Briant) Cresson, married 3 mo. 12, 1772, at Philadelphia Meeting, Sarah Hooton. For eighteen years he was a minister among Friends, and a journal which he wrote in 1763, while on a religions visit to Barbadoes, is still in possession of the family. The children of James and Sarah (Hooton) Cresson who married and had issue, were: Benjamin Cresson, married Deborah Phipps. Of their eleven children but two married and left descendants: Deborah P. Cresson, who married Joseph Kite, and Mary P. Cresson, who married Thomas Lloyd. Rebecca Cresson, married Philip Garrett and had these children who married and had issue: Sarah Garrett, married Thomas McCollin; Thomas C. Garrett, married Frances Biddle. Their children who married and had issue were Rebecca C. Garrett, who married Jonathan E. Rhoads; Philip C. Garrett, who married Elizabeth W. Cope; and John B. Garrett, who married Hannah R. Haines. Elizabeth Cresson Garrett, married William Biddle. Their children who married and had issue were John W. Biddle, who married Mary S. Hewes; and Samuel Biddle, who married first, Katharine Harned; and second, ------ Harned. Margaret Garrett, married John E. Sheppard. Anne Garrett, married Clarkson Sheppard. James Cresson, married first, Hannah Humphreys and second, Sarah Parrish. The children of James and Hannah (Humphreys) Cresson, who married and had issue were: Ann Humphreys Cresson, who married Benjamin Valentine; Tacy Cresson, who married Albert G. Bradford; James Cresson, who married Mary J. Leedom; and Martha Warner Cresson, who married first, Enoch P. Walker and second, Charles W. Roberts. John Head Cresson, married Rachel Walter. Their children who married and had issue were: Elizabeth Hooton Cresson, who married William Savery; William Cresson, who married Ann R. Leedom; Walter Cresson, who married Alice Hannum; Mary Walter Cresson, who married John W. Dixon; and John Cresson, who married Alice J. Leedom. Joseph Cresson, married Mercy Chapman. Their children who married were: Sarah Cresson, married Frederick Fraley; John Chapman Cresson, married Letitia Massey. He was a member of the Franklin Institute in 1831, so continuing for over forty years and becoming its president in 1855. His usefulness in the institute was extensive and he ranked high among the scientists of the day. He was elected a member of the American Philosophical Society in 1839, became a vice president in 1857, later becoming senior vice president and holding this office until his death. He was superintendent of the City Gas Works in 1836 and held the position with that of engineer for twenty-eight years. Many were the public offices held by and great the trust imposed in him. On him were conferred the honorary degrees of Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy. The child of John C. and Letitia (Massey) Cresson was Charles Massey Cresson, a distinguished chemist. Jane Chapman Cresson, who became the second wife of Frederick Fraley, had the following children: Sarah C. Fraley, who married Joshua L. Hallowell; Elizabeth Fraley, who married Thomas D. Pearce; Mercy Fraley, who married Samuel H. Sterrett; and Joseph C. Fraley, who married Marie Bradford.