Family History: Compilation of Fithian Data by Enoch Fithian: Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania Transcribed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Vincent E. Summers . Manuscript provided by and permission granted by Barbara Manwaring Opplinger, a direct descendant of the Fithian line. *********************************************************************** 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/ *********************************************************************** Compilation of Fithian Data by Enoch Fithian* Transcribed by Vincent E. Summers From a Typewritten Manuscript Provided by Barbara Manwaring Oppliger April 6, 2001 Being probably possessed of more information relative to the branch of the Fithian family which includes myself, than any other person, I have for some time past been occasionally employed in recording such particulars as are contained in various papers and such as have been communicated to me by different members of the family and other persons, for the purpose of preserving them for the gratification of posterity and those of my friends and connections, who, though feeling interested in the subject, have been less fortunate in acquiring information relative to it. The particulars here recorded have been collected from various sources, some of them I have copied from my father's papers. Many were communicated to me by my mother and some by my father's sister, Mrs. Ruth Bowen, and others well informed as to the facts which they related. It is my intention not to record anything which I do not believe entitled to full credit, without stating my doubts of its authenticity or relating the evidence upon which it rests. Dated April 17th, 1838 Enoch Fithian Includes additions made by others. See Foreword. Foreword Please note that the forward is an essential part of this document. Why? The original data, as compiled by Enoch Fithian on April 17, 1838, does not comprise the whole of this article. In fact, others both added to (even changed) the data, and made grammatical modifications of it. Still further, it has been transcribed a number of times. In this edition, I have taken certain liberties I would not normally have taken. I have done so in the attempt to make this a clearly readable and accurately understandable document. I have supplied some footnotes to explain certain changes made in the information. Above, I mention that some of the data provided by Enoch was modified by one of the transcribers. It was done purportedly (and it may be true) to correct certain inaccurate dates. This is noble in concept, but is harmful in taking away the solid authorship of Enoch Fithian, himself. It would not have been so, if the one making the adjustments had cared to footnote the changes, including the information that Enoch had entered. That data may now be lost forever, unless the original document exists and should happen to turn up. There appear to have been four consecutive editions, including this one. The first appears to be a copying by Frank T. Moore. The second is a transcription of Mr. Moore's edition with modification of data, by H. W. Fithian. Thirdly, Mary Eleanor Cutrer Jones modified the work of H. W. Fithian, and this edition is based on the lattermost work, was done by me. I should note that data concerning living persons has been omitted, but not lost. It is merely not included for internet purposes. Ms. Barbara Reeves Manwaring Oppliger, a direct descendant in the Fithian lineage, has both provided the copy used and granted permission to modify it for use on the internet. She retains the copyright. This document may not be used for commercial purposes, but is solely intended for educational use. Here are the added commentaries of those who preceded me in transcribing and modifying the information provided by Enoch: Nothing from Frank T. Moore. As far as is known, it was straight copying, only. +++ From H. W. Fithian: "The previous pages are a copy of Dr. Enoch Fithian's record of the Fithian family, as found in his manuscript. The record was written on every other page of a small square blank book, he leaving the blank pages for the correction of any mistake or for adding any new or additional information that might add to the correctness of the record. Such corrections and information I have incorporated in the regular record in their appropriate places, making only such changes in the original wordings as was necessary to make the reading continuous and correct. I have also made a few minor corrections of dates and in a few cases have carried out the record to the present time. There can also be found in Dr. E. Fithian's book, the partial history of the Reading, Seeley and Beatty families, but, as the relationship to my branch of the Fithian family is so slight, I thought it not worth while to copy them - and they can be found in other printed records. The Seeley family in Hon L. Q. C. Elmer's history of the Elmer family. I have also left out the copies of some of the original deeds." H. W. Fithian From a copy made in August 1863 by Frank T. Moore. +++ From Mary Eleanor Cutrer Jones: "The present copy made in May, 1966 by Mary Eleanor Cutrer Jones using the copy prepared by H. W. Fithian. There have been a few slight corrections in punctuation made in this copy. The entire manuscript should be gone over carefully as there seem to be other contradictions and errors which could be easily eliminated." E. C. J. +++ As a final commentary, it is unfortunate that H. W. Fithian did not, indeed, copy those deeds (a truly most unfortunate event). Yet, perhaps this document might have been lost if not by that one's efforts, so it is best not to be too harsh in passing judgement. Vincent Edward Summers April 2001 +++ Matthias* Fithian, ye son of ye said Samuel Fithian and Priscilla his wife, was born in East Hampton, February 3rd, 1694. William Fithian, ye son of ye sd Samuel Fithian and etc., was born in East Hampton March 25th, 1698. The above is a true copy of extracts from the East Hampton Book of Records. William Fithian probably died in 1732 [and] probably left children named Samuel, Matthias and Isaac and perhaps others (There are reasons for supposing that Samuel and Priscilla had a son named Isaac, born after 1698, perhaps after their removal to Fairfield.). Samuel and Priscilla and their children left East Hampton and came to Fairfield, Cumberland County, New Jersey, to reside sometime between the years 1698 and 1702, as appears from the above copy of the records of East Hampton which state that their son William was born at East Hampton in 1698. I have found among some old papers an article of agreement between Thomas Bridges and Samuel Fithian for the division of nine hundred and twelve acres of land of which three hundred and four acres are assigned to Samuel Fithian. This writing is dated Dec. 26, 1700, but the articles of agreement are so loosely drawn that the name of the place other than in which the land is situated is not named, but it is quite probably at or near New England Town. I have also the original letter of administration to Priscilla Fithian to administer to the estate of her son John. It is dated "the - - day of March, Anno Domini 1703." Thus the time of Samuel Fithian's death is ascertained to be between the years of 1700-1702. * Changed from Matthais to Matthias, which appears to be the generally accepted spelling of this fellow's name.- VES. An instrument before me termed a release from Priscilla, relique of Samuel Fithian of Fairfield yeoman, deceased, to John Ogden, dated July 7, 1704. Priscilla Fithian was living in Fairfield in 1708. Mr. Ebenezer Fithian lately of Fairfield, informed me that the original residence of the family was at what formerly [was] - and probably is still - called New England Cross Roads. John Fithian, eldest son of Samuel and Priscilla Fithian, was married - and died - previous to March 1702. He left a daughter named after her grandmother, Priscilla, who was born May 1, 1702, and who was living in 1708 and perhaps to a later period. His mother was administrator of his Estate, as shown on a previous page. His widow was married to John Ogden of Fairfield previous to July 1704. Of Samuel (grandfather of Dr. Wm. B. Ewing), Esther, Matthias, and William - I know but little - save that those of Fairfield of the name of Fithian are descendants from them. Josiah, second eldest son of Samuel and Priscilla Fithian, settled at Greenwich, Cumberland County, N. J. The greater part of the lands in the township of Greenwich which once belonged to the Fithian family, are now in the possession of others. I cannot ascertain the time or the place at which Josiah Fithian first settled at Greenwich - probably in 1706 at the age of 21, when he was married. My Aunt Ruth Bowen thinks he lived on the farm now in possession of my brother, Charles B. Fithian. Josiah was married to Sarah Dennis of the same place (Greenwich), Nov. 7, 1706. Their children were: John, born May 5, 1709; Jeremiah, born April 5, 1713; Samuel, born Oct. 12, 1715; Hannah, born Nov. 5, 1718; Esther, born April 12, 1721; Joseph, born Aug. 12, 1724; Sarah, born June 1726; Josiah, born Sept. 20, 1728. Sarah Dennis, wife of Josiah Fithian, died June 23, 1732. Josiah Fithian died April 3, 1741. He had a second wife whose name was --- ---. She survived him and died December 16, 1766. He had no children by the second wife. Josiah Fithian was one of the most respectable men of his time in the county in which he lived. Among the papers left me by my father, I find many which bear testimony to the confidence reposed in his ability and integrity by his fellow citizens. He was frequently left executor of estates and constituted attorney for the transaction of business by persons residing at a distance. There are papers showing that James Goold, merchant of Boston and formerly a store keeper in Greenwich, gave my great grandfather a power of attorney dated August 10, 1732, to settle his business in the latter place. A list of debts due Goold and placed in my great grandfather's hands for collection amount to 1464.8 93/4. Several letters from Goold express in warm terms his satisfaction with the manner in which his business had been conducted and, in addition to the stipulated remuneration, he presented my great grandfather with a walnut desk which was considered quite an elegant piece of furniture in those times in this place. Josiah Fithian was an elder in the Presbyterian church at Greenwich. My father's sister, Mrs. Hannah Leak (grandmother of Dr. Joseph Fithian of Woodbury), informed me that she recollects to have seen among some memoranda of her grandfather, the following - "This day I laid the cornerstone of the Presbyterian meeting house in Greenwich," - and that the memorandum was dated 1727 or 1737. The date must have been 1735, as the church was commenced in that year, as the subscriptions for the building of the house, now in my possession, is dated 1735, and it would take some time to make brick and other preparations for building. She stated further that an old lady informed her that she recollected the laying of the corner stone by Josiah Fithian and his kneeling and praying upon the occasion. Probably the church was without a pastor at that time. Josiah Fithian was one of the Judges of the Court for the County of Salem, in the years 1732-1733-1737-1738-1739 and 1740. Of the family of Dennis at the time of the marriage of Josiah Fithian and Sarah Dennis -I know nothing - but subsequently they have been respectable. I know of but one person in Cumberland County of the family and bearing the name of Dennis, now living. Probably there are several others. Grace Bowen, wife of Landle Bowen, was the daughter of Phillip Dennis and probably the niece or grandniece of my great grandmother. She claimed relationship to me and my address to her was always Aunt Grace. She was a member and an elder of the Society of Friends. She died August 19, 1824, aged 85 years. I shall now give some account of the children of Josiah and Sarah Fithian, whose names, with the dates of their birth, are already recorded. John, the eldest son of Josiah and Sarah F., born May 5, 1709. He was never married and died March 24, 1732 - three months before his mother. Jeremiah, the second son of Josiah and Sarah F., born April 5, 1713, married to Martha Carll of Cape May. They had three children: Sylvester, Hannah, and Esther. Sylvester was an idiot. Hannah was first married to William Barker on the 10th of April 1766. He lived but a short time. She afterwards married to David Mulford, who was Lieutenant of a company of militia and was killed in an action with the British at Haddonfield, N. J. She had one son of David Mulford, named Enoch, who was married to Temperance Mathews. The only offspring of Enoch and Temperance Mulford is the present Enoch Mulford (he died of consumption May 29, 1867 aged 77 years). He married Mary, daughter of Charles Davis. Esther was married to Thomas Maskell (whose first wife was her father's sister and also named Esther). Thomas Maskell died September 9, 1803, in the 83rd year of his age. Esther, relict of Thomas Maskell, died September 11, 1805, in the 55th year of her age. Thomas Maskell and Esther, daughter of Jeremiah and Martha Fithian, had three children. Abijah married Mary, daughter of John Wood, Esq. Abijah Maskell died, August 2, 1806, in the 34th year of his age. He left two sons, John Maskell, a representative in the Legislature of N. J. in the year 1837 from Salem County, and Thomas, died July 1860 in Phil. Sarah Maskell married to Edward Smith, a merchant of Philadelphia. Hannah Maskell was married first to Dr. Samuel Moore Shute, and, surviving him, to Alexander Henry of Philadelphia. Samuel, the third son of Josiah and Sarah Fithian, was born October 12, 1715, and died of paralysis Nov. 2, 1777. His first wife and mother of all his children was Phebe, daughter of Ephraim Seeley, Esq.; they were married September 3, 1741. Phoebe died of small-pox March 12, 1764. Samuel married, the second time, to Mary Clark, widow of --- Clark, Nov. 12, 1764. Her native place was Lawrenceville, Hunterdon County, N. J. Her maiden name was Furman. She was the mother of Daniel Clark, who married Rachel, daughter of Samuel and Phebe Fithian. Her daughter-in-law, Mrs. Ruth Bowen, described her to me as a woman of great excellence of character. She died March 12, 1774. Samuel and Phebe Seeley Fithian had ten children: Hannah, Rachel, Amy, Joel, Elizabeth, Mary, Sarah, Ruth, Seeley and Samuel. Hannah, their eldest daughter, was born August 4, 1742. She was married to Nathan Leake, Esq., by whom she had the following children: David, who was married to Hannah Shute, sister of Dr. Samuel Moore Shute; Nathan, married to Ruth Garrison, daughter of William Garrison, Esq., of Deerfield (He was a respectable man and member of the New Jersey Legislature.); Ephraim, married to Jane Reeve; Phebe, who was the second wife of William Garrison [and] left no children; Rachel, who was married to Amos Fithian, cousin to my father and brother to my mother's first husband - - a highly respectable man; Ruth was the third wife of William Garrison Esq., and sister to his second wife, Phebe (Ruth died April 17, 1823); Rebecca, who was married to Richard Mulford. Besides these, they had a daughter named Amy who was deprived of her reason at the age of 14 years. She lived until she was twenty or thirty. I am not certain that I have named these children of Nathan and Hannah Leake in the order of their birth. At this present time - - June 22, 1838 - - only Rebecca, wife of Richard Mulford, is living. David died and left several children, of whom I know but little. Nathan died, Nov. 26, 1836, and left several children of whom I know William Garrison, married to Rhoda, daughter of Lewis Mulford. Nathan's children were: Emma; William; Nathan; Samuel; Ruth; James; Eliza; Charles; Ephraim. Amos Fithian died April 1, 1819. Rachel, relict of Amos Fithian, died Sept. 6, 1836. Their son Joseph, born June 27, 1795, was married to Harriet, daughter of James Stratton, M. D. of Swedesboro, Nov. 12, 1817. Joseph Fithian, M. D., son of Amos and Rachel, died Jan. 8, 1881. Their daughter Hannah was married to Charles Garrison, M. D. Their son Joel married to Sarah, daughter of Andrew Sinnickson, Esq., Of Salem, March 14, 1820. Their son George died August 1819, aged 15 years. Their son Amos died Sept. 8, 1825, aged 21 years. Hannah, relict of Nathan Leake, Esq., and eldest daughter of Samuel and Phebe Fithian, died Nov. 9, 1824 in the 83rd year of her age. She was possessed of more than ordinary strength of mind and in her father's family had better opportunities for improving her intellect than was common in this country in the days of her youth. From my earliest recollection, so far as I am able to appreciate her character, she was distinguished for intelligence, a strong and discriminating mind and unaffected piety. She was looked up to with uncommon reverence and respect. She was especially venerated by the young on whom she freely bestowed her counsel and admonitions in a manner which secured their good will and affections and in this way though dead, she yet speaks. (2) Rachel, the second daughter of Samuel and Phebe Fithian, was born July 7, 1744, and married to Daniel Clark [on] Nov. 19, 1772 (Daniel Clark's first wife was Anna Holmes who died April 18, 1772 aged 32 years. He died Dec. 13, 1774 aged 34 years.). By Daniel Clark she had one son named Charles who was born Oct. 19, 1773. He was a physician and married Anna, daughter of David Gilman, by whom she had children: Charles; Casserias; Anna Holmes. He died of apoplexy Feb. 25, 1838. Rachel Clark died Oct. 22, 1822. Purity of mind, kindness of heart and strict attention to all the duties of a wife, mother, sister, friend and Neighbor, were the prominent traits in her character. She lived near the residence of my father -consequently there was frequent intercourse between the two families and all my brothers, as well as [I,] myself, had the warmest affection for our excellent Aunt. She never made a public profession of, but was a constant attendant at, church, and doubtless pious. (3) Amy, third daughter of Samuel and Phebe Fithian, was born July 16, 1746. She was married to Joseph Moore, an excellent and pious man, elder in the Deerfield church, died April 30, 1800 in the 49th year of his age. They had several children of whom Phebe, Rachel, John and Mary are still living and Ephraim died many years since at the age of 16 years, and another son aged 4 years or thereabouts. (a) Phebe was married to John, son of John Moore her father's brother, Dec. 31, 180l. They had two children; Mary, born Aug 6, 1808, died July 22, 1837 aged about 30 years, one of the most amiable and intelligent young ladies I ever knew and of whom this short record is made on the anniversary of her death. Emily, born June 26, 1813 is still living. Emily Moore married George Tyler, March 17, 18--, surviving him was married to Charles Seeley. Phebe, wife of John Moore, died March 16, 1849. John Moore died Feb. 3, 1863. (b) Rachel married Recompense Whitaker, March 6, 1800 by whom she had several children. Of those who are living, Abigail (died Jan. 27, 1882) married the Rev. Berkley Carll; Hannah married George Hires; Rachel remained unmarried [and] died of consumption March 29, 1839. Recompense Whitaker died Oct. 1809. Rachel widow of R. Whitaker died ---. (c) John, son of Joseph and Amy Moore, born --- died Sept. 22, 1854; married Lydia Peck and had several children. (d) Mary, daughter of Joseph and Amy Moore, born Sept. 22, 1791, married first to John Shute (died Aug. 19, 1822, aged 30 years)* by whom she had children: Edward; Ruth; Amy; Edward w. Janette DuBois - Ruth died Sept. 26, 1855 unmarried; Amy [who] married John Holmes (died Dec. 18, 1874). Mary, surviving John Shute, married Daniel M. Woodruff. Amy, relict of Joseph Moore, died Nov. 20, 1824. What is recorded of her sister Rachel** on page -- of whom in character she was the counterpart, is not necessary to repeat. Like her sister she also possessed the love and reverence of her numerous relatives and friends and though of spotless morals and constant in her attendance at church, made no profession of religion. (4) Joel, eldest son of Samuel and Phebe Fithian, was born Sept. 29, 1748 [and] died of paralysis Nov. 9, 1821. He was first married to Rachel, youngest daughter of Jonathan Holmes and Anna his wife, by the Rev. Andrew Hunter (Jonathan Holmes married Anna Dominique or Dominic of Long Island July 7, 1729.). Their only son Josiah [was] born Sept. 30, 1776. Rachel, wife of Joel Fithian, died Feb. 12, 1779, of Pulmonary Consumption. * This dying at age 30 appears to refer to John Shute.- VES. ** Rachel Fithian Clark, d/o Samuel and Phebe Fithian.- VES. Josiah only son of Joel and Rachel Fithian was born Sept. 30, 1776. He died July 14, 1852. Married to Abia, daughter of Lemuel and Margaret Scudder, of --- County, New Jersey, March 26, 1807. Their children were: Margaret Longstreet, born Dec. 17, 1808, died unmarried; Joel, born March 12, 1810, died May 28, 1810; Phebe Holmes, born April 26, 1811, died unmarried; Samuel L., born July 12, 1814, died May 21, 1867 of Paralysis; Charles Beatty, born Jan. 25, 1816 died at Absecon, N. J. April 10, 1880 of Paralysis; Lemuel Scudder, born May 8, 1817 died ---;Richard, born Aug. 11, 1812 died May 5, 1814; Elizabeth Beatty, born May 29, 1820, died Nov. 22, 1846; William Scudder born Nov. 15, 1821, died Sept. 23, 1825. Abia, wife of Josiah Fithian, was born Dec. 18, 1770 and died July 26, 1827. She was an excellent woman, a notable and industrious housekeeper and trained up her children to habits of industry and in the ways of piety, both by precept and example. In some very trying circumstances in which she was placed, together with her husband and children, she acted with a great degree of Christian fortitude and contributed very much by her prudence, industry and economy to alleviate her husband's cares and place her family in a more comfortable position. On being asked, a few days before her death, and while in full possession of her reason, "what were her views in regard to her approaching dissolution," she replied that she felt happy in the prospect. Joel Fithian was again married March 4, 1780 by the Rev. John Witherspoon, D. D., to Elizabeth Beatty, daughter of the Rev. Charles Beatty, A. M. and Ann his wife. They were married at the house of her brother, Dr. John Beatty, at Princeton. Their children were: Charles Beatty, born Dec. 18, 1782, baptised by Rev. George Faitonte Aug. 24, 1783 and married to Mary, daughter of Enos Ewing, Esq., and Rachel his wife, Jan. 16, 1805; Mary, wife of Charles B. Fithian, died April 24, 1849. Charles Beatty Fithian died Nov. 21, 1858 at 11/2 o'clock A. M*. He had an attack of paralysis, Jan. 13, 1856, which had its usual effect in impairing his mental and physical faculties, but after a few days he was able to walk about a little and gradually extended his walk to a distance of two miles or more from home and was usually cheerful and free from pain. The children of Charles B. and Mary Fithian are: Ann Elizabeth, born Oct. 14, 1805, married Feb. 19, 1825 to Richard Fithian (son of William and Mary Fithian). She died of Consumption Jan. 3, 1863 aged 57 years. She left five children: Mary; Sarah; Charles; Edgar; Joseph. Five others of her children died young. * It is not certain what this means. I believe it means 1-1/2 o'clock, or 1:30, which I have seen abbreviated in such fashion before. Less likely, it may mean 11 or 12 o'clock.- VES. [Continuing with the children of Joel and Elizabeth Beatty Fithian, we have:] Enos, born Feb. 22, 1807 died, unmarried, of yellow fever at Pearlington, Mississippi, Sept. 28, 1837; Sarah Ewing, born Jan. 2, 1809, married to William K. Sheppard Nov. 11, 1831; Erkuries, born Dec. 20, 1810, married to Hannah, daughter of John Harding, Sept. 17, 1833; Rachel Ewing, born Aug. 16, 1813, married to Robert S. Garrison, son of John and Rebecca Garrison, Oct. 24, 1833 and died of Consumption July 18, 1842; Samuel R., born Aug. 30, 1815, married Amelia Bacon; Christiana Clinton, born April 23, 1817, married to Thomas son of John and Elizabeth Glaspey, March 6, 1839; Emily, born Sept. 13, 1823, married to Samuel F. Lawrence. Samuel, second son of Joel and Elizabeth Fithian, was born Feb. 26, 1785 and married first to Sarah Hollinshead, daughter of Joseph and Ruth Dare. She died ---. He [Samuel] was married to Sarah, daughter of Thomas and Ruth Reeves. He died of bilious fever after a short illness, Sept. 28, 1806. He had one posthumous child, Sarah Dare, born May 10, 1807, who was married to the Rev. Samuel Lawrence, Jan. 30, 1825. The children of Samuel and Sarah Lawrence are: Mary Elizabeth married to Thomas Young Sarah Hart " " William John Thompson Martha Janeway " " William John McMangel Harriet Lors " " B. F. Harding Rebecca " " William Brunyate Margaret " " Thomas Parker Kate " " Wallace Hamilton Robert " " Virginia Hitchkok Samuel F. " " Emily S. Fithian Anna " " Louis Sheppard Sarah Dare, wife of Rev. Samuel Lawrence, died Sept. 5, 1868 in the 62nd year of her age. Rev. Samuel Lawrence died Aug. 30, 1875. Philip, the third son of Joel and Elizabeth Fithian, was born Jan. 24, 1787 [and] died at Bridgeton, Jan. 16, 1868. He was first married to Rebecca, daughter of Abel and Rebecca Bacon, by whom he had two sons named Robert and Joel. Joel was born Aug. 6, 1815 and died March 28, 1816. Robert [was] born Feb. 1, 1813 and married to Mary, daughter of Dan and Sally Simpkins. Their children were: Philip Henry, born Sept. 18, 1838 and died of Cholera on Oct. 4, 1866; Rebecca B., married James Doubleday; Edward M.; Phebe L., born Nov. 7, 1849; Mary H. Rebecca, wife of Philip Fithian, died Jan. 21, 1816 in the twenty-first year of her age, respected and beloved for her affectionate disposition and the excellence of her character. Philip Fithian's second wife is Sarah, daughter of Thomas and Ruth Reeves. They had six children: Mary, born Feb. 6, 1870, married to Lewis, son of George and Anna Hewlett, died Sept. 3, 1850; Rebecca, born April 13, 1819, married William F. Jones; Elizabeth Beatty, born Sept. 30, 1822, married Lewis Dowdney, Jan. 4, 1843; Joel, born March 10, 1825 married to Phebe, daughter of Lewis and Rebecca McBride (Phebe died of disease of the heart July 8, 1872. Joel afterwards married Sarah Ritchie); Philip Henry born July 16, 1828, died January 4, 1836. Ann Reading born Feb. 21, 1831. Sarah, wife of Philip Fithian, died March 5, 1862. Erkuries Beatty, fourth son of Joel and Elizabeth Fithian was born Aug. 14, 1789 and married May 9, 1812 to Maria, daughter of Dr. James and Mary Stratton of Swedesboro, N. J. They had one child named Mary Elizabeth who was born Feb. 10, 1813 and died Oct. 2, 1822. Erkuries B. studied medicine under Dr. Stratton of Swedesboro and practiced, first, at Chews Landing, Gloucester County, and afterwards, in partnership with Dr. Stratton at Swedesboro, where he died of inflammation of the lungs, May 26, 1816. Maria Stratton Fithian, relict of Erkuries B., was married to Daniel P. Stratton Dec. 31, 1817, who died ---. Maria Stratton born Nov. 17, 1789, died at Bridgeton April 12, 1857. Enoch, the fifth son of Joel and Elizabeth Fithian, died of diarrhea Aug. 6, 1825. (5) Elizabeth, fourth daughter of Samuel and Phebe Fithian, was born Dec. 13, 1750 and married to Ephraim Seeley - who was her cousin by a double connection - his mother being sister to his father and his father being brother to her mother. Their children were: Ephraim; John; Mary; Nancy; Samuel; Elizabeth; Sarah. Ephraim married Charlotte, daughter of John Wood. John died unmarried at about the age of 21 years. Samuel was married first to --- ---; his second wife was --- ---, widow of Enoch Burgin, Esq. Elizabeth, wife of Ephraim Seeley died Feb. 6, 1788. Ephraim was again married to --- ---. (6) Mary, fifth daughter of Samuel and Phebe Fithian, was born April 1, 1752 and married to Joshua Brick. They had two children (twins, only one of which lived three years). Joshua Brick died --- 1791. Mary, wife of Joshua Brick died Nov. 1793. (7) Sarah, sixth daughter of Samuel and Phebe Fithian, was born March 3, 1754 and was married to Thomas Brown, Jan. 5, 1778. She was his second wife. They had one son, Samuel Fithian, born Jan. 3, 1779 and married to Elizabeth Commegys of Maryland, whose son Thomas C. Brown married Latitia Miller. Samuel Fithian Brown died March 30, 1825. Sarah, wife of Thomas Brown, died Nov. 23, 1779. Thomas Brown was afterwards married to Rebecca, daughter of Joseph and Hannah Fithian, and died March 13, 1810, aged 71 years. His wife died March 19, 1810. (8) Ruth, seventh daughter of Samuel and Phebe Fithian, was born May 25, 1756 and married David Bowen. They had no children. David Bowen died --- 1808; Ruth, relict of David Bowen, died Dec. 3, 1846. (9) Seeley, second son of Samuel and Phebe Fithian, was born Oct. 15, 1759 and married Ruth, daughter of John and Elizabeth Burgin. They had one son named Burgin Fithian, born Aug. 25, 1793, and married Jane, daughter of Charles and Hannah Davis. Their children were: Charles Seeley; Eleanor Matilda. Burgin* Fithian died at Philadelphia, May 10, 1856. Ruth, wife of Seeley Fithian, died Oct. 24, 1793, aged 26 years. Seeley Fithian was married the second time to Esther, daughter of Bartholomew and Margaret Hunt. Their children were: Ruth; Reuben; Joel; Robert. Ruth, born April 7, 1798, died Feb. 3, 1882; Reuben, born Jan. 26, 1800, died March 8, 1853, (while a representative of Cumberland County in the Senate of New Jersey. He was buried at Greenwich.); Robert, born Jan. 6, 1805, died Sept. 27, 1871; Joel, born Oct. 30, 1802. Seeley Fithian died very suddenly, March 14, 1819. Esther, widow of Seeley Fithian, died March 20, 1830. * Listed in former transcription as John Burgin Fithian. This appears to refer to the Burgin Fithian of the paragraph immediately above, however.- VES. Seeley Fithian supported through life an unblemished reputation. His mind was naturally good and had been improved by an education at the school of Rev. R. Smith, which was better than common in the place of his nativity. He lived retired on his farm near Roadstown, was apparently unambitious of worldly distinction and derived his principle pleasure from his domestic circle and occasional intercourse with his relations. His temper and disposition were amiable and bland. He was open and communicative. His conversation was listened to with pleasure and his opinions commanded respect. He held several offices of trust and honor from his fellow citizens and discharged their duties with ability and integrity. Though not a communicant of [the] church, he was a public-spirited and active member of the congregation of Greenwich, a faithful trustee and a counselor and friend in managing the temporalities of the church of his fathers. Jane Davis Fithian [was] born Sept. 23, 1796[and] died March 12, 1860 at the residence of her son, Charles Seeley Fithian, in Bridgeton. Their children were: Charles Seeley Fithian, born at Greenwich, April 7, 1823; Eleanor Matilda Fithian, born at Greenwich, Oct. 20, 1825. Eleanor Matilda Fithian was never married. Charles Seeley Fithian was married to Harriet Newell Reeves (died Oct. 15, 1902), daughter of Johnson and Elizabeth Reeves (died Dec. 19, 1897), [in] March 1846, by Rev. Samuel Beach Jones, D. D., at the house of her father, Johnson Reeves. Their children were: John Burgin Fithian, born Jan. 11, 1843, died July 16, 1852; Henry Reeves Fithian, born Feb. 4, 1849, died Oct. 4, 1852; Charles Seeley Fithian, born Sept. 29, 1851, died Dec. 21, 1851; William Shannon Fithian, born Oct. 20, 1852; Francis Reeves Fithian, born May 23, 1855, died at Orlando, Florida, March 10, 1906; Jane Davis Fithian, born March 29, 1858; Alexander Robeson Fithian, born Aug. 28, 1863. William Shannon Fithian was married by Rev. J. Allen Maxwell, to Margaret L. Fithian, daughter of Joseph R. Fithian and Sarah Lambert, Sept. 13, 1882. Francis Reeves Fithian was married March 7, 1882 by Rev. Charles E. Hill, presiding elder of Methodist Church, to Mary E. D. Hill, daughter of Rev. Chas. E. Hill and Esther Brown who was born Sept. 27, 1827 at Schoharie, New York and died at Red Bank, N. J. April 12, 1901. Esther Hill Fithian, daughter of Francis Reeves Fithian and Mary Hill Fithian, was born April 7, 1883. She married Wesley Chew Fitzgerald. Their children are: Jack Wesley Fitzgerald, married to Helen --- ; Esther Hill, married to Albert Homer Manwaring; Nell Inman Fitzgerald, married to David --- Haight. Charles Seeley Fithian, born July 10, 1885, was married to Josephine Fraelinger. Mary Hill Fithian, born Feb. 17, 1888 at Bridgeton, N. J., was married to Emile Victor Cutrer who was then a Lieutenant in the United States Army, born in Osyka, Miss. March 22, 1884. They were married Oct. 7, 1908 at Moorestown, N. J. by the Rev. Sylvester Beach of Princeton, N. J. in the home of the bride's mother. She was attended by classmates who came from many parts of the country for the ceremony, as well as members of the Cutrer family from Miss. They were married under a bower of green boughs and an American flag. Their children were Mary Eleanor born De., 1910, at Fort D. A. Russell, Wyoming and Emile Victor Cutrer, Jr. born at West Point, N. J. Oct. 28, 1912. Mary Eleanor married William Wesley Jones June 10, 1938 at San Antonio, Texas in Christ Episcopal Church, Rev. Samuel Capers officiating. William S. Jones was born Nov. 28, 1910 at Miami, Texas. Harriet Reeves Fithian, was born Oct. 26, 1894, and married Edgar ---Tice. (10) Samuel, third son of Samuel and Phebe Fithian was born July 23, 1778. He died in consequence of a gunshot wound received accidentally from a young cousin. The account of the family of Samuel and Phebe Fithian is brief and imperfect, but the best I am able to give and has been made out at the expense of a considerable portion of time and troublesome research. In so numerous a family, I confine remarks to my grandparents, their sons and daughters, it is rare to find one of equal excellence of character. After making allowance for the partiality which nearness of kindred may naturally be supposed to induce the write of this small tribute to their worth, still there is enough in the united testimony of those who knew them well and were competent to form a correct opinion of character to sustain my opinion. Not only the parents but every one of the children have sustained a character of strict morality, unbending integrity, and most of them for a more than ordinary portion of mind. They were esteemed and venerated and their friendship sought by those of the best standing in society. All of them who lived to adult age formed connection by marriage with the most respectable families in the country. And all except one venerated form which still lingers among us, have gone down to the grave amid the tears and regrets of many surviving friends. From the character of the children, it may be inferred that the parents possessed good talents for family government and so far as I can learn from such of their contemporaries as I have conversed with on the subject and the matter is considerable, this is the fact. My grandfather who survived his first wife and mother of his children 13 years and on whom consequently the larger and latter portion of their education devolved, was distinguished for the excellence of his family discipline. From what I have learned respecting it from many particular circumstances related to me by my father and others, I suppose that many of the present generation would deem his family regulation and general government of it too rigid, but the best commentary on it is the effect produced in forming good habit, good morals and better cultivated minds for his children, than was common eighty years ago. Few parents possessed in greater degree the affection of their children; he had their love as well as their reverence. That his fellow citizens had great confidence in his wisdom is evidence by the frequency with which they confided to his care their most important interests. He was often appointed executor and administrator of Estates and at a period when offices of honor and trusts were conferred with more discrimination than at more recent times. He was selected to serve as sheriff of the county of --- by Gov. Belcher. His commission was dated Feb. 5, 1750. Judge of the Court, member of the State Legislature, also a member of the Provincial Congress of New Jersey in the memorable year 1776. While sitting on the bench as Judge of the Court of Common Pleas he had an attack of Paralysis which terminated his life Nov. 2, 1777. Hannah, eldest daughter of Josiah and Sarah Fithian, was born Nov. 5, 1718, and married to Ephraim, son of Ephraim Seeley of Cumberland County. Their children were: Sarah; Darkes; Esther; Ephraim; Mary; Rachel; Hannah; Josiah. Sarah, daughter of Ephraim and Hannah Seeley, was married first to the Rev. Wm. Ramsey, pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Fairfield and brother of the historian of that name, surviving him to the Rev. Robert Smith of Pequa, Pa. Left one daughter, Eliza, who married --- Lummis. (3) Esther was first married to John Gibbon and bore him children: Nicholas, who married Nancy Dunlop, Ephraim, Leonard Married --- Keasby; Hannah married Col. Sully McCulla. John Gibbon was taken prisoner in the War of the Revolution and died in the prison ship at New York. His widow visited New York but could get no certain intelligence about him. His widow Esther was again married to Benjamin Holmes of Elsinborough, by whom she had children: John married --- Thompson, and Jane married to William Harris. (4) Ephraim was married to Elizabeth, daughter of Samuel and Phebe Fithian, and had children: John, who died unmarried at the age of 21 years; Sarah, died unmarried; Ephraim, married Charlotte, daughter of John Wood, Esq.; Mary married Charles Woodruff; Nancy married David Seeley; Samuel married first to Jane Elmer and surviving her to --- ---, widow of Enoch Burgin, Esq.; Elizabeth married David Swinney, a Baptist minister. Samuel and Elizabeth had several children. (5) Mary, daughter of Ephraim and Hannah Seeley, was married to Dr. Jona Elmer. Their children were: Sarah, married to Dr. Samuel M. Shute; Jonathan died unmarried; Elizabeth died unmarried; and William, whose first wife was Nancy - second wife Margaret, both daughters of Col. David Potter. (6) Rachel, daughter of Hannah and Ephraim Seeley, was married to Col. Abijah Holmes. Their children were: Sarah, married to Jeremiah Ruch; Jonathan, married first to Lydia Ludlam and, surviving her, to Amelia Elmer and then married to Clara Mulford; Ephraim married Harriet, daughter of David Bowen; John married first to Sarah, daughter of Furman Shappard, and after to Phebe, widow of Daniel Bowen; Mary married Enoch H. Moore. [No entry 7 is listed in the document.] (8) Josiah, son of Ephraim and Hannah Seeley, was married to Rebecca, daughter of John Gibbon. Their children were: Mary, married to Dr. Francis G. Brewster; Mason, married Henrietta, daughter of Col. David Potter; Richard, married to Elizabeth, daughter of Col. David Moore; Robert married --- Parker; Harriet married Dr. Wm. Belford Ewing; Charles, died at Cincinatti, July 1827, unmarried. Besides these, they had two children who died in infancy. (9) Hannah, daughter of Ephraim and Hannah Seeley, was married to Dr. Ebenezer Elmer. They had two children: Lucius* Quinters Cincinnattus, who married Catherine Hay; Sarah, married to Rev. Wm. Neill, D. D. Ephraim Seeley died June 1774, aged 65. Hannah, relict of Ephraim Seeley, died Nov. 29, 1799, aged 83 years. [Joseph, son]** of Josiah and Sarah Fithian, was born Aug. 12, 1724, married Hannah Vickers July 31, 1740***. Their eldest son, Philip Vickers, was born Dec. 29, 1747 and married Elizabeth, daughter of Rev. Chas. Beatty, Oct. 25, 1775. He was a graduate of Princeton College and received the degree of Bachelor of Arts, Oct. 17-2, studied theology, was licensed to preach by the Presbytery of Phila., Dec. 6, 1774, appointed chaplain in the Army of the Revolution, and died of dysentery brought on by exposure in the camp of White Plains, Oct. 8, 1776. * Changed from Lucuis to Lucius.- VES. ** An erroneous entry was placed here, listing Esther, the second daughter, as the wife of Hannah Vickers, who was married to the male, Joseph (LDS Data).- VES. *** The LDS data, multiple entries, does not list the marriage as July 31, 1740, but as July 31, 1746. Though the errors at that site are numerous, they all agree on the year 1746 as the proper one. This would be consistent with a very simple form of visual or transcription error, and this entry occurred right on top of an obvious error. See the note just above this one for that error.-VES. Enoch, second son of Joseph and Hannah Fithian, was born April 11, 1750 and died at about the age of 25. He was several years a cripple from scrofula affection in one of his limbs. Josiah, third son of Joseph and Hannah Fithian, was born Oct. 8, 1752. He was a soldier in the War of the Revolution. I do not know that he was ever married. He died young. Rebecca, eldest daughter of Joseph and Hannah Fithian, was born April 19, 1755 and married to Thomas Brown, Jan. 5, 1778. She was his third wife and cousin to his second wife. She was the mother of: Martha; Amos; Enoch; and one or two others who died young. Hannah Vickers Brown, born Oct. 18, 1781, married to Enoch H. Moore and died March 25, 1802, aged 20 years - a few days after the birth of her only child, which lived six months. Amos Fithian Brown married Sarah Wells, by whom he had a son named Enoch (who died Aug. 6, 1849) and surviving her, he took for a second wife, Lydia Shull, by whom he had one daughter named Rebecca who was married to Isaac Elwell, Jan. 17, 1855. She was born April 13, 1832. Enoch, whose mental endowments were much above the common order, was [born] Oct. 13, 1795 and died in the Spring of 1815 in the 21st year of his age. Amos Fithian Brown [died] June 11, 1854 of consumption. Thomas Brown died March 13, 1810. Rebecca, wife of Thomas Brown, died March 19, 1810. Jonathan, the fourth son of Joseph and Hannah Fithian, was born Oct. 18, 1757 and married to --- ---. He had several children of whom I knew: Hannah; Charlotte; Jane. Charlotte married --- Upton. Jane married --- Brown. Amos, the fifth son of Joseph and Hannah Fithian, was born Oct. 11, 1759 and married Rachel, daughter of Nathan Leake and Hannah Fithian, his first wife - first cousins. Thomas, the sixth son of Joseph and Hannah Fithian, was born Jan. 27, 1767 and married to --- ---. His widow and two sons are living, I believe in the Western states. Joseph and Hannah Fithian were those kind of people sometimes called "the salt of the earth." I have conversed about them with some older people who remember them with veneration and affection and spoke of them in terms of highest respect. He was an elder in the Presbyterian Church at Greenwich. I have before me the following record of the death of Hannah Fithian, in the handwriting of her husband. "February 2, 1772, my wife departed this life on the first day of the week between the hours of one and two o'clock afternoon; was interred on Tuesday ye 4th day of February between the hours of one and two o'clock. Mr. Hunter preached from Job XIV-14 "if a man die, he shall live again, all the days of my appointed time will I wait until my change come." Immediately underneath the above is the following record: "Feb. 7, Joseph Fithian departed this life about four o'clock on Saturday morning and was buried on Monday ye 10th of February at 11 ;'clock." Sarah, third daughter of Josiah and Sarah Fithian, was born June --- 1726, married William Sayre with whom she went to reside in Virginia. I know nothing more of her with any certainty. Josiah, the fifth son and youngest child of Josiah and Sarah Fithian, was born Sept. 20, 1728 [and] married --- Powell. He had one child which lived only a few months and died, June 12, 1766. Josiah died on the 24th of November 1766. Samuel, the third son of Samuel and Priscilla Fithian born at East Hampton April 17, 1688, was married to Abigail Maskell, daughter of first Thomas Maskell. Samuel Fithian as well as his elder brother Josiah settled at Greenwich probably in 1705, but it is not certainly known. He was only 12 or 13 years of age when his father died, an age when boys need parents care and proper training as much, if not more, than at any antecedent or subsequent time of life. This might have been supplied by his mother to a considerable extent.. His writings in the form of book accounts, etc., show that his education had not been wholly neglected and was probably quite equal to that of a large majority of the boys of his age and times. After the settlement of Samuel Fithian at Greenwich, he became a Quaker, but whether before or after his marriage to the daughter of the first Thomas Maskell, is not known. In the early history of the Township of Greenwich, several of its most respectable and influential inhabitants left the Presbyterian Church and became Quakers, among them were the brothers Ebenezer and Mark Miller. Samuel Fithian became wealthy and owned large and valuable tracts of land in Greenwich estate. He was married for a considerable length of time before he had any children, but in May 1750, a daughter named Sarah was born. On the tenth day of May 1751, he made a will and left his large estate principally to his brother, Isaac, and his nephews Lot, Samuel and John (and neglected or forgot to destroy his will or make a new one). His whole estate, however, came into the possession of his widow and daughter and was administered by his nephew Samuel Fithian, the grandfather of the writer and who was named one of the executors in the will which was set aside. He died in the Spring of 1752. Sarah, daughter of Samuel and Abigail Fithian, was married to Dr. Thomas Ewing Sept. 3, 1770. Their children were: Samuel Fithian, born Sept. 27, 1771 and died Oct. 21, 1772; Wm. Belford Ewing, who was born Dec. 12, 1776. Wm. B. Ewing was a physician. He was married to Harriet, daughter of Josiah and Rebecca Seeley, June 14, 1808, and had two children: James Josiah Ewing, born June 4, 1809, and a daughter named Harriet, who died in infancy. James Josiah Ewing was married Aug. 23, 1832 to Martha, daughter of John Harding. Their children were Rebecca Gibbon, born Sept. 27, 1833. Harriet Seeley born Aug. 17, 1835; William Belford, born Feb. 20, 1838; Thomas born March 20, 1840; Robert Patterson, born Dec. 6, 1843; Maskell, born Dec. 21, 1845; Francis Brewster, born March 13, 18--; James* Josiah*, born Nov. 14, 1847; Charles born Dec. 23, 1849. Dr. Thomas Ewing died of Consumption, Oct. 7, 1782. Sarah, relict of Dr. Thomas Ewing, was married to Wm. Mulford, April 5, 1787, by whom she had two children: Thomas Ewing Mulford and James Woodburn Mulford. Thomas E. Mulford married Abigail Clark and had four children named Elizabeth, Cornelia, Enoch and Sarah Ann. James W. Mulford was first married to Sarah Alford and had children; surviving her, he again married Abigail, widow of Enos Woodruff and daughter of Thomas and Ruth Reeves. Abigail Mulford died April 7, 1838 and left a daughter Elizabeth Mayton. Dr. William Belford Ewing died, April 23, 1866, in the 90th year of his age. James Josiah Ewing died Oct. 21, 1872, in the 24th year of his age. Matthias Fithian, fourth son of Samuel and Priscilla Fithian, was born Feb. 23, 1694. See genealogy of his family in Corry record. Matthias was married to Martha Hughes of Cape May (This Matthias Fithian was probably the grandson of Samuel and Priscilla Fithian who came to Fairfield in 1700 or Martha might have been his second wife). * Why the gap between these two names, is unknown.- VES. Their son, William, was born Jan. 21, 1733 and married Deliverance, daughter of George and Lydia Carothers, May 8, 1754. Deliverance Carothers was born Sept. 24, 1735. The children of William and Deliverance Fithian were: Hope, born March 9, 1755, and married to --- Riley, and after his death, to George Williams who was the father of Daniel, Samuel and James Williams. 2. William born Nov. 2, 1757, whose first wife was --- Tomlinson and the mother of Jeremiah, William and John. His second wife was Mary Clark, mother of Richard, Samuel and Charles. Deliverance was born June 26, 1759, married --- Dickson. George, born June 5, 1763 and died June 7, 1764. James born Nov. 28, 1766. Jeremiah, born June 18, 1782. Esther, born Nov. 26, 1775, married to David Sheppard and had a son named Ephraim. Hannah born Feb. 29, 1776 married to Isaac Coffer. Matthias born Oct. 21, 1778, died Sept. 3, 1781. William Fithian 1st died Nov. 25, 1786. Deliverance, wife of William Fithian, died Jan. 29, 1786. James, the fifth child and third son of William and Deliverance Fithian, married Mary, daughter of Jonathan and Millicent Wood, May 31, 1787. Mary died Nov. 30, 1787. James Fithian married for his second wife, Karenhappuck ---, March 18, 1789, by whom he had two children, William, born Feb. 18, 1791, and Job, born Feb. 3, 1793. Karenhappuck died Dec. 21, 1794. James Fithian married for his third wife, Sarah Mills Jan. 18, 1797. The children of James and Sarah Fithian were: Hope, born Feb. 10, 1798, married Allen Ramsey; James Carothers, born Feb. 28, 1802 and died at sea leaving three daughters and one son and one son living in New York. Sarah, third wife of James Fithian, died ---. James Fithian married for his fourth wife, Elizabeth, widow of George Ritchie, Dec. 7, 1803. Their children were: George, born Sept. 26, 1804; Isaac, born March 10, 1806; Rhoda, born July 2, 1809;George Reeves, born April 10, 1813; Deliverance, born Feb. 23, 1817, died 1821; James Fithian died April 26, 1823, aged 21 years. William Fithian, fifth son of Samuel and Priscilla Fithian, was born at East Hampton, March 25, 1698. I cannot ascertain whether he was ever married, but he might have been and some of those persons by the name of Fithian, whose ancestry I have not been able to trace, may have descended from him. He died at the age of 35 years. His brothers, Samuel and Matthias* were executors to his estate, their letters of administration bearing date, March 29, 1733. * Changed from Matthais to Matthias, as earlier mentioned.- VES.