Chew Family papers, 1659-1986 (bulk 1740-1930).

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Chew Family papers, 1659-1986 (bulk 1740-1930).

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/435803841

The Chew Family Papers is a remarkable collection due to its range, depth, and scope. Nearly every major subject in early American history is touched upon in these papers; the date span of the collection allows for a study of the trajectory of American social, political, and economic development through the lens of one prominent family. This collection is the product of seven generations of the Chew family's professional and personal lives. Many of the papers were created during the late eighteenth through mid-nineteenth centuries, but they continued to be used over the course of the next one hundred years by the family as they settled estates, sold off land, and sought to settle debts. While the papers were an integral part of the management of the family's financial affairs, the Chews also prized the papers as part of their heritage. Around the time of the Centennial celebration in the United States, the Chews began to recognize the legacy of their family in the early history of Philadelphia and Pennsylvania, and spent a great deal of time inventorying and describing the contents of the papers. The Chew family became archivists of their own records, maintaining the collection as a whole and retrieving portions of the papers that had been lost or sold during the nineteenth century. They stored some records in safe deposit boxes, and other portions of the collection were arranged methodically throughout Cliveden. They created extensive descriptions of where groups of materials were stored and arranged them by family member, an arrangement that has largely been maintained. Some of these inventories can be found within the collection; others are housed in the collection files, which may be accessed by asking an archivist for permission to view these files. The materials in this collection cover a wide range of topics, reflecting the Chew family's involvement in legal, business, political, private, and social spheres. This extensive collection documents the lives of the Maryland and Pennsylvania branches of the Chew family through seven generations. In addition to the collection's emphasis on the Chew family and their connections within Philadelphia's elite, the papers provide a perspective on the lives of many of the Chews'slaves and servants, and offer insights into family relationships, women's history, health, religion, legal history, the Revolutionary and Civil wars, politics, trade, land management and settlement, surveying, industrialization, and the growth and development of the city of Philadelphia. The focus of the collection revolves around Benjamin Chew, his son Benjamin Jr. and his offspring. Both father and son were influential lawyers, and together amassed large quantities of land in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, and New Jersey. Benjamin Chew Jr.'s land holdings and estate became a major point of contention within the family after his death in 1844. This dispute, which continued for over forty years, was devastating to the Chews'family relationships and fortune, and is a central focus of the collection. The collection is divided into twenty-nine series, with over half of these dedicated to individual family members or family groups. Other series document the family's land holdings, Cliveden, their home in Germantown; the family's genealogical research; and their substantial map collection. The materials range in date from the seventeenth through the twentieth century, but the richest documentation is on nineteenth century life in the mid-Atlantic region. The collection contains business and financial records, cartographic material, correspondence, ephemera, legal documents, personal papers, and other materials created and collected by the Chews during the eighteenth, nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

848 boxes, 311 flat files, 36 rolls, (288.5 linear ft.)

Historical Society of Pennsylvania

Information

SNAC Resource ID: 7527113

Related Entities

There are 66 Entities related to this resource.

United States

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6f874hn (corporateBody)

Idaho became a state on July 3, 1890 with post offices being established as early as 1876. From the guide to the Franklin County, Idaho Post Office Location Records, 1876-1945, (Utah State University. Special Collections and Archives) These photographs document Region 4, started in 1910, of the US Forest Service, covering Utah, Nevada, Southern Idaho, and Western Wyoming. From the guide to the US Forest Service Photograph Collection., 19...

Chew, Joseph Turner, 1806-1835

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Gloucester Iron Works (Atlantic County, N.J.)

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Gloucester Land Company (Gloucester, N.J.)

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6673tdj (corporateBody)

Wilcocks, Mary Chew, 1747 or 1748-1794

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6252c2c (person)

Chew, Elizabeth Oswald

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6n30q3s (person)

Chew, Samuel, 1737-1809

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Union Iron Works

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w60k7c9x (corporateBody)

Heap, George E.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w60c6kcv (person)

Chew, Benjamin, 1758-1844

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6cr6mqz (person)

Benjamin Chew's son Benjamin Jr. (1758-1844) had become increasingly involved in his father's affairs, practicing law with him, and managing the elder Benjamin's land holdings, ultimately taking responsibility for the family's plantations and the purchase and sale of slaves. In many ways, Benjamin Chew Jr. followed firmly in his father's footsteps, studying law at the Middle Temple in London from 1784 to 1786, where he cultivated a relationship with the Penn family, before returning to practice ...

Penn, John, 1700-1746

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6j68dj1 (person)

John Penn and Richard Penn were proprietors of Pennsylvania at the time of writing to their brother Thomas. All three of them were sons of the founder of Pennsylvania, William Penn. The land dispute with Maryland mentioned in the letter was not resolved until 1760 when the border between Pennsylvania and Maryland was set between the 39 and 40 degrees mentioned in the letter. From the description of ALS, 1737 January 30 : London, Eng. to Thomas Penn / John Penn, Richard Penn. (Haverfo...

Chew, Anthony Banning, 1809-1854

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6qn711d (person)

Allen & Turner (Philadelphia, Pa.)

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Chew, Charles Ridgely, 1827-1875

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6gq8n8w (person)

Wilcocks, Alexander, 1741-1801

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6cg0jb5 (person)

Holme, Thomas, -1695

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6m90t5p (person)

Chew, Elizabeth Ann Ralston

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6b862cq (person)

Chew, William White, 1803-1851

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William White Chew (1803-1851) led a more public life than most of his brothers, serving as Vice-Consul of Colombia in Philadelphia during the early 1830s, and later as secretary to the American Legation in St. Petersburg, Russia when George Mifflin Dallas held the post of chargé d'affaires. Upon Dallas' return to the United States, Chew was appointed as chargé d'affaires. After his departure from Russia, William spent a brief time working on Dallas'political campaign. The two men had develope...

De Krafft, Charles

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Galloway, John, -1810

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w60s0qz0 (person)

Pike family.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6zq36h3 (family)

Cliveden of the National Trust (Philadelphia, Pa.)

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Chew, Benjamin, 1722-1810

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6nc63g9 (person)

Chief Justice Benjamin Chew (1722-1810) was the only surviving son of Dr. Samuel Chew and his first wife, Mary Galloway. Born in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, he would eventually serve as recorder of Philadelphia, attorney general, recorder-general, and chief justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania under the colonial government. After the Revolution, he was selected as the president of the High Court of Errors and Appeals. His 1747 marriage to Mary Galloway (1729-1755), produced four survi...

Chew, Samuel, 1693-1744

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w61n8tck (person)

Dr. Samuel Chew (1693-1744), three generations removed from John, was born and lived in Maryland much of his life, residing at the family estate of Maidstone in Herring Bay, Maryland; and afterward at Whitehall, in Duck Creek, Delaware. He and his family also lived in Dover and the Lower Counties (now Delaware), as well as in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Dr. Chew received training in law and medicine, eventually acting as a doctor in Kent County, Delaware, and later as the chief justice of the Su...

Turner, J. Horsfall (Joseph Horsfall), 1845-

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w66984qw (person)

Chew family.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6911457 (family)

Chew, John, 1739-1807

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6s47kv7 (person)

Bridger, John

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6t747gc (person)

Epithet: of Add MS 38486 British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000000629.0x00005a Epithet: junior British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000000629.0x000057 Nothing is known about the author of the letter From the guide to the Letter from John Bridger, Brookland, to his wife in Canterbury, 3 April 1728, 1728, (GB 206 Leeds University ...

Andover Iron-Works (Andover, N.J.)

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w64z0947 (corporateBody)

Chew, Henry Banning, 1800-1866

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w63r1n2g (person)

Henry Banning Chew (1800-1866) spent the majority of his life in Maryland on the family's farm Epsom. Henry married twice, first to Harriet Ridgely (1803-1835), daughter of a Maryland governor, Charles Ridgely, and then to Elizabeth Ann Ralston (1793-1862). The first marriage produced eight offspring, of whom only Charles, Benjamin, and Samuel lived past twenty years of age. The family lived first at the Ridgely estate known as Hampton and then at Epsom, in Towson, Maryland, where Henry kept sla...

Brown, David Sands, 1800-1877

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6086zgq (person)

Hamilton, Andrew, approximately 1676-1741

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6pz631n (person)

Mason, Elizabeth Margaretta Chew, 1798-1874

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6446f1j (person)

Chew, Benjamin, 1830-1885

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6795vkz (person)

Pennsylvania. Militia. Troop of Philadelphia Horse, 2nd

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Dallas, George M. (George Mifflin), 1839-1917

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6xw5b5f (person)

Washington Manufacturing Company

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w66m7znn (corporateBody)

Textile mill in Gloucester City, N.J., which made, among other things, shirting, drill, flannel, and diapers; incorporated 1844; built by David S. Brown. From the description of Account book, 1853. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 70943005 ...

Hills, John (Surveyor)

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6dj5d72 (person)

Scull, Nicholas, 1686?-1761?

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6m04dv3 (person)

Scull was surveyor general of Pennsylvania. From the description of Field notes, 1730-1755 (inclusive), 1741-1755 (bulk). (Historical Society of Pennsylvania). WorldCat record id: 122489766 Surveyor of Philadelphia, Pa. From the description of Nicholas Scull estate memorandum, 1762. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 70980879 ...

Chew, Oswald, 1880-1949

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6fx90xp (person)

Son of Bertha (Daisy) Walton and David Chew (1866-1934), Oswald Chew (1880-1950) attended Harvard as undergraduates and studied law at the University of Pennsylvania. He served in the Red Cross Ambulance Corps in France during World War I, along with Oswald's wife Ada Knowlton Chew. Oswald received the Croix de Guerre award for his service in France, and when he returned to Philadelphia, he managed the family's trust and worked in the real estate business. From the description of Che...

Penn, Thomas, 1702-1775

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6j964fn (person)

Land speculator. From the description of Papers of Thomas Penn, 1740-1755. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 79452327 From the description of Letters of Thomas Penn, 1748-1770. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 71070635 The son of William Penn, Thomas Penn served as proprietor of Pennsylvania. From the guide to the Thomas Penn correspondence, 1747-1771, with James Hamilton, 1747-1771, (American Philosophical Society) Thomas Penn was a proprietor of Pe...

Chew, Margaret

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Chew, Mary Johnson Brown, 1839-1927

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w64f3ftt (person)

Chew, David S. B. (David Sands Brown)

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6zs4krv (person)

David Sands Brown Chew was the eldest son of Mary Johnson Brown and Samuel Chew. After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania Law School, Chew established his own private practice in Philadelphia, where he became involved in city politics. He was a member of the First Troop of Philadelphia City Cavalry, and a long time member of the Pennsylvania National Guard. From the description of Chew Family papers : Series 16. David Sands Brown Chew (1866-1934), 1800-1953. (Historical S...

Hoare, Samuel

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6pc3whf (person)

Chew, Anne Sophia Penn, 1805-1892

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6zs3pxz (person)

Anne Sophia Penn Chew (1805-1892), the youngest surviving daughter of Benjamin Chew Jr., lived at Cliveden for most of her life, and was an important figure in the history of the family estate. Anne was a devoted daughter, caring for her parents in their later years, and then becoming the caretaker of the Cliveden property after her mother's death in 1855. During the bitter family dispute surrounding her father's estate administration, Anne moved out of Cliveden, along with her brother William. ...

Mills, Robert, 1781-1855

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w67084pn (person)

Architect. A native of South Carolina, Mills lived in Charleston until about 1800 and later made his home in Washington, D.C. From the description of Account of George Washington's visit to Charleston, S.C., 1791 May 2. (The South Carolina Historical Society). WorldCat record id: 36865419 Engineer, architect of the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C. From the description of Letter : to George Bancroft, 1845 Sept. 16. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 22632349 ...

Penn, Richard, approximately 1736-1811

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w67s7s5b (person)

Epithet: of Add MS 41367 British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000001197.0x000342 Epithet: Agent for Ceylon British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000000149.0x0000af ...

Howard, John Eager, 1752-1827

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6dv1p52 (person)

John Eager Howard (June 4, 1752 – October 12, 1827) was an American soldier and politician from Maryland. He was elected as governor of the state in 1788, and served three one-year terms. He also was elected to the Continental Congress, the Congress of the United States and the U.S. Senate. In the 1816 presidential election, Howard was a candidate for vice president on the Federalist Party ticket. Born at Belvidere, his family's plantation in Baltimore County in the Province of Maryland, Howa...

Chew, Henrietta

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w64754rw (person)

Penn, William, 1644-1718

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6p55q0b (person)

The British colony of Pennsylvania was given to William Penn (1644-1718) in 1681 by Charles II of England in repayment of a debt owed his father, Sir Admiral William Penn (1621-1670). Under Penn's directive, Pennsylvania was settled by Quakers escaping religious torment in England and other European nations. Three generations of Penn descendents held proprietorship of the colony until the American Revolution, when the family was stripped of all but its privately held shares of land...

Mason, J. M. (James Murray), 1798-1871

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w66m36st (person)

United States senator. From the description of Autograph letter signed : Washington, to C. Neale, Esq., 1849 Jan. 7. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270607846 From the description of Autograph letter signed : Selma, to Joseph C. Cabell, Esq., 1846 Nov. 23. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270607032 From the description of Autograph letter signed : to Messrs. Gales & Seaton, 1839 Feb. 6. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270607773 U.S. Congressman, and Confede...

Chew, Samuel, 1832-1887

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6v12zmb (person)

Samuel Chew (1832-1887) was one of eight offspring born to Henry B. and Harriet (Ridgely) Chew, Samuel studied law at the University of Pennsylvania. After his father's death, he became the primary executor of the Chew estate. Samuel spent a considerable amount of time at Cliveden with his aunt Anne, developing a close relationship with her and a devotion to the family's home. He married Mary Johnson Brown in 1861, daughter of textile manufacturer David Sands Brown (1800-1877), who moved to Phil...

Peters, Richard, 1704-1776

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6zk5mb6 (person)

Rev. Richard Peters was a clergyman. He was the uncle of Judge Richard Peters of Philadelphia. From the description of Miscellaneous manuscripts, 1765, n.d. (University of Pennsylvania Library). WorldCat record id: 190878612 Philadelphia clergyman, provincial secretary and councillor. From the description of ALS : Philadelphia, to [John Penn?], 1772 Mar. 2. (Rosenbach Museum & Library). WorldCat record id: 86165787 From the description of ALS : Phila...

Tilghman, Edward, 1750-1815

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w62r441n (person)

Philadelphia lawyer. From the description of ALS : to Mr. Nicklin, 1798 Mar. 7. (Rosenbach Museum & Library). WorldCat record id: 86165790 American lawyer. From the description of Autograph letter signed : Philadelphia, to Herman LeRoy, 1802 Nov. 29. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270572603 ...

Allen, William, 1704-1780

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6h41v4c (person)

Chief justice of Pennsylvania. From the description of ALS : Philadelphia, to Samuel Galloway, 1770 Oct. 12. (Rosenbach Museum & Library). WorldCat record id: 86102603 Merchant and jurist. From the guide to the William Allen letters, 1730-1738, (The New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division.) ...

Chew, Maria

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6tb2243 (person)

Chew, Catherine, 1952-

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6029jph (person)

Chew, Samuel, 1795-1841

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6xh1g84 (person)

Samuel Chew (1795-1841) developed a successful legal career in Philadelphia. He worked as solicitor for the Spring Garden district, represented the Kensington Bank, and acted as a trustee for the Wayne County Land Trust. In addition to his legal career, Samuel Chew was involved in the construction of a ship for the Mexican government called the Kensington (or Tepeyac); this venture ended with a legal battle, which lasted past his death in 1841. From the description of Chew Family pap...

Chew, Samuel, 1871-1919

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6321kg4 (person)

Samuel Chew (1871-1919) was the son of Mary Johnson Brown and Samuel Chew. He attended St. Paul's and Harvard and, after graduating from the University of Pennsylvania Law School, operated a private practice and served as Assistant City Solicitor of Philadelphia. From the description of Chew Family papers : Series 12. Samuel Chew (1871-1919), 1876-1929. (Historical Society of Pennsylvania). WorldCat record id: 435804083 ...

Chew, Elizabeth Brown, 1863-1958

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6fj4662 (person)

Daughter of Mary Johnson Brown Chew, and Samuel Chew (1832-1887), Elizabeth Brown Chew (1863-1958) acted as a custodian for the Cliveden property, living there for most of her adult life. After her mother's death, she advocated for Cliveden's historic preservation and undertook renovations to the property at her own expense. She acted as one of the agents for the Chew Family Trust and managed Cliveden's affairs until her nephew Samuel (1915-1989), who was heir to the property, reached legal age....

Chew, Benjamin, 1793-1864

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6xg9txg (person)

Ingram, Thomas.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6d22qz7 (person)

Howell, Reading, 1743-1827

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6w9637n (person)

Chew, Katherine Banning, 1770-1855

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6h99zvs (person)

Chew, John, 1797-1815

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w62v38st (person)