Phineas Eachus

Other Events:

• Baptism: The Original Homestead, West Chester

Notes:

Phineas Eachus son of John Eachus & Hannah Haines, was at one time a large landowner, Owning much of the present site of West Chester. Where he was from 1762 to 1768 the proprietor of the first inn, which was called the Turks Head Tavern**. He was also the owner of the Original Homestead. Becoming surety for his friends, he lost the property, The land passing into the possession of Isaac Matlock. and the Inn being purchased by John Hoopes.
Goshen MM minutes: 9th Dec 1768 Phineas Eachus uncle, William Eachus lost money by being security for him.
6th Jan 1769 Phineas Eachus disowned.
8th Feb 1771 Sarah wife of Phineas disowned.
List of Capt. Joseph Johnsons Company of the Township of Goshen 1781. Phineas is listed as private 3rd class..

** His Grandfather Robert Eachus sailed to America with one of the ships provided by the Minshull Family, The Turks Head was the Minshull Family Coat of Arms

Background;
The history of West Chester is intimately connected to its role as a transportation hub. West Chester is situated on high ground between the Brandywine and Chester Creek watersheds, at a point that attracted travellers since the earliest days of
recorded history, The Great Minquas Trail of the Lenni Lenape passed through the area in the 17th century, connecting settlements and trading posts in the lower Schuylkill Valley with fur-producing regions to the west.
The first roads in the area were laid out in the early eighteenth century. Although neither the "Old Lancaster Road" (US30) not the "Old Baltimore Pike"(US1) passed through West Chester, William Penn's "Street Road"(PA926) passed a short distance to the south, and the "Strasburg Road" passed along what later became the north edge of the borough. A road from Wilmington to Reading (PA100) passed directly through the centre of the future borough, and another early road(PA100) ran southwest from the site to Jefferis' Ford on the Brandywine, near modern Lenape Park.
In 1762, a local cooper named Phineas Eachus applied to the Pennsylvania Legilsature for permission to open a "public house" for travellers on the Wilmington-to-Reading Road, at the intersection (presently Gay and High Streets) with the road from Jefferis' Ford to Philadelphia. Permission was granted, and Eachus' house became the "Turks Head Tavern", named for the sign used to mark its location. That Tavern, and its surrounding community, became the nucleus for the borough of West Chester, which was incorperated on March 20, 1799.
(taken from "A Brief History of Transportation in West Chester" by Jim Jones)

Archive;
Family Group Sheet (FG1/2)
A Brief History of Transportation in West Chester (A1-17)

Phineas married Sarah Trego on 23 Nov 1757 in GermanTown, Goshen Meeting Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.. Sarah (daughter of William Trego and Margaret Moor) was born on 26 Jun 1737 in Honey Brook Township, Chester County, Pa. US; died on 26 Dec 1799. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Virgil Eachus was born in 1758 in Goshen, Chester County, Pa, USA; died on 9 Oct 1839 in Delaware, Pennsylvania; was buried in 1839 in Montgomery Cemetery, Norristown, Mongomery County, Pennsylvania.
2. Benjamin Eachus was born in 1759 in Goshen, Chester County, Pennsylvania, USA; died on 15 Apr 1856 in Delaware, Pennsyvania, USA.
3. Abner Eachus was born in 1761 in Goshen, Chester County, Pa; died in 1845 in Willistown, Chester County, Pa.
4. Paris Eachus was born in 1763 in Goshen, Chester County, Pa; died on 15 APL 1856.
5. Mary Eachus was born in 1764 in Goshen, Chester County, Pa; died on 14 Oct 1794.

Notes:

Birth year from tax Records for Pa 1729 Goshen
Goshen Minutes: 18.9.1734 John Eachus and Hannah Haines marriage allowed.
17.8.1748 John Eachus reported for drinking.

Bound Servants & Apprentices:
26th Sept 1746 Benjamin Burke assigns Catherine Duggan a servant from Ireland
in the brig Rebecca to John Eachus of Chester County, yeoman, for 4 years from
September 21st 1746. Consideration ?14 customary dues.

Early Church Records of Chester County, Pennsylvania v.2,pp 83,87.
In 1748 the Goshen Monthly Meeting complained that John was "drinking to excess," for which he was "disowned" on 19th Oct. of that same year. Wife Hannah was disowned on 15th feb 1751 for "aspersing" the character of Elizabeth Ashbridge. John reportedly died from "weakness of body and Etreamaty (sic) of weather"

John bought two hundred acres of land from Edward Riley 24th October 1729. John and Hannah conveyed one hundred and fifty acres of their land, including the corner property to their son Phineus. The conveyance is dated 8/12/1753. Phineus was the first Inkeeper at the Turks Head Tavern. Phineus biult a small log cabin located on the present site of the Fidelity Bank, on North High Street. wher he practised his trade as a cooper before opening the Turks Head. After his bankruptcy the property northeast of the corner of High & Gay streets was sold by Sheriff John Morton on Feb 22nd 1768 to Isaiah Matlack.

John married Hannah Haines on 22 Nov 1734 in Goshen MM, Chester County, Pa. Hannah (daughter of Isaac Haines and Catherine David) was born on 4 Jan 1717 in (in/of) Goshen Township, Pennsylvania USA; died in 1799 in Goshen, Chester County, Pennsylvania, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Baptism: 22 Mar 1674, Middlewich, Cheshire, England

Notes:

Robert was the first Eachus in America. His presence is documented in a number of sources, including a history of "Chester & Delaware Counties," Gilbert & Cope: " The first ancester to appear on the records is Robert Eachus, who on December 5th 1704, purchased two hundred acres of land from Richard Thomas...... "
The Eachus family had been Tenant Farmers in Church Minshull and Minshull Vernon since the 13th Century, by the 17th century there was a lot of poverty and disease in the area and they would have had a hard life. One of the wealthier families in the Minshull area was the Minshul Family, they did a lot for the community including helping to fund the Church rebuild in 1702. In 1682 Thomas Minshul and his wife Margaret settled in Pennsylvania, and the family made money by sending ships to America with fee paying passengers. Many inhabitants of the area worked their passage to America on these ships. and it would have been easy for the Eachus family of Minshull, to arrange a trip for their cousin Robert to work his passage in this way. Family legend says that he sailed from Chester in 1700, which would fit perfectly with the Minsul ships. Another pointer is the fact that the coat of arms of the minshul family was a Turks Head. Robert's Grandson Phineas opened an Inn on his land and called it the Turks Head, The Turks Head was in the centre of what is now West Chester (corner of Gay Street & High Street).
The first mention of Robert Eachus in America is in 1704 when he delivered a deed of mortgage to Richard Thomas for 200 acres of land dated 6th day of December 1704. ( from the records of the courts of Chester County Pa 1697-1710)
According to the Tax records his first son John was born in 1707, and Ann in 1712, but according to the IGI he was not married untill 1713. There is no other evidence of this date and one of 1706 would be better suited to the facts. A date of 1707 in Birmingham Township, Chester, Pennsylvania, is given by some, and as Elizabeth's family were living in Birmingham township this is entirely possible, but I have found no evidence to support this.
Robert spent his life after 1704 as a farmer on his land in Goshen, and died between 3 December 1727, when he signed his will, and 26 nov 1728, when it was proved.
To his wife Elizabeth he left one half his Plantation where he lived containing 200 acres during her life. To his son John he left the other half of said Plantation and the whole of same at the death of his wife. To his son William he left 200 acres north of above land, and to have the liberty to work upon the same at 19. To his youngest sons Robert, Enoch and Daniel he left ?10 each at 14. To his three daughters Elizabeth, Ann and Alice he left ?5 each. His Executors were his wife Elizabeth and his son John .

Time Line:
Pennsylvania was settled in 1630 by Dutch pioneers who came up the Delaware Bay and river and settled at Gloucester point.
Swedes began to arrive about 1631, Their first landing was at New Castle, which they named Stockholm. King Charles II, in 1664, whose claim to New England gave him power to claim to the southward, he granted patent to his brother James, Duke of York and Albany. New York being named after the Duke. In 1675 the west part of this area was sold to one Edward Byllinge of the Society of Friends, to whom William Penn, soon afterwards, became a trustee. Penn, in his efforts to settle the estate of Bylling, became so well acquainted with the region of Pennsylvania and colonial settlements, as to be afterwards induced to purchase that for himself, by recieving it as an equivalent for claims due to his father, Admiral Penn. In 1677 the ship Kent arrived with 230 passengers. They landed at Raccoon Creek. Other vessels continued to follow to Jersey. In 1681 William Penn induced people to emigrate by selling them one hundred acres for 40 shillings (2 GB pounds - value in 2002 - 300 GB pounds). In the years after 1683 emigration increased, Pioneers came from England, Ireland, Wales, The Netherlands and Germany. One of these early pioneers was Robert Eachus


Archive;
Family Group Sheet (FG1/1)
Descendents Printed List (RG1/2)
Early History of the Eachus Family in Chester and Delaware Counties (A1-14)
Robert Eachus to Margaret Paul Vincent born 1963 Descendancy (FG1-17)
will dated 3 december 1727 proved 62 November 1728 (WI-6) & digital

Robert married Elizabeth Harry on 13 Mar 1708 in Goshen, Chester County, Pennsylvania, America. Elizabeth (daughter of Hugh Harry and Elizabeth Brinton) was born in 1690 in Dilworth, Birmingham, Township, Pa; died on 8 Mar 1758 in East Malborough, Chester County, Pennsylvania; was buried in 1758 in Kennett Burial Ground, Kennett Square, Chester County, U.S.. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

After the death of Robert Eachus, Elizabeth was left with seven young children. So it is not surprising that within a year, she married a widower John Gleave, and taken most of her children with her to live with him in Springfield. The signatures under those of the bride and groom were Elizabeth Harry, Hester Willis, William Brinton, Thomas Speakman, John Eachus, Elizabeth Eachus, etc
The month after her marriage Elizabeth Gleave requested a certificate of removal to Chester Monthly Meeting on 21st April 1729.
In May 1756, Elizabeth Gleave was received as a member of Newark Monthly Meeting on a certificate from Chester Monthly Meeting.
Elizabeth Gleave died 8th March 1758 and was buried at Kennett Meeting. The Will of Elizabeth Gleave, Widow, is dated 28th Jan 1758, and was prooved 21st March 1758. To her son John Eachus she left 5/-, to son William Eachus 10/- , to son Robert Eachus 10/-, to her son Enoch Eachus she left ?5, to son Daniel Eachus her riding mare, to daughter Ann Wickersham wearing Apparel. The remainder to be equally divided between her son Daniel Eachus and her son-in-law James Wickersham, who were also her Executors. The witnesses were Thomas Carleton and Daniel Bailey

Information from Swathmore College says that Hugh Harry and his family were Seventh Day Baptists.

Notes:

In 1717 Isaac's father gave him 254 acres on the northeast side of West Chester, there he built a house and made his residence. This land was later devided by will to his sons Ellis & Josiah. the later recieving the homestead which in 1787 he sold to William Rodgers, from Vincent.
Admon;
July 6, 1766. August 16, 1768.
Provides for wife Catherine. To son Isaac 20 shillings having given him a plantation in Goshen. To son Ellis plantation containing 146 1/4 acres, also 20 shillings. To son Josiah remainder of plantation where I now live containing 133 acres. To daughter Sarah Haines case of drawers. To grandsons Isaac Yarnall and Hugh Derbrow 10 shillings at 21. All remainder of personal estate to wife and 3 daughters Hannah Eachus, Mary Martin and Lydia Williams. Executors: Son Isaac and
friend Geo. Ashbridge, Jr. Wit: Thomas Hoopes, Jr., Thomas Scholfield, Isaac Haines the 3rd.

Isaac married Catherine David in 1714. Catherine (daughter of Ellis David) was born about 1695 in (in/of) Goshen Township, Pa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Abode 1670 Yatehouse, Middlewich
1660: paid Hearth Tax @ Ravenscroft Hall
John met his future wife Alice Hight while they were both servants at Ravenscroft, It was a 14th Century Moated Manor House, (Long since demolished)
Later they married and farmed at Kinnerton near Middlewich, Cheshire. There is little doubt that it was his son Robert Eachus who travelled to the Colonies in 1700 and founded the American Eachus Family.

John married Alice Hight on 11 Aug 1661 in Over Parish Church, by Licence. Alice was born about 1640 in (in/of) Ravenscroft, Middlewich, Cheshire. England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Hearth tax 1660 @ Ravenscroft Hall

Notes:

Married:
Written Extract of Marriage Licence Held

Notes:

Hugh was a weaver from Machynlleth, Montgomeryshire, Wales, who arrived at Philadelphia on the ship "Vine" from Liverpool, England on 17 July 1684. he lived in birmingham Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania.
Among the passengers Listed were Hugh & Daniel Harris. On his Marriage to Elizabeth he received a gift of two tracts of land covering 250 acres, in Birmingham, Pa from his father-in-law William Brinton on 11th April 1695, and on the 16th November 1707 he bought an additional 430 acres in Marlborough Township. Hugh & Elizabeth had six children known to survive.
His will is dated 27 April 1708 and proved at Pa 28 Sept 1708.
Note, in welsh names the son took the name of the father so Hugh Harry is the son of Harry Thomas Owen. (written Harris)

Hugh married Elizabeth Brinton on 12 Apr 1686 in Concord MM, Chester County. Elizabeth (daughter of William Brinton and Ann Bagley) was born on 9 Oct 1665 in Sedgley, Staffordshire, England; died in 1715 in Chester County, Pennsylvania, USA; was buried in 1715 in Brinton Homestead Cemetery, Thornbury, Delaware, Pennsylvania USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Lived at Dilworth, Birmingham Township. US
Elizabeth is an ancester of Richard Milhous Nixon, through his mother Hannah
Milhous.

Notes:

John Haines bought 965 acres of land in Goshen, Chester County, in 1702, including that part of West Chester south of Gay Street. He also purchased in 1710, 254 acres to the northeast of West Chester. In 1715 he conveyed to his son John 50 acres next to his other land, and to his daughters, Rebecca, Phebe, Esther and Mary, each 100 acres. All of these children, except Esther and Mary came to goshen.



John Haines was a settler Lumberton, NJ, as early as 1683, and it is said to have lived at first in a cave.
Tradition has it that he sent for his father and brothers to come over to "The Colonies" and that his father died at sea. There is a deed on record from Edward Byllinge to Richard Haines of "Anoe on y hill, in y county of Oxon", for 100 acres of land in NJ. This Anoe is supposed to refer to Aynho, in a point of Northamptonshire, England, and which extends in Oxfordshire. Richard Haines was doubtless the father of John, Richard, William, Thomas and Joseph, who lived for a time in Burlington County.

John married Ester Borton on 4 Oct 1684 in Burlington County. US. Ester (daughter of John Borton and Anne Kinton) was born on 25 May 1667 in Northampton River, New Jersey, America. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Ellis was listed as a widower in 1703. He died between Aug 1st 1719 & April 12th 1721. Possible name for his wife Elizabeth. (info courtesy of Linda Trent)