Abner M Eachus

Notes:

The Daily Local News, West Chester, Chester County, Pa.
August 2, 1901
Abner M. Eachus
After many days of insidious illness Abner M. Eachus departed this life this morning at his home in this place. He was well-known in this community as an estimable and useful citizen and borough official. For several years he was engaged in th grocery business, but for the past ten years he has been the popular Street Commissioner of West Chester, esteemed by the citizens and employes alike.
The deceased was married to a daughter of the late Thomas Townsend, but had no children. He was a member of West Chester Lodge No. 42, I.O.O.F., and had held positions of honor in that organization. He was also for years Chief Engineer of the Fame Fire Company and has held minor political positions in ths borough having shown considerable ability as an organizer. He was a man who had warm friends and few enemies.
EACHUS- In West Chester, on August 2d, Abner M. Eachus, in the 61st year of his age.
Friends and relatives of the family are invited to attend the funeral without further notice from his late residence 229 West Union street on Monday, August 5th. Meet at the house at 2 o'clock. Interment at Greenmount Cemetery.
Abner bought a Grocery store in west chester 1889/90
he died of Jaundice, 6 week illness
Census Listings:
1850 East Bradford, Chester County, Pa age 8.
1860 East Bradford, Chester County, Pa age 19. Farm Labourer.
1870 West Chester, Chester County, Pa age 26. Retail Grocer
1880 West Chester, Chester County, Pa. age 36. Grocer.

Abner married Elizabeth Spearman (Lizzie) Townsend on 17 Sep 1880. Elizabeth (daughter of Richard Davies Townsend and Harriet Speakman) was born on 13 Aug 1850 in Wrest Chester, Chester County, Pa. USA; died on 18 Feb 1942 in West Chester, Chester County, USA; was buried in 1942 in Green Mount Cemetery, West Goshen, Chester County. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Baptism: Chester M M, Chester County

Notes:

Admin 1885, West Chester
Census Listings:
1850 East Bradford, Chester County, Pa age 46. Farmer.
1860 East Bradford, Chester County, Pa age 55. Farmer
1870 West Chester, Chester County, Pa age 65, Works in Lumber Yard.
1880 West Chester, Chester County, Pa. age 76. Retired Cabinate Maker,

Abner married Margaret Regester on 24 Dec 1829 in Middletown, Chester County, Pennsyvania.. Margaret (daughter of James Regester and Priscilla Hoopes) was born on 12 Nov 1802 in Chester County, Pa; died on 20 Mar 1881 in West Chester; was buried in 1881 in Green Mount Cemetery, West Goshen, Chester County, Pennsylvania USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Census Listings:
1850 East Bradford, Chester County, Pa age 47.
1860 East Bradford, Chester County, Pa age 56.
1870 West Chester, Chester County, Pa age 67. Keeping House.
1880 West Chester, Chester County, Pa. age 77, Keeping House.

Notes:

Virgil Eachus, son of Phinehas and Sarah (Trego) .. Removed early in life
to Middletown Township, Deleware county, where he lived for a number of years
and then moved to Barlmore county, maryland, where for a short time he was
engaged in farming. On his return he settled in Haverford township, Delaware
county where he passed the remainder of his life, his occupation being that of
a farmer. In politics he was an old line Whig. Virgil and his first wife,
Bathsheba Webb, had nine children. When she died Virgil married Mary Starr and
had another five children. ( from Genealogical & Personal Memoirs of chester &
Delaware County, Gilbert Cope)
Goshen MM minutes; 6-2-1784 Virgil Eachus to Bradford.
25-7-1814 Virgils Children, Joseph, Mahala, & Preston were in possession of Gunpowder. Chester County. M M.
Rasdnor MM minutes; 14-6-1827 Virgil Eachus, Mary his wife and minor children Minshall, Sarah and Virgil Trego, also Van Leer Eachus, Certif from Goshen Disowned for seperation.

from"Pennsylvania Vital records",Vol 11, Genealogical Publishing Co, Inc, 1983

Gilbert Cope copied the Dutton Records of deaths ,marraiges etc....a work compiled by or inthe possetion of Hannah Dutton for many years. A death is listed for Virgil eachus on 9-10-1839. It is likely that this is the Virgil eachus refered to in that work. Gilbert copied this list in 1873 and published his " Chester and Delaware Counties" work in 1904 so he should have the correct date for Virgils death.

Virgil married Bathsheba Webb on 4 Jan 1791 in St Michaels Zion Church, Philadelphia,. Bathsheba was born about 1765 in Maryland, USA; died on 3 Feb 1807; was buried in 1807 in Middletown Preparative Burying Ground, Lima, Delaware. Pa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

James married Priscilla Hoopes. Priscilla was born about 1777 in (in/of) Chester County, Pa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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]

Notes:

Sarah appointed overseer at Goshen meeting 19-3-1759. Disowned 8-2-1771.
will dated 9th Mar 1795. proved 26th Dec 1799

Pennsylvania Wills 1682-1834

"To sons Benjamin, Virgil and Paris Eachus 5 shillings each
To son Abner Eachus 10 shillings. To grand son William Thomas 5 shillings To son William Evans 20 shillings when of age. to my four daughters-in-law, Mary, wife of Benjamin. Bethsheba wife of Virgil, Mary wife of Paris and Mary wife of Abner, All wearing apparel. To son Jesse Evans all remainder of estate when of age." Executors: John Ralston, son Jesse Evans
Wit: JohnEvans , Sylvester Woodward.

The wording of the will would seem to say that Sarah married a second time to a Mr Evans.