JACOB BROOM a Biographical Sketch by Nuala M. Drescher

JACOB BROOM

A Biographical Sketch

Nuala M. Drescher

Hagley Museum July 1959 JACOB BROOM

Jacob Broom had a varied and successful life and career, centered

about the ever-growing borough of Wilmington, Delaware. He began his

business career as a surveyor of land and conveyor of title; took an active

role in the political life of his city and colony; supported the Revolution;

and continued his interest in local, state and national politics following

tne suspension of hostilities. Born and educated in Wilmington, Broom

rapidly rose to prominence in the business world and died in Philadelphia in

1810 after a brief illness, while in that city on a business trip relative

to his merchant interests.

Jacob Broom was tne son of Janes Broom and Esther Willis Broom.

His father was a native Delawarean, a blacksmitu who had turned farmer. His

will reveals that wnile ne was considered to be a "yeoman", ne was actually

a man of considerable property.^"

Broom's mother, Esther Willis, was the daughter of John and Mary

Willis of Thornbury, Chester County, Pennsylvania. Mr. Willis was a member

of the Society of Friends, and as his daugnter held similar religious views,

it is not surprising that no record can be found of the baptism of her eldest

child, Jacob, bom in Wilmington in 1752.2

Following the tradition of the area, Broom was educated at home

until about his thirteenth year when he "enjoyed the advantage of substantive 3

schooling, both secular and religious" at the Old Academy on Market Street.

He was trained as a surveyor and conveyor of title; and in 1772 he was

advertising in the Pennsylvania Gazette that he had been regularly instructed

in the practice of surveying and conveying and had set up an office on"the 4 corner of Market Street and Third Street, in the Borough of Wilmington." At -2-

the same time, he advertised that he acted as an investor in real estate,

an indication of the already blossoming diversification of his business

interests and abilities.

Broom gave tangible support to the American cause in the

Revolution. The map he drew of the Brandywine area was used by Washington

for two weeks before the Battle of the Brandywine. The "Washington Map" and several others of the Wilmington area, still extant, attest to his

skill as a surveyor.

On December 14, 1773, Jacob Broom was married to Rachel Pierce of Greenville, Christiana Hundred, New Castle County, Delaware, daughter of

Robert and Elizabeth Pierce. This marriage produced three sons and five daughters, all of whom were baptized in Old Swedes Church, Wilmington.^

According to the last will and testament of Jacob Broom, two of the sons and the five daughters lived to maturity. One daughter, Elizabeth Broom o

Roberts, pre-deceased him, leaving two children, John and Rachel Roberts.

Broom did not long remain only a surveyor. He seems to have abandoned the practice of his profession very shortly to concentrate his efforts on real estate and mercantile interests. After the advertisements of the 1770's there is no further reference to surveying activity. It is quite clear from his newspaper advertisements in local papers in the 1780's that he had completely abandoned surveying as a means of earning a livelihood.

All studies of the members of the Constitutional Convention consider him to 9 have been a land-holder with no mention of other interests. For example, in his study of the Constitutional Convention, Forrest McDonald states:

"Eighteen of the Delegates were farmers, of these ... two conducted farming -3-

on a small scale: Broom and Few ... ." The author goes on to state that

Broom derived "all or almost all" of his income from the soil; that his interests were "primarily realty-agrarian." The deeds on file in the

Delaware State Archives, Dover, however, do not contain any record of farm property held by Broom which could have been used by him for agricultural purposes. The Orphan's Court records of Baltimore County, Maryland reveal that he owned several parcels of farm land there, but that they were leased to others on a long-term basis.^ The scope of his dealings in real estate, as reflected in newspaper advertisements which appeared during his lifetime, indicate clearly that his interest in agriculture was a speculative one rather than that of a farmer of even the "gentleman" variety.

For example, in the Delaware Gazette of October 13, 1792, Broom advertised:

LANDS FOR SALE

A valuable tract of land containing 300 acres situate in Harford County, and State of Maryland. . .

ALSO ANOTHER FARM

containing about 180 acres, 100 of which is woodland, 70 acres cleared and 10 acres meadow, situate in Cecil County, Maryland. . .

The above farms will be desposed on low terms for cash. . .

And again in the Delaware Gazette of February 1, 1794:

To be Sold or exchanged for other

REAL PROPERTY

In this or neighboring States The mills commonly called by the name of SPRING MILLS on the Murderkill Creek in Kent County, Delaware. . .. Also a valuable tract of land containing 180 acres. . . . -4-

In December 1792, Brocm had advertised that he intended to petition the General Assembly at its next session for an act to enable him to construct a mill on the main branch of the Murderkill Creek.^ In Febru ary of 1793, the Assembly passed such an act, and a year later Broom offered the mill for sale or rent.*"-*

An added indication that Jacob Broom was dealing in real estate on a large scale is a notice of the public sale of his lands following his death by his son James Madison Broom. These lands included:

1. A tract of land, lying principally within the Borough of Wilmington; containing about fifty-five acres, beautifully situated upon the Baltimore and Lancaster roads. . • The Land in a high state of cultivation; there is a large orchard of young apple trees, together with other fruit, the Buildings are a tenant's House, Barn, Granary and Dairy.

2. A Lot 30 feet from on Orange Street, between Second and Third Streets.

3. A Lot on Front and Tatnal Streets, adjoining the dwelling of James Brian and extending along Tatnal Street from Front Street to Christiana Creek.

4. A Lot of Marsh in the Ferry Marsh. . .

5. A Lot in Cleman's Creek March, containing about two acres.

6. A two story brick house and a Lot on French Street

between Queen and High Streets • • •

7. A Two story brick House and extensive lots thereto adjoining formerly belonging to John Stapler, Esq. The Lots attached to this property are well calculated for building lotts.

8. Two Lots of Marsh in Holland's Creek Marsh, contiguous to the Road to New Castle.

• • . Also several well secured ground rents in Wilmington.^ -5-

The account submitted by his son also reflected the sale of extensive lands

in Ohio.

Throughout his business career, Broom was able successfully to

combine these real estate interests with his public service and a highly

profitable mercantile business. Frequently his advertisements for the sale

of tracts of land were accompanied by a reminder to the public that he had

for sale such imported items as Irish linen; Seine Twine; Nova Scotia grind

stones; molasses; Madeira wine by the pipe, half pipe and quarter cask;

Holland gin; and Liverpool salt glass. Within the borough of Wilmington,

Broom served as a retail merchant selling the products brought in by the

ships in which he had a financial interest. In the 1790,s he was part owner

of the vessels "Wilmington," the "General Washington," and the "Kitty." At

the time of his death he owned a fourth interest in the "Neptune," a ship whose home port was Philadelphia.

Throughout the 1780's Broom appears to have been in business for himself, but in 1792 advertisements began to appear in the Wilmington papers showing that he was in partnership in the importing business with two other prominent Wilmington merchants, forming the firm of Broom, Hendrickson and

Summer1. In 1795 he belonged to the firm of Rumsey and Broom, engaged in the sale of lottery tickets for the New Castle Pier. By 1796 he had formed a new partnership, this time with his son-in-law, forming Broom, Littler and

Company for the sale of general "merchandize." Any one of these partnerships did not preclude the formation of another at the same time because of the general custom of the period. It is further evident from the bills in the

Old Stone Office Records of the E. ,1. du Pont de Nemours & Company in the -6-

Hagley Museum that Broom continued in business for himself in the 1800's.

Broom's other enterprises included a machine shop on Shipley

Street where he repaired his mill machinery; an attempt to obtain bog ore

or limonite from the main branch of the Murderkill (which proved to be a

financial failure and was quickly abandoned); and a toll road from Christiana

Bridge to the Maryland border authorized by the General Assembly on February

2, 1793. He was also interested in other internal improvements within

Delaware. It is quite certain from the political overtones of many such

improvements that both financial and political motives were in a good measure

responsible for Broom's support of these projects. Among other ventures, he

subscribed to the company formed for the construction of the Wilmington

Bridge. In 1792, the State Assembly passed a law to enable construction of

a lock canal along the Brandywine through Chester County, Pennsylvania and

New Castle County, Delaware. Broom was appointed to the commission to raise money and superintend the construction. The purpose of the canal was to

facilitate the transportation of the products of the Brandywine mills from

Rockland to the mouth of the Brandywine.^ However, Broom was opposed to

the Newport Bridge, which was "calculated only to militate against" the

Wilmington Bridge Company, "advance the interests of a few marsh and land holders" of Newport and New Castle," and present an "insurmountable barrier 20 to the navigation of the Christiana." The Brandywine Bridge was supported largely by the Federalists, especially the merchants and millers and a few

Republicans of New Castle County; these same groups joined in opposition

21 to the Republican-supported Newport Bridge.

In 1795, Broom obtained the use of the Old Academy building in -7

Wilmington and established the first cotton mill in the region. The establishment of the College of Wilmington forced him to move the mill to the Brandywine, where he constructed a factory on property later sold to

E. I. Du pont for his powder works. The Gazette reported that "not less

than three years" had been spent in "constructing and improving the machin ery of the fabrick /mill/ which. • . was so contrived as to perform the

22 usual manual deportments entirely by water." The machinery was constructed along the lines of the Arkwright spinning machine, and the factory had begun to thrive, with the work "being carried on in the best manner by English hands, when in 1797 it was destroyed by fire." J Although the mill was covered by the Insurance Company of North America for $6,000, the sum was not sufficient to rebuild the plants which was valued at approximately $10,000.

The Legislature permitted Broom to run a lottery to raise the money needed for reconstruction, but although prizes were offered to the amount of $36,000, sufficient capital was not forthcoming and the cotton mill was never put back ,.25 in operation.

In addition to these interests, in which Broom took an active or leading role, there were other places in which he could invest the profits from his real estate and mercantile dealings. He was one of the original stockholders in the Insurance Company of North America (300 shares) as was 26 the partnership of Broom, Hendrickson and Summer1. The inventory of his estate shows that he had invested considerable sums of money in the Union

Insurance Company (30 shares - $2,332.50), the Philadelphia Bank (20 shares -

$2,698.24), the Bank of Delaware (3 shares - $900.00),27 the Wilmington Bridge

Company (20 shares - $1200), the Wilmington Turnpike Company (S shares - $75), -8-

the Farmers1 Bank of Delaware (2 shares - $60), the Schuylkill and Susque

hanna Navigation Company (2 shares - $20), the Gap Mine Company (2 shares - 28 supposed to be of no value), and United States Stock (2 shares - $462.60).

In Maryland he invested in the Mechanics' Bank of Baltimore (200 shares - 29 $2,950) and tne Baltimore Fire Insurance Company (150 shares - $3,150).

Jacob Broom was as active in public life as he was in business.

In spite of the rather low opinion that E. I. du Pont formed of him, Broom was held in high esteem by the citizens of the Borough of Wilmington, if the

elected positions ne held through his life are any indication of such

sentiment. He was from 1776 to 1787 frequently elected to positions of high prestige and responsibility. In a time when election districts were small, candidates generally well known in local contests, and well disciplined party organizations a thing of the future, it is hard to believe that a man who had the reputation for being too shrewd, too hard, or dishonest could possibly be elected so often.

In 1776, when he was only 24 years old, Broom was elected second

Burgess of the Borough of Wilmington. He was re-elected five times, and was four times elected chief Burgess. In 1782 he acted as tax assessor for the borough, and in 1783 served as the styles committee for the city when it sent its request to Congress to have the national capital permanently situ- 31 ated in Wilmington. In 1796 he was made Justice of the Peace for New

Castle County.

Broom served in the State House of Representatives in 1784, 1785,

1788, and 1796. While a member of the House in 1786, he was appointed with George Read, John Dickinson, and Gunning Bedford, to meet at Annapolis -9-

to consider the reform of commercial relations between the states. He did

not, however, attend the Convention.

Prior to the Constitutional Convention, there were no well-defined

major political parties or factions in Delaware, but instead many small

political groups. Most of these factions favored a stronger central govern

ment. When the legislature appointed the delegation to go to the Philadelphia

Convention it named three members from New Castle County (of which Broom was

one), and two from Kent. All of the appointed delegates attended the

Convention, and all, to one degree or another, supported the change to a

stronger government.

George Pierce, the delegate from Georgia who included character

sketches of delegates in his journal, described Broom as "a plain good man, with some abilities, but nothing to render him conspicuous. He is silent in

public, but cheerful (sic) and conversable in private. . ."

This tallies with what we know of Broom's role in the Convention, which was, a passive one. When he spoke, it was generally to support a

previous motion or to second it. He rarely volunteered his own ideas except

in this secondary role, A study of his position in the Convention presents

a confusing picture. He supported ideas favored by Jefferson, who soon

broke with the Federalists, and some of the ideas of Luther Martin, who was opposed to the Constitution. He advocated long terms of office, but agreed on shorter terms. He favored a balanced democracy and in his political philosophy stood somewhere in the middle of the delegates. "The evidence

does not prove, as Beard maintained, that he wanted a government 'balanced -10-

in favor of personality.'" When the delegates despaired of any agreement,

Broom "insisted the convention must produce some results, if only by a bare

majority." Broom signed the Constitution, but because the minutes of the

Delaware ratifying convention are not extant, it is not possible to say

definitely what role he played in its adoption, if any.

It seems rather certain, from several clues to his political senti

ments following the convention, that he continued to favor and support the

new government. He wrote to Madison in April, 1789, seeking the appointment

as collector of customs at Wilmington. Later in 1790 he served as Wilmington's

first postmaster. The ledgers of the federal treasury show that Broom was a

holder of a small amount of "three percents",^7 - U. S. government bonds. His will also shows that at the time of his death, he held two shares of United

States stock. Elizabeth Montgomery, when referring to James Madison Broom in her Reminiscences of Wilmington, states that "his family were of the old Federal

Party. . ."38 support of the Wilmington Bridge Company and opposition to the Newport Bridge, his participation in the formation of the Bank of Delaware, and his purchases of stock in other financial institutions give reason to believe in general that he was in sympathy with Federalist policies of govern ment and finance.

Jacob Broom is referred to, more often than not as a Quaker. Credence is lent to this belief by the fact that his mother was a Friend and by bequests he made to the Over-seers of Friends meeting ($500 for the education of Negroes) and to the Female Benevolent Society of the Friends' Meeting at Wilmington.39

However, there is no record of his baptism, and he did not end his life as a 11-

Quaker. There is no question tuat he was, for most of his life, an

Episcopalian. Tne Records of Holy Trinity (Old Swedes) Church, show that

ue was "chosen vestryman in place of Peter Vandever, Sen., lately deceased,"

40 in 1784. From 1789 to 1791 he was a trustee of the church and acted as 41

its agent in collecting ground rents. When the Church determined to

change from the Swedish Lutheran to the Anglican form of worsnip, the

congregation elected Broom to tae committee appointed to alter the charter.

In addition to his position of prestige in the business and

political world, and his role in church affairs, Broom was equally prominent

in civic activity. He served on the board of trustees of the county poor

iiouse, and was active in the local agricultural society.^2 When the College

of Wilmington was authorized by tne legislature, Broom was appointed to the

first board of trustees.^ He was also a trustee of the Old Academy and one

of the organizers and first treasurer of the Library Company of Wilmington.

In 1787 he was one of 223 persons who signed a petition circulated by the

Delaware Society for the Promoting of the Abolition of Slavery. 6n one

occasion, while a member of the House of Representatives, he voted against

a motion calculated to prevent emancipation of the Negroes.^ Strangely, however, the 1798 tax list for Christiana Hundred shows that he owned 2

slaves valued at $80.

Beyond the conflicting statements of E, I. du Pont and George

Pierce, the former unfavorable and the latter complimentary, there is no direct evidence to indicate what type of person Broom was. From the inform ation available on the more public aspects of his life, he seems to have been a shrewd businessman given to public service. He supported the -12

political party which favored the business interests that gave him his livelihood. He seems to have used his political position to foster these

45 interests in large and small ways. Broom was obviously a reasonably well educated and well read man. At his death, his library contained well over 220 books of all types and titles. One piece of prose which can be attributed to him, an address of the Borough of Wilmington to General

Washington upon his retirement as head of the American army in 1783, re flects this education and ability. In conclusion, it can be said of Jacob

Broom that he was an astute man, a community-spirited citizen who served well both his own interests and those of the public. FOOTNOTES

1. The Historical Research Commission of the Colonial Dames of America, A Calendar of Wills (New York, 1913), p. 133.

2. William W. Campbell, "Life and Character of Jacob Broom," Historical and Biographical Papers of the Delaware Historical Society, 1909, V. 8.

3. Journal Every Evening (Wilmington), September 16, 1937.

4. The Pennsylvania Gazette, May 28, 1772.

5. The "Washington Map" is reproduced in Washington Irving1s Life of Washington, (New York, 1849), III, 191. The Historical Society of Delaware has photostatic copies of three other extant Broom maps in its files.

6. Horace Burr, The Records of Holy Trinity Church, 1696-1773 (Wilmington, 1890).

7. Campbell, "Life and Character of Jacob Broom," p. 31.

8, Will of Jacob Broom, photostatic copy, Hagley Museum.

9. For example, see Charles Beard, An Economic Interpretation of the Constitution of the United States (New York, 1913), pp. 80-81, 89, and Forrest McDonald, We, the People (Chicago, 1958), pp. 87, 91, 94.

10. McDonald, We, the People, p. 87.

11, Photostatic copy of the inventory of the goods and chattels and personal estate in Baltimore County of Jacob Broom, Hagley Museum.

12. Delaware Gazette, October 13, 1792,

13. Ibid., February 1, 1794.

14. Delaware Gazette, December 8, 1792. -14-

!5. Ibid., February 9, 1793 and February 1, 1794.

16. American Watchman and Delaware Republican, November 7, 1810.

17. "Inventory of the Personal Goods and Chattels of Jacob Broom. . .," photostatic copy, Hagley Museum.

18. Laws of Delaware (New Castle, 1797), II, p. 1079.

19. Laws of Delaware, II, p. 1129; Report, Dec. 20, 1792, Legislative Papers, Delaware State Archives.

20. Delaware State Archives, "Folder 1808, January Legislative Petitions, Transportation," Legislative Papers.

21. John A. Munroe, Federalist Delaware (New Brunswick, 1954), p. 254.

22. Delaware Gazette, February 11, 1797.

23. E, D. Ebeling, ^geography and History of the United States of America, (Hamburg, 1797), typescript translation of the Delaware Section, Historical Society of Delaware, p. 87.

24. Fire Blotter, No. 1, Insurance Company of North America, policy number 396-7 (Archives of tne Company, Philadelphia), December 10, 1794.

25. The Delaware and Eastern-Shore Advertiser, September 7, 1797.

26. Thos. A. Montgomery, A History of the Insurance Company of North America (Philadelphia, 1885), pp. 137-138.

27. Jacob Broom was one of the original petitioners to the state legislature for the charter of the Bank of Delaware. He acted as chairman of the meeting at which the officers were elected, and served as a member of the first Board of Directors.

28. "Inventory of the Personal Goods and Chattels of Jacob Broom. . photostatic copy, Hagley Museum. -15-

29. "Inventory of the Goods and Chattels and Personal Estate in Baltimore County of Jacob Broom. . ." photostatic copy, Hagley Museum.

30. B. G. du Pont, trans, and ed., Life of Eleuthere Irenee du Pont from Contemporary Correspondence (Newark, Del., 1924), 11 vols., Volume pp. 338-339.

31. Campbell, "Life and Character of Jacob Broom," pp. 15-19.

32. Henry C. Conrad, History of the State of Delaware (Wilmington, 1908), I, p. 272.

33. George T. Curtis, Constitutional History of the United States (New York, 1879), p. 234.

34. Max Farrand, The Record of the Federal Convention of 1789 (New Haven, 1911), III, p. 93.

35. Robert Brown, Charles Beard and the Constitution (Princeton, 1956), p. 115.

36. Munroe, Federalist Delaware. . .p. 106.

37. Beard, An Economic Interpretation. . . p. 81.

38. Elizabeth Montgomery, Reminiscences of Wilmington in Familiar Village Tales (Philadelphia, 1851), p. 75.

39. 'Last Will and Testament of Jacob Broom," photostat, Hagley Museum.

40. Horace Burr, trans., The Records of Holy Trinity (Old Swedes) Church 1697- 1773 (Wilmington, 1890), p. 515.

41. Delaware Gazette, April 2, 1791.

42. Mirror of the Times, April 4, 1804.

43. Laws of Delaware, III, p. 292. -16-

44. Munroe, Federalist Delaware, p. 159.

45. For example, in 1789 as Justice of the Peace he advertised that a certain man, thought to be a thief, was in the gaol, and stated that further information could be had by "applying to Jacob Broom, who has for sale. . .,"etc. Delaware Gazette, Dec. 5, 1789. JACOB BROOM (cont.)

Manuscripts

LMSS 3/3 Letter to E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Co., from Jacob Broom, 1808

LMSS 3/3 Transfer to E. I. du Pont of Jacob Broom's share of stock in the Wilmington Library Co.

LMSS 5/15 Bills from Jacob Broom for wages and the boarding of agricultural workers

LMSS5/16 Bills from Jacob and Rachel Broom for 1803 to du Pont Co.,

groceries LMSS 5/16 Accounts, 1804, of du Pont Company and Jacob Broom LMSS 5/18 Bills from Jacob Broom (1802-1805) for food and building supplies LMSS 5/21 3ill from Jacob Broom for lumber in 1808

LMSS 5/49 Agreement of company with Jacob Broom for property and water rights

LMSS 5/49 Sketch of Jacob Broom's purchase of the land on the Brandywine from Samuel Gregg, 1794

LMSS 7/vol IX E. I. du Pont correspondence with Jacob Broom, 1802

LMSS 7/vol X 2 items from Jacob Broom, 1802 to E. I. du Pont de Nemours

LMSS 7/vol XI Correspondence of Jacob Broom and E. I. du Pont, 1805

LMSS 9/overaize Rumford Dawes purchased land from Jacob Broom, 1804

LMSS 9/oversize Colored ink drawing of property on the Brandywine owned by Jacob Broom

WMSS 4/2 Correspondence from E. I. du Pont to Jacob Broom, 1803

ACC. 48/ box 8 Material concerning Jacob Broom in the letters of William #122 Hammond

ACC 600 The last will and testament of Jacob Broom, 1810

Film

Negative of the colored ink drawing contained in LMSS 9/ oversize

Micro-film

M-64.7 Material concerning Jacob Broom in the letters of William Hamon JACOB BROOM BIBLIOGRAPHY

F 161 Burr, Horace, The Records of Holy Trinity (Old Swedes) Church, D35 V.9 Wilmington. Delaware, 1697-1773, [Wilmington, 1890].

F 161 Burr, Horace, Catalogue and Errata of the Records of Holy D35 V.9 Trinity (Old Swedes) Church, [Wilmington, 1919],

F 164 Conrad, Henry C, History of the State of Delaware, [Wilmington, C754 1908Q.

CT 275 du Pont, B. G., Life of E. I. du Pont, [University of Delaware D938 el/i Press, 1925], 1923

JK 141 Farrand, Max, J. S. Constitutional Convention, [Yale University 1911 Press, 1911].

CT 275 Henry, Allan J., The Life of Alexis Irenes du Pont, [Philadelphia, D938 ale/i 1945]. 1945

K Laws of the State of Delaware D34

F 174 Montgomery, Elizabeth, Reminiscences of Wilmington, [Wilmington, W7M78 1872]. 1872

HG 9780 Montgomery, Thomas H., A History of the Insurance Company of I6M8 North America of Philadelphia, [Philadelphia, 1885],

F 168 Munroe, John A., Federalist Delaware, 1775-1815, [Rutgers M968 University Press, 1954].