Sarum 105 Stoney Bank Road Thornbury Township HRP # 006

Complied by Mary Sue Boyle and company LLC West Chester, PA 2014

Sarum Genealogy

John Taylor was born December 22nd, 1639 in Seend, Wiltshire, England. He married Hannah Osborn in Alderton, England. John was first noted in the colonies surveying Cape Henolpen (Whorekill) in July of 1679; prior to the arrival of William Penn. In July of 1684, Thomas Callohill, the father of William Penn’s second wife, hired Taylor to survey 5500 acres he had bought from Penn. He received 18 British pounds from Callohill for the Taylor family to come to Philadelphia. Taylor received 400 acres as well and served as Callohill’s agent in the colonies collecting rents. John, wife Hannah and daughter Elizabeth and sons Isaac and Jacob arrived and settled on Tinicum Island with relative Christopher Taylor, owner of the Island. Christopher Taylor immigrated with William Penn on the ship Welcome in 1682, having received a grant from Penn as well and an appointed member of the first Provincial Council 12.14.1682. Christopher was President Judge of Chester County which he held until death. Upon arrival Taylor rented a parcel in 1685 and soon after moved to 63 acres in Middletown Township. There is no record of his completion of the Callowhill survey. He and his heirs paid quit rent annually until 1686. He also received 16 shillings 4p annually as agent and kept 5% of all rent collected on lands he surveyed. In 1686 John Taylor died and Hannah moved to Thornbury with daughter Elizabeth and son Isaac. Elizabeth married Hugh Duborow 1686, who was the first constable of Thornbury in 1687. They later moved to Philadelphia. 1687 a Joint petition was presented at Concord Meeting transferring membership from Philadelphia Meeting for John, Hugh Duborow and wife, and sons Isaac and Jacob Taylor. Isaac and Jacob were educated by Christopher Taylor, as he had run a classical school of great renown in Wiltshire, England and upon arrival, a school on Tinicum Island. Christopher also trained under George Fox and in 1652 became a Quaker and was a preacher of the doctrine as well, which led to his persecution and imprisonment in England and subsequent immigration. Isaac and Jacob were well schooled in astronomy, astrology, science and literature. Both were schooled as surveyors as their father had been. Isaac was educated as a physician as well and Jacob was a teacher. Jacob never married. At age 16 he was taught by Thomas Holme, the Surveyor General in 1689. Jacob spent many years teaching in Abington and later spent much time in Philadelphia teaching and in close relations with Ben Franklin and James Logan and the Penns. 1702 the Surveyor General of the province died of small pox and Jacob filled his position and was officially commissioned in 1706. The same year Jacob authored the almanac: Ephemeris Sideralis. The almanac was printed in Philadelphia and published annually until 1724. Jacob was a close associate of Ben Franklin and when Ben published his first Poor Richard’s Almanac in 1735, he credits Jacob for his years of dedication. Probably the only two books found in homes at the time were the Bible and the Almanac. Jacob surveyed the streets of Philadelphia. 1733 Jacob moved back to Thornbury to his nephew, John’s house that he always noted as home. He stayed in contact with his dearest friend, James Logan, Receiver General for the Proprietor. Jacob could have taught family members during the last years of his life however no records remain to indicate such. He took his life March 2nd, 1746. Brother, Isaac Taylor stayed in Thornbury and 1694 married Martha Roman and was first taxed in Thornbury 1696. He was a subscriber to Concord Meeting house erection in 1697. Martha and Isaac had 5 children: John b. 1697; Jacob b. 1700; Phillip b.1702; Ann b. 1705 and Mary b. 1706. His great-great- granddaughter, in 1783, noted Isaac’s High living in a superior house with a separate house for servants and his wife kept a dressing maid. His farm was the east side of Chester Creek. 1701 he was Deputy Surveyor of Chester County with brother, Surveyor General Jacob. He practiced medicine Lancaster to Philadelphia. Isaac surveyed the curved boundary that separated Delaware from Pennsylvania with the Delaware Surveyor General Pierson. 1701 he was jailed for 24 days attempting to lay out the controversial line between Maryland and Pennsylvania. He was appointed 1704-11 For Quit Rent Collections by James Logan and 1704-1722 was a member of PA Assembly. 1719 He was appointed as a Justice until death in 1728 and was also a Chester County Commissioner 1726-28.

Page 2 Isaac and Martha’s oldest son John Taylor was the capitalist lightning strike of the family. We will refer to him as Dr. John Taylor to avoid future confusion in the genealogy. Born in 1697, he married Mary Worrilow Baker 1718. His father Isaac was executor with Joseph Baker’s widow of the estate and John became fond of her during the probate process. He was well educated and he also was a physician and surveyor. John moved into Mary’s house and remained there until his death. The Patent Map explains the dynamic of the area at the time. Dr. John Taylor resurveyed and bought all of Mary’s family (Worrilow) and Joseph Baker’s land in 1718 at the time of their marriage. In 1725 John surveyed 400 acres south east of this parcel. This may have been grandfather John Taylor’s parcel cut from the Simcock parcel, as there was no record of purchase for this parcel. This is the parcel that holds our Sarum Farm house and tract. He also buys in 1724, 180 acres along both sides of Chester Creek. These lands held the forge that was noted as producing product in 1721.These lands were all originally part of the John Simcock patent of 1,500 acres surveyed in 1684. Part of the Simcock patent total hold of 5000 acres that comprised most of Thornbury Township. If you notice on the north east corner of the map, there is another Joseph Baker large parcel, and John Taylor purchased this as well from Mary’s family in adjoining township. His brother Jacob also married Grace Worrilow, sister of Mary in 1728. During this time 1689 to 1720, it was most likely the time of the erection of the core structure for use by a family member or a tenant farmer on the 400 acre parcel. John and Mary had 6 children: Martha b.1719; Isaac b. 1720; John b. 1721; Phillip no date recorded, Jacob no date recorded and Mary, who died young. His home farm comprised 1,200 acres. 1720-1731 he was Sheriff of Chester County. 1730 to 31 a Member of the PA Assembly. 1741 to 45 Justice of the Peace. Mary Worrilow Baker Taylor died and in 1734 John married Elizabeth Moore, also a widow with land in Birmingham. John surveyed the southern boundary of the state and most of the lands in Chester County as a resurvey was started during Isaac’s term and carried through to John’s term as Surveyor General. He bought and sold choice pieces of land as he performed his trade. Dr. John’s main focus apart from Surveyor was Sarum Forge. Located along the Chester Creek near the intersection of Forge Rd. and Stoney Bank Rd. 1721 was the first record of the forge transaction for a pair of old plow irons and a pair of shoes. John Taylor surveyed the lands of Nutt and Branson, the iron forgers to the north in Chester County and later Potts (1736) and becomes engaged with Nutt and Branson. They all worked together to devise transport of pig iron to Thornbury to be processed into bar iron and cut these bars to suitable lengths for transport to market at Marcus Hook. 1742 the forge was functioning and the slitting mill was added around the same time. The first slitting mill in Pennsylvania, and possibly the colonies. 1743 a Tavern license was granted at the location as the route was heavily traveled. 1745 was the first use of the name Sarum, derived from Taylor ancestry in Wiltshire England. Son Isaac operated the family store at the site and later was the Merchant at Chichester, Marcus Hook’s port. For a mile along the Chester Creek there were “three stacks” of forges and slitting mills; a grist mill and saw mill in operation. Remnants remain today in the National Register District to the north of Sarum Farm. Initially Dr. John accepted barter for his iron for molasses and other food staples. While he was building his industrial operation on the creek he was also cultivating 1,200 acres of his home farm and produced export of flour, beef and pork. Sarum Farm was a contributor to this agricultural export. John lent money to Taylor and Worrilow Family members; he employed family members but he never subdivided his land. His marriage to Elizabeth was horrid from the get go. John was known to have a temper and chastised his wife publically for her extravagance and neglect of his interests and the childrens’ interest. They were both disowned in 1745 for these actions. John worked onward and at age 59 died suddenly in 1756; without a will. He had created a complex of agricultural and iron industry along Chester Creek that was key to the success of our early colonies. Elizabeth held his estate together until her death in 1771. The mills and farms were leased and worked to assure continued production.

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Elizabeth and family continued the mills and farming. John’s son John the third, who married Sarah Worrall; ran the Mills for a period and his children played a key role in the future of the Mills. John Taylor the Third and Sarah had 3 children: Mary who married Persifor Frazer and was the famous Polly and Persifor of the Revolutionary War, their house was at the site of Frazier ruins up the Chester Creek in Thornbury. Daughter Sara married James Thomson and Isaac married Elizabeth Townsend Their properties comprised the area just north of the Sarum Farm tract and were surveyed by Mad Anthony Wayne. Some estate went to repay debt to Potts and Bull, Frazer and Thomson remained involved with the family forge and farming business and the business waned. Philip Taylor, son of Dr. John and brother of John the third, married Mary Riley and produced John Taylor and Margaret Taylor. Philip died 1754 so when Dr. John Taylor’s second wife Elizabeth probated the estate, John and Margaret were minors and their portion of inheritance that was Sarum Farm was settled in Orphans’ Court. Upon age of majority they both married children of Robert Moulder, Dr. John Taylor’s Factor at Marcus Hook. Robert Moulder kept the export/import books for the forge and worked with Isaac, son of John, at the store and later at Marcus Hook. John married Elizabeth Moulder and Margaret married John Moulder. They all moved to Chichester 1773 John and Elizabeth h&w; and Margret sold Sarum Farm comprised of 184 acres, to Joseph Talbot from Middletown. Joseph had 3 wives, his first wife was Hannah Baker m.1732 and she was the daughter of Dr. John Taylor’s first wife, Mary Warrilow’s sister in law, from her first marriage to Joseph Baker. They have 10 children. His second wife was Lydia Townsend m.1761 and his third wife was Ann Sharpless m. 1776. Joseph was married to Lydia when he purchased the house and owned for 10 years. During that time he erected a messuage or tenement and made a plantation thereon. Joseph had built a mill on his father’s property in Upper Chichester that he inherited prior to purchasing Sarum. The U.S. Sons of the Revolution registered Joseph, a patriot, because he gave a substantial amount of money to the army by paying taxes for the Continentals in Chester County. He was disowned by Middletown Meeting for funding American troops. He died in 1783 and his will gives the land to sons Joseph and John to keep or sell. According to the Aston Tax of 1773 a Grist Mill and 100 acres were owned by Hall and Abraham Sharpless. Joseph Talbot had 164 acres and the Forge was owned by Fellows, Pennell and Potts. James Thomson and wife Sara Taylor along with Potts and Frazier paid tax on a Grist Mill.so the Taylors are mostly sold out of Sarum Forge and Farmstead.

1783 Joseph and John Talbot sell to Abraham Sharpless, Aston Township, Chester County, Miller. Abraham was witness to Joseph’s will, Joseph’s daughter married Isaac Sharpless and received money from the estate. Abraham most likely added on to the house as it appears he as 7 children, 4 from first wife Phoebe Valentine m. 1785; and 3 from second wife Catherine Wistar m. 1802. The Sharpless Wistar children were Caspar W., Abraham W. and a daughter who died young. Abraham built a grist mill or there was a grist mill on the property when purchased from Talbot. He built a saw mill which shows on maps later. He had an interest in Sarum iron works and late 1790’s he and Robert Hall purchased Sarum iron works; Norris Jones and later other investors joined in the ownership of the works. 1801 until his death in 1835, Abraham owned and managed a rolling mill, slitting mill, grist mill and saw mill, he gave a new life to the industries on the Chester Creek. He amassed a considerable estate during the early years of our new nation. Son Abraham Wistar, born 1809 at Sarum Farm. He married Anne Carter Onderdonk 1836 and they had 5 children. Brother Caspar married an Onderdonk sister of Anne. By 1835 he owned the property. Anne died and he married Elizabeth Morgan and they had one child. 1789 Chester County splits to form Delaware County and the farm rested in Delaware County.1848 Thornbury township annexed this portion of Aston township (Stoney Bank School was the southernmost border of the new portion of Thornbury which was located south of Sarum Farm, near the church on Stony Bank Rd.)

Page 4 Abraham Wistar became involved in the business and remained on the property, taking ownership in 1835 from his father. The census of 1820 shows 18 family members on the property. Here one theorizes that the ruin was either a second home on the property, which shows on the map of 1911, or possibly the remains of a grist mill, as the saw mill retained its site further south on the property on maps. Census of 1840 listed 12 family members on the property. Abraham Wistar died in 1861 and his wife Elizabeth owned the farm until 1866. Elizabeth married a Willcox. In 1866 the estate of Abraham W. is probated and the executors sell Sarum Farm to Mark Willcox and James M. Willcox, owners Of Ivy Mills in Concord Township.

Sarum Farm had a renaissance, converting from iron manufacturing to paper production in 1866. April 2, 1866 Mark and James Mark Willcox purchased the property from the executors of the last will and testament of Abraham W. Sharpless. James Mark Willcox married, in 1864, Catherine Sharpless, daughter of Abraham W. and Anne. James had 6 children by his prior marriage to Mary Keating. Joseph Willcox, the brother of James and Mark Willcox married the widow, Elizabeth Morgan. Most likely Elizabeth and Joseph Willcox lived at Sarum when they married and later or simultaneously James Mark and Catherine Sharpless lived there as well. Mark Willcox III, today’s caretaker of Ivy Mills, in Concord Township, related to this author that his great grandfather was born at Sarum Farm; that would be Mark Willcox born 1869 at Sarum Farm who was of the fifth generation of Willcox in the U.S. Mark James Willcox born 1791 in Concord Township and sons James, James Mark, John and Joseph ran Ivy Mills. Thomas Willcox, paper maker, came from Ireland 1727 and built Ivy Mills in Concord. The Willcox house was the second house in the colonies to conduct Catholic Services. Thomas began the paper manufacturing in Concord in the early 1700’s and Benjamin Franklin purchased his fine paper from Ivy Mills in 1735.

Thomas ‘grandsons were Mark and Mark James who bought Sarum Mills and Farmstead. Mark James Willcox the patron donated the land for St. Thomas the Apostle to be built. Ivy Mills, beginning in 1729 began manufacturing the paper for Greenbacks, fractional currency and revenue stamps as well as continental paper currency. Their proprietary paper patent of pure linen fiber mixed with red silk and blue threads could not be counterfeited, nor could a chemical treatment used on some of the paper. Their business grew by leaps and bounds and when our new nation was created they received the contracts for the United States Currency and paper for our new government offices. They manufactured the bank note paper for Bank of North America and its stock certificate paper. James Mark was a first subscriber of their stock offering. As the company grew; their needs expanded and they purchased Sarum Mills and converted the existing iron producing structures into buildings that could accommodate the 62” Fourdrinier Machine that printed government paper. These mills, old and new, were under armed guard day and night for 150 years. Ivy Mills and James M. Willcox Company produced a paper currency for our country, as well as other nations. 1829 the original Ivy Mill was rebuilt to accommodate more volume; 1837 a new Mill built up stream at Glen Mills (Sarum) and another mill was added in 1845. In 1866 Ivy Mills stopped making handmade paper and Sarum and Ivy Mills were at full tilt for production. The Sarum Mills were re-named to Glen Mills by the Willcox family. After the Civil War ended the paper manufacturing moved to Washington D.C., but they failed to make a paper that was fraud free so the contract was returned to James M. Willcox Company of Glen Mills. The Father, patron James M. Willcox died 1854 leaving the business to his 3 sons, one of whom lives in the Sarum farmstead. 1883 the oldest son Mark, dies and the business continues with family members James, William and Joseph. As the photograph of the Ivy Mills house demonstrates, the facade was updated to period appropriate elements of the late 1800’s. The decorative porch hints of Gothic Revival Architecture, popular in the mid to late 1880, while maintaining a general Georgian character of the earlier construction. Sarum Farm was updated as well, adding chimney facings to the early Georgian

Page 5 brick or stone chimneys on the core and the two additions. The exterior was stuccoed to show uniformity of structure and molding were replaced to provide visual continuity of cornices seen on the roof eaves. Looking at the simplistic design of the portico/pantry on the north east corner of the large addition, this was most likely updated during the Willcox tenure as well. In 1892 the business is sold to the Glen Mills Paper Company and the same year the house is sold to house is sold by William Fielding Willcox (son of Mark Willcox who purchased Sarum farmstead) and “Nellie” Ellen Ann Dohan Willcox to the executors of the estate of Michael J, Dohan. It remains a mystery as to why the house was sold to the estate and owned for a period of 18 years, Nellie Willcox lived until 1942 and William to 1948 so perhaps to protect assets from the sale of the corporation in 1892. Nellie Dohan Willcox’s father was a successful tobacco merchant who came from Tipperary Ireland in 1834. Michael Dohan opened a wholesale tobacco company Dohan and Tait in 1855 which he operated until his death in 1891. At the time of his death he was the oldest director of Beneficial Savings Fund; he left a widow and 7 children. The Willcox family held ownership of Sarum Farm 1866 through 1910. August 1st, 1910 the Dohan estate was sold to Francis W. Breuil. Mr. Breuil was of French ancestry and owned a huge estate in Dorchester, Maryland which he purchased after selling this property in 1920. Francis fought in the Spanish American War and owned a gold mine in Firaloca, Mexico Francis owned an extensive collection of antique guns including weapons dating back to the Revolutionary War. Francis Breuil married Theresa Scott from Philadelphia around 1910 and had lived in Lower Merion according to the US census of that year; same year he purchased the Willcox property. Francis and Theresa had two children, the youngest, John, was born the year of the real estate transaction. Francis died in Rehoboth, MD 1944. Issac Edwin Deweese and wife Bertha M. Deweese bought the property in 1920 and little could be found regarding his career and family. Issac subdivided the property during his ownership, selling 85 acres of the 130 acre estate on or before 1932, bringing the estate to the current 45 acre parcel. The property was sold to Harry T. and wife Ethel Freer in 1932.The 1940 US census shows Harry, Ethel, Ethel’s mother and son living in the house. Harry was with the DuPont company in the Philadelphia Finishes Dept. as noted in Motor Boating Magazine, 1951.The family lived in the house for 14 years. Robert W. and Marian Beatty bought the house in 1946. The Middletown Presbyterian Church Cemetery records show many Beatty family members buried, along with their son that they lost in 1925. Little else is known of the Beatty family in records search. They resided in the house for 7 years. Eleanora and Ralph Crane purchased the estate in 1953.This author had requested information via the realtor from the children to be added to the house history and at the time of this writing no response has been received. From the records the author was able to access Eleanora Armistead, daughter of William and Eleanora Armistead, wife of Ralph A. Crane and mother to 4 children: William, Cynthia, Ellin and Sara. The 1920 Census shows a Ralph Crane aged 6 years and living in Radnor Township, Delaware County. The census notes Ralph was born about 1914 in Pennsylvania. His father was Amzi Beach Crane and mother Ince B. Crane. Ralph had two siblings Robert and William. Other records show that he died in 1985. All of the genealogical records that may have given the author a better understanding of the Crane history are private and not accessible. Eleanora died January 4th, 2003 leaving a will and ¼ interest to each of her children.

Structural History Sarum Farm 105 Stoney Bank Road HRP Survey Code 006 Thornbury Township, Delaware County

Clearly the house and grounds have evolved over the 300+ years of use in Thornbury Township, Delaware County. Records note earliest structures in the region were erected circa 1690 when English immigrants arrived and claimed their patent lands from their Penn Grants and set about surveying and constructing their simple shelters in their new locale. The John Taylor family members arrived in Pennsylvania from an area near Sarum, (Salisbury today) Wiltshire, England, bringing their architectural structural knowledge and vision of recreating their farms and villages without the persecution of their Quaker religion experienced in their mother country. Looking at the structures of the farmsteads of Wiltshire and associated villages, this commonality of placement and structure has been envisioned in Thornbury, as demonstrated in the placement of clusters of buildings on farmsteads and workers villages, forges, mills and other early architecture of Chester County. Chester County in 1789 split to form Chester and Delaware Counties, therefore the early references are to Chester County. Further, this portion of Thornbury Township was originally part of Aston, the annexation of Aston properties to Thornbury occurred in 1848, so records are spread in both municipalities and counties. The circa 1690 stone core structure is representative of Post Medieval English architecture demonstrated in simplicity of the core, one room deep with a bedroom above, steep pitched roofs, which may have been thatched originally; small windows and simple board and batten doors. The fireplaces were either located in the center of the structures or on either gable end, as noted on this structure. Little or no eave overhang and no cornice detailing. Simple box winders accessed upper levels with board and batten doors. The original exterior doors were most likely board and batten. The original window and door openings remain and the windows are a diminutive 4 over 4, as contrasted to the gabled dormer window of 6 over 6, later added to the roof line of the core. The interior gable end fireplace use was both heat source and kitchen. The front façade faces north; fireplace to the east retains elements of the original use: blocked in smaller cooking ovens on the east wall; pot crane elements still in the mortar and bricked floor. The slight arch to the top of the fireplace opening shows a later modification of a brick detailed iron arched support, which we know was plentiful at the site. The box winder stair on the first floor to the second floor retains an original door with period hardware (latches) however the stair treads have been modified on the first floor. The house may have been one story originally and then added on the second and third floors. There is a later 20th century addition on the south façade- a greenhouse with access from a south facing doorway. The second floor to the third floor box winder retains its original integrity in materials and workmanship. The steep interior roof line of the 3rd floor has been modified to integrate with the later addition to the west, which is demonstrated in the interior of the gabled dormer, later added to the roof line; this modification is apparent on the walls of the third floor of the core. This core has no basement, which most 16th and 17th century village homes in the UK lack as well; dirt or brick floors were the norm. The front façade faces an intimate courtyard of structures related to the agricultural aspects of the Taylor Sarum Farmstead.

Page 7 This was the only style of English Architecture in the colonies from 1607 to 1700, when the population had grown rapidly to 220,000. Only a few of these remain of the thousands originally built in the colonies, and this core is an even rarer occurrence in the middle colonies, pre dating 1700 Georgian architecture. The remaining Post Medieval English houses in the United States were mostly masonry and exist today due to continuous use for over 300 years.

A small, stone smoke house (kitchen) is due north of and faces this core structure. The smoke house was most likely erected soon after the core house and positioned that the prevailing winds of the fall season would carry the smoke east away from the core. The interior door frame shows evidence of a fire (burnt beams remain in the masonry surrounding the door frame. A main beam half way down the interior wall has been removed and would have sat about waist height to an adult. The fireplace opening has been modified but remnants of a stone arch support remain, a steel support has been added and in filled with stone. The floor is not original and matches a late addition’s flooring, adjacent to the core. The roof and rafters have been replaced. The original roof line remains intact and a later cornice has been added. This structure nearly touches two other structures on the north, northeast side of the core.

The structure to the north east is a simplistic one and a half story masonry structure with two doorways that are elevated from the ground. The roof line runs east to west. The exterior doorway faces west and is part of the two bay façade. On the southern façade is a doorway that currently leads into a later addition to the core and then continues to step down into a small basement/root cellar. There is an eastern facing window, north facing window and western facing window and the small 4 pane window of the ½ story area was not accessible, other than through a hatch cover door in the interior ceiling. The exterior door is board and batten with early hardware. There is a small brick interior fireplace added at a much later date on the east interior wall (brick chimney is noted in exterior photos) however there was not a support in the basement to demonstrate that there was an earlier heat source in the building, as its original masonry construction elements demonstrate. This then leads one to believe that it was a creamery or food storage structure, as below ground an even temperature held through the winter months. Curiously there is a hidden doorway in the floor, just under the eastern facing window on the first floor. Under this door is a stone enclosure in which one adult could easily fit. Returning to the basement one notes that there is only ½ basement exposed under this structure and the wall niche on the north facing wall of the basement is sealed but adjacent to this stone enclosure. There is no evidence in the exterior masonry that would demonstrate and alteration from the exterior, so this was most likely originally built into the basement foundation. The purpose is not known but could have concealed many important items, or hiding place for people or food. The floor and 6 over 6 windows do not appear to be original to the structure. This structure could be more closely related to the first addition to the core which would date it early to mid-1700.

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Due north of these two structures is a stone structure that runs north to south and almost touches the north east corner of the smoke house. The scale and masonry seems to match the scale and masonry of the smoke house and creamery but has been modified to accommodate a 3 bay modern garage facing east. The roof line has been modified and the original rafters and roofing has been replaced.

South east of the core, a short walk takes one to a dark stone ruin of a residential or mill structure with window elements and very large quoins, This structure on the 1911 map and is shown as a separate stone structure on the property with associated out buildings and a driveway leading around the eastern aspect of the core location. Large quantities of the black stone are in and around this structure and a wall ruin separates this structure from the main core. Just to the east of this structure stands two pines that may be centennial pines planted in 1875 and seen at many homesteads in the area The stone matches the stone of the standing mill ruins scattered north up the Chester Creek and also found in the exposed basement rooms of the additions to the core.

North east of this structure is a modified “Chester County Bank Barn” with a masonry 4 stall stable and masonry round columns supporting the forebay. The upper wooden aspect of this barn has been replaced and appears to be a smaller than the original would have been. There is a side walled paddock area to the south of the core of the barn, also in partial ruin.

Lastly, to the north of this collection of core and buildings stands a black stone wall. It has been repaired in the middle but stands as a wall, though some have speculated that it was a barn, no elements of a barn ruin exist.

Early maps show a saw mill on the creek just south of the core location and this author chose to rely on the map’s location as there was no apparent easy access to the site. The race to this mill is also located on many early maps. The saw mill was an important element to the tax parcel, as it remained through multiple title transfers.

The outbuildings were most likely more important than the sleeping quarters in this little farmstead village. The associated summer kitchen/smoke house; shed remnant currently a 3 bay garage, bank barn, stone ruins and creamery all remain today.

We know that several members of the Taylor family came to this locale as noted with the presentation of papers for John Taylor and wife Hannah; their children Elizabeth, Jacob and Isaac at Concord Meeting in 1687. Elizabeth as you may recall was married to Hugh Duborow in 1686 and it is mentioned that Hannah came to the 400 acre survey area in 1686 with Elizabeth, Jacob and Isaac. John Taylor had died on Tinicum Island or on the Middletown twp. parcel as his papers were being presented to Concord Meeting. John, a surveyor, had been to the colonies prior to William Penn’s arrival and received over 1,000 acres in Pennsylvania colonies for services to William Penn. 1725 grandson, John, surveyed this 400 acre tract held in John Taylor, the Grandson’s name which was carved from the original Simcock 1,500 acre parcel. Simcock never lived on this patent from William Penn.

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Need drives construction, and the careers of the early Taylor generations in the colonies provided well for the growing family. Surveying and property management for the Proprietor(s) lands; farming and providing goods and services, generated the funds to expand this little family village of Sarum, as it became known in future years. The first addition to the core was added to the western gable end of the core and, as the farmstead and associated businesses remained in Taylor hands for 100 years, few records remain to describe the additions to the core.

The first addition differed in some ways, it had a stone masonry basement, a less pitched roof line. The windows on the southern façade are in scale with core windows; the north façade windows are taller and are 6 over 6 panes, which were most likely modified as the third addition is erected. An entrance is on the north façade of the addition but currently encased in a later addition on the western gable end. All elements noted as part of the long lived Georgian period, when contrasted with Post Mediaeval English style seen in the core. The Georgian colonial architecture was numerous in the early 1700’s in the Pennsylvania and Mid Atlantic colonies. The materials are a continuation of the plentiful stone masonry. The fireplace is repeated on the eastern gable end and protrudes into the living space of the core. The beehive oven, that is original, is supported by a stone arch that is visible just inside the front door of the core structure. The interior façade of the walk in fireplace wall has been modified over the years but maintains the original openings to the beehive oven, fireplace and iron doors have been added as well as a contemporary brick veneer, differing from the original brick lining of the beehive oven. Some of these elements could have been moved to this wall from the core wall or were most likely just demolished when no longer in use on the original core eastern gable end interior. The tight box winder is a fine, pristine example, accesses the basement to the third floor and is located on the western gable wall adjacent to the front door. The front door may have had a bonnet or a pent roof may have existed, no evidence of either was apparent upon visual inspection of the house. The basement shows the exposed stone and small, narrow 4 pane linear windows north and south exist. The masonry arched support for the walk in fireplace on the second floor exists as does support for the brick beehive oven to the north of the masonry support. On the south east corner of this basement, later electrical conduit access exists to the core and it is apparent that there was no basement under the core. On the north east corner the basement juts out to access the exterior entrance of bilco doors to the basement, noted on the north façade of this addition. The basement is a separate entity from the later western addition, which is accessed through a board and batten door through the stone masonry wall. The first floor of this addition is the current kitchen which has a door to the core via a set of 4 or 5 steps down to the core. Two smaller windows are on the southern façade; a larger 6 over 6 window is to the east of the entrance door. Another door to the later western addition is adjacent to the box winder on the western gable end that is enclosed in paneled doors.

Page 10 The opening is of a more ornate Georgian entrance way, contrasting with the entrance on the north encapsulated in the pantry. The second floor is accessed through the wall from the second floor of the core or through the box winder stair case. The second floor holds a modern bathroom, sitting room or could be nanny’s room. Another room is adjacent to the sitting room that also accesses the bathroom. A doorway in the sitting room on the western gable end accesses the second later addition. The third floor is accessed only from the 3rd floor of the core and the box winder but there is no access to the second addition to the west. There is a very early bathroom with a footed bathtub which is representative of the earliest indoor bath of the late 1800’s.These rooms were all most likely the house servants’ quarters. Another gabled, 6 over 6 dormer matches the same found on the core on the north façade as well as the 6 over 6 of the taller windows in the addition. The south façade third floor has a triple fenestration of 6 over 6 lights in shed dormer added at a later date as well. The bank barn to the immediate east, as previously noted was most likely built at this time as well. The barn is not representative of an English barn which further sets it at a later date, as it is a hybrid, Chester County Bank Barn design the smaller building just north of the kitchen/smoke house appears to be the original, English diminutive barn for the core. John Taylor the second, grandson of John Taylor the first, lived on the property while erecting Sarum Forge, circa 1718. Several family members were here as well and erected housing circa 1687 on the parcel area. John the second, when marrying for the first time, moved to another residence which will be revealed in the genealogical portion of this house history. At that time he owned over 1,200 acres on and surrounding the home farmstead. From the saw mill noted to the south on Chester Creek, following the creek to the north was a string of mills, grist and sawmills; forges and stilling mills related to the iron industry and upon his death the property is disbursed into four allotments that partitioned shares of the Iron business as well as the property’s final distribution to the estate in the 1770’s by his widow Elizabeth. Many Taylor families resided on these parcels, further title search of lands to the north could clarify occupancy of the land during 1690 to the 1770’s. The property is sold to Joseph Talbot 1773 and when sold again ten years later, a plantation and associated Messuages and tenements are noted as erected by Talbot. At the time of the 1798 Glass Tax we see demonstrated ownership of Abraham Sharpless and Taylors on and around this house. The Aston Glass tax list shows Abraham Sharpless (the father) owning 2 Part Stone and Part Log 1 ½ Dwelling House 47 x 18 and Stone ¾ and Wood 1/4 Kitchen 31 x 22. But he rented from John Smith Part log 1 ½ and Part Stone 1 Dwelling House 40 x 28. Sarah Taylor Thomson owns Stone Dwelling House 28 x 28 and John Taylor owns Log boarded Dwelling House 19 x 24 and frame kitchen 22 x 15. Further the 1798 Aston Direct Tax shows Abraham owning 11 parcels in Aston and was the largest tax payer in Aston. John Taylor is also noted with one parcel paying almost the equivalent to Abraham Sharpless. This will be further noted in the genealogy as well. Abraham W. Sharpless, (the son) died before his widow and second wife; she married into the Wilcox family. Upon her death when the will was probated the executors sold to J and M Wilcox and the Mansion House is discussed here. The Sharpless Genealogy, line of George, Jane and John notes that Abraham W. Sharpless, son of Abraham born at Sarum Farm 3-25-1809, died there 12-20-1861 and first wife Anne died there as well 12-9-1814. Second wife Elizabeth Morgan who after his death married Joseph Willcox. And Abraham resided on the farm where born, in what is now (since 1842) Thornbury Township, close by Glen Mills. A daughter born Catherine Helen (to Elisabeth the second wife) b 1-7-1837 also married James M. Willcox. The Mansion House, the most western addition, was most likely built during Abraham the first or son, Abraham W. Sharpless’ life time, as it is mentioned in his last will and testament. This is the grandest addition to the property, reducing the earlier addition and core to the back of the house. It is built perpendicular to the first addition and core. Also the back addition to the core, or most easterly room was added to the core, enveloping the creamery and creating a back room, there may have been a stove for heat, as pipe can be seen on the easterly wall of the core. A window was added to the Page 11 north façade wall of this addition that tied the creamery to the house, as that window is much later than the two most eastern small windows that mimic the same dimensions of the core windows, as well as the door, which mimics the core door. This most east wall is a remnant of another structure dating from same construction period and connected to the creamery. The two smooth walls east and south show that this room was a later addition to the east gable end of the core. This was probably added on with architectural elements from another structure and was created as a mud room for those returning to the house from horseback riding and farming the property. This room holds the southern entrance to the creamery, both the first floor and the access to the root cellar. At that time the small, later brick fireplace and chimney was added as well and remains today. The most east wall of this addition was a part of an earlier structure that could well date to the core Post Medieval English style, as seen in the window openings and small door with wood lintel. The grandest addition is also a Georgian westerly addition that faces the road. It is a 4 bay 2 story addition facing due west. The front door is a classic Georgian example of a rare double line of lights in the transom over a raised 6 panel door with elaborate period latch hardware with a decorative face plate. The door is inset and the two side walls are raised panels, echoing the door panels The map of 1911 shows the wrap around porch which is supported by columns reminiscent of the 1930’s and the side portico wood, flat roofed shed addition to the house which overlaps a portion of the first addition’s main entrance on the northern façade. The stone faces of all of the core and additions were stuccoed over the stone to represent a cohesive mansion house. The roof lines of the core and first addition were updated to accommodate this grand addition and provide additional living space on the third floor of the core and first addition. The chimneys have later modification and were faced in concrete to evoke the 1930’s to 40’s grand manor style of the English country side; on all but the two front chimneys of later alteration that lend the appearance of stone horns on a beautiful face and made of wissahickon shist, popular in Philadelphia main line architecture. The elaborate entrance of the first floor’s door opens into a sitting area with fireplace (northwest corner) and holds the elaborate side staircase to the second floor and attic. The staircase is original to the addition and the woodworking is basic Georgian style, not too ornate as seen in later styles. Under the staircase is a small powder room with corner sink and toilet, circa 1940’s. To the right (south west corner) is a grand salon with a fireplace on the west and east sides. This grand room has access through two doors, to the porch. These doors could have been windows converted at a later date to doors. It also accesses the dining room to the north.Walking to the east from the main entrance, is a grand dining room, also with a fireplace that is on the eastern wall of the addition. Currently, beautiful wall paper of circa 1930’s design, decorates this room. The portico, which may also be referred to as a pantry has been modified to hold a contemporary shower and toilet and the back of that juts into the wall adjacent to the fireplace in the dining room. The elaborate open stair case to the second floor stops on a landing with “casket window” and rises to the second floor where it opens onto the center hall running west to east on the second floor. The northwest corner has been modified, circa 1950’s, to hold the master bathroom, which removed a fireplace. The late Georgian style is reflected in the mantelpieces of the three bed rooms, the moldings and in the doors. The west end of the hall holds a small dressing room that leads to the south western master bedroom. There is a fireplace on the western wall. The room also leads to another bedroom on the south east corner of the addition. Across the hall from this large bedroom is another large bedroom with a fireplace on the eastern wall. The center hall ends as a step down to the second floor of the first addition, into the sitting room or nanny’s room with another circa 1930s bathroom. The main stair case also terminates at the attic entrance, the landing area has two glass lights in the ceiling for natural lighting. The attic holds a cedar closest and bank of drawers for storage. On the eastern wall one can view the connection to the first addition. The roof and rafters are all sawn wood. The fireplace chimneys are in the eaves areas of the west and east sides of the attic. The wissahickon schist stone chimneys added at a much later date (circa 1950’s) are not visible in the attic, just the brick flues for the Page 12 chimneys of the four fireplaces of the first floor and three of the second floor. There is reference to photos, circa 1950, demonstrating the total roof removal to the eaves that this author was not privy to, as of this writing. The late 1800’s to 1930’s was a period of adding electricity and plumbing to the houses of this era, these modifications exist but pose no negative impact the house. The house interior had been updated to a later Empire Style as seen in the living room, as contrasted to the more classic lines of the entry fireplace surround and mantel. The same changes are evident on the master bedroom mantelpiece and surround. The farmstead has been continually inhabited since circa 1690 so each family and business had positive and negative impacts to the resource. The basement, accessed through the west gable wall of the first addition, is stone which matches the stone of the first addition. The basement is two rooms separated by a stone wall, running east to west, which holds an opening most likely for the coal furnace that was the first heat source once heat from wood and coal burning stoves and fireplaces were abandoned. The floor, like the first addition is dirt. There are stone arched fireplace supports for the fire places on the west wall, (two symmetrical) and the east wall, (two symmetrical). This part of the basement holds 2 huge split logs that are approximately 4 ft. tall and split down the center. There may be a family story to be heard of in relation to these trunks. On the north wall there is a raised toilet shed and various abandoned plumbing elements. Again the north east corner holds the small area that accesses the exterior entrance to the driveway area under the portico/pantry addition. The map of 1911, when Francis Breuil of Philadelphia purchased the property and remained for 10 years. Francis was a gun broker and worked with the DuPont Company. He later owned over 1,200 acres in Maryland. Six owners since 1910 have had a hand at the property and impacted its integrity and added to the grandeur of the working farm that morphed into a country estate of the landed gentry of the early 1900s to the present. There is a huge bank barn, adaptively re-used; across the street that very well served as the Sharpless farm and stables to this property. Charlene Eichmann, realtor is a friend of the Crane family, who purchased in 1953, recalls shooting parties on the property and horses in the bank barn for the family. Fox Hunting over this acreage was common. The grounds hold an orchard, swimming pool and a vast array of specimen trees that have aged well with the house. The Sarum Farmstead has been inhabited continually since the erection of the core circa 1690 to the present, encompassing 327 years of history in Thornbury Township Delaware County. The house and its’ additions and outbuildings have stood silently on this hillside on Sarum Farm as the Iron Industry grew, the first Slitting Mill in Pennsylvania; the farming to feed the local citizenry; and export grain and livestock to feed others during the birth of our early nation. The waning of Sarum Forge and associated mills and the resurgence of the mill complex occurred while these structures stood silently on the hill. Glen Mills, named by the Willcox dynasty; purchased the Sarum iron structures and retrofitted them. They manufactured the special patented 1866 paper for currency for the Federal Government, during the Willcox ownership of Sarum. Sarum Farm, again is silent. Currently no one resides in the main house. If houses could talk; this house could tell stories. Silently the house defers to us to give it a voice to speak about the history; the English immigrants who came here to escape religious persecution and in turn set the stage for our future great nation: education, freedom of speech and the right to practice any religion we choose. The house heard the canons of the revolution and the economic drain on the country post war. The house witnessed our young nation bloom into the strong industrial production era prior to and during the Civil War. Sarum stood as the Willcox Currency paper demands grew and provided a home and adjacent mills to meet their demand. The house further speaks of the Gentleman’s Farm era of the late 1800s and 1900s’ where sport was king; fox hunting, shooting and all the pleasures that an agrarian lifestyle just outside of the metropolitan locale of Philadelphia, our nations’ first capital. Sarum Farm quietly gives us agricultural, industrial, significance; it supported those who created the birthplace of our new government and political formation; the house and associated parcels demonstrated early commerce along Chester Creek; patents

Page 13 of the Willcox paper were received while residing in the Sarum Farm, and the culmination of the manufacture of our Nation’s Currency paper.

Respectfully Submitted,

Mary Sue Boyle Mary Sue Boyle and Company LLC 103 Lenape Road West Chester, PA 19382

October 30, 2014

Page 14

Bibliography

Delaware and Chester County Deeds offices

History of Chester County Pennsylvania with Genealogical and Biographical Sketches, Vol. I and II. J. Smith Futhey and Gilbert Cope. Philadelphia: Louis Everts. 1881.

A Field Guide to American Houses. Virginia and Lee McAlester. New York. Alfred A. Knopf. 1986

Harris and Smith Collateral History of Stephen Harris and Marianne Harris: Taylor Family, Philadelphia, 1906

History of Delaware County, Ashmeade, 1862

U. S. Hinshaw Index to Selected Quaker Records 1680 to 1940, Ancestry.com

Genealogy of the Sharpless Family descended from John and Jane Sharples via Ancestry.com

James M. Willcox Paper Co. 1916 Historical Sketch, genealogytoday.com

Ancestry.com for Family Trees relative to most owners of Sarum Farm

Oral History, Mark Willcox III, Ivy Mills, Concord Township

Delaware County History.com Website Administered by Keith Lockhart, current.

Andrew James Naylor, Director, Hall Conservation LTD, Westerkirk Drive, Telford, United Kingdom.

Forging the Revolution by James Worthington, Philadelphia, 2011.

Pennsylvania Iron Manufacture in the 18th Century, Arthur Cecil Bining Ph.D.; Pennsylvania Historical Commission Vol. IV Harrisburg. 1938.

Page 15 The Statement of Significance of Sarum Farmstead and surrounding historic resources

The architecture remaining on Sarum Farmstead retains the elements of the first settlement of the Taylor family, noted in the intimate placement of the farm complex buildings of the Core structure, smokehouse/kitchen, creamery, barn and the ruins to the south east of the house. These structures demonstrate historic significance relating to early Agriculture and Agricultural Industry in Chester and later Delaware County. The site is part of the first Iron Slitting Mill in Pennsylvania. The house was inhabited by Willcox family members owning Glen Mills and received a U.S. Patent for their paper for our Federal Currency while in residence here. The farmstead was owned by key Colonial and PA Commonwealth land surveyors who laid out our state boundaries and contributed to the formation of our nation. These residents were also our New Government Proponents and members of The Provisional Government and our first Continental Congress; as well as County and State Representatives and public servants. The Farmstead demonstrates the life as well as the successes of each owner, as the house was embellished and added on to over the years.

The Surrounding resources noted in the Thornbury Township, Delaware County resource inventory and abut the Sarum Farmstead are:

HR 004: Farmhouse related to HR005 adaptively re-used Bank Barn and Creamery that were likely contributors to the parcel during the Sharpless ownership, further title search is necessary to document.

HR007 Federal Mill House contributes to the National Register District- needs further title search, but is related to the agriculture and agricultural industry of the early to mid-1700’s, not just the Willcox ownership.

HR009 Noted as Willcox Workers House, also contributes to the National Register Historic District Chester Creek Historic District listed 1971.

Clearly, Sarum Farmstead is in close association and demonstrates the history associated in thematic of the Chester Creek National Register District. Further the farmstead demonstrates significance in governmental history; agriculture and agricultural industry; commerce, iron and paper currency industry. Further key individuals resided at Sarum who were noted for participation in the birth of our nation as public servants as well as compensated professionals who surveyed Pennsylvania, and contributed to the economic growth of our early history.