M E M O I R

O F THE

L I F E A N D S E R V I C E S

C O L O N E L J O H N N I X O N

PREPARED AT THE RE''EST OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE RESTORATION OF FOR ' THE NATIONAL CENTENNIAL COMMEMORATION ' OF J ' Y 2 1 776 L , P T ' I N ' AND RESEN ED AT THE MEETIN INDEPENDENCE CHAM ER , ' Y J' Y 1 18 76 SAT RDA L ,

CHARLES HENRY HART

' 'R eprinted from Th e Pennsylvani a Ma gazine of His tory a nd 'i ograph y '

P H I L A D E L P H I A 1 8 7 7

M I S S E L I ' A ' E T H N I X O N

SOLE S'RV IV IN' DESCENDANT OF

C OL O N E L JOHN N I X ON

'EARIN' HI S NAME

T H I S M E M O I R O F H E R ' R A N D F A T H E R

3 5 fl nsrrih eh

WITH AFFECTION AND RESPECT

THE A'THO R I ND EPEND EN E HA C L L .

PHI L A D E L P H I A O 25 1 8 7 5 . , ctober ,

C H AR L E S H ENR Y H AR E S . To T, '

S I R ' The C ommittee o n the R estora tion of I n depen den ce Hall have

l d n m e nce Am n H n ' ra a n d reso ve to i vite the p of erica istoria s , iog phers ,

L a a o n e n da J 1 8 7 6 . iterati at th t pl ce the s co d y of uly, They desire that a

' a k nd a w m m a a w iographic l s etch of every i ividu l , hose e ory is ssoci ted ith

' din n l a R l ma ar d a n d this uil g duri g the ear y d ys of the epub ic , y be prep e d o n a m n A N n l M m eposited that day o g the r chives of the a tio a useu .

Yo u a r e respectfully req ue sted to be presen t a t I n depe n d ence Ha ll o n

a m n n a n d n w a k c l the day bove e tio ed , to bri g ith you s et h of the ife of

JOHN N I X ON

in a n a n mm n a a . or case of prefere ce for other sub'ect, to co u ic te the f ct is d esired tha t these sketches should n o t exce ed two pa ges of foolsca p .

W r t ith great espec ,

F R AN' M . E I N' TT ,

C h a irma n of C o mmitte e . C O L O N E L J OHN N I X ON .

R E S R Y A T 'Y C HA L H E N H R .

n l (C e n ten ia l C ol ection . )

o f When I accepted the invitation , I had the honor receiving 1 8 75 o n in October, , from the Committee the Restoration of o f f J Independence Hall , to prepare a memoir the li e of ohn N x o f litera ti i on to be presented at the meeting American , requested to assemble in Independence Chamber o n July 2 1 8 76 s o f o f , , the centennial anniver ary the adoption the ' i n Resolutions respect ng Independe cy , I was doubtful if I w should be able to fulfil my engagement , so little was kno n o f his public services . That he was a merchant highly o f o f esteemed 'the second president the Bank North America , and had read and proclaimed publicly to the people for the o f first time the Declaration Independence , were the only prominent facts kn own even to his descendants . It seemed as ' ’ ' o f if the limited two pages fool s cap could not be supplied , But careful and laborious investigation among published and t unpublished archives , revealed incident af er incident throwing light upon his important career, until at last when the rough im material was sifted and shaped into its present form , the a t probable two pages had been duplicated dozen imes . It is x presented in its e tended size , so that those who come after us may be made fully acquainted with the life and services o f ’ o n e o f the country s early and pure patriots . J h N x o n i on , who read and proclaimed publicly to the people fi for the rst time the Declaration of Independence , was born

1 73 3 . Th e x in the city of , in the year e act date — 5 i o n 1 7 1 73 4 3 0 . Of his birth is uncerta n , but April , ( o l d when two years , he was baptized at Christ Church by the

. N x rector His father , Richard i on , is believed to have been a o f x x native We ford , County We ford , Ireland , but if so , when h he came to this country is unknown . T at he was a born Jo h n N ixon .

Irishman has been sought to be established from the fact that o f his son , the subject this memoir, was , as will be seen later, f ' ' o o f . a member The Friendly Sons St Patrick , a social 1 771 to society formed in , whose prerequisite membership was a ren t o r being descended from an Irish p in the first degree , to

o f c o f r have been a native Ireland , or a des endant a forme a rent member 'but , as a mother is a p as well as a father , she o might have been the one f Celtic birth and not he . This view is stren gthened by the fact tha t there is an heirloom in fa m il in o f o l d the y , the shape an and very large sea N .

o n ' . S . chest with these initials the top in brass nails , a not uncommon method with the early emigrants 1 6 8 6 ' to this country for denoting and memorizing the period o f their departure from their homes , and the arrangement of the ' ' o f N letters would show that the initial the surname was , while ' G ' and ' S ' represented respectively the Christian names o f the emigrant husband and wife . The earliest mention we have o f Richard N ixon is the record o s f his marriage to Sarah Bowle at Christ Church , by the — i o n J 7 1 727 28 0 . Rev. Archibald Cumm ngs , anuary , ( He 1 73 8 r was a prominent merchant and shipper , and in pu chased

o n x n the property Front Street , below Pine , e tendi g into the t n , af erwards k own for nearly a century as ’ wa s o f N ix h a . 1 742 h e on s W rf In , chosen a member the o Common Council f Philadelphia , which position he continued n to hold until his death . Pendi g the French and Spanish A ix War , which was ended by the Peace of La Chapelle , con o n 7th o f 1 748 cluded the October , , Franklin urged upon the s o f citizens to associate together for the purpo es defence , and ' ' o n e two regiments o f Associators were accordingly formed , for the city and the other for the county , which were divided o n e o f into companies , for each ward and township , and the N x Dock Ward Company , in the City Regiment , Richard i on

, was chosen captain . The Dock Ward at this time was and t continued up to the present century, the most impor ant and o f infl uential ward in the city . He was a prominent member d o n e o f Chr ist Protestant Episcopal Church , Phila elphia , and

1 745 1 746 1 747 . the vestrymen during the years , , and He Joh n N ixo n .

o f had four children , all whom were baptized there , and three of them who died in infancy were buried in its ground , where

n o n 6 o f he himself found a resti g place also the th December, 1 49 7 (O . His personal property after his decease was appraised at a no inconsiderable sum in those days . J 25 1 78 5 His wife survived him many years , dying uly , , at o f the advanced age eighty years , and was buried at Christ

o f . Church , where reposed the remains her husband J N x ohn i on , the only child who survived his father, and the subject of this notice , early took a leading interest in

- ff . 1 75 6 o f public a airs In March , , at the age twenty three , x o f during the e citement the French War , he was chosen by o f o f o f a a majority votes the freemen Dock Ward , Lieuten nt o f ' o f . the Dock Ward Company , in the stead Mr Thomas o f Willing , the late lieutenant said company , who was pleased ' o f to resign his commission . This company was a sort home o n e 1 747 guard , and doubtless the same as the formed in , o f which his father was the first captain . He succeeded to o f o l d o n the business his father, at the place Front Street , ’ N x o f with i on s wharf in the rear, adjoining the warehouses

Willing Morris , the most considerable merchants in the o r o f province indeed in the colonies . His first transaction o n e which we have any knowledge is which , with the light o f modern ideas , is not calculated to be looked upon with

. 1 761 favor We find him in March , , with Willing , Morris ,

C o . o f , and other prominent merchants the city, signing and o f presenting to the Assembly , a remonstrance to a petition that had been presented the previous month by i th e im o rta tio n o f citizens of Philadelphia against p slaves , and in consequence of which a bill had been prepared laying a duty o f £1 0 per head on each negro brought from abroad . The

, importers in their remonstrance to the bill , represented that the province was suffering great inconvenience fo r want o f ' servants , and an advantage may be gained by the intro d uc tion of slaves , which will likewise be a means o f reducing the x e orbitant price o f labor and in all probabilities bring o ur ' commodities to their usual prices . They represent that they ' ' have embarked in the trade o f importing negroes t hrough Joh n N ixon .

the motives they have mentioned , and that they will labor under great hardships by the law takin g immediate effect i without giv ng them time to countermand their orders . This e ff protest , how ver , had no e ect upon the 'uaker House , for the law to lay a duty on negroes was passed within two weeks . x t n The ne t impor ant mercantile transactio , however , with fin d n o n e o f ff which we him con ected , was a far di erent e o f a character, as it joined him with the d stinies his n tive e land in its confl ict with the mother country . Aft r much agitation in the Colonies over their proposed taxation by

Great Britain , the fatal Stamp Act was finally passed in 1 765 March , , with the provision that it should not go into f n o f N e fect u til the first the following ovember. Meetings were held in every town and village in the land , protesting against this outrage upon the rights and liberties o f the Colo n ists i as Brit sh freemen , and petitions were promptly prepared and forwarded by trusty agents to the home government of urging its repeal . But it was left for the merchants the its land to make the hated act nugatory in purpose , and the first step towards this end was taken by the merchants o f

Philadelphia , who , in public meeting , pledged to each other o r their honors not to receive , sell , or import any goods mer ch a n d ise from Great Britain until the iniquitous Stamp Act ' ' N O N - R 'R should be repealed . This IMPO TATION A EEMENT , 25 bearing date October , was subscribed by three hundred

-five S e - and seventy importers and h p keepers , and prominent among the signatures appears the large bold o n e of JOHN X N I ON .

o f o f subse The story the repeal the Stamp Act , and the o f ta x u o quent imposition a on tea , etc . followed by the destr o f tion the tea in Boston harbor , and the Boston Port Bill ,

S n n wa s w n nv a n a wn a i ce the precedi g ritte , i estig tio s h ve sho this d te to a n m n x l a o n . a n be a o be error The gree e t itself rs date , e cept that p ced it in l a n l ' a t a e n n a nd v n Mr. ma a e d pe ci by Tho s r dford the g of i ety , se e ty a n k l L a l v n m v d n years fter the eve t too p ace . te y disco ered co te porary e i e ce n l l N v m 7 1 765 a s o n w m n poi ts c ear y to o e ber , , the day hich the eeti g of

- m a n wa s l a n d n o n m n n a . V id a erch ts he d , these i portatio resolutio s greed to

a m . J . A H t N n 1 8 . M . Y . 77 g er is , , u e , Joh N n ixon .

o f are too familiar to permit repetition here , but they kept e O f the Colonies in a stat constant ferment , and in no place

was this more the case than in Philadelphia , where in all the measures Of these trying times John N ixon took an active

. o f part The inhabitants Boston , being anxious to know how far they would be sustained by other portions O f the Colonies ff a n in their e ort to withst nd the tyran y Of the British Crown , sent Paul Revere to Philadelphia with a circular letter, dated 1 3 1 774 May , , requesting the advice o f the citizens Of Phila delphia upon the bill closing the Port Of Boston . Imme d ia te l 20th y upon its receipt On May , a town meeting was called , and held at the City Tavern , and resolutions were passed appointing a committee Of correspondence , with d ire c tions to answer the letter from Boston , and assure the people fo r Of that town that we truly feel their unhappy situation , ' ff in and that we consider them as su ering the general cause .

. N x o n Of this committee Mr i on was a member, and the fo l m lowing day met a portion Of the co mittee , who prepared, signed , and sent The letter from the Committee o f the City a e o f o f Of Phil delphia to the Committ e the City Boston , which contained the key-note o f the Revolution in these ' ta x th e ind ea s ib words It is not the value Of the , but ef le r igh t of giving a nd gra n ting o ur o wn money (A RI'HT FROM WHICH ' W E C A N V R R E O E D E NE E ) , that is the question . On the 1 8 th Of June a meeting Of citizens was held in the Y J State House ard , at which and ohn Dick inson presided , when it was resolved that the Act closing the o f x Port Boston was unconstitutional , and that it was e pedient to convene a Continental Congress . A committee Of corre s o n d e n ce p was appointed , directed to ascertain the sense Of the people o f the province with regard to the appointment o f deputies to a general Congress , and to institute a subscription N x ff . for the relief Of the su erers in Boston . Mr i on was made O f a the third member this committee , the first and chairm n O being John Dickinson . The authority f the committee being l x doubtfu , they recommended that at the ne t general election a new permanent committee should be regularly chosen , which was accordingly done , and he was again duly returned. He Joh n N ixon .

was a deputy to the General Conference Of the Province , ’ J 1 5 1 774 e which met at Carpenters Hall , uly , , and r mained 22d n in session until the , with Thomas Willi g in the chair and o f Charles Thomson for its clerk. The important action this body was the adoption Of resolutions condemning in strong terms the recent acts Of Parliament , and recommending the calling Of a congress O f delegates from the different colonies . N x Mr. i on was also a delegate to the Convention for the 23 d Province Of Pennsylvania , held at Philadelphia from the to 28th o f J 1 775 the anuary , , which , among other things , unanimously endorsed and approved the conduct and proceed ings Of the late Continental Congress— the famous fir st Con

O f 5 1 774 . gress September , The Open strife between the mother coun try and her O n 1 9th colonies had now fairly begun , and the Of April , 1 775 fl a x , the first con ict Of the Revolution took pl ce at Le ing to n 24th and Concord . It was not until the night Of April a t th the intelligence Of these fights reached Philadelphia , and n the sensation caused by the news was intense . A meeti g Y was held in the State House ard , at which it was computed h t at eight thousand people were present . One brief resolution ' ff s i was passed , in e ect that the persons present would a soc ate ' together to defend with ARMS their property , liberty , and lives against all attempts to deprive them O f their enjoyment . The committee Of correspondence electe d the previous autumn be came in this emergency an authority not contemplated at its formation . The members entered at once upon the task , and desired that all persons having arms should give notice , so Th e that they might be disposed Of to those wishing them . ' ' Associators immediately began to enroll themselves in to companies , and drills were held daily, and sometimes twice in the day . The companies were formed into three battalions ' ' ' O f O f and the Third Battalion Associators , consisting about ' n n five hu dred men , and know as the Silk Stockings , was O fli cere d J J N X by ohn Cadwalader , Colonel ' OHN I ON , Lieu

- Mifl iin tenant Colonel 'Thomas and Samuel Meredith , Majors . The first known appearance of these ' Associators ' in public wa s f early in May , when the O ficers met the southern dele h N ix Jo n on .

m n gates to the Continental Congress about two iles from tow , and escorted them into the city . A few days later a similar e compliment was paid to the delegates from the East rn States . C urwe n Samuel , the loyalist, who was in Philadelphia at the f h a s o . time , preserved an account this reception in his diary ' t ' a o r He wri es The cavalc de appeared first , two three n o n hu dred gentlemen horseback , preceded by the newly a O fli ce rs two chosen city milit ry , two and , with drawn swords , followed by John Hancock and Samuel Adams in a phaeton o n l 0th and pair . The Congress duly met Tuesday , May , a n d 1 5 th Ju J On the Of ne , upon the motion Of Thomas Ohn

s o n Jr . , , Of Maryland , was chosen unani m o usly Commander-in - Chief O f the Army raised and to be raised , and his first appearance in public in his military capacity was made five days later , when upon the commons s near Centre Square he reviewed the City A sociators , number ing about two thousand men . On the following day he set o ut fo r Cambridge , escorted for some distance by the City

Troops . A Committee Of Safety for the Province Of Pennsylvania i J 1 775 J having been appo nted by the Assembly in une , , ohn N x O n 20 i on was made a member its reorganization , October , 1 775 , and continued an active and prominent member Of the n J 22 1 776 o f body u til its dissolution , uly , , on the formation the Council Of Safety with David Rittenhouse at its head , and o ut Of the two hundred and fifty-eight meetings which 20 1 775 J 22 1 776 were held between October , , and uly , , he is

- recorded as being present at One hundred and ninety seven .

Of this Committee Of Safety, Franklin was President and

V - Robert Morris ice President , but , owing to their being absent so Ofte n from the meetings by reason o f other public fo r duties , application was made to the Assembly authority h to choose a chairman p ro tem. at any time when t ere was a

uo rum - q , and the president and vice president absent , which N x was granted , and under this authority Mr . i on was chosen N 20 m the first chairman , ovember , and at all subsequent eet th e vi e- ings , when he was present and president and q president m absent , he was selected to fill the chair . He was Chair an Joh n N o ix n .

O f o n d r t the Committee Accounts , and all or e s for the paymen

n s e I n Of mo ey for public purpose wer drawn upon him . 1 776 f m ’ May , , upon in or ation being received that the enemys wa s vessels were coming up the Delaware , he requested by the committee to gO down to Fort Island and ta ke charge Of Ju the defences there , and in ly , he was placed in command

Of the guard ordered to be kept in the city , which was com O f posed four companies , One from each battalion . It was in the month Of July also that he performed that act which entitles him peculiarly to a commemorative notice in this centennial year. fo r h a d ff The resolution Independence , which been O ered in o n 7th J Congress the Of une by Richard Henry Lee , was th e 2d J o n e finally adopted on Of uly , hundred years ago , and On the following 4th the reasons for that Independence as ’ set forth in Jc fie mo n s immortal Declaration were agreed to . 5 th On the , which was Friday , Congress passed the following resolution ' R eso lved O to , That opies Of the Declaration be sent the several Assemblies , Conventions and Councils Of Safety , and e f n to the sev ral commanding O ficers Of the Co tinental Troops , o f that it be proclaimed in each the United States , and at the ' Head Of the Army . A O opy Of this resolution was sent the next day by the to President O f Congress the Committee Of Safety , whereupon it was ’ ' O rd ered f Ph il a d a o r , That the Sheri f Of read cause to be o f rea d a nd p rocla imed at the State House , in the City Phila

O n J s a 1 2 delphia , Monday the Eighth day Of uly in t nt at ’ f E s O clock at noon O f the same day the Declaration O the pre b e s en ta tive s of the Unite d Colonies Of America , and that cause all his Officers and the Constables O f the said city to attend the reading thereof. ' R esolved o f m t o r , That every member this Com it ee in ’ near the city be ordered to meet at 1 2 O clock o n Monday to d n proceed to th e State House where the Declaration o f I n e pe ' dence is to be proclaimed .

The chronicler , Christopher Marshall , records a warm sun J . shine mornin g for Monday , uly the Eighth The Committee ’ o f Inspection met at eleven O clock in the Hall O f the Philo h in sop ical Society on Second Street , and went a body to the

Lodge , where they joined the Committee Of Safety . The two in committees then went procession to the State House , where , standing On the platform Of the Observatory which had been erected by the American Philosophical Society to Observe the V J 3 1 769 J X A N D PR O transit of enus , une , , OHN NI ON READ L 111 C AIMED , to a great concourse Of people , a voice clear and N ’ distinct enough to be heard in the garden Of Mr. orris s o n o f THE O F house the east side Fifth Street , DECLARATION ' O R THE INDEPEND ENCE P' LICLY F FIRST TIME . It is recorded

- that it was received with heart felt satisfaction , and that the company declared their approval by their repeated huzzas . s f Thoma Dewees was at this time Sheri f Of Philadelphia , and as he had the alternative Of reading it himself o r causing it to N x be read , Mr . i on was selected , doubtless from his prominence O f m as a citizen and as a member the Co mittee Of Safety . There is now deposited in Independence Hall a broadside C opy f Of the Declaration , printed at the time , which was ound O f J x a n d among some papers ohn Ni on , is possibly the very o n e from which he read and proclaimed it on the eighth o f

J 1 776 . uly , d O f J Towar s the close uly , the Philadelphia Associators

J n were called into active service . New ersey was threate ed , s and the several battalion marched to Amboy in its defence . i six The r service lasted about weeks , when they returned to the city , and remained until December , when they were called for again , this time to serve immediately under the com ’ -in — mander chief. At Washington s suggestion all the Ass o c ia to rs Of the City and Liberties were formed into o n e brigade O f under the command Colonel Cadwalader, whereupon Lieu tena nt- Colonel Nixon succeeded to the command O f the third o n l oth battalion , and the , the city troops , twelve hundred strong , were in full march for Trenton . Washington , in writ

n ing to the President Of Co gress from Trenton Falls , under O f 1 3 1 776 ' r date December , , says Cadwalade with the Philadelphia militia occupies the ground above and below Joh n N ixo n .

D ’ the mouth Of Ne sh a miny River as far down as unks Ferry, at which place Colonel Nixon is posted wi th the Third Bat talion Of Philadelphia . Here Washington directed redoubts if to be thrown up , and , the enemy attempted to cross , a stand 22d was ordered to be made against them , and on the , he ’ issued an order to Cadwalader specifyin g Colonel N ixon s ’ ' regiment to continue where it is at Dunks Ferry . This ferry

r o n was the impo tant post to guard the Delaware , as it was fo r o n e fordable , and it was the point assigned the crossing Of body Of the troops o n Christmas night to attack Donop and M o rm t a the Hessians near Holly, while W shington crossed fl higher up the river . How , owing to the oating ice at this f point , only a few O ficers got across , and how Washington took th e enemy by surprise and gained a signal victory over them without the aid Of these troops , are well known to all , fo r with this event is connected o n e Of the much controverted ' n — d is fie c tio n o poi ts in o ur history the a f Joseph Reed . It becomes necessary to advert to this subject in this place for the reason that in the controversy which ensued between

Reed and Cadwalader, and which called forth the celebrated

n x pamphlets beari g their names , Colonel Ni on was an actor . ’ ' On page 24 Of General Cadwalader s Reply to General Joseph ’ ' Reed s Remarks , appears this certificate

f 1 776 I do hereby certi y that in December, , while the l militia lay at Bristol , General Reed , to the best Of my re c o n lection and belief, upon my enquiri g the news , and what he ’ o f o ur ff tho t a airs in general , said that appearances were very — gloomy and unfavorable that he was fearful or apprehensive

or o r the business was nearly settled , the game almost up , words to that effect . That these sentiments appeared to me x very e traordinary and dangerous , as I conceived , they would , a t th a t time , have a very bad tendency, if publicly known to o f be the sentiments General Reed , who then held an appoint m ent in the army o f the first consequence . J HN N I X N O O . h i l 2 P la d e h ia M a h 1 1 783 . p , rc , 1 4 That Joseph Reed at this time contemplated transferring his allegian ce from the Contin ental Congress to the British 'in o f g the light historical research leaves no room for doubt . l st o f J 1 777 i On the anuary , , the t me limited to accept the ’ o f x privileges Howe s proclamation would e pire , and if the Battle Of Trenton had proved a de feat to Washington instead J Of a brilliant victory , oseph Reed would have ac cepted its provisions and committed Ope nly the treason he meditated in ’ ’ s his heart. It was Wa hington s success and not Reed s s i th un werv ng patriotism at saved him . These conclusions at least are reached after a careful and diligent examination o f the subject from all available standpoints . The Philadelphia Associators remained with Was hington J until late in anuary , and took a gallant part in the Battle

Of Princeton o n the second . In a letter written by Reed to

f - Thomas Brad ord from head quarters at Morristown , dated J 24 1 777 ' anuary , , he says General Cadwalader has conducted l his command with great honour to himse f and the Province , O fli ce rs x m all the field supported their characters , their e a ple was f ffi followed by the in erior O cers and men , so that they have retur ned with the thanks and praises Of every general f O ficer in the army . It might appear invidious to mention names where all have behaved so well —but Colonel N x C o x Morgan , Colonel i on , Colonel , your Old gentleman W ' x C o w e rth wa ite ' illiam Bradford', and Majors no and p , certainly Ought not to pass un noticed for their behaviour at ' Princeton . This campaign is the only active service in which we know the Philadelphia Associators to h ave been

x e V 1 778 . engaged, e cept wint ring at alley Forge in O f All means supplying the army having failed , a new plan was established in the spring Of 1 78 0 by the form ation o f an ' ins titution called the Bank o f Pen nsylvania for the purpose Of supplying the army Of the United States with provisions ' for two months . The plan was that each subscriber should give his bond to the directors Of the bank for such sum as he

n thought proper , binding himself to the payme t thereof in specie in case such payment should become necessary to fulfil the engagements and discharge the notes o r contracts Of the Jo h n N ixo n .

- bank. The securities thus given by ninety three persons n amounte d to Pe nsylvania money , Robert Morris and Blair M c C l a na ch a n being the largest contributors at J N ix m each , while ohn on and any others subscribed 5 000 J 1 7 1 78 0 in n each £ . The bank was Opened uly , , Fro t

Street , two doors above Walnut , and was governed by two directors and five ins pectors 'the first director being John Th e Nixon and the second George Clymer . entire amount secured was called for, and the last instalment was paid in N O f ovember . In May the following year Robert Morris , ' na e to then Superintendent Of Fi nc , submitted Congress A Plan for establishing a N ational Bank fo r the United States Of N m a n d o n 3 1 st O f orth A erica , the December, The President , ' O f N Directors , and Corporation Of the Bank orth America h in were incorporate d. T is was the first incorporated bank the United State s 'a n d it is o f interest in this connection and n may not be generally know , that for this reason , when the N n 25 1 86 3 ational Banki g Act Of February , , went into opera tion , which provided that all organized banks accepting its ' s l N provision shou d adopt the word ational in their title , the Bank Of N orth America was permitted specially to accept s its the provision Of the Act without changing original title , ' so that , although a national bank , its title is simply The ' o N Bank f orth America . Thomas Willing was the first president Of this bank ' and upon his appointment to the o f o f o n its presidency the Bank the United States formation ,

. N ix r J 1 784 Mr on , who had served as a di ector from anuary , , J 1 792 was elected in anuary , , to succeed him , and continued f o n 3 1 st 1 8 08 in the O fice until his death , the Of December, ,

- six at the age Of seventy years . N x Mr. i on held many positions of public and qua si public

a . J 1 766 import nce In anuary , , upon the Assembly Of the Province passing a bill for the Regulation of Pilots plying ' o n J the River Delaware , he was selected with Abel ames , O fl icia te as W a rd e n s o f Robert Morris , and three others to the Port Of Philadelphia 'and the next year was appointed one O f s d the igners Of the Pennsylvania Paper Money , emitte N o f 20 1 76 7 . by authority the Act Of May , In ovember,

Joh n N ixon .

M cC a ll W , Lawrence , Swift, Tilghman , Allen , Hopkinson, ill

N x . ing , Morris , and i on He was also an original member ' ' o f o f The Friendly Sons of St . Patrick composed persons having Irish blood , and was present at the famous dinner ’

o n N e w Y 1 78 2 . TO given to Washington ear s day, the Pennsylvania Hospital he was an early and repeated con o f 1 768 tributor, and served as one the managers from to

1 772 .

o f f 1 792 . After the reorganization the land o fice in , Mr Nixon purchased largely o f lands in the outlying counties o f a o f the St te which , like most such adventures , proved h is unsuccessful . At the time of death , he was the senior

o f x C o . member Of the firm Ni on , Walker, , shipping mer o f n N ix chants , composed himself, his o ly son Henry on , and o n Mr. David Walker . His residence was Pine Street below

Third Street , adjoining that Of the Rev . Robert Blackwell , ’

o f . F a irfie ld o n Rector St Peter s Church , while the Ridge o Road , immediately n rth of Peel Hall the site of the present

. . N x Girard College , was his country seat Mr i on was married , 1 76 5 N e w Y o f October, , in ork , to Elizabeth , eldest child J George and ane 'Currie'Davis , and had five children , four o n e a daughters and son 'Mary , wife of Francis West 'Eliz C ra beth , wife of Erick Bollman ' Sarah , wife Of William

J as n n mond ' ane , wife of Thom May e Willi g ' and Henry , who married Maria , youngest daughter of the Honorable

. . N x 3 1 1 795 Robert Morris Mrs i on died August , , at the ’ - - fift . age of y eight , and was buried in St Peter s Church yard , o f r at the corner Thi d and Pine Streets , Philadelphia , where she reposes in the same grave with her husband . N x In appearance , Mr . i on was a fine , portly man , with a noticeably handsome , Open countenance , as may be seen from his portrait by Gilbert Stuart , painted late in life , in posses l m n o f s . C ra o d . sion his grand on , Mr Henry His manners were dignified and rather reserved , while he was noted for kindness o f o f heart , high sense honor, sterling integrity , and firmness

A min iature pai n ted by P e a le in 1 772 is in possession of his gra nd M W d a ughter iss est . Joh n N ixon .

o f . u decision In the early days of the revolutionary str ggle , x n Mr. Ni on shared the conservative views of his fellow tow s m e n and copatriots Robert Morris, Thomas Willing, and

J n s o f oh Dickin on , but after the edict separation had been

o r in announced , none were more eager earnest the cause . He was a strenuous Opponent of the o ld consti tution o f the o f ff State , and a firm adherent the party formed to e ect its

n o t cha ge . The closing item f his will shows the sentimen s o f the man bette r than any other words can portray them . Having n o w my children disposed o f my es tate in a manner o u that I hope will be agreeable to y all , I request and earnestly recommend to you to live together in terms of the pur est love urs ua d e d and most perfect friendship , being fully p that your o f happiness and that your respective families will , in a great

o n . measure , depend this These are my last words to you , and I trust that you will have them In particul ar and long ' remembrance .