Post-Revolutionary Arrivals at the Port of Philadelphia

Post-Revolutionary Arrivals at the Port of Philadelphia B RITISH emigrants to Pennsylvania in the post-Revolutionary period who publicly tendered their thanks to the captains of the vessels on which they arrived sometimes were only a fraction of the passengers on a particular vessel. Such is the case of the immigrants on the ship Nancy. The Pennsylvania Packet for Thursday, 24 August 1786, noted, under date of 23 August, that the ship Nancy, Captain Cook, from Londonderry, had entered "inwards," at the Naval Office. On the following Monday, 28 August 1786, the Packet announced that "On Monday [21 August?] arrived here the ship Nancy, in eight weeks from Londonderry. She has brought seventy passengers." But in the Packet of Wednesday, 30 August, only ten of these passengers publicly testified to their satisfaction with their voyage: River Delaware, 16 August 1786 We, the Passengers in the Ship Nancy, Captain Cook, from Londonderry to Philadelphia, have great pleasure in the most public expressions of our entire satisfaction with the great plenty of uncommonly excellent provisions with which the ship was furnished, and with which we were regularly supplied; and of our gratitude to the Captain for the exact propriety of his conduct, and his great humanity and attention to every person on board during the voyage. Andrew Miller James M'Nutt John White Thomas Thompson Peter Miller James Thompson Robert Grawford Isaac Anderson Uriah Matson Thomas Ada. The next spring, Naval Office entries inwards for the period 27-29 May 1787, included the ship Mayflower, Captain Stillwell, from Cork, as noted in the Packet of 30 May 1787. But it was not until two weeks after the ship had docked that a public acknowledgement of thanks appeared in the same paper in the issue of Tuesday, 19 June 1787: We, the Cabbin and Steerage Passengers, who came in the ship Mayflower lately from Cork to Philadelphia? John Stillwell, commander, as well to acquit ourselves of our obligations, as to do justice to the unsullied fame and character of said Captain, take this 263 264 The Pennsylvan a Genealogical Magazine first _welcome opportunity of publicly and unanimously acknowledging to him and the Public m general, our sincere thanks. for his humane, gentleman like, and generous treatment to us while on our passage. Given under our several hands in Philadelphia this 17th day of June 1787. Miss Elizabeth. Owens Mrs. Mary Smith Mrs. Ann Mehigan Mrs. Mary Neagle John Carey Thomas Evans Thomas Kerby John Kingston James Howard James Cannon Edmund Keliher William Lynch Richard &len David Walsh Joseph Jaqumain James Coleman James Cronin Thomas Cotter James Bouderan Richard Neagle Some three months later another shipload of British emigrants arrived at Philadelphia. The Pennsylvania Gazette for Wednesday, 5 September 1787, announced that "Thursday last [30 August] entered in the ship Alexander, Captain Roch, from Londonderry with 300 passengers in good health." Of these, fifty-four publicly expressed their appreciation in the Packet of the same date: We the subscribers, passengers in the ship Alexander, Capt. Reeds. from Londonderry to this port, sensible how justly the conduct of said Captain merits the warmest praise, feel ourselves happy in thus embracing the earliest opportunity of publickly returning him our grateful thanks for his particular care and attention during the passage. Matthew M. Clarkson Adam Caldwell William Alexander Driver Kelso Joseph Dysart Hugh Stuart Thomas Barry Catharine Lowrey Isaac M'Kuisack James Calhoun John Dickey John Simpson William Gregg William Chess James Smyth Hamilton Bell William Stewart Daniel M'Mullan John Smyth Mary Elgin James Adams James Sample Daniel Balfoure Charles Johnston Ducan Matthews John Boyd Thomas Baird John Moore Joseph Caldwell Robert Mothrell Samuel Fulton James Scott George Patton Alexander Dysart John Caldwell William Moorland William Brown William Nilson Robert King Thomas M'Mullan Daniel M'Kessock Alexander Smyth John Rob-mson James Stewart James Ervin George Orr James Haslett Samuel Bunton James M'Kessock Samuel Black William Porter Peter Taylor William Baird Ephraim Stephenson In the same paper the owners advertised "For Charter, The Ship Alexawder, George Roach, Master. About 250 tons burthen, built in Post-Revolutionary Arrivals 265 Liverpool, not 3 years old. For terms apply to Haynes and Crawford, Who are landing out of said ship, yard wide and 7/8 linens, which they will sell on reasonable terms." Late in the year another ship from Londonderry arrived with passengers. The Packet of Friday, 16 November 1787, noted that the Naval Office had reported under "Inward" entries for 10-15 November, the "Brig Trent, Cunningham, from Londonderry." Then the following Wednesday, 21 November, the Packet published the following: Philadelphia, 11 November 1787 Resolved unanimously, That the thanks of all the passengers on board the Brig Trent, from Londonderry, be returned in this public manner to the Rev. James Connor and Capt. Robert Cunningham, for their very particular care and attention during the voyage. William Alexander Samuel Hays John Hasson Early in 1788, the Packet published on 11 February an expression of thanks signed by passengers who had arrived, not at Philadelphia, but at New York: We the undernamed passengers in the ship Ann and Susan, William Chevers, master, from Newry to New York, think it but justice to worth and merit thus publicly to testify our approbation of the said captain Chevers' conduct in every respect, and to return him our sincere thanks for his uncommon civility to us during a passage of ten weeks; as also his particular attention to the sick, having a medicine chest on board, at his own expense. — We cannot omit mentioning that his provisions were of the best qualitys and abundantly served. George Spierin Amos Simpson Abel Hennon Eliza M'Bride Mary Donnelly Ben Wilson James Crookshank John Crookshank John Graham George Wahab David had John Clandiner John Hinkssin Alexander Andrews William Black Joseph Heaslip New York January. 1788 David Irons Tully O'Neal Anne Tweed John Empey John Leget Daniel M'Iver John M'Niesh William Hurry John Carson John M'Williams Catherine Caulfield Susannah M'Mullar William Davidson Anthony O'Donnell John Forsyth John Mitchel John Brown John M'Keasn John Cooper George Cooper William Sunn James Black George Stewart Joseph Kelsa William Keaney James Castles Henry Sloan Robert Black William Graham Edward M'Gill Thomas M'Earran William Corry John Thompson 266 The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine By 7 October 1788, the ship Alexander, Roach, from Londonderry was again in port, according to the Packet of that date. Two days later, the usual expression of appreciation appeared in the Packet: We the subscribers, at the desire of the whole passengers on board the ship Alexander, from Londonderry, take this opportunity at returning our thanks to Capt. Reach, for the kind treatment, and plentiful supply of provisions and water we have received during our passage, with every other indulgence necessary to make our passage agreeable. Alex. Kerr John Linton Samuel Lowry Matt. Semple Andrew Lendrum James M'Granahan Robert Wray James Key Samuel Noble George Higgins John Higgins William Greol Frederick Quig James Hutcheson John Quig Robert Simpson William Henry John Bailey Alexander Machen Edward M'Shan John M'Lorg Hugh M'Lorg Information Wanted Paul R. Hammersley, Sr., R. 1, Box 237, Bargersville, Ind., 46106, seeks information on the parents of one George S. Hammersley (Harriersley) who was born in Pennsylvania m 1798. By 1840 he was in Newport, Vermillion County, Indiana, where he married Sophronia Harper He later went to Redfield, Iowa, where he died in 1860, and was buried in Harper Cemetery. Mrs. Arthur Gerlach, 13200 Bluemound Road, Apt. 1, Elm Grove, Wisconsin, 53122, seeks the parentage and previous residency of Samuel Mathers, 2nd husband of Margaret Paschal. He settled in 1772 in Buffalo Township, Northumberland County, now Limestone Township, Union County, near Miamburg•