Great Great Great Great Uncle Daniel B. Meredith

Daniel B. Meredith was a fourth great uncle born on March 1, 1808 in Whiteland Farms, Chester Co., Pa. He died at 226 Church Street, West Chester, Pa. on June 5, 1895 at 87. He was buried in the Friends Burial Society Cemetery in West Chester. He was originally a farmer, but after 1864 ran a butchering business in West Chester.

Public Sale Will be sold at public sale, on Saturday the 19th day of March, 1849, at the farm house of the subscriber of West Goshen township, half a mile south of the Borough of West Chester, the following Personal property: Nine head of large Eastern Steers, 1 yoke of Working Oxen, improved stock, 7 shoat pigs, 2 ox carts, deerborn, hay bed, large roller, grain fan nearly new, corn sheller, cutting box, herse rake, 2 sets of leading gears nearly new, ox yokes, ox chains, patent lock, 3 feed chests, ploughs, harrows, cultivator, hoes, fork, rakes, grain cradles, hay by the ton, corn by the bushel, grain in the ground, 300 pounds of GU. ANO. 2 first rate hives of Bees, &c. Feb 27 Itpd Daniel B. Meredith. Downingtown Archieve. 2/27/1849

Enfeebled with the weight of his four score and four years, Daniel B. Meredith, one of West Chester's oldest and best-known residents, tottered slowly into the Court House and up to the Grand Jury room this morning to listen to the proceeding of a jury appointed to inquire into his sanity. The master appointed to hear the case was Robert E. Monaghan, Esq., and the jury was composed of Jackson Hughes, John S. Mullin, Charles W. Grimm, Esau Loomis, Thos. Mercer, A. P. Hall, Chas. M. Crowell, Haines Passmore and John Sahler.
This proceeding is taken by the sons of Mr. Meredith, Henry and Llewellyn, who allege that their father, by reason of his enfeebled mental condition, is not capable of attending to his financial affairs, and ask that a committee be appointed by the court to attend to these matters. John J. Pinkerton, Esq., and Washington Townsend, Esq., represented the petitioners, and Thos. W. Pierce, Esq., the defendant, Mr. Meredith. The following testimony was elicited at the hearing this morning...(The reported testimony is in my files - LEM.) Daily Local News 6/1/1893

The hearing in the lunacy case of Com. vs. Daniel B. Meredith was again called up this morning by the examiner, Robert E. Monaghan, Esq. The jury in the issue was all on hand promptly at 9:30 o'clock, consequently the examination of the witness proceeded uninterruptedly. The following is the additional evidence submitted by the defense:

The Evidence
Edwin O. Taylor testified that he had known Daniel B. Meredith for a number of years; that he had business transactions with him, and that he believed him of sound mind. He believed that Mr. Meredith had sufficient mental capacity to transact his business.

John Thorpe testified that he had known Daniel B. Meredith for several years, had done work for him. His conversation was intelligent in regard to the business he was transacting. He appeared entirely rational.
Robert H. Newlin affirmed: "I know Daniel Meredith. Have had opportunities to talk with him. Had business transactions with him at the Green Tree. He always talked very sensibly to me, and I would think him to be of sound mind. Prior to April 1st I conversed with him about three times a week. He signed all the checks I filed for him."

J. Howard Taylor testified that he had known Daniel Meredith for several years. From his conversation and talk I would say he was of sound mind. There is nothing in his conduct that would lead me to believe that he couldn't manage his own affairs properly.

MR. MEREDITH NOT CALLED
"Well," remarked Thos. W. Pierce, Esq., counsel for defendant, "this is all the evidence we will offer. Daniel Meredith is here, but is not feeling as well as usual today, consequently if the jury would like to hear him I would suggest that the hearing be continued to another day, I will leave this matter of whether or not we call him to the jury."

THE ARGUMENT OF COUNSEL
No desire was expressed to have Mr. Meredith testify, and Mr. Pierce, therefore, commenced his argument to the jury. he referred to the fact that the petition for this jury in lunacy set forth the fact that for two years past Daniel B. Meredith had been of unsound mind, which has exhibited itself in various ways, such as loss of memory, general debility and as incapability to transact the ordinary affairs of life. "Great God," remarked Mr. Pierce, "is it insanity to become old? Is a man's mind wrong because he is forgetful. There isn’t a jot in evidence in this case to support the allegation. The law on the subject says that a mere weakness of mind is not ground for a commission of insanity." Daily Local News. 7/14/1893.

News note: "Daniel Meredith passed his 87th birthday on Friday. He is one of the oldest residents of West Chester. - Daily Local News. 3/3/1895.

News Note: "Died. Meredith -- In West Chester, June 5, 1895, Daniel B. Meredith, aged 87 years." CCD. 6/6/1895

"Another of West Chester's old landmarks has been removed in the person of Daniel B. Meredith, one of our best known residents, who did this morning at the home of his son, Henry, on South Church Street. Mr. Meredith was born in West Whiteland township, on March 1, 1808, and consequently he had reached the ripe old age of 87 years. In early life he was a farmer, but in 1864 removed to West Chester and engaged in the butchering business. He aided very materially in building up the town, and was at one time an extensive real estate owner. He has recently been in rather feeble health." - Daily Local News. 6/5/1895.

"Daniel B. Meredith, one of West Chester's oldest and well known citizens died on Wednesday at his home on South Church Street, aged 87 years. He was born in West Whiteland Township and in early manhood followed farming, until in the (his?) he moved to West Chester and established a successful butchering business which he continued for about thirty years. He leaves five children: J. Llwellyn Meredith, Henry C. Meredith and Mrs. Geo. A. Mercer, Mrs. A. D. Hall and Mary B. Hall of Brooklyn, N.Y." CCD. 6/6/1895

A former resident of West Chester, now living in a distant city, inquires for information concerning the Meredith family prominent in this community ninety or so years ago. One man who was prominent among those who had stalls in the old marketplace that stood in the middle of Market Street, west of Church Street, was Daniel Meredith; he was the leading butcher of this town for many years. He had three sons, Thomas Darlington Meredith, Llewellyn (Lew) and Henry C. Meredith, and they each followed their father in this same line of business. Darlington died in 1872, but Lew, and Henry continued as successful meat-dealers here for many years; Henry maintained a butcher shop in the alley east of Wayne street, between Gay street and Hannum avenue, with an adjoining lot, in which he pastured numerous sheep for the local market. Darlington had one son, Daniel Webster Meredith, one of the old-time graduates of the West Chester High School, Class of 1879. "Web" was in the meat business all his life, and for many years was prominent member of the General Administration Department of the noted Armour Company, in Chicago, New York, and other sections of this nation. Darlington also had two daughters, Jennie, who married J. Gheen Morgan, of this borough, who also conducted a meat store, on north side of Gay street, east of Church street, for some years; Mary, remained single, and died here a few years ago. J. Llewellyn Meredith had a son, J. Llewellyn, Jr., who conducted a hardware store, on north side of Gay Street, west of High Street, and sold butchers' outfits. He was a non-commissioned officer of "Wayne Fencibles" N.G.P., here, for several enlistments. Henry C. Meredith had no sons, but he is survived by two daughters who live at the northwest corner of Church and Union Streets. Daily Local News. 10/6/1948.

On January 21, 1836, when Daniel B. was 27, he married his first wife, Jane Brinton Darlington, daughter of Thomas Darlington and Mary Brinton, in Philadelphia, Pa. Born on May 19, 1815, Jane Brinton died on 12 March 12, 1854, she was 38. She was buried in Friends Burial Society Cemetery. (NOTE: It is through this marriage that our family is connected to that of Iva Darlington Seivers. – LEM)


Married In Philadelphia, on the 21st alt. by John Swift, Mayor, Daniel B. Meredith , to Jane, daughter of Thomas Darlington, of Westtown township. Downingtown Archive. 2/2/1826.

In this Borough on Sunday evening the 12th inst. Jane Meredith, wife of Daniel B, Meredith, in the 38th year of her age. Downingtown Archive. 3/14/1854

They had the following children:

Mary B., born on November 16, 1848 and died August 1, 1944, she was 95. She resided in Brooklyn, N. Y. in 1895. She was buried in Friends Burial Society Cemetery. She first married Robert P. Chambertain, who was born about 1830 and died about 1865.

About 1870 when Mary B. was 21, she second married Henry H. Hall, born about 1830. Henry H. died about 1900,.

Joseph Llwellyn (1838-1924)

Clara was born on July 7, 1853. Clara died the day she was born in West Chester, Pa.

In West Chester on Friday the 7th Instant, CLARA, infant daughter of Daniel B. and Jane Meredith. Downingtown Archive. 7/19/1853.

Henry C. was born on October 20, 1844. Henry C. died on May 23, 1919, he was 74. He was buried in Friends Burial Society Cemetery. On January 15, 1874 when Henry C. was 29, he married Mary H. Bateman, in Bingham House, Philadelphia, Pa.

Meredith - Bateman On the 15th day of January, by Rev. A. A. Willis, D.D., at the Bingham House, Philadelphia, Pa., Henry C. Meredith to Mary H. Bateman, both of West Chester. Daily Local News. 1/16/1874. Downingtown Archive. 1/20/1874.

Caroline, who resided in 226 South Church St., West Chester, married Samuel Sheik.

Elina, who married George A. Mercer.

Ivanlla, who married John Osborn Hall.

Thomas Darlington (1836-1872)


On May 3, 1866, when Daniel B. was 58, he married Sarah Hannum, in West Marborough Township, by Albert Way, Esq.

On the 3d Inst. by Albert Way, esq., at the residence of Abiah Cope, in West Marborough township., Daniel B. Meredith, of the borough of West Chester, to Sarah Hannum, of East Bradford. Valley Review. 5/29/1866. Also Downingtown Archieve. 6/12/1866.