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Between the 18th and 20th September 1777 the British Army under General Howe encamped in Tredyffrin on its way to Philadelphia. The army looted a number of the farms in the area. In 1782 a list of reparation claims was created and is given below. A number of Quakers and Mennonites refused to make claims. The Chester County Archives provides an Introduction to the Claims records. The values are quoted in Pennsylvania pounds which were severly depreciated by the end of the war, hence the apparently high valuations. The reparation claims are signed by Captain Benjamin Bartholomew of East Whiteland, Justice of the Peace; Daniel & David Wilson, assessors. The original spelling of the reparation statements has been kept but capitalization has been standardized in order to improve readability. Claims were filed for the following people and organizations: Baptist Meeting House, Jacob Baugh, Devault Beaver, John Brown, William Currie, Benjamin Davis, David Davis, Isaac David, Dr. John Davis, Samuel Davis, William Dewees, Nicholas Finderbander, Jacob Frick, Isaac Griffith, Adam Gruber, David Havard, John Havard, Samuel Havard, Mary Howell, Lydia Jones, Samuel Jones, Joseph Mitchell, Thomas Pennington, Abel Rees, Samuel Richards, John Rowland, Valentine Showalter, Thomas Waters, David Wilson, John Wilson Christian Workizer, The links to the locations of the properties can be found on the 1777 Map of Tredyffrin. Commentary in colored font is by Mike Bertram. Baptist Meeting HouseAn account of a sacrilige commited in the Baptist Meetinghouse! Tredyffrin in the County of Chester in the State of Pennsylvania by some of the Brittish army! under the command of Genl. Howe! in their march from the Head of the Elk to Philadelphia the 18th, 19th, or 20th days of September when sd. Meeting House was broke open & was stole from thence the SACRAMENTAL DISHES! viz
Chester to wit, the above damages sworn to before me by James Davis, elder of the Baptist Church. Given under my hand the 18th day of November 1782. Benjamin Bartholomew The reason for the desecration of the church is probably that the British were looking for the Pastor, David Jones. In 1775, the Rev. David Jones, a native of New Castle County, Delaware became pastor of the Baptist Church. He was a patriot, and militantly supported the popular cause. A year later he became an army chaplain under Generals Gates and St. Clair. He also participated in the Battles at Brandywine and Germantown. His pay was $20 a month, until he was promoted to Captain and paid $33.33 a month. He became Regimental Chaplain to Anthony Wayne at Valley Forge. Back to listJacob BaughTook from Jacob Baugh to the amount of £250. I do hereby certify that the above is a just account from the best information I have received. David Wilson, assessor. Jacob Baugh, was the first member of the family to live in Tredyffrin on the tract next to Bear Hill Road. He died in 1800. Back to listDevault BeaverAn estimate of damages sustained by the Brittish Generals & their adherents the many different articles to the amount of ... £125 Sustained by me Davailt Beaver Nov. ye 15th 1782 Devault Beaver is said to have shot an American soldier who was milking one of his cows. Devault's father, John Beaver, died of 'camp fever' in 1777. Back to listJohn BrownAn account of damages done by the Brittish
November 15th 1782 John Brown Tredyffrin Chester to wit the above acct. proven before me given under my hand the 16th day of Nov. 1782 Benjamin Batholomew John Brown lived in the house known as General Knox's Quarters. He did not purchase the property until 1783 but presumably he was living there in 1777. Back to listRev. William CurrieNovem.r 15th 1782 An acc.t of the Damages Sustained by the Subscriber from y.e Brittish army. Viz. On the 19th day of Sept.r 1777 a Company of Soldiers from the Camp Came to my House and Robbed me of all my Cabbage Baccon Chess & Butter.a Bushel of fine Salt, & all my fine Sheets Table Linen fine Shirts head Dresses, Stockings, & Table Silver Spoons, to the Value of ... £20.00.0 There is the Strongest Presumption - Likewise that at the Same time they robbed me of £ 200 Continental Money in Sheets the money 3 for 1 is ..£66.13.4 And the day Following a forriaging party took from me two Waggon Loads of Oats one d.o of Wheat, besides Several Horse Loads of Both. A Good Cart & Geers all my Waggon & Plow Geers, Collors & Blind halters & Ropes 2 Mens Saddles, half worn & 3 Bridle all which I Judge to be worth ..£20.00.0 The truth of all Which I will be Qualified to But as to the Continental Money though there is the Strongest presumption as they certainly Carried off a File of Newspapers, upon which the Sheets had be Strung Some Days before Yet as it is possible the Some body might have taken them of the File before that day I do not find freedon to Swere to it. William Currie The Rev. William Currie lived in the house known as General Stirling's Quarters. Back to listBenjamin Davis
Chester to wit the above acct. proven before me given under my hand the 19th day of Nov. 1782 Benjamin Batholomew Benjamin Davis purchased 135 acres of land from his father, Isaac Davis, in 1774. The property had a western boundary of Mill Lane and is now part of Chesterbrook. Benjamin Davis died in November 1784. Back to listDavid DavisAn inventory of the goods and chattles of the subscriber which was plunded & forcibly taken from him by the Brittish Troops under the command of Sir General William Howe K.B. on the 18th of September 1777.
Chester to wit the above acct. proven before me given under my hand the 18th day of Nov. 1782 Benjamin Batholomew David Davis seems to be unrelated to other Davis/David family members in Tredyffrin. He died in 1794. Back to listIsaac DavisAn estimate the property of Isaac Davis esqr. deceased.
Isaac Davis died in 1778. Back to listDr. John DavisAn list of property taken from John Davis by the Brittish Army commanded by General Howe.
Chester I do certify that Doctor John Davis of Tredyffrin was sworn to the above account as the law directs before me. Given under my hand. November 27th 1782 proven before me given under my hand the 18th day of Nov. 1782 William Evans Dr. John Davis (1744 - 1816) was the son of James and Mary Davis. Where he learned his medical skills is not known, but by the time of the Revolutionary War he served as surgeon of a Pennsylvania musketry battalion, was captured at the battle of Long Island, and was held for a time on the British prison-ships at New York. Back to listSamuel DavisSamuel Davis deceased lost in shop goods and destruction about his store to the amount of £600. I do hereby certify that the above is a just account from the best information I have received. David Wilson, assessor. Samuel Davis died in 1778. Franklin Burns in his History of Berwyn and the Great Valley (unpublished, copy in the Society’s Archives) says that the Samuel Davis store was probably in Paoli. Back to listWilliam DeweesWilliam Dewees was the iron master and part owner of the Valley Forges at the time of the Revolution. He did not submit a reparation claim in 1782 but instead submitted a claim to Congress in 1791. The substance of the 1791 petition is as follows. SCHEDULE of property, with its valuations, destroyed by a detachment of the British Army on the 17th and 18th September 1777, the property of the petitioner, to wit:
Nicholas FinderbanderDamages sustained by Nicholas Finderbender by the Brittish Army commanded by General Howe in September 1777 Tredyffrin Township Chester County
Chester to wit the above acct. proven before me given under my hand the 19th day of Nov. 1782 Benjamin Batholomew It is not clear where Finderbander, aka Tinderbender (and other spellings), lived as he did not purchase land and does not appear in the tax returns. Back to listJacob FrickAn account of the damage done to Jacob Frick by the Brittish army under the General Howe in their march through the Valley September 1777 about 25 bushels of wheat 40 bushels of potatoes 100 bushels of oats 6 acres of Indian corn 7 tuns of hay 16 sheep 6 hogs 2 spring calves 3000 rails the value of all not less than £120. I do hereby certify the above account has been received from the owners. Daniel Willson assessor The Hessian, Count Dunop may have used Jacob Frick's house as his headquarters during the British Encampment. Back to listIsaac GriffithAn account of the damages done by the Brittish Troops under the command of General Howe in the year 1777 on their march from the head of the Elk to Philadelphia.
Received no recompence for the above account. Tredyffrin Township Isaac Griffith Chester County to wit the above sworn to the 18th day of Nov. 1782. Given under my hand. Benjamin Batholomew Isaac Griffith was landlord of Howell's Tavern in the 1780s. There are no deeds showing he owned land in Tredyffrin. Back to listAdam GruberAdam Gruber's account of damages.
The above is a true account of damages dome by the Brittish army commanded by General Howe September 1777 Chester to wit the above proven before me given under my hand the 18th day of Nov. 1782 Benjamin Batholomew Adam Guider or Gruber purchased land in the township in 1770. He died in 1788. Back to listDavid HavardArticles taken from David Havard September 1777 by the Brittish army commanded by General Howe & his adherents Tredyffrin Township Chester County
I do hereby certify that the above is a just account from the best information I have received. David Wilson, assessor. David Havard owned 300 acres in what is now Chesterbrook. Back to listJohn Havard juniorInventory of the goods and other chattles taken from the subscriber in Tredyffrin Chester County Pennsylvania State by the Heshian & other of the Brittish army during their encampment upon the 18th, 19th, & 20th days of September 1777 under the command of General Howe. John Havard
Chester County the above affirmed before me given under my hand the 18th day of Nov. 1782 Benjamin Batholomew John Havard lived in Duportail's Quarters. He died in 1797. Back to listSamuel HavardInventory of the goods and other chattles the property of the subscriber Samuel Havard & his family which was forcibly taken from him on the 18th, 19th & 20th days of September 1777 by Sir William Howes army K.B. during his encampment Tredyffrin Township Chester County in the State of Pennsylvania. Samuel Havard
Chester County to wit. The above list of damages affirmed to before me given under my hand the 16th day of Nov. 1782 Benjamin Batholomew Samuel Havard lived with his unmarried sisters Ann and Sarah in Lafayette's Quarters. Back to listMary Howell
November 16th 1782 Chester to wit the above acct. sworn to before me given under my hand the 18th day of Nov. 1782 Benjamin Batholomew Mary Howel owned the Howellville Inn on the Swedesford Road. Back to listLydia JonesLydia Jones lost by the Brittish army about 5000 rails £7.10.0. I do hereby certify the above account has been received from the owners. Daniel Willson assessor Lydia was the widow of John Jones who died in 1755. Back to listSamuel JonesAn account of the loss that Samuel Jones of Tredyffrin in the County of Chester & state of Pennsylvania sustained by the Brittish and destroyed by them when General Howe's Headquarters was at my house the 18th, 19th, and 20th days of September 1777 on their march from the head of Elk to Philadelphia.
November 16th 1782 Chester to wit the above acct. sworn to before me given under my hand the 18th day of Nov. 1782 Benjamin Batholomew Samuel Jones' house was General Howe's headquarters during the British encampment. Back to listJoseph MitchellAdvertisement from the Pennsylvania Gazette, August 25, 1778 and September 1, 1778 THIRTY DOLLARS REWARD. WENT with the British army, when they left the Valley in September last, a Negro man named CATO. I found him in the possession of Lieutenant Nesbit of the 17th regiment, took him to Philadelphia, where not being able to get a master, he ran away in the evening and went to the British army again; it is said he left Philadelphia before the army did. He is about 23 years of age, was bought of Mr. McCall about three months before, is a handy fellow about a house, and a good waiter, but sometimes saucy, and is knock-kneed: he can play on the violin and fife. Whoever takes up and secures said Negro so that his master may have him again, shall have Twenty Dollars, but if brought to the Work house of Philadelphia, shall have the above reward and all reasonable charges, paid by the subscriber, living in the Great Valley in Chester county, who has a Plantation and Ferry to let, whereon Henry Lott now lives, three miles above Coryell, to be entered on the fifth of April next. None need apply but such who are able and willing to keep a good house and take proper care of the whole.JOSEPH MITCHELL. Joseph Mitchell was the first owner (and probably builder) of Chesterbrook Mill. His taxes were reduced in 1778 as he had been plundered by the British but no reparation claim exists. No slaves are listed in his tax returns. He is in the tax returns until 1789 when his property was sold by the sheriff. Back to listThomas PenningtonTook from Thomas Pennington to the amount of £50. I do hereby certify that the above is a just account from the best information I have received. David Wilson, assessor. Thomas Pennington owned a tract in Paoli. Back to listAbel ReesAn account of property taken from Abel Rees @ Lord Cornwallis Quarters Tredyffrin Township Chester County on Thursday 18th of September 1777 for the use of his majestys troops.
Chester to wit. The above sworn to before me given under my hand the 12th day of Nov. 1777 Benjamin Batholomew The date of swearing must be a mistake. For information on Abel Rees and his house, Lord Cornwallis' Headquarters see Tory Hollow. Back to listSamuel RichardsDamage done Samuel Richards deceased by the Brittish army. 15 Bushels of wheat 5 dozen of oats 1 tun of hay 5000 rails £160.8.0. I do hereby certify the above account has been received from the owners. Daniel Willson assessor Samuel Richards owned a tract of land with a northern boundary of Swedesford Road and an eastern boundary of Valley Forge Road (aka Baptist Road). The Hessian, General Knyphausen, used Richard's house as his headquarters during the British encampment. Back to listJohn RowlandJohn Rowlands account of loss sustained by the Brittish army under the command of General Howe.
This is a true account as near as I can recollect. John Rowland I do hereby certify the above account has been received from the owners. Daniel Willson assessor John Rowland was the owner of the Great Valley Mill. Back to listValentine ShowalterTaken from Valentine Showalter to the amount of £250 in sundry articles. I do hereby certify that the above is a just account from the best information I have received. David Wilson, assessor. Valentine Showalter owned a property between Christian Workizer and Abel Rees. Back to listThomas WatersAn account of sundry articles taken and destroyed by the Brittish army under the command of General Howe when their headquaters was at Samuel Jones about the 18th of September 1777.
Chester to wit. The above sworn to before me given under my hand the 18th November 1782 Benjamin Batholomew Thomas Waters owned a number of plantations in Tredyffrin as can be seen from his 1794 will. Their size is unclear as two were inherited and he rented them out. Waters was the father-in-law of William Dewees. Back to listDavid WilsonAn estimate of damages done by the Brittish army under the command of General Howe & his adherents on their march through the Great Valley Tredyffrin Township Chester County between the 17th & 20th of September 1777. David Willson
Chester to wit. The above sworn before me given under my hand the 19th November 1782 Benjamin Batholomew For details of the Wilson property see: The "Original" Wilson Home. David Wilson was one of the incorporators of the Great Valley Presbyterian Church in 1788. Back to listJohn WilsonArticles taken from & damage done to John Willson done by the Brittish army commanded by General Howe and their adherents between the 17th & 20th of September 1777.
Chester to wit. The above sworn to before me given under my hand the 19th November 1782 Benjamin Batholomew John Wilson sold 112 acres of his tract to his son, David Wilson, in 1779, and the remainder to Frederick Hausman in 1785. Back to listChristian WorkizerChristian Workhisor lost by the Brittish.
Chester to wit. The above sworn to before me given under my hand the 18th November 1782 Benjamin Batholomew Colonel Christian Workizer had served in the British Army and repeatedly refused to turn out for the militia (see The Invasion of Tredyffrin). He owned tracts of land near Howellville and in Strafford. Presumably it was the Howellville tract that was plundered by the British Army. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||