{"id":62357,"date":"2020-10-14T14:23:33","date_gmt":"2020-10-14T18:23:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.genealogybank.com\/?p=62357"},"modified":"2020-10-21T14:46:08","modified_gmt":"2020-10-21T18:46:08","slug":"the-1st-generation-of-philadelphia-biddles-the-scull-family","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/the-1st-generation-of-philadelphia-biddles-the-scull-family.html","title":{"rendered":"The 1st Generation of Philadelphia Biddles & the Scull Family"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction:<\/em><\/strong> In this article, Melissa Davenport Berry continues her series about one of the oldest and most storied families in America, the Biddles, focusing this time on their connection to the Scull family. Melissa is a genealogist who has a blog, AnceStory Archives<\/a>, and a Facebook group, New England Family Genealogy and History<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Sydney Biddle Barrows, the notorious \u201cMayflower Madam\u201d of Manhattan, has some remarkably interesting ancestral lines (see Quaker Trailblazers: The Unconventional Biddles<\/a>). In this article I focus on Quaker William Biddle III, who married into the Scull family of Pennsylvania. The children born to William Biddle III and Mary Scull would comprise the first major branch of the prominent Philadelphia Biddle line. Sydney descends from Charles Biddle, the sixth child born to William and Mary.<\/p>\n

I searched GenealogyBank\u2019s Historical Newspaper Archives<\/a> and found an 1874 article about the Scull family in the Sunday Dispatch<\/em>, which referenced Westcott\u2019s History of Philadelphia<\/em>. According to this article, the old burial ground of the family is part of a 400-acre estate called \u201cSpringfield Manor,\u201d purchased by Nicholas Scull in 1688. Nicholas, along with seven servants and his family, came to Chester, Pennsylvania, from Bristol, England, on the ship Bristol Merchant<\/em> in 1685. Nicholas was a surveyor and his son Nicholas II followed in his footsteps.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
Sunday Dispatch (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), 2 August 1874, page 1<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Nicholas II married Abigail Heap in 1708. They had nine children, one of whom, Mary, married William Biddle III, thereby connecting the Biddle and Scull families.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
Sunday Dispatch (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), 2 August 1874, page 1<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

During his life Nicholas II was deputy surveyor of the counties of Philadelphia and Bucks. He also was commissioned sheriff.<\/p>\n

\"Illustration:<\/a>
Illustration: \u201cThe East Prospect of the City of Philadelphia, in the Province of Pennsylvania\u201d (original drawing, 1754), by Nicholas Scull and George Heap, issued October 1761 by London Magazine. Permission to publish: Princeton University Trustees Graphic Arts.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

He was a friend of Dr. Benjamin Franklin, and in 1730 he was elected to the \u201cJunto,\u201d Franklin\u2019s intellectual circle that became the American Philosophical Society. In his autobiography, Franklin wrote of Scull: \u201cWe have a member who loves books and sometimes makes verse.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Philadelphia Inquirer<\/em> told the story of how Nicholas II and John Lukens surveyed up the Delaware River north of Philadelphia in 1730. The surveyors were \u201cmuch surprised by seeing large groves of apple trees far beyond the size of any near Philadelphia.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), 8 July 1906, page 4<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I found a notice in the Pennsylvania Gazette<\/em> from 1747 about an estate sale of leather at \u201cthe late dwelling house of John Howell\u201d at which Nicholas II served as sheriff.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
Pennsylvania Gazette (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), 13 August 1747, page 2<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I also found an advertisement for one of his maps in the Pennsylvania Gazette<\/em> from 1752.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
Pennsylvania Gazette (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), 2 July 1752, page 4<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Nicholas II died in 1761. More than a century later, the Sunday Dispatch<\/em> wrote a detailed article about his life, and included the verse he wrote to adorn his wife\u2019s tombstone. (Remember Benjamin Franklin said that Nicholas II \u201csometimes makes verse\u201d?) Abigail Scull died in 1753.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
Sunday Dispatch (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), 16 May 1875, page 1<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

There\u2019s an interesting story about Abigail\u2019s lone tombstone. Just how important to Pennsylvania was this one surviving grave marker in the old Scull family burial plot? Enough to block the Van Rensselaer millions from removing it!<\/p>\n

According to an article in the Philadelphia Inquirer<\/em>, when the wealthy Van Rensselaers purchased land for the building of their tower mansion, they expected to remove the tiny Scull burial plot.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), 4 January 1904, page 3<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

What seemed a nuisance to the lofty palatial plans \u2013 the lone tombstone of Abigail Scull and the stone wall fragments of the burial ground \u2013 were sacred to many, and destined to remain. Abundant provision had been made for the maintenance of the burial ground, and overtures from the Van Rensselaers for its purchase were repeatedly rebuffed.<\/p>\n

As the article explained:<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), 4 January 1904, page 3<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The descendants of William and Mary (Scull) Biddle held government offices and served in the American Revolution. Later Biddle family members were honored for their professional contributions in the field of arts and letters.<\/p>\n

Stay tuned as I cover the children of William and Mary, which includes Sydney\u2019s article \u201cThe Biddles: Four Centuries, One of America\u2019s First Families,\u201d noting many of her prominent Biddle ancestors who married into Mayflower<\/em> lines.<\/p>\n

Related Article:<\/strong><\/p>\n