The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1876-01-27
WAsHINGTON's PARTNER.
Story Of the Lady who Danced Minuet
with the Father of His Country
a Hundred Years Old.
From the Philadelphia Times, Jan. III

4 Hundred Years Old.
From the Philadelphia Times, Jan. H.
The centennial anniversary of the
birth of Mrs. Margaret Boggs WAS cele-
brated yesterday at the residence of her
nephew, DR., Stephen Beale, Mt No. 80
Tulpehocken street, Germantown. Mrs.
Boggs was born in this city ON the 10th
of January, 1776, in Front street, be
low Queen, at that time fashionable
of William and Sarah Donaldson, her
mother being the fourth daughter of
Samuel and Rebecca Griscom, of whose
family of eight children Elizabeth, who
married, successfully, Mr., Ross, Mr..
Ashburne, and Mr.. Claypoole, was the
eighth Elizabeth Claypoole, was the
maker of the first America flag bearing
the stars. Samuel Griscom was a son
OF Tobias Griscom, who was son of
Andrew Gr1scom, or, as the name was
formerly written, Griscombe, of York
shire, who came to Philadelphia in 1852
and who Is known in history as the bull
der of the first brick house in this city.
Samuel Griscom had ship-yard which
extended from Race to Vine streets, and
from the Delaware to Fourth street.
He was also master builder, and in
that capacity assisted in the erection of
the old State House, most of the wood
work being done by him. Her father,
Capt. William Donaldson, was also a
ship builder, and had yard on the
Delaware at Queen street. When seven
teen years old Margaret Donaldson
married Joseph Boggs, coveyancer.
who died two years afterward, and she
had remained a widow for eighty years.
She had one child-a son-who died of
cholera in 1881. After her marriage she
lived for time at 1873 Chestnut street.
She and her aunt, Mrs. Claypoole,
though of Quaker descent, attended the
then fashi enable Christ Church, where
they occupied the pew adjoining that of
Gen. Washington from whom they never
failed to receive polite bow. She
afterward attended the metting-'of the
Fighting Quakers" at Sixth and Arch
streets, and about sixty years ago she
joined the Presbyterian Church. On
the death of her husband she entered an
upholstery shop of her aunt, Mrs. Clay
poole, where she learned the business
and acquired a competence. She gives
vivid descriptions of the appearance of
Philadelphia in her girlhood, when
Fourth street was the limit of the built
up portion and when an afternoons walk
to the Pennsylvania Hospital was long
journey into the country, and when
they used to go out on It'll and Arch
streets to pick blackberries. She re-
members well review of the British
troops, at which her father held her up
so that she could see, and when Is years
old she danced the minuet with Gen.
he. Ill J~{~ oR
how one day, when the British occupied
this city, her father and mother went
out sailing on the Delaware and took
her with them, she being about a year
old. They were hailed by some officers
refused, saying to his wife, who had
dined with US last week; they won't do
again ordered them to come aboard,
would fire on him. Fire and be damn
ed" replied the sturdy old captain, and
fire they did. The captain WAS shot
through the chest, and his wife had her
wrist shattered by ball, but colored
servant, who was aboard, caught the
child in his arms and laid down in the
bottom Of the bort, and she escaped
without injury. Her father and mother
tainted, and the boat hoated down past
the ship yard, where they were seen by
one of the workmen, who brought them
ashore.
Up to the time of the Chicago fire
Mrs, Boggs attended church regularly,
aid belonged to a Dorcas society, but
her health was impaired through anxiety
at that time, and she gave it up, though
she has been to church within the last
two years. About five years ago she
came into the city alone, and had her
picture taken, her friends being igno-
rant of what she had done until the pic
ture appeared. Until within year she
has taken her meals down stairs with the
family, and last summer she walked
with nephew on the lawn. In late
years she occupied her time in making
bed quilts, showing much taste in the
selection and arrangement of colors.
Last week she sewed without using her
glasses, threading her own needles.
She still reads, and her faculties are
generally good, though she is slightly
deaf. She is quite cheerful, and greatly
enjoys visits from her friends. Yester-
day she shook hands and conversed with
more than $50 persons. She received
in her own room, reclining in an easy
chair, and when her friends went to her
side she took them by the hand and
talked with them, showing by her con-
versation that she still retained her mem
DRY to a remarkable degree. Possessing
a vivacious disposition and a warm, gem
tie nature, her manners have endeared
her to large circle of friends and rela-
tives. She has lived to see a sixth gen
Grafton of nephews and nieces, and hopes
to see the Centennial Exhibition.