The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1876-04-29
"REMINISCENCES OF CECIL COUNTY.
THE DEFOE FAMILY IN AMERICA
BY MARY f. IRELAND.

BY MARY f. IRELAND.
Among my earliest recollections was a
straight backed, wooden seated, uncom-
sor as one Of the two chairs which had
been used by Daniel Defoe in his study in
England. At the time | was acquainted
with it, it was owned by Joseph Trimble,
a lineal descendant of Elizabeth, sister of
Daniel Defoe, and after his death it was
presented by his brother James to the His
torcal Society of Delaware. My informa-
ton in regard to it was obtained from diff
fereut branches of the Defoe family, and
from James Tlmble's letter of presenta-
ton.
From Elizabeth, niece of Daniel Defoe,
who came from England in 171S, down to
his relatives of the present day, all the
family, with a few EXCEPTIONS have lived
within two miles of Brick Meeting House,
Cecil county, Maryland: all worshipped in
tie meeting house which gives this village
its name, and all, when called upon to pay
the debt of nature, have been brought for
interment to the burial ground attached to
this old meeting house.
In order to explain how it was that his
relatives came to be settled in this part of
the New World. it will be necessary to 60
back to the year 1905, when Daniel Defoe,
on account of his persistent writing upon
the exciting subjects of the times, was
compelled to seek an asylum under the
roof of his widowed sister, Elizabeth Max
before, he had sent forth his "Shortest
, Way with DssenterS,' for which he had
suffered the pillory, fine, and imprson-
ment. 1t was on account Of this article
that the Government offered $50 for the
discovery of his hiding place. The procla-
nation as tradition informs us, was word
ed very nearly thus:
" Whereas, Daniel Defoe alias De Fooe,
is charged with writing a scandalous and
seditious pamphlet entitled the Shortest
Way with Dissenters:' lie is a middle
sized. spare man, about forty years old, of
il brown complexion and dark colored hair.
but wears a wig; hook nose, a sharp
chin. gray eyes. and large mole near his
mouth: was born in London, and for many
years was hose factor in Freeman's Yard.
CornhiIl, and now is owner of the brick
and pantlle works near Til5ury Fort, in
Essex:) whoever shall discover the said
Daniel Defoe to one of Her aesty's Sec
retaries of State or any of Her Majesty S
justices of the peace, SO he may be appre-
hended. shall have a reward of $50, which
Her Majesty has ordered Immediately to be
paid upon such discovery.
On his release, he was again imprisoned
for his political pamphlets and through
libcrated but in his sisters home, secure
from his political and pecuniary assailants,
he continued to send forth his barbed ar
rows with impunity. A small room in the
rear of the building was fitted up for his
private study, and it was there his sisters
only daughter manned, for herself, Eliza,
BETH, who was five years of age when her
uncle came to make his home with them,
received her education under his teaching
and it was there that " Robinson Crusoe -
was written, one year after his niece had
left her home and him. Perhaps the com
parative isolation he endured suggested the
wonderful narrative to his mind.
The Defoes were all members of the SO.
ciety of Friends, and attended a meeting
designated by the odd name of . Bull and
Mouth" which was often mentioned in the
early annals of the Society.
At eighteen, Elizabeth contracted a mat
rimonial engagement, which was peremp
torily broken off by her mother. This
caused an alienation from all her friends,
and she privately left her home and EN-.
barked for America. Being without funds,
she bargained with the captain to be sold
on her arrival. to reimburse him for hei
passage; accordingly, in the Autumn OF
that year she, with a number of others,
was offered for sale in Philadelphia and
Andrew Job, resident of Cecil county,
Maryland, happening to be in the city at
the time, bought her for n term of years
aud brought her to his home.
In 1925 Elizabeth Maxwell became the
wife of Thomas Job, son of Andrew; and
{ now, DtlD0 HdIDily Selllei, Suc WIolC VI
her mother and uncle, giving them the
first information of her whereabouts. As
soon as possible letter came from heI
uncle, stating chat her mother was dead,
and that large property. in addition to
her mothers furniture, had been left tu
her by will in case she were ever found
alive. An inventory of the goods sent ac-
I cOmpanied the letter. and especial atten
ton was solicited for the preservation OF
such articles as he had used in his private
study. "as they had descended to the fam
lily from the Flemish ancestors who sought
refuge under the banner of Queen Eliza,
beth from the tyranny of PHILIPPE" He
also apoogized for the condition of two
chairs the wicker seats of which he had
worn ont and replaced by wooden ones.
One of these is the chair presented to the
Historical Society of Delaware. because ii
was in that city that the last thirty years
of the business part Of Joseph Trimble' S
life was spent; the other is in the posses
sion of James Trmble.
Two aged maiden ladies' Ann and Han.
nah Kirk. whose mother was great great
niece of Daniel Defoe, and who have lived,
ever since | can remember, in a pleasant
home by themselves within sight of the
Brick Meeting House. have one of the
chairs sent from England 10y Daniel Defne.
but of different pattern from the two used
in his study. They Informed me that the
chairs were all made with a pocket knife,
and they certainly have that appearance.
All the letters received from her uncle
were carefully preserved by Elizabeth until
her death, which occurred on the eth of
September 1882, at the age of eighty two,
One of her grandsons, Daniel Defoe job,
living near her. was almost constantly in
her society. She took delight in relating
"reminiscences of her early days; of how
she used to bother her uncle meddling with
his papers, until he would expel her from
his study. Daniel spoke of his grand
mother as little old yellow looking
woman, passionately fond of flowers, and
retaining her activity of mind and body
until the close of her life. Another of her
grandsons. also named Daniel Job, died at
very advanced age, within my remem-
brance, and his funeral was the first ever
attended.
There was an Andrew Job, brother of
this Daniel bachelor who became "A her
NIT, and for upward of fifty years lived en-