Daily Republican., 1880-05-03
A wesdi.g Nipe.y.six years Age.

Ia weadisg Ninesy.sfx years ARs
The following article, which We clil
from the Pottstown "Lsdger," carrie
the reader back TO the early days ofth
Republic, when the iron masters wer'
probably the most aristooratic peopl'
| In the country, and strove by matri
nonial alliances and in many othel
ways to increase and psrpetuats theil
power. The Robert May referred to Ii
believed to have been q member Of TIE
Elk Forge Company, whose iron works
stood whore BaldWin's factory now
stands on the Big Blk.
An old letter which fell into onr
hands sometime since, bearing date
June 23rd, 1884, describes in 3 way
that may be Of interest to some Of eur
ysung greaderf-and older ones too, fer
that matter-a wedding that took place
nearly ninety-six years age. The wri-
ter was Rebeoca Grace Potts, daughter
OF Col. Thomas Potts, an officer in
the American army during the war Of
the revolution (Col. Potts was the
youngest SON Of John Potts, the founder
Of Pottstowp), and her letter was dated
at her home at Coventry, Chester coun'
try, where her parents resided, and di.
rected 10 her csusin, who resided al
Pine Forge, . few miles from Psttstown'
The bride described in the, sprightly
epistle (part Of which Is published)
was Miss Polly Brinton, but no mention
unfortunately, is made Of the name o.
the groom. The letter sayF:
"Ws did not expect to see 50 large /.
! company, but found to our great sur
Prise upwards Of hundred p sple
/ think they must have asked the fourtl
and fifth generations. They wers col
leeted from Philadelphia, Chester coun
ty, and Wilmington, Del, and | thinl
the chief Of the youug people in tn
neigh bsrhoed. The house, though large
could not contain the whole company
and they were under the necessity O
going into the garden 10 be married
There we're several trees which afford
ed q shade, although it was the niddi'
Of the day. There were two long table
and beaches fixed where we dined tn
ladies sat down and chief Of the gentle
men to attend them, which gave 1t very
romantic appearance. The bride ane
groom graced the head of the table
The bride was very pretty her dres
was perfectly neat-a pure white man
tau habit and pstticeat, plain gauz
apron, and handkerchief. Her brides
maids were also genteel, and | neve
vas in company with more agreeable
sensible yeupg fellows. They wsr
married ON Thursday, and it appeared
strange to have it in the forepart Of tn
day. The bride keeps on her bonne
when they are married by magistrate
The ceremony is very short he repeat
few words, which they both give thei
asseat to ; he then signs q certificate
aud she Immediately after, like tn
mode Of Friends. felt much for tn
bride, as she made many attempts be
fore she cSuld rscollecL herself, as he
hand trsmbled 30 shat she could nO
sign her name.
After the marriage, twenty-five cou
pies OF US took walk in the fields, ,thel
returned and won't to the orchard (
swing and play. The company wa
too large to be agreeable; We sometime
were in parties, and 1 believe one.thir'
Of us never knew each other's names
The greater part of the company re-
turned the next morning, but we brok
from them, as 1t WAS my mother's or
ders to be at hone on Friday evening
1t was with reluctance We obeyed, a
the wedding festivities did not breal
up entirely until Sunday evening. !
is customary 10 follow the good ol,
fashion of having such companies larg
and keeping them up. wish my dea
girl we could all be at such an enter
tainment."
The writer OF this letter was hersel
married at Coventry, February 10th
1855, to Robert May, Of Cecil county
Md. but she lived only until July 80
1889, to enjoy her welded bliss. He
daughter, Eliza May, was married t
Samuel Stevens, who was aftsrward
Governor Of Maryland. Robert May
her husband, three years after hi
wife's decease, in 1892, married he
younger sister, Ruth Potts, at Coven
try, and two sons, fruit Of this latte
union, are still living, one Of them
we'll known West Chester gentleuran-
q retired member Of the bar. Poll.
Brinton, and all who attended her joy
Gus wedding, have been sleeping, tn
sleep that knows no waking, for man.
years, but re have no doubt, that he
descend an U ARE still residents Of Ches
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