The daily gazette., 1883-08-27
A THOUSAND MARISES.
GREAT FAMILY REUNION NEAR
MORTON, PA.
4 DISTINGUISHED GATHERING.
George Maris' Descendants Celebrate the
Two Hundredth Anniversary Of His
Landing In This Country.
philadelphia Record, Sunday. J

One thousand descendants of George Maris
assembled yesterday in the Maris home
stead to celebrate the 200th anniversary of
the settlement of George Maris at that place.
1t is three miles north of Morton, on the
West Chester Railroad, and is now In the
possession of Mr.. Joseph Maris. The house
which the ancestor built has long since
passed away, and on It's site is
| quiet, quaint stone structure, two and
| half stories high, which was erected by the
| old mans grandson in 1772. George Maris,
| the pioneer, left England in 1888 and settled
IN Chester county, and spring on his farm
gave the name to the village of Springheld,a
mile away.
The grove in which yesterdays reunion
was held is about four acres in extent, near
the old homestead, and here ample cheer
and every comfort were arranged for the
great assemblage. A large speakers plat
form, capable of seating 500 people, fanked
one side of the grove, and in front of the
| stand graceful arch, tastefully decorated,
| was erected.
A large number of the old family descend
ants arrived before dinner, and hundreds of
the family and invited guests took the noon
day meal In true picnic style. There were
| many children in the company.
In the afternoon, when the throng had been
augmented until It exceeded thousand,
everybody repaired to the grand staud,
where the following organization was
| effected President, DR.. Edward Maris, of
Philadelphia. Vice Presidents, George j.
Maris, Iowa; Nathaniel Maris, Illinois;
| Phebe Maris Horton, Ohio; Charles NJ
Taylor, Philadelphia; William Maris Jr.,
New Jersey; DR.. Isaac Massey, Pennsylva-
mia; George G. Mars, Wilmington, Della
ware; Sar III Maris Iowa; David G. Lewis,
Oregon; Matha P. Gibbons, Pennsylvania;
! PcnDock G. Leonard, Pennsylvania; Lewis
d. Maris, KANSAS; Morgan y. Hall, Penn
| sylyania: George Broumall. P,nusylvania;
| Norris Maris, Delaware; Saran WOr,ell,
Pennsylvania; Joseph " Barnard, pennsyl-
| vania; William MAS, c. iornia; Charles
| II. Maris, rexls: H6Ery }. Maris Nrw
York; Phebe NJ tty.. nusy,vania;
| George Maris, Injann: I tb3l, 2. Huston,
Pennsylvania; Dr. Re- min M,ts. Nevada;
George Maris, p ''r, Il, and Jeptha q.
Maris, Dakot..
DIR. Clarence F. M4ri-, o. Columbus, O.,
se.t a paper on THE Maris Family in
Europe" which wa r-ad I,y Miss Emma Y.
West, OF Philadeph who traced the family
in England beck to King Arthur's time.
Professor George L. Maris, of West
Chester, read "history Of George Maris,
the Pioneer" in which he said "Previous
to leaving England our ancestor had pur-
| chased from Robert Toomer of Worcester,
1000 acres OF land in Pennsylvania, but un-
located. In a short time after his arrival he
took up tract of 400 acres aud built upon
it ht'use on the exact spot now occupied
by the residence of him, by whose gen.
erosity we are permitted to gather upon the
land where our pioneer ancestor took up his
abode 200 years ago."
Hon. j. NJ. Broomall of Media, read an
interesting sketch of "The Family of George
Maris.'
Jared Maris of Columbus, Ohio, read a
paper on ''The Maris Family in the West"
| The occasion throughout was of the most
interesting character, and many prominent
| people were present, among them Hon.
| John Welsh and DIR. Ed Maris of Philadel-
phia; State Sentor Cooper, of Media; John
Maris Mace, Greensburg, Pa; Hon. John
NJ. Broomall, Media; Josh IA Maris, of Will
mington, Del, ex-Mayor, and his brother,
| George G. Maris, ex City Treasurer, of that
| city; Samuel W. Pennypacker, Esq, the
historian, Philadelphia; Phcbe Maris Horton,
| Mount Pleasant, Ohio; Jervis Hatton,
| Harveysburg, Ohio; William W. Maris, of
the firm of Maris g. Smith, bankers, Phila-
| delphia.
A conspicuous feature of the occasion was
a collection of souvenirs of the early mem
bers of the Maris family. In this was an
old chair, (which had belonged to the original
| George Maris, and was brought from Eng
land. 1t is an arm chair, and is exceedingly
primitive In Its general style and workman
ship, there being no nails employed in Its
construction-wooden pins being used.
There was another chair, now belonging to
Elizabeth j. West, OF this city, which once
| did service in the parlor of Caleb Maris,
who was the pioneer Maris in Chester
county. He resided in Wlliston township,
where he took up his home in 1744.
There were deeds, marriage certificates,
wedding gowns. ETC., in the collection. The
Oldest descendant, Eliza Pennington, Of
Harveysburg, Ohio, who is 9S years old, was
not able to make the trip, but sent her pho
tograph, and also sent pewter pie plate,
two feet in diameter which had belonged TO
grandson of the pioneer.
-ss-@- -a-S-s