Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-09-09
MIR. oLnVELAND,s ANCESTRY.
Handsome Susanna Porter and an
Episcopal bishop His Great
t:randDaFenrs.

Handsome Susanna Porter and AN
Episcopal bishop Bis Great
Grandparents.
The Buffalo, N. Y. Courier recently
printed an interesting chapter on the an
cestry Of President Cleveland, written by
an Episcopal bishop, who traces his an
ceBtry to the same source. The bishop
refuses to give his name to the public.
He says
president Cleveland comes of the old
colonial stock, and iniierits through
Susanna Porter an interesting claim TO be
regarded as connecting the Presidency
with the historic days Of the founders Of
Massachusetts. This lady was born
March LIST, 17l6, and was the daughter of
Aaron Porter, pastor of Medford, Mass.
Her mother was Susan daughter of Major
Stephan Sewall Of Salem, whose brother
was the Judge Sewall in whose court, /
regret to say, the Salem witches were
tried and cruelty condemned. This
worthy was grandfather of Susanna Por-
ter, and her paternal grandfather, Sequel
Porter, seems to have been one or the
founders Of Hoadley.
"Susanna Porter was great beauty
and much celebrated in her day. Her
person was small, but of perfect sym
metry. Her face was distinguished as
much for its great intelligence and an
imation as for fine features and COM
plexion. Her high and polished fore
head, her aquiline nose, bright and beau
tiful black eyes, small and lovely mouth
had each its peculiar charm. She was the
belle of her time, and some Of the richest
AID MlSst respectable men of the neigh
10, a., fo,
when she gave her heart to gay young
collegian whom her charms had attracted
TO her side, and who, with fine physique
and handsome face, and with spirit as
noble and a humor more keen, had
easily supplanted his older and more
wealthy rivals. His name was Aaron
Cleveland. After completing the neces-
sary studies preparatory to entering the
ministry, he was elected pastor of the
small town of Haddam, Conn. and thither
he went with his beautiful wife in 1889
This must have been great trial to the
lady for she WINS the darling of the
family, az well as all her acquaintances,
and had been accustomed all her life to
ease and luxury.
Mr.. Cleveland, whom she 30 improyi-
| IDENTIFY preferred, was scholar and O
gentleman, and it 10 mystery how he be-
came so poor, for his father was one of
the wealthiest freeholders in Modford,
where he was known as Captain Cleve-
land. He sold his Medford property and
bought GOO acres for e3 900 in Connect.
cut, near East IIaddam, in 1889. lie gave
his other sons valuable farms in this
region, and we must conclude he counted
the education Mt Harvard an equivalent
| gift to his son Aaron. AT this time the
| preaching of Whitfield had powerfully
interested Mr.. Cleveland, who was a
natural orator himself, and he adopted O
more earnest manner in the pulpit. Dis
satisfaction followed among some of his
people, though the majority adhered to
him with ardent attachment. He was
accused Of departing from Calvinistic
orthodoxy, and so, in 1747, went back to
the vicinity Of Medford as pastor Of
Maiden, south precinct. After time,
however, he left Maiden and removed to
Halifax, Nova Scotia. This was owing to
q change in his views, for at Halifax he
| professed the faith Of the Church Of Eng
land, and there being at that time no
bishop in America he went to England to
take orders.
when Mr.. Cleveland arrived in Phila-
delphia he went TO the house of DR.. Ben
jamin franklin, whose friendship and
respect he enjoyed. He was appointed
rector of New Castle, in Delaware. The
people became deeply attached to him,
but he wac forced to go to Philadelphia
for medical treatment and died there,
under DR.. Frankliu's roof, August 18th,
1867, at the age of SO years. His widow,
with her ten children, received mod
crate pension from the English Church,
and returned TO her relatives in Salem.
Although the bishop does not say so, he
means TO be understood that the Presi-
dents grandfather was q son of Susanna
Porter"