Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1895-05-17

Snell ana j. j. Harding
Shrewsbury-R w. Bennett, E. V.
1ngham and @. Peale jr.
+. 2. VINCENT, Chairman.
In the Scranton Republican under
date of May 9th, a communication
from Mrs. Graham is found relating
to the Meredith family giving rea-
sons for a commemorative
nition. recog>
Having in =
bad occse' ..tstorlcal researches
s.. Ion to go over my fathers
.pers I have been able to CLEAN
some important facts in addition to
those furnished by Mrs. Graham will
briefly attempt from memory to give
added facts of interest. Reese Mer-
edith the father of General Samuel
Meredith was prosperous merchant
in Philadelphia, long before the
Revolutionary war, and made invest
ments in land under the Penn title,
which We're located within the pres
ent boundry of this county. Saml.
was born in l741 and on arriving to
the age of manhood, is found among
the Philadelphia merchants who in
l765 opposed the importation of teas
and other goods that were stamped.
In 1772 he married a daughter of
DR.. Thomas Cadwalader, this will in
some measure account for the very
large number Of land warrants taken
out in the name of Cadwalader.
Shortly before the Revolutionary
war Mr.. Meredith made large in
vestments in lands in different parts
OF the Commonwealth. When the
government was dependent upon
the contribution of it's friends for
support, Mr.. Merideth and his broth
er-in-law, George Clymer, each
contributed $25,OOO.
During the war Mr.. Merideth ioin-
ed the army, first taking rank as
Major, in which capacity he distin-
guished himself in the battles of
Trenton and Princeton, and in Oct.
l777 was commissioned as General
of the fourth brigade of the Penn
sylvania militia. George Clymer
becoming at the time equally prom
inent as member of Congress and
one of the signers of the declaration
of independence.
At the close of the war and at &
time that the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania was in great danger of
losing her possessions from the
claiment under the Connecticut title,
Messrs. Meredith & Clymer were
among those who gave large finap-
cial aid to Pennsylvania by the
purchase of large tracts ofland with.
in the disputed territory. In 1889
Gen. Meredith received the appoint
ment OF Treasurer of the q. S. The
following letter is under date of
Sept. l3, 1889:
"DEAR SIR-Permit me to con-
gratulate you on your appointment
as Treasurer of the United States
and to assure you of the pleasure I
feel in anticipating your cooperation
with me in station in which a
character like yours is truly valuable.
With sincere esteem am, sir,
Your obedient servant,
ALEXANDER HAMILTON,
Secretary of the Treasury"
Gen. Merideth continued in the
discharge of the duties of this Office
for period of IL years when he re,
tired on account Of i'll health, and to
give personal attention to his large
land interests; in consequence of
which the perplexing questions con-
nected with land titles, required his
most careful attention.
His only son, Thomas, was born
in 1919 had received a good business
education and was we'll fitted to aid
his father, having obtained both
practical and theoretical knowledge
OF surveying. In 1904 he accom-
panied his father to WilkesBarre, he
there became better acquainted with |