The Oskaloosa herald., 1901-10-10
THE CHEW FAMILY.
Romance In the Early Ancestry and a
Long. worthy Record.

In the city of Philadelphia, in that
part of it known as Germantown,
stands the manor house of the Chews,
Familiarity called the old Chew man
sion. 1t is a substantial building of
stone, and the grounds surrounding
it still retain something of their colo
NAL beauty, parts OF statuary still
remaining. Around this old mansion
center much of the romance and col
onial history of the Chew family.
In 1922, John Chew, Of Chewtown,
Solnersetshire, England, member
OF the Assembly and House and q
cadet, with one of three brothers
landed on Hogs Island, opposite
jamestown, Virginia, after a success
fnl voyage on the ship Caritie. His
wife Sarah followed on the ship Sea-
floure the next year. John Chew was
highly respected in the community,
enjoying the personal friendship of
Sir VIM. Berkely, then governor of
the colony. About twenty. five years
after the arrival of John Chew in
Virginia the family removed to Mary
land, where large grants of land were
assigned to the members. The eldest
son Is recorded in the upper house
journal, 1859, as Samuel Chew, gen.
tleman. In his will he styles himself
Samuel Chew, of Harrington. His
wife was Annie Ayers, a Quakeress
of considerable wealth.
The fifth son of this union was BeE-
jamin Chew, who married Elizabeth
Benson He died at an early age,
leaving one son, DIR. Samuel Chew,
of Maidstone, who removed from
Maryland toDelaware and was created
chief justice of the lower counties of
the province of Penn and Delaware.
He was the father of 1.-TWO sons and two
| daughters. His second son, Nathan,
received tracts of land in New Jersey
and became the founder the Ohews
in New Jersey, some of whom emil
grated to Oskaloosa, lIowa, founding
the Chew family of that state. His
eldest son, Benjamin was the brilliant
man of that time, who.was the last
chief justice appointed by King
George. 1t was he who erected Give
den, the historic manor house of the
Chews. 1t was taken possession of
during the absence of it's owner, by
the British, and to its massive walls
the British owed the credit of the
victory at the battle of Germantown.
1t is still in possession of the Chew
family, who carefully preserve the
traces of the battle. A very curious
old we'll still exists back of the kitchen.
1t is so constructed that should the
inmates be besieged, either by Brit
ish or Indians outside doors on the
well would close allowing water to be
drawn only from the inside. Benjamin
Chew studied law under Alexander
Hamilton, at the inner templeL ondon.
He was appointed chief justice of the
supreme court of Pennsylvania and
he was the last chief justice appoint
ed by King George. He was a man
highly respected by both the Crown
and the Colonists. He was brilliant
lawyer, and to him in part belongs
the credit of establishing the famous
bar of Philadelphia lawyers. He was
appointed by the legislature one of
the commission to settle thellong dis
puted boundary line between Pennsyl-
vanis and Maryland, by the adoption
of the Mason and Dixon line. After
the close of the revolutionary war,
Benjamin Chew returned to Cliveden
with his family. He was the father
of three daughters, who are spoken
of by historians as being 1.-THE most
beautiful women of the Republican
Court. Margaret, or Peggy, the cid
est, was considered the most beauti
full woman Of her time. She was great
ly admired by the unfortunate Major
Andre. Poems presented to her:
The Hebrews write and those who can,
Felieve an apple tempted man.
To touch the tree EXEMPT,
Though r6stedat a vast expense
Twas too delicious TO the sense
Not mortally 10 tempt.
But had the tree Of knowledge blOOmed
Its branches by such fruit perfumed
As here enchance my view,
What mortal Adams taste could blame
Who would not die to eat the 81 ne
When Gods might wish h Chew.
Major Andre was only 20 when he
was hanged as a spy. He wrote the
following poem to Peggie Chew,
when bidding farewell to Cliyeden:
fiat the close of strife and war
Ny d. stiDy once more
Should in the varied paths Of life
Conduct me 10 this shore,
Should British banners guard the Land
And factions be restrained,
And CiiYeden's ma sions peaceful tdnd
No more with blood be stained
Say wilt thou then receive again
And welcome TO thy sight
The youth who bids with stiiIied pain,
His sad farewell tonight?
Peggie Chew afterwards married
John Eager Howard, the hero OF
the battle Of Cowpens. The second
daughter, Harriet, is spoken Of by
historians as being a great fayorite
OF Washington and Is. spoken of as
leaning on the arm Of Washington at
the first reception. Being a.brilliant
conyersationaIist Il is said he re-
ouested her to accompany him at the