The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1906-01-13
rHE CHEW HOUSE, CLIvEDEN.

town the Chew House plays con-
spicuous part. The history OF the
Chew family is connected with events
Of public interest in four States of the
American Union. John Chew and
Sarah, his wife, were, according to
the muster of Lieut.. Edward Bark
ley, residents of the hundred in Vir-
| ginia over which Barkley was officer.
He was member of the General
Assembly of Virginia about I622-23,
and his name is mentioned as a mem
Der Of the Upper and Lower House
until 1643. Samuel Chew, of Maid
stone, may be considered the founder
of the Chew family in Pennsylvania.
He was born on the goth of October,
1903. His first wife, Miss Mary Gal
loway, whom he married October
~ I7I5, died soon after having
been Widower some years, he took
fsr his second wife Mrs. Mary Gallo
way,whose maiden name was Paca.
She vas the widow of Richard Gallo
way, d Cumbersome.
Samtel Chew studied medicine, be-
came apracticing physician and join
ed the Society of Friends. In the
latter part of his life he removed to
Dover, il New Castle county, one
of the lower Counties . or terrific
ries ATTACHED to the Province of Penn
sylvania, which afterward became
the State d Delaware. He there be-
came chief Justice of the governments
of New Castle, Sussex and Upper
Delaware. .At that period of our
country's history such arrangements
were not uncommon.
In 1745, whilst the proprietary
government of Pennsylvania was
brought face to face with many diff
culties, Judge Chew was stirred up
by the blood within him into taking
remarkable position for one who was
connected with the Society of Friends.
Respecting the propriety of lawful
war he had no scruples whatever. In
New Castle county, in 174I, in charge
of the grand jury, he strongly en-
forced the duty of defense, and the
obligation which rested upon every
citizen to strengthen the hands of
government and to accord support of
the King and the corntry's cause.
His address was published in jour-
nails printed in Philadelphia, and
created great excitement, earning the
gratitude of the friends of defense,
whilst the Quakers were scandalized
at the falling away of member of
the Society from Friends principles
against wars and fighting.
Benjamin, son of DR.. Samuel Chew,
physician and Judge, was born in
Maryland at the family mansion,
West river, on the 2oth of November,
1922. His education was liberal and
sufficient to fit him for the practical
study of the law.
He obtained legal instruction at
Philadelphia under Andrew Hamil-
ton, VINO gave the foundation in the
theory of the law and of the practice
in the courts. He finished his studies
at London, where he was entered at
the Inner Temple, and ate his COM
mons in the regular way according to
the custom of that venerable estab-
lishment. He at length returned to
America and settled down at the place
of his fathers residence. The town
house is said to be still standing at
Dover. The country house is about
three miles from Dover.
In 1854 he removed to Philadelphia
and at once became noted, and was
intrusted with important Offices. On
the 18th of January, 1855, he was ap-
pointed Attorney General of Pennsyl-
vania, which trust he held until No
vember 4th, 1869, more than four
teen years after which he was sue
ceeded by Andrew Allen.
Samuel Chew was appointed to
the Provincial Council to advise and
confer with the governors and pro-
prietaries upon all matters of public
concern in 1855, and was a member
of that digniied body until the Revo-
luton.
In 1856 he was appointed Recorder
of the City of Philadelphia, and held
the commission for 20 years until the
events of the Revolution annulled the
old charter of the city granted by
William Penn in 1901.
He was Register General of Wills
for the Province of Pennsylvania,
commissioned August 18th, 1865.
On the 2oth of April, 1774, he was
appointed Chief Justice of the Su-
preme Court of Pennsylvania, posi-
ton from which, in consequence OF
the revolutionary events commencing
| in April of the following year, he
was practically removed after the bat
tie Of Lexington, and his authority
ceased altogether in July, 1916, by
the overthrow of the proprietary gov
ernment Of Pennsylvania.
Samuel Chew was noted for cour-
tesies paid to members of the first
| Continental Congress OF I774. Wash
ington and John Adams both dined
with him at that time at his city house,
Third below Walnut street, and
Adams, in his diary, expresses his
admiration of Chew's house. In
speaking Of dinners, Adams says II
drank madeira at a great rate, and
found no inconvenience from it"
Mr.. Chew's position was like that
ofmany other Americans, whose sym
pathies, at the point of resistance, were
with their fellow-countrymen, but
which stopped short at the prospect
of an independent government.
He was signer of the Non-impor'
tation Agreement in 1868, and was
sympathetic with those who sought
redress of grievances, but seemed tc
hope that the Crown would not re
sort to the extremities subsequently
reached. Eventually, the position oi
Chief Justice Chew became more clear
~ established. While he committed nc