The Oskaloosa herald., 1906-08-16
HOME With A HISTORY
Romance in Connection With the
Chew Family in Reunion.

S-S AS5oANAh5 q AlcluUST Oh Lu6 Idul
lily is copied from the Chicago Inter
Ocean:
History and romance both center
upon the ancient manor house of the
Chews. Its upbuilder was Chief Jus
tice BENJAMIN Chew of Pennsylvania
whose American ancestry goes back
to one John Chew, a cadet of the
house Of Chew of Cnewton, England.
He came to America in the ship Char.
lite, landing at Hogg's Island, oppo.
site jamestown, Va, In 1922. His
wife, Sarah, followed on the ship Sea.
foure the next year,
John Chew was highly respected in
the community, enjoying the personal
friendship of Sir William Berkeley,
then governor of the colony.
'At date later than 1912 the fam
lily moved to Maryland, where large
grants of land were assigned to its
members. The eldest son OF John
Chew is recorded in the upper house
journal, 1863, as Samuel Chew, gentle
man. In his will he styles himself
Samuel Chew of Harrington. His
wife as Anne Ayres, Quakeress OF
considerable wealth. The fifth son of
this union was Benjamin Chew, who
married Elizabeth Benson. He died
at an early age, leaving one son, DR..
Samuel Chew of Maidstone, who, at
ter the death of his first wife, moved
with his second to Dover on the Della
ware. He was created chief justice
of the lower counties of the province
of Pennsylvania; thus becoming the
founder of the Chews in that state. His
son was that brilliant man of his
time, Chief Justice Benjamin Chew.
Il was he who erected the historic
house Cliveden in Germantown in
1868.
Benjamin Chew studied law under
Alexander Hamilton and at the In
ner Temple, London. He was ap-
pointed chief justice of the supreme
court of Pennsylvania, but was soon
displaced, owing to the events Of the
revolution. He was the last chief
justice appointed by King George III.
That he was not in sympathy with the
supporters of the crown is proved
from the fact of his signature appear
ing among the signers of the mon
importation agreement" He did not
hesitate to say, however, he consider
ed the idea of Independent govern
ment both premature and rash. He
refused, also, to sign a parole, so he,
with the late proprietary John Penn,
were ordered to Fredericksburg, Va,
as "disaffected officers of the crown"
AT later date he signified his will.
ingness to sign parole. 1t was dur.
ing his absence that his country seat,
Cliveden, was turned into a temper
airy fortress by the British. After the
battle of Germantown the redcoats
were flying wildly before the conquer.
ing Americans, when some British
soldiers under Colonel Margrave
came down upon Cliveden like the
wolf on the fold" Once entrenched
behind its massive granite walls, they
turned the tide of battle. What had
been defeat few moments before
now became victory. The Americans
assailed the walls without result;
50 thick and solid were they, bullets
could not penetrate.
Two venturesome young men, Mr..
Laurens and the Cnevalier Manduit
Duplessie, so tradition says, proposed
e. caf he Tnrip dnnr
They succeeded in getting to the
house, the gallant De Manduit actual
ly entering it through window. He
was Shortly discovered by a British
Officer, who demanded instant surren-
der Another Britisher, hearing the
command, rushed exeitedly into. the
room; seeing young Manduit, he fired
his pistol at him, but in his excite
ment he took bad aim, killing his
comrade. De Manduit beat a hasty
retreat, both adventures getting
away with nothing more serious than
a slight wound in the shoulder Of
Mr.. Laurens.
Cliveden's owners have carefully
pTSS6TNSu bHC lIdCSS VI Lille udIIlC'
Historians hold Chew house response.
BILE for the defeat of the --merican
arms that day. Had General Knox
not Insisted on the reducing of forti'
ficatfons in their rear" the fruitless
delay at Cliveden would not have oc
Cured
A very curious old well is built
back of the kitchen. 1t is so con
structed that should the family be be
sieged by Indians or foreign foe, out
side doors upon the well would close
allowing water to be drawn only from
the inside.
All as not war and bloodshed al
CT l. After the troublous times
y min Chew came back to his
land with him came his pretty
s$znghters. They are frequently spok
Zen Of as "the most beautiful womer
Of the Republican court"
Margaret, or Peggie Chew, was thu
eldest. Her beauty and wit won tht
warm admiration of Washington. HI
NOS a nersnna1 friend of her fathel