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JUDGE JAMES MOORE AND MAJOR JAMES MOORE, OF CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

BY W. S. LONG, M.D.

My desire in presenting sketches of these gentlemen, father and son, is to preserve as far as possible from the oblivion which so rapidly envelops the men and events of the preceding century, the few remaining incidents in the lives of men who, occupying the highest social position, gave years of service to their country at the times of her greatest need. The pen of the historian has barely recorded their names, which the thoughtless may deem a reproach. In the dusty volumes of the "Colonial Records" and "Pennsylvania Archives" the persevering delver after dry facts will find that official mention has more fully presented their claims to the passing attention at least of posterity.

The first of the family of whom we have information was William Moore, who removed from Scotland to the north of Ireland, and was one of the defenders of Derry in 1689. He had a number of sons and daughters. Judge Moore, who was born in 1730, may have been a younger son, but I believe he was a grandson of this man. Tradition tells us that he had eight brothers. He was the first of the family to emigrate to America, and the only one of his generation. He was then about nineteen years of age. At different times eight nephews and one or more nieces were welcomed to his home, and from thence started out to make their fortunes, and from them are descended many who have occupied distinguished positions in public or private life. These are all descended from William Moore, of Derry, without any missing link in the chain of descent, or uncertainty, as in the case of their uncle. One nephew, Samuel Moore, of

Lancaster County, was a captain in the Pennsylvania Line, and was grandfather of General John Fulton Reynolds, the hero of Gettysburg, and of Rear-Admiral William Reynolds. Another nephew, Robert Moore, was engaged in one of the Irish rebellions, and only succeeded in escaping to the United States after hair-breadth escapes from the English soldiers. At one time he was hidden for several days in an oven. Two fine silver-mounted holster pistols, which were carried by him, are preserved in one branch of our family.

James Moore, Sr., settled in Chester County, and in time became possessed of several large farms bordering on Springton and Brandywine Manors. In 1752 he married Elizabeth, daughter of Judge James and Rachel (Creswell) Whitehill, of Pequea, Lancaster County. She came of a good Scotch-Irish family, one that furnished many men of mark in the early annals of our country. Two of her brothers were members of the Constitutional Convention of 1787, and three were members of Congress between 1803 and 1814. The family was represented in the Committee of Safety, Council of Censors, General Assembly, or Congress, almost continuously from 1776 to 1814.

Mrs. Moore was a lady of great refinement and sensibility. She was active in assisting the poor and wounded soldiers of our suffering army. She was possessed of great personal bravery, such as is frequently seen in persons of her character in times of danger, but which may remain unsuspected in peaceful days. She was considered a very proud woman. When severe trials came upon her she remained silent, and no tradition remains of any complaint to any human being. After her husband's death she had total loss of sight, and was greatly comforted in being able to repeat many passages from the Bible and hymns. Of the latter her favorite was, "Consider all my sorrows, Lord, and thy deliverance send." She died June 25, 1815, aged eighty-two years.

James Moore, Sr., at a meeting of the Executive Council at Philadelphia, May 23, 1770, was appointed justice of the General Quarter Sessions of the Peace, and of the Court of VOL. XII.-20

Common Pleas for Chester County. On December 20, 1774, in company with Anthony Wayne, Thomas Hockley, and about thirty others, he was chosen a member of the Committee of Safety of Chester County. This body held meetings at irregular times at various places in the county, increasing their frequency as the danger became greater, until, in 1776, "they met almost daily in Philadelphia. Their duties were arduous in the extreme. It is indeed difficult to comprehend how a body of men could control and direct such an amount of business, in all its details, as was brought under their notice." ("Hist. Chest. Co.," by Futhey, p. 63.) At a meeting at Richard Cheyney's in East Caln, Messrs. Hockley, Johnston, Gronow, Lloyd, Frazier, Moore, and Taylor were "appointed a committee to essay a draft of a petition to present the General Assembly of this Province, with regard to the manumission of slaves,-especially relating to the freedom of infants hereafter born of black women within this colony." Funds were collected at this meeting for the use of Boston. At a meeting held September 25, 1775, "at the sign of the Turk's Head," the following paper was published. It has been well said that it has a strange sound at this day, yet, without doubt, it was the prevailing sentiment at the time:

"Whereas some persons, evidently inimical to the liberty of America, have industriously propagated a report that the military associations of this County, in conjunction with the military associations in general, intend to overturn the constitution by declaring an Independency, in the execution of which they are aided by this committee and the Board of Commissioners and Assessors with the arms now making for this County; and as such report could not originate but among the worst of men for the worst of purposes,-this Committee have therefore thought proper to declare their abhorrence even of an idea so pernicious in its nature; as they ardently wish for nothing more than a happy and speedy reconciliation on constitutional principles, with that state from whom they derive their origin.

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By order of the Committee.

"ANTHONY WAYNE, chairman."

On December 26, 1775, "Anthony Wayne, James Moore, Francis Johnston, Dr. Samuel Kennedy, Caleb Davis, William Montgomery, Persifor Frazier and Richard Thomas, Gentlemen," were appointed to represent the county in the Provincial Convention for the ensuing year. One of the many good things done by this committee was the securing the appointment of Anthony Wayne to his first military office.

Mr. Moore was made a justice of the peace, March 31, 1777. Resigned November 17, 1781, to take his seat as representative from Chester County to the General Assembly, to which office he was re-elected in 1784, '85, '86, '87, and '88. Reappointed justice of the peace, November 6, 1782. On December 13, 1783, he was elected a member of the Council of Censors. This body was to meet every seven years, to see if the new Constitution had been preserved inviolate and justice administered. General Anthony Wayne was his colleague from Chester County. They met in the summer of 1784. On October 31, 1785, he was elected a judge of Court of Common Pleas, but on the same date he appeared before Benjamin Franklin, president of Supreme Executive Council, and resigned this office, to take his place in the General Assembly. In 1790, Judge Moore, John Worth, and Joseph Gibbons, as County Commissioners, bought land and superintended the erection of the Public Office building at West Chester. On August 17, 1791, he was appointed an associate judge of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. His associate judges in the Second Division, consisting of Chester, Lancaster, York, and Dauphin, were Judges Shippen and Finney, with William Atlee as president. Judge Moore was a warm patriot during the Revolution, and was active in enlisting men for the Flying Camp and the Pennsylvania Line. He had charge of public funds and payment of bounties to the soldiers, and stores for the army. For a long time he was obliged to take the money and sleep in a secret place away from his house, in order to secure it from the Tories and outlaws, who made several attempts to gain possession of it. They visited his

house in his absence, but his wife met them bravely and was never molested. She never knew where his hidingplace was, desiring that it should be kept secret from her, so that no consideration for her own safety would ever impel her to reveal it. After his death she regretted that she had not asked him to take her to it, when all reasons for secrecy had passed away. Judge and Mrs. Moore lived in a fine, large stone mansion, on the crest of a hill overlooking the Brandywine, near the present village and station of Glen Moore. Two rows of trees bordered the broad avenue from the house to the road. A few pieces of furniture, of silver plate, and fine Irish linen, which he had brought from Ireland, afford us but a glimpse at the solidity and elegance which several aged persons I have met have affirmed characterized their well-ordered home; for about 1800 it was destroyed by fire, and very little was saved. A carpet covered the drawing-room floor, and was a great curiosity, people coming from long distances to see it, some prophesying the loss of their broad acres for indulging in such vanity. It was only used in winter, being considered too warm for summer. Hospitality was practised such as only the olden time-or, perhaps, the South of antebellum days-could illustrate. The household work was done by slaves.

Judge Moore has been pictured to us as a tall man, though not fleshy, and of a dignified presence,—his powdered hair in queue, a coat with a high-rolled collar and gold buttons, knee-breeches, silk hose, with silver buckles on his shoes. Shirts made entirely of linen were alone worn, and the ruffles were models of neatness and artistic skill. His dress was such as he thought befitted a gentleman of high social position. Republican simplicity, as exemplified by Jefferson in wrapper and slippers receiving the foreign ministers, would have found little favor in his sight. In religion he was a Presbyterian, a member of the church of the Forks of Brandywine. It was one of the curious customs of that time, which made it possible for a liquor-dealer to become an elder in the church, while a lawyer was ineligible to any office higher than trustee. While Mr. Moore was one

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