More Minshall Descendants Visit Tyler Arboretum

When we talk about the land where Tyler Arboretum is situated today, we usually begin by telling the story of the eight generations of the Minshall-Painter-Tyler family who owned the land from 1682 to 1944. The first owners, Thomas and Margaret Minshall, purchased about 300 acres where Media is today and another 300 acres of the arboretum’s current footprint. The Minshalls arrived in the new colony of Pennsylvania in August 1682, onboard The Friendship, one of many ships arriving from England that year.

The Minshalls, along with their fellow Friends of the Society, purchased substantial tracts of land from William Penn and were eager to start a new life in the eastern part of Chester County (now Delaware County). William Penn, the guy standing at the top of Philadelphia’s City Hall, had been granted almost 45,000 square miles of land on the Eastern seaboard by King Charles II of England to settle a debt that the king owed to William Penn’s father. The Minshalls, and all of the so-called “First Purchasers” of land from William Penn, were eager to gain the religious freedom that he promised that they would have in the Pennsylvania colony.

But, did you know that Elinor (Minshall) Vernon, the older sister of Thomas Minshall, was also onboard The Friendship, along with her husband, Robert, their two children, and Robert’s two brothers, Randall and Thomas? No? Well, here’s the story!

A Descendant Reaches Out Unexpectedly

It was a complete surprise to be contacted in July by Tim Hennessey, a realtor who lives in Collegeville. Tim learned through his own family’s genealogy research that he is a direct descendant of Elinor (Minshall) Vernon. During the summer, Tim and his relatives attended a service at Providence Friends Meeting on Providence Road in Media. Across the street, Tim noticed a sign for the “Minshall House,” a simple stone house named for the Minshall family. A quick Google search brought Tim to Tyler Arboretum’s website, where he made connections for a visit.

In September, Tim and Jane, Tim’s aunt and godmother, visited Tyler for a docent-led walking tour. After the tour, over coffee and muffins on Tyler’s picnic tables, we learned more about their research on the Vernon and Minshall families. As descendants of a “First Purchaser” of land in William Penn’s Pennsylvania, Tim and Jane are also bona fide members of the “Welcome Society” of Pennsylvania.

Elinor (Minshall) Vernon’s Story Comes to Light

So, what did we learn from our discussion and from Tyler’s own research on the Minshall families?

In 1682, 23 ships left various English ports to travel across the Atlantic Ocean and arrive mostly at Upland, now called Chester. William Penn’s own voyage on The Welcome left Deal, England, in July 1682, and arrived about three and a half months later in New Castle, Delaware. The acreage that Elinor and Robert purchased from Penn was in today’s Rose Valley (Nether Providence Township), next to Ridley Creek and adjacent to the acreage purchased by brothers Randall and Thomas. Some years later, Elinor and Robert’s son John also acquired land along Ridley Creek, adjacent to Uncle Randall Vernon’s tract.

Elinor was born in Stoke, Cheshire, England, in September 1648, and married Robert Vernon in Great Sankey, Lancashire, in April 1678. Before leaving England, Elinor and Robert had two children, John and Jacob, who were with them onboard The Friendship. After settling in Rose Valley, Elinor and Robert had six more children: Isaac, Rebecca, Thomas, Alice, Elizabeth, and William.

From the available records, it is known that Robert Vernon died in 1710 and his wife Elinor died in Nether Providence on July 24, 1720, at the age of 71. Throughout their lives, Elinor and Robert were active members of the Friends Church and sometimes hosted the monthly meetings.

Two Bonus Historical Snippets

And, here are some more fun facts:

• Jacob Vernon, son of Elinor and Robert, married a woman who was also named Elinor. Jacob and Elinor had a daughter in 1720 who they named – you guessed it! – Elinor! It was not uncommon in those days to honor your relatives in this way, but it does make it difficult for those interested in early American genealogy, given the frequent reuse of names, errors and changes in spelling, and sometimes missing documents.
• One of Elinor’s three daughters, Elizabeth Vernon, was first married to Nathaniel Ring, who died in 1714, leaving his entire estate to her. After Nathaniel died, Elizabeth married George Strode, Sr., and together they were responsible for Strode’s Mill (now Strode’s Mill Gallery), located on Lenape Road in East Bradford Township. More than a half-century later, Strode’s Mill played an important role in the September 1777 Battle of Brandywine Creek between British troops and General Washington’s Revolutionary Army.