Daniel Humphrey

• General Notes
  • The Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans:
    Volume V
    H
    Humphreys, Milton Wylie
    page 430
    HUMPHREYS, Joshua, ship-builder, was born in Haverford, Pa., June 17,
    1751; son of Joshua and Sarah (Williams) Humphreys, and grandson of
    Daniel and Hannah (Wynn) Humphreys and of Edward and Eleanor Williams.
    Daniel Humphreys, son of Samuel Humphreys, of Merionethshire,Wales, came
    to America in 1682, and settled about seven miles west of Philadelphia,
    
    
    
    
    
    
    Pa., in Haverford, Chester county. There be purchased lands, erected two
    or three fulling and grist mills, and cultivated a farm. He also erected
    the second Quaker meeting house, on his land. Joshua was apprenticed to a
    
    
    
    
    
    
    ship-builder, and arose to the head of his profession in America. He
    built thefirst frigate Randolph and fitted out the first fleet under
    Commodore Hopkins that sailed under the United Colonies flag in 1774. He
    furnished the modelsfor the construction of the six frigates [p.430]
    ordered by congress in 1794, and when they were adopted, sent the moulds
    and drafts on to the ports where they were to be built. These vessels
    were the Chesapeake, Constitution, Congress, Constellation, Presideat and
    United States. He was appointed naval constructor with a salary of $2000
    a year, June 28, 1794, to take effect from May 1, 1794, and held this
    office until Oct. 26, 1806. He was presented with a cane made from a part
    of the frigate Constitution by Josiah Barker, naval constructor at
    Boston, Mass., in 1837. He was married to Mary Davids, of Philadelphia.
    
    
    
    
    
    
    He died at Reading, Pa., Jan. 12, 1888.
    Daniel came to America in 1682 settled 7 miles west of Phili, Havorfo rd
    twsp Chester county Now Delaware county PA. He was a Quaker. The next yea
    r he returned to Wales and brought his, Mother Elizabeth Sisters Lydia,
    
    
    
    
    
    
    Amy, Gobetha, her son Benjamin, About thesame time tw o uncles came also
    Richard, and John Humphrey came to America, Buying the Wes h tract but at
    first in Radnor and Marion townships, which adjoin Haverford twsp
    Adjoining Havorford. I find in Carsons records that his mother c ame in
    
    
    
    
    
    
    1683.
    In August 1660 Samuel, Joane, Owen, Lewis AP HUMPHREY, Willian Rees e and
    others, were imprisioned for fifteen or sixteen weeks at Baala, Merio
    nethshire, Wales, for their adherence to the principles of Quakers. See
    
    
    
    
    
    
    Besse' s History of the Sufferings of the Quakers. Their cattle also were
    taken, and wer e never returned. In 1661 Samuel Humphrey and Owen
    Humphrey were again commit ted to prison for (15) fifteen weeks in a
    loathsome place, for refusing t o take the oath of allegiance to the
    king. Afterwards, Samuel Humphrey was commi tted to prison for(35)thirty
    five weeks. In 1662 Owen Humphrey and Samuel Hum phrey were persecuted in
    the sheriff's court for refusing to take the oath of al legiance to the
    
    
    
    
    
    
    king. in 1687-90 tithes were taken in corn, hay. lambs + ect , from Owen
    Humphrey. In 1683 Owen Humphrey was fined 29 pounds for preaching, an d
    
    
    
    
    
    
    was committed to prison.
    It was not singular, therefore, in 1683, Elizabeth Humphreys (Reese) ,
    Samuel's widow (her husband having died in England), with her children,
    
    
    
    
    
    
    Benjam in, Lydia, Anne, Gobitha, should have emigrated to America, to the
    neighborhoo d of Philadelphia, in the state of Pennsylvania, Where
    William Penn, the g reat leader and friend of the Quakers, Had founded a
    
    
    
    
    
    
    city and colony: an d where the persecuted people of all nations could
    find refuge and a home (Joh n Neil and his Decendents)
    DR. Neil thought that the Humphreys of Merioneth and the Humffreys of
    Montgomery might be of the same family, as the two countys were adjoi
    ning. see page 6 for Humfferys of Llwyn, copied from Burkes Landed Gentry
    8th Month11th day 1695 Daniel Humphrey Bachelor of Haverford, in th e
    Welsh tract," Was married to Hannah Wynn, of Merion, at the publick
    meetin g housein Merion,(*) This was probably the first marriage in that