Collection Title: Jacobs Family Papers
Collection Number: Ms. Coll. 156
Box Numbers: 4 boxes, 78 folders
Repository: Chester County Historical Society, West Chester, PA 19380
Language: English
John Jacobs of Wales, along with his brother, settled in Perkiomen, Pennsylvania around 1700. His son John (1688 – 1773), who married Mary Hayes (1699 – ?), had ten children. One of these children, John Jacobs (1722 – 1782), served in the Pennsylvania Assembly, was speaker of that body, and was a member of the Constitutional Convention of July 15, 1776. He and his wife Elizabeth Havard had 4 children. Among those children was John Jacobs (1757 – 1846) who married Mary Brinton (1761 – 1822). One of their children was Joseph B. Jacobs (1798 – 1861) who married Ann Bowen (1795 – 1870) and whose offspring include Mary B. Jacobs (m. Reuben Valentine), Jane B. Jacobs, Francis Jacobs, Emily Jacobs (m. George Valentine), and Richard B. Jacobs.
Joseph B. Jacobs’s brother, Thomas H.B. Jacobs (1789 – 1862), married Jane Bowen. Their children were Charles, John, George W., Caroline (m. John P. Wetherill), Anna, and Mary. George W. (1822 – 1886) would marry Mary R. Sharpless. Their children include Thomas H.B. Jacobs (1865 – 1938), George W. Jacobs, Jr. (1867 – 1920), Elizabeth Ashbridge Jacobs (1876 – 1920) and Jane Bowen Jacobs (1879 – 1954). George W. and Thomas H.B. married Ellen Newbold Cooke and Louise Gaw Howell, respectively, but neither had surviving offspring.
Another of the ten children of John Jacobs and Mary Hayes was Richard, who married Hannah Samils. Their children include Cyrus, Samuel, Richard, Hannah (m. Nathaniel Gibson) and Elizabeth (m. Wilson). Cyrus Jacobs and his wife Margaret Old had 14 children, including Coleman R., Samuel O., and Anna, who married Levi Bull. Richard married Lydia Gibbons and had 15 children, including Phebe, Margaretta, Elizabeth (m. Enos Thatcher), Sidney (m. George B. Allen), Camilla (m. John Embree), Mary Ann (m. Jonathan Baldwin), Samuel (1807 – 1892), and Richard (b. 1809).
For more detailed information and additional family members refer to sources (below).
Sources:
Jacobs Family as descended from “John Jacobs of Perkiomen” to the Ninth Generation in America by Richard Wistar Davids, Philadelphia, 1894
History of Chester County, Futhey and Cope
Jacobs Family Papers, Coll. 156
This collection contains personal letters, business correspondence, financial documents, wills and estate papers, etc. for the Jacobs family as descended from John Jacobs of Perkiomen. The main subjects of the collection are those descended from John Jacobs and Mary Brinton, their son Thomas H.B. Jacobs, and his son George W. Jacobs. Descendents of Richard Jacobs and Hannah Samils also make up a significant part of the collection. Members from other branches of the family are also included, as are the letters of non-family members which were written to the Jacobses.
Papers are arranged alphabetically by family member and chronologically within each family member. Folders 1 through 12 contain letters arranged alphabetically by author and chronologically within each author. Date ranges given for each folder may not encompass undated papers.
See card file for various manuscripts/letters; see photo collection
For genealogy see Jacobs Family as descended from “John Jacobs of Perkiomen” to the Ninth Generation in America by Richard Wistar Davids, Philadelphia, 1894
BOX 1
Folder 1 (22 items)
Letters, Authors first name only “A”- “H”, 1850 – 1896
-letters written by family and non-family members identified by first name only
-letters refer to friends, social events, etc.; many are written to Elizabeth Ashbridge Jacobs
-authors: Andrews; Bessie; Elisabeth; Betty; Florence/Fliss/Floss; Helen; Helen; also includes letters without signatures or with indecipherable signatures
Folder 2 (14 items)
Letters, Authors first name only “K”- “R”, 1857 – 1895
-letters written by family and non-family members identified by first name only
-letters refer to friends, social events, etc.; many are written to Elizabeth Ashbridge Jacobs
-authors: Kat; Margaret; Mary; Minnie; Nancy; Nellie; Mollie
Folder 3 (15 items)
Letters, Authors first name only “S”- “Z”, 1850 – 1896
-letters written by family and non-family members identified by first name only
-letters refer to friends, social events, etc.; many are written to Elizabeth Ashbridge Jacobs
-authors: “Squid”; Cousin Steve
Folder 4 (9 items)
Letters, Authors “A”, 1891 – 1896
-letters written by family and non-family members identified by first and last name or by initials
-letters refer to friends, social events, etc.; many are written to Elizabeth Ashbridge Jacobs
-authors: Maria P. Allen; Tillie (?) B. Allen; Eleanor Ashbridge; Phebe Ashbridge
Folder 5 (10 items)
Letters, Authors “B”, 1834 – 1896
-letters written by family and non-family members identified by first and last name or by initials
-letters refer to friends, social events, etc.; many are written to Elizabeth Ashbridge Jacobs
-authors: Caroline Baldwin; E.H. Benners; Sallie Benners; Sarah Benners; W.H. Bruner; Ethel Bunty
Folder 6 (13 items)
Letters, Authors “C” – “D”, 1853 – 1896
-letters written by family and non-family members identified by first and last name or by initials
-letters refer to friends, social events, etc.; many are written to Elizabeth Ashbridge Jacobs
-authors: Aug Campbell; E.L. Carter; Catherine L. Colfelt; Eliza P. Davids; Lewis R. Downing; Lillie(?) P. Downing; Richard I(?) Downing; Evans Drummond; Eleanor B. duPont
Folder 7 (13 items)
Letters, Authors “E” – “F”, 1839 – 1896
-letters written by family and non-family members identified by first and last name or by initials
-letters refer to friends, social events, etc.; many are written to Elizabeth Ashbridge Jacobs
-authors: H. Embree; Phebe Embree; R.A.E; Henry Ecroyd; Lily Elliot; Anna C. Evans; Helen Fox
Folder 8 (10 items)
Letters, Authors “G” – “H”, 1851 – 1895
-letters written by family and non-family members identified by first and last name or by initials
-letters refer to friends, social events, etc.; many are written to Elizabeth Ashbridge Jacobs
-authors: Frances B.G.; Florence Gilliams; Caroline W.H.; M.R. Haines; Lydia Harvy(?); Caroline Sharpless Hopkins; A.O. Hughston
Folder 9 (8 items)
Letters, Authors “I” – “O”, 1857 – 1895
-letters written by family and non-family members identified by first and last name or by initials
-letters refer to friends, social events, etc.; many are written to Elizabeth Ashbridge Jacobs
-authors: Martha G.M. Ilvain; Lydia Jacobs; Elizabeth W. Johnson; D(?) C(?) Kellerline(?); William L. Loomis; Widen(?) McCree; U.H.O.
Folder 10 (22 items)
Letters, Authors “P”, 1850 – 1896
-letters written by family and non-family members identified by first and last name or by initials
-letters refer to friends, social events, etc.; many are written to Elizabeth Ashbridge Jacobs
-authors: Frank Palsh(?); Anna L.(?) Parke; Margaret Pearce; Mary Ashbridge Perkins; Mary Lea Perot; Sarah Wistar Perot; Elizabeth D. Pinkerton; Sallie D. Pinkerton; Sue D. Pinkerton; Ann Presto(?)
Folder 11 (11 items)
Letters, Authors “R”, 1894 – 1895
-letters written by family and non-family members identified by first and last name or by initials
-letters refer to friends, social events, etc.; many are written to Elizabeth Ashbridge Jacobs
-authors: Ann(?) C. R__(?); Mary Ritter; Hannah Rogers; Julia Morris Ross; M. Elizabeth Ryan
Folder 12 (36 items)
Letters, Authors “S” – “Z”, 1848 – 1896
– letters written by family and non-family members identified by first and last name or by initials
-letters refer to friends, social events, etc.; many are written to Elizabeth Ashbridge Jacobs
-authors: Elizabeth Sharpless; Jacob Sharpless; Andrew Sinnickson; Jennie Spencer; Lizzie A. Stone; A.M.T.; Mary S. Thomas; Theresa D. Thomas; Ellie P.U.; Anna Valentine; Caroline M. Valentine; George Valentine; Amy(?) R.W.; Mrs. Charles Wells Walsey(?); Helen Walter; Ellen P. Williams; Sue D. Wilson; John P. Wetherill; Jeannie F. Worrill; William Wyers
Folder 13 (14 items)
Anna B. Jacobs papers, ? – 1889
-contains letters to brothers Charles and George, and papers concerning her estate
Folder 14 (10 items)
Anna R. Jacobs, Estate, 1910 – 1916
-includes will in which she left the family estate and fortunes to friends instead of family members
-includes letters and notes of brother Richard T. Jacobs to whom she left $1.00 and who attempted to override the will
Folder 15 (1 item)
Judge Benjamin Jacobs papers, 1793 – 1797
-contains typed copy of the records of a case heard by Judge Jacobs
Folder 16 (1 item)
Brinton Jacobs, note, 1876
-contains note written to John Jacobs concerning shipment of poultry
Folder 17 (4 items)
Charles Jacobs, letters of introductions, California, 1849
-contains letters of introduction for use on journey to California
-includes letter written by General Persifor Frazer Smith
BOX 2
Folder 18 (13 items)
Charles Jacobs, letters, 1849 – 1864
-contains letters written to family members
Folder 19 (8 items)
Charles Jacobs, Estate, 1865
-does not include will
-George W. Jacobs is administrator/executor
Folder 20 (9 items)
Coleman R. Jacobs papers, 1830 – 1832
-contains financial and estate papers
Folder 21 (12 items)
Cyrus Jacobs (d. 1830) papers, 1821 – 1830
-contains financial papers
Folder 22 (72 items)
Cyrus Jacobs (d. 1830), Estate, receipts, 1828 – 1850
-contains receipts paid from estate of Cyrus Jacobs; receipt from 1828 may pertain to services rendered but not paid for in 1828
-Levi Bull is executor
Folder 23 (13 items)
Cyrus Jacobs (d. 1830), Estate, 1830 – 1851
-includes will
Folder 24 (1 item)
Cyrus Jacobs (1815 – 1875), Bond and Warrant, 1850
-bond and warrant, Cyrus Jacobs to Sarah Jacobs for $600
Folder 25 (11 items)
Elizabeth Ashbridge Jacobs, Will/Letters, 1890 – 1920
-includes pencil drawing
Folder 26 (5 items)
Ellen (Newbold Cooke) Jacobs letters, 1921 – 1927
-widow of George W. Jacobs, Jr.
-letters written to Thomas H.B. Jacobs, brother-in-law/executor of George W. Jacobs’s will
Folder 27 (2 items)
Emily Jacobs papers, 1830 – 1852
-contains letters to “John” and financial document
Folder 28 (1 item)
Fanny M. Jacobs, Will, 1911
Folder 29 (1 item)
Florence Bowen Jacobs, wedding invitation, 1902
-marriage to James Charles Murtagh
Folder 30 (8 items)
Francis Jacobs/Jane Brinton Johnson wedding, 1869
-contains invitations, cards, wedding announcement, receipt for invitations
Folder 31 (1 item)
George W. Jacobs (b. 1798?), letter, 1823
– letter written by unidentified George W. Jacobs, may be George W. born in 1798; see Richard Wistar Davids’s Jacobs Family as descended from John Jacobs of Perkiomen for other possibilities
-letter refers to Hallowell v. Mathiot
Folder 32 (2 items)
George W. Jacobs (1822 – 1886), Diaries
-includes writing regarding journey to the American West
Folder 33 (27 items)
George W. Jacobs (1822 – 1886), Business/financial documents/correspondence, 1842 – 1885
Folder 34 (10 items)
George W. Jacobs (1822 – 1886), Introductory letters, 1848 – 1851
– contains letters of introduction for use on journey to the West
Folder 35 (30 items)
George W. Jacobs (1822 – 1886), personal letters
-contains letters to family members, especially to father, Thomas H.B. Jacobs, and wife, Mary Sharpless Jacobs
Folder 36 (4 items)
George W. Jacobs (1822 – 1886), personal/family papers, 1864 – 1870
-contains wedding name cards, letter concerning wedding, note announcing birth of a son, list of callers
Folder 37 (7 items)
George W. Jacobs (1822 – 1886), Estate, 1884 – 1910
-contains will
-Mary S. Jacobs is executrix
BOX 3
Folder 38 (1 item)
George W. Jacobs, Jr., Essay “Adjoining Land-Owners in Pennsylvania”, undated
-full title “Adjoining Land-Owners in Pennsylvania: Their Rights and Duties”
-subjects include: boundaries, riparian owners, fences, support, over-hanging trees, light and air, party walls, eaves drip, water courses, drains, ways, fire
-47 pages, with footnotes
Folder 39 (20 items)
George W. Jacobs, Jr., education records; personal letters, 1879 – 1920
-educations records include: WilliamPennCharterSchool tuition bills, University of Pennsylvania tuition bill, certificate from The Law Association of American
-letters written to family members, mainly brother Thomas H.B. Jacobs
Folder 40 (40 items)
George W. Jacobs, Jr., Business/financial documents/correspondence, 1891 – 1920
Folder 41 (39 items)
George W. Jacobs, Jr., Estate, 1920
-Thomas H.B. Jacobs is executor
Folder 42 (15 items)
George W. Jacobs, Jr., Estate, Jan. 1921 – June 1921
Folder 43 (31 items)
George W. Jacobs, Jr., Estate, July 1921 – Dec. 1921
Folder 44 (21 items)
George W. Jacobs, Jr., Estate, 1922 – 1923
Folder 45 (14 items)
George W. Jacobs, Jr., Estate, 1927 – 1931
-includes papers concerning widow’s decision to remove body of George W. Jacobs, Jr. from Jacobs family plot
Folder 46 (1 item)
Isaac Jacobs paper, 1804
Folder 47 (2 items)
“Cousin Jane” letters, undated
-writers of letters unidentified beyond “Cousin Jane”
-letters probably written by two different people
Folder 48 (5 items)
Jane Bowen Jacobs (1879 – 1954) letters, 1890
-most letters undated
Folder 49 (3 items)
Jane (Bowen?) Jacobs, Estate, 1960
-concerns Summit Hall
Folder 50 (1 item)
Jane Brinton Jacobs (nee Johnson), Will, 1915 – 1922
Folder 51 (29 items)
Unknown John Jacobs’ papers, 1819 – 1879
-contains papers of unidentified John Jacobses; may be several different people
-see Richard Wistar Davids’s Jacobs Family as descended from John Jacobs of Perkiomen for identity possibilities
Folder 52 (1 item)
John Jacobs (1722 – 1782), receipt, 1776 (photocopy)
-original moved to Autograph Collection
-contains receipt for service in Pennsylvania Assembly, signed by John Morton, Speaker
Folder 53 (3 items)
John Jacobs (1757 – 1846) papers, 1784 – 1818
-includes handwritten copy of marriage certificate of John Jacobs and Mary Brinton, with list of witnesses
Folder 54 (12 items)
John Jacobs (1824 – 1860), letters, 1845 – 1860
Folder 55 (23 items)
Joseph B. Jacobs papers, 1842 – 1863
-includes indenture from “The Association for the care of Coloured Orphans” for Frances Jane Johnson to be an apprentice in “house-wifery” for 10 years, 1 month (1849)
Folder 56 (2 items)
Louise (Gaw Howell) Jacobs paper, 1909 – 1912
-invitation for wedding to Thomas H.B. Jacobs (1909)
-death record (1912)
Folder 57 (1 item)
Margaretta Jacobs, Will, 1828, 1839
-contains will and death record
BOX 4
Folder 58 (31 items)
Mary R. Sharpless Jacobs, letters, undated
-includes letters to children, husband
Folder 59 (36 items)
Mary R. Sharpless Jacobs, letters, 1843 – 1849
-includes letters to children, husband
Folder 60 (31 items)
Mary R. Sharpless Jacobs, Financial/estate papers, 1886 – 1927
-includes will
Folder 61 (1 item)
Richard Jacobs (1729? – 1823), Will, 1819
Folder 62 (3 items)
Richard Jacobs (b. 1809) letters, 1842 – 1881
-includes interesting letter to Phebe Jacobs, oldest of 15 children, from Richard, youngest of 15 children
Folder 63 (3 items)
Richard B. Jacobs (d. 1860), educational records, 1854
-contains tuition bills for “Cadet Richard Jacobs” to be paid to Lewis S. Partridge
Folder 64 (14 items)
Richard T. Jacobs papers, 1868 – 1916
Folder 65 (4 items)
Samuel Jacobs (1807 – 1892) papers, 1826 – 1890
-includes letter to Gilbert Cope concerning assisting Cope with genealogical research
-includes letter written by all living relatives of Richard and Lydia [Gibbons] Jacobs to Samuel
Folder 66 (4 items)
Sarah T. Jacobs papers, 1894 – 1908
-includes death record
Folder 67 (4 items)
Thomas H.B. Jacobs (1789 – 1862), business/personal letters, 1828 – 1861
-includes 2 letters from James Buchanan (originals moved to Autograph Collection)
Folder 68 (9 items)
Thomas H.B. Jacobs (1789 – 1862), Estate, 1862 – 1863
-includes will
Folder 69 (18 items)
Thomas H.B. Jacobs (1865 – 1938), education; society membership, 1875 – 1929
-includes tuition payments for WilliamPennCharterSchool and University of Pennsylvania
-membership papers for The Philadelphia Society for Promoting Agriculture and The Chihuahua Foreign Club of Chihuahua, Mexico
Folder 70 (14 items)
Thomas H.B. Jacobs (1865 – 1938), personal letters, 1876 – 1906
-letters written to family members
Folder 71 (20 items)
Thomas H.B. Jacobs (1865 – 1938), Business/financial documents/correspondence, 1881 – 1920
Folder 72 (32 items)
Thomas H.B. Jacobs (1865 – 1938), Business/financial documents/correspondence, 1921 – 1938
Folder 73 (1 item)
William Jacobs, Estate, 1820
-does not contain will
Folder 74 (5 items)
Caroline (Carrie) Wetherill letters, 1860 – 1870
Folder 75 (7 items)
Church documents, 1864 – 1878
-contains documents from St. Paul’s Church, West Whiteland, Protestant Episcopal Church:
-marriage certificate, George W. Jacobs and Mary R. Sharpless, 1864
-baptismal certificate, Mary Sharpless Jacobs, 1867
-baptismal certificate, George W. Jacobs, 1867
-confirmation certificate, Mary Sharpless Jacobs, 1867
-confirmation certificate, George W. Jacobs, 1867
-baptismal certificate, Elizabeth Ashbridge Jacobs (daughter of George and Mary), 1876
-baptismal certificate, John Jacobs (son of George and Mary), 1878
Folder 76 (7 items)
Genealogical Information
-includes family charts and other documents describing Jacobs family genealogy
Folder 77 (20 items)
Miscellaneous envelopes w/o letters
Folder 78 (6 items)
Miscellaneous
225 N. High Street, West Chester, PA 19380 | 610-692-4800
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