The Humphreys family in America - citizen hylbom blog

members of the American Philosophical Society. lie was also a Commissioner to issue
colonial paper currency, a specimen of which, with his autograph, is on exhibition at
Independence Hall, in Philadelphia.
About the same time, he was one of those charged with the erection of the Walnut
Street Prison, in which he was afterward confined, when taken prisoner, with others,
by a party of British light horse.
In 1794, a charter for the school corporation of the Lower Dublin Academy was
procured from the Supreme Court. Edward •• Duflfield was one of the original trustees,
and the first president; and was instructed to propose the plans of a new building.
The only literary production known to have emanated from his pen is " Some
Observations on the Application of Plaster of Paris," which was published by Judge
Peters, in 1797.
He is noticed four times in Watson's Annals of r!ii/iiJt//'/iia ami Pennsylvania in
the Oldfit Time, from which we add the following extract:
"When in Byberry I visited the house of Edward Duftield, the executor of
Franklin's will. I there saw a portrait of Franklin's bust, a present to him from
Franklin. There was also a miniature profile, executed by Wedgcwood, in white china,
now in possession of Alfred Ingraham, of New Orleans, finely delineated. Also one as
a medal, done in France," &c.
Mr. Duffield made the first medals ever executed in the Province; such as the
destruction of the Indians at Kittataning in 1756. He also made watches and clocks,
and was constantly devising philosophical apparatus for his brother-in-law. Professor
Ebenezer Kinnersley, and for Dr. Franklin. He made a clock with two faces, which
was a great novelty at that time, to hang over his door, at the northwest corner of
Second and Arch Streets. This is said to have been at Dr. Franklin's suggestion, who
was a frequent visitor, and disliked the many interruptions of callers to learn the time
of day. This clock he afterwards presented to the Lower Dublin Academy, where it
hung for many years, and is still preserved by the trustees. He was but twenty-seven
years of age when his father died, and he removed to Benfield.* He was succeeded
in the charge of the State-house clock by David Rittenhouse. After his retirement to
the country, he continued to devise machines and apparatus. Almost every member
ot his family possessed a watch or ciock which he had made for them. But few of
these are still in existence. He also invented a horse-rake and an odometer, containing
some improvements on a French instrument which Dr. Franklin left him by will.
It will be seen by the records of Christ Church that he was an active member of
the vestry, and was zealous in the movement for the erection of the new St. Peter's
Church at Third and Pine Streets. He died, and was buried at All Saints' Church,
near Holmesburgh, Pa., of which he was one of the founders. His will was dated 28
July, 1801. (See copy in John A^eiII and his Disaiulants). Chiliircn (besides three who
died young): (i) Benjamin' (Dr.), b. at "Benfield," 3 Nov., 1753; m. in 1778, Rebecca
(dau. of John) Potts, of Pottsgrove. He was educated at the college of Philadelphia,
became a medical student immediately after graduation, attended lectures at the Medical
College of Philadelphia, and afterward in Edinburgh, Scotland. He was a distinguished
practitioner in Philadelphia, and held many important positions; d. in 1799. Children:
• The name of the family country-seat, three miles from Holmesburgh, Pa., and on the Moreland Manor. Benjamin Duffield left
"to his grand-son Edward, one-fifth of his plate, .ind one-third ol the residue of his estate. Also the rental of a lot on Chestnut street,
which Thomas (son o( Benjamin) received during his hfe. The messuages and lot on the north side of Mulberry street. Also, j£50, and
the Manor of Moreland, with iLs tenement and apruxtciian(.C5,'' which his father, Joseph, bad the use 0/ dtiring his natural life.