Christ Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Dobbins, Joseph, -1804]]> Christ Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Wills]]> Decedents' estates]]> Slavery]]> Freed persons]]> St. Peter's Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Probate records]]> Charitable uses, trusts, and foundations]]> Widows]]> Hospitals]]> Enslaved persons]]> Enslaved persons--Emancipation]]> Charities]]> Estates (Law)]]> Liberty]]> Inheritance and succession]]>
A codicil dated April 11, 1804 gave a silver quart tankard marked “MF” to Rev. John Foster, and bequeathed three lots of land on Taylor Street in Columbia, numbered 20, 21, and 22 and purchased from Thomas H. Wade, along with the remainder of Dobbins's silver plate to Rev. David E. Dunlap and his wife Susanna P. Dunlap. The codicil also appointed the Dunlaps as guardians of Matilda and of the freed girl Amey until the girls reached eighteen years of age or married [p. 1v]. The codicil was witnessed by Benjamin Waring, Robert Hendrick, and Daniel Wade, proven before the Ordinary, and certified as a true copy on August 13, 1804 [p. 1v].

The correspondence includes a September 3, 1804 letter from church warden Thomas Cumpston acknowledging receipt of the authenticated copy of the will and noting that a vestry would shortly be called to determine action [p. 2r]. A lengthy letter from Rev. Dunlap recounts that Dobbins lived with Dunlap's family during his last illness, suffered from gravel and other infirmities, and died on May 29, 1804 in his seventy-second year. Dunlap describes securing Dobbins's keys and trunks after his death, discovering the will with neighbors present, and corresponding with named executor Thomas Jones [p. 2r].

Copied letters follow. Thomas Jones's letter of June 18, 1804 declines the executorship because legal advice indicated that the vestry and wardens could not serve as executors and that responsibility would fall on Jones alone, creating inconvenience and requiring possible Court of Equity involvement [p. 2v]. Henry Baily's legal opinion of the same date advises that the will appeared duly executed, that the codicil formed part of the will, that the Dunlaps could take possession of the land subject to debts, and that dividends from the Bank of South Carolina stock should be remitted to the authorized agent of those administering the trust for poor and distressed widows [p. 2v]. Baily further cautions that the attempted emancipation of Matilda did not conform to a recent South Carolina act and should not proceed without an order from the Court of Equity [p. 2v]. Dunlap concludes by urging prompt action from Philadelphia to relieve him of responsibility for Dobbins's papers and property, noting that Dobbins's debts were few but that he held notes amounting to approximately $2,500 to $3,000, including an $800 or $900 note already in suit [p. 2v].]]> Manuscripts]]> Correspondence]]> Wills]]> Records (Documents)]]> ]]> Christ Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Christ Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Christ Church Hospital (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Episcopal Church]]> Chapels]]> Church property]]> Church controversies]]> Trusts and trustees]]> Estates (Law)]]> Wills]]> Clergy]]> Hodge, George Woolsey, 1845-1929]]>
The file also includes records from Christ Church Hospital regarding the estate of Maria H. Campbell, who died September 2, 1880, leaving her estate to the hospital after a cemetery payment. Notes describe a caveat entered by her sister, Mrs. Rhodes, and a proposed compromise involving life income from the estate and eventual conveyance to Christ Church for Christ Church Hospital.]]>
A lengthy March 30, 1880 statement from contributors to the Chapel building fund recounts the full history of the enterprise: the 1874 printed address seeking to preserve Christ Church by establishing a Chapel in the western part of the city [p.3]; the 1875 and 1876 appeals and the February 9, 1876 resolution creating the Christ Church Chapel Board of Management [p.4]; the 1876 purchase and conveyance of the Pine Street property in trust, and the November 17, 1876 consent of the Bishop and Standing Committee given solely on the ground that the Chapel be an integral part of Christ Church parish [p.5]; the opening of the Chapel by the Bishop on June 9, 1877, and subsequent reports and appeals [p.6]; and the demanded resignation of the Assistant Minister, accepted February 4, 1880 [p.6]. The statement describes the congregation meetings, the vote of 53 against to 16 for separation, and the forcible seizure of the Chapel building on March 9, 1880, held for the proposed Church of the Holy Communion [p.7-8]. It recounts the rejection of the proposed charter by the Court on March 20, 1880 after objections, the presentation of a new charter, and a March 29 meeting adopting articles of association asserting the congregation "has never had any organic connection with Christ Church" [p.8-10]. The contributors request the Vestry to take action to protect their rights and the corporation's title to the Chapel property [p.10].

The second matter is an October 6, 1880 letter from George Hoffman, Secretary of the Board of Managers of Christ Church Hospital, requesting the corporation authorize its accounting Warden to affix the corporate seal to a deed in the matter of the estate of Maria H. Campbell, deceased [p.11r-11v]. An accompanying memorandum details that Miss Campbell died September 2, 1880, leaving her estate to the Hospital (after $150 to Lafayette Cemetery) under a will dated June 7, 1880; describes the property of three small houses at 3rd & South subject to ground rent and mortgage; notes her impaired mind before death and a caveat entered by her sister, Mrs. Rhodes; and sets out the terms of a compromise conveyance in trust [p.12r-12v].]]> Manuscripts]]> Correspondence]]> Records (Documents)]]> ]]> Christ Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Christ Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Debt]]> Decedents' estates]]> Executors and administrators]]> Church finance]]> Bonds]]> Promissory notes]]> Indemnity against liability]]> Estates (Law)]]> Debtor and creditor]]>
The memorandum describes an April 18, 1809 trip by Thomas Cumpston, Samuel Wheeler, and Peter Dehaven to Lower Merion Township to settle a lost $200 bond with Samuel Dehaven, which had originally been given to Paul Webb. It also details their subsequent trip to Norristown to officially record the satisfaction of a loan to Jesse Roberts and the hiring of a lawyer named Mr. Pawling to handle Paul Webb's estate.]]>
The group then continued to Norristown, where they entered satisfaction at the Recorder's Office for money that Paul Webb had lent to Jesse Roberts. Although the money had been repaid before Webb's death, Webb had never acknowledged its receipt in the Recorder's Office, making it necessary for his executors to complete the record. The remaining collection of moneys and other matters concerning Paul Webb's estate were left in the care of Mr. Pawling, a lawyer, who agreed to render an account when called upon [p.1r].]]> Manuscripts]]> Records (Documents)]]> ]]> Christ Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Christ Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> St. Peter's Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]> Church music]]> Church finance]]> Sunday schools]]> Church buildings]]> Church officers]]> Charities]]> Estates (Law)]]> Episcopal Church]]> Organ (Musical instrument)]]> Rent charges]]> Sextons]]> Theological libraries]]> United Churches of Christ-Church and St. Peter's (Philadelphia, Pa.)]]>
Noteworthy items include an 1803 petition criticizing "Light airy and Unseemly Musick & play House Tunes" introduced at St. Peter's Church; correspondence relating to a South Carolina bequest for a Philadelphia charitable institution; a proposal by the Female Sunday School Society of St. Peter's Church to help fund an addition for school use; and documents reflecting early nineteenth-century debates over sacred music, church administration, charitable education, and institutional finance in Philadelphia Episcopal congregations.]]>
Several documents concern the settlement of the estate of Mr. Dobbins, who left his property to a charitable institution in Philadelphia. A letter from Thomas Jones of Charleston dated August 19, 1805 conveys the legal opinion of Henry Bailey, Esq. regarding the transfer of bank stock and the residuary estate [p.2]. A copy of the Vestry's reply of May 6, 1806 to Jones references a power of attorney sent to Judge William Johnson Jr. and Henry William DeSaussure to make releases and acquittances [p.3r-3v], and further correspondence discusses executor's commissions and the assignment of outstanding debts [p.4v].

A January 1, 1807 letter from George Sheaff conveys his sister Mrs. Muhlenberg's terms for the sale of a lot on Seventh Street near Market for erecting an Episcopal church, offered at $8,500 [p.5r-5v]. Hugh Still (or Hill) applies for the position of sexton of St. Peter's Church on April 6, 1807, supported by a list of recommending subscribers [p.6r-6v].

A March 26, 1813 letter from a committee of the Society of the Protestant Episcopal Church (William Tilghman, James Milnor, and William Meredith) proposes to deposit newly purchased modern divinity books in the churches' library to support the education of ministerial candidates [p.7]. Paul Beck Jr., appointed treasurer of Christ Church Hospital, writes on June 2, 1813 recommending the sale of 22 small, taxable ground rents (totaling $294.28) to purchase non-taxable ones, saving the institution about $60 per annum, and includes an itemized list [p.8r-8v].

Isaac P. Cole submits his resignation as clerk of St. Peter's Church on June 24, 1815, expressing discouragement that his efforts to promote "the Science of Sacred Music" and to establish a choir met with "almost uniform disaprobation" [p.9r-9v]. A memorandum dated April 18, 1819 concerns Samuel Volans's administration of the estate of Mary Stephens and the discharge of a bond and mortgage of $266.66 [p.10].

A petition dated June 19, 1820 from the Managers of the Female Sunday School Society of St. Peter's Church (signed by Thomas Clifford, First Vice, and A. Keasbey, Secretary) reports on their school of about sixty children and requests that the Vestry authorize the enlargement of the vestry room—for which they obtained a plan and estimate not exceeding $700, offering to contribute $200 themselves [p.11r-11v]. Thomas Loud, organist of Christ and St. Peter's, writes on April 30, 1821 requesting compensation of about $40 for Mr. W. Hall, who spent nearly three weeks repairing the Christ Church organ [p.12]. Finally, Francis Cooper, clerk of St. Peter's, protests in a letter of June 20, 1821 a reduction of forty dollars in his annual salary plus the loss of a perquisite for recording baptisms, amounting to a "dead Loss" of fifty dollars [p.13].]]> Manuscripts]]> Correspondence]]> Records (Documents)]]> Petitions]]> ]]>