Thornbury Township.

chase. On the decease of his first wife, a lady of many Christian virtues, he purchased the present home, his son meanwhile cultivating the farm. Mr. Brinton is in politics a Democrat, and much interested in the success of his party, and in the affairs of the township, in which he has held minor offices. He is a member of the Upper Birmingham Lodge, No. 940, of Independent Order of Odd-Fellows. In religion he is a Methodist, and steward, trustee, treasurer, and sexton of the Methodist Episcopal Church adjacent to his home, to which he has been a liberal contributor.

William Brinton, the first of the name who emigrated to America, came from the village of Nether Gournall, parish of Sedgely, Staffordshire, England. He was born about 1630, and died in 1700. He first settled in the State of Delaware, in the year 1684. He married Ann Bagley in 1659, and had four children, of whom his son, William, born in 1666, married Jean Thatcher in 1690. Their children were five in number, - Joseph, the eldest, was born in 1692, and married, in 1711, Mary Pierce, whose children were thirteen in number. Joseph married for his second wife Mary Elgar in 1748, to whom were born no children. John Brinton, the second son of Joseph and Mary Pierce, married Margaret Williamson. To this marriage were born children, - Joseph, Sarah, and Esther. Joseph, whose birth occurred in 1754, married Mary Martin, and had children, - Weldon, Margaret, Lydia, John, Abraham, Mary, Samuel, and Thomas. Abraham was born Nov. 3, 1784, and married Mary Eavenson. Their children were Joseph E., the subject of this biographical sketch, Margaretta, Mary Ann, John, Yearsley, and Lydia. Abraham Brinton died on the 3d of November, 1859. His son, Joseph E., was born Dec. 7, 1813, in Thornbury, on the farm which his father purchased. The advantages of education at this early period were limited, and confined to the rudiments of English, which were acquired by Joseph E. at the neighboring school, after which his willing hands found occupation in cultivating the land his father owned. He continued to be thus associated with his father until his marriage, on the 1st of February, 1838, to Mary Marshall, daughter of William and Sarah Marshall, who sailed from England, and landed in Philadelphia with her parents on the 10th of October, 1820, when but four years of age. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Brinton are Marshall, Margaretta, Sarah, Anne, John, Lydia, Hannah, and Joseph A., who died May 6, 1870. On the death of his father, Mr. Brinton inherited one-half the paternal estate. This he cultivated until 1879, when, having erected an attractive residence of brick adjacent to the homestead, he retired from active labor, his son succeeding him in the management of the farm. He has been an energetic, active man, and risen by his own exertions to a position of independence. He has evinced strict truthfulness and honesty in all business transactions, his word being regarded as good as his bond. Mr. Brinton's political convictions are in accord with the principles of the Democracy, though his ballot is cast for men of worth irrespective of party. He has taken much interest in affairs connected with the township, and served in a minor official capacity. His services are also frequently called into requisition as trustee and in the settlement of estates. He worships with both the Friends' Meeting and the Methodist Episcopal denomination, and aids in the support of each.

Richard Thatcher, with wife and children, came from England soon after the first visit of William Penn, having left his home in Uffington, Berkshire County, on account of religious persecution. He settled in Thornbury township, Delaware Co., where his death occurred in 1722. One of his sons, named Jonathan, married Mary Hix, and had among his children a son Richard, whose son, William, was united in marriage to Hannah Dickison, of Lancaster County, Pa., and resided upon the family estate in Thornbury township. Their children were Joseph, Richard, William, Betsey (Mrs. Isaac Garrett), Hannah (Mrs. John Worrell), Edith (Mrs. Jesse Green), Sarah (Mrs. Nathan Sharpless), and Phoebe (Mrs. Davis Garrett). William Thatcher was born in the State of North Carolina, and in childhood came to the homestead, where he remained and cultivated its productive acres. He married Betsey Garrett, of Goshen, Chester Co., and had children that survived, - Charity (Mrs. John Sharpless), Sarah (Mrs. Smith Sharpless), Garrett, Betsey (Mrs. James Painter), William, Richard, Benjamin, and three who died in childhood. The death of Mr. Thatcher occurred Dec. 16, 1851. Garrett Thatcher was born July 24, 1811, on the homestead, which is his present residence, and has been the scene of his life-long and successful labors. After the usual period devoted to instruction at the nearest school of the neighborhood he became an assistant to his father, and in 1840 leased the farm. On the decease of the latter, in 1851, he inherited the property, to which he subsequently made valuable additions. He was married on the 9th of January, 1844, to Hannah H. Pyle, a descendant on the paternal side of John Sharpless, the pioneer, and daughter of Aaron and Sarah Parks Pyle, of Thornbury township. Their children are Emma T. (Mrs. George B. Painter) and Howard. Mr. Thatcher is in politics a Republican, and, though not politically ambitious, has held various township offices. He is in religion a Friend and member of the Concord Monthly Meeting, as is also Mrs. Thatcher.