My Genealogy Hound

ABEL PENROSE, a descendant of one of the oldest families in Pennsylvania, was born near Davis Grove, in Horsham township, Montgomery county, May 3, 1817. His children are the fourth generation of the Penrose family residing on the homestead, where he died July 10, 1893.

The Penrose family are of English origin. Robert, son of Robert and Jane Penrose, born in Yorkshire, removed to Ireland, and in 1669 married Anna Russel. They had three children. One of them, Robert, born in Blackane, in 1670, married Mary Clayton in 1695, and had thirteen children. With a portion of his family he came to Pennsylvania in 1717. A son Robert, born in 1697, followed the others of the family to America. In 1731 he married Mary Heacock. They had nine children, among them John, born 1739, who married, 1764, Ann, born in 1745, died in 1841, daughter of John and Martha Roberts. Another son, Samuel, born 6th-mo. 21, 1748, was the ancestor of the Horsham Penroses. He also married a Miss Roberts, as did another brother, William Samuel’s wife was Sarah Roberts, born 6th-mo., 1758, daughter of Abel and Gainor Roberts. Abel Roberts, her father, was a brother of Martha Roberts, they being children of Edward Roberts, the immigrant, who came to this country from Wales in 1699, and settled first in Byberry, and after his marriage to Mary Bolton, of Cheltenham, Montgomery county, daughter of Everard Bolton, removed to Richland, now Quakertown, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, where he became the founder of a numerous family.

Sarah Roberts and Samuel Penrose married, 10th-mo. 9, 1777, had ten children as follows: Abel, Gainor, William, Everard, Mary, Benjamin, Susanna, Samuel, Margaret, Morris. The couple with their children removed from Richland to Horsham, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, and 2d-mo. 19, 1801, a certificate was granted by Richland Monthly Meeting to Samuel and Sarah Penrose with their children to Horsham Meeting. He purchased what is known as the Graeme Park farm, and removed to it in that year. Later he bought a farm in Warminster, Bucks county, to which his son Benjamin removed. On the marriage of his son William he sold the Graeme Park farm to him, and removed to the Warminster farm. Of the children of Samuel and Sarah Penrose, William married Hannah, daughter of William and Ann Jarrett. Having bought the Park farm from his father, he resided upon it until a few years before his death, when he purchased an adjoining property, and spent the remainder of his days thereon. Their children: Ann J., married Abraham Iredell, of Horsham; Samuel, died unmarried at the age of thirty-five years; Jarrett, married Tacy A. Kirk, of Abington; Abel, subject of this sketch; Hannah L., married Isaac W. Hicks, son of Edward Hicks, of Newtown, Bucks county, the well-known minister of the Society of Friends; William, died in infancy; Tacy, married Morris Davis, of Warminster. After the demise of William his estate was divided, Abel succeeding to the homestead consisting of 212 acres with the buildings, including the Governor Keith mansion, built in 1721, now used as a tenant house, and still in good repair, the home itself having been changed to a more eligible location on which a large and convenient stone house was built, with large barns and other outbuildings. The farm is one of the best in the township, and is still in a high state of cultivation. William Penrose was an energetic and successful farmer, and mas a Whig and Republican in politics.

Abel Penrose married, 12th-mo. 25, 1856, Sarah. C., born 4th-mo. 3, 1836, daughter of Daniel and Mary M. (Keck) Beisel, of Allentown, Pennsylvania. Her father was a prominent farmer of Lehigh county, and a member of the Reformed church. Her mother was a Miss Keck. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Beisel: Mary, Mrs. J. Jarrett; Jonas, Franklin, Solomon, of Rossville, Indiana; Henry, Hannah, Mrs. A. Yingling; Ann, Mrs. J. Johenning; Sarah C., widow of Abel Penrose; Rebecca, Mrs. W. Stites. The children of Abel and Sarah C. (Beisel) Penrose: Hanah J., born 6th-mo. 30, 1858, married Dr. A. D. Markley, of Hatboro, and their children are: Penrose and Anna Markley; Morris E., born 3rd-mo. 14, 1860, is engaged in farming the homestead; he is unmarried; William, born 5th-mo. 12, 1870, engaged in the livery business at Willow Grove; Mary M., born 7th-mo. 31, 1877, unmarried, and resides with her mother. All the family affiliate with the Society of Friends.

Few farms in Pennsylvania are equal to Graeme Park in the matter of historical associations. The old house is one of the most characteristic relics of colonial days now existing in Montgomery county, and is still the property of the Penrose estate. William Keith was descended from the eminent Keith family of Scotland, baroneted in 1629, and was appointed by the King surveyor general of customs in America. He resided in Virginia, and later received the appointment of lieutenant governor in America, continuing in office until 1726. In 1718 he bought 1200 acres of land, on a portion of which he erected Graeme Park in 1721. He also had roads laid out by which to reach his mansion. He owned fourteen slaves, and kept twenty horses for the coach and saddle.