My Genealogy Hound

DAVID JARRETT, a prominent farmer of Horsham township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, is descended from one of the oldest and largest families in that section of the state. He is the son of Richard and Gainor (Penrose) Jarrett. He was born at the Jarrett homestead, November 22, 1821.

Jonathan Jarrett (grandfather) was a practical and successful farmer of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, and a member of the Society of Friends, taking an active interest in its work and enjoying the respect of the entire community. He prospered in wordly matters also, and was able at his death to provide a farm for each of his children. In politics he was a Whig, but he was never an aspirant for public position of any kind. His children: John, Jonathan, Jr., Isaac, Richard (father).

Richard Jarrett was educated in the Friends’ schools of the vicinity, and assisted his father in farming on the homestead until he was of age. He settled on the farm now occupied by his son, David Jarrett, subject of this sketch, the wife of Richard Jarrett having inherited it from her father-in-law’s (Jonathan Jarrett) estate. Richard Jarrett died in 1827. He attended market and gave strict attention to farming, making it a success. His wife survived him many years, and died in 1865. She was a daughter of Samuel Penrose, of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, of an old family of Irish descent, but originally from England.

Robert, son of Robert and Jane Penrose, born in Yorkshire, England, removed to Ireland in 1669 and married Anna Russell. They had three children, one of whom, born in Blackane, Ireland, married Mary Clayton in 1695, and had thirteen children. With part of his family Robert 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. The children of Robert and Mary Penrose: Jonathan, born in 1735, Joseph, 1737; John, born in 1739, married Ann Roberts; William, born in 1742, married Mary Roberts, a sister of John’s wife, both being daughters of John and Martha Roberts, and granddaughters of Edward and Thomas Roberts, the immigrants, who settled at Richland, in Bucks county, Pennsylvania; Robert, Jr., born in 1744; Samuel, born in 1748, married Sarah Roberts, daughter of Abel and Gainor Roberts (Abel being a son of Edward); Samuel and Sarah being the parents of Gainor (Penrose) Jarrett; Benjamin, Mary and Jesse. Samuel and Sarah Roberts Penrose had ten children: Abel, Gainor (wife of Richard Jarrett); William, Everard, Mary, Benjamin, Susanna, Samuel, Margaret and Morris. They removed to Horsham, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, about 1800, and purchased a large tract of land known as Graeme Park, which had been a hundred years previously the residence of Governor Keith, the farm including the mansion of the governor, which is still standing, the place being one of the best known of the historic sites in Pennsylvania. In 1801 a certificate was granted to Samuel and Sarah and four of their children by Richland Monthly Meeting to that of Horsham. Later Samuel bought a farm in Warminster, Bucks county, to which his son Benjamin removed. On the marriage of his son William, Samuel Penrose sold the Graeme Park property to him and removed to the Warminster farm. William Penrose married Hannah, daughter of William and Ann Jarrett, of Horsham, and had a large family of children. A daughter Hannah married Isaac W. Hicks, son of Edward Hicks, of Newtown, a well known minister of the Society of Friends. The Graeme Park farm is yet in the possession of descendants of Samuel Penrose. The children of Richard and Gainor (Penrose) Jarrett: Hannah (died in infancy); Hannah (Mrs. E. Lewis); Samuel, Penrose, Elizabeth and Rebecca, all deceased; David, subject of this sketch; Morris, died at Doylestown.

David Jarrett was educated in the neighborhood schools. He owns a fine farm, having been very successful in his pursuit of farming. In politics he is a Republican, and in religious faith a member of the Society of Friends, as his ancestors on both sides have been for many generations. He married Ida Taylor, a native of New Jersey, daughter of Amos and Rebecca Taylor. They had four children: Louise (Mrs. Heald); Mary A. (Mrs. Smith); Lizzie S. (Mrs. Troth); Ida (Mrs. David Jarrett). The couple have two children, Rebecca P., born July 13, 1895; Gainor, born December 1, 1898.

The first of the Jarretts in this country was John Jarrett, who with his wife Mary emigrated from Scotland, being members of the Society of Friends, and settled in Horsham township early in the eighteenth century. They had a son, John Jarrett, Jr., born 3d mo. 3, 1719, all his father’s land being deeded to him in 1741. John Jarrett, Jr., married Alice Conard, and had twelve children, from whom are descended the Jarretts of Montgomery and adjoining counties. Of these children Jonathan, born 1st mo. 31, 1753, was the grandfather of David Jarrett, subject of this sketch. He married Hannah Mather, of an old Montgomery county family of Irish descent.