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John Lancaster

< Mary Elizabeth Lancaster birt: 8 NOV 1842 plac: Philadelphia PA deat: 31 JAN 1922 plac: Philadelphia PA marr: 7 JUL 1868 Josephine Lancaster birt: 8 AUG 1843 plac: Philadelphia, PA deat: 7 AUG 1845 plac: Philadelphia, PA < William Henry Lancaster birt: 23 SEP 1845 plac: Philadelphia PA deat: 23 OCT 1898 plac: Philadelphia PA marr: ABT 11 AUG 1875 plac: [year unknown] John II Lancaster birt: 17 OCT 1848 plac: Philadelphia, PA deat: 31 JAN 1849 plac: Philadelphia, PA < Lewis Mulford Lancaster birt: 13 JAN 1851 plac: Philadelphia, PA deat: 2 FEB 1890 marr: John Lancaster birt: 13 SEP 1852 plac: Philadelphia, PA deat: 26 MAR 1856 plac: Philadelphia, PA Edward Robbins Lancaster birt: 14 NOV 1854 plac: Philadelphia, PA deat: 28 MAR 1856 plac: Philadelphia, PA < Bathsheba Brooks Lancaster birt: 22 JAN 1857 plac: Philadelphia, PA deat: 27 MAR 1941 plac: Millville NJ marr: 20 APR 1880 plac: First Baptist Church, West Philadelphia PA < Laura Virginia Lancaster birt: 15 JAN 1859 plac: Philadelphia, Philadelphia Co. PA deat: 20 MAY 1947 plac: Bridgeport, Montgomery Co. PA marr: 20 NOV 1884 plac: 201 DeKalb Street, Bridgeport PA by the Rev A J Weddell < Albert Elwood Lancaster birt: 17 SEP 1860 plac: Philadelphia, PA deat: 18 FEB 1935 plac: Philadelphia PA marr: 9 DEC 1880 Walter Collins Lancaster birt: 3 SEP 1863 plac: Philadelphia, PA deat: 24 AUG 1864 plac: Philadelphia, PA
		William H Lancaster
		birt: deat: Philadelphia PA marr:
	John Lancaster
	birt: 21 MAY 1817 plac: Ashton La Williams, England deat: 15 JUN 1879 plac: Philadelphia PA Bathsheba Harris Brooks marr: 31 DEC 1840 birt: 22 OCT 1819 plac: Jones Island NJ deat: 12 MAY 1864 plac: Philadelphia PA
		Mary
		birt: deat: marr:

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Contact: Joan Kolarik at kolarikj@hotmail.com

Notes:

John Lancaster was born in Ashton La Wiliams, 4 miles from Wigan, Lancashire, England (near Liverpool). He emigrated to the United States in 1830. He was said to have made the trip alone and brought all of his belongings in one trunk (Apparently it was given to his daughter Laura when he died. From 2003, it is in the possession of Greta Swanson McGinnis). John became a wealthy Philadelphia PA carpet merchant, although he couldn't read or write. He learned the carpet trade at 2nd & Gibbs Streets, Philadelphia PA. He was about 21 when he built his store and home at 2nd & German (now Fitzwater). He and his wife, Bathsheba, lived above the carpet store when they were first married.

John, the most prosperous of our ancestors, was listed as weaver and dealer in Philadelphia business directories from 1946 throu 1877 (he died in 1979). One of his brothers-in-law, Sheppard Brooks, was also listed in the same business from 1959 through 1906 (he died in 1907) and John's son, William Henry was listed from 1881 through 1897 (he died in 1898). His son, also William Henry, was listed from 1900 through 1906. John built the carpet store and residence at 2nd & German in 1847 according to a clipping with a picture in Laura's Scrapbook. [source: In 1991 Ruth Neiman Kolarik copied the business information from the McElroy's, Gopsills', and Boyd's Philadelphia Directories at the PA Historical Society in Philadelphia.]

A newspaper clipping (source unknown) after John's death reads: "Death of a Carpet Manufacturer. John Lancaster, one of the oldest carpet manufacturers in the city, and a gentleman widely known throughout the District of Southwark, died last evening at his residence, Second and German streets, aged sixty-two years. The deceased was born in England, but came to this country fifty years ago. He learned carpet weaving in his father's establishment [in England?], and went into business on his own account about thirty-eight years ago, remaining in business up to the time of his death. He never took a very active part in politics, except on special occasions. He will be remembered by many old residents of Southwark as one of the leaders in the fight which compelled the sale of the Southwark Gas Works to the city."

A newspaper clipping (source unknown) after John's death reads: "Lancaster. On the 16th inst., John Lancaster, aged 62 years.
The relatives and friends of the family are respectively invited to attend the funeral, on Friday, afternoon, at 3 o'clock, from his late residence, No. 756 South Second street. To proceed to sixth street, Union Vanit."

A newspaper report of his estate lists numerous pieces of property.
M. THOMAS & SONS, AUCTIONEERS
Will sell on the 24th inst., at their Auction Rooms, 139 and 141 South Fourth street, the Estate of John Lancaster, dec'd
Store and Dwelling, No. 762 S. Second street
Store and Dwelling, N. W. Cor. Second and German Streets,
Store and Dwelling, No. 755 S. Second street.
Store and Dwelling, No. 754 S. Second street
Dwelling and Stable, No. 120 Mead street
Building and Machinery, Price st., Germantown.
Dwelling, No. 2615 Susquehanna avenue.
Store and Dwelling, S. W. Corner 24th and Master streets.
Dwelling, 1723 South Front street
Dwellings, &.. Nos., 138 to 144 Hazel street.
Lot, Tasker street.
Four Dwellings, 211 to 217 Concord street
Building 837 and 839 German street.
Farm. 146 acres and 67 perches, Schenck's Station. Bristol turnpike. Bucks county, PA.
Ten well-secured Ground rents, $42, $24, $30, $48, $48, $48, $36, $42, $42.
Full particulars in handbills and at the office of JOHN A. SCANLAN, Esq., Attorney, No. 530 Walnut st.

Oral history always indicated that Laura Lancaster Neiman inherited $5000 from her father. At that rate with his 6 adult children, his estate would have been at least $30,000. The inheritance may have been larger.

John and Bathsheba were buried near Betsy Ross's grave, which has since been moved. [source: Betsy Ross: Last of Philadelphia's Free Quakers / Ray Thompson. The Bicentennial Press, 1107 Montgomery Ave, Fort Washington, PA 19034: 1972. p 71] "After Betsy Ross died, on 30 January 1836, at age 84, she was buried alongside her third husband, in the Society of Free Quakers Burial Grounds at Fifth and Locust Sts. In 1857, the old burial grounds were abandoned and the remains of Betsy and her husband transferred to Mt. Moriah Cemetery, located in southwest Philadelphia at 63rd and Kingsessing Ave, along the Cobbs Creek Parkway. The site is about 5 1/2 miles from the Betsy Ross House at 239 Arch St, and on the west side of the Schuylkill River."

In the 1950s, Dorothy Neiman Swanson visited John and Bathsheba's graves and remembers Betsy Ross's grave nearby. In 2001, Joan Kolarik and children, Greta Swanson McGinnis and children, and Dorothy Neiman Swanson searched but could not find the graves. Weeds covered the area. The area appeared to have been neglected since Betsy Ross's grave was moved.