Biographical Sketch of the John BEVAN; Delaware County, PA

Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Sandra Ferguson <ferg@ntelos.net>.

Copyright 2004.  All Rights Reserved.
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from CHESTER AND ITS VICINITY DELAWARE CO IN PA, by Martin; 

"John Bevan or John Ap, as he was sometimes called, was born in Glamouganshire, 
Wales in 1646, one of 5 children.  His parents, who were wealthy, died while he 
was quite young.  Being the heir, when he arrived at age he found himself in 
possession of a large estate, while his brothers were unprovided for -his only 
sister being dead.  His strong sense of justice at once induced him to  portion 
all his brothers and to give them a helpful subsistence in the world.  He 
married in 1665, , to a strict member of the established church, who when her 
husband had shown a disposition to become a Quaker, was distressed, and felt it 
to be her duty to interpose her serious objections.  They argued the question 
without result; but the indiscretion of the priest, in pronouncing the sentence 
of excommunication, without previous notice, against the husband in the presence 
of the wife, so shocked her feelings as to nearly making her faint away, and 
after a time made her willing unto the work of Salvation"...they both became 
Quakers.
    In 1683, John Bevan and his family moved to PA, and settled either in Merion 
of Haverford, his land being located in both twps.  He had been a pillar of the 
meeting he left, and was equally so of Haverford meeting, which he aided in 
establishing, and which was frequently held at his house.
    He had 4 children married in PA.  His daughter Jane, to John Wood of Darby 
in 1687; his daughter Elizabeth to Joseph Richardson of Philadelphia in 1697; in 
1696 has son Evan to Eleanor Wood of Darby, 1693; and one other."
     Aubrey Bevan, son of Evan and Eleanor, b June 1705, m Ann Davis of Darby, 
1732.  They had 6 children; Mary b 4-4-1733 m Nathaniel Forbes, d Germantown 2-
22-1817.  Katharine b Chester 3-16-1734 d 3-1744; Tacy b
12-12-1736 m Thomas Pryor of Philadelphia.  Davis b. Chester, 8-16-1738 m Agnes 
Cowpland, dau of David Cowpland 6-12-1760 d 3-30-1818; Jane b 7-1741 d 9-11-
1742; Alice b 10-24-1743 d 11-15-1743.
            Davis had 6 children; Anne b 6-5-1751 m Capt Matthew Lawler, 
afterwards Mayor of Philadelphia, d Cincinnati Mar 25, 1835; David b 12-28-1763, 
m  Jane Shaw, widow d 8-21-1812.  Aubrey b 12-31-1765.
Isabella b 3-16-1767 d 4-6-1822.  Tacy Anna b 11-15-1774 m George Stacey d 
Philadelphia 4-22-1831, and Matthew Lawler Bevan b. 8-23-1779, m Deborah -.