Montgomery County Pennsylvania Genealogy

John Cadwalader

Lawyer, Useful Citizen.

A member of the Philadelphia bar since 1864, John Cadwalader in professional and social life enjoys a reputation fairly earned and one not depending on the fame of his distinguished ancestors. Since 1697 the Cadwalader name has been familiar in Pennsylvania history, and in every generation men of eminence in civil life, the professions, and high in military rank, have contributed to the glory of their State and to the honor of the family name. Wealth, honors and position have been freely showered upon them and in the stirring scenes that attend the birth of a nation all this wealth and prestige was employed to establish its right to exist free and independent. Great as was its early fame the family in succeeding generations have proved no less worthy of the name they bear.

John Cadwalader, of Philadelphia, is of the sixth American generation of a family founded by John Cadwalader, of Wales, who came to Pennsylvania in 1697. He was born in county Merioneth, Wales, about 1677, and at the age of twenty years came to this country, bearing testimony from the Friends of Pembrokeshire that they had known him since his thirteenth year and that he "hath the reputation of an apt scholar and hath attained to as good a degree of learning as any at school." Furthermore they gave testimony that "his demeanor has been sober and innocent." The young man settled on the "Welsh Tract," near Philadelphia, and on December 26, 1699, married Martha Jones, daughter of Dr. Edward Jones, who came from Wales with the first immigrants from that country in 1682. Dr. Jones married Mary Wynne, daughter of Thomas Wynne, a physician who came with William Penn on the "Welcome." After his marriage, John Cadwalader settled in Philadelphia, where he first was an instructor, later became a merchant, was elected a member of the common council in 1718, and in 1729 a member of the General Assembly. He died July 23, 1734, leaving a son Thomas to perpetuate the family name--the only son to survive childhood.

Thomas Cadwalader became a noted physician, obtaining his professional education largely in England. He practiced first in Philadelphia, then went to live at Trenton, New Jersey, where in 1746 he became the first burgess under the charter granted by Governor Belcher, of New Jersey. In 1750 he returned to Philadelphia and there rose to eminence in his profession, served in many positions of honor and trust. He was an ardent patriot, and lived an honorable, useful life that terminated November 14, 1779, at the age of seventy-two years, at his farm "Greenwood," about one mile from Trenton, New Jersey. He is known in history as Dr. Thomas Cadwalader, the "Councillor," having served with Chew and Mifflin as a member of the Provincial Council from November 2, 1755, until the Revolution. He also served as a member of Philadelphia common council, 1751 until 1774. He was one of the original incorporators of the Philadelphia Library Company, founded in 1731, and was a director in the years 1731-1732-1733-1739-1752-1769-1773-1774. He married, June 18, 1738, Hannah, daughter of Thomas Lambert, of New Jersey. She died in Philadelphia, in 1786, aged seventy-four years, and was buried in Friends' burying ground at Fifth and Arch streets; Dr. Thomas Cadwalader was buried in Friends' burying ground in Trenton, New Jersey, in which city he had founded a public library. His daughters married distinguished men of their day, except the youngest, Elizabeth, one of the flower girls at Washington's reception in Trenton, in 1789, who died unmarried ten years after that event, aged twenty-nine years. His sons--John, of further mention, and Lambert--both attained distinction in business, military and official life.

General John Cadwalader, eldest son of Dr. Thomas, the Councillor, was a merchant of Philadelphia in company with his brother, the firm being known as John & Lambert Cadwalader. In 1771 he erected a large double house in Second street, below Spruce, with gardens extending to Third street. At the outbreak of the Revolution he was captain of the company of the Philadelphia, an organization familiarly known as the "Silk Stocking Corps," many members of which later became officers of the Continental Line. He was a member of the Committee of Safety, colonel of a city battalion, and brigadier-general in command of Pennsylvania troops. He led one of the divisions of Washington's army that crossed the Delaware, December 27, 1776, remaining on the Jersey side, fought at Princeton, January 3, 1777, and won from General Washington the encomium: "A man of ability, a good disciplinarian, firm in his principles and of intrepid bravery." He declined in 1777 the appointment of brigadier-general, and a later appointment by Congress of brigadier-general of cavalry of the United States, believing the war practically over and preferring to remain in command of Pennsylvania troops. Later, at Washington's request, he organized the militia of the Eastern Shore of Maryland, joined the army under Washington, fought at Brandywine and Germantown as a volunteer, and performed valiant service at the battle of Monmouth, June 28, 1778. Soon afterward he fought a duel with General Conway, whom Washington characterized as a "dangerous incendiary." General Cadwalader was uninjured, but wounded his adversary. In 1779 he succeeded his honored father as trustee of the University of Pennsylvania, and returned to his home in Maryland, becoming a member of the Assembly of that State. He died at Shrewsbury, Kent county, Maryland, February 10, 1786, just past his forty-fourth birthday. General John Cadwalader married (first) Elizabeth, daughter of Edward Lloyd, of Wye House, Talbot county, Maryland, (second) Williamina, daughter of Dr. Phineas Bond, of Philadelphia, and granddaughter of John Moore, judge of the Admiralty in Pennsylvania. His daughters by both wives married men of distinction and rank.

General Thomas Cadwalader, only son of General John Cadwalader to survive infancy, was a child of the second wife, Williamina Bond. His father, a man of great wealth, gave him every advantage of education, and in 1795, he graduated A.B., University of Pennsylvania. He then studied law, was admitted to the bar, but becoming trustee of the Penn and other large estates he withdrew from active practice. In 1799 he served with the cavalry troops sent out to quell an insurrection in Pennsylvania, which grew out of resistance to the enforcement of a law levying a tax to defray the charges of the French War. He was a lieutenant colonel of cavalry in the War of 1812, was also in command of the "advanced light brigade," and later major-general, First Division, Pennsylvania Militia. He was solicited by President Monroe to accept the diplomatic appointment of Minister to England, but declined that and other civic positions. He was appointed with General Scott and Colonel (afterwards President) Taylor in 1826 to revise the tactics of the United States Army. He was the author of numerous articles in various journals, and his mansion at Ninth and Arch streets, Philadelphia, was the resort of the most accomplished scholars of the country.

He married, June 25, 1804, Mary, daughter of Colonel Clement Biddle, Assistant Quartermaster-General of the Revolutionary army from Pennsylvania, and United States Marshal. General Cadwalader died October 31, 1841, leaving five sons--John, of whom further; George, brevetted major-general in the United States regular army for gallant conduct at Chapultepec, Mexico, and major-general of volunteers for service during the Civil War, a large landowner and man of affairs, died in Philadelphia, February 3, 1879; Thomas; Henry, an officer in United States navy; and William.

Judge John Cadwalader, the third in direct line to bear the name, was the eldest son of General Thomas and Mary (Biddle) Cadwalader. He was born in Philadelphia, April I, 1805, died January 26, 1879. He was a graduate of University of Pennsylvania, A.B., class of 1821. When sixteen years of age he studied law, and before arriving at legal age, was admitted to the Philadelphia bar, September 20, 1825. He soon after his admission became solicitor for the Bank of the United States, and soon became conspicuous even among the brilliant men of that day who composed the Philadelphia bar. He was retained by the government in the famous Blackburne "Cloth Cases," and with Walter Jones and Daniel Webster represented the complainants in the Girard Will Case. When twenty-eight years old he was admitted to the Supreme Court of the United States, in 1834. From 1833-1853 he was vice-provost of the Philadelphia Law Academy. In 1844 he commanded a well-known company of Philadelphia militia that served during the riots and disturbances of that year. He was active in securing the consolidation of the several districts of which Philadelphia was formerly composed, and in 1854 was elected to Congress after a hotly contested canvass in the Fifth District, then composed of Montgomery county and Kensington. He served with honor, but declined renomination. In 1858 he was appointed by President Buchanan to succeed Judge John K. Kane, deceased, as Judge of the United States District Court for Eastern Pennsylvania. This honorable position he held until his death, a period of twenty-one years. During the Civil War the jurisdiction of the court was greatly extended, and afterwards by the Internal Revenue Acts and the Bankrupt Law. In 1870 the University of Pennsylvania conferred upon Judge Cadwalader the honorary degree of LL.D. He was a member of the American Philosophical Society, elected in 1867; and a Democrat in politics.

He married (first) January 26, 1879, Mary, daughter of Horace and Elizabeth (Cox) Binney, (second) Henrietta Maria, widow of Bloomfield McIlvaine, and daughter of Charles N. Bancker, an eminent merchant of Philadelphia. Children: Mary Binney, married William Henry Rawle: Elizabeth Binney, married George Harrison Hare. Children by second wife: Sarah Bancker; Frances, deceased; Thomas, died in childhood; Charles Evert, graduate of University of Pennsylvania, A.B. and A.M.; enlisted in 1861 in First City Troop, afterwards was first lieutenant, 6th Regiment Pennsylvania Cavalry, attaining the rank of lieutenant-colonel on the staff of General Meade; Anne, married Rev. Henry J. Rowland; John, of whom further; George, died young.

John, son of Judge John and Henrietta Maria (Bancker) Cadwalader, was born in Philadelphia, June 27, 1843, and has passed his life principally in the city of his birth. He prepared for college in the city schools, entered the University of Pennsylvania, graduated A.B., class of 1862, received A.M. in course in 1865; received the degree of LL.D. in 1912, and is a trustee of the University of Pennsylvania. He was admitted to the Philadelphia bar in 1864, and has from that time been actively connected with the legal profession, practicing in all State and Federal courts of the district. He has acquired large financial interests, and is identified with many Philadelphia institutions, philanthropic, patriotic and social, and from 1889 to 1897 was president of the Trust Company of North America. He is president of the Philadelphia and Baltimore Steamboat Company; manager and president of Philadelphia Institution for the Blind; served as school director, 1875-1885; was collector of the Port of Philadelphia, 1885-1889, appointed by President Cleveland; was jury commissioner. United States Circuit Court; and in all things honorable, upright and honored. Through the distinguished service of his ancestors he gains admission to the patriotic orders, and is president-general of the Society of the War of 1812, and belongs to Pennsylvania Society, Sons of the Revolution. He is also a member of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, the American Philosophical Society, and vice-president of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, serving as a member of the council. In political faith he is a Democrat. His clubs are the Metropolitan of Washington, the University of Philadelphia, of which he has been president since 1896; the Rittenhouse, Art. Penn and Philadelphia Country.

He married Mary Helen, daughter of Joshua Francis Fisher, and a descendant of Logan Fisher; children: Sophia, Mary Helen, John, Thomas Francis. The family home is No. 1519 Locust street, Philadelphia.

Source: Jordan, John W. Encyclopedia of Pennsylvania Biography, volume III. New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Co., 1914, pp. 720-723.

Submitted by Nancy.