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Eyre Family Papers

 Collection
Identifier: SFHL-RG5-179

Scope and Contents

The collection contains extensive correspondence of Isaac Eyre to Isaac Hicks and other prominent Quakers about Quaker interests, farming, and railroad projects; also eighteen diaries of William Eyre (1840-1880 with gaps, microfilmed) and some miscellaneous family material. The letters are useful as a social commentary of Quaker life of the era and mention many prominent Friends. The diaries include information on topical events as well as work related notes.

Organization: Organized in four series: 1. Biographical; 2. Correspondence; 3. Diaries; 4. Miscellaneous.

Dates

  • Creation: 1840-1912

Creator

Limitations on Accessing the Collection

Collection is open for research.

Copyright and Rights Information

Friends Historical Library believes all of the items in this collection to be in the Public Domain in the United States, and is not aware of any restrictions on their use. However, the user is responsible for making a final determination of copyright status before reproducing. See http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0/.

Biographical / Historical

Isaac Eyre (1778-1843) was a prominent Philadelphia shipbuilder. In 1801 he married Eleanor Cooper (1778-1851) of Camden, N.J. In 1828, he removed to a farm in Bucks County, Pa. Isaac and Eleanor had ten children, six of whom survived to maturity. William Eyre (1804-1885) was their oldest son, a Philadelphia master builder. At the time of his death, he was president of the CarpentersÂ’ Company in Philadelphia which owns and maintains CarpentersÂ’ Hall. He married Elizabeth Ann Davies of New York in 1827, and they had three children. Late in life he married a second time, to Keziah R. Bunting.

His brother, Isaac (1819-1904) remained on the family farm and eventually removed to a farm near Newtown. He was a promoter and builder of the railroad between Philadelphia and Newtown and other rail projects. He was also one of the founders of the George School, Newtown, Pa., and active in Quaker concerns. He corresponded regularly with Isaac Hicks (1815-1900) of Westbury Monthly Meeting. Isaac Hicks established the Hicks Nursery on Long Island, NY, and was a Quaker minister.

Extent

1.5 Linear Feet (3 boxes)

Language

English

Overview

The collection contains papers concerning the Eyre family, Pennsylvania Quakers. descendents of Isaac and Eleanor (Cooper) Eyre, of Philadelphia and Bucks County. Isaac Eyre (1778-1843) was a prominent Philadelphia shipbuilder. In 1828, he removed to a farm in Bucks County, Pa. William Eyre (1804-1885) was their oldest son, a Philadelphia master builder. His brother, Isaac (1819-1904) was a farmer and promoter of the railroad from Bucks County, Pa. He was also one of the founders of the George School, Newtown, Pa., and active in Quaker concerns. The collection contains correspondence of Isaac Eyre largely to Isaac Hicks (1815-1900) Quaker interests, prominent Friends, farming, and railroad projects; also eighteen diaries of William Eyre (1840-1880, gaps 1841-1849 and 1855-1857, microfilmed), and some miscellaneous family material.

Physical Location

For current information on the location of materials, please consult the Libraries' online catalog: http://tripod.brynmawr.edu

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Deposit

Donor: Mary Sullivan Patterson and Elizabeth Thomson Taylor, Date: 1956; Donor: Mrs. William S. Preston, Date: 1969. Elizabeth Thomson Taylor was a descendent of Isaac Eyre.

Related Materials

Isaac Hicks Family Papers, RG5/197

Separated Materials

Picture of William Eyre transferred to General Picture Collection, Individual Portraits

Title
Eyre Family Papers, 1840-1912
Date
2004
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
English

Find It at the Library

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