I posted about this indenture over in the Silver board thinking the people mentioned in there were silversmiths. ...they are in fact not. It seems as though this document is/was very important to someone to have it framed the way it is, which is what peeked my interest. At first I thought it was the people mentioned in it, which they are important people in history, but now I'm wondering if its not the location. Being from the south and having never stepped foot in Philadelphia, I'm wanting to be sure I'm looking at this location correctly, while also looking for input, ideas, history, etc. from others who would have a better idea. The document reads as follows: (Skip to the bottom of the quote where I sum it up if you do not wish to read the entirety) In layman's terms, Elizabeth Gray signed a lifetime lease with John Potts and his wife Ruth in 1762 for a piece of land lying and being on the South side of High Street between the 5th and 6th Street from Delaware. Her first husband is William Gray (Sr) who is the father of William Gray (Jr) and Joseph Gray. Elizabeth remarried William Jones (after acquiring the property), whom also died, but not before having their only living son, Robert Erwin Jones. When Elizabeth died intestate the law sent everything back over to her first two sons, her oldest son having a double share in her estate. For whatever reason Elizabeth asked her two oldest sons, William and Joseph, to sign over the whole estate, on this piece of property, to her son Robert Erwin Jones for 5 shillings (I'm guessing the death taxes William was going to have to pay?). William and Joseph are happy to abide by their mothers wishes and sign the "piece of ground" and everything on it, including other rights, over to their younger brother Robert, and in doing that they are no longer legally or financially responsible for any of the land, payments, or estate. ------- Who's Who John Potts (1710-1768), son of Thomas Potts, who was buddy buddy with Benjamin Franklin, helped him create the Franklin stove, and I believe John helped Benjamin in the political arena as well. John Potts and his father Thomas were the biggest Ironworkers in the colonies during this time, but as John's estate was split up between his children after his death, and the large empire crumbled. John Potts is also the founder of Pottstown, Pa, where his home is now a historic museum. Elizabeth Gray Jones (nee. Jones) (1731-1791/2) Her mother was Ann Jones Erwin (nee. Bristow) whom was friendly enough with Abraham Kinsey (a neighbor) to receive the gift of a silver cup with an inscription mentioning the Evacuation of Philadelphia by the British in 1778. William Gray (1750-1800) erected the 3rd Brewery in Philadelphia, Im not sure if it was originally the elder Wm Gray or younger Gray, but younger Gray definitely ran the business. Joseph Gray (1754-18??) ran the Brewery with his brother William. He married Mary Cowpland. Wm and Joseph Gray ran the Brewery until 1798, when Robert Erwin Gray, Joseph's son, took over. Robert Gray left the brewing business in 1840, a couple more family members took over the brewery before leaving Philadelphia and selling out to another brewing Co. The Brewery was abandoned and torn down in 1881. Portrait of Robert Erwin Gray circa 1811 by Thomas Sully, whom painted several presidents Grays Brewery https://digital.librarycompany.org/islandora/object/digitool:77480 Modern day view of the Brewery HISTORICAL NOTES. (1891). The American Catholic Historical Researches, 8(1), 42–46. http://www.jstor.org/stable/45213401 Robert Erwin Jones (1772-1856) was a merchant by trade. At this point I do not know much about his life. ------- LOCATION Mary Gray Jones parcel as of 1791, on an interactive map https://maps.archives.upenn.edu/WestPhila1777/view-parcel.php?pid=3439&popup=1 Modern day view William and Joseph's parcel as of 1791, on an interactive map https://maps.archives.upenn.edu/WestPhila1777/view-parcel.php?pid=7574 Modern day address 415 Market Street I guess the bits and bobs about the Brewery really don't matter, I just found it to enrich the story and history of the document. If I have the location correct on the indenture, this would be in what is now known as the Independence National Historical Park, on the same lot as the Liberty Bell, correct? And if so, it was a few doors down from the Presidents House/Master Penns House, which housed Benedict Arnold through part of the Revolutionary War and George Washington and John Adams through the 1790s. Modern day view (reconstruction) Looking at a map from 1797, I believe the coral color to be Gray Brewery, white to be the Presidents House, blue to be Elizabeth Gray Jones home, and yellow to be Wm and Joseph Grays home https://www.loc.gov/resource/g3824p.ct001369/?r=0.649,0.253,0.214,0.299,0 I know this is long winded, but I love old documents and the history of the United States. If you see any glaring mistakes or have any neat history to add, please do inform!
