Col. Owen Biddle

A Patriot of the American Revolution for PENNSYLVANIA. DAR Ancestor # A009919

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Owen_Biddle,_Sr.

Owen Biddle, Sr. (1737 – March 10, 1799) was a clockmaker and watchmaker by trade, a merchant in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, an American Revolutionary War Colonel, and an astronomer and scientist.

Ancestors and early life

He was a great-grandson of William Biddle, I (1630–1712), and Sarah Kempe (1634–1709), Quakers who emigrated to America in 1681. William Biddle was one of the Proprietors of West Jersey, and for many years a member of the Governor's Council of that colony. Owen was a grandson of William Biddle, II (1660–1743), and son of John Biddle, I, (1707–1789), who moved to Philadelphia about 1725 with his brother, William Biddle, III (b. 1698–1756). His father prospered as a merchant. After eight years of formal education, Owen Biddle became a clock and watchmaker.

Patriot

He was engaged in mercantile pursuits, and with his younger brother, Clement Biddle, signed the Non-importation Resolutions of October 25, 1765. He was a delegate to the Provincial Conference January 23, 1775; member of the Committee of Safety from June 30, 1775, to July 22, 1776, during which period he served as defacto Governor of Pennsylvania on July 4, 1776, again on July 8 and 10, 1776, and finally on July 16, 1776. Owen Biddle continued service with the newly constituted Council of Safety from July 24, 1776 to March 13, 1777. He became a member of the Board of War on March 13, 1777, and was a member of the Pennsylvania Constitutional Convention of July 15, 1776.

In June, 1777, he was appointed Deputy Commissary General of Forage, with the rank of Colonel, by the Continental Congress. He served under his younger brother, Clement, who was the Commissary General of Forage and also a Colonel, until August 15, 1780. He and his brother labored for three years to obtain provisions for the Continental Army's horses, mules and other draft animals, while struggling to obtain funds, working with unreliable subordinates, and many unresponsive farmers.

Astronomy and science

He was an early and active member of the American Philosophical Society, one of its curators from 1769 to 1772, and secretary from 1773 to 1782, when he became one of the councilors, continuing as such until his death. In 1782, he was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1782. He was one of the committee of thirteen appointed by the Society to observe the transit of Venus on June 3, 1769. These observations were made with eminent success by three members of the Committee, David Rittenhouse being stationed at Norristown, Dr. Ewins at Philadelphia, and Owen Biddle at Cape Henlopen, Delaware.

Family

He married Sarah Parke in 1760, and fathered ten children over a period of twenty years, including Owen Biddle, Jr. (1774–1806), a member of the Carpenters' Company of the City and County of Philadelphia. He died on March 10, 1799, in Philadelphia.

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http://biddleetc.org/TNG/getperson.php?personID=I149&tree=BIDDLE-18...

Owen was a partner with his brother Clement in the shipping and importing business and one of the most ardent patriots of the Revolution, member of the provincial Committee and Council of Safety, delegate to the several provincial conventions and conferences, member of the Board of War, and constantly one of the most prominent members of special committee of these several organizations, and a man of high scholastic and scientific attainments, one of the prominent men and officers of the American Philosophical Society.

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"Owen Biddle, (1737-99), was a delegate to the Provincial Congress and a member of the Committee of Safety, 1775; a delegate to the Constitutional Convention, 1776, and President of the Board of War, 1777. He was a "Fighting Quaker" and one of the eighty merchants of the city, who, headed by Robert Morris, became responsible for army supplies when the soldiers were suffering. His house was destroyed when the enemy occupied the city and on the site now stands Girard College. He was born in Philadelphia, where he died. Owen was a partner with his brother Clement in the shipping and importing business and one of the most ardent patriots of the Revolution, member of the provincial Committee and Council of Safety, delegate to the several provincial conventions and conferences, member of the Board of War, and constantly one of the most prominent members of special committee of these several organizations, and a man of high scholastic and scientific attainments, one of the prominent men and officers of the American Philosophical Society."

Married Sarah Parke, September 29, 1760.

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=51445620 ___________________

Letter that mentions Owen Biddle WARRANT CREATING THE BOARD OF WAR.

'/'he Supreme Executive Council of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania :
To David Rittenhouse, Owen Biddle, William Moore, Joseph Dean, Samuel Mori is, Senr., Samuel Cadwalader Morris, Joint Bayard, George Gray, and John Bull, Esquires, send Greeting: WHEREAS, The civil department of this Commonwealth requires great attention, and will for some time fully employ this Council to discharge the duties thereof- And as it is also of great Importance that a due attention be still paid to the War which we are engaged in, And Confiding in your Abilities and integrity, We do appoint you a Board of War for the Land service of this State, hereby giving to you or any three of you, full power and authority to do and perform all matters and things necessary in said Department, subject nevertheless to the directions and examination of this Council from time to time as We may judge expedient, and saving to ourselves always the power of appointing officers agreeable to the Frame of Government of this Commonwealth ; This Commission to continue in force until revoked by this or a future Supreme Executive Council. Dated at Philadelphia this Thirteenth day of March, in the y«tr of our Lord one Thousand seven Hundred and seventy-seven. (Signed) THO. WHARTON, JUNK. , Prcst, Attest: Ty. MATLACK, Secy.

Also the source below has this biography as a Member of the Board of Wart

OWEN BIDDLE was born in Philadelphia, A. D..1737, and died i n the same city, March 10, 1799, aged 61 years. He was a great grandson of William Biddle, one of th e proprietors of West Jersey, and for man y years of the Governor's Council of that Colony. He was a brother of Col. Clement Biddle, Quartermaster General for Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware and New Jersey, and afterward Commissary General unde r General Greene. He was engaged in commercial pursuits, and with his bother Clement signed the celebrated nonimportation resolutions of October 25, 1765. His name also appears in a list of some eighty Philadelphia merchants, headed by Robert Morris, who became personally bound for various sums amounting in the aggregate to over £260,000 sterling for purchasing provisions for the army, at a time when there was great difficulty in procuring supplies. During the Revolution he served as a member of the Convention of 1776, of the Committee of Safety, and was acting Commissary Genera! of Forage. His residence during this period was on the site now occupied by the Girard college grounds, and when the British took possession of Philadelphia thejr destroyed his house, probably because of his connection with the Continental army. From an early period of the existence of the American Philosophical Society of Philadelphia, he was an active member, and was one of the Curators of the society from 1769 to 1772, and Secretary from 1773 to 1782, when he became one of the Councillors, continuing a member until his death. He was one of the committee of thirteen appointed by the society to observe the transit of Venus on 3d of June , 1769. These observations were made with eminent success by three members of the committee, Mr. Rittenhouse being stationed at Norristown, Dr. Ewing at Philadelphia, and Mr. Biddle at Cape Henlopen. Mr. Biddle's descendants have always taken a prominent part in the benevolent and business enterprises of Philadelphia. https://dcms.lds.org/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE192175