John Owen, High Sheriff

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John Owen

Also Known As: "John Sir Merion Penn Owen"
Birthdate:
Birthplace: Merion Station, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Colonial America
Death: January 14, 1752 (59)
Nottingham, Chester County, Pennsylvania, Colonial America
Place of Burial: Merion Station, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States
Immediate Family:

Son of Robert Owen and Rebecca Owen
Husband of Hannah Owen
Father of Jane West; George Owen; Elizabeth Rhodes; Rebecca Maris; Susanna Hibbard and 1 other
Brother of Jane Owen; Evan Owen; Elizabeth Evans; Gainor Jones; Owen Owen and 5 others

Occupation: County Sheriff, Pennsylvania Assembly Member
Managed by: Douglas John Mezzacapo
Last Updated:
view all 19

Immediate Family

About John Owen, High Sheriff

http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/h/a/m/Steven-H-Hamblin/W...



John was (a) son of Robert and Rebecca Humphrey Owen. John moved from Philadelphia to Chester in 1718.

John married Hannah Maris, the daughter of George and Jane Maddock Maris, on August 22 1719 at Springfield Meeting in Chester County, Pennsylvania.

John was the Sheriff of Chester County, (now Delaware County) for many years. He also was a member of the Pennsylvania Assembly from 1734 through 1748 with some breaks in service. He was one of the trustees of the Loan Office of Pennsylvania.

John Owen can be found in many historical references. It appears the politics of election to Sheriff could be challenging. A letter published in the Pennsylvania Magazine of History regarding the 1743 election written by C. G? to Friend Humphreys described the movement to remove John Owen from the office. "A Vast Number of the more Modern and Sensible Quakers as well as others seem to agree with those friends as to the greatest part of the present Assembly but to fix upon John Owen for Sheriff who they say was heretofore a good officer and has Merritted much by his Constant adhering to the true Interest of the People during our late Contests and being a master of a plentifull Estate is well defended against the many Temptation which poor M'K-lin may be Lyable to."

John Owen was the victim of the worst recorded assault on a sheriff in Chester County. While attempting to make an arrest, he was dosed with scalding broth and struck with a stone.

The following was found in a Centennial booklet about the Chester County Courthouse. It is unclear if this is the same John Owen but the year and place are consistent with this John Owen or a relative: "The furniture left over from the earlier court houses was moved in, but this was not enough. John Owen, a cabinetmaker of the town, fashioned a large oval table, 7 x 8 feet, for the court room in 1725, and a smaller one for the grand jury room. Probably gate leg tables. A few of his are preserved."

John's will was witnessed January 23, 1752 in Chester, Chester County, PA.

They had five chldren:

  1. Jane (1720-1791) married Joseph West
  2. Rebecca (1726-?) married Jesse Maris
  3. Elizabeth (1722-?) married James Rhoads
  4. Susanna (1731-?) married Josiah Hibbard
  5. George (1751-1764) married Rebecca Haines

Note: Thus far no documentation has been located for the actual burial ground for John and Hannah Owen. The only source found so far for this burial ground is incomplete and other Friends Cemetery records in Chester or Delaware Counties are incomplete and many stones have become unreadable, irrepairably damaged or have disappeared. As John's father and mother are in this cemetery and his father helped establish the Merion Meeting, John and Hannah are shown herein.

view all 13

John Owen, High Sheriff's Timeline

1692
December 26, 1692
Merion Station, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Colonial America
1720
June 9, 1720
Nottingham, Chester County, Pennsylvania, British Colonial America
1721
1721
Chester, Delaware, Pennsylvania
1722
November 20, 1722
Springfield, Delaware County, PA, Colonial America
1726
1726
Pennsylvania
1731
1731
Chester, Delaware, Pennsylvania
1752
January 14, 1752
Age 59
Nottingham, Chester County, Pennsylvania, Colonial America
January 14, 1752
Age 59
Merion Friends Burial Ground, Merion Station, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States

Birth: Dec. 26, 1692
Montgomery County
Pennsylvania, USA
Death: 1752
Chester County
Pennsylvania, USA

John was the son of Robert and Rebecca Humphrey Owen. John moved from Philadelphia to Chester in 1718.

John married Hannah Maris, the daughter of George and Jane Maddock Maris, on August 22 1719 at Springfield Meeting in Chester County, Pennsylvania.

John was the Sheriff of Chester County, (now Delaware County) for many years. He also was a member of the Pennsylvania Assembly from 1734 through 1748 with some breaks in service. He was one of the trustees of the Loan Office of Pennsylvania.

John Owen can be found in many historical references. It appears the politics of election to Sheriff could be challenging. A letter published in the Pennsylvania Magazine of History regarding the 1743 election written by C. G? to Friend Humphreys described the movement to remove John Owen from the office. "A Vast Number of the more Modern and Sensible Quakers as well as others seem to agree with those friends as to the greatest part of the present Assembly but to fix upon John Owen for Sheriff who they say was heretofore a good officer and has Merritted much by his Constant adhering to the true Interest of the People during our late Contests and being a master of a plentifull Estate is well defended against the many Temptation which poor M'K-lin may be Lyable to."

John Owen was the victim of the worst recorded assault on a sheriff in Chester County. While attempting to make an arrest, he was dosed with scalding broth and struck with a stone.

The following was found in a Centennial booklet about the Chester County Courthouse. It is unclear if this is the same John Owen but the year and place are consistent with this John Owen or a relative: "The furniture left over from the earlier court houses was moved in, but this was not enough. John Owen, a cabinetmaker of the town, fashioned a large oval table, 7 x 8 feet, for the court room in 1725, and a smaller one for the grand jury room. Probably gate leg tables. A few of his are preserved."

John's will was witnessed January 23, 1752 in Chester, Chester County, PA.

They had five chldren:

Jane (1720-1791) married Joseph West
Rebecca (1726-?) married Jesse Maris
Elizabeth (1722-?) married James Rhoads
Susanna (1731-?) married Josiah Hibbard
George (1751-1764) married Rebecca Haines

Note: Thus far no documentation has been located for the actual burial ground for John and Hannah Owen. The only source found so far for this burial ground is incomplete and other Friends Cemetery records in Chester or Delaware Counties are incomplete and many stones have become unreadable, irrepairably damaged or have disappeared. As John's father and mother are in this cemetery and his father helped establish the Merion Meeting, John and Hannah are show herein.


Family links:
Parents:
Robert Owen (1657 - 1697)
Rebecca Humphrey Owen (1657 - 1697)

Spouse:
Hannah Maris Owen (1698 - 1752)*

Children:
Jane Owen West (1720 - 1791)*

*Calculated relationship

Burial:
Merion Friends Burial Ground
Merion Station
Montgomery County
Pennsylvania, USA

Edit Virtual Cemetery info [?]

Created by: Jan Lange
Record added: Aug 27, 2011
Find A Grave Memorial# 75582533

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=75582533

1929
October 19, 1929
Age 59