George Edward Maris

  General Notes:

In 1683, George and his wife Alice, with their six children, came from Worchesterchire to America, and settled at "Home House," in Springfield township, Chester (now Delaware) county, Pa. He was one of the Justices holding the Courts for Chester county, during the years 1684-85-86-87-88-89-91-92-93. Member of the Assembly in 1684-85-86-87-88-90-92-93. Member of the Provincial Council, in the year 1695. He was a Minister in the Society of Friends, a member of Chester Monthy Meeting, and took an active part therein.

  Research Notes:

"GEORGE MARIS emigrated from the parish of Inkborough, in the County of Worcester, England, in 1683. with his wife Alice and several children. On his first arrival he appears to have tarried for a short time with the Friends that had arrived the year before and settled at Darby, but he soon located a large tract of land in Springfield township, whereon he settled and named it "The Home House." He was among the most eminent of the public Friends that came over with the first settlers, and was so esteemed in his native country, where meetings had been held in his house, and where he had suffered by fines and imprisonment. His certificate, which is recorded at Darby, says, "He hath adorned the Gospel of Christ." He held many public trusts; was a Justice of the Peace, one of the Judges of the Court, and on several occasions was chosen a member of the Provincial Assembly. He was one of those who signed the testimony against the celebrated George Keith. The descendants of this worthy patriarch are numerous; those bearing his name in this County, Chester County and in the city of Philadelphia, are probably all descended from him.

His death occurred in 1705, at the age of seventy-three years; his wife having died nearly four years earlier. His children, so far as is known, were Elizabeth who intermarried with John Mendenhall; George, with Jane Maddock; Ann, with John Worrilow; John, with Susanna Lewis, of Haverford; and Richard, with Elizabeth Hayes, of Marple." [Alice with Jacob Simcock.] - Smith's History of Delaware County, Pa.

Copy of the patent from WM. PENN to GEORGE MARIS.
WILLIAM PENN by the providence of God & the king's authority Proprietary
& Governor of the province of Pennsylvania and the territories thereunto belonging,
To all to whom these presents shall come sendeth greeting-
WHEREAS, there is a certain tract of land in the County of Chester Beginning at a corner marked post from thence Nol"th by a line of Marked trees three hundred & eighty perches to a corner marked white oak being the corner tree of the land of Bartholomew Coppock from thence South West by West by the sd land five hundred & seventy-five perches to a corner marked post from thence North by West by a line of marked trees three hundred and fifteen perches to a corner marked Maple tree standing by Darby creek from thence downe the severall courses of the creek to a corner marked post standing by ye sd creek from thence South by West by a line of marked trees two hundred & ninety-seven perches to a corner marked post being the corner post of the land of George Simcock from thence North West by a line of marked trees one hundred & sixty perches to the first mentioned corner post containing four hundred Acres of land granted by a warrant from myself bearing date the sixth day of the eighth month one thousand six hundred and eighty-three, and laid out by the surveyor general's order ye twenty-fifth of ye sd month and year unto George Maris purchaser & ye sd George Maris requesting me to confirm the same by patent
KNOW YE that I have given granted & confirmed & by these presents for me my heirs & successors do give grant and confirm unto the Sd George Maris his heirs and assigns forever the said four hundred Acres of land.
To HAVE HOLD AND ENJOY ye sd land to ye only use and behoof of ye said George Maris his heirs and assigns forever to be holden of me my heirs & successors proprietarys of Pennsylvania & the territories thereunto belonging as of our mannor of Spring Town in the county aforesaid in free and common Socage by fealty it being seated planted and improved yielding and paying therefore to me my heirs and successors at or upon the first day of the first month in every year at the town of Chester one silver English shilling for every hundred Acres or value thereof in coyn currency to such persons as shall from time to time be appointed for ye purpose.
In Witness hereof I have caused these my letters to be made patent.
Witness myself at Philadelphia the thirtieth day of the fifth month one thousand six hundred and eighty-four being the thirty-fifth year of the king's reign and the fourth of my government. WM. PENN.

  Noted events in his life were:

• Came to America, 1683. Called his place "The Home House"
From The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine

George married Alice Wellsmith in 1659 in England. (Alice Wellsmith was born on 16 Jan 1632 in Inkborough, Worcestershire, England and died on 11 Mar 1699 in Springfield, Chester, Pennsylvania.)