Person:Samuel Blair (5)

Reverend Samuel Blair

• Futhey, J. Smith and Gilbert Cope. History of Chester County, Pennsylvania, with Genealogical and Biographical Sketches, Philadelphia: Louis H. Everts, 1881

Fagg's Manor, Chester, Pennsylvania

"About the year 1702 some surveys were made to the west of the London tract, as Londongrove was then called, for Letitia Penn and her brother Wm. This land, however, was so far beyond the regular settlements that nothing could be done towards selling it to actual settlers, and so it remained for many years. There were 2 tracts of 5000 acres each, although there is some evidence that Leticia's, which lay nearest to the London tract contained at first 7125 acres. Her tract was called Fagg's Manor, in honor of Sir John Fagg, and the name has been handed down to the present time, being more particularly kept alive by the Presbyterian church, which is situated near the NW corner of the manor. After a time the land became exposed to the encroachments of irresponsible squatters, who destroyed the timber in order to raise a little grain, but made no great improvements" (this is noted in contemporary papers and letters.)

"The manor was resurveyed by warrant dated 5th April, 1737 and a patent for the same signed by Thomas Penn the following May.

"The land in Fagg's Manor was divided among the settlers into many tracts, and the divisions numbered on a plan of the whole, but with a few exceptions, the settlers did not pay for the land or get deeds for the same for several years after, and in the meanwhile the improvements passed from one owner to another, so that the deeds in many cases were not granted to the original settlers. owing to the very great irregularity in shape of the surveys, and the uncertainty in regard to the twp lines, it would be difficult to give with any certainty the exact locations of the early settlers."

Rev. Samuel Blair first pastor

Page 251 - The first pastor of Fagg's Manor was Rev. Samuel Blair, who came from Ireland in early youth, and was educated at the school of Rev. William Tennent, at Neshaminy, Bucks Co., a school which became widely known under the title of the “Log College.” He was pastor from 1740 until his death, June 5, 1751, at the age of thirty-nine years. All accounts speak of him as a scholar and pulpit orator, and his fame has descended to this day. He established a classical school at Fagg’s Manor, where many men who afterwards became distinguished in life received their education.

1.   The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Ancestral File (TM) July 1996 (c), data as of 2 January 1996 (2).
2. ↑ Futhey, John Smith, and Gilbert Cope. History of Chester County, Pennsylvania: With Genealogical and Biographical Sketches. (Philadelphia: Louis H. Everts, 1881).

   Page 251 - The first pastor was Rev. Samuel Blair, who came from Ireland in early youth, and was educated at the school of Rev. William Tennent, at Neshaminy, Bucks Co., a school which became widely known under the title of the “Log College.” He was pastor from 1740 until his death, June 5, 1751, at the age of thirty-nine years. All accounts speak of him as a scholar and pulpit orator, and his fame has descended to this day. He established a classical school at Fagg’s Manor, where many men who afterwards became distinguished in life received their education.

3. ↑ ^3.0 3.1 Alexander, Archibald. Biographical sketches of the founder, and principal alumni of the Log College: together with an account of the revivals of religion, under their ministry. (Princeton, New Jersey: J. T. Robinson printer, 1845)
   Chapter 14 - Pages 254 thru 292.

   Page 287 – His remains lie in the burying ground of Fagg’s Manor; where his tomb may yet be seen. The whole inscription is,
   
   Page 288 – “Here lieth the body of The Rev. Samuel Blair, Who departed this life, The 5th day July 1751. Aged 39 years and 21 days…”

4.   Chester County, Pa. Biographies – Rev. Samuel Blair , in USGenweb Archives.

   from Futhey and Cope's THE HISTORY OF CHESTER COUNTY (1881);
   
   Samuel Blair died July 5 1751, at the age of 39 years and was interred in the Fagg's Manor burial-ground. He left a son, Samuel, and several daughters, who respectively married Rev. Geo Duffield, David Rice of Kentucky, John Carmichael of Brandywine Manor, and Wm Foster of Upper Octorara.