Philadelphia, American Catholic Historical Society Of. (2013). pp. 515-6. Records of the American Catholic Historical Society of Philadelphia. London: Forgotten Books. (Original work published 1887)
THE same evening on which Mr. Cross's paper was read, Mr. Reuss announced the presentation to the Society, by Miss Henrietta M. Bradshaw, of a piano made in Philadelphia in 1794 by Charles Taws. The instrument had been shown in the industrial parade in connection with the celebration of the centenary of the United States Constitution. note enclosed with the history of the manufacturer, Miss Bradshaw says the article may have passed through many hands before her family obtained possession of it; she knows nothing more about it. But she gives the following account of the manufacturer and his family : " Charles Taws, the first manufacturer of pianos in Philadelphia, settled here in the year 1785, his place of business being on Walnut street below Third. He built many of the organs in the Catholic and Episcopalian churches. St. Peter's congregation, Third and Pine streets, had one which was in their possession quite recently. Mr. Taws had the honor of visiting at the house of George Washington, and selected pianos for his family. He was a Scotchman by birth. Most of his life, however, was spent in Philadelphia. He was a staunch Catholic, and from the beginning of his residence here was a member of St. Mary's congregation, holding a pew there from 1785 until his death in 1836, when he had reached the advanced age of 95 years.
His son, Joseph, was one of the earliest organists at Holy Trinity church, at Sixth and Spruce streets, and several other children were quite prominent as singers in the other Catholic churches."
