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All Forums >> [Bottle Forums] >> Historic Glass Bottle Website >> Caspar Wistar February 3, 1696 – March 21, 1752

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Caspar Wistar February 3, 1696 – March 21, 1752 - 10/5/2010 8:48:40 PM    Steve/sewell Posts: 4284 Joined: 1/23/2010 Status: offline I have posted this before but it got inadvertantly removed.I posted it on Guntherhess's site http://antiquemedicines.com/forum/ Here it is again at this forum please give me about a half hour to upload everything there are twenty pages and pictures to go with them. This is a very important glass related manuscript from our first sucessful glass works, The United Glass works known as Wistarburgh. Caspar Wistar founded the first successful glass house in the early American colonies in 1739.He called his glass manufactory  the United Glass Company.Caspar Wistar, an immigrant from Germany, arrived in Philadelphia in September 1717.  It had been assumed that he would follow in the footsteps of his father, forester for the Elector of Palatine, but he protested that  his "heart was so taken with the new world that I would not be able to stay. He arrived in Philadelphia with ambition and not much money, but soon became a successful maker of brass buttons.   In 1725, he joined the Quaker faith and married a woman from a successful Quaker family.  In general, Philadelphia’s Quakers  were a financially ambitious group .It isn’t known how Caspar Wistar  decided to start the Glass house venture but one good theory is that he was contacted by unemployed German glass blowers back home in Hilspach Germany.They sought sympathetic German investors in the early North American Colonies.Wistar had been in constant contact with and correspondence with German businessmen in his Homeland.He would have certainly been aware of such an opportunity to start a Glass works in North American was decided that he would go into business with four master glass gaffers from the Palitinate region of Germany. This was the first cooperative business venture in the early glass industry in this country that the workers had helped to initiate. The names of the four men were Martin Halter,William Wentzel,Simeon Griesmeyer and Caspar Halter.They arrived in Philadelphia  in 1738 having sailed from Rotterdam on the ship (Two Sisters).Wistar had to wait until the glassmen had arrived to begin  construction of the glass factory.The factory was built in less then a years time.The first pieces of glass to be sold from the factory  was in September of 1739. Since 1730, Caspar Wistar  had been purchasing land in Pennsylvania, some of which he sold to the Penn family. When he purchased the  Alloway NJ tract, he already owned several thousand acres in Pennsylvania including property outside of Philadelphia near  an old glassworks. Since he lived in Philadelphia and had a store in the city, it might be assumed that the glass factory was established there. This was not the case. Location was a critical consideration and the purchase of the Alloway, NJ, tract was not coincidental with the arrival of the German glassblowers in the same year. Caspar Wistar was aware of  the particular needs of an operating glass enterprise and the location outside of Salem was ideal! When Caspar Wistar passed away on March 21st 1752 of dropsy Richard his second son took over the glassworks for  his father and ran them successfully until 1782.It was his daughter Catherine who had been a book keeper for her father  in the business to make sure all monies owed to and paid out were taken care of. No other person affected the early glass  industry in the Colonies more then Caspar Wistar.Last year I got lucky and found descendants of the Wistar family alive  and well in England.They are slowly liquidating there collection of manuscripts,family heirlooms ect.Here is a ledger  showing repayment of loans to various investors in the glass works mostly Caspars children and there husbands and wives  but also private investors including Charles Stedman Henry Stiegels early business partner. This is an important document which I have scanned and archived pertaining to Caspar Wistars Estate beginning 10 days  after his death.This appears to be an account ledger showing repayment of loans from the glass house business to various  family members; sons, daughters,son in-laws, daughter in-laws,investors ect.Where I am 90 percent sure of glass I have in  my collection as to being attributed to Wistarburgh,these ledger sheets show all the family easily seen in the Wistars lineal  descent with monies owed them by the glass house thus tying together the glass house,Caspars children their husbands and  their wives to the Americas first sucessful glass factory.This is an important piece of information showing the incredible wealth attained by The Wistars and their extended family.The ledger was kept by Caspars Daughter Catherine who married Isaac Greenleaf. Richard Wistars name is clearly shown and his sister calls him Rich on one occasion.This Diary and ledger ended up in England via Caspar Wistar the III the doctor.He studied in England for quite a few years and would make it a logical explanation for these papers to be over there still in the Wistar family hands. Here are the first three generations of the Wistars in America. Page 2        The Genealogy of the Caspar and Catherine (nee Jansen) Wistar                                                                                                                GENEALOGY                                                                                                         FIRST GENERATION                          CASPAR WISTAR  1696-1752          Married 1726                     CATHERINE JANSEN     1703-1786                                                                                                       SECOND GENERATION                                                                     Children of Caspar WISTAR and Catherine Jansen – (above) Richard                                                   1727-1781  Married 1751  1) Sarah Wyatt    1733-1771                                                                                           Married 1776  2) Mary Gilbert*  Nee Bacon   No Chidren Margaret                                                1728(9)-1793  Married 1760  Reuben Haines   1727-1793 Catharine                                               1730-1771  Married 1753  Isaac Greenleafe*   1715-1771 Joshua                                                     1732-1734  Rebecca                                                  1735(6)-1791  Married 1755   Samuel Morris   1732-1812 Sarah                                                        1738-1815 Caspar                                                      1740(1)-1811  Married 1765  Mary Franklin   1735-1804                                                                                                        THIRD GENERATION                                                                              III Children of Richard WISTAR and Sarah Wyatt  Caspar                                                       1752-1756         Died single                          Bartholomew                                         1754-1796         Died single   Richard                                                     1756-1821  Married 1782  Sarah Morris John                                                            1759-1815  Married 1781  Charlotte Newbold  1762-1819 Caspar (M. D.)                                        1761-1818  Married 1788  1) Isabella Marshall  -1790  No children                                                                                               Married 1798   2) Elizabeth Mifflin  1774-1844 Thomas                                                      1764-1851  Married 1786  Mary Waln  1765-1844 Elizabeth Wyatt                                     1766-1855  Married 1788  Richard Miller  1764-1803 Catharine                                                 1770-1822  Married 1797  William Bache, M. D. 1773-1820                                                                              II Children of Caspar WISTAR and Mary Franklin   Johnson      Died at birth                      1766- Thomas                                                      1767-1814  Died single Catharine Franklin                               1768-1824  Married 1804  Abraham Sharples*  1748-1835 Sarah                                                          1770-1845  Married 1790  George Pennock*  1764-1799 Mary                                                             1772-1810 Died single                                                               Son                                                                  1774-1774  Died at birth                                                                                                                                              Deborah                                                        1775-  Died single Samuel                                                            1780-1812 Died single                                                           Genealogy from “THE WISTAR FAMILY” by Richard Wistar Davids 1896 You can reference this family chart and see the names of the family members Catherine writes about. < Message edited by Steve/sewell -- 10/5/2010 8:49:57 PM > _____________________________ Auf Wiedersehen Post #: 1

RE: Caspar Wistar February 3, 1696 – March 21, 1752 - 10/5/2010 8:51:58 PM    Steve/sewell Posts: 4284 Joined: 1/23/2010 Status: offline The first page in the ledger. The English is not 100% grammatically correct remember they were of  Palatine German descent. The Ledger states the following. The following sums was received by Catherine Wistar from her fathers estate & is also included in remaining bonds of Caspar wistars estate. The ledger then shows a summary of different dates and monies. Attachment (1) _____________________________ Auf Wiedersehen (in reply to Steve/sewell) Post #: 2

RE: Caspar Wistar February 3, 1696 – March 21, 1752 - 10/5/2010 8:53:05 PM    Steve/sewell Posts: 4284 Joined: 1/23/2010 Status: offline On the second page you can clearly see the name of Catherine Wistar at the top of the page. Attachment (1) _____________________________ Auf Wiedersehen (in reply to Steve/sewell) Post #: 3

RE: Caspar Wistar February 3, 1696 – March 21, 1752 - 10/5/2010 8:53:53 PM    Steve/sewell Posts: 4284 Joined: 1/23/2010 Status: offline The third page no names are mentioned just a carry over from the previous page. Attachment (1) _____________________________ Auf Wiedersehen (in reply to Steve/sewell) Post #: 4

RE: Caspar Wistar February 3, 1696 – March 21, 1752 - 10/5/2010 8:54:46 PM    Steve/sewell Posts: 4284 Joined: 1/23/2010 Status: offline The fourth page showing Sarah Wistar who died single but very wealthy. Attachment (1) _____________________________ Auf Wiedersehen (in reply to Steve/sewell) Post #: 5

RE: Caspar Wistar February 3, 1696 – March 21, 1752 - 10/5/2010 8:55:24 PM    Steve/sewell Posts: 4284 Joined: 1/23/2010 Status: offline he fifth page showing Reuben Haines who was married to Margerate Wistar Caspars daughter. The Haines were a very sucessfull businees family in Philadelphia just prior to the Revolution Attachment (1) _____________________________ Auf Wiedersehen (in reply to Steve/sewell) Post #: 6

RE: Caspar Wistar February 3, 1696 – March 21, 1752 - 10/5/2010 8:56:19 PM    Steve/sewell Posts: 4284 Joined: 1/23/2010 Status: offline The sixth page clearly shows the initials RW at the top of the page. These intials are Richard Wistars. Further down at the bottom of the page is none other then Charles  Stedman You might recognize his name if you collect Stiegel glass.Here is a little background of information on him. In 1756, Stiegel brought in outside investors from Philadelphia, Charles and Alexander Stedman, who helped him operate his furnace. Into the 1760s, Stiegel and the Stedmans acquired land and expanded their iron interests. They quickly bought up several thousand acres of property adjoining the Elizabeth Furnace. Stiegel independently formed a partnership with Michael Gross, a Lancaster merchant, to buy another forge in Berks County a few miles north of Wolmelsdorf. Stiegel added several thousand acres to the property and renamed it "Charming Forge." A few years later, the Stedmans bought out Gross's interest in the place. Meanwhile, the three partners bought up a 749-acre tract in Rapho Township. Attachment (1) _____________________________ Auf Wiedersehen (in reply to Steve/sewell) Post #: 7

RE: Caspar Wistar February 3, 1696 – March 21, 1752 - 10/5/2010 8:57:01 PM    Steve/sewell Posts: 4284 Joined: 1/23/2010 Status: offline Page seven shows Catherine Greenleafe the author and keeper of this ledger. She was married to Issac Greenleafe a Philadelphia Merchant.He sold Wines and liquors and it is probably safe to assume he purchased bottles from his brother inlaws glass house. Attachment (1) _____________________________ Auf Wiedersehen (in reply to Steve/sewell) Post #: 8

RE: Caspar Wistar February 3, 1696 – March 21, 1752 - 10/5/2010 8:58:13 PM    Steve/sewell Posts: 4284 Joined: 1/23/2010 Status: offline On the eighth Page of the ledger you see the words (by his wifes legacy).and the date of his death 1752 They could only be talking nabout Caspar and his wife Catherine same as her daughter the author of these documents. Attachment (1) < Message edited by Steve/sewell -- 10/5/2010 9:00:36 PM > _____________________________ Auf Wiedersehen (in reply to Steve/sewell) Post #: 9

RE: Caspar Wistar February 3, 1696 – March 21, 1752 - 10/5/2010 9:01:11 PM    Steve/sewell Posts: 4284 Joined: 1/23/2010 Status: offline Page nine of the ledger shows the name of Reuben Haines. He was a very sucsessfull Philadelphia business man who owned with Samuel Morris his brother inlaw a store that sold just about every good imaginable. Attachment (1) _____________________________ Auf Wiedersehen (in reply to Steve/sewell) Post #: 10

RE: Caspar Wistar February 3, 1696 – March 21, 1752 - 10/5/2010 9:01:50 PM    Steve/sewell Posts: 4284 Joined: 1/23/2010 Status: offline Page ten of the ledger shows more book keeping. Attachment (1) _____________________________ Auf Wiedersehen (in reply to Steve/sewell) Post #: 11

RE: Caspar Wistar February 3, 1696 – March 21, 1752 - 10/5/2010 9:02:22 PM    Steve/sewell Posts: 4284 Joined: 1/23/2010 Status: offline Page eleven shows more itemized amounts of monies. Attachment (1) _____________________________ Auf Wiedersehen (in reply to Steve/sewell) Post #: 12

RE: Caspar Wistar February 3, 1696 – March 21, 1752 - 10/5/2010 9:03:07 PM    Steve/sewell Posts: 4284 Joined: 1/23/2010 Status: offline Page twelve again shows the name Catherine Greenleafe Caspars daughter. Attachment (1) _____________________________ Auf Wiedersehen (in reply to Steve/sewell) Post #: 13

RE: Caspar Wistar February 3, 1696 – March 21, 1752 - 10/5/2010 9:03:45 PM    Steve/sewell Posts: 4284 Joined: 1/23/2010 Status: offline On page 13 we see the name Caspar Wistar and to the left April  1  1752 thats 10 days after his death. Attachment (1) _____________________________ Auf Wiedersehen (in reply to Steve/sewell) Post #: 14

RE: Caspar Wistar February 3, 1696 – March 21, 1752 - 10/5/2010 9:05:11 PM    Steve/sewell Posts: 4284 Joined: 1/23/2010 Status: offline Page 14 is my favortite as it clearly shows Richard Wistars Name at the top. Even better then mentioning his name is the reference to the GLASS HOUSE on the very next line. Most of the text is easily visble and easy to discern. Attachment (1) _____________________________ Auf Wiedersehen (in reply to Steve/sewell) Post #: 15

RE: Caspar Wistar February 3, 1696 – March 21, 1752 - 10/5/2010 9:06:09 PM    Steve/sewell Posts: 4284 Joined: 1/23/2010 Status: offline Page fifteen is humorous to me as Catherine refers to her brother as simply Rich Wistar!! I did not know people from the 1700s used nick names for siblings or anyone for that matter. Rich Wistar sounds like a baseball player to me. Attachment (1) _____________________________ Auf Wiedersehen (in reply to Steve/sewell) Post #: 16

RE: Caspar Wistar February 3, 1696 – March 21, 1752 - 10/5/2010 9:06:21 PM    cyberdigger Posts: 12291 Joined: 11/29/2008 From: I 195 @ US 9, NJ USA Status: online (in reply to Steve/sewell) Post #: 17

RE: Caspar Wistar February 3, 1696 – March 21, 1752 - 10/5/2010 9:06:51 PM    Steve/sewell Posts: 4284 Joined: 1/23/2010 Status: offline Page 16 again mentions the term by her legacy. Attachment (1) _____________________________ Auf Wiedersehen (in reply to Steve/sewell) Post #: 18

RE: Caspar Wistar February 3, 1696 – March 21, 1752 - 10/5/2010 9:08:32 PM    Steve/sewell Posts: 4284 Joined: 1/23/2010 Status: offline Thanks for the pussy in the post Chuck Page 17 mentions the most famous person in the family. he is more famous then Caspar and Richard. Here is a little background about the man. Samuel Morris (June 24, 1734 – July 7, 1812) was an American soldier in the American Revolutionary War. The grandson of Anthony Morris (II), he was born in Philadelphia. He often served in the legislature. He married Rebecca Wistar, daughter of Caspar Wistar (the elder). He was elected "governor" in 1776 of the social club known as "The State in Schuylkill," and re-elected annually until his death. He was also a founder and president for many years of the "Gloucester fox-hunting club." When the first troop of Philadelphia city cavalry was organized, no fewer than twenty-two members of the club were enrolled in its ranks, and Morris was elected its captain. The troop served through the campaign of 1776-77 as George Washington's bodyguard, and took an active part in the battles of Trenton and Princeton, in which latter engagement Samuel's brother, Anthony, ensign of the troop, was killed. On temporarily relieving the command from duty in January, 1777, Washington returned his "most sincere thanks to the captain," and added that, although the troop was "composed of gentlemen of fortune," its members had "shown a noble example of discipline and subordination." For thus taking part in the Revolution, Captain Morris was disowned by the Quakers, but he continued until his death to wear the dress and use the language of that sect, worshiping with them regularly. Morris died in Philadelphia, July 7, 1812. The Reynolds-Morris House, built in 1787 and purchased in 1817 by Samuel's son, Luke Wistar Morris, still stands in Philadelphia, where it is currently operated as a hotel. Attachment (1) < Message edited by Steve/sewell -- 10/5/2010 9:09:12 PM > _____________________________ Auf Wiedersehen (in reply to Steve/sewell) Post #: 19

RE: Caspar Wistar February 3, 1696 – March 21, 1752 - 10/5/2010 9:09:44 PM    Steve/sewell Posts: 4284 Joined: 1/23/2010 Status: offline Page 18 offers more running totals of interest and mony amounts. Attachment (1) _____________________________ Auf Wiedersehen (in reply to Steve/sewell) Post #: 20

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