Commonwealth of Pennsylvania land grant for "Buckwheat Patch"

Thomas McKean was born in Chester County, Pennsylvania, in 1734. He was admitted to the Delaware bar in 1754 and soon became active in Delaware politics. McKean was elected to the Delaware legislature in 1762, serving until 1779, with two stints as Speaker, in 1772 and 1777. When opposition arose to English policies, he represented Delaware at the 1765 Stamp Act Congress and helped organize Delaware's resistance to the Townshend Duties. During the Revolutionary years of 1774 to 1783, he served not only as Speaker of the Delaware Assembly, but also as Delaware representative to the Continental Congress, signing the Declaration of Independence and Articles of Confederation and briefly acting as the congress' president. In July of 1777 McKean began his twenty-two years on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, steering a moderate course and, with James Wilson, working for the successful 1787 ratification of the federal Constitution. He became a supporter of Pennsylvania’s Republican Party, and was elected Governor of Pennsylvania in 1799. He signed this land grant during his first term in office. McKean died in Philadelphia in 1817.

The firm of Francis & Robert Bailey, whose name appears below the Pennsylvania Coat of Arms on this document, was the official printer of the laws of Pennsylvania under Governor McKean. James Trimble, whose signature attested to the grant’s legality, was the first Deputy Secretary of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, serving from 1777 until his death in 1837. The verso of the land grant was signed by Timothy Matlack, then state master of the rolls. Matlack was formerly a brewer and Revolutionary War leader.

This document granted the tract of land called “Buckwheat Patch” to John Moore, Executor of the Estate of Anne Simcock, deceased. Simcock, who described Moore as a “trusty friend” in her will, empowered him to sell her “Plantation in Sadsbury Township” and divide her estate equally amongst her children. Simcock’s will was proved on January 5, 1799.

Graff, Paul. “James Trimble, the First Deputy Secretary of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.” The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography Vol. 5 No. 1 (1881): 82-84.University of Pennsylvania University Archives & Records Center webpage, “Penn Biographies: Thomas McKean” (accessed August 14, 2017) http://www.archives.upenn.edu/people/1700s/mckean_thos.htmlThe Will of Anne Simcock, West Bradford, Chester County, Pennsylvania, proved January 5, 1799. In the Dorothy Lapp Collection, Chester County, Pennsylvania Estate Papers, 1700-1800.Information derived from the collection.