Notes for Benjamin Chew

Notes for Benjamin Chew

He studied law at Philadelphia, went abroad in 1741, and entered Middle Temple, Inns of Court, London. He returned to America after his father's death. He was admitted to the bar in 1746 and began practice at Dover, Delaware (formerly under the jurisdiction of Pennsylvania). Move to Philadelphia in 1754 and built his country seat, "Cliveden," on the Germantown road in 1761.
He was a Commissioner of Boundaries for the three lower counties of Delaware in 1751; Speaker of the House from the same district in 1753-1758; Attorney General of Pennsylvania and member of the Provincial Council 1754-1769;
Register of General Wills 1765-1776; Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania 1774-1776; Judge and President of the High Court of Errors and Appeals 1791-1806 (Pa. Archives: Pa. Hist. Society Publications: Keith's "Provincial Councillors of Pennsylvania").

!New Century Cyclopedia of Names; Volume I p. 932; Edited by Clarence L. Barnhart, 1954: "After the war, Washington befriended him and attended the wedding dinner of Peggy Chew at "Cliveden", the Chew mansion at Germantown, Pa., on May 23, 1787."

!Marriage Data: From the Maryland Gazette, pg 31...16 June 1747: Mary was the daughter of John Galloway. Married on Sat. 13 Jun 1747.

!Web Site - http://www.cliveden.org/ - Cliveden was built as a summer home for Benjamin and Elizabeth Chew, Cliveden was completed in 1767 after four years of labor on a six-acre estate, in the heart of one of Philadelphia's oldest neighborhoods. The house is a classic example of the Georgian style, adapted to make the best of local materials and craftsmen. The have arrangements for weddings on the ground in the Carriage house...up to 80 people inside and 450 out doors - CLIVEDEN 6401 Germantown Avenue; Philadelphia, PA 19144 Phone: 215-848-1797 ($900 in 1998)