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The Cantrill-Cantrell Genealogy - Richard Cantrill
'1. RICHARD CANTRILL was a resident of Philadelphia, Pa., prior to 1689.
In July, 1689, he was appointed administrator of the estate of Joseph
Cantrill, an unmarried nephew, who was drowned in the Schuylkill river May
10, 1689.
It has been impossible to find records to prove the parentage, or
birthplace, of Richard Cantrill, but there is no doubt that he came from the
Derbyshire branch of the English family. His name does not appear in any
list of emigrants and he may have been a descendant of William, or Henry
Cantrell, of Virginia. Fisher says, in his "Making of Pennsylvania," that
"quite a number of Virginians migrated from that Colony to the Banks of the
Delaware before the settlement of Philadelphia by Penn, in 1678, under the
rule of the Duke of York."
From Pennsylvania Archives, Vol. XIX: "At a meeting of the Commissioners,
6th of July, 1692. Present Captain William Markham, Robert Turner, John
Goodson,...Richard Cantrill requested a warrent for a lot of 30 ft. upon
Third Street, near the Burying Ground, was granted."
From Original Records, Deed book D, 53, page 50: "Richard Cantrill to
Thomas Hall, sold 30 ft. x 190 ft. May 13, 1693, Third and Market Streets."
In Patent Book A, Vol. II, page 344, there is a lease for twenty-one
years (May 5, 1702) made by Edward Shippen, Griffith Owen and James Logan, as
Proprietary and Governor in Chief of Pennsylvania and Territories thereunto
belonging ... of a ...(end of page 3)
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"Certain tract of land between Fifth and Sixth streets containing three
acres and sixty perches" (here follows a full description by metes and
bounds) "to Richard Cantrill, Brickmaker,, with all woods and underwood and
trees, ways, waters, water courses, liberties, profits, commodities,
advantages and opportunities whatsoever." The rental was forty shillings per
year, "current silver money of the Province."..."Said Richard Cantrill
shall
build, erect and set up a substantial brick house one story and a half in
height and in breadth eighteen feet and in length thirty-six feet; the first
story of one brick and a half and the second story of one brick, and further
that said Richard Cantrill shall make an orchard upon some part of the hereby
granted land, with at least eighty good apple trees planted thereon, and
shall also well and sufficiently fence and enclose the said demised land."
In "Pennsylvania Archives" we find:
"Cantrill, Old Rights: Richard Cantrill, city lot 3 acres, 10 day, 10
month, 1701. Rich. return 3 acres, 3 month 1702."
Later the Archives record a "Caveat against surveying of land adjoining
Richard Cantrill's estate, issuing to the heirs, or executors of the said
Richard Cantrill, or any under him, May 31, 1753.
No record could be found of the disposition of the estate of Richard
Cantrill, either by his heirs or executors, but he evidently died prior to
May 31, 1753.
There is a tradition common in the family that the first Cantrill in
Philadelphia had a brick yard and built the first brick house in that city.
Records show that "the first brick house built in Philadelphia was owned by
Robert Turner in 1684-5," and in the same year Richard Cantrill's
brother-in-law, Daniel Pegge, also built a brick residence on "Pegge's Run."
It is possible that Richard had the contract for erecting both of these
houses, which would easily account for the tradition in the family.
In about 1693 Richard Cantrill married Dorothy Jones, daughter of Ellis
and Jane Jones, who came to America from either Flint, or Denbigh, Wales, in
the ship Submission, Sept., 1682. From the Log of the Submission: "Ellis
Jones, age 45; Jane Jones, age 40; Barbara Jones, age 13; Mary Jones, age 12;
Dorothy Jones, age 10; Isaac Jones, age 4 mos."
The "Pennsylvania Historical Magazine," in a list of names of
"Important
Colonists, who came in the Submission," mentions Ellis Jones. He was a
resident of Bucks county, 1684, but did (end of page 4)