"I have been told that the cross-cutlet shows that it was originated in the time
of the Crusaders. It is my knowledge that it has been in the family at least sev-
eral generations and I believe that it is only of late years that people have been
allowed to adopt coats-of-arms. It seems to be probable that one of our ancestors
was a Crusader."
Richard Levick, the ancestor of the American branch of the Levick family,
was a resident on the Delaware, in what is now Kent county, state of Delaware,
in the year 1680, and probably earlier. The territory now comprising the state
of Delaware was then under the jurisdiction of the Duke of York, and what be-
came Kent county, November 25, 1682, after coming under the jurisdiction of
William Penn, was known as the county of St. Jones, and Sussex county was
known as Deal ; the three counties of New Castle, Kent and Sussex, then became
"Territories of the Province of Pennsylvania," and so remained until 1776, at
first sending representatives to a general assembly of the province, but later main-
taining a separate assembly.
Richard Levick purchased of an Indian, named Christian Heteloke, six hundred
acres of land in Kent county, and settled thereon with Mary, his wife, probably
prior to the date of the quaint old deed from the Indian, recorded at Dover, in
liber B, vol. i, page 139, which is as follows:
February the twenty-fourth one thousand Six hundred eighty.
Know all me by these present I, Christian Heteloke have received full Satisfaction for
the Indian purchase of Six Hundred Acres of Land of Richard Levetts and doe warrant
and Defend itt from any person or persons whatsoever unto Richard Levett him his heirs
and assigns as
Witness my hand this Day and yeare above Written,
Testes, George Martin, Witnesseth my hand,
Will : Rodney. Cheristo Wess ye Indian.
This was probably the same tract of land surveyed to Richard Levick by
Ephraim Herman, Surveyor, November 30, 1680, "By vertue of a Warrant from
St. Jones Cort," and called "Shoulder of Mutton," for which the grant from Ed-
mond Andross, Captain, General, etc., for the Duke of York, bore date prior to
the Indian deed, above quoted. It was situated on "the West syde of Dellaware
Bay and next adjoyning John Brinckloo's Land called 'Lisbon' beginning att a
corner & marked re-oake of John Richardson's Land called Northampton stand-
ing by the syde of a small Branch, etc.," the "small branch," later known as Little
Creek, bounding one entire side of the tract.
These dates being old style it would seem that the survey ante-dated the Indian
grant, indicating that he was already settled thereon at the time of receiving the
recorded grant from Heteloke. As a further confirmation of this theory, Richard
Levick was one of the signers of a petition to Edmond Andross, bearing the same
date as the Indian deed, for the establishment of a more convenient place of hold-
ing court.
Richard Levick also purchased, or had surveyed to him, by Thomas William, a
tract called "Tidbury," "on the south side of Dover River," which he and his wife,
Mary, in open court, in 1684, did "freely & vallentaryly give for the Countiyes
use, all theire right and titell of one hundred ackers," upon which to erect a court-
house and other public buildings.
Richard Levick's career as a public-spirited pioneer of the new country in
whose upbuilding and development he bid fair to become a prominent factor, was
cut short by his death in or about the year 1686, leaving a widow, Mary Levick,
and an infant son, Richard Levick, born May 20, 1680.
Prior to 2mo. 7, 1687, Mary Levick had married John Richardson, Senior, one
of the earliest English settlers of Kent county, he having obtained a grant of land
there from Edmond Andross in 1676. He was one of the most prominent men
of that section and was a member of William Penn's Council in 1683, and a mem-
ber of Provincial Assembly. On the date above noted, "John Richardson Senior
orders to be recorded y* he nor his hey" Executors Adm''^ nor assigns will nor
shall Ever Charge any Thing for victualls Cloathing Washing nor Lodgeing to
y^ ace' of Richard Levvitt his wife's son, — Dureing his meanority." (See Kent
County Deeds, liber B, vol. i, page 28).
On February 28, 1687-88, John Richardson, Senior, enters into articles of
agreement for the lease of the plantation late of Richard Levick, deceased, to
Francis Wett, for the term of five years.
On June 14, 1698, he conveys to his "son-in-law Rich'' Levite of y*^ s<* County
of Kent," "all that tract called Cardiffe, being part of a tract called York contain-
ing 600 acres situated on the north side of Little Creek, formerly in tenure of
William Stephens & laid out for 200 acres," ".for divers good causes & Considera-
tions & more especially for y^ love good will & affection w"^*" I y^ s"^ John Richeson
haue & always doe beare unto my s^ son-in-law, Rich<^ Levitt."
LEVICK 1 1 19
John Richardson entered into a further agreement, dated January 30, 1691-92,
duly recorded in Kent county deeds, by which he obHgated himself, "his heirs
Executors Administrators and Assigns to be att all the Charge Requisitt and
necessary for dyetting, and Cloathing, Lodgeing and Scooleing of the said Rich-
ard Levitt until hee shall bee at the age of Twenty one yeares and the said Rich-
ard Levitt shall not at the age of Twenty one yeares or ever after for ant Charge
before Specified be accountable to me my heirs etc."
John Richardson, at his death, devised to his widow, Mary, a tract called Will-
ing Brook, in Little Creek Hundred, a part of which, one hundred acres, Mary
Richardson, on February 10, 1725-26, conveyed to her grandson, John Levick, son
of Richard Levick (2), which descended to John's son, Clayton Levick. The re-
mainder of the tract of Willing Brook Mary Richardson, by her will dated No-
vember 6, 1739, devised to her son, Richard Levick, for life, and then to her three
grandsons, Richard, William and Robert Levick, and it continued the home of
the Levick family for several generations.
Richard Levick (2), son of Richard and Mary Levick, was born in Kent
county, 3mo. (May) 29, 1680, as shown by the following certificate of record in
that county :
John Richardson Senr Doth request mee by yf account of y^ midwife and his mother
now ye wife of ye said John Richardson ye pre deceased of Richard Levett y< y^ son of
Richard Levett deceased is now at y^ age of seven years onely Lacking from this date untill
ye 20''i day of this instant month. Witness William Berry, Clerk of Kent County, this S'h
day of ye 3d Mo'h 1687 : as Or^t of ye said John Richardson and ye mother of ye said Child.
Richard Levick, the second, married Mary , maiden name unknown. As
previously shown he received by deed of gift from his stepfather, John Richard-
son, June 14, 1698, the plantation of two hundred acres, called "Cardiffe," where
he probably resided until 1720, when he conveyed it to Charles Maram. On Feb-
ruary I, 1718, Richard Levick, of Kent county, yeoman, conveyed to Stephen
Paradee a plantation situated in Dover Hundred on the north and south sides of
a branch called by the name of Pipe Elm Branch, containing five hundred and
fifty-seven acres, which was probably the greater part of the six hundred acres
originally taken up by his father, Richard Levick, Sr., and represented by the
Indian deed before recited. The later years of his life were probably spent on
his mother's plantation of Willing Brook, in Little Creek Hundred, which by her
will was devised to him for life.
Richard Levick died intestate, and letters of administration were granted on
his estate to his son, William Levick, and Jonathan Griffin, on April 6, 1735. His
first wife, Mary, the mother of his children, having died, he married (second)
Ellen Harrison, of Kent county, whom he seems also to have survived.
Issue of Richard and Mary Levick:
John Levick, m. Hannah , and settled on the 100 acres of the "Willingbrook"
plantation, conveyed to him by his grandmother, Feb. 10, 1725-6, and d. there in 1730, his
will being probated Dec. i. 1730. It devises his plantation to his wife, Hannah, for life,
then to his sons, John and Clayton. Hannah d. about 1751, and in Oct., 1751, John
Levick, the son, then a resident of Little Creek Hundred, enters into bond to convey
the plantation, late his father's, to his brother, Clayton, who is then occupying it. The
deed in pursuance of this bond is dated Feb. 13, 1652.
John Levick, the son, m. Hunn, and had several daughters and a son, Caleb
Levick, who emigrated to near Sheppardstown, V'a., and m. there, Rachel Bed-
inger. of a prominent family of that section. This Caleb Levick was a Captain
II20 LEVICK
in the Revolutionary War, and received for his' services at the close of the war a
grant of large tracts of land further south, to which he removed, and we have
no further record of him or his descendants.
Richard Levick (3), was living at the date of his mother's will, Nov. 30, 1730, but did
not long survive her, letters of administration on his estate being granted Feb. 21,
^732, to Honour and Richard Levick, probably his widow, and father; if he left any
issue we have no knowledge thereof;
William Levick, of whom presently;
Robert Levick, mentioned in his grandmother's will as joint legatee of the real estate
devised to his father for life, with his brothers, Richard and William, and since Will-
iam seems to have come into possession of the entire plantation, it is presumed Robert
died without issue.
Note. — The sons are given above in the order mentioned by their grandmother, but
we have no knowledge of their proper order in respect to age, and Mary Levick was
probably the eldest child;
Mary Levick, probably d. unm. prior to the date of her grandmother's will, dated Nov.
30, 1730, as she is not mentioned therein; on Jan. 11, 1721, Mary Richardson, the
grandmother, "for natural love and affection for her grandchildren, Mary Levitt,
William Levitt, and John Levitt, sons and daughter of Richard Levitt and Mary, his
wife," gives and grants unto Mary Levitt, "my Negro Girl called Hannah, aged four
years; to grandson William Levitt, a Negro Girl called Phillis, aged 2 years; grand-
child John Levitt, Negro Dirk, aged 17 years;"
Sarah Levick, a legatee under the will of her grandmother, of whom we have no further
record.
William Levick, son of Richard and Mary Levick, and grandson of Richard
and Mary Levick, of Kent county, Delaware, was the ancestor of the branch of
the family with which this narrative is concerned. He married Sarah, daughter
of John and Elizabeth Crippen, of Kent county; her father being a considerable
landowner there. The marriage certificate of William and Sarah (Crippen)
Levick, as well as those of each succeeding generations of his descendants, with
one exception, in the direct line of descent to Lewis Jones Levick, of Philadelphia,
are in possession of the Levick family.
William Levick (second), son of William and Sarah (Crippen) Levick, was
born in Little Creek Hundred, Kent county, now Delaware, December 12, 1738,
died on his plantation in that Hundred, October 23, 1803. He was an elder of
Duck Creek Monthly Meeting of Friends, and a memorial of him is entered on
the records of that meeting, a copy of which is in the collections of the Penn-
sylvania Historical Society. He married, somewhat late in life, Susanna Man-
love, born 3mo. (May) 26, 1752, died 2mo. (February) 9, 1802, daughter of
Mark Manlove, of Kent county, by his wife, Anne Hall, daughter of John Hall,
a Colonial Justice of Kent county, and a large landowner there. The Manlove
family were very prominent in the affairs of the three lower counties, and were
descended from Mark Manlove, an early settler on the eastern shore of Maryland,
who died in 1660. His son, Mark Manlove, received a grant of land in Kent
county, in 1680, and he and William Manlove were both commissioned Justices
of that county, January 2, 1689-90, recommissioned a year later and several times
subsequently ; and William and George Manlove were members of the Colonial
Assembly from Kent county, 1689-92-93.
A memorial of Susanna (Manlove) Levick, written by her friend, Sarah Cow-
gill, describes her as a woman "of great sweetness of disposition and marked
Christian humility of Character."
William and Susanna (Manlove) Levick had a large family of sons and daugh-
ters; but two of the former survived childhood, William Levick, 3d., and Eben-
ezer, of whom presently. William Levick, 3d., married and left several children.
LEVICK 1 121
two of whom, Robert R. and Richard Levick, became prominent merchants of
Philadelphia. The former was an influential and prominent member of the
Society of Friends. He married and has left a number of descendants.
Ebenezer Levick, son of William and Susanna (Manlove) Levick (named
for his uncle, Ebenezer Manlove), was born in Little Creek Hundred, Kent
county, Delaware, jmo. (July) i6, 1791, and was reared and educated in the
simple faith of the Society of Friends, of which during his whole life he remained
a consistent member. Left doubly an orphan at the age of twelve years, the next
four years were spent among relatives in Kent county, and at the age of sixteen
he came to Philadelphia to prepare himself for a mercantile career, and took up
his residence with a cousin, Sarah Fisher, also a native of Kent county, Delaware,
where he continued to reside until his marriage in 1816.
Ebenezer Levick became a prominent merchant and business man in other lines
in Philadelphia. He was one of a company who erected large tanneries at Pocono
mountains, in Monroe county, Pennsylvania, and frequently made trips to that
section in his exercise of supervision of the work there. He was a man of much
kindness of heart and great force of character, and was highly esteemed in busi-
ness circles, as well as by those with whom he was associated in charitable and
philanthropic work in which he took a deep interest. His many good qualities
drew about him a host of friends, among whom he was known as a generous,
genial, kindly-hearted man, and a useful and public-spirited citizen. He early
manifested a deep interest in the public charities and philanthropic enterprises of
his neighborhood. He was one of the earliest members of the Northern Dis-
pensary of Philadelphia, and of the Northern Soup Society, of which he was for
some years the treasurer. In his own family he was not only affectionate and
tender, but very indulgent, both as husband and father. His widow says of him,
"My children all remember their father, and what a bright cheerful disposition
his was; how fond he was of them, and how thoughtful for their best welfare;
how happy he strove to make all at his home, and how that home was indeed a
happy one. Our married life of thirty-three and a half years was very happy,
although we knew many vicissitudes and our cup was not an unmixed one. But,
I repeat, the love and tender care of my husband never failed me, and He who
permitted in best wisdom, trials to come upon us never left us without some pres-
ent sense of his loving kindness and tender mercy toward us."
Ebenezer Levick died suddenly of apoplexy, on October 11, 1849, in his fifty-
ninth year, mourned by all who knew him.
Ebenezer Levick married May i, 1816, Elizabeth Wetherill Jones, born in Phil-
adelphia, June 5, 1789, daughter of Isaac Jones, of Philadelphia, born in Block-
ley township, Philadelphia county, November 25, 1743, died at his residence at
Second and Pine streets, Philadelphia, 1807. He married at Burlington Monthly
Meeting of Friends, New Jersey, November 26, 1778, Mary Wetherill, born in
Burlington, New Jersey, 1745-6, died at the residence of her son-in-law, Ebenezer
Levick, in Philadelphia, December 11, 1829, daughter of Samuel Wetherill, of
Philadelphia, and Burlington, New Jersey, by his wife Mary Noble, born May 31,
1722, daughter of Joseph Noble, by his wife, Mary Smith, daughter of Samuel
Smith, of Burlington, New Jersey, by his wife Elizabeth Lovett, and granddaugh-
ter of Richard Smith, of Brahan, Yorkshire, the ancestor of the "Burlington
Smiths," some account of whom is given in our sketch of the Logan family, in
1 122 LEJ7CK
these volumes. Joseph Noble was a son of Abel Noble, of Bucks county, by his
wife, Mary Garrett, daughter of William Garrett, who came from Leicestershire,
England, in 1684, and settled in Chester county, an account of whom and some of
his descendants is also given elsewhere in these volumes ; and a grandson of Will-
iam Noble, who came from Bristol, England. Samuel Wetherill, the grandfather
of Elizabeth Wetherill (Jones) Levick, was a son of Thomas, grandson of Chris-
topher, and great-grandson of John Wetherill, who lived at Lancaster, England.
Christopher settled in Burlington county. New Jersey. Both he and his son,
Thomas, were Provincial Councillors of New Jersey. (See Wetherill Family).
James Jones, the paternal grandfather of Elizabeth W. Levick, was born in
Merionethshire, Wales, August 31, 1699, and when an infant accompanied his
parents, David and Katharine Jones, to Merion, Philadelphia county, where he
married, at Haverford Meeting, October 8, 1727, Hannah Hayes, daughter of
Richard and Elizabeth (Lewis) Hayes, and granddaughter of Richard and Izatt
Hayes, who emigrated from Ilminton, Pembrokeshire, Wales, and settled in
Haverford, about 1697. All the ancestors of Elizabeth Levick were members of
the Society of Friends, before their settlement in America, and she was reared,
lived and died in that faith.
James Jones died at his residence in Blockley at the age of ninety-two years,
and this instance of longevity was duplicated in the case of his grandson, Samuel
Wetherill Jones, the only brother of Elizabeth Wetherill (Jones) Levick, a well-
known and highly respected citizen of Philadelphia, who died November 21, 1870,
in the ninety-third year of his age. He and his wife, Mary (Coe) Jones, having
celebrated the sixty-eighth anniversary of their marriage, on April 7, 1870. He
was thirty-five years a director of the Philadelphia Bank, and thirty-seven years
a director of North American Insurance Company. He was a lifelong resident
of the city of Philadelphia ; an obituary notice in the Philadelphia Press, has this
to say of him, "It is not our purpose unduly to eulogize the dead and yet it is but
just to say that after a long business career, after a very long private life, there
remains of our friend and fellow townsman, the grateful memory of a spotless
reputation, and an integrity of character which knew no decay in a life extending
over nearly a century."
For one year after their marriage, Ebenezer and Elizabeth W. (Jones) Levick
resided with her mother. After the death of her husband in 1849, she lived at
their old home, near the old Northern District Friends Meeting House, with her
children, William M. and Hannah (Moore) Levick, for ten years. In 1859 she
took up her home with her son, Dr. James J. Levick, and her daughter, Mary J.
Levick, at the southwest corner of Twelfth and Arch streets, where she spent the
remainder of her long life, dying November 21, 1886, aged ninety-seven years,
six months and sixteen days. She was a lifelong member of the Society of
Friends ; for the first twenty-eight years of her life of the Monthly Meeting of the
Southern District of Philadelphia, then for forty-two years of the Northern Dis-
trict and the last twenty-seven years of her life of the Western District, on
Twelfth street.
In both intellect and character Elizabeth W. Levick occupied a high place,
though not prominent in public or organized work she was beloved, respected and
honored by a very large circle of friends. Conservative and throughly English in
her ideas of the sphere of woman ; a Quaker by descent and conviction; thorough-
LEVICK 1 123
ly American in her in-born patriotism, and love of and respect for the institutions
of her native country; "her catholicity embraced all who came fairly within the
circle of her acquaintsuice, and who were worthy of her regard and friendship.
As a hostess, though dignified and graceful, she was nevertheless, genial, and
pleasant, and her cordial welcome and pohte attention made the most diffident
feel at ease in her presence, while those who were much accustomed to society
felt it an honor as well as a pleasure, to be her guests."
When, in early manhood her eldest son took an active interest in anti-slavery,
non-resistance and other reforms, and was in close touch with the leaders of these
movements, it was his custom to bring them to his parents' home, during their
\isits to the city; and while his mother did not share the ultra views of her son and
bis friends, nevertheless leading Abolitionists and other reform leaders found a
kindly welcome at her hands and cherished a lifelong respect and admiration of the
queenly woman. Again when her youngest son, a physician, brought to his fire-
side, men of science and letters from distant states and countries, they received a
like welcome and impression. Men of other faiths and nationalities, became her
fast friends and admirers. Among her English friends were men of high standing
in their native country, and clergymen of different denominations sought and
enjoyed her companionship. Among her favorites was General Taffini, com-
mander of the Army of Southern Italy, who having married a Philadelphia lady,
spent a winter in the city and was a frequent visitor at her house, and became
greatly attached to her. This friendship led to a kind message being received by
her from King Humbert of Italy. Having read in the papers of King Humbert's
visit to his subjects in Naples when that city was suffering from the scourge of
cholera, to look after their welfare, she said with emphasis, "That is the right
kind of a king. I hope he may have long and prosperous reign, and that he may
be blessed in every way." One of her family, writing to the wife of General
Taffini, mentioned the expression of Mrs. Levick, and her husband, appreciating
the earnestness of her appreciation of the king's act, from his knowledge of the
woman, mentioned it to King Humbert, and he said to the General, in a very
earnest manner. "Say to that lady that I thank her very much and although I
did very little at Naples and deserve no credit whatever, the kindness and sincerity
of her admiration and prayers, coming as they do, from such a noble woman, are
most grateful to me." For a number of years she was totally blind, but at the
age of eighty-four years an operation was performed under the direction of her
son and her sight was entirely restored and until her death thirteen years later
she was able to see perfectly. It is impossible in this brief sketch to do justice
to the character of this noble woman, suffice it to say, that it is to such American
mothers that we owe the perpetuation of the best of our American institutions
Issue of Ebcncccr and Elizabeth IV. (Jones) Levick:
Joseph Wetherill, d. in infancy;
Richard d. in infancy;
Samuel J., b. .Aug. 30, 1819, d. April 19, i?85 ; m. (first) Ellen Fouike; (second) Sus-
anna Morris Mather; of whom presently;
William M., b. 1821, d. June 10, 1S74: was a member of the Phila. Bar; he confined him-
self to that branch of the law, having to do with real estate and the administraticn of
estates, and says a biographer, not of his faith or family, "wielded an influence, and
was in control and had the direction of interests to an extent totally unknown nor
dreamed of by the members who met with him as the quiet unobtrusive business man."
He m. Oct. 5, 1845, Hannah Moore, daughter of Richard and Sarah Moore, of
"24 LEVICK
Quakertown. Both were for many years active and consistent members of Green
Street Friends Meeting. They were much given to hospitality, entertaining number-
less country Friends. His widow and two daughters survived him;
Dr. James J. Levick, b. July 28, 1824, d. June 25, 1893: was one of Phila.'s most promi-
nent physicians; he was educated at Haverford Coll., and received his medical degree
at the Univ. of Penna. in 1847, and built up and retained an extensive and lucrative
practice; was resident physician of Penna. Hospital, 1849-1851; and a member of the
medical staff of that institution from 1856 to 1869; elected Fellow of the College of
Physicians, April 185 1 ; forty-one years physician to Magdalen Asylum; physician to
Will's Eye Hospital, 1853-1865; member of the Am. Med. Assn. from 1864 to his
death; member of Academy of Natural Sciences, of Phila., from 1S65; of Philadelphia
Co. Med. Society from 1853; of Hist. Society of Penna. from 1855, and was an