Week 36 – Tradesman

 

Weeks ago, I introduced you to the Anthony family. The earliest documented Anthony’s in my tree sprout from William Anthony, who was born in the late 1400’s. He served as the “Chief Engraver of the Mint and Seals” under King Edward VI, Queen Mary 1, and Queen Elizabeth I, and was the first in a long line of tradesmen.  Every few generations, a doctor, or author, or innkeeper would be thrown in. As was the case of my fifth great-grandfather, Joseph Anthony, he became a wealthy sea merchant and ship captain. His son, Joseph Anthony, Jr., however, decided his passion was the silversmith trade as it was for so many generations before him.

Joseph Anthony Jr. was born in Newport, Rhode Island, in 1762.  He grew up in an affluent family, and the area was full of artisans, including his first cousin the portraitist, Gilbert Stuart. This is almost certainly where he learned his craft as a silversmith.  By 1782, Joseph (Sr.) had moved his family to Philadelphia, where he became ensconced in the banking industry.  Joseph Anthony Jr. hung his shingle, “Joseph Anthony Goldsmith & Jeweler” and opened up shop on Market Street, between Second and Third. It was surely due to his father’s associates that Joseph’s business flourished.

As his business prospered, Joseph became acquainted with Henrietta Hillegas, daughter of the Treasurer of the United States, Michael Hillegas. The Hillegas family were also quite affluent. Michael’s parents had immigrated from Germany and his father had become a well to do businessman dealing in sugar refining. His sudden death when Michael was only nineteen years old, brought to the forefront what a good head for business and numbers young Michael had. He increased his father’s business ten-fold and expanded the business to include iron manufacturing.

Although Joseph’s father was a wealthy banker and was involved in the shipping industry, the fact that his son chose to be a tradesman was not necessarily something to brag about at this time in history.  When Joseph and Henrietta announced their plans to marry, the gossip columns, such as they were in those days, were shocked that Miss Hillegas would consider marrying “into trade.”  Henrietta’s parents obviously didn’t feel the same way. Their home was opened to the young couple from the time of their marriage, on 29 December 1785 until they found a place of their own. Michael Hillegas, while in New York, wrote the following to them on 3 February 1786:

My Dear Children:

     By a letter received from my dearly beloved wife the day before yesterday, I find that you both quitted our house yesterday week, and moved to your habitation in Chestnut St.  She in her letter expresses the great trial it was to her and Peggy, & the solemnity they experienced on the occasion. I am really of the opinion, that had I been present, I should have felt nearly as they did.  It is however no small comfort to me, and must be so to all the relations, as well as to both of you, that it is not like parting from each other to a great distance, as even in that case we must have submitted to the event, tho’ the hardship would have been increased.  Blessed be God, we are still of the same City, where we may continually see as well as comfort each other in this troublesome world, for so it has and will be called to the end thereof, notwithstanding what the vain and the giddy as well as some others may undertake to say to the contrary thereof.  You will now, my dear children, permit me on this occasion (as you are entering life, and like every other person to shift for yourselves,) to offer to you a little, and I trust good advice, which I flatter myself will be received with the same love which dictates it, as flowing from the sincerity of my heart, assuring you, nevertheless, in the warmest and most affectionate manner, that I do this, more as a matter of duty, than any suspicion I harbour in my breast of the want of prudence in either of you, and therefore hope you’l consider it merely as a cautionary advice, both of you being young.

     The love you bear each other is no way to be questioned or doubted, and I trust none of us suspect but that it will continue through life; but, my dear children, this love can never be better secured to yourselves than by having due and strict regard for Religion and the several duties therof as handed down from our Blessed Redeemer and his Apostles; this undoubtedly will make life pass with sublimer pleasure, and give a true taste of things in this world as well as an anticipation of joys to come hereafter.

     Next to this, is to be considered all and every of the moral duties required of us, and with it economy. By economy we conduct our affairs (under the blessing of Heaven,) in such manner that at the year’s end our temporal affairs may, if possible, be better than they were the year before, so as to enable us to help and assist the poor and indigent, as by Scripture is required of us to do.

     In things of moment on thyself depend,

     Nor trust too far they servant or a friend;

     To private views thy friend may promise fair,

     And servants very seldom prove sincere.

     What can be done with care, perform to-day,

     Dangers not thought of, may attend delay.

     Thy future prospects all precarious are,

     And fortune is a fickle as she’s fair;

     Nor trivial loss nor trivial gain despise,

     Molehills, if often heaped, to mountains rise;

     Weight every small expense, and nothing waste,

     Farthings long saved, amount to pounds at last.

     [attributed to Benjamin Franklin]

 Under a fear that I have already tired your patience I must conclude, with sincerely and fervently wishing you both every blessing Divine goodness will in his Providence shower down on you as well as all your dear connections,

 

                   And am with every sentiment of love,

                                              Your affection Father,

                                                         Michael Hillegas

To Joseph Anthony and Henrietta, his wife.

The Dancing Assembly of Philadelphia was established during the winter of 1748-1749. It was founded for the privileged men and women to join together in a social dancing event.  Michael Hillegas had been a subscriber, and his daughter Henrietta most assuredly attended. Joseph Anthony, Jr., however, had been blacklisted from the balls due to his chosen profession.  Eventually, however, as his business thrived, Joseph was not only admitted, but became on the biggest subscribers.  

Joseph and Henrietta went on to have eleven children, although only three lived to adulthood, and only two married and had children.  They lived their entire lives in Philadelphia. An undiagnosed sickness struck the family in October 1812. Youngest daughter, twelve-year-old Caroline, died on 3 October, followed by Henrietta (forty-six-years-old) six days later, leaving Joseph a widower.  On a business trip to Harrisburg, 8 August 1814, after just arriving at M. Buehler’s stage office, Joseph collapsed and died after suffering apoplexy (stroke). He was only fifty-two years old.

Among the treasures that have been passed on to me include a ring made by Joseph Anthony for his daughter, Henrietta Hillegas Anthony, sometime in the late 1700's. This ring has been handed down through several of the Henrietta's in my family tree, ending up with my grandmother, Henrietta Anthony Patton. It is undoubtedly my most prized possession.