Thomas Wynne
Encyclopedia
Dr. Thomas Wynne was personal physician
of William Penn
and one of the original settlers of Philadelphia in the Province of Pennsylvania
. Born in Ysceifiog
, Wales
, where his family dated back seventeen generations to Owain Gwynedd
, . he accompanied Penn on his original journey to America on the ship Welcome.
early on, heavy tax
es levied on his family originally made the acquisition of proper learning materials difficult. His trade was that of cooper. He was later able to make the acquaintance of an established surgeon by the name of Richard Moore, and soon he was able to apprentice until he was deemed worthy of licensing. He was licensed in Shropshire
by Drs. Hollins, Needham and Moore. He in turn after the death of Dr. Richard Moore apprenticed his son Mordecai Moore.
Martha Buttall (1627–1676) and found himself profoundly converted. Henceforth a devout Quaker and author of several pamphlets on Quaker doctrine, Wynne faced persecution and even six years' imprisonment in England in the 1680s. After Martha died, he married Mrs. Elizabeth Rowden (b. 1637; d. after 1691) on July 20, 1676, and she accompanied him as he joined Penn on his trip to America, leaving on August 30 and landing on October 27, 1682.
s (known as Wynne Street until renamed by Penn in 1684). He built a home at 52nd Street and Woodbine Avenue in 1690 named "Wynnestay
" (a reference to the famous Wynnstay
estate in Wales owned by Sir John Wynn, a collateral cousin ), and several surrounding communities in the greater Philadelphia Area now bear his name. He served as speaker for the first two Pennsylvania Assemblies of the Province in Philadelphia in 1687 and 1688 and acted as Justice of Sussex county
, now a county in Delaware, from 1687-1691. He returned to England with Penn in 1684. He was appointed a justice of the peace in January 1690 and held the position of justice of the provincial court
from September 1690 until his death. His time in America lasted only nine years. He is buried at the Friends burial ground, called Duckett's Farm which occupied the current site of 30th St Station Philadelphia and was affiliated with the Arch Street Friends Meeting House
in Philadelphia.
and John Cadwalader
and Sally Wister
through his daughter Mary wife of Dr. Edward Jones; Charles Dickinson
, through his daughter Rebecca; Joshua Humphreys
and Charles Humphreys
, through his daughter Hannah; Joshua Fisher
, through his stepdaughter Margery Maude; great-grandsons Thomas, Thomas, and Warner Wynne, through his son Jonathan, who served in the Pennsylvania "Flying Camp
" and were taken prisoner by the British at the Battle of Fort Washington
and held on the prison ships in New York Harbor. Gustavus Wynne Cook
through his son Jonathan and his grandson Thomas. This Thomas is remembered on the memorial at Lower Merion Baptist Church.
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
of William Penn
William Penn
William Penn was an English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, and founder of the Province of Pennsylvania, the English North American colony and the future Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He was an early champion of democracy and religious freedom, notable for his good relations and successful...
and one of the original settlers of Philadelphia in the Province of Pennsylvania
Province of Pennsylvania
The Province of Pennsylvania, also known as Pennsylvania Colony, was founded in British America by William Penn on March 4, 1681 as dictated in a royal charter granted by King Charles II...
. Born in Ysceifiog
Ysceifiog
Ysceifiog, also written Ysgeifiog, is a small village, community and parish in Flintshire. It lies on a back road just north of the A541 highway between Nannerch and Caerwys...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, where his family dated back seventeen generations to Owain Gwynedd
Owain Gwynedd
Owain Gwynedd ap Gruffydd , in English also known as Owen the Great, was King of Gwynedd from 1137 until his death in 1170. He is occasionally referred to as "Owain I of Gwynedd"; and as "Owain I of Wales" on account of his claim to be King of Wales. He is considered to be the most successful of...
, . he accompanied Penn on his original journey to America on the ship Welcome.
Early life and education
According to church records, Thomas Wynne was the fourth of five sons of Thomas Wynne Sr., Thomas Wynne lost his father at the age of 11. While attracted to the study of medicineMedicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
early on, heavy tax
Tax
To tax is to impose a financial charge or other levy upon a taxpayer by a state or the functional equivalent of a state such that failure to pay is punishable by law. Taxes are also imposed by many subnational entities...
es levied on his family originally made the acquisition of proper learning materials difficult. His trade was that of cooper. He was later able to make the acquaintance of an established surgeon by the name of Richard Moore, and soon he was able to apprentice until he was deemed worthy of licensing. He was licensed in Shropshire
Shropshire
Shropshire is a county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. It borders Wales to the west...
by Drs. Hollins, Needham and Moore. He in turn after the death of Dr. Richard Moore apprenticed his son Mordecai Moore.
Emigration to Pennsylvania
Born into the Protestant faith, he in 1655 married QuakerReligious Society of Friends
The Religious Society of Friends, or Friends Church, is a Christian movement which stresses the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers. Members are known as Friends, or popularly as Quakers. It is made of independent organisations, which have split from one another due to doctrinal differences...
Martha Buttall (1627–1676) and found himself profoundly converted. Henceforth a devout Quaker and author of several pamphlets on Quaker doctrine, Wynne faced persecution and even six years' imprisonment in England in the 1680s. After Martha died, he married Mrs. Elizabeth Rowden (b. 1637; d. after 1691) on July 20, 1676, and she accompanied him as he joined Penn on his trip to America, leaving on August 30 and landing on October 27, 1682.
Career
Wynne was notable for erecting the first brick house in the colony of Philadelphia, on his "Liberty Lot" at Front and Chestnut streetChestnut Street (Philadelphia)
Chestnut Street is a major historic street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Originally named Wynne Street because Thomas Wynne's home was there. William Penn renamed it Chestnut Street in 1684. It runs east–west from the Delaware River waterfront in downtown Philadelphia through Center City and West...
s (known as Wynne Street until renamed by Penn in 1684). He built a home at 52nd Street and Woodbine Avenue in 1690 named "Wynnestay
Wynnestay
Wynnestay is a historic home in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The two-and-a-half-story house was first built in 1689 as the residence of Dr. Thomas Wynne, Pennsylvania founder William Penn's personal physician and first Speaker of the Pennsylvania Provincial Assembly.The house was extensively...
" (a reference to the famous Wynnstay
Wynnstay
Wynnstay was a famous estate in Wales, the family seat of the Wynns. It is located at Ruabon, near Wrexham.During the 17th century, Sir John Wynn, 5th Baronet inherited the Watstay Estate through his marriage to Jane Evans , and renamed it the Wynnstay Estate...
estate in Wales owned by Sir John Wynn, a collateral cousin ), and several surrounding communities in the greater Philadelphia Area now bear his name. He served as speaker for the first two Pennsylvania Assemblies of the Province in Philadelphia in 1687 and 1688 and acted as Justice of Sussex county
Sussex County, Delaware
Sussex County is a county located in the southern part of the U.S. state of Delaware. As of 2010 the population was 197,145, an increase of 25.9% over the previous decade. The county seat is Georgetown. The Seaford Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Sussex County.Sussex County is...
, now a county in Delaware, from 1687-1691. He returned to England with Penn in 1684. He was appointed a justice of the peace in January 1690 and held the position of justice of the provincial court
Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania is the court of last resort for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It meets in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.-History:...
from September 1690 until his death. His time in America lasted only nine years. He is buried at the Friends burial ground, called Duckett's Farm which occupied the current site of 30th St Station Philadelphia and was affiliated with the Arch Street Friends Meeting House
Arch Street Friends Meeting House
Arch Street Friends Meeting House, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is a Friends Meeting House of the Religious Society of Friends . It is the oldest meetinghouse of the Religious Society of Friends still in use in the United States and the largest in the world.Pennsylvania founder and Quaker...
in Philadelphia.
Family
Among his descendents are John DickinsonJohn Dickinson (delegate)
John Dickinson was an American lawyer and politician from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Wilmington, Delaware. He was a militia officer during the American Revolution, a Continental Congressman from Pennsylvania and Delaware, a delegate to the U.S. Constitutional Convention of 1787, President of...
and John Cadwalader
John Cadwalader (general)
John Cadwalader was a commander of Pennsylvania troops during the American Revolutionary War.-Early life:...
and Sally Wister
Sally Wister
Sarah Wister was a girl living in Pennsylvania during the American Revolution. She is principally known as the author of Sally Wister's Journal, a first-hand account of life in the nearby countryside during the British occupation of Philadelphia in 1777–78, when she was sixteen.-Family and early...
through his daughter Mary wife of Dr. Edward Jones; Charles Dickinson
Charles Dickinson (historical figure)
Charles Dickinson was an American attorney, and a famous duelist. An expert marksman, Dickinson's died from injuries sustained in a duel with Andrew Jackson, who later became President of the United States.-Life:...
, through his daughter Rebecca; Joshua Humphreys
Joshua Humphreys
Joshua Humphreys was an influential and successful ship builder in the United States.Humphreys was born in Haverford, Pennsylvania and died in the same place. He is the son of Daniel Humphreys and Hannah Wynne . He was brother to Charles Humphreys...
and Charles Humphreys
Charles Humphreys
Charles Humphreys was an American miller and statesman from Haverford, Pennsylvania. He is the son of Daniel Humphreys and Hannah Wynne . He served as a delegate for Pennsylvania to the Continental Congress from 1774 to 1776...
, through his daughter Hannah; Joshua Fisher
Joshua Fisher
Joshua Fisher was a prominent Philadelphia merchant involved in transatlantic trade and mapmaking as applied to nautical charts...
, through his stepdaughter Margery Maude; great-grandsons Thomas, Thomas, and Warner Wynne, through his son Jonathan, who served in the Pennsylvania "Flying Camp
Flying Camp
In the American Revolutionary War, the Flying Camp was a military formation employed by the Americans in the second half of 1776.After the British evacuation of Boston in March 1776, General George Washington met with members of the Continental Congress to determine future military strategy...
" and were taken prisoner by the British at the Battle of Fort Washington
Battle of Fort Washington
The Battle of Fort Washington was fought in the American Revolutionary War between the United States and Great Britain on November 16, 1776. It was a decisive British victory, forcing the entire garrison of Fort Washington to surrender....
and held on the prison ships in New York Harbor. Gustavus Wynne Cook
Gustavus Wynne Cook
Gustavus Wynne Cook was an American banker, businessman, and amateur astronomer.Cook was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the son of Lavinia Borden and Richard Yerkes Cook . He married Nannie Mumford Bright and they lived at Roslyn House in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania. The Roslyn House Observatory...
through his son Jonathan and his grandson Thomas. This Thomas is remembered on the memorial at Lower Merion Baptist Church.
See also
- Wynnewood, PennsylvaniaWynnewood, PennsylvaniaWynnewood, Pennsylvania is a suburban community located outside of Philadelphia in Lower Merion Township, Pennsylvania and Haverford Township, Pennsylvania, United States. Wynnewood was named in 1691 for Dr. Thomas Wynne, William Penn's physician and the first Speaker of the Pennsylvania General...
- Penn Wynne, PennsylvaniaPenn Wynne, PennsylvaniaPenn Wynne is a census-designated place in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is part of Lower Merion Township, and the mailing address is Wynnewood, Pennsylvania. The population was 5,697 at the 2010 census. It is mainly a residential area...
- Wynnefield, Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaWynnefield, Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaWynnefield is a predominantly African-American, middle-classneighborhood in West Philadelphia. Its borders are 53rd Street at Jefferson to the south, Philadelphia's Fairmount Park to the east, City Avenue to the north and the Amtrak Main Line tracks to the west.Surrounding neighborhoods include...
- Wynnefield Heights, Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaWynnefield Heights, Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaWynnefield Heights is a middle class neighborhood located in the greater West Philadelphia area of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. This suburban neighborhood bordering on City Avenue is also known as Woodside Park or Balwynne Park...
