History of Bucks
County, Pa Volume 3 by William H. Davis
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ROBERT KIRKBRIDE EASTBURN ROBERT KIRKBRIDE EASTBURN, Deceased, of Langhorne, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, was born in Morrisville, Bucks county, January 20, 1825, and was a son of Samuel and Huldah (WOOLEY) EASTBURN and grandson of Samuel and Hannah (KIRKBRIDE) EASTBURN, the last named Samuel being a son of Joseph and Mary (WILSON) EASTBURN, of Solebury, Bucks county, grandson of Samuel and Elizabeth (GILLINGHAM) EASTBURN, and great-grandson of Robert and Sarah (PRESTON) EASTBURN, who were married in Yorkshire, England, 3 mo. 10, 1693. An account of the first three generations of the descendants of Robert and Sarah (PRESTON) EASTBURN, and some account of their earlier antecedents in England, is given in the preceding sketches. Samuel EASTBURN, son of Joseph and Mary (WILSON) EASTBURN, of Solebury, was born in that township, 6 mo. 20, 1759. He was reared on the old Solebury homestead, still in the tenure of the descendants of Joseph and Mary, and early in life learned the trade of a blacksmith, which he followed during the active years of his life, in connection with farming in various parts of the county. His father died when Samuel had just arrived at the age of twenty-one years, and prior to the death of the grandfather, who died in 1785. Under the will of the latter, Samuel acquired title to a part of the old homestead on the borders of the present borough in New Hope, and he followed his trade there until 1787, when he purchased a farm of 101 acres adjoining the homestead, which he conducted in connection with his trade until 1791. At about this time, having sold his arm, he removed to White Marsh, Montgomery county, where he operated a smith shop until 1803, when he removed to Morrisville, Bucks county, and purchased a portion of the Robert Morris tract and located thereon. He followed his trade in connection with farming at Morrisville for some years, and died at that place, 4 mo. 5, 1822, at the age of sixty-four years. He was twice married, having married 4 mo. 12, 1781, Macre CROASDALE, who died 4 mo. 31, 1782; his son Joseph, by this marriage, born 1 mo. 13, 1782, died in infancy. He married again, 5 mo. 15, 1788, Hannah KIRKBRIDE, daughter of Robert and Hannah (BIDGOOD) KIRKBRIDE, of Doylestown, granddaughter of Mahlon and Mary (SOTCHER) KIRKBRIDE, and great-granddaughter of Joseph KIRKBRIDE and John SOTCHER, both of whom, as well as Mahlon KIRKBRIDE, were provincial pustices [sic] and assemblymen for many years, and the most prominent men of their time in Bucks county. Samuel and Hannah (KIRKBRIDE) EASTBURN, were the parents of nine children, viz.: Robert, born 1 mo. 31, 1789, died 7 mo. 28, 1796; Samuel, see forward; Jonathan, born 9 mo. 2, 1792, married first Beulah GASKEL, and second Sarah CROZIER: David, born 2 mo. 23, 1795, married Louisa WILLING; Mahlon, born 9 mo. 9, 1797, died unmarried, 12 mo. 7, 1870; Hannah, born 12 mo. 7, 1799, married Aaron IVINS, in 1839; Kirkbride, born 1 mo. 23, 1803, married Ann REEVES; Macre, born 2 mo. 14, 1806, died unmarried; and Ruth, born 1 mo. 20, 1810, also died unmarried. Samuel EASTBURN, son of Samuel and Hannah, was born in Solebury, Bucks county, 10 mo. 7, 1790. His early boyhood days were spent at White Marsh, where his parents resided until he was in his thirteenth year, the remainder of his life being spent in Falls township and Morrisville borough, Bucks county. He married, in 1813, Huldah WOOLEY, and they were the parents of seven children, viz.: Lewis, born 8 mo. 5, 1814; Elwood, born 11 mo. 22, 1816; Robert K., the subject of this sketch; Caroline, born 3 mo. 17, 1832; Maria Ann, who married and removed to the west; Hannah K., born 9 mo. 13, 1835; and Edward. Robert Kirkbride EASTBURN, third son of Samuel and Huldah, was born and reared at Morrisville. At the age of nineteen years he became a school teacher and taught in the nearby townships of Bucks county for several years. He later removed to Philadelphia, and was engaged in the manufacture of furniture, after some years becoming a member of the firm of Reeves and Eastburn, in which he continued for a member [sic] of years. His health failing, he was induced to accept a position as book-keeper for a mining company in New Mexico, and removed there with his family, and remained twelve years, entirely regaining his health in that delightful climate. While in New Mexico his duties required him to make his home in a rough mining camp among a turbulent element, not always controlled or animated by the refining influences of civilization, where every one except he went armed, and human life was held exceedingly cheap. Mr. EASTBURN always refused to carry arms, and, by his fearless though kindly defense of right and justice, won an influence among the rugged miners, and successfully enacted the role of peacemaker in many little disturbances in the camp, where he had the respect of all who knew him. He returned to Bucks county in 1894 and purchased a handsome home on Richardson Avenue, Langhorne, where he lived until his death on February 26, 1897, and where his widow still resides. He held to the faith of the Society of Friends, in which he and his ancestors had been reared, and his firm though kindly disposition won the respect and esteem of all who knew him. Mr. EASTBURN married, April 12, 1859, Miriam IVINS, daughter of George Middleton and Sarah (BUCKMAN) IVINS, of Penns Manor, Bucks county, where her paternal ancestors had resided for several generations, she being a granddaughter of Aaron and Miriam (MIDDLETON) IVINS, and great-granddaughter of Aaron and Ann (CHESHIRE) IVINS. On the maternal side she is a granddaughter of James and Sarah (BURROUGHS) BUCKMAN, the former of whom was a son of William and Jane BUCKMAN, and a descendant of William BUCKMAN, who came from England and settled at Newtown in 1684, and the latter a daughter of John and Lydia BURROUGHS, and granddaughter of Henry and Ann (PALMER) BURROUGHS, who came from New Jersey and settled in Lower Makefield, being a son of John BURROUGHS, who was born at Newtown, Long Island, in 1684, and died in Ewing, New Jersey, in 1772, and the last named John being a son of John and Margaret (WOODWARD) BURROUGHS, of Long Island and a grandson of John BURROUGHS, who came from England to Massachusetts prior to 1639, and died at Newtown, Long Island, in 1678, at the age of sixty-one years. To Mr. And Mrs. EASTBURN were born two children, both born in Philadelphia, viz.: Henry Kirkbride, born November 19, 1861; and Edward Ivins, born March 17, 1866. Henry K. EASTBURN is now engaged in the wool business in Philadelphia; he married, January 17, 1884, Carrie GIDEON, of Philadelphia. Edwin I. Is also a resident of Philadelphia. Mrs. EASTBURN, accompanied her husband to New Mexico, and spent twelve years in that territory. She now resides in Langhorne borough where she is highly esteemed by a large circle of friends. Text taken from page 21 of: Davis, William W. H., A.M., History of Bucks County, Pennsylvania [New York-Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1905] Volume III Transcribed MAY 2000 by GRACE T. BURTON of PA as part of the Bucks Co., Pa., Early Family Project, www.rootsweb.com/~pabucks/bucksindex.html Published May 2000 on the Bucks County, Pa., USGenWeb pages at www.rootsweb.com/~pabucks/ |
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Page was last edited:
11/15/2008