Adam's THE LIBRARY COLLECTION 1st May 2024

His daughter Elizabeth, who was married to James Morris (also a Quaker) inherited the house. James undertook a full public and military career which brought him into disfavour with the Quakers. It was during this time that Dawesfield, became associat- ed with The American Revolution. The house was known as ‘Camp Morris’ and served as George Washington’s headquarters from 20th October to 2nd November,1777. This was directly after the defeat at the Battle of Germantown when Wash- ington retreated with his army down the Skippack Pike. General Lafayette, who was injured at the Battle of Brandywine sought refuge at Dawesfield, whilst recovering from a leg wound. Also, General ‘Mad Anthony’ Wayne, apparently at his own re- quest was court martialled in the West Parlour, on his conduct with the ‘Paolo Massacre’. Their daughter Phoebe inherited the house and 109 acres of the estate in 1842. In 1843, she mar- ried Saunders Lewis a successful lawyer of Phila- delphia. They had both fallen out of favour with the Quakers and changed to the Episcopal Servic- es. As the family was now mainly resident in the city, Dawesfield became a summer house. Lewis made numerous alterations and improvements including the gardens, which were consistent with the fashion at the time. In 1901, Bessie Meade (neé Lewis), who was mar- ried to Col. George Meade, son of Civil War hero, General George Meade, lived at Dawesfield. Fol- lowing on it passed to their daughter Elizabeth, who married George J. Cooke and then onto the next generation Elizabeth Cooke who married James Cheston IV. This brings us the descent to the inheritance offered in this collection. A rare epitome of American history, which has never be- fore been offered for sale. Dawesfield then passed to the Morris’s only sur- viving child Hannah, who married Dr Thomas Chalkley James in 1802. Dr James was a Philadel- phia physician and joined the staff of the Pennsyl- vania Hospital. In 1810 he was elected professor of midwifery at the University of Pennsylvania. It was during this time that he worked on improv- ing the library at the hospital. Also, he served as a physician with the charitable Society of the Sons of Saint George and the Philadelphia Dispen- sary. He favoured being part of the intellectual and scientific life of Philadelphia, Dr James was a member of the American Philosophical Socie- ty, the librarian of the College of Physicians and a founder of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. It is known that he preferred a quiet literary life at Dawesfield, which is witnessed by the categories of books that were housed in the library (lots 133- 160) THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION DR. THOMAS CHALKEY JAMES (1766-1835)