Joseph H. Foster Had a Display For His Patent at the Franklin Institute in 1844

Two years earlier: "The Franklin Institute's exhibition of American Manufacturers, October 1842, at the Chinese Museum. Daguerreotype by Paul Beck Goddard."

The man with the flag pants, my 1st cousin 4xs removed, Joseph H. Foster, had an awning patent on display for the Franklin Institute's exhibition in 1844 in Philadelphia:

Philadelphia Inquirer (GenealogyBank)
15 Oct 1844
page 2
(excerpted from a longer article)

A Rich Display. Franklin Institute

The Exhibition of the present year is likely at least to equal any similar display.  It is impossible, however, to express a confident opinion at the present time, so many of the articles had not been finally arranged when we looked through the rooms yesterday.
--There are some splendid specimens in the collection, and others exhibiting extraordinary ingenuity and skill. Crowded as our columns are, it will not be in our power to notice every thing of merit and interest in the rich collection, but we will with pleasure specify any article to which our attention may be directed by friends or subscribers.  Contributors should be careful to label their specimens, and also to accompany them with descriptions, when novel or curious.  Too much in the way of commendation cannot be said in favor of an institution that is instrumental in collecting from year to year such abundant evidences of the progress of American skill and industry, and as the present is an opportune moment for direct and substantial approbation on the part of our citizens, we trust that the rooms will be crowded, morning, noon, and night, while they continue open.... 

The Lower Saloon....
Patent Awning.  This article is raised and lowered by means of a crank, at the post, and thus the trouble is saved of unhooking and untying, as is now done, with the old style of awnings.  Made and deposited by Joseph H. Fost, Philada.

NOTE: I could not find a patent entry for him in the Ancestry database U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Patents, 1790-1909.


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Mary (Gwinnup) Hartley was Administratrix for the Michael Lutz Estate in Northern Liberties, Philadelphia

Since the Orphan's Court was involved I am assuming children were involved (obviously).  Was Mary Gwinnup an aunt, sister-in-law, or cousin, or just a good friend/neighbor to Michael Lutz.  Was Michael related to Solomon Hartley?  

More names and relationships to research!  I had not associated a Michael Lutz with Mary Gwinnup, and I wonder what their relationship was?

The location of Michael Lutz's house matches the areas where Solomon Hartley (Mary Gwinnup's husband) was living according to Philadelphia city directories a few years later: 43 Coates' in 1810 - 1811 and then on 49 Browne Street in 1813-1814.  I tried to figure out the general area where these streets were in this post.






© 2016 Copyright, Christine Manczuk, All Rights Reserved.

Solomon Hartly Appears in a List of "Journeymen Riggers" Clearing George Hartley and Martin Brown of "False Report"

Well, hello there, Solomon!  I think this definitively shows Solomon and George Hartley were at the very least acquaintances (I suspect they were brothers).  "We, the Subscribers," Philadelphia Gazette (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), May 25, 1809, page 4, col. 3.

First day back at work on my brick wall ancestors, and came across this gem.  Look at all the names of fellow "journeymen riggers"!  Love it!   I haven't had time to analyze everything about this yet, but I am certain that it is my 4th great grandfather Solomon Hartley (1775-1815).

Note the Simon Johnson on the list with Solomon.

Solomon's wife was Mary Gwinnup and Simon Johnson's wife was Mary's sister Elizabeth Gwinnup. Solomon Hartly and Simon Johnson were brothers-in-law.

Solomon died sometime in 1815 according to family story, and I have an unsourced death date for Simon Johnson as 11 October 1815 (did they die the same day??).  Simon and Elizabeth's son was early Mormon Joseph Almon Kelting (it is as yet unclear to me why the last name isn't Johnson, but that is JA Kelting's known story among his descendants).  Several descendants of JA Kelting have matched my father at AncestryDNA.

Notice George Hartley's statement at top.

© 2016 Copyright, Christine Manczuk, All Rights Reserved.

"For Fifty Years She was Faithful"

Philadelphia Inquirer
7 Dec 1900
page 5


For Fifty Years She was Faithful

Death of Miss Elizabeth Foster Recalls the Tragedy of her Early Life

With the death on December 3 of Miss Elizabeth Foster, who resided at 1312 Ritner street, a fragment of hope, cherished for over fifty years, also died.  For in her heart alone lived the hope of seeing again her betrothed, who more than a half century ago sailed on an ocean voyage never to return.

Miss Foster was the daughter of Captain Daniel Foster, the master of one of the early clipper ships.  She was an acknowledged belle of the period, and was betrothed to John Cantrell, the first mate of a big sailing ship.  On a voyage to South America, which he had determined would be his last, his ship was struck by a heavy storm and sunk off Cape Hatteras.  None of the crew was ever heard of again.  But year after year the bride-to-be hoped against hope for his return.  During the Civil War she was among the most active in relief work.  She was also prominent in church circles.  Her funeral occurred yesterday afternoon.

Elizabeth was a granddaughter of Mary Gwinnup, through Mary's second husband Antonio Oneto.

My 2nd great grandfather James Monroe Hartley was a grandson of Mary Gwinnup, through Mary's third husband Solomon Joseph Hartley (1775-1815).

This is the obituary I found in the Philadelphia Inquirer for my 1st cousin 4x's removed, Elizabeth "Lizzie" A Foster (1828-1900).

From the records I found on her it seemed she lived most of her life in Philadelphia, and lived with her parents and family, and worked as a seamstress.  According to her death certificate she died of "general debility."  I don't know who wrote this obituary, possibly her younger sister Mary G (Foster) Flint (1832-1905) or brother-in-law, William Flint (1830-1908), a book publisher, or even maybe an unnamed friend.

I am assuming her long-lost beloved John Cantrell died in the 1840's, as there are a few different newspaper reports of lost ships off Cape Hatteras in that time, and that would make the 1900 "more than half a century ago" qualification.

Cape Hatteras, at the bottom of the closeup, is part of the "Graveyard of the Atlantic," and area in the outer banks of North Carolina.  Image taken from the blog post "Ghostship Off The Outer Banks" at Never Stop Learning by Ken Harbit (Pogi).

I found a possible lead for this John Cantrell in an 1823 "Proof of Citizenship Used to Apply for Seamen's Certificates for the Port of Philadelphia" for a John A Cantrell, b 1804 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, who was witnessed by Frederick Wacker.  This would make him 24 years Elizabeth's senior, so I'm not sure it is the right guy, plus there is a "John A Cantrell" in early 1840s city directories that indicate he was a druggist.  Maybe Elizabeth John Cantrell was this guy's son?




© 2016 Copyright, Christine Manczuk, All Rights Reserved.