AN GAODHAL.
631
ground of St. Mary's Church, South Fourth
Street.
George Meade, a native of Ireland, and a Cath¬
olic, was a highly respectable and wealthy ship
owner and merchant in Philadelphia, and many
years partner in trade witn Thomas Fitzsimmons
one of the original members. Mr. Meade's high
character and integrity may be inferred from the
following anecdote ; About the year 1790 he be¬
came embarrassed in business and failed, owing to
the insolvency of a house in France. His largest
creditor was John Barclay, an extensive and liber¬
al merchant in London. Immediately upon his
failure Mr. M. wrote to Mr. B informing him of
the condition of his affairs, but expressing a hope
that he might yet be able to retrieve his losses.
Mr. B., in reply requested Mr, M. not to trouble
his mind on account of the debt he already owed,
and directed him to draw at sight for £10,000
sterling more. With this generous assistance Mr.
Meade was enabled to retrieve his fortunes, and
had the satisfaction not only to repay Mr. B., but
to disharge all his former obligations in full.
He was somewhat eccentric in his manners, but
social, hospitalbe, and benevolent.
He was one of the founders of the Hibernian
Society, and subscribed £5,000 to supply the army
with provisions 1780.
William West, the father of Francis West and
John West, also members of this society, and
grandfather of Captain West and Dr. West, was
a native of Ireland, and in those early days, one
of the heads of the Irish interest in Philadelphia.
He was an eminent dry-goods merchant, greatly
esteemed for his moral worth, sound discretion,
abilities, and business talents. He was quarter
master in the American army of the revolution
and died during the war.
George Campbell was a native of Stewartstown
in the County Tyrone Ireland, where the family
had long been settled. He was admitted to prac¬
tice at the Armngn assizes in 1751, and pursued
the profession until 1765, when he emigrated to
Philadelphia, where he passed the remainder of
his days. At the time of the difficulties with
Great Britain he took a warm interest in the
question and was among the originators of the
First City Troop, in which he served until they
obtained their discharge after the peace. He
died in the year 1810, at the age of 80 years,
enjoying the respect aud esteem of all who knew
him. He was one of the subscribers to the old
Pennsylvania Bank in 1780 to supply the army
with provisions.
Matthew Mease was born in Strabane, County
Tyrone, Ireland, and emigrated at an early age to
America, setting in Philadelphia, where his uncle
John Mease, an eminent and wealthy merchant
resided. Though educated for a merchant, he en¬
tered the American army and became purser of
Bon Homme Richard. In the desperete encounte
between that vessel and the Seraphis, Mr. Measec
not relishing the thought of being an idle spectat¬
or of the engagement, obtained from Paul Jones
the command of the quarter deck guns, and were
served under him until he was carried below to the
cockpit dangerously wounded on the head by a
splinter. He died in Philadelphia in, 1787.
John Mease, here referred to, was a native of Ire¬
land (Strabane), and amassed a large fortune by
mercantile business in Philadelphia. He was very
liberal in his charities. As an instance, it may be
mentioned that he presented to the First Presby¬
terian Church of Philadelphia the ground now oc¬
cupied by the Presbyterian Church and grave¬
yard, in Pine Street, between Fourth and Fifth
Streets, and a parsonage house near Third and
Willing's Alley. He died in 1767. Two branches
of the Mease family still exist in Ireland, one near
Castlefin, County Donegal, and the other in Stra¬
bane.
James Mease was born, in Strabane, Ireland,
brother of Matthew Mease, came to America be¬
fore the Revolution. He was one of those who
originated the First Troop of Philadelphia Cavalry
and served in it with gallantry during the war
He was an eminent merchant, and subscribed
£5,000 for supplies to the American army in
1780.
John Mease, another brother, was born in Stra¬
bane Ireland. He came to this country in the
year 1754, and for many years was an eminent
shipping merchant of Philadelphia. He was an
early and ardent friend to the cause of
independence, and one of the original members of
the First Troop of City Calvary. On the ever
mamorable night of the 25th of December, 1776
he was one of the twenty-four of that corps who
crossed the Deleware with the troops under
General Washington when the Hessians were cap¬
tured.
Mr. Mease was one of the five detailed to the ser¬
vice of keeping alive the fires along the line of the
American encampment at Trenton to deceive the
enemy, while the Americens marched by a pri¬
vate route to attack their rear guard at Princeton-
He served with the troop until the end of the war.
and suffered great loss of property in his ware¬
houses and dwelling. For the last thirty years of
his life he was one of the admiralty surveyors of
the port of Philadelphia, and died in 1826 at the
advacnced age of 86. He subscribed £4,000 to
supply the army in 1780. Mr. John Mease was
the only man who continued in the latter days to
wear the old three-cornered hat of the revolution
and was familarly called "the last of the cocked
hats."
Thos. Fitzsimmons was a native of Ireland and
a Catholic. He was a large merchant of Phila. be¬
fore and after the revolution, commanded a volun¬
