Short, but interesting biography of John Strangeways Hutton, silversmith of Philadelphia.
John S. Hutton, aged 109 years.
John S. Hutton, silversmith of Philadelphia, as he related the particulars of his life to the late C. W. Peale, was born in New York, in 1684. He was originally bound apprentice to a sea captain, who put him to school to learn the art of navigation. At that time he became intimate with a boy who worked at the white-smith trade, with whom he amused himself in acquiring the use of the hammer, by which means he obtained a facility in working at plate-work in the silversmith's business. He followed the seafaring life for thirty years, and then commenced the silversmith's trade. He was long esteemed in Philadelphia one of the best workmen at hollow work ; and there are still pieces of his work in much esteem. He made a tumbler in silver when he was 94 years of age.
Through the course of a long and hazardous life in various climes, he was always plain and temperate in his eating and drinking, and particularly avoided spirituous liquors, except in one instance, while he was serving as lieutenant of a privateer in Queen Anne's war. That occasion gave him a lasting lesson of future restraint; for having made a descent on the Spanish main and pillaged a village, while they had all given themselves to mirth and revelry, they were intercepted in their return to their boats, and all killed save himself and one other, who were made prisoners and held in long confinement.
His first wife was Catharine Cheeseman, of New York, by whom he had eight children, 25 grandchildren, 23 great grandchildren and great great grandchildren.
At the age of 51 he married his second wife in Philadelphia, Ann Vanlear, 19 years of age, by whom he had 17 children, 41 grandchildren, and 15 great grandchildren–forming in all a grand total of 132 descendants, of whom 45 were then dead. Those who survived were generally dwelling in Philadelphia. His last wife died in 1788, at the age of 72. Mr. Hutton deemed himself in the prime of his life when 60 years of age. He never had a headache.
He was always fond of fishing and fowling, and till his 81st year used to carry a heavy English musket in his hunting excursions. He was ever a quiet, temperate, and hard-working man, and even in the year of his death was quite cheerful and good humoured. He could then see, hear, and walk about; had a good appetite, and no complaints whatever, except from the mere debility of old age. When shall " we behold his like again !"
In his early life he was on two scouts against the Indians; he used to tell, that in one of these excursions they went out in the night, that they took a squaw prisoner, who led them to where the Indians lay, of whom they killed the most, before they could get to their arms. The circumstance induced the Indians to come in and make their peace.
He knew the noted pirate, Teach, called Blackbeard; he saw him at Barbadoes after he had come in under the Act of Oblivion to him and other pirates. This was a short time before that pirate made his last cruise and was killed in Carolina.
The father of Hutton was John Hutton, of Bermuda in Scotland, where many of the family reside. His grandfather, by his mother's side, was Arthur Strangeways, who died at Boston, at the age of 101 years, while sitting in his chair.
J. S. Hutton died at Philadelphia, on the 20th of December, 1792, in the 109th year of his age. His long life, and numerous children, made him a patriarch indeed! " In children's lives feels his resurrection, and grows immortal in his children's children!" He was deemed so rare an instance of lusty old age, that Mr. C. W. Peale was induced to take his portrait as now seen in the Museum, as he appeared in the last year of his life. He was borne to his grave by his fellow craftsmen–all silversmiths.
Source: Annals of Philadelphia and Pennsylvania, in the olden time: being a collection of memoirs, anecdotes, and incidents of the city and its inhabitants, and of the earliest settlements of the inland part of Pennsylvania, for the days of the founders ... embellished with engravings by T.H. Mumford
By John Fanning Watson
Published by Whiting & Thomas, 1856
For details of John Strangeways Hutton's maker's mark go to:
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.anc ... /75790.htm
Trev.
.