Pusey, Caleb, with his wife Ann, and daughter of the same name, emigrated in 1682. by trade he was a last-maker. Perhaps no one among the early immigrants in PA was better qualified to contend with the difficulties incident to the first settlement of a new country than Caleb Pusey. His place of residence, within the limits of this county, was at "the Chester Mills." In the establishment of these mills, and in the conducting of them many years afterwards, he was the active partner and master spirit. It was required more than ordinary energy to contend with the repeated misfortunes attendant on the first erection of this early improvement. Mill after mill was swept away by the flood, but the indomitable energy of Pusey was not overcome, and at length his efforts were crowned with success. But his whole time was not occupied with his private concerns. Much was devoted to civil affairs and to his religious duties. We find him "taking his turn" as a township officer, and serving as a juror; in laying out roads and negotiating with the Indians; in performing the duties of sheriff, and acting as a justice of the County Court; as a member of the Provincial Assembly and at length of the Executive Council. To religious matters he was equally attentive. His name constantly appears in the minutes of the Society of Friends among those who were most active in settling difficulties and in promoting deeds of benevolence. He frequently appeared in the ministry, and sometimes employed his pen in the defense of the doctrines of his sect/ His reply to one Daniel Leeds was liberally subscribed for by the meetings. He was a farm man and of the strictest integrity, and though an intimate friend of the celebrated George Keith, when that gentleman chose to attack what was regarded by Caleb Pusey as true Quaker doctrine, he did not hesitate to sustain the testimony that was pronounced against him. It was from Caleb Pusey that Smith, the early historian of PA, obtained much of the material from which his work was composed.
His daughter Ann, died in the
12th Mo, 1682, but another of that same name, b.1-12-1684-5, was married
1-5-1706-7 to John Smith, who settled in Marlborough. Another daughter,
Lydia, b 7-4-1689 was married the same day as her sister, to George Painter.
About the year 1717, Caleb and his wife removed to Marlborough, where she died
12-5-1725-6 and he 12-25-1726-7, in the 67th year of his age. He left no
sons.
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Pusey, John, a resident of London, whose wife's name was Frances, purchased land in Pennsylvania, but never came over to reside upon it. He is supposed to have been a brother of Caleb Pusey and the father of the following;
William and Caleb Pusey when young men appear to have resided with Caleb Pusey, Sr at Chester and were doubtless employed at the mill. William married 9-5-1707, Elizabeth, dau of John and Frances Bowater and moved to Londongrove in 1715, where he afterwards erected a mill. His children were:
Caleb Pusey, Jr m. 9-5-1712 to Prudence, dau of Robert and Lydia Carter, and about 1714 m.oved to Marlborough where he died 4-13-1756. His children were:
The Puseys were
doubtless the builders of more mills in Chester County than any other family.