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Margaret Penn

Margaret Van der Schure (Jasper) Penn: Mother of William Penn By: Kevin Winters June 29, 2025 Margaret Van der Schure (Jasper) Penn: Mother of William Penn The information on Margaret Penn is taken from the following two sources McNeil (14) and McNeil (15) . Margaret van der Schure Penn – date and artist unknown (from American Aristocracy) Not much is known about the background of Willam Penn’s mother, Margaret van der Schure. She apparently came from a wealthy family based on the estates in Ireland that Oliver Cromwell restored to her after...

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Admiral Sir William Penn

Admiral Sir William Penn By: Kevin Winters June 29, 2025 Admiral Sir William Penn – date and artist unknown ) William Penn Sr was born in 1621 and went to sea on merchant ships at an early age. He served his apprenticeship with his father, a merchant ( Wikipedia (no date) William Penn (Royal Navy officer) [49] ) He married Margaret Jasper Van der Schuren June 6, 1643 (McNeill [15] ) and they had three children. William Jr was the oldest. A bout with smallpox at the age of four caused him to lose his hair and he wore wigs for much of his life. (NPS ) He had a sister...

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William Penn

William Penn By: Kevin Winters June 29, 2025 William Penn William Penn is likely well-known to most readers as the founder/proprietor of the colony of Pennsylvania. While the township of Horsham is part of that colony it is likely that Penn had very little, if anything, to do with the township and likely never visited since the land was still wilderness (the 1st settler in Hatboro reaching this area only by 1701 [Smith 1945 p17 ]) which is the year that Penn left the colony for good. (Independence Hall Association (3) -no date ) He had sold off the land that would become...

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Native Americans: Lenape

The Lenni Lenape Author: Kevin Winters Published: May 30, 2025 The Lenni-Lenape (which means “Men of Men” or “Original People” (The Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape, 2007) or “the people”(Eden, D, 2015). They were also called “The Grandfathers or ancient ones” (Nanticote) by other native tribes. They are the oldest known nation in the Northern Hemisphere, their oral history suggests that they crossed into Alaska across the frozen Bering Sea thousands of years ago and eventually made their way to the eastern shore...

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Margaret Choate

Margaret Choate Margaret Ellen (Hinton) Choate died on April 5, 2017 in Horsham, Pa. at the age of 69. She and her husband, Peter Choate, founded the Horsham Preservation and Historical Society in 1997. In 2002 they both retired to work full time for this organization. Margaret was born in Philadelphia to Elsie and William Hinton. She grew up in Southampton, PA and graduated from William Tennant High school. Margaret worked in banking for 25 years for First Pennsylvania/CoreStates Bank, retiring in 1994 from the Horsham branch as Manager and Assistant Vice President. Margaret had a love...

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Peter Choate

Peter Choate We are extremely sad to report the passing of our dear friend Peter Choate. Pete was the cofounder and long-time leader of our organization. He passed away peacefully January 13, 2025, at the age of 83. Pete and his wife Margaret are shown below in March, 2016 at the Penrose-Strawbridge House. Pete and Nargaret ChoateBy: Kevin Winters March 2, 2016 Both Pete and Margaret committed the latter parts of their lives to our group, preserving the history of Horsham Township, the restoration of the Penrose-Strawbridge House and service to our community. Margaret passed away...

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Memories of Sue Bibus

Memories of Sue Bibus Author: Sue Gilbert and Sue Bibus Editor: Kevin Winters Published: August 9 2018 photo of Sue Bibus (Sophie Halata) in center with brother and sister on either side. Used with permission of Sue Bibus Memories is a place for folks to tell us the stories they remember of Horsham Township. Please contact us (hpha@horshampreservation.org) if you would be interested in sharing your stories (long or short) to become part of the history of the area.. You can send us written stories, audio or video – and we would love some of your...

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Samuel and Sarah Penrose

Graeme Park in Horsham, PA was established in 1720 by the Deputy Governor of Pennsylvania, Sir William Keith. Keith called his plantation Fountain Low. Originally about 1,800 acres, parcels were sold off in the 1730s after Keith returned to England. His son-in-law, Dr. Thomas Graeme acquired 835 acres of Fountain Low in 1737 and renamed this parcel Graeme Park. Graeme turned his park into a summer retreat and during the period of the 1760s it became a stop for many of the more prominent people in Philadelphia. Dr. Graeme’s daughter, Elizabeth, inherited the property in 1772 upon her...

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