judge of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania from 1759 until his
death ten years later.

Coleman's executors sold the place to Alexander Barclay, comptroller of
His Majesty's Customs at Philadelphia, and the grandson of Robert
Barclay of Ury, the noted Quaker theologian and "Apologist."

[Illustration: PLATE VIII.--Morris House, 225 South Eighth Street.
Erected in 1786 by John Reynolds.]

[Illustration: PLATE IX.--Wistar House, Fourth and Locust Streets.
Erected about 1750; Betsy Ross House, 239 Arch Street.]

On Barclay's death in 1771, Woodford became the home of David Franks,
a wealthy Jewish merchant and one of the signers of the Non-Importation
Resolutions of 1765 by which a large body of leading American merchants
agreed "not to have any goods shipped from Great Britain until after the
repeal of the Stamp Act." He was prominent both socially and
politically, a member of the Provincial Assembly in 1748 and the
register of wills. Prior to the outbreak of the Revolution, he was the
agent of the Crown in Philadelphia and was then made commissary of the
British prisoners in the American lines. In 1778, however, he was
arrested by General Benedict Arnold for attempting to transmit a letter
harmful to the American cause, deprived of his commission and property,
and obliged to remove to New York two years later.

One of Franks' daughters, Abigail, married Andrew Hamilton of The
Woodlands, afterwards attorney-general of Pennsylvania. Another
daughter, Rebecca, married General Sir Henry Johnson, who was defeated
and captured by General Anthony Wayne at Stony Point. Rebecca Franks was
one of the most beautiful and brilliant women of her day. Well educated,
a gifted writer and fascinating conversationalist, witty and winsome,
she was popular in society and one of the belles of the celebrated
"Mischianza", which was given May 18, 1778, by the British officers in
honor of General Lord Howe upon his departure for England. This was a
feast of gayety with a tournament somewhat like those common in the age
of chivalry, and was planned largely by Major John Andre, who was later
hanged by order of an American military commission for his connection
with the treason of General Benedict Arnold.

Following the confiscation of Franks' property in 1780, Woodford was
sold to Thomas Paschall, a friend of Franklin. Later it was occupied for
a time by William Lewis, a noted advocate, and in 1793 was bought by
Isaac Wharton, son of Joseph