Page:History of the University of Pennsylvania - Montgomery (1900).djvu/321

Rh her, 17/7, and by its possession a handful of British troops were enabled under its cover to detain the main body of Ameri- cans in its attack long enough to prevent the consummation of Washington's plans for the struggle of the day, to ensure the defeat of the American army. In October, 1791, he was appointed Judge and President of the High Court of Errors and Appeals of Pennsylvania, and these he held until the aboli- tion of the court in 1808. He died 20 January, 1810, and is buried in St. Peter's Churchyard. Notwithstanding his accu- mulating duties, he gave faithful attendance on the meetings of the Trustees, and from his acknowledged judgment and learn- ing he was sought on many of the special committees, as in the case of the vexed question which his opinion settled in July 1757. During the Revolutionary period, we find him at the meetings of January, 9 May, 3, 17 October, 1775 ; April, June, October, 1776; 5 June, September; November 1778; and in 1779 from March quite regularly to 28 September. He was not present at the final meetings of October and November, 1779, when the blow of destruction was impending ; his presence would not have aided the unfortunate institution against the attacks of the party who sought the abrogation of its charter. His eldest son Benjamin, a graduate of 1775, became a Trustee in 1810. The latter's sons Benjamin and Samuel were gradu- ates of 1810, John of 1812, Henry Banning of 1815, William White of 1820, and Anthony Banning of 1825 ; while a grand- son of Henry B. Chew renews the link as a graduate of 1886. Chief Justice Chew was the last of those Trustees whose office dates prior to the first Commencement. Of the original twenty- four, Logan, Lawrence, Zachary and Willing had died ; Isaac Norris, who had succeeded James Logan, resigned in 1755 ; and to the nineteen original Trustees remaining were now added Cadwalader, Hamilton, Stedman, Mifflin and Chew. Of the original number, seven were Provincial Councillors of Penn- sylvania, Logan, Lawrence, Turner, Strettell, Peters, Taylor and Hopkinson ; and of the six new members, five were also Coun- cillors, Norris, Cadwalader, Hamilton, Mifflin and Chew. Allen, the Recorder of the City at the organization of the Trustees,