Mayor. On the 28th October, 1701, he granted Pennsylvania, and the counties now Delaware State, a charter of privileges, in which the liberty of conscience was fully recognized. The charter was, however, abolished, in consequence of the successful termination of the war of the Revolution, which placed the whole American family upon an equal footing in regard to their rights as freemen. He died, July 30th, 1718, at Rushcombe, near Twyford, in Buckinghamshire, England, aged about seventy-four years. He left his widow, Hannah, daughter of John Callowhill, and six children, living. He was succeeded by William, his eldest son, besides whom he had, by his first wife, a daughter named Letitia. By his second wife he had John, Thomas, Margaret, and Dennis, all left minors. CHARLES B. PENROSE. HON. CHARLES BIDDLE PENROSE, member of the State Senate from the city of Philadelphia, was born at his father's residence near the mouth of Frankford Creek, Philadelphia County, in the year 1791, and died April 6th, 1857. He had thus entered his sixty-seventh year. His father was a gentleman high in the estimation of the public, who was appointed by President Jefferson to a Judgeship in Missouri Territory, whither he removed with his family. Mr. Penrose was educated at Washington College in Pennsylvania, and soon after studied for the Bar. He commenced practice in Carlisle, and soon rose to distinction at a Bar which was confessedly, when its numbers are considered, equal to any in the country. He became also active as a politician, and took a leading part in many of the movements of the day. He was sent to the State Senate from the Cumberland District, for two terms of four years each, beginning with the year 1833, and during all that period there were few men who acted a more conspicuous part in the affairs of the Commonwealth. He was appointed Solicitor of the Treasury by President Harrison in 1841, and held the office till after the close of President Tyler's term. In 1849, he was appointed by Mr. Meredith Assistant Secretary of the Treasury; but this office he resigned in a short time, and returning to Philadelphia, resumed the practice of his profession. During his residence there, he served one term in the Common Council of the city, and was elected in October, 1856, to the office of State Senator. He was one of the most active and efficient members of that body, and was probably the oldest Senator, with the exception of the venerable Senator from Alleghany, Hon. William Wilkins. In addition to his labors in political life, Mr. Penrose did valuable service to the State by his earnest advocacy of important measures of internal improvement. He was the projector of the Cumberland Valley Railroad, and he labored zealously for years for the promotion of that enterprise. The obstacles it had to contend with were apparently insuperable, and there were not wanting malicious persons to misconstrue his motives and attempt to blacken his fame in connection with the measure. But he long outlived the few calumnies invented against him, and he lived also to see his favorite project not only accomplished, but an acknowledged valuable and lucrative public work. It is satisfactory to know that his labors in its behalf were not unrewarded, and that by his investments in it, and the profits of his laborious professional life, his family were sufficiently provided for. ELLISTON PEROT. ELLISTON PEROT was born in the island of Bermuda, on the 16th of March, 1747. When seven years old, he was sent to New York to be educated by his uncle Elliston, at that time Controller of the Customs, under whose auspices he spent five years at school at New Rochelle, in the then Province of New York; but before he finished his education, he met with an irreparable loss in the death of his uncle; after which he returned to Bermuda, where he remained until he became of age, when, having evinced a great attachment to mercantile pursuits, he again embarked for New York, and commenced business, having by the assistance of his friends in that city obtained the consignment of goods, with which he proceeded to the West Indies. In the year 1772, he entered into partnership with his brother, John Perot, under the firm of Elliston & John Perot, in the island of Dominica, where they continued until 1778, at which time, with the prospect of greater advantages, they removed to St. Christopher's, but not finding their expectations answered, after a short residence they left that place for St. Eustatius, then belonging to the Dutch Government, where they remained in uninterrupted prosperity until 1781, when that island was surprised and taken by the British fleet and army, under the command of Admiral Rodney and General Vaughan. At the time the fleet arrived in the harbor, the inhabitants were altogether unsuspicious of hostilities between Great Britain and Holland, and were much at a loss to conceive the object when they saw springs placed upon the cables of the men-of-war. This, however, was quickly explained by the landing of the troops; and the forts being surprised, surrendered without resistance. On a subsequent day, at 8 o'clock A.M., Elliston and John Perot entertained no apprehension of disturbance from any quarter, residing in a neutral island, but before 12 o'clock, they were prisoners of war, and all the property they possessed in the island was confiscated, and afterwards sold at public auction. They were, however, treated with personal respect, and every attention shown them, which their situation admitted, by the officers of the guard. They were detained as prisoners of war for some months, and when liberated Elliston went to England, when an attempt was made, in connection with others similarly situated, to prosecute Admiral Rodney and General Vaughan, for what they considered their illegal proceedings, and with a hope to recover damages for their loss; but the endeavor proved unsuccessful. He continued about three years in Europe, during which period he visited Holland, Ireland, and France, moving in the first commercial circles in the different countries. In 1784, he arrived in the United States, with the intention of making his permanent residence here, and commenced business in this country with his brother, John Perot, as merchants. The first property they purchased was on the eastern side of Water Street, between Market and Arch Streets, extending to the river Delaware, where he resided with his brother, and carried on business for several years under the same roof. In the year 1786, he made application, and was admitted a member of the religious Society of Friends, at the Monthly Meeting of Philadelphia, in which district he resided the remainder of his life. In 1787, 9th January, he married Sarah Sansom, only daughter of Samuel and Hannah Sansom, at the Bank Meeting-house, west side of Front, above Arch Street. After his marriage, his first residence was in the house No. 4 North Front Street, upon the Bank side, overlooking the Water Street establishment. Although advancing into age, Elliston Perot had been blessed with excellent health until the autumn of 1820, when, at the Yellow Springs, he was attacked with influenza, which impaired his constitution, and left him subject to an asthmatic affection; with this abatement, he continued to enjoy good health until the 21st November, 1834, when he complained of some indisposition, and afterward appeared to sink from debility rather than from an attack of illness. During the course of the succeeding week he was calm and reflective, evidently preparing for the final change, being fully aware that he was passing through his last illness, of which he spoke frequently to his children and other attendants, and was favored with consciousness until near his close, when he quietly passed away, 28th November, 1834. JOHN PEROT. JOHN PEROT, the brother of Elliston Perot, an eminent merchant of Philadelphia, was born in Bermuda, the 3d of May, 1749. The early part of his life he passed upon that island. When about twenty years of age, he went to Virginia, and spent between two and three years with his uncle, John Mallory, in Isle of Wight County, from which place he made several voyages to the West Indies, in a vessel belonging to his uncle. In 1772, he came from Bermuda to Philadelphia, where he and his friends loaded a vessel, with which he proceeded to Dominica. In 1781, he returned to Philadelphia, and settled; and in the year 1783, he married Mary Tybout, only child of Andrew Tybout, by his first wife. In 1784, he commenced business in this country with his brother, Elliston Perot, as merchants, under the firm of Elliston and John Perot. He died, in Philadelphia, 8th of January, A.D. 1841. RICHARD PETERS. BY SAMUEL BRECK. RICHARD PETERS, who died on the 22d of August, 1828, at his residence in Blockley, was born in the month of June, 1744, in the same house in which he expired; and had, consequently, passed, by a few months, the great age of eighty-four years. He received his education in the city of Philadelphia, and on entering the active scenes of life, was a good Latin and Greek scholar, and possessed a knowledge of the French and German languages. Having adopted the law as a profession, his acquaintance with the German greatly facilitated his country practice; while his intuitive smartness and steady industry placed him in the front rank of the young practitioners of the day. He had an uncle who was Secretary of the Colonial Government, and whose office was, as I think, connected with the land department. This uncle was fond of young Peters, and occasionally charged him with a part of the duties of his office. It was here, no doubt, that he became familiar with the land titles of the Province, and laid the foundation of the reputation he acquired in after times, of possessing an intimate knowledge of the land laws of the commonwealth, which in due time competently rewarded his labors. He was accustomed at this time to display his unrivalled wit. The playfulness of his conversation, always enlivened by flashes |