Major Archibald Dick (Continental Army)

A Patriot of the American Revolution for PENNSYLVANIA. DAR Ancestor # A033542

Archibald Dick (b. 1715 Edinburgh – 1782) was a Major in the Revolutionary army, under Assistant Quartermaster General Frazer. Archibald married Mary Barnard and they had two children: Elisha Cullen Dick, and Thomas Barnard Dick.

Excerpt from the "History of Chester (Co., PA)", p. 395. May 4, 1772: Mr. Dick announced in the Pennsylvania Packet that he has purchased the "noted horse Dove, imported from England by Dr. Hamilton," and in the same paper, May 17, 1773, he advertises that he has "at Marcus Hook the horse Pennsylvania Farmer, without exception the greatest beauty in America, under care of David Miller." During the Revolutionary war he was active in behalf of the colonies, and held in 1779 the office of assistant quartermaster-general, and in 1780 was assistant forage-master for The Old Blue Ball Tavern. Nathaniel Lampleu (Lamplugh), Oct. 10, 1727, stated to the court that he "had been at considerable charge in building a house for public house on King's Road to Newcastle" and asked license for the same, which was allowed, and annually continued to him until Aug. 31, 1731, when Samuel Gray presented his petition to court, alleging that he had "taken to farm ye House with the appurtenances Commonly called & known by ye name of the Blew Ball Tavern, where a house of Entertainment hath been for some considerable time & now is kept." Gray remained at the noted inn, which was about a half-mile above the Delaware State line, until 1736, for on August 31st of that year Thomas Howell states that "having taken the house when Samuel Gray lately Dwell on the Great Road from Chester to New Castle, in the township of Chichester," he desired license, and it was granted to him annually thereafter until 1753, when he having died, the tavern was kept by his son until 1765, when Jonathan Pugh was the landlord. He was succeeded in 1765 by William McCoy, who seems to have died, for the next year Rachel McCoy had licensed, and in 1767, who gave place to John McCoy, and the latter in 1770 to Archibald Dick, who in his petition states that he succeeds McCoy in business, and that the building and farm are his property. Here Archibald Dick continued yearly to receive license until and including 1776, when, so far as the records show, his last application was in 1776, which was approved. Dick is said by Martin to have lived like a nabob at the Blue Ball, or rather as that author erroneously, I think, located his dwelling as being the large frame house standing at the southwest corner of the Chichester (Hook) Crossroads, which at that period was an imposing structure. He says that when Dick visited Philadelphia, he drove thither "in a barouch with four splendid horses, with his negro driver and servant," and that he was the owner of fine stock."

Ashmead's "History of Delaware County" Homepage http://www.delcohistory.org/ashmead/ashmead_pg467.htm

In his Will, he freed his slaves, giving each a legacy.

• Reference: WikiTree Genealogy - SmartCopy: Dec 4 2021, 18:58:30 UTC