69-631: Laurel Hill Cemetery , also called Laurel Hill East to distinguish it from the affiliated West Laurel Hill Cemetery in Bala Cynwyd , is a historic rural cemetery in the East Falls neighborhood of Philadelphia . Founded in 1836, it was the second major rural cemetery in the United States after Mount Auburn Cemetery in Boston , Massachusetts . The cemetery is 74-acre (300,000 m) in size and overlooks
138-466: A Doric receiving vault made of terra cotta was built in South Laurel Hill near the bridge connecting it to Central Laurel Hill. By the 1970s, Laurel Hill Cemetery had fallen out of favor as a burial site. Many bodies were re-interred at the more suburban West Laurel Hill Cemetery and the remaining graves suffered neglect, vandalism and crime. In 1973, Laurel Hill updated its policy and removed
207-433: A boyhood attitude, beyond his studies. By the time he reached his adolescence, he had learned how to ride a horse and shoot a gun . Though the school was simply for boys, McKean did interact with some females, which included Reverend Alison's wife, Hannah Armitage, and her toddler half-sister, Sarah Armitage, though McKean gave her little attention, preferring to be with his friends, Charles Thomson and George Read . After
276-422: A decade studying at Dr. Alison's academy, McKean's brother, Robert, left for London to study medicine This was the first time the two were separated. In the year 1750, McKean finally finished his studies with Dr. Alison, and shortly thereafter moved in with his uncle, John Finney, who was a wealthy lawyer at the time. During this, McKean studied with his cousin, David Finney, and after four years, in 1754, he
345-565: A good deal of correspondence and sign official documents. During his time in office, Lord Cornwallis 's British army surrendered at Yorktown , which effectively ended the war. Meanwhile, McKean led the effort in the General Assembly of Delaware to declare its separation from the British government, which it did on June 15, 1776. In August, he was elected to the special convention to draft a new state constitution. Upon hearing of it, McKean made
414-410: A massive Roman arch surrounded by an imposing classical colonnade and topped with a large ornamental urn. A large Gothic Revival style chapel was built on the grounds but removed in the 1880s to make room for additional graves. In 1836, the cemetery purchased a group of three sandstone statues from Scottish sculptor James Thom , known as Old Mortality . The statues were placed in a small enclosure in
483-531: A middle initial, and the flourish on the "n" in McKean led to the n being misread as a "p". McKean was over six feet tall, and he typically wore a large cocked hat and carried a gold-headed cane. He was a man of quick temper and vigorous personality, "with a thin face, hawk nose and hot eyes." John Adams described him as "one of the three men in the Continental Congress who appeared to me to see more clearly to
552-504: A residence hall and a campus road named for him. Oddly, the name of "Keap Street" in Brooklyn , New York, is the result of an erroneous effort to name a street after him. Many Brooklyn streets are named after signers of the Declaration of Independence, and "Keap Street" is the result of planners being unable to accurately read his signature. In some accounts the "M" of McKean was mistaken for
621-597: A rural cemetery on dry ground, where feelings should not be harrowed by viewing the bodies of beloved relatives plunged into mud and water." Smith joined forces with other prominent Philadelphia citizens including Benjamin Wood Richards , William Strickland and Nathan Dunn to form the Laurel Hill Cemetery Company and create a rural cemetery three miles north of the Philadelphia border on the east bank of
690-545: A strong executive and was himself a Federalist. Nevertheless, in 1796, dissatisfied with the Federalists' domestic policies and compromises with Great Britain, he became an outspoken Jeffersonian Republican, or Democratic-Republican. While chief justice of Pennsylvania, McKean played a role in the Whiskey Rebellion . On August 2, 1794, he took part in a conference on the rebellion. In attendance were Washington, his Cabinet,
759-468: Is a historic rural cemetery located in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania . It was founded in 1869, is 200 acres (81 hectares ) in size, and contains the burials of many notable people. It is affiliated with Laurel Hill Cemetery in nearby Philadelphia . The cemetery property is an accredited arboretum and has an on-site funeral home and crematorium . The cemetery contains two Jewish burial sections and an environmentally friendly burial section. The cemetery
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#1732844740306828-645: The Bureau Brothers Foundry , "The Silent Sentry" weighs 700 pounds and stands 7 feet, 2 inches high. It was installed in 1883 at the Soldiers' Home of Philadelphia burial plot in Mount Moriah Cemetery . In 1970, thieves removed the statue from its base and attempted to sell it as scrap metal to a scrap yard in Camden, New Jersey , but the scrap dealer notified the authorities. It was recovered and repaired by
897-699: The Continental Association , the Declaration of Independence , and the Articles of Confederation . McKean served as a President of Congress . McKean was at various times a member of the Federalist and the Democratic-Republican parties. McKean served as president of Delaware , chief justice of Pennsylvania, and the second governor of Pennsylvania . He also held numerous other public offices. McKean
966-736: The First Continental Congress in 1774 and the Second Continental Congress in 1775 and 1776. Being an outspoken advocate of independence, McKean was a key voice in persuading others to vote for a split with Great Britain. When Congress began debating a resolution of independence in June 1776, Rodney was absent. Read was against independence, which meant that the Delaware delegation was split between McKean and Read and therefore could not vote in favor of independence. McKean requested that
1035-828: The Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States . In 2013, the statue was installed and rededicated in Laurel Hill Cemetery. Laurel Hill Cemetery is also an accredited arboretum with over 6,000 trees and shrubs representing 700 species. The arboretum is a member of the American Public Gardens Association . Laurel Hill Cemetery is a popular tourist destination that attracts thousands of visitors every year for historical tours, concerts, and physical recreation. Citations Sources West Laurel Hill Cemetery West Laurel Hill Cemetery
1104-527: The Schuylkill River . The group considered several locations but decided on the 32 acre former estate of businessman Joseph Sims known as "Laurel" or "Laurel Hill". The location was viewed as a haven from urban expansion and a respite from the increasingly industrialized city center. The city later grew past Laurel Hill, but the cemetery retained its rural character. Designs for the cemetery were submitted by William Strickland and Thomas Ustick Walter but
1173-475: The Schuylkill River . The cemetery was designed by John Notman and grew to its current size through the purchase of four land parcels between 1836 and 1861. It contains over 11,000 family lots and more than 33,000 graves, including many adorned with grand marble and granite funerary monuments, elaborately sculpted hillside tombs and mausoleums. It is an accredited arboretum with over 6,000 trees and shrubs representing 700 species. In 1977, Laurel Hill Cemetery
1242-615: The U.S. Supreme Court 's establishment of the doctrine of judicial review . He augmented the rights of defendants and sought penal reform, but on the other hand was slow to recognize expansion of the legal rights of women and the processes in the state's gradual elimination of slavery." He was a member of the convention of Pennsylvania that ratified the Constitution of the United States. In the Pennsylvania State Constitutional Convention of 1789/90, he argued for
1311-819: The War of 1812 . He spent his retirement in Philadelphia in writing, discussing political affairs, and enjoying the considerable wealth that he had earned through investments and real estate. McKean was a member of the Pennsylvania Society of the Cincinnati in 1785 and was subsequently its vice president. McKean was also bestowed honorary LL.D. degrees (a) in 1781 by College of New Jersey (later renamed Princeton University) , (b) in 1782 by Dartmouth College , and (c) in 1785 by his alma mater, University of Pennsylvania. With University of Pennsylvania law professor James Wilson (Founding Father) , McKean published "Commentaries on
1380-458: The "propriety of an immediate resort to Military force." Some weeks later, Mckean and General William Irvine wrote to Pennsylvania Governor Thomas Mifflin and discussed the mission of federal committees to negotiate with the Rebels, describing them as "well disposed." However, McKean and Irvine felt the government must suppress the insurrection to prevent it from spreading to nearby counties. McKean
1449-505: The 1762–1763 session to the 1775–1776 session, he was a member of the General Assembly of the Lower Counties, serving as its speaker in 1772–1773. From July 1765, he also served as a judge of the Court of Common Pleas and began service as the customs collector at New Castle in 1771. In November 1765, his Court of Common Pleas became the first such court in the colonies to establish a rule for all
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#17328447403061518-405: The 1778–1779 sessions, succeeding John McKinly as speaker on February 12, 1777, when McKinly became president of Delaware. Shortly after President McKinly's capture and imprisonment, McKean served as the president of Delaware for a month, from September 22 to October 20, 1777. That was the time needed for the successor George Read to return from the Continental Congress in Philadelphia and to assume
1587-596: The British government. The minority Country Party was largely Irish Presbyterian (also referred to as "Scotch-Irish" in America), was centered in New Castle County, and quickly advocated independence from the British. The revolutionary slogan " no taxation without representation " had originated in the north of Ireland under the British Penal Laws, which denied Presbyterians and Catholics the right to vote for members of
1656-556: The Congress until February 1, 1783. McKean helped draft the Articles of Confederation and voted for their adoption on March 1, 1781. When poor health caused Samuel Huntington to resign as president of Congress in July 1781, McKean was elected as his successor. He served from July 10 to November 4, 1781. The position was mostly ceremonial with no real authority, but the office required McKean to handle
1725-623: The Constitution of the United States" in 1790. McKean died in Philadelphia and was buried in the First Presbyterian Church Cemetery there. In 1843, his body was moved to Laurel Hill Cemetery. McKean County, Pennsylvania is named in his honor, as is Thomas McKean High School in New Castle County, also McKean Street in Philadelphia, and the McKean Hall dormitory at the University of Delaware . Penn State University also has
1794-504: The Continental Congress in October 1776. However, the British occupation after the Battle of Brandywine swung opinions enough that McKean was returned to Congress in October 1777 by the 1777–1778 Delaware General Assembly. During that time, he was constantly pursued by British forces. Over the course of the following years, he was forced to relocate his family five times. He served continuously in
1863-515: The East Falls neighborhood of Philadelphia, was founded in 1836 and was the preferred burial ground of Philadelphia's rich and famous. By the mid-19th century, the creation of Fairmount Park and the encroaching city began to limit the expansion of Laurel Hill Cemetery. In 1869, John Jay Smith, the founder of Laurel Hill Cemetery, purchased 200 acres (81 hectares ) from three farms in Bala Cynwyd for
1932-589: The General Assembly took office on October 20 or the following weekday. State Assemblymen had a one-year term. The whole General Assembly chose the Continental Congressmen for a one-year term and the State President for a three-year term. Judges of the Courts of Common Pleas were also selected by the General Assembly for the life of the person appointed. McKean served as state president only temporarily, filling
2001-497: The Nature's Sanctuary which is a natural burial section that only allows biodegradable caskets, shrouds and urns. All the graves are dug by hand and the section is landscaped with local grasses, trees and shrubbery. West Laurel Hill was the first cemetery to map its grounds on a smart phone device, enabling visitors to search and navigate to grave locations, and access photos, video, text and other information. Laurel Hill Cemetery, in
2070-521: The Pencoyd Station. In 1886, a Gothic Revival bell tower designed by the architectural firm Cope and Stewardson was built at the highest elevation of the cemetery. In 1992, the cemetery was listed on the National Register of Historic Places . In 1994, West Laurel Hill purchased Bringhurst Funeral Home and a new funeral home was built on the property in 1997. The on-cemetery funeral home
2139-448: The U.S. Mint, David Rittenhouse . Many of the elaborate funerary monuments were designed by notable artists and architects including Alexander Milne Calder , Alexander Stirling Calder , Harriet Whitney Frishmuth and William Strickland . The monument design styles include Classical Revival , Gothic Revival and Egyptian Revival made out of materials such as marble, granite, cast-iron and sandstone. From its inception, Laurel Hill
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2208-737: The absent Rodney ride all night from Dover to break the tie. After the vote in favor of independence on July 2, McKean participated in the debate over the wording of the official Declaration of Independence, which was approved on July 4. A few days after McKean cast his vote, he left Congress to serve as colonel in command of the Fourth Battalion of the Pennsylvania Associators , a militia unit created by Benjamin Franklin in 1747. They joined General George Washington 's defense of New York City at Perth Amboy, New Jersey . Being away, McKean
2277-547: The cemetery as a family destination. During and after the American Civil War , Laurel Hill became the final resting place of hundreds of military figures, including 40 Civil War-era generals. Laurel Hill also became the favored burial place for many of Philadelphia's most prominent political and business figures, including Matthias W. Baldwin , founder of the Baldwin Locomotive Works ; Henry Disston , owner of
2346-495: The cemetery in perpetual care so future generations may remember the deceased. To increase its cachet, the cemetery's organizers had the remains of several famous Revolutionary War figures moved there, including Continental Congress secretary Charles Thomson ; Declaration of Independence signer Thomas McKean ; Philadelphia war veteran and shipbuilder Jehu Eyre ; hero of the Battle of Princeton, Hugh Mercer ; and first director of
2415-525: The cemetery to purchase an additional 10 acres from Frederick Stoever known as the Stoever Tract. The Yellow Fever Monument was built in this section in 1859 to honor the "Doctors, Druggists and Nurses" who helped fight the epidemic in Portsmouth, Virginia . In 1860, Laurel Hill Cemetery had an estimated 140,000 people visit annually. In 1861, the 21-acre estate of George Pepper between the two cemeteries
2484-408: The cemetery were influenced by the "landscape lawn" design implemented by Adolph Strauch at Spring Grove Cemetery in Cincinnati, Ohio. The cemetery opened a designated Jewish section called Chesed Shel Emet in 2011. A second Jewish section, Makom Shalom, opened in 2022. The cemetery and funeral home offers services consistent with Jewish burial and mourning traditions. The cemetery contains
2553-512: The central courtyard directly in front of the main gatehouse. The statues are based on a tale by Sir Walter Scott and depict Scott talking to Old Mortality, an elderly man who traveled through the Scottish Highlands re-carving weathered tombstones, along with his pony. A plaster bust of the artist, James Thom, was added to the display in 1872. The owners of the cemetery intended to equate the mission of Old Mortality with their own – to keep
2622-456: The commission selected Scottish-American architect John Notman . Notman's designs incorporated the topography of the location and included a string of terraces that descended to the river. Notman built upon designs incorporated by Henry Edward Kendall at Kensal Green Cemetery in London. The cemetery was developed and completed between 1836 and 1839. Notman designed the gatehouse which consists of
2691-515: The creation of West Laurel Hill Cemetery. The first burial occurred in 1870. In the early days of the cemetery, transportation was difficult and burials were an all day affair. Funeral processions would arrive by steamboat on the Schuylkill River from Philadelphia and the caskets would be transported by carriage up the steep bluffs to the cemetery. Eventually, the Reading Railroad implemented rail service and funeral entourages would arrive at
2760-561: The duties. Immediately after the Battle of Brandywine, the British Army occupied Wilmington and much of northern New Castle County . Its navy also controlled the lower Delaware River and Delaware Bay . As a result, the state capital, New Castle, was unsafe as a meeting place, and the Sussex County seat, Lewes , was sufficiently disrupted by Loyalists that it was unable to hold a valid general election that autumn. As president, McKean
2829-413: The end of the business than any others in the body." As chief justice and governor of Pennsylvania he was frequently the center of controversy. In the 1969 Broadway musical, 1776 , McKean is portrayed as a gun-toting cantankerous old Scot who cannot get along with the wealthy and conservative planter George Read. In truth, McKean and Read belonged to opposing political factions in Delaware, but McKean
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2898-473: The gates between April and December, 1848. " In 1844, due to increasing popularity, Laurel Hill purchased the 27-acre former estate of jurist William Rawle , half a mile south and named it South Laurel Hill. In 1849, a set of iron gates on sandstone piers was built in the southeastern corner of the cemetery and served as a secondary entrance. In 1855, the Pennsylvania State Assembly authorized
2967-402: The governor of Pennsylvania, and other officials. Washington interpreted the rebellion to be a grave threat could mean "an end to our Constitution and laws." Washington advocated "the most spirited and firm measure" but held back on what that meant. McKean argued that the matter should be left up to the courts, not the military, to prosecute and punish the rebels. Alexander Hamilton insisted upon
3036-466: The historical, architectural and cultural importance of Laurel Hill Cemetery; and provide tour guides to educate the public. The organization was instrumental in Laurel Hill Cemetery's placement on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977 and designation as a National Historic Landmark in 1998. In 2013, an 1883 bronze statue of a Civil War soldier was moved to Laurel Hill Cemetery. Cast at
3105-431: The historiographical difficulty of reviewing court records and other scattered documents prevents recognition that McKean, rather than John Marshall , did more than anyone else to establish an independent judiciary in the United States. As chief justice under a Pennsylvania constitution he considered flawed, he assumed it the right of the court to strike down legislative acts it deemed unconstitutional, preceding by ten years
3174-415: The influential Aurora newspaper publisher William P. Duane and the Philadelphia populist Michael Leib . After they led public attacks calling for his impeachment , McKean filed a partially successful libel suit against Duane in 1805. The Pennsylvania House of Representatives impeached the governor in 1807, but, for the rest of his term, his friends prevented an impeachment trial from being held, and
3243-530: The largest saw factory in the world (the Disston Saw Works ); and financier Peter A. B. Widener . By the mid-19th century, the creation of Fairmount Park and the encroaching city began to limit the expansion of Laurel Hill Cemetery. In 1869, John Jay Smith, the founder of Laurel Hill Cemetery, purchased 200 acres from three farms in nearby Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania for the creation of West Laurel Hill Cemetery . The first burial occurred in 1870. In 1913,
3312-412: The last day of its session, when the business session ended, Timothy Ruggles , the president of the body, and a few other more cautious members refused to sign the memorial of rights and grievances. McKean arose and addressing the chair insisted that the president give his reasons for his refusal. After refusing at first, Ruggles remarked that "it was against his conscience." McKean then disputed his use of
3381-401: The long ride to Dover, Delaware, from Philadelphia in a single day, went to a room in an inn, and that night, virtually by himself, drafted the document. It was adopted September 20, 1776. The Delaware Constitution of 1776 became the first state constitution to be produced after the Declaration of Independence. McKean was elected to Delaware's first House of Assembly for both the 1776–1777 and
3450-413: The matter was dropped. When the suit was settled after McKean left office, his son Joseph angrily criticized Duane's attorney for alleging out of context that McKean referred to the people of Pennsylvania as "clodpoles" (clodhoppers). Some of McKean's other accomplishments included expanding free education for all and, at age eighty, leading a Philadelphia citizens group to organize a strong defense during
3519-660: The northeast corner of Third and Pine Streets in Philidelphia. Together they would have four children, one of whom married the Spanish diplomat, Carlos Martínez de Irujo , who was appointed to his position in 1796. In 1755, he was admitted to the bar of the Lower Counties , as Delaware was then known, and likewise in the Province of Pennsylvania the following year. In 1756, he was appointed deputy attorney general for Sussex County . From
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#17328447403063588-629: The parliament. McKean was the epitome of the Country Party politician and was, as much as anyone else, its leader. As such, he generally worked in partnership with Caesar Rodney from Kent County and in opposition to his friend and neighbor, George Read . At the Stamp Act Congress of 1765, McKean and Caesar Rodney represented Delaware. McKean proposed the voting procedure that the Continental Congress later adopted: each colony, regardless of size or population, would have one vote. That decision set
3657-584: The precedent, the Congress of the Articles of Confederation adopted the practice, and the principle of state equality has continued in the composition of the United States Senate . McKean quickly became one of the most influential members of the Stamp Act Congress. He was on the committee that drew the memorial to parliament and, with John Rutledge and Philip Livingston , revised its proceedings. On
3726-506: The proceedings of the court to be recorded on unstamped paper . In 1768, McKean was elected to the revived American Philosophical Society . Eighteenth-century Delaware was politically divided into loose political factions known as the "Court Party" and the "Country Party". The majority Court Party was generally Anglican, was strongest in Kent and Sussex counties, worked well with the colonial Proprietary government, and supported reconciliation with
3795-528: The prohibition on the burial of African-Americans in the cemetery. In 1978, the Friends of Laurel Hill Cemetery, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, was founded by descendants of John Jay Smith to support the cemetery. The mission of the Friends is to assist the Laurel Hill Cemetery Company in preserving and promoting the historical character of Laurel Hill. The Friends raise funds and seek contributed services; prepare educational and research materials emphasizing
3864-481: The vacancy created by John McKinly's capture and resignation and awaiting the arrival of George Read. Pennsylvania elections were held in October as well. The Pennsylvania Supreme Executive Council was created in 1776 and counsellors were popularly elected for three-year terms. A joint ballot of the Pennsylvania General Assembly and the council chose the president from among the twelve counsellors for
3933-418: The word "conscience" so loudly and so long that a challenge was given by Ruggles and accepted in the presence of the Congress. However, Ruggles left the next morning at daybreak, and so the duel did not take place. In spite of his primary residence in Philadelphia, McKean remained the effective leader for American independence in Delaware. Along with Read and Caesar Rodney, he was one of Delaware's delegates to
4002-530: Was at odds with factions of his own Democratic-Republican Party, and the Pennsylvania General Assembly instead nominated Speaker Simon Snyder for governor. McKean then forged an alliance with Federalists, called "the Quids," and defeated Snyder. Afterwards, he began removing Jeffersonians from state positions. The governor's beliefs in stronger executive and judicial powers were bitterly denounced by
4071-846: Was born on March 19, 1734, in New London Township in the Province of Pennsylvania to William McKean and Letitia Finney. His father, William, immigrated to the colony of Pennsylvania in 1720, and was later listed as a tavern keeper. When his mother, Letitia died in the fall of 1742, it took a strain on Thomas's, father, William. He quickly became an alcoholic, and because of that, was incapable of raising his family. Thomas's younger sister, went to go live with their aunt and uncle, while eight- year-old Thomas, and ten-year-old, Robert began their education under Reverend Francis Alison at his school in New Castle, Delaware During his education, McKean took on
4140-468: Was elected governor of Pennsylvania and served three terms from December 17, 1799, to December 20, 1808. In the 1799 election , he defeated the Federalist Party nominee James Ross and again more easily in the 1802 election . At first, McKean ousted Federalists from state government positions and so he has been called the father of the spoils system . However, in seeking a third term in 1805 , McKean
4209-619: Was finally admitted to the Bar (law) . At some point, McKean met Mary Borden, the daughter of Colonel Joseph Borden of New Jersey . They would marry on July 21, 1763 in Mary's hometown of Bordentown . Together, they had six children, two boys, and four girls, one of whom died in childhood. Mary Borden would die on March 12, 1773, in Delaware of an unknown cause. Shortly after the death of Mary Borden, at some point, McKean reconnected with Sarah Armitage, who he'd marry on September 16, 1774, and would live at
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#17328447403064278-435: Was intended as a civic institution designed for public use. In an era before public parks, museums and arboretums, it was a multi-purpose cultural attraction where the general public could experience the art and refinement previously known only to the wealthy. By the 1840s, Laurel Hill was an immensely popular destination and required tickets for admission. Writer Andrew Jackson Downing reported " nearly 30,000 persons…entered
4347-528: Was listed on the National Register of Historic Places and in 1998, became the first cemetery in the United States to be designated a National Historic Landmark . The cemetery was founded in 1836 by John Jay Smith, a librarian and editor with interests in horticulture and real estate, who was distressed at the way his deceased daughter was interred at the Arch Street Meeting House burial ground in Philadelphia. Smith wrote, "Philadelphia should have
4416-434: Was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1992. The cemetery is laid out with panoramic views of the Schuylkill River and thousands of planted trees. The cemetery is an accredited arboretum with over 150 species of trees and is a member of American Public Gardens Association . It contains monuments and mausoleums of varying architectural design including Egyptian, Gothic and Greek. The earliest sections of
4485-538: Was not a Scottish immigrant. His parents were Irish Presbyterians (referred to as "Scotch-Irish" in America and "Ulster Scots" in Northern Ireland). His surname is pronounced mc-CANE but was mispronounced as mc-KEEN in the film adaptation of the musical. McKean was portrayed by Bruce MacKay in the original Broadway cast and Ray Middleton in the 1972 film version . Delaware elections were held October 1, and members of
4554-452: Was not available when most of the signers placed their signatures on the Declaration of Independence on August 2, 1776. Since his signature did not appear on the printed copy that was authenticated on January 17, 1777, it is assumed that he signed after that date, possibly as late as 1781. In a conservative reaction against the advocates of American independence, the 1776-1777 Delaware General Assembly did not reelect either McKean or Rodney to
4623-402: Was primarily occupied with recruitment of the militia and with keeping some semblance of civic order in the portions of the state still under his control. McKean started his long tenure as chief justice of Pennsylvania on July 28, 1777, and served in that capacity until 1799. There, he largely set the rules of justice for revolutionary Pennsylvania. According to the biographer John Coleman, "only
4692-411: Was purchased and named Central Laurel Hill. With these additions, the cemetery reached the current size of approximately 95 acres. A bridge was built over Hunting Park Avenue to connect Central and South Laurel Hill. The cemetery association restricted who could buy lots and the majority of burials were for white Protestants. The cemetery discouraged unmarried people from buying lots in order to keep
4761-399: Was renamed West Laurel Hill Funeral Home in 2016 and to Laurel Hill Funeral Home in 2022. Thomas McKean Thomas McKean ( / m ɪ k ˈ k eɪ n / ; March 19, 1734 – June 24, 1817) was an American lawyer, politician, and Founding Father . During the American Revolution , he was a Delaware delegate to the Continental Congress in Philadelphia , where he signed
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