Steele Family Papers
Call Number: MG-591
1 box 18 folders .25 cubic ft.
Repository: LancasterHistory.org (Lancaster, Pa.)
Shelving Location: Archives South, Side 12
Description: This collection contains genealogical records, notes, and documents supporting the lineage between Mary Edna Murphy (DAR No. 297765) and Revolutionary War soldiers Robert Bailey, John Cowell, Adam Reigart, Henry Slaymaker, and John Steele, and architect Robert Smith.
Creator: Steele family.
Conditions for Access: No restrictions.
Conditions Governing Reproductions: Collection may not be photocopied. Please contact Research Staff or Archives Staff with questions.
Language: English
Source of Acquisition: Gift of Leonard G. Murphy, September 2010.
Administrative History: Processed and finding aid prepared by MK, 2014.
Folder 1 Scrapbook (Cowell, Robert Smith, Slaymaker, Bailey, Wager, Reigart)
A scrapbook of biographical and genealogical sketches of the Cowell, Slaymaker, Bailey, Reigart, and Wager families from the 1600s the 1930s, and Robert Smith. Includes newspaper clippings of biographical information, obituaries, a poem in memory of Mary Reigart, and images of homesteads and business locations; a visiting card and envelop bearing the names of Mr. & Mrs. Henry Slaymaker and Mary Steele (undated); a photograph taken in Port Deposit, Maryland (July 1871) of Henry Magram, Mary Slaymaker, Donald Halderman, Lizzie Boynton, Will Heald, Annie Patterson, Daisy Richards, Emily Magram; and, the Naval service record of John Steele.
Folder 2 Reigart
Insert 1 A transmittal from Adam Reigart to John Mitchell sending payment for the purchase of claret and porter (April 16, 1775) and a journal of receipts for supply of spirits (1792-1793).
Insert 2 An invoice and payment receipt from Simon Gratz and Brother (Philadelphia, 1821) for gunpowder and tea purchased by Adam Reigart.
Insert 3 A pencil written descendancy chart of Ulrich Reichart and Anna Maria Merkel (no date).
Insert 4 An ink written descendancy chart of Ulrich Reichart and Anna Maria Merkel (no date).
Folder 3 Francis Murphy, Sr., Affidavit of Intestate Heir and Transferee
Noncertified affidavit of intestate heir and transferee in the matter of the estate of Francis Murphy, Sr. of Montgomery Co., PA, June 1976.
Folder 4 Philip Wager
Insert 1 Notes on the Families of Wager, Wirtz, Houser, Baker, and Schriener by Thomas Allen Glenn (no date).
Insert 2 Transcript May 19, 1813 will of Philip Wager (no date).
Insert 3 Correspondence from and to James Sellers, esq. regarding the estate of Philip Wager, 1898-1900.
Folder 5 Slaymaker
Insert 1 Letter from Stephen Slaymaker to R. Frazer inquiring on behalf of Mrs. Shenck whether Anthony Nichol as been summoned to appear in the indictment for erecting a battery in the Susquehanna. Marietta Furnace, August 4, 1834.
Insert 2 An excerpt of an article “Old Time Hostelries” from Christian Culture recounting the history of Henry Slaymaker’s “State Arms” hotel in Lancaster (no date).
Insert 3 Invitation response from Captain and Mrs. Steele to Mrs. Stephen Slaymaker, S. Duke Street, with envelope. Harmony Hall, October 13, no year.
Folder 6 Estate Papers of Susan Reigart Slaymaker
Insert 1 Will and letter of instructions, copy, 1917.
Insert 2 Schedule of property bequeathed to various individuals, November 23, 1916.
Insert 3 Probated will, January 18, 1917.
Insert 4 Inventory and appraisal of goods and chattel, copy, 1917
Insert 5 Final account statement of Mary Reigart Cowell, Executrix, 1918.
Insert 6 Addendum to account statement of Executrix, no date.
Insert 7 Account statement of trust account, February 1917.
Insert 8 Orphan’s court order to distribute trust funds to certain individuals, no date.
Folder 7 Estate papers of Mary Slaymaker
Insert 1 Release of assets, October 14, 1908.
Insert 2 Copy of will, June 27, 1906.
Folder 8 Society of the Cincinnati and newspaper clippings
Insert 1 Brochures and article relating the history of the Society of the Cincinnati, no dates.
Insert 2 Clippings of newspaper photos of old buildings in Lancaster, [c. 1922].
Folder 9 Hamilton Family
Insert 1 Transcribed tombstone inscriptions William Hamilton, James Hamilton, and Mary Hamilton, no date.
Insert 2 Transcript of the history of the Hamilton property, no date.
Folder 10 Porter Family
Insert 1 Porter descendancy and biographical note.
Insert 2 Biographical sketch of Robert Porter and descendants, 1961.
Insert 3 Transcript of the history of the Buckwalter property, no date.
Folder 11 John Francis Steele book of poetry, 1831.
Folder 12 William Steele
Insert 1 William Steele biographical sketch, no date.
Insert 2 Biography of William Steele and descendants, no date.
Insert 3 William Steele genealogy, no date.
Folder 13 John Steele
Insert 1 Clippings of biographical footnotes on Bailey family members, no date.
Insert 2 Copy of “Drumore Celebration” Quarryville Sun, September 20,1921.
Insert 3 Notes on John Steele, Jr., including descendants, no date.
Insert 4 Correspondence and genealogical records of Harriot Steel Maxwell and other Maxwells, various dates.
Insert 5 John Steele obituary (March 27, 1827) and photocopy
Folder 14 Robert Smith
Insert 1 Robert Smith biographical notes, no date.
Insert 2 Newsletters and flyers regarding Robert Smith and his buildings, various dates.
Folder 15 Cowell-Marachi
Insert 1 Biographical note on Solomon Marachi, no date.
Insert 2 Cowell bookplates, no date.
Insert 3 Cowell family tree, June 30. 1990.
Folder 16 DAR Membership Application Materials
Insert 1 Mary Edna Murphey to John Steele working sheet, no date.
Insert 2 Incomplete Mary E. Murphy to John Cowell, M.D. application and copy, April 4, 1949.
Folder 17 Genealogical Notes and Correspondence
Insert 1 Correspondence between Mary Murphy and parties regarding certain ancestors, 1943-1992.
Insert 2 Handwritten research notes, no date.
Insert 3 Request from the DAR to Mary Murphy asking for additional documentation of lineage to Philip Wager, 1951.
Folder 18 Excerpted Smith family historical court records and publications 1753-1810, no date.