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|--Richard CANTRIL
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that Joseph had older and younger brothers in Derbyshire, England. Richard posted a 100 pound bond. This document is on file at the Register of Wills, City Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Administrative Book "A", page 66, file number 54, 1689. We know from the records of Derbyshire that there were a number of Cantrill families in the shire and that they were closely associated with the St. Alkmunds Church in Derby. A search of the Derbyshire Parish Registers in 1979 failed to reveal a record of Richard's ancestry. It has been impossible to find records to prove the parentage, or birthplace of Richard Cantril, but there is no doubt that he came from the Derbyshire branch of the English family. He may have been a descendent of William or Henry Cantrell of Virginia. Fisher says, in his "Making of Pennsylvania," that "quite a number of Virginians migrated from that Colony to the banks of the Delaware before the settlement of Philadelphia by William Penn, in 1678, under the rule of the Duke of York."
We know from tradition and provincial records that Richard was a brickmason and the operator of a brick factory. His arrival in America has been estimated based upon several facts of historical significance. King Charles II of England owed a vast sum of money to a wealthy English Admiral named Penn, and when the Admiral died, his son William Penn inherited the debt. The
King was willing to settle the debt by granting Penn an enormous tract of land in the New World. William had become a Quaker during his college years, and was continuously in trouble with the English crown. Now was his chance to form a Quaker colony where they could worship in peace. He needed artisans and families to successfully claim "Penn's Forest." The King did not favor the migration of craftsmen, particularly the type needed by Penn. However, during this period, a wealthy Englishman could obtain a license to migrate and take with him as many servants and their families as he desired. Penn devised a plan, whereby qualified craftsmen, who could afford to pay their passage (but were not otherwise allowed to leave England) would be signed on as servants, on the condition that upon landing in America, they would pay their masters the passage money, and in some cases receive land and be freemen. Numerous artisans, Quakers and others, joined the exodus to America with William Penn. By establishing the colony with qualified and capable personnel, it became the best administered colony in America.
William Penn sailed for America to claim his land in the ship "Welcome" under master Robert Greenway. The ship arrived in Pennsylvania on the 24th day of the 8th month 1682, or in the present method of dating, 24 June 1682. The ship was ballasted with English brick instead of the usual stone because Penn had decided that he would live in adequate shelter instead of the caves and log huts of the New World. Neither the roster of the "Welcome" nor those of other ships arriving shortly afterwards lists a Richard Cantril, his nephew or any other brickmason. However, a Mary Cantril, servant to Nicholas Schull, arrived in America 10 May 1685. It is unlikely that Penn would have brought the bricks to America without having a qualified brickmason also. It has been a family tradition that Richard built the first brick house in Philadelphia. Historical records of Pennsylvania show that the first brick house belonged to Robert Turner and was located at the corner of First and Mulberry (Arch) Streets. Robert was a wealthy merchant from Dublin who arrived in 1683 and had his house built in 1684-85. In the same years, Daniel Pegge, a future brother-in-law of Richard's, had a brick house built in "Pegge's Run." It is possible that Richard Cantril had the contract for erecting both of these houses, which would easily account for the tradition in the family.
From "Pennsylvania Archives", Vol XIX: "At a meeting of the Commissioners, 6th of July, 1692. Present Captain William Markham, Robert Turner, John Goodson, ... Richard Cantril requesting a warrant for a lot of 30 ft. upon Third Street, near the Burying Ground, was granted."
From the Original Records, Deed Book "D" 53, page 50: "Richard Cantril to Thomas Hall, sold 30 ft. X 190 ft. May 13, 1693, Third and Market Streets."
In Patent Book "A" Vol II, page 344, there is a lease for 21 years (May 5, 1702) made by Edward Shippen, Griffith Owen and James Logan, as Proprietary and Governor in Chief of Pennsylvania and Territories thereunto belonging ... of a ..."Certain tract of land between Fifth and Sixth Streets containing three acres and sixty perches' (Here follows a full description by metes and bounds) to Richard Cantril, Brickmaker, with all woods and underwood and trees ways, waters, water courses, liberties, profits, commodities, advantages, and opportunities whatsoever." The rental was forty shillings per year, "current silver money of the Province"..."Said Richard Cantril shall build, erect, and set up a substantial brick house one story and a half in height an in breadth eighteen feet and in length thirty-six feet; the first story of one brick and a half and the second story of one brick, and further that said Richard Cantril shall make an orchard upon some part of the hereby granted land, with at least eighty good bearing apple trees planted thereon, and shall also well and sufficiently fence and enclose the said demised land."
In "Pennsylvania Archives" we find: "Cantrill, Old Rights: Richard Cantril, city lot 3 acres, 10 day, 10 month, 1701. Rich, return 3 acres, 3 month 1702."
Later the Archives record a "Caveat against surveying of land adjoining Richard Cantril's estate, issuing to the heirs, or executors of the said Richard Cantril, or any under him, May 31, 1753." No record could be found of the disposition of the estate of Richard Cantril, either by his heirs or executors, but he evidently died prior to May 31, 1753.
!SOURCE: Cantrell Family History, Glenda Ruth Densmore Harrel, Edgecliff, TX
!Reference: Early Families of the North Carolina Counties of Rockingham and Stokes with Revolutionary Service", compiled and published by members of James Hunter Chapter, National Society of Daughters of American Revolution of Madison, North Carolina, published 1977.
!Reference: Warren G. Cantrell, 1913 Willowbend, Killeen, TX 76543, February 1990.