James Mifflin

JAMES MIFFLIN. At a regular stated monthly meeting of the Genealogical Society of Penn¬ sylvania, held Wednesday, December 16, 1895, the Recording Secretary was instructed to enter upon the record the following minute : The Board of Directors of the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania, in their great sorrow at the death of James Mifflin, which occurred on November 24, 1895, desire to record their acknowledgment of his services to the Society, he having been one of its original members and one of its Directors since its foundation, always evincing a deep interest in its work and ready to give it generous financial aid. Personally they feel the loss of an appreciative fellowworker, a courteous companion and an amiable friend. They offer their sym¬ pathy to his parents in their loss of an only child and devoted son, and condole with his widow in her grief, and direct that a copy of this minute be sent to the family. Descended from John Mifflin, of the Provincial Council, and a great-great-nephew of Thomas Mifflin, a Major-Gen¬ eral in the Continental Army, Governor of Pennsylvania, and President of the Continental Congress, our late fellowmember, James Mifflin, bore one of the most distinguished surnames in this Commonwealth. One of his paternal ancestors was a pioneer of this locality, coming to the shores of the Delaware three years before the arrival of William Penn ; and George Mifflin, the great-grandfather of James, served as a Captain in the Revolutionary War. George Mifflin married Martha Morris, the daughter of a family represented in nearly every public office during Quaker ascendancy, and some of James Mifflin’s ancestors in other lines responded to almost every call to arms in the history of the British settlements in America. James Mifflin, the only child of William and Ann Poultney (Large) Mifflin, who survive him, was born August 2, 1840, at Number 1212 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, married Lily Sturgis Wight, daughter of Edward Wight, formerly of Dedham, Mass., but afterwards of New York, and died without issue, Novem¬ ber 24, 1895, at 1824 Spruce Street, Philadelphia. (103) MAY 9 1899 104 James Mifflin. The circumstances of his family not requiring him to adopt any profession or engage in any other business than the care of his parents’ property, his life was that of a private gentleman, a member of many social clubs, going much in society, but the loving and unselfish companion of those at home, always residing with his parents, and signalizing him¬ self by unparalleled devotion to his father. James Mifflin was much interested in genealogy, and in 1890, caused to be prepared “ Memoranda Relating to the Mifflin Family,” a volume which he handsomely printed and presented to those interested. Shortly afterward he united in founding this Society, of which he was the first Treasurer. He remained a member of the Board until his death, con¬ stant in attendance, and ever ready with generous financial aid. He was also active in nearly all the patriotic heredi¬ tary organizations, being Lieutenant-Governor of the Society of Colonial Wars in the State of Pennsylvania, and DeputyGovernor-General of the National Society, member of the Pennsylvania Society of Sons of the Revolution, member of the Society of the War of 1812, and one of the originators and Vice-Commander of the Pennsylvania Commandery of the Military Order of Foreign Wars of the United States. He was also one of the Vice-Commander-Generals of the National Commandery.