An American Family History

Simon Hadley

He married Ruth Miller Keran (also spelled Kieran, Kernan, Keeron) in 1697 in Dublin County, Leinster, Ireland. Ruth was born in December, 1677. Ruth was the daughter of Robert Miller and Margaret Broithwaite.

1697 the 26th of the 11th mo 
Whereas Simon Hadly the elder hath acted contrary to the order of truth by giving way to his son to proceed in relation to marriage with a young woman whom another man hath liberty to speak to her ...

Jacob Fuller and John Mickell are desired to speak to Simon Hadly, the younger, and know of him whether he will give friends such satisfaction as will clear truth against his runing out to marry with a priest ...

Simon and Ruth's children included:

Joseph Hadley (1698, married Amy Gregg),
Deborah Hadley (1701, married Benjamin Fred and Jacob Howell),
Joshua Hadley (1703, married Mary Roland and Patience Brown),
Simon Hadley, Jr. (1705),
Hannah Hadley (1710, married Thomas Dixon and John Stanfield),
Ruth Hadley (1713, married Thomas Lindley),
Catherine Hadley (1716, married Robert Johnson), and
Anne Hadley (1718, married Richard Gregg).

They immigrated from Ireland about 1712 and settled in New Castle County, Delaware. Simon bought 1,000 acres that were about 35 miles southwest of Philadelphia in what was then the Manor of Steyning, and was later New Garden Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania.

In 1713 the Friends of Steyning Manor built a meeting house and Simon was one of the four trustees named to hold land for the meeting.

In 1716 the family was received at the Newark Monthly Meeting on certificate from Moate Meeting, County of West Meath, Ireland

In 1717, they built a stone house, barn, and outbuildings.

In 1726, Simon was appointed a Justice of the Peace and was re-appointed in 1727 and 1733. He also served as a Judge of the New Castle Court.

Ruth died on February 18, 1751.

In 1752, Simon married Phebe Grubb Buffington at Bradford Monthly Meeting in Chester County Pennsylvania. Phebe was born about 1684 in New Castle. She was the daughter of John Grubb and Frances Vane. She was the widow of Richard Buffington, Jr. Phebe already had children when they married.

In 1754, Simon Hadley wrote to the copyist, Thomas Woodward:

Respected friend, Thomas Woodward;
My wife (Phoebe) hath a desire for to see thee for she hath a writing to draw and she is desirous that thou should draw it, therefore I desire thee come as soon as possible and thow wilt oblige thy friend to serve thee,
Simon Hadly.
I have got some money for thee from John Buhoman.

Simon died in 1756. He had already provided for his children and left the majority of his estate to his grandchildren.