Reuben Haines

Reuben Haines (January 1, 1727 – October 23, 1793) was an early American brewer, firefighter, and land prospector from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[1]

Reuben Haines
Born(1727-01-01)January 1, 1727
Burlington, New Jersey, Province of New Jersey, British America
DiedOctober 23, 1793(1793-10-23) (aged 66)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
NationalityAmerican
Known forMaster Brewer
namesake of Haines Township, Centre County, Pennsylvania

Haines is the namesake of Haines Township, Centre County, Pennsylvania.[2] In 1771, he funded the construction of a road (now Pennsylvania Route 45)[3] from Sunbury through the "Woodward Narrows", to the modern site of Spring Mill — the first road in what is now Centre County.[4] The modern boundaries of Penn Township (formed 1844) and a portion of Gregg Township (formed 1826) were annexed from a larger Haines Township (now only 148.6 km2) that was established before Centre County was officially declared in 1800.[4][2]

Haines was a proprietor of the historic Wyck House in Germantown, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[5]

Biography

Family and Marriage

Haines was the son of Josiah Haines and Martha Burr, both of Burlington County, New Jersey. After the death of Josiah, his mother married Timothy Matlack Sr. (1695–1752), with whom she had more children. One of these children was Timothy Matlack, the brewer and politician, who was Haines's younger half-brother. Haines was also the first cousin of the Quaker abolitionist John Woolman.[6]

On April 4, 1760, Haines married Margaret Wistar (1729–1793), daughter of the wealthy glass-maker Caspar Wistar.[5] They had five children:

  • Catherine Haines (1761–1808), who married Richard Hartshorne
  • Caspar Wistar Haines (1762–1803), who married Hannah Marshall and inherited the Wyck House estate. They were the parents of Reuben Haines III, scientist and farmer.[1]
  • Josiah Haines (1764–?), who married Susan Harriett Bull
  • Reuben Haines Jr. (1765–1793)
  • Martha Haines (1769–1781)

Firefighting

Haines and his stepfather Timothy Matlack Sr. were members of the Fellowship Fire Company, the second organized fire company in the British colonies.[7]

Brewery

After his stepfather's death in 1752, Haines inherited his brewery, multiple properties, and a considerable amount of debt.[5] Haines continued this business with the help of his sons, Caspar Haines and Reuben Haines Jr.[5] From 1784–1793, "Reuben Haines and Sons" brewery was located at No. 145 Market Street in Philadelphia. A few months before his death, Haines led a parade of more than 75 brewers through the streets of Philadelphia, with banners reading "Home brew'd is best" and "Proper drink for Americans".[8]

Haines's clients included many notable figures including Benjamin Franklin[9] and George Washington.[10]

Death

Haines and his wife Margaret died in Philadelphia during the yellow fever epidemic of 1793.[1][5]

References
  1. American Philosophical Society Library. "Wyck Association Collection (Mss.Ms.Coll.52)".
  2. Mitchell, J. Thomas (February 3, 2009). Centre County: From Its Earliest Settlement to the Year 1915. Penn State Press. ISBN 978-0-271-04499-6.
  3. Huffines, Marion Lois (2012). Mifflinburg and the West End. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7385-9212-1.
  4. "Centre County's Townships and Boroughs - Centre County Historical Society". Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  5. Claussen, W. Edmunds (1970). WYCK: The story of an historic house. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Mary T. Haines.
  6. Woolman, John (1922). The Journal and Essays of John Woolman. Macmillan.
  7. Coelho, Chris (June 6, 2013). Timothy Matlack, Scribe of the Declaration of Independence. McFarland. ISBN 978-1-4766-0564-7.
  8. Scharf, John Thomas; Westcott, Thompson (1884). History of Philadelphia, 1609-1884. L. H. Everts & Company.
  9. "Statement of Account with Benjamin Franklin. | APS Digital Library". diglib.amphilsoc.org. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  10. "Founders Online: From George Washington to Clement Biddle, 6 October 1788". founders.archives.gov. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
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