The former Deep Run Farm was located next to the old Edward Ingersoll home, and the springs that was also named "Deep Run." The history of the home dates back to the early 18th century when the property was owned by the Cleaver family, and fast forward to the 20th century the home became the focus of one of the most controversial stories involving the arrest of its resident.
The Cleaver Plantation
It all started after 1700 after the Evans brothers arrived in Gwynedd. One of the Evans brothers, Robert Evans (1658-1738), purchased 200 acres of land, across from where the Spring House Tavern is, where he built his farmhouse.
Prior to the turn of the 18th century, a German Quaker named Peter Cleaver/Klever (1667-1726) arrived in Germantown where he was naturalized in 1691. His children began to spread out from Germantown, including his namesake son Peter Cleaver, Jr. (1697-1776) who moved to Upper Dublin where he bought 162 acres of land from John Potts in 1721. His son, Ezekiel Cleaver (1729-1785), went out of Upper Dublin and settled in Gwynedd in 1769 where he purchased 140 acres of land, the original land of Robert Evans.
Fun Fact # 1: Ezekiel and his namesake son, Ezekiel Cleaver, Jr., were enlisted during the American Revolution in Captain John Shelmire's militia company.
Ezekiel, Sr.'s 140 acres was divided for his seven children, but it was his other son Ellis Cleaver (1758-1829) who obtained his father's homestead for 40 years. In his will, he divided his land to his two sons: Ezekiel and Solomon Cleaver (1797-1865). Ezekiel took possession of his father's homestead while Solomon built his home north of the family homestead. It was at his home where his daughter, Hannah Cleaver (1830-1912), married the son of the town hero: Mary Ambler.
Joseph M. E. Ambler (1830-1895) was born at his family homestead on July 23 to Mary and Andrew Ambler, and stayed around his home until he married Solomon Cleaver's daughter in 1854. Two years ago, he leased Solomon's property and lived there until his death. After leasing the property he finally purchased his father in-law's property.
He continued farming on the property until he retired and returned to Ambler in 1876 where he purchased a property on Ridge and Forest Avenues.
It's Nice While it Lasted
In late June 1917, Jesse Williamson, II (1881-1969) was charged for misappropriating funds at the Pennsylvania Company for Insurance on Lives and Granting Annuities, a company where he was a trust officer and secretary. He entered the company as an assistant bookkeeper in 1898, and had been taking out securities from 4 wealthy estates of older women in Philadelphia: Ida Buckman, Caroline W. Watson, Emily C. Jacobs, and Harriet Blanchard. At least $500,000-$750,000 was stolen from them.
He was held under bail for $50,000 to answer charges of forgery and embezzlement. The original bond was $25,000.
Jesse pleaded guilty, and on June 29, 1917, he was sentenced to prison for 8-24 years for
embezzlement with a $1,000 fine. He was placed at the Eastern State Penitentiary.
Fun Fact # 2: Jesse helped a fellow inmate from ESP to create a store on Walnut Street in Philadelphia.
"His plan of action was to forge orders for securities and convert them into cash. Extravagant living and a desire to make money in business ventures were given as reasons for his thefts."
- Ambler Gazette, July 5, 1917
While in prison, he was studying to become a veterinary surgeon for horses and other animals in prison. When he was released, he entered into veterinary school.
Fun Fact # 3: He was part of the 1904 Non-Olympic Single Sculling Team. He was considered a "midget oarsman."
In 1922, his wife Muriel made an appeal to pardon her husband, but it was refused. She stayed committed and loyal to him, and was not afraid to fight back to get her husband free from prison. But despite her tireless efforts to release her husband, she filed a divorce in 1923.
Muriel remarried in 1924 to Colgate Hoyt, making people question about her decision to remarry. She and Jesse were married since 1909, and had three sons.
One year after Jesse Williamson was arrested, the home was given to Philadelphia architect John Hall Rankin (1868-1952).
Fun Fact # 4: In 1909, President Theodore Roosevelt appointed Rankin as a member of the American Institute of Architects after the resignation of William S. Eames. Read the letter Roosevelt wrote to Rankin here!
Bibliography
"Charges Williamson With $500,000 Theft." Ambler Gazette. June 7, 1917. Page 6. https://digitalarchives.powerlibrary.org/papd/islandora/object/papd%3Awivp-gazett_10663.
Howard, Jim. "Peter Cleaver." Geni. Last modified December 3, 2014. https://www.geni.com/people/Peter-Cleaver/6000000000205242227.
Jenkins, Howard Malcolm. Historical Collections Relating to Gwynedd: A Township of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Settled 1698, by Welsh Immigrants ; with Some Data Referring to the Adjoining Township of Montgomery, Also a Welsh Settlement. (Philadelphia: Ferris Bros., 1884): 130.
"Jesse Williamson's Term Expiring." Ambler Gazette. April 16, 1925. Page 7. https://digitalarchives.powerlibrary.org/papd/islandora/object/papd%3Awivp-gazett_16742.
"Local History. The Old Cleaver Plantation--Ellis Cleaver--The Bond Property--Interesting Sketches Near Springhouse." Ambler Gazette. September 6, 1900. Page 2. https://digitalarchives.powerlibrary.org/papd/islandora/object/papd%3Awivp-gazett_2027.
Mallon, Bill. The 1904 Olympic Games: Results for All Competitors in All Events, with Commentary. (Jefferson: McFarland & Company, Inc., 1999): 171.
McGrew, Allen and Jon Adams. "Peter Cleaver (1667 - 1726)." WikiTree. Last modified June 15, 2023. https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Cleaver-106.
Morris, William E, and Smith & Wistar. Map of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania: from original surveys. [Philadelphia: Smith & Wistar, 1849] Map. https://www.loc.gov/item/2012590207/.
"Mrs. Jesse Williamson Sues for Divorce." Ambler Gazette. July 5, 1923. Page 6. https://digitalarchives.powerlibrary.org/papd/islandora/object/papd%3Awivp-gazett_15179.
Mueller, A. H. Atlas of the North Penn Section of Montgomery County, Pa., Plate 25, 1916.
'Pardon is Sought for Jesse Williamson, 2nd." Ambler Gazette. October 26, 1922. Page 2. https://digitalarchives.powerlibrary.org/papd/islandora/object/papd%3Awivp-gazett_9594.
"Peter Cleaver." FamilySearch. Accessed January 20, 2024. https://ancestors.familysearch.org/en/LTBG-K18/peter-cleaver-1667-1728.
Posey, Carl. The Olympic Century: III Olympiad, Volume 4. (Toronto: Warwick Press, 1996).
Roberts, Ellwood. Biographical Annals of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, Containing Genealogical Records of Representative Families, Including Many of the Early Settlers and Biographical Sketches of Prominent Citizens, Volume 2. (New York: T.S. Benham, 1904): 314.
Scott, J. D. Montgomery County 1877, Gwynedd, North Wales, Ambler, Royer's Ford, Limerick Station, 1877.
"What Will Society Do About the New Mrs. Colgate Hoyt?" The Montgomery Advertiser. February 10, 1924. Page 37. https://www.newspapers.com/image/413707312.
"Williamson Aids Inmates." Ambler Gazette. December 6, 1923. Page 2. https://digitalarchives.powerlibrary.org/papd/islandora/object/papd%3Awivp-gazett_15053.
"Williamson Indicted." Ambler Gazette. June 21, 1917. Page 7. https://digitalarchives.powerlibrary.org/papd/islandora/object/papd%3Awivp-gazett_9630.
"Williamson Is Free." Ambler Gazette. July 2, 1925. Page 4. https://digitalarchives.powerlibrary.org/papd/islandora/object/papd%3Awivp-gazett_13487.
"Williamson Sentenced to 8 Years." Ambler Gazette. July 5, 1917. Page 1. https://digitalarchives.powerlibrary.org/papd/islandora/object/papd%3Awivp-gazett_8260.
"Williamson Under Bail." Ambler Gazette. May 17, 1917. Page 1. https://digitalarchives.powerlibrary.org/papd/islandora/object/papd%3Awivp-gazett_8701.
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