Isaac McGlathery
- Yen Ho
- 3 days ago
- 4 min read
One of the most well-known citizens in Whiptain Township during the 18th century was Isaac McGlathery. He played a major role during the American Revolution, and left a long-lasting legacy in the community. Learn more about how his father emigrated to the New World, and how Isaac built a foundation for his life and his family.
The McGlatherys Arrive to the New World
The McGlathery family came from a Scottish Presbyterian background and were from Glasgow, Scotland where their land was confiscated by Sir Richard Wallace during the wars, resulting them to move to Ireland.
Three brothers decided to move to the New World during the early 18th century. One of the brothers, John McGlathery (1693-1789), settled in Springfield near Edge Hill, and purchased 150 acres in Whitpain from Anthony Morris and Zachariah Whitpain. It was on that land he built a home in 1751, six years after he purchased the land.
Isaac McGlathery
Isaac McGlathery (1752-1834) had just finished his breakfast early in the morning, and harnessed his team to plow for the winter until he was commissioned to summon the militia of Whitpain to arms the day before the Battle of Brandywine. He rode off on his horse along "dusty highways and secluded byways, through green lanes shaded by trees, as yet scarce touched by the chill frosts of autumn."
In a few weeks he was again called to serve the army when the British were stationed in Germantown. In order to surprise attack the British, the Continental Army would need to navigate a road to get there. That was when Isaac came into play. Brigadier general William Maxwell's brigade marched on Skippack Pike, and Isaac along with five others served as guides to lead the troops to Germantown.
"Down the Skippack road they silently marched that dark October night. No one was privileged to speak out aloud. At each tavern they found an officer stationed armed with a pistol and drawn sword to prevent any of the soldiers stopping to eat or drink. McGlathery had not had an opportunity to eat anything since the previous morning. As they mounted the summit of Chestnut Hill in the indistinct gloom of the foggy morning, the guides were at length told that they might refresh themselves. Hastily entering a tavern the six were only able to procure a pie to share among them and one drink of whisky. They continued down the main road, even then thickly dotted with dwellings till getting opposite the historic Chew house, their duty was done."
- E.M.
After guiding the troops at the point where they were within sight of the British, Isaac and the fixe other guides were left to make their way back out of danger as best as they could.
He was tasked to escorting British prisoners who were being sent from New Jersey to Virginia. They were brought across the Delaware to Plumstead, Bucks County where they were delivered to the Pennsylvania guard. They marched southward and crossed the Wissahickon and walked passed the Mumbower mill.
"Mr. McGlathery was one of the heroes of the Eevolution, the friend and companion of Lafayette in the days of trial—both have now departed to that bourn from which none return. United in life, in the cause of humanity, we trust they are again united in the regions of immortal happiness enjoying together the reward of the just made perfect.
- Norristown Register, August 6, 1834
Isaac was the second lieutenant of Captain Jacob Peterman's company, Fourth Battalion, Philadelphia County Militia under Colonel William Dean.
Fun Fact # 1: Isaac, Henry Houpt, Abraham Weiers, and Peter Sterigere were responsible for capturing two of the five people who attempted to capture a fellow Whitpain resident on the night of February 1778: Andrew Knox.
The only know descendent who followed Isaac's footsteps was his grandson Thomas Jefferson McGlathery (1844-1906) who served in the Civil War.
Fun Fact # 2: Isaac's musket became a relic at Washington's Headquarters in Valley Forge. It was a musket he brought from Ireland.
The Original McGlathery Homestead
It was said his home was built at the former home of "J.C. Weber." His full name is John Casselbury Weber (1829-1904). Some time after Isaac's death, his homestead was passed onto his children. One of the known children of Isaac was Eli P. McGlathery (1794-1883). There was nothing much about him, but all we know was that he sold the homestead to Weber in the early 1880s. And a decade later the home was transferred to Howard J. Matthias (1850-1893). It was unknown who took over the property during the 1890s, but it would most like be Josiah Longstreth (1856-1917), and then later Benjamin F. Famous (1846-1907) and his wife Hannah (1856-1933).
In the early 1920s, the home was sold to Joseph J. Burke.
Bibliography
Franklin Survey Co. Atlas: Montgomery County 1935 Vol B, Plate 8, 1935.
"Local History Sketch. Interesting Local Matter Collected by 'E.M.' The McGlathery Family--Originally from Scotland, Later Settled in Ireland and Then Came to America--John McGlathery and the Revolution." Ambler Gazette. June 5, 1913. Page 2. https://digitalarchives.powerlibrary.org/papd/islandora/object/papd%3Awivp-gazett_9522.
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/.
Parry, Ellwood C. "TRAITORS BY CHOICE OR CHANCE." Bulletin of the Historical Society of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania 16, no. 4 (1969): 268-269.
Scott, J. D. Montgomery County 1877, Whitpain, Rahn Sta., Grater's Ford, 1877.
Smith, J. L. Montgomery County 1893, Whitpain and Worcester Townships, Bethel Hill, Fairview, Cedar Hill, Washington Square, Broad Axe Left, 1893.
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