Rash's Surname Index
Notes for Susanna LONGSTRETH
Susanna Longstreth was born at Hatboro. In 1795 she went to Philadelphia, where in 1797 she entered into the wholesale dry goods business with two of her cousins, Joshua Longstreth and his brother Morris. She is said to have been the first woman importer in the city. "While she continued in business, a period of about fifteen years, her sound judgment, kind disposition, and perfect uprightness, secured the esteem of a large circle of friends. In 1815 she removed to Greenway Farm, which she had purchased a few years before, and resided there until her decease, enjoying the simple pleasures of the country, superintending the business of the farm, and dispensing the hospitalities of a large heart, until prevented by the infirmities of age. Although her affections centered with uncommon force and ardor upon the members of her family, even to cousins of the third and fourth degree, they were by no means limited to those who were connected with her by ties of consanguinity. Her love and interest took a much wider range, embracing, indeed, the whole human family. She felt especial sympathy for those who were in danger of being overlooked. She was a striking example of watchfulness in conversation, being rarely heard to speak of the faults of others, and when these were mentioned in her presence she generally had something to say of their good qualities, or, if nothing could be said in extenuation, she would turn the conversation into another channel. She was remarkable for a happy, cheerful spirit, which diffused its influence like genial sunshine upon all about her, and a thankful heart induced her frequently to number her blessings. She was in the daily practice of reading the Holy Scriptures, which she much enjoyed, and was diligent in her attendance of our religious meetings as long as health permitted."--Friends' Intelligencer.
Greenway Farm was situated on Darby Road near Gray's Ferry. The house was built in 1787 by an English gentleman who came with the British army during the Revolution, and was much pleased with the country that he resolved to stay. He bought a tract of land and called it "Greenway Court," where he lived like an English squire upon his beautiful estate. He planted a fine grove of English elms about the house, which grew to great size. For forty years this was the home of Susanna Longstreth. Here relatives and friends travelling over the Southern Post Road always found a welcome to bed and board. She especially loved to have young people about her; to her nieces and nephews it was another home, and after Mary Anna Longstreth opened her school, it was "Aunt Susan" who instituted the Mayday parties spent by the pupils and their parents under her spreading elms. To her little cousins attending Sharon Boarding School hers was a house of all delights, both when they rested there for dinner on the long drive to school, and also when they were invited to spend an occasional First-day with her. In that household, the second place in their affections was occupied by Alice, the housekeeper, whose kindness and love of children were equal to her mistress's, and whose cookies never faded from their memory.
After Susanna Longstreth's death the property was sold, the stately elms were cut down for lumber, and the house descended lower and lower in the social scale, until it has now become a tenement house occupied by foreigners.
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