Individual Details

Marriage

was m. April 17, 1769, by Rev. Morgan Edwards, to Mary Brownfield.

Event

shared the patriotism of his brothers, John and Anthony. The three were active soldiers in the Revolutionary War. As their home was in the storm center of that conflict, they were very useful to our military commanders. It is said of Jacob that he was shrewd and active, and performed many valuable services for the American army. In the plain dress of a farmer, he frequently went into the city of Philadelphia while it was in possession of the British forces, and obtained valuable information, which he communicated to General Washington. He was familiar with all the streets and highways in and about the city, and for long distances in the surrounding country. After visiting the city and disposing of marketing among families of his acquaintance, from whom he could glean information, he would return home and remain there, sending one of his younger brothers to communicate such messages as he deemed important to American officers. Once, when returning to the house of his father, who lived on Green Lane, he was arrested by some British troopers and charged with being a spy, named John Levering. This he denied. He was carried farther up the river Schuylkill, on the right bank, to a point opposite his father's home (now Manayunk), where some neighbors were attracted to the gathering, as the soldiers were preparing to hang him to an oak tree. Upon the testimony of the neighbors that their prisoner was not John Levering, Jacob was released. Reference is made to this occurrence in the "Life and Correspondence of President Reed," viz.: Col. Moylan, under date of Oct. 1, 1777, wrote as follows to General Washington: "I set out last night, between 11 and 12 o'clock, in consequence of General Reed's information, that a party of the enemy's Light Horse had crossed the Schuylkill at Levering's Ford. I met him (Reed) at Bonners, and agreeable to his advise, called at Levering's house. He had returned last evening. The party that siezed him, gave him dismission on the hill leading to the middle ferry, on which, he is very confidant, they crossed. As he is a Whig, I believe he would not decieve me, so that the expedition I set out upon, is frustrated." At the time that Jacob was arrested, he had a pass from Washington in his possession. This he managed to get into his mouth, and swallowed it. Such special favor as a general pass from the commander-in-chief of the American forces would have cost him his life, if it had been discovered.

Death

After the close of the war, Jacob removed to a place called Ocracoke Inlet, in North Carolina, where, after several years' residence, he died.