Squire Cheyney: Public Servant

Squire Cheyney: Public Servant. Squire Cheyney Farm Park. His Dream, While Washington's troops were encamped at Valley Forge, Squire Cheyney claims he heard in a dream the words of what became known as "Squire Cheyney's Dream." What it lacks in poetic quality it makes up in patriotic fervor., "Cheerful spirits here we'll stay , And guard against despotic sway, , Though Britain's numerous frightful fleet , Makes oceans groan in wrath, in weight , And guns and drums cry out so loud , To appease the vengeance of their Lord, , Yet America will be free , Yet America will be free." , A Patriot, When the Revolutionary War erupted, Thomas Cheyney was in the prime of his life. He was in his mid-40s with a wife and nine children and a 150-acre farm that provided ample income. His neighbors regarded his character so highly that they would later give him the honorary title of Squire. Suddenly his quick actions were to stamp him a patriot whose lore survives to our time., As the British Army massed for battle against General Washington's Continental Army near Chadd's Ford, on September 11, 1777, Cheyney warned Washington of a British flanking movement to the north. This would have certainly enveloped and destroyed the rebel army. Because Washington was unsure of Cheyney's allegiance, he waited until his generals verified the threat. Washington's response was insufficient to win the battle but it saved his army., Having cast his lot for independence, Cheyney was quickly thrust into wartime appointments. Within a month he was helping to organize and equip the county's militia. A week later he was appointed a commissioner to seize Loyalists' property. He also took subscriptions to finance the Continental Army. (The Continental Congress, America's government until 1781, could beg, borrow, and ballyhoo, but it could not levy taxes.), At the war's end, Cheyney continued to serve many years as a Justice of peace and was commissioned Judge of the Court of Common Pleas. In 1787 he capped his political career by voting at Pennsylvania's Ratifying Convention to have the Keystone State adopt the U.S. Constitution, the second state to do so., Squire Thomas Cheyney unquestionably was Thornbury Township's most eminent citizen of the eighteenth century. He died in 1811, age 79; his body lies in the family graveyard atop the hill., For Additional Information Visit: www.thornburytwp.com, "Cheyney's Ride" , Oil on Canvas, 2009 , (Reproduced with permission of the artist, Bryant White.), [In the text just after the sentence you are reading, "Stephan", including an "a", is the spelling I saw on this part of the marker (not on the map itself), so it is not to be corrected here. ] , Note: While Knyphausen demonstrated against the American center, Howe with his main body turned the American right flank. American reconnaissance and allied intelligence were faulty. Sullivan, Stirling and Stephan attempted to change front to meet Cornwallis but were overwhelmed. Greene covered the American retreat. At the sound of Howe's guns Knyphausen forced Chadd's Ford. There was no pursuit., The Battle of Brandywine , (West Point Department of History, online archives), [at lower left corner of plaque] , Green , Region , The PECO Open Space Program , This project funded in part by the PECO , Green Region Open Space Program.