AARON LEVY. BY MRS. ISABELLA H. ROSENBACH AND ABRAHAM S. WOLF ROSENBACH, of Philadelphia. Among the names of taxables of the first assessment of which there is any record, in Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, are those of Andrew Levy and Aaron Levy. “While the year is not given, it bears satisfactory intrinsic evidence of having been taken before the close of the colonial period and prior to the year 1775." * Aaron Levy, the son of Aaron Levy, was born in Amsterdam, Holland, in 1742, and came to America about 1760. He speculated in lands to a great extent, and by Indian trading and furnishing supplies to the colony soon became a prominent merchant in the town of Northumberland. His residence was at Deer and Dewsberry streets. He was known as one of the pioneers of Northumberland county, and his name appears together with that of his great friend, Colonel Samuel Hunter, as a signer to a memorial of the inhabitants. of Northumberland county to the State, asking help on account of the British and Indian ravages in the vicinity (1778). His name also appears as a shopkeeper in Lancaster, in the directory of 1780, compiled from the assessment roll of that year. At this time he was a partner of Joseph Simon, and according to Markens, "Levy Andrew Levy's interest in Mr. Simon's business ceased in 1778, when he and Susanna, his wife, conveyed it to Aaron Levy, also a storekeeper in Lancaster, presumably a son."† In the Penna. Colonial Records for Monday, April 5, 1790, "The Comptroller and Register General's reports upon *History of Northumberland Co. Herbert C. Bell. + History of Lancaster Co. Ellis and Evans. He was not a son. the following accounts were read and approved, viz.: Of Aaron Levy for supplies furnished to the said men under said resolution of Assembly, by order of the Justices of Northumberland Co., in December, 1775, amounting to forty-four pounds, twelve shillings and five pence, as settled by the Comptroller and Register General, according to the said act of Assembly." Frequent mention is made of Mr. Levy in the Archives, in which are also copies of various letters to and from him. One dated Philadelphia, August 26, 1801, speaks of certain lands conveyed by him to the State, presumably during the Revolution. According to the Archives, he released at this time 12 tracts of land in Luzerne county, and it is probable the reference is made on account of Mr. Levy wanting them either paid for or returned to him. The land was part of the celebrated Connecticut claims.* In June, 1779, Aaron Levy bought of a Mr. Wetzel a large tract of land in Centre county, known as the Alexander Grant warrantee. Upon this tract Aaron Levy laid out and planned the town of Aaronsburg, October 4, 1786, the earliest date of any town in the county. The town plan is recorded at Sunbury for that date. It is without doubt the first town in this country named after a Jew of which there is any record. In 1804 he conveyed all his interests in his large bodies of real estate in Centre county to Simon and Hyman Gratz, and after that, titles to lots were derived from the Gratzes.‡ The town progressed rapidly and was known throughout the counties for its wide streets and fine churches. The following is a copy of Aaron Levy's dedication of the land. Number of lots running from No. 1 to 612, 60 by 230 feet deep. * Penna. State Archives, 2d Series, Vol. XVIII., pp. 347, 442. AARON LEVY'S PLAN OF THE TOWN OF AARONSBURG. "To all people to whom these presents shall come, I, Aaron Levy, of the town of Northumberland and county of Northumberland, in the State of Pennsylvania, merchant, send greeting. Whereas, by force and virtue of sundry good conveyances and assurances in the law duly had and executed, I, the said Aaron Levy, became seized in fee simple of, in and to a certain tract or parcel of land, situate, lying and being in Potters township, in the county aforesaid, adjoining David Duncan, David Watts, Sheakspear and others, part of which said tract of land hath been laid out in small lots for a town by me Aaron Levy, and called in the general plan of the said town Aaronsburgh,' and in consequence thereto have laid out and lots of ground granted to sundry persons, adventurers of said town under certain reservations in their several conveyances mentioned (except what shall be hereafter excepted and reserved). Now, know ye that I, the said Aaron Levy, at the request of several adventurers of the said town, do hereby acknowledge, confess and declare that the several lanes, streets and alleys of the said town of Aaronsburgh called Aaron's Square, Plume St., Wine St., North St., White Thorn St. (then West St.), Pine St., Rachel's Way,* Chestnut St., East St., shall be hereafter forever open public roads or highways for all persons making use of the same, and that the several lanes and alleys of the said town, to wit:-Blackberry Alley, Cherry Alley, Strawberry Alley, Apple Tree Alley, Mulberry Alley, Gooseberry Alley, Walnut Alley, Spruce Alley, Union Alley and Liberty Alley, shall likewise remain open and be for the use and benefit of the owners of lots of ground bounded on and adjoining the same, and I do further declare this plan of the said town of Aaronsburg to be an accurate plan, and that the several ways, streets, lanes and alleys therein delineated shall *Named after his wife, Rachel. be and remain firmly fixed to all intents, constructions and purposes whatsoever. But be it remembered, that the said Aaron Levy has excepted and reserved, and doth hereby except and reserve ninety feet in breadth, and from East St. to West St. in length in Aaron's Square of the said town, allowing at the said time thirty feet, fronting the buildings But he, the said on each of said streets for public uses. Aaron Levy, doth confess and declare for himself, his heirs or assigns, to surrender and deliver up the said ninety feet above reserved to the public as soon as he or his heirs shall see the said town of Aaronsburgh settling and improving, and that there is an absolute want of said ground so reserved for public uses and buildings. But the said Aaron Levy doth reserve of ninety feet in the centre of Aaron's Square as aforesaid described, shall not be obstructed by him, the said Aaron Levy, or his heirs or assigns, but shall remain free, clear and unobstructed for the public uses of the town of Aaronsburgh. In testimony whereof, I, the said Aaron Levy, have hereunto set my hand and seal the fourth day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-six. Sealed and delivered in the presence of JOHN AURAND AARON LEVY. (Seal.)" On November 16, 1789, Aaron Levy gave to Jacob Stover and Michael Motz, as trustees of the Salem Evangelical Church, lot No. 167 for the use of the members in communion with the church called Lutheran, for a school, church, and burial ground. During the Revolutionary war he loaned a considerable sum of money to the Continental Congress, partly through Robert Morris, the financier of the Revolution. This money was never fully repaid. In the Journal of Continental Congress for March 29, 1781, a "report from the Board of Treasury on the letter of Aaron Levy was read; whereupon, Resolved, that until the loan offices of South Carolina and Georgia be fixed and public notice thereof given, agreeably to the Resolution of Congress of the 3d of August last, the Treasurer of the United States be empowered to issue loan office certificates in discharge of interest that is or shall be due on loan office certificates issued from either of the loan offices aforesaid, in the same manner and upon the same principle as certificates for interest are issued from other loan offices." Owing to the fact that most of Mr. Levy's papers (land and loan office certificates, etc.), have been destroyed, it is impossible to find the exact amount loaned to the government. Besides furnishing supplies to the regular army during the war, through his connection with John Nicholson, he had large private business transactions with him and his partner Robert Morris. The following account was open on the books of Robert Morris at the time of his bankruptcy: "Aaron Levy. Although a considerable sum stands at the debit of this account, yet he is entitled to credits that will bring a balance in his favor, exclusive of Bonds and Notes which he holds." * The founder of Aaronsburg continued his speculations and was known as one of the largest land proprietors in Pennsylvania, owning immense tracts in nearly every county in the State. Aaron Levy was one of the original members of the K. K. Mickvé Israel, and after he removed to Philadelphia was a regular attendant at the meetings of the congregation. He died without issue. To his brother's descendants born in Philadelphia he gave during his life large tracts in Centre and adjoining counties. His great-grand niece, Sarah Polock, in 1839 gave from her tract a site for a schoolhouse. In his early career he became acquainted with the Gratz and Etting families, to whom he became much attached, this friendship continuing through life. His will, dated June 1, 1802, bequeaths various legacies of silver, etc., to each * 1782. |