We recently discovered that just before the American Revolution, Benjamin Chew purchased several thousand acres of land across Pennsylvania. He was able to acquire this property at a very cheap rate through special privileges he had attained as the Supreme Court Justice of Pennsylvania.
In one land-patent document we found in the Chew Family Papers, Chew details 4742 acres of land he recently purchased in the state. His parcels of property were spread out throughout several counties and include sites in Bedford, Berks, York, Lancaster, Cumberland, and Philadelphia Counties.
A land-patent document which details 16 properties purchased by Benjamin Chew over a two-day span in 1774.
Why would Benjamin Chew acquire so much land? We have our theories…
We believe that Chew was aware of the increasingly threatening political landscape and perhaps saw the American Revolution brewing. He likely sensed that his days as an appointed Supreme Court Justice were numbered and feared he would lose his special privileges for purchasing cheap land.
As a result, Chew went on a shopping spree and bought thousands of acres of land across the state in the years leading up to the Revolution. He likely saw this transaction as an investment which would pay off after the turmoil had abated.
Why do you think Benjamin Chew purchased all this land? Take a closer look at the land-patent document and let us know what you think!
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