Author: PETERSON, MRS HENRY (SARAH WEBB). EDITED WITH FORWARD NOTES BY HER SON, ARTHUR PETERSON.
Title: A Day at Oakford Hall. Printed from the original manuscript of March, 1846 and the pamphlet of 1861.
Description: Philadelphia. [Arthur Peterson]. 1911, 1st Edition. Hardcover. Green cloth with gilt illustration of the historic house on the cover. 55 pages. Glue burn to endpapers, occasional light foxing, modest wear at the spine extremities, still a quite fresh looking copy of this gentle memoir. Very uncommon, close to rare book of memories of suburban 19th Century Philadelphia. "Oakford Hall" as explained by the editor, is a pseudonym for Spring-Dale, the home of George Peterson, early residents of the Overbrook, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area. The persons are also described in the text by pseudonyms, decoded by the editor in a chart. The book is inscribed in ink by editor Peterson on the front endpaper: "Mrs Rowland C. Hayden/ from her affectionate/ Uncle Arthur/ Overbrook, April 23/1912" Some biographical notes of the house owner from John W. Jordan's "Encyclopedia of Pennsylvania Biography" (Online) George Peterson, son of Law- rence and Rachel (Ford) Peterson, was born April 21, 1785, at Pleasant Mills, New Jersey. He came to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, at an early age, shortly after the year 1800, and engaged in mer- chantile pursuits, his ventures in the West Indian trade being especially suc- cessful. He married, January 9, 1812, Jane Evans, a daughter of John and Rachel (Ridgway) Evans, and a grand- daughter of Robert Evans, a prominent member of the Society of Friends. Soon after their marriage the young couple went to housekeeping in a residence be- longing to Mrs. Peterson, on Fifth street above Arch. In the year 1818 Mr. Peter- son bought a handsome residence on the south side of Arch street, just above Fifth, the old number being 102. About this time George Peterson invested con- siderably in real estate in Philadelphia, and in 1828 purchased a country seat con- taining sixty-five acres on the County Line Road, about a quarter of a mile from the Old York Road. This beautiful spot, "Spring Dale," was his summer home for many years. He was a devout Quaker, attending Arch Street Meeting when in the city and Abington Meeting when in the country. When the separation be- tween what are commonly known as the Orthodox and the Hicksite Friends oc- curred, he went with the latter, and there- after worshipped at Green Street Meeting House, which became the headquarters of the more liberal element. He took a great interest in the Friends School on Walnut street above Sixth, and was one of its managers. He was also a manager of the Wills Eye Hospital, and at one time (May 22, 1829, to September 2, 1834) a director in the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company. He died May 10, 1872, and is buried in Laurel Hill Ceme- tery. His wife's death occurred June 20. Very Good. Inscribed by Author(s).

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