As mentioned before, Samuel gifted his Stuart portrait to twin sister Phoebe, most likely on their 40ieth birthday in 1803 (they were born in NJ Westfields in 1763). Most certainly there was a lavish celebration at Samuel's country estate known as Fountain Green (click here for a post on the villa-or go to the fixed labels on the right for all posts on Samuel's estate near Philadelphia along the Schuylkill river).
Phoebe married Job Brookfield, and the Meeker name was gone. Their daughter Mary married a Martin and the Brookfield name was gone. Other marriages by women and the name changed from Martin (see Carrie Martin m. Cory in the post before this or click here), to Cory (see fixed labels on right for Cory), then Ahrens (my mom is Carolyn Cory now 84 who married my dad John Ahrens). Here is a photo of this generation of Ahrens (with the exception of my daughter Lily K. in the red skirt when I married Willy Kley, a prof of astrophysics in Germany.) The Meeker twins, Samuel and Phoebe would be proud of this batch of descendants. Taken a few months ago. Samuel had no direct descendants as his son passed away at a young age. Click here or scroll down 2 posts. His son Samuel Hampton Meeker b. 1796 died May 21 1822. Exactly 190 years ago today.
The text above "The Cory Brothers Modernized Medicine in SC County" (written by me) was just recently published in the March/April medical Bulletin of the Santa Clara County and Monterey County Medical Association (click on it for a bigger view). The brothers Drs Ben and Jack were instrumental in developing public health early on in Santa Clara county California (aka silicon valley.) Dr. Ben Cory's son Lewis (b. 1861 San Jose California) was the first lawyer in Fresno Ca, he married Carrie Martin (b. 1862 Rahway NJ) pictured above, who grew up in the Westfields New Jersey. Carrie is the gt gt grandaughter of Phoebe Meeker who was gifted the Stuart portait of her twin brother Samuel Meeker on their 40ieth birthday. Carrie eventually inherited the portrait and brought it to Fresno California where she and Lewis raised their family including son Ben Cory my grandfather. Notice the genetic similarities between Samuel in the portrait and the photo-portrait of Carrie. Stunning.
Samuel Meeker (1763-1831) financier in early Philadelphia
The first post Dec 17, 2008
There is much to read and explore in this blog! Not only fascinating insights into Gilbert Stuart, but also information on many of his sitters (famed, famous, infamous, or non-celebrities although most were celebrities in those days!), his personality, and about my ancestor Samuel Meeker. The life and times of personalities in early America. Its a worthy expenditure of time... scroll back and enjoy.
This blog was started when I inherited a musty, old portrait of a guy (an ancestor) who looked like George Washington. This type of portrait is not usual (especially in California), but I liked it, said so, and I inherited it. There was a vague notion it was done by a famous portrait painter such as Peale. I set out to find out exactly who the sitter was, and the painter, and the blog was born.
For the first years I was on the wrong track as a family ancestry book named him Major Samuel Meeker (who turned out to be a cousin, in the military, one generation earlier). And along the way I realized, discovered, that my ancestor was done by .....no other than.... the master portrait painter himself....quirky, addicted, nutty, but superlatively talented, Gilbert Stuart.
MY ANCESTOR, Samuel Meeker merchant of Philadelphia, descendant of William Meeker associate of NJ
12
was painted by Gilbert Stuart, master of making faces (portraiture). The year was 1803.
Samuel Meeker (1763-1831) was a man who seemed to be able to balance his life between the creation of wealth in the financially flourishing city Philadelphia, and the pursuit of happiness in the undisturbed quiet of nature at his country estate "Fountain Green"on the banks of the Schuylkill River. Commerce, vitalized by the Protestant ethic and the spirit of capitalism, was let loose in America. Win or lose, that was the risk, and Meeker rose to the challenge.
For a thorough overview of the story of Samuel Meeker, check out my article in the spring issue 2013 of the publication "Financial History." This is a publication connected to the History of Finance Museum at the Smithsonian.
This is a report on Samuel Meeker, the man in the portrait; who he is, the story of the portrait in my family, his ancestors and descendants (including myself and my daughter Lily), and last but not least Gilbert Stuart the artist, his sitters, and their stories. Gradually, with light being shed on these individuals at the turn of the century, life in Philadelphia begins to shine through...the good, the bad, the scintilating, &...the titillating!
For a closer view of a photo or graphic, click directly on it.
As I began to research the identity of the painter of this family portrait (confidently reported by family to be by Peale), I ...1) figured out it was done by the artist Gilbert Stuart and ...2) the character of the artist began to interest me as much as my relative. Thus this report also reflects my continuing fascination with ...Gilbert Stuart...In addition to reading posts, the 'comments' might also be of interest (just click on the word 'comments' at the bottom of the post), to read more relevant info/insights to the posts. Feel free to add your own comments as well! To those of you who make comments on older posts, just beware that I most likely will not see them, but other viewers will.
Self portrait age 24, at the Redwood Library and Athenaeum (click on portrait for link to this oldest lending library in America, est 1747)
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**** "He left us the features of those who have achieved immortality for themselves, and made known others who would but for his art have slept in their merited obscurity." from William Dunlap "History of the Rise and Progress of the Arts of Design in the United States"
E'in me, by no enlivening grace array'd Me, born to linger in Affliction's shade, Hast thou, kind artist, with attraction drest With all that Nature in my Soul express'ed.
A Poem of Praise from sitter Sarah Wentworth Morton (the Boston writer known as the American Sappho) to GS
c. 1803 by Gilbert Stuart
blog an interesting blog!
my book "From Medicine Man to Medical Doctor"
contact me to purchase, $7.00 plus shipping. bethjena at the yahoo place
Often in this report you will see the words, "From Lawrence Park" in the description of a Stuart painting. Lawrence Park accumulated the most exhaustive catalogue raisonné of the works of Gilbert Stuart, compiled in four large volumes. The first two volumes provide descriptives of the works, the second two volumes depict the correlating images. As his interest in family portraits became an all-absorbing passion, he began to collect data on all early American portrait painters, cataloguing and describing the pictures. For his collection of Gilbert Stuart works, he also depended on the willingness of the many owners of Stuart portraits to co-operate. To his letters of inquiry, replies from all parts of this country and from abraod came to the town where he was living. However Lawrence, whose deep interest and intense work for more than ten years made the publication of these volumes possible, died before their completion. Not all portraits were found, not all named. A number of portraits are entitled "Portrait of a Gentleman", or, "Portrait of a Lady." It seems the higher the sitter was on the list of celebrity (ie a president, five sat for him!), the more one can rest assured the portrait is listed by Park. Or, if a portrait was bought and sold on the market, or shown in exhibition, its chances were increased of 'being found.' The portrait of Samuel Meeker is of a merchant, not a celebrated politician, the portrait remained quietly in the hands of the family; by this time had already been transplanted to California. It was not found by Lawrence Park. The volumes were published in 1926, and are dedicated to all those who helped him in his work.
Sources often used
Gilbert Stuart, by Carrie Rebora Barratt, Ellen Miles; The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Yale University Press, New Haven & London, 2004 ~ History of the Rise and Progress of The Arts of Design in the United States, Vol. I by William Dunlap; Dover Publications, New York, N.Y. 1969 (the original from 1834.) ~ The Genius of Gilbert Stuart, by Dorinda Evans, Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey, 1999 ~ Gilbert Stuart, An Illustrated Descriptive List of his Works in 4 Volumes, by Lawrence Park, Printing House of William Edwin Rudge, New York, 1926 ~ The Life and Works of Gilbert Stuart, by George Mason, Charles Scribner's Sons, New York, 1894
Ich habe überdies eine grosse Liebe für die Vergangenheit. Nur was sie gewährt, ist ewig und unveränderlich wie der Tod und zugleich wie das Leben warm und beglückend.
Wilhelm von Humboldt
Alles edlen und guten
Ein frohes heiteres Gemüt ist die Quelle alles Edlen and Guten; das Größte und Schönste, was je geschah, floß aus einter solchen Stimmung.
Friedrich von Schiller
Who is the handsome Skater with noble mien? Why, Goethe of course!
Above image;"Goethe auf dem Eise" illustration by W. von Kaulbach ~Picturing Goethe engaging in his beloved sport of ice-skating in Frankfurt in the winter of 1773/74. His mother Aja is in the background in brown coat with muff.
...of nobel mien, but NOT of nobility. Is this why Goethe could not ever consider marriage to Maximiliane von La Roche (in the foreground, leg crossed over knee.) Maximiliane's mother was noted author Sophie von La Roche of "Geschichte des Frauleins von Sternheim", 1771: quoted below
"...Das Vergnügen des Gedankens; du arbeitest für die Ruhetage des Besten der Menschen; hier wirst du ihn sehen, und in seiner Gesellschaft die glückichen Zeiten deiner Jugend erneuern; sein Rat, sein Beispiel, wird zu der Zufriedenheit deiner Seele und dem Besten deiner Angehörigen beitragen --Dieser Gedanken haben mich belohnt."
The Skater
Naturbegeisterung !
Email me? bethjena (AT) yahoo (DOT) com
Samuel Meeker
Merchant of Philadelphia
anno 2015
7th generation direct descendant of Phoebe Meeker, twin sister of Samuel Meeker
