The Entrekin/Entriken family probably came from Scotland. They may have been part of the Scots-Irish immigration to Pennsylvania in the early 1700s. It seems that two brothers, Samuel and George, crossed the Atlantic and settled near one another in Chester County. The descendants of Samuel seem to have used the "Entrekin" spelling, while those of George used "Entriken." Whether this was done consciously, since they were neighbors and tended to give their children the same names, or whether it simply evolved that way I cannot tell. The earliest documents relating to George seem to spell the name "Entergun." "Antrican" is another early spelling, perhaps closer to the Scots original. More is known of George's family than of Samuel's, since George joined the Quakers, who were excellent records-keepers, and Samuel apparently did not.
1. SAMUEL ENTREKIN (1720-Dec. 16, 1800) was a brother of George “Entriken” (see below) and thus probably also an immigrant from Scotland. He became a farmer in Goshen Township and married Mary Huey (1734-Dec. 19, 1821) on May 29, 1754. She was a daughter of William Hewett (d. 1754 in Westtown), an Irish immigrant, and Gennett ------ (d.1767 in Westtown), an immigrant from Wales.
Samuel and Mary Entrekin had 10 children: James Entrekin (b.1755, married Sarah Guthrie); George Entrekin (1757-1830, married Esther Carpenter); Rebecca Entrekin (1759-1830, married David Johnson and moved to Ohio); Mary Entrekin (1760-1830, married Thomas Hibben and moved to Ohio); Jane Entrekin (b.1763, married ------ Hibben); Samuel Entrekin Jr. (1765-1837, married Martha McClelland); William Entrekin (1767-1783); Thomas Entrekin (1769-1830, married Ann Marshall); Hannah Entrekin (1771-1861, married Lewis Goodwin); and Elizabeth Entrekin (m. ------- Hibben).
2. HANNAH ENTREKIN (1771-June 9, 1861), married Lewis Goodwin and lived in Westtown Township.
This branch of the Entrikens settled in Chester County along Plum Run, where the townships of Westtown, East Bradford, and West Goshen intersect. They lived there for almost two centuries. The south campus and fieldhouse of West Chester University now cover the land, but an old farmhouse that was the home of the last Entrikens still stands there.
1. GEORGE ENTRIKEN (c.1710-1785). “George Entergun” turns up on an East Bradford tax roll in 1729. He was a convert to Quakerism (in East Bradford, if he wanted to have any kind of social connection or marry, he would have had to do so). He wed Mary Woodward (b.1718) in 1736. Her family lived in neighboring Thornbury Township, and they were English Quakers. George and Mary apparently had only one child, a son, Samuel Entriken.
2. SAMUEL ENTRIKEN (c.1740-1824) was born in East Bradford. On Nov. 21, 1765, at Birmingham Meeting, he married Mary Strode (c.1745-Jan. 1824). Samuel was disowned by Concord Monthly Meeting on Nov. 8, 1780, for paying military taxes and fines. He probably farmed on the family lands. They had five children: George Entriken (b.1766, married Phoebe Brinton); Caleb S. Entriken (1768-1845, married Ann Way); Samuel Entriken (married Sarah Smith); Emmor Entriken (1781-1827, married Anna Schofield); and Mary Entriken, who died unmarried.
3. EMMOR ENTRIKEN (May 17, 1781-Aug. 1, 1827) married Anna Schofield (1779-1862) on March 14, 1805. They, too, seem to have lived on the family property in East Bradford. They had seven children: Nathan S. Entriken (b.1806, died young); Samuel S. Entriken (1807-1869); Hanna A. Entriken (1809-1875, never married); Sarah Mariah Entriken (1812-1812); Sibbilla Peace Entriken (1815-1879, married Jackson Woodward); Emmor S. Entriken (1818-1879, married Mabel Woodward); Isaiah F. Entriken (1823-1893, married Elizabeth Richards).
4. SAMUEL S. ENTRIKEN (Oct. 12, 1807-Nov. 12, 1869) continued to farm the family lands, which in 1860 were worth $15,000. Samuel had three hired hands that summer, and the Entriken family was one of the more prosperous in that region of Chester County. Samuel's personal estate was valued at $2,000. Samuel married Manerva Meredith (1810-1895) of West Whiteland in December 1830. They were members of Birmingham Friends Meeting.
They had nine children: Anna Mary Entriken (1832-1894, married Jesse Taylor); George Meredith Entriken (1833-1854); Emmor W. Entriken (1835-1888, married Phebe J. Taylor); J. Llewellyn Entriken (1836-1910, married Susan Wetheral); Hannah M. Entriken (1840-1894, married Barclay Cope); Sarah "Sallie" Entriken (1843-1914, married Daniel Schrack); Janetta Entriken (1844-1922, married Edwin S. Mendenhall); Ellen Entriken (1847-1915, married George Passmore Harlan); Frances Entriken (b. 1852, married Samuel E. Haines).
5. J. LLEWELLYN ENTRIKEN (March 1836-Feb. 17, 1910) lived on the family farm on South New Street in East Bradford. He raised pigs and had a stall in the West Chester market where he sold scrapple and sausage. He married Susan Downing Wetheral (1840-1920) of West Goshen on Feb. 27, 1868. Their children consisted of twins, Samuel L. Entriken and William W. Entriken (born July 17, 1874), and a daughter, Ida Louise Entriken (1870-1939), who married Horace A. Fetters. William W. Entriken died March 1, 1879, and is buried in Birmingham Friends Cemetery. Samuel L. Entriken succeeded his father in their sausage and scrapple business in the West Chester markets. He loved fox-hunting, fishing, and travelling. He never married, and after his retirement in 1921 moved in with his sister and her family on West Union Street, where he died July 26, 1938.
DOCUMENTS
"Daily Local News" clipping, undated:
J. Llewellyn Entriken At his home south of West Chester, J. Llewellyn Entriken, a veteran farmer, died last evening of Bright's disease, after an illness which had continued for some time. He was in his 76th year.
The farm on which he lived has been in the family a long while. It is on the road to Birmingham Meeting, and in three townships, East Bradford, West Goshen and Westtown. The old mansion, on a southern slope, is in fine condition, and shows how it has been enlarged by successive owners.
Mr. Entriken was a pork butcher in addition to his work as a farmer, and occupied a stall in the West Chester Market, the product being in much demand among the people of this section. He was a good business man, of recognized integrity. In religion he was of Friendly inclinations.
He was a son of Samuel Entriken, of the same farm, and is survived by his son, Samuel, and a daughter, Mrs. Horace Fetters, of Upper Uwchlan. There are also three sisters, Mrs. Edwin S. Mendenhall, West Chester; Mrs. Francis Haines, Mrs. Ellen Harlan, Philadelphia.
His wife survives him. She was formerly a Miss Wetherill, sister of the late Cooper Wetherill.
Daily Local News death notice clipping, undated:
ENTRIKEN -- In East Bradford township, on February 17th, 1910, J. Llewellyn Entriken, in the 76th year of his age.Relatives and frieds of the family are invited to attend the funeral without further notice from his late residence, in East Bradford township, in Monday, February 21st. Meet at the house at 2 o'clock. Interment private at Birmingham Cemetery. Please omit flowers.
Daily Local News obituary clipping, hand-dated July 27, 1938:
Samuel L. Entriken At his home on West Union Street, at an early hour last evening, Samuel Llewellyn Entriken passed away in the 65th year of his age. While he had been in failing health for some time, he was only seriously ill a few days.
Mr. Entriken was born on the Entriken homestead on the extension of South New Street, in West Goshen township, a son of the late Llewellyn and Susan Wetherill Entriken, on July 17, 1874. He succeeded his father in conducting an extensive sausage and scrapple business, being of the third generation to attend the West Chester markets, their products being widely known. He had retired in 1921, since which time he had made his home with his sister, Mrs. Horace A. Fetters, in this borough.
He had attended the Model School and the West Chester State Normal School.
He had never married. He was a genial man, always ready to do a friendly act, and will be greatly missed by his relatives and friends. He was a devotee of fox hunting and fishing.
Mr. Entriken is survived by his sister, Mrs. Fetters, and three nieces. A twin brother, William W., died in 1879.
He was an active member of the West Chester Pioneer Corps, No. 1.
Daily Local News clipping, undated, headline "Funerals," sub-head "Samuel L. Entriken":
The funeral of Samuel L. Entriken took place on Saturday morning from his late home, on West Union street, services being conducted under the auspices of the Society of Friends, with Mrs. Beulah Darlington Pratt as the speaker. There were a large number of floral tributes from friends and relatives. Interment was made at Birmingham Cemetery, the pall-bearers being: Joseph M. Hampton, William J. Wetherill, Walter W. Davis, Francis J. Hipple, Louis W. Dutt, Jr., and A. Wayne Elliott.Many friends called at the home on Friday evening, to pay their final tribute of respect.
