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"Preparation for WAR to defend Commerce" by William Russell Birch (1799). Gloria Dei (Old Swedes’) Church is in the background.
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Lovers of local history are undoubtably familiar with the works of William Russell Birch (1755-1834). Birch achieved acclaim and success as an enamel painter in England. He moved to Philadelphia in 1794 and remained in residence there until his death. His popular engraving series Views of Philadelphia (1800) depicted many prominent buildings of the time, including the Bank of the United States and Pennsylvania Hospital. Curiously, Gloria Dei (Old Swedes’) Church was not prominently featured in this series. But you can see it in the background of Birch’s illustration of the Navy Yard (see above).
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Lavinia Sheed, the subject of this newsletter, was born in Philadelphia in 1807. Thanks to Birch, we have a good sense of what the city looked like when she was a child. But, during her lifetime, several important buildings were demolished. The First Presbyterian Church (1822), the President’s House (1829), the Second Presbyterian Church (1838), the Bank of Pennsylvania (1867) and the New Lutheran Church (1869) — to name a few. Many more were razed during the 20th century. Gloria Dei Church is one of the few architectural marvels still standing. With your support, we can ensure its future.
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We do not have paid staff. All of our work is made possible by our volunteer board members. You can support our efforts by making a donation to our organization.
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Candace Roberts
Chair of the Board
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Calling All Local History Authors
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Have you published a book about local history? Are you looking for an opportunity to connect with readers? If so, let us know. We’re thinking about hosting an outdoor History Book Fair this spring … and want to know if area authors of fiction, non-fiction, tour guide books, cookbooks, children’s books and more are interested in participating. Contact Us.
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Lavinia And The Early Sheeds of Philadelphia
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Lavinia Sheed’s great-grandfather walked the streets of Philadelphia when the city was relatively new and sparsely populated. “Georg Schied,” born 1694 in Württemberg (Germany), is likely the same “George Sheed” who appears in the 1717 city tax records. His status as an “admitted freeman” suggests that his arrival was negotiated through an indentured servitude agreement. In the early 18th century, George was known for creating highly-styled wigs for the fashionistas of the city. His store on Front and Gilbert (Elfreth’s Alley) was a popular destination for those seeking “light and grey hair” hairpieces.
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George Sheed, Lavinia's great-grandfather, operated a wig-making business on Elfreth's Alley.
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Lavinia’s grandfather, William (born 1720), initially joined his father George in the family business. Their partnership appears to have been long and fruitful — father and son worked together for more than twenty years. But, around 1756, things changed when William embarked upon a new career using his voice. William became a crier — an officer who maintains order in the courtroom — at the recently completed State House. William soon moved his burgeoning family to 4th and Chestnut, presumably to live closer to his new job. Without William by his side, the elderly George probably decided to retire. George sold the Front Street property and moved to 2nd and Chestnut, where he would spend his final days.
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During the years leading up to the American Revolution, William’s role intensified at the State House. In 1770, he became the sergeant-at-arms for the Pennsylvania Provincial Council, keeping order during their meetings. Six years later, William was appointed doorkeeper for the Pennsylvania State Convention. On the heels of the Declaration of Independence, this convention created a temporary governing body and a state constitution. Undoubtably, William was present for some of the critical discussions that shaped the future of our country.
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It seems that the tradition of wig-making in the Sheed family ended with William’s generation. His own son, George (born 1746), became a plasterer and moved south of the city line to Southwark. After William’s death, George inherited a house on 5th and German (Fitzwater) Streets where he raised his family. This home — and others on this block — was demolished sometime before 1873 as part of the expansion of the Philadelphia public school system. Today, the William M. Meredith School occupies this site.
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Although the Sheed family had previously been associated with Christ Church, George and his family worshipped at Gloria Dei. He married his second wife, Rebecca (née Jones), here in 1785 and eventually became a vestryman and church warden. Almost all of his children were baptized at this church and many are buried near him in the churchyard.
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Lavinia Sheed was born to George and Rebecca in 1807. Unfortunately, little is known about Lavinia’s formative years. However, we can imagine that she must have been a fixture at Gloria Dei Church every week for Sunday services.
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George passed away in 1830 and, within a few years, Lavinia experienced a fair amount of turmoil. Lavinia’s mother, Rebecca, died in 1837 and, less than a year later, she lost her younger sister Christiana Earley. Only two years apart in age, the sisters were probably very close. Christiana’s only daughter was also named Lavinia. This appears to have been a common first name for women of this generation born into the Sheed family.
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After Christiana died, Lavinia became a legal guardian of her young niece. She probably moved in with her brother-in-law, Alfred M. Earley, to assist with child rearing duties. Alfred was a hatter based across town on Beach Street (24th) below Locust. Lavinia and her siblings had inherited several houses owned by their father George, which they began using as rental properties. Lavinia was in charge of collecting and distributing the rental income.
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This arrangement seems to have been amenable to the Sheed siblings until around 1839. That year, Lavinia’s brothers and sisters got into a dispute over ownership of the properties. The situation was presumably so fraught that it required an intervention by the Philadelphia District Court. The court ruling worked out in Lavinia’s favor — the properties were assessed and divided up into equal shares, benefiting the entire family. However, this was no doubt a stressful time for Lavinia, who was still caring for her young niece.
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In later years, Lavinia appears to have returned to the Southwark neighborhood, working for a young family as a caregiver. She never married and died at age 66 from rheumatism. She is buried near her father and several of her siblings in the Gloria Dei Churchyard.
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Featured Marker of the Month
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In memory of
Lavinia
daughter of
George and Rebecca
Sheed
Born March 20, 1807
Died July 28, 1873
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Type of Marker: Headstone
Material: Marble
Issues: Biogrowth, blistering, sugaring
Recommended Treatment: Cleaning w/biocide, consolidation, fill cracks
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Evaluation
Historic Integrity: Intact
Structural Integrity: Good
Material Integrity: Good
Legible Inscription: Poor
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Marker Details
Inventory Number: 115
Plot Number: 309
Historic Number: 370
Ledger Book Number: 156
Cemetery Section: 5
Orientation: East
Marker Height/Length (in): 42
Marker Width (in): 24
Marker Thickness/Depth (in): 4.5
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In Memory of Ann Blackstone (1941-2022)
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We are sad to report that Ann Blackstone passed away on Jan. 12, 2022. Ann was an early supporter of preservation efforts at Gloria Dei (Old Swedes') Church. She became one of our first Founding Members and served on our board for three years. She will be missed.
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Messages from Our Sponsors and Affiliates
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On Thur., Jan. 27, 2022 from 7:30 - 9:00 pm, The Jazz Sanctuary presents Jazz & Joe at Riverside Hall, Gloria Dei (Old Swedes') Church. Jazz & Joe is a "coffee-house" style venue. Active listening and quiet conversation is welcome throughout the evening. Refreshments are served, and attendees are welcome to BYOB. This event is free, but donations are appreciated to help defray costs.
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Masks are required, and please bring your vaccination card with you. At this time, we ask that you enjoy your food and beverages at home before attending the performance, in order to mitigate the spread of Covid. Thank you for your cooperation.
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Our Keystone Project Sponsors
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We are profoundly grateful to these organizations for their support of our painting and wood repair project.
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The Historic Gloria Dei Preservation Corporation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (Federal ID# 45-3210057). All contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
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