William Niles
The gravesite photo was provided by Michael W. Freeland
Information on the location was provided by the Philadelphia-Continental
Chapter SAR.
Inscription
In memory of HANNAH NILES, wife of William Niles & daughter of Daniel
Goodman, died November 21st 1797. Aged 52 years & 10 months.
Also WILLIAM NILES who died October 18th, 1826, aged 89 years, 2 months & 7
days. Also 5 of their children, William, Jane, Hannah, Sarah &
Hannah. Also DANIEL NILES.
Born: 1737
Died: 1826
Burial Site: Woodlands Cemetery
Service: Private
Global position location: Latitude: 39.9455° N, Longitude: 75.2033° W
Location at Cemetery: Grave is in Section "C" which is in the rear of the cemetery opposite the Mansion and circle. It is irregular in shape and is bound by Elm Ave to the south and Magnolia Ave to the north. Pvt Niles is in plot C-84.
Directions to cemetery: Woodland Ave at 40th Street, Philadelphia
Family History: The Niles family progenitor in America
was Tobias Niles (1676-1721), a shipwright who came from Cornwall to Phila. in
the time of William Penn. A great-grandson, Hezekiah Niles (1777-1839),
was publisher of Niles' Register, that supported the cause of freedom during the
War of 1812. William Niles, his grandson, was a Philadelphia cordwainer
(shoemaker). He served from 1776 to 1783 as a Private in Captain Jeremiah
Fisher's and Captain John Mitchel's Company, Colonel William Bradford's
Regiment, of the Philadelphia Militia. He was with Washington at Valley
Forge and the campaign in New Jersey, making the famous crossing of the Delaware
on Christmas eve. He continued service until the end of the war. His
home was at 95 Arch (Mulberry) street in Philadelphia, a few doors from Betsy
Ross's home. He was buried on 20 October 1826 at Second Presbyterian
Church, Philadelphia, PA. Removed to Woodlands Cemetery 4 November 1867,
when the church closed. His wife, Hannah Goodman (1745-1797) is buried
with him. Hannah's father, Daniel Goodman (1730-1785), was a baker, a
purveyor of a well-known cure for mad-dog bite, and one of the founders of the
Second Presbyterian Church in 1743.
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