Rash's Surname Index
Notes for Isaac DARLINGTON
August 17, 1861
VILLAGE RECORD
Biography ISAAC DARLINGTON, eldest son of Abraham and Susanna(Chandler) Darlington, was born in the township of Westtown, Chester county, on the 13th of December, 1781. He was of the 4th generation, from Abraham Darlington, the first immigrant of the Family - which at a SESQUI CENTENNIAL GATHERING OF THE CLAN, in 1853, mustered nearly FOUR HUNDRED, and reckoned, altogether upward of ONE THOUSAND living members. While Isaac was yet young, his father and family removed to Thornbury township, near Birmingham Meeting House, - where he was brought up, and had his home, until be had nearly reached the age of 18 years. His father had been taught the trade of Blacksmith (for, in those days, it was usual for young men of reputable family to learn some mechanic art), and was an excellent workman; but was also a practical Farmer, - and carried on both occupations with extraordinary energy, skill and success. He likewise, for a number of years, filled the office of Justice of the Peace, with great credit to himself, and to the entire satisfaction of the vicinage. He was a hard worker on the farm, through the day, and did the Smith work, for the neighborhood, during the noon intermission, and in the evening, - often wielding the hammer until late bedtime. His sons were initiated into the same industrious habits; and Isaac, being the eldest - as soon as he acquired sufficient strength to swing a sledge hammer - labored continually with his father in the fields - and was moreover taught to blow and strike, in the Smith shop, at noon and in the evening.
Probably, no boy in Chester county was trained to more laborious habits, in early life, than Isaac Darlington. His education was simply English - with a fair start in Mathematics; and his schooling was limited to the winter season, as soon as he reached as age, or was strong enough, to work on the farm, or take his stand by the anvil. It is true, he had the benefit of the instructions of John Forsythe - the best Schoolmaster of that period, and region of country; and under that tuition, he made extraordinary progress. Isaac Darlington physical constitution was remarkably sound and vigorous, and from his earliest youth, his intellectual powers and attainments so far exceeded those of his juvenile contemporaries, as to excite the admiration of all who knew him. At the age of 15 years his aspiration reached beyond the Farm and Smith shop; but, as his father did not then perceive the importance of a thorough education for such faculties (a circumstance much to be regretted, - for he was endowed with a singular aptitude for learning), - instead of sending the boy of so much promise to a Seminary where his powers could be adequately trained and developed, he was merely permitted to take charge of an insignificant country school. In this occupation, Isaac Darlington, was engaged for two or three winters, and acquitted himself with remarkable success, for so juvenile a teacher, whose pupils were often his seniors. In his 18th year, - dissatisfied with the drudgery and impatient under the routine duties of a rural Pedagogue, as then practices, - he turned his attention to the Profession of the Law, and became a student in the office of Joseph Hemphill, Esq., at that time a distinguished member of the Bar, at West Chester. Although, like most Country Towns of that day, West Chester was a place of perilous dissipation - especially among the young men of the legal Profession, and sundry idle hangers-on of Society, - Isaac Darlington amid it all, applied himself so successfully to his studies, that he was found duly qualified, and admitted to the Bar, at the early age of 20 years. The powerful grasp of his intellect enabled him - maugre the prevalent habits of the time - speedily to take a high and influential position among the Professional seniors, who then attended the county courts, and adorned the West Chester Bar. In the years 1807, and 1808, he was elected to the State Legislature, where he was an active member; but, finding the position to interfere with his practice, he declined a further continuance in that station. At a special election, however, in February, 1816, to supply a vacancy, he was chosen to the same body, without opposition. During the war 1812-15, - although a zealous member of the political Party opposed to that war, - when the strife began to be serious, Isaac Darlington aided in raising a company of Volunteer Infantry, for the defence of the Altars and Firesides; was the first Lieutenants and master spirit of the corps, and, on the call of the Governor, in 1814, after the sack of Washington City, marched with it to the camp formed for the protection of Philadelphia. He then served as adjutant of the Second Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers, until the close of the campaign. At the general election in 1816, he was elected by the district composed of Chester and Montgomery counties, a member of the 15th Congress and served through the term, but declined being again a candidate. In December, 1820, he was appointed Deputy Attorney General for Chester county, - which office he held until May, 1821, when he received the appointment of President Judge of the Judicial District composed of the counties of Chester and Delaware. This situation he held until his death, on the 27th of April, 1839.
His professional character, and career, during the 18 years in which he presided over the Courts of the District, the compiler of these notices does not feel competent to discuss; but it has been generally conceded, that he was eminently prompt, and sagacious, in perceiving the strong points or the causes before him, - and that his adjudications were ever highly respected by the Supreme Tribunal of the State. Judge Darlington was twice married; first, to Miss Mary Peters, - By whom he had two interesting daughters; the eldest of whom, especially was distinguished for rare personal and mental endowments. But he survived them both, and has left no descendants. His second wife was Miss Rebecca Fairlamb; who survived him nearly twenty years.
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