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The Buzby family were among the earliest settlers of Pennsylvania, consisting of John Buzby, who came from Milton, England, to Philadelphia, in 1682, with his wife Mary, his sons John, William, Edward, Richard and Nicholas, and daughters Mary, Elizabeth and Sarah.  He was a weaver and his sons, all sturdy young men, were for a time engaged in the same line of work.  The following is a copy of certificate brought by John Buzby from England, taken from the records of the Philadelphia Monthly Meeting:

“The 4th day of ye 2nd mo. 1682.  Whereas, John Buzbey, weaver, of Milton, in the parish of Shipton and belonging to the meeting at Milton is disposed to transport himself beyond sea into pensilvania this is our testimony to whom it may Concerne he ownes the living and everlasting truth of god and hath walked amongst us blameless in his life and Conversation and wee doe beleeve he is nott Indebted unto none as wee Can understand therefore we doe sett our testimony thereof.”

In 1696, William and Richard Buzby purchased large adjoining tracts of land, soon after increased to over 600 acres, located in Oxford township, Philadelphia, and now between Frankford and Olney.  The greater part of this fine estate, constantly increasing in value, remained in the possession

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of the family for nearly two hundred years, being handed down to different direct heirs by eight wills and a number of deeds.  In 1742, Richard Buzby conveyed to his son Thomas, in consideration of eighty pounds – a nominal sum, as the real value even then was much greater – “and natural love and affection” his homestead and 157 acres of land.  His wife, Hannah, joined in this affectionate transaction, being dutifully cared for when she became a widow, five years later, and still further provided for through the will of her son Thomas, whom she survived, made in 1757, a few months before his death.  The will of Richard Buzby, as will be observed, was confined to the distribution of personal property to his children, he having disposed of practically all his real estate.  Some sixty-five years after his death part of the family estate was devoted to notable uses.

In 1813, Isaac Buzby, a descendant of William and Richard, and members of his family, for $6,754, conveyed fifty-two acres of land to the Board of Trustees of Friends’ Asylum for the Insane, Frankford.  Some years later a part of the original Richard Buzby farm was added to this property.  Friends’ Asylum was the first distinctive separate institution for the humane treatment and restoration of the insane in this country, although the Pennsylvania Hospital has always had a department for the “care and cure of Lunaticks,” as declared in its charter, 1751.  Now in its ninety-first year, Friends Asylum has a record unexcelled.  It has cared for nearly 4,000 patients, more than one third of whom were restored.

For thirty years Richard Buzby was a very active member of Abington Monthly Meeting, Oxford Preparative Meeting being his local home Meeting.  He was a frequent representative at Quarterly and Yearly Meetings and was zealous in the performance of special duties.  He was for a long time an acknowledged minister among Friends.  We quote a few interesting minutes from the Meeting Records.  A manuscript found among old papers of the Yearly Meeting of the year 1750, entitled, “An account of the time of the decease of such ministers and elders belonging to the Monthly meeting of Abington as departed this life since the year 1720, with some short memorials concerning them,” contains the following:

“in the 7th mo. of the year 1747 died Richard Buzby belonging to Oxford particular meeting.  He was a Friend in the ministry whose testimony was well received and travelled with the approbation of his friends to some distant parts of this continent in Truth’s service.  He was inoffensive and exemplary in life and conversation.  Aged 77 years, was buried at Friends burying ground at Oxford aforesaid.”

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In 1857 the following appreciative sketch of the life and work of Richard Buzby appeared in “The Friend”:

Richard Busby was born in Englad, kn the year 1670.  At what time he came to America, we have not been able to learn; but we find him in the year 1700, a useful member of Dublin (afterwards Abington) Monthly Meeting, and probably already in the ministry.  After the year 1704 we find many marks of his dedication, and of the estimation in which he was held by his friends.  In tracing him through the records of the various meetings of ministers some striking and interesting minutes were found.  In the Twelfth month, 1707, after recording that “Richard Busby and John Cadwallader” reported that things were well among them at Dublin, these remarks follow: “In consideration of which, that the Lord is pleased still to continue his goodness and care over us, and to lengthen out our day and time of peace, love and brotherly kindness, – pressing more and more after perfect and fervent charity, the meeting was thankful to the Lord.”

In the early part of the year 1721, Richard Busby and William Welton performed a religious visit to the meetings of Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina, which, from “divers certificates” produced by them on their return, appears to have been to the comfort and edification of those among whom they had laboured.  In the Quarterly Meeting of Ministers and Elders, held Twelfth mo. 3d, 1721, “The ancient love and power of God was felt, to the comforting of the meeting.  Tender exhortation was given to the due exercise of the heavenly gift.  Whereas of late several serviceable labourers in the vineyard of Christ have been removed, we should pray to the Lord that he would raise up and send forth more faithful servants; that his work of righteousness and Truth may increase and prosper, to the church’s edification and his glory.”

In 1722, Richard, with some other ministering Friends from Pennsylvania, attended Shrewsbury Yearly Meeting.  We find but little record of his services, yet it is evident that he was considered a diligent and faithful labourer in the church.  Richard Busby and the other representatives from the Quarterly Meeting of Ministers and Elders, held in the Twelfth mo., 1723, to the General Meeting of Ministers, in the following month, were directed to report, that “Friends in the ministry are careful in their conversation, diligent in attending meetings, both on First and week days; that their labour and services are well received; that they are in love and unity, and that the assistance of worthy elders is found very serviceable in these meetings.”

Meeting records show that other children of John and Mary Buzby married …

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At our Mo: Meeting held ye 26th of ye 6th mo 1723

Whereas friends are to Appear at Philadelphia by ye Appointment: of ye Quarterly Meeting Relating to Daniel: Potts Friends Do appoint Morris Morris John Cadwallader, Robert Fletcher Daniel: Thomas Edward Bolton Griffith Jones John Duncan and Thomas: Wood & Richard Buzby to attend ye Service.

At our Monthly Meeting held ye 22nd of ye 12th mo 1730/1
… Nicholus Austin, Richard Buzby …

At a Monthly Meeting held the 26th; 4th; month 1732
Richard Buzby & Thomas Roberts are appointed to Speak with James Dilworth Junior & endeavour to bring him to a Sense of his outgoings in taking a wife contrary to the Discipline.

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Will of Richard Buzby, 1743

I Richard Buzbey of Oxford Township In the County of Philadelphia & Province of Pensilvania Yeoman Being Sickly & weak of Body but of Sound Memory & Judgment Thanks be unto God, Calling to ind the Uncertainty of the Time of my Continuance in this Life have though fitt & do hereby make this my last will & Testament in manner & Form Following, That is to say First I Recommend my Soul & Spirit to the Merciful Protection of God that Gave it, & my Body to the Earth to be Decently Inter’d by my Son Thomas Buzbey, when it Shall pleas the Lord so to Dispose of it, & as Touching my outward Estate I will that the Same be Disposed of as herein after Declared, Imprimis I will that all my Just Debts & Funeral Charges be paid as Soon as Possible by my Son Thomas Buzbey, ITem I Give Devise & Bequeath unto my Son Thomas Buzbey (after mine & my wife’s Decease) A Long Black Wallnut Table & a Little Desk or Cabinet with Draws, & all my weavours Loomes & Tackling Belonging to them, ITem I Give to my Two Daughters, Jane FIncher & Rebecca Roberts & to their CHildren for Ever (after mine & my wifes Decease) all my Household Goods & Moveables wheresoever Lying or being (Except as before mentioned GIven to my Son Thomas Buzby) & I allso Give unto my Said Two Daughters all my Cows Chattels or Living Creatures, to them & their Children for Ever (after mine & my wife’s Decease) all which as before mentioned I Give Devise & Bequeath to my aforesaid Two Daughters & their Children for Ever, (after mine & my wife’s Decease as aforesaid) And Lastly I hereby Constitute & nominate

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& appoint my Son IN LAw Daniel Roberts Exector of this my Last will & Testament, Hereby revokeing all Former & other wills heretofore by me made & Declareing this 7 no other to be my Last will & Testament In wittness whereof I have hereunto Set my hand & Seal This First day of the Sixth month August.  In the Sixteenth year of the Reign of King George the Second of Great Brittain & anno que Dias one Thousand Seven Hundred Forty & Three

Signed Sealed Pubished & Declared by the Said Richard Buzbey to be his Last will & Testment In the Presence of us

William Sutton
Mary Sutton
Joseph Jones

Philadelphia Dec 11th 1747. Then personally appeared Wm Sutton one of the witnesses to the foregoing Will and to the Supplemt. thereto annexed and On his Solemn affirmacon according to Law did declare & affirm he Saw and heard RIchard Busbey the Testator therein names Sign Seal publish & declare the Same Will for & as his Laft will & Testament and the said Supplement for & as a part of the Same and that at the doing thereof he was of Sound mind Memory & Understanding to the best of his knowledge and that Joseph Jones since Deced and Mary Sutton now absent did also Subscribe their Names as witness, thereto in the presence of & at the request of the Testator.

Coram
Wm Plumsted Reg. Genl.