George Meade, The Life and Letters of George Gordon Meade, Major-General United States Army
George Gordon Meade, Ed.

[2] mercantile pursuits as their father had followed before them. It is evident, from what has been learned of the character and amount of their business, even in these early days, and from their habits and mode of life as well, that they had inherited an ample patrimony. Carrying on an extensive and lucrative business, they soon took a prominent position among the merchants of the city. They were among the signers of the celebrated Non-Importation Resolutions of 1765, which was the first public declaration in Philadelphia of the growing dissatisfaction at the course of the mother country toward the colonies.

Catherine married in Philadelphia, in 1761, Thomas Fitzsimons, a young Irishman who, by his talents, energy, and patriotism for his adopted country, rose to great eminence in the councils of the nation and of his State.

George married, in 1768, Henrietta Constantia Worsam. She was a daughter of the Honorable Richard Worsam, of His Britannic Majesty's council in the island of Barbadoes, who with his family was sojourning in Philadelphia, where he died in 1766, leaving a widow and three daughters.

About the year 1770, after the death, it is presumed, of Garrett, the elder brother, Thomas Fitzsimons became associated in business with George Meade, the firm being then known as that of ‘George Meade & Co.’ This connection lasted for several years, until the pressing public duties of Mr. Fitzsimons compelled him to retire.

Born in Philadelphia in 1741, George Meade lived there all his life, and was throughout that time identified with the progress of the city. The most active period of his career was passed amidst events which are memorable in the history of his country. He early sympathized with the cause of the colonies, and, among other tokens of the substantial support he gave the government, we find his firm, in the trying year of 1780, subscribing the very large sum, for those days, of two thousand pounds toward organizing the Pennsylvania Bank, which was to supply food and clothing to the destitute army of General Washington.

He was attentive to all his duties as a citizen, known for his liberal views, his benevolent and social qualities, his hospitable manners, and his thorough integrity and high sense of honor, which were so marked a feature in his character that he was known in mercantile circles as ‘Honest George Meade.’