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| Sunrise Cafe |
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| The Sinclair Family has been proudly serving Kennett Square since 1796, when Samuel Sinclair was appointed Justice of the Peace for Kennett & W. Marlborough townships. He was portrayed as “Squire Sinclair” in the wedding chapter in Bayard Taylor's "The Story
of Kennett”. The Squire and his wife, Mary Berry of Talbot county, MD had 4 sons and 2 daughters. The family lived at Sycamore Ridge Farm on Chandler Mill
Road for over 100 years. Son Wiliam and his wife, Elizabeth Plankington, had 2 children. William was killed in a farming accident in 1841 and was buried in the Quaker cemetery behind the post office.
Samuel & Mary's grandson, Samuel was orphaned at a young age and eventually inherited the farm. He and his wife, Mary Emma Miller, had 4 sons and 1 daughter and hosted many fox hunts at the farm. Samuel donated a few acres on South Street to St. Patrick's Catholic Church to build their church. After his wife's death, Samuel moved to W. State Street.
My great grandparents, Frannie & Horace Sinclair, lived at “Fairthorn Farm” on North Union Street. Horace was a gentleman farmer while Frannie served as president of the Auxiliary of the American Legion, Willim W. Fahey post #491. She was elected to represent Pennsylvania at the national Auxiliary convention in San Francisco, CA and also traveled to Europe to visit soldier's graves and monuments.
My grandfather, F. Graff Sinclair, ran Sinclair’s Restaurant located at 106 E. State Street from just prior to WW1 to the mid 1940's. His specialties were Chincotegue oysters, homemade ice cream and cornmeal pancakes. His 1933 business card advertises Piel's beer, Magestic radios and hunting ammunition for sale at the restaurant. He was a hard working community man who loved to hunt and fish in his spare time. His wife, Violet Kinsey, was the oldest of nine children who attended West Chester Normal school and taught Sunday School at Kennett Presbyterian Church.
Don Sinclair, my father, was born on Meredith Street and attended Kennett Consolidated School, where he played on several varsity sports teams. Reputed to have been related to just about everyone in Kennett, he is known as a kind and friendly person. He and my mother started married life together on Sickle Street and owned "The House of Flowers", a gift and antique shop.
I was born in Chester County Hospital and lived in Kennett until I was 2 years old. After my family moved to Delaware, we continued to come to Kennett to visit grandparents and cousins and to enjoy subs from Sam's Sub Shop.
Most of my adult life was spent in and around Newark, DE. I worked in the kitchen of the Deer Park Tavern while I studied art at the University of Delaware. For 2 years I ran a weaving supply shop which sold yarn, knitting and weaving suppilies. My brother, Jeff, and I co-owned Sinclair’s Café on Main Street, Newark for 22 years.
A few years ago I got into genealogy and discovered that almost the entire paternal side of my family tree had Chester county Quaker roots. Indeed, Dad probably is related to everyone in Kennett! Trips for research in West Chester took me through Kennett Square and I noticed it wasn't the sleepy little borough of my childhood. We started coming to Kennett to dine and check out the shops and galleries and liked what we found! Opportunity knocked while I was doing some mid life soul searching and before we knew it we were living and working in this quaint, comfortable borough!
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