Henry’s father William learned the trade of paper making with William Rittenhouse, who built the first paper mill erected in America. William Dewees built the second Mill in 1710, on the west bank of the Wissahickon Creek, in that part of Germantown known as Crefeld, which he afterwards sold to William Rittenhouse’s son Nicholas Rittenhouse and three others, and the recitals in the deed show that the mill was then in full operation.

Henry Dewees, son of William, afterwards owned the mill, as shown on a map made in 1746. Henry probably purchased it for himself. 3722