#52Ancestors: John HUDSON 1736-1789, Pennsylvania

Another post in the year-long challenge, #52Ancestors by genealogist Amy Johnson Crow. Although I am  behind, every post is another post! Today I am sharing information on John  HUDSON, my 4th greatgrandfather on our KUHN lines, 5th greatgrandfather to our children, and 6th greatgrandfather to our grandchildren. There is very little information to be found about John HUDSON/HUTSON, partly as there are a number of Hudson/Hutson men all with same names, generation after generation. However, here is what I've found to date:

John HUDSON was the eldest son the six children of Nicholas HUDSON & Jean/Jane BOWEN, both of whom appear to have emigrated from Wales in the early 1730s. They came to Lancaster County, PA, with John's grandfather George & stepmother Margaret and their adult children.

John's birthdate is estimated 1735/36 in Churchtown, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. [Photo is of 1830s building] No register has been found to date to verify this information. 

On 20 June 1768, John HUDSON married Mary MORGAN [b. 20 Jun 1748], the 4th child of Col. Jacob MORGAN & Rachel PIERSOL. Note that Col. Jacob MORGAN [Sr.] is a well-known Revolutionary War Patriot for whom Morgantown is named.

John and Mary had 7 known children said to have been born in Lancaster county - but note that Morgantown/Caernarvon in Berks county was on the county border with Lancaster County.
 
   1.   Rachel M., b.19 Mar 1769, d. 20 Apr 1849 Pottsville PA; m. 25 Aug 1794
         in  Exeter PA to Morgan A. Lewis [1771-1843]; 9 known children

   2.   Jacob B., b. abt 1772, d. 1823 PA; m. 1798 PA to Elizabeth Porter [-1823];
         no research on children as yet. 

   3.   Nicholas, b. abt 1773, d. 29 Sep 1861 Berks Co. PA; m. 25 Sep 1793
         in PA to Elizabeth McAnnully; no research on children as yet.

   4.   Rebecca [ancestor], b. 16 Mar 1777 Morgantown PA, d. 10 Feb 1844
         Berks Co. PA; m. 17 Jul 1797 Morgantown PA to Edward McCABE
        [1760s Ireland-1814 PA]; 3 known children

   5.   Jonathan [jr.], b. 30 Mar 1781, d. 1820 PA; m. est 1805 to Sarah Williams;
         no further research as yet.

   6.   Sarah, b. 6 Sep 1783; no further research as yet

   7.   George, b. 16 Nov 1785; m. 11 Sep 1808 Reading, Berks PA to
         Anna Williams; no further research as yet.  But note that Jonathan
         married a Williams in same period, likely  sisters. 

John apparently was in Capt. [later Col.] Jacob Morgan's company during the period from March 1777-1780.  

He died unexpectedly, intestate, before 13 May 1789, aged 54 years. His wife Mary was Administer of his account, and she signed a £500 bond to detail a full inventory on 13 May 1789, along with "Jacob Morgan Esquire and Aaron Rattice," who were signatories with her. The inventory [not including his property] signed off on 5 Jun 1789, came to £65 8s 11p. I can find no records of land ownership, but he did have a small farm. There should also be guardians registered for the children, the majority being underage, although I have not found these as yet.

I have not been able to find a cemetery where he might be buried, but it is likely in Caernarvon/Morgantown. 

Mary died only 6 years later, aged 47, in 1795, in Caernarvon, Pennsylvania. Again, I have not found a cemetery burial as yet.  I note that she would have seen only her first child married. No further documents found to date regarding the likely guardians appointed for the younger children.  

John - occasionally listed as Jonathan - does not seem to have left many clues to his life, his interests, nor to how he died so young.  More research is planned, but to date, these are the major points. 

                                     -- / -- / -- / -- / -- / -- / -- / -- / -- / 

If these are your ancestors, I am happy to share what little I have on these ancestors. And if there are errors, please do let me know, via calewis at telus dot net, or in the Comments below and I will get back to you either by email or in the Comments. I appreciate the opportunity to correct any issues in these family trees.

Blogger - or my computer - is not letting me "reply" to your comments. If I don't reply to your Comment, please know that I'm totally thrilled you came to read my post and commented! You truly make my day!! 

John HUDSON, 1735-1789, Pennsylvania, USA

John HUDSON, occasionally written as Jonathon, was born approximately 1735 in Churchtown, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He is my 4th great-grandfather through my mother's KUHN line.

John was the eldest of five sons and 2 daughters of Nicholas HUDSON & Jean/Jane BOWEN, all born in Churchtown, PA.  His father Nicholas, grandparents George and Margaret and other family emigrated to Pennsylvania from Cilgerran, Pembrokeshire, Wales, likely between 1720-1734. Several of these family members have already been written up - use the search tool on the right to find more information on the HUDSON, BOWEN, and MORGAN families in Pennsylvania.

On 20th of June 1768, in St. James Episcopal Church, Lancaster, PA, John married Mary MORGAN, the second daughter of Col. Jacob MORGAN Sr. [photo above, free of copyright]

John owned over 300 acres of land in the county, as well as 3 acres in the township of Caernarvon, less than 2 miles from Churchtown.

He and Mary had 7 children:
   1.  Rachel M., b. 19 Mar 1769, d. 29 Apr 1849 Pottsville, Shuylkill, PA;
            m. 25 Aug 1794 to Morgan A. Lewis [1771-1843]; 9 children
   2.  Jacob B., b. abt 1772, d. 1823 PA; m. 1798 to Elizabeth Porter.
   3.  Nicholas, b. abt 1773, d. 1851 PA; m. 25 Sep 1793 to Elizabeth
            McAnnully.
   4.  Rebecca, [ancestor] b. 16 Mar 1777, d. 10 Feb 1844 PA;
            m. 17 Jul 1797 to Edward McCABE [c.1767-1814]; 3 children
   5.  Jonathan, b. 30 Mar 1781, d. 1820; m. Sarah Williams; no information
   6.  Sarah, b. 6 Sep 1783; no information
   7.  George, b. 16 Nov 1785; m. 11 Sep 1808 to Anna Williams.

Between March 1777 and March 1880, John fought in the Revolutionary War against the British troops. He fought with the Berks County soldiers, in his brother-in-law Capt Jacob Morgan Jr's company.

In September 1789, John died in Caernarvon, aged 54. The cause of his sudden death meant he had no will, and died intestate. A bond was required, and a full inventory of his belongings - not land - were valued at £65. 8, 11. I was sad to see 1 Negro man [no description] was listed along with other farm items and was valued at only £1. 2, 6.

His wife Mary died only 6 years later, aged 47.  Again, this is a very young age to die, and the family was fairly well off, so perhaps there was disease in the region. I have no information on cause of death, nor a will for Mary. I would expect there should be bonds and perhaps a guardian assigned as the several youngest children were not yet of age.

More research in the Wills/Probate/Guardians files is needed to clarify what happened to his lands and belongings after John's sudden death, followed by Mary's death. And obviously I will be searching more information on their children's lives as adults.

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 If these are your ancestors, I am happy to share what little I have on these ancestors. And if there are errors, please do let me know, via calewis at telus dot net, or in the Comments below. I appreciate the opportunity to correct any issues in these family trees.

Blogger - or my computer - is still not letting me "reply" to your comments, for some unknown reason. If I don't reply to your Comment, please know that I'm totally thrilled you came to read my post and commented!  You truly make my day.

Nicholas HUDSON c.1712 - 1780, Wales to Pennsylvania

Nicholas HUDSON born approx 1712 in Pembrokeshire Wales, was the second son of George HUDSON, the immigrant, who has been written about previously: [click on link]  

Nicholas is my 5th great-grandfather, the 6th for my children, and the 7th for my grandchildren.

Nicholas' brothers and his own sons seem to have what I would consider as "English" names for the times: Charles, George, John, William, Edward. However, the family definitely seem to have left from Pembrokeshire in Wales to New England after 1720-1730, settling in Caernarvon, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, with a number of other Welshmen. Pembrokeshire is the extreme lower eastern part of Wales, as seen on the map here.

The name Hudson is sometimes written as Huttson, by the way. Hudd is apparently a 'pet' name for Hugh, so this is a patronymic surname for 'Hugh's son,' i.e., Hudd-son.

There is a wonderful clear hand-printed map of Caernarvon landowners, drafted in 1834, of the early settlers/land-owners purchases of land in the new township from 1718 onwards. It may be found in the PA Archives, although it's mildly challenging to find - email me and I can send you a PDF of it. [contact info at very bottom of page]. The HUDSON men were in the group of first settlers in Caernarvon, and their names can be found in a number of land plots on this map. Note snippet of the map to the left. Details of Warrent, Survey, Patent dates are quite clear as you can see. One of Nicholas' land patents is at the top, John Bowen's in the middle of this snippet.

In about 1734 [no record found as yet], Nicholas married Jean BOWEN, daughter of John & Elizabeth BOWEN. John BOWEN was one of the first settlers in Caernarvon PA, along with the Hudson family members, and many others who married into our family.

Nicholas and Jean's children were the following, b. in Caernarvon township region:
   1.   John [ancestor], sometimes referred to as Jonathan, b abt 1735,
             d. Sep 1789; m. Jun 20, 1768 to Mary MORGAN; 7 childen
   2.   George, b. 1738
   3.   William, b. 1740
   4.   Elijia/Elijah, b. 1743, d. 1820; m. Jan 2, 1785 to Ann ____, at Little
              Conestoga, Chester, PA, 5 children
    5.   Joyce, b. 1747; m. to Thomas Douglass
    6.   Margaret, b. 1749; m. to Thomas Loyd
    7.   Edward, b. est 1751

Clearly I need to do more research on the 5 children about whom I know little. Both girls married a Thomas: Joyce to Thomas Douglass, Margaret to Thomas Loyd. Nicholas mentions his sons-in-law in his will, making Thomas Douglass one of the executors.

Nicholas was a prosperous landowner in the area, buying and selling land. Several land warrants are to be found: 150 acres, 200 acres. After his father died in 1748, he continued to care for his step-mother Margaret, with direct care of her when she required more care for the three years before her death, before March 3rd, 1761. He also held the inheritances for his younger brother, William's three children, William having left Pennsylvania to the French colony in Louisiana. Two of the 3 children of William did return to Pennsylvania, and received their inheritances set aside from their grandfather George Hudson, held for them by Nicholas.

In 1772, he is listed as "Constable" for Carnarvon region, a one-year commitment. The link gives some details on what the duties of a Constable might be.

He is listed in the 1779 Septennial Census in Pensylvania; these censuses were taken for taxation and representation purposes, every 7 years. Unfortunately this Census list was transcribed alphabetically, so no information about neighbours can be gleaned. Oh to see the original!

His Will was written February 2, 1780, and is recorded in full (almost 3 pages), detailing his land (by the descriptions clearly he has walked it many times), large money disbursements to various adult children, grandchildren, nephews, etc. However, there is no mention of his actual death date. It was brought to the county, with Inventory pages, and proved September 28, 1780, so we may assume he died a month or so before that date. Here is a snippet of the transcribed will:

His will does not mention his wife, Jean, so I must assume she predeceased him. No record of her death has been found to date. It is fairly legible, so I will be transcribing it in full in the next month.

I have no further information. My research plan now has more individuals to research, more details to search for or write for, plus the wills to transcribe - his and his father's wills. My early genealogy work had me simply filling in my direct ancestors, and bare bones information on the siblings. Although when there were several children with duplicate names living in the same area, that problem forced me to do better research. So late, I grow wiser.

If you haven't yet found the map of Caernarvon township settlers' land plots, remember you can simply email me for a copy. Or, click on this link, and look under Lancaster County. It should work for you. The drafting on the map is so clear it may be downloaded and expanded to see all details! A true treasure. I love to delve into old maps like this.

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If you have any further details or suggestions about Nicholas HUDSON or his family, I would love to hear from you; contact through my email address at the very bottom of the blog page.  

Blooger has a glitch which is stopping me from replying to your comments, but please do know that I appreciate your comments very much. You make my day! Thanks so much for stopping by to read my family blog. 

52 ANCESTORS, 52 THEMES, No. 21, MILITARY: Col. Jacob MORGAN, 1716-1792

This year's challenge by Amy Crow is another weekly blog based on Themes. Last week, it was Black Sheep.  This week, the theme is Military, in keeping with the Memorial Weekend events in the USA [I'm Canadian].  

My 5th great-grandfather, Col. Jacob MORGAN, came to Pennsylvania from Wales with his parents, Thomas MORGAN & and Elizabeth ABREY, and his four older brothers, before 1718.  The Morgan family settled near Caernarvon township, in an area which includes the village of Morgantown which Col. MORGAN laid out in approximately 1779, after the Revolutionary War [about 1770, according to several accounts].  

Jacob MORGAN was born in Wales on 7 Nov 1716, and in 1739 he married Rachel PIERSOL [1723-1791], daughter of Richard PIERSOL and Bridget BROWN.  Jacob and Rachel had the following children, in Caernarvon PA:

1. Rebecca, b. 1741; m. John Price
2. Gen. Jacob jr., b. 1742, d. 18 Sep 1802; m. Barbara Leisure Jenkins; 6 children
3. Benjamin, b. abt 1745;  m. 27 Jun 1793 to Harriett Ashton, 1 child known
4. *Mary [ancestor], b. 20 Jun 1748, d. 1795; m. 20 Jun 1768 to John HUDSON, 7 children known
5. Sarah, b. abt 1750; m. to Joseph Jenkins
6. Frances, b. abt 1752 [not listed in his will]
7. John, b. abt 1755

With both senior and junior versions of Jacob MORGAN men in Pennsylvania, both active in military duty at the General/Colonel level, there are some confusing details in histories of the region.  The pronoun 'he' without a clarifying detail such as each man's birthyear, makes it a small challenge. I have quoted details from the article "Genealogies of Pennsylvania Families" printed in Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine, Vol III, p 469. Additional details may be found in histories of Pennsylvania, and histories of families and individuals who fought in the two Wars in which he participated.

Jacob Sr. amassed a large amount of land over his years, inheriting about 400 acres from his father Thomas MORGAN when he died in 1740.  When Jacob died he owned over 5,000 acres of land.  

From 1755 to 1760, he was a Captain in the First Battalian of the Pennsylvania Regiment; later his company formed part of the Second Battalian, in the "Seven Years War" - the French/Indian Wars - receiving 3,000 acres for his service as Captain. He enlisted again in the Revolutionary War, June 1776 to Dec 1780, receiving the title of Colonel. 

He was commissioned as a Justice of the Peace and of the courts, during the period between 1764-1784. 

"From 22 May, 1777, until 8 January, 1781, he was Lieutenant of Berks County, with the rank of colonel, and as such, was at the head of military affairs in that county, and rendered constant and most valuable services to the cause of Independence."

Jacob and his wife, Rachel apparently moved to Philadelphia after 1784, where Rachel died 19 Dec 1791, aged 68.  

A year later, on 11 Nov 1792, Jacob died at the age of 76. He is buried in the cemetery of St. Thomas Episcopal Church, Morgantown, Caernarvon township, Berks, PA.  

If you have more information on the MORGAN family, including Jacob MORGAN Sr., please do not hesitate to contact me via calewis at telus dot net, or in the Comments below. I appreciate being corrected or having additional sources pointed out!  

Blogger is still not letting me "reply" to your comments, for some unknown reason. If I don't reply to your Comment, please know that I'm totally thrilled you came to read my post and commented! You make my day.

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks, #34 : McCABE, Edward, County Monaghan, Ireland

Following the challenge from Amy Johnson Crow to write a post weekly, 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks, here is my 34th installment, Edward McCABE.  My 3rd great-grandfather on my mother's lines, Edward emigrated from County Monaghan in Ireland in the late 1700s, to Pennsylvania.

Edward's birthdate is confusing - two stones show different ages for the same death date, but it seems he was born in roughly 1760-1772.  It is not known when Edward McCABE arrived in Pennsylvania, although it had to have been before his marriage date, of course. It is possible that he came over with other family members.  Almost all the information I have on Edward is from the engraving on the KUHN very large memorial obelisk in the Conewago Chapel Basilica Cemetery, in Conewago Township, Adams, PA.  Look at both the obelisk and the small original stone, on the FindAGrave site.

There is an Edward McCabe listed on Penn's Township, York County, Pennsylvania (near Hanover), on the Tax List of 1778-1780.  However, there is no proof this is the same Edward McCabe, as there are no other details listed.  I have yet to find him listed on the 1790 Census, likely in Pennsylvania.  

On 17 Jul 1797, possibly in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, Edward married Rebecca HUDSON, the middle of 7 children of John HUDSON and Mary MORGAN.  

The family may be found on the 1800 Census of Uwchlan, Chester, PA.  Next on the list is a Benjamin Morgan, who may possibly be Rebecca's uncle or other relative.  This record is likely a transcription of the original tax list, as it is alphabetized (roughly).

Edward and Rebecca had 3 children that we know of, possibly born in Chester County:
1.  (Sister) Maria Cecelia, b.1798; went to school with the Sisters of Emmittsburg, Maryland, where she entered the convent. 
2.  Dr. Edmond Hudson, b. 1800, m. Elizabeth T. Farrish, 5 children
3.  Jane Rebecca [ancestor], b. 25 Oct 1803, Downington, Chester, PA; m. Joseph Jacobus KUHN 5 Nov 1826 in Conewago, Adams, P; 9 children (my lien through 2nd child)

In 1806, Edward McCabe is listed as the co-Executor of a will in Westtown, Chester, PA. This was for a Margaret McClosky; it is unknown how she may be related to Edward McCabe. Perhaps a friend of the family?  I have no McClosky surnames in the family tree.  

Edward died 3 Apr 1814, and is apparently buried in the Conewago Chapel Basilica Cemetery in Conewago, Adams, PA.  There is a very large KUHN obelisk, 4 sided, with many Kuhn ancestors and their wives/husbands listed, as is Edward McCABE and Rebecca HUDSON.

Rebecca married for a second time to a widower with 6 children, John Bair; marriage date not found as yet.  She did not seem to have any more children with John.  She is buried with John in Mt. Olivet Cemetery, in Hanover, York, PA. There was very little detail on her on FindAGrave, so I added a bit of information for future searchers. 

If you have any further information about Edward McCabe and his family, I would be very happy to hear about it.  And any corrections and mistakes will gladly be changed if you would pass on your information and sources.  You can contact me via calewis at telus dot net or via the Comments section below.  Thanks for visiting.  

52 ANCESTORS in 52 WEEKS, #20: Rachel PIERSOL

Following the challenge of writing 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks, issued by Amy Johnson Crow, here is my 20th installment, another woman ancestor with virtually no details about her aside from Birth, Marriage, Death.  

The PIERSOL family grew up around Morgantown, Berks, Pennsylvania, with many other Welsh immigrants with surnames such as Davis, Evans, Hudson, Jenkins, Hughes, Bowen, Allen, Owen. Interestingly, I noted that a Pearsall Family DNA study shows that the males have a Swedish origin from perhaps 2000 years ago; they list many spellings for the Piersol/Pearsall surname. If this is your surname, do check out their site for testing. 

Note: I have a copy of the Caernarvon Township map of Warrants/Surveys/Patents of landowners, constructed in 1934 from original drafts.  This may be requested of me by direct-message or below, using my email address as shown; for personal use only, not for publication, as it is copyrighted. 

Rachel is my 5th great-grandmother on my mother's lines.  The PIERSOL surname is spelled many ways, of course: e.g., Pearsall, Pearsol(l), Piersol(l), Persall, and so on.  

Rachel's father was Richard PIERSOL, born about 1677, apparently in Wales. He immigrated with his father (name either John or Richard Sr.), about 1683. His family settled in Pennsylvania. On about 1720, in Caernarvon, Richard married Bridget BROWN about 1720. Bridget emigrated before that date, but I know nothing about Bridget's family.Well, except that a Richard Brown was one of the executors of her will - a brother? Maybe. Richard was the only living son, along with at least 4 sisters, as named in his father's will, 1777. 

Rachel PIERSOL was born about 1723 in Caernarvon Township/Morgantown area - note that Morgantown (Morgan's Town) was not laid out until about 1770. She married Jacob MORGAN in 1739 in Honey Brook, Chester, PA.  Honey Brook is only about 5 miles south of Morgantown area. 

Much is known of Jacob MORGAN (Sr) as he was very well known in the region in various roles, e.g., as a Judge and other official capacity; a Captain in the Seven Years War (French & Indian Wars), in Col. Weiser's regiment; plus a Colonel in the Revolutionary War.  A number of DAR and SAR applications may be researched, based on Jacob Sr. or his son Jacob Jr. MORGAN's military service.

Rachel and Jacob seem to have settled in the Caernarvon/Morgantown area, raising their 7 known children:

1. Rebecca, b. 1741; m. John Price
2. Jacob (Jr.), b. 1742; m. Barbara Leisure Jenkins, 6 children
3. Benjamin, b. abt 1745; m. Harriett Ashton, at least 1 son
4. Mary [ancestor], b. 20 Jun 1748; m. John/Jonathan HUDSON, 7 children
5. Sarah, b. abt 1750; m. Joseph Jenkins
6. Frances, b. est. 1752
7. John, b. est 1755 

In the mid 1780s, Jacob & Rachel appear to have moved for a time to Philadelphia, returning to Morgantown area before 1791. I still have much research to do on Jacob's various roles in his very active life.

Rachel died at the age of 68 years, on 19 Dec 1791 in Montgomeryville, apparently. I am not certain why she was there - visiting relatives? Or one of her married daughters?  Her husband, Jacob, died the following year on 11 Nov 1792, aged 76, in Morgantown.  The gravestone - a large horizontal one on a raised base - has details of both Jacob and Rachel, and can be seen here on FindAGrave.  

If you have further information about Rachel PIERSOL and her parents, or if you have questions about any of this information, contact me via calewis at telus dot net, or in the Comments section below.