James Elder (1712 - 1818)

Born 1712 in Lough Neagh, County Antrim, Ireland [uncertain]

Ancestors

Husband of Martha (Cole) Elder — married [date unknown] in Ayr, Ayrshire, Scotland

Husband of Elizabeth (Maips) Elder — married 1759 in Swedes Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Descendants

Died 13 Apr 1818 at about age 106 in Fannett Township, Franklin, Pennsylvania, United States

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Philip Tripp [send private message] and Nancy Elder [send private message]

Biography

James Elder was born in 1712 in Lough Neagh, County Antrim, Ireland to parents Robert Elder Sr. and Eleanor Gillespie. He married first ___ Cole about 1729 in Antrim, Ireland. Children: Robert, David, Rosanna Martha, John. They immigrated to America in about 1730. After his first wife died in 1756, he married second Elizabeth Maips on 5 Mar 1759 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Children: Agnes Nancy, James.

"James Elder was born in 1712 in County Antrim, Ireland, or Scotland, possibly Edinburg, and died Sep 13, 1818 in Fannet Township, Franklin County, Pennsylvania at age 106.

His first wife was ___ Cole. His second wife was Elizabeth Maips, whom he married on Mar 5, 1759 in the Swedes' Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Her name in the marriage record is Elisabet Maips. She was born in Philadelphia in 1714 and died Jul 17, 1816 around the age of 102. The obituary of their daughter Agnes Elder attested to the fact that "both parents lived over 100 years."

According to one source, James Elder came to Pennsylvania with his parents in 1727 (Redding). According to another source, he arrived in Philadelphia in 1730 and moved that year to near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. According to yet another source, he came to America about 1752, and settled near Dry Run, Cumberland County (now Franklin County) Pennsylvania near the Maryland line and what was described then as the "extreme frontier."

He was probably a resident for many years before he applied for a "warrant for survey" of land. His first warrant (No.14) requests 150 acres of land adjoining Robert Elder, Josiah Anderson, and David Elder in Fannet twp, to pay 15 pounds 10 s per hundred acres. Issued by James Hamilton June 3d 1762 to John Luken Surveyor General. This was surveyed May 20, 1766 and found to contain 212 and 3/4 acres, and was patented to his son-in-law Robert Kerr. A "tract called 'Ballymully' in Fanet Twp. Franklin Co., adjoining David Elder, a black oak, widow Baker, a Mt. and Robert Elder's improvement and Robert Anderson."

On Apr 16, 1763, James Elder had a warrant issued for 138 acres in Fannet Twp. adjoining the Robert Little claim, Sam'l Parker, and Felix Doyle. This was surveyed May 17, 1766. This warrant he transferred to Martha Taylor, wife of William Taylor, Mar 19, 1780 and it was patented Aug 23, 1780 to Ephraim Taylor, in trust of self, Martha Taylor, James Taylor and Susan Taylor. (Patent Book No. 68, page 191, Office of Internal Affairs, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Also Deed Book E, Vol 1, page 522, Office of Recorder of Deeds for Cumberland County, Pennsylvania)

In 1763, James Elder and Elizabeth Maips resided in a fort in Shippensburg Station, Franklin County, Pennsylvania. A great-grand-daughter, Martha Hughes McCord, stated that her grandmother Agnes told her "of being born in a fort, whither all had fled during an Indian raid. The father (James Elder), on his return from a trip, found his house in flames and the family gone."

James Elder served in the French and Indian War and the Revolutionary War as a Patriot. At least four members of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) claimed James Elder as their ancestor for membership, and their membership numbers, were Mary Clemins Galvin-Page, 133687 and Margaret Rice Mabbutt, 399578, descended from James through Agnes, James Elder Kerr, Sr., and William A. Kerr, and Laura Jamison Nern, 669529 and Oneida Jamison Nern, 669530.

The latter DAR application stated that James Elder "served with several companies raised; and paid for by the county for defense against Indians and French." He was a member of the Second Battalion, stationed west of the Susquehanna River, commanded by Colonel John Armstrong of Carlisle, Pennsylvania. He was a private under Captain Joseph Armstrong on Aug 7, 1755, one of "a number of the inhabitants of Cumberland county heartily joined as a company."

Two members of the Sons of the American Revolution who claimed James Elder as his patriot ancestor were Patrick Thomas Dolan, Jr., national number 147037, who was descended from Agnes Elder, James Elder Kerr, Martha Kerr, James Kerr McElroy, Grace Eva McElroy, and Patrick Thomas Dolan, Sr.; and Larry Patrick Cornwell, 138085. The source for the patriot service was cited as the Pennsylvania Archives, Second Series, Vol 8, 1875, page 320; and the Quarter Session Docket, Carlisle PA Office of Recorder of Deeds.

In 1775, James Elder was "too old for military service, and also crippled by former service. He was unable to serve in the line during the American Revolution, but he did aid by serving as Supervisor of Highways for the County of Cumberland, being appointed March, 1775." (Quarter Session Docket, Carlisle Pennsylvania Office of Recorder of Deeds)

In 1778, James Elder paid a tax of 12 pounds, 3 shillings, and 3 pence in Fannet Township, Cumberland County. Tax records show he owned 35 acres, no Negroes, six horses and four cattle.

James Elder showed that he was a sincere Patriot by signing the "Remonstrance of Inhabitants of Fannett Township" presented to the Pennsylvania General Assembly on Feb 1, 1779, opposing a new Convention.

In 1779, he owned 150 acres, three horses, three cattle, and no Negroes. In 1780, he owned 200 acres, six horses and six cattle. In 1781, he owned 230 acres, three horses and four cattle. In 1782, he owned 230 acres, three horses and four cattle.

On Feb 26, 1785, James Elder of Fannet sold to James Moore, batchelor, of same place, for a consideration of 394 pounds, 2 negroes, Peter and Jack, 3 horses, 1 mare, 1 3 yr. old colt, a 2 yr. old colt, 6 cows, 2 steers, 8 sheep, wheat in barn, about 150 bu., 100 bu. rye, 20 acres wheat, 10 of rye, 2 feather beds, all household furniture, waggons and gears, two plows and all the hay he possessed. David Elder and Wm. Taylor witnessed the document and James Elder signed his mark.

On Jun 5, 1785, James Elder and wife Elizabeth transferred their "warrant" to Robert Kerr. The deed was recorded in Book I, page 212, Franklin County Pennsylvania office of recorder of deeds. The description corresponds with the enclosed survey and deed and included all buildings, stock, cows, horses, one half of the sheep, crop in the ground, grain in the house, and at James Elders' death, the negroe "Petter," and plantation "where we now live." Consideration and subject to the purchase money and quit rent "do make good to the aforesaid Robert Kerr." Witnessed by James and Joseph Moore and Robert Armstrong, and signed by James Elder with his mark.

The 1790 Census of Fannet Township, Franklin County, Pennsylvania, recorded on roll 9, page 5 (original), page 297 (pencil), reflects James Elder as the head of household containing one male under 16, one female, and one other free person. His family was listed immediately under the Robert Car family.

The taxes for Fannet Township are missing from 1783 to 1794. Where James Elder had once been one of the largest taxpayers, he became a small one in his later years after the transfer of his property to Robert Kerr.

However, he and his wife, with one servant, lived on his place until the death of his wife. After her death, or shortly before her death, James Elder resided with his son-in-law Robert Kerr, who provided for his maintenance in his will.

The following notice appeared in the Paulson's American Daily Advertiser newspaper following James' death: "9/22/1818 Tuesday. Communicated. Died in Fannett Township, Franklin County, on the 13th instant, Mr. JAMES ELDER, in the One Hundred and Sixth year of his age. The deceased still retained his memory to the last hour." He was buried in the Path Valley Cemetery, Franklin County, PA. This is the Upper Path Valley Presbyterian Cemetery at SSpring Run. There is no stone today.

James Elder and ___ Cole had the following children:

i Robert, b. 1730, m. 1st, Elizabeth Watt; 2nd, Mary --, will dated Oct 4, 1799, probated Apr 27, 1807

ii David, b. 1739, m. Margery Stewart, will dated Jun 10, 1807, proved Mar 18, 1813

iii Rosanna Martha, b. 1754, m. William Taylor

iv John, b. 1756, m. 1st, Margaret Hill; 2nd, Peggy White, d. Feb 21, 1834

James Elder and Elizabeth Maips had the following children: *v Agnes (Nancy), b. Mar 17, 1763, m. Robert Kerr in Jun, 1784, d. Apr 15, 1859 vi James, b. Mar 14, 1766, m. Hannah Clark ca. 1790, d. Apr 24, 1843"

Sources

• US Federal Census 1790, 1800, 1810

• North America Family Histories 1500-2000

• Pennsylvania Land Warrants and Applications

• Pennsylvania Revolutionary War Battalions and Militia Index

• Pennsylvania Septennial Census

• Pennsylvania Tax and Exoneration

• Pennsylvania US Direct Tax Lists

• US and Canada Passenger and Immigration Lists Index

• Notes and Queries: Historical, Biographical and Genealogical, Chiefly Relating to interior Pennsylvania, p 174, family immigrated in 1730, James born 1712.

• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/18697081