Elihu Chadwick (1759 - 1837)

Ancestors Descendants

Contents 1 Biography 1.1 Birth 1.2 Revolutionary War 1.3 Post-Revolution 1.4 Emigration 1.5 Death 1.6 Children 1.7 SAR & DAR Memberships 2 Sources 3 Acknowledgements

Biography

Birth

Elihu was born in Tinton Falls, Monmouth, New Jersey 27 May 1759, the youngest son and last child born to John Chadwick and Anne Jackson. ^[1] Elihu came from a maritime family, his grandfather was Capt. John Chadwick who plied the seas between England, Bermuda and the colonies. His father was a privateer during the Revolution and captured as a prize, the British schooner, "Hope". Even well into the 19th century, perhaps until the early 20th, this family kept their relationship to the sea, performing service in the New Jersey life-saving stations, which later became part of the United States Life-Saving Service. ^[2] This organization ultimately joined the Revenue Cutter Service in 1915 to become our modern Coast Guard.

Revolutionary War

Elihu was born in a time when unrest and dissatisfaction with the British government was beginning to be whispered about in the public houses throughout New England. And when the whispers became an outcry, and the outcry a war, the Chadwick's answered the call. Elihu, along with his father and his brothers, Francis, Thomas & Jeremiah all joined the patriot cause. Sadly, his brother, Jeremiah, and his father, John, gave their lives in service.

Third New Jersey Regiment Copyright (c) 2020 SR. All rights reserved

He first joined as a volunteer in June of 1776, being then just 17 years of age. On the 23rd of June of 1779, he was promoted to Lieutenant of the 1st company of the 3rd regiment of Monmouth, commanded by Daniel Hendrickson. On the 16th of January 1781 he received a warrant authorizing him to take command of a company under his brother, Captain Thomas Chadwick. He continued in the service in this company until Jan 1782. At this time, he transferred to a company under the command of Capt. John Walton.

He was engaged in several major battles which occurred on New Jersey soil during the conflict, including: the Battles of Trenton, Princeton and Germantown. He fought in the battle of Monmouth, under the command of General Washington. ^[1] Later in life, he would be called Colonel Chadwick. I don't know if that was an honorary title bestowed upon him, or one he adopted himself.

His daughter, Susan Van Dyke Chadwick, who never married was awarded a pension based on her father's service in 1893 by a special act of Congress and in 1899 she was made an honorary member of the DAR.

Chadwick Bible Record

During this time, Elihu married Mary Jeffery, some time around 1780. Mary produced two children, Mary & Rebecca, before dying on 11 Aug 1785 . As his second wife, he chose Rebecca Wall Jeffrey, the sister of his first wife, Mary. They married 16 Jul 1789 in Monmouth County, per the family bible record in his pension file. ^[1]

Post-Revolution

From 1780 until 1808, with the exception of a brief residence in Ocean County, New Jersey, Elihu remained in the Monmouth County area, living mostly in Shrewsbury. ^{[3][4][5][6][7][8][9]}

In Dec of 1779, he signed a petition from the inhabitants of Monmouth County asking what to do about seizures of goods transported through enemy lines that were sold. ^[10]

In 1800 he signed two petitions to the Legislative Council and General Assemby from the inhabitants of Shrewsbury seeking a county poor house. ^[11]

Emigration

In the first decade of the 19th century, Elihu became an agent for the Holland Land Company. ^[12] He was the early 19th century's version of a real estate agent. His job was to induce settlers to purchase land and settle it in what was then a wilderness in NW Pennsylvania. The following is an excerpt from a letter written in 1842 to Thomas & Hannah Pettit of Monmouth County, New Jersey from a Peter (last name illegible) describing the journey from their home to McKean County, Pennsylvania:

"if you come by water, come by Philadelphia and then to
Harrisburg, then up the west branch on canal boat up to Lockport
then get a house to put your things in and come afoot. Come up
the river to the Sinnemahoning, then come up that to Jacob
Colemans, then up the Driftwood branch 21 miles and then you
are here"

The letter is written 30 years after the first settlers began arriving in the area. Many were here prior to 1820. If the journey was like that 30 years later, what must it have been like in 1811 when Elihu first arrived?

According to his pension file, Elihu moved to Lycoming County, Pennsylvania in 1811, having induced several other Monmouth County families to purchase land and settle the area with him. These families included the Lewis', the Houslers' and the Brittons', from whom many in the area descend. They began arriving shortly after 1811 and all were permanently living there by 1830. Elihu and Rebecca were already in their 50s when they made the trek and began carving a new life out of a wilderness. ^[13]

Elihu and his family first appear in the 1820 census, enumerated Aug 7, 1820 for Shippen, McKean County, Pennsylvania. ^[14] All of his children were born by then, the last three in Pennsylvania. His two daughters from his previous marriage were both grown and married. They remained in New Jersey.

He is in the census for 1830, also in Shippen, McKean County, Pennsylvania. ^[15]

On 2 Jul 1833, he was party to a deed selling land to Joseph Brittain. ^[16] Then again, on 3 Oct 1836, Joseph Britton sells the same piece of land to Elihu. ^[17] I've been told these kinds of transactions sometimes occurred when one party borrowed money from another, the property would be held as collateral until the loan was repaid.

Death

Elihu Chadwick died 30 Aug 1837 and is buried in the Rose Hill Cemetery in Smethport, McKean County, Pennsylvania. ^[18]

The will of Elihu Chadwick was entered on 14 Oct 1837. ^[19] The complete settlement of his estate was rendered unto the court in the September 1846 term by his son, Richard Chadwick. ^[20]

Children

By 1st wife:

• Mary Chadwick Cook 1781-1845
  
• Rebecca Chadwick Woolley 1783-1824
  

By 2nd wife:

• Richard Chadwick 1789-1866
  
• John Chadwick 1791-1855
  
• Anne Martha (Nancy) Chadwick Chandler 1792-1867
  
• Catherine (Katie) Chadwick Housler 1791-1861
  
• Sarah Chadwick 1796-1802
  
• Elizabeth Chadwick Freeman 1799-1882
  
• Deborah Chadwick Housler 1800-1841
  
• Lydia Chadwick Stanton 1803-1859
  
• Elihu Chadwick, Jr. 1805-1882
  
• Sarah Chadwick Lewis 1807-1888
  
• Jemima Chadwick 1810-1869
  
• Francis Jeffery Chadwick 1812-1893
  
• Susan Van Dyke Chadwick 1814-1902
  
• Jeremiah Chadwick 1816-1893
  

SAR & DAR Memberships

Several families have been permitted membership in the Daughters of the American Revolution based on Elihu's service. ^[21]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} Revolutionary War Pension Record of Elihu Chadwick, Ancestry.com. U.S., Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files, 1800-1900 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010; Original data: Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files (NARA microfilm publication M804, 2,670 rolls). Records of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Record Group 15. National Archives, Washington, D.C., Images from Fold3 [1]
2. ↑ History of the United States Life-Saving Service [2]
3. ↑ New Jersey, Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1643-1890; Township, Toms River, Ocean County, 1781; August Tax List; NJ Tax Lists Index 1772-1822, page 39; Ancestry.com. New Jersey, Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1643-1890 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 1999. Jackson, Ronald V., Accelerated Indexing Systems, comp.. New Jersey Census, 1643-1890. Compiled and digitized by Mr. Jackson and AIS from microfilmed schedules of the U.S. Federal Decennial Census, territorial/state censuses, and/or census substitutes. Text only, no images [3]
4. ↑ New Jersey, Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1643-1890; Township, Shrewsbury,Monmouth County, 1782; March Tax List; NJ Tax Lists Index 1772-1822, page 6; Ancestry.com. New Jersey, Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1643-1890 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 1999. Jackson, Ronald V., Accelerated Indexing Systems, comp.. New Jersey Census, 1643-1890. Compiled and digitized by Mr. Jackson and AIS from microfilmed schedules of the U.S. Federal Decennial Census, territorial/state censuses, and/or census substitutes. Text only, no images [4]
5. ↑ New Jersey, Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1643-1890; Township, Shrewsbury, Monmouth County, 1784; May/July Tax List; NJ Tax Lists Index 1772-1822, page 7; Ancestry.com. New Jersey, Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1643-1890 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 1999. Jackson, Ronald V., Accelerated Indexing Systems, comp.. New Jersey Census, 1643-1890. Compiled and digitized by Mr. Jackson and AIS from microfilmed schedules of the U.S. Federal Decennial Census, territorial/state censuses, and/or census substitutes. Text only, no images[5]
6. ↑ New Jersey, Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1643-1890; Township, Shrewsbury, Monmouth County, 1785; July Tax List; NJ Tax Lists Index 1772-1822, page 7; Ancestry.com. New Jersey, Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1643-1890 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 1999. Jackson, Ronald V., Accelerated Indexing Systems, comp.. New Jersey Census, 1643-1890. Compiled and digitized by Mr. Jackson and AIS from microfilmed schedules of the U.S. Federal Decennial Census, territorial/state censuses, and/or census substitutes. Text only, no images[6]
7. ↑ New Jersey, Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1643-1890; Township, Shrewsbury, Monmouth County, 1786; Jun/July Tax List; NJ Tax Lists Index 1772-1822, page 7; Ancestry.com. New Jersey, Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1643-1890 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 1999. Jackson, Ronald V., Accelerated Indexing Systems, comp.. New Jersey Census, 1643-1890. Compiled and digitized by Mr. Jackson and AIS from microfilmed schedules of the U.S. Federal Decennial Census, territorial/state censuses, and/or census substitutes. Text only, no images[7]
8. ↑ New Jersey, Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1643-1890; Township, Dover, Monmouth County, 1789; Jun Tax List; NJ Tax Lists Index 1772-1822, page 5; Ancestry.com. New Jersey, Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1643-1890 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 1999. Jackson, Ronald V., Accelerated Indexing Systems, comp.. New Jersey Census, 1643-1890. Compiled and digitized by Mr. Jackson and AIS from microfilmed schedules of the U.S. Federal Decennial Census, territorial/state censuses, and/or census substitutes. Text only, no images[8]
9. ↑ New Jersey, Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1643-1890; Township, Shrewsbury, Monmouth County, 1794; Jul/Aug Tax List; NJ Tax Lists Index 1772-1822, page 6; Ancestry.com. New Jersey, Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1643-1890 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 1999. Jackson, Ronald V., Accelerated Indexing Systems, comp.. New Jersey Census, 1643-1890. Compiled and digitized by Mr. Jackson and AIS from microfilmed schedules of the U.S. Federal Decennial Census, territorial/state censuses, and/or census substitutes. Text only, no images[9]
10. ↑ U.S. Census Reconstructed Records, 1660-1820; Text only, no images [10]
11. ↑ U.S. Census Reconstructed Records, 1660-1820; Text only, no image [11]
12. ↑ Holland Land Company 1792-1840 [12]
13. ↑ Beers, J.H. & Co. (1890) History of the counties of McKean, Elk, Cameron and Potter, Pennsylvania [13]
14. ↑ 1820 U S Census; Census Place: Shippen, McKean, Pennsylvania; Page: 226; NARA Roll: M33_107; Image: 52; Ancestry.com. 1820 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Images reproduced by FamilySearch.[14]
15. ↑ 1830; Census Place: Shippen, McKean, Pennsylvania; Series: M19; Roll: 161; Page: 129; Family History Library Film: 0020635; Ancestry.com. 1830 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. [15]
16. ↑ Deed books, 1806-1886 ; Indexes, 1806-1972; McKean County, Pennsylvania Courthouse. Deed Book D, page 149 Images provided by Family Search.org [16]
17. ↑ Deed books, 1806-1886 ; Indexes, 1806-1972; McKean County, Pennsylvania Courthouse. Deed BookE, page 26 [17]
18. ↑ Findagrave Memorial #64775600[18]
19. ↑ Pennsylvania Probate Records, 1683-1994," images, FamilySearch; 3 July 2014, McKean > Register's dockets 1827-1887 vol A-B image 18 of 599; County Courthouses, Pennsylvania [19]
20. ↑ McKean County, Pennsylvania Index to Orphans Court, 1832-1906; Orphans Court Dockets, Vol A-B, 1832-1885; Ancestry.com. Pennsylvania, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1683-1993 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. [20]
21. ↑ Daughters of the American Revolution, DAR Genealogical Research Databases, database online, (http://www.dar.org/ : accessed 3 Aug 2016), "Record of CHADWICK, ELIHU", Ancestor # A023758.

Acknowledgements

Biography provided by Debbie Barrett with generous assistance from the McKean and Cameron County Pennsylvania Historical Societies McKean and Cameron County Research