John Evans (abt. 1738 - abt. 1817)

Born about Aug 1738 in North Wales [uncertain]

Husband of Ann (Birney) Evans — married 10 Apr 1769 in Newark, Essex County, New Jersey

Descendants

Died about 6 Dec 1817 at about age 79 in Wyoming County, Pennsylvania, United States

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Biography

Private John Evans served with New Jersey Militia during the American Revolution.

John Evans was born in August 1738 in North Wales and died on 6 Dec 1817 in Luzerne County (now Wyoming County), Pennsylvania. He married Ann Birney on 10 April 1769.^[1]

The names of John’s parents are not known, and no proven record of John exists prior to 1777. On 14 Dec 1777, John and Ann are identified as the parents in the baptismal record for their son William Evans in Goshen, Orange County, New York.^[2]

John was on the roster of the 4th Orange County Regiment,^[3] also known as Col. Hathorn’s Florida Regiment. Hathorn was responsible for the militia in the “southern areas” of Orange County—essentially below Goshen down to the New Jersey state line. John Evins, fifer, was on detached duty when he was paid for eight days of service (from 29 July until 05 August 1777) in Col. Pauling’s Regiment of militia from Ulster County.^[4] This service was likely for short term duty at Fort Montgomery prior to its fall to the British on 6 October 1777. Officers and militiamen from all regiments in Orange and Ulster were drawn for short term duty guarding Fort Montgomery and other forts along the Hudson River.

It is not known when John moved from Orange County over to Northampton County, Pennsylvania, but by 1782, he was on the roster of the 3rd Company of 5th Battalion of Northampton County Militia, serving with other residents of Upper Smithfield Township under Captain Jacob Dewit.^[5] His low rank indicates he was recently joined, perhaps relocating back along the Delaware River as the war was winding down.

On 18 Aug 1782, John and Ann baptized two of their children (Elizabeth and John) at Montague, Sussex County, New Jersey. ^[6] Montague is on the Delaware River, just 10 miles south of Port Jervis, New York, and directly across from Milford. The church in Montague was a church of convenience for John and Ann, living across the Delaware in Northampton County, Pennsylvania. On 28 Sep 1787, John Evens registered as a church member.^[7]

John Evans is found on the tax lists for Upper Smithfield Township, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania for tax years 1781,^[8] 1785, 1786, 1788.^[9] In all years, he is enumerated with minimal assets, one cow and no land (except in 1788, 10 acres).

On 11 Jan 1790 George Evans, the son of John and Ann, was born in Milford, Northampton County, Pennsylvania.^[10]

1790 United States Census: John Evens, Northampton, Upper Smithfield, Pennsylvania. Four males under 16, 1 male over 16, 2 females.

On 15 Mar 1791 John's occupation is shown to be "schoolmaster."^[11]

On 14 Sep 1794, John Evins and Anna Barney baptize a child in Wantage, Sussex County, New Jersey.^[12] The name of the child is omitted from the record, but clearly the child was Rebecca Evans, born 21 Feb 1794. Wantage is about a dozen miles inland from Montague.

John appears in the Wyoming Valley for the first time in 1796 when he is on the list of taxable for Providence Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. ^[13]

John Evans is enumerated in United States Direct Tax of 1798 (known as the “Glass Tax”) as being a resident of Tunkhannock Township. This record indicates that his family owned and occupied a single dwelling of 20 feet by 24 feet situated on 300 acres of land, all valued at $220.^[14]

1800 Pennsylvania Septennial Census: John Evans, Tunkhannock, Luzerne, Pennsylvania.

In 1800, John Evans was the schoolteacher in Eaton township, now Wyoming County. “The first school in Eaton was in an old log dwelling-house, which stood in the field back of S.J. Herdings, near the road to Frear Hill. John Evans taught it in the year 1800, and it was probably the first school in Wyoming County, of which any record remains.”^[15]

1810 United States Federal Census: John Evans, Tunkhannock, Luzerne, Pennsylvania. One male under 10, two males 16-25, 1 male over 45, two females 10-15, one female 15-25, 1 female 26-44.

From 1804 through 1817, John Evans is continually found in the tax rolls for Tunkhannock Township.^[16]

Patriotic Service in the American Revolution

DAR Application #359806, submitted on 04 October 1945, has the following citation for John Evans: “Private in 2nd Regiment Col. Israel Shreve, New Jersey. Enlisted May 8, 1778 served nine months – March 5, 1779. This copied from tablet in Court House at Tunkhannock, Wyoming Co., Penna.” This citation appears to be the original basis for the Family Tradition that John Evans lived in New Jersey prior to moving to the Wyoming Valley. ^[17]

This service is for another John Evans who filed a pension application (S41525) on 16 February 1820. In his application, he states that he was a private, in Capt. Luce's Company (9th) of Col. Israel Shreve's 2nd Battalion, Continental Line, enlisted May 1778 for nine months. He is the same man who was recorded as “Johne Evans, Reding Twp, Hunterdon County, age 18 years, enlisted 11 May 1778, for Col John Taylor's Battalion of Hunterdon Militia.” In his application, he states:

• That he was 60 years of age on 16 February 1820 (born about 1760).
• That he was living in Stroud, Northampton County, Pennsylvania on 16 February 1820.
• That he enlisted in Hunterdon County, New Jersey about the commencement of the summer that the Battle of Monmouth took place (1778).
• That he enlisted for nine months in the 2nd New Jersey Regiment, Col. Israel Shreve.
• That both before and after said service he served in the state troops.
• That he had a wife living on 16 February 1820, her age is stated as about 54 years (born about 1766) and that he had eleven children, two sons living with him at the time—the youngest aged 16 (born about 1804).
• In the application, there is an affidavit stating that John Evans was 66 (1754) at the time (born about 1754, however his separate militia enlistment record indicates his age as 18 in 1778 (1760).

Subsequent DAR Applications not only included the above service but added additional service in Col. Somers 3rd Regt. Gloucester Co., New Jersey Militia (e.g., #831685 filed 16 February 2002). Tax records for Gloucester County include two John Evans’ in the period from 1775 to 1790. These John Evans appear in multiple tax lists in their respective townships:

1. Newton Township: appears as single in 1784, appears married in 1785 through 1790. Also, a Joshua and a Joseph Evans in same township.
2. Woolwich Township: 1782 (w/500 acres of unimproved land), through 1790. Also, a Lewis Evans in same township.

Family Traditions and Further Research Opportunities

The origins of John Evans have eluded researchers. Embellishment of family legends have pointed researchers down false trails for years. Ideally the above facts may now point in the right direction. Perhaps nuggets of truth can be gleaned from long standing family traditions.

Perhaps the earliest of these family legends were written down by Allen H. Rosenkrans (1853-1920) who created and published the Penfield Weekly from 1887-1893). His writings have been compiled into a biographical history of Huston Township, Clearfield County, Pennsylvania.^[18] Harriet (Evans) Guckhaven (1828-1907), a great-granddaughter John Evans, is credited as Rosenkrans's source for his often-cited writings on the Evans family. To help in evaluating later versions of the original source, the entire original paragraph reads:

“A number of the Evans family came with Hiram Woodward to Bennett’s Branch. They are of Welch descent. The ancestor, Sir John Evans, was a second son of English nobility. He came to the Colonies as an officer of the British army in the Revolution, but his justice and liberty loving instincts forced him to desert King George, and assuming the Quaker garb he joined the patriot army and thus forfeited his inheritance in Great Britain. His trunk containing his papers and records were burned, and when, on the birth of Prince of Wales, Queen Victoria proclaimed amnesty and restoration to such offenders as he, no evidence could be furnished by his descendants to enable them to enter upon the snug inheritance that might have been theirs.”

Born in Caernarvon, Wales

Later versions of Harriet’s story include the additional detail that John was born in “Carvarnon, Lynox Coventry.” Caernarvon is clearly in North Wales, consistent with C.W. Jayne’s viewing of John Evans gravestone.^[1] But where the heck is “Lynox Coventry?” Perhaps a phonetic corruption of the words spoken in Welsh?

A second son of English nobility

Later versions have embellished this claim by naming his father Lord William Evans, and figuring that since his older brother died without issue, the property and title devolved to “Sir” John, etc. This is probably false, as no evidence has ever been found to support any of this. Such a resume would leave footprints, and nothing has been found to support this claim.

Came to America as a Lieutenant in the French & Indian War

Later versions have him coming to America as a Lieutenant in the French and Indian War. This modification was necessary as additional records available for subsequent versions proved John was in America well before the revolution (e.g., his marriage to Ann Birney, etc.)

Given John's birth in 1738, this service certainly makes better sense, but there are troubling aspects with this as well. As an officer John would have been eligible for a significant land grant (2000 acres) in upper New York (Albany area). He is not recorded as taking it up. Further, as an officer with extensive military experience, it seems reasonable to expect him to have a significant role in the American Revolution, but instead he left virtually no record of his service, and when a record does surface, it shows he was lost among the ranks.

Further investigation shows that the British Army List, published annually, includes every officer in the British Army for that year. Two Lt. John Evans are found in the list for the period 1756-1762. One never left the British Isles until 1763 when his regiment was posted in Gibraltar. The other served in the 60th Regiment of Foot, the Royal American Regiment, and saw duty in America. Regrettably, this John Evans has now fallen by the wayside as he was killed in action neat Pittsburg on 12 Nov 1758.^[19]

While it remains possible that John served in the French & Indian War as a colonial officer, it seems much more likely that the original legend actually does refer to Revolutionary service, but as a private soldier and not an officer. (Note that the original legend makes no claim that he was an officer of any rank.)

Schoolmaster

His record after the Revolution indicates that John Evans was probably a full-time schoolteacher by profession. He is identified in a 1791 record as a schoolmaster. On the tax rolls of Upper Smithfield Township (Milford area) for the years 1781, 1785, and 1786 he is taxed for no land and one cow (in 1788 he had 10 acres). While his lack of property ownership could be indicative of many things, it would clearly be indicative of someone who was a schoolteacher and not a farmer. In 1800 John Evans was identified as the first schoolteachers in what was to become Eaton Township (taken from Tunkhannock Township in 1817).

From these records, it seems likely that John taught school throughout his adult life, both before and after the Revolution. Given that professional school teaching was only emerging at the time, it may be possible to define John’s earlier life through study of his profession.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Letter written before 1925, from C[harles] W. Jayne (1851-1825) to Mrs. Celia J. Jayne, in which C.W. Jayne provides the family record of his great-grandparents John Evans and Ann Birney. He wrote that his record came from his father, but that he does not know his father’s source. The birth, deaths and marriage dates of John and Ann are included, along with the names and birth dates of all their children. He also mentions personally viewing John Evans’s grave stone, and it’s inscription: “In Memory of John Evans from North Wales, who departed this life December the 6th 1817 aged 79 years.”
2. ↑ New York, Goshen, First Presbyterian Church, parish register, 1773-1851, viewable at Ancestry.com. U.S., Presbyterian Church Records, 1701-1970 [database on-line, image 262 of 280], “William Son of John & Ann Evans. Born Oct. 20th 1777. Baptized December 14, 1777.”
3. ↑ James Arthur Roberts, New York in the Revolution as Colony and State, (Albany: Comptroller’s Office, 1897), page 164, “John Evins.” Online: archive.org/details/newyorkinrevolut00newy/page/164/mode/1up.
4. ↑ Compiled Records of Soldiers Who Served in the American Army During the Revolutionary War, New York, Pauling's Regiment Militia; M881 (Washington: National Archives), 740. (John Evans pay record)
5. ↑ Fifth Battalion Northampton County, Pennsylvania Archives Series 5, Volume VIII, (Philadelphia: 1897), page 409, John Evans, 7th Class), online: www.familysearch.org/library/books/records/item/86283-pennsylvania-archives-fifth-series-v-08?viewer=1&offset=0#page=411&viewer=picture&o=info&n=0&q=.
6. ↑ Minisink Valley Reformed Dutch Church Records, New York Genealogical and Biographical Society, (New York: the Society, 1913), page 174. Online: archive.org/details/minisinkvalleyre00vosb/page/173/mode/1up?q=Birney
7. ↑ Minisink Valley Reformed Dutch Church Records, New York Genealogical and Biographical Society, (New York: the Society, 1913), page 285. Online: archive.org/details/minisinkvalleyre00vosb/page/285/mode/1up. Note there is a gap in the records from 1767 to 1785, it is possible that Ann may have registered earlier.
8. ↑ All Pennsylvania, U.S., Tax and Exoneration, 1768-1801 results for John Evans, https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/2497/?name=John_Evans&event=1785_northampton-pennsylvania-usa_2191&count=50&event_x=10-0-0_1-0&_phtarg=SwE33635&queryId=bb70451901871d5003f50994344675d4&successSource=Search.
9. ↑ William Henry Egle, Proprietary, supply, and state tax lists of the counties of Northampton and Northumberland for the years 1772 to 1787, (Harrisburg: State Printer, 1898), pages: 177 (1785), 283 (1786), 399 (1788). Online: https://archive.org/details/proprietarysupp01pagoog/page/n17/mode/1up?q=Evans.
10. ↑ George Peck, Early Methodism within the Bounds of the Old Genesee Conference from 1788 to 1828, (New York: Carlton & Porter, 1850), page 476. Online: https://archive.org/details/cu31924029469925/page/n485/mode/1up.
11. ↑ Orange County Letters of Administration, Volume A, Surrogate's Court (Orange County); Ancestry.com, "New York, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1659-1999" [database on-line, image 56 of 653]. “John Evans of the State of Pennsylvania schoolmaster, a brother-in-law, and creditor of William Birney late of the County of Orange” is granted administrative rights for William Birney’s estate.
12. ↑ Clove Dutch Reformed Church of Clove Valley, Wantage, Sussex Co., N.J., New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, 57 (1926), page 360.
13. ↑ Stewart Pearce, Annals of Luzerne County: a record of interesting events, traditions, and anecdotes. From the first settlement in Wyoming Valley to 1866, (Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott, 1866-2nd ed), page 551, online: babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=loc.ark:/13960/t9b57bq85&view=1up&seq=577
14. ↑ United Stated Direct Tax of 1798, Pennsylvania, Luzerne County, Tunkhannock Township, viewed at Wyoming County Historical Society, Tunkhannock, PA, image on file
15. ↑ Charles M. Lee, “Wyoming County,” Common schools of Pennsylvania, report of the superintendent of public instruction of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for the year ending June 1, 1877 (Harrisburg: Lane S. Hart, State Printer, 1878), page 608. Online: https://archive.org/details/reportofsuperint1877comm/page/608/mode/1up?q=Evans.
16. ↑ Pennsylvania State Archives, “Records of County Governments: Wyoming County,” Tax assessment records of Luzerne County, 1803-1842, record group RG-47, micro-publication LR331, 13 rolls.
17. ↑ Daughters of the American Revolution, DAR Genealogical Research Databases, database online, (http://www.dar.org/ : accessed July 14, 2021), "Record of EVANS, JOHN", Ancestor # A037572.
18. ↑ Allen Rosenkrans, History of Huston Township, Clearfield County, (Clearfield, PA: Clearfield County Historical Society, ca. 1962?, 42 pages).
19. ↑ The Papers of Henry Bouquet, Bouquet Papers, Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, 5 volumes (Harrisburg). vol 2 (1951), page 609; vol 3 (1976), page 216).

• The Story of John Evans and Ann Birney: http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~lgogden/genealogy/john%20evans%20and%20ann%20birney%20the%20story.htm
• See my tree for additional information: https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/101148052/person/340010857854/facts
• Find-A-Grave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/54112424/john-evans