Christopher Pennock (abt. 1645 - bef. 1701)

Descendants

Contents 1 Biography 1.1 Religious Persecution 1.2 Meetings with William Penn 1.3 Purchase of William Penn Land 1.4 Immigrating to America 1.5 Betrayed by his brothers-in-law 1.6 First Social Event 1.7 Third Haven Meeting House 1.8 Family lore, Myths and Inconsistencies 1.9 Death 2 Research Notes 3 Sources 4 Acknowledgements

Biography

Christopher Pennock was the very first Pennock to immigrate to America in 1684. ^[1] Almost all Pennocks in the United States can trace their ancestors back to Christopher and his sons and daughters.

Where and when he was born is not known. Most sources say he was born in Ireland about 1649,^[2] however, records indicate he was “committed to Goal” (gaol^[3] or jail) in 1660 for practicing his Quaker religion^[4] meaning he would have only been 11 years old if born in 1649. He was probably born closer to 1645 or even 1640.

Some sources state that he was born in Germany, moved to England and finally Ireland. ^[5] What is known is that in 1660 he lived in Cork, a seaport on the river Lee, in Ireland where he had a shop as a cardmaker (making wire toothed wool combs) and wire drawer. ^[1]

Around 1664, he married his first wife, Dorothy Harwood. The birth of their son John, on 24 Aug 1665, was recorded by the Cork Friends' (Quaker) Meeting. They would go on to have 2 more children, Hannah and Sarah. Dorothy died 4 July 1671^[1] leaving Christopher a young widower with three young children ages 2 to 6.

A year later, before or about Aug 1672, Christopher married Mary Collett, the daughter of a wealthy Irish Quaker George Collett, who leased an estate which included "Killhouse, Castle, Shop and Cellar" at Clonmel in the picturesque county of Tipperary, Ireland. Christopher and Mary had 5 children: Mary, Nathaniel, Joseph, Elizabeth and Ann. ^[1]

Religious Persecution

Christopher Pennock was a devote Quaker and during this time in history there was tremendous religious strife between the Irish Catholics, Anglicans and the Quakers. He remained a Quaker in spite of being harassed and imprisoned numerous times. Here are a few examples: ^[1][6][7][8]

1660
Imprisoned by order of the Mayor, Christopher Oliver, for meeting together (with some other Friends) to worship God in the City of Cork.^[4]

1661
Imprisoned with 16 Friends for meeting in the City of Cork by the Mayor, Walter Cooper, where they were kept several weeks. ^[4]

1667
Imprisoned with William Penn and 17 other Friends for meeting together on 3 Nov 1667.^[4]

1667
Imprisoned with 6 other Friends for meeting together on 24 Nov 1667 by the Mayor, Christopher Rye.^[4]

1669
Imprisoned with 17 other Friends for meeting together by the Mayor, Christopher Rye.^[4]

1670
Fined forty-nine yards of "stuff" worth £2, 16 shillings, for attending Quaker meeting.^[4]

1671
The church warden took 8 shillings from him for the maintenance of the priest, Benjamin Cross.^[1]

1675
The church warden took 7 shillings out of his "shop-box" for the priest, Benjamin Cross.^[7]

1676
Mary, his wife, was imprisoned for one night for keeping shop open on Christmas, a feast day unobserved by Friends.^[7]

Meetings with William Penn

In 1669 William Penn was sent over to Ireland by his father to deal with many of the leases on his father's Irish estates in County Cork. However, he spent most of his time working on behalf of the Quakers, attending many meetings and staying with leading Quaker families. Immediately on landing in Cork he went to see Quakers imprisoned by the authorities of the town. Penn himself had been imprisoned with Christopher Pennock two years before for having a Quaker meeting. ^[4][9]

In Penn’s journal he writes about meeting Christopher Pennock on 27 Dec 1669 and again on 30 Dec 1669 when Pennock arrived late in the evening with John Stubbs. Stubbs was a former soldier in Cromwell's army who became an English Quaker minister when George Fox, the founder, converted him to Quaker beliefs. The following day Penn traveled with Christopher and Stubbs part of the way to Youghal, where they had a Quaker meeting. ^[9]

Purchase of William Penn Land

On 1 Aug 1683, Christopher's father-in-law, George Collett, purchased 5,000 acres in the province of Pennsylvania, America. George paid about £106 to the brothers, Francis and George Rogers, Cork city merchants, who had bought the land in 1681 from William Penn. ^[1] Within a year, Christopher would become the first Pennock to arrive in the new lands of America because of this fortuitous event.

Immigrating to America

In 1684, after residing in Ireland (and possibly Cornwall, England)^[8] Christopher and Mary Pennock, their children, Nathaniel, Joseph, Elizabeth and Ann, along with his daughter Sarah from his previous marriage and Mary's brother, George Collett, Jr., sailed for Pennsylvania. In Philadelphia Christopher Pennock carried on the trade of cardmaker and was active in the Friends' meeting. He was among those "Friends being met in the fear of the Lord at the Governour's house, and waiting a while proceeded to business, the fourth of the ninth month, 1684." (4 Nov 1684)^[1]

Betrayed by his brothers-in-law

Mary became dissatisfied in Philadelphia and wished to return to her father in Ireland. It's possible that she was concerned about their children's education in a very new frontier town. The first Friends' Public Grammar School would not be chartered in Philadelphia until 1689.^[10] Two of her brothers, George Jr and one other who were in town, favored her going back home. Christopher Pennock never forgave them for this. Years later he wrote that they

"did mee the greatest wrong that Ever I had don me: for Thay Made a difarance betwen my wife and I: Thay did not only set her against mee but branded mee with drunkness and drew my wifes afecttions from and Caused her to leave mee when I was sick and in destres. . . . Shee mad A promis to frends if I would Let her go and Did not Like ye inCuridgment her father would send over to mee in a years time: and if it pleased god wee weare both Living shee would Com over to mee in too years Time againe."

Mary Pennock left Philadelphia about 1686, never to return. She took their children with her, leaving only Sarah from Christopher's first marriage. While she and Christopher would corresponded for the rest of their lives, her father gave him no encouragement to come to Ireland. ^[1]

First Social Event

The first important social event for the Pennock family in Philadelphia was the marriage, in 1688, of Christopher Pennock's daughter, Sarah, to William Salway, a Philadelphia merchant who would have a subsequent career as a provincial assemblyman, judge and councilor. Their intentions of marriage were first presented to the Philadelphia Monthly Meeting on 5th month 26th 1688 (26 Jul 1688),^[11] by Sarah Eckley and Margaret Beardsley. William Salway was requested to bring a certificate from his monthly meeting and after producing this, they were left at liberty to proceed on 7th month 28th 1688 (28 Sep 1688).^{[1] [12]}

Third Haven Meeting House

Christopher Pennock was in Talbot County, Maryland, on 4 May 1699, where he witnessed the marriage of Thomas Berry, "boatright," to Sarah Godard, spinster, at the Third Haven (Tread Avon) Friends' Meeting House at the head of Tread Avon Creek. The building in which this wedding took place, and where Christopher Pennock worshipped when in Talbot County overseeing his brewery, is generally considered the oldest-surviving Friends meeting house of the Religious Society of Friends, and is a cornerstone of Quaker history in Talbot County, Maryland. It is probably the only building in America today where Christopher Pennock is known to have set foot. ^[1][13]

Family lore, Myths and Inconsistencies

Many websites, family trees, newspaper articles and books have various descriptions of the history of this Christopher Pennock that cannot be reconciled. Some of the confusion may also come from a Christopher Penick in Bethel Twp, PA being written as this Pennock but that Christopher and all his brothers died between 1729 and 1732. Unfortunately, many just copy information from site to site or tree to tree and perpetuate the errors and myths.

Some state that he was from Germany and also lived in Cromwell, England. ^[5] Many state that he was a soldier or officer in the army of William of Orange (William III , King William of England) ^{[5] [14][15]} before coming to Ireland and that after his first wife died he was “riding past Killhouse Castle near Clonmel, Tipperary Country when he saw a young girl, Mary Collet, with whom he fell in love at first sight.” Romantic but unsubstantiated. Some say he never came to America. Finally others say that after arriving in America in 1684 he was recalled to Ireland to fight at the Battle of Boyne in 1690. ^[14][15]

Even if this Christopher Pennock was born in 1640, he was too young to have served, especially as an officer, for Cromwell or William of Orange, in the Cromwellian war in Ireland (1649–53) and was an established Quaker by 1660 going to prison for his faith. Quakers in these early years were pacifists so it is unlikely he would return to fight at the Battle of Boyne in 1690. Also in a autobiographical letter dated "30th of ye 11th mo 1700" (30 Jan 1701) to the Monthly Meeting of friends in Philadelphia, he stated,

"Now it is neare fifteen yeare since shee left mee And I have not as yet Receved a Line from her father nor Brothers to inCuridg mee over." ^[1]

He never went back to Ireland to see her.

Death

The exact date of Christopher Pennock’s death is unknown. He died between 15 Apr 1701 and 31 Jul 1701. He executed his will in Philadelphia on the “15th day of the Second moneth 1701” (15 Apr 1701) and the minutes at the Third Haven Meeting, in Talbot County, Maryland dated “the 5th month 31st., 1701” (31 Jul 1701) stating “Christopher Pennock being sudainly removed by Death…” requested that an “inventory of the goods and chattles of Christopher Pennock” be performed. ^[1] There is no evidence to state where he died. It is possible he died in Philadelphia prior to "takeing a Journey into Maryland in Some Short time,"^[1] or in Maryland while looking after his brewery.

The Will of Christopher Pennock:

"Know all men by theise prsents that I Christopher Pennock of Philadelphia in the province of Pennsylvania, Cardmaker, being in perfect health of body, but in Consideration I am now takeing a Journey into Maryland in Some Short time, therefore being willing to settle the affaires I have here in Pensilvania Maryland and elsewhere, I will that my Dets and penal Charges be first payed, and discharged Item I will that My Executor: here after named doe with all Convenient Speed make Sale of what Lands I have and is acrueing to me in Pensilvania, and to put the Same into monies, which monies I would have put to Interest, which Land or monies I give to my Son Joseph Pennock, and to give notice to my wife and him with all Convenient Speed and upon order, remit the same to him in Ireland if he requires it: —Item I give unto my granddaughter Hanna Sollaway ten pounds to be put to Interest till she Comes of age or marries, but if she dies before possest thereof, then I will that it returns to my Daughter Hanna Goslin in Ireland:—Item as to my Concerns in Ireland both real and personal, I will that my dear wife Mary Pennock be possest solely thereof to be disposed of by her att her discression, and I doe wholely Constitute, my Loveing friends James Attkinson William Southerby and Richard Sutton all of Philadelphia Executors of this my Last will, renouncing and makeing void all former wills, I declare this to be my very Last in witnesse I have here unto put my hand and Seale the 15th day of the Second moneth 1701

Chrsto: Pennock." ^[1]

Research Notes

Some believe that Christopher Pennock is the son of John Pennock and Mary Ward. However, no source has been found and they are listed here only as a possible reference. Further research is required.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14} Massey, George Valentine. The Pennocks of Primitive Hall : written for the Chester County Historical Society, West Chester, Pennsylvania, West Chester, Pa. Pg 1-19. (See also: The Pennocks of Primitive Hall images 11-37 of 176 available for download on HathiTrust.org)
2. ↑ U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900, Source number: 3979.011; Source type: Family group sheet, FGSE, listed as parents; Yates Publishing , 2001
3. ↑ Gaol was often spelled as "goal" in early documents. Gaol is an early spelling version of the world jail, as cited in: Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition, 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014, accessed via The Free Dictionary.com. The Spectator has a good primer on the use of gaol, goal, and jail at "Why did we ever spell jail gaol? Two routes back to the same Latin word".
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7} Holme, Thomas, Fuller, Abraham. A brief relation of some part of the sufferings of the true Christians, the people of God, in scorn called Quakers, in Ireland, for these last eleaven years, viz, from 1660 until 1671… (See also Early English Books Online available at Early English Books Online from the University of Michigan Library
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2} Harrisburg Telegraph - 22 Apr 1899 - Page 7 (Harrisburg, PA) (See also: Harrisburg Telegraph Image 7 available on “Newspapers.com”)
6. ↑ Besse, Joseph, 1683?-1757. A Collection of the Sufferings of the People Called Quakers,: for the Testimony of a Good Conscience From the Time of Their Being First Distinguished by That Name In the Year 1650 to the Time of the Act Commonly Called the Act of Toleration Granted to Protestant Dissenters In the First Year of the Reign of King William the Third And Queen Mary In the Year 1689. Volume 2, Page 467, 475, 478. London: Printed and sold by Luke Hinde, at the Bible in George-Yard, Lombard-Street, 1753. (See also: A Collection of the Sufferings of the People Called Quakers images 475, 483, 486 of 664 available for download on HathiTrust.org)
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1 7.2} Stockdale, William. The Great Cry of Oppression: or a Brief Relation of Some Part of the Sufferings of the People of God in Scorn Called Quakers, in Ireland,, for These Eleven Years, viz From the Beginning of 1671 until the end of 1681. Divided into two Heads. Pages 12, 60, 231. Pub 1683. Not yet found online.
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1} Myers, Albert Cook. Immigration of the Irish Quakers into Pennsylvania, 1682-1750 : with their early history in Ireland. Swarthmore, Pa. ,1902. (See also: Immigration of the Irish Quakers image 363 of 567 available for download on HathiTrust.org)
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1} William Penn (1669–1670) My Irish Journal, edited by Isabel Grubb, Longmans, Green and Co., 1952. (See also My Irish Journal, 1669–1670 available online from CELT, the Corpus of Electronic Texts.)
10. ↑ Morris, Charles. The history of Pennsylvania. Philadelphia ;J. B. Lippincott company,[c1912] (See also: The history of Pennsylvania image 166 of 362 available for download on HathiTrust.org)
11. ↑ U.S., Quaker Meeting Records, 1681-1935, Haverford College; Haverford, Pennsylvania; Record of Certificates Granted, 1684-1713; Collection: Philadelphia Yearly Meeting Minutes.
12. ↑ U.S., Quaker Meeting Records, 1681-1935, Haverford College; Haverford, Pennsylvania; Marriage Certificates, 1682-1769; Collection: Philadelphia Yearly Meeting Minutes
13. ↑ http://wikivisually.com/wiki/Third_Haven_Meeting_House
14. ↑ ^{14.0 14.1} Biographical and genealogical history of the state of Delaware, containing biographical and genealogical sketches of prominate and representative citizans, and many of the early settlers., v.1, Chambersburg, Pa.,1899. Pg 333 (See also Biographical and genealogical history of the state of Delaware) image 375 of 876 available for download on HathiTrust.org)
15. ↑ ^{15.0 15.1} Delaware County Daily Times - 16 Sep 1939 (See also: Delaware County Daily Times Image 3 available on “Newspapers.com”)

See also:

• Two hundredth anniversary of the founding of London Grove Meeting ... Society of Friends. (See also: https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=hvd.32044081813354;view=1up;seq=7 ] )
• Irish Quaker Records: http://www.irishtimes.com/ancestor/browse/records/church/quaker/
• Irish Church Records: http://www.irish-genealogy-toolkit.com/irish-church-records.html
• Irish Genealogy Toolkit: http://www.irish-genealogy-toolkit.com/Irish-Quakers.html
• Quakers In Ireland: http://quakers-in-ireland.ie/
• http://www.celebrateboston.com/history/pennsylvania.htm

Acknowledgements

Thank you to all that have contributed to this profile of Christopher Pennock

• John W Sigh, Jr for updating and improving the Biography as part of the Profile Improvement Project.
• Barbara B for creating the original Biography.