John Elliott (abt. 1715 - 1784)

Born about 1715 in Ireland

Husband of Frances (Knott) Elliott — married before 1775 in Cumberland Co. Pennsylvania

Descendants

Died 1784 at about age 69 in Cumberland (Franklin) County, Colony of Pennsylvania

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Biography

JOHN ELLIOTT is said to have been born in 1715 in Northern Ireland near the Fermanagh and Donegal county line. ^[1] Elliott Ydna has pinpointed John’s place of origin as North and East Donegal (not the county line in South Donegal) between the village of Convoy in the Laggan Valley & Milford/Ramelton, a short distance North. (See Robert Elliott’s comment below.) He emigrated to the Colony of Pennsylvania probably in the 1730s.

He appears to have married first, around 1740, a daughter of James Gibson, who died in Hopewell Township, Cumberland County, in 1758 leaving "six pounds now in his hands" to "son John Elliott" and a young filly to "granddaughter Margaret Elliott,” implying his daughter had died.^[2]

He married second PATIENCE ______. She is believed to be Patience Quigley.^[3] Her name, Patience, appears in a 1768 deed.^[4] She was probably the mother of most of his children.

Pennsylvania was settled first along the Delaware River. By the early 1730s, colonists had moved inland about a hundred miles to present York County along the Susquehanna River. In 1735 the Quaker proprietors purchased from the Indians the next major valley to the west, the broad Cumberland Valley. In 1750 they acquired land further west and created Cumberland County out of the two purchases. Friction developed between the pacifist Quakers and the non-pacifist Irish who had begun arriving in large numbers in the 1730s. After the formation of Cumberland County, the Quaker proprietors ordered their agents not to sell land in York or Lancaster counties to the Irish, but instead to induce them into far-off Cumberland County with liberal offers.

In the 1750s John, at about age 40, moved his family to Path Valley, Cumberland County [now Metal Township, Franklin County], and settled near present Willow Hill. Path Valley, narrow and fertile, is on the western edge of the Cumberland Valley, between the Tuscarora Mountains and the Kittatinney (North) Mountains. The valley is named for a well-traveled Indian trail which runs through it and is drained by the West Branch of Conococheague Creek which flows south, past Fort Loudon (built 1754), out into the Cumberland Valley where it joins the main branch and continues south eventually meeting the Potomac River in Maryland.

John chose his land, made improvements, and on May 14, 1755 received a warrant to 150 acres on the west side of the West Branch of Conococheague Creek. [The land was surveyed years later, in 1787, after his death, as 250 acres, and was patented in 1797 to (son) Wright Elliott and (stepson) Richard Childerstone, as a tract called "May Hill.”]^[5]

His homestead was described in 1798, after his death, as having a two-story stone house (26 feet x 24 feet) with 8 windows, a detached log kitchen (16 feet x 14 feet), and a log barn. The house, undoubtedly built by John, must have been an impressive home, for as late as 1798 there were only a few stone houses in the area; the vast majority of the homes were one-story log houses.^[6]

The French and Indian War (1755-1763) began soon after John arrived. He undoubtedly garrisoned soldiers in his home during the war. An old military map shows that an officer and twenty men were stationed there in the winter of 1764. ^[7]

With the end of the war, John began acquiring additional land. On June 4, 1762 he purchased warrants to two tracts located just over the Tuscarora Mountains to the west in present Huntingdon County. Son John Jr. purchased on the same day a warrant to 150 acres in Path Valley immediately west of his father's farm.^[8][9] In 1773 John purchas­e the 150 acres from his son John Jr. [This tract was surveyed twenty-four years later, in 1787, as 176 acres and was patented in 1797 under the name "Rich Hill.”]^[10] John's farm thus included both the 250-acre "May Hill" tract and the adjoining 176-acre "Rich Hill" tract. ^[11] At an earlier date, John had acquired 200 acres immediately north of his farm and built a gristmill on the property. He and Patience deeded the land and mill to son William in 1768.^[12]

John was one of the largest landowners in Fannet Township. [Fannet, set off from Peters in 1761, included what is now Metal Town­ship.] In 1770, per the tax list, he owned 700 acres of warranted land, 50 acres of cleared land, four horses, four head of cattle, six sheep, one Negro, and two servants. Only a few households at that time had servants, and the average amount of warranted land was only 200 to 300 acres.^[13]

John's home was apparently a favorite stopping place for travelers. One such traveler, David Brown, who had spent the previous night at the home of Rowland Harris at the south end of Path Valley, recorded in his journal on April 29, 1769: "Went to Allen Browns to breakfast, then turned to the left hand up the mountain to a large body of iron ore, and saw about 10 dear in the woods; then turned down to the road again and went to the foot of TusKrora mountain to the sleeping place, where we saw six waggons going to Pittsburg; went to Mr. Elliotts, staid all Day - walked to his mill and to a large rich bottom along the creek, part of which he has cleared."^[14]

Patience apparently died around 1770. She was probably about 50.

Sometime prior to 1775, John married widow FRANCES (KNOT) CHILDERSTONE (Childerson/Chillison), who was probably considerably younger than John. It is said that John's son Benjamin left home because of this marriage. Frances had married first on July 27, 1764 in St. Pauls Church, Philadelphia, Richard Childerstone, who died leaving her with two children Richard Jr. and Frances Childerstone.^[15] John and Frances had two children: Hannah and Wright.

During the Revolutionary War (1775-1783), John was too old to serve. The records indicate that his son John served as a lieutenant and son William was a delegate to the Provincial Conference at Carpenter's Hall in Philadelphia in 1775 and attended the Con­ference of Committee in 1776.^[16]

John died probably in the spring of 1784, around the age of 69. His will was proved in court on May 15 of that year. In his will, which was written two and a half years earlier on October 5, 1781, he left to his wife one third of the moveables, a mare of her choosing, and one third of the profits from the plantation during her natural life; to MARGARET, JAMES, MARY, BARBARA, BENJAMIN, ROBERT and JANE only shillings having already well provided for them; to JOHN £10, to WILLIAM my silver watch"; to HANNAH "who is now young" sufficient boarding and schooling until of age and £300; to Wright "a minor” and stepson "Richard Chillison who now lives with me" two thirds of the moveables and an undivided half of the remaining land [which per a later deed totaled 425 acres]. Richard was to pay his sister Frances £100 out of his part. Wife Frances and son William were appointed executors. ^[17]

In 1784 the southwest portion of Cumberland County was set off as Franklin County, named for Benjamin Franklin, and the county seat was established at Chambersburg.

In 1790, per the census, Frances lived on the farm with her teen­age children Wright and Hannah. Hannah married Ephraim Harris in 1791 and it appears that the Harrises moved into the stone house with Frances. The 1800 census shows his family living in the area with a woman Frances' age, a woman her daughter Frances Childerstone's age, two servants and a Negro.^[18]

On May 14, 1799, Wright Elliott sold his half of the remaining land, 207 acres, to his brother-in-law Ephraim Harris. ^[19] This half included the stone house, for a year earlier, the 1798 tax list shows the house as belonging to Wright, although it was then being leased to George McClellan.^[20]

In 1802, Ephraim Harris sold the farm to Jacob Wittmer and Ben Erb for £1600^[21] and moved his young family to the wilderness of northwestern Pennsylvania in what soon after became Butler County. Frances appears to have moved with them; a Frances Elliott in 1805 witnessed one of Ephraim's deeds.^[22] Her son Wright also moved.

The date of Frances' death is not known. Son Wright later moved on to western Ohio. Most of John Elliotts many children moved away from Path Valley

For his children, see Virginia Shannon Fendrick, American Revolu­tionary Soldiers of Franklin County (1944), 72-75, plus what is footnoted.

MARGARET ELLIOTT (est.1742- ) m est.1768 GARRETT PENDERGRASS Jr.; m2 WILLIAM WILSON. Moved to Harrodsburg KY where husb-1 was killed, ap­parently later lived in Shelby Co. KY, had at least 4 children: Jesse, Garrett Elliott, Patience, & Polly Pendergrass.

JAMES ELLIOTT (est.1743- ). A trader/merchant, served as justice of the peace of Cumberland (Franklin) Co., settled in Guilford Twp., probably in Chambersburg.^[23][24]

JOHN ELLIOTT Jr. (Nov 21 1744- ) m CATHERINE_______(c1765- ). A farmer, sold "Rich Hill” to father in 1773, believed to have served as a lieutenant in Capt. Benjamin Burd's Co. in 1777, moved to Allegheny Co. PA where in 1818 he applied for a pension, moved to Canton, Stark Co. OH by 1820.^[25]

WILLIAM ELLIOTT, Esq. (est.1747- ) m Feb 4 1774 ROSANNA CRAIG. A farmer/miller, served as magistrate of Cumberland Co., was a delegate to the Provincial Congress at Carpenters Hall in 1775 and attended the Con­ference of Committee in 1776, had 9 children: Ephraim, John, William, Elizabeth, Benjamin, Patience, Samuel, Martha, & Rosanna Elliott. William and Rose Elliott were seen selling land near Dunnings Creek in Bedford in 1784 to a Valentine Ripley of Toms Creek Hundred in Frederick co, MD. ^[26] Father John granted William land in Fannet Township on Oct. 31, 1768. Witnesses were John's children: John, James, Barbara and wife Patience ^[27]

MARY ELLIOTT (est1749- ). Alive in 1781 when father wrote will.

BARBARA ELLIOTT (est.1750- ) m WILLIAM ELLIOTT (c1739-1807). Said to have married William Elliott of Bullock Pens, Allegheny Co. PA who with Daniel Elliott in 1765 was given permission by Lt. Col. Reed commandant of Fort Pitt to settle at Seven Mile Spring, about 7 miles east of what is now Pittsburgh and who is buried in Allegheny Cemetery in Pittsburgh, if so had 10 children: Patience, Mary, Jane, Barbara, Margaret, John, William, Robert, George Washington, & Archibald Elliott.

BENJAMIN ELLIOTT (c1752-Mar 13 1835) ml 1776 MARY CARPENTER; m2 1705 SARAH ASHMAN; m3 SUSAN HAINES. Lived in Huntingdon Co. PA, had farm on Juniata River about 4 miles from Huntingdon and a town lot in Huntingdon, had partnership in a sawmill with William Spence in Newton Twp, Licking Co. Ohio, had 10 children: Martha, Mary, James, Eleanor, Harriet, Matilda, Patience, Louisa, Benjamin, & John Elliott.^[28] In 1793 Benjamin and wife Sarah sold the land Benjamin purchased from Robert Elliott in 1784. James Elliott witnessed the deed transfer. ^[29]

ROBERT ELLIOTT (est.1750-Oct 6 1794) ml Jul 6 1773 JEAN WILSON ( 1780); m2 Mar 16 1781 ANNA DUNCAN (c1760-Aug 31 1824) dau. of Daniel Duncan of Cumberland Co. A merchant, lived in Hagerstown, MD and had merchant ties to Philadelphia PA. In 1780 with wife Jean sold land on the Juniata River to (bro.) Benjamin, wit­nessed by (bro.) William and Rose Elliott ^[30] In 1794 while chief quartermaster of General Wayne's Army was killed by Indians near Fort Washington OH (now Cincinnati) while en route with supplies for the Army, widow m2 Daniel Hughes, had 10 children: Robert, Patience, Wilson, William, Daniel D., Harriet, John, Jesse, St. Clair, & Williams Elliott.^[31]

JANE ELLIOTT (est.1754-after1820) m Nov 1777 ROBERT WILSON (c1754- after1820). Married in Hagerstown MD while husband was stationed at Valley Forge, his home was about 3 miles from her father's, moved to Kentucky soon after 1790, both alive in 1820.

HANNAH ELLIOTT (Nov 19 1775-Jan 8 1842) m 1791 EPHRAIM HAR­RIS (Jun 18 1766-May 4 1825) son of Rowland & Rebecca (Ramsey?) Harris. Husband a farmer & merchant, lived in Path Valley in Franklin Co. on his father's land near gristmill, moved to her father's land up the valley, c.1802 moved west to Butler Co. PA, in 1825 founded town of Harrisville on his property. [See Ephraim Harris’ profile.]

WRIGHT ELLIOTT (after1774-after1820) m by1799 JANE_____ . A school teacher, inherited half of father's plantation, in 1799 sold his half to brother-in-law Ephraim Harris, c.1802 moved to Mercer Twp. Butler Co. PA probably with Harrises, said to have been the first schoolmaster in that area of Butler Co., schoolhouse was near/at present Harrisville, moved to Lemon Twp, Butler Co. in western OH where he was living in 1820.^[32]

Sources

1. ↑ Duff, William Boyd, The Elliotts of Bullock Pens (undated, unpublished manuscript in Western Pennsylvania Genealogical Society Library), p.17.
2. ↑ Cumberland Co. Will Bk.A, p.55: Will written Feb 22 1758, proved Jul 4 1758, also named wife Jean, son Wm. Gibson, grdson James Beard, son Hugh Thompson. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G99B-J7L1?i=44
3. ↑ Fendrick, Virginia Shannon, American Revolu­tionary Soldiers of Franklin County (1944), p.72.
4. ↑ Cumberland Co. Deed Bk. B, p.305: wife Pa­tience signed with mark. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS73-M3MC-X?i=221&cat=206705
5. ↑ Survey Bk.B, p.82: Warrant #12. Bk. P31, p.374.
6. ↑ Franklin Co. Property Tax.
7. ↑ Map “Disposition of the Pennsylvania Troops in the Western District for the winter season" at Western Penn. Historical Soc. Library, Pittsburgh.
8. ↑ Warrants #17,18,19: 1.) 100 acres (surveyed to be 111 acres) on Sidling Hill Creek where it joins Aughwick Creek and 2.) 100 acres (surveyed to be 191 acres) near the main gap on the waters of Little Aughwick "between Burnt Cabins and the road that goes from the Path Valley to the Shades of Death at the foot of the Tuskarora Mountain."
9. ↑ Survey Bk. C42, p.150; C41, p.284.
10. ↑ Cumberland Co. Deed Bk.B, p.366. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS73-MS14-G?i=451&cat=206705; Patent Bk.D31, p.374.
11. ↑ Patent Bk.31, p.374. Franklin Co. Deed Bk.4 p.535 (his homestead after his death totaled 425 acres and had a northeast border which equaled the northeast borders of the two above tracts)
12. ↑ Cumberland Co. Deed Bk.B, p.305. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS73-M3MC-X?i=221&cat=206705
13. ↑ Fannet Twp, Franklin Co. tax lists.
14. ↑ History of Franklin County, Pennsylvania. "Bates" (1887; reprinted 1975) p.562.
15. ↑ Fendrick, pp.72, 73. Named in John's will.
16. ↑ Fendrick, pp.74, 75.
17. ↑ Cumberland Co. Will Bk.D, p.209. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L99B-JCML?i=114
18. ↑ 1800 US Census, Franklin Co., Metal Twp, p.319: listed near Richard Childerstone.
19. ↑ Patent Bk.31, p.374. Franklin Co. Deed Bk.4, p.535.
20. ↑ 1798 Franklin Co. Metal Twp. property tax.
21. ↑ Franklin Co. Deed Bk.5, p.337.
22. ↑ Butler Co. Deed Bk.A, p.116.
23. ↑ Tax list 1769: “pedlar."
24. ↑ Cumberland Deed Bk.C, p.97 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS73-MS1R-K?i=315&cat=206705; merchant, p.274: chapman and dealer.
25. ↑ John Jr to Sr, Cumberland Deed Bk 1 C 366. Date Recorded: Apr 28, 1773. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS73-MS14-G?i=451&cat=206705; Rev. War Pension Rec: 1777 resident of Cumberland Co.; parents names not gi­ven but was right age to be. . Patent Bk. D31, p.374.
26. ↑ Bedford Co. Deeds C 400, May 18 1784.https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS4V-R9TQ-B?i=206&cat=236682
27. ↑ Cumberland Deed Bk 1 B 305. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS73-M3MC-X?i=221&cat=206705
28. ↑ Huntingdon Co. Will Bk.3, p.475- 477. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G991-ZCMN?i=285
29. ↑ Bedford Deed Book D, 166-167. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS4V-R9R2-4?i=428&cat=236682
30. ↑ Bedford Co. Deed Book B 18, 13 Mar 1780. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS4R-H95Y-Z?i=288&cat=236682
31. ↑ Franklin Co. Orphan Bk.A, pp. 337, 397. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-899B-2R45?i=227 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-899B-256T?i=196
32. ↑ Franklin Co. Deed Bk.4, p.535. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSXB-694G-6 History of Butler Countv. pub. R.C Brown & Co. (1895), p.635. 1790 US Census, Franklin Co., Metal Twp, p.113 probably the male under age 16 living with Frances. 1820 U.S. Census, Butler Co. OH, Lem. Twp, p.55.

Acknowledgments

Thank you to Joann H. for creating Elliott-2734 on 6 Oct 13. Click the Changes tab for the details on contributions by Joann and others.