Christopher Buck (1765 - 1807)

Born 1 Apr 1765 in Baltimore County, Maryland

Ancestors

Husband of Kezia (Gorsuch) Buck — married 9 Oct 1790 in Baltimore, MD

Descendants

Died 6 Mar 1807 at age 41 in White Marsh, Maryland

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Biography

The birth of Christopher Buck, son of Benjamin and Dorcas Buck, is recorded among the parish records of St. John's Episcopal church. ^[1]He was lived his whole life on the farm of his father located a few miles northeast of Baltimore along on the main road to Philadelphia.

Marriage & Children

Christopher married 9 OCT 1790 Kezia Gorsuch, the daughter of David Gorsuch and Elizabeth Hanson. Their first child, James Buck was born 9 MAY 1792 and died 11 OCT 1792. Kezia gave birth to 5 more children that all lived to adulthood:

Jemima 28 FEB 1794

Benjamin 18 DEC 1795

Joshua 30 JAN 1798 (born blind)

Elizabeth Gorsuch 10 MAR 1800

Mary Gorsuch 5 JAN 1876^[2]

Major Events

1794 to 1801 - Lt. Christopher Buck was active in the Baltimore County Militia.

1801 - Christopher Buck, in partnership with Benjamin German, purchased a one acre lot for 20 shillings:

" for the use and benefit of a public school and for the accomodation of all and every person or persons that shall be sent or come to the said school for education. (Bucks School House Road can still be found on maps near White Marsh Blvd. but the school building is long gone.)

Land

Christopher & Kezia lived on a farm called Felks Forest given to them by his father, Benjamin Buck. He is listed on the property tax assessment of 1798 as owning 187 acres in the Back River Lower Hundred and 5 slaves. He also owned three lots with houses in Baltimore Town which he claimed through his wife's inheritance from her mother, Jonathan Hanson^[3]. These lots were valued at $280 in the 1801 property tax assessment.^[4]

Death

Christopher Buck wrote his will on 15 FEB 1807. This document states that he was in health, but he was deceased less than a month later on 6 MAR 1807, so one wonders if he was actually ill when it was written. An abstract of the will follows:

• I give to my son, Benjamin Buck, all the tract called Felks Forest which I obtained from my father and mother namely, Benjamin Buck and Dorcas Buck.
• To my son, Joshua Buck, all that tract distinguished on the platt by the number 49 being part of the Principio Company's lands called Roborarium to the right of which I'm entitled by the present will of my father, Benjamin Buck.
• Considering that my aforesaid son, Joshua Buck, is afflicted with a disease in his eyes which nearly deprives him of his sight and that probably will continue during his life, I further give to my son, Joshua Buck, the sum of $800 current money.
• To my three daughters, named Jemima, Elizabeth and Mary Buck, I give the remainder of the estate, real, personal and mixed not before mentioned.
• It is my will that my beloved wife, Keziah Buck, do keep in her possession all my estate during her widowhood or until my youngest child shall have arrived to the age of 14 for the use, support and education of my children and when my youngest is arrived at age 14 then each shall have their respective portions of my estate, reserving for my wife one third during her natural life.
• Should my beloved wife intermarry, then I will that she have one third of my estate during her natural life.
• I appoint my beloved wife, Kezia Buck, and my trusty and worthy friends, Charles Jessop and John Buck, joint executors of this will.

Signed by Christopher Buck in the presence of Charles Jessop, John Buck & James Trokeng. Brought to the court for probate 18 MAR 1807.^[5]

Sources

1. ↑ Reamy, Bill, Martha Reamy, and Md. Perryman. St. John’s & St. George's Parish Registers: 1689-1793. Silver Spring, Md.: Family Line Publications, 1988
2. ↑ Family Bible Record in the possession of Seely Kenny Foley
3. ↑ Balto. Co. Land Records WG QQ 419, WG 53/165 & WG 82/216
4. ↑ Balto. City Archives Tax Assesment Ledger
5. ↑ Balt. Co. Wills Liber 8/166