Elizabeth (Craig) McIlhenny (abt. 1760)

Died [date unknown] in Pennsylvania, United States [uncertain]

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Biography

Elizabeth was born about 1760. She is the daughter of Unknown Craig. Place of death is assumed.

Sources

• http://files.usgwarchives.net/pa/northampton/history/family/m2140001.txt

JOHN MCFALL, son of Francis and Elizabeth, was born in Bed- minister Township, approximately in 1750, although there is no present record of the date. He grew up on his father's farm, was married, in the early part of 1773, to Hanna Craig of Greenwich Township, Sussex County, New Jersey, and several years after this marriage the couple moved into Springfield Township on a 150-acre tract belonging to Carpenter Wharton, an extensive landowner of Philadelphia. Robert Craig, a brother of Hanna, and James, another brother, farmed the adjoining tract of 150 acres, which also belonged to Carpenter Wharton. The latter died in 1780. Robert Craig moved to the adjacent Township of Durham, in 1784. This township was east of Springfield Township, adjoining the Delaware River. De- posits of iron ore are found in the surrounding hills. There was an active and lively business established by certain capitalists of that day, George Taylor, of Easton, and a signer of the Declaration of Independence, being one of them, in connection with these deposits. This business was known as Durham Furnace. Across the river, sev- eral miles up Musconectong Creek, was another industry, owned largely by the same interests as that of Durham Furnace. This was known as Greenwich Forge. Still further east in the same general vicinity was Oxford Forge. These industries shipped their products to various markets, even as far as Philadelphia. Each establishment had its general store, and the account books of these stores, some of which are preserved, give a clue to the people and the activities in

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<image> Home of Thomas McFall and birthplace of Jesse McFall (Lower Mt. Bethel Tp. Northampton Co., Pa.) <image> <image> Anne Murdock McFall Thomas McFall (1781-1866) (Son of Peggy McFall Davidson ; born 1826)

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the neighborhood, as will be mentioned later. Several ferries served these industries, as well as other transportation requirements of that section.

In due course, McFall came into possession of the entire tract of 300 acres which had belonged to Wharton, and was assessed on that amount of land over a number of years, up to his death in 1800. On the tax rolls for 1784, John McFall is listed as the owner of one house, with five white inhabitants. In the U.S. Census of 1790, he has in his household, in addition to himself, one male adult over sixteen years of age, four males under sixteen, and two females, ages not stated. The death of John McFall occurred in January, 1800. In the U.S. Census for that year, the wife Hanna McFall, is listed as not over 45 years of age. She was, therefore, born not earlier than 1755. She was living with her son Francis in Northampton County, Pa., according to the Census of 1810, but had probably died previous to the Census 0f 1820, as there is no trace of her in that year. Tradition is silent in respect to the year of her death.

The estate of John McFall was administered by his sons Francis and Thomas, there being no will, and the widow having waived. The inventory discloses a large personal estate, consisting of cattle and other live stock, grain, implements, household goods, furniture, a few books and one Bible. There are also listed, as part of his hold- ings, numerous notes and accounts. A bond of five thousand pounds was furnished by the administrators. This would indicate an estate of considerable proportions, and would tend to confirm the family tradition that McFall, in connection with farming, operated a grist mill, or as some say, a tannery and cooperage. The inventory throws no light on the assertion. In respect to the Bible, it might be observed that had anyone seen fit to preserve it for the use or inspection of the present generation, much speculation now employed to recon- struct the family history might have been dispensed with, as it doubtless contained the customary entries concerning marriages, births, baptisms and deaths.

The McFall residence in Springfield Township is said to have been on the great road running from Philadelphia to Bethlehem, but in the absence of title deeds it cannot now be definitely located. John and Hannah McFall are probably buried in the burying ground at the Red Hill Presbyterian Church, but as there are no markers or records of burial, the exact spot is unknown. Tradition says at Deep Run, but Red Hill is more probable.

John McFall served in the Revolution, but the meager lists of Associators for Springfield Township do not permit conclusions as to his service from that township. However, he was a member of the Company of Associators for Bedminster Township, as shown in

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a list for 1775. In April, 1783, he was elected lieutenant in Captain George Heinline's company for Durham Township. McFall's name does not appear in any of the very extensive lists of those paying non-attendance fines in any of the townships mentioned, or of those refusing to render military service ; hence it can be rightfully in- ferred that he discharge his patriotic obligations faithfully from the time of his enlistment in the Bedminster Company in 1775 until the close of the war. As stated previously, his brother Hugh was an as- sociator from the beginning until the close of the Revolution. Neither of these brothers belonged to the regiments of the line. John McFall was a member of the Red Hill Presbyterian Church at Ottsville in Tinicum Township, Bucks County, and continued as a member and contributor until his death in 1800. Records in possession of the Presbyterian Historical Society in Philadelphia are the authority for the foregoing statement, also as to the membership of the sister Margaret.

John and Hanna McFall were the parents of six sons, namely, Francis, Thomas, John, Carpenter, James, and Hugh. There were no daughters who survived girlhood. In 1801, Francis and Thomas McFall purchased from David Beidleman a tract of 150 acres in Lower Mount Bethel Township, in Northampton County, Pennsyl- vania, to which the family then removed. The influences which led to this migration were threefold. First, the new location was in the vicinity of the James McIlhenny holdings. This party was the hus- band of Elizabeth, the sister of Hannah McFall. Second, there were better mill sites in the new location. Third, as Springfield Township was then largely in the possession of German occupants, the longing for the more familiar contacts with the Scotch-Irish strain, and per- haps old neighbors, was a contributing factor. Perhaps, also, the family desired to live in the neighborhood of the Millers and Wilsons mentioned below. The tradition is that the McFalls, Millers and Wilsons exchanged visits, journeying on horseback back and forth over the mountains.