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FIVE TYPICAL
SCOTCH IRISH FAMILIES
OF THE
CUMBERLAND VALLEY
By
Mary Craig Shoemaker
ls^fooA
PREFATORY NOTE
About twenty-five years ago I did some research work along
the line of the early settlement of the Cumberland Valley, Pennsyl-
vania and became much interested in the history of some of the
families of my ancestors who were among the first settlers of this
valley. Old records were searched, archives were studied, many
people of the older generation interviewed, hundreds of letters
were written and received and many hours spent in conversation
and among tombstones. A mass of disconnected data was the
result. Many people with whom I corresponded urged me to print
what I had collected so that it might be available to descendants
of these families now widely scattered over the country. Before
I had time to arrange the material in hand, in any way fit for
publication, illness in my family broke in upon my work and
after an interruption of a couple of years my interest had lagged
and until now, the notes collected so laboriously, have lain un-
disturbed. On looking over them this year my first impulse was
to destroy them but second thought urged me to preserve them
in the hope that someone else might sometime take them up and
fill out the gaps.
Our ancestors were necessarily engrossed with the material
exigencies of the times, the men clearing land, plowing, sowing,
cultivating, reaping, milling, distilling; the women weaving,
spinning, sewing, baking, cleaning, and cooking. Both men and
women were ever alert for the sign of the approach of a hostile
Indian. Wills and other legal papers had to be attended to, the
Theology of the times had to be studied, the Confession of Faith
read, the Longer and Shorter Catechisms committed to memory
so as to enable one to procure the necessary communion "token".
What wonder that in the midst of all these pressing needs but little
record was kept in writing of the rapidly changing events of the
days so full of toil and danger. Although their records are so
meagre we know that the present is what it is on account of the
past. "Some people seem to live only in their ancestry — and
they live at a poor dying rate; others never give it a thought and
they suffer accordingly." Let us show our gratitude by at least
remembering them.
M. C. S.
Albany, N. Y., December, 1922.
CONTENTS
Page
Introduction 7
The Orr Family 13
The Watson Family 27
The Craig Family 45
The Vance Family 65
The Boyd Family 69
ILLUSTRATIONS
Opposite
Page
Orr Homestead, Louther Manor, at Orr's Bridge 1 4
Colonel James Watson (Silhouette) ... 29
Commissions granted James Watson . . 30-31
Craig Homestead, Locust Hill .... 50
Vance Homestead, built by Patrick Vance, 1773 66
Old Session House at Derry Church, built 1732 70
Boyd Homestead near Derry Church . 74
INTRODUCTION
The Scotch people are made up of strains from the Irish, Gaelic,
Pictish, Cymric, English and Scandanavian. Warring first among
their clans and then uniting against the English when that nation
endeavored to impose upon them the English government and
the English Church tended to make them a sturdy, strong, self-
reliant people. During the reign of James VI a number of Scotch-
men were induced to settle in Ulster, Ireland, on land which had
been taken by the Government from the Irish Catholics. In
this way Northern England was freed from fear of a rather insur-
gent element on her borders and Northern Ireland was assured
of an industrious class of settlers. These people were Presbyterian
farmers and tradesmen of the better class who were weary of the
feuds and persecutions in Scotland and hoped for better conditions
in the new province although but ten miles of sea intervened in
some places. Material prosperity came to them but their hopes
of greater religious freedom were doomed to disappointment.
After a time edicts were issued that no ministry was valid but
that of the Episcopal or Established Church and that no man
could hold office nor own land unless he received communion
from the hands of a minister of the Established Church. Restive
but kept captive by necessity for several generations these colonists
at last decided to try their fortunes across the Atlantic where
others seeking religious freedom had already preceeded them.
As early as 1635 some Scotch Irish people attempted to leave
Ireland for America in the ship Eagle but were compelled to put
back, owing to the difficulties of the voyage.
In 1718 a petition from residents of the North of Ireland was
sent to Governor Shute of New England by William Boyd of
8 • INTRODUCTION
Macaskay. in behalf of "Neighbors, Gentlemen, Ministers,
Farmers, and Tradespeople" praying that they might be allowed
to transport themselves to that "excellent and renowned planta-
tion". Among the signers of this memorial are Robert Boyd,
Samuel Boyd, John Boyd, William Boyd, Thomas Boyd, James
Craig, John Craig, Robert Craig, David Craig, Partick Orr,
Bonill Orr, John Orr, Hugh Orr, Andrew Watson and Joseph
Watson, all familiar Pennsylvania names. Although these people
promised to do in all things as the worthy Governor of New
England should dictate he did not wish their presence in his colony.
Five shiploads of Scotch Irish were refused a landing at Boston
and were compelled to land on the coast north of that port. The
unwelcome attitude of Governor Shute and the rigors of the New
England winter which followed caused most of these immigrants
to migrate the following summer to the colony of the Penns.
But a few for various reasons persevered in making New England
their home and we find at Derry, Londonderry and Antrim, N. H.
the Boyds, the Orrs, the Dickeys and other family names identical
with names in the Derry, Londonderry and Antrim settlements in
Pennsylvania. The Scotch Irish were clannish and usually
traveled in family groups.
The topography of any country influences largely its develop-
ment. Prior to the building of canals and railroads immigrants
coming to coastal points of the colonies, especially to Philadelphia,
found the barrier of the Alleghanies practically insurmountable
so they slowly drifted southward through the Cumberland and
Shenandoah Valleys beyond Virginia where the Established
Church was objectionable, to the greater freedom of North Caro-
lina. Here we find the descendants of the Orrs, the Vances, the
Craigs, the Boyds, the Watsons and other early settlers of Pennsyl-
vania. At the settlement of New Hope, North Carolina, about
1741, William Craige was one of the founders of the church and
INTRODUCTION 9
John Craige and Isabel Craige enjoyed safety under southern
skies while their cousins, John Craig and Isabel, his wife, in East
Hanover, Pennsylvania were scalped by the Indians. (See Note.)
Wherever these colonists went they took with them loyalty to
family, reverence for God, devotion to their church, respect for
law and just government, faith in education and moral training
and bravery in action. They risked much to lay the foundation
of the liberal government which we now enjoy. They knew the
importance of the church and the school house. The churches
of the Cumberland Valley were established about eleven miles
apart, thus giving no family farther than five and a half miles to
go to church and establishing parishes somewhat after the manner
of England although they would not call them by a name so
closely associated with the Established Church. The colonists'
churches were usually built near springs so that, during the all
day services of Sabbath, good drinking water would be convenient
when the noon lunches were eaten. In spite of the austere air
of these picnics doubtless much friendly gossip, not always con-
nected with the catechisms, was indulged in especially by the
younger generation and tradition tells us that many were the
proposals of marriage made during the social hour between services.
Nearly every church had a small out building which served on
rainy Sabbaths as a storing place for saddles and during the week
was used as a school room, the minister usually being the teacher.
The children received little more than the rudiments of education
except when a boy showed himself to be of exceptional ability
when he was encouraged to go into the ministry. The Bible was
the standard daily reader and the Shorter Catechism was recited
and heard by all in the school as a standard exercise on every
Saturday morning. The usual tuition was about forty shillings
per term and was supposed to add greatly to the revenue of the
minister. Although the training of the colonists in school was
10 INTRODUCTION
somewhat meagre and limited they received constant drill in
parliamentary law and democratic government at their frequent
church meetings so that they were especially fitted for intelligent
action when they were called upon to help in organizing a new
government.
The immigration problem of two hundred years ago was in
some respects as difficult as it is today. Assertive, sturdy, almost
fanatical in religion, dissatisfied with the Established Church of
England and consequently with England in general, from seven
to twelve thousand Scotch Irish a year (from 1729 to 1750) came
pouring into America to find religious freedom tather than temporal
gain. The Penns as well as Governor Shute were nonplussed but
wisely prevented congestion near the seaport by offering lands to
the westward. In 1720, frontier settlers were exempt from rents
as these settlers hardy, accustomed to adversity, aggressive and
never non resistant, "formed a cordon of defense if needful"
against the Indian. As for their being "squatters" as some have
called them they were given a license to settle on the land and
improve it with a view to obtaining land grants later when a land
office should be opened. Thus the Penns relieved congestion,
protected themselves from the Indians and by settling the Cumber-
land Valley, wrested that fertile spot from Lord Baltimore's
colonists from the south.
Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, at the time of its erection,
January 27, 1750, "embraced all the land lying on the west side
of the Susquehanna to the setting of the Sun", except. the territory
now included in York and Adams counties. By the desire of the
proprietaries, the German settlers were assigned to York and
Adams counties while the Scotch Irish were sent to Cumberland
County, thus avoiding many troubles caused by racial jealousy.
The Scotch Irish were "A sober, resolute, self contained people,
deeply religious in the stern Calvinistic manner, aggressive,
INTRODUCTION II
warlike and brave to a fault." They were conspicuous among the
provincial troops in the French War and throughout all the Indian
wars they sustained nearly the whole burden in defending the
frontier. One month after the Declaration of Independence was
proclaimed, twelve companies containing about nine hundred
men, most of them of Scotch Irish origin, had gone out from
Cumberland County and six more companies were preparing to
march, inspired by the spirit of their ancestors who had resisted
tyranny for generations.
These colonists were to a great extent homogenous in character.
The story of one family sounds much like that of any other family
except in personal details. In this volume follow some scanty
records of five typical families of this great eighteenth century
migration. We should know our ancestry, not to boast vainly
of it nor to rely upon its relieving us from all responsibility but
in order that we may live worthily of the sturdy lives back of us
and be prompted by them to striving for higher things obtainable
because of our inheritance and advantageous surroundings.
NOTE The first Presbyterian minister in Virginia was John Craig
b. September 21, 1710 in Ireland, licensed 1738, d. April 1774. Another
member of the Craig family, the Rev. John Craig (b. 1754, d. 1794) at
one time pastor of the United Presbyterian Church of Newville, Pennsyl-
vania, lies buried in the United Presbyterian graveyard at that place.
One of the Strains of New Hope went back to Paxtang, Pa. for a bride,
Margaret Roan, probably the minister's daughter.
;
THE ORR FAMILY
"The Orrs had their origin in Scotland as early as the fourteenth
century, possibly the thirteenth and took their names as did
Brackenrig, Blackwood, Forest and hundreds of other families
from the lands on which they lived. They are largely to be found
in Renfrewshire, where there are thirteen hundred bearing the
name. They are chiefly of Presbyterian faith but some are
Episcopalians and in the Cathedral at Glasgow there is a memorial
window to William Orr.
"The first recorded evidence of the Orrs in Ireland is of those
who came from Scotland with Sir Hugh Montgomery in 1606,
who crossed to Ireland for the purpose of settlement in North
Down on lands ceded to him by one of the great O'Neill family.
In Charles A. Hanna's History of the Scotch Irish, Vol. I, Page 496,
is given the genealogy of James Orr, of Bullyblack, who died in
1627 and of Jane Clement, his wife, who died in 1636. From it
I quote: The descendants, male and female, of this worthy couple
were very numerous and as their intermarriages have been care-
fully recorded, we have thus fortunately a sort of index to the
names of many other families of Scotch settlers in the Ards and
Castlereagh.'" (From paper read May 28, 1903 by John G.
Orr of Chambersburg, Pa. before the Kittochtinny Historical
Society.)
Among the early pastors of the Irish Church in Clough, county
of Antrim, Ireland is found Peter Orr, 1673 to 1705 and following
him came Alexander Orr, 1709 to 1713. Other pastors of Antrim
and Derry Counties were John, Robert, Thomas and James Orr.
In certificates of character or what we now call "church letters of
dismissal", issued by vicars of the Church of Ireland and by
14 FIVE TYPICAL SCOTCH IRISH FAMILIES
dissenting ministers of Killeade or Colade and Ardmore, county
of Antrim, Ireland to members of the Orr family emigrating to
Pennsylvania in the early half of the eighteenth century it is
stated that they "lived soberly and honestly," "were of fair
character, free from public scandal" "and may be received as a
regular member of any Christian congregation". The Act of
Parliament declaring marriages illegal unless repeated by a vicar
or other dignitary of the Established Church, enraged many
dissenters and hastened their emigration to America. This
"marriage grievance," as it was called and the "sacramental test"
were too obnoxious to be tolerated by these independent people.
Among the Scotch Irish Presbyterians who fled from Ireland to
America for greater religious and political freedom, were William
Orr and his wife Sarah of the parish of Killaede or Colade, county
Antrim, Ireland when his son John was a boy twelve years old.
In 1738, William Orr obtained from Thomas and Richard Penn a
grant of land in Louther Manor, lying in what was at that time
Lancaster County, Penna. This tract was "situate on Big Run
leading from the Gap of the mountain to the Conodoguinet,
adjoining John McCormick." Owing to a flaw in the title or
some other difficulty, no return was ever made for this land and
in 1751 William Orr obtained a grant for another portion of
Louther Manor (See Note) lying in Pennsboro Township, Cumber-
land County, Pennsylvania adjoining the lands of Elizabeth
Wright and Nathaniel Nelson. The Penns acknowledge receipt
of twenty-six pounds and nine pence, lawful money of Pennsylvania
NOTE — Louther Manor was bounded on the east by the Susquehanna
River, north by the Conodoguinet, south by the Yellow Breeches and on
the west by a line drawn from the Conodoguinet to the Yellow Breeches.
The Manor contained over 7,500 acres and was re-surveyed in 1764. It
was called after a sister of William Penn who married a nobleman of that
ORR HOMESTEAD. LOUTHER MANOR, AT ORR'S BRIDGE,
CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
THE ORR FAMILY 15
which gave William Orr the title to the land and also released him
from the annual payment of the quit rent of half a penny sterling
for each acre of land. He and his heirs were also "to have the
liberty to hawk, hunt, fish and fowl upon these premises or any
part of them." All necessary returns having been made this time,
the plantation passed from father to son in the Orr family for a
century and a quarter until 1869, when it was sold by James Orr
to David Dietz in whose family it is at present. This land
was rich meadow land and fine forest, there being in the first
quarter of the nineteenth century, thirty-three varieties of native
trees upon it. Some of this timber was soon used to construct
a house on the newly bought plantation and the struggle of a
pioneer in a new and undeveloped country swarming with hostile
Indians began in earnest.
After the fertile land produced more grain than could be used
by the family and domestic animals, great difficulty was experi-
enced in those days of almost impassable roads in transporting it
to market. In April 1765 William Orr's son John made a trip
with produce across the Susquehanna. He paid to John Harris
7 shillings, six pence for ferrying his laden team over the river and
on his return, paid for his empty team five shillings, an enormous
toll when the scarcity of money in those early times is considered.
Following the practice of his time and having no temperance
scruples then as we have now, William Orr lessened the cost of
transporting his grain by converting it into good Scotch whiskey,
a beverage used daily, at that time, in every family. The com-
mercial advantage of this move is evident when we learn that a
pack horse carried about six bushels of wheat but could carry
twenty-four bushels distilled into whiskey for which there was
always a ready sale in the larger towns. At that time a distillery
was considered a necessary adjunct of every large plantation.
Ministers received part of their salaries, as old agreements show,
16 FIVE TYPICAL SCOTCH IRISH FAMILIES
in produce, including whiskey. When a minister conducted
family prayers, a tray was brought to him on which were the
family Bible and a decanter. After the reading of the scriptures
and a long prayer for the repentance of the soul, a stiff drink was
taken for the repose of the body and the good man and his family
went to bed, feeling most exemplary. Later when temperance
pledges were first advocated, they were drawn to except funerals
and weddings. The still house and two stills built by William
Orr were standing in 1901 although changing customs and growing
temperance sentiments had caused their disuse as a distillery
more than one hundred years before.
In William Orr's will, written March 23, 1768, "2 stills and the
utencils thereof" and the bulk of his property were left to his sons
John, Samuel and William. John received considerably more
than the others so it is probable that he was the eldest although
we have no dates to prove this. No records of the descendants
of Samuel and William nor of the daughters except Martha have
been found by the writer of this sketch. Family tradition says
that one of these brothers went to New York, the other to North
Carolina. William Orr appointed his "trusty friend, Thomas
McCormick" and his son John, executors and after a few more
months of suffering for his "frail body" he was laid to rest beside
his faithful wife under the great oaks in Silver Spring graveyard
where he and his neighbors, who had come to this country for
freedom of worship, loved to meet. With him, as with the other
Scotch Irish settlers of Pennsylvania, the church a ways came
first and he was deeply interested in its welfare. His name was
one of those affixed to the promissory note given to the Rev.
John Steel in 1768 showing that he was one of the contributors
empowered "to regulate seats and order all the other affairs of
the congregation"; these signers apparently acting in the place
of trustees and elders in the congregation at Silver Spring.
THE ORR FAMILY 17
JOHN ORR
1726-1794
John Orr, probably the eldest son of William Orr, inherited a
large part of his father's estate and was a prosperous and successful
farmer and a man of great business sagacity and acknowledged
integrity and patriotism. He was a "Ranger on the Frontier"
from Cumberland County, 1778 to 1783 (See Penna. Archives)
was a member of the Fourth Battalion, Lancaster County Militia
(Kelker's History of Dauphin County, Pa. Vol. II, page 917),
and owing to his commanding size and presence, was known to
the people of Harris' Ferry and vicinity, as "Big John Orr". He
added to his inherited estate a tract of adjoining land owned by
Elizabeth Wright and called Curiosity, — a part of the tract,
called Curiosity, had previously been purchased by his father.
He was one of the executors of his father's estate and also acted
in that capacity for his father-in-law, James Dickey, a large land
owner of East Pennsboro Township. John Orr's wife, Martha
Dickey, was a woman of great strength of character and firm
Christian principles, trained by a father, who in his will, claimed
to be "of perfect mind and memory" and who expressed his belief
in the immortality of the soul thus: "I commend my soul to
Almighty God and my body to be buried with decent Christian
burial, nothing doubting but that at the General Resurrection I
shall receive the same again by the power of Almighty God."
James Dickey bequeathed a plantation to each of his sons and to
his daughter Margaret but to Martha, so well provided for by her
husband, the ranger, he gave his "big bay horse" and a small
share in his personal estate. The amount of cash remaining,
after his just debts were paid, was to be given to "whichever one
of my children needs it the most", a clause which might have been
fruitful of much dissension. It is not to be wondered at that
18 FIVE TYPICAL SCOTCH IRISH FAMILIES
with such a father, Martha Dickey Orr was capable of instilling
sound religious principles into her children. While her daughters
sat at the spinning wheel or sewed, she read Doddridge's Rise and
Progress, Baxter's Saints' Rest, Pilgrim's Progress and similar
books to them, telling them to store their minds with good reading,
"not with trash," so that they might have something to think
about when they grew old. The pathos of this advice is touching
since we know that some years before her death she became
entirely blind and had to sit by while others read to her. She was
a strict disciplinarian and most rigid in regard to proper observance
of the Sabbath, not permitting even religious papers to be read
on that day. Most widows of her time inherited "a home with
my eldest son" but John Orr left to his "beloved wife Martha one
third of all the rents and profits of my estate" and "the liberty to
farm in the best manner the plantation on which she lived" until
their son William should become of age. For the purpose of
farming he left to her "all his horned cattle, sheep and swine, all
his beds and furniture, his clock, his books, his farming equipment"
and "my mulatto boy named Tom White." His mulatto boy,
"Tom Black" is given to his son John while "Nell York," the
other slave, was probably Martha Dickey's own property as no
disposal of Nell is mentioned in the will.
John Orr's daughters received, in addition to the usual "bed,
bedclothes and saddel", of that day, two hundred and fifty pounds
each. Two of these daughters, Jane and Rachel, married adven-
turous husbands who took them on horseback over the steep
Alleghanies to the new state of Ohio. From there they wrote to
their mother of their satisfaction with the new country and the
prosperity they experienced but also told how deeply they missed
her advice and the comfort of her presence when they met with
either joy or sorrow. A grave at Silver Spring had held the body
of "Big John Orr" for a quarter of a century before one was made
THE ORR FAMILY 19
beside it for his faithful, blind wife who had been such an efficient,
helpful mother to their children.
WILLIAM ORR
1781-1831
Of the two sons of "Big John Orr" and Martha Dickey, John
seems the more aggressive character but William had an attractive
personality and from the old homestead along the Conodoguinet
he was always ready to extend a helping hand to his neighbors
and to the dearly loved church at Silver Spring. In his father's
will it was stipulated that William should be educated and money
was left for that purpose but it is not known what school he
attended. He was open hearted, generous and fond of social life.
Fortune did not favor him by giving him wives of strong physique
so that he had a chance to wed three times. Twice he took as
brides, widows with children, so that there were finally five sets
of children in the family. His daughter Rebecca, in her mature
years, declared that despite the unusualness of this collection
there never had been a family where more harmony prevailed, for
each child seemed to love the other as if there were no barriers
of "step" and "half" relationship. Naturally, there was much
entertaining of guests and Violet, the negro slave and cook, some-
times resented the too frequent appearance of guests by grumbling
that, "Some folks cawn't be comforbul at home." A carriage
was added to the equipment of the plantation, the first in the
Silver Spring neighborhood, and the ancestral "side-saddels"
were given something of a rest. William Orr lived the life of a
"gentleman farmer" personally superintending his farm, attending
to his own financial affairs and frequently having the settlement of
large estates entrusted to him. The last few years of his life he
spent in Mechanicsburg, giving over the active duties of the farm
20 FIVE TYPICAL SCOTCH IRISH FAMILIES
to his sons. He served as a trustee of the Silver Spring Church
from 1810 to 1814. In 1814 he was made a ruling elder and
continued in that office for life. He lies in Silver Spring graveyard
beside Rebecca Graham, the wife of his youth.
JOHN ORR
1783-18—
John Orr, also a trustee of Silver Spring Church (1806), was
more ambitious in character than his brother William. He
became interested in politics and was a member of the Legislature,
when it met in Lancaster. He also embarked on commercial
ventures and exported flax seed to Belfast, from 50 to 75 hogsheads
at a time on the ship American, "the return to be made in linnen
cloth" "half of it in white at 14 pence and the other half in brown
linnen at from 6 to 8 pence." William Gilchrist, probably his
nephew, seems to have been his agent in Philadelphia to receive
the goods. At the time of the death of "John Orr, Esquire," "he
had more than $2000 worth of personal property," and that with
his other holdings made his only daughter Jane "No side-saddel
heiress, but a wealthy girl, with many suitors." She was twice
married. One of the husbands she selected must have had
attractions but not financial ability for the Orr letters refer to him
as "Jane's bad managing husband." Her fortune was soon
dissipated and existence once again had to be struggled for, a
difficult matter, for education in accomplishments at a finishing
school in Carlisle had not fitted Jane for self support.
MARY ORR BOYD
William Orr's sister Mary or Polly, as she was familiarly called,
married William Boyd at the Louther Manor homestead at Orr's
Bridge. She was said to have been a strong character, much like
THE ORR FAMILY 21
her mother Martha Dickey. After her brother William's death,
at the sale of his personal property, she bought five volumes of
Scott's Family Bible with commentaries, Baxter's Saints' Rest,
Doddridge's Sermons and the Reign of Grace; books which were
probably endeared to her by association with her mother. Her
two sisters, Jane who married William Gilchrist, and Rachel ,who
married John Jackson, wrote her frequent letters from Ohio and
after their deaths, their children kept up the correspondence.
One letter tells of an old acquaintance who had "the King's Evil
in his neck that appears obstinate to remove." Jane Orr Gilchrist
writes from Williamsburg in 1816 that she has "4 as smart, promis-
ing little boys as any of their age" and she and her husband think
"The duty incumbent upon us to provide as best we can for their
temporal welfare (The names of these boys were William, Robert,
Thomas and Orr) so we are thinking of moving to where the fishing
and shipping are good." She laments with deep sorrow and in
the language of the pulpit of the day, the death of her mother.
As she grows older she becomes gloomy and quotes lengthily from
the sermons read at Louther Manor years before about "no certain
dwelling place, etc." She falls ill, has three doctors but survives
their attentions and is much improved and cheered by a visit of
three weeks, the first in fifteen years, from her sister Rachel.
Rachel evidently rendered loving, helpful service to her invalid
sister during the visit and Jane says with evident feeling, "May
the Lord reward her kindness."
The families of both these sisters seemed to flourish. One of
the Jackson sons bought "a mill with two pairs of stones in it."
The other shipped flour "by the river to New Orleans" and got
five dollars a barrel for it. The Jacksons lived at Smithfield near
Wheeling in 1836. Another brother writes that he is not in good
health but "thinks he finds benefit by smoking" and young Robert
Gilchrist writes, in 1837, to his aunt that, "a neighbor got in-
22 FIVE TYPICAL SCOTCH IRISH FAMILIES
toccicated with licor" showing that temperance sentiment was
beginning to develop. He also says, "farming is very prosperous,
with wheat at $1.50 and milk cows $20.00 to $30.00 a piece and
sugar 8 to 10 cents." He fears to tell his aunt how much sugar
some people are making lest she "think him a liar." In 1836 the
Gilchrists took advantage of the newly built canal and shipped
600 barrels of flour to Philadelphia. They planned to take the
extra horses, they had for sale, over the mountains to Philadelphia,
themselves, stopping enroute at Louther Manor to visit the family
relatives, a tedious, dangerous journey over the road which their
descendants now call the Lincoln Highway and travel speedily
in softly cushioned motor cars.
(The land grants and wills of the Orr and Dickey families from
which quotations are made in these sketches, may be found in
the archives of the county court house in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.
The military record of "Big John Orr" is in Penna. archives and
in Kelker's History of Dauphin County. Old family letters and
personal recollections given by Mrs. Richard Parker of Carlisle,
Pa., Miss Rebecca Orr and Mrs. James Orr of New Bloomfield,
Pa., and Mrs. Mary Anderson Boyd of Shippensburg, Pa., have
been most helpful. Records from Silver Spring church and notes
from Rupp's History have also been used.)
ORR GENEALOGY
I. William Orr, b. 1707, d. January 3, 1769.
m. Sarah , b. 1709, d. September 5, 1760.
Issue — I. John, 2. Samuel, 3. William, 4. Margaret,
5. Elizabeth, 6. Agnes, 7. Mary, 8. Martha.
II. 1 John Orr, b. (in Ireland) 1726, d. November 1794.
m. Martha Dickey, b. November 13, 1742, d. December
2, 1820.
ORR GENEALOGY 23
Issue — 1. Mary, 2. Jane, 3. Rachel, 4. William, 5. John.
III. 1 Mary Orr, b. , d. .
m. (1) September, 1802, William Boyd, b. August 20,
1767, d. September 19, 1803.
(See Boyd record.)
m. (2) Benjamin Anderson.
III. 2 Jane Orr, married William Gilchrist and went to Clear-
creek Township, Richland County, Ohio, probably
prior to 1815. William Gilchrist died in February
1835.
III. 3 Rachel Orr, married John Jackson and went to Jefferson
County, Ohio and lived near Wheeling at Smith-
field in 1836.
III. 4 William Orr, b. November 28, 1781, d. December 31, 1831.
m. (1) Rebecca Graham, b. January 7, 1786, d. May 7,
1811.
Issue— 1. John, b. January 10, 1809, d. July 4, 1831.
(Unmarried.)
m. (2) Martha Quigley Carothers (widow of John Ca-
rothers) b. July 17, 1786, d. October 24, 1828.
Issue — 2. Rebecca, b. October 14, 1814, d. August 17,
1895.
3. William Henry, b. September 16, 1816, d. Aug.
27, 1827.
4. James, b. August 9, 1818, d. February 26, 1888.
5. Robert, b. October 1, 1820, d. May 31, 1824.
6. Anderson Carothers, b. Nov. 12, 1825, d. July
22, 1899.
7. William, b. Aug. 1828 -
14 FIVE TYPICAL SCOTCH IRISH FAMILIES
m. (3) Agnes Mc Guire Sample (widow of Samuel Sample)
married Feby. 22, 1831.
Issue— 8. Martha Agnes, b. Nov. 30, 1 83 1 , d. Jan. 2, 1 902.
(See Craig record.)
IV. 1 John Orr, b. January 10, 1809, d. July 4, 1831.
Unmarried.
IV. 2 Rebecca Orr, b. October 14, 1814, d. August 17, 1895.
Unmarried.
IV. 3 William Henry Orr, b. Sept. 16, 1816, d. Aug. 27, 1827.
IV. 4 James Orr, b. Aug. 9, 1818, d. Feby. 26, 1
m. April 21, 1853, Elizabeth Whitehall Crain, b. Nov. 29,
1834, d. January 7, 1903.
Issue— 1. Rebecca Whitehill, b. Aug. 5, 1855.
2. William, b. Nov. 27, 1858.
3. Eleanor Rutherford, b. Sept. 22, 1860, d. Aug.
1861.
4. Joseph, b. June 15, 1862.
5. James Stanley, b. Oct. 13, 1867.
V. 1 Rebecca Whitehill Orr, b. Aug. 5, 1855.
m. November 8, 1876, William Henry Sponsler of New
Bloomfield, Pa.
Issue-William A., b. Oct. 14, 1877.
VI. 1 William A. Sponsler, b. October 14, 1877.
m. September 3, 1902, Aimee Elizabeth Heiges, daughter
of J. D. Heiges of York, Penna.
V. 2 William Orr, b. Nov. 27, 1858.
m. Nov. 9, 1882, Jane Shuler of New Bloomfield, Penna.
Issue— Marmaduke, b. 1883.
ORR GENEALOGY 25
V. 3 Eleanor Rutherford Orr, (died in infancy).
V. 4 Joseph Orr, b. June 15, 1862.
m. October 3, 1894, Daisy Mathis.
Issue— Dow M., b. October, 1895.
V. 5 James Stanley Orr, b. October 13, 1867.
m. Gulielma Day, November 27, 1895 at Pittsburgh,
Penna.
Issue — Virginia Oakford, b. October 1, 1896.
IV. 6 Anderson Carothers Orr, b. Nov. 12, 1825, d. July 22,
1899.
m. October 6, 1853, Mary Heck of Millville, Penna.
No issue.
IV. 7 William Orr, b. August, 1828.
m. April 21, 1853, Martha Murphy of Rock Island, 111.
Issue — 1. Estella.
2. William.
IV. 8 Martha Agnes Orr, b. November 30, 1831, d. Jan. 2, 1902.
m. Hugh Boyd Craig. (See Craig record.)
III. 5 John Orr (son of John Orr and Martha Dickey).
m. (1) Miss Carothers of Carlisle, Penna.
Issue — Jane.
m. (2) Miss Moore of Carlisle, Penna.
No issue.
IV. 1 Jane Orr.
m. (1) John A. Wolfe of Shippensburg, Penna.
m. (2) John Lucius Fuller of Gettysburg, Penna.
Issue— Martha Jane Fuller, b. March 20, 1835.
V. 1 Martha Jane Fuller, b. March 20, 1835.
m. Rev. Peter Bergstresser, a Lutheran clergyman.
26 FIVE TYPICAL SCOTCH IRISH FAMILIES
Issue — I. Edwin, 2. William, 3. Charles, 4. John Orr,
5. Theodore, 6. Amelia Estelle, 7. Fuller,
8. Newton C, 9. Georgia Belle, 10. Adele.
NOTE— Alexander Young, b. October 14, 1726, d. Feby. 19, 1800 was
married in Killeade, Ireland, to Martha Orr, daughter of William Orr, by
a dissenting minister and later (May 11, 1769) was compelled to be re-
married by a Vicar of the established church. After this they too came to
Pennsylvania and settled in the Silver Spring district near William Orr.
Their son, Robert Young, born April 16, 1768 died Nov. 27, 1842, is the
direct ancestor of the Reverend George H. Bucher who has the original
marriage certificates in his possession and who kindly loaned them to me
for inspection.
M. C. S.
THE WATSON FAMILY
In the 17th century there were members of the Watson family
in both northern England and southern Scotland. John Watson,
a noted surveyor of colonial America was descended from the
Watsons of Cumberland, England. When allotments of land
were made by King James VI, in Ulster, Ireland, we find among
the "responsible undertakers", as people applying for allotments
were called, "Mr. James Watson and John Watson," both por-
tioned of Sauchton near Edinburgh. Each allotment was 2000
acres and James Crawford, burgess of Edinburgh was surety for
John Watson. In 1681-1688 John Watson's name appears on
the rent roll of the Hamilton Estate "in and near the town of
Bangor and Killyleagh, County Down, Ireland" but from the
interest always shown by the Watsons of Pennsylvania, in Donegal
and Derry, it seems probable that the original Watson allotments
were in those countries.
At the siege of Derry in 1689 we find prominent among those
fighting for religious liberty, several members of the Watson
family. At the second battle of Wind Mill Hill, Siege of Derry,
Captain Watson, a member of the family afterward emigrating to
Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, fell in action. His death is
referred to in an old poem found at Armagh:
"Whilst valiant Watson fighting until death"
"resigned upon the spot his latest breath."
(Walker's Siege of Derry, Page 151-152.)
This homely poem is of no literary merit but most valuable to
historians as it gives accounts of various circumstances and actions
during the siege as well as the names of those participating.
During this siege, Captain Alexander Watson was master of the
28 FIVE TYPICAL SCOTCH IRISH FAMILIES
gunners and after the siege Captain George Watson was one of
the signers of the letter sent to William and Mary. (Siege of
Derry by J. Graham, page 173). Andrew and Joseph Watson
were among the signers of the petition to Governor Shute in 1718.
JOHN WATSON
1705 (?)-1757
In 1730, there came from Donegal, Ireland, "John Watson, Yeo-
man," with his family and relatives, sternly leaving behind him,
oppression both civil and religious and turning with hardy thirft
and Scotch determination and aggressiveness to found a new home
surrounded by liberty and freedom. He settled in Leacock Town-
ship, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, twelve miles east of the
city of Lancaster but did not get a warrant for his land until 1 734-
36, as warrants were not issued until then in Lancaster County.
His cousin, John Watson, settled near Carlisle, Pennsylvania.
In 1731, John Watson married Ann Stephenson, daughter of
James Stephenson (died 1 767) who had preceeded him to this
country and settled near Donegal, Lancaster County. (See foot-
note.) Five children were born to John Watson and Ann Stephen-
son and so faithfully were religious and patriotic principles instilled
into them by their God fearing parents, that they were always
foremost in loyalty to both church and country. Both of their
NOTE — Ann Stephenson was the daughter of James Stephenson and
Elizabeth Simpson. James Stephenson came from Donegal, Ireland in
1720 and settled near Donegal, Lancaster Co., Penna. on a tract of land
called "Seat of Beauty." A warrant for this tract of 334 acres was issued
in 1734. This plantation remained in possession of the Stephenson-
Watson family for more than a century and a half. In 1882 Dr. Nathaniel
Watson sold it to the Hon. Simon Cameron in whose family it still remains.
From James Stephenson's daughter Hannah, was descended President
William McKinley.
<ztd*-0~r<—.
1743-1831
Uqbl; :-rt
THE WATSON FAMILY 29
sons were officers in the Revolutionary Army and each of their
three daughters married officers in that army. On December
15th, 1774, there was chosen in Lancaster County a committee
of "sixty proper persons to observe the conduct of all persons
touching the General Association of the General Congress."
David Watson and Nathaniel Lightner were chosen members of
this committee from Leacock Township. In his will, made
January 19, 1757 and which is on record in Lancaster, Pennsyl-
vania, John Watson leaves his real estate to his eldest son David
and to his son James, then fourteen, he leaves "sixty pounds lawful
money to be paid him when he arrives at the age of 21 years with
lawful interest on the same." David is also to "duly maintain
and decently clothe him and give him one whole year's schooling
of such lawful learning as my son James shall choose." To David
Watson was entrusted the maintenance and care of his mother
as well as of his younger brother. Each of the daughters was left
a money legacy and his temporal estate being methodically dis-
posed of, John Watson expressed his Christian belief in the im-
mortality of the soul and the resurrection of the body and set
his mind toward things above. He died February 4, 1757 and
was buried in the Leacock graveyard, Lancaster County, Pennsyl-
vania.
COLONEL JAMES WATSON
1743-1831
James Watson was the youngest son of John Watson and Ann
Stephenson. He, like his brother, took an active interest in
public affairs and was among the first of the patriots to withdraw
his allegiance from George III and pledge his faith to the colonies
in their struggle for freedom. He received his commission as
Captain, July 8, 1 776, four days after the signing of the Declaration
30 FIVE TYPICAL SCOTCH IRISH FAMILIES
of Independence. (This original commission was in 1902, in the
possession of his great-granddaughter, Mrs. Lemuel Snively,
Greencastle, Penna.) His commission as colonel is dated July 1,
1777 (the original of this was in possession of his great-grandson,
Hon. D. Watson Rowe, Chambersburg, Penna. — 1902.) Among
the captains of the First Battalion of the Flying Camp in Lancaster
County in 1776 was James Watson. This battalion entered
service in the summer of 1776, was stationed at Amboy, N. J.,
from there was ordered to New York, was in battle of Long Island,
was stationed near King's Bridge until General Washington
crossed the Hudson, then came with General Putnam to Phila-
delphia and was stationed there until its discharge at the close of
the year or early in 1777. (Penna. Archives, 2d series, vol. 13,
page 353. See new series, vol. 1, page 356 for interesting items
concerning this battalion.) Colonel Watson married January 25,
1766, Elizabeth Long, daughter of Hugh Long of Chestnut Level,
Lancaster Co., Penna. After the close of the Revolution they
went with their large family of children, finally twelve in all,
from the older and more populous county of Lancaster to a farm
on the Chambersburg Road, five miles north of Greencastle,
Penna. In 1 782 the town of Greencastle was laid out by his friend
and fellow officer, Colonel Allison. Colonel Watson then became
a citizen of that borough. He "paid to John Allison and Elizabeth
his wife fifty pounds for Lot No. 8 on the East side of Carlisle
Street on the diamond of the said town". He also purchased
"Lot No. 5, with 60 feet front and 240 back for thirty-five pounds."
He owned in the county adjacent to Greencastle over one thousand
acres of land, some of this acreage being held in partnership with
his relative, William Long. He settled the estate of his uncle,
Nathaniel Stephenson, was appointed justice of the peace in
Greencastle in 1795 and was still serving in 1814. He acted as
post master more than thirty years, his son John being appointed
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THE WATSON FAMILY 31
post master in April 1799. He was a tanner by trade but handed
over the duties of that business to his son John many years before
his death. His duties as acting post master were not arduous,
the mail arriving but once a week during his administration of
the office. Although a man of much force of character, he was
very retiring in his disposition and never boasted of his record in
the past. He frequently spoke with much indignation of the
abuse of the pension laws and when urged by friends to obtain a
pension for his services he said, "My income is sufficient to support
me. Pensions are not intended by the Government for men who
have means of self support." During the latter years of his life
he grew more and more retiring and never went from home except
on the Fourth of July, when the fife and drum corps escorted the
old veteran to the annual celebration at Moss Spring, where the
patriotic sentiments he had always loved were impressed upon
the people by the orators of the day. On July 2d, 1831, at the
age of eighty-eight, he passed to his reward and his body was laid
to rest beside those of his friends in Moss Spring Graveyard,
hallowed to him by so many associations in the past.
Four of his children died in infancy. Three never married.
The others married as follows: Mary married James Rankin of
Mercersburg; John married Rebecca Vance of Stoufferstown;
Hugh married Susannah Crunkleton of Greencastle; Martha
married Abram Prather of Greencastle; James married Charlotte
Crawford of Chambersburg.
JOHN WATSON
1769-1842
John Watson, eldest son of Colonel James Watson and Elizabeth
Long was born in Leacock Township, Lancaster County, Penna.
He received a common school education in Lancaster County and
32 FIVE TYPICAL SCOTCH IRISH FAMILIES
in Greencastle and learned the trade of tanning from his father
which business he carried on successfully until his death. He was
a public spirited citizen, a member of the first town council and
was influential in having a post office established in the town and
was its first post master, receiving the appointment April 4, 1799
and holding it until June 29, 1837 when he was succeeded by his
brother David. Like the progressive people of today, John
Watson believed in good roads and was one of the promoters of
the Mercersburg, Greencastle and Waynesboro Turnpike and a
charter trustee of that road. He was also active in church affairs,
being ordained an elder in the Presbyterian church under the
pastorate of the Rev. Mr. Long. He married June 21, 1796,
Rebecca Vance, daughter of John and Elizabeth Vance of Stouffers-
town, east of Chambersburg. Two daughters were born to them,
Mary Vance and Elizabeth. After his first wife's death, John
Watson married Jane Lightner. There were no children by this
second marriage. His home was on the southeast corner of
Carlisle and Franklin Streets and his tannery was in the rear of
his home. He died July 31, 1842 and lies buried in the Moss
Spring graveyard. His daughter, Mary Vance married William
Craig. (See Craig record.) His daughter Elizabeth married
March 27, 1828, James Clark Rankin of Mercersburg, Pa.
Biographies of many prominent men of the Watson family are
not given here because their lives have previously been written up
in full either in biographical histories or in the public press.
Among those thus omitted are:
Henry Pawling Prather
Samuel Hostetter Prather
James Watson Prather
Rush C. Prather
Hon. David Watson Rowe
Hon. John Watson Ellmaker
Samuel Albert Martin, D.D.
WATSON GENEALOGY 33
WATSON GENEALOGY
I. John Watson, b. , d. February 4, 1757.
m. 1731, Ann Stephenson, daughter of James Stephenson
and Elizabeth Simpson of Donegal, Lancaster
County, Penna.
Issue — I. David, 2. Hannah, (m. Archibald McCurdy),
3. Susannah, (m. Robert Young), 4. Elizabeth,
(m. William Brisbin), 5. James.
II. I David Watson, b. 1732, d. .
m. (1) Mary Hamilton, daughter of William Hamilton of
Salisbury Township, Lancaster County, b. 1712;
d. June 11, 1794. (Buried with his wife Jane at
Pequea Church.)
Issue— 1. Jane, 2. John, 3. William, 4. Mary, 5. Na-
thaniel, 6. Margaret.
m. (2) Sarah Patterson.
Issue — 7. Samuel Patterson.
III. 1 Jane Watson, b. 1761, d. .
m. William Houston of Lancaster County, Pa. (served in
war of the Revolution from 1777 to the close,
moved to western Pennsylvania in 1789 and to
Ohio in 1802).
Issue— 1. John, 2. Mary, 3. David, 4. Martha, 5. Jane,
6. Margaret, 7. Ann, 8. William, 9. Elizabeth.
IV. 3 David Houston, b. , d. .
m. Margaret Cowden.
Issue — 1. William May, 2. Joseph Cowden, 3. Amy Jane,
4. Esther Cowden, 5. Mary Anne Watson, 6.
Martha Sarah, 7. John Patterson, 8. Andrew
34 FIVE TYPICAL SCOTCH IRISH FAMILIES
David, 9. Jemima Frances, 10. Margaret Eliza-
beth, 11. Rosilla Narcissa, 12. Calvin Edward.
V. 5 Mary Anne Watson Houston, b. Jan. 5, 1828, d. March
14, 1912.
m. April 24, 1850, William Martin of Cannonsburg, Pa.,
b. Dec. 18, 1821, d. November 30, 1904.
Issue — I. David, 2. Samuel Albert.
VI. 1 David Martin, b. Jan. 26, 1851, d. November 22, 1893.
Unmarried.
VI. 2 Samuel Albert Martin, b. November 1, 1853, d. March
26, 1921.
m. (1) Feb. 21, 1881, Katherine Kunkel Porter, b. March
12, 1853, d. March 20, 1899.
Issue — 1. Susan Porter, b. 1882, died in infancy, 2. Mary
Houston, b. 1884, died in infancy, 3. Jean Mont-
gomery, b. May 26, 1885, (m. March 23, 1912,
Reginald Grant White), 4. Thomas Conrad Por-
ter, b. March 23, 1888, 5. William, b. November
1, 1892, d. February 18, 1912.
m. (2) December 19, 1900, Mary Augusta Ricker, b.
May 16, 1865, daughter of E. Drew Ricker of
Kirkwood, Mo.
Issue — 6. Drew Ricker, b. December 30, 1901, 7. Eliza-
beth Gordon, b. October 31, 1903.
III. 2 John Watson, b. 1763, d. 1843.
m. Margaret Clemson, b. , d. 1849.
Issue — 1. Mary, 2. David, 3. Rachel, 4. Margaret, 5.
John, 6. Nethaniel, 7. Sarah, 8. James.
IV. 7 Sarah Watson, b. 1802, d. 1882.
m. Esaias E. Ellmaker.
WATSON GENEOLOGY 35
Issue — I. Nathaniel, 2. Elizabeth, 3. Margaret Clemson,
4. Mary Rachel, 5. Lucy Heister, 6. Levi, 7.
Alfred, 8. Amos, 9. John Watson, 10. Sarah J.
IV. 9 John Watson Ellmaker, unmarried, prominent citizen
and well known genealogist of Lancaster, Penna.
II. 5 James Watson, b. 1743, d. July 2, 1831.
m. June 25, 1 766, Elizabeth Long, b. 1 746, d. Oct. 30, 1 804
Issue— 1. Mary, 2. Martha 1st, 3. John, 4. Hugh,
5. Martha 2d, 6. Isabella 1st, 7. Isabella 2d, 8.
James Long, 9. David, 10. Betsey, 11. Elizabeth,
12. James.
III. 3 John Watson, b. May 2, 1769, d. July 31, 1842.
m. (1) June 21, 1796, Rebecca Vance.
Issue— 1. Mary Vance, b. May 5, 1797. (See Craig
Record.)
2. Elizabeth, b. Sept. 9, 1800.
m. (2) Jane Lightner.
No issue.
IV. 2 Elizabeth Watson, b. Sept. 9, 1800.
m. March 27, 1828, James Clark Rankin, Mercersburg,
Pa.
Issue — 1. Mary Jane, 2. Rebecca Vance, 3. Samuel
Johnston, 4. John Watson.
V. 4 John Watson Rankin, b. May 30, 1835.
m. Mary Dillworth, of Darlington, Beaver Co., Pa.
Issue — 1. James Clark, also two daughters who died in
childhood.
VI. 1 James Clark Rankin, b. June 12, 1868.
Graduated at Pennsylvania College, Gettysburg, Pa.,
36 FIVE TYPICAL SCOTCH IRISH FAMILIES
studied law, married Jeanette Forster, daughter
of J. Montgomery Forster of Harrisburg, Pa.
Issue — Margaret Elder.
III. 4 Hugh Watson, b. Sept. 14, 1771, d. August 19, 1823.
m. Susannah Crunkleton of Greencastle, Pa. and moved
to Virginia.
Issue — 1. Elizabeth, 2. James, 3. John, 4. Elizabeth 2d,
5. Belle, 6. Susan, 7. David, 8. Joseph.
IV. 2 James Watson, b. July 29, 1800, d. March, 1889.
m. March 17, 1825, Mary M. Nesbit. Lived at Orleans
Cross Roads, West Virginia.
Issue — 1. John D., 2. Lorenzo Dow, and five others.
V. 1 John D. Watson, Writes from Piney Grove, Maryland
in 1904 that his son Charles is a lawyer at Frost-
burg, Md. and his son John A. is a physician at
Piney Grove, Md.
V. 2 Lorenzo Dow Watson, b. Dec. 15, 1838, d. .
m. July 7, 1869, Elnora Lawrence.
Issue — 1 . Frank Lawrence, b. July 24, 1 870, (Died young)
2. Fred Lawrence, b. Oct. 23, 1874.
VI. 2 Fred Lawrence Watson, b. Oct. 23, 1874.
m. Dec. 25, 1900, Frances Pike.
Issue — 1. Mildred Lawrence, b. Dec. 31, 1901.
In a letter written April 30, 1870 to Mrs. John Rowe
of Greencastle, Pa., James Watson of Orleans Cross
Roads, W. Va., tells of the death of his sister Belle. He
also says, "Lorenzo Dow Watson is a teacher of languages
in the State Normal School at Mansfield, Penna. at $1000
per year and is married to a young lady from Brooklyn,
N. Y." December 9, 1871 the same James Watson
WASTON GENEOLOGY 37
writes that "Lorenzo Dow has been elected Principal of
the graded school at Canton, Penna. where he receives a
salary of $1 100 and has one hundred and seventy pupils."
In February, 1873 James Watson writes, "Lorenzo Dow
is stationed in Rochester, N. Y., pastor of the Asbury
M. E. Church at a salary of $1600 with a fine parsonage
and $400 in presents additional." A letter from Lorenzo
Dow Watson himself, written June 15, 1904, states that
his preparatory education was received at Allegheny
Seminary, Rainsburg, Penna., that he received his B.A.
and M.A. at Dickinson College, his Ph.D. at Syracuse
University, his L.L.B. and L.L.D. and S.T.D. from
Victoria University. He also received S.T.D. from
Boston University. At the time of writing, he was
editor of the Buffalo Christian Advocate. His son Fred
had graduated at Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, Lima,
N. Y., and from Cleveland Homeopathic Medical College,
Cleveland, Ohio.
III. 5 Martha Watson, 2d, b. Dec. 16, 1773.
m. Sept. 7, 1809, Abram Prather, Greencastle, Pa.
Issue — 1. Henry Pawling, 2. James Watson, 3. Elizabeth
Watson.
IV. 1 Henry Pawling Prather, b. Aug. 20, 1810, d. Jan. 17, 1892.
m. May 17, 1836, Elizabeth Hostetter of Greencastle, Pa.
Issue — 1. Abram, 2. Samuel Hostetter, 3. Martha Wat-
son, 4. Elizabeth Michaels, 5. Anne Maria Carl,
6. Louisa Kiesecker, 7. Henry Rowe, 8. James
Watson,- 9. Rush Carl, 10. Watson Rowe.
V. 1 Abram Prather, b. May 17, 1837, d. Sept. 6, 1837.
V. 2 Samuel Hostetter Prather, b. Dec. 6, 1838, d. May 3, 1889.
38 FIVE TYPICAL SCOTCH IRISH FAMILIES
m. June 27, 1877, Laura Brewer, daughter of Joseph P.
Brewer.
Issue — Louise Brewer.
VI. 1 Louise Brewer Prather.
m. Thomas M. Nelson, Jr., Oct. 14, 1902.
Issue — 1. Ann Louise, 2. Margaret Brewer, 3. Thomas
M. 3d, 4. Laura Cornelia, 5. Mary Maxwell.
V. 3 Martha Watson Prather, b. Feb. 21, 1841, d. June 8,
1904.
m. Jan. 1, 1862, Joseph Strickler of Auburn, Nebraska.
Issue — 1. Myrtle, 2. Harry, 3. Earnest, 4. Snively, 5.
Clara, 6. Lecta, 7. Lottie.
V. 4 Elizabeth Michaels Prather, died unmarried.
V. 5 Anne Maria Carl Prather, died unmarried.
V. 6 Louisa Kiesecker Prather.
m. March 10, 1875, Mac Farlane Campbell of Nebraska.
Issue — 1. Irvine, 2. Rush Prather, 3. Mac Farlane.
V. 7 Henry Rowe Prather, b. Jan. 5, 1852, d. Jan. 17, 1900.
m. Nov. 26, 1875, Mary Alice Baugh.
Issue — Henry Pawling.
V. 8 James Watson Prather, b. Oct. 13, 1854, d. Nov. 11, 1855.
V. 9 Rush Carl Prather, b. Jan. 18, 1857, d. Feb. 5, 1917.
m. Jan. 15, 1885, Harriet White of Greencastle, Pa.
Issue— 1. Paul White, b. Oct. 17, 1890, 2. Rush Carl,
b. Nov. 17, 1894, 3. Robert Marsden, b. Aug.
27, 1903.
VI. 1 Paul White Prather
m. Mildred Oliver.
Issue — John Oliver.
WATSON GENEOLOGY 39
V. 10 Watson Rowe Prather, b. Jan. 22, 1860, d. March 20,
1860.
IV. 3 Elizabeth Watson Prather, b. July, 1814, d. Jan. 11, 1880.
m. Feb. 18, 1836, Hon. John Rowe of Greencastle, Pa.
Issue — 1. David Watson, 2. Anna Mary, 3. Martha
Ellen, 4. John Gilmore, 5. Elizabeth Prather,
6. Florence Sarah, 7. Henry Prather (died in
childhood), 8. Isabelle Watson.
V. 1 David Watson Rowe, b. Nov. 12, 1836, d. July 15, 1913.
m. Aug. 5, 1862, Anna Fletcher of Greencastle, Pa.
No issue.
V. 2 Anna Mary Rowe, b. Aug. 25, 1838, d. August 25, 1920.
m. Dec. 20, 1860, Lemuel Snively of Greencastle, Pa.
Issue — 1. John Rowe, 2. Susan Almira, 3. Belle Gilmore,
4. Elizabeth Prather, 5. Watson Rowe, 6. Mary
Wise, 7. Samuel.
VI. 1 John Rowe Snively, b. November 24, 1861.
m. Feb. 10, 1896, Emma Diehl of Lanark, 111.
Issue — 1. John Rowe, 2. Mary Elizabeth, 3. Emily Belle.
VI. 5 Watson Rowe Snively, b. Feb. 11, 1873.
m. April 30, 1907, Elizabeth Ziegler Fletcher.
VI. 7 Samuel Snively, b. August 5, 1882.
m. December 7, 1917, Carolyn Haines Shriver.
V. 3 Martha Ellen Rowe, b. June 21, 1840, d. March 9, 1896.
m. L. H. Fletcher of Greencastle, Pa.
Issue — 1. John Rowe, 2. Mary Ziegler, 3. Emily Lantz,
4. Lillian Martin, 5. Henry Prather, 6. James
Gilmore, 7. George Frederick, 8. David Watson,
9. Florence Isabella.
40 FIVE TYPICAL SCOTCH IRISH FAMILIES
VI. 1 John Rowe Fletcher, b. July 23, 1864.
m. Oct. 20, 1890, Elizabeth Reed Motter, daughter of
John Motter of Harrisburg, Pa.
Issue — I. John Motter, 2. Martha Rowe.
VII. 2 Martha Rowe Fletcher.
m. February 19, 1920, Samuel Cochran Slaymaker.
VI. 2 Mary Ziegler Fletcher, b. Sept. 9, 1866.
m. Dec. 27, 1888, John Funk Martin.
Issue — 1. John Funk, Jr., 2. Henry Fletcher, 3. Lilian
Florence, 4. Mary Anna.
VII. 1 John Funk Martin, Jr.
m. June 1919, Katherin D. Tilghman.
VII. 2 Henry Fletcher Martin, j,
m. September 12, 19(J2, Viola James.
VII. 3 Lillian Florence Martin.
m. November 10, 1915, Captain Fitzhugh Berry Alder-
dice.
Issue — 1. Thomas Gilmore, 2. Lillian Adelaide.
VII. 4 Mary Anna Martin.
m. July 1, 1922, Allan B. Plank.
VI. 3 Emily Lantz Fletcher, b. April 21, 1868,
m. Nov. 6, 1890, Pitt F. Carl of Greencastle, Pa.
Issue — 1. Charles Wingard, 2. Mary Lilian, 3. Pitt Fes-
senden, Jr.
VII. 3 Pitt Fessenden Carl, Jr., b. April 20, 1895.
m. Nov. 12, 1920, Elizabeth Ross of Harrisburg, Pa.
Issue — Emily Elizabeth.
VI. 4 Lillian Martin Fletcher, died unmarried.
WATSON GENEOLOGY 41
VI. 5 Henry Prather Fletcher, b. April 10, 1873.
m. July 25, 1917, Beatrice Bend.
VI. 6 James Gilmore Fletcher, b. Nov. 17, 1875.
m. Mary Alice Riter of Pittsburgh, Feb. 27, 1902.
No issue.
VI. 7 George Frederick Fletcher, b. Dec. 23, 1877.
m. April 16, 1902, Louise Mann.
Issue — Harriet Mann.
VI. 8 David Watson Fletcher, b. Feb. 25, 1880.
m. October 2, 1912, Julia Frary.
Issue — 1. Martha Julia, 2. David Watson.
VI. 9 Florence Isabella Fletcher, b. July 4, 1883.
m. Feb. 7, 1904, H. A. Bitner.
Issue — 1. Kathleen, 2. Frances Louise, 3. L. H. Fletcher,
4. Martha Elizabeth.
V. 4 John Gilmore Rowe, b. May 31, 1842, d. Sept. 29, 1874.
April 18, 1861 enlisted as private in Company C 2d Reg.
Penna. Volunteers. Aug. 1862 was commissioned
1st Lieutenant of Company K. 126th Reg. Penna.
Vols., was at battles of 2d Bull Run, Antietam,
Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. Wounded
severely in forehead at Chancellorsville. Died
unmarried.
V. 5 Elizabeth Prather Rowe, b. Nov. 18, 1844.
m. Dec. 14, 1887 to J. M. Stover of Greencastle, Pa.
No issue.
V. 6 Florence Sarah Rowe, b. April 20, 1846, d. Dec. 8, 1888.
m. William H. Davison.
\2 FIVE TYPICAL SCOTCH IRISH FAMILIES
Issue — I. Elizabeth Rowe, 2. Jane Robinson, 3. Watson
Rowe, 4. Sarah Agnes, 5. Ellen Belle.
VI. 3 Watson Rowe Davison, b. October 15, 1870.
m. December 6, 1898, Mary Clippenger.
Issue — 1. Florence Rowe, (Dead), 2. Elizabeth Sarah,
3. Mary Clippenger, 4. Jane Watson, 5. Katrina,
6. Watson Rowe, 7. Charles Henry.
V. 7 Henry Prather Rowe, b. Feb. 8, 1848, d. 1851.
V. 8 Isabelle Watson Rowe, b. Sept. 18, 1850.
m. Jan. 18, 1877, Hon. William U. Brewer of Chambers-
burg, Pa.
Issue — John Rowe.
IV. 2 James Watson Prather, b. July 12, 1812, d. Aug. 31, 1889.
m. April 14, 1836, Elizabeth Cary, daughter of Agnes
Queen and Robert Cary.
Issue— 1. Martha, 2. Charlotte Rosetta, 3. Robert
James.
V. 1 Martha Prather, b. Jan. 21, 1837, at Louisville, Ky.
m. March 4, 1858, Col. Charles Champion Gilbert of the
U. S. Army.
Issue — 1. Martha Prather, 2. Charles Champion, 3.
Watson Prather, 4. Isabel Cass, 5. Robert Pra-
ther, 6. Elizabeth Cary.
VI. 1 Martha Prather Gilbert, b. Dec. 12, 1858, at Fort Clark,
Tex., d. July 4, 1859 at Louisville, Ky.
VI. 2 Charles Champion Gilbert, b. Nov. 17, 1859 at Louisville,
Ky.
m. Feb. 12, 1881, Alma Kochler of Decatur, 111.
Issue — Dorothy Champion, b. Feb. 21, 1893.
WATSON GENEOLOGY 43
VI. 3 Watson Prather Gilbert, b. Feb. 9, 1861 at Fort Cobb,
Ind. Ter.
m. March 28, 1894, Elizabeth Coffin of Jacksonville,
Fla.
No issue.
VI. 4 Isabel Cass Gilbert, b. June 19, 1862 at Louisville, Ky.
m. Dec. 22, 1882 at Fort Yates, Dakota, Capt. John C.
Gresham, U. S. Army.
Issue— 1. Catherine Gilbert, b. Oct. 17, 1883 at Fort
Yates, Dakota.
2. Isabel Cass, b. June 24, 1885 at Blacksburg, Va.
3. Louise Van Home, b. Sept. 6, 1887 at Fort
Mead, Dakota.
4. Champion Gilbert, b. Nov. 21, 1894 at Fort
Riley, Kan., d. Jan. 1, 1896 at New Orleans.
VI. 5 Robert Prather Gilbert, b. March 10, 1864 at Louisville,
Ky., d. Jan. 9, 1888.
VI. 6 Elizabeth Cary, b. March 5, 1870 at Fort Bridges, Wyo.
d. March 16, 1875 at Camp Baker, Montana.
V. 2 Charlotte Rosetta Prather, b. Nov. 16, 1839, d. June
27, 1870.
m. Nov. 5, 1857, William Griffith of Louisville, Ky.
Issue — 1. Ida Prather, 2. Watson Prather.
VI. 1 Ida Prather Griffith, b. July 19, 1858.
m. Nov. 14, 1888, David Meriweather of Louisville, Ky.
VI. 2 Watson Prather Griffith, b. Oct. 24, 1859.
V. 3 Robert James Prather, b. March 11, 1838, d. July 31,
1878 at Brandon, Miss.
44 FIVE TYPICAL SCOTCH IRISH FAMILIES
m. May 21, 1867, Alice L. Davis, Carroll Co., Miss.
Issue— 1. Hetty Elizabeth, b. June 5, 1868.
2. Rosa Thornton, b. Jan. 7, 1874.
3. Robert Moore, b. Jan. 26, 1876.
4. Cass Gilbert, b. Feb. 22, 1878.
THE CRAIG FAMILY
The Craigs, as well as the Watsons and the Vances, were found
on the list of Scottish "undertakers". (See extracts from Register
of Privy Council as given in History of the Scotch Irish, by Henry
Jones Ford and also in Charles Hanna's History of the Scotch
Irish.) In 1610, in the county of Armagh, 1000 acres were alloted
to Sir James Craig, Knt. and in 1615, were sold to John Hamilton.
In 1610, John Craig also received an allotment of 1000 acres. In
the same year, James Craig bought 2000 acres in the county of
Cavan.
Several members of the Craig Family came from Ulster, Ireland
with the tide of immigrants pouring into America in the early
half of the eighteenth century to escape, among other things,
conforming to the Articles of Perth with their strict rules as to
the celebration of Easter, the right of confirmation and the form
of taking communion. In Old Trinity graveyard in New York
City we find an inscription, "Here lyes ye body of John Craig
who departed this transitory life September 14, 1747 aged 47
years." In the Manor of Maske, Adams County, Penna. in 1741
a land warrant was granted to the heirs of John Craig. In 1728,
James Craig, with a number of relatives, all of Scotch Irish descent,
made a settlement in what is now Northampton County, Pa.
This was known as "Craigs" or "The Irish Settlement". Another
branch of this family settled in Bucks County and were among
the ancestors of President Roosevelt. Among the names appended
to a petition sent to Governor Hamilton July 22, 1754, asking aid
against the French and Indians, is that of John Craig. In 1756,
he, in company with some friends, made an exploring trip through
the Cumberland Valley. While near McDowell's Mill, now
46 FIVE TYPICAL SCOTCH IRISH FAMILIES
Bridgeport, Franklin County, Pa., they were captured by nine
Delaware Indians but fortunately made their escape (Gordon's
History of Pennsylvania). This is probably the John Craig of
East Hanover Township who, later in the same year, was not
so fortunate but, with his wife Isabel, was scalped by the Indians.
They are buried at East Hanover and their tragic end is noted on
their tombstone.
In 1739, February 12th, the Penns granted 150 acres of land
in Drumore Township, Lancaster County to William Craig, the
witnesses being Alexander Hamilton and John Boyd. (Patent
Book A No. 10, Page 375.) This William Craig had two sons,
William and John and perhaps other children of whom we have
no record. These sons both fought in the War of the Revolution
in the 2d Battalion of Lancaster County under Capt. Brisbane of
Leacock, where John Craig lived. (Penna. Archives, 2d series,
Vol. 15, page 378 and page 518.) William Craig was first com-
missioned a lieutenant, later when Captain Brisbane resigned,
September 1, 1777, he was made captain. His name is signed in
the remonstrance against the promotion of Major Ryan. (Penna.
Archives, Second series, Vol. 15, page 388.) John Craig was
enlisted as a private. Both of these brothers served in the New
York and the Canadian campaigns. John was commissioned a
justice of the peace March 31, 1770 (Recorder's Office, Lancaster
County) and was a member of the Legislature 1782-3-4. In
August 1765 he bought from Robert and Mary Fulton 190 acres
of land for 1000 pounds (Book F, pp. 555). His wife was Agnes
Moore, daughter of Andrew Moore of Derry Township, Lancaster
County. John Craig died December 13, 1793, without children
and divided his estate, amounting to more than 5000 pounds,
between his wife and the children of his brother William. This
brother William had died prior to this and had left the following
children,— John, Hugh, William, Jane, Elizabeth and Anne.
THE CRAIG FAMILY 47
Rather a sad picture is that of the prosperous and successful John
Craig and his wife Agnes, evidently fond of children but having
none of their own to hand down their possessions to. The hand-
some house clock, which he had hoped a son might inherit, he
leaves to his namesake and nephew with a personal request that
it should pass on to one of the same name. His wife wills her
service of silver from generation to generation to whichever one
of her family shall bear the name of Agnes. (Agnes Houston of
Washington, D. C. in 1891 had this service and the house clock
is faithfully keeping time in 1922 in Greencastle, Pa. in the home
of a great, great-grandnephew, John Orr Craig.) John Craig and
his wife, Agnes are buried in the Presbyterian church yard, Lan-
caster, Pa.
JOHN CRAIG
(Died 1801)
John Craig, second son of Captain William Craig, served as a
private in Captain John Boyd's company, mustered at Derry,
Aug. 13, 1776 (Penna. Archives, 2d series, Vol. 13, pp. 328). He
was a tanner and currier and owned considerable real estate
which he purchased from William Shaw, lying partly in London-
derry and partly in Lebanon Township. His apprentices were
tightly bound. His brother Hugh served as his apprentice for
two years, from March 25, 1789. "During all which term the
said apprentice, his said Master faithfully shall serve, his Secrets
keep, his Lawful Commands everywhere gladly obey. He shall
do no damage to his said Master nor suffer it to be done by others
without letting or giving notice to his said Master. He shall not
waste his Master's goods not lend them unlawfully to any. He
shall not commit Fornication or contract Matrimony within said
term; at Cards, Dice or any other unlawful Game, he shall not
48 FIVE TYPICAL SCOTCH IRISH FAMILIES
play, whereby his said Master shall have damage. He shall
neither buy nor sell. He shall not absent himself, day or night
from his said Master's service without leave nor haunt Ale Houses,
Taverns or Playhouses." The said Master in return was to
"teach the Art and Mistery of a Tanner and Currier" and to
"provide for the said Apprentice sufficient Meat, Drink, Lodging
and Washing and Shoes and Aprons as many as he shall have
occasion for during said term." (Copied from original indenture
in possession of Hugh Boyd Craig.) These restrictions were the
usual order of things in the last decade of the 18th Century and
Hugh Craig, having faithfully lived up to his indenture and having
learned his trade, started into business for himself in "the Town
of Cincinnati, County of Hamilton, Territory of the Northwest
of the River Ohio" where we hope he succeeded in life.
John Craig was listed as a charter trustee of Derry Church in
1789 and was made an elder in 1795. His death in 1801 must
have been unexpected for he died intestate. His brothers-in-law,
Benjamin Boyd and James Rogers were appointed administrators
and gave bond for $2000, Sept. 26, 1801. John Craig's wife was
the third daughter ofBenjamin Boyd and Janet Elliot. (See
Boyd Record.) At thirty-one she was left a widow with five
young sons and in 1814 was dismissed from Derry church and went
with her boys to a newer country to improve their condition and
take their place with the people of the Lower West Conococheague
Congregation or Welsh Run Church, as it was called later. Among
the household goods which they took with them was the "house
clock" made by Lamb & Webb, which had been inherited from
their great uncle, John Craig of Lampeter township and which,
at the inventory of their father's estate, in 1803, had been valued
at 12 pounds and 10 shillings. Jane Boyd Craig's sons probably
became interested in land in Franklin County through their uncle,
William Craig of Mercersburg who had preceeded them from
THE CRAIG FAMILY 49
Lancaster County and who was present as a witness when the
deed of transfer was made in the office of Justice James Watson
in Greencastle.
WILLIAM CRAIG
1794-1855.
William Craig was the second son of John Craig and Janet
Boyd and was born October 19, 1794 in Londonderry Township,
Dauphin County. He was not yet seven years old when his
father died and had not attained his majority in 1814 when he
accompanied his four brothers and his widowed mother to their
new home in Franklin County. November 27, 1813 William and
Benjamin Craig signed in Greencastle an article of agreement for
their new home. Their uncle, William Craig of Mercersburg
and James Buchanan, father of the future President were witnesses.
The deed was made the following spring to William Craig alone.
The original grant of this land was for 1000 acres and was made
by Charles, Lord Baron of Baltimore, Feb. 17, 1741 to Nathaniel
Alexander and was called the Three Cousins. It was part of the
Manor of Conococheague and was, at that time, in Prince George
County, Maryland, the Mason & Dixon Line between Pennsyl-
vania and Maryland not being surveyed until 1763-68. This
land was given to the said Alexander "to Have and to Hold . . .
in free and common soccage by Fealty only for all manner of
services." A rent of fourteen shillings was to be paid yearly "at
our City of St. Mary's at the two Most usual feasts in the Year,
viz. The Feast of the Annunciation of the blessed Virgin Mary
and St. Michael the Arch Angel by even and equal portions."
Nathaniel Alexander sold this grant to Allen Killough and he in
turn sold to Moses Murphy from whom William Craig bought
190 acres. In a re-survey made November 3, 1752, the number
50 FIVE TYPICAL SCOTCH IRISH FAMILIES
of acres in Three Cousins is given as 498. This tract of land is
still in possession of the Craig family, the old homsetead being
known to all of them as Locust Hill while the farm adjoining on the
east, also owned by the Craigs is known as Three Cousins. The
young Craigs assisted by their able energetic mother set out to
establish themselves in their new home and finally succeeded,
owing to hard work, shrewd management and rigid economy. In
a few years Jesse and Hugh married and went out to homes of
their own but Benjamin and John always remained at Locust
Hill with their brother William. A substantial, two story log
house was on the farm at the time of the purchase by William
Craig. Before his marriage to Mary Vance Watson, daughter of
John Watson of Greencastle in 1828, he built a north wing of
stone and encased the whole house in the then popular "rough
cast coating". The white house with its green trimmings sur-
rounded by a grove of locust trees, stood on a hill commanding a
view of the Valley and the encircling blue mountains for many
miles. Locust Hill was the name they gave to their home and
around it gathered many associations dear to their children and
the generations following. William Craig took an active part
in the community as a school director, a progressive farmer and
a staunch churchman. He sent his sons to the agricultural fairs
of Washington County, Maryland with the produce of the farm
and garden and many were the prizes they won. He was for
more than twenty years a ruling elder in the Presbyterian church
at Welsh Run and drilled his children well in moral and Christian
principles and the catechisms shorter and longer as he had been
drilled by his parents. He made many sacrifices to advance the
welfare of his children and was a devoted and indulgent father.
He had an able helpmeet in his wife who had been educated in
academic studies and skillful needle work at Rosedale Seminary,
Chambersburg. She had a strong assertive character with much
LOCUST HILL, THE CRAIG HOMESTFAD
IS! HW TOK£
rOWJCUBRART
IX
THE CRAIG FAMILY 51
ability in practical affairs yet with a passion for the beautiful as
the flowers of the Locust Hill garden attested. Her religious
training, like her husband's was of the strict Scotch type and in
her declining years, when she was the last of her generation among
her neighbors, she found great solace in the old familiar Psalms
which she had committed to memory while a child. Mingled
with the Bible stories with which she frequently entertained her
grandchildren, was the ever fascinating story of her wedding
journey on horse back from Greencastle through the Cumberland
Valley in the sultry August days of 1828 to visit among relatives
and friends in the congregations of the old churches of Derry and
Donegal, eighty miles away.
JOHN WATSON CRAIG
1830-1908
John Watson Craig was the eldest son of William Craig and
Mary Vance Watson. While still a boy at school he showed his
energy and executive ability by being a leader in sports and boyish
pranks and by energetic work on the farm. When not yet twenty-
two, he married in 1852, Caroline Crossan, daughter of Thomas
Crossan of Welsh Run and established a home of his own. For
twenty-nine years he was an able and successful farmer, carrying
on his occupation successively at Welsh Run, Shippensburg,
Chambersburg and Mercersburg. He returned from Mercersburg
to Chambersburg in 1882 and in partnership with Thomas M.
Nelson, successfully carried on for sixteen years a large lumber
business. In 1898 he retired from active business and quietly
attended to the affairs of his large estate. His business sagacity
was much respected. For years he was an active member of
the Pennsylvania Lumbermen's Association, a director in the
Chambersburg National Bank and in 1876 was elected County
52 FIVE TYPICAL SCOTCH IRISH FAMILIES
Commissioner. From his youth he was a member of the Presby-
terian church and was made a ruling elder in the Welsh Run
congregation in 1857. In disposition he was generous and kind
and his friends always found a warm welcome awaiting them
under his kindly roof. He was upheld in his ever ready hospitality
by his wife and younger daughters and not only did the sons and
daughter who had gone out from his home find it most pleasant
to return but many others frequently availed themselves of the
kindly welcome of that home.
HUGH BOYD CRAIG
1831-1904
Hugh Boyd Craig, the second son of William Craig and Mary
Vance Watson, naturally had a taste for books and the pleasure
they gave rather than for the stirring life of the farm. He first
attended the little school house at Locust Level, then academies
at Shippensburg, Newville and Mercersburg. He taught a couple
of winters in the country schools of Franklin County after which
he prepared for college at the famous Elder's Ridge Academy under
the guidance of the greatly loved Dr. Alexander Donaldson. His
scholarship and general standing while there were of a high grade
and in 1855 he entered the junior class of Jefferson College. He
had united with the Presbyterian church at Mercersburg about
1850 as Welsh Run church was without a pastor and it was his
desire and intention to make the ministry his life work. But on
graduating from college in 1857 the call of duty seemed to be at
home and his life from that on was that of an intelligent and
prosperous farmer. He was made a ruling elder in Welsh Run
church in 1858 and held that office for life. He became superin-
tendent of the sabbath school there in 1857 and acted in that
capacity or as assistant as long as he lived. The little church at
THE CRAIG FAMILY 53
Welsh Run was always very dear to him and he ever gave it his
most earnest prayers, heart felt interest and able financial support.
When the membership had become very small owing to the re-
moval of most of its members to the west and the church was
looked upon as one never to be revived, he did not lose faith and
lived to see his prayers answered, the church resuscitated and
supported to a great extent by the descendants of the German
settlers who had taken the place of the original Scotch Irish and
Welsh settlers and who became as orthodox and active Presby-
terians as those of Scottish descent. He was a man of wide
reading and a thoughtful student of the Bible and Bible history
all his life and few men, not in the ministry, were so well versed
in the Scriptures. He was a frequent representative of the church
at meetings of the Presbytery where his sane conservatism and
sound judgment won for him the deep respect of his fellow presby-
ters. He was a commissioner to the General Assembly in 1860
at Rochester, N. Y. His influence in the community in which he
lived was always strong in the cause of temperance, morality and
political reform. He was ever the wise counsellor and ready
helper of young people in their striving for an education or a
better life. He was known for many years as a progressive
member of the Montgomery Township school board and was also,
for some years, president of the Farmers' Association of Franklin
County. Whenever he accepted a duty it was always well per-
formed and although high places did not know him, his was a
successful life in the truest sense of the word. His wife was
Martha Agnes Orr, daughter of William Orr and Agnes Mc Guire
Sample, who always assisted her husband ably with wise judgment
and keen insight of character and who graciously extended to
those who had gone out from it, the hospitality of the old home-
stead at Locust Hill.
54 FIVE TYPICAL SCOTCH IRISH FAMILIES
CRAIG GENEALOGY
I. William Craig, February 12, 1739, was granted by the
Penns 150 acres of land in Drumore Township,
Lancaster County. Alexander Hamilton and
John Boyd, witnesses. (Patent Book A, No. 10,
PP. 375.)
Issue— 1. William, 2. John, and perhaps others.
II. 1 William Craig.
Issue— 1. William, 2. John, 3. Hugh, 4. Jane (m.
Buck), 5. Elizabeth (m. Boyle), 6. Anne,
(m. John Means, Montgomery County, Ken-
tucky).
III. 1 William Craig.
m. May 29, 1817, Lilias Skinner.
Issue— 1. John, 2. Eliza Jane, 3. Mary Anne, 4. Sarah
Skinner, 5. Caroline Porter.
William Craig was a tanner in Mercersburg, Pa., and his
family afterward moved to Bucyrus, Ohio.
III. 2 John Craig, b. , d. September 2, 1801.
m. September 8, 1791, Jean Boyd, daughter of Benjamin
Boyd of Derry Church.
Issue— 1. Benjamin, 2. William, 3. John, 4. Jesse, 5.
Hugh.
IV. 1 Benjamin Craig, b. July 18, 1792, d. Sept. 30, 1829.
Unmarried.
IV. 2 William Craig, b. October 19, 1794, d. October 1, 1855.
m. August 28, 1828, Mary Vance Watson, b. May 5,
1797, d. May, 1878, daughter of John Watson of
Greencastle, Pa.
CRAIG GENEALOGY 55
Issue — 1. John Watson, 2. Hugh Boyd, 3. Mary Eliza-
beth, 4. Jane, 5. William Henry, 6. David Vance.
V. 1 John Watson Craig, b. July 3, 1830, d. March 27, 1908.
m. Jan. 1852, Caroline Crossan, daughter of Thomas
Issue — 1. William Paxton, 2. Thomas Canby, 3. Henry
Prather, 4. Clark Rankin, 5. George Eyster,
Watcon, 9. Martha- Caroliner*-—
6. John McDowell, 7. Arianna Crossan, 8. Mary
Watson, 9. Martha Caroline.
VI. 1 William Paxton Craig, b. June 22, 1853, d. Dec. 11, 1855.
VII. 2 Thomas Canby Craig, b. Nov. 2, 1855, d. December 13,
1921.
m. (1) in Brooklyn, N. Y., Sept. 20, 1882, Harriet Danby,
daughter of Robert Danby, chief engineer and
captain, U. S. Navy.
Issue— Mary Watson, b. Sept. 20, 1885.
m. (2) April 29, 1919, Cornelia Porter Souther.
No issue.
VII. 1 Mary Watson Craig.
m. Jan. 25, 1912, Robert Stuart Owens.
Issue — 1. Marian Craig, b. Feb. 22, 1916, 2. William
Stuart, b. May 28, 1918.
VI. 3 Henry Prather Craig, b. July 23, 1857, d. Aug. 12, 1890.
Unmarried.
VI. 4 Clark Rankin Craig, b. May 15, 1859.
m. (1) in Philadelphia, Nov. 24, 1884, Ella Rosamond
Spencer, (d. Nov. 17, 1901) daughter of Gustavus
M. Spencer, of Philadelphia and Watertown, N . Y
Issue — Carola Spencer, b. May, 1896.
56 FIVE TYPICAL SCOTCH IRISH FAMILIES
m. (2) April 14, 1904, Mrs. Emma Burrows, daughter of
James W. Mulford of Woodbury, N. J.
No issue.
VII. 1 Carola Spencer Craig.
m. July 28, 1918, Henry G. Kimball of Watertown, N. Y.
Issue— 1. Clark Craig, b. 1919, 2. Mary Caroline, b. 1921
VI. 5 George Eyster Craig, b. March 18, 1862, d. Sept. 4, 1918.
m. Feb. 7, 1899, Narcissa Brewster of Newville, Pa.
No issue
VI. 6 John McDowell Craig, b. March 18, 1862.
m. Sarah Huber.
No issue.
VI. 7 Ariana Crossan Craig, b. April 6, 1865.
m. in Chambersburg, Sept. 25, 1884, Meredith Dabney
Jones, M.D., St. Louis, Mo.
Issue— 1. Ariana N., b. Sept. 3, 1888, 2. Meredith
Cabell, b. Sept. 18, 1895.
VII. 1 Ariana N. Jones.
m. April 9, 1921, H. Orrin Jones of Dayton, Ohio.
VII. 2 Meredith Cabell Jones.
m. Sept. 25, 1919, Lila Capen.
Issue— Lila Capen, b. May 19, 1922.
VI. 8 Mary Watson Craig, b. Jan. 4, 1868.
Unmarried.
VI. 9 Martha Caroline Craig, b. Jan. 4, 1868.
Unmarried
V. 2 Hugh Boyd Craig, b. November 2, 1831, d. February 10,
1904.
CRAIG GENEALOGY 57
m. at Louther Manor, Orr's Bridge, Cumberland County,
May 8, 1861 to Martha Agnes Orr.
Issue — 1. Mary Watson, 2. John Orr.
VI. 1 Mary Watson Craig, b. July 28, 1862.
m. May 3, 1888 at Locust Hill, Ira Hayes Shoemaker of
Harrisburg, Pa.
No issue.
VI. 2 John Orr Craig, b. December 4, 1865.
m. at Welsh Run June 2, 1896, Elizabeth Cushwa Brewer,
daughter of Melchoir Brewer of Welsh Run.
Issue — 1. Sue Brewer, 2. Mary Watson.
V. 3 Mary Elizabeth Craig, b. March 2, 1833, d. Feb. 16, 1893.
m. at Locust Hill, May 14, 1856, George Eyster of
Chambersburg and Philadelphia (assistant treas-
urer of the U. S. in Phila.).
Issue — Jane Craig and Sarah Judson, (both died un-
married).
V. 4 Jane Craig, b. Feb. 19, 1835, d. Sept. 30, 1863.
m. at Locust Hill May, 1860, John Riddle Warner, D.D.
then of Gettysburg, Penna., afterwards of Kirk-
wood, Mo.
Issue — Mary.
VI. 1 Mary Warner, b. April 11, 1862.
m. at Kirkwood, Mo., June 4, 1885, John Milton Moore
of Portsmouth, Ohio.
Issue — 1. John Warner, 2. Marianne Craig.
VII. 1 John Warner Moore, b. June 18, 1886.
m. Constance Eustis, b. Feb. 11, 1889.
58 FIVE TYPICAL SCOTCH IRISH FAMILIES
Issue— 1. Mary Markwick, b. April 16, 1919, 2. Sarah
Eustis, b. April 16, 1921.
V. 5 William Henry Craig, b. Feb. 15, 1837, d. Nov. 6, 1899
at El Paso, Illinois,
m. Sarah Ellen Keyser, daughter of John K. Keyser of
Welsh Run.
Issue — 1. Mary Elizabeth, 2. John Keyser.
V. 6 David Vance Craig, b. July 23, 1841, d. Sept. 10, 1878.
m. at Welsh Run, Oct. 20, 1870, Louisa J. Reed, daughter
of Jacob Reed of Welsh Run.
Issue — 1. Mary Elizabeth, 2. Florence Vance, 3. Henry
Wallace, 4. Howard Eyster.
VI. 1 Mary Elizabeth Craig, b. Oct. 5, 1871.
m. at Welsh Run church Dec. 13, 1900, Harvey A.
Shartle of Welsh Run, Pa.
Issue — Ruth Craig.
VI. 2 Florence Vance Craig, b. June 27, 1873, d. Dec. 31, 1903.
m. at Welsh Run Church Dec. 13, 1900, Samuel Resley
Schnebly of Fairview, Md.
Issue — Mary Louise.
VI. 3 Henry Wallace Craig, b. Oct. 30, 1874.
m. at Welsh Run Nov. 16, 1899, Grace Fleming Duffield,
daughter of James Duffield of Welsh Run.
Issue— 1. Watson Duffield, b. July 15, 1905; 2. Eyster
Sellers, b. Aug. 25, 1907, d. Sept. 1908; 3. Eliza-
beth Bower, b. July 18, 1909; 4. Virginia Brewer,
b. May 30, 1911; 5. Isabelle Reed, b. May 24,
1912; 6. Louisa Reed, b. Nov. 26, 1917.
VI. 4 Howard Eyster Craig, b. Oct. 13, 1876.
Unmarried.
CRAIG GENEALOGY 59
IV. 3 John Craig, b. May 24, 1797, d. Aug. 28, 1870.
Unmarried.
IV. 4. Jesse Craig, b. May 27, 1799, d. Sept. Sept. 22, 1869.
m. Feb. 22, 1824, Elizabeth Davison of Greencastle.
Issue — I. Jane Boyd, 2. John, 3. Joseph Davison, 4.
James Smith, 5. Mary Elizabeth, 6. Louisa
Margaret.
V. 1 Jane Boyd Craig, b. , d. Oct. 26, 1902.
m. Dec. 11, 1851 to Joseph P. Nevin of Shippensburg.
No issue. (Joseph P. Nevin had one daughter, Josephine,
by former marriage.)
V. 2 John Craig, b. 1827, d. Dec. 18, 1861.
-m. Feb. 14, 1857, Anna Mary Roberts of Mercersburg.
Issue — 1. Jesse, 2. James Roberts, 3. Elizabeth Davison.
VI. 1 Jesse Craig, b. 1857.
m. (1) Dec. 22, 1881, Alice Virginia Duffield, daughter of
James Durfield of Welsh Run.
No issue,
m. (2) Jan. 15, 1885, Caroline Hacker, daughter of John
S. Hacker of Lincoln, Lancaster County, Pa.
Issue — 1. Jane Nevin, 2. James Hacker, 3. Wilbur,
4. Charlotte, 5. Anna.
VI. 2 James Roberts Craig, died in childhood.
VI. 3 Elizabeth Davison Craig.
Unmarried.
V. 3 Joseph Davison Craig.
Unmarried.
V. 4 James Smith Craig.
60 FIVE TYPICAL SCOTCH IRISH FAMILIES
m. Dec. 28, 1871, Mary Elizabeth Bowles, daughter of
Thomas Bowles of Welsh Run.
No issue.
V. 5 Mary Elizabeth Craig.
m. May 23, 1860, John Roberts of Mercersburg, afterward
of Cincinnati, Ohio.
Issue — 1. Elizabeth, 2. Jesse Nevin, 3. William Sellers.
VI. 1 Elizabeth Roberts.
m. (1) Nov. 27, 1894, Kirke Kinney of Cincinnati, 0.
No issue.
m. (2) Albert Henry Jones of New York.
No issue.
VI. 2 Jesse Nevin Roberts.
m. April 25, 1900, Mary Hunter Morrison.
Issue —
VI. 3 William Sellers Roberts.
m. Oct. 30, 1895, Bertha Sophia Hulbert.
V. 6 Margaret Louisa Craig, b. July 1 7, 1 838, d. March 6, 1 868.
m. May 25, 1865, Rev. John Q. Mc Atee.
Issue — one child, died an infant.
IV. 5 Hugh Craig, b. Jan. 9, 1801, d. July, 1876.
m. June, 1826, Rachel Boyd, daughter of William Boyd
and Mary Orr (see Boyd and Orr records).
Issue — 1. William Boyd, 2. John Anderson.
V. 1 William Boyd Craig, b. June 22, 1827, Cambellstown, Pa.
graduated from Jefferson College class of 1853
from Western Theological Seminary, class of 1856
licensed as a Presbyterian minister by the Presby
CRAIG GENEALOGY 61
tery of Carlisle, June 1855; ordained by the same
presbytery, June 1856; pastor New Bloomfield,
Shermans Creek and Duncannon, Pa., 1857-1868;
pastor, Congruity, 1870 to 1880; retired from the
ministry in 1880; lived in Shippensburg, Pa., 1880
until his death December 15, 1907.
m. March 18, 1858, Catherine H. Singer of Allegheny,
Pa., (b. Nov. 16, 1835, d. July 7, 1904).
Issue — 1. William, 2. Hugh Singer, 3. Samuel, 4. Cath-
erine, 5. Rachel.
VI. 1 William Craig, b. Sept. 23, 1860, d. October 10, 1863.
VI. 2 Hugh Singer Craig.
m. Jessie Hill of Pittsburgh, Pa., October, 1899.
Issue — I. Thomas Singer, b. Nov. 4, 1900, 2. William
Boyd, b. Jan. 1902.
VI. 3 Samuel Craig, b. July 3, 1868, d. December 10, 1898.
VI. 4 Catherine Hetich Craig.
m. May, 1894, Edmund Lee Criswell of Shippensburg, Pa.
Issue— William Singer, b. Nov. 20, 1896.
VI. 5 Rachel Craig, b. Sept. 23, 1872.
m. March 1897, Frank Hollar of Shippensburg, Pa.
Issue— Frank Ellsworth, Jr., b. Nov. 11, 1910.
V. 2 John Anderson Craig, b. Oct. 2, 1831, d. Dec. 18, 1910.
m. Jan. 18, 1858, Martha Phillips of Shippensburg, Pa.
Issue — 1. Hugh Boyd, 2. Jean Colwell, 3. Mary Orr,
4. Isabella Anderson, 5. John Harper, 6. Georgi-
ana Phillips.
VI. 1 Hugh Boyd Craig, b. July 4, 1861.
62 FIVE TYPICAL SCOTCH IRISH FAMILIES
m. December 17, 1885, Elizabeth Sharpe of Newville, Pa.
d. May 20, 1922.
Issue — I. son, who died in infancy, 2. Hugh Boyd 2d,
b. Jan. 15, 1889, 3. Samuel Sharpe, b. Feb. 1891,
4. John Anderson, b. 1896, 5. Martha Elizabeth,
b. 1903,6. Edwin Hays, b. 1904.
VII. 2 Hugh Boyd Craig 2d., b. Jan. 15, 1889.
m. January 15, 1920, Ethel Woods of Birmingham, Ala.
Issue — Frances Jane, b. March 7, 1922.
VII. 3 Samuel Sharpe Craig, b. Feb. 1891.
m. Susan Tolan of Catasauqua, Pa.
VI. 2 Jean Colwell Craig, b. Dec. 18, 1864.
m. Jan. 8, 1889, Mervin Robinson of Shippensburg, d.
June 21, 1919.
Issue— 1. Jean Craig, b. March 1, 1890, 2. Mary Boyd,
b. Jan. 15, 1892.
VI. 3 Mary Orr Craig, died in infancy.
VI. 4 Isabella Anderson Craig, b. Dec. 20, 1870.
m. December 15, 1920, Samuel Fulton Houston of Car-
lisle, Pa.
VI. 5 John Harper Craig, b. July 3, 1874.
m. January 1898, Alice Morrow.
Issue — 1. son, who died in infancy, 2. John Anderson,
d. March 12, 1908.
VI. 6 Georgiana Phillips Craig, b. March 25, 1877.
m. September 7, 1904, Frederick W. Truscott of the
University of West Virginia, Morgantown, W. Va,
Issue — 1. Frederick Wilson, 2d., b. February 13, 1908.
2. Thomas Craig, b. May 14, 1911.
CRAIG GENEALOGY 63
II. 2 John Craig, b. June 10, 1729, d. December 13, 1793.
m. Agnes, daughter of Andrew Moore of Derry township,
b. May 10, 1733, d. March 27, 1810.
No issue.
III. 3 Hugh Craig, — In 1789 and '90 was with his brother John
at Campbellstown in tannery. Afterwards went
to "Town of Cincinnati, county of Hamilton,
territory of the northwest of the River Ohio."
THE VANCE FAMILY
On the list of Scottish "undertakers" given allotments of 1000
acres in Ulster, Ireland, (1610 to 1630) we find the name of "Patrick
Vance of Libragh, Gent., Kirkkinner, Wigtonshire," an extreme
southwestern section of Scotland. On another list, giving allot-
ments, we find "Patrick Vance, Donegal," probably the same
Patrick Vance who came from Wigtonshire. The name Patrick
Vance is found on the rent roll of the Hamilton Estate in county
Down, Ireland. There is also a Rev. Patrick Vance of Burt,
Ireland, mentioned by Henry Jones Ford in The Scotch Irish in
America, who had a brother-in-law in Nottingham, Penna.
Patrick and John Vance, coming from Ireland, probably by
way of Chester County, Pennsylvania, came to what is now
Guilford township, Franklin County, October 8, 1 754 and bought
a tract of land from William Anderson and Rebecca his wife for
242 pounds. This land had originally belonged to the Cavens
and May 3, 1782, Alexander Caven, one of the heirs, appeared
and demanded of the Vances, 250 pounds for his release to the
property. This was paid to him by the Vances although they
had made payment in full, under the original contract, by August
10, 1776. This land lies in the vicinity of StoufTerstown, the
first stone house, the oldest now standing (1922) in that town,
being built by Patrick Vance in 1773. He and his brother John
were Scotch Irish Presbyterians and attended the Falling Spring
Church of Chambersburg. Patrick Vance was one of seven men
to whom, on January 1, 1768 "Benjamin Chambers and Jane,
his wife," deeded the ground for that church, "to be held in trust
for the congregation of Falling Spring" made up of those "pro-
fessing the Westminster Confession of Faith." The trustees were
66 FIVE TYPICAL SCOTCH IRISH FAMILIES
to pay to Benjamin Chambers and his heirs and assigns forever
"the yearly rent of one rose, if required." The Vances were
interested, not only in the church, but took an active part in the
civic affairs of the new community. They were farmers and
millers. Patrick Vance was made justice of the peace in 1777 and
was one of the men, who in July, 1784, weary of the inconvenience
of going to such a distant county seat as Carlisle, petitioned the
General Assembly for a new county of Franklin. Like the other
Scotch emigrants, they were ardent advocates of liberty and were
opposed to any oppression of the colonists by England. Patrick
Vance, Esq. took the oath of allegiance before John Creigh,
Justice of the Peace in Carlisle, Pa., September 18, 1777.
John Vance attended the military convention in Lancaster,
July 4, 1776 while he was a private in 5th Battalion, Cumberland
County Militia. Penna. Archives, Vol. 13, 2d Series, pp. 265.)
He was later transferred to 2d Company, 4th Battalion, Cumber-
land County Militia, Col. Samuel Culbertson. (Penna. Archives,
3d Series, Vol. 23, pp. 744.) He continued to serve as a ranger
on the frontier from 1778 to 1783 when failing health caused his
retirement. He died in 1784 and in December of that year his
widow, Elizabeth, took out letters of administration on his estate,
which was quite large. Patrick Vance and Rev. James Long were
appointed guardians of the three children, all of whom were
minors. Elizabeth Vance, widow of John, afterwards (probably
in 1789) married David Adams and he, in May 1789, was appointed
additional guardian of the person and estate of John Vance.
Rebecca Vance "was fourteen years of age and upwards" December
1785, when Patrick Vance and James Long were made guardians.
(Orphan's Court Docket, Franklin County, Vol. A, pp. 74.)
THE VANCE HOMESTEAD. STOUFFERSTOWN. PA.
BUILT BY PATRICK VANCE. 1771
VANCE GENEALOGY 67
VANCE GENEALOGY
II. 1 Patrick Vance.
II. 2 John Vance, d. 1784.
m. Elizabeth .
Issue — I. John, 2. Rebecca, 3. Mary.
III. 1 John Vance, b. 1770, d. April 17, 1834.
m. Margaret McCulloch, daughter of Robert McCulloch.
Issue — I. George, 2. Isabella, 3. Mary.
. 1 George Vance, b. 1799, d. April 25, 1851.
Unmarried.
I 2 Isabella Vance, b. 1802, d. 1847.
m. John D. Evans, M.D., of Chambersburg, Pa.
No issue
j '. 3 Mary Vance, b. 1799, d. March 24, 1845.
m. Jan. 15, 1828, John Johnston of Shippensburg, Pa.
Issue — I. Margaretta Sarah, 2. Mary, 3. Nancy Isabella,
4. George Vance, 5. John Edmonston.
V. 1 Margaretta Sarah Johnston, b. Feb. 15, 1829, d. March
28, 1889.
m. July 15, 1852, John Harper.
Issue — 1. Mary Vance, 2. Jean Neal, 3. James, 4. John
Johnston, 5. George Vance, 6. William.
VI. 1 Mary Vance Harper, died in infancy.
VI. 2 Jean Neal Harper, b. Sept. 1855.
m. Oran Otis, 1876.
VI. 3 James Harper, died in infancy.
VI. 4 John Johnston Harper, b. Feb. 24, 1860.
68 FIVE TYPICAL SCOTCH IRISH FAMILIES
m. Oct. 17, 1901, Margaret Elizabeth McCreary, daughter
of Captain John F. McCreary.
VI. 5 George Vance Harper, b. April 15, 1862.
m. Mary McCune of Shippensburg, Pa.
VI. 6 William Harper, died in infancy.
V. 2 Mary Johnston, b. Jan. 14, 1831, d. March 11, 1848.
Unmarried.
V. 3 Nancy Isabella Johnston, b. August 12, 1833, d. June 8,
1847.
Unmarried.
V. 4 George Vance Johnston
m. Abby Rankin.
Issue— 1. William Rankin, b. Feb. 12, 1872, 2. John
Vance, b. Oct. 3, 1881.
V. 5 John Edmonston Johnston, b. Oct. 2, 1837, d. March
24, 1888.
m. April 18, 1866, Bella Phillips.
Issue— 1. John, (died 1876), 2. Mary Vance (died 1876),
3. Jane Colwell, b. Nov. 1868, m. Jan. 24, 1901,
Southey Wilkins of Virginia. 4. George Edmons-
ton, b. August, 1876. 5. Anna Phillips, b. August
1878.
III. 2 Rebecca Vance, b. 1769.
m. June 21, 1796, John Watson of Greencastle, Pa. (See
Watson Record.)
III. 3 Mary Vance, married prior to 1793, George McCulloch.
THE BOYD FAMILY
The Boyds came from Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland to county
Antrim, Ulster, Ireland in the 17th Century in company with
many other Scotch Presbyterians. Boyd was one of the four
names most common in the North of Ireland at the time of the
migration to America. The Boyds took part in the seige of
Londonderry, Robert, James and Francis Boyd all being mentioned
in Graham's Siege of Derry. In the History of the Boyd Family
by William P. Boyd, published by John P. Smith of Rochester,
N. Y., is a picture of Dean Castle, the rallying place of the Boyds
in Scotland in the old feudal days. This castle was burned in
1735. After that Kilmarnock House was their rallying place.
In general appearance it is much like the homes which the Boyds
and others of the Scotch-Irish built at Derry Church and in other
Pennsylvania settlements. The tartan worn by the Boyds was
that of the Stewart clan. A description of the clan tartan and
also of the hunting and dress tartan is given in William P. Boyd's
book. He also gives a description and a cut of the Boyd coat of
arms. William Boyd of Macaskay presented the famous petition
to Governor Shute of New England (See Introduction) and many
of his relatives and friends were signers and were among those
colonists in the five ships turned from the New England coast
to Pennsylvania.
Family tradition says that William Boyd of Derry Church
first made an exploring trip to this country and had offered him
by the Indians all the land he wanted in exchange for his cloak.
Later when he came and settled in the neighborhood where the
offer had been made he did not get his land on the easy terms
first offered. He, with his family, at last settled in Derry town-
70 FIVE TYPICAL SCOTCH IRISH FAMILIES
ship, Lancaster County, prior to 1730, when land grants were
issued. His son Robert was called after his ancestor Robert
Boyd, who fought in the siege of Londonderry in 1689. Other
sons were Alexander, William and John. His daughter Jennet
married John McCosh. But little knowledge can now be gleaned
of this William Boyd and his pioneer life in America aside from
his name being on the records of Derry Church but it can be
assumed that one so aggressive in emigrating was not idle after
arriving in a new and half civilized province. (Note.) His son
William (1712-1785) passed all his life in the neighborhood of
Derry Church. His will probated in Harrisburg, Dauphin County
in 1 785 "was made in writing" in Feb. 1 776 when he was confronted
with the dangers of the threatened war with England. His
wife Elizabeth was named administrator. His estate was not
large but his "big Bibel" was highly prized and left as an heirloom,
with its valuable family record, to his son William, the gunsmith.
BENJAMIN BOYD
1738-1803
Benjamin Boyd, second son of William Boyd, took formal oath
of allegiance August 28, 1777. August 10, 1777 his name is found
on the list of Court Martial Men, sixth battalion, fifth company,
Lancaster County and was still in service in 1780 when his name
is found in a return list of the 9th battalion, Lancaster County.
NOTE When Captain Culbertson formed his company for protection
against the Indians, William Boyd was one of the number and gave his
life in a conflict with the Indians near Sideling Hill beyond Bedford April
12, 1756 (Loudon's Narrative, Vol 2, pp. 194). This can hardly be William
Boyd I who died prior to 1760, as the time of his coming to this country
would indicate that in 1756 he would be rather old for Indian fighting
but he may possibly be the same.
OLD SESSION HOUSE, PASTOR'S STUDY AND ACADEMY, AT
DERRY CHURCH, BUILT IN 1732, WHERE THE BOYDS
AND CRAIGS OF DERRY ATTENDED SCHOOL
YOSI I
THE BOYD FAMILY 71
(Kelker's History of Dauphin County, Vol. 2, pp. 917.) The
Rev. William Boyd Craig of Shippensburg had in his possession
(1901) a sword which family tradition said had been carried by
his great-grandfather, Benjamin Boyd, when he was an officer in
the war of the Revolution but so far no other military record for
him than that just quoted, has been found. His brother William
(born 1733) was a lieutenant in Captain Robert Boyd's company
April, 1759, (See officers of new levies, Kelker's History).
In civil life, Benjamin Boyd was a prominent farmer of Derry
township, Dauphin County, foremost in the church and the
community in which he lived. He died possessed of large estate,
having inherited, not only his share of his father's estate, but
also a generous legacy from his aunt Jennet McCosh. By sagacity
and thrift he added to his inherited estate. His neighbors recog-
nized his business ability, honesty and integrity of purpose by
placing him in positions of trust. He was auditor of Londonderry
Township in 1778, 1790, 1797, 1800 and 1801 and overseer of the
poor in 1773 and also in 1789. He was elected trustee of Derry
Church April 28, 1 788. He was one of the promoters of the stone
wall built around Derry Church graveyard, a wall which had its
"foundations sunk one foot in the grown" and had a "pilor on
each side of the gate two foot squair". His name, during his
lifetime, was always on the list of contributors of Derry Church.
His home was a stone house about one and a half miles east of
Derry Church on the Lebanon Turnpike. This house is still
standing in 1922. He owned several hundred acres of land
adjoining. He married Janet Elliot, December 31, 1761 and eight
children blessed their union. At his death he left to his "dear
and beloved wife Jennit" a home in the east end of his house
with the furniture thereof and the privileges of the kitchen and
the furniture thereof, also an annuity of 20 pounds yearly and a
cash legacy in gold or silver. "Likewise alloweth her a Girl to
72 FIVE TYPICAL SCOTCH IRISH FAMILIES
be hired at the expense of my estate when sick and unfit to take
care of herself." To her and two unmarried daughters, Esther
and Elizabeth, he also devised among other things "two cows
and five sheep and Horse Creatures to ride when occasion may
require". A horse and saddle, chosen by his wife, was to be kept for
her by his son William, as were also the other animals mentioned.
To these three the "dearly beloved Jennit" and her two unmarried
daughters he bequeathed "a sufficiency of provisions to wit, wheat
flour and other kinds of meal and beef, Pork (and Cyder when
there is fruit suitable on my farm for the same) and a Sufficiency
of fire wood, cut and laid at my door suitable for the stove and
Kitchen and a quarter of an acre of flax sewed by my son William
for each that is my wife and two daughters yearly and every
year." The bulk of the estate was left to his son William although
each daughter was left a handsome and generous legacy. The
provisions of his will show his tender thoughtfulness in detail
for the comfort of his family as well as the abundant and varied
products and prosperity of farm life in those days, less than one
hundred years from the time his determined Scotch grandfather
had fled from persecution with his young family and his friends
and had come to conquer the wilderness and be one in the "cordon
of defense against the Indians," in order that his descendants
might have freedom both in religion and civil government. Ben-
jamin Boyd and his dear and beloved wife Jennet, to whom he
had been joined in marriage by the Rev. John Roan, lie beside
each other in the Derry graveyard. On the large marble slab
over their graves is the following inscription, — "Underneath this
marble are deposited the remains of Benjamin Boyd who departed
this life May 8, 1803, aged 63. also in Memory of Jennet Boyd,
consort to Benjamin Boyd who departed this life November 1820,
aged 83."
BOYD GENEALOGY 73
BOYD GENEALOGY
I. William Boyd, b. county Antrim, Ireland, came to Derry
Township, Lancaster County, prior to 1730, died
prior to 1760.
Issue— 1. Robert, b. 1705, 2. Alexander, b. 1707,
3. Jennet, b. 1710, (m. John McCosh), 4. William,
b. 1712, 5. John, b. 1715.
II. 4 William Boyd, b. 1712, d. 1785.
m. Elizabeth .
Issue— 1. William, b. 1733, d. May 17, 1808, m. Jennet
Brisbin, 2. Benjamin, b. October 1, 1738, d. May
8, 1803,3. Joseph, b. 1740, d. Sept. 20, 1781,
m. Elizabeth Wallace, d. April 13, 1802 aged 56.
4. Catherine, b. 1743.
III. 2 Benjamin Boyd, b. 1738, d. May 8, 1803.
m. Dec. 31, 1761 by Rev. John Roan, to Jennet Elliot of
Edinboro, Scotland.
Issue — 1. Margaret, 2. Mary, 3. William, 4. Jean, 5.
Eleanor, 6. Rachel, 7. Esther, 8. Elizabeth.
IV. 1 Margaret Boyd, b. Oct. 12, 1763, d. Sept. 1826.
m. (1) James Wilson, b. 1760.
Issue — 1. James.
m. (2) John Baird of Mifflin County, Pa.
Issue — 2. Thomas, 3. Jane.
V. 2 Thomas Baird.
m. Eliza Stone, daughter of Alexander Stone of Harrisburg
No issue.
V. 3 Jane Baird.
m. George Mitchell.
74 FIVE TYPICAL SCOTCH IRISH FAMILIES
Issue— 1. Thompson, b. 1792, d. 1825, 2. Jane, b. 1790,
d. 1842.
IV. 2 Mary Boyd, b. October 6, 1765, d. Feb. 18, 1814.
m. William Frazer, b. 1763, d. Jan. 19, 1816 (first cousin)
buried at Derry Church.
Issue — 1. Andrew, 2. Jane, 3. William, 4. Benjamin,
5. Hetty.
V. 1 Andrew Frazer, b. March 1, 1789, d. March 27, 1859.
m. (1) Miss Moore of Dauphin County, Pa.
m. (2) in 1818, Anne Wilson, b. Oct. 10, 1799, d. Dec. 8,
1857. (Moved from Derry Church to Shippens-
burgin 1820.)
Issue — I. Mary Anne, 2. Eliza Jane, 3. William Wilson,
4. Benjamin Boyd, 5. Sarah Ellen, 6. Hugh An-
drew, 7. John Moody, 8. Susan Rossetta, 9.
James Wallace, 10. Thompson Dick.
VI. 1 Mary Anne Frazer, b. Aug. 27, 1819, d. Feb. 23, 1857.
m. March 7, 1840, Charles T. McClay, M.D. of Green-
village, Franklin County, Pa.
Issue — 1. Lydia Ellen, 2. Anna Mary, 3. John Andrew,
4. Jane Elizabeth, 5. Emma Catherine, 6. David.
VI. 2 Eliza Jane Frazer, b. Oct. 18, 1821, d. April 9, 1867.
m. March 8, 1845, David Criswell of Shippensburg.
Issue — 1. James Andrew, 2. John A., 3. Hugh Craig,
4. David Bennet, 5. Anne Eliza, 6. Jane Marga-
ret, 7. Helen Mary.
VI. 3 William Wilson Frazer, b. Jan. 27, 1824.
m. Jan. 4, 1848, Mary A. Mickey of Oakville.
Issue — 1. Lucetta A., 2. Andrew, 3. William McClain,
4. Mary Rossetta, 5. Ezemiah, 6. Clara Bell,
mm
OLD BOYD HOMESTEAD, NEAR DERRY CHURCH, BUILT ABOUT 1760
BOYD GENEALOGY 75
7. Lizzie M., 8. Jane Ellen, 9. Rose Ellen, 10,
Anne Wilson, 11. Jane Carrol, 12. John Thomp-
son.
VI. 4 Benjamin Boyd Frazer, b. March 23, 1826, d. Aug. 1899.
m. Jan. 13, 1863, Anna E. Sterret of Carlisle.
Issue— 1. Jane C, 2. Benjamin Boyd, 3. Robert Sterret,
4. William Wilson, 5. Belle, 6. Charles McCIay.
VI. 5 Sarah Ellen Frazer, b. Nov. 12, 1828.
m. March 15, 1849, James L. Allen of Newville, Pa.
Issue— 1. Anna Mary, 2. Jane Ellen, 3. Hugh Frazer,
4. Frank Kilgore, 5. Rose Ellen, 6. Rosa Belle,
7. Edward, 8. Margaret.
VI. 6 Hugh Andrew Frazer, b. March 9, 1831, d. Nov. 1898.
m. May 8, 1866, Jane Margaret Carroll of Flemington,
N.J.
Issue— 1. James Carrol, 2. Mary, 3. Frances Eugenia,
4. Hugh Wilson.
VI. 7 John Moody Frazer, b. April 4, 1834.
m. Jan. 31, 1862, Anna L. Bangs of Springfield, Ohio.
No issue.
VI. 8 Susan Rosetta Frazer, b. June 21, 1837, d. June 28, 1901.
m. Dec. 1 5, 1864, A. Agnew Thompson, M.D. of Newburg,
Pa.
Issue — 1. Mary, 2. Frank Frazer, 3. Eleanor M., 4.
Anna Mary.
VI. 9 James Wallace Frazer, b. Oct. 25, 1840, d. in childhood.
VI. 10 Thompson Dick Frazer, b. Nov. 12, 1845.
Unmarried.
6 FIVE TYPICAL SCOTCH IRISH FAMILIES
V. 2 Jane Frazer.
m. Ensminger of Indiana.
V. 3 William Frazer, married and lived in Ohio.
V. 4 Benjamin Frazer.
Unmarried.
V. 5 Hetty Frazer, died in childhood.
IV. 3 William Boyd, b. Aug. 20, f$67, d. Sept. 19, 1803.
m. Sept. 1802, Mary Orr, daughter of John Orr and
Martha Dickey of Orr's Bridge. (See Orr Record)
Issue — Rachel.
V. I Rachel Boyd.
m. June 1826, Hugh Craig of Shippensburg, Pa. (See
Craig Record.)
IV. 4 Jean Boyd, b. June 13, 1770, d. Oct. 22, 1826.
m. Sept. 8, 1791, John Craig. (See Craig Record.)
IV. 5 Eleanor Boyd, b. Aug. 20, 1772, d. Jan. 5, 1810.
m. James Rogers, Hanover Township, Dauphin County,
Pa.
Issue — I. Jane, 2. Flora, 3. Betsy.
V. 1 Jane Rogers.
m. Thomas Boal, Franklin County, Pa.
Issue— 1. Thomas, 2. Robert, 3. James, 4. Mary Furge-
son, 5. Theodore.
(Theodore Boal settled in Ottawa, Kansas.)
(James Boal, wife and children were all killed by light-
ning.)
V. 2 Flora Rogers.
m. Samuel Smith, b. Oct. 10, 1793, in Dauphin County,
Pa., d. Feb. 25, 1865 at Rockville, Illinois.
BOYD GENEALOGY 77
Issue — 1. James Rogers Sharon, 2. Samuel Wilson, 3.
Elizabeth Rogers.
VI. 1 James Rogers Sharon Smith, b. Aug. 16, 1824 at Duncans-
ville, Pa.
m. Sept. 12, 1854 in Montgomery County, Ohio, to
Harriet McCarter, (born Oct. 5, 1831 in Carlisle,
Pa.).
Issue— 1. Minnie Ida, 2. Nina Belle, (d. April 23, 1860),
3. Charles E., (d. Sept. 12, 1871), 4. William
Samuel, (d. May 10, 1883), 5. Nellie Flora,
6. Mary Wilson. All born in Montgomery Co.,
Ohio.
VI. 2 Samuel Wilson Smith, b. Jan. 8, 1826, Duncansville, Pa.
m. (1) Martha Weaver.
Issue — 1 . Webster of Port Townsend, Washington, 2. Ida
of Indianapolis, Ind.
m. (2) .
VI. 3 Elizabeth Rogers Smith.
m. March 15, 1851, Samuel Noel of Urbanna, 111.
Issue — Erfie.
VII. 1 Erne Noel.
m. Frank H. Shackelford of St. Joseph, Mo.
Issue — 1. Maxwell, 2. Frank.
V. 3 Betsy Rogers, died at Ida Smith's, Indianapolis, Ind.
Unmarried.
IV. 6 Rachel Boyd, b. Dec. 24, 1774, d. prior to 1828.
m. William Hamilton, (b. 1766, d. Jan. 19, 1831), of
Derry Church, moved to Mercersburg 1828 and
is buried at Church Hill.
78 FIVE TYPICAL SCOTCH IRISH FAMILIES
Issue— 1 and 2. William and Benjamin, (twins), 3. Jane,
4. Eliza, 5. James, 6. Hugh, 7. Hetty, 8 and 9.
David and Joshua (twins).
V. 1 William Hamilton, b. Dec. 29, 1798, d. 1851 at Inde-
pendence, Mo.
m. (1) Dec. 13, 1827, (at Middletown, Ohio, by the Rev.
M. J. Wallace), Miss McMeans.
Issue — one child, died in infancy.
m. (2) Miss Waugh, d. 1851, Independence, Mo.
Issue — 1. Martha J., 2. Hadassah.
After their parents' death during the cholera epidemic,
these two children went to Dalton, Georgia to
live with their uncle, Dr. Waugh.
V. 2 Benjamin Hamilton, b. Dec. 29, 1798, d. March 9, 1855.
m. Dec. 26, 1838, Margaret A. Dean, (d. February 13,
1883).
Issue — 1. Mathilda Jane, 2. William, 3. Alice Rachel.
VI. 1 Mathilda Jane Hamilton, b. Oct. 26, 1839.
m. Feb. 27, 1879 by Thomas Creigh, D.D. of Mercersburg,
to William Bard McKinnie, (d. Oct. 18, 1898).
No issue.
VI. 2 William Hamilton, b. June 21, 1842, d. Aug. 5, 1872.
m. (1) Dec. 1861, Rebecca Shatzer, (d. Sept. 21, 1868).
Issue — 1. John, 2. Margaret Jane, 3. Alice Rebecca,
m. (2) Dec. 30, 1869, by Rev. W. H. S. Clark to Cordelia
Graul.
Issue— 4. Annie Dean, 5. William Benjamin.
/II. 1 John Hamilton, b. Feb. 1, 1860.
m. May, 1883, (by the Rev. Mr. Creamer), Carrie Trayer.
Issue — 1. Ida Blanche, 2. Harry Dean.
BOYD GENEALOGY 79
VII. 2 Margaret Jane Hamilton, b. 1864, d. 1880.
Unmarried.
VII. 3 Alice Rebecca Hamilton, b. June 1865.
m. April 1, 1886, John Trayer.
Issue — 1. Olive, 2. Nellie.
VII. 4 Annie Dean Hamilton, b. Sept. 14, 1870.
m. July 3, 1890, by Rev. J. C. Wood, George Lewis of
Steelton, Pa.
Issue— 1. Edna Dean, b. 1891, 2. Edward S., b. 1896,
3. Cordelia, b. 1900, 4. Lavania.
VII. 5 William Benjamin Hamilton, b. Aug. 15, 1872.
m. Sept. 12, 1896, Mary Edith Kennedy.
Issue — Harold Kennedy, b. Sept. 1, 1897.
VI. 3 Alice Rachel Hamilton, b. June 8, 1845.
m. Dec. 22, 1868, by Thomas Creigh, D.D., Hiram
Shatzer, (d. Jan. 28, 1886).
Issue — 1. Margaret Reynolds, 2. Benjamin Hamilton,
3. John David, 4. Albert Dean.
IV. 7 Esther Boyd, b. Sept. 10, 1776, d. Dec. 5, 1821.
Unmarried.
IV. 8 Elizabeth Boyd, b. April 12, 1779.
m. 1812, Moses Wilson (b. 1772, d. Jan. 9, 1826 and
buried at Derry Church. After Moses Wilson's
death, his wife moved to Shippensburg.)
Issue — 1. Elizabeth, 2. Susan, 3. Eleanor, 4. Moses.
V. 1 Elizabeth Wilson, b. - -, d. 1885.
m. John T. Dick of Mercersburg, son of Captain William
Dick who was wounded in the war of the American
Revolution. Capt. John T. Dick was killed in
80 FIVE TYPICAL SCOTCH IRISH FAMILIES
second battle of Bull Run. His wife is buried in
Shippensburg cemetery.
No issue
V. 2 Susan Wilson, b. , d. 1854.
m. Robert Dick, brother of Captain William Dick of
Mercersburg.
Issue — I. Elizabeth, 2. Laura, 3. Jane, 4. Ellen, 5. Alice,
6. Mary, 7. Edward, 8. William, 9. Chalmers.
V. 3 Eleanor Wilson
m. 1841, General Robert McAllister of Juniata County,
Pa.
Issue — 1. Sarah Ellen, 2. Henrietta G.
VI. 1 Sarah Ellen McAllister.
m. Wilson Lloyd, of Philadelphia.
Issue— 1. Robert McAllister, (b. 1864).
2. Elizabeth, (b. 1866), married Mr. Clark in 1898.
3. Thomas Wilson, (b. 1869).
4. Wilson McAllister, (b. 1872).
5. William Henry, (b. 1877).
VI. 2 Henrietta G. McAllister.
m. J. H. Baldwin of Pittsburgh.
Issue— 1. Eleanor McAllister, (b. Aug. 12, 1874).
2. James Hewitt, (b. July 23, 1876).
3. Robert McAllister, (b. Sept. 13, 1877).
4. Henrietta, (b. Nov. 23, 1885).
Among those who have been helpful with letters or family
traditions are:
Dr. Richard C. Dean, U. S. Navy
Mrs. A. A. Thompson, Carlisle, Pa.
Mrs. Lemuel Snively, Greencastle, Pa.
Mrs. Richard Parker, Carlisle, Pa.
Mr. Luther A. Kelker, Harrisburg, Pa.
Mr. J. Watson Ellmaker, Lancaster, Pa.
Hon. D. Watson Rowe, Chambersburg, Pa.
Mr. Hugh Boyd Craig, Welsh Run, Pa.
Rev. William Boyd Craig, Shippensburg, Pa.
Rev. Thomas J. Ferguson, Silver Spring, Pa.
Rev. D. I. Craig, Reidsville, North Carolina
Miss Rebecca Orr, New Bloomfield, Pa.
Mrs. Mary Anderson Boyd, Shippensburg, Pa.
Rev. Samuel A. Martin, D.D., Easton, Pa.
Many members of the five families named in this book, whose
names are in the geneaology, have served in the Civil War, the
Spanish American War, the Great War and other avenues of
public service. Their civil and military records are not printed
here owing to the difficulty of collecting correct data. Blank
pages are placed at the end of the genealogy of each family so that
records may be accurately inserted by the individuals interested.
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