Ancestors of Gary and Ardis Dahlstrom Morrison

The name is recorded interchangeably as Griffith and Griffie, making it difficult to determine which is which.  The one series of recordings where there is no mistaking the meaning begins with The Monthly Meeting of March 30. 1765, "The Womens Meeting acquaints us that Martha Griffie Daughter of Richard Griffie is gon out in Marriage with a Man not of our Society, by a Priest, and that her Mother was Consenting thereto and that they have been Treated with and don't appear so sensible of the Evil Thereof as friends could Wish; and the Men's report from West Nottingham Preparative Meeting mentions that William Griffie her Brother Accompanied her in her said Marriage Wherefore David Brown and William Haines are Appointed to Treat again with them and Shew them the Inconsistancy of such a Conduct with our Christian Profession and Report of their Disposition to next Meeting."

At the next meeting, April 27, 1765, a report is made of the visit "with Mary the Wife of Richard Griffie as also Martha and William..." and it was clear that Martha did not in any way wish to continue as a member of the Friends Society and that "William did not appear in a Disposition suitable to condemn his Fault."  They also reported that Mary "did not appear fully Sensible of her Error" and they felt that "Richard was also faulty therein."  Any further work with the family excluded Martha and honed in on Mary, Richard and William while pursuing the necessary testimony to disown Martha.

After a couple of meetings with Mary, Richard and William on July 27, 1765 Richard and Mary acknowledged to the visiting team they had been to blame and proposed to condemn their misconduct.  The committee chose to delay action, wishing not to act on a potentially superficial offering.  After a couple of additional meetings with the family on October 5, 1765 the visiting committee, feeling their efforts ineffectual, decided to prepare testimony against them with the idea of disownment.

At the October 26, 1765 the committee presented their prepared testimonies against Richard, Mary and William. Richard, now recorded as Richard Griffith, appeared at the meeting and offered to condemn his misconduct, but however did not appear genuine and contradicted some parts of what he had said before.  In short, he did not seem to be fully convinced of his errors to the satisfaction of the Meeting.  The condemning testimonies of the committee were signed allowing for the process to proceed toward disownment.

At a December 28, 1765 committee meeting with Richard Griffith, his wife and son, Richard and Mary complied with the signed report and that Richard was determined to appeal to the Quarterly Meeting.  However William did not and the committee appointed Joseph Brown to proceed forward with the testimony against him.  At the Monthly Meeting of October 7, 1766 "The Quarterly Meeting Having Confirm'd the Judgment of this meeting Against Richard Griffith & Wife, & the Testimony Against them Having not been Publish'd, Henry Reynolds Junr is Appointed to take Care that the Testimony Same be Read in a first Day meeting at West Nottinghma & make Report."  At the November 29, 1766 meeting a lengthy report was made of the case against "Richard Griffeth & Wife" and their disownment was made official, that of son William occurring earlier.

At the May 15, 1749 East Nottingham Monthly Meeting "The Womens Meeting informs this Meeting that Hannah the Widow of Hugh Sidwell deceased, hath lately Married with one not of our Society, & that she was Precaution'd; Samuel Boyd & Nathan Brown are therefore apptd to draw a Testimony against her, & bring to next Meeting, & inspect how her mother stood affected towards her said Marriage & make Report."  She was officially disowned at the May 20th Meeting with her new surname mentioned in the Index as McMahan.  No mention of children by Hugh is made.

The 22nd day of 7th month of 1750 (September 22, 1750) East Nottingham Monthly Meeting recorded the following request from son John Jr., "John Sidwell Jnr & Joseph Sidwell Sons of Jno Sidwell Requests Certificates of this meeting to friends of Carvers Creek in Bladen County North Carolina.  Jeremiah Brown Jnr & Samuel Reynolds are therefore appointed to Enquire into their Conversation & Cleanness in Relation to marriage & prepare Certificates for them & bring to next monthly meeting if the find nothing to Obstruct."  This is the first definitive record I have of John Jr. as son of John Sr.  I do not find record of that certificate being presented in North Carolina, yet I know he went there.

The first record of John is from his September 20, 1759 marriage record of Cane Creek Monthly Meeting in Orange (current day Alamance) County, North Carolina, "Where as John Sidwell of Cain Creek monthly meeting in North Carolina son of John Sidwell and Mary his wife Deceased off Chester County in the province of pensilvania & Catherin Vernon daughter of Isaac Vernon and Hannah his wife off the County of Oringe and province of North Carolina having Declared there intentions of marage with Eatch other ..."  This ties him as John Jr. referred to in the 1750 Chester County request for certificate to a North Carolina Meeting, and also confirms both Mary as John Sr.'s wife and her demise.

The next record is from the May 1, 1773 Monthly Meeting of Cane Creek where it is noted, "John Sidwell obtained a Certificate."  It says nothing of what kind of certificate, but then the December 4, 1773 Monthly Meeting of Wrightsborough in Columbia (now McDuffie) County, Georgia records, "John Sidwell produced a Certificate for himself from Cane Creek Monthly Meeting dated the 1st day of the 5th month 1773 which was Read and Received."  According to William Wade Hinshaw in his "Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy" Vol. I, "In 1770 the General Assembly of Georgia granted a tract of 40,000 acres of land in St. Paul's Parish, Town Creek, sixteen miles from Appling, the county seat, and named it for Sir James Wright, Governor of the colony...Prior to the establishment of Wrightsborough Monthly Meeting, the meetings in Georgia had been attached to Bush River Monthly Meeting, in South Carolina."

In the Wrightsborough Monthly Meeting record of December 3, 1774 it was recorded, "This Meeting received some lines from Bush River Monthly Meeting by way of a general Certificate which are as follows.  Respected Friends we do herewith send you a List of the Names as follows of the Members of your Meeting ... Catharine Sidwell and Children ..."  It seems a strange way to handle the transfer, with John having his certificate received and approved and Catherine and the children being received by way of a list from the Bush River Monthly Meeting, but it appears the family unit went to Georgia together.  There was also a James Vernon and a Martha Vernon (not a couple) also included on the Bush River list.  They were siblings of Catherine.  At the Wrightsborough Monthly Meeting of March 2, 1776 it is recorded "Isaac Vernon (Catherine's father) produced a Certificate from Cane Creek Monthly Meeting in North Carolina dated the 3rd day of the 2nd Month 1775 which was Read and Received."  It appears Catherine's family migrated to Georgia with them.

Not much is known of this family unit until his will was proved in 1782.  As written in "Georgia Pioneers Genealogical Magazine" May/August/Nov 1965 issues and transcribed by and posted to Genealogy Trails web site, "John Sidwell of Wrightsborough - April 5, 1782.  To only son, Nathan Sidwell, land whereon I now live, 400 acres in Wrightsborough Township, with farm tools, etc. To wife, Catherine, the house where I now dwell, with furniture.  Daughters, Mary; Hannah; Amy and Susannah, all under 18 years of age to be cared for."

Unfortunately, Joseph's petition to East Nottingham Monthly Meeting for a certificate of removal to North Carolina is the first and only mention of son Joseph I could find.  He does not appear in any North Carolina records that I can find and does not appear to have returned to Pennsylvania.  Joseph Sidwell appears in Chester County records marrying Rachel Medcalf in 1762, but that Joseph is son of Hugh Sidwell, Jr. (son of Hugh Sr. and Elizabeth Golding) and Anne Hayes.

The first time, and the only time, I found David Sidwell in the Quaker records was when he was disowned by the Society.  At the December 21, 1754 East Nottingham Monthly Meeting, "The Said meeting (West Nottingham preparative meeting) also Informs this meeting that David Sidwell Son of John Sidwell is lately married to a young woman not of our Society by a Justice and that it appears he was precautiond William Rogers & Joseph Brown are therefore apptd to draw a Testimony again'st him and bring to next moly meeting & Enquire how his Parents kept their places in Regard thereto and make report to next moly meeting."  I added the parentheses for clarification.  There was to also be an inquiry into the parents part in this and whether they approved or disapproved of David's actions.

At the January 18, 1755 East Nottingham Monthly Meeting, "A Testimony was produced again'st David Sidwell which being read was approved & Sign'd as Usual and Thos Coulson & Saml Reynolds are appointed to Shew it to him & acquaint him of his right to appeal & make report to next monthly meeting."  Also, the next item reads, "it Doth not appear with Certainty (according to the friends report) that  John Sidwell & wife were consenting to their Sons marriage."  The parentheses are part of the record.

At the February 15th East Nottingham Monthly Meeting, "The friends Apptd to Shew the Testimony to David Sidwell Report it was done but as he was not acquainted of his right to appeal Henry Reynolds is apptd to do it and if he do not Encline to appeal he is Desired to read the Testimony in a publick meeting in W Notting & make report to next monthly meeting."  The inquiry seemed to be expanding based on another item on this meeting agenda, "W Nottingham Preparative meeting Informs this meeting that Amos Edwards a young man belonging thereto did not only accompany David Sidwell when he was married but likewise went with him when he got the Ban's from the Justice which being Contrary to our Discipline..."

The last mention of David in the meeting records came with the March 15th meeting, "Henry Reynolds Junr reports he perform'd the meetings apptmt to David Sidwell & he not Enclineing to appeal the Testimony was Publickly read."  Thus David was disowned and dropped out of the Quaker records.  I have not yet found any other information for David.

David's birth date is strictly an estimate based on the date of these proceedings and not because of any documented fact.

Theophilus Kitten first appears when he inherited "Kittens Chance" when the will of his uncle Theophilus was probated April 1, 1788 ("The Prall Family - 1st Edition" by Richard Dwight Prall; self published; Albuquerque, NM; 1990, page 376).  Theophilus then sold this tract March 19, 1790 to James Reynolds and moved to Washington County, Pennsylvania to join his brother Thomas and sister Rachel.  He likely had moved the family to Pennsylvania before the sale of the property, and simply went back to consummate the property transaction.  Theophilus and family appear on page 192 of the 1790 Amwell Township, Washington County census with census date August 2, 1790 being enumerated as Theophilus Ritten.  This census shows 3 males under age 16, i.e. born after 1774, and 2 females in addition to Theophilus and Catherine.  His name transitions from Kitten to Caton in his appearance on the 1793 Amwell Township tax list ("Early Records of Washington County, Pennsylvania" by Raymond Martin Bell; self-published; Washington, PA; 1979).  The 1800 Amwell Township census, page 696, shows Theophilus' family with children enumerated as 1 male under 10 (1791-1800), 1 male 10 through 15 (1785-1790), 1 female under 10 (1791-1800), and 1 female 16 through 25 (1775-1784).  With the two new children born after the 1790 enumeration, this suggests 7 children - 4 sons and 3 daughters.  The 1800 census shows Theophilus as born before 1756 and Catherine as born between 1755 and 1775.

Theophilus does not appear in the 1810 census, because the federal census was lost for all Ohio counties except Washington.  According to "Ohio Marriages Recorded in County Courts Through 1820: An Index" by Jean Nathan; The Ohio Genealogical Society; Columbus; 1996, Rachel Caton married Abel Larison August 4, 1807, Greenberry Caton married Sarah Larison, and Theophilus Caton (Jr.) married Esther Etta Finley October 10, 1816, all in Muskingum County, Ohio.  Theophilus appears on the Muskingum County Tax List of Proprietors of 1816 as Theophilus Clayton.  Also listed are Abel, John, John and James Larison.  Theophilus Caton appears on the 1825 Tax List of Resident Proprietors for Morgan County, Ohio - it not being clear whether this is Sr. or Jr.  The Caton's were definitely in Muskingum County by 1807, and were likely located in the southern part of Muskingum where some territory was given in creating Morgan County in 1817.  This is supported by the 1820 census where some of the family is located in Blue Rock Township of Muskingum County, and on the county line, and others in Morgan and Olive Townships of Morgan County.

Thophlus Ceating (and Catherine) with 1 girl 10-15 and 1 girl 16-25.

Abraham (Abel) Larrison (and Rachel) with 2 boys and 3 girls under 10, and 1 boy and 1 girl 10 thru 15

James Larison (and Mary) with 1 boy and 2 girls under 10, 1 girl 10-15, 1 boy 16-18 and 1 girl 16-25

Theophilus (and Esther) with 1 boy 10-15 and 2 girls under 10

It is likely that the Larisons and Catons migrated in roughly the same timeframe from Washington County, Pennsylvania to Muskingum County, Ohio, likely a very few years after the 1800 census shows the Catons still in Washington County.  "Early Ohio Settlers, Purchasers of Land in East and East Central Ohio, 1800-1840" by Ellen Thomas Berry and David A. Berry; Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc.; Baltimore; 1989, shows John Larison (thought to be the father of the Muskingum County Larisons) as a resident of Muskingum County making the following purchases at the Zanesville Land Office:

On December 3, 1824 Theophilus Sr. wrote his will in Morgan County, Ohio which is registered in Will Book 0, page 14:

This will identifies Theophilus Sr.'s wife's name as Catherine.  It also suggests that Greenberry may have recently "disappeared".  Mary's marriage has not been found, but this identifies that Mary's spouse was also a Larison (James).  The land identified in his will was evidently purchased from another owner rather than through Federal Patent.  When searching the Bureau of Land Management web site for that land description the Federal Patent certificate was issued to Samuel W. Culbertson on August 8, 1818.  Interestingly "History of Morgan County, Ohio" by Charles Robertson; L. H. Watkins & Co.; Chicago; 1886, page 370 states, "Rufus P. Stone, who was quite a prominent man in the early years of the county, lived on the present John E. Thomas farm in 1818.  He came here from Washington County and resided here until his death.  On the river below Stone, lived Henry Snyder and Theophilus Caton."  On March 10, 1825 Theophilus Jr. and Abel Larison (son-in-law) are named administrators of Theophilus Sr.'s estate process.  This suggests Theophilus Sr.'s death in perhaps February 1825, but I have stayed with death between his will date and the appointment of his administrators.

On February 21, 1826 in Morgan County Common Pleas Court Abel Larison was appointed guardian to Mary and Greenberry Caton, minors under age 14.  In that same process Theophilus Caton (Jr.) was appointed guardian to John, Catherine, Andrew and Sarah Caton, minors.  On May 8, 1826 the Morgan County Common Pleas Court noted that Theophilus Caton, Jr., aged 14, December 25th last chooses Theophilus Caton as his guardian.  The suffix Jr. here is obviously used to denote younger vs. elder.  Theophilus Jr. in this instance is son of Greenberry choosing his uncle Theophilus Jr. as his guardian.  This suggests Greenberry and wife Sarah are both deceased.  It would appear from the above will and these appointments that Greenberry likely died circa 1824-1825.  Many of his children ended up migrating to McLean County, Illinois in the mid-1830s to mid-1840s.

In the 1830 Morgan County census Esther Caton is shown as head of household and on May 29, 1833 Esther Caton marries Levi Reeves in Morgan County, Ohio.  This follows an appointment July 23, 1829 of Samuel Henry as administrator and Abel Larison as one of the securities for the estate of Theophilus Caton, Jr.  There was no appointment of guardianship for his children because Esther was still alive.  Levi, Esther and family also moved to McLean County, Illinois.  Levi was a widower and much older than Esther and he died in Winnebago County, Illinois May 1, 1850.  Esther is found living with a couple of her widowed daughters in Illinois and Kansas after this.

In 2008 researcher Lisa Baker posted to the Larison RootsWeb message board regarding her research in Salt Lake City.  She found a Chancery Court record from Muskingum County dated July 1834 for a Hannah Larison, widow of James Larison, where she is petitioning for dower.  James Larison married Hannah Cassan October 27, 1832 in Muskingum County (Family Tree Maker Ohio County Marriages 1789-1850, CD #400).  The chancery record reports that James Larison died sometime in July 1833 leaving his widow and Catharine married to John Landeman (sic, Landerman), Polly married to Joseph Riddle, Martha married to Hiram Lucas, Abel, James, Washington and Clarissa Larison along with James H. Lear minor child of Betsey Lear, deceased.  Also reported is that said James Larison during coverture (married under common law) with Hannah seized land as an estate inheritance, 169 acres that was located beginning at the river bank at the corner of a tract of land formerly owned by Theophilus Caton now occupied by Robert Welch and running down the river bank with the road until an east and west line.  This was the husband of the Mary in Theophilus Sr.'s will and she likely died sometime between 1830 and his remarriage in 1832 as he is shown in the 1830 census with a woman old enough to be his spouse.  This record speaks of a common law marriage, and if it is correct that the common law marriage was with Hannah before the actual exchange of vows in 1832, then Mary could have died anytime after the date of the above will.  There is one daughter under age 5 in the 1830 census, so it is possible one girl is actually Hannah's child and not Mary's.  Some of these children also move to McLean County, Illinois.

I tend to lean toward the position that Mary died after the last child war born based on Muskingum County Guardian Book A, page 92, Case No. 1158 of July 13, 1833, "Able R. Larrison a minor aged 20 years and James M. Larrison, a minor aged 16 years appear in open Court and chooses Robert Henderson as their guardian whom the Court appoint as such to give bond in $300 each minor Nehemiah Dillon is accepted as security.  The Court also appoint Robert Henderson Guardian to George W. Larrison a minor aged 13 years & Clarissa I. Larrison a minor aged 7 years to give separate bonds in $300 each Nehemiah Dillon is accepted as security."  These are the unmarried children named in the chancery record above.  If Hannah were the true mother of Clarissa, I like to believe Hannah would have retained her rather than allowing her to be placed under the guardianship of the courts.

Abel and Rachel Caton Larison's family also moved to McLean County, Illinois.  She died there in 1855 and is buried in Longworth Cemetery in Stanford.

From the 1790 and 1800 censuses there is a son born between 1774 and 1790 unaccounted for.  He either stayed in the Washington County, Pennsylvania area or he died.  Either way, he has not been located and was not named in the will above.  Likewise, from the 1800 and 1820 censuses there was a girl born between 1795 and 1800 who was not listed in the will above.  She either died, or she was mentally incapable of inheriting.  There is one last child from the census entries who is unaccounted for.  The 1800 census showed a son born between 1790 and 1800, but he is not named in the will.  There was a Dorsey Caton who married a Jane Finley (sister of Esther Finley, wife of Theophilus Jr.) March 4, 1821 in Muskingum County.  They had a son John Caton, then Jane married Joel Hurley August 24, 1826 in Muskingum County.  It is possible this Dorsey was the son born in the 1790s, who then died before the above will was written.  I have found nothing yet that would prove this.

Rachel Kitten is identified as marrying Francis Lesnett in her filing for Revolutionary War pension widow benefits.  In pension application W8247 under the name Francis/Rachel Lesnitt, state of Pennsylvania, county of Allegheny, "... This declarant states that she is the widow of Francis Lesnett deceased who was a soldier in the war of the revolution and who drew a pension from the United State at the rate of twenty four dollars & sixty six cents per annum, and who died on the twenty (25) fifth day of June in the year eighteen hundred and thirty seven (1837) in the said township of South Fayette in said County & State -- This declarant further states that her maiden name was Rachael Kitten - that she was married to the said Francis Lesnett in the year seventeen hundred & eighty nine (1789) or in the year seventeen hundred & ninety (1790) in which of said years she is not now able to tell - that the marriage took place in the house of a Mr. Wolf near the town of Washington in the State of Pennsylvania and that the ceremony was performed by a Presbyterian Clergyman named John McMillan who is not now living ...".  Rachel is assumed part of the Edward and Rachel Kitten family because of her approximate age and her presence in Washington County, Pennsylvania at the same time as Thomas and Theophilus, the only Kittens in the area.

Another declarant supporting Rachel's claim adds a little more specificity to the marriage description.  Christianna Lesnett, wife of John Neal and sister to Francis, included the following in her statements supporting Rachel's claims, "Be it known that on the 29th day of December A.D. 1848 before the subscriber a Justice of the Peace in & for said County ... personally appeared Christianna Neal resident in said county aged seventy-seven years the 13th day of March last, and made oath in due form of law, that she was present at the marriage of her brother Francis Lesnett and Rachel Kitten and witnessed the performance of the marriage ceremony by the Rev. John McMillan, a Presbyterian minister resident in the said county of Washington.  That she has a distinct recollection of the ceremony having taken place at the house of a Mr. Wolf about five miles from the town of Washington, on the road leading from the said town of Washington to the town of Wheeling in the state of Virginia."  This places the marriage location as very near to the Thomas Kitten/Caton homestead on Ten Mile Creek.  She further states, "that the said marriage took place either in the month of December or January, & several years previous to the time of her own marriage."  That does not do much to define the date, but the following description she provides does help, "And deponent further states that immediately after the marriage of the said Francis & Rachel, they the said Francis & Rachel, lived on a farm in the vicinity of Wheeling for one year, & then removed to another farm in the same vicinity, on which they resided for the space of one year or more; after which they removed to the State of Pennsylvania, & resided for the space of one year more on a rented farm about Twelve miles north east of the town of Washington, & then they then settled on the farm which he the said Francis had purchased in the same neighborhood & deponent thinks they resided on this farm one year before she was married with the said John Neil."  The 1790 census shows Francis and wife at home in Washington County, Pennsylvania, page 205 and enumerated as Francis Lisnett.  Combining this with the information from Christianna's description above, it would seem that Francis and Rachel were perhaps married circa December 1787 or January 1788.

Francis' heritage is German with his parents coming to the Maryland colony from Germany in 1752.  Christian Lesnett was born in 1728 in Kassel, a town located on the Fulda River in northern Hesse, Germany.  Christian was single when he immigrated.  On the same ship was a young couple, the wife being pregnant.  The husband died enroute and the wife gave birth to a little girl aboard ship.  In 1757, Christian ended up marrying Christianna, the young widowed mother from the voyage over.  Christian, wife, and step-daughter moved to Frederick, Maryland where he labored as a cabinet maker.  After a major fire destroyed his wood shop the young family relocated to Hagerstown, Maryland.  It was during their stay in Frederick County that Francis was born.  In 1763 Christian joined a militia unit that was organizing to participate in a British action in the French and Indian War to regain control of Fort Pitt (current day Pittsburgh).  Because of his wood-working skills he was assigned to help repair and defend the wagons.  This action saw the militia unit move to Wills Creek, MD (now Cumberland) then to Raystown, PA (now Bedford), Brushy Run (about 25 miles from Pittsburgh) and finally Fort Pitt.  It was during this venture that Chritian determined to move to this virgin territory, and did so circa 1771.  Christian and sons Frederick and Francis served in the Washington County militia during the Revolutionary War, which is likely how the families became acquainted and Francis met Rachel.

I could not find Francis and Rachel in the 1800 census, nor could I find the families of Christian or Frederick.  In 1810 they are located in Fayette Township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, page 275 as Francis Lisnit.  There the family shows a male age 16 through 25 and a female 10 through 15.  If the male is a son of Francis and Rachel, he was not in the 1790 census, making him born between 1790 and 1794.  In 1820 (page 66) and 1830 (page 296) censuses Francis and Rachel are alone in the household.  Francis writes his will January 13, 1836 (Allegheny County Will Book 4, pages 383-4) and dies June 25 the following year.  In the will Francis names his wife Rachel as the recipient of all his personal property and bequeths his land to the heirs of John Collins, and thus not mentioning any children directly.  In reviewing the will of John Collins (Allegheny County Will Book 4, pages 82-3), much language is included around a business relationship that seemed to exist with Francis and John, "...To my beloved wife Susanah Collins I bequeath my whole estate, real and personal during the term of her natural life if she continues my widow, except what may be hereafter mentioned. in consideration hereof she is to pay all my just debts, and she must pay the yearly rent that I am bound to pay to Francis Lesnitt and Rachel his wife during the term of their natural life, said rent is mentioned in two articles lodged with Henry Gibbon..." and also "...and it will be found by refering(sic) to the articles between Francis Lesnitt and myself lodged in the hands of Henry Gibbon that at the decease of Francis Lesnitt, his heirs, or executors is make myself or heirs a good title for the land which I now occupy this I wish my executors to attend to..."

In 1850 (South Fayette Township census, page 279) 94 year old widow Rachel is found living in the household with widow Susannah Collins.  The 1840 (Fayette Township census, page 194) for Susannah Collins contains a female in the 80-89 age group, which by inference is likely Rachel.  One might infer from this that Susannah is the child of Francis and Rachel.  In Rachel's will (Allegheny County Will Book 7, pages 601-2) she directs, "...I give and bequeath to Susanah Collins all my property real and personal moneys and everything to be hers forever and to be disposed of by her as she may see proper..."  Francis chose as his estate executors his two friends John McDowell and John Gilliffin.  Rachel chose as her executor Samuel Collins, John Collins' brother (as did John Collins in his will).  Not once is Susannah referred to as a daughter.  It appears Francis and Rachel were childless (or any children were dead by the time Francis died).  Susannah was Susannah Prall, daughter of Thomas Prall and Milcah Caton (daughter of Thomas Kitten/Caton and Susannah Plummer), and grand-niece of Rachel.  This is supported by the inscription on her tombstone in Bethany Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Bridgeville, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, which reads "Susannah Prall, wife of John Collins, Born September 3, 1796, Died June 25, 1870."

From "Marriage Licenses Issued at Upper Marlborough, Prince George's County, Maryland, 1777-1800", page 110 a license was issued to John Plummer and Ann Digges on November 28, 1780.  According to "The Thomas and Elizabeth (Smith) Plummer Family" by Agnes Millikin Winkelman and Gale Edwin Spitler Honeyman; Self-published; Maryland; 2003, Ann Plummer and brother Edward Digges, Jr. were named as the children in the will of Edward Digges, Sr. as contained in the Prince George's County, Maryland Register of Wills.  When Edward Jr. died, his intestate estate was filed April 8, 1828 in Montgomery County, Maryland.  He was evidently not married as his estate, which included 149 acres contained in James and Richard and part of Resurvey on Friends In Need, was ruled to be inherited by sister Ann's seven children and their father who was to hold a life estate (Ann was deceased by this time as was her son Lewis).  Children of John and Ann were Lewis, Mary, Eleanor, Ann, Notley, Amy, Brice and Harriet.

William and Margaret obtained a license November 23, 1779 in Frederick County, Maryland and wed there November 27.  Nothing else is known about Margaret except that she was deceased before William wrote his will September 6, 1834.  William died in January 1836 based on his will and estate going to probate on January 16.

The first Item of William's will from Anne Arundel County Will Book 40, page 241, states, "I give and devise unto my daughter Elizabeth Lee all that tract of Land in Anne Arundle County on which I now dwell, and all my part, known by the name of Howards Patapsco Range, during her natural life, and at her death to be equally diveded among her children, share and share alike, to them their heirs & assigns."  Elizabeth Plummer and Stephen Lee, Sr. were married on October 13, 1808 in Anne Arundel County, Elizabeth being his second wife.  William next provides for the seven children of Elizabeth and Stephen as follows, "I give and devise unto my Seven grand children, namely, Margaret Johns Linthicum, Stephen Lewis Lea, Elizabeth Ann Lea, Loiser Makel Coles, Emeline Procilla Pindle, Thomas Daniel Lee, and Rachel Meria Lee, all that part of a tract of Land, which I own in Anne Arundle County, it being a part of a tract called the Addition to Weedy Glade, containing by plat and Survey one hundred and twenty four acres to be equally divided among them, share and share alike and to them their heirs and assigns."

Next item of the will ... "I give and devise unto Beale Gaither his heirs and assigns forever all the remainder tract of land, called the Addition to Weedy Glade (not heretofore will'd to my grand children) containing one hundred and twenty eight acres more or less and also one other piece or parcel of land in Anne Arundle County, it being my part of a tract of land called Plummers Pasture and containing eighteen acres and one seventh part of an acre to him, his heirs assignes forever - and likewise I further bequeath to Beale Gaither one negro man named Sippio Johns, and it is my wish that he should not be sold."  Additionally, "I give and bequeath unto Beale Gaithers three daughters, namely Sussanna Gaither, Elenor Gaither, and Massey Ann Gaither, all my right, title, interest and profits to my share which may arise from Iron ore, heretofore will'd by my father Yate Plummer on the lands called Plummers Pasture, to be by them equally divided, share and share alike."  It is not stated in William's will what his relationship to these heirs is like he did with daughter Elizabeth above.  Beale is a son-in-law as the following seems to identify.

In Archives of Maryland Online; Reports of Cases in the High Court of Chancery of Maryland; Volume 200, volume 3, 1847-1853; pages 158-166 documents Beale Gaither vs. Susan Gaither and Ellen Gaither et al. [Trust-Fraud-Evidence].  On page 159 the proceedings show "William Plummer executed his will on the 6th of September, 1834, by which he devised two tracts of land to Beale Gaither, ' to him, his heirs and assigns for ever.'  The testator died in January, 1836.  Beale Gaither, on the 4th of October, 1840, executed a deed by which, in consideration of natural love and affection, he conveyed various tracts of land, including that devised to him by said will, to his three daughters, Susan, Ellen, and Mary Ann, and died intestate, in the year 1849."  As an aside, at the same time Beale, for the sume of $300, sold to the same "Susanna Gaither Ellenor Gaither and Massey Ann Gaither ... one negro man named Sippia Jones one Gray Gelding one Black or Brown mare three Cows and Calves two heifers two Carts two plows"  (Archives of Maryland Online; Anne Arundel County Court, Chattel Records, 1838-1845; Volume 817; page 102).  Back to the main court case, "On the 6th of June, 1850, the complainant (Thomas Gaither), the son of said Beale Gaither, filed the present bill, in which it is alleged and charged, that said Plummer was about to execute his will, whereby he was about, and told said Beale Gaither that he designed to devise to complainant and his brother William, the said land in fee, but that on said Plummer's so stating his purpose and design, said Beale Gaither, who was the reputed son of said Plummer, told him that complainant and said William were then young, and unable to take care of themselves and of their property, and that it would be better to devise the said property to him, the said Beale, and the said Beale promised and agreed with the said Plummer, that if he would devise said property to him, he would, when complainant and said William became old enough to take care of it, give it to them, or that he would give it to them at his death.  And that, upon the representation of the said Beale, and his said undertaking to hold the said property in trust for the benefit of complainant and said William, the said Plummer, relying upon the same, actually devised the said property to the said Beale, and to his heirs and assigns for ever.  That it was the purpose and design of said Plummer to devise said land to complainant and said William, and that he so told said Beale, and was prevented from making said devise by the persuasion and inducement of said Beale, who faithfully promised said Plummer that he would hold said property in trust for complainant and said William, and that but for such promise and undertaking of said Beale, the said devise would have been made by said Plummer to complainant and said William, and was in fact made to said Beale in trust for them."  The verdict was not announced until the December 1861 Court term and it was determined there was not fraud perpetrated and the 1840 deed was valid.

The final items in William's will are, "Item; I give and bequeath unto Elizabeth Wade, one feather bed and furniture, and one Milch Cow of her own choice, five barrels of corn and three hundred pounds of Pork to be delivered her by my Executor herein after named (he named Beale Gaither as his Executor).  Item; I give and bequeath all the rest and residue of my personal Estate to Thomas Wade, and William Wade, in equal proportion's share and share alike, to be paid to them by my Executor hereinafter named, when they arive to the age of twenty one years or sooner if my Executor thinks them capable to make good use of the money."  It is not known what these relationships are, but assumed they are grandchildren.

The dates above are exactly as recorded by Yate Plummer, Jr. in his family bible which is now housed at the Maryland Historical Society in Baltimore.  Yate and Artridge were Quakers and Quakers objected to using the common days names (Sunday through Saturday) and the names of the months January through August because they were derived from names of pagan gods.  Thus the use of numbers.  The complication in trying to write this in the common format is that the conversion from Julian to Gregorian format that occurred in 1752.  Prior to that the last day of a year was March 24, and the first day of a new year was March 25.  Thus the 1st month was considered to be March, 2nd April, ... , 10th month December, 11th month January, and 12th month February.  So is the 31^st day, 3^rd month, 1745 March 31 or May 31?  Since the family bible was printed in 1792 and Yate inscribed it as his bible 1797, one could assume he was using the new dating system, but it is not known what was going through his mind for certain.

Yate wrote his will the 11^th day of the 6^th month of 1826, and it was entered into probate on May 16, 1837 and is entered in Frederick Coiunty Will Book 2, 1834-1843, page 254.  He makes the following bequests:

Several of Yate's children migrated to Morgan County, Ohio where Theophilus Caton, Jr., above, also went.  Son Samuel died in Jefferson County, Ohio in 1813, but his widow Margaret died in Morgan County in 1838.  Daughter Rebecca, who was single, died in Morgan County in 1865.  Son Joshua, also single, died there in 1845.  Son Thomas died there in 1864 and his widow in 1887.  And Daughter Susanna died there in 1852.

Elizabeth is named (as Betsy) in her father Richard's will, written December 23, 1794 and entered into probate in Montgomery County, Maryland April 10, 1797 (Liber C, Folio 317), as receiving "twenty acres of land, being of the land called Water's Conclusion lying on the North Side and adjoining a tract of land called Gartell's Good Will..."  Richard named his son Nacy (Ignatius) as executor of his estate, and it was in that capacity that he sold Robert another 178 1/2 acres of Water's Conclusion April 17, 1802 for �714.

Prior to the above transactions Robert and wife Betsy, living in Frederick County, had sold his inheritance of Plummer's Pasture on February 5, 1787 for �200 to James Walker, with the reservation however that Robert and Betsy retained his rights to the iron ore on the property.  It was inevitable that the issue of iron ore rights and right to sell the property would come to a head as generations passed.  When Walker died in 1810 he willed this tract to his daughter Sidney, wife of Joshua Rowles.  When they both died intestate their 6 children filed suit seeking rights to the ore.  In the June 24, 1837 session of Chancery Court, case number 10406, Brice Plummer, James Plummer, Ann Plummer, Airy Plummer, William Plummer, Notly Plummer, William Cole, Mary Cole, Ellen Hatton, Yate Plummer, Robert Plummer, and Susan Kitten vs. William Rowles, James Rowles, Louisa Rowles, Charles Rowles, John Harman, Richardi Harman, Philip Harman, Catherine Harman, Mary Harman, Caroline Harman, John M. Harman, John Disney, Juliana Disney, Elizabeth Lee, Stephen Lee, Elizabeth Lee, Margaret Linthicum, Joseph Cole, Louisa Cole, Thomas Pindle, Emmeline Pindle, Thomas Lee, and Rachel Lee; AA; Petition to sell Plummers Pasture came to a head.  It took a while to determine who of the Yate Sr.'s children were still alive and it was finally determined that sons William and James are the only ones who potentially might have any claim.  The court decision was declared on July 31, 1837 as "the devisees of the land having held undisturbed possession of it for more than 20 years have the right to take iron ore, the Plummer heirs being barred by lapse of time."

It appears Robert died intestate as no will has been found.  However we know that Robert died prior to February 1811 by a final accounting of Robert's estate filed by Elizabeth as executratrix on February 14, 1811 (Montgomery County, Maryland Will Book, Inventories and Accounts, Vol. G, pages 275-276).

Daniel never married, and as with Robert, he died intestate.  Anne Arundel Inventories 1808-1813, pages 361-364 states, "An Inventory of the Goods and Chattels and personal Estate of Daniel Plummer late of Anne Arundel County deceased as appraised by us in Dollars and Cents being first Lawfully Sworn for that purpose as Witness our hands and Seals the thirty first day of October 1810."  The inventory listing was a page and a half, totaling $332.97, and along with personal property contained oats (30 bushels), corn (20 bushels), wheat (8 bushels), and turnips (25 bushels) all in the field, 30 bushels of rye, 1 cow & calf, 1 red & white cow, 4 yearling, 1 red steer three years old, 1 heifer three years old, 1 heifer two years old, 5 sows, 3 large hogs, 5 small hogs, 1 mare & colt, 1 brown horse 13 years old, and 20 head of "poltery".  This represented a substantial estate.  Thomas Plummer and James Plummer signed as nearest kin and Priscilla Plummer came on November 30, 1810 as adminstratrix "and being one of the People Called Quakers did Solemnly Sincerely and truly Affirm and declare that the forgoing is a true and perfect Inventory ..."

According to "The Thomas and Elizabeth (Smith) Plummer Family" by Agnes Millikin Winkelman and Gale Edwin Spitler Honeyman; self-published; 2003, page 241, the 1819 deed from sister Susanna to brother Yate, Jr. (see Susanna's narrative in generation 6) contains information that Daneil is buried in four square perches on Plummer's Pasture.  They speculate it may be that the single bone reburied on July 8, 2002 (see Yate, Sr. narrative above) in the Friendship Methodist Cemetery belonged to him.

"The Thomas and Elizabeth (Smith) Plummer Family" by Agnes Millikin Winkelman and Gale Edwin Spitler Honeyman; self-published; 2003, page 242, reports that she was single and that August 31, 1774 was when her estate was distributed to her mother, brothers and sisters with Robert and Yate Plummer as the Surities by Administrator John Plummer in Anne Arundel County MD (Distributions, Liber 6, folio 347).

There is no information that Thomas married, and it is fairly certain he had no children surviving him.  He wrote his will October 15, 1818 (with a codicil added October 17), and it was entered into probate on December 15, 1818 (Anne Arundel County Will Book 38, pages 235-237).  Of the heirs mentioned in his will there is no spouse or children.  "First. I give and bequeath unto my nieces Anne Plummer and Harriet Plummer, Daughters of my Brother John Plummer and Nancy his wife the sums of one hundred Dollars to be paid unto each of them by my Executor."  " Item. I give unto my Brother James Plummer all my Personal property of every description, plantation utensils, house hold and kitchen furniture, and all my wearing apparel, as also all the crops of the present year growing on the land as also the produce of the ensuing year ..."  " Item. I give and bequeath unto my Brother James Plummer the sum of Six hundred Dollars ..."  "I also give and bequeath unto my Brother James Plummer all my right and title to a lott of land lying and being in Allegany County State of Maryland known by the No. 1175.  I also give and bequeath unto my Brother James Plummer all my right and claims to Iron Ore or any other ones in the Tract of Land called Plummers Pasture ..."

What was perhaps surprising was the amount of bequest bestowed on Stephen Lee Sr., the son-in-law of brother William Plummer.  "Item. I devise unto Stephen Lee Sen^r all my part of a Tract of Land whereon I reside called Plummers Pasture containing one hundred and twenty seven acres.  Also the vancancy called Plummers first addition containing five acres, as also seven and a quarter acres of Land called Plummers Second Addition, also a tract of Land called Nancys Lott containing twenty five acres, also all my right and title to a tract of Land called Weedy Glade containing forty acres of Land."  The codicil was added two days later not to change any of the bequests, but to definitively affirm his intent as laid out in his will (evidently he was aware of the questions that might arise, and was concerned there might be an attempt to overturn the will).  Stephen was also named by Thomas as the Executor.  This must have been uncomfortable for Stephen and he asked the court August 14, 1821 to be released from duty saying it was not convenient to serve.

James married Mary G. Hopkins on or after March 10, 1834 when a license was issued in Baltimore County, Maryland.  James wrote his will January 3, 1838 and it was entered into probate May 1, 1838 in Anne Arundel County, Maryland.  He left everything to his wife, Mary G. Plummer, including "all my right, title, interest, claim and demand to a certain lot of Land lying and being in Anne Arundel County, Situate on a branch of Piney Run near Elk Ridge Landing, containing about twelve acres of Land, upon which there is a bank of Iron Ore" (Anne Arundel County Will Book 40, page 347).