1.    Henry¹ Paxson (James^A) was baptized in St. Mary's Church, Marsh Gibbon, Buckinghamshire, on 11 January 1646/7, the son of James and Jane (Clerk) Paxton. (See an explanation of the Numbering System used on this web page.) Henry died in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, in July 1723. His first wife's name is unknown; she died at sea 31 July 1682.[3]  He married a second time, the widow Marjorie (Page) PLUMLEY on 13 August I684, the first marriage recorded under the care of the newly established Middletown Monthly Meeting in Bucks County.[4]  They had no issue.

           Before emigrating, Henry lived in Bycot, parish of Stowe, in what was then Oxfordshire. When he became a Quaker is not known, but the Bidlesdon Monthly Meeting appointed him in October 1681 to a small committee to meet with an erring Friend.[5]  In Pennsylvania he also served on Middletown Meeting committees, and was made a trustee for the Meeting property in l688.[6]

           While still in England Henry purchased from William Penn's agents 500 acres of land in Pennsylvania.[7]  The land was laid out in Bucks County in a narrow strip butting on the Neshaminy Creek, its southern boundary delimited by the Hulmeville-Fallsington Road.[8]  As a First Purchaser, Henry also received a fifty-five-foot lot in Philadelphia, situated on the east side of Third Street between Sassafras and Mulberry. It was assessed at two shillings per year, and at the time of the Blackwell Rent Roll of 1689 Henry had paid rent for five years.[9]  Like many others at that time, Henry used whatever capital he accumulated to buy more land.[10]  In 1688 he deeded 125 acres to his stepson William Plumley, who had recently become twenty-two years old. In 1698 he and his daughter Elizabeth Burgess deeded 500 acres with "divers goods and chattels" to two more stepsons, James and John Plumley, soon after the latter reached twenty-two.[11]

           When Henry² (#18), son of James¹, became of age in 1704, it becomes difficult to differentiate between him and this Henry¹ (#1), as their names appear without qualifying adjectives in public records. This confusion is reflected and magnified in secondary sources.

           Henry was elected a representative from Bucks County to the Pennsylvania Assembly in 1685, 1695, and from 1704 through l709.[12]  He complied with a 1705 law that required him to subscribe to a declaration of allegiance to Queen Anne and "abhoring" several theological points that would have been marked him as a Roman Catholic. Since it was not an oath, Friends could "subscribe" without compromising their principles.[12a]  He served often on grand and petit juries, and was named a "peacemaker" (part of the early Pennsylvania judicial system) in 1685. He was also appointed to be an overseer of the highways.[13]

           Henry brought cases to court twice. In 1686 be sued Robert CARTER and his son John for burning a rick of hay in Henry's field. It may have been a dispute over a boundary line. The Carters, caught in the act, were assessed damages of £5 and the costs of the suit. Secondly, Henry sued Richard BURGESS for failing to maintain properly his wife Elizabeth, who was Henry's only surviving child. Richard agreed to "allow" his wife whatever the court should order.[14]

           Richard Burgess was not a Friend, and Henry was disciplined by Middletown Meeting for permitting the marriage. He acknowedged that he had done wrong in letting his daughter marry a non-Quaker without taking counsel from the Meeting, and he signed (with his mark) a statement to this effect in the Middletown minute book.[15]  But shortly thereafter he left the Meeting, probably over the controversy stirred up by George KEITH. Although primarily doctrinal, the Keithian schism involved politics and perhaps reflected economic and social divisions, as well. Keith was eventually disowned and joined the Anglican Church.[16]  Henry was never formally reconciled to Middletown Meeting, although he was buried in the Meeting cemetery beside his second wife, at the request of his step-son John PLUMLY. Marjorie also left Friends, and was one of two women named specifically to be spoken to in 1699 after the controversy had subsided. Although the Women's minutes are silent as to the result of any such conversations, and her name does not again appear in the minutes, her burial in the Meeting cemetery suggests some sort of reconciliation.[17] Friends who had been disowned could continue to attend meetings for worship and participate in the social life of the Quaker subculture; they just could not attend meetings for discipline (as meetings for business were then called).

           All of Henry's children had died by 1700, and he took responsibility for his stepsons and the children of his deceased nephew, William Jr. (#16), son of James¹. As Henry named the individuals and their relationship to him, this constitutes the proof that James was indeed his brother. In 1719 he posted a £200 bond to administer the estate of William Jr. (#16). Henry's will, dated 23 April 1723 and proved 30 July 1723, listed over 1000 acres and devised sizable farms to all the sons of his nephew William Jr., and smaller bequests to many others, mostly relatives.[18]

           Children of Henry Paxson and his first wife (order uncertain):[19]

4   i.    John², b. in England; d. at sea middle of July 1682.

5   ii.   Henry, b. in England; d. at sea 30 July 1682.

6   iii.  Elizabeth, b. ca. 5 Sept. 1675 in England; d. Dec. 1700: m. Richard BURGESS in 1691; no issue.

2.   William¹ Paxson (James^A), son of James and Jane (Clerk) Paxton, was baptized 21 December 1648 in St. Mary's Church, Marsh Gibbon, Buckinghamshire. He was buried 2 January 1709/10 in Middletown Meeting cemetery, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. His first wife was Mary, who, according to an old family Bible, was surnamed SYDENHAM. She is not named in William's certificate of removal which merely states that he would be taking his wife and children with him. Her death is not recorded in Middletown Friends records, and may have occured while the family was separated from the Meeting over the Keithian controversy, or she may never have been a Friend. An interesting clue is found in a letter from William Penn dated 28 Third Month [May] 1705: "The lieutenant-governor first took lodgings at W. Paxson's, where his wife's health rendering his stay improper, he removed to John Finney's . . ."[19a]  It seems quite possible that Mary died soon after. William's second wife was Mary WHITE, the widow of Judge John White of Philadelphia, and her maiden name may have been PACKINGHAM as appears in other old family records.[20]  I have been unable to find any record of this marriage, but presumably it occurred before September 1698 when Mary Paxson and Grace White (her daughter) signed a marriage certificate in Middletown Meeting. Mary was buried at Falls Meeting 31 August l719.[21]  She was literate and signed her will, which named the same children as those named in Judge White's will. Mary owned several books at the time of her death. William was illiterate and signed with his mark, which resembled a "W".

           William, his brother James, and several others shared a 500-acre block of land laid out in what became known as Four Lanes' End, then as Middletown, and now as Langhorne, in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.[22]  The process involved several steps, including acquiring a warrant to survey the land. This document (shown to the left) was dated 24 Eleventh Month [January] 1682/3, and signed by William Penn himself.  (See an explanation of the Quaker and Old Style Dating System.)

           On 13 February 1691/2 William and his brother James "stated they wished to purchase the 300 acres they had rented."[22a] Later, 1 December 1695/6 William purchased 100 more acres in Middletown Township.[22b]

           William's tax (for support of the poor) in 1693 was 8sh 8d, one of the highest in the township. Starting with this original 100-acre farm, William had acquired about 900 acres by his death. The land included 400 acres on the south side of the road that ran "from Neshaminy to Falls", 100 acres formerly belonging to Bryan (see Holmes's map), and an additional ca. 400 acres in Middletown Township.[23] During his life he divested himself of only one parcel of land, which was conveyed to his son-in-law Thomas Walmsley.[24]

           William was elected a representative from Bucks County to the Pennsylvania General Assembly in 1692, 1696, 1700, 1701, 1703, and from 1705 through 1708.[25]  It was probably in connection with serving in the Assembly that he complied with the 1705 law requiring that he subscribe to a declaration of allegiance to Queen Anne and abhorence of several theological points that would have been held dear by Roman Catholics. It was not an oath, and therefore Friends of tender conscience could "subscribe" without compromising their principles.[25a]  William served as a highway overseer in 1693 and was suggested as a County tax collector in 1696.[26]  He served on eight grand and twelve petit juries before 1700, and was asked by the court to appraise distrained goods which had been overpriced and would not sell. He was listed as one of the justices sitting at the Quarter Session held 13 December 1704, but he is not named in the Pennsylvania Archives' list of justices.[27]  He also witnessed wills and served as an executor at least once.[28]  He was chosen to be a guardian, and another time, was rejected by a Quaker orphan (Richard Mitchell) who preferred to live with another family, in spite of Friends laboring with him (Richard) to change his mind.[29] It is frustrating not to know the story behind Richard's preference: was it a pull, an affectionate desire towards the other family, or an active dislike of William Paxson?

           William was an active member of Middletown Friends Meeting from its inception, and his name appeared often in the minutes as he was appointed to various committees to clear a man for marriage (five times), deal with a Friend who acted out of unity with  Friends' principles (twelve times), and other jobs. In 1690 he was one of several asked to set out and fence the burial ground, and to oversee the building of a stable for the meeting house. He had subscribed £10 to help build the meeting house and 10 shillings for the stable. He signed with his mark the 1687 Meeting testimony against selling rum to the Indians. He attended and signed the certificates of at least eight weddings in the Meeting, including that of his brother Henry.[30]

           However, on 6 August 1692 the Middletown Men's Meeting minuted that he had separated. He was involved in the controversy surrounding George KEITH, a Quaker minister who had travelled with George FOX and others in the early days of the movement, who later became the teacher at the school chartered by William Penn in Philadelphia. Keith became theologically more Orthodox in his approach to Christianity and tried to get Friends to adopt a creed-like statement of beliefs. Because of his abrasive personality Friends felt free to ignore his pointed remarks about slaveholding and the danger of Quakers in political office becoming embroiled in war measures which compromised Friends' witness that God called Friends not to make war with outward weapons for any cause whatsoever.[31]  William Paxson withdrew from participation in Middletown Meeting until 3 September 1696, when his paper condemning his action in going apart from Truth was accepted by the Meeting. Once more his name appeared in the minutes as he was appointed to various meeting committees. He was a trustee, overseer, and representative to Bucks Quarterly and Philadelphia Yearly Meetings. In June 1700 the minutes rather ruefully complained that William, "being absent so much of the time about the country business," had not performed a task the meeting had assigned to him.[32]

           William died, and his body was buried in the Middletown Meeting cemetery on 2 January 1709/10.[33]  His will, signed 23 August 1709 and proved 26 January 1709/10, gave part of his estate to his wife, including a £120 bond he had posted to pay her heirs, which was probably part of a prenuptial agreement. The rest went to his daughter Mary (#8) and her husband Thomas WALMSLEY, and the four children they had at that time, and to his son William (#9). The estate, valued at £391.14.6 (excluding real estate) included one Negro boy (valued at £37.10.10) and one indentured servant woman, Margaret GISHER, whose remaining time was valued at £10.[34] It seems to have been understood that the "Negro boy" was a slave, indentured for life, unlike the white servant woman indentured for a fixed term of servitude.

           The name of William's first wife never appeared in the Women's Meeting minutes. She had not been mentioned on his certificate of removal from England. However, his second wife was named to several Meeting committees. In 1711, after William's death, she transferred to Philadelphia Monthly Meeting.[35]  Mary left a will, dated 25 December 1718, describing herself as "being weak of body" and "of the town of Bristol", and signed with a very shaky hand. It was proved 23 February 1718/9, and mentions two daughters, six granddaughters, and two grandsons, none of them Paxsons. Her estate was valued at £77.12.0.[36]

           Children of William and Mary (Sydenham?) Paxson:

7   i.    Elizabeth², bapt. 17 Feb. 1676/7 in Marsh Gibbon; d. before 1682.[37]

8   ii.   Mary, bapt. 15 Mar. 1678/9 in Marsh Gibbon; emigrated with her parents to Pennsylvania in 1682; m. 4 Apr. 1698 Thomas WALMSLEY, and had 9 children who all lived to adulthood and married.[38]

9   iii   William, b. 4 June 1685 in Middletown, Bucks Co; d. December 1733m. 1711 Mary Watson.

3.    James¹ Paxson, son of James^A and Jane (Clerk) Paxson, was presumably born in Marsh Gibbon, Buckinghamshire, but his birth is not recorded in the St. Mary's parish register. His place in the family, however, is proved by his brother Henry's will which makes bequests to various children of James, referring to them as "nephew". Court testimony in 1689 held that James was "about 40 yrs" old which would place his birth ca. 1649.[39] Stewart Baldwin prefers a date of 1643 because it is in the largest gap among his parents' recorded baptisms, and because if he were born in 1649 he would only have been 17 years old at the birth of his first known child.[39a] In 1643 the Civil War was raging in England and parish registers were not always kept in good order as ministers were rotated in and out depending on local and national political preferences. James died 29 Seventh Month [September] 1722. James was married first to a woman who, with their three young children, had all died by 1673.  James married secondly, Jane GURDEN on 6 October 1670 in St. Mary's church in Marsh Gibbon. She died 7 Second Month [April] 1710 in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.[40]

           James received 100 acres of the block of 500 granted to him, his brother William, and three other parties in 1682. Like his brothers William and Henry, James purchased additional land as he became able to do so.[41]  In 1691 he owned land butting on the Neshaminy where the King's Highway crossed over "Paxson's Bridge".[42]

           Other real estate records include James and his brother William on 13 February 1691/2 "stated they wished to purchase the 300 acres they had rented."[42a] Later, 2 December 1701 James "obtained more property."[42b] Finally, James "Paxon" received a land patent in the County of Philadelphia 1 & 2 March 1702, again, this was probably right over the border from Bucks County, but no details have been given.[42c]

           As a member of Middletown Monthly Meeting, James took his part on committees. Like his brother William, James signed with his mark the 1687 Meeting testimony against selling rum to the Indians. In 1690 he was assigned with William and others to oversee the construction of a stable and to collect funds that were subscribed to pay for it.[43] But James, too, became involved in the Keithian schism, and dropped out of Middletown Meeting from 1692 until about 1698. As historians Allen and Richard Thomas summarized, George Keith:

accused two ministers of teaching that the inward Christ alone was sufficient for salvation; he charged that the discipline was lax; that Friends had departed from their testimony and practice against war; he wished changes made in various ways; and openly in a meeting accused Friends of meeting together "to cloak heresies and deceit". There is no doubt that some of his charges were true as to individuals and that there was some truth in others, but the way in which they were preferred, and their wholesale character, was, to say the least, altogether out of order, while in others his charges were without foundation.[44]

           One unfortunate result was the backlash against Keith enabled Friends to ignore for virtually a whole generation the important things he had to say against slave-holding and the potential conflict of interest between office holding and Friends' peace testimony.

           James submitted the following statement to Middletown Meeting, which was accepted:

To friends of ye monthly meeting at neshamina ye 4th of ye 5th month 1698:
     Friends after ye salutation of my love, these are to acquaint you that after some Deliberate consideration I find myselfe involved into some exercise of mind by reason of my undue & inconsiderate leaving of this meeting & society of friends which formerly I was in, which thing I ought not to have done, & therefore I am sorry it so fell out with me, & I do condemne ye same as an act unwisely done, & therefore out of ye guidance of ye spirit of truth, & I desire ye God may pass it by & forgive ye same as I hope he will inasmuch as he hath been pleased to give me a sight & sence of ye will of ye same, & I desire that all ffriends may take warning hereby that they do not easily move aside to forsake ye way of truth nor ye society of those that walke therein & I desire that this may clear truth & satisfie friends for which end it is given forth by me.

James Paxson[45]

           His offense was less a matter of wrong belief than it was of having left Friends. When he publicly acknowledged and condemned this behavior, he was reconciled with the Meeting. He was then able to request a certificate of removal to Falls Monthly Meeting.[46]  There he served on a marriage clearness committee in 1699, and used his conciliatory skills several times to help resolve occasional differences between members.[47]

           While living in Falls on May 2, 1705 James sold 25 acres of land to Edward LUESS for £5.05.0. Both men were identified as Yeomen, and James, being illiterate, signed with his mark.[47a]

           James served many times as a grand and petit juror, including (with his brother William) on the first Grand Jury in Bucks County, held 10 June 1685. James also served occasionally as highway overseer, arbitrator, and constable. From time to time neighbors asked him to witness wills.[48]  James himself left no will; this suggests that he died suddenly or had disposed of his property earlier.

           Children of James Paxson by his first wife, all born in Marsh Gibbon, Buckinghamshire:

10   i.     James², bapt. 3 Oct. 1666; bur. 8 Nov. 1666.

11   ii.    James, bapt. 20 or 26 Apr. 1668; bur. 27 May 1673.

12   iii.   Henry, bapt. 14 Jan. 1669/70; died young.

           Children of James and his second wife Jane (Gurden) Paxson:[49]

13   iv.    Sarah², b. 23 Oct. and bapt. 29 Oct. 1671 in Marsh Gibbon; emigrated to Pennsylvania with her parents on the Amity in 1682; m(1) John BURLING or Borley or Bunting ca. Aug. 1692 out of unity with Friends. When asked why, Sarah answered that "her father would not have unity with her marriage."[50]  She m(2) James KIRKMAN. No issue from either marriage.

14   v.     Henry, bapt. 25 May 1673; bur. 27 May 1673 in Marsh Gibbon.

15   vi.    William, twin of Henry, bapt. 25 May 1673; bur. 27 May 1673.

16   vii.   William, b. 25 Dec. 1675; bapt. 27 Jan. 1675/6 in Marsh Gibbon; d. July 1719 in Newcastle Co. [Del.]; m. 20 Feb. 1695/6 Abigail POWNALL.

17   viii.  Henry, bapt. 22 or 27 Apr. 1678; bur. 7 Feb. 1681/2 in St. Mary's graveyard, Marsh Gibbon.

18   ix.     Henry. b. 20 Sept. 1683 in Middletown, Bucks County; d. 1756; m(1) April 1707 Ann PLUMLEY; m(2) 7 Feb. 1739/40 Mary (BUDD) SHINN.

19   x.      James, b. 10 Apr. 1687; d. 16 Sept. (or July?) 1687 in Middletown.[51]

Second Generation

9.     William² Paxson, son of William #2 and Mary (Sydenham?) Paxson, was born 4 June 1685 in Middletown, and was buried there 18 December 1733. He married in May 1711 Mary WATSON at Falls Monthly Meeting. She was the daughter of Thomas and Rebecca (Mark) Watson, born ca. 1687 in the parish of Cockermouth, Cumberland County, England. She emigrated to Pennsylvania with her parents in 1702 and died 28 September l760.[52]

           William received a rudimentary education at a school held intermittently in the Middletown Meeting house. He was only twenty-four when he inherited his father's 900 acre farm and stone farmhouse.

           William, like his father and uncle Henry¹, was a Bucks County representative to the Pennsylvania Provincial Assembly. He served in 1714, 1717 through 1720, 1722, and from 1726 through 1733.[53]  He was commissioned a Justice of the Peace in 1723, 1725, 1726, 1727, and 1733 for terms of open-ended length. It appears he sat on the bench in Bucks County from 1723 until his death.[54]  In 1721 he was appointed with others to view a road.[55]  His name appears on a list of 167 merchants and business people who agreed to accept the paper money issued by the lower three counties (now Delaware) at par with the stronger currency of the upper three counties (Chester, Philadelphia, and Bucks).[56]  William also occasionally witnessed wills.[57]

           William and Mary were active members of Middletown Monthly Meeting. For example, in 1718 William was appointed to a committee to look into building a new meeting house. In 1719 he began to be appointed as a representative to Quarterly Meeting, and in 1730 he was named an Elder.[58] Mary was even more "weighty" in the Woman's Meeting, culminating in her serving as Clerk (the presiding officer) from 2 June 1726 to 1 March 1749/50. She accompanied Jane HOSKINS on a religious visit to Rhode Island in 1740.[59]

           William's will, dated 17 January 1731/2 and proved 11 February 1733, gave carefully delimited parcels of land to each of his sons, plus bequests to his wife and daughters. His estate included an enslaved Negro man valued at £25 and two (presumably white) indentured servant girls whose remaining time was valued at £15. It seems likely that the "Negro man" was the same person as the "Negro boy" bequeathed to William by his father's will two dozen years earlier. William's personal estate (excluding real property but including crops "in the ground") was worth £542.03.0. It included possessions his parents had not owned such as two looking glasses, two brass kettles and six brass pans, two maps, and table linens.[60]  Over a century later The Friend  carried a brief biographical sketch which described him as "a useful member of civil society . . . . In general esteem for wisdom and virtue, . . . "[61]

           Children of William and Mary (Watson) Paxson:[62] There is a Chart of the children and grandchildren of William and Mary, if it helps you to visualize the family in this format (readable with Adobe).

20   i.    William³, b. 29 Apr. 1712; d. 29 Aug. 1767; m. 25 Mar. 1740 Anna Marriott; 12 children.

21   ii.   Mary, b. 11 Jan. 1713/4; will proved 7 Apr. 1786; m. 21 Tenth Mo. [Dec. ] 1732 in Middletown Meeting Joseph RICHARDSON[62a], and had 6 children. Joseph emigrated to Pennsylvania in 1724 with a certificate of removal from Richmond Monthly Meeting in Yorkshire, which described him as a husbandman. William Paxson hired him to thresh wheat. With the help of an English legacy in 1737 Joseph purchased an acre at the crossroads in Middletown where he built a stone house (which is now the Langhorne Community Center). There he built up a prosperous mercantile business, which he combined with shrewd land investments, to achieve financial leadership in the community. He owned as many as 40 slaves. His will was proved 29 Apr. 1772. Mary lived through the American Revolution and her name appears on the tax lists.

22   iii.  Thomas, b. 13 Dec. 1715; d. 6 Aug. 1790; m. 1737/8 his second cousin, Ann Paxson (#41), the daughter of Henry (#18) and Ann (Plumley); 13 children.

23   iv.   John, b. 17 Oct. 1717; d. between 1733 and 1746; unmarried; no will.

24   v.    Henry, b. 14 Sept. 1719; will pr. 15 Oct. 1778; m. 1 Apr. 1740 at Christ Church, Phila., Martha SHINN, daughter of Thomas of Mt. Holly, N.J.; 8 children.

25   vi.   James, b. 15 Oct. 1721; d. 21 Jan. 1769; m. Hannah THORNTON; 2 children. Hannah m. (2) John KNOWLES and they had 2 children.

26  vii.   Deborah, b. 23 Mar. 1724/5; d. in West Virginia; m. 14 Apr. 1742 by license at the First Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, William WILDMAN,[63] and had 5 children. As she did not marry under the care of Middletown Meeting, she brought a paper condemning her "outgoing", which was accepted 1 Sept. 1743. She was granted a certificate of removal with her children from Middletown 2 June 1752 to Fairfax Monthly Meeting in Virginia.[63a]

16.    William² Paxson, Junior, son of James and Jane (Gurden) Paxson, was baptised 22 January 1675/6 in Marsh Gibbon, and died in July 1719 in Newcastle County, in what has become the state of Delaware. He married in Middletown Meeting on 20 Twelfth Month [February] 1695/6 Abigail POWNALL[64], daughter of George and Elinor Pownall. The Pownalls emigrated from Lostock, Cheshire, on the Friends' Adventure, arriving in the Delaware River 11 October 1682. Abigail was born 4 February 1677/8 and died in 1749.[64a]

           Contemporaries referred to him as William Junior to differentiate him from his uncle William¹ (#2). Unless land transactions specify "William Junr.", there is no way of separating his from those of his uncle William¹ or his younger first cousin William² (#9). In 1699 William Junr. conveyed a parcel of land to John SCARBOROUGH, with his father acting as attorney.[65]  It was not usual practice for a father so to act, or for a young man to divest himself of land. But William Junr. did not conform to the usual Quaker mold. Two years earlier he had had a fight with Jonathan SCARBOROUGH, who went to the magistrate seeking redress. The Meeting intervened and persuaded the antagonists to forgive each other and promise to live in peace. Another rather cryptic incident in 1700 involved the charge that William Jr. had "raised a scandall" upon William COWPER. Friends decided that the scandal may have been accurate (and therefore not libel).[66]

           In 1704 William Jr. and his family removed to Falls.[66a] He apparently purchased a farm from Solomon WARDER, that had been in the BILES family and was originally owned by Thomas and Jane ATKINSON.[66b] William was disowned from Falls Monthly Meeting 1 July 1712, for "being overtaken with drink also for uttering several extravagant expressions against the whole body of friends, and he not condemning his actions". The following year William sold his property to John and mary SOTCHER, and took his family to St. George's Hundred, Newcastle County (in what became Delaware). Abigail and some of the children carried a certificate of removal dated 5 March 1713.[67]  Children born after one parent's disownment were generally not recorded by the meeting.

           After William Jr.'s death intestate at the age of forty-three, his uncle Henry¹ (#1) Paxson posted bond on 22 September 1719 and administered the estate. Henry devised to each of William Junr.'s sons a substantial farm with the stipulation that they provide comfortably for their mother for the rest of her life. Abigail removed to Buckingham Monthly Meeting from Duck Creek Meeting with her three sons in the summer of 1724.[68]

           In 1742 Abigail was recognized as a minister by Buckingham Monthly Meeting. A memorial described her as "a diligent attender of meetings, even in her old age; had a gift of the ministry, in which she was exercised pretty frequently. She was sound in her matter, which tended to edification."[69]

           Abigail left a will, dated 16 July 1742 and proved 8 April 1749, mentioning many children and grandchildren, to whom she left money for the purchase of Bibles. Robert SMITH and John HILL were named executors.[70]

           Children of William Junr. and Abigail (Pownall) Paxson:[71]

27    i. Mary³, b. 2 Jan. 1696/7 in Middletown; d. 171_; unmarried.

28    ii. Marrabeh, d. 30 June 1714 in Duck Creek; unmarried.

29    iii. Abigail, b. 20 Aug. 1700 in Middletown; m(1) Sept. 1718 Nathaniel LAMPLUGH, son of Nathaniel and Susannah (BEZER) of Chichester; at least 2 children Jacob and Mary Lamplugh who were remembered in their grandmother Paxson's will. She "eloped to Philadelphia" in 1731/2.[72] Nathaniel d. 1742 in Concord Twp., Chester Co., and Abigail m(2) 14 Mar. 1744 by license at the First Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, Anthony WHITELY.[73] She m(3) 17 Sept. 1764 at Immanuel Church, New Castle, Del., John PASSMORE. Her will, dated 31 Mar. 1778, was pr. 31 July 1778 at New Castle.

30    iv. James, b. 5 Nov. 1702 in Middletown; d. Feb. 1747; m(1) 1724 Mary HORSEMAN; m(2) 1730 Margaret HODGES; 9 children. James and his children William, Abigail, and Jonas Paxson were remembered in Abigail Paxson's will.

31    v. Thomas, b. 20 Nov. 1712; d. Oct. 1782; m. 1731/2 Jane CANBY, eldest daughter of Thomas and his second wife Mary (OLIVER) Canby. Jane was b. ca. 1719 and d. ca. 1789; 7 children, of whom Joseph, Benjamin, and Oliver, along with their mother Jane, were remembered in their grandmother Paxson's will of 1742.[74]

32    vi. Reuben, b. 1713; d. 1744; m. Alice SIMCOCK; 5 children. One genealogist claimed that Reuben died in South Carolina during the Revolution, but he did not cite his source.[75] Alice and three children, William, Jacob, and Mary Paxson were remembered in Abigail Paxson's will of 1742.

33    vii. Esther, m. Abel CLAYTON, a tailor in Chichester, Chester County, and had three children living at the time of his death, 14 Oct. 1737.[76] Esther and her children Joseph, Susanna, and Margaret Clayton were remembered in her mother's will of 1742.

34    viii. Amy, died young.

18.    Henry² Paxson, son of James¹ and Jane (Gurden) Paxson, was the first Paxson born in Pennsylvania and the first birth recorded by Middletown Monthly Meeting, on 20 September 1683. He married first, in April 1707, Ann PLUMLEY, daughter of William and Elizabeth (THOMPSON) Plumley. William Plumley was the son of Charles and Marjorie (PAGE) Plumley. The second second husband of widowed Marjorie (PAGE) Plumley was Henry¹ Paxson. Ann died 10 Twelfth Month [February] 1728/9, aged 40 years. Henry² married second, Mary (BUDD) SHINN, a widow from Burlington, New Jersey, on 7 February 1739/40 at the Mt. Holly Meeting house.[77]

           As too often happens when there are men with similar names living contemporaneously, researchers have confused this Henry with his uncle Henry¹ (#1), the Emigrant. Apparently it was this Henry² (#18) who purchased 200 acres in Solebury from John SCARBOROUGH in 1711 and settled there with his family.[78]  It seems likely that Henry's son Thomas built the house that a century later was still standing on the farm that then belonged to his grandson. It was described as one of the first dwelling houses that still remained.

It is made of stone, and is dug into the earth where there is a moderate descent, about 20 feet by 10 or 12. At the end fronting the southeast was a door leading into the dwelling room for the whole family, where there was a sort of chimney; and a door at the other end, also level with the ground, led into the loft which must have been the lodging room. . . . [There were several Indian settlements in 1690, twenty years before Henry bought the land.] Tradition reports that they were kind neighbors, bringing presents to their houses and refusing pay. Their children were sociable and fond of play. A harmony arose out of their mutual intercourse and dependance. Native simplicity reigned in its greatest extent. The difference between the families of the man and the Indians, in many respects, was not great--when to live was the utmost hope, and to enjoy a bare sufficiency the greatest luxury.[78a]

           Another parcel of land is connected with Henry, although I have not been able to check the original deeds myself. In 1703 Penn patented 200 acres on the Cuttalossa Creek to Francis WHITE, who conveyed it to Henry Paxson a few years later. In 1748 Henry sold the 200 acres to Samuel ARMITAGE. Samuel was a miller, and built a house which was added to over the generations. In 1990 the current owners did a magnificent job of restoring the "Armitage House". A brief description of the house, illustrated with gorgeous photographs, is in Margaret Bye Richie, John D. Milner, and Gregory D. Huber, Stone Houses: Traditional Homes of Pennsylvania's Bucks County and Brandywine Valley (New York: Rizzoli International Publications, Inc., 205), 52-57.

           Twice neighbors asked Henry to witness wills. In 1736 he was appointed to a grand jury which was charged with laying out the road between Solebury and Buckingham.[79]

           Henry and his family were members of Buckingham Monthly Meeting from 1720 when it was set off from Falls Monthly Meeting. But Henry did not take a very active role in Meeting activities. In 1721 he was asked to assist three other men in settling a quarrel between two other Friends. His name does not appear in the minutes again until 1738 when the Meeting disciplined him for taking "drink to excess".[80]

           Henry purchased more land, for, when he deeded his plantation to his son Thomas Jr. on 26 April 1748, it consisted of 300 acres.[81]  In his will dated 20 March 1752 and proved 18 September 1756, Henry called himself a yeoman of Solebury. His health may have failed during his last years because he made his will four years before his death; Friends in that period did not usually make their wills until they felt the end approaching. In any event, Henry left something to each of his surviving children and to the children of his deceased daughters Sarah DUER and Jane PRESTON. His son Thomas Jr. received the residue.[82]

           Children of Henry and his first wife Ann (Plumley) Paxson:[83]

35    i.     William³, b. 31/11 mo. [Jan.] 1707/8; d. 7/5 mo. [July] 1731; unmarried.

36    ii.    Elizabeth, b. 11/4 mo. [June] 1709; d. 4 Dec. 1786; m. Mar. 1725/6 Thomas HARTLEY, son of Edward Hartley. Thomas requested to join Friends and was accepted into membership 2 Dec. 1724; 12 children.[84]  Their great grand daughter Catherine RICE m. 10 Oct. 1798 Elias⁵ Paxson.

37    iii.    Mary, b. 4mo. [Apr.] 1711; m. 1729 Henry ROBERTS.[85]

38    iv.    Sarah, b. 25/11 mo. [Jan.] 1712/3; d. ca. 1747; m. May 1730 Joseph DUER, a carpenter who sold 259 acres to Sarah's brother-in-law Thomas Hartley in Jan. 1739. They lived in Lower Makefield; 7 children. Joseph m(2) ca. Dec. 1748 Martha GILLINGHAM of Solebury, youngest daughter of James and Sarah CANBY, and widow of James Gillingham; 1 child.[86]

39    v.     Jane, b. 14/11 mo. [Jan.] 1714/5; d. 1749; m. June 1732 Jonas PRESTON, son of William and Jane Preston who emigrated from the parish of Huddersfield, Eng. Jonas was b. 19 Jan. 1710/1 in Yorkshire. Jonas and Jane removed to Gwynedd Monthly Meeting in 1739. In Ninth Month [November] 1742 they were received in Middletown Monthly Meeting on certificate from North Wales Monthly Meeting. Jane had 9 children, Jonas had one more by his second wife. Jane and Jonas's daughter Sarah m. her cousin Joshua RICHARDSON, the son of Mary (Paxson) Richardson.[87]

40    vi.    Margery, b. 24/9 mo. [Nov.] 1716; m. 1734 Matthew³ BEANS, son of William² who emigrated with his parents Matthew¹ and Margaret (HATTON) Baines. In his will pr. 3 May 1791 Matthew mentioned his wife Elizabeth and 6 children.[88]

41    vii.   Ann, b. 8/11 mo. [Jan.] 1718/9; d. 10 Feb. 1783; m. 1737/8 her cousin Thomas³ Paxson (#22), son of William² and Mary (Watson) Paxson. Ann transferred her membership from Buckingham to Middletown Meeting where she became quite active. She was named an Overseer in 1757 and Treasurer. 13 children.

42    viii.  Rebecca, b. 5/9 mo. [Nov.] 1720; m. 2 Sept. 1739 Timothy BEANS, brother of Matthew. Timothy and Rebecca removed to Fairfax Meeting, in Va. Their son William Beans m. Hannah BALDERSTON

43    ix.    Henry Junior, b. 28/6 mo. [Aug.] 1722; d. 2/8 mo. [Oct.] 1799; m. 28 May 1745 Elizabeth LUPTON; 12 children.

44    x.     James, b. 8/6 mo. [Aug.] 1724; d. 1 Nov. 1743; unmarried.

45    xi.    Thomas, b. 17/4 mo. [June] 1726; d. 13/1 mo. [Mar.] 1767; m(1) 1748 Sarah HARVEY; m(2) 1764 Hannah BLACKFAN; 4 children.

46    xii.   Martha, b. 4/12 mo. [Feb.] 1728/9; unmarried in 1752 when she was mentioned in her father's will. She may be the Martha who transferred from Buckingham to Middletown Meeting in 1757.[89]

Third Generation

20.      William³ Paxson, son of William² (William¹) and Mary (Watson) Paxson, was born 29 April 1712 in Middletown, and died there 29 August 1767. He married 25 March 1740 Anna MARRIOTT, the daughter of Thomas and Martha (KIRKBRIDE) Marriott. Anna died 1 May 1773.[90]

           William was twenty two when he inherited the portion of his father's farm lying north of the King's Road, and consisting of about 406 acres. He was to give his sister Deborah £100 when she became twenty one and in the meantime was instructed to "Learn her to Read and Write at his own cost."[91]

           When he was 28, William and Anna Marriott were married in Middletown Meeting. Following the good order of Friends, they appeared before the men's and women's monthly meeting to state their intention of marriage. The men named a small committee to ascertain that William was free of other relationships and had his parents' consent. The women named a similar committee to look into Anna's situation. The following month William and Anna appeared again and reconfirmed their intention. Each committee reported back to its respective meeting, and each meeting gave its approval for the couple to proceed. In a meeting for worship the couple stood and said their vows to each other. At the end of the meeting everyone present signed as a witness, thus making it a legal document.

This certificate is written on parchment, which is stiff and yellowed with age. Traditionally the woman signs with her new (husband's) surname. The groom signs first at the extreme right side, with the bride immediately below. The signatures in the right hand column, shown in the detail to the right, were usually reserved for family members. The first signature below the bride and groom is Thos. Marriott, followed by Martha Marriott, the bride's parents. Next is Mary Paxson, the groom's widowed mother. Next come siblings of the bridal couple: Thomas Paxson, Henry Paxson, Thos. Marriott, Junr., brother-in-law Joseph Richardson, Mary Marriott, Joseph Marriott, and [Harry?] Marriott. Toward the bottom of the next column are more relatives who didn't fit into the right column: youngest sister Deborah Paxson, youngest brother James Paxson and nephew Joshua Richardson. Although three or four of the bride's siblings had died as infants, she had plenty of relatives from her family, many of which are in the third column from the right. In the second column (enlarged here) there are Mary Kirkbride, Jos. Kirkbride, John Hutchinson, John Kirkbride, John Hutchinson, Junr. Mahlon Kirkbride, and Joseph Hutchinson.

           William was a member of Middletown Monthly Meeting, was educated in the local school, and apparently lived all his life on the farm he inherited from his father. Political conditions in Pennsylvania were changing under the influence of increased non-Quaker immigration and the world-wide struggle for empire between Great Britain and France, that impacted on Pennsylvania in the form of the so-called French and Indian War. Like many Friends of his generation, William eschewed Provincial politics, involving himself instead in the local affairs of extended family, Meeting, and community. He served as executor and witness of wills. He was named Overseer of the Poor in 1742. In 1752 he was commissioned Justice of the Peace, but refused a second term in 1757.[92]

           William served as an auditor of the Middletown Monthly Meeting finances, as treasurer, and as one of the trustees of the Burial Ground. He served on the committee to plan and supervise the enlarging of the meeting house and later to construct larger stables for it. He was a frequent representative to Bucks Quarterly Meeting, and served on many short-term assignments dealing with Friends' business.[93]  The Meeting recognized William's financial and business ability; his tasks tended not to require great spiritual discernment.

           Anna was also very active in Middletown Meeting, serving on many committees, as a representative to Quarterly Meeting, and as an Elder from 2 February 1758 until her death in 1773.[94]

           William died 29 August 1767 in the fifty-sixth year of his age, without leaving a will. His estate was inventoried 16-17 October 1767. It was valued at £322.15.10, excluding real estate, but including three slaves.[94a] William not only inherited an enslaved Negro from his father, but at the time of his death owned three—in spite of mounting pressure within Quakerism against slaveholding.

           Anna died 1 May 1773 and left a will. In addition to the kinds of items listed in the estate inventories of the previous generation, in Anna's household there was a clock, books, spice box, hat box, several sets of andirons, fire shovel and tongs, tea kettles, pepper mill, and a coffee pot. £250.4.8 of the estate was in the form of bonds and the interest due on them.[95]

           Anna had not freed the slaves, although they do not appear in her estate inventory because the Friends who made it (John WOOLSTON, Thomas Paxson, and Joshua BLAKEY) refused to put a monetary value on human lives. Her heirs finally manumitted two women. There was no mention of the man, who may have died by 1773. The elderly woman named Matilda was unable to support herself, so 27 July 1776 William, Joshua, and Mahlon bound themselves as legatees to pay their respective shares of reasonable expenses to support her as a free woman during her natural life. Six of the children of Anna, or their guardians, deeded a plot of land to "Luce", or Lucia, on 20 January 1785 when she had become an adult.[96]

           Children of William and Anna (Marriott) Paxson:

47    i.     Martha⁴, b. 23 Jan. 1740/1; d. 12 May 1742.

48    ii.    William, b. 26 June 1743; m. 18 June 1772 Mary SUBERS; 4 children.[97]

49    iii.    Joseph, b. 25 Feb. 1744/5; d. 11 July 1793; m. 25 Oct. 1770 Sarah RODMAN; 9 children. She m(2) 16 Feb. 1809 Joseph TATNALL.

50    iv.    Phineas, b. 18 Feb. 1746/7; d. 15 July 1819; m. 24 Jan. 1768 in the Presbyterian Church in Churchville, Susanna SHAW, daughter of Joseph Shaw; 4 children.[98]

51    v.     Thomas, b. 31 Jan. 1748/9; d. 20 June 1835; m. 12 Sept. 1775 Elizabeth RANDALL, 5 children.[99]

52    vi.    Mahlon, b. 17 June 1752; d. 29 Sept. 1832; m. 1777 Sarah WALKER, daughter of Emmanuel and Ann (CAREY) Walker; 12 children.[100]

53    vii.   Samuel, b. 5 May 1754; d. 7 Mar. 1813; at the end of 1771 his widowed mother requested a certificate from Middletown Meeting for Samuel to take to Wilmington Monthly Meeting. [101]

54    viii.  Isaac, b. 9 May 1756; d. 26 Aug. 1816; m(1) Elizabeth HALLOWELL; no issue; m(2) Elizabeth SHOEMAKER, and had 1 son.

55    ix.    Joshua, b. 14 July 1758; m. 22 Nov. 1787 Mary WILLETT, daughter of Jonathan and Deborah (LAURENS) of Southampton; 11 children.

56    x.     Mary (called Polly in her mother's estate inventory), b. 4 July 1762, twin of Anna; d. 18 Mar. 1813; m. 25 Oct. 1787 in Middletown Meeting, David LANDIS[101a], son of Henry of Hunterdon Co., N.J.; res. Middletown. Mary was active in the Meeting, serving as an Overseer and Elder. 4 children.

57    xi.    Anna, twin of Mary, b. 4 July 1762; d. ca. 1840; m. 11 Dec. 1783 in Middletown Mtg. Simon GILLAM, son of Lucas and Ann (DUNGAN) Gillam. Anna and Simon were both quite active in Middletown Meeting, Anna serving as assistant clerk (1801-1806), Treasurer (1801-1821), Overseer (1806- ), and Elder (1816- ). Anna was reputed to be "a very particular and elegant housekeeper". Simon was b. 24 Jan. 1759; d. 31 Aug. 1839; was fined 9 times for upholding the peace testimony during the Revolution; served as constable in Middletown 1792; witnessed many wills. In 1813 he was recorded as a minister. He was eulogized as being "careful to adorn the doctrine he preached with a meek and quiet spirit." Simon went bankrupt in 1821 because he was surety for others who failed and real estate values collapsed in the depression of that year. The Meeting found he had behaved honorably and within Friends' principles. They sold their farm and household goods to cover the debts, and removed to Upper Springfield Meeting. 4 children.[102]

58    xii.   Israel, b. 3 Mar. 1765; d. 4 June 1809; m. 20 Dec. 1787 Ann PARKER, daughter of Joseph (dec'd) and Catherine; Ann d. 3 June 1816; 4 children.[103]  

22.       Thomas Paxson³, son of William² (William¹) and Mary (Watson) Paxson, was born 13 December 1715, and died 6 August 1790. In 1737/8 he married his second cousin, Ann Paxson (#41), who was born 8 January 1718/9 and died 10 February 1783, the daughter of Henry (#18) and Ann (Plumley).

           Their first child was conceived before marriage, which probably led them to seek a more prompt ceremony than provided by Friends' procedures. However, they acknowledged and condemned their action and were reinstated in the Meeting. Thomas was very active in Middletown Monthly Meeting, serving on many committees, as representative to Quarterly Meeting, and as Treasurer.[104]

           Ann transferred her membership from Buckingham Monthly Meeting to Middletown and gradually assumed a very active role in the Women's Meeting. In addition to committee assignments and serving as representative to Quarterly Meeting, she was appointed to "see that the poor are taken care of", was named Overseer 7 July 1757 until she requested release in 1766, and served as Treasurer until her death in 1783.[105]

           Thomas inherited a 200 acre farm, and built the stone farmhouse, still standing on the east side of Flowers Mill Road, Langhorne. He purchased an additional 200 acres adjoining which he later gave to his son, Thomas Jr.

           During the American Revolution Thomas upheld the Quaker testimony of nonparticipation in war or war-related activities. His assessments for the taxes levied by Pennsylvania for the fledgling Continental Congress are recorded in the Pennsylvania Archives. Just because these assessments appear in the Pennsylvania Archives does not mean that Thomas paid them. In order to uphold their testimony against war, Friends did not pay taxes which were earmarked for the support of military activities. The tax collectors either came and seized goods in lieu of payment or by-passed Quaker houses. There is no mention of Thomas's "sufferings" on the Middletown Meeting list of goods distrained, nor is there mention of him in the Meeting minutes as being disciplined for payment of war taxes. However, in 1779 the Pennsylvania Archives records show that Thomas owned 400 acres, eleven horses, twelve cattle, and no servants. In 1781, after several years of possible wartime distraints and seizures of his property, he owned only four horses and seven cattle; in 1782 five of each. The next year (the last year of the war) he was assessed £10.12.1. After the war, in 1785 he owned only 200 acres; his son Thomas Jr. owned the other half. By this time he was 70 years old, and had cut back to three horses and seven head of cattle. His assessment in 1786 was £1.16.00, and the following year two shillings less.[106]

           There is no will for either Thomas or Ann in the Bucks County will abstracts. They outlived most of their thirteen children, half of whom died between the ages of twenty-nine and thirty-four. Only two children lived past middle age.

           Children of Thomas and Ann (Paxson) Paxson:[107]

59   i.     Rebeckah⁴, b. 24 Oct. 1738; d. 4 Jan. 1738/9, aged 3 months.

60   ii.    Mary, b. 2 Mar. 1739/40; d. 5 July 1769; m. 23 Apr. 1761 Henry SIMMONS; he d. 29/12/1806; res. Bensalem; 5 children:

a)    Phineas Simmons, b. 23/3/1762, d. 15/10/1764;
b)    John Simmons, b. 4/12m/1763, m. 1800 Rachel PRESTON;
c)    Thomas Simmons, b. 14/2/1765, m. 23/4/1788 Rebecca STACKHOUSE;
d)    Ann Simmons, b. 21/9/1766, m. 1791 __ WALKER;
e)    Henry Simmons, b. 15/9/1768.

Both Mary and Henry were active in Middletown Monthly Meeting. Henry m(2) Mar. 1771 Sarah DUN; they had 9 more children. Henry (Sr.) signed his will 9/9/1806 and it was pr. 6 Jan. 1807; he named his wife, son William, and Samuel ALLEN to be executors; he pointed out that the four children by his first wife had already received their mother's legacy and "with what I have already given them I consider a just portion", then bequeathed £50 each to John and Thomas, £15 to Ann, and £40 to son Henry.[107a]

61   iii.   Ann, b. 8 Nov. 1741; d. 18 Dec. 1806; m. 26 June 1759 Joseph WILDMAN; he was b. 1/12m/1729/30, and d. 3/5m/1809, the son of Joseph Wildman and his second wife, Sarah (WILLSON). Ann and Joseph acknowledged their unchaste action before marriage, resulting in their first child being born only 6 months later. They had 12 children:

a)    Solomon Wildman, b. 27/12/1759, d. 29/8/1831, m. 17/11/1785 Sarah CARY, Jr.;
b)    Mary Wildman;
c)    Rachel Wildman, d.y.
d)    Sarah Wildman;
e)    Martin Wildman, d. 1827, m. 1790 Elizabeth CARLISLE;
f)    Ann Wildman, b. 5/7m/1771, d. 24/9/1771;
g)    Abigail Wildman, b. 31/3/1762, d. 29/9/1810, unmarried;
h)    Joseph Wildman, b. 26/7/1773, m. 1799 Elizabeth BAKER;
i)    William Wildman, d. 25/3/1814, m. 17/10/1810 Elizabeth MILLER;
j)    Elizabeth Wildman, b. 3/8m/1778, d. 24/1/1800;
k)    Rachel Wildman, unmarried;
l)    Thomas Wildman, d. 1810.

Joseph inherited his father's farm in Middletown when he was 21. Ann and Joseph were both active in Middletown Monthly Meeting; Ann served as Treasurer and Overseer. Joseph signed his will 22/1/1807 and it was pr. 8 May 1809. His estate inventory, made 8/5m/1809, included cash and bonds valued at $405.47, cotton, "wollen", and flax yarn, linen, linsey, 4 spinning wheels, foot stove, books, whiskey, "cyder", gin cases, 5 looking glasses, churn, milk house, stove, 1 hive of bees, plaster, clover seed, Dutch fan, 2 horses, 1 colt, 8 cows, 7 calves, 13 pigs, 11 sheep, and 4 lambs. Settlement was finally made 2 Apr. 1812.[107b]

62   iv.    Henry, b. 27 Oct. 1743; d. 22 Apr. 1772; unmarried.

63   v.     John, b. 12 Oct. 1745; d. 31 July 1779; unmarried. He made new gateposts for the Middletown Monthly Meeting graveyard in 1773.[108]

64   vi.    Elizabeth, b. 28 Aug., 1747; d. 5 Feb. 1777; unmarried.

65   vii.   James, b. 12 Aug. 1749; d. 2 May 1779; m(1) Dec. 1777 Rachel CROASDALE, 1 daughter. Rachel m(2) 6 Sept. 1784 Robert EASTBURN, and had two more children.

66   viii.  Sarah, b. 20 Aug. 1751 or 1750; d. 23 Apr. 1796; m. in Middletown Mtg. on 1 Dec. 1785 Robert DRAKE[108a], who had been accepted into membership in Middletown Monthly Meeting 3 May 1781. They were both moderately active in Middletown Meeting. They had 4 children:

a)    Elizabeth Drake, b. 4/9m/1786;
b)    Ann Drake, b. 5/7m/1789;
c)    Thomas Drake, b. 20/10/1790, d. 12/8m/1791;
d)    Robert Drake, b. 5/4m/1794, d. 11/6m/1794.[108b]

67   ix.    Thomas, b. 4 May 1753; d. 24 Sept. 1809; m. 22 May 1783 Sarah BLAKEY; 6 children. She m(2) 1812 George WALKER.

68   x.     Jane, b. 11 Jan. 1756; d. 27 May 1757.

69   xi.    Margery, b. 28 Nov. 1757; d. 26 Jan. 1841; m. 13 Nov. 1777 John KNIGHT, son of Jonathan and Grace (CROASDALE) Knight, b. 13/8/1749; res. Lower Makefield, Bucks Co.; 5 children:

a)    Joshua Knight, b. 18 Dec. 1778; m. Jane BUNTING and had a daughter Mary Knight who m. 15 Mar. 1838 as his second wife, Joshua RICHARDSON
b)    Mary Knight, b. 7 Apr. 1781; m. 23/4/1801 John WILDMAN;
c)    Martha Knight, b. 12 Oct. 1783; d. 3 Dec. 1822; m. 3 Oct. 1777 Thomas GILBERT; 8 children;
d)    Caleb Knight, b. 12 Nov. 1786, m. Mary __;
e)    David Knight, b. 9 May 1794; m. Sallie BROWN. [108b]

70   xii.   Martha, b. 16 Sept. 1760; d. 10 May 1790.

71   xiii.  William, b. 10 July or 18 Mar. 1762; d. 22 Mar. 1799; m. Oct. 1784 Elizabeth WALTON; 3 children.

24.      Henry³ Paxson, son of William² (William¹) and Mary (Watson) Paxson, was born 14 September 1719 in Middletown. His will was proved 15 October 1778. On 13 October 1741 at Christ Church, Philadelphia, he was married to Martha SHINN, daughter of Thomas Shinn of Mt. Holly, New Jersey. They were reconciled with Friends for marrying outside of Friends process, and resided in Mt. Holly.[109]

           In The History of Mount Holly written by Henry C. Shinn in 1957, Thomas SHINN is identified as the landlord of the Cross Keys Tavern. He was a prominent and wealthy Quaker, Justice of the Peace and member of the New Jersey Assembly. He had been served by slaves virtually all his life, and at the age of two had inherited a young man named Tabby. In 1751, 54 years later, when Thomas wrote his will, Tabby and his wife and four children were all slaves of Thomas Shinn.[109a]

           Henry inherited lots and buildings in Bristol, Bucks County, from his father in 1733. But he moved his membership from Middletown to Burlington Monthly Meeting in late 1740, settling in Mt. Holly. For those familiar with Mt. Holly a half century ago, Henry and Martha lived "on the Union Bank corner" and owned a tannery on Buttonwood Run, on the east side of Paxson Street.[110]

           Mount Holly, or Mt. Holly, was named for a 183 foot hill originally covered with holly. The Rancocas Creek flows from flat land east of the hill, crosses High Street near the center of the town, and then flows to the Delaware River, twelve miles to the west. The town was first settled by Quakers. In 1676 Thomas RUDYARD and John RIDGES bought a share of land from Edward BYLLYNGE and the trustees of West Jersey. In 1701 Edward GASKILL and Josiah SOUTHWICK bought 871 acres from John RIDGES, on part of which the town now stands. The north branch of the Rancocas was dammed in 1723 powering first a sawmill and then a gristmill. An iron works was established about 1730 by Isaac PEARSON, Mahlon STACY, and John BURR. Because it supplied cannon and shot to the Continental army, British raiders destroyed it. [110a]

           Henry became an active citizen in Mt. Holly in the mold of his father and grandfather. He witnessed a dozen wills, administered (either alone or with another person) nine estates, helped make twelve estate inventories. He held the estate in trust for William MURRELL's sons, and served as guardian for Hannah, minor daughter of his deceased friend Samuel CRIPPS. He also acted as agent for the sale of real estate and helped settle the affairs of a man in debtors' gaol.[110b]

           In addition to these personal/legal obligations, Henry was involved in civic activities. As a freeholder he had to answer to the Assembly in 1749 concerning charges over the spending of some tax money without proper authorization. A month later, vindicated, he was named one of ten Justices of the Peace. He was reappointed 14 December 1762 and 22 August 1767. He served as a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas from 1767 to 1776, and as judge of the General Quarter Sessions from 1764 to 1773. He was also involved in a number of other civic activities. For example, he signed a petition to charter a Library Company in Burlington in 1758, collected subscriptions to finish a bridge over Newtown Creek in Gloucester County, and in 1774 collected funds to print a new edition of the laws of the colony of New Jersey.[111]

           Henry's name appears frequently in the records of Mount Holly. He was one of the group that erected a small schoolhouse on Brainerd Street, and was a founder of the Britannia fire company.[111a] The fire company was organized on 9 July 1752. In 1787 the name was changed to Mount Holly Fire Company, and then in 1805 it became the Relief Fire Company. It is perhaps the oldest active volunteer fire company in the U.S.A. The original engine shelter, "a small one-room building of hand-sawed boards, the inside blackened with age and the exterior painted green" still existed in 1977 behind the current firehouse at 15 Pine Street. I do not know if it is still standing. The Brainerd School was built in 1759 at 35 Brainerd Street. In 1977 it was described as "a small, one-story brick building painted in yellow with solid shutters of green and white trim. Crowded between adjoining houses, the school is built flush with the red brick sidewalk and shaded by a large maple."[111b]

           Henry was elected three times to the New Jersey Assembly from Burlington County, serving in the Nineteenth (1754-1761), Twenty-first (1769-1772), and Twenty-second (1772-1775) Assemblies.[111c] While in the Assembly he served on a committee of five men which drew up plans and estimated costs for the construction of barracks so that soldiers would not be quartered on the general populace. Henry's final election came 10 July 1774 when he and eight others were elected by the Burlington County freemen to attend a meeting in New Brunswick—unauthorized by governor, king, or parliament—from which were chosen delegates to the First Continental Congress, to be convened in Philadelphia.[112]

Drawing from the Alexander Library, Rutgers University, as printed in Larry R. Gerlach, Prologue to Independence: New Jersey in the Coming of the American Revolution (New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press, 1976), 80.

           The Trenton barracks, on S. Willow Street at Mahlon Stacy Park, was one of five similar buildings to be constructed throughout the province to house royal troops during the French and Indian War. This one, completed in 1759, was designed to house 300 men. It is a two-story stone building with two wings. It was also used during the Revolution to house British, Hessian, and colonial soldiers, as well as serving as a hospital for those wounded at Yorktown in 1781. Henry's portrait is said to hang in it. In 1902 work was begun to restore it, and it was opened in 1914 as a museum. Although restored by the state it is administered by the Old Barracks Association.[112d]

           During the Revolutionary War Henry was too old to be called into the militia. He was captured by the Hessians in 1776, but was released after questioning.[112a] Mount Holly was occupied by British troops at times, and they commandeered the meeting house for use as their commissary. In November and December 1779 the meeting house was used for sessions of the legislature when Mt. Holly became the temporary capital of New Jersey. Governor William LIVINGSTONE named Thursday, December 9 that year as the first officially observed Thanksgiving Day.[112b]

           Henry was active in Mt. Holly Meeting, and was a friend of the Quaker John WOOLMAN, well-known for his Journal and his later stands against slavery and war. Together in 1753 Henry and John administered the estate of Henry's father-in-law, Thomas SHINN. Thomas directed that enslaved Tabby and his wife be freed upon Thomas's death, and be given £5 worth of goods. Since New Jersey law by that time stipulated that anyone who freed a slave had to post a bond in case they should become public charges, Thomas sold Tabby's daughter Hannah as a servant for a fixed term of years. He bound another, Jade, to his own daughter, and Pleasant to his other daughter Martha (Shinn) Paxson, Henry's wife. When Shinn died Woolman and Paxson sold Tabby's son Jem for £20 to be free on 2 January 1775. Woolman later regretted that Jem had been left in bondage so long, and as one of two executors, purchased a bond to pay Jem for 4½ years of service, to be paid to him when he was freed after 9 years. There is no record that Henry followed John's example. In November 1759 Burlington Monthly Meeting asked John and Henry to labor with Samuel BUSBY, a Friend who had been wounded while on a privateering expedition in the Caribbean during the Seven Years' War. They labored with Samuel until April when John went on a visit to Rhode Island and the Meeting disowned Samuel. In 1767 Henry and John, with three other Friends, were asked to look into the clearness of Job RIDGEWAY who applied to join Friends but had recently "purchased a Negro." I don't know the outcome. Henry and his wife were among the few invited to meeting for worship at the Woolman home when John lay very ill in January 1770. After he recovered and was considering a visit to the Caribbean, Henry Paxson and Josiah WHITE were asked to discern with him. As it happened way did not open for the trip.[113]

           Martha became a chronic invalid, unable to care for herself. In his will Henry provided for a room and nurse for her. Henry died 18 September 1778. Martha died 23 February 1781.[114]

           Children of Henry and Martha (Shinn) Paxson:

72    i.     Thomas⁴, b. 1 Nov. 1743; d. before 1817; probably unm.; received £5 in his father's will.

73    ii.    Martha, b. 31 Jan. 1745/6; will proved 12 May 1817; m(1) 3 Mar. 1764 John ARNEY at Swedes' Church in Philadelphia; m(2) after 1778 Joseph RIDGEWAY; no surviving issue. Martha's father left her £50 and the "goods I bought at John Arney's vendue sale." This implies that Arney was in debt, and perhaps the sale was to settle his estate.[115] Martha signed her will 19 Feb. 1817, identifying herself as "widow and relict" of Joseph Ridgway of Mt. Holly, Northampton Township, New Jersey. It was proved 12 May 1817, and the inventory made 10 May for $972.52. Martha left the bulk of her estate for the "maintenance" of her youngest brother Joseph. At his death the remainder was to go to her brother Samuel. Her wearing apparel was to be divided equally between her sister Elizabeth Waterman and Elizabeth CHEW (wife of William). She left things to her sister Elizabeth, two nieces, and several cousins. The latter included Elizabeth BOWKER, daughter of Joseph: a bed, table, looking glass, shovel and tongs; Jane Bowker, daughter of Joseph: chairs and candle sticks; Martha SHINN, Jr. (daughter of Mary Shinn): bureau. Her brother Samuel was named executor.[115a]

74    iii.   Henry Jr., b. 12 July 1749; d. before 1804? Henry was an unmarried hatter in Mt. Holly. On 17 May 1804 Alexander SHIRAS signed his will, mentioning "meadow and buildings thereon which I bought of Henry Paxson" in Mt. Holly, and "It is my intention that the Hatter's Shop and lot bought of Henry Paxson is to be included in my bequest to my son George B."[115b]

75    iv.    Mary, b. 24 Jan. 17__; d. before 1817; m. Edward BLACK, who with John Woolman served as executors for Henry Paxson's estate. Henry left Mary £50. Mary and Edward had 1 daughter, Elizabeth, who was bequeathed 6 silver teaspoons by her aunt Martha (Paxson) Arney Ridgway.

76    v.     William, d.y.

77    vi.    Elizabeth, b. 18 Oct. 1751; d. 12m/1829; m(1) Marmaduke WEST and had a son. She m(2) 13/7m/1796 at Mt. Holly Mtg. Jesse WATERMAN, son of John and Hannah (__) Waterman of Phila.; Jesse already had children from his first marriage: William, Molly (mar. __ Humbold), and Paul Waterman. Elizabeth and Jesse had 2 more children. Jesse d. 26/4m/1829. Her father bequeathed her £25. Her sister Martha left her half of her wearing apparel, $50.00, and a "coverlid". Elizabeth and her son transferred from Mt. Holly to Philadelphia MM 4m/1799. Children of Elizabeth and her two husbands:

a. Henry Paxson West, b. ; transferred to Phila. MM with his mother 4m/1799; 28/3m/1806 certificate from Phil. MM to Chesterfield MM in N.J. to take up an apprenticeship (he’d already been living there a few years);
b. Mary Waterman
c. William Waterman

78    vii.   Samuel, b. 28 Oct. 1751; d. 20 Feb. 1840; m. Beulah ATKINSON. She was b. 31 May 1769; d. 2 Nov. 1827; 9 children; res.: Trenton, N.J.[116]

79    viii.  Joseph, b. 30 Oct. 1765; probably handicapped; his oldest sister made provision in her will that he be cared for as long as he lived. Along with the bulk of her estate to be used for his maintenance, Martha gave her bed and bedding to the care of her sister-in-law Beulah (Atkinson) Paxson for the use of Joseph. I don't know if this made Beulah responsible for their washing?[117]

25.      James³ Paxson, son of William² (William¹) and Mary (Watson) Paxson, was born 15 October 1721 and died 21 January 1769. James married, out of unity with Friends, Hannah THORNTON. On 6 November 1756 they brought papers condemning their "outgoings in marriage", which were accepted two months later.[118] Hannah was born 10 June 1733 and died before 16 January 1790.

photo Bucks County Tourist Commission

           Hannah was the daughter of Joseph (d. 1752) and Margaret Thornton, innkeepers in Newtown, Bucks County. Joseph had some difficulty transferring his membership from Philadelphia Monthly Meeting, but once accepted by Middletown, he took an active part in Meeting activities. Margaret was accepted as a member 5 June 1755.[119]

           Pictured to the right is the house built by Hannah's father, Joseph Thornton, Sr. in 1733. It served as a tavern (called the Half Moon Inn) during the Revolutionary War, and now is the home of the Newtown Historic Association. Click here for more information about the Half Moon Inn. Joseph ran the Inn as a popular gathering place when Newtown was the county seat. After his death in 1754 his wife Margaret took over and ran it until 1790. The northern side shown here contains the tavern room and the room behind it was where the Thornton family lived.

           Comparatively little is known about James, except that he inherited from his father 200 acres south of King's Road, laid out in two parcels in Middletown, and that he resided there.[120]

           James died at the age of forty-seven, leaving no will. His widow married John KNOWLES (whose will was proved 11 February 1777) by whom she had three children, Margaret Knowles, Hannah Knowles, and Rachel Knowles.[121]

           Children of James and Hannah (Thornton) Paxson:

80    i.     Joseph⁴, b. 24 May 1758. He ran away from his apprenticeship during the Revolution and joined the British army in Philadelphia, for which Middletown Meeting disowned him. He is probably the Joseph captured at Stony Point, but released from the "new gaol" in Philadelphia when he became "dangerously ill." His 125-acre farm in Middletown was confiscated, attainted, and sold 11 Apr. 1778.[122]

81    ii.    Mary, b. 18 Mar. 1762; d. 16 May 1811. Joseph A. THORNTON and Joshua RICHARDSON served as her guardians, who appear along with her brother Joseph (who was not yet of age) in the court records involved in settling the affairs of her father's confiscated estate.[123]

30.    James³ Paxson, son of William Junior² (James¹) and Abigail (Pownall) Paxson, was born into Falls Meeting 5 November 1702, and died before 25 February 1747, when his will was probated. James was seventeen when his father died, and twenty-one when his uncle Henry¹ bequeathed him "250 acres being one half of the plantation I now live on". Thus well situated, James requested a certificate of clearness from Buckingham Monthly Meeting to Crosswicks Meeting on 3 March 1724 to marry Mary HORSEMAN. They were married 28 May at the Chesterfield meeting house in Burlington County, New Jersey. Witnesses who signed the wedding certificate included James's brother Thomas (#31) and first cousins William (#35) and Elizabeth (#36) Paxson, the bride's parents Marmaduke and Sarah Horseman, and Sarah Horseman Jr., presumably the bride's sister.[124]

           The Horsemans had emigrated from England, arriving in New Jersey 15 October 1677 on the ship Martha out of Hull. They settled in Upper Freehold, Monmouth County, New Jersey.

           Mary died 30 August 1726 at the birth of their second child. Four years later on 5 September 1730 at Falls Meeting, James married for the second time, Margaret HODGES. She was born 14 October 1706, the daughter of Thomas and Hannah (WALN) Hodges. Her maternal grandparents were Nicholas Waln, friend of William PENN, active in Pennsylvania political, economic, and Quaker affairs, and his wife Jane (TURNER) Waln.

           James was active in Buckingham Monthly Meeting, serving on committees, as a representative to Quarterly Meeting, and as an Overseer from 7 September 1741 until he asked to be released 6 June 1743.[125]

           In his will dated 25 January 1747/8 and proved 25 February 1747/8, James described himself as "of Marsh Gibbon, Solebury Township". Although he mentioned all nine children, he only left land to the eldest son by each wife.[126] This is an indication of the growing population and resulting scarcity of inexpensive land. Fathers could no longer acquire enough land to set up all their sons on good farms. One result was westward immigration of the younger generation, seeking cheaper land.

           Margaret signed her daughter Mary's marriage certificate for Mary's second marriage, to Mahlon WORTHINGTON, indicating that by November 1779 Margaret was still living and had not remarried.

           Children of James and his first wife Mary (Horseman) Paxson:[127]

82    i.     William⁴, b. 20 12 Mo. (Feb.) 1724/5; perhaps unmarried.

83    ii.    Abigail, b. 30 6 Mo. (Aug.) 1726; m. John HEATON, son of John and Sarah (ROBERTS) Heaton, and grandson of Mary SCAIFE and James Heaton.[127a] They removed to Loudon Co., Va., in 1768; children:

a)    William Heaton,
b)    Benjamin Heaton,
c)    John Heaton,
d)    James Heaton,
e)    Thomas Heaton,
f)    Jane Heaton,
g)    Mary Heaton,
h)    Samuel Heaton.

           Children of James and his second wife Margaret (Hodges) Paxson:

84    iii.   Thomas⁴, b. 16 Sept. 1731; d. 1 Feb. 1812; m. 1752 Mary HAMBLETON. She was b. 20 Dec. 1731, the daughter of James and Mary (BEAKES) Hambleton; d. Feb. 1812; 7 children.

85    iv.    Hannah, b. 17 or 27 or 28 Dec. or Feb. 1731/2; d. 21 Nov. 1812; m. 1752 Stephen HAMBLETON (their marriage was reported on 1/1m/1753 to Buckingham MM as having been decently accomplished). Stephen was b. 1 July 1729, the brother of Mary who m. Hannah's older brother Thomas. Their parents were James and Mary (BEAKES) Hambleton. James's will stipulated that Stephen was to provide a warm and convenient room for his mother. Stephen d. 16 May 1806. His will, dated 24 Apr. 1804 and probated 30 May 1806, named his wife, 6 sons, 4 daughters, and one granddaughter; executors were John ARMITAGE and Aaron PAXSON. Hannah signed her will 3/1m/1810 when "far advanced in years"; it was proved 18 Dec. 1812 with the same executors as Stephen's. She mentioned 4 daughters and 2 granddaughters (Hannah WIGGINS and Hannah SHARP).[127b] Their 11 children were recorded in Buckingham MM records.

a)    James Hambleton, b. 5/1m/1754; d. 27 Jan. 1833; m. 27 Nov. 1779 Elizabeth Lupton PAXSON, daughter of Henry and Elizabeth (Lupton) Paxson. They had fourteen children. James settled on his father's land in Solebury, and by his late 30s had accumulated enough capital to purchase a farm in eastern Lancaster Co.

b)    John Hambleton, b. 14/6m/1755 in Solebury; d. 8 Oct. 1834 while eating breakfast, Upper Oxford Twp., Chester Co.; m. 23 Nov. 1790 in Richland Mtg. Rachel HESTON. John settled on his father's land in Solebury, and by his late 30s had accumulated enough capital to purchase a farm in 1795 in Upper Oxford, western Chester Co. In 1827 he went with the Orthodox branch while all his sons chose Hicksite affiliation: Samuel, Benjamin, James, Thomas, Eli, and Charles Hambleton.[127bbb]

c)    Jane Hambleton, b. 9/3m/1757; d. 8 June 1830; mar. 23 May 1783 in Buckingham Mtg. Skinner WEBSTER; he was b. 10/11m/1736, son of Benjamin and Rachel (Skinner?) Webster; rem. from Bradford MM to Haverford MM 14/1m/1785, then to Abington MM 1793; had a son Stephen Webster (1782-1861) who m. Mary Thorp and resided in Frankford.[127bb]

d)    William Hambleton, b. 23/10m/1758; d. 16 July 1837 in Flushing, Belmont Co., Oh.; m(1) 1785 Mary HESTON and had 2 children; m(2) Rebecca CAM and had 8 more children. He probably settled near his father's land in Solebury, and around 1800 moved to Baltimore where he worked at a mill for a few years. In 1802 he moved to a farm in Lancaster Co. between those of his two older brothers. After his wife's death he moved to southeastern Ohio.

e)    Jonas Hambleton, b. 16 or 17/10m/1760; d. in 1846; m. Nancy Ann "Annie" HESTON; he was a farmer; remained in Solebury until he was well into his 30s; moved in 1797 or 1803 from Buckingham MM to Muncy MM in Lycoming Co., Penna., then in 1809 to Hamburg, Erie Co., New York. Four children.

f)    Joseph Hambleton, b. 2 or 12/12m/1762; d. before 1804.

g)    Rachel Hambleton, b. 7/3m/1765; d. 6 Mar. 1858; m. Benjamin KESTER (1759-1819); farmed near Kingwood, N.J. until 1812 when they removed to Boston, N.Y.

h)    Moses Hambleton, b. 27/1m/1768; d. 3 or 30 Mar. 1850 in Hamburg, Erie Co., NY; settled for several years in York Co., Ontario, Canada, a member of Yonge Street Meeting. During the War of 1812 he and his eldest son Aaron were imprisoned for refusing to join the militia. Aaron died there. Moses returned to the US in 1816 settling in Eden, Erie Co. NY. Several of his siblings also settled in Erie Co.[127c]

i)    Aaron Hambleton, b. 21/1m/1770; d. 3 May 1829; m. 17 Apr. 1794 Hannah HESTON (1773-1815). He inherited half the homefarm, but left for Ontario in 1809. In 1815 he, too, moved to Erie Co., New York.

j)    Margaret Hambleton, b. 19/1m/1772 in Solebury; d. 5 Jan. 1826 in Drumore; m. 14 Oct. 1795 Benjamin KINSEY (1772-1841); As a widower Benjamin and his children removed to Morgan Co., Oh. He m(2) 9/9/1831 the widow KENARD. [127cc]

k)    Mary Hambleton, b. 12 or 13/2m/1774; d. 4 Feb. 1856; m. William COATES (1764-1839), a farmer. Three children[127d]

86    v.     Jonas, b. 25 June 1735; d. 6 Aug. 1796; m(1) Mary Kester; m(2) Mary Broadhurst; 9 children.

87    vi.    James, b. 11 Apr. 1738; d. in Lisbon, Ohio; m. 24 Mar. 1762 in Buckingham Meeting Sarah LETCH,[127e] daughter of James (dec'd) of Solebury. Sarah d. 13 July 1817; 6 children.

88    vii.   Jane, b. 3 Aug. 1739 [or 1 Apr. per Suzanne lamborn]; d. 13 Feb. 1792; m. 17 Aug. 1762 [or 3 Aug. per Lamborn] in Buckingham Meeting, Joseph PICKERING,[127f] the son of Isaac and Sarah (LUPTON), he was b. 9 July 1739; d. 13 Feb. 1792; 5 children.

89    viii.  Mary, b. 22 Mar. 1742/3 [1743/4 per Lamborn]; d. 29 Dec. 1815; m(1) 10 June 1761 in Buckingham Meeting, Joseph SMITH of Wrightstown,[127g] son of Robert and Phoebe (CANBY) Smith, and the grandson of Thomas and his first wife Sarah (JARVIS) Canby. Joseph was b. 1 Oct. 1728 and d. 1782 or ca. 1778. No issue. Mary m(2) Mahlon WORTHINGTON, b. 19 Dec. 1750; d. in Wrightstown 9 Apr. 1846, aged 95. He requested to join Friends at Wrightstown Monthly Meeting 3/8m/1779, and was accepted 7/9m/1779. He and Mary brought their first intentions to be married to Wrightstown on 5/10m/1779, with the second intention and approval given 2/11m, and the report on 7/12m/1779 that it had been accomplished in an orderly manner. Mahlon m(2) Elizabeth ___. Mary and Mahlon had 2 daughters.[127h]

90    ix.    Margaret, b. 24 Oct. 1745; d. before 1773; m. 22 June 1763 in Buckingham Meeting, William TOWNSEND, son of Stephen and Margaret (PAXSON); 3 children. William m(2) 15 Dec. 1773 in Buckingham, Elizabeth WATSON; 4 children.[127i]

31.      Thomas³ Paxson, son of William Junior² (James¹) and Abigail (Pownall) Paxson, was born 20 November 1712 and died in October 1782, after fifty years of marriage. In April 1732 he married Jane CANBY. She was born 12 Fourth Month (June) 1710[128] and died ca. 1789, the eldest child of Thomas and his second wife Mary (OLIVER) Canby. Thomas Canby had arrived in America at the age of sixteen in 1683, indentured to his uncle Henry BAKER. Thomas became a Justice in Bucks County, a representative to the Provincial Assembly, and a minister, overseer, and clerk of Buckingham Monthly Meeting.[128a]

           Thomas Paxson, like his brothers, spent nearly a dozen years of his childhood in St. George's Hundred, in what is now Delaware. He inherited 250 acres in Solebury, Bucks County, from his uncle Henry¹ and in 1763 purchased another 256 acres of the Pike Tract in Solebury.[129]

           Thomas was active in Buckingham Meeting, including serving as Overseer. It is difficult to determine if he is the Thomas Paxson mentioned in the Buckingham Meeting minutes after 7 September 1748 when his cousin Thomas Paxson (#45) was granted a certificate from Falls Monthly Meeting to Buckingham, and after 1752 when a third Thomas Paxson (#84), his nephew, married and presumably was considered mature enough to play a role in the Meeting. Jane Brey wrote that Thomas and Jane removed to Newark, New Castle County, in 1742. But there is no reference to a certificate for him in the Buckingham Men's minutes, and references for Thomas continue in 1743, 1744, and early 1748 when no other man of that name lived in Buckingham. Elsewhere Brey says that they lived in the stone house (later called "Northwood") from 1763 until their deaths.[130]

           Jane Brey recounts "family tradition" that

. . . Martha Washington stayed overnight or longer with the elderly Quakers, Thomas and Jane (Canby) Paxson at their old stone farmhouse near Coryell's Ferry not far off Lower York Road in Solebury during the winter of 1776 and 1777, when her husband was quartered at the Keith house nearby.
    Once, when General Washington visited her, she anxiously asked him what she should do if British soldiers came to the Paxson house—"Oh—I think Mrs. Paxson would lend you one of her gowns with an apron, cap and shawl—and they'd believe you just a good Quaker lady. . . ." Washington is supposed to have answered.
    Neither the British nor any outsider ever knew or guessed that Martha Washington was in the vicinity at that time; again, later that winter, it is also said, one of the Continental soldiers came to Thomas Paxson's farmhouse to collect a cap Martha Washington had forgotten to take with her when she left.[130a]

           Thomas's will dated 28 June 1775 and proved 19 October 1782 mentions all his sons except Jonathan, the only one who was not living in Solebury.[131]

           Children of Thomas and Jane (Canby) Paxson:

91    i.     Joseph⁴, b. 1 Oct. or 10 Sept. 1733; d. 1810; m. 28 June 1758 Mary HESTON; 15 children.

92    ii.    Benjamin, b. 1 Oct. 1739; d. 29 Mar. 1814; m(1) 16 June 1763 Deborah TAYLOR, who d. 20 Aug. 1792; 8 children; m(2) 1797 Rachel NEWBOLD, who d. 22 Oct. 1798; m(3) 9 June 1897 Mary PICKERING.

93    iii.   Oliver, b. 9 Sept. 1741; d. 30 Oct., 1817; m(1) Ruth WATSON, who d. 17 Sept. 1774; 4 children; m(2) May 1782 Ruth JOHNSON.

94    iv.    Rachel, b. 6 May 1744; d. 5 Apr. 1800; m. 14 Nov. 1764 in Buckingham MM John WATSON, Jr.[131a] He was b. 12/8m/1736, and d. 15/3m/1799, the son of John and Ruth (BLAKEY) Watson. Both John Jr. and Rachel were very active in Middletown Meeting. John was a trustee from 1767 until his death; Rachel was an Overseer, then, from 1m/1779 until her death was an Elder. They had two children:

a)    Hannah Watson, b. 21 or 24/9/1765, d. 5/2m/1831, m. 28/4/1791 William NEWBOLD, had 8 children;
b)    John Watson, b. 1/8m/1768, d. 7/1m/1844, m. 19/12/1799 Lydia BLAKEY; had 7 children.

John signed his will 14/2/1799 and it was pr. 1 Apr. 1799. Rachel signed her will 29/5/1799, with her brother Oliver as a witness, and it was pr. 24 May 1800. Rachel named her son John executor, and left him her horse, "chair", harness, bureau, and all her books except four Quaker ones and her Bible. Her daughter Hannah was to get the residue, but household items were to be given to Hannameel CANBY if she remained with Hannah until age 21, if Hannah desired it. The inventory included 3 carpets, silver spoons, and money (£271.5.0) presumably from John's will, put out at interest by Oliver PAXSON and Benjamin PARRY. Oliver was Rachel's brother, who had been married to John's late sister Ruth (Watson).[131b]

95    v.     Jacob, b. 6 Jan. 1745/6; d. 13 July 1832; m(1) 29 June 1769 Lydia BLAKEY; 2 children; Jacob m(2) 13 Nov, 1777 Mary SHAW.

96    vi.    Jonathan, b. 14 Jan. 1748/9; d. 27 July 1797; m. 26 June 1771 Rachel BILES; 1 daughter.

97    vii.   Isaiah, b. 20 Nov. 1751; d. Mar. 1813; m. 27 Apr. 1775 in Falls Meeting Mary KNOWLES; no issue.[132]

 

32.      Reuben Paxson³, son of William Junior² (James¹) and Abigail (Pownall) Paxson, was born in 1713. He married Alice SIMCOCK, daughter of John.

           Reuben appeared in the will of his uncle Henry Paxson (#1), receiving the 238 acres Henry had purchased from George POWNALL, and adjacent to Dr. Pownall's land. On 11 February 1723/4 "Ruben" Paxson was mentioned as owner of the land bounding that of George Pownall in Solebury. On 10 June 1725 Reuben received land in Solebury from George Pownall by lease, and six days later received either more, or more likely, confirmed the same parcel.[133]

           Reuben apparently removed to Philadelphia, because on 28 August 1730 he was granted a certificate of clearness from the Philadelphia Monthly Meeting to Abington Meeting in order to marry Alice SIMCOCK. On 30 April 1731 Alice was received in Philadelphia Meeting by certificate of removal from Abington. The couple moved around a fair amount, their first five children being born in four different locations. Eventually they removed to Kingwood Meeting in Quakertown, New Jersey, where the births of their five children were recorded. The first three children were mentioned in Reuben's mother's will, dated 16 July 1742.[134] It appears that Reuben was a tailor.

           Reuben went to Frederick County, Virginia about 1744. This might account for why Alice went to her father's house to give birth to her fifth child in September that year. Reuben seems to have been in Virginia when his father-in-law, John SIMCOCK, died, naming Reuben his executor. I am guessing that John Simcock lived and died in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, but owned land in Frederick County which he probably bequeathed to Reuben (since it was legally difficult for married women to own land in their own right). Reuben posted bond, as required by law:

9 June 1744. Reuben Packston, with Robert Worthington & John Smith his securities, posted bond of three hundred Pounds as Administrator of John Sincock [sic.].
                 Reuben Paxson
                 R. Worthington
                 Jn Smith[134a]

           It looks like the estate was not settled, however, because three years later Reuben appointed two of his friends to serve as attorneys in his stead.

Know all men by these presents that I Reuben Paxton of the County of Hunterdon & Province of West New Jersey, Taylor ... do Constitute & Appoint my Trusty friends William Mitchell & John Smith of Frederick County my true & Lawfull Attorneys ... to ask, sue for and demand from each and every person/persons indebted to me ... as administrator of estate of John SIMCOCK, deced. Signed Reuben Paxton
Wit: R. Worthington, John Hampton, Patrick Reily (Recorded: 8 April 1747.)[134b]

           This could have been done from Hunterdon County, but since the papers were filed in Virginia, it seems probable that is where he was at the time. His self-identification as being "of Hunterdon County" poses questions. It may be that he added that identification not because his legal residence (if there was such a concept then) was in New Jersey, but because that was how he was identified in John Simcock's legal papers (I have not seen Simcock's will or administration file).

           Reuben was listed with 400 acres at Tablers Station in the 6 May 1751 Fairfax survey. This may or may not be the 400 acres "acres adjoining Isaac JULIAN, and John POTEET, on the Wagon Road to Watkins Ferry, on the dreans of Opeckon" of which he was grantee on 7 June 1760 in Frederick County, Virginia.[134c] He still held the land (or some other parcel) on 15 August 1766 when it was mentioned as bordering someone else's tract on Middle Creek.[134d]

           Descendant Kay Walton supplied the following information: Reuben was in Fredricksburg, VA in 1747 and his name is on deeds there for several years. His name is also on a deed in Lauren County, South Carolina. It is said to be "part of 250 a. orgi. gr. to Reuben Paxon 11/27/1770, then in Craven Co. ..." However, since Kay Walton is also the one who said he died in 1744, obviously more data is needed here. There is a definite possibility of conflating the Quaker Reuben Paxson with the Ulster Presbyterian Reuben Paxton. To keep things confused, a number of Paxson descendants were named Reuben, but only one Paxton (d. 1800) although records cheerfully use a wide variety of spellings for all of them and some descendants of Quaker Paxsons eventually morphed to Paxton.

           Because there has been so much confusion around Reuben Paxon (with either an "s" or a "t"), it might be useful to digress briefly to look at the Scotch-Irish Presbyterian Paxtons. There was at the same time in Virginia two related Scotch-Irish Presbyterian Paxton families. Thomas Paxton, born ca. 1690 in Ulster, son of Samuel, arrived in Pennsylvania in 1722, the first of his family to immigrate here. In 1738 he took up land near Gettysburg until 1742 when he and his family moved to the South River in what would become Rockbridge County, Virginia. There is unconfirmed speculation that he had a son named Reuben who conflates with the one who married Ann Morgan and moved to South Carolina before or during the Revolutionary War, and died there. Thomas's brother John Paxton, born 1692 in Ulster, immigrated in 1735 and settled in York County, Pennsylvania. His widow Elizabeth Paxton moved to North River in Rockbridge County, Virginia. Our Reuben Paxton/Paxson's only family connection to the above Reuben Paxton would be way back in England centuries earlier. However, in spite of diligent seeking by Kay Walton and Dianna Privette, no proof has been found that documents the existence of an Edward and Margaret (Collins) PAXTON, said to be the parents of the possibly-hypothetical second Reuben Paxton—even though they are copied from one secondary source to another and passed around the web as "fact". There was a shoemaker from Dublin, Ireland, named Edward Paxton, born ca. 1725, immigrated about 1750, and married 1750 Elizabeth CUNNINGHAM; they settled in Trenton. They had ten children, none of whom was named Reuben. Edward died in 1800.[134ba]

           At some point Ann MORGAN moved in with Reuben Paxton, the relationship between the two of them being unclear. Is it possible that Ann was the mother of Nancy Paxton? Ann had been in the household of Nathaniel THOMAS, but in his will (1760) he stated that they were never married, although sometimes she claimed they were, and they had no children in common. He did, however, name Ann his executrix. Presumably Ann moved in with Reuben after 1760?[134f] It appears that Reuben and Ann removed to South Carolina together. There is a later real estate record referring to a tract of land that was "part of a Tract of 250 acres, originally granted unto Reuben Paxon by Wm. BULL Esq., Gov, 27 Nov. 1770, in the then Craven Co. on the waters of Encree River, bounding on all sides by Vacant Land at time it was laid out."[134g] Of course calling land "vacant" denied that Native Americans made regular use of it, with a very different concept of land ownership.

           I find all this rather confusing, but the possibility of two different men helps resolve some of the puzzle. I am open to other information as readers might discover and send it to me at .

           Although Reuben disappeared from Quaker records rather early, Alice continued to be active in Kingwood Meeting. My thanks to Kay Walton for providing this data:[135]

The records of the Kingwood Meeting minutes say, "Alice Paxson produced a cert. from Woodbridge 11. 1m. 1744/5 [11 Mar 1744/5]."

Alice Paxson's name shows up frequently in the Women's minutes during the next several years at Kingwood. One mention of Alice in the Kingwood Minutes tell of a difference between Alice and one David Marsh who was possibly married to a niece of Alice's. The date that they found in her favor was 14 6m 1759. Alice was often appointed to serve on committees to deal with matters at Kingwood, and on occasion she was appointed to attend the Quarterly Meeting.

In 1756 she was appointed to be the Clerk of the Women's meeting, indicating that she was literate. She served until the first month of 1761, when she asked to be released from that service. An Alice Paxson is appointed to attend the Quarterly Meeting during the meeting of the 5th month of 1762. Then no further mention is made of Alice until she was mentioned in 1780. It is difficult to know if this is the same Alice Paxson. I have found no record of her death. Records of deaths in Kingwood/Quakertown begin in 1791, so it is probably safe to assume she died prior to 1791.

           Children of Reuben and Alice (Simcock) Paxson:[136]

98    i.     William⁴, b. 2/4 mo. [June] 1732 in Philadelphia on the Sixth day of the week [Friday] about 4 o'clock in the morning; d. 3 June 1816; m. Rachel JOHNSON; 6 children.

99    ii.    Mary, b. 25/11 mo. [Jan.] 1734/5 on the seventh day of the week [Saturday] about 4 o'clock in the morning, in Piscataqua Landing, East New Jersey; d. 19 July 1813 in Virginia; m. out of unity with Friends' process, Isaac GREEN ca. 1756. The Kingwood Meeting Women's minutes of 9/12m/1756 state, "Mary Green gave a paper signed under her hand wherein she acknowledged her offence by marrying contrary to Rules of Discipline, to the Satisfaction of Friends." The couple moved to Hopewell Monthly Meeting, in Va. in 1770. They had 8 children:

a)    John Green, b. 13/9m/1757, m. Ruth HOLLOWAY;
b)    Abigail Green, b. 19 Dec. 1759, m. Samuel CHEW;
c)    Alice Green, b. 29 July 1762;
d)    Mary Green, b. 24 Mar. 1765, d.y.
e)    Robert Green, d.y.
f)    Reuben Green, m. Rhoda BALLARD;
g)    Lydia Green, m. Jacob HUNT;
h)    Susanna Green, m. Thomas HUNT.[137]

100    iii.   Jacob, b. 2/8 mo. [Oct.] 1737 on First Day [Sunday] about 6 o'clock in the afternoonat Old Raritan near Kins Hall, Somerset Co.; d. 7 Feb. 1777; m. Mary WEBSTER; 7 children.

101    iv.    Abigail, b. 17/3 mo. [May] 1740 near Kins Hall at Old Raritan; d. 6/8 mo. [Oct.] 1741, and bur. the next day in Friends Burying Ground Plainfield Meetinghouse.

102    v.     John, b. 13/7 mo. [Sept.] 1744 on the fifth day of the week [Thursday] about 11 o'clock at night, at his grandfather's house, John SIMCOCK, in Kingwood, Hunterdon Co., NJ; d. in 1820; m. 24 Sept. 1778 in Stafford [West] Virginia, Mary whose surname may have been CHESHIRE (although there seems to be no proof at all); 9 children.[138]

         vi.    Nancy (unproven, may be a Paxton? probably does not belong here), b. ca. 1735-37?; d. ca. 1763?; m. ca. 1755-56 Zackquill MORGAN, b. 8 Sept. 1735 in New Bunker Hill, Orange Co., Va., the son of Morgan ap Morgan; he d. 1 Jan. 1795 in Morgantown. Zackquill m(2) Sept/Oct 1765 Drusilla SPRINGER. Zackquill had some children with each wife, including these three with Nancy (Paxson/Paxton):[138a]

a) Nancy Ann or Anne Morgan, b. ca. 1759; m. John PIERPOINT;
b) Temperance Morgan, b. ca. 1760; m. 1777 James COCHRAN in Morgantown, (now West Virginia);
c) Catherine Morgan, b. ca. 1763; m. Jacob SCOTT

43.      Henry³ Paxson, son of Henry² #18 (James¹ #3) and Ann (Plumley) Paxson, was born 28 August 1722 and died 2 August 1799. On 28 Third Month [May] 1745 he married Elizabeth LUPTON in Buckingham Meeting.[139] He lived in Solebury Township on his father's farm, which had been purchased from John SCARBOROUGH in 1711.[139a]

           Henry was a member of Buckingham Monthly Meeting, but not nearly as active as some of his cousins. His name appears twelve times between 1767 and 1785 as he was appointed to marriage clearness committees and other small responsibilities.[140]

           Pennsylvania tax records show Henry owned 200 acres, three horses, seven head of cattle, and no servants in 1779. Two years later he had lost three cattle. During the Revolution Henry maintained Quaker testimonies against participation in anything having to do with the military. In consequence, five times he suffered distraint of goods, for a total loss of £68, including his gun, two horses, two heifers, and a bull.[141]

           In 1783, the last year of the war, Henry was assessed a tax of £6.4.00. The 1784 return listed him as owner of the same 200 acres with two dwellings and two "out" houses (meaning barns or sheds, not privies), with eight white people in the household, and no blacks. His tax in 1786 was £1.14.6, and for 1787 was £1.16.00.[141a]

           Henry signed his will 12 August 1790, being "somewhat advanced in age," but lived another nine years. His will was proved 16 August 1799. In it he made provision for his wife Elizabeth (to have a cow of her choice and its maintenance, two rooms in the house with egress and use of the other rooms, cider, £22 cash, and so on as long as she was a widow) and all twelve children who got varying amounts of cash. If there was not enough in his personal estate to cover these bequests, then it should come out of the real estate, ⅔ from Isaac's and ⅓ from Mahlon's.[142]

           Elizabeth dated her will 10 Month 28, 1799. It was proved 6 September 1801. She named her son-in-law, Joseph WILKINSON executor. She bequeathed things to her daughters Rachel Paxson, Elizabeth HAMBLETON, Sarah WILKINSON, Mary Paxson, Ann SCARBOROUGH, Mercy Paxson, and Amy WORTHINGTON. Witnesses were Oliver Paxson and Aaron Paxson.[143]

           Children of Henry Jr. and Elizabeth (Lupton) Paxson:[144]

103    i.     Mahlon⁴, b. 4 May 1746; d. Feb. 1820; m. 19 May 1773 in Buckingham Mo. Mtg. Jane PARRY[144a], who was b. 10 May 1745; inherited 80 acres of his father's plantation subject to his paying £10 a year to his mother; 4 children.

104    ii.    Rachel, b. 30 July 1747; d. May 1813; unmarried. Her will was pr. 31 May 1813, Moses EASTBURN named executor. Rachel mentioned her brothers Henry and Joseph; sisters Elizabeth HAMBLETON, Amy WORTHINGTON, and Mary and Mercy Paxson; and her niece and namesake Rachel HAMBLETON. The will was witnessed by Aaron, Letitia, and Ann Paxson.[145]

105    iii.   Isaac, b. 29 Nov. 1748; d. July 1812; m. Elizabeth P. ELY. Isaac inherited the bulk of his father's farm, about 120 acres, subject to the provisions for his mother and payment to her of £12 a year while she remained a widow.

106    iv.    Henry, b. 17 Oct. 1750; d. 1815; m. 1778 Matilda KEMBLE; at least one son.

107    v.     Elizabeth Lupton, b. 15 Feb. 1752; d. 14 Mar. 1832 in Lancaster Co.; m. 1775 James HAMBLETON (he was b. 5 Jan. 1754 in Solebury, son of Stephen and Hannah (Paxson) Hambleton; d. 27 Jan. 1833 in Drumore, Lancaster Co.); 12 children: [146]

a)    Peninah Hambleton, b. 17 Apr. 1780 in Solebury; d. 3 Sept. 1808 in Drumore, Lancaster Co.
b)    Hannah Hambleton, b. 8 May 1781; d. 8 Sept. 1870 in York Co., Pa.; had an out-of-wedlock son; m. 8 May 1806 Robert WIGGINS, b. in Kent Co., Md., a farmer in York Co., Pa.
c)    Elizabeth Hambleton, b. 8 May 1781, twin of Hannah; d. before May 1786.
d)    Mercy Hambleton, b. 14 Apr. 1783; d. 13 Nov. 1862 in Colerain Twp., Lancaster Co.; m. James BROWN; all four of their children d.y.
e)    Alice Hambleton, b. 10 Jan. 1785; d. 24 Mar. 1838 [or, d. 13 Nov. 1862, per Suzanne Lamborn]; m. 4 Oct. 1816 Jehu [John] KINSEY, son of Joseph and Anna Kinsey; removed to Ohio;
f)    Elizabeth Hambleton, b. 14 May 1786 in Solebury; d. 24 Mar. 1858 in Fulton Twp., Lancaster Co., Pa.; m. 16 Dec. 1813 Eli SMEDLEY, son of Joseph and Rebecca Smedley, at Little Brittain MM. Elizabeth was a recorded minister. [For more, including descendants, see Suzanne P. Lamborn, The Paxson Family (Morgantown, Pa.: Masthof Press, 2008), 12-19.]
g)    Rachel Hambleton, b. 23 May 1787; d. 21 Aug. 1878 in Solebury; m. 12 Dec. 1815 Mark ELY, son of George and Sarah (MAGILL) Ely at Solebury Mtg.
h)    Mary Hambleton, b. 2 Oct. 1788 in Solebury; d. 6 Sept. 1876; unmarried; called "Polly".
i)    John Hambleton, b. 2 Feb. 1790 in Drumore Twp.; d. 24 Sept. 1870 in Morgan Co., Ohio; m. his second [first?] cousin, Rachel KINSEY, daughter of Benjamin and Margaret (HAMBLETON) Kinsey. John was active in the anti-slavery movement, and worked for temperance. He supported the Free Soil party. They removed to Morgan Co., Ohio in 1826.[146a]
j)    Joseph Hambleton, b. 10 May 1791 in Drumore, Lancaster Co.; d. 30 Oct. 1845 in Morgan Co., Ohio; m. 1812 Ann R. NEAL by a magistrate, and had their first child less than nine months later. Removed to Morgan Co., Oh. in 1832. He was treated for illness by being bled, from which he died.[146aa]
k)    Stephen Hambleton, b. 30 July 1793; d. falling from a horse.
l)     Sarah Hambleton, b. 17 May 1795; d. 29 Dec. 1857 in Lancaster Co.; m. 1836 [or 1849 per Suzanne Lamborn] Anthony PICKERING;
m)   Anne Hambleton, b. 10 June 1797; d. 23 Dec. 1847; m. Andrew MAGOUGH.
n)    Elias Hambleton, b. 27 Oct. 1801; d. 27 Apr. 1872. [146aaa]

108    vi.    Joseph, b. 1 Jan. 1754; d. 25 May 1834; m. 27 Apr. 1782 Mary KEMBLE, in the Second Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia.

109   vii.   Sarah, b. 1 Dec. 1755; d. 25 Mar. 1813; m. 18 Nov. 1778 in Buckingham Mo. Mtg. Joseph WILKINSON of Solebury Township. They had children, recorded in Buckingham MM records:[146b]

a)   Rachel Wilkinson, b. 4/11m0/1779
b)   Elisabeth Wilkinson, b. 28/12mo1780; d. 25 Mar. 1813; m. Crispin PEARSON and had a daughter, Mercy Pearson, who married Isaac SCARBOROUGH. Their son, Watson Scarborough, was the father of Henry W. Scarborough, lawyer and business man of Philadelphia who sent a genealogical memorandum on 3 Nov. 1934, which appeared in Joint Committee of Hopewell Friends, assisted by John W. Wayland, Hopewell Friends History 1734-1934 Frederick County, Virginia (Strasburg, Virginia: Printed by Shenandoah Publishing House, Inc., 1936), 99.
c)   Henry Wilkinson, b. 29/10mo1783;
d)   Joseph Wilkinson, b. 15/4mo/1785;

110    viii.  Mary, b. 5 Feb. 1758; d. Feb. 1828; unmarried in 1813 when she was mentioned in her sister Rachel's will.[147]

111    ix.    Mercy, b. 25 Aug. 1759; d. 1 May 1837; unmarried.

112    x.      Ann, b. 12 Aug. 1761; m. 11 Apr. 1787 Robert SCARBOROUGH in Buckingham Mo. Mtg.[147a] He was b. 9 Mar. 1763, the son of John and Margaret (KIRK) Scarborough. Had at least one daughter:

a)   Mary Scarborough m. __

113    xi.    Amy (with various spellings), b. 6 Aug. 1763; d. 15 Sept. 1839; m. 13 May 1789 Thomas WORTHINGTON in Buckingham Mo. Mtg.[147b]

114   xii.   John, b. 27 July 1766; m. 10 Mar. 1790 Mary ELY in Buckingham Mo. Mtg.; 3 children.[148]

45.    Thomas³ Paxson, son of Henry² #18 (James¹ #3) and Ann (Plumley) Paxson, was born 17 June 1726 and died 13 January 1767. He married first, Sarah HARVEY on 17 May 1748. She was the sixth child, third daughter of Matthias Harvye of Upper Makefield Township, born in 1730.[149] Sarah died 16 June 1762 in her thirty-second year. Thomas then married on 21 February 1764 in Buckingham Monthly Meeting Hannah BLACKFAN, daughter of William and Eleanor (WOOD), and granddaughter of Rebecca (CRISPIN) Blackfan, first cousin of William PENN.[149a] Hannah was born 20 May 1735 in Solebury. They had no children, but three years later, when Thomas died at the age of forty-one, Hannah was left to raise her four step-children. In contemporary records Thomas was often referred to as "Junior" while his cousin Thomas (son of William Jr. and Abigail) was sometimes referred to as "Senior".

           At the age of fourteen Thomas removed to Falls Monthly Meeting with his older sister Sarah and her husband of eleven years, Joseph DUER. Thomas was probably apprenticed to his brother-in-law. In 1748 he married Sarah Harvey under the care of Falls Meeting. A few months later the young couple was granted a certificate of removal to Buckingham Meeting where they settled on a 300-acre farm deeded to Thomas by his father on 26 April 1748.[150]

           In 1750 Samuel EASTBURN, Clerk, recommended minister, and travelling Friend, bequeathed one-half acre to Buckingham Monthly Meeting for the erection of a school house. In his will he named Thomas Paxson Jr. and five other men as trustees. This became what was probably the first school in Solebury. Thomas also served the Meeting actively in a number of capacities, including representative to Quarterly Meeting and as an Overseer.[151]

           Thomas died 13 January 1767. He provided well for Hannah in his will, stipulating carefully what goods and services his sons were to supply her. Eldest son Abraham received the 300-acre farm and the grandfather's clock. Aaron got his father's watch and the 99 3/4-acre section of the Pike Tract in Solebury, purchased 1 February 1763. Moses received about 100 acres from another piece of the Pike Tract when he became twenty-one years old, plus his father's desk. Daughter Ann was bequeathed £150 when she became eighteen plus all the furniture, linens, and things which had been her natural mother's and had been stored by her aunt Jane BROWN. The executors were son Abraham and a brother of each wife: Abraham HARVEY of Makefield and William BLACKFAN Jr. of Solebury.[152]

           Hannah lived about a third of a century after Thomas's death. She signed her will 19 Sixth Month 1798 and it was probated 23 February 1802. Her nephew Edward BLACKFAN was named executor. Hannah bequeathed something to each of the four children of her deceased husband, as well as to Hannah, the daughter of Abraham, to Hannah, the daughter of Moses, and to Letitia, the daughter of Aaron. It seems quintessentially a woman's will, remembering the women who still at this date could not legally own property in their own names if they were married. It is interesting how many were named Hannah. Hannah remembered her nieces Hannah SMITH, Hannah BETTS, and Hannah MORRIS. There were bequests for the widows of her two brothers, namely Martha Blackfan and Hester Blackfan; for Mary, the wife of her nephew Edward Blackfan; for her sister Sarah WOOD, and for the 23 children of her brothers and sisters. Hannah SMITH, granddaughter of her deceased sister Elizabeth (Blackfan) ELY; Hannah Blackfan, daughter of Edward Blackfan; the child of nephew James WOOD; and finally, Sarah, the widow of Thomas LEWIS of Plumstead, who was the sister of Hannah's Friend John WATSON. One of the few mentions of men was Watson FELL.[152a]

           Children of Thomas Jr. and his first wife Sarah (Harvey) Paxson:

115    i.     Abraham⁴, b. 19 June 1749; d. 22 June 1839; m. 23 Nov. 1775 in Buckingham, Elizabeth BROWN; 4 children.

116    ii.    Aaron, b. 4 Aug. 1751; d. 15 Oct. 1827; m. 27 Apr. 1775 Letitia KNOWLES. Letitia d. 10 Aug. 1835; 5 children.

117    iii.   Moses, b. 23 (or 13?) Aug. 1754; d. 26 Feb. 1826; m(1) 1781 Mary POWNALL; 7 children. Mary d. 19 Apr. 1816 and Moses m(2) 1820 Sarah Paxson, daughter of Jonathan (Thomas⁴, Thomas³, William², William¹). Sarah was b. 27 Dec. 1775; d. 23 May 1854; no issue.

118    iv.    Ann, b. 3 June 1757; m. William KITCHEN, son of William and Sarah (CROOK); he was b. 12 Feb. 1749/50. They settled on the former Burgess Tract in Solebury Township. Two children: [Data on the children from Reibold, The Life of Matthias Harvye and Family, 401-2.]

a) Sarah Kitchen, b. 19 Jan. 1777; m. 1800 Joseph DUER, Jr.
b) William Kitchen, b. 26 July 1792; m. 9 Jan. 1812 to Eleanor CAREY of Quakertown, by John SHAW, Esq.; she was b. 24 Aug. 1794, the daughter of Ellis and Hannah. Seven children, including Paxson Kitchen, b. 19 May 1830.

           For those interested in demographic statistics, in the first generation in the new world there were three PAXSON men who married and had children. They produced sixteen children, of whom 12 (75%) were males. This is an unexpected gender disproportion. Anyway, there was an average of 5.33 children for each parental couple of the first generation. The second generation also had three men who married and had children. They produced 17 offspring, of whom 12 (70%) were male. This generation (excluding the daughters who married and had children) averaged 5.66 children per family. The third generation had ten men who married and had children, producing in all 72 children, 41 male (57%), for an average of 7.2 children per couple. The fourth generation had 32 men who married and produced 207 children. Of these 102 or 49% were males. This generation averaged 6.47 children per family.

Go on to the Fourth Generation.

Return to the Earlier Generations in England, or to the top of this page.

Zip on ahead to the Fifth Generation, or the Sixth Generation, or the Seventh Generation, or even the Eighth Generation. The later generations are far from complete.

Return to the Home Page.

Find other Paxsons in a first name index.

Go to the Index of Collateral Lines that connect with some of these Paxsons. Only a minority of these have been posted so far, but it gives a list of the families in which I am interested.

Take a quick look at some of the citations; this page is incomplete, as later sources are included right in the text.

Note that this page is still occasionally getting updated or corrected
as I hope to always be open to new data.

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Updated 7m/12/2019.