1. William Jasper McCurdy, born April 16, 1829 in Stone Mountain, Madison County, Georgia; died March 21, 1897 in Warrensburg, Johnson, Missouri. He was the son of 2. Stephen McCurdy and 3. Delilah Wright. He married (1) Margaret Ellen Smith September 21, 1851 in Murray County, Georgia. She was born October 14, 1833 in Chatanooga, Marion County, Tennessee, and died April 21, 1901 in Warrensburg, Johnson County, Missouri. She was the daughter of Russell V. Smith and Abigail Loyd.

Notes for William Jasper McCurdy:

William is listed as a farmer in the 1870 Missouri census, age 41, with $2,200 in real estate and $1,100 in personal property. Margaret (age 37), Josephine (age 17), Mary E. (age 15), John H. (age 13), William (age 10), George (age 7), Charles (age 5), Hansford (age 2) and Anna (age 7 months) were residing with him.

It appears that William and Margaret left Georgia for Missouri sometime between 1856 and 1860.

More About William Jasper McCurdy:

Burial: Unknown, Roop/Brethren Cemetery

More About Margaret Ellen Smith:

Burial: Unknown, Roop/Brethren Cemetery

More About William McCurdy and Margaret Smith:

Marriage: September 21, 1851, Murray County, Georgia

2. Stephen McCurdy, born October 26, 1790 in Elton County or Dalton, Whitfield County, Georgia; died October 04, 1848 in Dalton, Whitfield, Georgia. He was the son of 4. John McCurdy and 5. Elizabeth Groves. He married 3. Delilah Wright.

3. Delilah Wright, born 1798 in Virginia or Georgia¹; died 1869 in Stone Mountain, Madison County, Georgia². She was the daughter of 6. Francis Wright and 7. Lucy Jones.

Notes for Delilah Wright:

Delilah's father died when she was young (Rootsweb).

In the 1850 Census for Georgia, Delilah McCurdy is listed as Head of Household, age 53 years and located in Murray County. She has William J. (age 21 - farming as occupation), Susan A. (age 18), Stephen CM (age 14), Sarah J. (age 10), Harriet AM (age 7), and George F. (age 4) residing with her. The Russell Smith family, including Margaret Smith, were next door neighbors of the McCurdys.

In the 1860 Census for Georgia, Delilah McCurdy is listed as Head of Household, age 63 years, with Real Estate value of $2,500 and Personal Property of $300. Susan A. (age 30), Sarah H. (age 26), Amanda (age 24), George F. (age 15 - farm laborer), and Elizabeth ? (age 33) are residing with Delilah.

More About Delilah Wright:

Burial: Unknown, Backyard of Chalie Hooker, Dalton, Georgia²

Children of Stephen McCurdy and Delilah Wright are:

4. John McCurdy, born July 05, 1762 in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania; died 1837 in Madison County, Georgia. He was the son of 8. David McCurdy and 9. Agnes Weakley. He married 5. Elizabeth Groves 1786.

5. Elizabeth Groves, born 1765 in Pennsylvania⁴; died 1825 in Madison County, Georgia. She was the daughter of 10. Stephen Groves and 11. Isabella Weakley.

Notes for John McCurdy:

Probably served in Revolutionary War:

GEORGIA PENSION ROLL

OF 1835

JOHN McCURDY

MADISON COUNTY

PRIVATE

PENNSYLVANIA MILITIA

$43.77 ANNUAL ALLOWANCE

$131.31 AMOUNT RECEIVED

MAY 28, 1833 PENSION STARTED

AGE 71

(USGenweb Archives)

More About John McCurdy and Elizabeth Groves:

Marriage: 1786

Children of John McCurdy and Elizabeth Groves are:

6. Francis Wright⁴, born 1759 in Oglethorpe County, Georgia; died 1804 in Oglethorpe County, Georgia. He married 7. Lucy Jones Abt. 1780⁵.

7. Lucy Jones⁶, born Abt. 1761 in Virginia; died 1828 in Madison County, Georgia. She was the daughter of 14. Aaron Jones and 15. Sarah Stroud.

More About Francis Wright and Lucy Jones:

Marriage: Abt. 1780⁷

Children of Francis Wright and Lucy Jones are:

8. David McCurdy, born Abt. 1729 in West Pennsboro, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania; died February 14, 1796 in Elbert County, Georgia⁸. He was the son of 16. David McCurdy and 17. Susan Madden. He married 9. Agnes Weakley March 20, 1752 in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania.

9. Agnes Weakley, born 1732 in West Pennsboroug, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania⁹; died 1792 in Elbert County, Georgia⁹. She was the daughter of 18. James Weakley and 19. Jane Wilson.

More About Agnes Weakley:

Date born 2: 1732, West Pennsboro, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania

More About David McCurdy and Agnes Weakley:

Marriage: March 20, 1752, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania

Children of David McCurdy and Agnes Weakley are:

10. Stephen Groves¹⁰, born January 06, 1739/40 in Lancashire, England; died March 11, 1839¹⁰. He was the son of 20. William Groves and 21. Rachel Herring. He married 11. Isabella Weakley.

11. Isabella Weakley¹⁰, born Abt. 1749 in West Pennsboro, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania; died Unknown. She was the daughter of 18. James Weakley and 19. Jane Wilson.

More About Isabella Weakley:

Date born 2: Abt. 1749

Child of Stephen Groves and Isabella Weakley is:

14. Aaron Jones¹⁰, born Abt. 1731 in Virginia; died 1804 in Lincoln County, Georgia. He was the son of 28. John Jones and 29. Elizabeth ?. He married 15. Sarah Stroud Abt. 1750.

15. Sarah Stroud¹⁰, born Abt. 1733 in Virginia¹⁰; died Abt. 1803¹⁰. She was the daughter of 30. Isham Stroud.

Notes for Aaron Jones:

"Aaron and Sarah resided in Culpepper, Virginia in 1766.

On June 29, 1768, he and his wife Sarah and son William were living on a part of George William Fairfax's Battle Run tract.

In 1794 Aaron and Sarah Jones were in Abbeville, South Carolina, where they sold a legacy from Isham Stroud which was in Elbert County, Georgia. The relationship between Isham Stroud and Aaron and Sarah Jones must have been close, since the couple inherited the entire Stroud estate. My suspicion is that the property was a legacy from Sarah's family, and that Isham Stroud was her father. (1)

On May 28, 1802 Aaron was established in Lincoln County, Georgia, where deed documents show a transfer of slaves and property to his son Mason Jones and Franky Jones, Mason's wife." (1)

(1) F.C. Jones, Genforum

The following is from: "Our Jones Family", a compilation of the descendants of Aaron Jones, by Edith Jones Breen and Francine Jones Pendergrass (Allen), privately published, 1975. Book sent by Dr. Robert Leahy of Carrolton TX in January 2000; authors discovered April 2000.

In 1766 Aaron Jones was in Culpeper Co. VA, having made a payment to the estate of William Johnson. In 1768 Aaron Jones leased a plantation of 108 acres from "the Hon, George William Fairfax" of Fairfax County, Virginia Colony. Mentioned in this lease were Aaron, his wife Sarah, and son William. The lease was proved in Culpeper County Court Feb. 16, 1769. Deed Book E. 1765-1769 pp 650-652.

NOTE: This is the only mention of Aaron's son William, and Wiliam is not mentioned in later deed of gift transfers to Aaron's other children. This writer assumes William died, perhaps in the Revolutionary War (needs research!), or moved away from the family during the 1770 era. We know that both Moses, Aarons son, and Vincent Glass, Aaron's son-in-law, were Patriot Revolutionary Soldiers. Aaron himself would have been about 45 years of age, and I strongly suspect that he too fought for his homeland!

A list of taxpayers in Culpeper County in 1782-87 shows Aaron Jones, his son Moses, a son-in-law Vincent Glass, and a son-in-law Francis Wright. John Florence, father-in-law of Aaron's sons Moses and Willis listed also. Marriage records show Moses married Mary Florence Feb 12, 1789.

In 1794 Aaron and Sarah Jones were in Abbeville, South Carolina, where they sold a legacy from Isham Stroud which was in Elbert County, Georgia. There is now evidence that Aaron's son Henry was also in Abbeville SC, and that at least one of his (Henry's) children was born there.

Based on the above and then the following, Aaron and Sarah and most of their family removed to early Lincoln County, Georgia between 1789 and 1802, with an intermediate stop in Abbeville County South Carolina, and perhaps in Elbert County GA.

Moses is known to have received bounty land for his service in the war; it is believed that this was the foundation of the family's land holdings in Georgia..

History of Elbert County Georgia

Author: John H McIntosh Call Number: F292.E4M17

This book contains the history of Elbert County Virginia.

Bibliographic Information: McIntosh, John H. History of Elbert County Georgia. Cherokee Publishing Company. Atlanta. 1968.

LIST OF EARLY ELBERT COUNTY RESIDENTS WHOSE NAMES DO

NOT APPEAR ELSEWHERE IN THIS VOLUME--THE DATE

AFTER EACH NAME INDICATES ITS FIRST APPEARANCE

OF RECORD.

Jones, Aaron 1800

Jones, Allen 1797

Jordan, River 1795

Jordan, John 1795

James, Joseph 1796

Jones, Arthur 1797

From email 14 Jan 2001 "LindaJ" (MS. Linda Laminack) GabbyLJ@aol.com and at library: llam53@longview.lib.tx.us

" King George County, Virginia

Will Book A - 1

1721 - 1752

and Miscellaneous Notes

Compiled by George Harrison Sanford Kind, FASG

Fredericksburg, Virginia 1978

Deed Book #3, p493

Book page 248

Jones, John of Brunswick Parish, King George County, made his will while resident there on 12 February 1744 and it was admitted to probate 5 Mar 1752 and recorded in WB#1, p. 10.

To his wife, Elizabeth Jones, he bequeathed a Negro, certain chattels and one-third of his personal and landed estate for life. His sons Aaron and Abraham Jones were to be schooled and have the testator's land bordering the Rappahannock River and Muddy Creek Run. To his children, viz: John, Patience, Ann and George Jones he bequeathed chattels with an equal division of his personal property among all his children after the death of his wife, Elizabeth Jones, who was named as executrix and Francis Martin, executor. Rowland Thornton, William Newton and James Glendining appraised the estate of John Jones of Brunswick Parish per order of court on 9 March 1752 and his inventory was recorded in I #2, p. 95 - 96.

On 5 March 1752 Aaron Jones gave his bond to Elizabeth Jones, widow, that he would permit her the quiet and peaceful possession of a tract of land devised to her for life by the will of John Jones, deceased, dated 12 February 1744/45 and this instrument was recorded in Deed Book #3, p 493.

If the above John is the father of "our" Aaron, this may be a major breakthrough. Aaron would have been about 13 years of age when his father John wrote the will in 1744 (John must have been in ill health), and about 21 years old when the will was probated in 1752. If his mother was still alive in 1752 as the bond above indicates, then Aaron no doubt was preparing to strike out on his own; at least later, in 1768, he was in Fairfax County, VA starting a plantation on leased property. Francine Jones Allen and Edith Breen (authors of "MY JONES FAMILY", 1975) show that the first records in Culpeper County VA were about 1766.

I sent Francine Jones Allen the information; in her reply, she indicated the following from a search of King George County, VA records in the Dallas TX library:

--"Deed Book 4 pp 496-9

Indenture made 5th/6th May 1862 between ARON JONES and SARAH his wife of parish Brunswick & county King George Planter and THOMAS CASSON of same..by deeds of lease and release..for sum One hundred pounds current money of Virginia.. sold 100 acres which land binds on the land of WILLIAM THORNTON an Infant, JAMES KENYON and WILLIAM ROWLEY Gent. .. Presence John S. Woodcock Signed Aron Jones and Sarah X Jones At a court held 6th of May 1764 .. Deeds of lease and release .. admitted to record."

She continued: "The time line seems to fit. Aaron was a minor when John wrote his will in 1744. John died in 1752. Aaron turned over his share to his mother---at least that is what it sounds like. He was married by 1(7)62 when he s(old) property. The first record in Culpeper Co. is in 1766. "

This certainly ties Aaron and Sarah to King George County! My own comments are as follows:

"John appears to be Aaron's father. The brother Abraham is interesting as well, perhaps we can find something about him. It appears to me that Aaron's mother must have lived longer, and Aaron being a young man of about 22, probably newly married and desirous of making his own way, moved to Culpeper; his fathers will apparently ensured that his mother was to live on the home property. Or who knows what the reason was?? The thing is we now have additional names and locations to search. "

More About AARON JONES:

Land Transfer 1: August 05, 1794, Estate of Isham Stroud of Elbert Co., GA

Land Transfer 2: February 04, 1795, 150 Acresin Elbert Co. GA from Wiley Davis, 25pounds Sterling.

Land Transfer 3: January 14, 1803, 100 Acres Lincoln Co., GA gift to Mason & Frankey Jones

Land Transfer 4: January 14, 1803, Moses and Polly Jones to Aaron Jones 100 Acres on Fishing Cr. for $200.( Part of a Tract granted to Moses)

Re-Location 1: Bef. 1794, >Culpepper Co. VA to>?Elbert Co., GA?>Lincoln Co. GA

Re-Location 2: Abt. 1790, Lincoln Co., GA

Notes for SARAH STROUD:

In 1794 Aaron and Sarah Jones were in Abbeville, South Carolina, where they sold a legacy from Isham Stroud which was in Elbert County, Georgia. The relationship between Isham Stroud and Aaron and Sarah Jones must have been close, since the couple inherited at least a portion of the Isham Stroud estate. My suspicion is that the property was a legacy from Sarah's family, and that Isham Stroud was her father. (1)

Note: This relationship is not proven. However, there is apparently there was a long standing legal battle related to portions of the Stroud estate:

Stroud GenForum by N. Ricker May 1999

"William Moss of Granville NC m Sarah; William died and Sarah m Thomas Stroud on 24 Mar 1763, and they moved to Elbert County GA. William Moss, son of William and Sarah, in Elbert County GA was Administrator of Isham Stroud's estate. 19 Jan 1793, Elbert County Court Order Book 1791-1806, Pg 4: William Moss Esq appointed Administrator of the estate of Isham Stroud, dec'd; William Hansard Security. Must be a relationship between this Isham and yours. "

and: (also from N. Ricker, August, 2000)

"BIOGRAPHY: Court of the Ordinary Minutes 1791-1833, 14 Apr 1800, Thomas B Creigh/Isham Stroud, GA Archives Retrieval/Refile Info 93/33: "Thomas B Creigh applied for Letters of Dismissal on the Estate of Isham Stroud, Dec'd. N.O." (Not recorded?)"

"BIOGRAPHY: 14 Apr 1800 Elbert County GA Court Order Book 1791-1806: Thomas B. Creigt applied for letters of Administration of the estate of Isham Stroud, original grant to heirs of Isham Stroud Folio 16."

"MARRIAGE: Sarah Moss, Widow of William Moss of Granville NC, married Thomas Stroud; they moved about 1775 to Wilkes or Franklin County GA; not confirmed. Jean Morford."

"MARRIAGE: Sarah Moss, Widow, believed to be the Widow of William Moss that died 1761/1762 in Granville NC, married Thomas Stroud on 24 Mar 1763 in Granville NC. Thomas Stroud and wife Sarah moved to Wilkes County GA about 1775."

"DEEDS: Deed, 1795 Folio 16, William Moss Administrator of Isham Stroud, dec'd, to Thomas B Creigh, 200 acres on Beaverdam Creek, original grant to heirs of said Isham Stroud on 6 May 1795. Elbert County GA Court Minutes 1791-1833, pg 27, 14 Apr 1800."

More About Aaron Jones:

Burial: Unknown, Jones Family Cemetery, Lincoln County, Georgia¹¹

Notes for Sarah Stroud:

"Sarah Stroud (daughter of Isham Stroud) is still a speculative spouse for Aaron Jones. I have seen her name attached to Aaron Jones on several files I have found, but I have no documentation for the marriage (--RMLeahy 15 MAY 2000). The dates of birth/death used here for the Aaron Jones family are taken from FAMILYTREEMAKER.COM World Family Tree vol. 24, tree # 2120: Rankin, Wright, Cannon of GA, TX 1569-1998, accessed 14 MAY 2000. The dates replace those originally from Elayne Pair Gibbons (principally, or other earlier sources). Note, however, the following children and their accompanying information from Elayne Pair Gibbons: William* (b. btn 1764-1768), Mary (b. abt. 1769), and Gaden (b. abt. 1784). *William is mentioned as living Aaron and Sarah Jones in OUR JONES FAMILY, p. 14: 'On June 29, 1768, he and wife Sarah and son William were living on a part of George William Fairfax's Battle Run tract.' It is reasonable to assume the William is the oldest child. However, there are no other dates given for William, so the young child may have died after just a short lifetime." (1)

(1) Rootsweb, Linda Massia

More About Sarah Stroud:

Burial: Unknown, Jones Family Cemetery, Lincoln County, Georgia¹¹

More About Aaron Jones and Sarah Stroud:

Marriage: Abt. 1750

Child of Aaron Jones and Sarah Stroud is:

16. David McCurdy¹², born 1709 in Antrim County, Ireland¹²; died 1761 in Silver Springs, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania¹³. He married 17. Susan Madden.

17. Susan Madden¹⁴, born Abt. 1713¹⁴; died Unknown.

Notes for David McCurdy:

The family is of Irish origin. The grandfather of our subject, John McCurdy, Sr., was a native of County Antrim, Ireland, where he grew to manhood and was married. Later he came to America, leaving his wife and children in the old country and during the Revolutionary War fought under Gen. Washington. For his services he received a land warrant and then returned to the Emerald Isle for his family with the intention of establishing a home in the United States, but died very suddenly in his native land.

Afterward the three older children,including John, father of our subject, who served in the War of 1812-14, and was born in County Antrim and was then twelve years of age, came to America, leaving his widowed mother and younger siblings in Ireland, where Mrs. McCurdy died at the advanced age of one hundred and five years.

The three sons who came to this country did not improve the land as it was their intention of doing when they left home, but sold the warrant and removed to different parts of the country to engage in business best-suited to their tastes.(1)

(1) 1891 Portrait and Biographical Record

Macoupin County, Illinois

page 258

Children of David McCurdy and Susan Madden are:

18. James Weakley¹⁵, born 1704 in Devonshire, England¹⁶; died June 06, 1772 in West Pennsboroug, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania¹⁷. He married 19. Jane Wilson Abt. 1731 in West Pennsboroug, Cumberland, Pennsylvania¹⁷.

19. Jane Wilson, born Abt. 1715 in Devonshire, England¹⁷; died November 30, 1768 in West Pennsboroug, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania¹⁷.

Notes for James Weakley:

The following is taken from The Weakley Family Story, by James Maroon:

The earliest known ancestor that I have record of on the Weakley side is my great-great-great-great-great grandfather James Weakley, who settled in West Pennsboro, Cumberland County, PA.. We know that he was born in 1704, but we don't for sure know where. The references I have seen say that he was born in Devonshire, England. There is no doubt the family name originated in England, long ago. Weakley is a derivative of an English name, Weekly, from the area of Weekley, or in Old English "wych elm wood," in Northampton, England. However, most of the people with whom James Weakley migrated to that part of Pennsylvania were from Ireland, many of them from County Antrim. Other genealogists say they have proof that Ireland is where he came from, but I have yet to see it. James was married to Jane Wilson. I haven't been able to find much about her except as it pertains to her marriage to James, and the fact that she was born in 1715 and died in 1768, and some information that may be gleaned regarding their life together in Cumberland Valley.

Anyway, we also don't know when Jane and James emigrated to Cumberland County, although it has been said they were married in England and moved together to Pennsylvania in 1725 from Devonshire, England. They appear to have immigrated with James' brother William and possibly Robert. Reports conflict, although there is evidence that Robert was his brother. They also appear to have settled in near their kinsmen the Rutherfords. In the 1734 records for the Blunston Licenses, a sort of land license, James and William lived near James, John, and Robert Rutherford. Robert Rutherford appears to have been the patriarch, patenting land for himself and and his grandson Robert Weakley. Robert moved south with his uncle James Rutherford and cousin Griffith Rutherford, possibly with the migration of John Caldwell who led a group of settlers south to Lunenburg county, VA, sometime in the late 1730s or early 40s. William and James Weakley remained behind in Pennsylvania. In1742, William was listed as a tax collector for West Pennsboro township in Lancaster county, an area that was to become Cumberland county some 8 years later. By 1748, William had joined his kinsmen to the south and was listed among the tithables for Lunenburg county, VA, along with Robert Weakley and James and Griffith Rutherford. Griffith was to go on to become a famous general of the American Revolution, and Robert son of Robert became a colonel in that same conflict, fighting sometimes side by side with his cousin. Col. Robert was later to serve in the United States Congress. Rutherford counties North Carolina and Tennessee were named for General Griffith Rutherford. Weakley County, Tennessee, was named for Col. Robert Weakley. This branch of the family went on to live a brilliant history which can be followed in the book The Southern Virginia Weakley Families and their Descendants, by Samual Anderson Weakley.

But James and Jane Wilson Weakley remained in Pennsylvania, carving out an existence in the American wilderness. According to James Senior's will, they had quite a number of children: James (1740), William (1742), Edward (1743), Robert (1745), Samuel (1755), Nathaniel (abt 1756), Agnes, Jane, Martha, Isabel and Mary. Their first born son and my great-great-great-great grandfather James Weakley was born on February 27, 1740.

This was a colonial pioneer family in the truest sense. Cumberland did not officially become a county until after 1740 (until this time the area was a part of Lancaster Co.), and the town of Carlisle, where their descendants settled, was not incorporated until 1750. Harrisburg at the time was Harris Ferry, a rope ferry that helped folks get across the Susquehanna. It isn't clear how early they were there, but some reports have it that the Weakleys may have been among those who jumped the gun on settling the area as early as between 1725 and 1730, pushing out the local Indians. Settlement did not become official until 1736. Even the latter settlement was not in agreement with the Indian tribes, thus contributing to the tensions that led to the French and Indian War. Tradition has it that the area was a wilderness of oak, and the pioneer family cleared it off to make for better farm land and built a log cabin, which was about all that was available to folks that far out at that time. It could be months before a strange face was seen. The area where the Weakleys started out at has been described as a collection of cabins with farms. It was formed mostly for safety reasons due to the understandable anger of local native populations. In addition, the hills around Cumberland Valley had become a safe haven for bandits and thugs trying to stay just beyond the reach of the legal authorities. Grouping farms and cabins made perfect sense in this light. James fortified the immediate area with a stockade, a small fort in which he enclosed his family and the homes of a number of neighbors. When the area became sufficiently populated, it was divided up into townships in 1735, and the Weakley family found itself living in Pennsboro Township. It wasn't a town as we would imagine it today, but rather a loose community of farms.

The Weakleys were devout Christians. Because the area was first settled by Scotch-Irish, the primary faith of the area was Presbyterian. It has been estimated that some 90% of the inhabitants of early Cumberland were Scotch-Irish. This fact and the fact that Presbyterian was basically a Scotch Irish faith has also made me suspect that the Weakley's were from Ireland, and before that Scotland. In 1734 Rev. Alexander Craighead was given permission by the local Presbytery to begin a ministry in the area beyond the Susquehanna river. He developed two congregations here: Silver Springs and Meeting House Springs, the Weakley's joining in the latter congregation. Soon after, his father, Rev. Thomas Craighead, started congregations elsewhere in Cumberland County. Alexander Craighead had a son by the name of Thomas Craighead, who later married William Weakley's daughter Rebecca. Alexander Craighead wrote the first anti-crown manifesto long before revolutionary passions came to a head.

Tensions were high during these early periods. Cumberland county lay right in the path of major Native American migratory routes. There were many raids by and against various Indian peoples, and it became so intense at times that many settlers decided this was not the life for them and either retreated back to the relative safety on the East side of the Susquehanna river, or moved south to greener and presumably safer pastures. Quite a number of homesteads were destroyed and sometimes entire families killed, although not nearly as many as some reports would have us believe. Things came to a head during the French and Indian War. The Weakleys obviously survived, and apparently prospered on their farm. The town of Carlisle grew up near Meeting House Springs, and the Weakley's lived in the area of what became West Pennsborro Township, near present day Dickonson. They apparently worked hard and prospered, developing quite an estate. James and Jane Weakley moved from the head of LeTort's spring and built a plantation that ran along the banks of the Yellow Breeches Creek for seven miles. Records in Harrisburg, PA, show that the Weakley's patented thousands of acres of land. According to Frances Weakley's The Weakley Family in America, this strip of land extended from Mt. Holly Springs to the Old Stone Tavern, about seven miles long and three miles wide. Their old log cabin was replaced by a nice stone house. They built three mills: a fulling mill, a lard mill, and a grist mill, all of which generated money from the surrounding countryside. Dating from the 1700s, the historic Barnitz Mill still stands on what used to be the Weakley estate, which makes a number of researchers think it is one of the mills built by the Weakley family. In addition, they accumulated quite a store of money. The children, except Nathaniel (under sixteen in the year 1772), grew up and married, each of the sons was allowed to build a house on the estate, with ownership remaining in the hands of father James until his death. Jane Weakley died in 1768 at the age of 53 and was buried at the cemetery near Meeting House Springs, 2 miles northwest of Carlisle next to Conedoquinet Creek. James Weakley joined her there in 1772, in his will dividing up his land among three of his eldest sons, James, Edward, and Samuel. Curiously, son William received no land at all. James Sr.'s son, our direct ancestor James Weakley the younger, was given over half of the plantation where James the senior resided, possibly including the main house, although that isn't clear. James senior's money was primarily divided among his daughters and young Nathaniel. Four hundred pounds were set aside for the purchase of land for Nathaniel later on. The very modest amounts given to some of the daughters (except Martha Weakley, who was given 130 pounds, which probably indicates a greater need than the other sisters) and son William makes me think they were already established financially. James senior's last will and testament follows, taken down just a couple of months before his death:

Will of James Weakley, our oldest known ancestor:

In the name of God Amen. I James Weakley of West Pennsborrow Township Cumberland County of the Province of Pennsylvania being sick and weak in body but of sound and discerning mind, memory and understanding, knowing the uncertainty of human life and that it is appointed for all men once to die do make this my last Will and Testament in name and form following that is to say I commit my Body to the earth to be Buried in a Christian and decent manner at the discretion of my Executors hereinafter named and I resign my soul to the hands of God hoping through the merits of my savior for the Pardon and Remission of all my sins and dispose of all my worldly estate in the manner and form following. First I will order and Direct that all my Just debts and funeral expenses be Paid by my Executors out of my Estate as soon as may be convenient after my Decease. Also I give desire and Bequeath to my Daughter Agnes the sum of forty Shillings and to my son William the sum of ten Pounds and to my Daughter Mary the sum of forty Shillings. Also I give desire and Bequeath to my Daughter Jane the sum of fifteen Pounds. Also I give desire and bequeath to my Daughter Martha the sum of One hundred and thirty Pounds. Also I give desire and bequeath to my Daughter Isabel the sum of ten pounds and I leave in the hands of my Executors the sum of Sixty Pounds to be given to her at their discretion and according to her behavior. Also I give desire and bequeath to my son Nathaniel the sum of four Hundred Pounds to be laid in the purchase of land for him at the discretion of my executors or put to use when he arrives at the age of sixteen years. Also I give desire and bequeath to my son Robert the Plantation that the fulling Mill is built on with the fulling with all the appurtenances thereunto belonging to be made to my estate Clear to him his heirs and assigns for ever the Honorable, the (unreadable) excepted also I give Desire and Bequeath to my son Edward the Grist mill and Lard Mill with all the appurtenances Belonging to them, also all the land that belongs to them and all my land on the South side of Yellow Breeches with Ten acres of Up-land on the north side of said levy, the nearest tract to said Mill and four acres of Meadow at the east end of the lower meadow All to be made good to him out of my Estate his heirs and assigns forever from all men the Honorable the (unreadable) excepted. Also I give desire and bequeath to my two sons James and Samuel the Plantation that I now live on to them and their heirs and assigns forever to be divided between them Equally as they shall think proper only to James I allow to the value of fifty pounds more than Samuel. And lastly I do hereby nominate constitute and appoint James Edward and Samuel Weakley my three sons to be the sole executors of this my last will and Testament, hereby revoking disannulling all forms and other Wills and testaments by me heretofore made, declaring this and no other to be my last Will and Testament. In witness whereof I the said James Weakley have here to Set my hand and seal this Twentieth day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy two.

James Weakley (seal)

(his mark)

After his death, the family continued on in the area. Cumberland county was a hotbed of discontent leading up to and during the American Revolution. Some of the primary thinkers of the time resided in the area. James Wilson (it is doubtful he was related to Jane Wilson Weakley, but we don't know), one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence and US Constitution, lived in Carlisle at this time, so the inhabitants of Cumberland Valley were no doubt well informed of happenings. Secondly, since the population was for the most part Scotch-Irish, there was probably a greater propensity to rebellion against Britain than had they been English to begin with. Most if not all of the Weakleys were involved in the Revolution in one way or another. All of the brothers except Nathaniel (that we know of) joined to fight for independence, most of them with the Cumberland County Associators. James became a lieutenant under the command of Col. John Davis.

ABSTRACTS OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY WILLS

1750-1785, 1785-1825

WEAKLEY, JAMES, West Pennaborow. 7 Mar 1772/26 June 1772.

Dau. Agness

Son Wiliam.

Daus., Jane, Martha and Isabel.

Son Nathaniel when 16 yrs of age.

Dau. Mary.

Sons Robert, Edward, James and Samuel.

Exs., sons James, Edward and Samuel Weakley.

Wit: James McMonagle, Samuel Wilson, Wm. Moore. B. 121-22.

More About James Weakley:

Date born 2: 1704

Died 2: 1772¹⁸

More About James Weakley and Jane Wilson:

Marriage: Abt. 1731, West Pennsboroug, Cumberland, Pennsylvania¹⁹

Children of James Weakley and Jane Wilson are:

Children of James Weakley and Jane Wilson are:

20. William Groves, born Abt. 1717 in Lancashire, England; died Unknown. He was the son of 40. William Groves and 41. ?. He married 21. Rachel Herring.

21. Rachel Herring²¹, died Unknown.

Children of William Groves and Rachel Herring are:

28. John Jones²², born Abt. 1680 in <Virginia>²²; died Bet. 1744 - 1752 in Brunswick Parish, King George County, Virginia²². He married 29. Elizabeth ?.

29. Elizabeth ?²², died Unknown.

Notes for John Jones:

Will of John Jones was found at King George County, Virginia courthouse on March 30, 2000. The following was copied as close as possible from a photo copy of the original will found in will book 1, pages 10 and 11 by Peggy Miller. pmiller@olg.com

In the Name of God Amen I JOHN JONES of Brunswick Parish in the County of King George being sick in body but of sound mind and memory thanks be to God

I do make this my last will and Testament in manner following. Impromis I recommend my soul to almighty god trusting in the merits and mediation of by blessed Savior to Receive Pardon and Remission of all my sins and my body to the Earth to have decent and Christian burial and my worldly lands & goods I give bequeath and dispose of as followeth my will is that all my just debts be first paid.

Item I give and bequeath unto my wife ELIZABETH a Negro boy named Tom to her and her heirs forever also a Feather bed and Furniture two cows and calfs Eleven head of hogs two pewter dishes & half a Dozen of Plates to her and her heirs forever.

Item I give unto my wife ELIZABETH one third part of my remaining personal Estate to her and her heirs forever and one third part of my land together with my dwelling house where I now live during her natural life.

Item I give unto my son AARON my land from the River to Muddy Creek Run when he shall arrive at the age of Twenty one years to him and his heirs forever.

Item I give unto my son AARON after my mothers decease a Negro woman named Judy to him and his heirs forever.

Item I give unto my son ABRAHAM the rest of my land from Muddy Creek Run to the back line

after he shall arrive to the age of Twenty one years to him and his heirs forever.

Item I give unto my son JOHN a Negro boy called Cain.

Item I give unto my daughter PATIENCE five pounds current money.

Item I order a hogshead of Tobacco of Nine hundred neat now in my house to be sold for cash

and Laid out for schooling of my two sons AARON and ABRAHAM.

Item my will is that my wife have the benefit of any Rents arising from that Plantation on the River side until my son AARON comes to age toward the maintenance of my younger children.

Item I order that the rent of the Plantation whereon James

Burch now lives be applied ____ towards the clothing of my sons AARON and ABRAHAM until they come to age. Item I give unto my Daughter ANNE a heifer with Calf.

Item I give unto my son GEORGE a heifer with calf.

Item my will is that the rest of my Estate except what is already given be Equally divided among all my Children share and share alike. Lastly I constitute and appoint my wife ELIZABETH JONES and my friend Francis Martin Executors of this my last will utterly revoking all other former will or wills by me or hereto fore at any time made and Confirming this to be my Last Will and Testament. In witness whereof I have here unto set my hand and Seal this 12th day of February 1744.

John Jones (seal)

Signed and sealed in Presence of us\

John Payne (his mark), Francis Martin (his mark), James Somerville

At a Court held for King George County on Thursday the 5th Day of March 1752 . This last will and Testament of John Jones deceased being presented in Court by Elizabeth Jones and Francis Martin the Executors therein named who made oath thereto and there name being ___ duly proved by the oaths of Francis Martian and John Payne two of the witnesses thereto was admitted to Record and is ___ recorded.

Test Robert Armistead

Notes:

Aaron Jones was not of age in 1744; If previous information is correct, and he was born ca. 1731, he would have been 13 years old, with 5 years until age 18, which fits in general with the terms of the will..

Child of John Jones and Elizabeth ? is:

30. Isham Stroud²³, died Unknown.

Child of Isham Stroud is:

40. William Groves, born Abt. 1694 in <Lancashire, England>; died Unknown. He married 41. ?.

41. ?²³, died Unknown.

Child of William Groves and ? is:

1. 1850 U.S. Census, Georgia, Murray County, p. 168.

2. Rootsweb.

3. 1850 U.S. Census, Georgia, Murray County, p. 168.

4. Rootsweb.

5. Terry Lazenby, Genforum.

6. Rootsweb.

7. Terry Lazenby, Genforum.

8. Wilma Tobey.

9. ancestry.com.

10. Rootsweb.

11. Linda J, Genforum.

12. Wilma Tobey.

13. Family History: Descendants of John McCurdy (USGenweb).

14. Wilma Tobey.

15. Rootsweb.

16. James Maroon, Genforum.

17. ancestry.com.

18. James Maroon, Genforum.

19. ancestry.com.

20. James Maroon, Genforum.

21. Genforum.

22. Family Treemaker, Descendants of John Jones.

23. Genforum.