Cliffords
New Jersey to
Pennsylvania and beyond
CliffordsNew Jersey to
|
|
| Home | Contents | Search | First Four Generations | Index |
|
4. ANN3 CLIFFORD (George2, unknown Clifford1); born circa 1735;54 died circa 1817-1820;55 place of burial not known; married JOSEPH BEAVERS; born 1728; died 20 December 1816; buried in the Presbyterian Church Burial Ground, Greenwich,56 Sussex County (present-day Warren County), New Jersey.
One of Joseph's brothers was Robert Beavers, who is buried in the Mansfield Woodhouse Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Washington, present-day Warren County, with members of his family.57 (For more information on Robert Beavers, see Appendix 3.) Also buried with these Beavers is a Joseph Beavers, born 1735, died 6 August 1810. If he is our Joseph Beavers, the transcription is at odds with Joseph's obituary appearing in The True American, 20 January 1817, which reports Joseph died 20 December 1816 and is buried in "the Presbyterian Burial Grounds [old Greenwich Presbyterian Church Cemetery] at Greenwich." Harold Alfred Sönn (1892-1963), a Clifford/Beavers descendant (see #1664), a respected twentieth century New Jersey genealogist, and author of A history of Colonel Joseph Beavers (see References) and other publications on the New Jersey Beavers and related families, after almost a life time of searching, was never able to find a primary source giving the name of Joseph Beaver's wife or wives. However the circumstantial evidence that he gathered over many years-although, as Mr. Sönn admits, not proof-seems convincing enough. Harold Sönn's thesis is that Colonel Joseph Beavers had two wives. One was a Mary White (see later) and the second wife was our Ann Clifford. Harold Sönn speculates that Joseph Beavers had two children by Mary White: one was possibly Joseph Beavers, died in infancy, and the other was Mary Beavers, who married (first) [-?-] Clifford and (second) Alexander White (son of Alexander and Mary McMurtrie White). However, the premise that I will follow is that Joseph Beavers had two wives, Mary White and then Ann Clifford, but Joseph's daughter Mary Beavers was a daughter of Joseph and Ann (Clifford) Beavers, not a daughter of Joseph and first wife Mary (White) Beavers. This is based mainly on Ann (Clifford) Beaver's will (see below) mentioning granddaughter Ann White. And we know that Mary (Beavers) White did have a daughter Ann. Dexter White, a White genealogist and author of the "The White family and the Gantz family," updated 1996, 160 pages, also places Mary (Beavers) White as a daughter of Ann (Clifford) Beavers.58 Who then was the Mary White, first wife of Joseph Beavers?59 For the circumstantial evidence that Joseph Beavers had a wife named Mary White, see end note #59. It has been suggested that she was Mary, daughter of Alexander White (I) and Mary (McMurtrie) White, and hence a sister of the Alexander White (II) who married Mary Beavers. However Mary, daughter of Alexander (I), as "Mary White," was mentioned in her father's will written 1776,60 by which time the first wife of Joseph Beavers would have been dead for several years. Perhaps, as suggested by Sönn (1948), page 10, she was a sister of Alexander White (I) instead of a daughter. But according to the "Descendants of William White," Mary White, sister of Alexander White (I) married James Russell.61 Perhaps the Mary White who was the first wife of Joseph Beavers-if Joseph Beavers had a first wife Mary White-was of a different New Jersey White family. Joseph Beaver's will was written 22 December 1815, recorded January 1817.62 The will mentions son George Beavers and daughters Sarah, Mary, Charity, Catherine, Ann, Elizabeth, Martha, Rebecca, Naomi, Rachel, Margaret (her sum of 500 dollars "is to be kept in the hands of my executors hereafter named and put to interest for her support in old age or as she may etz[?], this to prevent her husband from getting any part of it"), and children (not named) of Theodosia, now deceased. The will also mentions son George's son Joseph Beavers, and daughter Margaret's daughter Milley [Millicent]. The remainder of Joseph's estate was left to his wife, no name given. Son George Beavers and sons-in-law George Biddleman and Stephen Gano (who ended up with full responsibility) were appointed executors. There was family friction and court action during settlement of the estate and as late as 1834 the estate was not completely settled.63 One positive aspect of the lengthy settlement was that Harold Sönn was able to determine from settlement documents the names of many of the Colonel's grandchildren.64 Joseph Beavers was taxed in Bethlehem Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey, in 1778, 1780, and 1785; and, as Joseph Beavers, Esquire, in Alexandria Township, Hunterdon County, in 1785, 1786 and 1789.65 He had large land holdings in New Jersey (Sönn, page 7); but there were few deeds and nothing about wives. In 1775, Joseph Beavers was chosen as one of the delegates to the New Jersey Provincial Legislature (Sönn, page 8, citing page 184 of the Minutes of Provincial Congress and Council of Safety of New Jersey). Joseph Beavers' civil record included (page 9 of Sönn) Overseer of the Poor of Alexandria Township (1765), Justice of the Peace (several years between 1771-1798), Judge of Common Pleas of Hunterdon County (1785), and Judge of the Orphans Court (1785). Joseph served as a Colonel, Second Regiment, Hunterdon County Militia, 31 August 1775 until the close of the war (Sönn, page 8, citing "Adjutant Generals Office in Trenton, New Jersey"). Men of Joseph's regiment, which he commanded, were from parts of Bethlehem, Kingwood and Alexandria Townships. On 10 May 1777, Colonel Beavers wrote Governor Livington from Alexander, New Jersey, complaining about the lack of new commissions for his officers:66
Yesterday the officers of this Battalion met Expecting New Commitions By me, under your Excellency, and as I had none, Except for those ordered on Duty, they Unaniomously Requested me to Send Immmediately, and Pray your Excellency Would be Pleasd. to Send New Commitions for the whole Battalion, as several of the old Commitions are Nearly wore out, and Some intierly Lost or Gone… .
Could this be a harbinger of what was to happen in 1780, when officers of Colonel Beavers' battalion issued a complaint against Colonel Beavers and Lieutenant Colonel Abram Bonnell:
Springfield, June 19, 1780. [to General M. G. Dickinson]. Sir. This may Serve To Inform your Honour That we the under Named Com'md Officers Belonging to Col. Beavers' Batt'n of Hunterdon Militia Request & Desire that you would be Pleased to Order a General Court of Enquiry To Be Called To enquire Into the Conduct of Col. Joseph Beavers' & Lieut. Col. Abram Bonnell of Hunterdon afors'd as we think that we Can Furnish ample Proof That They Have Not acted Nor Conducted according To the Rank They Bear and Have Been the Instrumental Cause of The General Desertion of ye Men from this Post This Day.
One of the 15 officers signing the complaint was Albert Opdycke, Captain. His genealogy is in "The Opdycke Genealogy," from where I took the above item.67 The next day, 20 June 1780, General Dickinson responded by writing to his Excellency William Livingston and stating that he had received the complaint, requesting directions, and noting that the Post was exceeding weak, and he [General Dickinson] was having trouble finding replacements.68 What was the source of these complaints? Over a year later, General William Maxwell wrote to Governor William Livingston. His letters are courtesy of John Newman, who is a student of Colonel Joseph Beavers and the Second Regiment of Hunterdon County, New Jersey. John cites as his source "Correspondence of Governor William Livingston," New Jersey State Archives. John Newman descends from Colonel Joseph and Ann (Clifford) Beavers by their daughter Martha (Beavers) Gano (#25). Note that General William Maxwell was a brother of John Maxwell, who married Mary Clifford (#6), sister of Ann Clifford.
Sussex County Greewich Township
28th October 1781 Sir, - I did not arrive at home till late in the day yesterday owing to the heavy rain the day before. I take this method to assure Your Excellency that it added considerably to my concern when I cam away, that it was out of my power to throw in my mite to place You at the Head of the Legislature; however of what conversation I had with several of the Members I console myself with a firm belief , that it will be done agreeable to my wish … I had charge myself when I went away from home with giving Your Excellency such character of Colonel Beaver as I known and though he richly deserved, for I think that Gentleman very ill used. And however lightly some people might prize the Commission, from its troublesomeness, got when a person has acted in that character for a long time with a good reputation, it cannot be taken from him without greatly injuring his carracter, and giving great cause to our enemy to rejoice although there is no charge exhibited. I can assure Your Excellency that I am well acquainted with Colonel beaver, long before this [looks like "pontoss"???] began when he was in the Commission of the Peace, under the Old Government, and took a decided part with us as early could be expected from the place he held. He lives in a Neighbourhood that was considerably disaffected, and with the Assistance of some good whigs, he kept them in good order, at least as much so as could be expected, now he is left out of the Commission without knowing what for much to the concern of all the Whigs I have fought with on the Subject and to the great Joy of the Torys. I hope that it might be carefully judged against by every person in the Legislature that [ ] Friends in the worst of times, may not be turned or left out now, without due consideration. I am realy afraid that the designing Tory when he dare no longer fault us openly will get too many of his schemes more in with[ ] the overcomplaisant and undesigning Whig, and others [ ] to the inquiry of good men. I give Your Excellency this information that in case Colonel Joseph Beavers Carracter may be farther enquired into (as I hope it may) You may have some better knowledge concerning him than formerly. I am Sir with much respect Your Excellency’s Most Obedient Humble Servant. WILLIAM MAXWELL N.B. I had almost forgot to inform Your Excellency that a Petition for a number of the inhabitants concerning Colonel beaver was put into Colonel Hughses hands and mine to present to the Legislature it is left with Colonel Hughs.
Governor Livingston to William Maxwell
Trenton 19 November 1781 Sir, - I never received your letter of the 28th of October till two or three days ago. I am much obliged to you for your friendly expressions in it respecting my Election. It was it seems unanimous, & I think we never had an assembly more harmonious in every respect, or from which we entertained greater hopes of spirited measures & full Justice to all public creditors. A little time will shew whether these expectations are well founded. We only lament that we were obliged to part with a certain good natured and very honest Irishman who had blundered himself from us by making a little bull that a man could be seized of a freehold without a conveyance for it. But it is to be hoped that the mistake will be so rectified that his Country may before long be profited by his Services in the Legislature. Your Character of Colonel Beavers shews the goodness of your heart & I really believe he deserves it because you give it. I am much a stranger to his Character, & always take greater pleasure in hearing a good than an ill report of any man. The only thing that ever gave me a disadvantageous opinion of him was that he seldom or ever turned out his Battalion & as I had always observed that our Militia turned out well or ill in proportion to the activity or inattention of the officer it was natural for me to suppose him less active than he ought to be. But there is no rule without exception, & I have since had reason to think that the backwardness of his men is really to be ascribed to another cause, that of their living under the influence once of a certain pestilent Tory in Hunterdon who takes infinite pains to prejudice them against our Independence. Possible explanation of the above two letters can be found in "General William Maxwell and the New Jersey Continentals," by Harry M. Ward, p 175, also courtesy of John Newman: "Occasionally Maxwell was called upon to write recommendations for compensation for militia officers whose troops had served in conjunction with the New Jersey brigade during the war. Governor Livingston complimented Maxwell in November 1781 for his effort on behalf of Col. Joseph Beavers of the second regiment of Hunterdon County Militia. ‘Your character of Colonel Beavers shows the goodness of your heart & I really believe he deserves it because you give it,’ wrote Livingston. But the governor add that ‘the only thing that ever gave me a disadvantageous opinion of him was that he seldom or ever turned out his Battalion,’ which indicated an ‘inattention’ to duty. Livingston admitted that Beavers’ problem in activating his men was probably due to the ‘influence’ of ‘a certain pestilent Tory in Hunterdon,’ who took ‘infinite pains to prejudice’ the local citizenry ‘against our Independence.’ Timothy Ford, who remembered Maxwell's ‘kindness’ upon the death of his father, Col. Jacob Ford, Jr., at Morristown in January 1777, asked Maxwell to supply an affidavit in support of his widowed mother's claim to a military half-pay pension. Congress had made such an allowance for widows of officers who died in service." Here is a synopsis of Colonel Joseph Beavers' military service taken from New Jersey Archives, Trenton, New Jersey, courtesy of John Newman. "Colonel, Second Regiment, Hunterdon County Militia, August 31, 1775; served until close of the war. (Refs. Minutes of Provincial Congress, Printed Roster, page 350, and Votes of Assembly, page 16). Commanded his regiment, in active service, December 1776, and January 1777; served part of the time at Pittstown. (Refs. Mss. 7270, page 2, and Aud. Book B, page 184). Served in Burlington County, October 1777. (Ref. Aud. Book B, page 182). Served in Monmouth County, June and July 1778; was at battle of Monmouth, New Jersey, June 28, 1778. (Refs. Aud. Book B, page 184; Inv. Claim 2586, Ferdinand Gulick; and Inv. Claim 842, Elijah Warne). Served at Elizabethtown, October 1778. (Ref. Aud. Book B, page 185), and at Springfield, June 1780. (Ref. Aud. Book B, page 465). The regiment was from the townships of Bethlehem, Kingwood and Alexandria. (Ref. New Jersey Archives, Vol. 2, series 2, page 350)." Sönn believed Joseph Beavers was of Scotch Irish extraction, although there were also early German Biebers in New Jersey. Joseph Beavers had an older brother, Robert, but Sönn could not find the names of Joseph Beaver's parents nor could he connect an early John Beavers of New Jersey to Joseph Beavers (Sönn, page 6). "The ancestors of Diana Charlene Beavers"69 lists Joseph's father as John Beavers, born 1695 in Germany; Joseph was also listed as born in Germany-no mention of Joseph's wives. Joseph's siblings were listed as (a) Thomas Beavers, born 1718 in Germany, died 1770 in Loudoun County, Virginia; (b) William Beavers, born 1720 in Germany, died 26 July 1788 in Rockingham, North Carolina; (c) Robert Beavers, born 1726 in Germany, died 1774 in Sussex County, New Jersey, married Elizabeth [-?-] (see Appendix 3. "Robert Beavers of Sussex County, New Jersey"); (d) Alexander Beavers; and (e) Elizabeth Beavers. These given names do not have a German "ring;" perhaps John Beavers' wife was not a German? Another genealogy "The family of John Beavers," by Patricia Kuner-Smith,70 also lists John Beavers as the father of Joseph. This genealogy gives the spouse of Thomas Beavers as Martha Cargill (died 8 October 1770 in Loudoun County Virginia), the spouse of William Beavers as Abigail Hampton (died 26 July 1788), and the spouse of Robert Beavers as Elizabeth [-?-]. For our Joseph Beavers, this genealogy reports Joseph married Ann Clifford in 1750 (no mention of another wife). An anonymous pedigree for Colonel Joseph Beavers also lists his father as John Beavers and Joseph's siblings as Robert, Elizabeth, Thomas, and William Beavers.71 For more evidence that Joseph's father was a John Beavers, see George Urie Stevenson (#911). White family genealogies72 list the father of Joseph Beaver as Henry Beaver. I do not know the primary source for this. Ann (Clifford) Beavers made an interesting will, written 1817.73 It mentioned as heirs only her child Ann and grandchildren whose first or middle name was "Ann:" "All which I call by their Maden Names as some of them are married and I do not recollect the names of their husbands, and I do hereby appoint my son-in-law, Charles Carter, my sole executor." By 1817, Ann would have been in her eighties and obviously a bit eccentric. Those mentioned in her will were (1) Ann Kitchen, (2) Ann Pursal, (3) Ann Clifford Carter, (4) Ann Gano, (5) Ann Haughawout, (6) Ann Beavers ("daughter of my son George Beavers"), (7) Ann White, (8), Ann Everitt, (9) Ann Biddleman, (10) Ann Hunt, and (11) (Mary) Ann Case. The will was disallowed, because, as Sönn (1948), page 11, suggests, of its oddity and because some of Colonel Beavers' daughters, through their husbands, went to court and protested the will.
5. JOHN3 CLIFFORD (George2, unknown Clifford1); (tentative) born 16 September 1743 in New Jersey; died 26 August 1831 in Brighton Township, Beaver County, Pennsylvania; married, 25 July 1785, ELIZABETH STOOPS; born circa 1770 in Ohio; died 28 July 1852 in Brecksville Township, Cuyahoga County, Ohio.82 After the death of John, Elizabeth married, 29 April 1841, Lott Cottle83 and lived in Cuyahoga County, Ohio. In 1850, Elizabeth "Cottrell" (sic), born in Ohio, was living in the household of her grandson, David Breen, farmer, in Cuyahoga County, Ohio; also in the household was Elizabeth's daughter Jane Breen, born in Pennsylvania, and a David ?Wanderville, born circa 1806 in Ohio.84 If the dates are correct, John would have been in his forties when he married Elizabeth who would have been age 15. We know from George Clifford's (#2) will and codicil that his oldest son was John, but whether this was the John Clifford who married Elizabeth Stoops needs more confirmation; therefore I have listed him as "tentative." Most online descendants reports of our Cliffords do list John and Elizabeth and two of their children, Isabella and Mary. That he was a son of George Clifford (#2) comes from "Clifford Family Newsletter," volume 1, number 1, page 4, by Arthur Everett, who lists his source for dates, first name of wife, and place of residence as John Clifford's "Revolutionary War record file." However, John's dates are not in his widow's rejected pension application, which does not include a widow's statement (see later), but perhaps the statement was lost. A widow's statement was missing from the file as early as 1992 when Genealogical abstracts of Revolutionary War pensions files, National Historical Publishing Company, Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, volume I: A-C, page 676, was published. Virgil D. White, who did the detailed abstracts, reported there was "no affidavit by the widow or the soldier" in the pension file at that time. There was no information at all about this John Clifford in Soldiers and widows of Soldiers of the Revolutionary War Granted Pensions by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, by Harry E. Cope.85 However, there is evidence to support the dates given in the "Clifford Family Newsletter." From Beaver, Pennsylvania, Argus, Genealogical Gleamings, 1830-1858:86 "539. CLIFFORD, JOHN, Brighton Twp., Died, 88th year, 29 inst. 26 Aug. 1831 [I believe 29 and 26 should be reversed]." That is, he would have been born in 1743. I believe he was our John Clifford, son of George, but for reasons given in the preceding paragraph I am listing him as "tentative," and of course this includes his children, one of whom, Jane, is followed for another generation. Elizabeth's maiden name is known from a deposition of Matthew Brooks who was supporting Elizabeth's Revolutionary War pension application, as the widow of John Clifford.87 Brooks declared that he knew Edward and William Stoops, brothers of Elizabeth, when Brooks lived in Moon Township, Beaver County, Pennsylvania. In the widow's pension application, John Clifford was said to have served in the Pennsylvania Line and spent three years in the service during the War under Colonel Craig and Captain Gibson in the 8th Pennsylvania Regiment. The application was rejected (R 19372) 15 July 1851. The adjudicator declared that the application was made before a Notary Public instead of, as required, before a Court of Record. The adjudicator also inferred that the service as reported could not be substantiated. Another reason for the application being rejected was that Elizabeth Coute (sic) could not prove she married John Clifford on 25 July 1785. As indicated above, the application does not contain dates for John and there is no affidavit by Elizabeth (Stoops) Clifford. Apparently John moved to western Pennsylvania prior to the start or during the Revolutionary War. I can find no early tax records for John Clifford (other than John Clifford, #15, son of James Clifford, #3) in Hunterdon County, New Jersey.88 There was a John Clifford of Robinson Township, Washington County, Pennsylvania (including at that time parts of Beaver, Allegheny and Westmoreland Counties), who (with James Caldwell) witnessed the will of a William Drummond in 1785.89 In 1787, the name John Clifford of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, appeared on a petition.90 For some other early John Cliffords of New Jersey see end note #88. In 1790, John Clifford and three females were enumerated in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, which at that time included Beaver County.91 One of these females probably would have been John's daughter Jane (Breen), who was born 1786 and was reported in the 1860 federal census for Cuyahoga County, Ohio, to have been born in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.92 A John Clifford was taxed in Tyrone Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania in 179193 (but no other year). This is the township where our ancestors, Charles Clifford (#11), Edward Clifford (#47), James Clifford (#48), Robert Clifford (#49) and George Clifford (possibly George, #10, brother of our Charles) were also taxed in certain years in the 1780s and 1790s. John Clifford was enumerated in federal censuses for Beaver County in 1800, 1810 (First Moon Township), and 1820 (Brighton Township).94 In 1802, John Clifford was on the tax list for First Moon Township, Beaver County, Pennsylvania; also on this list were Edward Stoops and William Stoops.95 Although, John did not die until 1831 in Beaver County, I could not find John in the 1830 federal census for Beaver County, Pennsylvania. He was not living with Cunningham Clifford, possibly a son of John. In 1830 Cunningham's household in Green Township, Beaver County, consisted of presumably Cunningham and his wife, both age 30-40, one male age 5-10, one male age 10-15, two females age under 5, and one female age 10-15.96 John Clifford mentioned in his will only his wife, Elizabeth, and daughters Isabella and Mary. He was specific in stating that other members of his family "I have herefore made provisions for, and therefore I exclude them from receiving any portion of my property either real or personal, of which I may die seized or possessed." Executors were Samuel McCure (who replaced Hugh Anderson) and Elizabeth Clifford; witnesses were James and William Allison.97 In a Gedcom report,98 Elizabeth's husband was listed as "unknown Clifford," born circa 1735-1764, died circa 1789-1849; no information on location. This Gedcom mentions Elizabeth being captured by Indians and being rescued by "a man named Brady." See the section "Captain Samuel Brady," under Mary (Reed) Brady (#262), for more information.
Probably John and Elizabeth (Stoops) Clifford had at least one other son, Robert Clifford.100 In Matthew Brooks deposition, he states that "said John Clifford and Elizabeth Cottle, while living together as husband and wife as aforesaid brought up a large family of children." Note that John and Elizabeth's daughter Jane (Clifford) Breen named one of her sons Cunningham-not a common Clifford name. Possibility some of the children of John Clifford were by a first wife. A Sarah Clifford was enumerated in Brighton Township, Beaver County, in 1850 and 1860.101. The 1860 census, when Sarah Clifford was living with Jacob Coon and family, reported her born circa 1788. She could have been a child of John and Elizabeth or John and a first wife. A Betsy Clifford married Oliver Wardwell 10 June 1819 in Cuyahoga, Ohio.102 She possibly was also a daughter of John and Elizabeth, since Elizabeth eventually lived in Cuyahoga County as did John and Elizabeth's daughter Jane (Clifford) Breen. 6. MARY3 CLIFFORD (George2, unknown Clifford1); born circa 1744 (but see next paragraph); died 9 June 1804; married Captain JOHN MAXWELL; born 25 November 1739 in County Tyrone, Ireland; died 15 February 1828. Both Mary and John are buried in Greenwich Presbyterian Cemetery,103 Greenwich, Warren County, New Jersey. Note that several of our ancestors are buried in Greenwich Presbyterian Cemetery. Apparently Alexander White, whose second wife was Mary Clifford, widow of George Clifford (#2), was responsible for establishing this cemetery. See Appendix 2, "Last will and testament of Alexander White." In "Grave records of the Greenwich Presbyterian Cemetery,"104 Mary is listed as "Sary Maxwell, 69 years, d. June 9 1804, wife of John." Probably the "69" is a transcription error and should be 59, as reported in Maxwell (1895). If Mary was born in 1734 instead of 1744, she would have been 53 when her last child was born. Also in "Grave Records," John Maxwell is listed as born 25 November 1759; this is an error and should be 25 November 1739 (their first child was born in 1770). Mary is listed as "Mary Ann" in Maxwell (1895); and, probably following Maxwell (1895), all DAR lineage applications I have seen claiming Mary's husband as a Revolutionary War ancestor also list her as Mary Ann. I do not know the primary source for the "Ann." In her father's will, she is called Mary. Also her stone reads Mary Maxwell, not Mary Ann. Note that Mary had a sister Ann. John Maxwell married (first) Elizabeth Sloan, born 1747, died 30 May 1768, daughter of William Sloan (born 1703-1705; died 1758) and Mary (Shields) Sloan (born 1717; died 21 September 1792); both William and Mary (Shields) Sloan are buried in Lamington, Somerset County, New Jersey.105 After the death of John Maxwell's second wife, Mary (Clifford) Maxwell in 1804, John Maxwell married (third) Elizabeth (Kirkpatrick) Sloan (born 1748, died 14 December 1829); she was a daughter of David and Mary McEowen Kirkpatrick. Elizabeth Kirkpatrick's first husband was Henry Sloan (born 1739, died 25 September 1801), brother of Elizabeth Sloan. Another sibling of Elizabeth Sloan was Marian Sloan (born 1750, died 16 November 1807); she married John Patterson Bryan and had daughter Rachel Bryan who married George Clifford Maxwell (#35).106 Other siblings of Elizabeth Sloan:107 Eleanor Sloan (who married John Maxwell's brother Robert Maxwell-see below), John Sloan (born circa 1740-1746), Samuel Sloan (born circa 1740-1746, died 16 November 1807 in Maryland, married Elizabeth [-?-]), Mary Sloan (born circa 1740-1750, died 14 April 1766, married Hugh Gaston), Sarah Sloan (born circa 1741, died 12 April 1814 in Brooke County, Virginia, present-day West Virginia, married David Chambers), William Sloan (born 1756, died 20 April 1759), and Margaret Sloan (born 1758, married Samuel McCrea). John Maxwell was a Justice of a Peace in Sussex County. There are biographies of John Maxwell in Maxwell (1895), page 75, and The Genealogy Magazine of New Jersey, 1999.108 He "had an illustrious career." Besides being a civil magistrate, he was a Lieutenant in the Revolutionary War and saw action at Trenton, Princeton, Brandywine, Germantown, Monmouth, and Springfield. John Maxwell was a brother of General William Maxwell, born 1733, died 1796, buried in Greenwich Presbyterian Cemetery (also called the Old Stone Church cemetery), Sussex County (present-day Warren County), New Jersey.109 William Maxwell, who did not marry, was a General during the Revolutionary War.110 He commanded the New Jersey Brigade, also known as the Maxwell Brigade, and was sometimes called "Scotch Willie" Maxwell.111 For more information on General William Maxwell, soldier and patriot, see end note #110. John and William Maxwell were children of John and Ann [-?-] Maxwell who emigrated from County Tyrone, Ireland, and settled in Greenwich Township, Sussex County, New Jersey. Both John and Ann are buried in Greenwich Presbyterian Cemetery.112 Besides William and John Maxwell, John and Ann Maxwell had two other children. One was Jane Maxwell, born 1743 in County Tyrone, died 7 September 1784, married James Kennedy, born circa 1730 in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.113 Their children were (a) Anna Kennedy, married Phineas Barber; (b) Thomas Kennedy, married Margaret Stewart; (c) William Kennedy, married Sarah Stewart; (d) John Kennedy, married Elizabeth Linn; (e) Lucy Kennedy; (f) Jane Kennedy, married Samuel Kennedy; (g) Elizabeth Kennedy, married (first) John Young, married (second) William Morehead; (h) James Kennedy, married Elizabeth Maxwell (she was a daughter of Robert and Eleanor Sloan Maxwell, hence a first cousin marriage); (i) Robert Kennedy, married (first) Jane Herron, married (second) Mary Davidson; (j) Mary Kennedy, married John Logan; [-?-] Kennedy; and (k) Maxwell Kennedy, born 1 May 1782 in Pennsylvania, died 1845 in Lancaster County, married, 20 November 1802,114 Margaret Maxwell. She was a first cousin of Maxwell Kennedy, being a child of Robert and Eleanor (Sloan) Maxwell. The other child of John and Ann [-?-] Maxwell was Robert Maxwell, born 1745, died 26 September 1796.115 Robert married Eleanor Sloan, a sibling of Elizabeth, Marian and Henry Sloan-see above. Both Robert and Eleanor are buried in Greenwich Presbyterian Cemetery.116 Robert and Eleanor had eight children: (a) Mary Maxwell; (b) Anne Maxwell (she was the second wife of Adam Ramsay, see #36; (c) John Sloane Maxwell (married Mary Williams, see #154; Mary and John were first cousins once removed); (d) Elizabeth Maxwell (married James Kennedy, a first cousin); (e) Margaret Maxwell, married a first cousin, Maxwell Kennedy); (f) Eleanor Maxwell (married Thomas Barton) (g) Jane Maxwell, and (h) William Maxwell (married Hannah Templin).117
7. JAMES3 CLIFFORD (George2, unknown Clifford1); (tentative) died circa 1798-1799,120 probably in Hardy County, Virginia (present-day West Virginia); married PRUDENCE WHITE; born before 1756;121 still alive in 1803. Prudence was a daughter of Alexander (I) and Mary (McMurtrie) White-see the section "More on the Whites of Sussex County, New Jersey, and Hardy County, West Virginia." James Clifford was still alive on 2 April 1798 when the tax assessor visited his household in Hardy County.122 My discussion about Hardy County James Clifford is conjecture. I do not have a primary source that Hardy County James was the James Clifford, son of George Clifford (#7) who died circa 1757. But circumstantial evidence (see below) suggests he was the son of George. Also, in a 29 April 1987 letter, David Parsons (Sequim, Washington), who descends from Hardy County James, speculates that his ancestor was either a son of George Clifford (#2) or a son of George's brother (yes, brother, used by David Brackett) James Clifford (#3). In her father's Sussex County will (a part of Sussex County that became present-day Warren County) , written 1776, Prudence was mentioned as "Prudence White;" this would suggest she was not married in 1776, but all of Alexander White's (I) daughters were listed by their maiden names in his will. A James Clifford, probably the James Clifford (#7) who married Prudence White, was a witness to Alexander White's (1) will.123 In 1777, a James Clifford, Ensign, was listed in Captain Malick's company, First Regiment, Sussex County, 24 May 1777.124 By 1779, James and Prudence would have had at least two children: Margaret Mary, born circa 1770 in New Jersey,125 and Mary, born circa 1779 in New Jersey.126 After the Revolutionary War, James and Prudence would have moved to what became West Virginia, possibly with Prudence's brother Samuel White and perhaps other siblings of Prudence-see the sections "Other early Cliffords with a Hardy/Hampshire County, Virginia, association: Isaac Clifford," and "More on the Whites of Sussex County, New Jersey, and Hardy County, West Virginia." Eight years later, by 1784, James Clifford, with 7 white souls, was living in Hampshire County, Virginia (now Hardy County, West Virginia).127 Perhaps some of the seven people in James Clifford's household in 1784 were not children of James and Prudence (White) Clifford. In 1787, James Clifford of Hardy County was taxed for two horses and three cows.128 Hardy County was created from Hampshire County in 1785. In 1866, the western part of Hardy County was set off as Grant County, West Virginia. James Clifford and family were the only Cliffords enumerated in the 1790 federal census of Virginia.129 In 1796, James Clifford and four other witnesses testified that an Isaac Clifford of Hardy County, Virginia, was not a slave, but a "free" person [of color].130 Rose McDaniel, in May 1998,131 copied the Hardy County property tax lists, which show James Clifford being taxed from 1786 through 1798. In 1796, both James and a George Clifford were listed. In 1799, there was no James, but George Clifford (presumably James's son) was listed. In 1800 there was a widow Clifford, in 1802 a Prudence Clifford, and then in 1803, explicitly, "Prudence widow Clifford."132 I have listed the first two children of James and Prudence as Margaret Mary Clifford and Mary Clifford. Descendants of both Margaret Mary (Clifford) Newell and Mary (Clifford) Mullin claim James Clifford of Hardy County as their ancestor, probably because he appears to be the only candidate in that area, and census records report both Margaret Mary (sometimes simply called Mary) and Mary as being born in New Jersey. I know of no primary sources nor other circumstantial evidence linking the two as sisters, but will tentatively list both of them as children of James and Prudence Clifford.
Other Early Cliffords With a Hardy/Hampshire County, Virginia, Association
Our James Clifford (#7) was the best documented of the eighteenth century Cliffords of northern Virginia. Indeed, James Clifford is the only Clifford listed in the 1790 federal census for Virginia,141 although part of the 1790 federal census for Virginia was lost.
Another James Clifford. An online message board query reported a James Clifford born 31 January 1769 in Hampshire County, Virginia142 (Hardy County was set off from Hampshire County in 1785). According to this message, James Clifford was in Pike Township, Stark County, Ohio, in 1820 and 1830; he was in Sandy Township, Tuscarawas County, Ohio, in 1840; and in Lancaster Township, Fairfield County, Ohio, in 1850. In 1850, James was enumerated as a sexton, age 79, born in Virginia; his wife, Rebecca, was listed as age 62, born in Pennsylvania. Although there are sources for this James Clifford in Ohio,143 I have not been able to find documentation for him in Hampshire County, Virginia. According to the message board query, both James and Rebecca died in 1853. Their children, according to the query, were Robert Clifford, born 1812 in Virginia; Thomas Clifford, born 1813 in Virginia, Lewis Clifford, married 18 February 1836 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, Rosanna Miller;144 William Clifford; and Margaret Clifford; she was still living with her parents in 1850 and was listed as age 28 (born circa 1822), born in Ohio. Prudence Clifford. Another Clifford association with Hardy County, Virginia, is reported in an Ancestry World Tree Project update:145 John Harness, born circa 1781 in Hardy County, Virginia, died in Indiana. He married (first), 13 February 1811 in Ross County, Ohio, Lacy Clifford; married (second), 17 June 1813 in Ross County, Ohio, Prudence Clifford. Another Ancestry World Tree Project146 reports this John Harness and wife "Prudy" (who died in 1820) having a child Michael Harness, born 1813, died 1884, married Sarah Thomas. The parents of John Harness who married the Cliffords, presumably sisters, in Ross County, Ohio, were Michael and Catherine (Pancake) Harness of Hardy County, Virginia.147 Alexander Clifford, presumably the Alexander White Clifford (#44), brother of Margaret (Clifford) Newell (#41), was enumerated in Pike County, Ohio, in 1840; and living next door was a John Pancake. Note also that, according to Catherine Renschler's email to me 10 October 2002,148 Hibert and Margaret (Clifford) Newell (#41) had moved to Ross County by 1815, a part that was set off as Jackson County in 1816. Another item relating Ross County, Ohio, to Hardy County, Virginia, was that, according to Catherine Renschler's email, a James Clifford (relationship to our Cliffords not known) in 1829, late sheriff of Ross County, Ohio, swore that Soloman James, mulatto, was born free of a white woman of Hardy County, Virginia. Isaac Clifford. The other eighteenth century Clifford that I could find in northern Virginia was Isaac Clifford, "free person of color." Isaac was born circa 1776, location not known; died circa 1831 in Hardy County, Virginia;149 married, 9 April 1796 in Hardy County, Virginia, Judy (also Julia) Lewis;150 born circa 1772 in Virginia, probably Hardy County, present-day West Virginia.151 In 1850, Judy was living in Meadville Borough, Crawford County, Pennsylvania, with her son Abraham and other members of her family.152 Although Isaac's children were various reported as mulatto or black, although usually mulatto, I could find no records reporting Isaac as mulatto or black, only as a "free person of color." Isaac's wife, Judy, was listed as mulatto in 1850.153 The Hardy County, Virginia, 1810 taxpayer list has Isaac Clifford: "1 tithables, 0 slaves over 12, and 3 horses."154 In 1820, there were seven males and seven females, all free persons of color, in Isaac's household in Hardy County.155 In 1830, still in Hardy County, there were 1 male age 10-24, 1 male age 24-36, and one male over age 54; 4 females age 10-24 and 1 female age 36-55.156 Deeds indicate that by 1830, Isaac had built a sawmill in Hardy County on land he received from John Parker.157 Known children of Isaac and Judy (Lewis) Clifford (not all necessarily in order of birth):158 1. Abraham Clifford, born circa 1798 in Virginia; married, 18 April 1824 in Hardy County, Virginia, Anne Peck.159 Abraham (but not Anne) was living in Crawford County, Pennsylvania, in 1850.160 2. Isaac Clifford (Jr.), born circa 1799 in Virginia; living in Crawford County, Pennsylvania, in 1850161 and 1860. 3. Jacob Clifford, born circa 1803, married, 27 August 1823, Sally Smith.162 In 1830, Jacob's household (four males including Jacob, age 24 and under 36, and eight females, the two oldest being age 36 and under 55) were enumerated in Hardy County.163 In 1840, Jacob and family were living in Franklin Township, Greene County, Pennsylvania.164 In 1850, Jacob and family, still in Franklin Township, Greene County, were living in the household of David and Betsy Lott.165 Jacob's family in 1850 consisted of wife Mary Clifford (not Sally?), age 38, born in Virginia; Eliza Clifford, age 15, born in Pennsylvania; Solomon Clifford, age 10, born in Pennsylvania; Jacob Clifford, age 6, born in Pennsylvania; Rebecca Clifford, age 4, born in Pennsylvania; and William Clifford, age 1, born in Pennsylvania. Another child of Jacob and Sally was William Henry Clifford, who was listed as age 18, a barkeep in the Mullin Hotel in Moorefield, Virginia, in 1850.166 He married, 1859 in Ohio, Evaline Conoway; they had son William Henry Clifford, Jr., born 1862, died 1929, married Carrie Williams. William Henry Clifford, Jr., was a lawyer and served two terms in Ohio Legislature prior to 1900. 4. Eliza Clifford; married 11 March 1824 in Hardy County, Virginia, John Peck, Jr.167 5. David Clifford. In 1830, David, age 24-36, was enumerated in Hardy County, Virginia.168 6. John Clifford. 7. Rebecca Clifford, born circa 1815. In 1850, Rebecca was living in Meadville, Crawford County, Pennsylvania, with her brothers Abraham and Isaac and other Cliffords.169 8. Tabitha Clifford. 9. Mary Jane Clifford. Of interest is how Isaac or his ancestors acquired the surname Clifford, and where Isaac was born. We know that some of our early New Jersey Cliffords had slaves-see under James Clifford (#3) and his son Edward Clifford (#13). Two slaves held by Edward Clifford were Abraham Solomon and Abraham's wife Dolly. Both Isaac Clifford and James Clifford (#7) of Hardy County, Virginia, were included in Isaac Van Meter's ledger book A, in January 1796.170 We also know that James Clifford was acquainted with Isaac Clifford. According to an email sent me by Rosemary McDaniel,171 James Clifford, Saint Leger Stout, Cornelius Johnson, Jacob Johnson, and Michael [-?-] testified as witnesses for Isaac Clifford. Apparently Isaac was kidnapped by a person who claimed Isaac was a "slave." The witnesses gave testimony supporting Isaac's claim that he was a "free" person. The court ruled in favor of Isaac. Samuel White, a brother of James Clifford's (#7) wife Prudence (White) Clifford, apparently moved to Hardy County, Virginia, from New Jersey shortly after the end of the Revolutionary War (see the section "More on the Whites of Sussex County, New Jersey, and Hardy County, West Virginia, and a possible Mayflower connection"). Speculation is that Samuel's brother Alexander and Alexander's wife Mary (Beavers) White (#19), who ended up in Lewis County, Virginia (present-day West Virginia), moved with them. Perhaps James Clifford and Prudence also moved with them. Did Isaac Clifford, as a free person of color, and perhaps a descendants of a Clifford slave also move with them? If we knew Isaac was born in New Jersey, it would be something to contemplate. If Isaac was born in 1776, as reported, and in New Jersey, he would have been young when they made the move. 9. SARAH3 CLIFFORD (George2, unknown Clifford1); she possibly married GEORGE SELLERS in Wilmington, Delaware, on 6 December 1775.172 George Clifford's will mentions that Sarah was his youngest daughter. If she married 1775, possibly she was not born before 1750. There was an early George Sellers on the Cumberland County, Maurice River Township, New Jersey, tax list for 1781 (Cumberland County is separated from Delaware by the Delaware River); and in 1793, a George Sellers was taxed in Salem County (borders on Cumberland County and immediately across the Delaware River from New Castle, Delaware), Upper Alloway Creek, New Jersey.173 According to an item by Dorothy Burge in the Pennsylvania Genealogist and Historian, August 1992, number 18, page 44: "George Sellers, born probably in Chester or Lancaster County [Pennsylvania], married December 1775 in Wilmington, Delaware, Sarah Clifford, daughter of George Clifford of New Jersey. Their daughter Mary, born 17 January 1777 (from tombstone), died 25 September 1855 in Green County, Ohio, married Erasmus Jones of Bucks County [Pennsylvania]." An International Genealogical Index item for Cliffords of Pennsylvania also reports the marriage of George Sellers and Sarah Clifford in Holy Trinity or Old Swedes Church in Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware, on 6 December 1775.174 According to a letter from Dorothy Burge (Bend, Oregon),175 she has not found a primary source that the Sarah Clifford who married George Sellers was the daughter of our George Clifford. Dorothy speculates that Sarah died young and George Sellers might have married in "Old Swede's Church" in Wilmington, Delaware, 6 December 1789, Ann Matson. (There are two Individual Records of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, both apparently from the same source [Batch Number 505861], one reporting George marrying Sarah Clifford 6 December 1775 and the other reporting George marrying Ann Matson 6 December 1786.) Compounding this, Dorothy was told by a descendant of Mary Sellers that Mary's parents were Phillip and Helen (Gordon) Sellers, and they were married in "Old Swede's Church" 21 December 1776-which would only be a month before Mary was born. In "Samuel Sellers 1655,"176 in a section speculating on the parents of Mary (Sellers) Jones, there is this statement: "George Sellers and Sarah Clifford married Dec. 6, 1775 must have been the parents of Mary Sellers Jones, born January 17, 1777 [instead of her parents being George Sellers and Ann Matson]." This report goes on to say "we have not found any further records of George and Sarah." The "Samuel Sellers 1655" online report infers that George Sellers descended from Samuel and Anna (Gibson) Sellers; but who his parents were remains to be established. One family tradition, according to the "Samuel Sellers 1655" online report, has the parents of George, whoever they were, having a son George who apparently was kidnapped in Philadelphia. They then had another son who they also named George. Eventually the first George was reunited with his family, so they had a "big George" and a "little George," and one to these Georges was suppose to be the George that married Sarah Clifford.177 "Samuel Sellers 1655" also mentions a clipping about a speech of James Hatfield on the occasion of the marriage anniversary of John and Mary Jones Kitchen Rife (see #193); in his speech James Hatfield "told of the father of Mary Sellers Jones marrying a Swedish Girl of the Swedes from down toward Willmington, Del." In short, we know that our George Clifford had a daughter Sarah, and we know that a George Sellers married a Sarah Clifford, but whether our Sarah married this George Sellers and had daughter Mary (Sellers) Jones remains to be proved.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [ Top ] |
|---|
| [ < Prev ] [ Next > ] |