Chronicling America
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John Jacob Goughnour’s Conestoga Tract
On 24 Jan 1733, John Goughnour warranted 105 acres on a branch of the Pequea in Conestoga (now Pequea) Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, recorded in Lancaster County Warrants #G14. Three days later, John Taylor surveyed the property, noting it adjoined Christian Preaaman [sic], Have Line [sic], Christian Stone, and Samuel Buyer.1
John Jacob Goughnour’s Conestoga tract survey
On 15 April 1761, Jacob Gouchnour patented these 105 acres.2 Jacob purchased another 167.5 acres in Conestoga from Christian Hoober on 26 Nov 1761.3 [see “Christian Preaaman” on map] This tract had been warranted to John Smith in 1734 and patented to Jacob Huber in 1759.
Jacob Goughnour had died prior to 4 Nov 1780 when his heirs—Jacob & Margaret Goughnour, Christian Goughnour, Henry & Ann Goughnour, Abraham Goughnour, Tobias Goughnour, Christian & Catharine (Goughnour) Hess, and Joseph Goughnour—sold 50 acres of this tract, adjoining Samuel Byer, to his son John Goughnour.4
On 12 Mar 1781, John & Elizabeth Gochenour sold this 50 acres, adjoining Samuel Buyers, to his brother Adam Gochenour & Henry Rush, all of Conestoga Township.5 Adam and the Rushs held onto the property for a little over a year before selling it to Christopher Ort on 23 Aug 1782.6
Christopher Ort, a mason, and Catharine his wife sold this 50 acres to Daniel Musser of Strasburg Township on 21 Nov 1795.7
Why Did They Settle There?
I think I answered a question that’s been bothering me for a while yesterday. But I didn’t do it by researching my ancestors.
My ancestor Johan “Hans” Adam Hacker emigrated from Germany to Pennsylvania aboard the ship Ann, landing in Philadelphia on 28 Sep 1749. He was the first to immigrate. His brother Johan Georg followed in 1751, then his parents—Christoph and Anna Margaretha (Jock) Hacker—and his sisters Christina (Hacker) Lang and Margaretha (Hacker) Haushalter with their husbands in 1752.
When my distant cousin John Garrett Hocker was in Germany in the 1990s (I believe) he found that the Hackers applied for permission to become citizens of Gräben. They were denied. So, they applied for permission to emigrate to “norde-amerika.” John wrote about his trip to Rußheim and my great uncle William Wingeard included John’s essay in his book A German-American Hacker-Hocker Genealogy. No date was given for this application, but it had to be prior to their emigration in 1752 and possibly before Adam’s emigration in 1749.
So, that tells me why they left Germany. But why did they settle near Brickerville, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania? It’s known that the Germans tended to move in groups and settle amongst people they’d known in a prior location. But I found no other family already in the area.
Rußheim and its neighbors
The answer has less to do with immediate family and more to do with the larger community. In Feb 1749 three widows from Rußheim applied for permission to move to Pennsylvania. They apparently wanted to remarry, but their prospective spouses were denied citizenship in Rußheim—possibly because they were only tenant farmers/farmhands. They were granted permission to leave.
One of these women was Margaretha (Heger) Elser.1 She was engaged to a man named Mock from Gräben. His given name was not provided, but a Henrich Mock and Peter Elser appear on the passenger list of the ship Ann which arrived in Philadelphia in Sep 1749. Both of these names appear in the records of the Warwick congregation (now Emanuel Lutheran Church) at Brickerville.
Adam’s name appears just below theirs on the ship list. So, it’s probable that he was traveling with people that he knew from his village.2
But why did they settle near Brickerville? Looking at the other names in the Warwick congregation records, you’ll see Stober, Weidman, Ness, and Oberlin. All of these names appear as residents of either Rußheim, Liedolsheim, Gräben or Linkenheim in 1709 lists.3 The Hackers intermarried with some of these families—Adam and his brother Georg both married Wiedman sisters. Additionally, the names Haushalter and Lang/Long also appear in the church records. It’s quite possible they were relations to Adam’s brothers-in-law Lorentz Haushalter and Johan Michael Lang.
So while there were no Hackers waiting to receive him when he arrived in 1749, Adam settled amongst people he may have known—or their relatives—from the villages surrounding Rußheim.
Jacob Boyer’s Conestoga/Martic Tract
On 22 November 1717, Martin Kendig (Kendick, Kendrick, Cundigg) and John Herr (Heer) were warranted 5,000 acres in Lancaster County by the Proprietaries of Pennsylvania. They, in turn, transferred this land to their fellow immigrants. On the 12th of 9mo (November) 1720, four tracts on the Pequea were surveyed in the right of Martin Kendig and Hans Heer to Hans Boyer, Jacob Hoober, Martin Boyer/Abraham Smith, and Christian Stone/Jacob Boyer.1
Jacob Boyer’s Conestoga/Martic tract
Sometime between 1720 and 1735, the land was passed from Christian Stone to Jacob Boyer. “Jacob Biers” patented 162 acres on Pequea Creek on 1 Oct 1735.2 Jacob Boyer apparently lived on this tract for his entire life.
On 20 Jun 1772, Jacob (the elder) and his wife Catharine sold 112 acres from their two tracts—they owned another tract adjoining the first directly to the south in Martic Township—to their son Henry Boyer.3 This piece of property adjoined that of Jacob Boyer Jr., John Jameson, and Samuel Boyer, and lay along the eastern edge of Jacob Sr.’s two tracts.
On the same date, Jacob and Catharine also sold 160 acres from their two tracts to Jacob Boyer Jr. This piece of land included all the land north of Pequea Creek and a strip south of the creek between those of Henry Boyer (to the east) and one previously sold to Abraham Smith (to the west).4
Jacob was apparently preparing for the future in Jun 1772. He also wrote his will at that time. The will abstract names his wife Catharine, children: Jacob, Henry, Barbara, Anna, Mary, Catharine and Elizabeth wife of Jacob Steiner, and grandchildren: Cornelius and Frederick Steiner. The will was probated 30 Oct 1775 and named Catharine and son-in-law Jacob Steiner as executors.5
Several years later, on 22 Oct 1781, Jacob [Jr.] and Mary Boyer sold 16 acres from their tract to Rudy Miller.6 By metes and bounds this piece was situated in the northwest corner of the plot, north of Pequea Creek. It adjoined land of Rudy Miller, John Line and Pequea Creek.
On 3 Mar 1806, Rudy Miller’s heirs—Rudolph Miller, Stephen & Mary (Miller) Rine, and Hugh & Barbara (Miller) Evans—sold their interest in Rudy Miller’s four tracts of contiguous land in Conestoga and Martic townships, including this 16 acres, to John Miller, another of Rudy Miller’s children.7
How Do You Know That?
I was recently contacted by a reader who found one of my posts on Christian Hoover of Heidelberg Township, York County, Pennsylvania. She thought the information was interesting, but didn’t see how it was pertinent because it directly conflicted information she believed to be true. I followed up with a series of questions to learn more about her connection to Christian Hoover.
The reader had information on Christian and Maria (Lehman) Hoover of York County. Christian, born 1807, was supposedly the son of Christian and Nancy (Plowman?) Hoover of Mifflin County. The father Christian was born ca 1770 and died 18 Aug 1855.
In reading the information she provided, I was convinced we had a case of mistaken identities. It’s a very common mistake, one so easy to fall victim to everyone does it a some point during their research. Same name, same area, same person, right? Not necessarily.
The first rule of genealogy is to start with what you know and work backwards. The earliest documented evidence this reader had was the connection between Christian and Maria (Lehman) Hoover and several of their children. The death certificate of Christian Augustus Hoover, born 16 Aug 1847 and died 29 Dec 1918, names them as his parents. Birth and baptism records of several other children confirm their identities.
Christian and Maria (Lehman) Hoover are buried in Hoover’s Cemetery, Starview, East Manchester Township, York County, Pennsylvania. Christian was born 29 Mar 1807 and died 22 May 1883.1 Maria (Lehman) Hoover was born 1 Jun 1803 and died 19 Jan 1883.2
York County federal census records for 1840 through 1880 show that Christian Hoover and his wife Mary lived in Manchester or Conewago townships throughout his adult life:
- 1880: Hoover, Christian, age 73, Retired farmer; Mary, age 773
- 1870: Hoover, Christian, age 63, Farmer; Mary, age 674
- 1860: Christian Hoover, age 53, Farmer; Mary, age 565
- 1850: Christian Hoover, age 44, Farmer; Mary, age 486
- 1840: Christian Hoover, age 30-407
No record with Christian Hoover listed as head of household was found in the 1830 census. Given the age of his children in the 1840 census, Christian likely married sometime after 1830, so may have been living at home at the time of the 1830 census. He would have been 23, enumerated within the 20-30 age bracket.
Given that Christian lived in York County all his adult life, it’s quite likely that he was raised there, as well. There are several households with male members of an age to be Christian Hoover in the 1810 through 1830 census records for Manchester Township.8,9,10 The only head of household there for all three years is Philip Hoover. Does this prove that Philip is Christian’s father? No, but it gives us a direction for further research.
In 1850, Christian Hoover owned $300 of real estate. In 1860, he owned $1100 in real estate and had $600 in his personal estate. Given the sharp rise in his net worth, it’s quite possible that he inherited some of it through the death of a relative—a father, for instance.
Philip Hoover died 23 May 1854.11 He left a will, dated 13 Aug 1852, in which he names the following children: Henry, John, Molly (wife of Henry Hartman), Jacob, Daniel, Andrew, Felix, Christian, Susanna (deceased, wife of Daniel Koch), and Elizabeth (deceased, wife of John Sniderman).12
A search of York County church records reveals the following baptisms for children of Philip and Susanna Huber:13
- Daniel Huber, b. 15 Oct 1798, bapt. 9 Nov 1798, Trinity Reformed Church, York
- Andrew Huber, b. 22 Nov 1800, bapt. 17 May 1801, Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church, York
- Susanna Huber, b. 17 Mar 1805, bapt. 21 Apr 1805, Trinity Reformed Church, York
They were also sponsors for:
- Peter, son of Peter Huber & Margaretha, bapt. 27 Dec 1798
- Philip, son of Henry Huber & Catharina, bapt. 29 Aug 1810
- Sarah, daughter of John Schneidman & Elizabeth, bapt. 21 May 1813
- Elizabeth, daughter of John Schneidman & Elizabeth, bapt. 26 Jun 1815
- Susanna, daughter of John Schneidman & Elizabeth, bapt. 5 Feb 1815
- Daniel Philip, son of John Huber & Juliana, bapt. 24 May 1825
Christian was allegedly baptized at Christ [Evangelical?] Lutheran Church in York on 9 Jun 1807. This date was outside the records available to me, so I couldn’t easily verify it. However, it is consistent with those of Philip and Susanna (___) Huber’s family members.
The 1825 record is the last one I found with mention of Philip and Susanna Huber for Trinity or Christ Evangelical churches. On 29 Feb 1822, Philip and Peter Hoover deeded some of their land to the Lutheran and Reformed congregations.14 This church was called “Christ’s Church,” aka Huber’s [Hoover’s] Church. Family members are buried in the associated cemetery—as are Christian and Maria (Lehman) Hoover, so it is likely Hoover births, marriages and deaths were recorded in the church’s records.
After Philip’s death there were three deeds recorded as releases from his heirs to his executors, sons Daniel and Andrew Huber: one from Jacob Huber of Crawford County, Indiana15; a second from Henry Hoover, John Hoover, Henry Hartman, Christian Hoover and Nancy Koch, all of York County16; and the last from Felix Hoover.17
Philip Hoover’s will gives his property to his sons Daniel and Andrew and calls for them to pay the heirs $200—one heir/year in sequence—until the value of the property has been paid off. However, Henry Hoover, John Hoover, Henry Hartman, Felix Hoover, Christian Hoover and Nancy Koch contested the terms of the will. A compromise was reached and Daniel and Andrew Hoover agreed to pay them $700 each before 1 Apr 1856.18 This partially explains the jump in value of Christian Hoover’s estate between 1850 and 1860.
Christian and Nancy (___) Hoover19
But what about the other Christian Hoover? Couldn’t Christian and Nancy have been the parents of Christian (b. 1807)?
Christian Hoover died 18 Aug 1855 at the age of 88 years, 3 months, and 16 days.20 Using his age at death, his calculated birth date is 2 May 1766. Christian’s wife Nancy died 5 Feb 1855 at the age of 80 years.21 She was born circa 1775. They are buried in the Little Valley Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Vira, Pennsylvania.
Their family lived in Derry Township, Mifflin County, Pennsylvania consistently from 1810 through 1850. They had sons aged <5 in 1810, <10 and 10-15 in 1820, and 15-20 and 20-30 in 1830.22,23,24 This is consistent with having a son born in 1807.
In 1840, there are two Christian Hoovers living in Derry Township—one aged 60-70 and another aged 30-40. They are both enumerated in Derry Township again in 1850. The first household is that of “Christian Hoover Jr.,” age 45, and his wife Margaret, age 41.25 The second is that of Christian Hoover, age 79, and his wife Nancy, age 76.26
Christian C. Hoover died 8 Aug 1873 at the age of 67 years, 7 months and 12 days and was buried in the Little Valley Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Vira, Pennsylvania.27 Using his age at death, his calculated birth date is 27 Dec 1805. A gravestone for Margaret, wife of C.C. Hoover can also be found in this cemetery.28 She died 19 Aug 1891, aged 82 years, 1 month, and 6 days. Her calculated birth date is 13 Jul 1809.
This Christian is a match for a son of Christian and Nancy (___) Hoover, as seen in the census records. Is it definitive proof? No, but the evidence is certainly pointing in that direction.
Conclusions
Based on this research, I would say that the Christian Hoover, who married Maria Lehman, was most likely a son of Philip and Susanna (___) Hoover. Maria did not sign the deed of release in 1856, nor did I find any deeds from Philip to Christian. So, I don’t have a direct connection from Philip to Christian and Maria (Lehman) Hoover, but the circumstantial evidence is certainly suggestive.
Going forward I would look for the baptismal records for Christian and all of his children. His parents should be named in his record. If that cannot be found, since Philip and Susanna were sponsors for several other grandchildren, it’s possible that they were sponsors for one/some of Christian’s children, too. If not Philip and Susanna, perhaps one of Christian’s siblings will be named as a sponsor.
Is there a connection to Christian Hoover of Heidelberg? It’s not likely. Philip Hoover’s family resided in eastern York County from the time Philip arrived from Northampton County circa 1796-1798. Heidelberg is in the western part of the county and Christian received land there as early as 1749. Records show him there consistently from that time through his death in 1771. And of course, based on his estate records, we know that he did not have any children.
Scottish Mining Website
I learned a lot about mining from the Scottish Mining website—including the fact that Alexander Buchanan died as a result of injuries from a coal pit accident.
National Library of Scotland—Maps
I found a couple neat sites while doing my James Buchanan research. The National Library of Scotland has Ordinance Maps of Scotland, 1898-1904 online. Very useful for looking up all those locations. It even shows coal pits on the map.
James Buchanan: An Update and a Brother?
A while back I wrote about what I had learned about my ancestor James Buchanan. I wasn’t sure if all the information I’d found pertained to the same man. I’m still not sure, but I have new information to ponder.
Elizabeth (Buchanan) Bonnington?
My ancestress Elizabeth Buchanan married Peter Purvis Bonnington on 17 Jun 1864 at Bloomyhall, Junipergreen, in the parish of Colinton, Edinburgh.1 According to this document, her parents were James Buchanan, a miner, and Sarah (Craig) Buchanan, deceased. Elizabeth died 13 May 1928 in Crown Terrace, in the parish of Prestonpans, East Lothian, Scotland, and her death record names her parents as James Buchanan, coal miner, and Elizabeth (Craig) Buchanan.2 Her son Peter was the informant for the document. I’ve not been able to locate a birth record for Elizabeth (Buchanan) Bonnington, quite possibly because I’m not sure where she was born. (Please see notes.)
The only record I’ve been able to find that includes the entire Buchanan family is the 1851 Scottish census. The census enumeration for Cambusnethan parish, Lanarkshire includes the following:3
- James Buchanan, head, age 39, coal miner, born Ireland
- Saly Craig Buchanan, wife, age 41, born Ireland
- Elizabeth Buchanan, dau, age 6, born Ireland
- Sarah Buchanan, dau, age 4, born Ireland
- Mary Buchanan, mother, widow, age 56, born Ireland
This image from the next page of the census records shows these members of the household:
- Robert Collins, lodger, age 20, coal miner, born Wigton, Old House
- Alexander Buchanan, lodger, age 22, coal miner, born Ireland
- John Hilly, lodger, age 17, coal miner, born Ireland
Of note from this census entry is the fact that all the Buchanans listed are born in Ireland. Also, James Buchanan’s mother was named Mary, and there’s also an Alexander Buchanan living in the household. Is he related to James and Mary? Perhaps a brother to James? It’s not possible to know for sure from this census entry alone.
I believe I found the Buchanans in the 1861 census in the village of Polkemmet, Bathgate parish, Linlithgow, Scotland. If so, James’ family was reduced to just himself and his daughter Sarah. They were enumerated in James Smart’s household, as follows:4
- James Buchanan, lodger, widowed, 37, coal miner, born Ireland
- Sarah Buchanan, dau, 14, born Ireland
Although it’s troubling to me that James is somehow 2 years younger than he was 10 years earlier, all the other details match. He’s a coal miner, born in Ireland with a daughter named Sarah, whose age and birthplace match those of the 1851 family. Elizabeth was apparently living with a family in Edinburgh and working as a dairymaid.5
Sarah (Craig) Buchanan apparently died sometime between 1851 and 1861. Her daughter Elizabeth’s marriage record reports Sarah as deceased by 18646, so again this census record is a possible match to known information. I haven’t yet been able to find a death record for Sarah so I haven’t been able to find her actual date of death. It’s also possible that Mary Buchanan, James’ mother, died during this period as well.
Alexander Buchanan—the Brother?
The Alexander Buchanan found in James’ household in 1851 was quite likely enumerated in Chapelhall, Bothwell parish, Lanark, Scotland in 1861. His family was enumerated living on Bigger Road as follows:7
- Alexander Bouchanan, head, married, age 31, Ironstone miner, born Ireland
- Elizabeth Bouchanan, wife, married, age 28, born Ireland
- Sarah Bouchanan, dau, age 8, born Neilston, Renfrew
- Mary Bouchanan, dau, age 6, born Bothwell, Lanark
- Cathrine Bouchanan, dau, age 4, born Bothwell, Lanark
- Elisabeth Bouchanan, dau, age 2, born Bothwell, Lanark
- John Bouchanan, son, age under 1 mo, born Bothwell, Lanark
A search for these children in the FamilySearch.org Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564—1950 database revealed that Alexander Buchanan and Elizabeth Kelly had children: Mary (b. 1855), Catharine (b. 1857), Elizabeth (b. 1859) and William (b. 1865)—a match for three of the five children in the census record.
Bothwell parish records showed that Alexander Buchanan married Elizabeth Kelly of Neilston parish on 18 Apr 1852.8 They were of Neilston parish when “Alexander Buchanan and Elizabeth Kelly spouses Neilston had their first child being a daughter born on the 21st of February and baptized on the 13th of March named Sarah Craig.”9 This, too, matches the census record.
Sometime between 1853 and 1855, Alex and Elizabeth must have moved their family back to Bothwell parish. According to the census enumeration the younger children—Mary, Catharine, Elizabeth, and John—were all born in Bothwell parish between 1855 and 1861. Later census records include more information for birthplace, including:10 Chapelhall (Mary), Mossend (Catharine), Coatbridge (Elizabeth), Chapelhall (John), Longlee (Robert), Cuilhill (William).
Alexander was injured in a mining accident at Heathery Knowe Number 2 (Heathery Knowe Mining Company) in Cuilhill on 11 March 1867. He died 3 hours later from his injuries.11 His death record lists his wife as Elizabeth Kelly. Alexander’s parents were listed as John Buchanan (farmer, deceased) and Mary Buchanan, maiden surname Irvine (deceased). The informant for the record—James Buchanan, brother.
Conclusions
So, were James and Alexander brothers? There are several facts that support that conclusion:
- Alexander Buchanan was living with James Buchanan’s family and mother Mary in 1851.
- Alexander Buchanan named his eldest daughter Sarah Craig—after his brother’s wife? Maybe.
- James Buchanan was the informant for Alexander Buchanan’s 1867 death record. The record says that James was Alexander’s brother.
- John and Mary (Irvine) Buchanan are listed as Alexander’s parents in his 1867 death record. John and Mary (Erwin/Irvine) Buchanan are also listed as James’ parents in his 1863 marriage to Margaret Tatlock and his 1888 death record.
- John (b. ca 1861, Bothwell), Robert (b. ca 1863/4, Longlee) and William (b. ca 1865/66, Old Monkland) Buchanan are living with James and Margaret Buchanan in Shotts, Lanark in 1881.12 They match in name, birth date and birthplace the sons of Alexander Buchanan and are identified as James’ nephews in the census enumeration.
- Elizabeth (Buchanan) Bonnington named her third son Alexander. Her first son was named William James—presumably after Peter’s father William and her father James. Her second son was named Peter, presumably after her husband. Her fourth and fifth sons were named Robert, presumably after her husband’s brother or uncle. And her last son was named Craig, presumably in honor of her mother Sarah (Craig) Buchanan who died before Elizabeth turned 16.
Additionally, one of the various birthplaces listed for Elizabeth (Buchanan) Bonnington in the records is Neilston, Renfrewshire—Elizabeth Kelly’s “home” parish and where Alexander’s first child—Sarah Craig Buchanan—was born and baptized.
I may have even answered the question of whether the James Buchanan who married Margaret Tatlock was the father of Elizabeth. The main impediment to establishing a connection has been James Buchanan’s age as reported in the records. Here are the ages listed in documents pertaining to “James Buchanan:”
- Age 39 (b. ca 1812, Ireland) in the 1851 census13
- Age 37 (b. ca 1824, Ireland) in the 1861 census14
- Age 39 (b. ca 1824, Ireland) in his 1863 marriage record15
- Age 57 (b. ca 1814, Ireland) in the 1871 census16
- Age 36 (b. ca 1845, Ireland) in the 1881 census17
- Age 66 (b. ca 1822, Ireland) in his 1888 death record18
The 1881 census—a transcription—is so different from the other ages that I can only conclude it was a transcription error or an enumeration error especially when compared to the age on his death record just seven years later. The age differences place his birth around either 1812/14 or 1822/24. Ten years is not a minor difference and seems to indicate that these records are for different men.
However, there are enough consistencies and connections—particularly if you conclude that Alexander was his brother—to make a case that they are, in fact, the same man. The records consistently name his occupation as a coal or ironstone miner and his birthplace as Ireland.
Alexander was living with James and Sarah (Craig) Buchanan in 1851. Alexander’s sons were living with their uncle James and his wife Margaret in 1881. Alexander and James (d. 1888) have the same parents—John and Mary (Erwin/Irvine) Buchanan. Furthermore, when James married Margaret Tatlock in 1863, his marriage record notes that he was a widower. Sarah (Craig) Buchanan died prior to 1864 and most likely prior to 1861—quite possibly before 1853 when Alexander’s daughter Sarah Craig was born.
In 1871 and 1881, James and family were apparently living in Coltness Iron Company housing. Coltness also had colleries in Bathgate, so it’s possible he was also working for them in 1861 and 1863 when records show him in Bathgate.19
So, for now, I’ll have to say the evidence is not conclusive. It’s certainly suggestive, but there’s no smoking gun. For research purposes, I plan to keep it as a working assumption. But more work is needed to build a stronger case.
Based on this information do you think James and Alexander are siblings? Do you think that Elizabeth’s father James married both Sarah Craig and Margaret Tatlock or were there two James Buchanans? Leave a comment and let me know what you think.
Notes:
According to various records, Elizabeth (Buchanan) Bonnington was born in:
- Ireland3
- Shotts, Lanark, Scotland21
- Neilston, Renfrew, Scotland22
- Chapelhall, Lanark, Scotland23
- Chapelhall, Lanark, Scotland24
- Monkland, Lanark, Scotland25
Most of the enumerations place her birthplace in the same general area between Glasgow and Edinburgh. The odd ball locations are Neilston, Renfrewshire (1871) and Ireland (1851). But even these locations provide clues to Elizabeth’s relatives—Neilston to Alexander Buchanan, and Ireland to her parents, sister and presumed uncle Alexander and his wife Elizabeth Kelly.
How to Use the Online Land Records at the PA State Archives
If you’ve read my blog, you’ll know that I use land records—a lot! I’ve mentioned warrants, patents and deeds in a number of posts. They’re some of my favorite record groups. And best of all, depending on where your ancestor lived, the records may be available online for free.
This blog post is going to explain how to use the land records available online at the PA State Archives. These records are organized by record and then either by county or volume and surname. They have been scanned and placed online as PDFs by page. The records include:
- Warrant Registers
- Copied Survey Books
- Patent Indexes
- Patent Tract Name Index
- Indexes of Selected Original (Loose) Surveys
- East Side Applications (Register)
- West Side Applications (Register)
- Philadelphia Old Rights (Index)
- Old Rights Index: Bucks and Chester Counties
- New Purchase Register
- Original Purchases Register
- Last Purchase Register
- Luzerne County Certified Townships
- Donation Lands
- Depreciation Land Register
- Warrantee Township Maps
- Melish-Whiteside Maps
I’m going to focus on the records in bold.
To understand how to use these records, it’s important to understand how the process worked in Colonial Pennsylvania.1 Technically, William Penn owned all of the land in Pennsylvania. A settler would apply to the land office for land. Before 1687, these applications were typically oral and not recorded. After 1687, they were recorded in the minute books of the Commissioners of Property. The minutes can be found in Pennsylvania Archives, Second Series, Volume 19 and Third Series, Volume 1.
After the application, a warrant was issued to authorize a survey of the land. The warrants I’ve seen specify the name of the warrantee, the location of the desired property (sometimes rather generally), the amount of land, the quit-rent—and sometimes the date from which the rent commences—and the price per acre. The issuance of a warrant, however, does not mean that the applicant actually owned the property.
When a warrant was issued, orders were sent to the surveyor to survey the property and draw a map of the courses and bounds, the acreage, and the neighbors. After a survey was done, the applicant would have to pay for the land and provide evidence of their improvements to the property. In viewing the survey books, there are sometimes multiple surveys of a tract of land. Sometimes the original applicant failed to follow through, sometimes they sold their “rights” to someone else prior to the patent, or sometimes subsequent owners required a re-survey.
Once the survey was complete and the land paid for, a warrant of return was sent to the surveyor general, who in turn sent the survey to the secretary’s office so that a patent could be issued. The patent is the document that transferred ownership of the property to the settler.
So, warrants, patents and surveys deal with transfers of land between the Pennsylvania land office and the settler. Records of land transferred between individuals will be found—if recorded—at the Recorder of Deeds for the appropriate county. This may not be the same as the modern county. For more information on the historical transformation of the counties, take a look at the Genealogical Map of the Counties.
Patents
Ulrich Hoober, Patent Book A11:408
If you know that your ancestor received a patent for their property, you can begin with the Patent Indexes. How would I know that, you ask. Often, deeds—sometimes several transactions removed from the patent—will reference the original patent for the property. You may have seen something like:
It being the same tract of land which the late Proprietaries of Pennsylvania by their Patent dated the twenty eighth day of September A. Dom. 1744 and recorded at the Rolls Office at Philadelphia in Patent Book A vol 11 page 408 &c did grant & confirm to Ulrich Hoover his heirs and assigns forever…2
If you haven’t seen a reference like this, but want to know if your ancestor was an early landholder, the Patent Indexes are still a good place to start. The Patent Indexes will not only provide the patent book, volume and page number for a patent, but will also identify the name of the original warrantee and the date of the warrant. This will make it possible to locate the warrant and survey if your ancestor was not the original warrantee.
- First, go to the Patent Indexes page on the State Archives site. The records are arranged by series, which are arranged by date. Choose the series you want to review.
- Next find the list of pages for the first letter of your ancestor’s surname. Be prepared to check multiple spellings if they apply. I’ve found “Brenneman” listed under both “B” and “P.”
- Check the available pages to see if your ancestor is listed. Each page is a separate PDF file, so you may need to download and open each file in Adobe Reader if your browser doesn’t have a plugin to view PDF files.
- Each listing includes: series and volume, date of patent, page number, patentee name, area in acres and perches, name of warrantee, name of tract (if available), date of warrant, and county.
If you find your ancestor, make note of the series, volume, page and date of the patent. You’ll need this information if you want to order the patent from the Archives. You should also note the name of the original warrantee, the date of warrrant and the county. This will be necessary for the next step.
In the image above, we have a patent for Woolrick Hoober, dated 20 Sep 1744, with 226 acres in Patent Book A11, page 408. We can also see that he is listed as the original warrantee for a warrant dated 19 Sep 1744 in Lancaster County.
Warrants
Woolerick Hoober, Warrant H338, Lancaster County
Now that you have the name of the warrantee, warrant date and county, you can look-up the warrant and survey information in the Warrant Registers. These registers cover approximately 70% of all land in Pennsylvania for 1733—1957. If the warrant date is 1733 or later, follow these instructions.
- Go to the Warrant Registers page on the State Archives site. The registers are first arranged by county. Click on the link to the appropriate county.
- The pages for each register are listed first alphabetically by the first initial of the warrantee’s surname, then chronologically.
- Check the pages to see if the warrantee is listed.
- Each listing should include: warrant number, warrantee, type of warrant, quantity of land, warrant location, date of warrant, date of return, acreage returned, name(s) of patentee(s), where the patent is recorded (book, volume, page), and where the survey was copied (book, volume, page). Sometimes there are multiple patentees or surveys for each warrant. Sometimes the warrant was vacated and no information is available.
Woolrick Hoober’s listing tells us that he was issued a warrant (#338) to accept a survey of 226 acres in Conestoga Township, dated 19 Sep 1744. The patent was issued 19 Sep 1744 on 226 acres. The patent is listed in Book A11, page 408 and the survey is in book D88, page 127.
If the warrant date was before 1733, you’ll need to check the Old Rights Index for Bucks and Chester counties or the Philadelphia Old Rights Register.
Surveys
Woolrick Hoober, Survey Book D88:127
With the location of the survey from the Warrantee register, the next step is a piece of cake.
- Go to the Copied Survey Books page.
- Select the appropriate page for the book and volume.
- Click on the page link.
- Each survey should provide either a description of the metes and bounds or a drawing of the tract’s boundaries with the calls and the names of the tract’s neighbors. The survey also usually shows the date of the survey, name of surveyor, who the land was surveyed for, the date of the warrant, and the warrantee.
Ulrich’s survey shows that John Line, Jacob Hoober, and John DeHoof were his neighbors at the time of the survey—20 Oct 1728.
Warrantee Township Maps
Maps for some of the townships were drawn up showing all of the original landholders—those who received the property directly from the Proprietors or the Commonwealth—within the context of the present-day townships. Unfortunately, not every township was mapped.
Pequea Warrantee Township Map
To find a map of the township were your ancestor held property, you need to know the relationship between the historical township and the modern township. For instance, Ulrich Hoober’s tract was in Conestoga township when he received the patent in 1744. Two modern townships—Conestoga and Pequea—make up the historical 1729 township.3 You can see Ulrich Hoober’s property in the context of the township’s other properties in the Pequea Warrantee Township map.
Don’t forget, using this information you can order a copy of the land warrant or patent from the Pennsylvania State Archives. If you know the reference—warrant number, warrantee and county of warrant for warrants or patentee, patent date, book, volume and page number for patents—you can order an uncertified copy fairly inexpensively. If you don’t have that information, you can also order a search by the staff archivist. That, of course, will cost you more. Warrantee township maps are also available for sale.
If you can visit the state archives in Harrisburg, you can use the information you found through the online records to locate the documents on microfilm, saving time looking up the references so you can research other records.
That’s a fairly quick explanation of warrants, patents and surveys at the Pennsylvania State Archives website. These instructions should work for most properties. However, there will be exceptions (aren’t there always?). If you have questions, leave a comment or drop me a line. I’d be glad to help however I can.
Note: modified to include new PHMC screenshot.
Friday Find: Smith-Aitken, 1841 Scottish Census
According to the marriage record I found for my ancestors James Smith and Isabella Aitken, they were married 25 Dec 1840 in Carnwath Parish, Lanarkshire, Scotland.1 This couple has been very difficult to document. After much struggling, I managed to find them in Whitburn, Linlithgow, Scotland in the 1851 census, but hadn’t been able to locate them in the 1841 census.
I also had Isabella’s parent’s names—William Aitken and Marion Brown2—from her 1856 death certificate, but hadn’t been able to locate a birth record or any proof of her parentage. Her brother-in-law William Smith was the informant on her death certificate and I can’t be sure how much he actually knew about her ancestry.
A new search through the records on ScotlandsPeople.gov.uk netted me, not only James and Isabella in the 1841 census, but also her parents and two siblings!
James and Isabella (Aitken) Smith were living with her parents, William and Marion (Brown) Aitken in Auchengray, Carnwath Parish, Lanarkshire in 1841. The household included:
- William Aitken, 60, Wright, born in Lanark
- Marion Aitken, 60, born in Lanark
- John [Aitken], 25, Wright, born in Lanark
- George Tweedie, 25, Laborer, born in Lanark
- Helen Aitken, 20, born in Lanark
- William Tweedie, 2, born in Lanark
- James Smith, 25, Ironstone M., not born in Lanark
- Isabella Smith, 22, born in Lanark
This information allowed me to also find a birth record for Isabella by both widening the search—searching by surname only—and narrowing the search to only Carnwath parish. That got me one result: Isobel Aitken.
Isabella was born 27 Feb 1816 and baptized 24 Mar 1816 in Carnwath, Lanarkshire, Scotland. So, her age in 1841 was 25, not the 22 as recorded, but age discrepancies like this are quite common in census records. John and Helen Aitken’s ages are incorrect, too. Records found on FamilySearch put John’s birth as 11 Mar 1814 and Helen’s baptism on 19 Aug 1819.
So, with some diligence and a little luck, I was finally able to document my difficult Smith line back one more generation in Scotland! Now to try my luck with Thomas Smith & Agnes Nimmo, James’ parents.