| Notes |
Mary Helen Haines notes:
Just had a Y-DNA match between the male McFarland line of Robert McFarland and a descendant of Richard Ramsey, born about 1740 in Lancaster Co.PA, died in 1824 Monroe Co. VA. So, this McFarland youngster could have been raised by Rebecca and adopted by Rebecca's husband John.
In researching family trees, one has it that Richard Ramsey is the son of Richard Bartholomew Ramsey, born 1717, died 1793 in Bedford Co. VA. The Bedford Co. could be the connection.
Found two conflicting reports on where Rachel Howard lived out her life. One report from p. 120 of Notes and Queries- Historical and Genealogical Chiefly Relating to Interior Pennsylvania (Reprint Third Series), Volume II by William Henry Egle, says that Rachel lived out her life in the home of Joseph Howard, son of Gordon by his first wife. The home was the mansion farm, later owned by J. Hershey.
The other source, Genealogies of Pennsylvania families from the Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine, Vol. III, by Stauffer-Zerbe, p. 277, says that she died at the home of her son Capt. John Wilkins at age 84 in Pittsburgh.
There is a Patent issued Nov. 3, 1742 to Rachael Wilkin for 300 acres in Lancaster Co. This would be after her husband's death. According to the notes below, she sold it in 1752.
Her son John Wilkins moved to Carlisle in 1761/62, and her daughter Jean Wilkins married in 1759 to John Kirkpatrick who lived in that part of Lancaster Co. that became Cumberland Co.
Then court records found at on-line family tree site: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~kenmullins/p147.htm
1750-1754; p. 919. Court appointed John Wilson and Andrew Mays (married to her sister Rebecca) guardians of Mary, Rachel, and John Wilkins - children of John Wilkins, deceased,all above 14 years of age on 4 June 1751. p. 925 - 3 Sep 1751, Guardians of children of John Wilkins, deceased,asked to have the following to be added to the inventory which was omitted - a mare, plush side saddle, bed curtains, bed clothes, gun and kettle. p. 929 - 3 Dec 1751, Settling the account of Gordon Howard and Rachel,his wife, late Rachel Wilkins - balance of 107 pounds, 4 shillings, and 3pence. p, 951- 6 Mar 1753, Andrew Mays, who had been appointed guardian over four of the children, released his guardianship. 1754 -1759, p. 914 - 11 September 1754, John Wilkins, orphan son of John Wilkins, deceased, asked court for Mother Rachel Howard, widow, as his guardian and granted. Why did this happen as he was already 21? 1760-1763, Lancaster Co, PA, Orphan's Court, 1 Feb 1763, p. 222, Petition of John Kirkpatrick, intermarried with Jane Wilkins, daughter of John Wilkins, decd, asked the court to divide equally the tract of 300 acres in Donegal TWP, DB C-321 of 19 Dec 1751. John Wilson and Andrew Mays of Lancaster Co, guardian over, Mary, Rachel, John, and Jennet Wilkins,minors of John Wilkins, decd, for 125 pounds paid by Gordon Howard and wife, Rachel, administrator of John Wilkins, decd, acknowledged being settled as whole of respective shares of said four children of late father, John Wilkins, including appraisement of improvements on west side of Susquehanna River which said Rachel before her marriage to Gordon took a patent and sold, record 3 Mar 1752.
Shortly following the marriage of Rachel Wilkins to Gordon Howard, there must have been a falling out:
http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/KYNELSON/2005-03/1110327342
From the Philadelphia Gazette: 15 August 1751. Whereas Rachel, the wife of
Gordon Howard, of Donegal township, Lancaster County, hath elooped from her
said husband, this is to forbid all persons trusting her on his account, for he
will pay no debts of her contracting of any kind from the date hereof. GORDON
HOWARD (note Rachel, not the mother of his children)
September 26, 1751. Whereas by an advertisement published in the weekly
gazette of this province of Pennsylvania, bearing date the 15th day of August, in
the year of our Lord 1751, I the subscriber, by the name of Gordon Howard,
of Donnegall township, in the county of Lancaster, did certify to the publick,
that Rachel my wife had elop'd from me, and for that reason did thereby
forbid all persons to trust her on my account from the day of the date thereof.
Now these are to certify, that I for special reasons have received my said
wife into her former place of credit and esteem with me, and do hereby revoke
the Prohibition in the said advertisement comprised, and do acknowledge myself
liable from the date of this advertisement to her debts and contracts, as
fully and amply as if the said recited advertisement had not been published.
Dated the 12th of September, 1751. GORDON HOWARD
The following are notes from the McFarland genealogy website of Gary Morris: http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Hollow/8143/genealogy/mcfarland/rbtlanc.txt --
***** 4 ***** Rachel McFARLAND, daughter of Robert McFARLAND and Janet _____, was
born about 1713 in Ireland, died in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.
Rachel married (1) 1731 in Mt Joy - Donegal, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania to
John WILKINS son of Robert WILKINS and Elizabeth ROSS, born 1708 in Ireland, died
1741 in Mt. Joy Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Rachel married (2)
about 1745 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania to John RAMSEY born about 1710 in
Pennsylvania(?). Rachel married (3) 16 Apr 1751 in Donegal Township, Lancaster
County, Pennsylvania to Gordon HOWARD born about 1698 in Pennsylvania, died 24
Mar 1754 in Donegal Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.
----- NOTES FOR Rachel McFARLAND:
NOTE: Perhaps moved to Cumberland County, PA.
SOURCE: World Family Tree Disk #8. Says married also John Ramsey.
LINKS: "Scotch Irish Pioneers in Ulster and America" by Charles Knowles Bolton
1910. Page 271: 1719 immigration to Chester County, Pennsylvania. On record
in 1722 in Donegal Township: Robert McFarland and sons Robert and James
(Presbyterian). Also families recorded were: Robert Wilkins and his sons
Thomas, William, Peter, and John; Gordon Howard and his sons Thomas and Joseph;
Hugh, Henry and Moses White. Came from lands west of River Foyle (Tyrone
County?), Ireland
TAXLIST: 1751 PENNSYLVANIA, Lancaster County, Donegal Township: James and
Robert McFarland. Living Next to Christian Marlin, Philip Branard, James Mayes,
James Plank, Widow McClure, William Petters, Charles Glap, Michael McClellan, and
Michael Gross. Also listed in Donegal Township were Gordon Howard, Thomas
Howard, Joseph Howard and Lenard May. Pennsylvania Traveler (Magazine) Vol 1 No.
2 1965 Found at Bellingham Public Library.
COURT: 1751-1754 PENNSYLVANIA, Lancaster County, Donegal Township. Rachel
[McFarland] .... (about Jan 1751) Settling the account of Gordon Howard and
Rachel, his wife, late Rachel Wilkins, administrator of John Wilkins, her former
husband. ...(about 1752) John Wilson was appointed guardian over the children
of John Wilkins, deceased. ...Will of Gordon Howard of Donegal, dated 15 March,
proved 26 March 1754, named wife Rachel, and Joseph Howard, executors. Mentioned
children Thomas, Joseph, John, William, Robert and Martha (Book B-1, 41: 1754.
...(1754) William Howard, orphan son of Gordon Howard, chooses his brother,
Joseph Howard his guardian. ...John Wilkins, an orphan son of John Wilkins,
deceased, chooses his mother Rachel Howard, widow, as his guardian. Rachel
Howard is appointed Guardian over Jennet Wilkins, her daughter by John Wilkins,
Deceased. SOURCE: Orphans Court Records of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.
"Pennsylvania Vital Records"; 1983; Genealogical Publishing Company, Baltimore,
Maryland; Vol I.
----- NOTES FOR John WILKINS:
PARENTS: Robert WILKINS and Elizabeth ROSS.
LINKS: Father Robert Wilkins born about 1665 Wales and married Margaret Ross.
He died 1728. Had (1) John (married Rachel McFarland), (2) William (married 1702
Janet McLytle, and died 1734 in Peters Township, Cumberland County, PA. Had:
James Robert and William), (3) Peter (died 7 Sep 1748 in Lancaster Co, PA.
Married Rachel _____ <she married also John Reynolds> and had: William ca 1742,
James ca 1744 married Jean _____, Mary ca 1746 md James Jack, Peter b. 1748
Carlisle, Cumberland Co, died 1790/1800 Somerset Co, PA md Margaret Mitchell, and
Margaret married James _____).
OCCUPATION: Indian Trader and farmer.
DEATH: Died as a prisoner in the Cresap War.
SOURCE: LDS Ancestral File.
----- NOTES FOR John RAMSEY:
MARRIAGE: Marrige to John Ramsey is noted in records of James A. McFarland,
who has documented records of this relationship.
----- NOTES FOR Gordon HOWARD:
MARRIAGE: Married first about 1718 to _____, and had Thomas (died 1786 in
Nelson County, Kentucky), Joseph (married Rebecca Lyttle, daughter of Nathaniel
and Jennet, in will of Nathaniel 1748 Lancaster County), John, William, Robert
(married 1763 to Sarah Strain), Rebecca (married James Allison), Susanna (married
Charles McClure) and Martha (married George Irwin). His wife must have died
between 1740 and 1745.
NOTE: Since Gordon had two children on 1722 tax list, he must have been born
before 1700.
SOURCE: LDS Ancestral File.
PROBATE: 1754 PENNSYLVANIA, Lancaster County. #383292. WILL of Gordon Howard
March 15, 1754 - March 26, 1754. Executors Rachel and Joseph Howard. Donegal
Township. Wife Rachel. Children Thomas, Joseph, John, William, Robert and
Martha. SOURCE: Lancaster County Abstracts of Wills 1721-1820. Page 408. FHC
Microfilm #383292.
Joseph, John, William, Robert, and Martha.
===CHILDREN of Rachel McFARLAND and John WILKINS
+ 17 John WILKINS b 1 Jun 1733 Donegal Township, Lancaster
County, Pennsylvania. M (1) Catherine ROWAN. M (2)
Catherine REGAN.
+ 18 Rebecca WILKINS b abt 1734 Mt. Joy Township, Lancaster
County, Pennsylvania. M Mathew LAIRD.
+ 19 Rachel WILKINS b abt 1735 Mt. Joy Township, Lancaster
County, Pennsylvania. M Thomas ANDERSON.
+ 20 Mary WILKINS b abt 1737 Mt. Joy Township, Lancaster
County, Pennsylvania. M William POAR.
+ 21 Margaret Jane (Jean) WILKINS b 1739 Mt. Joy Township,
Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. M (1) James JACK. M (2)
John Hugh KIRKPATRICK.
|
1713 - 1797 (84 years)
