From the Gettysburg Times Gettysburg, Pennsylvania of 
Saturday, August 15, 1959 

A Bit Of History About Early Settlers

By B. F. M. MacPHERSON

The Morrison -- Buchanan -- Dickson Family

The genealogical notes on the Morrison -- Buchanan -- Dickson family are 
continued at this time. At one time, when the marsh Creek settlement was 
at its height, all of the Buchanan's and Morrison's were buried in Black's 
Graveyard (Upper Marsh Creek Presbyterian) but, at the present time there 
is only one marker still in place to designate this family burial plot.

According to a fairly reliable family tradition there were some six or 
seven brothers in the Buchanan family who came to America from County 
Tyrone, Ireland between 1728 and 1730. Four of these brothers are buried 
in the Evergreen Cemetery having been removed from Black's Braveyard some 
years ago. They are as follows: --

1. (Coat-of-arms) Robert Buchanan died 1748 -- aged 51 years; 
   Walter Buchanan -- died 1780.
3. (Coat-of-arms) John Buchanan -- died 1773 -- aged 68 years.
4. (Coat-of-arms) Andrew Buchanan -- died 1759 -- aged 43 years.

Robert Buchanan

It is quite possible that all of the Buchanan Brothers came to the 
frontier -- in other words the marsh Creek settlement, but since only the 
graves of four of them can be found only data pertaining to that number 
will be given. There may be other Buchanan graves in Black's Braveyard -- 
this can neither be proved or disproved -- but, if so, they were never 
marked or the stones have long since disappeared.

Robert Buchanan died intestate in 1748 and there was considerable 
disagreement between his children in regard to their father's estate -- 
said disagreement extending over a period of years. According to the 
records of The Orphans Court, York (now Adams) County. (Book A - page 
number 51 -- 52) "______ came into court William Buchanan, the eldest 
son of Robert Buchanan, deceased, late of the marsh Creek, Cumberland 
Township." William Buchanan, in his petition, mentions the following 
members of his family: --

1. "The widow of Robert Buchanan" (Name is not given).

2. Son -- William Buchanan "the petitioner."

3. Son -- James Buchanan, deceased.

Note: -- James Buchanan, the son mentioned above, died November 21, 
1751, aged 20 years. His name appears on his father's tombstone.

4. Daughter -- Mary Buchanan intermarried with John Smith.

William Buchanan

5. Daughter -- Elizabeth Buchanan intermarried with William Smith.

6. Daughter -- Margaret Buchanan intermarried with James Galbraith.

7. Grandson -- William Galbraith.

William Buchanan, the petitioner, refused to settle the estate of his 
father, Robert Buchanan, and appealed to the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.

Andrew Buchanan, the brother of Robert Buchanan (died 1748), died 
January 19, 1759, aged 43 years, was originally buried in the family 
plot in Black's Braveyard but was later moved with other members of his 
family to the Evergreen Cemetery. He (Andrew) also died intestate. 
Letters of administration were granted to Margaret Buchanan, his wife, 
and William Buchanan. Orphans Court proceedings in 1760 and court 
proceedings in 1771 mention: --

1. Widow -- Margaret Buchanan.

2. Son -- William Buchanan (apparently the eldest son).

3. Son -- John Buchanan.

4. Daughter -- Catherine Buchanan intermarried with Moses Boyd.

5. Daughter -- Jane Buchanan intermarried with _____ Gilkinson.

6. Daughter -- Sarah Buchanan (unmarried).

7. Daughter -- Mary Buchanan (unmarried).

Court names guardians

Guardians appointed by the court to administer the affairs of the minor 
children of Andrew McPherson and Samuel Edie.

In 1771 the court compelled William Buchanan, the eldest son to 
relinquish the Administratorship of Andrew Buchanan's estate, and gives 
the same to his brother, John Buchanan, who takes over the division of 
the estate with heirs.

The "lands" of Andrew Buchanan consisted of some three hundred acres in 
Cumberland Township, York (now Adams) County, adjoining the lands of 
Joseph Morrison, David Porter, John Armstrong, David Ramsey, John 
Buchanan and Robert McPherson, Esq. When Andrew Buchanan died in 1759 
several of his children were unmarried. The will of Jenet Morrison lists 
the children of Andrew Buchanan with their married names. Jenet Morrison 
died in 1774 and her will is one file at the York County, Pennsylvania, 
Courthouse.

Jenet Morrison, who lived in Cumberland Township, York space (now Adams) 
County, was apparently, a "maiden lady" and the children of Andrew 
Buchanan were her cousins. The synopsis of Jenet Morrison's will 
follows: --

1. "To my cousin, Catherine Boyd -- clothing." (Daughter of Andrew 
   Buchanan).

2. "To my cousin, Jean Gilkinson -- clothing." Space (daughter of 
   Andrew Buchanan).

Other requests

3. "To my cousin, Sarah Buchanan, my pewter tea set." (Daughter of 
   Andrew Buchanan).

4. "To my cousin, very Buchanan, my Bible." (Daughter of Andrew 
   Buchanan).

5. "The cow, which is now in the hands of Robert Morrison, to pay 
   my funeral expenses."

6. "The land given to me by my father before his decease, fifty 
   acres lying along the west side of the lands of John Morrison, his 
   line beginning at David Porter's line and ends alongside of John 
   Morrison's line until he comes to Alexander Ramsey's place -- said 
   land to be sold and the proceeds divided between: -- Archibald Morrison 
   Junior, Joseph Morrison Junior, Robert Morrison, William Buchanan, and 
   John Buchanan."

John Morrison, who occupies the only marked grave of that family in 
Black's Braveyard (Upper Marsh Creek Presbyterian), died intestate -- 
a resident of Cumberland Township, York (now Adams) County, Pennsylvania. 
Letters of administration on his estate were granted to Archibald Morrison, 
Jenet Morrison and John Morrison were listed as "surviving children." The 
Archibald Morrison and John Morrison, who also figured in the proceedings, 
probably Brothers of John Morrison senior.

Archibald Morrison senior, died intestate in 1776 in Cumberland Township, 
York (now Adams) County. Letters of administration on his estate were 
granted to his widow, Jenet (sometimes called Jane) Morrison, and to 
eldest son, Archibald Morrison Junior.

"Legal issue"

The following "legal issue" are mentioned in the proceedings of the Orphans 
Court in the settlement of the estate of Archibald Morrison senior.

1. "Archibald Morrison, the younger."

Note: -- Archibald Morrison Junior, died in 1778 -- intestate -- leaving a 
son, Archibald III, one year old, to inherit his estate. William Ross, of 
Strabane Township, York space (now Adams) County, was appointed by the 
court, the guardian of little Archibald Morrison III.

2. Son -- William Morrison.

3. Daughter -- Sarah Morrison intermarried with John Hosack.

4. Daughter -- Rachel Morrison intermarried with William Erwin 
   ("now a widow --").

5. Daughter -- Janet Morrison intermarried with David Hosack.

6. Daughter -- Margaret Morrison intermarried with William Buchanan.

Note: -- it is not known whether or not the William Buchanan mentioned 
above was the son of Andrew Buchanan -- if so Margaret Morrison married 
her cousin.

Named Administrator

7. Daughter -- Elizabeth Morrison intermarried with William Orr.

Archibald Morrison Junior, ("the younger"), died before his father's 
estate could be settled. This being the case William Morrison, the 
second son, was appointed administrator. The court decided that William 
Morrison should live on his father's "lands" and paid bounty to his 
mother, as well as certain amounts to the other children in the family.

A careful study of the court records leads to the belief that quite a 
good few members of the Morrison family are buried in Black's Braveyard 
(Upper Marsh Creek Presbyterian) space in unmarked graves. These include, 
among others --

1. Hans Morrison, immigrant ancestor of the family in America.

2. The wife of Hans Morrison, the immigrant.

3 Jenet, the daughter of John Morrison, died 1774.

4. Archibald Morrison senior died 1776.

5. The wife of Archibald Morrison senior -- Jenet Morrison.

6. Archibald Morrison Junior died 1778.

The notes on the historical and genealogical study of Black's Braveyard 
(Upper Marsh Creek Presbyterian) will be continued in 
a future column.