PART I -
PART II -
PART III -
PART IV -
PART V -
PART VII
From the Gettysburg Times Gettysburg, Pennsylvania of
Saturday, August 22, 1959
A Bit Of History About Early Settlers
By B. F. M. MacPHERSON
Early Intermarriages
In tracing the family trees of the pioneer settlers of almost
any nationality, in this or any other locality, the genealogist
finds - a maze of relationships—due to intermarriage. This
situation existed in the Marsh Creek Settlement and many of the
people buried in Black's Graveyard (Upper Marsh Creek Presby-
terian) were related to one another — in some degree or other.
The notes on the Buchanan-Morrison-Dickson family illustrate
this point very adequately. In addition family names were used
generation after generation and their bit to the confusion —
for better or worse. With this warning the historical and
genealogical study of Black's Graveyard is continued.
John Morrison (died 1749) and his wife, Catharine (died
1752) who are buried under one large slab of black slate in
Black's Graveyard, were, according to a family tradition, the
parents of "several children." It is probable that the John
Morrison, Who died intestate in 1719, in Cumberland Township,
York (now Adams) County, Province of Pennsylvania, was their
son. Letters of Administration, on the estate of John
Morrison II were granted to his widow, Mary Morrison, and his
eldest son, Joseph Morrison.
Other Family Members
The court records mention other members of the family, as
follows:—
1. Daughter, Martha Morrison intermarried with William McCarly.
2. Daughter, Mary Morrison intermarried with Christopher Owens.
3. Daughter, Catharine Morrison intermarried with James Long.
Note: Catharine (Morrison) Long, the daughter of John II and
Mary Morrison, was, it is reasonable to assume, named for her
paternal grandmother, Catharine the wife of John Morrison I.
4. Daughter, Jennet Morrison (since deceased)" — of full
age, who distributed her share by will."
5. Daughter, Sarah Morrison "_aged about eighteen years."
6. Daughter, Margaret Morrison "_aged about sixteen years,
under the guardianship of James Ewing."
Asks For Land
Joseph Morrison, the eldest (and only) son of John II and Mary
Morrison, asked the court to deed him one-half of his father's
estate of 306 acres, located in Cumberland Township, York (now
Adams) County, Province of Pennsylvania, as his father, John
Morrison II, had promised this to him during his lifetime but
had "not legally made the legacy." The records do not state
whether or not his (Joseph Morrison's) request was granted.
Jennet (for Jane) Morrison, the daughter of John II and Mary
Morrison, who predeceased her father, "_ being of full age, who
distributed her full share by will, died in 1777 and is undoubtedly
buried with other members of her family in Black's Graveyard
(Upper Marsh Creek Presbyterian.)
In her will, which is recorded in Bill Book C, page 285, York
County Courthouse, Jennet (or Jane) Morrison mentions the
following members of her family -
1. Mother. Mary Morrison.
2. Brother, Joseph Morrison.
3. Sister, Mary (Morrison) Owens.
4. Sister, Catharine (Morison) Long.
5. Sister, Martha (Morrison) McCarly.
6. Sister, Sarah Morrison.
7. Sister, Margaret Morrison.
Named Executors
Mary Morrison, the mother of Jane (or Jennet) Morrison, and Adam
Black were named executors of the estate. Later Mary Morrison, in
the matter of the estate of her husband and daughter, asked the
court to appoint a substitute to take her place as executor.
There is a tradition in the Buchanan-Morrison family that the
old Buchanan graves, which were originally in Black's Graveyard,
were located close to the Morrison family plot — in fact the two
were side by side — along with the Orrs and the Armstrongs, Robert
Smith, soon after the Evergreen Cemetery was opened, removed the
bones of his ancestors, the Buchanans and the Smiths, to the new
burial ground - thus further confusing the family genealogy. It
would have been far better to have assisted with the preservation
and upkeep of the old churchyard and kept an historical landmark
intact. However, the damage has been done, so the next stop is in
the Evergreen Cemetery.
John Buchanan, one of the emigrant brothers, who died in 1773,
is buried under an old black slate stone, with the family
coat-of-arms cut theron, which covers an entire grave. In his
will, recorded in Will Book C, page 145, York County Courthouse,
John Buchanan mentions the following members of his family: —
Wife Predeceased Him
1. Apparently his wife predeceased him for no widow is
mentioned.
2. "To my son Samuel McConaughty's ten children, ten pounds
each." Special mention is made of Sarah Hunter, the eldest
child of Samuel McConaughty, who is also to receive ten
pounds "—if she does not die before she is eighteen.
3. "To my sons James McCarrel's seven children, ten pounds
each."
The entire estate is to be sold and the money placed in the
hands of Robert Smith, of Hamilton Bann Township, Storekeeper,
who is also appointed guardian of the children mentioned above.
4. "To my sisters son, Joseph Kyle."
5. "To David Wilson. who married my brother's daughter."
It is interesting to note that the above will clearly shows
an intermarriage between the Buchanan and McConaughty
families. The McConaughtys, the emigrant ancestor and others
were also originally buried in Black's Graveyard but they too
were later removed to the Evergreen Cemetery. They, the
McConaughty's, can also boast of an old black slate stone,
with the family coat-of-arms, cut thereon, which may still be
seen in the family plot in the local cemetery.
Youngest Brother
Walter Buchanan, thought to be the youngest of the emigrant
brothers, died in 1778. The year is given on his tombstone
as 1780 but this is obviously an error probably made when the
inscription on the old marker was recut after being moved to
the Evergreen Cemetery. The will of Walter Buchanan was made in
1776 and entered to probate in 1778 and the following members
of his family are listed therein -
1. Wife, Mary Buchanan. Her maiden name was Mary Roney and
she is buried with her husband. The stone that marks both of
their graves gives only her name no date of birth or death.
2. Son, James Buchanan.
3. Son, William Buchanan.
4. Son, Robert Buchanan
5. Son, Walter Buchanan (second of the name).
6. Daughter, Elizabeth Buchanan intermarried with Robert Smith.
Bodies Were Removed
Note: The bodies of Elizabeth Smith and her husband were also
removed to the Evergreen Cemetery from Black's Graveyard. The
inscription on the black slate stone (upright) marking their
graves, reads - "In memory of Robert Smith who departed this
life. August the 19th, 1769 in the 64th year of his age.
Elizabeth, daughter of Walter and Mary Buchanan, wife of
Robert Smith died March 1812 aged 74 years. Parents of
Walter Smith."
7. Daughter, Jennet (or Jane)(Buchanan) McClellan.
8. Daughter, Mary (Buchanan) Werron.
9. Daughter, Margaret Roney Buchanan.
10. Daughter, Ann (Buchanan) Davison.
David McClellan, who was probably a son-in-law, the husband
of Jennet (or Jane) Buchanan, Robert Buchanan and William
Buchanan, were named executors of Walter Buchanan's will,
with "— my trusty friend, Samuel Edie, to be guardian to the
executors."
To judge from this data there are other unmarked Morrison
and Buchanan graves in Black's Graveyard. among others
there of —
Other Information
7. Jennet Morrison, the daughter of John Morrison II and
his wife, Mary Morrison, who died in 1777.
8. John Morrison II, the son of John I and Catharine
Morrison, died 1779.
9. Mary Morrison, the wife and widow of John Morrison II.
There is an additional family line in connection with the
Buchanan clan, also located in Black's Graveyard (Upper
Marsh Creek Presbyterian). Elizabeth Morrison, the daughter
of the first Archibald Morrison and Jennet his wife, was
married to William Orr. Adjoining the Morrison family plot
in Black's Graveyard are the Orr graves — as follows--
1. "Here ly's re body of Mary Orr, who departed this life,
June ye 30th, 1754, aged 31 years."
2. "William Orr, Died May 7, 1859 in his 69th year."
Note: This William Orr could be a son or grandson of William
and Elizabeth (Buchanan) Orr.
These notes will be continued in a future column.
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Pennsylvania Marriage Announcements Collection
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