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A Brief History of the Families in Black's Graveyard, Adams County, Pennsylvania

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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.
Pennsylvania Marriage Announcements Collection


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