Pennsylvania - Adams County - Black's Graveyard

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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 29, 1959 
A Bit Of History About Early Settlers

By B. F. M. MacPHERSON

Th« Orr-Morrison Family

The historical and genealogical study of Black's Graveyard (Upper Marsh 
Creek Presbyterian) is continued in this column with special emphasis 
on the Morrison-Orr family.  It will be noted, in connection with this 
study, that, whenever possible, unmarked graves in this burial ground 
are listed. For the historian and genealogist the graveyard is a most 
important source of information in research. Black's Graveyard is one 
of the oldest in this country, therefore, to be able to locate at least 
a few of the unmarked graves will add to the value of this series of 
articles for future researchers.

In the Orr family plot there are four marked graves and the inscriptions 
from two of the stones were given in last week's column.  The remaining 
two are as follows:

3. "In memory of John Orr / Died June 19, 1859 in the 75 year of his age."

Note: Probably a brother of the William Orr died May 7, 1859, aged 69 
years, who is buried near him in the famiy burial plot in Black's 
Graveyard.

4. "In memory of Sarah Orr / Died March 6, 1860 in the 73rd year of her 
life."

Note: Sarah Orr was probably the sister of William and John Orr.  In 
the "Star and Sentinel" for Monday, April 2, 1860, her obituary is given 
- very briefly.

Sarah Orr, 72, Dies

"Died, in Hamiltonbann Township, this County, on March 6, 1860, 
Sarah Orr, aged 72 years."

It will be noted that there is a difference of one year in her age as 
given on the stone at her grave  and in the notice of her death.  At 
this late date it is impossible to determine the correct one since no 
family data exists to support either one of the other.

It is logical to assume that the following people are buried in the 
Orr family burial plot in unmarked graves:

1. Elizabeth, the daughter of Archibald I. and Jenet Morrison, and the 
wife of William Orr.

2. William Orr, the husband of Elizabeth Morrison.

In the files of the "Adams Sentinel" (later the "Star and Sentinel") 
the following data pertaining to the Orr and Morrison families can be 
found, under the dates given:

1.) Wednesday, March 16, 1814 "Married, Thursday, March 10, 1814, by 
the Rev. David McConaughty.  Capain Victor McIlhenny to Miss Nancy Orr, 
both of this County (Adams)."

Note: Captain Victor King McIlhenny was a son of Robert McIlhenny and 
his wife Martha King.  He (Victory McIlhenny) was born May 21, 1785, 
and died April 24, 1876.  Agnes Elizabeth ("Nancy") Orr was born 
September 10, 1794, and died January 10, 1875.  Victor and Nancy (Orr) 
McIlhenny were the parents of the following children:

 1. Martha Ann McIlhenny - born December 19, 1814 - 
    Died December 14, 1905 - married to John White.

 2. Nancy McClure McIlhenny - born June 20, 1816, 
    died November 14, 1893 - 
    married on February 27, 1844, to Robert Cobean.

 3. Susan Jane McIhenny - born January 31, 1813 - 
    died April, 1848 - married to John Wills.

 4. George Orr McIlhenny - born September 18, 1819 - 
    married to Elizabeth White.

 5. Margaret Elizabeth McIlhenny - March 11, 1823 - 
    died November 17, 1892 - unmarried.

 6. Robert Crawford McIlhenny - born December 20, 1824 - 
    married Harriet McCoy.

 7. Sarah McIlhenny - born October 15, 1827 - 
    died August 2, 1905 - married to John Irwin.

 8. Mary McIlhenny - born March 16, 1829 - died in infancy.

2.) Wednesday, August 24, 1825 - "Married, August 11, 1825, by the 
Rev. William Paxton, D.D., Mr. Thomas Orr to Miss Tabitha White, both 
of Hamiltonban Township, Adams County, Pennsylvania."

Pioneer Orr Family

Note: Thomas Orr was, it is reasonable to assume, a member of the pioneer 
Orr family, who were members of the Upper Marsh Creek Presbyterian Church, 
and early settlers in the Manor of the Masque (Maske).

3.) Wednesday, April 19, 1826 - "Died, very suddenly, on Tuesday, 
April 11, 1826, Mr. George Orr, of Franklin Township, this county, in the 
73rd year of his age."

Note: A member of the pioneer Orr clan, whose members are buried in 
Black's Graveyard (Upper Marsh Creek Presbyterian).  George Orr is 
probably buried in the family plot in an unmarked grave.

4.) Wednesday, July 29, 1829 - "Died, Thursday, July 23, 1829, at an 
advanced age, Mr. William Orr, of Hamiltonbann Township, this county."

Unmarked Grave

Note: This William Orr was probably the father of the William, John and 
Sarah Orr, whose graves are in Black's Graveyard.  William Orr Sr. is 
also undoubtedly buried here in and unmarked grave.

5.) Tuesday, August 24, 1830 - "Died Friday night, August 20, 1830.  
Mr. John Orr, an old soldier of the Revolution, of Hamiltonbann Township, 
this county, aged 79 years."

Note: John Orr, soldier of the Revolution, was probably a brother of 
William Orr, whos obituary was given above.  Without a doubt John Orr 
is also buried in Black's Graveyard in an unmarked grave.

The Morrison family is mentioned only twice in the files of the 
"Adams Centinel" up to and including the year 1839 --

  1. Wednesday, May 22, 1811 - "Died Thursday morning, May 16, 1811, after 
     a few days' illness, in the 69th year of his age, Mr. Joseph Morrison, 
     of Franklin Township, Adams County, Pennsylvania."

  Note: The exact place of Joseph Morrison on the family tree is not known.  
Undoubtedly, however, he was a member of the pioneer family whose early 
members are buried in Black's Graveyard.  He, too, is probably buried here 
in an unmarked grave.

  2. Monday, October 9, 1837 - Morrison-Baldwin Wedding - "Married, Tuesday, 
     October 3, 1837, by the Rev. Mr. Smith, Mr. William Morrison, of Reading 
     Township, this County, to Miss Jane Baldwin, of Menallen Township, this 
County."

  Note: Nothing is known pertaining to this branch of the Morrison family.

This concludes, for the time being at least, the notes on the Morrison-Orr 
families.

The list of burials, the marked as well as the unmarked graves, the latter 
insofar as they are known, is continued at this time with the Porter family.  
Only one stone remains in this plot - although there is sufficient space for 
at least four 
additional graves.  The one and only inscription follows --

"In memory of/ Violet Porter/ died February 11, 1753/ Aged 9 years/   Also 
William Porter/ died February 10, 1753/ Aged 16 months."

Note: Very little is known pertaining to the Porter family.  They were early 
settlers in the Manor of the Masque (Maske) but apparently followed the tide 
of emigration to the West soon after the close of the War of the American 
Revolution.

Give Inscriptions

Next are the graves of Joshua Russell, innkeeper, and his wife, Jane (Harris) 
Russell.  Since this family was dealt with, at some length, in previous 
articles, only the inscriptions from the black slate stones marking their 
graves will be given at this time.

1. "In memory of/ Joshua Russell/ who departed this life/ December 27, 1805/ 
Aged 79 years."
Note: Joshua Russell, "Mine host" at the Russell Tavern (later the Carey 
House), was an uncle of James Buchanan, the father of President James 
Buchanan.

2. "In memory of/ Jane/ the wife of Joshua Russell/ who departed this life/ 
January 5, 1807/ Aged 57 years."

The Smith family, who is next on the list of burials in Black's Graveyard, 
was also dealt with in a previous article.  Therefore only the inscriptions 
from the stones in this family plot are given at this time --

  1. "James Alexander Smith/ Died November 29, 1850/ Aged 3 years."
  2. "Samuel J. Smith/ died August 23, 1859/ Aged 14 years."
  3. "In memory of/ Martha/ consort of Frederick Smith/ died May 11, 1848/ 
     Aged 41 years/ and 6 months."
  4. "Frederick Smith/ died July 24, 1853/ Aged 43 years, 3 months/ and 14 
     days."

Rebecca Stevenson, to list her under the name of her second husband, follows 
on the list of burials.  However, Rebecca's name is included on the large 
flat black slatestone, covering an entire grave, that marks the burial place 
of her first husband - as follows --

  1. (Coat-of-arms) "Thomas Boyd/ Died October 12th 1760/ Aged 35 years/ also 
Rebecca Stevenson/ died April 19, 1767/ Aged 36 years."