Posted By:Family Dog
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Subject:Re: Harris and Crockett of MD and PA
Post Date:May 06, 2009 at 05:47:58
Message URL:http://genforum.genealogy.com/crockett/messages/3353.html
Forum:Crockett Family Genealogy Forum
Forum URL:http://genforum.genealogy.com/crockett/

The only family which sounds at all like what you describe and that I have in my notes was the following. John Crockett and his cousin Benjamin Crockett and brother-in-law David Harris (who had married John's sister Sarah Crockett) were merchants in Baltimore city and called the firm of Crockett and Harris. These Crocketts were former Quakers some of whom were disowned for marrying in churches or otherwise bending the rules. When the Harrises decided to build a town on the family land along the Susquehanna River where they had operated a ferry and other businesses, John and cousin Benjamin bought lots. But they conveyed them soon after to David Harris. Starting with Gilbert:

1. GILBERT CROCKETT [b ca early 1700s; d: ca early 1740s]
Gilbert Crockett m: 1727, Mary Chew; he d: before 19 March (or May??) 1744. Although it is known that one Eli Crockett of County Londonderry in Ireland had a son named Gilbert (age unknown) as of Feb 1717/18 when one Samuel Wyly made a LW&T naming Eli Crockett executor and Eli's son Gilbert as a legatee, there is not yet proof that that Gilbert and his father Eli were the known immigrants to Pennsylvania and Maryland. Given the 1727 marriage date, Gilbert must have been born ca early 1700s. Gilbert and Mary gave notice of intent to marry on 24 Feb 1726/27. 1737: Gilbert got himself in great difficulty with the government as a collector of quit rents in Baltimore County.Gilbert's date of death has usually been estimated as ca 1744 based upon the date of Mary's next marriage. However, Mary was having land surveyed in her own name early in 1741. One Gilbert Crockett was named in the survey record, and it is impossible to determine whether this was Gilbert her husband or Gilbert her son. She may have been securing land for the eventual use of her two boys, Benjamin and Gilbert.

On 19 May 1744, Gilbert's widow, Mary, was reported by West Nottingham Meeting as having married out of unity to a man named Harrison. John White and Thomas Brown were appointed to help her see her error. 1744: James and Mary Harrison administered the estate of Gilbert Crockett.

1.1 ELIZABETH CROCKETT, daughter of Gilbert and Mary, married a Nelson.

1.2 GILBERT CROCKETT, son of Gilbert and Mary, married Constance perhaps a Webb. Dated 9 March 1772, proved 4 April 1772, the LW&T of Gilbert Crockett of Baltimore named Gilbert, Samuel, and Benjamin. Executor was friend William Webb. Witnesses: Philip Nelson, Skipwith Johns, and Daniel Harris. 1753/4, Feb 15. "Gilbert Crockett, son of Gilbert Crockett, deceased, was reported 15 Feb 1753/4 to have told our committee that he has joined to the Church of England & desired Friends would not trouble themselves about him; therefore, we no longer own him as a member." (Nottingham Meeting Men's Minutes.)

1.2.1 GILBERT CROCKETT, son of Gilbert and Constance possibly Webb, m: by 1769, Mary Morgan, of Baltimore Co. (MWB 37:79) 1778: Harford Co, MD, Oath of fidelity and allegiance to Maryland. Recorded by William Webb Esq, now decd, and so submitted by John Archer.

1.2.2 BENJAMIN CROCKETT, son of Constance possibly Webb,
Benjamin Crockett [b ?, d 22 April 1792] m: 6 March 1785, Jane Donnellan [1762--14 August 14 1827], daughter of Thomas Donnellan. Benjamin Crockett was buried in Greenmount Cemetery, Baltimore. "On June 17, 1778, Benjamin Crockett in his private capacity and as a member of "Crockett & Harris" applied for the Benefit of Insolvent Act." (("The Donnellan Family" pp 287 ff in The Hall family of West River and kindred families, page 290.) In his LW&T, 29 June 1810, Thomas Donnellan of Baltimore appointed Mrs Jane Crockett executrix.

1.2.2.1 MARY ANN CROCKETT [10 Sept 1789--12 Jan 1868], baptized 5 Oct 1791 (St Paul Protestant Episcopal Church, Baltimore), m: 15 Dec 1811 or 1812, James Barroll (First Methodist Episcopal Church, Baltimore). Twelve children including one Benjamin Crockett Barroll. For an old picture of Jane, a Crockett coat of arms, and further information, Barroll, Hope H (of Chestertown, Maryland). Barroll in Great Britain and America : 1554-1910. Baltimore: J. H. Saumenig & Co., 1910.

1.2.3 SAMUEL CROCKETT, son of Gilbert and possibly Constance _____? m: ANN JOHNS. 1762, Oct 2: Samuel Crockett, a birthright Quaker, in the "Spirit of Error", had been married to a woman belonging to Deer Creek MM "by a priest". 1763, Feb 26: Deer Creek disowned Samuel Crocket. 1765: Samuel Crockett and Ann of Deer Creek Meeting moved nearer to the East Nottingham Meeting at Calvert, Cecil Co, MD, and requested a certificate to transfer there. 1778: Harford Co, MD, Oath of allegiance to Maryland. Recorded by William Webb Esq, now decd, and so submitted by John Archer. 785 LW&T names brother Benjamin CROCKETT, cousin William Webb (junior), and cousin John CROCKETT, merchant in Baltimore. HAWB 2:101 Liber 2 folio 101 Harford Co, MD.

1.3 (Dr) BENJAMIN CROCKETT, son of Gilbert and Mary. m: 30 June 1750, Cecil Co, MD, Elizabeth Chew, supposedly his first cousin. Minister was John Hambleton. Benjamin died ca 1759.

1.3.1 JOHN CROCKETT, son of Benjamin and Elizabeth, was born 19 April 1754. He married Mary _____. John was a co-partner in the firm of Crockett and Harris along with his cousin Benjamin and brother-in-law David Harris who had married John's sister Sarah. John retired to Chestertown in Kent Co, on the eastern shore of the Chesapeake.

1.3.2 SARAH CROCKETT, daughter of Benjamin and Elizabeth
Sarah Crockett m: 14 Sept 1780, David Harris [24 Feb 1754--16 Nov 1809], second son of John Harris (founder of Harrisburg) and Elizabeth McClure. Between 1785-1787, John (wife Mary) and Benjamin (wife Jean), briefly owned lots in Harrisburg, PA, which they bought in 1785 and sold in 1787 to David Harris. ("Major David Harris" information. History of the counties of Dauphin and Lebanon in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, biographical and genealogical, pages 501-502)
"David, b. February 24, 1754, at Harris’ Ferry. He received a good English and classical education under the care of the celebrated Dr. Alison. At the time of the breaking out of the war for Independence he was in Baltimore. He accepted a commission in the Pennsylvania Line and was appointed paymaster of Col. William Thompson’s battalion of riflemen. He served in various positions until the close of the Revolution, when he returned to Baltimore where he married. After the death of his father, being one of the executors of the estate, he came to Harrisburg, and was appointed by his old friend and companion in arms, Governor Mifflin, one of the associate judges of Dauphin county, August 17, 1791. This position he resigned on the 20th of February, 1792, to accept an appointment in the Bank of the United States. Upon the establishment of the office of discount and deposit, in Baltimore, he accepted the cashiership thereof. Major Harris died in that city on the 16th of November, 1809, at the age of fifty-five years. His wife was Sarah Crocket, of Baltimore, and their children were: John, who died in Europe, and Mary Crocket, who married Joseph Sterritt." (Historical Review of Dauphin County, Dauphin County Pennsylvania Genealogy Transcription Project, page 80, on http://maley.net/transcription/)

1.3.2.1 DAVID HARRIS
David Harris died out of the country

1.3.2.2 MARY CROCKETT HARRIS
Mary Crockett HARRIS m: Joseph Sterritt

1.4 JOHN CROCKETT, son of Gilbert and Mary
1764, Nov 24: John Crocket, son of Gilbert Crockett, "a young man" and a birthright Quaker, was reported as having "given way to the Temptation of Satan as to accustom himself to drink Strong Liquor to Excess so as to be often Disguised therewith." After attempting to reform him, the meeting eventually disowned him on 29 June 1765. No further information.

For the record, it is well known that one Eli Crockett emigrated from Northern Ireland to reside among the Chester Co Friends of colonial Pennsylvania and Maryland. "Among the Irish Friends who found their way to the Nottingham settlements, now in Maryland, were: [list of names including] Eli Crockett, from Ballinacree, County Antrim, a settler at Bush River Meeting." (Myers, page 157) ("Ballynacree" is the modern preferred spelling.

1724: "Whereas friends of Bush river have settled a preparative meeting & has offered Eli Crockett & John Webster to this meeting for overseers whom this meeting approves of untill further order." (Nott Mens, pp 72-73. Mentioned by Myers, page 347.)

1724?: Eli Crocket, Jonathan Massey, Caleb Pusey, Robert Johnson, Ruth Hadley, and Ann Smith were selected to attend the Quarterly Meeting and carry a contribution of 12 shillings. (Nott Mens, 73) Very likely Eli's responsibilities were a form of pastoral care; that is, to look after the poor or infirm, settle disputes, report to the monthly meeting, and help keep individual behavior in line with approved standards. Overseers were not the same as elders or ministers who had the responsibility for the spiritual health of the meeting. It has not yet been determined how long Eli performed this rile, but Eli did not appear as an overseer at Bush River in the minutes of East Nottingham after the division in 1730 from New Garden.

1730, Oct 17: Eli Crockett and Gilbert Crockett were appointed to make enquiries concerning a couple who had notified the meeting of their intent to marry.

Note that one Eli Crockett of Ulster married Elizabeth Wilkinson in 1715, but the Eli who presented a certificate from Ballynacree to New Garden Meeting in Feb 1724 "was clear from any Engagement on ye account of Marriage". Perhaps Eli was a widower. He may have crossed the ocean with a young son, Gilbert, after Elizabeth's death. Gilbert named his only known daughter Elizabeth.

The earliest Irish Friends record of any Crockett is that of 1676 concerning persecution for tithes of one Gilbert Crockett of Bellirushane [i.e., Ballyrashane] Parish. (Myers, page 348)

In 1681, Gilbert and Eli Crockett of Bellyrushane Parish, County Antrim, had goods seized for tithes. (Myers, page 348) Ballyrashane Parish is about three miles east of the town of Coleraine in County Derry and about five miles north of Ballymoney in County Antrim. Most of Ballyrashane Parish is in County Derry (Londonderry)

In 1683, one Eli Crockett marred Agnes Knox in Ulster Province. (Myers, page 477) As records were centralized by the Province of Ulster Meeting, the locale cannot be specified.

In 1695, Eli Crockett of Ballymoney was on a committee of Ulster Province Meeting. (Myers, page 348)

On 30 Dec 1699, Eli Crockett and James Moore of Ballymoney were among those named to raise subscribers for Barclay's Apology. (Myers, page 394)

On 1 May 1703, Barclay's Apology to be delivered to Eli Crocket for Ballymoney and Coleraine. Seven copies delivered to Eli Crockett for Ballymoney and but someone else received the five for Coleraine. (Myers, page 394)

"Elizabeth Wilkinson and Eli Crocket, both of Ballymoney Meeting, m. 11 Mo. [January] 4, 1715, at the house of James Moore." (Myers, page 371.) "One Eli Crocket and Elizabeth Wilkison, both of Ballymoney Meeting, were married 11 Mo. [January] 4, 1715, at the house of James Moore. - Minutes of Ulster Prov. Mtg." (Myers, page 348)

A daughter of James Moore of Ballynacree More married _____ Crockett, and they were parents of Elizabeth Crockett. James Moore's LW&T dated 29 Dec 1727 left £20 to granddaughter Elizabeth Crockett. (Myers, pages 340-341) Unfortunately, nothing further is said of these Crocketts. Myers's book has a section "The Moores of Ballinacree, County Antrim." (Pages 428 ff) James Moore was at Ballinacree townland in Ballymoney Parish by 1675 when he was persecuted for tithes. His house was used for Ballynacree Meeting. Estimating from the few dates available, Moore's children were possibly born from the mid-1670s to late 1680s or early 1690s. This is only an estimate, based on the rule-of-thumb that ten children would have been born over twenty years.

In Feb 1717/18 the LW&T of William Wyly of Parish Killoan, County Londonderry mentions a son Samuel Wyly and Gilbert Crockett son of Eli Crockett who was executor. (Found in We Cousins Vol II by Florence Sutherland Hudson (1970) without a source. "Killoan" is properly "Killowen" and is on the west side of the Bann River in Coleraine.

All best,

Don