1. Sarah Ann Tate: Born
30 Jun 1843, Crawford County,
IL; Died June 22 1937 ;
Married 14 March 1858, Fayette Co., Illinois; James L. Moreland:
Born 1839, Indiana; Died October 27 1877, Ramsey, Fayette,
Illinois. (See
Moreland)
2. John Smith "Jackie" Tate: Born 4 Mar 1809 Tennessee; Died 30 Oct 1868 Fayette County, Illinois; Married 31 Dec 1829 Crawford County, Illinois; Frances "Frankie" Elizabeth Hart: Born 1807 Kentucky; Died about 1880 Fayette County, Illinois. The following account of John Tate's life was written by Penny Whalen:
In 1827 John Smith Tate at the age of 17 went with several other families (Hart's, Lawler's & others) on a wagon train to Illinois. Most of who settled near Wabash River. John settled in Licking Township, Crawford County, Illinois. John lived in Crawford County, Illinois for about 28 years. On Thursday December 31, 1828 Justice of the Peace Lawson Lipton married John Smith Tate and Francis Elizabeth Hart in Crawford County, Illinois. Francis was known by her nickname "Frankie". Frankie's parents were John Hart Jr. & Nancy (Goar) Hart. Frankie was born around 1807 in Hardin County, Kentucky. John & Frankie had eight children of which two daughters died at a young age.
On November 29, 1838 John Smith Tate purchased 40 acres of the Southwest quarter of the Southeast quarter of section 34 of Licking Township of Crawford County, Illinois for $1.25 an acre. The total purchase price was $50.00. On February 28, 1840 he purchased another 40-acre tract. The Southeast quarter of the Northeast quarter for $1.25 an acre in the same section. The total purchase price was $50.00. On February 23, 1842 he purchased 40 more acres of the Northeast quarter of the Northeast quarter of section 34 Township 7 North Range 13 West for $1.25 an acre for a total purchase price of $50.00. In addition to these holdings John purchased 40 ½ acres of the Northwest quarter of the Northwest quarter of section 30 in Licking Township, Crawford County, Illinois for $200.00. John and Frankie sold this land to Isaac Green For $200.00 on October 20, 1847. They lived on their Crawford County farm for about 17 years. At which time they sold their holdings and moved to Shafter Township, Fayette County, Illinois.
On August 2, 1855 John purchased 80 acres of the East half of the Southeast quarter of section 11 in Shafter Township, Fayette County for $2.50 an acre. Total purchase price was $200.00. Here John built his home. He was also the first merchant in this area. The store was attached to his house. This 80-acre farm was valued at $1,000.00 at the time of his death. John died on Friday October 30, 1868 on his farm Southwest of Vera, Illinois Fayette County. He is buried at Lawler Cemetery near Vera, Illinois. His head stone is still standing. When you first drive up to the cemetery it is the first one you see as your walking up the hill. The cemetery has a beautiful view over looking the lake. Many of the head stones are gone or fallen over. The Lawler family had already moved to Fayette County in 1830 and purchased 900 acres of land. The Hart's also moved their family to Fayette County around the same time. Archilles Smith, Alex Peak and Isaac Jeffs appraised John's estate on November 21, 1868. Listed are the following items:
| 3 calves | $10.00 | 3 beds & bedding | $18.00 |
| 1 wagon | $10.00 | furniture | $5.00 |
| 2 mules | $150.00 | stove & pipe | $10.00 |
| 3 hogs | $12.00 | 2 milk cows | $30.00 |
| 50 bushels of corn | $15.00 | 1 mare | $50.00 |
| 70 shucks of corn | $21.00 | 1 colt | $15.00 |
| 4 ½ acres wheat | $22.50 | 1 horse | $2.50 |
| 11 acres wheat | $38.50 | 4 hogs | $12.00 |
| 70 bushels wheat | $70.00 | 1 wagon | $2.50 |
| 1 ton hay | $10.00 | plow | $5.00 |
| 55 shucks of corn | $8.25 |
Frankie lived many years after John's death. In 1870 she is listed in the U. S. census with $2,500.00 in real estate. On October 15, 1880 Frankie sold lots 3 and 4 in block 7 of the town of Vera, Illinois to Little and Stokes for $255.00. Frankie moved in with their son John Smith Tate Jr. In 1880 Frankie is listed living with her son John Smith Tate Jr. according to the 1880 U. S. census page 328 E for Fayette County, Illinois. I believe she must have moved in with John to help take care of his 3 children as John's wife Mary had passed away in 1877. I am not for sure the date of Frankie's death; it must have been after 1880. Frankie is listed being buried next to her husband John Smith Tate Sr. There is no headstone at the cemetery.
John & Frankie's children are Jesse Martin Tate (2/15/1836 - ?), Elvina Josephine Tate (2/4/1841 - 12/4/1931), Sarah (Sally) Ann Tate (6/30/1843 - 6/22/1937), Patsy A. Tate (1845 - 1851), Betsy B. Tate (1846 - ?), John Smith Tate Jr. (3/17/1848 - 10/15/1927), twins George Washington Tate (11/26/1850 - 6/8/1928), Elizabeth Tate (11/26/1850 - 12/2/1936).
John's Parents--
Frances' Parents--
3. John Hart: Born 23 May 1782 Hardin Co., KY; Died 2 Jan 1849 Portland Mills, Parke Co., In; Married Jun 1804 Hardin Co. KY; Nancy Goar: Born 1770 (This is unlikely. Perhaps 1780) Franklin Co., KY. The following account of John Hart's life was written by Penny Whalen:
John Hart is listed in the 1810 United States census for Hardin County Kentucky at age 26 and below 45 years. In that county he married Nancy Goar. John Hart cleared a good farm in Hardin County and lived on it for 20 years, accumulating in the meantime "considerable property". In an interview with John's son Jacob Hart in the early 1880's, William Henry Perrin writes that Jacob related that john lost his farmland through a defect in title and spent all of hard-earned wealth in litigation for recovery of his land. Apparently in early Hardin County no land warrant applied to any particular spot. It was surveyed on any vacant or presumably vacant ground. The settlers had the surveying done whenever he liked. Consequently many of the surveys were tangled and confused. Claims were further hampered by a lack of townships in Kentucky counties. It is estimated that half of the landowners in Kentucky were involved in lawsuits over their lands in the early days of the state's existence. Unsuccessful in attempts to retain his land; John and Nancy Hart sold their last 100 acres on the East Side of the Nolin River in Hardin County to Col. Aaron Tate for $400.00 on June 4, 1827. This land bordered on the land of Hugh and Barbara Cole. It was originally sold to John Hart Jr. by Samuel Blieght, an agent for the 98,000 acres patented to Dunlap and Hillegas. John appeared in the 1821 Hardin County tax list with this property and was listed as John Hart Jr. Nancy & John lived in Jefferson County, Kentucky when the sold this 100 acres.
About the summer of 1829 they emigrated to Crawford County, Illinois. With but a few shillings, John arrived at Palestine. His father had been an earlier emigrant to Crawford County, moving into Honey Creek Township about 1818-1822.
John Hart rented land near the river where he remained for two years. At that time he found himself in possession of sufficient funds to enter 80 acres of land. He purchased the West half of the Southwest quarter of Section 34 in Licking Township, Crawford County. The mortgage on this property, Held by W.B. Baker and H. Alexander, was paid in full by the heirs of John Hart on January 2, 1844, a few years after his death. He had deeded this land to sons Miles A. & John C. on April 2, 1841, shortly before his death. He bought the U.S. government land for $1.25 per acre. Licking Township occupied the Northwest corner of Crawford County. It possessed a diversity of surface, with prairie and woodland alternating in about equal proportions when John hart moved his family into the township. The prairies posses a rich gray loam soils which are well adapted for agricultural use. John settled on land which contained a wooded grove known in the early days (and perhaps still) as "Hart's Grove."
John & Nancy Hart lived here until John's death late in 1841. John died intestate and Joseph Wood, a prominent citizen of Crawford County, was appointed administrator of his estate. Many interesting papers are included in John Hart's probate file at the Crawford County courthouse. Included are papers indicating that John had some skill as a shoemaker and at times used his products in exchange for good from others.
John gave notes totaling $18.00 in 1924 [1824?] to John Worley. Mr. Worley died in Coles County, Illinois prior to John Hart's death and his son Harvey B. Worley fell heir to the unpaid notes. Harvey Worley sent the notes to the Crawford County Court in Palestine via a Mr. Ferguson of Coles County and with an affidavit of Miles A. Hart of Paradise Township of Coles County swearing hat he (Miles) had personally seen the notes during the lifetime of the elder Mr. Worley.
Notes signed by John Hart and his son-in-law John Tate were also given to the school commissioner, proving they were both literates. The ability to read and write was uncommon on the Illinois frontier.
After setting aside the widow's share of the estate, a public auction of the remaining estate of John Hart was held January 25, 1842. Among persons listed as purchasers were: John's widow Nancy; sons Jacob and Miles A; son-in-law Ransom Goodwin, John S. Tate, John Middleton, and John Miller; William Goodwin, father of Ransom and Administrator Joseph Wood.
John Hart is buried in the Goodwin Cemetery at Hart's Grove section 34 of Licking Township. The Cemetery is a few miles West of the village of Eaton, Illinois.
In their marriage record Nancy, wife of John Hart, is identified as the daughter of Isaac Goar. All of the children of John & Nancy were born in Hardin County, Kentucky. Only the names of the children who reached maturity and lived in Crawford County are known.
Nancy's Parents--
Timeline of the life of Isaac Goar:
| 1760 | Isaac Goar Born, Virginia |
| 1795 | Isaac Goare, Franklin County, Ky Tax Lists, 1795, White males 21+ 1; White females 21+ 0; total blacks 0; Cattle 4; Acres 32. Source: Early Kentucky Tax Records indexed by Carol Lee Ford, Geneological Publishing Co. Inc., Baltimore, 1984. |
| 1801 | Isaac Gore, Franklin County, KY Tax list dated 8/7/1801. Source: "Second Census" of Kentucky, 1800 By Glenn Clift, Geneological Publishing Co. Inc., Baltimore, 1976. |
| 1810 | Isaac Gore, Shenandoah Couny, VA Census, 197. |
| 1820 | Isaac Gore, Hardin Count, KY Census, 50. |
| 1833 | Isaac Gore, Private, Virginia Militia, October 18 1833; $40.00, Age 73. Pensioner in Grayson County, KY under the act of June 7 1832 Source: Revolutionary Soldiers in Kentucky, By Anderson Chenault Quisenberry, Geneological Publishing Co. Inc., Baltimore, 1974. |
| 1835 | Isaac Gore, Secretary of War's Report for 1835, Pension Roll 3, KY 97. Source: Virginia's Soldiers of the American Revolution Compiled by Hamilton J. Eckenrode, Virginai State Library and Archives, , Richmond, VA, 1989. |
| 1840 | Isaac Goar, Grayson Co, KY Census, 140. |
| 1850 | Isaac Gore, Hopkins Co, KY Census, 068. |
John's Parents--
4. Moses Hart: Born about 1766 Fairforest, Union Co., SC; Died Dec 1831 Putnam Co., In; Married Nancy (Hart): Born 1770.
5. Aaron "the Elder" Hart Sr.: Born about 1732 Warminster Twp., Bucks Co., PA; Died 1810 Hardin Co., KY; Married Rachel (Hart): Died 1829 Hardin Co., KY.
6. Thomas "the Elder" Hart Sr.: Born 1688 Byberry, Philadelphia, PA; Died Union, SC; Married 24 Mar 1722 Bucks Co., PA; Hester Miles: Born 28 Sep 1693 Bristol Twp, Philadelphia, PA; Died Union, SC.
Hester's Parents and Grandparents--
Thomas' Parents--
7. John Hart: Born 16 Nov 1651 Whitney, Oxfordshire, (or Guilsborough, Northampton) England; Died Sep 1714 Warminster, Bucks, PA; Married 16 Sep 1685 Byberry, Philadelphia, PA.; Susanna Rush: Born 26 Dec 1656 Hornton, Oxfordshire, England; Died 27 Feb 1725 Byberry, Philadelphia, PA. Buried in Feb 1725 in Pennypack Cem., Lower Dublin, Bucks Co., PA. (See Rush)
"When William Penn contemplated founding his colony of Pennsylvania under the grant of territory from Charles the Second, John Hart resolved to accompany him, to seek his fortune in the new world. At this time he was nearly thirty-two years of age, and was already of such standing in the society as to have become a preacher of ability and influence.
In view of his emigration he, in conjunction with others, entered into a seated agreement with Penn, on the 11th day of July, 1681, to purchase lands of him, located in the new colony. I have not been able to find this paper to determine its character, but in subsequent conveyances it is styled "certain concessions and constitutions, signed, sealed and executed between the said William Penn on the one part and John Hart and other purchasers of lands within the said province of the other part." On the 11th day of October following, "William Penn of Worminghurst, in the county of Sussex, esquire, by a deed of bargain and sale, bargained and sold to John Hart, of Witney, in the county of Oxon, yeoman, for and in consideration of the sum of five shillings of lawful money of England, the full and just proportion and quantity of one thousand acres of lands, situate, lying and being in the province of Pennsylvania." On the following day Penn conveyed to John Hart and his heirs the said tract of one thousand acres in fee, in consideration of the sum of twenty pounds: "To be holden in free and common socage of him the said William Penn, his heirs and assigns, as of the Signory of Windsor, yielding and paying therefore yearly unto the said William Penn, his heirs and assigns, the chief and quit-rent of one shilling for every hundred acres of the said one thousand acres, at and upon the first day of March forever." These last two conveyances were signed, sealed and delivered in the presence of Harbt, Springett, J's. Swinton, Mark Swaner, and Thomas Cox.
As already mentioned, John Hart was accompanied to America by his sister Mary. She was born at Witney, the 1st of April, 1658, and was seven and a half years his junior. She died unmarried. He sailed with William Penn from the Downs at the close of August or the beginning of September, 1682, and landed at New Castle on the 24th day of October following.* There were about one hundred passengers, mostly Quakers, and the greater part from Sussex, Penn's residence. The "Friends' Miscellany," vol. 7, p. 100, in speaking of the arrival and settlement of these emigrants, says; "Byberry was chiefly settled by friends who came in the ships with Penn. Among those who located themselves in this township on the Poquessing, anciently called the Poetquessink, soon after their arrival, were John Hart, from Oxfordshire, Susannah, his wife, and several children." His arrival with a wife and children is a mistake, for he was not married until the summer or fall of the next year. His father-in-law and family very likely came over in the same vessel, as they arrived about the same time; and it is not improbable that John Hart became acquainted with his future wife on the passage.
He took up his residence in Byberry township, Philadelphia county. I do not know the exact time he settled there, but have reason to believe it was immediately after his arrival. Of the one thousand acres of land purchased of William Penn, four hundred and eighty-four were located in this township, and about the same quantity in Warminster township, Bucks county. The land located in Byberry was laid off for John Hart by virtue of a warrant from Thomas Holme, surveyor general of the Province, dated September 1st, 168 1, near a branch of the "Poetquessink creek." The tract was then reputed to contain four hundred and eighty-one acres. It was re-surveyed in 1701, in pursuance of a warrant from William Penn, dated the 3d of May of that year, and found to contain four hundred and eighty-four acres; of which forty acres were allowed in measure, and the three remaining acres were confirmed to him by deed, bearing date the 30th of May, 1703. The following are given as the meets and bounds of this tract, viz:
| "Beginning at a gum tree by ye sd branch of Poetquessink creek, from thence by a line of marked trees, north twenty nine degrees west one hundred seventy two perches to a white oak standing by ye sd branch; thence by ye several courses thereof eighty four perches to a Spanish oak; thence by Benjamin (???) land, north thirty six degrees west, two hundred fifty perches to a (???) post; thence by a line of marked trees of Richard Collet's land, north fifty four degrees east, one hundred and forty perches to ye line of Nathaniel Hatlon's land; thence by ye sd line south thirty six degrees east four hundred forty six perches to a maple tree by ye sd Poetquessink creek;thence by ye several courses thereof two hundred ninety two and three quarter perches to the place of beginning, containing four hundred and eighty four acres of land." |
The following copies of official records tell the story of the survey and location of the land John Hart took up in Warminster township, viz:
|
"By virtue of a war't from ye Proprietary and Governor,
dated ye 31st of ye 5th Ms Last, Directed to me, to Survey and Lay out unto
Jno. Hart four hundred and eighty five acres of land in ye Township of
Warminster, next to William Bingley's, I do hereby authorize thee to survey
and lay out unto him ye said quantity of Land in ye afore mentioned place,
if room after other War'ts according to ye method of Townships appointed
by ye Proprietary and Governor and make me a true Return thereof wch is to
Remain on Record in my office. Philadelphia, this 25th of ye 7th month
1684.
(Signed) "THOMAS HOLME, "Surveyor Genl. "To Thomas ffairman, "Depty Survey." |
The deputy surveyor made the following return of the survey of the above tract of land, dated "The 2nd of 3rd mo. 1709."
|
"At the request of John Hart I certifye into the Surveyor
Genlls office a second time That By virtue of the Proprietor's warrant, bearing
date 31st of the 5th moth 1684, and the Surveyor Genlls order dated the 25th
of the 7th moth next following, I did Survey and lay out unto John Hart the
11th of the 8th moth 1684 the just quantity of four hundred and eighty five
acres of Land within the Township of Warminster then in the county of
Philadelphia, but since called Bucks, Beginning at a post being a comer of
the reputed land of John Bush, Thence by the same north east three hundred
and twenty perches to a post, Thence north west by the land of William Lawrence
two hundred and forty three perches to a post, Thence south east by a Street
or Road abutting upon the lands of Abel Noble and the Land late William Bingley's
two hundred and forty three perches to the place of Beginning.
(Signed) "Pr Tho. ffairman, Suv'r." |
Penn instructed the commissioners to allot the purchasers their shares of land according to the catalogue, made out no doubt, before they left England, and to lay out a town. Every man who purchased five thousand acres was to have one hundred acres in the town; which gave John Hart twenty acres in town lots. He located his town lots in one of the liberties of Philadelphia, but I have not been able to find any trace of them in the Recorder's office. Had they been held until this time they would have been a fortune to the descendants. These quantities make up nine hundred eighty-nine acres, probably the exact number of acres he purchased at the time, as I have not been able to trace a greater quantity.
Among the family papers is found the following receipt for money, paid for quitrent to the Proprietary, viz:
|
"Recd ye 23d of 2mo 1694 of John Hart, fifty shillings,
money of Pensilvania in full for tenn years quittrent due ye first day of
the first month Last past for four hundred acres being part of his Land Lying
in byberry township, in the county of Philadelphia.
(Signed) pr. BENJAMIN CHAMBERS. |
Penn had not long been landed when he took steps to organize civil society in the colony. Toward the close of 1682 he divided the province into three counties, Philadelphia, Bucks and Chester. He appointed sheriffs and other magistrates and officers to conduct the public business; and issued writs for the election of members of the council and assembly. John Hart was elected a member of the assembly from the county of Philadelphia, and took his seat at the first session of that body. The council met the tenth of March, 1683, the assembly two days afterward. His name is attached to the first charter of Government, dated at Philadelphia, the 2d of February, 1683, which William Penn granted to the colonists. He was also a member in 1684; but I am unable to tell how long after that time he served in the assembly.
Mr. Hart devoted himself to agriculture. He built a comfortable house for the times near the bank of the beautiful Poquessing, and gave the time not devoted to public business or the ministration of religion, to improving his estate. He had not been long in the new world before he selected a partner to share his joys and his sorrows. About this period there settled in Byberry, in the vicinity of Mr. Hart, a reputable family, named Rush, which came over with Penn. William and Aurelia Rush had six children, three sons and three daughters; and John Hart took one of the latter to wife in the summer or fall of 1683. He married their daughter Susannah ... I find an entry in the Byberry Quaker meeting records, that "at a monthly meeting the 30th of I st month, 1696, John Hart and Mary Seary declared their intention of marriage." This entry confused me at first-but I became entirely satisfied upon further inquiry that it does not refer to the subject of this sketch. Our John Hart severed his connection with the society of Friends in 1691, and was at that time a Keithian preacher, and his name would not be found in the records of the monthly meeting for the purpose of marriage. In his last will and testament he made a bequest to his widow "Susannah," the name of the wife married in 1683. If other evidence is wanting it is found in the fact, which I afterwards discovered, that the John Hart, whose marriage was published with Mary Seary, was a brick-layer, of Philadelphia. So far as I was able to ascertain, he was in no manner connected with the Harts of Witney.
We have already seen that John Hart occupied a prominent place in politics in organizing the government of the colony. He was no less distinguished in the church. He at once took a leading position among the society of Friends, and was probably their foremost preacher. The first meeting of Friends, in Byberry, for religious worship was without doubt held at his house. It was afterward changed to the house of Giles Knight, but the monthly meeting held on the I st of the 4th month, 1685: "Ordered, that the meeting which of late hath been kept at Giles Knight's be removed to the house of John Hart." At the quarterly meeting held in Philadelphia, on the 5th month, 1683, "It was then and there agreed and concluded that there be established a first day meeting of Friends at Tookany and Poetquessink, and that the two make one monthly meeting, men and women, for ordering the affairs of the church." The monthly meeting was ordered to alternate between Sarah Seary's at Oxford and John Hart's house.
The following certificate, issued by the Byberry monthly meeting, is preserved: "To Friends of ye monthly meeting about the Falls of Delaware, in ye county of Bucks. "Whereas, James Morris and Eliza Busby, who formerly belonged to our meeting, did on the seventh month appear at our monthly meeting and declare their intentions of marriage, and they did produce certificates and testimony sufficient to sa'sfy us of their clearness, and after deliberation and inquiry we did permit them to proceed to accomplish their marriage. But so yt they have been from us absent, we are informed yt they belong to your meeting, and now they desired a certificate from us.
|
"These are to certify that thus far they have proceeded,
and we have not anything against ym to obstruct ym to your meeting in order
to ye accomplishing their marriage. At our monthly meeting at John Hart's
house on Poetquesin creek, in ye county of Philadelphia, ye 2nd of ye 4th
mo, 1684. (Signed) "JOHN HART,
'GILES KNIGHT, "RICHARD TOWNSEND & others." |
From a minute of the monthly meeting held the 28th of the 5th month, 1685, it appears that Walter Foffest gave to the Friends ten acres of land near Poquessink creek for a burying ground, and John Hart, Joseph Fisher, Samuel Ellis and Giles Knight were appointed to have it surveyed, and a deed was made to them in trust for the use of the Friends. It is not known that they ever occupied this ground and the location is now unknown. Burials were made on John Hart's land as early as 1683, and after he had left the society they were continued there. Among others, William and Aurelia Rush were buried in this lot. In 1786, an hundred years afterward, John Hart's grand-son bequeathed this lot of one acre to the township of Byberry as a burial place for the inhabitants, forever. We have a tradition that a Friends' meeting house was built on the flat lands about a hundred yards north of the forks of the Poquessink in the southern part of the township. It stood on the western side of the road leading from John Hart's house to the Bristol turnpike at the Red Lion, and a mile from the river Delaware. The burial ground I have referred to above was a little north of this on higher ground. Among the names of families buried there beside that of Rush, I find those of Hart and Collett of Byberry, and Growden and English of Bensalem.
In order to prevent distress among the Quakers that might arise from disease-, death, or other causes, in 1682 John Hart and Henry Waddy were appointed for the upper end of the county of Philadelphia, in conjunction with Thomas Bowman and Henry Lewis for the city and the lower end, to visit the poor and sick and administer what they should consider proper, at the expense of the monthly meeting.
The monthly meetings were frequently held at the house of John Hart in the years 1683, '84, '85 and'86. A "new meeting house" was erected near Takony about the summer of 1686, for at the monthly meeting held there the 6th of the 8th month, John Hart and Samuel Ellis were appointed to collect money at the meeting "for defraying of charges, and use of the poor." At a monthly meeting held at his house the 2d of the 12th month, 1684, "Joseph English requested a certificate in order to take Jane Comly of ye county of Bucks, and John Hart was ordered to write and sign it, in behalf of ye meeting."
On the 24th of the 9th month, 1685, "Robert Bresmal, of Southampton, and Mary Webber, of John Hart's family," were married at a monthly meeting at Oxford. He was clerk of the monthly meeting as late as 1687, and no doubt continued this office with that of minister until the Keith schism separated him from the society.
In February, 1688, the German Quakers at their meeting at Germantown adopted a declaration on the subject of slavery to the monthly meeting held at Richard Worrell's. On it John Hart made the following report:
|
"At our monthly meeting at Dublin ye 30th 2d mo. 1688,
we having inspected ye matter above mentioned, and considered of it, we find
it so weighty that we think it is not expedient for us to meddle with it
here, but do rather commit it to ye consideration of ye quarterly meeting:
ye tenor of it being related to ye truth. "On behalf of ye monthly
meeting.
(Signed) "JOHN HART." |
John Hart, as a member and minister of the society of Friends, was active and useful until about the year 169 1, when the unfortunate schism of George Keith rent the society asunder. He was probably the ablest and most influential man among them, and his loss was severely felt. He took sides with Keith, and next to him was the most important member of the new organization.
George Keith was a native of Aberdeen, Scotland, and a preacher of great note and influence among the Quakers. He was born in 1638, and was a fellow student at the university with Bishop Burnett. After taking his degree of A. M. he left the Kirk of Scotland and joined the Quakers. He came to America some time before William Penn, and settled in East Jersey. He was surveyor general of that province, and resided at Freehold, in Monmouth county. In 1687 he ran the division line between East and West Jersey. In 1689 the Quakers established the first public grammar school in Philadelphia, and Keith was called from Jersey to take charge of it. He received a salary of oe oe 5O per annum, with a house for his family to live in, and also the profits of the school for one year. He was a man of ability and learning, and for several years had been eminent as a writer and preacher. Upon theological subjects he was an able and acute reasoner, but is represented as a man of overbearing disposition and "brittle temper," and making war on any thing like Christian moderation. At the time he commenced his attacks upon the society of Friends he was residing in Philadelphia in charge of the school. He accused some of the Friends of preaching false doctrine. He desired to change materially the organization and creed of the society by the introduction of new articles of discipline among them. He also urged them to adopt a written confession of faith. He was violent in urging his views, and accused all who would not subscribe to his doctrine of being apostates. He commenced his agitation about 1690, and soon had a considerable party which favored his views. In 1691 he had caused a permanent division in the society.
Mr. Hart took an early interest in the promotion of the views of Keith, and was one of his ablest advocates. He carried with him the greater part of his connections in the province, including the families of Rush and Collett. His name is found attached to several important papers published against the Quakers, including a document styled "an account of their Christian faith." He was also one of the forty-eight who signed and published the reasons for their separation. He and his friends appear to have been in the majority in Byberry, for they retained possession of the meeting after the separation. His course can only be explained on the ground that he changed his views from honest convictions, for he had nothing of a worldly nature to gain in leaving an old and powerful organization, in which he enjoyed much consideration and respect, to join one that was new and opposed to the controlling influence of the Province. He may have believed that he could follow Keith and still be a Friend, but it will be seen that it was a step that separated him forever from the faith of his fathers.
The breach became so wide between Keith and the Quakers in 1692, that at a meeting of the ministers of the society, held at Philadelphia the 20th of April in that year, a declaration was drawn up and promulgated, in which he and his followers were disowned. This declaration was confirmed at a general yearly meeting, held at Burlington the 7th of April, 1693, when the charges against him were set forth in full and signed by two hundred and fourteen names. On the 2 1 st of April, in the same year, ten of the leading Quakers of London, one of whom was William Penn, addressed a letter to John Hart and other leading Keithians, in which they gave to those who had gone off with Keith, "much brotherly advice," and proposed they should have an appointed meeting to become reconciled to their brethren. The Philadelphia quarterly meeting took the some course, but it had no effect in calling the erring brethren back to the fold. The breach was past healing. Conciliation having no effect, the yearly meeting of London, the highest ecclesiastical authority known in the Quaker organization, unanimously declared against him in 1694. Thus he was put out of the pale of the meeting. But Keith, nothing intimidated, pursued his course. He carried off with him a large part of the society, including many persons of great influence and standing. His pretensions were so plausible, and urged with such ability and eloquence, that he gained the ascendancy in sixteen meetings out of thirty-two which were connected with the yearly meetings for Pennsylvania and New Jersey. In a note to Proud's History of Pennsylvania it is stated:--"Some of the principal persons who adhered to Keith, and were men of rank, character and reputation in these provinces, and divers of them great preachers and much followed, were Thomas Budd, George Hutchinson, Robert Turner, Francis Rawle, John Hart, Charles Reade, &c."
Keith established meetings in various places in the province, and his followers called themselves, "Christian Quakers and Friends." A fierce feud now took place between the parties, and the war was maintained by books and pamphlets filled with rancor and bitterness. Those who did not follow the new leader were denounced as apostates. Keith appealed to the yearly meeting in London against the Quakers in Pennsylvania, and appeared before that body in person to urge his cause. His petition was rejected and their former denial of him was confined. This only increased his bitterness, and in his sermons and writings he was more severe against the Quakers than before. Soon after he went to England he joined the Episcopal church; was ordained by the bishop of London, and officiated as vicar in that city for some time. He afterward came to America, and preached about a year in Philadelphia and the vicinity. He met with little favor, and seems to have entirely lost his former popularity. He returned to England again and took charge of a benefice in Sussex, where he preached until his death. It is stated that he said on his death bed "I wish I had died when I was a Quaker; for then I am sure it would have been well with my soul."
The general charge he made against the Quakers, and on which he based his separation from them, was that they had departed from their original professions. At one time Keith and Thomas Budd were indicted by the grand jury of Philadelphia for defaming Samuel Jennings, a provincial judge, found guilty, and fined oc5 each, but the sentence was never enforced against them.
In 1695 some of the followers of Keith, who appear not to have been satisfied with his teachings, applied to the Pennepack Baptist church for baptism and admission into the church. There were some scruples about receiving them, when John Watts, John Eaton, Samuel Jones and Richard Eaton wrote to Elias Keach of London for his advice how to act in the matter. In answer, dated the I st of the 8th month, 1697, he advised them not to baptize and admit them into communion, because, he alleges, "the Keithians are opposed to Christians taking part in civil government and taking oaths."
After Keith went to England his followers held together as an organization only six or seven years, when they split asunder and the members joined other denominations. The great majority of them united with the Baptists and Episcopalians; some went to the Baptist church at Pennepack, in Lower Dublin, and others to All Saints' church near Frankford.
From the first separation John Hart appears to have preached To a society of Keithians which met at the house of John Swift, in Southampton, Bucks county. He probably also preached at the same time to those who met in the old Quaker meeting house in Byberry, as the Keithians retained possession of the house for some time. He embraced the principles of the Baptists in 1697, and the ordnance of baptism was administered to him by one Thomas Rutter. In 1702 he and the society that had been worshiping at the house of John Swift joined the Pennepack Baptist church. The John Swift here spoken of is probably the same to whom William Penn granted 500 acres of land before leaving England. He went off with Keith, and became a Baptist preacher. He was called to the ministry in the summer of 1702, and although never ordained preached at Philadelphia as an assistant, for about nine years. He was re-baptized in 1704. He became offended at the Rev. Abel Morgan in 171 1, and thenceforth neglected the meeting. He was called to account in 1724, and excommunicated in 1730.
John Watts, the pastor at Pennepack, died in August, 1702. This circumstance led John Hart and his little society worshiping at John Swift's to unite with that church. The church records say that they invited the "Society of people called Keithians, practicing Believers Baptism, and meeting once in a week at the house of John Swift, in Southampton township, in the county of Bucks, having John Hart for their minister," to unite with them and have but one meeting. They appear to have changed their views about the Keithians since 1697, when they refused to receive them on the advice of Elias Keach, of London. The invitation was accepted. John Hart was now appointed assistant minister at Pennepack, and continued in the sacred office until his death. In 1703 he was in full communion with the Baptists. He was never ordained, but was esteemed a good preacher, and considered a pious and exemplary Christian. The first person he baptized was Martha Downes, in 1702. He was assisted in his pastoral duties by Samuel Jones and Evan Morgan. Until John Swift removed to Philadelphia the meeting was continued at his house every third Sunday in the month; and it was then removed to the house of Peter Chamberline, in Philadelphia county. Mr. Hart was assisted several months in his pastoral duties by Thomas Griffith, who in the summer of 1703 removed to New Castle county. At the death of Mr. Hart the church gave a call to William Kinersly, who became their settled minister.
The Southampton Baptist church had its origin in the meeting of Keithians held at John Swift's house. After it was removed to John Chamberline's it was discontinued for a time, in 172 1, on the death of Samuel Jones, their pastor, for want of a minister. When George Eaton was called as pastor at Pennepack, the meeting was re-opened at Chamberline's and afterward removed to the house of John Morris, in Southampton. Joseph Eaton, an ordained elder of Montgomery, preached for the society. About 1730 the society had grown so much that it was necessary to erect a house to worship in. John Morris gave a lot for the building and grave-yard, "in order that the preaching of the gospel might be continued at Southampton." He afterward gave one hundred and twelve acres for a parsonage. The lot given at this time is the same on which the present Southampton Baptist church stands. John Hart's son Joseph also joined the Pennepack Baptist church, and was baptized by Joseph Wood, September 2 1 st, 1705. The other children subsequently joined; Josiah baptized by Mr. Wood, December 16th, 1 71 0, and Mary baptized by Nathaniel Jenkins, June I st, 1714.
In 1709 John Hart was one of three appointed by the Pennepack church "to consult among themselves about the best method for the carrying on of the yearly meeting, and regulating things belonging to the discipline and government" of the congregations and churches of New Castle, Pennepack, and East Jersey. In 1712 he was again appointed one of a committee to arrange a difficulty in the churches at Philadelphia.
It is not known at what time John Hart removed from Byberry to Warminster, in Bucks county, where he lived until his death. William Buck, in his history of Bucks county, says that his name is mentioned in the "Book of Ear Marks" as an owner of cattle in this county as early as 1693. He had probably not removed at that time, but may have owned and kept cattle on his plantation in Warminster. He was in Byberry in 1692, for in that year he and Thomas Budd published an "essay on the subject of oaths;" who were the first authors in the township. The, "Friends' Miscellany" says he sold his plantation in Byberry in 1705; and he had probably removed to Warminster before he joined the Baptists. I do not think he changed his residence until about 1698. On the 8th of August 1697 he conveyed seventy-two acres in Byberry to James Rush, son of Thomas Rush, in consideration of ten pounds. The 9th of October of the same year he sold one hundred and one acres in that township to Andrew Bankson. One acre of this was excepted from the sale, being assigned for a public burial ground, granted the poor of said township, forever. It had been conveyed and laid out thirteen perches square. This is the same lot that his great-grandson, John Hart, deeded to Byberry township, May the 30th, 1786. 1 have seen a plot of a survey marked "Andrew Bankson, 225 acres," which is endorsed as being part of "John Hart's land." No doubt the one hundred and one acres were embraced in this tract. Probably the part he sold to James Rush had the homestead on it. I visited the place a few years ago. The house is an old one. On the date stone at the east end are the letters and figures The house was, no doubt, erected by Thomas Rush, son of him who purchased the property from Mr. Hart. In 1827 the same farm was owned by Francis Ingraham.
The Warminster purchase lay between what are now known as the Street and Bristol roads, and was on both sides of the road that runs across from the latter road to Johnsville. It is now cut up into several farms. The homestead descended from father to son, to Thomas Hart, son of Joseph, and when he died, in 1838, it was sold and purchased by the widow and heirs of John Hart, brother of the deceased, who have since sold it, which was the first time it had ever passed out of the family. It is now owned by Thomas L. Wynkoop. As well as I am able to determine the matter the five hundred acre tract in Warminster is in the hands of the following persons, viz:--
| Thomas L. Wynkoop | 105 3/4 acres |
| Margaret Twining | 92 |
| Charles Kirk | 118 |
| -- | 86 |
| Isaac Hobensack | 88 |
| Making in all | 489 3/4 acres. |
I believe the original survey only called for four hundred and eighty-five acres.
John Hart died at his residence in Warminster in September, 1714, in the sixty-third year of his age. His widow, Susannah, died at Poetquessink the 27th of February, 1725, from which it would be inferred that after his death she returned to Byberry, to spend the remainder of her days with her own kindred.
In his will Mr. Hart left his widow fifteen pounds in silver money and all his personal property not before disposed of. He confirmed unto his son John the two hundred acres on which he lived in Warminster (the homestead tract probably), and which he had formerly conveyed to him by deed of gift. He left two hundred acres to his son Thomas with the improvements, which he had agreed to convey to him by articles of agreement, dated March 8th, 171 1. This tract is described as the "south west end of a tract laid out for about five hundred acres to John Hart, and joining to ye lands reputed John Jones' on the ye south east side and the land lately called Land's land on ye north east end, and ye land called Randall's land on the north west side, and Noble's land on ye south west end." He bequeathed to Josiah the two lots in Philadelphia. Mary got "fifteen pounds current silver money of the above said province (Pennsylvania), and one feather bed and bedding, and one mare and two colts, all bay." John Hart was the residuary legatee of the estate "here and elsewhere."
We have no record of his place of burial, but inasmuch as he was preaching at Pennepack at the time of his death no doubt he was buried there.(*) No tomb stone marks his last resting place. His last words were, "Now I know to a demonstration that Christ died to save me." In Proud's history of Pennsylvania Mr. Hart is described as a man of "rank, character and reputation," and a "great preacher." He had five children. Joseph died in 1714, a short time before his father, and Mary in 1721. Josiah, or his descendants, if he had any, I have not been able to trace. The Pennepack church records state "that on the 12th of August, 1715, a letter of dismission was granted to Josiah Hart for Cokahansay, upon his going to live there." This is the last we know of him. I have made diligent search for the descendants of Josiah Hart, but have not been able to discover them. It is not known that be was married. There is great uncertainty as to the location of the "Cokahansay" of that period. I have not seen the name mentioned anywhere outside the Pennepack church record, nor have the antiquarians I have consulted any knowledge of it. I do not (*) Since the above was written I have read a small ms. volume by Rev. Morgan Edwards, which states that Mr. Hart was buried at Pennepack. think, however, there is much doubt that it is identical with Cohansey, Cumberland county, New Jersey. The latter is the only name I have met with that is at all like it. Baptists settled in that vicinity as early as 1683, and the church was constituted in 1690. Mr. Keach, minister at Pennepack, went there in 1688 and baptized three persons. The first meeting house was built in 171 1. When Josiah Hart took his "letter" there in 1715, Mr. Timothy Brooks was the minister. As the old church records were burned several years ago, no information can be obtained from that source. By the deed of Joseph Hart and wife to James Rush in 1719, it appears that Josiah Hart owned real estate in Warminster township. The eldest son, John, and his descendants, are the only offspring of John Hart, senior, whom I can trace. Joseph married Sarah Stout, April 2d, 1713, but I know nothing further of him. As he died the next year, probably he left no issue. Thomas was alive at the death of his father, who confirmed to him in his will two hundred acres of land, in Warminster. On the 11th of December, 1719, himself and wife, Esther Hart, conveyed this tract to
James Rush, of Byberry township. It was bounded by lands of John Hart, Jr., James Carrell, Thomas Davids, and Josiah Hart, and was part of the original purchase of five hundred acres from William Penn. This is the last record I have of him or his family, except that in 1731 his name, with others, is attached to a petition for a road in Warminster. He must have moved out of the county shortly afterward, and died away, for there is no record of him or his family to be found in the county offices. It is not known that he had children. The daughter, Mary, no doubt, died single." Source: Davis, W.W.H. History of the Hart Family of Warminster, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Printed Privately, 1867
8. Christopher Hart: Born about 1625 of Witney, Oxfordshire, England; Died about 1667 Witney, Oxfordshire, England; Married 1649 Whitney, Oxfordshire, England; Mary Beckley: Born about 1628 Kiddington, Oxfordshire, England.
9. John Hart: Born 16 Apr 1593 Spelsbury, Oxfordshire, England; Died 23 Nov 1641 Kiddington, Oxfordshire, England; Married 16 May 1615 Spelsbury, Oxfordshire, England; Mary Merton: Born 15 Aug 1594 Spelsbury, Oxfordshire, England; Died 5 Jan 1643 Kiddington, Oxfordshire, England.
10. John Hart: Born 13 Nov 1565 Upper Slaughter, Gloucester, England; Married 3 Oct 1589 Enstone, Oxfordshire, England; Mary Giles: Born 11 Dec 1567 Spelsbury, Oxfordshire, England.
11. Christopher Hart: Born about 1543; Married 8 May 1563 Nauton, Gloucester, England; Died Bef 19 Nov 1581 Icomb, Gloucester, England; Married Elizabeth Lee May: Born about 1543; Died Bef 11 Oct 1593 Tyson, Gloucester, England. It is possible that Elizabeth's name is "LeMay".