The Church in the Wildwood
Chillisquaque Creek 
William McWilliams, Chillisquaque Church, 1790
As
the population of Turbot Township increased, William joined other settlers in
establishing a Presbyterian house of worship. His family attended Chillisquaque
Church, located near their residence. William’s
signature was recorded in the first surviving record of the congregation in 1790 as one of the members supporting the hiring of a
new traveling minister.[i]
The McWilliams would have made the weekly trek to the log church on foot, by
horseback or in a horse-drawn wagon. Two services were held on the Sabbath with
an hour intermission between. Before the second sermon, his family would join
the other parishioners for lunch during the intermission. Upon returning home,
the congregation was expected to spend the rest of their Sunday at home
studying Catechism.[ii]
The
McWilliams’ children probably attended school until around the age of twelve.
Most Scots-Irish Presbyterian congregations placed a high value on education
and established a school soon after their church was built. In addition,
education was monitored by the county government in very early taxation
records. From the year 1810, Northumberland County tax lists required the
inclusion of names of poor children whose parents could not provide for their
schooling.[iii]
William McWilliams, 1781 Tax List, Turbot Township
The Tax Man Cometh
William was faithful and reliable in payment
of his taxes to the government. Records show that William was assessed various
levies on his real estate and personal property in Turbot Township. Beginning
in 1778, he paid taxes on his acreage, horses and cattle.[iv]
Like most of his neighbors, he kept one or two horses and between two and four
cows in his early years in Turbot Township. In the assessments after 1800, his
herd of cattle numbered five to seven head. From 1782 through 1784, William
supported the fledgling United States government by paying a federal supply tax
that was collected to help pay debts from the Revolutionary War. Contributing
to this tax qualified William with Revolutionary War Patriot status.[v]
His sons were taxed after attaining the age of
21. James was recorded on the tax rolls in 1797, Thomas in 1798, William Jr. in
1806, John in 1809, and Philip and Samuel in 1810. The assessment for single
men varied from 25 cents to 33 cents, depending on the rate charged per year.
As the sons acquired horses and cattle, their taxes increased by a few cents.[vi]
William McWilliams, 1800 Federal Census, Turbot Township
William, Sarah & Eleven of their children were enumerated.
Count Your Blessings
The McWilliams family could not be located in
the first US censes taken in 1790 but was enumerated in Turbot Township in
Northumberland County in the US Federal Population Schedule of the 1800 and
1810 Censuses.[vii]
William also appeared in the 1800 Pennsylvania Septennial Census.[viii]
These documents provided no information except place of residence, name of the
head of household, and the number of family members in various age ranges. It
was interesting to note that there were both free people of color and slaves
listed in a few entries for Turbot Township in 1800.
Sarah McWilliams' Headstone in Chillisquaque Cemetery
Rest in Peace
Sarah passed away from unknown cause on
October 6, 1806. She and William had been married 35 years and she had blessed
their union with thirteen children over a period of 26 years. Fortunately, all
of her children still lived nearby at the time of her death. She left behind
her 67-year-old husband, nine sons aged 9, 13, 15, 18, 20, 22, 24, 31, 33 and
four daughters aged 11, 26, 29, and 35. No doubt, she was sorely missed,
especially by her four youngest children, who were under 16 years of age.
William’s older children probably helped him weather the loss of Sarah and
assisted with the upbringing of their younger siblings. Nine of William’s
children still lived with him in 1810.
Sarah
was buried in Chillisquaque Cemetery on the grounds of the Presbyterian Church
she and William attended for many years. Her resting place is near the center
of the graveyard. Her tombstone was inscribed, “In Memory of Sarah McWilliams
Consort of Wm. McWilliams who departed this life Oct 6, 1806. Aged 52 years.”
Copy of William McWilliams' Will, 1816, Columbia County, PA
William’s Will
William filed his last will and testament on
November 26, 1816, in Columbia County.[ix]
He had not changed his place of residence, but a temporary adjustment of county
boundaries placed his land in Limestone Township in Columbia County for about
three years before it was returned to Northumberland County. He named his
thirteen children as heirs, even including the married names of two of his
daughters. The disparity of the amounts of money left to some family members
and the division of the two oldest daughters’ shares among their children
raised some interesting questions about family dynamics. Perhaps some of the
daughters married well and would not benefit greatly from a portion of
William’s estate.
The transcription of his will reads as
follows:
1816
William McWilliams Will
No 1 Will
In
the name of God amen I William McWilliams of Limestone Township Columbia County
being in a State of Perfect health and of sound mind and memory blessed by god
but calling to mind that it is appointed: once for all men do die do make
constitute and declare this to be my last will and testament And first I
recommend my soul into the hands of Almighty God and my body to the earth to be
buried in a decent and Christian like manner at the discretion of my executors
And as touching the worldly estate which it hath pleased god to bless me I give
bequeath and dispose of the same in the following manner viz first I allow all
my Just debts and funeral charges to be paid and also that a head and foot
stone for my late wifes grave and for my own grave also, be furnished and paid
for out of my real estate Second my will is that all my Sons be paid moderate
wages for all the time which they wrought for me after they severalty arrived
at twenty one years of age Third if I should not live until my son Joseph Watts
arrives at the age of Twenty one years my Will is that he have six months
Schooling and boarding and Sixty Dollars to be paid out of my real estate
Fourth my will is that my daughter Sarah Should be paid reasonable wages for all
the time she may have wrought for me after she was twenty one years of age out
of my real estate. Fifth my will is that my sons which may be living on my
plantation at my decease shall keep it in their hands and enjoy the benefits
arising therefrom for one year after my decease and from then on to be put out
by my executors or the survivor of them to the shears until it shall be sold.
Sixth I bequeath to my Grandson William Renolds (son of My daughter Hannah) two
hundred Dollars to be paid out of my real estate Seventh my will is that my
daughters Mary Cruser and Eleanor Scouts receive one dollar each in apiece to
be paid when my real estate shall be sold and that together with what they have
already received I allow as sufficient wages for all the labour I have received
from them Eighth my will is that if my personal estate should not be sufficient
to pay all my just debts including wages to pay for as above mentioned that the
deficiency be paid out of my real estate when Sold. Ninth my will is that fifty pounds a piece be
paid to each of my sons viz James, Thomas, William, John, Samuel, Philip,
David, Robert and Joseph Tenth my will is that my real estate be sold by my
executors at any time after one year after my decease at the discretion of my
executors and after the debts and legacies as above mentioned shall be paid the
residue and remainder be equally divided amongst my children viz James, Thomas,
William, John, Samuel, Philip, David, Robert, Joseph, Mary, Eleanor and Sarah
Eleventh I constitute and appoint my son James and my son Thomas executors of
this my last will and testament Twelfth my will is that the dividend of my
estate which may be coming to my daughter Mary as above mentioned be paid to
her children I do publish pronounce and declare this and this only to be my
last will and testament In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and
seal this 26th day of November 1816 William McWilliams (Seal)
Witness presents John Ballict Solomon Levan Nicholas Gouger. Columbia County
Pa.
William McWilliams' Headstone in Chillisquaque Cemetery
William died on January 11, 1819, and was buried beside Sarah in Chillisquaque Cemetery. His tombstone was inscribed, “In Memory of Wm. McWilliams who departed this life on Jan. 11, 1819. Aged 80 Years.” In the years since his death, a Revolutionary War medallion attached to a small American flag has been placed beside his headstone.
Leaving a Legacy
William’s
will was entered into probate court four days after his passing:
Be it remembered that on this 15th
day of January A.D. 1819 personally appeared Before me Josiah McCline Register
for said County Solomon Levan and Nicholas Gouger Two of the Subscribing
Witnesses to the within will and being sworn according to Law did depose and
say that they was personally present and saw William McWilliams the Testator
sign seal publish and declare the same as and for his last will and testament
and at the time of so doing he the said Testator was of sound mind disposing
memory and understanding and that they witnessed the same in the presence and
at the request of the Testator and in the presence of each other and that the
same Solomon Levan and Nicholas Gouger Subscribed thereto as Witnesses are
deponents proper hand writing and further saith not. Soloman Levan Nicholas
Gouger sworn and subscribed before me Josiah McCline Regr. Date aforesaid.
Be
it remembered that on the fifteenth day of January Anno Domini 1816 before me
Josiah McCline Register for said County was proved and approved the last will
and Testament of William McWilliams late of Limestone Township Deceased of
which the preceding is a true copy and that Letters testamentary in due and
common form of Law were granted unto James and Thomas McWilliams executors
therein named
Witness
my hand aforesaid
No
further court action to dispose of William’s property has been located except
this reference to his estate found in the Columbia County Orphan’s Court
probate records:[x]
Affidavit
for rule on McWilliams executors by William’s son-in-law, John Scout (husband
of daughter Eleanor):
Nov 4th1822 affidavit of
John Scout Read stating the insolvency of the Exrs of William McWilliams
deceased rule to show cause (granted) why Executors should not give bail on or
before the first day of next Term. By the Court. [illegible sale and illegible
due] {filed with orphans Court papers}
[i] Finney, Rev. William
Gardner, The History of the Chillisquaque
Church, 1926, Pennsylvania, Church and Town
Records, 1708-1985, page 27, Historical Society of Pennsylvania; Historic
Pennsylvania Church and Town Records; Reel: 236, accessed www.ancestry.com
[ii] Dr. Mary Belle Lontz, “Chillisquaque Church and Cemetery,” Proceedings and Addresses, 10 December 1990, Volume XXX, page 99-100, The Northumberland County Historical Society, Sunbury, PA; accessed from copy purchased from the society
[iii] Northumberland County, PA, Board of County Commissioners, Tax Records, 1774-1843, Turbut Township, 1787-1825, Family Search, microfilm 1449349, DGS 7857877, 1810; accessed www.familysearch.org.
[iv] Pennsylvania, Tax and Exoneration, 1762-1794, Series No. 4.61; Records of the Office of the Comptroller General, RG-4, PA Historical and Museum Commission, Harrisburg, PA, PA, Tax and Exoneration, 1768-1801, William McWilliams; accessed www.ancestry.com
[v] Egle, William Henry, Pennsylvania Archives, Third Series, Volume 19, Proprietary, Supply and State Tax Lists of the Counties of Northampton and Northumberland for the Years 1772 to 1787, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, State Printer, 1897, pages 423, 447, 506, 576, 589, 673, 748; accessed www.familysearch.org
[vi] Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Board of County Commissioners, Tax Records, 1774-1843, Turbut Township, 1787-1825; accessed www.familysearch.org, filmstrip 1449349, DGS 7857877
[vii] 1800 U.S. census, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, population schedule, Turbot Township, p. 796, Williams McWilliams; NARA microfilm publication M32, roll 37; accessed www.ancestry.com, image 5 and 1810 U.S. census, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, population schedule, Turbot Township, p. 130, James McWilliams; NARA microfilm publication M252, roll 53; accessed www.ancestry.com, image 8
[viii] 1800 Pennsylvania, Septennial Census, 1779-1863, Northumberland, All, Records of the House of Representatives, Records of the General Assembly, Record Group 7, PA Historical and Museum Commission, Harrisburg, PA, Box 1026: accessed www.ancestry.com, image 12
[ix] Pennsylvania, Wills and Probate Records, 1683-1993, Columbia County Wills and Administrations, Volumes 1-2, 1813-1850, William McWilliams, volume 1, page 94; accessed www.ancestry.com, image 70 OR can be accessed www.familysearch.org, image 70
[x]
Pennsylvania, Wills and Probate Records, 1683-1994, Columbia County, Orphan’s
Court Dockets, 1814-1841, William McWilliams, volume 1-3, volume 1, page 301;
accessed familysearch.org, filmstrip 955824, DGS 5544892, image 185
No comments:
Post a Comment