BAKER FAMILY HISTORY AND GENEALOGY
THE DESCENDANTS OF GEORGE ESPY
8. SAMUEL ESPY (SAMUEL4, JOSIAH3, HUGH2, GEORGE1) was born
1723. He married MARTHA PATTON 1756. She was born
1723. "Richard Crain, son
of William and Jean Crain, whose death occurred in Middleton township,
Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, previous to 1790, located west of the
Susquehanna river prior to, the revolutionary war, during which he served
as an officer in one of the "Associators " battalions. He also
participated in the battle of Long Island under Colonel Frederick Watts,
and was captured by the British, but shortly afterward was paroled on
account of wounds received in that engagement. The maiden name of his wife
is unknown. Their children were: Espy, a schoolmaster, who died in
Middleton township, October, 1804; Elizabeth, William, George, Mary, who
married James Hamilton; Jane, who died prior to 1804, married Joseph Van
Horn and had two children Espy and Mary; Ann, who married Matthew Dill;
and Richard. Genealogical and
Personal History of Lycoming County, John W. Jordan, Lewis Historical
Publishing Co., 1906. This is the part I
made the inquiry about which apparently is not in your direct line. There
is additional written material to suggest the correct name as Richard, but
I assume by now you?ve already seen it in the Pennsylvania Archives. We
have long since verified that the maiden name was Jean Espy so we do agree
with you and have additional proof as
well. I hope you
are aware Richard is also a nephew of Elizabeth Crain Espy wife to Josiah.
There is material which indicates clearly that the Stewart, Crain and Espy
families were close friends also in
Ireland. I hope this helps
you and perhaps you will correct the small errors you have
published. Regards, Jim
Atchison"
GENERATION
5
More About
SAMUEL ESPY:
Located in Chester CO, PA.
9.
GEORGE ESPY (SAMUEL4, JOSIAH3, HUGH2, GEORGE1) was born 1731, and died
1765 in Derry Twp. Lancaster County, PA. He married ELIZABETH
GILCHRIST. She was born Abt. 1731.
Child of GEORGE ESPY
and ELIZABETH GILCHRIST is:
i. DAVID ESPY, b. Abt.
1750.
10. JOHN5 ESPY (GEORGE4, JOSIAH3,
HUGH2, GEORGE1) was born 1720 in North Ireland, and died July 07, 1774 in
Cumberland CO., PA. He married ANN MONTGOMERY 1738 in Derry Twp.,
PA. She was born 1718 in County Atrium, Ireland, and died in Derry,
Lancaster, PA.
Notes for JOHN ESPY:
Immigrated to America
with his parents when very young.
1741, Lived Swatara Creek, Lancaster
Co., PA.
John held land warrants for one hundred acres of land in Derry
Twp. on 3 Nov, 1753. In Cumberland Co., he was known to have been
taxed in 1771 for two hundred eight-two acres of land, two horses and five
cattle in the year 1781. In 1770 he was in Wyoming Co.,
PA.
Children of JOHN ESPY and ANN MONTGOMERY
are:
17. i. THOMAS ESPY, b. 1739
ii. JAMES
ESPY, b. 1741.
iii. JEAN ESPY, b.
1743.
iv. BENJAMIN ESPY, b. 1745.
v. ELIZABETH
ESPY, b. 1747.
11. MARY ESPY (GEORGE4,
JOSIAH3, HUGH2, GEORGE1) was born 1722. She married JOHN WOODS, son
of GEORGE and JANE McDOWELL WOODS. He was born Abt. 1720 in Ireland,
and died December 1769 in Hanover Twp., Lancaster Co.,
PA.
Notes for JOHN WOODS:
WOODS, JOHN Hanover
Twp.
December 16, 1768 January 17, 1770
Wife: Mary
Woods.
Children: George, Andrew, Samuel, Sarah, Anna,
Margaret,
Janet, Mary, Elizabeth and Martha.
Ex.: Mary Woods, Josias Espy and
James McClanohan.
Wills: T-Z Surnames: Will Abstracts
1729-1819: Lancaster Co, PA
Will: 1768 Proven 17
January 1770; one of his executors was Josias Espy
Children
of MARY ESPY and JOHN WOODS are:
i. GEORGE WOODS, b.
1740.
ii. ANDREW WOODS, b.
1742.
iii. JOHN WOODS, b. June 05, 1745, PA; d. June
27, 1821, Cumberland Co. PA.; m. ELIZABETH HERRON; b. Abt. 1745, of
Conedoguinet Creek; d. November 03, 1810.
iv. WILLIAM WOODS,
b. 1747; d. 1782; m. ANN SEAWRIGHT; b. Abt. 1747.
v. SAMUEL
WOODS, b. 1749.
vi. MARTHA WOODS, b.
1749.
vii. SARAH WOODS, b. 1751.
18. viii. ANNA WOODS, b. 1753
ix. MARGARET WOODS,
b. 1755.
x. JANET WOODS, b. 1758.
More About
JANET WOODS:
Her name may have been
Jeanette
xi. MARY WOODS, b. 1758; d.
1759.
xii. ELIZABETH WOODS, b. 1760; d.
1760.
12. JEAN ESPY (GEORGE4, JOSIAH3, HUGH2,
GEORGE1) was born 1725. She married RICHARD CRAIN September 23, 1751
in Derry Twp., Lancaster, PA. He was born Abt.
1721.
More About JEAN ESPY:
More About RICHARD
CRAIN:
According to Jim Atchinson Rev. John Cuthbertson's diary
inaccurately shows that he married Jean Espy to Robert
Crain.
Children of JEAN ESPY and ROBERT CRAIN
are:
i. ESPY CRAIN.
ii. WILLIAM ESPY
CRAIN.
iii. ELIZABETH CRAIN.
iv. GEORGE
CRAIN.
v. RICHARD CRAIN.
vi. MARY CRAIN, m.
JAMES HAMILTON.
vii. JANE CRAIN.
viii. ANNE
CRAIN.
ix. ABNER CRAIN.
13.
JOSIAH ESPY (GEORGE4, JOSIAH3, HUGH2, GEORGE1) was born 1727 in Derry
twp., Lancaster Co., PA, and died November 1801 in Lexington, KY.,
or perhaps Mt. Sterling, Green Co., OH. He married ELIZABETH
PATTERSON 1758 in Cumberland Co., PA, who may be the daughter of PETER
PATTERSON and ELIZABETH LYTLE. She was born 1735 in Upper Paxtang
Twp., Dauphin Co, PA, and died November 19, 1809 in Xenia vicinity, Greene
Co., OH.
Notes for JOSIAH ESPY:
Josiah settled in
Cumberland Co., but moved about from place to place.
His was one of the original proprietors of Hanover Twp.,
Luzerne Co. and drew lot No. 18. He lived at Wyoming in 1770.
Was taxed for 200 acres of land in Cumberland Co. in 1781. In 1783
removed to Westmoreland Co.
Elizabeth lived with daughter
Martha Espy Mitchell in Greene Co., OH, after Josiah's death. They were
members of the Presbyterian Church.
In Memorandums of a Tour
Made By Josiah Espy In The States of Ohio and Kentucky And Indiana
Territory In 1805; Robert Clarke & Co 1870, Josiah Espy speaks of a
visit to his mother Elizabeth.
"6th August, I arrived
at sister Martha's (married long since I had last seen her to a Mr. James
Mitchell), with whom my aged mother now lives, neither of whom I had seen
for about seventeen years.
My brothers, Thomas, Hugh
and David, accompanied me to witness the anxious meeting. It was
exquisitely joyful and tender, mingled with feelings somewhat painful, for
my mother had lost all recollection of her son's countenance and features,
and it was with difficulty that she could permit herself to be assured
that I was really hers, although the tears of affection and joy, which
flowed from every eye around her, assured her of the fact. When
fully convinced, she literally wept over me for near half an hour, in such
an extacy [sic] of joy that she sunk nearly exhausted and helpless, and I
felt for the first time (such was the excitement occasioned in me by this
interesting scene), that extreme joy has all the effects and nearly all
the anguish of extreme sorrow.
Mr. Mitchell resides on the
Little Miami, about fort-five miles from its mouth. He has a fine
family of children, considering they have been raised in the wilderness" .
. .
It is not known where Josiah Espy is buried but family
tradition has that it was "one of the cemeteries about Lexington,
KY.
"Josiah - Green County.''
Source: Soldiers of
American Revolution Who Lived in State of Ohio," Vol 2, pg 399:
"Espy, Note: The Josiah Espy listed as buried in Green Co, OH is most
likely a grandson who died September 22, 1843 but is often sited as the
above mentioned Josiah Espy but he was too young to have served in the
Revolutionary War.
Josiah Espy (1727-1801) was a member of
the Committee of Safety of Northumberland County, 1777. He was born in
Lancaster County, PA.; died in Green County, Ohio. His son, George, served
as private in the militia. He was born in Cumberland County; died in
Espyville, PA.
Lived: 1727 Town known as Derry Fort. Derry
is now Hershey, Pennsylvania
Moved: About. 1772 Northumberland,
Pennsylvania
Settled: 1758 Cumberland Co., Pennsylvania
Settled:
1770 Wyoming Co., Pennsylvania
1777 Member of the Committee of Safety,
Br. Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania
Lived: 1783 Westmoreland co.,
Pennsylvania
Moved: 1786 Near Lexington, Kentucky
Military
Service: Served in the Revolutionary War at the Battle of Trenton &
Princeton as did son, George.
Their
Story: When James Espy graduated from Transylvania he immediately
rejoined his parents who had followed the Mitchell's to the neighborhood
of Xenia. The Mitchell's and Espy's by now were more closely associated by
intermarriage.
Suffering greatly from the ravages of the American Revolution
and the outlook at the termination of the war no better they were
impoverished by accepting near worthless Continental currency in exchange
for land which Josiah was forced to sell under duress.
The
Espy's with their children, excepting young Josiah who was left behind in
Bedford with an uncle, soon joined David Mitchell and others of their
former neighbors in the wild new land around Lexington Kentucky.
Daughter Anna married
Joseph Simpson and when 18 years old James went to live with her so that
he might enter as a student in the new frontier academy known as
Transylvania University. (See Col. Robert Patterson notes on home
across from the University).
Their son Josiah had
stayed in PA came to visit the others in 1805. He traveled the
entire distance through the almost uninhabited regions by horseback.
A memorandum of this journey left by Josiah Espy was published in
Cincinnati in 1870 by Robert Clark and Co. (Miscellany No. 1 of the
Ohio Valley Historical Series). It gives graphic description of the
almost, unbroken country. (There is also a work by Mrs. L.M. Morehead
(James niece) printed by this same publishing co).
Said Josiah in
the record: "Here I met my brother James, whom I had not seen since he was
an infant. I found him at the university, where he had made
considerable progress in the dead languages and in general science.
He shows an ardent desire for knowledge, and promises to be both
intelligent and useful."
Josiah Espy was an attorney at law.
David Mitchell, founder of Mt. Zion Associate Reformed
Church on his lands bordering Cane Run, near Lexington, held strictly
against slavery, but the church pastor, Rev. Rankin, as well as many of
the more influential church elders held slaves, and were against
abolition. The iron-rimmed David Mitchell, with many who sided
with him immigrated to the newly opened Ohio country where, there was
already an edict against slave holding.
Most information on
Josiah says he is buried at Massie's Creek Cemetery, Greene County Ohio,
but when I spoke to a librarian in Greene Co., I was informed that
Massie's Creek Cemetery had not been formed in 1801 [the year of his
death] but was there by the time Elizabeth passed away in
1809.
Elizabeth went to Kentucky in 1804 with her daughter
Martha and Son-in-law James Mitchell and made her home with
them.
Buried in Massie's Creek Cemetery - When on our research trip in
the fall of 2003, we tried to access Massie's Creek Cemetery but several
miles away one of the roads was closed due to construction and we were not
able to reach the cemetery.
Children of JOSIAH ESPY and
ELIZABETH PATTERSON are:
19. i. CAPT. GEORGE W. ESPY, b.
March 27, 1759
20. ii. JOHN ESPY, b.
1761
21. iii. MARY ESPY, b. 1763
22. iv. THOMAS
ESPY, b. 1767
23. v. ANNA ESPY, b.
1769
24. vi. JOSIAH M. ESPY, b.
1771
25. vii. HUGH ESPY, b. May 04,
1774
26. viii. MARTHA ESPY, b. August 03,
1777
27. ix. DAVID ESPY, b. 1779
x. JAMES
"POLLARD" ESPY, b. May 09, 1785, Westmoreland Co., PA; d. January 24, 1860
in Harrisburg, PA; m. MARGARET POLLARD, May 26, 1812, Allegany Co., PA.;
who was of Cumberland, MD.; d. May 30, 1850.
Notes for JAMES
"POLLARD" ESPY:
Young James, like his brother Josiah, took up
the study of law in Xenia while teaching school to help support
himself. Although he completed his law studies, he finally abandoned
the profession for his love of teaching amounted to enthusiasm and he
determined to become an instructor of the young. But James craved
more enlightenment in scientific subject. During his years of teaching in
Xenia, he undertook as a hobby various observations and experiments in
atmospheric phenomena and it relation to storms. To determine the
"dew point" he placed numerous pails of water and thermometers in the back
yard of his father's home. This rear yard was enclosed by a fence of
smooth planks, always kept, freshly whitewashed. It is told that the
surface of these planks was always covered with Espy's tabulations and
calculations and recordings.
Then shortly, through the
influence of a relative, he received an appointment as principal of the
Academy of Cumberland, MD. Here he met & married Margaret
Pollard. He, lacking a middle name took Margaret's maiden name as
his own. The couple moved to Philadelphia, where James became a
professor of classics and mathematics
He founded a system of
meteorological observations in Pennsylvania and during the next years
worked toward a national system of volunteer weather observes which was
replaced around 1855 by telegraph-linked corps of
observers.
The American Philosophical Society of Philadelphia
awarded Espy the Magellan Premium in 1836.
Said Prof. Henry
of the Smithsonian: "There is no question in my mind but that Prof. Espy
should be regarded as the father of the present Signal Service (Weather
Bureau) of the United States, his Theory of Storms" having led the way to
its establishment and present success". To this Prof. Henry added;
"that the charts now used in the service are identical (with slight
modifications) with those the old "Storm King" constructed for his
use".
In 1839, Prof. Espy visited England by invitation for
the purpose of explaining his theory of storms before the British Assoc.
of Sciences. Later that year he visited Paris where he was accorded
the honor of an appointment to the Academy of Science. This
institution was at that time presided over by the eminent arago.
Said Arago: "England had its Newton, France it Cuvier, and America its
Espy".
Upon his return to America James Espy published his
great work "The Philosphy of Storms". He was uged to take appt. to
the US War Dept. at Washington to Prosecute his investigations in
atmospherical currents and disturbances. He was also associated with
the U.S. Navy Bureau.
[Professor James Pollard Espy, drew lines on the
weather charts he prepared for the Navy, indicating weather fronts moving
across the country, west to east.]sic.
1842: James P. Espy is
named the government's first official meteorologist
Sources:
Xenia Daily Gazette Saturday Nov. 26, 1960 Family
records
Professor James P. Espy, a pioneer authority on the
weather, had noticed that thunderstorms and rain often followed a prairie
fire or a forest fire. He therefore proposed in 1841 that forty acres of
timber be burned every seven days at twenty mile intervals along a
six-hundred-mile front from north to south on the western frontier of the
country to put an end to drought.
James retired in 1859, and
while on a visit to a niece in Cincinnati, he died on Jan. 24,
1860.
The Reverend Moncure Conway delivered a written eulogy of James
Pollard Espy, which claimed that "the character of Professor Espy was as
pure and elevated as any it has been our happiness to
meet."
Professor Espy had his portrait painted by Peale;
after his death it was presented to the Smithsonian Institution and now
(1905) hangs upstairs in one of the offices.
Source: The Espey-Espy
Book p. 16.
Served in the war of
1812
Occupation: Teacher, scientist, philosopher, writer, lecturer,
meteorologist.
Appointed: 1843 Appointed the 1st "Meterologist" for the
U.S. Government.
Other Info: James mother was 50 years of age when she
gave birth to him.
Burial: Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Medical:
While on a visit to Cincinnati, Ohio he was striken with paralysis, 17
January 1860, at 75 years of age.
14. COL.
DAVID ESPY (GEORGE4, JOSIAH3, HUGH2, GEORGE1) was born 1730 in Derry Twp.,
Lancaster Co, PA, and died June 13, 1795. He married JANE WOODS
1775, daughter of COL. GEORGE and JANE McDOWELL WOODS. She was
born Abt.1755, and died 1813.
Notes
for COL. DAVID ESPY:
THE BAKER
FAMILY HISTORY
By Dixie Baker Pacini
George W. Espy had entered the
Revolutionary War at age 16 and was a barefoot boy at Valley Forge.
He later founded Espyville, Penn., in 1789, where he owned a sawmill,
grist mill and distillery. A humorous incident occurred involving
George's great-great granduncle, Col. David Espy and George Washington,
during his first term as President. Taxes were levied to provide
funds to cancel the national debt and in western Penn., it was decided
that no tax should be paid on whisky. Due to the rioting, 12,000
militiamen were called out, with troops encamped in and around
Bedford. Pres. Washington was staying with Col. & Mrs. Espy and
cavalrymen guarded the Espy home. Mrs. Espy had gone to great
lengths in her preparations for her distinguished guest's first dinner
under her roof, with the piece de resistance being wild turkey. The
guests gathered around the board to await the turkey. The bird, done
to a turn, exuding delicious aromas, was placed on a huge platter and
borne from the kitchen. But, as it passed through the butler's
pantry, a mounted soldier leaned through an open window, impaled the bird
with his bayonet and galloped off. The servant was aghast and
appeared "birdless" before the President. He assured her she was
blameless and he should, nevertheless, enjoy the bountiful repast before
him.
"David studied law and early in life moved to
Bedford Co., PA. where he was prominent in public affairs. . . .
During the famous whiskey rebellion of 1794, George Washington
head-quartered in this house for three days while the rebellion was
quelled.
David was a Deputy to the Provincial
Conference at Carpenter's Hall in Philadelphia, PA., on 18 June 1775;
member of the Council of Public Safety 23 July 1776; Colonel of Battalion
of Associators . . . He was Prothonotary of Bedford Co., 18 Dec. 1778; one
of the Justices of that County, 18 Dec. 1778; and under the Constitution
of 1780-1790, one of the original trustees of Dickinson College and a
member of the General Assembly of the State of Pennsylvania. Col.
Espy was taxed on 1,316 acres of land in Bedford Co., PA., in 1785
When his brother Josiah moved to Kentucky, Josiah left his son Josiah with
Colonel David. Espy".
Source:The Espey - Espy Book Vol. 2 p.
5
Colonial Records Volume XI, page 628 show that the
Executive Council met in Philadelphia Friday 27, 1778 and appointed 'David
Espie' Esq, to be Register and Recorder in the County of Bedford. In the
same volume, on page 646 "Council met Friday December 18, 1778. Joseph
Reed President." "A letter was received from Robert Galbraith, Esq,
resigning his offices of Prothonotary, Clerk of the Justice, Clerk of the
Orphans' Court, Recorder of Deeds and Register for the Probate of Wills
and also the Commission of the Peace for the County of Bedford." "Ordered
that David Espy be appointed and commissioned to be Prothonotary, Recorder
of Deeds and Register for the Probate of Wills for the County of Bedford
and one of the Justices of the Court of Common Pleas for the said
county.
"Ordered that David Espy be appointed and
commissioned to be Clerk of the Orphan's Court of the County of Bedford.
"
Military Service: Bet. 1776 - 1781 Colonel of Battalion of
Associators (see Archives of Pennsylvania, Vol. 14, 2nd series for his
service in the Revolution) 
2.1.08
DAVID
ESPY'S
COMMISSION
2.1.08
PORTRAIT COL. DAVID
ESPY 
HOME OF COLONEL DAVID ESPY
Portrait from "The Hickok Genealogy" Compiled by Charles Nelson
Hickok
The Espy House served as President Washington's
Headquarters during the Whiskey Rebellion in 1794. The building is located
in downtown Bedford, on Pitt Street it was originally built by Colonel
David Espy in 1766 although it is now used as a bakery and apartments.
David Espy's house was the nicest house in Bedford and David
a Col. and a very influential man in the state was probably the most
likely choice to host the first president of the United
States.
David Espy was one of Bedford's first settlers. His
house was "a two story stone structure with three windows across the front
and a high tripped roof giving almost a full floor in the attic." The
house had been used by Arthur St. Clair when he was prothonotary of
Bedford County
Source: Mulkearn and Pugh, Traveler's Guide, p 13O,
139.
From George Washington's Diary: Written
October 19th 1794
19th. In company with Genl. Lee, who I
requested to attend me, that all the arrangements necessary for the Army's
crossing the
Mountns. in two columns might be made; Their
routs, & days Marches fixed, that the whole might move in Unison--and
accompanied by the
Adjutant General and my own family we set
out, abt. eight o'clock, for Bedford, and making one halt at the distance
of 12 Miles, reached it a
little after 4 o'clock in the
afternoon being met a little out of the Encampment by Govr. Mifflin--Govr.
Howell--& several other Officers of
distinction.
Quarters were provided for me at the House of a Mr. Espy.
Prothonotary of the County of Bedford--to which I was carried & lodged
very comfortably.
The Road from Cumberld. to this place is, in places,
stoney but in other respects not bad. It passes through a Valley the whole
way; and was opened by Troops under my command in the Autumn of
1758. The whole Valley consists of good farming land, & part of
it--next Cumberland--is tolerably well improved in its culture but not
much so in Houses.
Notes for COL. DAVID ESPY:
He
was a member of Gen. Assembly of PA.
1775: Dep. Provincial Conf. held
at Carpenter's Hall, Philadelphia
1776: Member of Council of Public
Safety
1776: Col. Bn. of Associators, Bedford Co., Militia
1778:
Prothonotary of Bedford Co., PA
Original trustee of Dickinson
College.
I could find no grave marker for David Espy but
there is a large empty area next to Jane's marker that was probably the
location of David's grave.
Notes for JANE
WOODS:
Photo of Tombstone on Cemeteries Page Bedford,
PA
Departed this life 12th day of June A.D.
18[13]
Aged 58 years.
Children of DAVID ESPY and
JANE WOODS are:
i. DAVID ESPY, b. 1777, Quinn, Bedford, PA;
d. 1818, Bedford Co., PA.
ii. MARY ELIZABETH ESPY, b. 1779,
Quinn, Bedford, PA; d. November 28, 1815, Bedford, Bedford, Pennsylvania;
m. JOHN ANDERSON, July 10, 1807, Bedford, Pennsylvania; b. May 01, 1770,
Bedford, Pennsylvania; d. 1839, Bedford,
Pennsylvania.
iii. GEORGE ESPY, b. 1781.
Copyright © 2004-2006
Linda
Hansen
All Rights
Reserved
