Richard had a wife named Ann, her surname being unknown. They had four children. John, or John of Shrewbury, as he was known, married another Stillwell, Elizabeth, the daughter of Captain Jeremiah Stillwell and Rebecca Ashton. They were to become the parents of our ancestor, Joseph Britton. (Notice the spelling of the name changed with this generation!)

After Elizabeth's death, the date of which is unknown, John married another Elizabeth. John was baptized at Montgomery Baptist Church, Pennsylvania w/second wife, Elizabeth Stevens, 10 September 1761. John was one of our Revolutionary War ancestors. From Pennsylvania vital records Vol II, Memoranda from the Diary of John Dyer of Plumstead, Bucks County, Pennsylvania mention is made of his passing with the following entry: "10/28/1784 - John Brittain departed this life this day, an aged man of good repute."Also from the same source:"9/10/1777 - John Brittain's wife died this day, I believe, of a cancer." Whether this is Elizabeth Stevens, or not, I have not verified.

The first mention we find of Joseph is his baptismal record. He was baptized in Abington Presbyterian Church in Abington Township, 7 August 1757. Why he was baptised when he was over 2 years old is not known. Joseph is another one of our Revolutionary War connections. (both father and son served!) He enlisted at John Stetler's Tavern in Limerick Twp, Montgomery County, in the spring of 1776 in Captain Caleb North's Company, of Colonel Anthony Wayne's Regiment. The Regiment marched to Ticonderoga. He slept in tents there in the winter and got frostbitten feet, entitling him to a pension that he applied for when he was 63 years old. He received a discharge from the service in the spring of 1777.

At the time he applied for the pension, he stated that because of infirmities and old age he was unable to support himself without assistance. At that time he owned 10 acres of land, valued at $3 an acre, (!) household goods, farm implements, live stock, etc for a total value of $290.85. He owed $165 in debts. He was awarded the pension, but by 1827 he again applied for the pension since the first one was taken away from him - because he owned some property. At that time he was 72, and had rheumatism and his wife "was old and infirm" (I figured her to be in her 50's!). He owed $170 and had assets of $240!

Hannah applied for her "widow's pension in June of 1841, and received it in the amount of $40 per annum!

Joseph moved to Union County in 1812 with his son-in-law, William Carvell, and their families. He was a farmer in Chapman Township. A picture of the site of his farm is in my possession - it is still a farm, today.

Joseph, Hannah, William Carvell and Mary Britton Carvell are all buried in Grubbs Churchyard, Chapman Twp, Union County, Pennsylvania. There is a flag on Joseph's grave stating he was a Revolutionary Soldier.

I have transcribed Joseph's Last Will and Testament along with the Inventory of his Estate on another page. The transcriptions of the will and inventory was taken from a copy I obtained from the Union County Register of Wills.

Declarations of Joseph and Hannah Britton
Revolutionary Pension Claim of Joseph Britton and his pension file
Hannah Britton's claim for Joseph's pension
Joseph Britton's last will and testament
Copy of Rosemary Arnold's DAR membership papers on file in Washington D.C.
Snyder County Pioneers, p. 14 and Snyder County Annals p. 150 with mention of Joseph Britton

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