The following data was transcribed both from original records on microfilm and from published lists at the Pioneer Library in Bedford County, Pennsylvania.
Harry Stuart Holman listed the marriage of John Stillwell and Sarah Warford as "1769". John Stillwell was taxed as a "Freeman" as late as 1776, which would suggest that he was not married in 1776. His first child was listed as "Rachel (born December 19, 1776)", which would indicate that he was married prior to her birth, but unlikely that he was married 7 years prior to her birth. These tax lists also suggest that there were two Elias Stillwells' in Bethel Township in 1789, very close to the time of the elopement of Bazel Harrison and Martha Stillwell.
This second Elias Stillwell is listed as early as 1776, and as late as 1789 as an "Inmate" suggesting that he was not a property owner, but working for or living on the land of a property owner. He is certainly too young to be Elias, the son of John Stillwell, who was said to have been born in about 1780 and later died in the sawmill in 1802. It is possible that the 2nd Elias Stillwell taxed in 1789 was the son of Obadiah who was appeared in Orphans Court in 1780:
"Came into Court Elias Stillwell eldest son of Obadiah Stillwell deceased a Minor above the age of fourteen years and choose Edward Coombe and Jeremiah Stillwell to be Guardians over his person and Estate."None of the other children of Elias Stillwell, Esq. were known to have had a son who bore his name, however, there is no listing of Elias Stillwell's brother Richard Stillwell's children in Holman's book. I also included the enumeration of "Adam Steigers/Stigor", since the tax records indicate he may have had ties to the estate of Elias Stillwell, Esq.
1773 Ayr Township Tax List
Stillwell, Obidiah [sic]
Stilwell, EliasInmates
Stilwell, JohnSingle Freeman
Stilwell, John
Stilwell, Samuel
1773 Springhill Township Tax List
John Harrison
1773 Tyrone Township Tax List
William Harrison
Charles Harrison
1774 Ayr Township Tax List
Elias Stilwell
1774 Bethel Township Tax List
Obidiah Stilwell
Elias Stilwell Esq.
Jeremiah Stilwell (uncultivated)
1775 Cumberland Valley Township
Obediah Stillwell (uncultivated)
1775 Ayr Township Tax ListStillwell, Elias
1775 Bethel Township Tax List
Stillwell, Elias
Stilwell, Obediah
Stilwell, John
Stilwell, Jeremiah (uncultivated)
1776 Colerain Township Tax List
Obadiah Stillwell
1776 Bethel Township Tax List
Sittwell, Elias Esq. [sic]
Sittwell, Obediah [sic]Freeman
John Stillwell
Elias Stilwel [sic]
Bethel Township 1779 Tax List
Jeremiah Stillwell -- 2 horses 6 cattle 9 sheep
Elias Stillwell 300 acres 4 horses 27 cattle 17 sheep
John Stillwell 50 acres 5 horses 15 cattle 17 sheep
1781 Bethel Township Tax List
Elias Stillwell 358 acres 3 horses 17 cows
1781 Ayr Township Tax List
Elias Stillwell 100 acres
1784 Bedford County Census
Elias Stillwell 430 acres 1 dwelling 4 whites
1789 Ayr Township
“Names which are in Our Draughts but not in your Return, be carefull [sic] if any person lives thereon to charge them if not tax the following names:Jeremiah Stillwell now }
William Harts”1789 Bethel Township
Stillwell, John
Stillwell, Elies [sic]
Steigers, Adam for Stillwell EstateInmates
Stillwell, Ely (also listed as "Stillwell, Eli" on a duplicate list for 1789)
1790 Bedford County (only the records for Turkeyfoot Township were recorded on microfilm)
1791 Bethel TownshipStigar, Adam
Stillwell, John
Stillwell, Elias
1792 Bethel Township
Stillwell, John
Stillwell, Elias’s EstateInmates
Stillwell, Widow
1793 Bethel Township
Stillwell, John
Stillwell, Elia’s [sic] Estate
Stillwell, John
Stillwell, Widow
Stigor, Widow
1794 Bethel Township (none recorded on microfilm)
1795 Bethel Township
Stillwell, John
Stillwell, Elias EstateInmates
Stillwell, Widow
Stigor, Widow
1795/1796 Dublin Township Tax List (nonresident)William Harrison 419.27 acres 209
This web page is authored by Scott Duncan. All information listed without a reference should be verified. Any additions, questions, or comments should be sent to:
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