Dear "kin" Ken,
  I wanted to answer your letter right away, as I really think between us we may put this ELDER clan together yet.  However, I was determined to put what I have in at least sketch form for you, as you may see some connections somewhere.  Yesterday I received a couple of items I had to squeeze in, so I just hope you can read it.
  I do hope you can substantiate Samuel Elder's marriage to Jane Truesdale or however spelled.  I'm sure the name is right as it was submitted by their son to the author of the "Genealogy of David Elder and Margery Stewart."  However, I have not seen the Truesdale name in Franklin Co.  If Jane was a Stark stepdaughter that may explain it.  There was a Trusedale in Cumberland Co. in 1790 Census.
   With Mary Elder Harry's father being Frank Stark Elder, and Harold Millers' sister Martha Glenn of Concord, is there any connection with Elizabeth Glenn Trousdale Stark?
I visited both Mary and Harold when we were in Pa. two years ago, but at that time I wasn't far enough along to figure out any relationship to me.  The enclosed will be news to them - just hope I have it right.
  The 106 year old James Elder born 1712 is supposed to be brother of "Fighting Parson" John of Paxtang, both sons of Robert & Eleanor Elder according to Egle.  However they had another brother Robert who went to Elder's Ridge, Indiana Co. with his family - so that cannot be same as the Robert died Fannett Twp. 1807.  There is a remote possibility that old James was the father of Fannett Robert and other early landholders, as he could have had grown sons by 1750's.  It seems he had no will anyplace I can find, unfortunately.  Myra Fields mentioned Robert Finkey of Rt. 4, Shippensburg, and Carl Robinson Rt. 3 Fayetteville who do some reading of old newspapers.  I have not yet written to them.  It might be that even way back then
turning 100 would make the newspaper - if there were any in 1812 in the area.
  I keep writing for DAR and SAR records, but they always seem to lead to a mixture of Path Valley and Paxtang Robert Elder that cannot be right.  I had hoped to turn up a descendant of my Robert.
  I have to wonder why, if old James was Robert's father, he is not living with one of his descendants in his old age.  The only place he and his wife may be in 1810 Census is with the James Ardery family (neighbors of Edward Horn, James Dever, Richard & Andrew Morrow, Charles Leeper, etc. - Does that sound like Dry Run?)  The only Ardery connection I see so far is that Robert and Eliz. Watt Elder's 2nd son married Susannah Ardery dau. of James and Sarah around 1784.  Perhaps Susannah had a brother James who stayed in Path Valley.
   Robert apparently had a brother David, as the "Genealogy of David..." suggests.  However, I wonder if there were not other brothers, too.  There were early land entries for James, John, David, Robert and Thomas.  My father's sister says she vaguely recalls being told that 4 brothers came over, either by her father or his mother.  I have been plotting their holdings in Path Valley - some 2000 acres, hoping to be able to trace the farm where Joseph Elder, father of William Oliver, lived and died "near Dry Run."  I think it is a mile southeast of the town, and I surely wish I could see the deed to that farm!
  According to the "Genealogy of David...", David's descendants did not remain in Fannett Twp. However. descendants of the others are unkown to me, and I cannot sort out some Elder names in the 1880 Census.  Do you have any Susanna Gamble-Robert Elder records?
  We still hope to visit Path Valley around the first weekend in May, so perhaps we can
call you then.
   Sincerely, Louise E. Gillispie
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In Online catalog, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia
http://www.hsp.org

Call Number:   FC El
Location:  Closed Stacks (call slip needed)
Status:  On shelf
Title:  Descendants of Robert Elder (d.1807), Franklin County, Pa.
Local Note(s):  Acc. 1983.
Subject(s):  Elder family.
**
Call Number:   FC El
Location:  Closed Stacks (call slip needed)
Status:  On shelf
Title:  References concerning the Revolutionary War service
            of Rev. John Elder of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.
Local Note(s):  Anna H. Cresson collection.
Subject(s):  Elder family.

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