The Early Renick Family in America
You can download a free version
of the booklet Renick
Pioneers in America which includes photos of some of the ancestors.
Henry
and Martha Wilson Renick Family
The following information is research by Glenn Gealy.
Please do not copy without permission.
Henry (1725-1771) Renick and Martha
Wilson (abt. 1725- bef. 1769) m. 1750
Summarized
below is information we have on the family of Mary Renick (of Henry, of William,
of George), wife of John Gealey, and mother of James the Tanner Gealy. (John
Gealey and Mary Renick are the great grandparents of my great grandfather, Asa
Gealy.) A large portion of the material came from Rod Renick, Lois Renick,
Dorothy Luttrell, and Mary Justmann.
According to
Rod Renick, who has done extensive research in The Old Country, the Renick family can
be traced to the Lowlands of Scotland in the 1300s. He says they were not
German, as one family tradition (descendants of Robert, d. 1757) suggests.
According to
Tom and Betty Renick in The Renick Family History, “Family tradition
which was recorded by William Renick (born 1804) in his Memoirs,
Correspondence and Reminiscences of William Renick (Circleville, Ohio, 1880)
reveals … that the Renicks migrated from Germany to Scotland to escape
religious persecution and that the name changed from Rinewicke to Renwick. [See
Rod Renick’s comment about the Renicks having been in Scotland in the 1300s.]
Part of the family moved from Scotland to Colerain [Londonderry] County,
Ireland. At that time there was a father and three brothers; one brother was
created a peer of the realm and agreed to purchase the land of the other two.”
These Renicks also write, “The RENICK name -- which has been spelled as
Renwick, Rennick, Rennock, Rennicks, Renix and Reynick -- comes most recently
from a location in the Cumberland County area in England near the Scotland
border called Renwick. Around the mid-to-southern part of Scotland or the
"lowlands," many towns bear the suffix of "wick" such as
Berwick, Ainwick and Harwick. It appears fairly certain that the Renwicks
were living in the lowlands of Scotland, at least 400 to 500 years ago.
As mentioned by
several ancestors, word-of-mouth has suggested the Renicks were once the Wicks
of Germany and that when they moved to the Rhine River area, they became the
Reinwicks. They later migrated to England or Scotland because of religious
persecution. This German ancestry suggestion seems fairly consistent among many
Renicks. One relative mentioned that there is a Rennick castle on the Rhine
River in Germany today.” I have no idea of the accuracy of the German
connection here, but Rod Renick was pretty thorough. I likewise have no idea of
the accuracy of the statement about the “father and three brothers; one of
whom was created a peer,” which I would take with heavy dose of skepticism.
Tom Renick has
noted that the German ancestry apparently came about because Renicks in Ohio
lived amongst a number of very fine German farmers. Not being as proud of their
Scots-Irish heritage as we are J, they simply cooked up the German ancestry story because the
Germans were higher up the social ladder.
From The
History of Hardy County, we have: “Family tradition
related that two brothers came from Londonderry in the North of Ireland with
their aged father, suffering various adventures when the emigrant ship was
boarded by pirates. The Renick name was more common in County Fermanagh than in
County Londonderry in the eighteenth century, but it is still found in Northern
Ireland”. It briefly discusses the Paxtang Twp. Renicks. The pirate story
likely came from William Renick’s Memoirs, Correspondence and Reminiscences
of William Renick, Circleville OH 1880, which has a very vivid and colorful
account of the pirate attack. It refers to a pirate pushing a candle into old
Mr. Renick’s mouth and telling him to be quiet. Stories that are this colorful
were probably not made up – truth being stranger than fiction – but the
stories were just as likely allocated to “the wrong set of ancestors” by
someone who heard the story as a youngster and then recounted it many years
later. On the other hand, far be if from me to say they were not boarded
by pirates.
Ed Sweeney
notes, “We have always been told that [William] came from Ireland with six of
his brothers. We have no idea if this is fact or fiction.” Yea, verily. A
handwritten note from the early 1900s that I saw at the 2007 Renick reunion
spoke of five brothers. I claim to not know.
Sandy Stark has
found evidence of the family in Enniskillen, Ulster as far back as 1630. A
William Rennick was on the militia Muster Rolls for a Malcom Hamilton, whose
castle Monea was located about six miles from Enniskillen. Rev. Hamilton built
the castle in 1618. Though now in ruins, it is still the best-preserved castle
of the area.
Our history of
the family starts with George the Immigrant. To the best of our understanding,
he came to PA from Iniskillen, Ulster, about 1719 or 1720 with sons William (m.
Mary Dugan, as per Mr. Rod Renick and other sources, though there is no hard
evidence), Thomas (m. Mary Ann?), and Robert (m. Elizabeth “Betsy”
Archer) and daughter Elizabeth (m. Robert Polke or Poage). George apparently did
not have a brother named Thomas, as some researchers (probably initially stated
by Egle) suggest.
Based on church
records, George’s family apparently lived in the Philadelphia area, possibly
Montgomery Co, until the late 1720s, after which time we find them in Paxtang
Twp, Lancaster Co.
A George
Renick, along with wife Margaret and a Sara are listed in the Abington Twp.
Presbyterian Church records of 1714. Some researchers have speculated that this
George was an older brother of Wm, Thos, and Robert who came earlier, but we
have no concrete information either way. Elizabeth and Robert Polke were married
in the Abington Church in 1723 or 1724. A Martha Renick married a John Wilson
who was born in 1717 (Egle's N&Q). Was she the youngest sister? None
of the Renick family records include her in George's family. Dorothy Renick
Luttrell believes the George of the 1714 Abingdon Presbyterian Church records
(Montgomery Co. PA) was an older brother of William, Thomas, Robert, and
Elizabeth. If this is true, then the older George probably did not arrive before
1719. Was Abingdon George the man who drowned in the ferry accident? If so,
there are no court records.
From Egle's N&Q,
Historical and Genealogical, p. 83, we have this article: "An Early
Settler on the Susquehanna: Whereas George Renick, late of Iniskillen, having
about eleven years since arrived in the province with the first settlers of
Donegal [1], yet has never obtained leave to settle on any of the proprietor's
lands, without which leave he never would presume to attempt it, and being now
desirous that himself and three sons, William, Thomas, and Robert and his
son-in-law, Robert Polke, might be allowed to settle down on some tract together
in one neighbourhood, I therefore think it advisable that pursuant to his
request he and his said sons and son-in-law be suffered to enter on the quantity
of one thousand acres [2], near Susquehanna, between Sohataroe and Pextan, and
that the same may be marked out to him and his said sons in a regular tract by
the surveyor of Lancaster county or his order at the said George's charge, upon
this express condition, that he and his said sons and son-in-law shall comply
with such terms as shall be proposed by the proprietors or their agents, when
lands in those parts shall be granted, or other wise shall quietly quitt the
same. Dated at Stenton, the 25th day of January, 1730-1. [3]
JAMES LOGAN
Lett him begin
on Susquehanna at least two miles above Soharatoe, running a proper distance
back, and he may take in any settlement that is only begun and not actually
inhabited. J.L."
Comments:
[1] Renicks
were active in the Abington Presbyterian Church near Philadelphia through the
1720s. The reference to them having “arrived in the province with the first
settlers of Donegal” may be poetic license.
[2] William’s
original grant appears to have contained about 1000 acres.
[3] In those
days the new-year began in March, so 25 Jan 1730 was in 1731 by our calendar.
This means they arrived ca 1720.
James Logan was
the governor of PA. The article was probably from the PA Colonial Records,
but I don't have any reference other than Egle. George apparently did not
warrant any property, but his three sons did. Robert and Elizabeth Polke (Poage)
apparently moved to VA without having taken any property in PA. The records
(courtesy of Lois Renick) are:
Robert Renick:
Warrant No. 65, 27 Mar. 1738, 250 A, Paxtang Twp, Lancaster Co. Survey: 21 Mar.
1738-39, returned 30 May 1743, 244 A.
Survey Book A, Vol. 49, p.
99
Patent Book A, Vol. 12, p. 62, 11 Nov. 1743 to
Rebecca Edgell.
Robert did not
live up to the conditions of the warrant. It was adjacent to William’s
warrant and did
not front on the river. It straddled the line between Swatara and Lower
Swatara
Twps.
William Renick:
Warrant No. 67, 27 Mar. 1738, 500 A, Paxtang Twp, Lancaster Co.
Survey: 21
March 1738-39, returned for 631 A.
Survey Book A, Vol. 44, p. 159 (Property adjoined
James Crawford)
As nearly as I can tell, this property
originally comprised about 1,000 a. and fronted on the Susquehanna River. Mary
sold 250 a. on the river to Hugh Davey in the 1740s. The warrantee map shows the
remaining warrant contained 730 a. The difference between 631 a. and 730 a. may
have been due to “allowances”. From old maps it appears that the town of
Highspire was later contained within the riverfront portion of this property.
Most of the warrant was in Lower Swatara Twp, with a small portion in Swatara
Twp.
Thomas Renick:
Warrant No. 68, 27 Mar. 1738, 400 A, Paxtang Twp (now Harrisburg)
Survey 20 Mar.
1738-39, returned for 354 A, 5 Nov. 1739
Survey Book A, Vol. 86, p. 227
Patent Book A, Vol. 14, p. 89, 19 Mar. 1747 to
Richard Peters, sold to Peters 1744, Vol.
1, p. 15, Deed Book B, p. 258
This property was on the river in Swatara Twp, perhaps two miles
upstream of William and Robert, and may have been where they had the ferry
because of the nearby island.
All of these
holdings were in modern day Dauphin Co, in Swatara or Lower Swatara Twps, near
High Spire, Steeltown, and the Harrisburg Airport. (When working with land
warrants, you must keep in mind that the original number of acres was only an
estimate. The actual number of acres was determined by the survey. Furthermore,
the actual number of acres recorded was oftentimes reduced by “allowances for
roads”. Simply put, the number of acres can vary significantly, even though
the property was the same.) I have the warrantee maps. Thomas’ warrant was
in Swatara Twp; Robert and William’s warrants straddled the Twp. line. A note
in N&Q, ser. 3, Vol. 1, p. 200, suggests the property included a 28
a. island, possibly Suckers Island in 1880, in the Susquehanna River. We know
this to be the case from later deeds. The 354 a. is the sum of 326 a. and 28 a.
According to the PA Archives Division of Land Records in Harrisburg, the warrant
applications of Robt, Wm, and Thos have not survived. I have the warrants and
surveys.
Of George the
Immigrant: George and his family probably arrived from Ulster in 1719 or 1720
and first located in the Philadelphia area, now Montgomery County, although
there are no property records of him there. They probably arrived in Paxtang
Twp. in the late 1720s. George’s wife may have been Margaret because all the
children named a daughter Margaret. This is a chronology of records we have of
George. All the pre-1730 records and many of the later records are thanks to Rod
Renick.
1719 George and his family probably arrived in PA this year or
possibly 1720 [Logan petition above].
1723 Elizabeth Renick, daughter of George, married Robert Poage on
02 Jan 1723 at the Abington Presbyterian Church, now Montgomery County PA. [Brittingham,
Early Marriages 1708-1800 of Abingdon Presbyterian Church; Genealogical
Society of PA – Vol. 229, Records of the Abington, PA Presbyterian Church;
Hinke, Church Records, pp. 130-131; Harlow, Renicks of Greenbrier,
pp. 2-3 and Appendix B, pp. 4-5; PA Archives, 2nd Series, Vol.
IX, p. 195]
1727 Rev. Malachi Jones, Abington Presbyterian Church, brought
charges against George Runick and Henry Jamison on 07 March for behavior that
had been going on for two years. [Genealogical Society of PA – Vol. 229, Records
of the Abington, PA Presbyterian Church, pp. 90-91; Baggs, History of
Abington Presbyterian Church, p. 27; OYRHS Bulletin, Vol. LII 1992 pp. 27-46
and Vol. II 1938 p. 17; The Jenkins Town Lyceum – Abington Presbyterian
Church, pp. 50-57]
1728 George Renock and his wife, son-in-law Robert Polke, son
William and wife, and Henry Jamison were excommunicated by Rev. Malachi Jones. [Records
of the Presbyterian Church, Presbyterian Board of Publications, pp. 89-90; Records
of the Presbyterian Church in the USA 1706-1788, Book II, Minutes of the
Synod (1727-1743), pp. 98-99; Klett, Minutes of the Presbyterian Church,
p. 29]
1729 George Rennicks was mentioned as an elder, Synod of
Philadelphia minutes, 17 Sep 1729. [Synod of Philadelphia, Minutes; Records
of the Presbyterian Church, Presbyterian Board of Publications, pp. 90-91;
Webster, History of the Presbyterian Church in America, p. 346, Klett, Minutes
of the Presbyterian Church in America 1706-1788, pp. 92-96] It would appear
they were not yet in Paxtang Twp.
1730 George probably moved to Paxtang about this year.
1731 Petition for land in Paxtang Twp, 25 January [Logan petition]
1732 George signed a petition to call Rev. Bertram from Scotland to
serve Paxtang and Derry churches. [Egle, N & Q Series 3, Vol. 1, p.
47 and 324] George was one of four men who served on the original Session of the
Paxton Church. [letter from Morton Glise, Minister, Paxtang Presbyterian Church,
15 Oct 1971]
1733 George Renick, elder of the Paxton church, attended Donegal
Presbytery, 19 Sep 1733. [N&Q, Second Series, Vol. 1, p. 82; Records
of the Presbyterian Church, Presbyterian Board of Publications, p. 101;
Presbytery of Donegal, minutes pp. 17-18]
1733 Lawsuit against Patrick Martin because Martin did not
“fulfill his contract to saw a thousand feet of plank for Mr. Bertram’s
house” [Historic Paxton, Her Days and Her Ways 1722-1913, Helen
Wallace, Harrisburg, 1913, p. 100-103; Klett, Presbyterians in Colonial PA,
p. 170-171]
1733 Mardicai
Boyd vs. George Rennick, August 1733, Court of Common Pleas docket.
1733 George Reinock, grand jury inquest member [Hawbaker, Lancaster
Co. PA Sessions Abstracts 1729-1742, Book I]
1734 George Renick was encouraged by the Paxtang congregation on 02
April to defend action by Patrick Martin. [Notingham, Presbytery of Donegal;
Downey, History of Paxton Church, p. 12]
1734 Final
decision on Renick/Martin matter, 28 Aug [Presbytery of Donegal – minutes, p.
58-66]
1737 George
Renick died intestate. [Fulton, Will Books, p. 95]
1737/8 Inventory and appraisal of George Renick by Hugh Torrance
and James Crawford, 25 Jan.
1737/8 Administrative bond of George Renick signed 06 Feb by sons
Robert and William and John Black. This is the first record we have of Robert.
1738 “This is all in the one original survey in Lansdown,
Lancaster County PA, and bears all the earmarks of being the original tract of
land entered by the aforesaid George Renick.” [Renick, The Renick Family of
Virginia, Appendix C, p. 5] This needs additional research. It is believed
George did not obtain any property himself.
Did George
Renick have a brother, and who was he? As noted above,
“Family tradition related that two brothers came from Londonderry in the North
of Ireland with their aged father, suffering various adventures…” It turns
out there may have been a Robert Renick who signed, in 1720, a marriage
bond for Jane ___ (relationship unknown) and James Frame in Lancaster Co. James
and Jane Frame eventually ended up in Augusta Co. VA, and a Robert Renick
(possibly the man from 1720 but more likely the son of George) witnessed
Frame’s will in 1754. Jane ___ and James Frame are said to have married in
Chester County, and as having lived in Laycock or Leacock Twp, near Lancaster,
in Lancaster County.
It seems
reasonable that this Robert Renick of 1720, if he was a real person, was
our George’s brother. I need to do more research. It is surprising that Rod
Renick would have missed this type of information, as thorough as he was.
The identity of
Jane is uncertain. Some researchers assume she was Jane Renick, but this was
likely based on the Robert Renick signature on the marriage bond – indeed, if
there was such a marriage bond! There is a Frame account that, more or less,
“James left Ireland with a servant girl – ‘ran away is the written
phrase’ – named Renick, Rennick, or Renwick. There is a connection between
Fram [sic] and Renwick [sic] in that both were on a prison ship (Covenantors)
that wrecked between Scotland and Ireland. A John Frame survived…. The James
Frame who left Ulster with his wife Jane (immigration and passenger lists) was
most likely the James who started this line…” A well-known Frame researcher,
whose name escapes me right now, seems to have disdain for this record of a 1720
Frame-Renick marriage. There is a suggestion that the 1720 record was in reality
the 1754 Augusta Co. record.
My general
feeling is that we should completely discount this 1720 record, at least for the
time being.
Of George’s
son George: I am keeping him as a placeholder. In
the Renick folder in Volume III there is a file entitled “Justman-1973”,
which is a letter by Mary Justmann, written 1973. She notes that Chalkey’s Chronicles
gives a list of delinquents in the tax levies for Augusta Co. VA, dated 1748:
“George Renix, gone to Carolina.” She speculates he was the George of the
1714 Abington Church record. But it is pretty certain he is not the George who
had the daughter baptized by Rev. ___ in 1749. Based on the information from
_____ Renick noted above and the Justmann letter, I have at least some
confidence J there was indeed a brother George,
though we should not immediately jump to conclusions that George of Augusta Co.
VA was our George. L The fact that
George the elder did not mention this George in his 1730/31 petition to Gov.
Logan suggests that he had already left the state by then. There really isn’t
any logic in any of this.
Of George’s
daughter Martha: I am keeping her as a placeholder only.
A Martha married John Wilson (b. 1717) of Lancaster Co. (Egle, Notes and
Queries, Historical and Genealogical, p. 210)
Of George's son
William: William was probably born around 1704 and is believed to have
married Mary Dugan. He died in 1741, possibly in a ferry accident, though
this is pure conjecture. The reference quoted for the Dugan marriage is Kentucky
Society of the DAR 1973 Report, p. 150-152. We also have circumstantial
evidence, based on the close proximity of a Thomas Dugan to our Renicks from
1739 to 1763, Thomas Dugan’s signature on Mary Renick’s 1747 settlement
papers, and the naming of Thomas Dugan and our Henry Renick as co-guardians of
William and Mary’s younger children. Indeed, this circumstantial evidence may
be the source of the DAR claim. Egle does not name William’s wife, but he
likewise missed William’s death in 1741 and a number of later documents naming
her as Mary. Mary Dugan (assuming the Dugan is correct) was possibly the
daughter of a Thomas Dugan (though not the Thomas Dugan of Paxtang, for reasons
discussed below) because she named her second son Thomas. This is a chronology
of records we have of William.
1724
Egle, Notes and Queries, Ser. 1 & 2, Vol I, reports
that William in 1724 was a viewer of a road laid out from Chamber’s mill on
the Susquehanna, at Kihtotening Hill, to Pine Ford on the Swatara, to Lancaster.
Pine Ford was at or near the present town of Middletown, which is southeast of
the Renick property. This is a very early Paxtang Twp date for our family
and it precedes all the other Renick records except the 1714 church
record and 1720 marriage bond, which we can’t absolutely connect to our
family. The 1724 record may be my error, but if it is indeed correct, it would
explain William’s marriage to Mary Dugan in Paxtang while George was still in
the Philadelphia area. On the other hand, we do find William and his unnamed
wife in the Abington church in the late 1720s. We need to verify this year.
1728 William Renock and his wife, brother-in-law Robert Polke,
father George and wife, and Henry Jamison were all excommunicated from the
Abingdon Church by Rev. Malachi Jones. [see reference for George above]
1732 William and Thomas Renick witnessed the transfer of Paxtang
Twp. property from John Lepeper to Morgan Layton, 03 Jun [Rod Renick]
1730s
Hawbaker, Lancaster PA Quarter Session Abstracts, Book 1,
1727-1742, shows George, William, and Thomas named many times from 1732 to
1735. Many of the entries are for Grand Juries.
1730s The Draper Manuscripts, State Historical Society of
Wisconsin, notes there “were three or four brothers who became owners of a
ferryboat, in which occupation they were engaged until one of them was drowned,
afterwards they divided…[the property].” Perhaps William drowned in 1741,
which is about the time Thomas and Robert began pulling up stakes.
1736 According to Rupp’s History of Dauphin, Cumberland,
Perry, etc, p. 357, William and others were ordered by the court to inspect
the route for a road on the west side of the Susquehanna River in 1736. They
were ordered to “make such alterations in said road as may seem to them
necessary for the public good.” They reported it to be inadequate and
recommended changes, although little change was made. From the History of
Dauphin County PA we know that the road was begun in 1735, to go from
“Harris’ Ferry towards Potomac”. It ordained as a lawful road in 1744. The
road from Harrisburg to Chambersburg is now known as the Pennsylvania Turnpike.
1736 William was cited as an elder of the Paxton church on 03 Feb
when a committee was appointed to review the Paxton church refusal of Rev.
Craighead. [Downey, History of the Paxton Church, p. 18]
1737 William was "recommended by several of the Magistry to be
a Justice for Soatara & neighborhood" at the Council meeting in
Philadelphia, 8 Feb 1736-7. Justices were needed prior to publication of the new
"commission of the peace" subsequent to the Higginbotham Indian
Uprising [PA Colonial Record Series, Vol. 4, p. 154].
1737 William
signed the estate inventory of George, 04 Jan.
1737 William
Renick was a grand inquest jury member, 01 Feb. [Hawbaker, p. 57-58]
1737 William
Renick signed administrative bond for dec. father George.
1737 William
Renick became an elder in Paxton Presbyterian Church. [Rod Renick]
1737 William accepted reprimand of Rev. Elder, on behalf of George
(dec.) for George’s use of bad language in the Martin matter. [Rod Renick]
1738 Land
warrant # 67 for 500 acres. See above.
1739 The PA
Gazette of October 4, 1739, reports that Wm was an assessor for Lancaster
Co.
1739 A road from Harris’ Ferry to Lancaster passed William
Renwick’s Run, five miles from Swatara Creek. [Papers of the Lancaster Co.
Historical Society, Vol. 26, p. 54]
1740 William, of Donegal, was a member or delegate to Donegal
Presbytery in 1740 and 1741. [N&Q, 2nd Series, Vol. 1, p. 82]
1741 William
died in 1741. [Fulton, Will Book, p. 95 (William Renich)]. Mary did not
sign.
1744 Mary sold 250 a. on the river to Hugh Davey and 262 a. to
Andrew Stain (?); there was only one piece of property here. [Lancaster Co.
Deed Book L, p. 262; Mayhill, Deed Abstracts, p. 144]
1745 William’s bills were paid by his widow Mary. [Accounts
Papers, basement of Lancaster Co. courthouse] I assume Mary paid the bills from
the sale of property in 1744.
1747 Mary died
in 1747. Thomas Dougan and Henry Renick signed papers. [Fulton, Will Book,
p. 95]
1763 Transfer
of William Renick's property to oldest son, Henry, Jan. 1763 [Lancaster Co.
Deed Abstracts 1729 - 1770 by Mayhill L-27]:
William Renick
died in testate
Adjacent
neighbors are Montgomery, Thos. Dugan, Geo. Fleming
Two tracts of
land in Paxton Twp.
Henry - eldest
son receives property
Thomas -
Paxtang
Margaret,
Alexander, Samuel - Cumberland Co.
William -
Frederick Co. MD
James -
Trentontown, West Jersey
Witnessed by
(19 Dec. 1764)
Thos. Wilson
William Kelso
Thos. Moorhead
Thos. Fleming
Children of
William and Mary Dugan Renick were, Egle [Notes
& Queries, Historical and Genealogical, p. 469], were:
Henry of
Paxtang [m. Martha Wilson ca 1750 and Catherine ___ bef. 1758]
James of
Trententown, West Jersey [m. Mary Chambers]
Alexander of
Cumberland Co. [m. Esther McKamie]
Thomas of
Paxtang [m. Jean/Jane Clark]
William of
Frederick Co, MD [The PA Archives (5/1/101) shows that a William Renox
entered service as one of the "Battoe Men hired into service
of the Province of Pa" on 10 June 1757. This is the only possible
candidate; not necessarily our uncle.] [m. Sarah Archer, Malone, or Wright; I
found a note on the www to the effect that William married Sarah Archer on 07
Jan 1769, at Frederick MD]
Samuel of
Cumberland Co. [m. Nancy Ann ____]
Margaret of
Cumberland Co. [no record after ~1763]
Of George's son
Robert: Robert was married to Elizabeth (Betsy) Archer. As compared to
his brothers William and Thomas, Robert left very few footprints in Paxtang Twp.
The first record we have of him is his signature on George’s estate papers in
1737 or 1738. This family moved to Augusta Co. VA, in the vicinity of Natural
Bridge, probably about 1740, where Robert was killed by Indians on 25 July 1757.
His entire family was captured. After their release and return (ca. 1765) some
of the family settled in now-Greenbriar Co. WV, in the vicinity of Renick and
Lewisburg WV. It isn’t clear what became of the Augusta Co. VA property; it
may simply have gone for taxes whilst the family was in captivity. This family
is written-up extensively in Harlow's Renicks of Greenbriar. The Paxtang
Twp. tax rolls of 1758 include a Robert Renick; I have no idea who he may be.
Children of Robert and Betsy were (from Lois Renick):
Nancy 1744 m.
__ Vincent
William 1745-1815 m. Sarah Hamilton. Sarah or Sarah Ann was the
daughter of Andrew Hamilton and Martha Kincaid of Augusta Co. VA.
These parents are sometimes allocated to the ethereal (?) Ann Hamilton who
married the ethereal (?) William Renick (b. 1714).
Joshua
1746-1784 or 1810 He married into an Indian family and became a
a chief of the Ohios. He lived with Tecumseh and the Prophet for a
time.
Thomas
1748-1779 m. Phoebe ___
Margaret
(Peggy) 1751 m. George Kincaid
Robert I
1754-1757
Robert II
1757-1835 m. Letitia Wells Dalton
Betsy 1757-1754
died in captivity
Of George's son
Thomas: Thomas was married to Mary Ann or Katherine ____. This family
initially lived in Paxtang but eventually moved to what is now Hardy Co, West
VA. Egle’s N&Q, Ser. 3, Vol. 2, p. 229, refers to a road near the
Harris and Renick ferries and notes that Harris and Thomas were “good friends
and near kinsmen” (Feb 1745). Perhaps Mary Ann was a Harris, though this is
not noted in any of the Harris family history I have seen. N&Q, Ser.
1&2, Vol. 2, p. 197, notes that Thomas was a leading elder in Rev. Elder’s
church. His farm adjoined Mr. Harris’ plantation. Harris and Thomas were
playing a game of “Long Bullets”, which involved heaving 2-inch balls of
iron, apparently on the Sabbath. For this they were scolded by Rev. Elder. [The
Egle records may refer to Thomas (b. 1730), son of William.] Thomas is named in
the 1744 Frederick Co. VA (later Hardy Co.) fee book of Col. Jas. Wood. Note
that he sold his warrant to Peters in 1744. He died in testate 16 May 1751. From
The History of Hardy County we have: “Family tradition related that
Felix Seymour, who had known Thomas Renick in Ireland, came to America with his
nine-year-old son in 1736. When the father returned for the rest of the family,
they were lost at sea. The Renicks raised Felix Seymour, Jr. In 1753 he married
Margaret Renick, George Renick’s sister [daughter of Thomas – see below].
The Seymours evidently lived on the manor… Mary Welton, who obtained title to
406 acres on the drains of Lunice Creek in her own name in 1754, later married
George Renick. In 1766 and 1771 George and Mary Renick sold this property to
Felix Seymour [Hampshire Co. Deed Book 1 p. 30 and p. 35]. George Renick was the
eldest son and heir of Thomas Renick, to whom Fairfax granted 270 acres on the
bend of the South Branch just above Milleson’s Mill in present Hampshire
County in 1748.” This connection of Thomas Renick and Felix Seymour refutes
the claim in Virkus that Felix was the son-in-law of William Renick. That is,
the Mr. Renick with whom Felix moved to VA was Thomas Renick, not William
Renick. Children of Thomas and Mary Ann or Katherine were (from Lois Renick):
Margaret 1734-1778 m. Felix Seymour
George 1736-1778 m. Mary Jane Welton
Catherine (Katy) 1738-1791 m. Abel Randall
Thomas ~1740-1782 m. Elizabeth ___
Mary Ann 1742-1780 m. Thomas Parsons
William 1746-1807 m. Ann Rachel Heath
James 1747-1779/82 m. Elizabeth Yokem
Robert 1749-1749
Jonathan (John) 1750-1814 m. Mary Heath
All of the
children except John stayed in VA or WV. John went to OH. These children are
also allocated to William Renick and Ann Hamilton, who may not have existed. See
below. This is a brief chronology of Thomas:
1731 Thomas Renick, legal deposition: Whilst at Philadelphia in
1732 (18 Jan 1731), Thomas heard Jamison and Warren declare that “when they
left Alleganey some French people from Canada were building a Fort with logs at
or near the said River Ohio, and that the English Traders in those parts seemed
under great apprehensions on this account.” [PA Archives 1664-1747, pp.
309-310; The Renick Family of Virginia, p. 222; Appendix A, p. 1; The
Renicks of Greenbriar, Appendix A]
1733 Grand inquest jury member, 01 May [Court of Quarter
Sessions, Lancaster Co. Abstracts, Hawbaker]
1734 Grand inquest jury member, 06 Aug [Court of Quarter
Sessions, Lancaster Co. Abstracts, Hawbaker]
1734 Grand inquest jury member, 05 Nov; William Allison and
Margaret Baskin found guilty of forn___ [Court of Quarter Sessions, Lancaster
Co. Abstracts, Hawbaker]
1735
Recognizances: Thomas Renick for Samuel Maynes, May [Court
of Quarter Sessions, Lancaster Co. Abstracts, Hawbaker]
1736 Grand inquest jury member, 03 Feb [Court of Quarter
Sessions, Lancaster Co. Abstracts, Hawbaker]
1738
Administrative bond, George Renick, deceased, 06 Feb
1737 Grand inquest jury member, 02 Aug [Court of Quarter
Sessions, Lancaster Co. Abstracts, Hawbaker]
1738 Estate inventory, George Renick, dec, 25 Jan
1738 Land
warrant #68, 400 a. – see above
1738 Joseph Park vs. Thomas Renick, 02 May, for taking six hogs;
case discharged after fees paid [Court of Quarter Sessions, Lancaster Co.
Abstracts, Hawbaker]
1738 Grand inquest jury member, 01 Aug [Court of Quarter
Sessions, Lancaster Co. Abstracts, Hawbaker]
1738 Thomas mentioned as a leading elder of Rev. Elder’s church [Kelker,
History of Dauphin Co, p. 21; Morgan, Annals of Harrisburg, p.
356-57; Egle’s N&Q 1st and 2nd Series, Vol
II, p. 197-198; Wallace, Historic Paxtang, p. 76]
1739 Samuel Maynes and Andrew Maynes appear 05 Feb and give
evidence against Thos Renick; William Renick also mentioned [Court of Quarter
Sessions, Lancaster Co. Abstracts, Hawbaker]
1739 Survey for
warrant #68, 354 a, 20 March
1739 Thomas Renick petition of 07 Aug “to be Recommended to the
Governor as Suitable persons to keep a publick house. Allowed.” [Lancaster
Co. Abstracts, Hawbaker]
1739 Survey for warrant # 68 returned 05 Nov for 326 a. and 28 1/2
a. island in the Susquehanna River [Lancaster Co. Survey Book A, Vol. 86,
p. 227]
1740 Thomas Renick was “allowed to be recommended to the
Governour as Suitable Persons to keep public Houses in the County the Ensuing
year”, 05 Aug [Hawbaker, Lancaster Co. Abstracts]
1741 Administrative bond, William Renick, dec; widow Mary, James
Crawford, Samuel Montgomery, executors; Thos Renick (signature) and Gordon
Howard witnesses, 31 July
1741 Thomas Renick allowed to keep “publick houses in the County
for the Ensuing year”, 04 Aug [Hawbaker, Lancaster Co. Abstracts]
1741 Thomas Renick and Joshua Low elected coroners, 08 Oct [Scott, Abstracts
PA Gazette, p. 333]
1741 Reference to Thomas Renick as resident of Lancaster Co in
1741, and still lived there in 1744; moved to Augusta Co. VA prior to 1748 [Lancaster
Co. Historical Society Vol. XXV No. 10, pp. 152-53] It isn’t clear from
this when Thomas moved to VA - sometime between 1741 and 1744.
1743 Lawsuit of Daniel Harrison vs. Thomas Rennox, Orange Co. VA,
03 Jul; Settlers by the Long Grey Trail [Orange Co. Court Order
Book 1741-43, pp. 506 and 529, Book 1743-46, pp. 3 and 75] The wording
apparently refers to an attachment “against ye estate of Thomas
Renix” and goes on to say “Robert Renick was doubtless a kinsman of Thomas
to whom Daniel Harrison made the loan…” The researcher assumes that the term
“estate of Thomas Renix” means that Thomas had died. I plead ignorance and
will let you decide for yourself.
1744 Thomas Renick to Richard Peters, 354 a, including island, deed
signed by Thomas Renick and witnessed by Edward Shippen and John Callahan, 24
Jul
1744 In the 21 March 1744 edition of the PA Gazette, the
Shippen family offered to “sell lots on Society Hill in Front St. and Second
St….. 8 miles from John Wrights ferry, 395 a. on the same side where [Eastland
lived] and fronting on the rivere where Thomas Rennix lately kept a ferry.”
1745 Advertisement offering to sell various parcels of land,
including “250 acres at Pextan, fronting the river where Thomas Rennix lately
kept a ferry” [Scott, Abstracts PA Gazette, p. 440]
1748 Thomas Renick purchased 270 a. in Frederick Co. VA, #42, upon
the Wappacomo or Great Southern Branch of Potomack River [Book G, p. 129]
1751 Administrative bond, Thomas Renick, dec. [Frederick Co.
Willbook I, p. 458]
Of George's
daughter Elizabeth and Robert Polk (Poage): Moved to VA,
as noted above. Their children were (from Lois Renick):
§
Sarah 1723 m. Thomas Gordon
§
John 1726-1789 m. Mary Blair or
Crawford
§
Martha ~1728-1818 m. Andrew Woods
§
Mary 1732-1757 m. Robert Breckenridge
§
Elizabeth 1733-1791 m. George
Crawford
§
George 1734-1787 m. Rachel Stevenson
§
William 1735-1778 m. Mrs. Ann (Kennedy)
Wilson
§
Margaret 1737 m. Col. James Robertson
§
Thomas 1739-1803 m. Mary (Polly)
McClanahan
§
Robert 1730 m. Jean Wallace
Of Henry, son
of William and grandson of George: The most
detailed information we have on the family of Henry and Martha Wilson Renick
comes from Egle (N&Q, H. and G, p. 469).
Henry (b. 2
Dec. 1725) m. Martha Wilson in 1750 [Bausman say 25 Dec.]
[He was later
married to a Catherine who must have outlived him because Henry
is buried with Martha. Martha died before 1758. Henry died 4 Dec
1771.] Their children were:
William (b.
Monday, Oct. 6, 1749, d. March [??] 1776)
[Was William
born before they were married? Bausman says 16 Oct.]
Sarah (b.
Tuesday, Oct. 15, 1751 or '53, d. Mar. 12, 1823) [1751, as per Bausman]
m. John Willson
(1750 - Nov. 11, 1800) in or before 1771
Mary (b.
Saturday, Aug. 24, 1754, d. 1828)
[m. John Gealey
(1750 - 1840)]
Martha (b.
Saturday, Nov. 30, 1755), m. Wm Swan [19 Dec 1775]
Esther (b. Aug.
31, 1758) m. Dec. 14, 1784, Robert Foster (b. 1758, d. Jan. 20, 1834, in
Buffalo Valley) [Esther died 3 Nov. 1807; apparently the dau of
Catherine]
Margaret (b.
Sept. 12, 1760, d. s. p.) [apparently the dau of Catherine]
My comments are
in []. The Bausman Collection at the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania has a
Renick folder with the Renick family Bible, apparently acquired in 1769, which
was kept by the Foster family. The Bible has the early Renick birth records,
which were obviously recorded many, many years after the fact.
Of Martha
Wilson: We know nothing of her family, and Wilson was a very common name.
I believe her father was John Wilson, based on an early militia record. Her
mother was Sarah, based on naming convention, because her third daughter was
Sarah. They may have been from Union County because a Henry Renick's marriage in
Union Co. in 1750 to Martha Wilson is mentioned in the Lowry Research. Rod
Renick notes Lycoming PA for their marriage. Neither Union nor Lycoming Counties
were formed until long after Martha was born. Her brother may have been a John
Wilson because Martha and Henry are buried with John and Eleanor Wilson in the
old Paxtang Church Cemetery. One researcher believes Eleanor and John Wilson
were Martha’s parents, but this would seem to be incorrect given that Eleanor
died in 1801. See stone inscription below. Martha must have died before 1758
because Catherine is named with Henry in a 1758 court document. In Rev. Roan's
church there were ten James Wilson's alone, so the likelihood, without
incredible luck, of sorting out Martha's ancestry is miniscule.
I should point
out that Egle (N&Q, H. and G, p. 210) shows a John Wilson (b. 1717)
married to a Martha Renick. It is feasible, I guess, that this woman was a
sister of William, but this is only a guess. If you haven't caught on by now,
Wilson was the most common name in PA at the time. In the section, Other
Pennsylvania Families in Vol. I, you will notice the 1801 will of John Wilson
(m. Jean) naming nieces Mary and Sarah Galey. These names appear to correlate
with names in Benjamin Galey's 1777 will. My guess is that this is all
coincidence, but there could be some family connection.
Of Catherine ___: Henry apparently married Catherine ____ before 1758, because in
mid-1758 they were named in a court document of Esther and Ann Cowan of Chester
Co. It is feasible Catherine was born Catherine Cowan. Information obtained from
the web shows our Henry married to Catherine Dickey, a daughter of Wm Dickey Sr.
Henry’s daughter, Esther, is also shown. This information could be
correct. J
Of son William: We believe he died in March 1776 in the Revolution. Durant's book
on Lawrence County has him dying in the War of 1812, but that simply doesn't
make any sense because of his age, and we don’t find him in any intervening
census records. It is indeed curious that he is shown as having been born before
his parents were married. Maybe Henry had a wife who died when William was born,
or Martha had a husband who died in 1749. More discussion and records are
provided below. There is a reference in Henry’s orphans court records to
William as “eldest son”, but it means “eldest child”.
Of daughter
Sarah and John Willson: Egle (N&Q, H. and G,
p. 211) shows John to be the son of Joseph and Mary Ann ___ Wilson. John had
siblings Robert, Alexander, Joseph, and Sarah, m. Isler. They had married in
1771 or earlier because they are both noted in the Orphans Court document of 4
Dec. 1771, upon Henry's death. (Orphans Court Document 1772-1776, p.
245.) Sarah and John are buried in the Paxton Presbyterian Church cemetery, near
Harrisburg PA. Their flat stone (near the corner nearest the church) reads:
In memory of
John Wilson
Son of Joseph Wilson
Who departed this life Nov. 11, 1800
In the 50th year of his age.
He was a valuable member of Society,
from his youth pious, and a living
example of the resolution –
“As for me and my house we will serve the Lord”
also
Sarah
Wife of John Wilson
Who died March 12, 1823
Aged about 70 years.
Of daughter
Mary: She married John Gealey; they are our ancestors. How they may have
met is unclear, and we don't have any marriage records. She is the only one of
the four married sisters for whom we do not have some marriage records, although
we know she was single in Dec. 1771 as per Henry’s Orphan's Court document.
They named their second son Henry, which would have been for her father assuming
they followed Scots-Irish tradition, and named the fourth and fifth sons William
and Renwick, respectively, probably for her brother William. I would guess that
Mary and John Gealey married in 1775 because John was taxed as a freeman in 1775
(for a Nov. 1774 assessment).
Of daughter
Martha and William Swan: They were married by Rev. Elder 19
Dec. 1775 (Cumberland County Pennsylvania Marriages, 1761-1800), and had
children Mary, Moses, William and Sarah, m. William Rutherford. I believe Martha
and Wm are buried at the Paxtang Presbyterian Church.
Rutherford was
a long-time Paxtang Twp. family. Col. William Rutherford was born 04 Aug 1776
and died 17 Jan 1850. He married Sarah Swan on 17 Mar 1801. She was born 01 Jan
1779 and died 17 Jun 1852. They are both buried in the Paxtang Church graveyard.
He served as a member of the PA House of Representatives, Dauphin Co, from 1819
to 1821 and again from 1829 to 1831. Their known children were John Parke,
Martha, William Wilson, Margaret, Samuel, Sarah, Abner, Hiram, Mary, and Cyrus
Green. [History of Rutherford Pennsylvania, Ronald DiNinni, 1979]
Of daughter
Esther and Robert Foster: They were married by Rev. Elder 14
Dec. 1784, as per Dauphin County Marriages, 1744-1854 and N&Q,
and lived in Buffalo Valley, PA. Esther died in 1807 and Robert in 1834. Her
cousin, John Renick, named her in his 18 April 1784 will as “Esther Renick,
daughter of my uncle Henery Renick.” From the Bausman Collection we have these
descendants of Esther Renick and Robert Foster:
§
Margaret (11 Sept 1785)
§
John (14 Dec 1786)
§
William (5 April 1787 or 5 Aug 1789) m.
21 Oct 1819 to Jan Van Valzah (6 Jun 1797-20 Sept 1868)
o
Elizabeth (1820-1829)
o
Robert (1822)
o
Esther E. (1825-1841)
o
Mary Wilson (1827) [suggests Esther
Renick’s mother was not Catherine?]
o
Amelia Sarah (1829)
o
Hannah Van Valzah (1832)
o
Wm Renick (1834)
o
John B. (1838-1841)
o
Albert (1841)
§
Sarah (11 June 1791)
§
Thomas (12 Oct ??)
§
Esther (18 June 1802)
§
Andrew (11 Nov 1803)
Of daughter
Margaret: She did not marry. We have no information beyond the will above.
The fact that her sister Esther was named in cousin John’s 1784 will, while
she was not named, suggests she died before 1784.
Dugan/Dougan Family of Paxtang
Records we have of a Thomas Dugan or Dougan in Paxtang Twp.
include:
1739 Jury duty [Hawbaker, Lancaster Co. Qtr Session Abstracts
1729-42]
1747 Signed Mary Renick’s 1747 estate document
1754 Church rolls, Paxtang Twp. [Egle, Notes and Queries,
Ser. 1 & 2, Vol I] Signed a letter to Rev. John Elder.
1754 225 a. warrant [#220], Paxtang Twp, adjacent William
Renick’s old warrant
1754 Signed petition, with Henry Renick, for protection from Indian
attacks, 22 July.
1755 Named as a co-guardian, with Henry Renick, of William and Mary
Renick’s younger children.
1760 Church elder, Paxtang [Egle, Notes and Queries, Ser. 1
& 2, Vol I]
1761 Church elder, Carlisle [Egle, Notes and Queries, Ser. 1
& 2, Vol I]
1763 Mentioned as a neighbor to the William Renick property being
transferred to Henry
1763 Moved to Randolph Co. NC [family records]
1801 Mentioned in John Mummarr patent [Book P 47-13, Survey Book A
45-48], referring to warrant # 220 for 225 a.
1811 Mentioned in John McClurg patent [Book H 5-734, warrant # 258,
Survey Book A 52-294]
Kay Park notes
that a Thomas Dougan Sr. and his family settled in the Paxtang Twp. area,
probably between 1720 and 1731. It is said the family was in St. Christopher in
the Caribbean before coming to Paxtang Twp and that Thomas’ sister Catherine
died in St. Christopher in 1728. (Another researcher cannot verify the St.
Christopher connection.)
Leonora
Besancenez, in a www posting, says that “it appears Thomas Dougan and his
children came to Pennsylvania between 1728 and 1731.” I think this is based on
the fact that Thomas Dougan apparently obtained the family Bible from Catherine,
and he assumedly would not have taken it from her before she died. Note that
1728 is too late for our Mary Dugan Renick to have arrived, so if this year is
correct, it strongly mitigates against our Mary having been tied to this family.
Thomas Sr.
apparently brought four children to PA: Susannah, Robert, Mary, and Thomas Jr.
§
Susannah (~1707 - 09 Sep 1781) married James
Collier (~1703 - 31 Mar 1788) on 28 Dec 1731. A Collier website says
Susannah was born in County Donegal, Ireland. James and Susannah are buried in a
cemetery adjoining the Paxtang Presbyterian Church. Their son James married
Margaret or Martha Rutherford in 1787 in Dauphin Co. He was likely Capt. James
Collier of the Lancaster Co. militia. (John Renick, son of Thomas (1730) and
Jean, was in Capt. Collier’s company.) Another son was Col. John Collier
(1732-1823) of Randolph Co. NC. He moved to NC from Paxtang Twp. in 1772,
following his uncle Thomas Dugan. In a letter to his parents dated 07 April 1782
he tells of the Tories having attacked his house on 9 or 10 March: “[A]bout
thirty [Tories] marched forty or fifty miles through our country: came to my
house in the dark. I had sentries posted about forty yards from my house…
[They] fired in the sentry: and the sentry fired on them. I immediately found by
the Tories’s fire that were we were too weak to stand our ground. We made our
escape [from the house] to the woods… They kept constant firing on my house
for two or three minutes, filling my doors with bullet holes. My wife called out
to cease their firing and she would open the door and let them in, for there was
no person there but women and children. They rushed into the house, Set fire to
it, and burned to ashes… This was the fourth time that the Tories have robbed
and plundered me and my small family… They went to Aunt Mary Doughan’s:
burned the house and barn… Every day they are murdering, burning and
plundering the good citizens of the state… If [the Tories] would have got me
they would not have burned my house, but they would have instantly put me to
death [because] I have put several of their leader to death for this year
past…. I have not slept in my house this five months without a guard. I have
my family in a little guard-house that I build last year… I have been in the
army for the most part, ever since Gate’s defeat [13 Aug 1780]. I am getting
old [49], and the features of the Army in our state are most disagreeable…
[The Tories] are no more than an nuisance to civil society… Remember me to the
Rev. John Elder and family and take my excuse and I had to send and borrow this
sheet to write these few imperfect lines on it. Remember me to all inquiring
friends without exception, which is all from your loving son and daughter.
[signed] John and Margaret Collier… Bro’James: You would oblige me much to
send, the first opportunity, a good hat: as I am in necessity for one.” See
also History of Randolph County.
§
Robert married Margaret Parke,
widow of Samuel Parke, and moved his family to Newberry Co. SC or Randolph Co.
NC in 1663. Two of their sons, Robert Jr. and James, were killed during the
Revolution.
§
Mary married John Johnston bef.
1740 and moved to Newberry Co. SC. Their daughter Margaret (13 Mar 1740/41)
married William Murray on 31 Oct 1761 and moved to Newberry District SC about
1763. Margaret Johnston Murry died 13 May 1816 in Mills River, Henderson Co, NC.
§
Thomas Jr. (1719) married Mary Kerr
(ca. 1726) and moved to NC in 1763. Their son was Major Thomas Dugan. I assume
she was the “Aunt Mary” whose house and barn were burned.
The 1754
Paxtang church rolls, which show Thomas Dugan, Henry Renick, and Thomas Renick,
also show John Johnson (not Johnston), James Collier, William and
Joseph Kerr, and Elizabeth Park. This suggests we have located
Thomas Sr’s family to Swatara or Lower Swatara (Paxtang) Twp. Based on
Susannah and Thomas’ births in 1707 and 1719, respectively, and Mary’s
marriage before 1740, it appears Thomas Sr. was in the generation of George
Renick (d. 1737) and his children were in the generation of William, Robert,
Thomas, and Margaret. It seems unlikely that Thomas Sr. would have been the man
who was named as a co-guardian, with Henry Renick, of some of William and
Mary’s children in the 1750s. Therefore, it seems likely Thomas Jr. was the
man of the later records shown above. (The post-1800 records probably refer only
to the property.)
Is it possible
our Mary Dugan Renick was part of Thomas Sr’s family?
Thomas Sr’s daughter Mary married John Johnston. The only reasonable way for
our Mary to have been part of this family is for her to have been the niece or
much younger sister of Thomas Sr. It is feasible there are some Lancaster Co.
orphans court records for the Dugans, though it is hard to believe they
haven’t already been checked. If the 1724 record of William in Paxtang Twp. is
correct, then Mary Dugan could have been William’s first wife. Without this
1724 record it is difficult, though not impossible, to get Mary and William
together until ca 1730, when the Renicks apparently moved to Paxtang Twp. Mary
could have been William’s second wife, in which case we do not need to get
them together until after 1730. This would be consistent with the Dougan’s not
having arrived in Paxtang until 1728.
Who were Mary
Dugan’s parents? The most likely name for her father is
Thomas, based on her second son having been Thomas. If she were the niece of
Thomas Sr, her father would not have been Thomas. This suggests she was Thomas
Sr’s sister, not his niece; but the family records name Catherine as a sister
of Thomas, and as far as I know, Mary is not named as a sister.
All this having
been said, is believed by some Dougan researchers that the father of Thomas Sr,
and also the father of our Mary Renick, if she was indeed a sister of Thomas Sr,
was another Thomas. So now we are back to the situation where our Mary Renick
named her second son Thomas for her father Thomas.
Beyond this I
don’t care to conjecture.
Records for Henry Renick
1748 Ensign (along with a John Wilson, probably his future
father-in-law) in the Associated Militia Regiment of the West End of Lancaster
Co. on the Susquehanna, 1747-1748. Capt. Robert Baker's Company, Col.
Crookston's Battalion. [PA Colonial Records Series, vol. 5, p. 247 and PA
Archives 5/1/24 and 2/2/437, Papers of the Lancaster Co. Historical
Society, Vol. 22, p. 26]
1750 Henry Renick married Martha Wilson. [Biographical
Encyclopedia, p. 138; DAR Kentucky Society, p. 150; Egle, N&Q,
3rd Series, Vol II, pp. 469-70]
1751 Applied for warrants [#310, Book A-44-144] on 56 acres in now-Swatara
Twp. on 11 June 1751 (adjacent to and north of William’s original warrant).
The property was eventually patented to Christian Good in May of 1831 [two
parcels: 36 a. and 6 a, surveyed 1801, Survey Book A 44, p. 143, 145,
152, Patent Book H-30, p. 416]
1751 On Thursday, 14 Feb 1751 a Nanticoke Indian named John Toby
was accused of rape by the young Ann Hunter of Paxton. On 17 Feb John Toby and
John King were invited to the home Henry Rennox, near the Nanticoke cabins, for
the Sunday meal. Toby was disarmed before being confronted. He answered that he
had been so drunk he could not remember what happened. He was taken to jail
without resistance and later acquitted. [Louis M. Waddell, Justice for Native
Americans: Rape, Murder, and Theft in Late Colonial Northeastern Pennsylvania,
69th Annual Meeting of the PA Historical Association, October 20,
2000]
1751 Henry Renix and Thomas Dugan were appointed guardians over
William’s other minor children – William, James, and Samuel. [Lancaster
Co. Orphans Court Book 1742-1760 – 1750/51 Docket, pp. 18-19; The
Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine Vol XXIV, No. 2, 1965-66, p. 124 –
William Rennox Estate]
1751 Hendrey Ranix, tax rolls, south end of Paxton Twp. [Biographical
Encyclopedia (Henry Renick), p. 11]
1751 “When Wm Renick died his widow sold a portion of the
1737 warrant to Hugh Davey of Philadelphia. In 1751 Thomas and Henry occupied
the unsold portion.” [Old Rights 8, 591, Lancaster Deedbook L,
262 and M 473]
1753 PA Gazette, 22 Nov. 1753, mentions a letter for Henry
left at the post office [Scott, Buried Genealogical Data, p. 186]
1754 On 22 July 1754, signed a petition to the PA Governor for
protection of frontier against the French and Indians who were moving up and
down the Susquehanna River. [Morgan, Settlement, Formation, and Progress of
Dauphin County, PA, from 1785-1876 and Rupp, p. 69; Kelker, History of
Dauphin Co, pp. 131-132]
1754 On 26 Sept. 1754, with Thomas, signed a letter to Rev. Elder
requesting a minister for the Paxtang Presbyterian Church [McAlarney's book, History
of Paxtang Church, p. 67]. See History of Sesquicentennial of Paxtang
Church and Churches of Roan and Lind, Historical Reg. I 131. The church
split into New Side and Old Side in 1754; Roan was New Side in Derry, and Elder
was Old Side in Paxtang. Two of Henry's daughters were married by Rev. Elder.
1755 Was appointed guardian of his brother Alexander after father
William died. [OC Book 1742-1760, p. 18-19]
1755 Petitioned the court on behalf of his younger brother James in
a dispute with John Allison, clothier, to whom James had been apprenticed.
1756 Henry Renick, Paxtang tax rolls [Biographical Encyclopedia,
p. 12]
1758 Paxtang tax rolls: "Renix", on microfilm at Archives
in Harrisburg. Thomas Renix, probably his brother, is also there.
1758 Henry and Catherine were named on adm. of Esther and
Ann Cowan, 30 May. [Folder #1722 and #1723, West Chester PA] Henry’s daughter
Esther was born 31 August 1758. Therefore, Catherine must have been Esther’s
mother, and Martha must have died by 1757.
1760 Paxtang
tax rolls: "Renicks”, on microfilm at Archives in Harrisburg. Thomas is
also there.
1761 Henry signed an affidavit relative to currency lost by Wm.
Cowden in Mrs. Dickey’s house fire, Lancaster Co. [Bausman]
1763 Received family property in 1763 and made payments to
siblings. See abstract above. [Lancaster Co. Book L, p. 27; Mayhill, Deed
Abstracts, p. 135/L 27] Prior to this it was apparently shared by Henry and
Thomas.
1764 Deed attested to by Henry Renick, 18 Sept. [Deed Book M,
p. 395; Kelker, p. 240]
1765 Applied for warrants [#1148, East Side Applications; Survey
Book C-204-105] on 200 acres in now-Lower Swatara Twp. on 28 Oct. 1765. The
property was on the river, perhaps half a mile downstream from the other
property. The description is “including his Improvement joining Joseph Cook,
John Steel, Sarah Clinton, and River Susquehanna in Paxtang Twp, Lr. Co.” It
was eventually patented to Mary Stoner, Exrs, in 1816. [Patent Book
H-13-202] This property was midway between Highspire and Middletown. There is a
small Stoner cemetery on the east, or northeast, side of Rt. 230, a short
distance south of Highspire. I suspect this was originally the Henry Renick
property.
1766 Along with Thomas Rutherford and others, signed an inventory
of Moses Dickey's Paxtang Twp. estate on 10 June 1766. [Bausman]
1766 In the Journals of Charles Beatty 1762-1769, by G.S.
Klett, 1962, The Pennsylvania State University Press, it is noted: “August 14,
Thursday. Set of from Lancaster; breakfasted at Mr. Moores Tavern 9 [miles];
Dined at the green tree Ruynoxs [Renicks] 20 [miles]; lodged at Capt Calenders
on the west side of Susquahanna 13 [miles].” By 1766 Thomas Renick, Henry’s
uncle, had been long gone from Paxtang Twp, so “Ruynox” refers to either
Henry or his brother Thomas. On the other hand, we know that Thomas, Henry’s
uncle, had a “publik house” in Paxtang Twp. and also had the ferry, so the
“green tree” could have been the “publik house” which was known as
“Ruynoxs” even though Thomas had sold it and moved to VA.
1767 Signed petition by inhabitants of Lower Paxtang for division
line between Upper Paxtang in 1767 [Egle, N & Q, ser. 3, vol. 2].
1767 Along with wife Catherine, posted a bond or mortgage to
Michael Gross for 300 Pounds, in 1767. This was probably related to the 1765
warrant because it refers to ~190 a. [Lancaster Deed Book M, p. 273, 20
Nov. 1767]
1768 Letter by Rev. Elder to the governor, July 1768, relative to
the Paxtang Rangers
1770 Henry, Thomas, and James Renick, Paxtang Twp. assessment [Kelker,
p. 150; Egle, 1st and 2nd, Vol I, pp. 179-181.
1771 Shown in Hawbaker's Index to what is apparently the only
complete year of tax records that survive.
1771 Henry died 01 Feb 1771. His will was probated 04 Dec 1771.
1773 Henry’s land sold to Jas Crouch for 750 pounds by Wm Dickey
and John Willson, Administrators, 08 April 1773 [Misc. Dockets, Lancaster Co,
1772-1796, p. 107].
1774 On 07 Dec. 1774 Dickey and Willson distributed 259.9.8 pounds
from Henry’s estate to “widow”, 5.3.2 yearly, William, “oldest son”,
57.4.4, Sarah and Jno Willson 28.13.2, Mary “Renicks”, 28.13.2, Esther,
28.13.2. (Note that Mary was not yet married.) [Misc. Dockets, Lancaster Co.
1772-1796, p. 245]
1780 Marker at the Old Paxtang Presbyterian Church Cemetery (near
the corner nearest the church) reads [Egle, N&Q, Vol. 1, Ser. 3, p.
341]:
Sacred to the memory of
John Wilson and Eleanor
his wife, the former of
whom died July 11, 1780
and the last April 8, 1801.
Under this stone are also interred
the remains of Henry and Martha Renick.
And since it's so that all must die
and death no one doth spare,
So let us all to Jesus fly,
And seek for refuge there.
I assume they buried Martha in the Wilson family plot when she
died, then later put Henry there, then finally John and Eleanor Wilson. John
Wilson and Eleanor were born about 1734 and 1735, respectively, according to
some notes I have. I assume John was a brother of Martha.
Records for William, son of Henry and
Martha
1771 With Henry's widow, Catherine, signed a court document upon
Henry's death in 1771. See images in Vol. III.
1774 With Catherine, sisters, and brother-in-law John Willson, was
named as a recipient of Henry's estate (Orphans Court records) that was to be
liquidated as per the law. See Vol. III.
1776 Was appointed Corporal, 25 Jan. 1776, in Capt. Robert Adams'
Co. of Col. Irvine's 6th Battalion, PA Line (PA Archives 5/2/227 and Linn
& Egle, PA in the War of the Revolution, Battalions and Line, Vol. I,
p.188). The 6th Battalion met with disaster - 78 men killed or taken prisoner -
at the Battle of Three Rivers, just north of Montreal, in June 1776 (J.B.B.
Trussell's book, The PA Line). Adams was later killed by Indians nearby.
This company was raised in Cumberland Co, not Lancaster Co, which is where I
would have assumed Henry's son to have been living. Remember, however, that
Henry's (very limited) assets were divided six or seven ways after he died, so
William was left with very little. Further, the final settlement appears no to
have been made until 1774, during which time the estate must have been in limbo.
Maybe he went to Cumberland Co. to live with or near one of his uncles, Samuel
or Alexander, or his aunt, Margaret, and he thought the opportunity to join
Capt. Adams' Co. of the 6th Battalion sounded like something to do. Note that
Egle says William died in March 1776, which was before the 6th went into any
action. The fact that birth dates and days of the week are given for four of
Henry's children would seem to be an indication that a family Bible was
available when Egle did his thing in the late 1800s. Maybe it still exists and
that is how Rod is able to verify the death. The Battalions and Line
records specifically show that Adams died, as did some privates. William is not
so-mentioned; but if he died before they ever went into action, that death
probably would not even have been mentioned, because none of the survivors even
knew of his existence in the first place. What I am attempting to say is that
Egle's N&Q, the PA Archives (5/2/227), and Battalions and
Line are consistent with each other. What would be inconsistent is if N&Q
were to give, say, a summer death month, and Battalions and Line didn't
mention it, while still noting Adams' and the other deaths. As a final note, Battalions
and Line does make mention that "one corporal was missing" after
the October 1777 (i.e. much later) fighting by the 6th. But for now, I am
sticking with the March 1776 death date.
1776 Was, according to Rod Renick, a "Sergeant in the Colonial
Militia" and did indeed die in 1776, but Rod does not give any month. I
have scoured the PA Archives pretty well, and cannot find any
Revolutionary-era reference to a William R. in the militia. William had two
William first cousins, but they would have been too young to be militiamen.
(Recall that Henry was the oldest son, and William his oldest child.) Note: It
is feasible that William was a Lancaster Co. militiaman and died before his tour
ended. Since rolls were typically made up at the end of the tour, he would not
have been counted. But if this were the case, who was the 6th
Battalion man?
1812 Served, according to Durant's book on Lawrence County, in the
War of 1812 and died at Black Rock, near Buffalo NY. This information came to
Durant from William Gealey, son of John and Mary Renick Gealey, about 1875, when
he was about 80 years old. I assert this information to be in error, but have no
absolute proof. As noted above, we don’t find any census records for Wm.
1812 Served, according to the Lowry Research, in the War of 1812
and died at Rock Island. The Lowry's even muse that Uncle William was living
with John and Mary Gealey in Peters Twp, Washington Co, in 1790. I can't tell
where the Lowrys got this information, and assert it to be in error. It is my
opinion that the second older male in that household was either James the
Immigrant or James the Tanner (at wrong age), those these options likewise have
their problems. I simply don't believe the War of 1812 death, because our
William would have been in his 60s at the time. There was a William Rennick in
McCobb's Regiment of US Volunteers in the War of 1812 (microfilm at US Archives
in Washington, D.C.). Further, Rod notes that there were half a dozen Williams
who could have been in that war. Indeed, there was a terrible typhoid epidemic
among the US soldiers at Black Rock the winter of 1812 or 1813, and 300 men
died. Maybe one of those who died was a cousin of Mary Renick, and that was
confused with her brother in the Revolution.
There were at
least three Williams (Henry's son, b. 1749; brother, b. abt. 1737; and cousin,
b. 1746) who were old enough to have served in the Revolution, but as nearly as
I can tell, only the son was living in PA in 1776. The others had all moved out
of state, to either MD or VA, I believe. I am reasonably certain that the
Revolution is the correct war, and 1776 is probably the correct year. What
remains to be determined with certainty is William's service: 6th Battalion, PA
Line; or the (Lancaster?) militia. One small thing to keep in mind -- there is a
Rockland County in southeastern NY, west of the Hudson. There was campaigning in
the Jerseys through 1776, and it feasible, but unlikely, that William died in
Rockland County.
As a final note
of caution, I have been told there were indeed 60 year-olds from Mercer Co. who
served at Erie in the War of 1812.
A word to the
wise: Rod points out that Egle was notoriously inaccurate, so one must be
careful in blindly using N&Q as a reference. Maybe I have done too
much of that already, but I feel reasonably confident about the records of Henry
and Martha's children because of the Bible-like entries. The main error with
regard to the Renick family is that Egle lists William as the only son of
George, and he shows Thomas, who we believe to be William's younger brother, as
a brother of George, rather than a son. Thus while there was in reality only
one Renick family in Paxtang, Egle shows there having been two. This error
also shows up in Harlow's book, Renicks of Greenbriar, which can be found
at the State Library in Harrisburg.
Other Children of William and Mary
Dugan Renick
Of Thomas, son
of William and grandson of George: Thomas was
born about 1730, probably in Paxtang Twp. He married Jane or Jean Clark,
daughter of Robert Clark (d. 1771) and Jean ___. The other Clark children were
Elanor, John Elizabeth (m. John Means), and Mary (m. William Wallis). (Egle, N&Q,
Ser. 3, Vol. 2, p. 462) Thomas witnessed his brother Alexander's will on 29
January 1777, which means he did not die in captivity after most likely
having been captured when Ft. Washington fell in Nov. of 1776. We believe he
died between Feb and April 1777. Their children were:
§
John ( -1785) did not marry. When he
died his executors sold his property to John Harris (Deed Book A-1, p.
110). His will (Will Book E, Vol. 1, p. 39, 18 April 1784) names his
sisters (Mary, Jean, Margaret, and Ann), mother, and cousin “Esther Renick,
daughter of my uncle Henery Renick.” See Military Records section for his
extensive militia record. John’s militia company (Capt. Samuel Cochran) was
not present at the Brandywine battle (11 Sep 1777) because they “stood at
Middletown, August 12, 1777, in its march to Philadelphia.” (DiNinni) Even had
he been at Brandywine, he would not have been engaged: “Down on the Brandywine
on the 12th, most of the Pennsylvania militia, having been posted at places well
removed from the actual scene of the battle, had no opportunity of
engaging." (Roach) The PA Archives, Vol. XXIV, Series 3, Cumberland Co.
Land Warrants, names John Rennox, 09 Feb 1775 [warrant # 149, 71.119 (sic)
a, E. Pennsboro Twp; patent to Robert Ramsey, recorded AA-15 p. 266, survey
recorded C163 p. 273]. I assume this John is the son of Thomas and Jean.
§
Mary ( - ) married Hugh Miller.
§
Jane/Jean ( - ) married Thos Brunson or
Brinson.
§
Margaret ( - ) married Calderwood.
§
Ann ( - ) married Boyd.
These marriages
are recorded in Early Marriage Evidence from Court Records of Dauphin Co. PA,
1785-1810. Summarized below is a chronology of Thomas.
1756 Thomas Renick (smith), Paxtang tax rolls.
1764 On 03 May 1764 William Brown sold property with a mill to
Thomas Rennicks. [Mayhill, Lancaster County Deed Abstracts, p. 104 / H
237)]
1764 Re-survey of 122 a. that Thomas would eventually patent as “Rennicksburg.”
1768 Application #3354, 01 Jun, for 150 a. on Mahatango Creek west
of land surveyed to John Clark in Lancaster Co [Survey Book C, Vol. 204,
p. 136]
1769 Thomas purchased property from Samuel Harris on 1 Oct 1769. [Dauphin
Co. Deed Book A-1 p. 124]
1770 Thomas purchased property from John Harris on 13 Feb 1770. [Dauphin
Co. Deed Book A-1 p. 124]
1771 Warrant #230 returned for 122 a, 02 April, patented to Thomas
Renick [Survey Book C 36-58, Patent Book AA 13-84]
1771 Thomas
Renick to Joseph Chambers, 122 a, 31 Oct [Patent Book AA Vol. 13, p. 84]
1771 Thomas purchased property from Wm Plunket on 13 Dec. 1771 [Dauphin
Co. Deed Book A-1, p. 126].
1772 Land
patent recorded as Rennicksburg [Patent Book AA-13, p. 84, recorded 31
Oct 1771]
1776 Thomas was captured when Ft. Washington fell in Nov. He was
apparently released. See Revolutionary War records for more information.
1777 Witnessed
Alexander’s will, 29 Jan 1777.
1777 Thomas’ will dated 01 Feb. 1777 [Lancaster Co. Willbook C,
vol. 1, p. 460] The will names children Mary, Jean, John, Margaret, and Ann.
Probated 22 April 1777.
1777 Claim for rifle lost when Ft. Washington fell [Kelker, History
of Dauphin County, p. 881-882; also PA Archives]
Lancaster Co. Wills
RENICK, JEAN. Paxton Twp. May 28, 1782
RENICK, JOHN. Paxton Twp. May 21, 1784 (named his sisters and
cousin Esther)
RENNICK,
THOMAS. Paxton Twp. April 22, 1777
Of Margaret,
daughter of William and granddaughter of George: She was
unmarried, living in Cumberland Co. in 1762. She is sometimes confused with
Thomas’ daughter Margaret (a first cousin) who married Felix Seymour.
Of Alexander,
son of William and grandson of George: He was born ca
1736 and married Esther McKamie. She is said to have come from one of the famous
early Presbyterian families. His will of 29 Jan. 1777 is recorded in Cumberland
Co. (later Franklin Co.), Letterkenny Twp. He is said to have died of "camp
fever" whilst serving in the militia in the Revolution. See Revolutionary
War section. Their children, all mentioned as minors in his will, were:
§
John (ca 1767-1814) married Mary
Heuston in Franklin Co. KY in 1790. He died at Frankfort KY.
§
Mary (ca 1765-1859) eloped at age 18
and married Robert Hamilton in Washington Co. MD. She was married three times
and had ten children.
§
William (ca 1770- ) possibly married
Isabel Roberts 12 Dec. 1798 in Franklin Co. KY.
§
Robert (25 May 1772- )
§
Alexander (29 March 1776- ) was an
infant when his father died.
Esther
remarried to Jas Murdoch Clark, who was probably 20 years older than she. He
sold his Cumberland Co. farm when they married and moved to about two miles from
Mercersburg, Franklin Co, PA, around 1789. This was probably Alexander's place.
Clark died in 1821, aged 104 years. He is buried in the Slate Hill Cemetery,
about a mile and half from Mercersburg. Esther may also be buried there.
Alexander, Wm, and John all appear on the Franklin Co. KY tax rolls in 1800.
Alexander was in Woodford Co. KY in 1810.
Of Samuel, son
of William and grandson of George: He was born 6
Nov. 1739. He married Nancy Ann ____ and died in Barren Co. KY in 1802. Barren
Co. was Warren Co. before 1799. Samuel was named as guardian of his brother
Alexander’s youngest children. In 1775 Samuel witnessed the will of John
Cowden in Cumberland Co. PA. [Bausman]
Of William, son
of William and grandson of George: He was born ca
1740. He married Sarah Archer on 07 Jan 1769 in Frederick Co. MD. They lived for
a time in Frederick Co. MD where their six children were born. He was in KY by
1785 and died in Warren Co, later Barren Co, in 1798.
Of James, son
of William and grandson of George: He was
probably born after his father died. In 1762 he was living in “Trentown
NJ" (William Renick estate settlement) but returned to Lancaster Co. PA
where he was living in 1770. It is believed he went to KY with his brothers
Samuel and William where he died in Woodford Co. on 10 Aug 1812. His will was
dated 03 Jan 1807 and probated 01 Oct 1812 [Will Book D, p. 4 & 5].
James is named in the NJ DAR Patriot Index, #113499, Book 114, p. 165-66. He was
a private in the VA militia for three years. In the 1810 census he was recorded
in Woodford Co. KY, living near Versailles, with eight in the family and two
slaves. Alexander Renick, son of Alexander and Esther McKamie Renick, was also
living in Woodford Co. James married Mary Chambers in 1771, daughter of Joseph
Chambers of Paxtang Twp, a neighbor of Henry and Thomas Renick. Their children
were:
·
Lydia: did not marry; shown in 1820, Woodford Co, census as Rennex,
45, head of household; died 04 Oct 1831
·
Mary: married Zachariah “Uriah” Jones; their children were
·
Mary “Polly”: b. 1796, Woodford Co. KY, married William Martin
bef. 1820
·
America Margaret: b. 27 Oct 1798 at Woodford Co. KY, d. 31 Mar 1872
at Callaway Co, MO; m. Sherwood Maddox II on 15 Feb 1820 at Woodford Co. KY;
their children were
Elizabeth b.
06 Oct 1802 at Woodford Co. KY, M. Henry Holman Jr.
Joseph b. abt.
1801, Woodford Co. KY
·
Margaret: communicant of Pisgah Presbyterian Church, Woodford Co.
KY, 1808
·
Sarah: married Jonas Sutton
·
George:
Will the Real William Renick Please
Stand Up?
The questions
and answers below address our William Renick of Paxtang, father of Henry
(1725-1771), based on all of the material above.
§
Was our William Renick the son of
George (d. 1737) who arrived in PA ca 1719, or the son of George’s brother
Thomas, who supposedly arrived 1733 and for whom “not as much is knows about
[his] descendants”? Rod Renick, who was a very careful researcher, says (a)
our William was the son of George and (b) George did not have a brother Thomas.
If our Henry (1725-1771) and several of his siblings were indeed born in Ulster,
it certainly complicates the timing. We also have Tom and
Betty’s record that “In 1738 the original land tract… was divided among
Thomas, Robert, and Thomas”. They also note that Thomas could have been
incorrectly substituted for William. We know that Egle said William was the son
of Thomas, but one must be very careful with the Egle material. My guess
is that Egle’s record of the birth of Henry et al in Ulster is based on the
incorrect belief that they were the children of a Thomas who came over in 1733.
§
When did our William Renick die? We
have a 1741 document, accompanied by a 1751 Orphan’s Court record. Therefore,
it is impossible for him to have died in 1762 – this was probably based on the
1763 will probate. As discussed above, the 1741 YOD is attributed to a “third
brother” of George (d. 1737) and Thomas, but it seems more likely this was our
William Renick.
§
Did our William Renick marry Mary Dugan
or Ann Hamilton? There is said to have been another William Renick (1714-1805)
married to an Ann Hamilton, who left Paxtang ca 1741 for Virginia. But he was
not our William. Lois Renick says the Ann Hamilton marriage was made up by
Virkus. Our William Renick most likely married Mary Dugan. It is been
conjectured that Mary Ann Dugan was the married name of Ann Hamilton, and she
was widowed when she married William. I think this is a tremendous stretch. In
any case Wm Renick and Ann Hamilton are said to have married ca. 1733.
§
Was William Renick (1714-1805) a real
person at all? He may have been, but if so, he was not in our family. If he was
real, his inclusion in our family is based on a composite of brothers William
(d. 1741) and Thomas (d. 1751).