Bios: Robert Barnhill 1755-1797: Cumberland/Mifflin Cos, PA File contributed to USGenWeb Archives by Jane Hodgson hodgson@azstarnet.com USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or other presentation. Copyright 2005. All rights reserved. http://files.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://files.usgwarchives.net/pa/mifflin/ Robert Barnhill ________________________________________________________________ Abt 1755 Born Married Rebecca 1774 Paid taxes as a married man, Cumberland County, PA, age 19 (Cumberland County formed in 1750 from Lancaster) William born John born Elizabeth born Rebecca born 23 Oct 1777 2nd co. 4th Class Capt James Adams, age 22 1778 Tax list Cumberland County, Armaugh Township, PA, age 23 1779-1783 5th & 8th Bat, Cumberland Co Militia, PA, age 25-29 5th Bat, Cumberland Co Militia, PA served 1777-79 8th Bat, Cumberland Co Militia, PA served 1780-82 Mary born 22 May 1782 Sickly wife, prays not to be called from home as he is on the frontier. Excused until his class is called again. Cumberland County, Armagh Township, age 28 1783 Signer of call letter to Rev James Johnston, East Kishacoquillas Presbyterian Church, age 29 Henry born (not in Robert's will) 31 Oct 1787 Gabriel born Joseph born David born (Mifflin County formed in 1789 from Cumberland & Northumberland) 1789 Paid taxes Mifflin Co PA from 1774-1789, age 34 1790 Census, Mifflin County, PA 80 acres, 2 horses, 2 cows, age 35 Pension Application Revolutionary War R547 Pa 7 Mar 1796 Wrote will in Armaugh Township, Mifflin County, PA, age 41 21 Feb 1797 Letters of administration of will, age 42 1799 Widow BARNHILL on tax list (Armagh County, House Value $200., Mat. L, Stoves 2, Windows 9, Lig. 12, Size 22 x 26, no additional buildings ________________________________________________________________ CHILDREN OF ROBERT MCCURDY & REBECCA 1. HENRY BARNHILL 2. GABRIEL BARNHILL (31 Oct 1787 - 25 May 1840) m. Nancy Agnes McCurdy 3. WILLIAM BARNHILL m. Margaret McCurdy 4. JOSEPH BARNHILL 5. DAVID BARNHILL 6. JANE BARNHILL 7. MARY BARNHILL m. James Wilson 8. ELIZABETH BARNHILL ________________________________________________________________ STATE HISTORY History of the Juniata and Susquehanna Valleys in Pennsylvania. The first settlers of Kishucoquillas Valley were Scotch-Irish, and belonged to the Presbyterian Church. They were of the better order of peasantry, and brought with them the characteristics of their native land. What the date of the organization, as is now the custom under the direction of the Presbytery. It was natural that the Presbyterians among the early settlers, who were as sheep without a shepherd in the wilderness, should voluntarily bind themselves together for prayer and praise, and when ministers and missionaries found congregations begun in this way, they preached to them and administered the ordinances of Divine grace. Letter dated 15 Mar 1783 (Age 28) Mr. James Johnston, preacher of the Gospel: Sir: We, the subscribers, members of the United Congregation of East and West Kishacoquillas, having never in this place had the stated administration of the Gospel ordinances, yet highly prizing the same, and having a view to the advancement of the Kingdom of Christ, and the Spritual Edification of ourselves and families, have set ourselves to obtain that blessing among us, and therefore, as we have had the blessing among us, and therefore, as we have had the opportunity of some of your labors in this place, and are satisfied with your Soundness, Piety and ministerial ability to break unto us the bread of life, we do most heartily and sincerely, in the name of the Great Shepherd of the Flock, Jesus Christ, call and invite you to come and take the Pastoral Charge and oversight of us in the Lord. And for your encouragement we do promise, if God shall dispose your heart to embrace this call, that we will give a dutiful attention to the word and ordinances of God, by you administered; that we will be subject to your Admonitions and reproofs, should our falls and miscarriages expose us thereto, and will submit to the discipline of the Church, exercised by you, agreeabley to the Word of God; and also, that we will treat Persons with Friendship and Respect, and behave in all things towards you as becomes Christians always should towards their Pastor, who labours among them in word and Doctrine. And farther, as we are persuaded that those who serve at the Alter should live by the Alter, we do promise, in order that you may be, as much as possible, free from worldly incumbrances, to provide for your comfortable and honorable maintainance in the manner set forth in our Subscription Papers accompanying this, our Call, during your continuance with us as our Regular Pastor. And in witness of our hearty desire to have you settle among us, we have hereunto set our Names this Fifteenth day of March, Anno Domini 1783 -- Robt Barnhill et others The Rev. James Johnston accepted the call, and continued to serve the congregation acceptably as their pastor during the remainder of his active life which was thirty-seven years, or up to 1820. ______________________________________________________________________________ PENNSYLVANIA STATE RECORDS PENNSYLVANIA HISTORICAL AND MUSEUM COMMISSION (Age 28) Barnhill, Robert, Cumberland County, 8th Battalion, Capt. William Wilson, 8th Co., sickly wife, prays not to be called from home as he is on the frontier. Excused until his class is called again. Appeal Book, 22 May 1782. Township of residence, Armagh. (Age 42) Barnhill, Robert, Cumberland County, Pvt, 5th Bn, 2nd Co., Order from Council Dated Oct. 23, 1797, Capt. James Adams, Fine book of John Carothers, Cnty Lt., p. 101 ________________________________________________________ The Barnhill family is among the original settlers of Silver Spring Township, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. _______________________________________________________________ THE PIONEERS OF MIFFLIN COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA by John M. Stroup and Raymond M. Bell Page 2 ...Although 150 miles from the nearest British regular, the Scotch-Irish on the frontier sent company after company to New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania during the early years of the War for Independence. But the time came when Col. Arthur Buchanan, in cahrge of Militia here, had to refuse a call, for the men were needed to defend their homes. The Indians seeking scalps for British bounties were making forays from the West and North against the frontier settlements. It was in 1778 that Col. Buchanan wrote to the Colonial authorities: "The Indians continue to murder men, women and children on our frontiers...we are in a very distressed situation at present...I have taken the sentiment of our battalion and they are these, if the lieutenants of the county will send us the assistance of a few men with arms and ammunition we will march immediately into the Indian country and attack their towns, which will be the most effective method of calling them from our frontiers...I sent six men as spies to the Kittanning only one of whom returned, who says they were fired upon by 100 Indians and only he escaped...Sir please send...a supply of ammunition and arms." But finally peace came__with victory__as it would to a people with such a spirit__and a new county was founded and named Mifflin, for a soldier with an enviable record during the Revolution. __________________________________________________________ REVOLUTIONARY WAR Index of Revolutionary War Pension Applications Barnhill, Robert, Penn. (R.547) ______________________________________________________________ TAX LISTS Listing of Inhabitants in 1778 Cumberland County, PA. (Age 23) Barnhill, Robert. Armstrong Township. 1790 Tax List Mifflin County, Armagh Township (Age 35) Barnhill, Robert, 80 acres, 2 horses, 2 cows __________________________________________________________ FEDERAL CENSUS (Age 35) 1790 Federal Census and Tax List, Mifflin County, Armagh Township P. 152 Barnhill, Robert 1 male over 16, 5 males under 16, 4 females McCurday, John P. 153 ____________________________________________________________ TAX LIST (Deceased) 1799 Tax List Armagh Township Widow Barnhile William Barnhill ______________________________________________________________ TAX LIST (Deceased) 1811 Tax List Aramagh Township David Barnhill ________________________________________________________________ WILL ABSTRACTS (age 44) Will Abstracts of Mifflin County, PA. Robert Barnhill, Armagh Twp., w. 3/7/96, p.2/21/1797, wife Rebecca, sons William, Joseph, David, Gaberil, daughters Elizabeth, Rebecca, Mary, Exec. wife Rebecca, son William. _________________________________________________________ Is this the Robert Barnhill listed in Bucks County, PA in 1766? See Barnhill Barnhill. _________________________________________________________________ WILL Robt Barnhill Testement No. 52 Will of Robert Barnhill Proven Letters of Admon issued with copy of will bond taken and fee 32p paid-- In the Name of God Amen, I Robert Barnhill of Armaugh Township Mifflin County and State of Pennsylvania Being Sick and Weak in Body But of Perfect Mind and Memory: Do Make and ordain this My Last Will and Testament; That is to say Principally and first of allSum Roprica to Be Made in the House to Bef Paid out of the Real Estate and the Rest of My Estate to be Divided as follows My Wife Rebeca is to have Twelve pounds Pr Year During Life and is to Be Paid out of the Real Estate and is to Live on the place During Her Widohood together With the Third of the Movable Property To My Son John, I will and Bequeth the sum of Ten Shillings Pennsylvania Curency and to My Daughter Elisabeth, the Horse ans Sedel that is Named Hers and Twenty Pounds Curency and a Bed and Furniter To My Daughter Mary & a Horse and Sadel Bed and Bedclose with a Equal Shair of the Movable property with the Boys when the Com of Age To My sons William: Joseph, David and Gaberil an Equal Shair of the Remainder of My Parsenal Property as soon as the Com of Age And the Real Estate to Be Sold and Equaly Divided Betwixt & William Joseph David & Gaberil Provided allways that & Wm Joseph David & Gaberil Lives to the Com of Age But if any of them Dies BEfore the Com of Age the other or other two is to Get His or Their Sahir Equaly Divided Likewise if any of the Garels Dies Before the Com of Age the other two Garels is to Get Hur Shair Equaly Divided----- Likewise Salow the one Half of the Cow breakers to Be sold for the Clse of the Legates and as Long as the Children Lives to Gether the Girels is to Give their Horses to Work on the Place and all of them to work and Have Shair of Every thing that is Raised But as soon as any of them is Maried the have no more Right to Live on the Place and I Do hereby Disalow all other Testiments and Wills Whatsoever and I Do Apoint to Be My Execiters In Witness Whereof I have Hereunto set My Hand and Seal This Seventh Day of March, in the yere of our Lord one thousand Seven Hundred and Ninty Six Robart Barnhill (Seal) Signed Seled Published Pronounced and Declared By the S, Robert Barnhill as his Last Will and Testement in the Presents of us the subscribers Rich, Johnston, William Mitchell David Neeley ____________________________________________________________ PROBATE Mifflin County p Before me Samuel Edmiston, Register for the probate of wills and granting letters of administration in and for the said county of Mifflin, personally appeared Richard Johnston and William Mitchell two of the subscribing Witnesses to this instrument of writing, and being sworn according to law, do say, that they have seen Robert Barnhill the Testator in said Instrument named, sign his name and affix his Seal thereto, publish, pronounce and declare the same as and for his last Will and Testament, that the said Testator was then of sound of disposing mind and memory (as they verily believe) and that they wrote their names as witnesses thereto respectively, in the presence of the Testator, at his request, and in the presence of each other. ----- Sworn and subscribed Rich Johnston FEby 21st AD 1797 William Mitchels BEfore me. --------- You Rebecca bArnhill and William Barnhill, Administrators of all and singular the goods and chattels, rights and credits which were of Robert Barnhill, deceased, do swear, that you will will and truly administer the goods and chattels, rights & credits which were of the said deceased & makes a true and perfect Inventory and a conscionable appraisement thereof, and exhibit the same into the Register's office in the county of Mifflin, in one month from this time, and that you will render a just and true account, calculation and reckoning of your administration in one year from this time, or when thereunto Lawfully required. her Sworn and subscribed Rebecca x Barnhill Feby 21st 1797 mark Before me. William Barnhill Edward W Carty Oct Recorded _______________________________________________________ Jane Hunter Hodgson Tucson, Arizona hodgson@azstarnet.com