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Eakin Families in Early Paxtang TWP PA - 1750 - 1775

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Eakin Families in Early Paxtang TWP PA - 1750 - 1775

Posted: 8 Jan 2015 7:31PM GMT
Classification: Query
Edited: 4 Mar 2015 11:44AM GMT
I have been researching the Eakin Families of Early Paxtang TWP PA. Here are my findings that are supported by documents/citations from PA State Archives.

James Senior - The Patriarch (Likely born 1702 NI, Drumbo, County Down). Earliest arrival in Paxtang of 1750. Dies 1765 inteste and estate goes through "Orphan Court" of Lancaster Co. Estate distributed equally to his 8 sons: James Jr, Andrew, Robert, Alexander, Samuel, William, Benjamin, John, and Daniel. No daughters were mentioned though presumably there would be a couple. Since no sons were put into guardianship the youngest would have had to be at least 14 per colonial law. I estimate the sons were born between 1733 - 1750.

James Jr. - Land Warrant for 300 acres, 27 Jan 1767. Location unknown. There is a records for a James in Westmoreland in 1783 and may be him or a grandson. Still researching.

Andrew - Land application, 300 Acres, 31 Aug 1769 Lycoming Co, PA. Southside Bald Eagle Mountains.

Robert - Warrant 3192 - East Side Paxtang, 50 acres, 5 April 1768. I believe this to be the Patriot Robert Eakins that served in 6th PA Continental Line and Washington's Chief Guards. He later moves with 3 of his brothers to Westmoreland Co PA in 1783 right after the war. Married a Margaret Jamison, presumably daughter of William Jamison, of Derry TWP, next twp to east of Paxtang. Note: I have found Ancestry trees with "William" as this Patriot's father out of York PA, but see no documentation. I believe that James the Patriarch immigrated in 1727 with the large wave and settled first in York "Barrens" and then moved family to Paxtang when it opened up in 1740s.

Alexander - He is found in Paxtang before Rev War and then in Westmoreland Co PA starting in 1783. More research needed.

Samuel - Warrant - 200 acres, 16 July 1789, Lack TWP, Cumberland Co, PA. More research needed. This warrant may be for a grandson of James the Patriarch.

William - Warrant, 150 acres, Pennsboro, Cumberland Co, 10 Jun 1762. Also had land in Bedford TWP for a while but it reverted back when he didn't farm it. By 1780, he is a Tavern Keeper in Carlisle and remains so through 1796. He served in Rev War - Cumberland Militia.

Benjamin - 100 acres Paxton TWP, 1773. Marries Mary Sherer in 1772 in Paxtang. Moves to Westmoreland Co, settles next farm to Robert.

John - Warrant, 300 acres Northumberland (1778-1780). Married Margaret Clark in 1772.

Daniel - Have found no records for him beyond the Orphan Court. May have died in Paxtang between 1765-1775.

What is confusing is that all 8 sons used the very same eight names for their sons. When researching you will find multiples of the same name in different locations in western PA. You will have to sort out who belongs to which brother. Plenty of documentation on descendants of James the Patriarch in PA Archives.

There is a related family of Eakin in Derry TWP. Patriarch is Alexander (D:1748) and possibly wife Mary, sons Arthur and Thomas (D:1765). I have a notation for a Arthur Eakin B: 1723 in Drumbo Parish, Co Down, NI, so I believe the two families are related.

I believe that one of the James the Patriarch's sons is the father of my ancestors James (M: Athelia Bledsoe) and Margaret Eakin (M: Samuel Brashear) that moved to Washington/Scott Co VA/Sullivan Co TN in 1778. If you have any information on this family in PA please contact me at my Ancestry member email or post to this thread. Thanks Laura

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