THE GASKILL FAMILY
pages 103 -123
New England's
forests provided abundant supplies of lumber excellent for ship building, and
less than a year after Governor Winthrop's arrival the Salem settlers began to
utilize this resource. The frist ship they built was of thirty tons burden, and
upon its completion in 1631, Winthrop named it "The Blessing of the
Bay." During the following few years, vessels of several hundred tons were
built at Boston, Dorchester and Salem. Thus was the foundation laid for the
American maritime tradition: the Yankee Clippers and United States Navy. What
part Edward Gaskell (also spelled Gaskin and Gascoyne) played in this
development is not known, but he may have helped build that first American
ship, as he was a ship carpenter, and was living in Salem as early as 1636.
While there is no
record of Edward Gaskell's origin in England, it may be that he, like most
other early Massachusetts settlers, came from a Puritan family. A dictionary of
the early settlers states that Gascoyne, Gaskin and Gaskell were derived from
an old Gaelic word "gaisgell," meaning valorous, and that Edward
Gaskell came from an old English family. There is a hamlet of Gaisgill in
Tebay, Westmoreland, near the Yorkshire border, and the Poll Tax Lists for the
West Riding of Yorkshire for the year 1379 contain the names of Alicia de
Gasegill, Agnes de Gasegyll, Johannes Gayesgill, Robertus Gayesgill and
Katerina de Gasegyl, according to "Dictionary of English and Welsh
Surnames" by Charles Wareing Bardsly, published in 1901. On the other hand
"The Norman People," published in London in 1874 states that Gascoyne
or De Gascoigne, from which Gaskin is said to have developed is an old Norman
name. William de Gasconia and Geoffry de Gasconia were mentioned in records
from the year 1209 and 1210, and in 1266 Ismenia, widow of Philip le Gascoyn
paid a fine in the county of Salop. Another Philip le Gascoyn brought a suit in
the same county in 1254. An ancient family of this name was seated near.
Coutances in Normandy, France, where Gerard de Gasconia owned land in 1180.
"The Norman People" distinguishes another family of Gaskell or
Gaskill, which took its name from a village of Gascuil, Vascoeuil or Wascuil
near Andelys, Normandy, where Gilbert de Wascuil lived in 1180 and 1195. In
England, Ingelram de Wascuil obtained a pardon in Warwick in 1130, and William
de Wascuil was living in 1119.
(*)Most of this chapter, with the exception of the opening paragraphs,
certain of the |
These accounts of
the early origin of the family are too conflicting to permit any conclusions.
In the sixteenth century there are several records which may refer to the more
immediate English ancestors. In the Prerogative Court of Canterbury in the year
1591 the will of Edward Gaskin, gentleman, was probated. He was of "Grayes
Inn, Middlesex Barnehan Suffolk." In 1616 the will of Edward Gaskyn (alias
Hodges) of Hornchurch, Bedfordshire was proved in the same Court. Either of
these might have been the father or grandfather of Edward Gaskell of
Massachusetts, although it might be questionable whether the son of an English
gentleman would become a ship carpenter. The will of another Edward Gaskell was
recorded among Lancashire Wills at Richmond in 1560, according to Bardsly's
book. The Canterbury records include many others of the name, including a
mariner, William Gascoyne of Wapping Wall, Stebenheath, Middlsex, whose will
was proved in 1614.
The name of Gaskon,
Gasken, Gascoine also appears in the publications of the Huguenot Society of
London, among the sixteenth century refugees from France and the Low Countries.
The following typical entries are from tax lists of foreigners in England,
published by the Huguenot Society:
Lay Subsidies Surrey
Assessment 27
February 5 Edward VI (1551) of the third payment of a Relief . . . .
Burgus de Southwarke--Seynt
Savyeors Parysh
Straungers
within the seyde Parysshee--John Gascoyne, vj li - vj s.
The Lybertye of the
Clyncke--Straungers there, howsehollders
The fact that the
Massachusetts settlements were composed of English Puritans makes the Huguenot
descent seem less probable. Edward Gaskell probably came from one of the old
English families.
In the records of
the Town of Salem in the Colony of Massachusetts Bay, for the year 1636,
appears the name of Edward Gaskoyne as the recipient of a grant of land. This
was the usual concession made to an accepted settler in the Colony. But when
Edward had come to Salem or whence he came or how he came, there is no record.
His name does not
appear in any known list of passengers from Old England to the Massachusetts
Bay colony. Disappointing as this is, it signifies nothing, for the fact is not
uncommon. Actually less than a third of the English emigrants to America of
this period, can be directly connected with a specific vessel and arrival date.
While is was necessary under contemporaneous laws of England, that emigrant
passenger lists be made and checked as to permission to sail, there was no
requirement that the lists be preserved. And many of them disappeared in the
course of time. There was also, a considerable surreptitious traffic in
emigrants of ??h, naturally, there is no record.
Of the place of
birth of Edward Gaskoyne, nothing is known though ??e clues point to Yorkshire
or Lancashire. As will appear later, the e was some time in 1603 or 1604. And
nothing is known of his early nor does it appear why he came out to the new
world. That he had been particularly interested in matters of religion or
involved in reli?? controversy in the old country, seems to follow from the
fact that ?? not become a member of the established church in Salem, the ??ated
First Congregational Church, until 1646, at which time he had ?? for at least
ten years a resident of the Colony without religious affiliations. And this
condition had continued despite his consequent disqualification from
participation in religious and civic affairs, as no one could become a
"freeman" of Salem and be entitled to vote or hold any religious or
political office, without church membership.
Edward was a
shipwright and as a skilled workman, it is quite possible ?? the inducements
which were made to his type of craftsman by the ??sh Company, and his own
desire to better himself, were the causes ??s migration. At any rate, there is
no known record of religious perse??on or civil prosecution behind him and,
consequently, some strong ??ulse of self interest must have been responsible
for the presence of ??ard in Salem.
Edward's wife's
name was Sarah but beyond that fact practically ??hing is known of her. It is
very likely that she was related to either ??rence or Cassandra Southwick for
there was a marked continuing in??acy of the two families which points to a
connection unusually close for those not related by some definite tie of blood
or marriage. Sarah ??oined First Church with them in 1639 and, in addition to
the marriage of ??dward's son Samuel with Provided Southwick, the daughter of
Lawrence ??d Cassandra, Josiah Southwick, a grandson, went with Edward's
grandson, Edward, to New Jersey. And the two family names constantly recur
together in the Salem and Essex County records.
Edward Gaskoyne
was, as has been said, a shipwright, or ship carpenter and apparently worked as
an employee of Richard Hollingworth who came to Salem in 1635. He may have
brought Edward with him or have been responsible for his coming. Hollingworth
obtained a grant of land on what was known as "Salem neck" and
established a ship yard where, in 1641, he built a ship of 300 tons.(*)
It would seem that Edward continued to work for Hollingworth until the latter's
death for Edward brought an action of debt against the estate of Richard Hollingworth,
on March 27, 1654, apparently for work done on a vessel.
The meager record
of this suit is as follows:
"4th Mo. 1654.
Edward Gasgoine plant agat Capt. Wm. Hawtho (record torn) and Thomas Wilkes,
Administrators to estate of Rich (torn)
(*)??ketch of Salem" Osgood, p. 211. |
Hollingworth deffendts in an action of debt of L31-10s for work done. Jury
finds for ye pltf L 31-10s damages & 1ls-6p Cost Court"(*)
In 1659, however,
the General Court issued an order permitting Edward Gaskoyne to build shipping,**
and from this time on until he declined, Edward was master of his own shipyard.
There is, unfortunately, no preserved record of his activities in this field.
In addition to the
first land grant in 1636, Edward received a second grant of a smaller parcel in
1637 and at a still later date, an additional grant of ten acres. These were
"common" lands and the grant conferred the use only, not the title.
But apart from these temporary estates, Edward was a landowner in his own
right.
In 1658, Edward
purchased of Henry Philps (sic) about ten acres "in ye north neck" in
Salem,*** and on the 22d of April, 1659 he acquired from Ralph
Tompkins, a dwelling house and about 1 1/2 acres of land "in ye Township
of Salem, neere the tide mill" and "neere unto Strongwater brook, soe
called." By deed dated 19 7ber, 1659," Edward conveyed to John
Williams a dwelling house with out houses, orchard, fences etc. and twenty
acres of land, in the North River "above the mill".****
Again, 13th May, 1685, Edward conveyed to Samuel Woodwell about twenty two and
a half poles of land with "a row of appletrees and other fruit trees
thereon."***** Edward and Sarah always made marks instead of
autograph signatures.
Edward was finally
admitted to membership in First Church in 1646. This was ten years after his
appearance on the records of Salem and during the whole of this period he had
been disqualified from any religious or political activity. It would seem that
his action in joining the church was dictated more from motives of self
interest than stirrings of conscience. By 1646, the antagonisms stirred up by
the Quakers and the determination of the authorities to suppress them, made a
sharp division in the civic body. It became the more necessary for Edward to
make an open show of disaffection toward the Quakers because of the attitude of
his son Samuel who was actively working with this body. And so he became a
freeman of Salem and as such, took an inactive attitude toward matters of
public concern. He seems always to have been much engrossed in minding his own
business.
There is no
definite record of the time of Edward's death or of his age when he died.
Perley states but without reference to any authority, that he was born in 1603.(*)
In a document verified by him, Edward stated that 22d, 3d month, 1674, he was
then about 70 years old.** This may be Perley's authority and would
fix 1603 or 1604 as the probable date of his birth.
On July 29, 1690,
"Edward Gaskin, being very Sick and weake, but of perfect memory, as well
for and in consideration of the fatherly love and affection which I have and do
bear unto my well beloved sone in law John Lambert, in ye Same towne of Salem,
Senior, as also for divers other good causes and considerations me at this
present especialy moving: have given, granted and by these presents doe give
& graunt & confirme unto the said John Lambert Senior, my son in law,
all & singuler and every part and parcell of my now dwelling house or
tenement, scituate, standing and being in the abovesaid towne of said Salem,
the same wich I now dwell in, with all and every part and parcell of land
joyning & belonging to the same, with ye privilidges and appurtenances
thereunto belonging, and all and singuler my goods, chattells, leases, debts,
ready money, plate, jewells, rings, household stuff, apparell, utensills,
brass, pewter, bedding and all other my substance whatsoever moveable and
imoveable, quick and dead, of what Kind, nature, quality or condition
whatsoever. . . ."***
At the same time,
John Lambert agreed to maintain his parents-in-law: "In consideration of
this above written deed of gift, I the said. John Lambert, my heires,
executors, administrators and assignes, doe engage by virtue hereof to
maintaine my father and mother in law Edward and Sarah Gaskin during life, so
that they shall not want any thing convenient for sufficient maintenance, and
to bury them credibly when it chall, please God to take them out of this world
by death, otherwise this deed of gift to be of no force or virtue. . . ."
(*)Office of clerk of Essex County, County Court records, Vol. 3, p. 73.
|
**New
England Historical and Genealogical Register, Vol. 25, p. 18, citing
"Annals |
The death of Edward Gaskill probably occurred in the fatte?? part of 1690 or
early in 1691; shortly after he had turned everything over to hisson-in law,
for it is not fikely that such a decisive step was taken until if had become
necessary. It appears that Sarah survived her husband but the date of her death
is not known.
Edward and Sarah
Gaskoyne had six children, whose baptismal records are found in
Salem Vital Statistics, taken from the records of the First Church, where the
baptisms occurred: Preserved baptised 6 mo. 7, 1639, Samuel baptized 6 mo. 7,
1639, Danyell baptized 8 mo. 10, 1640. Sara baptized 3 mo. 15, 1643, Hanna
baptized 1 mo. 1, 1646 and Edward baptized 2 mo. 30, 1648.
The name
"Preserved" speaks eloquently of the perils of an ocean voyage and of
gratitude for a safe deliverance. This daughter was probably the first born
child of Edward and Sarah Gaskoyne and was baptized at First Church with her
brother as soon as Sarah was admitted to membership. It my be assumed,
therefore, that Preserved was born at Salem in the latter part of 1637 or early
in 1638. Nothing is known of her except the fact that she married John Lambert,
a mariner and fisherman, of Salem, to whom her father gave all his worldly
goods. Lambert was lost at sea in the winter of 1710-11, when he was about 80
years old. Preserved, his widow, was then about 72, and had ten children to
care for her. One of the children came under the gravest misfortune. John
Lambert Jr. was one of a crew who were tried, condemned and executed for
piracy, June 30, 1704. This procedure was subsequently characterized by Judge
Samuel Sewell as a judicial murder.
Nothing is known of
Danyell or Hanna except the dates of their baptisms. Presumably they died
young. The other daughter, Sarah, married Peter Joy, of Salem, on May 24, 1661.
Peter Joy was a seafaring man and apparently addicted to the liberal use of
"strong waters." This got him in trouble constantly as the records of
the Salem Quarterly Court bear witness. On 9 mo. 6, 1668, "Peeter
Joy" was fined 10s for swearing and 20s for drunkeness. He was in real
trouble 7 mo. 8, 1668, because he was very drunk and evidently desiring some
place to sleep it off, broke into the soap house of Steeven Hasket, emphasizing
his offence by "cursing and swearing." In November of that year, an
execution was issued against him to satisfy a judgment. The marshall could not
find Peter but the Court ordered Mihil Coomes not to carry him to sea until the
judgment was satisfied. Another writ for debt was issued against him in 1669.
In June of 1673 he was fined for drunkeness; in November of that year he was
sued for debt and before the year was out he was "disguised with
drink." Shortly before 12 mo. 5, 1677 came a day to be celebrated for some
reason. Peter and two men and a woman were found drinking together and creating
an uproar with fighting and cursing. This brought a "tithing man" to
the scene. As there were too many for him to handle alone and as Peter seemed
less drunk than the others, the tithing man sought Peter's help in subduing the
fracas. This effort at conscription was indignantly and profanely rejected,
which seems to have been the crowning offence and figured prominently in the
list of punishments which followed. It is to be feared that Peter was not a
model character.
He and Sarah had
six children, but how they managed to get along is a problem which this
compiler(*) made no effort to solve.
Little is known of
the youngest son of Edward and Sarah Gaskoyne, who bore his father's name. He
was baptized at First Church on 2 mo. 30, 1648, and died prior to December 16,
1717, when Daniel Southwick made a declaration in which he referred to this
Edward Gaskill as a "husbandman"
who was not then
living.(*) He had a son, Samuel, date of birth unknown, who settled
in Connecticut.
Samuel, the eldest
son of Edward and Sarah was baptized with his sister, Preserved, on 6 mo. 7,
1639. Samuel seems to have been the only member of the Gaskoyne family who came
into conflict with the constituted authorities because of his conviction of the
Friends testimony. His parents and his brothers and sisters apparently remained
in the old church. Whether this was a matter of religious conviction,
indifference or the path of least resistance does not appear. It is quite
likely that Samuel was more under the influence of the Southwick family who
were ardent converts, than were the others of his family, through his
attachment to Provided Southwick, and that this was the cause of his separation
from them, not only in the matter of religion but in all other ways as well.
For not only did his parents turn to their oldest daughter rather than to their
oldest son in their old age but the father appears to have assisted in the
persecutions which Samuel had to endure. A summons was issued from the Salem
Quarterly Court 9 mo. 10, 1660 against Samuel Gaskin and others "for
assembling themselves at a Quaker meeting upon the Lord's day. Witnesses;
Edward Gaskin and John Bly." Again 7 mo. 2, 1661, a number of persons were
fined for absenting themselves from "the public ordinances on the Lord's
days from June to November." Witness fee allowed to Edward Gaskin. The
same allowance was made for a similar service on May 23, 1661.**
The marriage of
Samuel Gaskill and Provided Southwick is recorded in the minutes of the Salem
Friends published in the Vital Statistics, as occurring on 10 mo. (December) 3,
1662, although Perley*** gives the date as December 30 without
citing authority. Samuel and Provided suffered cruelly and they lived to see
the persecution turned away so the Friends could meet in peace. Samuel, with
Daniel and Josiah Southwick, was trustee for Salem Monthly Meeting in the
conveyance to them of the first meeting house and lands on October 13, 1690. On
October 3, 1716, this meeting house was ordered sold and the deed was executed
by Daniel Southwick, Samuel Gascoyne, Caleb Buffum and Samuel Collins as
surviving trustes on November 18, 1718. Samuel was then 79 years old.
Samuel served as
constable in Salem and was warned for militia duty in April of 1677-8, but
there is no record that he was called and refused compliance as he was sure to
have done.
There is no record
of the death of Samuel. In the will of his son, Samuel, reference is made to
the care of "his Aged Mother, Provided Gaskill."
This will is dated
September 1, 1725, and from the fact that no reference is made to Samuel, it is
evident that his death occurred previously. Provided died 12 mo. 4, 1727-8,
outliving both her husband and her eldest son.
Provided was the
daughter of Lawrence Southwick, Southick or Sethick, who was a glassman, and a
proprietor in Salem as early as 1639. His wife, Cassandra, was a member of the
Puritan church in 1639, and Lawrence Southick took the required oath and became
a freeman on September 6, 1639, indicating that he also was a church member at
that time. Later they joined the Quakers, were excommunicated and driven out of
Massachusetts. They were sent to Shelter Island at the east end of Long Island,
where they died about 1660, within three days of each other. County files
indicate the birth of their daughter, Provided in 10 mo. 1641.
Lawrence
Southwick's will, dated 5 mo. 10, 1659, was made at the house of Nathaniel
Silvester at Shelter Island, and was probated in Essex County, Massachusetts 9
mo. 29, 1660. He left bequests to his daughters Provided Southwick, Mary, wife
of Henry Traske, Deborah Southwick, to Josiah Southwick. Ann Potter and to
Henry Traske's children, Mary, Sarah, and Hannah, and to John Southwick's
children Saumel and Sarah.
Samuel Gaskill and
Provided Southwick had seven children, including three sons: Samuel, Edward and
Josiah. The eldest son, Samuel, was born 11 mo. 23, 1663. He married Bethiah
Gardner and remained in Massachusetts, his twelve children being born in Salem,
the youngest in 1709. Edward, born October 23, 1667, and Josiah, born 7 mo. 11,
1678 migrated to New Jersey about the end of the seventeenth century.
One of the
daughters of Samuel and Provided, Sarath, born 9 mo. 6, 1676, died 6 mo. 3,
1689, at the age of twelve. Her death is described in the minutes of the
Friends Monthly Meeting at Lynn, Massachusetts:(*)
"Sarah ye
daughter of Samuel and Provided Gaskill departed this life ye 3rd day of ye 6th
month called August 1689, & in ye time of her sickness her harte was much
rendered and her soul breathed toward ye Lord, and panted after devine
Consolation, & cryd to her ffather and Mother and said my deear ffather
pray to ye Lord for me yt I may be made willing to dye & to her Mother
likewise she said my dear Mother pray for me Earnestly to ye Lord yt I may be
made willing to dye & desired her Mother to send for me, & when I came
to her she said to me deear James pray to ye Lord for me Even wth ye Lord Jesus
in his Kingdom of rest and peace, this is my testimony for this deear Child,
who was but yonge in years but dyed in ye Lord and rests wth him in glory"
Signed by James Goodridge.
The records of the
Gaskill family in New Jersey are extensive., but fragmentary. The first mention
of the family** is contained in a deed dated November 10, 1688, by
which a certain Sarah Parker, widow, transferred 192 acres to George Parker.
The land was described as lying west of John Woolston, south of Restore
Lippencott, east of grantor, north of Rancocas creek; also eight acres of
Shark's meadow, southwest of John Woolston, southeast of Edward Gascoyne and northeast
of grantor. In the year 1688 Edward Gaskill (Gascoyne) was 21 years old, and
this record shows that he had already left his Massachusetts home, and acquired
land in New Jersey. He owned the same land on August 3, 1699, when Thomas Revel
surveyed 23 acres on the site of the future city of Mt. Holly for John
Woolston. This land was described as adjoining that of George Parker, John
Langstaffs, and Edward Gaskin.
Between the two
dates noted in the preceding paragraph, Edward Gaskill returned to his native
city of Salem for his bride. When he left to settle in New Jersey, the
granddaughter of Governor John Endecott, the persecutor of Edward's mother, was
only eleven years old. What attachment might have been formed between the
eleven year old Hannah Endecott and the twenty-one year old Edward Gaskill, can
hardly be surmised. Hannah was the daughter of one of the proudest families of
Salem, and her father was one of its richest citizens. Edward Gaskill was the
wanderer who sought a new home in an unsettled wilderness, and the son of a
mother who had been ordered sold into slavery.
Governor John
Endecott had been in his grave for almost 28 years on April 10, 1693, when his
granddaughter married into the hated sect of Quakers.(*) His son,
Zorubbabel, was also dead, and Hannah, then sixteen, was presumably in the care
of her stepmother, the daughter of the Winthrops. Hannah and Edward remained in
Massachusetts about four and a half years after their marriage, and their son,
Joseph, was born there. They then returned, apparently by ship from Salem,
Massachusetts to Salem, New Jersey, to the home Edward had prepared and left
some five years before. One of Hannah's brothers, Joseph Endecott, also settled
in New Jersey, and probably became a Quaker. Longfellow's drama in a modified
form actually happened, and the old governor's spirit may well have voiced the
sentiments the poet puts in his mouth, if spirits can speak in the place where
his Puritan God sent him.
In establishing his
home and his family in New Jersey, Edward Gaskill was following the footsteps
of his grandfather. Just as the grandfather had left the Old World for the New
and ventured his all upon the cast of new fortunes, so did the grandson abandon
the accustomed family home of Salem with all of its associations, his relatives
and friends, for the new colony then arising on the Delaware River, far to the
south. Here he established himself as a farmer but with a vision which led him,
at first with Josiah Southwick and afterward alone, to acquire and hold until
he had the means to develop it, a water power site in the back woods of
Burlington County. Here, in due course, a dam was built around which centered a
series of mills, a grist mill, a saw mill, a fulling mill, a paper mill, a
pottery, and still later an iron works and a brass foundry. It was this
combination of power driven industry with an active agricultural community
surrounding it, which created Mount Holly and for one hundred and seventy-five
years continually increased the material prosperity of the inhabitants. In a
very real sense, Edward Gaskill was the founder and builder of Mount Holly. He
was born, as has been said, at Salem, Massachusetts Bay Colony, October 23,
1667. The exact date of his death is not known but it could not have been long
after 1748 as he was over eighty years old when, on 3 mo. 5, 1748 he conveyed
what may have been the last of his holdings to his son Zorubabel. This transfer
and Zorubabel's subsequent transfer of the same property to Stephen Gaskill is
recited in a deed of Caleb Ogden to Hannah Woolston, dated February 9, 1754.
Doubtless Edward's
remains were committed in accord with Quaker custom to an unmarked grave in the
grounds of the first Friends Meeting of Mount Holly, on what was once known as
Gaskill's Lane but is now called Wood Lane, north of the Mount. His extensive
farm lands were nearby, just over the township line in Springfield Township.
The site of his homestead, located here, has long been lost. Apparntly Edward
disposed of all his property by deed or gift before his death for there is no
record of his will or proceedings for the settlement of his estate as an
intestate. At this time, 300 years afterward, it is impossible to assign a
definite reason for the migration of Samuel Gaskill's sons. Edward and Josiah
with Josiah Southwick, to New Jersey. The persecutions were over and it would
seem that the Gaskills and the Southwicks who remained in Massachusetts lived
out their days in peace, at least so far as religious controversy was involved.
At any rate there is no reason to believe that the movement was made under
pressure or compulsion. In all probability it was precisely the same impulse
which urged the founder of the family over seas.
Salem, New Jersey,
was settled by the Friends in 1675, and Burlington, New Jersey, two years
later. Philadelphia was founded in 1681 and from the Proprietors of these
colonies went out a series of books and pamphlets soliciting settlers. These
were real estate agents' propaganda pure and simple.
Consequently with
no other reason in evidence and with this ardent solicitation at work, it is
reasonable to suppose that the large migration from New England, of which the
Gaskills and the Southwicks were a part, was a response to the inviting
possibilities of the Quaker settlements on the Delaware, at Salem, Burlington,
and Philadelphia. Somewhere around 1685, young Edward made an exploring
expedition southward and took a land grant in West Jersey prior to 1688. Then
he must have gone back to Salem to report on what he had seen and done, to
marry Hannah Endecott, and to induce his brother, Josiah, and his cousin,
Josiah Southwick, to move to New Jersey with him. Possibly he dwelt on the
milder and shorter winters and the absence of rocks in the fields, as
conspicuous advantages.
Whatever the
arguments, Edward carried conviction and these three came to New Jersey where
they settled in Burlington County, at the head of navigation on the Rancocas
Creek, where a natural fall of water invited improvement as the site for a
mill.
The first
settlement on the Rancocas River seems to date from the arrival in 1682 of a
large ship, unnamed, which having grounded in Delaware Bay, lay there eight
days before she could be got off; then, coming up the river, landed three
hundred and sixty passengers on the Jersey shore between Philadelphia and
Burlington. "Their provisions being nigh gone they sent ten miles to an
Indian town near Rankokas Creek for Indian corn and pease."(*)
In the records of
the Essex County Registry of Deeds, Book 59, p. 35, appears the following
affidavit:
"New Jersey, Burlington County, 4 Oct. 1731.
Then personally appeared before me the subscriber, one of his majesties
justices of the Peace for the County of Burlington, Edward Gaskill and Hannah
his wife, both of ye sd. County, being upon their solemn affirmation did
declare as foloweth, viz: That about thirty-three years ago some time last
November, we, with Thomas Haynes and Sarah Haynes, his wife with the children
of the said Thomas and Sarah, did depart from New England towards New Jersey
and all arrived in Salem in New Jersey and the said Thomas and wife and
children was our neighbors in New England in Salem village. (Then are named the
Haynes children.) Signed by Edward (his mark) Gaskill, mark not given, and Hannah
(her mark) Gaskill. Before Samuel Bustill, Notary Public."
This document fixes
the date of departure of Edward and Hannah from Massachusetts on the last
journey, as approximately the month of November 1697. It disposes of a legend
that their migration had been via Shelter Island where Edward's grandparents
(Lawrence and Cassandra Southwick) were buried, and it definitely connects the
family in New Jersey with the New England ancestry. Evidenfly Edward and Hannah
did not tarry in Salem, for there is no record in the books of Salem Monthly
Meeting of their arrival. Hannah was received into the Burlington Monthly
Meeting on a certificate dated 9-11-1697, probably November (9 mo.) 11, 1697.
This date would agree with the departure as shown in the affidavit.
Josiah Southwick
arrived in New Jersey some time before March 14, 1701-2, for he joined with his
cousin, Edward Gaskill, on that date in the purchase of 871 acres of land on
the north branch of the Northampton river, including the water power site. This
land was sold by John Ridges of London, England, through his attorney, Samuel
Jennings of Burlington, and was described in the deed as adjoining the lands of
John Crosby, Thomas Ollive, Wm. Budd, widow Parker, a branch of Birch creek,
and the lands of Thomas Curtis, Peter Harvey, Isaac Horner, Jonathan Fox and
Nathaniel Cripps.
The homestead of
Edward Gaskill was located to the north of Mount Holly on the road from
Burlington which is now known as the "Oxmead" road. This was the
dividing line between Easthampton and Springfield Townships as they were
originally laid out. The homestead was on the west side of the road where the
Gaskill plantation adjoined the land of John Cripps. It was consequently in
Northampton Township which lay to the south of Easthampton, while most of the
farm land was in Springfield Township. This is why Edward was a resident of
Northampton and was included in its 1709 census, while many of his descendants
who succeeded to the ownership of the farm lands, are located in Springfield
Township. The site was close to the location of the first Meeting House on what
is now known as Wood Lane. This was built in 1716 on a triangle which lay
between the road from Burlington, the Jacksonville road and Edward Gaskill's
lane. The original survey was made by Thomas Scattergood and is still preserved
by Mount Holly Meeting. Edward acquired a considerable amount of land in the
vicinity of the homestead as the subsequent conveyances to his sons indicate.
His primary vocation was that of the farmer. It required twenty years to
realize the vision which had prompted the purchase of the power site.
In response to a
call for militia which was issued by John Evans, Deputy Governor of
Pennsylvania, the Burlington Monthly Meeting certified under date of 11 mo. 25,
1704, "that Edward Gaskill, Josiah Gaskill and Samuel Gaskill were of ye
society of ye people called Quakers and that for conscience sake could not bear
nor use arms to ye destruction of ye lives of men."(*) The
inclusion of Samuel Gaskill in this list presents a problem which has not been
satisfactorily solved.
On March 19, 1720,
Edward Gaskill and Josiah Southwick divided between them the tract of 871 acres
they had jointly purchased from Samuel Jennings in 1701. Apparently Josiah was
not interested in the development of the water power, as Edward Gaskill became
the owner of that part of the tract which included the stream at the proper
site for a dam. Shortly thereafter Edward constructed a dam and built a saw
mill near the northerly end of the dam, the location of which has not been
changed. The sawmill was probably put into operation soon after the partition
of the land. It is quite likely that it was the use of the slabs or outside
cuts of logs from the mill in the construction of buildings which gave the name
of Slabtown to the settlement now known as Jacksonville.
The need for a
grist mill was hardly less acute than for the saw mill. The original settlers
of Burlington had to rely on mortar and pestle until the instalation of what
Mary Smith calls "steed mills".** The steed mill was
operated by horse power, the horse going round and round an upright which was
the axle of the mill. South of the Falls of the Delaware, the country has
practically no water falls, the drainage is slow and to get a head of water was
a matter of great difficulty. This is why the location at Mount Holly was so
advantageous.
In 1682, Thomas
Ollive built a grist mill on what is now known as Mill Creek, in Willingboro
Township. Its site was close to the present bridge over Mill Creek on the
Beverly-Mount Holly road. This was a tide mill which had a fall and escape for
its wheel only when the tide in the river was on the ebb. There was no other
grist mill nearer than Stacy's mill at the Falls, and the need for ground corn
and wheat was acute and becoming more and more imperative as the settlement of
the county advanced.
To meet this
situation, a partnership or joint adventure was arranged between Thomas Brian,
James Lippincott, Abraham Bickley and Samuel Brian, with Edward Gaskill. On
June 7, 1723, Edward sold the saw mill. mill house and mill race with the land
occupied by them to Thomas Brian for 400 pounds. Brian then conveyed to Edward
Gaskill, James Lippincoff, Abraham Bickley and Samuel Brian, each a one-fourth
interest in the property which Edward had conveyed to Thomas. This deed makes
no mention of a grist mill, which had not been constructed. The partners
improved the dam, dug the race which runs from the dam to the place where the
new mill was constructed on Mill street, just east of the present office of the
Mount Holly Water Company. The runoff was provided by a short cutting which
connected with the bed of Buttonwood Run. Here the grist mill was constructed
and apparently at or about the same time, the saw mill was moved down stream to
a point just above where the Pine street bridge crosses the creek. Power was
fed to it by a race which was dug just upstream from the dam. The grist mill
was clearly in operation in 1725 when Abraham Bickley sold out to Jonathan
Sleeper and James Lippincott.(*)
Until the Andrews
mill was built at Tuckerton, utilizing a beaver dam for the purpose of storing
water, grain was brought from the settlements along the shore to this mill for
grinding.** And these mills created and maintained a line of
communication and commerce across the state from the Delaware river to the
seaboard. Around them focused growing settlements and industries which were to
develop and prosper until the opening of the West, the increased facility of
transportation and the development of factory production left them isolated and
depressed.
It seems unlikely
that Edward Gaskill or in fact, any of his sons participated in the actual
construction or operation of the mills. Edward was 58 years old in 1725 when
the grist mill first appears in the records. Edward probably remained primarily
a farmer.
The Minutes of
Northampton Township, now in the Public Records Office at Trenton, show that
Edward was elected constable by the Town Meeting for the years 1710, 1711, 1712
and 1713. Otherwise there is no record of any public service, and there is no
definite record of his death.
Sometime before
1704, Edward's younger brother, Josiah, who was born in Salem, Massachusetts, 7
mo. 11, 1678, came to New Jersey. He married Rebecca Lippencott on April 5,
1704. Rebecca, the daughter of Restore Lippencott and Hannah Shattock, was born
at Shrewsbury, Monmouth County, New Jersey, 9 mo. 24, 1684. A few years later,
Restore Lippencott and his family moved to Burlington County, where their names
frequently appear in connection with the Gaskills. The 1688 deed already
mentioned shows that Edward Gaskill and Restore Lippencott were neighbors, and
James Lippencott, who helped build the dam, was Restore's son.
Josiah Gaskill and
Rebecca Lippencott had six children: Jacob born 1708. Mary born 1706 who
married Joseph Carter, Josiah born 1711, Jonathan, a daughter Thanet who
married Absalom Evan and another daughter who married Robert King. Rebecca
apparently died before 1748 for in that year Josiah Gaskill married Mary
Griffith, who survived him. Josiah's will, probated in 1761, mentions his wife
Mary, and his children, with the exception of Jonathan who died before his
father, but Jonathan's son Joshua, and Joshua's son Jonathan are mentioned.
Jonathan's own will shows that he had one other son, Josiah, and six daughters,
Livinia, Mary, Hope, Rachel, Patience and Charity. His wife was Jane Shinn, and
they were married in 1732.
The eldest son of
Josiah and Rebecca, Jacob, died in 1773, and his widow, Susanah Budd, died in
1785. They had four children, Salaney married Nathan Evans, Sarah married
Christopher Powell and (2) Henry Lishman, Aaron died 1783 married 1749 Susanna
Marriott, and Job, whose wife was named Martha. Job and Martha had only two children,
Jacob, born 1775, and Susannah, born after the father died in 1777. Jacob
married Esther Rudderow, and had a son Samuel Rudderow Gaskill and three
daughters. Aaron Gaskill and Susanna Marriot had two sons, Aaron and Moses, and
a daughter Charity. Moses married Lydia Bud in 1774 and had four children in
1785: Sarah, Budd, Theodocia and Job.
The other son of
Josiah and Rebecca, Josiah Jr., married Amy Shreve in 1737 and had a daughter
Kesiah. There are no other records of his descendants.
The Pennsylvania
Journal, a Philadelphia newspaper published this reference to Jacob, son of
Josiah and Rebecca, on June 9, 1748:
Run-away on the 5th
Instant, from Jacob Gaskell, of the County of Burlington in New Jersey, an
Irish Servant Man, named Morgan Grock, aged about 19 years, a short well set
Fellow, fresh Complexion has a large Mole on his Cheek, and dark brown Hair:
Had on when he went away, a light colour'd Broadcloth Coat, and Jacket, with
slash Sleeves, Metal Buttons, Leather Breeches with homespun Trowsers over
them, yarn Stockings, good Shoes with brass Buckles, and a new felt Hat.
Whosoever takes up and secures said Servant so that his Master may have him
again shall have THREE POUNDS Reward and reasonable Charges, paid by Jacob
Gaskill.
The family of Edward
Gaskill (Born October 23, 1667) and Hannah Endecott (born 1676) was much larger
than that of Josiah and Rebecca. There was a census of Northampton township in
1708-9, and a somewhat defective record of Edward and his family is preserved.
This census lists Edward aged 46, Hannah aged 33, Joseph aged 14, Zorubabel
aged 11, Provided aged 9, Samuel aged 6, Hannah aged 4 and Edward aged 3. It
will be noted that Edward's age is wrong, although Hannah's agrees exactly with
the Massachusetts birth record.
Of the children
ascribed to Edward and Hannah Gaskill, six are identified by the 1709 census
record. Two others are mentioned in a grant of land from Edward to Benjamin,
dated January 4, 1747, which appears to have been one of the final divisions of
Edward's property among his sons. Benjamin, described as a farmer of
Northampton Township received from his father a dwelling house, buildings and
two tracts of land. One tract was described as "Beginning at a Post in the
Lane known as Gaskill's Lane near Joseph Gaskill's house xx to a post in Joseph
Gaskill's ditch by Zerubabel Gaskill's Land." The other tract was between
the lands of Ebenezer Gaskill and Benjamin Gaskill and adjoining lands of
Ebenezer Large, Joseph Gaskill, James Lippencott, Abraham Frampton and James
Southwick. The deed also included one eighth of the grist mill, and the land
belonging to it, all being part of the 871 acres of land which Edward Gaskill
and Joseph Southwick bought of Samuel Jennings. Since both Benjamin and
Ebenezer obviously participated in the distribution of Edward's lands, there
would seem to be no doubt that they are his sons. Benjamin is further
identified by a reference to him in Zorubabel Gaskill's will as "brother,
Benjamin."
1. Joseph Gaskill,
born 1694 or 1695 in Massachusetts, presumably the eldest child, was living in
1752. He married (possibly second marriage) Grace Powell on 3 mo. 10, 1644 and
had daughters Virginia and Grace. Virginia married John Brown 6 mo. 2, 1775 and
Grace married Peter Shinn in 1779.
2. Zorubabel
Gaskill, born 1697 or 1698. He was married in the Northampton Meeting House of
Friends 2 mo. 18, 1723 to Ann Lippincott, and resided in Northampton Township
until his death in 1752. He was elected constable for the township in 1734,
1735 and 1737. He died sometime between May 15, 1752, the date of his will, and
May 29, 1752, the date his estate was inventoried. His will listed four
children: Nathan, Zorubabel, Joseph and Moses. Joseph was the youngest, as he
was to have a year's schooling from his brother Zorubabel, and training in the
"art and mystery" of a carpenter from Nathan. The executors of the
will were required to keep Joseph "duly to the meeting," indicating
that Zorubabel was a staunch Quaker. This may have been responsible for the
omission of two children from his will, both of whom had difficulties with the
meeting. The Mount Holly meeting dealt with "Hannah Fortiner, daughter of
Zorubabel Gaskill" on 8 mo. 2, 1749 for marrying out of meeting. This must
have rankled in Zorubabel's memory when his will was made, less than two years
later. Hannah was the wife of Adam Farquhar, misspelled Fortiner. The New
Jersey archives show this marriage--Hannah Gaskill and Adam Forker under the
date of August 25, 1795, an error of about fifty years. There also appears to
have been a son of Zorubabel named Stephen, born about 1723, died after 1795,
who received a license to marry Lavinia Gaskill on January 30, 1748. Lavinia
was doubtless the descendant of Josiah and Rebecca already mentioned. The
marriage was not accomplished according to the custom of Friends, and Stephen
and Lavinia appeared before the Burlington meeting 1 mo. 4, 1751 and
acknowledged their error in "marrying out of meeting."
A son of Stephen,
Abraham Gaskill, was disowned by the Mount Holly Monthly Meeting 4 mo. 4, 1781
for going out with the militia, as a member of the army of George Washington.
Under that date, the committee appointed to investigate produced the following
testimony against him: "Whereas Abraham Gaskill had a birthright amongst
Friends but for want of keeping to the Divine Monitor in his Heart so far
deviated from our known principles as to go a soldier in the Militia, and
neglecting attending of meetings, for all which he hath been treated with
without the desired effect, we therefore disown the said Abraham Gaskill from
being a member of our Religious Society till through sincere repentance he
condemns the same which that he may is our desire." He served in the First
Battalion under Captain Cox, also in the First and Third Regiments.(*)
3. Provided
Gaskill, born 1699 or 1700, married Samuel Shinn, July 4, 1737. Samuel Shinn
was a widower having been married to Sarah Schooley. When she died, he married
Provided Gaskill. For this marriage, Samuel was disciplined by the Burlington
Monthly Meeting for marrying within the time limit and by civil license. Samuel
acknowledged his fault and pleaded in extenuation that he needed a helpmate for
his family of small children. He was forgiven. Provided lived only a short time
after her marriage, but appears to have had a son, Samuel.
4. Samuel Gaskill,
born 1702 or 1703, married Theophila Cripps about 2 mo. 8, 1727. Children:
Solomon, James, Samuel and John. James married 10 mo. 30, 1754 Abigail
Stockton, John married 1764 Martha Parker. Samuel was described as a sawyer in
a deed from his father dated July 21, 1727, by which Samuel received his
father's one-fourth interest in
(*)Stryker "New Jersey in the Revolution." p. 199. The data
relative to Stephen is taken |
the saw mill and three tracts of land. There must have been another deed from
Edward to Samuel because on May 29, 1730, Samuel conveyed to Josiah White a
"fulling mill," dye house, dwelling house and about 60 acres of land
between the mill race and the creek.
5. Hannah Gaskill,
born 1704 or 1705.
6. Edward Jr., born
1705 or 1706, married Elizabeth Lippencott August 1, 1732. They were
disciplined for the marriage by the Burlington Monthly Meeting, according to a
minute dated 2 mo. 3, 1749. No record of their children can be identified.
7. Benjamin born
about 1707 married Mary Dennis of Monmouth County, January 16, 1738 and was
disciplined for the marriage in 1744. Unity appears to have been quickly
restored as "Mary wife of Benjamin" was referred to in a minute a
month later. Mary apparently died, and Benjamin remarried Sarah Heustis in
1756. Three sons were born to the first marriage: Benjamin, Edward and Joseph.
Benjamin Jr. married Sarah Endicott 6 mo. 18. 1678. She was a
great-grandaughter of Zorubabel Endecott.
8. Ebenezer,
married Elizabeth Wood 6 mo. 21, 1731 and had at least five children:
Elizabeth, Ebenezer Jr., Job, Levi and Samuel. Ebenezer was disowned for
marriage contrary to discipline in 1741. His daughter was disowned in 1755 for
marrying out, and the four sons were disciplined for marriage in 1774.
Apparently all these marriages occurred years before the disciplinary action.
Ebenezer lived in Little Egg Harbor, Ocean County, New Jersey from time to
time, and appears to have been the founder of the branch of the family there.
Possibly the marriages did not come to the attention of the Burlington Meeting
for several years because of the remote residence of the family.
In addition to
these eight children, it is likely that Edward and Hannah had several others.
Hannah was only 33 years old in 1709 and had six living children. Only two are
known to have been born after the 1709 census, although both Edward and Hannah
were still living in 1731. Five of the eight children were named after the
Endecotts, yet the traditional Endecott name of John is missing. In 1721 a John
Gaskill was witness to the will of Samuel Lippencott, son of Restore, but the
name does not appear in any other records of that generation. If this John
Gaskill was a son of Edward, he was one of the older children, as he was an
adult in 1721, and his omission from the 1709 census would require some
explanation.
The name of Daniel
Gaskill is first found in Burlington County in 1735. The minutes of the
Burlington Monthly meeting contain this entry for 10 mo. 1, 1735: "Daniel
Gaskill and Martha Shinn appeared at this meeting and declared their intentions
of marriage it being the first time for which the meeting appointes James
Lippincott and Joseph Burr to also of his life and conversation and bring
report to the next meeting." On 11 mo. 5, 1735 they again appeared before
the meeting, declared their continued intention, and were set at liberty to
marry, with James Lippincott and Joseph Burr appointed by the meeting to see
that the marriage be "orderly accomplished." On 12 mo. 2, 1735
"One of the two friends that was appointed to attend the marriage of
Daniel Gaskill and Martha Shinn reported that it was orderly performed."
The minutes of the
Burlington meeting give no hint as to the age, or the parents of either Daniel
or Martha, except that Daniel is referred to as a young man. Most young men
married for the first time (women often died young in these pioneer colonies,
and the men remarried) in their early twenties, as they needed a woman's help
on their farms, or in their households. Daniel may, therefore, have been born
near 1715. The History of the Shinn Family identifies Martha with a Martha
Shinn who was listed in the 1709 census as 14 years of age. This Martha was
forty years old in 1735, and would hardly have been marrying a "young
man."
Daniel and Martha
had at least three children: Daniel, Joseph and John. Joseph and John are
Endecott family names, and suggest descent from Edward and Hannah. Furthermore
there is no other probable parentage for Daniel. He is obviously not a son of
Josiah and Rebecca Lippincott Gaskill, and was born too early to have been of a
later generation. He was doubtless named for his great-uncles in the
Massachusetts families of Gaskill and Southwick, who did not join the migration
to New Jersey.
Little is known of
the lives of Daniel and Martha. On 10 mo. 4, 1756 they requested a certificate
from the Burlington to the Haddonfield Monthly Meeting, located some fifteen or
twenty miles to the south. On 4 mo. 3, 1758 Solomon Gaskill, probably another
son of Daniel and Martha, received a certificate from Burlington to
Haddonfield. The next record of the family is at Burlington, where Joseph, son
of Daniel Gaskill was disowned for his marriage to Rachel Grant on 8 mo. 4,
1767. On 2 mo. 7, 1781, the Mount Holly Preparative Meeting reported that John
Gaskill, son of Daniel Gaskill, deceased, had neglected attending meeting, and
had gone out in marriage, for which he was disowned 9 mo. 5, 1781.
The birth of
Daniel, son of Daniel and Martha, is not of record, but his parentage is
established by an entry in the Mount Holly minutes, which was read but not
copied by Nelson Gaskill. Aside from this entry, the names of two of his
children, Martha and Solomon, indicate descent from the Shinn family. This
second Daniel must have lost his membership in the Society of Friends before
his marriage, for on 6 mo. 8, 1774 Huldah Gaskill, formerly Mott, was disowned
by the Burlington meeting for marrying out, and it appears practically certain
that this Huldah was Daniel's wife. Nelson Gaskill has an old deed, dated
October 1, 1799, whereby Daniel Gaskill and his wife Huldah dispose of property
in Northampton township. Both Daniel and Huldah signed with a mark, indicating
illiteracy.
The witnesses to this deed were Humphrey Owen
and Levi Gaskill.
The homes of Daniel
and Huldah, and of his brother John, were plundered by the Hessian troops,
fighting for the British in 1776. The depredations in New Jersey occurred just
before the famous crossing of the Delaware brought George Washington's patriot
army into the state to defeat of the British forces at Princeton on Christmas
Day, 1776. There is on file in the Bureau of Archives and History, Trenton,
this document:
Claim No. 228
Inventory of the
goods of Daniel Gaskill, Plundered by the Hessian Troops in Decr 1776.
I pr new Buckskin
Breeches, I calf skin L 2.7.
Daniel Gaskill the
above Applicant being affd Declares that being at his own House he was
Plundered by the aforesaid Troops, of the above articles, and did not at any
time Receive any Pay or Compensation therefor.
Daniel X (his mark) Gaskill
Daniel's brother
John's misfortune was greater. He lost a considerable number of sheep, cows,
hogs, corn, and had his house damaged (Claim No. 298). The claims were never
paid. Besides the loss of goods, Daniel and Huldah must have suffered much
anxiety when visited by these armed foreign maurauders. Their little son,
Nathan, great-grandfather of Charles Clement Heacock, was about two or three
years old when these events occurred.
Huldah remained out
of unity for over sixteen years, but on 8 mo. 5, 1790 she presented a paper of
acknowledgement for going out in marriage, which being read at the Mount Holly
meeting "Friends were easy her offering should be accepted." She soon
attained a high standing in the meeting and on 4 mo. 4, 1797 "Huldah Gaskill
was proposed as an Elder with which the meeting united." Huldah's minor
children were admitted to membership in the Mount Holly meeting 9 mo. 8, 1796,
and the dates of their births are recorded as follows: Sarah b. Dec. 13, 1778;
Hannah b. June 18, 1781; Huldah b. April 11, 1784; Daniel b. July 21, 1786;
Martha b. June 28, 1788; Solomon b. Sept. 7, 1792. The death of Martha on
November 4, 1796 at the age of eight is also recorded. Daniel and Solomon were
later disowned, Solomon perhaps for marriage by a Justice of the Peace in 1816.
The minutes of the
Friends meetings contain no mention of Huldah's husband; he was obviously not a
member at any time during his married life. He died intestate in 1801, and the
Index of Wills of New Jersey records the appointment of a guardian for his
minor children Daniel Jr. and Huldah. The daughter Sarah was married the
following year to Gideon Stratton, and the Mount Holly minutes now for the
first time mention the father in referring to Sarah as the daughter of Daniel,
deceased, and Huldah. Witnesses to the marriage were Huldah, Israel, Zilpha,
Huldah and Daniel Gaskill and others.
The two oldest sons
of Daniel and Huldah Gaskill, both of age in 1796 and therefore not included in
the admission of the minor children of Huldah into the meeting, moved to Ohio
about 1805, One of them was the Israel mentioned above, and Zilpha, his wife.
The other was Nathan, who married Hannah Owen in 1797. On 10 mo. 5, 1809
"Huldah Gaskill informed this meeting (Mount Holly) that she had a
prospect of visiting her children in the State of Ohio and felt most easy to
have the advice of her Friends therein. After consideration, the meeting
expressed a freedom, she being an elder in good esteem among us." The
minutes do not reveal whether the trip was actually undertaken.
Huldah Gaskill was
disowned 6 mo. 7, 1829 for joining the Hicksites. She died on December 28, 1832
and her death is recorded in the minutes of the meeting. Her will, dated in
March of 1822, was proved January 16, 1833. It establishes beyond doubt the
descent of Huldah Gaskill Heacock from this family. These are the important
paragraphs:
"Second. I
give and bequeth unto My three Daugt'ers Sarah Stratton, Hannah Wright, Hulday
Ervens and my son Solomon Gaskill all my household goods to be devided between
them equally.
"Third. All
the remainder of my personal Estate after the Debts and funeral Charges is paid
I give and bequeath Unto my two Sons now in the State of Ohio, to wit Izrael
Gaskill and Nathan Gaskill to be devided Equally between them"
The rest of the
will provided that the two sons remaining in Mount Holly, Daniel and Solomon,
receive certain lands which fell to them in the division of the father's
estate, but which the mother had purchased at sheriff's sale. The three living
daughters, Hannah, Sarah and Huldah were to divide their mother's clothing
equally among them. Hannah's husband, Addom Wright was named executor.
Nathan Gaskill and
Hannah Owen appear as pioneer settlers in the history of Lexington Township,
Stark County, Ohio, in 1806. Their son Daniel and several of his brothers and
sisters were born in Mount Holly, Daniel in 1802, and the couple faced the Ohio
wilderness with a family of small children. The son Daniel was the father of
Huldah Gaskill Heacock, and the grandfather of Charles Clement Heacock. Daniel
died in 1854 in Stark County.
Nathan's brother
Israel and wife Zilpha moved to Perry Township, Colombiana County, Ohio, in
1805, and resided in their wagon until a log cabin could be built. Israel had several
children, including a daughter Zilpha. He died about 1850.(*)
A study of the
census returns of 1820-1870 indicates that several Gaskill families settled in
Lexington Township, Stark County, Ohio. There were three families in 1820,
those of Nathan, Benjamin and Joseph. Places
(*)History of Colombiana County, published 1879, p. 206. |
of birth, and names
of members of household are omitted from the census returns before 1850, and
ages are given only within age groups. The returns indicate however that Nathan
and his wife (Hannah Owen) were born between 1770 and 1775, and Nathan's wife
died before 1840, Nathan before 1850. They apparently had six sons and four
daughters. The oldest son was probably the Joseph mentioned above. He was born
about 1798(*) in New Jersey. Eliza born 1801 in New Jersey who
married Joshua Hamlin, apparently before 1820, was doubtless the oldest
daughter. The other sons were Daniel, born 1802 in New Jersey, and Israel born
1802-1804, Abraham born 1808 in Ohio, Nathan born 1820 and a younger son born
between 1820 and 1825 who was apparently dead in 1840. The names of the
daughters cannot be determined, as they had married by 1850 and cannot be
traced in that census without knowledge of their married names.
Benjamin, who
appears in the 1820 census of Lexington township, was born betwen 1780 and
1790. He was too old to be a son of Nathan and Hannah. Another family appears
in the 1830 census; John Gaskill, born 1760-1770, and his son John Jr. born
1780-1790. There were also Samuel and James, born 1790-1800, who were living in
Lexington township with families in 1830, and Thomas born in New Jersey in
1795, who was living with his family in Lexington township in 1840 and 1850.
While Daniel's
father Nathan was the original settler, it appears that two cousins (in an
unknown degree), Benjamin and John, followed. It may be that all the others are
descended from these three.
(*)The 1850 census indicates Joseph to have been born about 1797. If
this is correct, |