ELIZABETH STEVENS
THE STORY AS I KNOW IT
Elizabeth Stevens was born
about 1805. I know nothing about her parents, or
where and when she was born. There was an entry on
Ancestry World tree that had much data correct about the
Pennock family. It said Elizabeth Stevens
was born in Scotland.
This
came, I'm sure from the 1880
Chester county PA Census film #1255114, pg362A.
Her son, Hayes Pennock listed that he was born in
Penn, but both parents were born in Scotland. We
know his father was not, but perhaps his mother was or she
was descended from Scottish ancestors.
It is believed she married John Pennock about 1822 in Chester County PA and lived in the London Grove area. The scanty bit of information we have on Elizabeth comes from a very large volume called Christopher Pennock Genealogy compiled by Charles A. Rudolph.
There were a few Stephens
in the area about this time. When her father-in-law
died, James Pennock, about 1830, his
administrative Inventory, found at Chester County Archives,
noted that a winding shack was sold to David Stephens.
I have no idea what a winding shack is but it was probably
a farm tool. The name Stephens and Stevens were used interchangeably. I
found a David Stephens
in New London who died without a will in 1836. He
was quite young with a very young family. A David Stephens of London Grove
died in 1840. He was an older man, possible the
father of the younger. I have not been able to make
a documented connection between the Stephens of
the area and Elizabeth
Stevens, but need to keep trying.
Elizabeth and John
Pennock had three children according to Mr. Rudolph.
They were:
1. William Pennock
born Dec 8, 1823 who married Margaret Jane McMasters
2. Samuel Pennock born 1825 married Ann
Stannert.
3. Hayes Pennock born 1830 married Jeannette
Ganne Wilson.
There is note in the London Grove Monthly Meeting of the Quakers, found at Swarthmore College Library in the Friends Historical Society research room. It states that Elizabeth Pennock was disowned for joining the Hicksites 8/9/1828. And John Pennock likewise 10/11/1828. Further on, William Pennock was disowned for the same reason on 12/17/1843. A difficulty in researching the Quakers is that they rarely used middle names. While their record keeping is excellent it is sometimes difficult to know which John?
Neither John nor
Elizabeth Pennock could be found on the 1850 or
later census. Their sons Samuel and Hayes Pennock were living
together in Lower
Oxford Chester Ct. PA. Hayes was
just 19. I believe Elizabeth
Stevens Pennock died prior to 1850. I could not
find a will or admin. I also believe that she may
have another child or two that may have died. Hers
is an incomplete story. I would love to know the
closing chapters.
Eventually we find John Pennock on the 1860
Census and then living with his son William
Pennock in 1870. His story has some
curious bits.
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
If you know the answer please CONTACT US
1. Who were her parents?
2. Where and when was she born?
3. Check Quaker records, just in case they can fill out
some details.
4. Were there other children?
5. When did she die and where is she buried?
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Date Last Edited: 7/13/2012