JOHN PENNOCK

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THE STORY AS I KNOW IT

The Pennock family was a leading Quaker family in colonial Pennsylvania. The descendants are numerous. Three known books have been written about them:
The Pennocks of Primitive Hall by George Valentine Massey II,
The Pusey Family by Pennock Pusey, and
Christopher Pennock Genealogy, compiled by Charles A. Rudolph, 1959.

John Pennock was born in the later half of 1800 in Chester County Pennsylvania. He was the son of James Pennock and Mary Hayes.

John married Elizabeth Stevens about 1822. They had 3 known children
1.. William Pennock born in 1823 married Margaret Jane McMasters.
2. Samuel Pennock born 1825 married Ann Stannert.
3. Hayes Pennock born 1830 married Jeannette Ganne Wilson.

They lived in southern Chester County.  On the 1860 and 1870 Census he is said to be a miller. 

 The Quakers kept great records, but they tended to not give middle names. There are a lot of John Pennocks. There is record held at the Friends Historical Society Henshaw files held at Swarthmore College that John Pennock was disowned from the London Grove Meeting for joining the Hicksites on 1828-10-11 as was Elizabeth Pennock on 1828-8-9. We do not know if this is our John and Elizabeth even though it is the right time and very likely the right place. If this is our couple it may have been about this time that they moved from the London Grove area near Avondale to the Oxford area in East Nottingham Township where the family was found in following decades.

The 1840 Chester County Census has 3 John Pennocks.  The one that most matches our family is John Pennock of New London.  It says the family consisted of:
1 male under 5 - an unknown child
2 males 10-14  Hayes & an unknown child
2 males 15-19  Samuel & William
1 male 40-49  John
1 female 40-49 Elizabeth

Ok,  it is a stretch.

They are not on the 1850 Census as a family.  I cannot find John at all, nor WilliamSamuel Pennock is in Lower Oxford township with a wife, Ann E., a 9 mt old daughter and his brother Hayes Pennock.  I believe William is living with another family, Mary Hage and her 2 children as a farm laborer.

I believe that Elizabeth Stevens Pennock died sometime between 1840 - 1850. and possibly their youngest child.  John Pennock, right age, a miller, is on the 1860 Census, East Nottingham,Chester county PA M653_1092.  John Pennock, age 59, born PA, miller with a new family.
                                        Mary Pennock, age 30, born PA
                                        Mary E. Pennock, age 8
                                        John Pennock, age 10 months
I'm not sure that this is a new wife and children.  They are not on the 1870 Census.  But who are they and what happened to them?  Could they have been the family of the unknown male 10-14 on the 1840 census, and he died or just left in 1859 leaving his wife and children with his father?  All speculation, but worthy of further study.

The 1870 Chester County Census has John Pennock, the father and subject of this story that doesn't quite fit, now living with his oldest son William and William's family in.
London Britain , StrickersvilleWilliam is the head of the household, a farmer with his wife and 8 children and his father John Pennock, age 69, a miller.

We do not know when our John Pennock died.


RESEARCH QUESTIONS

If you know the answer please CONTACT US

    1. Where and when did he marry Elizabeth?
    2. Check the London Grove Meeting records of 1820's.
    3. Check orphans court after 1840-1850 after Elizabeth probably died.
    4. Check orphans court 1860 - 1870 after maybe their unknown son died.
    5. When did he die?
    6. Where is he buried?

 

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Date Last Edited: 7/13/2012