WILLIAM   PUSEY  II

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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.

A note about the Quaker calendar. From the 12th century in England the year began with the vernal equinox, on March 25th. This lasted until January 1752 as the legal and civil year. However, from the time of the Norman Conquest in 1066 A.D. the first of January had been considered the historical beginning for the year. It was customary to use a system of double dating between Jan 1 and March 25, giving both years i.e. 11-8-1747/48. In Pennsylvania, where friends controlled the legislation for many years, the numerical form of dating was commonly used and sanctioned by law, i.e. eleventh month, 8th day, which would translate to Jan. 8, 1748 in the new calendar. Whenever dates were given with numbers we have left them as we found them.

William Pusey II was born 1-5-1710/11 or March 5, 1711 in Upland, Chester County Pennsylvania. Upland is now in Delaware county which was created from part of Chester county in 1789.  He was 2nd of four known children (another source says 8 children)  of William Pusey and  Elizabeth Bowater  from the Chester Monthly Meeting minutes. The family moved to London Grove, East Marlborough township, in Chester county 1717 when William was a young boy.   also noted in Meeting minutes. They were an active Quaker family.

William Pusey II married Mary Passmore, also from a prominent Quaker family early 1740s.  They had six children and their births are all recorded in the Hinshaw files, New Garden monthly Meeting #1 held at Quaker Library in Swarthmore college.  The children are also all named in the will of William Pusey, Chester County Wills #2769, written Jan 10, 1773, proved June 14, 1773.  "wife" is noted, but not named.

Betty Pusey    born 10-11 1743 or Dec. 11, 1743 - married William Wickersham
Elinor Pusey   born 5-20-1746  or July 20, 1746 -  married John Pennock
         ( quaker calendar changed to match our current one in 1751)
William Pusey born 12-9-1754 or Dec. 9, 1754   
Mary Pusey  born   March 31, 1758 - married Joseph Pennock (probably John's brother, but there were a lot of Pennocks)
Enoch Pusey born  Sept 20, 1761 -
Jane Pusey    born  Aug 26, 1765 - do not know who she married, but I have her death as Oct. 1 1851

                                        I do not know why the Quaker records did not record the marriages of the sons also.   I'll add them if I get documentation. The gap between Elinor                                             and son William implies babies born but lost.  These six are the children mentioned in William's will so there easily could have been others.  Maybe                                         quaker records have more details on their family.  I have a note that Enoch wed Rachel Passmore, but do not have the source

                                        His father had a mill in London Grove, so our young William probably worked there, at least for a while.  He ended with a plantation of 150 acres,                                             which was most likely very near London Grove Meeting House

His last will noted above, contains the statement that his plantation contained150 acres.   He gave very specific instructions in his will:
*Educating the three youngest children in a reputable manner.
*Enoch being put to a trade at 17 years - age 12 when his father died.
*Cultivate the plowland only every 4 years.
*something I can't make out.  looks like "Newesfary Prerain of the premises"  ???? HELP!
* Eventually the plantation would go to William and Enoch.
*Mary, the widow would stay in the home and receive the issue and profit from running the estate, plus an allowance to be paid by the children each year.
*much of the direction was to exist until Jane reached 18 years of age, 10 years in the future.
*The married daughters received 20 shillings each, the unmarried 65 pounds each when they because 18 years old.

It is believed that William and Mary Pusey were both buried at London Grove Meeting Cemetery.


RESEARCH QUESTIONS

If you know the answer please CONTACT US

    1. Where was the plantation?
    2. who did son William marry?
    3. Were there other children?
    4. What did William do besides live and farm the plantation?

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