WILLIAM PUSEY II
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:
It is believed that William and Mary Pusey were both buried at London Grove Meeting Cemetery.
*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.
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Date created: 10/15/2020
Date edited 5/9/2024