Bios: Robert Barnhill 1755-1797: Cumberland/Mifflin Cos, PA
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Robert Barnhill
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Abt 1755 Born
Married Rebecca
1774 Paid taxes as a married man, Cumberland County, PA, age 19
(Cumberland County formed in 1750 from Lancaster)
William born
John born
Elizabeth born
Rebecca born
23 Oct 1777 2nd co. 4th Class Capt James Adams, age 22
1778 Tax list Cumberland County, Armaugh Township, PA, age 23
1779-1783 5th & 8th Bat, Cumberland Co Militia, PA, age 25-29
5th Bat, Cumberland Co Militia, PA served 1777-79
8th Bat, Cumberland Co Militia, PA served 1780-82
Mary born
22 May 1782 Sickly wife, prays not to be called from home as he is on the
frontier. Excused until his class is called again. Cumberland
County, Armagh Township, age 28
1783 Signer of call letter to Rev James Johnston, East Kishacoquillas
Presbyterian Church, age 29
Henry born (not in Robert's will)
31 Oct 1787 Gabriel born
Joseph born
David born
(Mifflin County formed in 1789 from Cumberland & Northumberland)
1789 Paid taxes Mifflin Co PA from 1774-1789, age 34
1790 Census, Mifflin County, PA 80 acres, 2 horses, 2 cows, age 35
Pension Application Revolutionary War R547 Pa
7 Mar 1796 Wrote will in Armaugh Township, Mifflin County, PA, age 41
21 Feb 1797 Letters of administration of will, age 42
1799 Widow BARNHILL on tax list (Armagh County, House Value $200.,
Mat. L, Stoves 2, Windows 9, Lig. 12, Size 22 x 26, no additional
buildings
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CHILDREN OF ROBERT MCCURDY & REBECCA
1. HENRY BARNHILL
2. GABRIEL BARNHILL (31 Oct 1787 - 25 May 1840) m. Nancy Agnes McCurdy
3. WILLIAM BARNHILL m. Margaret McCurdy
4. JOSEPH BARNHILL
5. DAVID BARNHILL
6. JANE BARNHILL
7. MARY BARNHILL m. James Wilson
8. ELIZABETH BARNHILL
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STATE HISTORY
History of the Juniata and Susquehanna Valleys in Pennsylvania.
The first settlers of Kishucoquillas Valley were Scotch-Irish, and belonged to
the Presbyterian Church. They were of the better order of peasantry, and
brought with them the characteristics of their native land. What the date of
the organization, as is now the custom under the direction of the Presbytery.
It was natural that the Presbyterians among the early settlers, who were as
sheep without a shepherd in the wilderness, should voluntarily bind themselves
together for prayer and praise, and when ministers and missionaries found
congregations begun in this way, they preached to them and administered the
ordinances of Divine grace.
Letter dated 15 Mar 1783 (Age 28)
Mr. James Johnston, preacher of the Gospel:
Sir: We, the subscribers, members of the United Congregation of East and West
Kishacoquillas, having never in this place had the stated administration of
the
Gospel ordinances, yet highly prizing the same, and having a view to the
advancement of the Kingdom of Christ, and the Spritual Edification of
ourselves
and families, have set ourselves to obtain that blessing among us, and
therefore, as we have had the blessing among us, and therefore, as we have had
the opportunity of some of your labors in this place, and are satisfied with
your Soundness, Piety and ministerial ability to break unto us the bread of
life, we do most heartily and sincerely, in the name of the Great Shepherd of
the Flock, Jesus Christ, call and invite you to come and take the Pastoral
Charge and oversight of us in the Lord. And for your encouragement we do
promise, if God shall dispose your heart to embrace this call, that we will
give a dutiful attention to the word and ordinances of God, by you
administered; that we will be subject to your Admonitions and reproofs, should
our falls and miscarriages expose us thereto, and will submit to the
discipline
of the Church, exercised by you, agreeabley to the Word of God; and also, that
we will treat Persons with Friendship and Respect, and behave in all things
towards you as becomes Christians always should towards their Pastor, who
labours among them in word and Doctrine. And farther, as we are persuaded
that
those who serve at the Alter should live by the Alter, we do promise, in order
that you may be, as much as possible, free from worldly incumbrances, to
provide for your comfortable and honorable maintainance in the manner set
forth
in our Subscription Papers accompanying this, our Call, during your
continuance
with us as our Regular Pastor. And in witness of our hearty desire to have
you
settle among us, we have hereunto set our Names this Fifteenth day of March,
Anno Domini 1783 --
Robt Barnhill et others
The Rev. James Johnston accepted the call, and continued to serve the
congregation acceptably as their pastor during the remainder of his active
life
which was thirty-seven years, or up to 1820.
______________________________________________________________________________
PENNSYLVANIA STATE RECORDS
PENNSYLVANIA HISTORICAL AND MUSEUM COMMISSION
(Age 28)
Barnhill, Robert, Cumberland County, 8th Battalion, Capt. William Wilson, 8th
Co., sickly wife, prays not to be called from home as he is on the frontier.
Excused until his class is called again. Appeal Book, 22 May 1782.
Township of
residence, Armagh.
(Age 42)
Barnhill, Robert, Cumberland County, Pvt, 5th Bn, 2nd Co., Order from Council
Dated Oct. 23, 1797, Capt. James Adams, Fine book of John Carothers, Cnty Lt.,
p. 101
________________________________________________________
The Barnhill family is among the original settlers of Silver Spring Township,
Cumberland County, Pennsylvania.
_______________________________________________________________
THE PIONEERS OF MIFFLIN COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA by John M. Stroup and Raymond M.
Bell
Page 2
...Although 150 miles from the nearest British regular, the Scotch-Irish on
the
frontier sent company after company to New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania
during the early years of the War for Independence. But the time came when
Col. Arthur Buchanan, in cahrge of Militia here, had to refuse a call, for the
men were needed to defend their homes. The Indians seeking scalps for British
bounties were making forays from the West and North against the frontier
settlements.
It was in 1778 that Col. Buchanan wrote to the Colonial authorities: "The
Indians continue to murder men, women and children on our frontiers...we are
in a very distressed situation at present...I have taken the sentiment of our
battalion and they are these, if the lieutenants of the county will send us
the assistance of a few men with arms and ammunition we will march immediately
into the Indian country and attack their towns, which will be the most
effective method of calling them from our frontiers...I sent six men as spies
to the Kittanning only one of whom returned, who says they were fired upon
by 100 Indians and only he escaped...Sir please send...a supply of ammunition
and arms."
But finally peace came__with victory__as it would to a people with such a
spirit__and a new county was founded and named Mifflin, for a soldier with an
enviable record during the Revolution.
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REVOLUTIONARY WAR
Index of Revolutionary War Pension Applications
Barnhill, Robert, Penn. (R.547)
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TAX LISTS
Listing of Inhabitants in 1778 Cumberland County, PA. (Age 23)
Barnhill, Robert. Armstrong Township.
1790 Tax List Mifflin County, Armagh Township (Age 35)
Barnhill, Robert, 80 acres, 2 horses, 2 cows
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FEDERAL CENSUS (Age 35)
1790 Federal Census and Tax List, Mifflin County, Armagh Township P. 152
Barnhill, Robert 1 male over 16, 5 males under 16, 4 females
McCurday, John P. 153
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TAX LIST (Deceased)
1799 Tax List Armagh Township
Widow Barnhile
William Barnhill
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TAX LIST (Deceased)
1811 Tax List Aramagh Township
David Barnhill
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WILL ABSTRACTS (age 44)
Will Abstracts of Mifflin County, PA.
Robert Barnhill, Armagh Twp., w. 3/7/96, p.2/21/1797, wife Rebecca, sons
William, Joseph, David, Gaberil, daughters Elizabeth, Rebecca, Mary, Exec.
wife
Rebecca, son William.
_________________________________________________________
Is this the Robert Barnhill listed in Bucks County, PA in 1766? See Barnhill
Barnhill.
_________________________________________________________________
WILL
Robt Barnhill Testement
No. 52
Will of Robert Barnhill
Proven Letters of Admon issued with copy of will bond taken and fee 32p paid--
In the Name of God Amen, I Robert Barnhill of Armaugh Township Mifflin County
and State of Pennsylvania Being Sick and Weak in Body But of Perfect Mind and
Memory: Do Make and ordain this My Last Will and Testament; That is to say
Principally and first of allSum Roprica to Be Made in the House to Bef Paid
out of the Real Estate and the Rest of My Estate to be Divided as follows My
Wife Rebeca is to have Twelve pounds Pr Year During Life and is to Be Paid out
of the Real Estate and is to Live on the place During Her Widohood together
With the Third of the Movable Property To My Son John, I will and Bequeth the
sum of Ten Shillings Pennsylvania Curency and to My Daughter Elisabeth, the
Horse ans Sedel that is Named Hers and Twenty Pounds Curency and a Bed and
Furniter To My Daughter Mary & a Horse and Sadel Bed and Bedclose with a Equal
Shair of the Movable property with the Boys when the Com of Age To My sons
William: Joseph, David and Gaberil an Equal Shair of the Remainder of My
Parsenal Property as soon as the Com of Age And the Real Estate to Be Sold and
Equaly Divided Betwixt & William Joseph David & Gaberil Provided allways
that &
Wm Joseph David & Gaberil Lives to the Com of Age But if any of them Dies
BEfore the Com of Age the other or other two is to Get His or Their Sahir
Equaly Divided Likewise if any of the Garels Dies Before the Com of Age the
other two Garels is to Get Hur Shair Equaly Divided-----
Likewise Salow the one Half of the Cow breakers to Be sold for the Clse of the
Legates and as Long as the Children Lives to Gether the Girels is to Give
their
Horses to Work on the Place and all of them to work and Have Shair of Every
thing that is Raised But as soon as any of them is Maried the have no more
Right to Live on the Place and I Do hereby Disalow all other Testiments and
Wills Whatsoever and I Do Apoint to Be My Execiters In Witness Whereof I have
Hereunto set My Hand and Seal This Seventh Day of March, in the yere of our
Lord one thousand Seven Hundred and Ninty Six
Robart Barnhill (Seal)
Signed Seled Published Pronounced
and Declared By the S, Robert Barnhill
as his Last Will and Testement
in the Presents of us the subscribers
Rich, Johnston,
William Mitchell
David Neeley
____________________________________________________________
PROBATE
Mifflin County p
Before me Samuel Edmiston, Register for the probate of wills and
granting
letters of administration in and for the said county of Mifflin, personally
appeared Richard Johnston and William Mitchell two of the subscribing
Witnesses
to this instrument of writing, and being sworn according to law, do say, that
they have seen Robert Barnhill the Testator in said Instrument named, sign his
name and affix his Seal thereto, publish, pronounce and declare the same as
and
for his last Will and Testament, that the said Testator was then of sound of
disposing mind and memory (as they verily believe) and that they wrote their
names as witnesses thereto respectively, in the presence of the Testator, at
his request, and in the presence of each other. -----
Sworn and subscribed Rich Johnston
FEby 21st AD 1797 William Mitchels
BEfore me. ---------
You Rebecca bArnhill and William Barnhill, Administrators of all and singular
the goods and chattels, rights and credits which were of Robert Barnhill,
deceased, do swear, that you will will and truly administer the goods and
chattels, rights & credits which were of the said deceased & makes a true and
perfect Inventory and a conscionable appraisement thereof, and exhibit the
same
into the Register's office in the county of Mifflin, in one month from this
time, and that you will render a just and true account, calculation and
reckoning of your administration in one year from this time, or when thereunto
Lawfully required.
her
Sworn and subscribed Rebecca x Barnhill
Feby 21st 1797 mark
Before me. William Barnhill
Edward W Carty
Oct Recorded
_______________________________________________________
Jane Hunter Hodgson
Tucson, Arizona
hodgson@azstarnet.com