In 1740, James Jervis (6G) was born to Joseph and Esther. This completed their family; Joseph Jr., John, and Solomon, then William, Caleb, Joshua, Catherine, and James.
James Jervis is our 6th great-grandfather.
Joseph Jr., John, and Solomon were teenage. The other children ranged from age 10 down to newborn.
In 1740, Joseph Sr was getting on in years, about 67. Esther was 42.
They had been in Pequea / White Horse for over twenty years. They still operated the mill, and probably still the public house.
White Horse
The village of White Horse continued to grow.
In 1740, the White Horse Hotel opened. It became a popular stopping place for travelers on the King’s Highway.
It’s still a presence in White Horse today. Until very recently, it was a tavern and restaurant.
It’s fun to see a place that we’re sure Joseph and Esther knew.
Joseph Jr. and John in court
In 1740, Joseph Sr., Joseph Jr., and John were presented in court. Joseph Jr. and John each put a bond of £10, while Joseph Sr.’s bond was £5.
This makes me think that the two boys had gotten into some trouble, but maybe were minors. So their dad was summoned too. If so, that’s how we could estimate their birth years.
The case was discharged, and there’s no more about it in ensuing court records.
Daniel Cookson died
In 1741, Joseph’s half-brother Daniel Cookson died. Daniel’s wife Margaret continued to live on their land down the road from the Jervis home.
Daniel’s sons, Daniel Jr, Thomas, and Charles continued to operate the mill and farm.
The Mill to Solomon
Joseph and Esther had operated the grist mill for over twenty-five years.
In 1747, Joseph and Esther deeded the mill, a house, and 71 acres to their son Solomon. The consideration (price) was the natural love and affection of the parents and two hundred pounds.
WITNESSETH, that the said Joseph Jervis, and Esther, his wife, as well for and in Consideration of the Natural Love and Affection which they have for their said Son, Solomon, and for his better preferment in the World, as for and in Consideration of the Sum of Two Hundred pounds lawful Money of Pennsylvania…
But the deed wasn’t recorded until October 17, 1750, three years after the 1747 indenture date. Another deed was recorded that same day, this one transferring ownership of the house, mill, and land from Solomon Jervis to Isaac Richardson for two hundred pounds, the same price Solomon was to pay his parents. And this second deed had been written just the previous day.
Solomon owed Isaac Richardson money, and Solomon couldn’t pay. Joseph and Esther deeded that mill and land to Solomon, so Solomon could deed it to Isaac Richardson to settle his debt.
So Joseph and Esther didn’t receive any money; they really did deed the mill to Solomon for love and affection.
The White Horse Mill
Just like the grist mill in Chester County, the Jervis mill in Lancaster County went on to a storied career.
Isaac Richardson sold the mill to Andrew Douglas, who subsequently sold it, etc. It was enlarged over the years. At some point, a stone building replaced the log mill. We don’t know if that happened under Joseph’s stewardship.
The mill operated into the twentieth century. In recent years, it became an antique shop, White Horse Mill Antiques.
The mill today.
The 1740s wrap up
As 1750 neared, Joseph was in his mid-70s and Esther over 50. I imagine they were slowing down.
Whatever had caused Solomon’s debt problem with Isaac Richardson, the mill and house no longer belonged to the Jervises.
The children had become young adults. Joseph Jr. and John and Solomon in their twenties, and the rest in their teens.
Daniel Cookson had died, and his children were coming of age.
The families had lived near Pequea Creek for over thirty years. They had seen the area develop from frontier to well-settled with roads and businesses and a local government in Lancaster.
Nibbles Extra Credit
There were two competing theories about which Joseph Jervis was the husband of Esther and the father of the children born 1720s up to 1740.
Theory 1 – One Joseph: Joseph is the son of Elizabeth. He was born around 1673, so is in his mid-60s by 1740. He was 25 years older than Esther.
Theory 2 – Two Josephs: Joseph is the son of Joseph Jervis, Sr, and grandson of Elizabeth. He was probably born around 1700, so is about age 40 by 1740. He’s the same age as Esther.
The debate is settled by the 1747 deed that transferred the mill and 72 acres from Joseph and Esther to their son Solomon.
The deed states that the land being transferred from Joseph and Esther Jervis is part of the same land warranted to “the said Joseph Jervis” in 1711/12.
CONTAINING in all, Seventy One Acres, three Quarters and thirty nine Perches or thereabouts, be the same more or less.
(Being part of the six hundred fifty eight Acres of Land which John Marsh, the elder, of Netherheyford, in the County of Oxon, Carpenter, & one Joseph Turkbride, his Attorney in that Behalf, by Indenture of the third day of the first Month in the Year 1711/12, Granted unto the said Joseph Jervis in Fee, the Ind’re on Record at Phild’a in Book C,7, Vol. 8, Page 162, &c)
Deed – Joseph and Esther Jervis to Solomon Jervis – house, mill, 72 acres – 1747
So Theory 1 – One Joseph prevails. Joseph, husband of Esther and father of the children, is the son of Elizabeth. He is 25 years older than Esther.
Timeline
Sources
- Image of early settler family – The Record – https://www.therecord.com/news/world/2011/11/03/early-quebec-settlers-offer-insight-into-history-of-human-expansion.html
- Image of White Horse Hotel, Piquea – George W. Worst – Maps of Salisbury Township, Lancaster County, Penna – Wilcocks and Pilliner – Philadelphia – 1851
- Image of Thomas G Henderson – Farmers Grist and Saw Mill, Piquea – 1851 – Maps of Salisbury Township, Lancaster County, Penna – Wilcocks and Pilliner – Philadelphia – 1851
- Daniel Cookson Administration Letter – F006C – Lancaster History – Lancaster, PA
- Deed – Joseph and Esther Jervis to Solomon Jervis – Mill, house, and 71 acres land – 1747 – Pennsylvania Archives – Harrisburg, PA
- Photos – Mark Jarvis – July 2017
Family Nibbles 