I didn’t want to write this story. I knew the day would come, but I was dreading it.
Elizabeth died in September 1730.
I’ve really grown attached to Elizabeth. She’s been at the center of this quest for Jarvis/Jervis origins. Her life story is filled with drama, struggle, success, and hard work. I’ll miss her.
Continue readingAs the 1720s began, the Jervises lived “at the head of the Pequea”. There were very few other settlers.
Over the decade, more people moved to the area and took up lands. In 1729, there was a small settlement known as White Horse, in a new township named Salisbury, in a newly-formed Lancaster County.
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Between 1715 and 1720, the families of Joseph Jervis, Daniel Cookson, and Joseph Cloud had moved to the west, along the old trading route toward Conestoga and the Susquehanna River.
Continue readingElizabeth Jervis Cookson had five children:
Joseph Jervis had some troubles with Quakers. On the other hand, the Quakers had some troubles with Joseph.
Mind you, it wasn’t only Joseph. The monthly meeting minutes are full of examples of “disorderly walking” by members.
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In 1711, Joseph Jervis bought a tract of land from John Marsh.
Joseph had sold his mill land on Ridley Creek, and bought and sold various other parcels over the years.
Continue readingRecall Penn’s five-step land process – apply, warrant, survey, return, patent.
Elizabeth’s land in Middletown was warranted and surveyed in 1684. But she didn’t have the patent.
The settler had to apply and pay for the patent, so many didn’t bother.
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Chester County is blessed with many creeks that flow through the county and empty into the Delaware River.
These creeks had lots of ideal sites for mills.
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In 1693, Joseph Jervis was about 21 years old.
Old enough to acquire land, pay taxes, and go to court.
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Family Nibbles 