Family Friday: Mary Jane Peebles (1829 - 1915)

Who are these people? And which one is Mary Jane?

The oldest person in this family portrait is Mary Jane Peebles Calhoun, one of my maternal first cousins, four times removed. She and I are both descendants of Isaac Webb and his wife Jane Kennedy. Her mother Jane Webb married Joel C. Peebles and Mary Jane was their second child. She and her husband Thomas Calhoun had eight children together, three of whom (Mary, Edith and John Alexander) are in this picture along with grandson William Henry Calhoun, his wife Dora and their baby John. 

Photo taken abt 1908 from left to right standing Edith Calhoun Haberman, Dora May Helsel Calhoun, William Henry Calhoun, Mary Calhoun Luehm. Seated left to right John Alexander Calhoun, Mary Jane Peebles Calhoun with John Calhoun on her lap and Sarah Jane Edmundson Calhoun. vivkifretz originally shared this to Ancestry.com on 02 Feb 2017

A life-long resident of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Mary Jane survived her husband by 22 years, her accidental death in 86th year was the result of burns caused by a gas stove that set her skirts on fire.

[Ancestry.com. Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1966 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014. Original data: Pennsylvania (State). Death certificates, 1906–1963. Series 11.90 (1,905 cartons). Records of the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Record Group 11. Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.]

Like many of my Allegheny County relatives, Mary Jane is buried in the McKeesport and Versailles Cemetery.

A reminder of how we're connected:

[Ancestry.com]

© 2018 Copyright, Christine Manczuk, All Rights Reserved.

From the Probate Files: Ann Baker Sill - Chester County, Pennsylvania - 1779

Last month I posted about this maternal seventh great grandmother, Joseph Baker Jr.'s daughter and the wife of James Sill, who survived her husband and wrote her own will in 1777 which was probated two years later. Ann made small bequests including several silver objects, some pewter dishes, glassware, her clothes and tea ware to each of her children and two of her granddaughters. From looking at the list of her possessions, I now have a mental picture of Ann pouring her tea from her pewter teapot and perhaps adding cream from her glass jug before taking a sip of tea from one of her cups.

Ann Sills Will} The Second day of September in the year of our Lord one Thous=
=and Seven Hundred & Seventy Seven I Ann Sills of Edgment in the the Count=
=ty of Chester in the Province of Pennsylvania being ^very^ Sick and weak in Body but
of Perfect mind and memory thanks be giving to God therefore Calling unto mind
and the mortality of my Body and Knowing that it is appointed for all man
Kind once to die to Make & ordain this my last will and Testament that is to Say
principally & first of all I give and Recommend my Soul into the hands of God that 
Gave it and for my Body I Recommend it to the Earth to be to be Buryed in a Christian
Like and decent manner at the Discretion of my Executors herein after named and as 
Touching Such worldly Estate wherewith it hath Pleased God to bless me in this life
I Give Device & Dispose of the Same in the following manner & form Item I give
and Bequeath unto my Daughter Ann Cannady the sum of Ten Pounds and my
Cloak & puter Dish Item I give and Bequeath unto my Son George Sill a pair of 
Silver Buckeles & Sleve Buttons Item I give and Bequeath unto my Son Richard
Sill my Tea Cittle Item I give and Bequeath unto my Daughter mary moris 
a puter plate and Porrenger & Cream Jug Item I give and Bequeath unto my 

["Pennsylvania Probate Records, 1683-1994," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L99B-L52M?cc=1999196&wc=9PMD-W36%3A268496301%2C280802301 : 3 July 2014), Chester > Wills 1774-1783 vol 6-7, F-G > image 255 + 256 of 441; county courthouses, Pennsylvania.]

Daughter Martha Houlston a arm Cheer & puter Tea pot Item I give and Bequeath unto 

my grand Daughter Ledy Sill my Saddle and my Wareing apearl to -- Equilly Deve=

ded Between my three Daughters & the above mentioned Grand Daughter, Lydia

Sill. Item I give and bequeath to my Grand Daughter Sarah Cannaday three 

Chessy[?] Cups & Sacers & Glass Cream Jug the Remainder of the tea ware to be Devided

Between my three Daughter as they can agree & my will is that all the Remain=

der of my Effects to be appraised and Sold by Publick vandue[?] & all my Just Debts

& funerall Charges to be paid and Discharged with the Same and if there

Shall be any more the same^ to be Equally Devided Between all my Children & I

Do hereby Constitute make and ordain my Brother Nehemiah Baker & my

Son James Sill to be my only and Sole Executors of this my last will and Testa=

=ment and I Do hereby Utterly Disalow Revoke and Disanull all and eve=

=ry other former Testaments with legacies and Executors by me in any ways

before this time Named willed Bequeathed, Ratifying and Confirming this

and no other to be my Last will and Testament In whiness whereof I have here

unto Set my hand and Seal the day and year above "Writing Sign"

Seald Published pronounced and Decleared By the Said Ann Sill as her

Last will and Testament in the presents of us the Subscribers Viz all

the Legacies to be paid by my Brother Nehemiah Baker and my son

James Sill in Lawfull money of Pennsylvania to be paid within Six months

after the Sale of Such goods or Effects Ann her/mark Sill {Seal} Lydia Baker

Joseph Robins

If you look at the downloaded probate transcript of Ann's will you will notice that someone noted all the misspellings in the original will.

Here's how I descend from this tea-drinking ancestor:

[Ancestry.com]

© 2018 Copyright, Christine Manczuk, All Rights Reserved.

From the Probate Files: James Sill - Chester County, Pennsylvania - 1774

The Pennsylvania probate files for James Sill, one of my maternal 7th great grandfathers, contain both the original will and the transcribed version by the Register of the court. This week we'll look at the original will and then note the differences between the two version, if any, at a later date.*

I James Sill of the Township of Edgement in the County of Chestor and Province of 
Pensylvania Do make this my Last will and Testament in the manner and form
following that is to say
First my will is that all my Just Debts and funerall Expences be paid as soon as
conveniently may be after my Decease
Item   I Give and Bequeath to my beloved ^wife^ Anne Sill the Yearly sum of Eight pounds
Lawfull money of Pennsylvania to be paid to her by my Son James Sill yearly and
Every year and sufficient Meat and Drink During her Naturall Life to be
Paid Out of the profits of my Lands and Real Estate in Edgemont Aforesaid
I also Give to my Said wife During the Said term the use and Priviledge of 
my Loding Room and all the Furnature thereunto belonging and one horse
or Mare at her Choice, and the keeping of the same or some Other A
Side Saddle and my Silver Buckle, and my will is that my Son James Sill shall
find and Provide for my Said wife for the term of Seven Years next after
My Decease firewood what she shall have Ocation for at a Suitable length
at or near her Door If she shall think Proper to  live in the Said room but if 
She Shall remove therefrom then and in Such Case she shall take none of 
the Said furnature with her Except the bed beding and tea ware And after
the Decease of my Said wife the above mentioned Goods and furnature
Shall Decend and belong to my Above Said Son James Sill
Item   I Give and Devise to my Son James Sill and to his heirs and assigns forever
all my massuage tenements Plantation and tract of land in Edgement
Aforesaid with the Appurtenances thereof he paying and performing all
things herein above Given to and provided for my wife, and in Default 
whereof my Said wife Shall or may at any time take my plantation
into her Possession and Receive the Rents and profits thereof untill
all arrears of any kind Due to her are Satisfied and paid
Item   I Give and bequeath to my ^Son^ Joseph Sill the sum of twenty pounds Lawfull Money
of Pensyvania to be paid to him within one year after my Decease
Item   I Give and Bequeath to My Son Richard Sill the sum of twenty pounds Law-
-full money of pensylvania to be paid to him within two Years after my
Decease I also forgive my Said Son Richard all the Intrest that Shall be Due on 
his to me at the time of my Decease
Item   I Give and Bequeath to my Son George Sill the sum of twenty pounds 
Lawfull money of Pensylvania to be paid to him within three Years After
my Decease
Item   I Give and Bequeath to my Son Michael Sill the Sum of twenty pounds Lawfull money of pensylvania to be paid to him within four years after My Decease
Item   I Give and Bequeath to my Daughter Mary Morris the Sum of twenty pounds
Lawfull money of pensylvania to be paid to her within five years after
My Decease
]Item   I Give and Bequeath to My ^Daughter^ Martha Holston the sum of twenty pounds
Lawfull money of pensylvania to be paid to her within five years after
My Decease
Item   I Give and Bequeath to my Daughter Ann Kenady the Sum of twenty
pounds Lawfull money of pensylvania to be paid to her within Seven
years after my Decease

[Estate Papers, 1713-1810; Author: Chester County (Pennsylvania). Register of Wills; Probate Place: Chester, Pennsylvania. Ancestry.com. Pennsylvania, Wills and Probate Records, 1683-1993 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015.

Original data: Pennsylvania County, District and Probate Courts.]

Item   I Give and Bequeath to My Grandson James Regester the Sum of twenty pounds
Lawfull money of pensylvania for Services he Did for me after he was of 
age to be paid to him within Eight years After My Decease
I order it, and my will is that My Executors herein After Named or the
Survivor of them shall Sell all my plantation and tract of Land
Cituate in the township of willistown in the County of Chester
to the Purchaser or Purchasers
And all the Rest and Residue of my Estate I Give and bequeath to My
wife Ann Sill and My ^Son^ James Sill to be Equally Divided between them
And I Do hereby Constitute and apoint My beloved wife Ann Sill
and my ^Son^ James Sill Executors of this my Last will and Testament
Revoking all Other wills and Testament by me Made In
Witness whereof I have hereunto Sett My hand and Seal this Third Day
of July in the year of Our Lord one Thousand Seven hundred and Seven-
-ty two ___ ___ ___ ___ 1772
Signed Sealed Published and Declared by James Sill
to be his Last will and Testament In the presents of us

Nehemiah Baker                                             James Sill {}
Ludia Baker
Nathan Baker

Chester 15th April 1774.  Then Personally appeared Nehemiah
Baker, Lydia Baker and Nathan Baker, and on their solemnly
Affirmations according to Law, did Declare; Affirm and Say, that they
were personally present and did see and hear James Sill, the 
Testator, in the foregoing Writing named, Sign, Seal, Publish,
Pronounce and Declare the same Writing, as and for his last Will
and Testament, and that at the doing thereof, he was of a sound and
well disposing Mind and Memory, to the best of their Understandings

     Affirm'd before,
          H H Graham Reg'r

James Sill appears to be a traditionalist, leaving the bulk of his estate to his wife and oldest son James, my direct ancestor. All his other children were bequeathed 20 pounds which James directed should be paid to them after periods of one to seven years after his decease. Only one of his grandchildren, James Regester[?] was named in the will receiving his 20 pounds because of some service he performed for him. It seems to me that this grandson must be the son of a daughter of James Sill but I don't know the mother was his known daughters Martha, Ann or Mary or another child** whose name hasn't come down to us.


*There are some differences but I haven't compared the two to see if they're material.
**If so, presumably she had died before James Sill made this will.


© 2018 Copyright, Christine Manczuk, All Rights Reserved.

From the Probate Files: Hugh Kennedy - Allegheny County, Pennsylvania - 1814

Last week we looked at the will of William Kenedy who is believed to be the father of my ancestor Hugh Kennedy and I promised to examine Hugh's will. Somehow the day got away from me and I just realized that it's my turn to post. Fortunately Hugh Kennedy's 1814 will is relatively short and the clerk who copied it into the records had legible handwriting.

[Will Books, 1789-1917; Author: Allegheny County (Pennsylvania). Register of Wills; Probate Place: Allegheny, Pennsylvania. Ancestry.com. Pennsylvania, Wills and Probate Records, 1683-1993 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015.

Original data: Pennsylvania County, District and Probate Courts.]

In the Name of God Amen. I Hugh Kennedy of the County of
Allegheny and the Township of Mifflin being weak in body but of sound &
perfect mind and memory Blessed be Almighty God for the same do make
and publish this my last will and Testament in manner and form foll-
owing that (is to say) first I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Eli-
zabeth Kennedy a good deacent mentenence together with all the bedd-
ing and household furniture endurring her life or widowhood. I do also
-------
give and bequeath unto my Eldest Son William one dollar. Also I give and
bequeath unto my Daughter Rebecca one dollar. I also give and bequeath un
to my Daughter Mary one dollar. I also give and bequeath unto my son Martin
one Dollar. I also give and bequeath unto my daughter Jennet one dollar.
I also give and bequeath unto my son Henry one dollar. I also give and
bequeath unto my daughter Catherine one dollar. I also give and bequeath
unto my son James one Dollar. I also give and bequeath unto my daughter
Isabella one Dollar. I also and bequeath unto my two sons Hugh & D-
avid their heirs and assigns all that my messuage or Tenement situated
lying and being in the Township and County aforesaid. Together with all my
other free hold Estate whatsoever to hold to them the said Hugh and David
their heirs and assigns forever. And lastly I give and bequeath unto my
beloved wife all the rest and residue and remainder of my personal prop-
erty estate goods and chattels of what kind and nature soever enduring 
her widow hood, and at her death to be divided betwixt my two sons Hugh
& David each the one half together with each paying the half of my Lawfull
debts, and I do hereby appoint my sons David and my trusty friend William
Canel my whole sole Executors of this my Last will and Testament hereby re-
voking all former wills by me made. In Witness whereof I have heretofo-
re set my hand and seal this second day of February in the year of our Lo-
rd one thousand eight hundred & fourteen. Signed Sealed published a-
nd declared by the above named Hugh Kennedy to be his last will and
Testament in the presence of us who have hereunto subscribed our names
as Witnesses in the presence of the Testator.                    his
Geo. McMillen. Adam Boyd. Jeremiah Ferree.       Hugh X Kennedy {Seal}
                                                                                          mark.

Allegheny County Ss. On the 9th day of March A.D. 1814. Personally came Ge-
orge McMillen, Adam Boyd and Jeremiah Ferree, the Subscribing witnesses
to the within will before Saml Jones Register for the probate of wills & for said
County. and being duly Sworn they did depose and say that they were pres-
ent and did see Hugh Kennedy make his mark to this instrument of wri-
ting and published pronounced & declared the same to be his last will an-
d Testament, and that he was of sound mind and memory at the ti-
me of so doing to the best of their Knowledge. Given under my hand the
day & year aforesaid
                                    Recorded 9th March 1814           Saml Jones Register.


Hugh names eleven children in his will, leaving only token bequests to all but two of his sons, Hugh and David. He had two wives, Catherine Hughes and Elizabeth Scullion but it's not clear to me which one was the mother of which children including my direct ancestor Jennet (Jane) who married Isaac Webb.







© 2018 Copyright, Christine Manczuk, All Rights Reserved.

From the Probate Files: William Kenedy - Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania - 1787

Is this the will of the father of my maternal ancestor Hugh Kennedy?

[Will Packets Or Files, 1789-1917; Author: Allegheny County (Pennsylvania). Register of Wills; Probate Place: Allegheny, Pennsylvania: Description - Notes: Will Packets, Vol 1, 1789-1808. Ancestry.com. Pennsylvania, Wills and Probate Records, 1683-1993 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. Original data: Pennsylvania County, District and Probate Courts.]

Know all men by these Presents That I William

Kenedy of Rostraver Township in Westmoreland County ~

In the State of Pennsylvania Being Sick & Weak in Body,

but of Sound Mind, Memory and understanding Do make and Publish

This my last Will and Testament in a Manner & form following

(viz) First. I give and Bequeath unto my Bloved Wife Elisabeth -

Kenedy The Whole use Benefits & advantages of my Messuage,

Land & Tenament of which I am now Possessed of Lying & being Situate

In the above Named Township in Pennsy^a for and During her

Natural Life which Sd. Messuage Land & Tenament She may Enjoy

and Possess herself or Recieve the Profits Benefits and advantages

Arising therefrom by the Possession of others by her affirmation ---

During her Sd. Natural Life Likewise I allow & Bequeath

unto the Sd. Elisabeth One Milk Cow, One Ewe and Lamb and her Choice

of the Best Bed & Beding of Choice that I am Possessed of

And after the Decease of Elisabeth Kenedy my wife I Give and Bequeath

unto my Grandsone Henry Kenedy Son of Hugh Kenedys 

And my Granddaughtere Sarrah Sill Daughter to George Sill all the above

Named Messuage Land, and Tenament that is to say in Such 

Manner that the above Named Granddaughter Sarrah Sill Shall have

Dividend or one half thereof Layed Off to her on the Side which

Joyn her father Land or Line being the Land whereof that Sd. George Sill now

Occupieth Also I Give and Bequeath unto my Son James Kenedy

the Sum of Seven Shillings & Six pence Also I give &

Bequeath unto my Son Hugh Kenedy Seven Shillings &

Six pence. Also I give & Bequeath unto my Son James Regan [?]

Seven Shill. & Six Pence. Also I Give and Bequeath unto

my Son George Sill Seven Shillings & Six pence Also I give &

Bequeath unto my Son William Kenedy Seven Shill. and 

Six Pence. Also I Give and Bequeath unto my Son Robt. Kenedy Seven

Shillings & Six pence And Provided the Remainder of my

Property which is not Devised and given to the above named Persons (Exclusive

of my Recds[?]) are Sufficient to Compensate my Creditors &

Defray the Necessary Expense of my funeral after the Sale I allow then the Said

Recds[?] to my son Will^m Kenedy and in case the amount of the

Sale of the above named property which are hereby made Saleable not

Prove Sufficient to pay my Creditors Defray the Expenses as

above and [????] pay the above named Legatees who are allowed

a Dollar Each Shall then in Such Case those Above Legatees 

(viz) Henry Kenedy & Sarrah Sill are to pay the Sd. Legatees 

Legaceys are a Dollar Each And Hereby I Nominate

and apoint David Robison and Henry Westbery Executors of this

my last will & Testament Hereby Revoking all former will 

and Wills by me Hitherto made In Witness Whereof  I have hereunto

Set my hand & Seal this Twelfth day of March Anno

Domini one Thousand Seven Hundred & Eighty Seven 1787

Signed Sealed & Delivered in the Presence of 

Henry Westbery                                              his

John Laird                                          William O Kenedy       {Seal}

Margert  [?????}                                            mark

Although William stated he lived in Westmoreland County, boundaries have changed since then and it's believed that his residence was in what is now called Elizabeth Township in Allegheny County.

What about William's son Hugh? My ancestor Hugh's 1814 Will left bequests to his children including a son named Henry. However his Henry wasn't the oldest son so next week I'll examine Hugh's will to try to determine if there's a relationship between these two men.

Hugh Kennedy (1725 - 1814): Another Quaker Ancestor?

When did this Irish-born fifth great grandfather* arrive in Pennsylvania? The usual answer of 1741 from Grange in Ireland seems to be based on this quote from Immigration of the Irish Quakers into Pennsylvania, 1682-1750 : with their early history in Ireland:

[Immigration of the Irish Quakers into Pennsylvania, 1682-1750 : with their early history in Ireland (1902) by Myers, Albert Cook, 1874-1960.

Online source: the Internet Archive.]

However, according to another quote from the same source the Hugh Kenedy in this record is an much older man with grown children and therefore can't be my ancestor who was only about 16 at the time:

[Immigration of the Irish Quakers into Pennsylvania, 1682-1750 : with their early history in Ireland (1902) by Myers, Albert Cook, 1874-1960.

Online source: the Internet Archive.]

Since traditionally Hugh's father is believed to be William Kennedy who mentioned a son with that name in his 1787 will, my ancestor can't be connected to this Quaker family.

Was he a Quaker? I don't know but since DAR records show him enlisting in the local militia in 1746 (and later serving in the Revolution) he doesn't appear to have subscribed to the pacifist tenets of that denomination.

Here's how I'm related to him.

[Ancestry.com]

*His surname is spelled variously as Kenedy, Kennedy and Canady.


© 2017 Copyright, Christine Manczuk, All Rights Reserved.

From the Probate Files: Hugh Kennedy - Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, 1814

I was originally drawn to this fifth great grandfather's*will because of the relatively legible handwriting of the Allegheny County clerk who copied the original into the official records.**

[History of Allegheny county, Pennsylvania : including its early settlement and progress to the present time ; a description of its historic and interesting localities ; its cities, towns and villages; religious, educational, social and military history ; mining, manufacturing and commercial interests, improvements, resources, statistics, etc. ; also, biographies of many of its representative citizens

by Cushing, Thomas, b. 1821, Publication date 1889, Publisher Chicago : A. Warner & Co. Source: Archive.org]

All Hugh's children are named but only two of his son received more than one dollar.

In the name of God Amen. I Hugh Kennedy of the County of
allegheny and the Township of Mifflin being weak in body but of sound &
perfect mind and memory Blessed be Almighty God for the same do make
and publish this my last will and Testament in manner and form foll-
owing that (is to say) first I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Eli-
zabeth Kennedy a good deacent mentenence together with all the bedd-
ing and household furniture enduring her life or widowhood. I do also

give and bequeath unto my Eldest Son William one dollar. Also I give and 
bequeath unto my Daughter Rebecca one dollar. I also give and bequeath un-
to my Daughter Mary one dollar. I also give and bequeath unto my son Martin
one Dollar. I also give and bequeath unto my daughter Jennet one dollar.
I also give and bequeath unto my son Henry one dollar. I also give and
bequeath unto my daughter Catherine one dollar. I also give and bequeath
unto my son James one Dollar. I also give and bequeath unto my daughter
Isabella one Dollar. I also give and bequeath unto my two sons Hugh & D-
avid their heirs and assigns all that my messuage or Tenements situated
lying and being in the Township and County aforesaid. Together with all my
other free hold Estate whatsoever to hold to them the said Hugh and David
their heirs and assigns forever. And lastly I give and bequeath unto my
beloved wife all the rest and residue and remainder of my personal prop-
erty estate goods and chattels of what kind and nature soever enduring
her widowhood, and at her death to be divided betwixt my two sons Hugh
& David each the one half together with each paying the half of my lawfull
debts. And I do hereby appoint my sons David and my trusty friend William
Canel my whole sole Executors of this my last will and Testament hereby re-
voking all former wills by me made. In Witness whereof I have heretofo-
re set my hand and seal this second day February in the year of our Lo-
rd one thousand eight hundred and fourteen. Signed Sealed published a-
nd declared by the above named Hugh Kennedy to be his last will and
Testament in the presence of us who have hereunto subscribed our names.
Geo. M Millen   Adam Boyd   Jeremiah Feree                his
                                                                               Hugh  X  Kennedy {Seal}
                                                                                        mark

[Will Books, 1789-1917; Author: Allegheny County (Pennsylvania). Register of Wills; Probate Place: Allegheny, Pennsylvania.

Source: Ancestry.com]

Allegheny County fs. On the 9.th day of March A D. 1814 Personally came Ge-
orge M Millen, Adam Boyd and Jeremiah Feree the Subscribing witnesses
to the within will before Saml. Jones Register for the probate of wills aforesaid
County, and being duly Sworn they did depose and say that they were pres-
ent and did see Hugh Kennedy make his mark to this instrument of wri-
ting and published pronounced & declared the same to be his last will an-
d Testament, and that he was of sound mind and memory at the ti-
me of so doing to the best of their Knowledge. Given under my hand, etc.
day & year aforesaid.
                        Recorded 9th March 1814.              Saml. Jones Register


Ancestry's databases also include the original will itself although some words on the left margin haven't been scanned. Comparing the two versions, as far as I can tell the main difference between them is the spelling of some of the words. (In his determination to fit everything within the lines, the clerk was certainly willing to break words in eccentric ways.)

[Will Packets Or Files, 1789-1917; Author: Allegheny County (Pennsylvania). Register of Wills; Probate Place: Allegheny, Pennsylvania.

Source: Ancestry.com]

*Here's my descent from Hugh Kennedy:

[Ancestry.com]

**I have the 1680 inventory of another maternal ancestor, tenth great grandfather Peter Worden, waiting for me to tackle its crabbed script.




© 2017 Copyright, Christine Manczuk, All Rights Reserved.