Person:James Driver (1)

Source for much of the information on the early Drivers - the direct line for James through until Oscar - comes from the book The Driver Families In America Volume II, James Driver, 1765-1849 by Lucille Melhuish Driver.

from The Driver Families In America Volume II, James Driver, 1765-1849 by Lucille Melhuish Driver

"The earliest source of information on this Driver family came from the works of Ruth Minkler of Loraine, Ohio. It stated that James Driver came from Wales. I have searched Welsh records and can find no clues as of this writing. I am inclined to believe that James came from England instead."

Martha Ann Driver Tracy said the family story was there were three Driver brothers who came from Wales - one went South and the other two North - a fourth brother stayed in Wales and was hung as a horse thief. [Everyone has to have a horse thief somewhere!] As for so many other families, another family tale says that the Southern Driver held slaves, with the Drivers in Ohio participating in the Underground Railroad.

Ann Marr found a reference to a Driver family in Perry County, Ohio. The immigrant is a James Driver who came from Wales, but lived in the 1800's. It is possible a researcher found this family and made assumptions.

James Driver's will

from Abstracts of Washington County, Pennsylvania Willbooks 1 - 5 (1776-1841), compiled by Bob and Mary Closson

Book 2 (1803-1814), page 143

Driver, James Summerset Twp (p. 263) dated 24 March 1808 probated 22 May 1810 Executors - Joseph Peden [husband of daughter Rebecca], Alexander Peden Witnesses - Phillip Allar, Dr. James Estep, Mary Redd Beneficiaries - sons John, Isaiah, Ezekiel, James, Gideon, William daughters Rebekah, Ann, Susanna, Ruth, Pricilla, Margaret Codicil - 14 April 1810 witnessed by Phillip Allar, Joseph Morton, Jesse Underwood (no beneficiary changed). It included his second wife and children. Acct # D 20 1812

The will states he was living in Somerset Twp, Washington Co, PA and lists all his children according to age. Susanna and Abraham Batchford became the guardians of Gideon and William Driver, who were minors in 1810. The codicil of the original will gives extra support to Lydia because of "three younger children" [probably Margaret, Gideon and William]. James Jr. received an extra portion - perhaps because James Sr. and Lydia were living with James Jr. before moving to Washington Co, PA in 1798.

He was on the tax roll of Newberry Twp, York, PA owning 40 acres in 1765. In 1796 and 1804 James and Lydia Driver sold land. One piece sold was in Lancaster, York Co.

There is a James Drivers on the 1800 census in the city of Annapolis. Whether he is this man, his son, or someone else entirely, I have saved the picture.

One source states most of James' sons were Methodist ministers and that James enlisted in the 5th Reg. as a Pvt. on April 20, 1777 in Lower Dorchester Co, MD and served out the full term of his enlistment as a soldier in the Maryland Line. He is believed to have been involved in considerable military activity but very little of his official military record survives. For his service in the Maryland Line of the Continental Army he was issued 100 acres of Bounty Land on Dec. 18, 1794 on Bounty Land Warrant No. 11, 161. He assigned the land to Henry Purdy.

Marjorie M. Matzen hired the Washington Co, PA Historical Society to search for James' grave and they did not find it.

The National Archives was unable to find any record of his military service.

Muster Rolls and Other Records of Service of Maryland Troops in the American Revolution, Volume 18, Page 383

LOWER BATTALION. John Dobson 9 July ‘81Richard Harrington, 3 yrs.16 July ‘81 Robert Burress " "Levin Harrington," " " " James Driver 10 " "George Williams23 " " Abel GarnerGodfrey Sullener16 " " Aaron Vinson 9 " "William Harper11 July ‘81 Matthew Navey 10Joseph Harper" " " Jacob Tucker " " "Richard Hayes" " " Thomas Morgan " " "John Willis" " " Benjamin Fletcher " " "William Procter14 " " William Roberts " " "David Davis" " " Henry Harper " " "Levin Ross16 " " Timothy Langrell Robert Meekins John Stevens Aaron Mitchell, (als. John MatkinsJames Busick

 Newberry) DavidJonesThomas Owens

Absolom Goostree

From http://battleofcamden.org/1bdeloss.htm

FIRST BRIGADE LOSSES at the Battle of Camden Seventh Maryland Regiment Losses

James Driver pt 16 Aug 80 missing

From Colonial Families of the Eastern Shore, Vol. 2, p. 280

... Sarah Ringgold, extx., filed the inventory on 10 March 1774... On 23 Sep 1775, his estate was appraised by Jacob Glenn and John Hutchison, and valued at L43.9.6. No creditors or next of kin listed. Sarah, wife of Christopher Driver, extx., filed the inventory on 6 Jan 1777...

From Early Families of Southern Maryland, Vol. 3

... the widow Levina Pattison Driver, b. ca 1682, age ca 50 in 1732 (DCLR 9.Old.68); d/o Thomas Pattison and widow of Matthew Driver (FDF)... she had at least one child by her m/1 named Matthew Driver...

Thus, there was at least one Driver family in Anne Arundel County, MD at roughly the same time James was wandering between Pennsylvania and Maryland. I do not know if Lucille Driver used this knowledge in her research.

In the 1790 census, his numbers were 1-1-3-0-0 In the 1800 census, his numbers were 3-0-0-1-01-0-1-0-0-1-0

1. ↑ Researcher.

   John DeVinney, Marjorie Matzen

2. ↑ Bob and Mary Closson, compilers. Abstracts of Washington County, Pennsylvania Willbooks 1 - 5 (1776-1841). (Closson Press, 1935 Sampson Dr., Appollo, PA 15613-9209 January, 1995).