Family:John Driskill and Catherine Morris (1)

--GaleB 09:06, 24 January 2008 (EST) -- John, son of Elgate, sold his land in Worcester Co., MD and moved with a group of Marylanders to Highland Co., OH by 1811/1812. His marriage to Catherine Morris, in Worcester, and Worcester Co., MD land deeds confirm his descendancy. Others who arrived in Highland Co., OH by the 1820's are still without parents.

Found in Highland Co. and area, by 1830, are brothers Elijah and Curtis Driskell....Curtis Drisky in Clinton Co. and Elijah Driskill in Highland Co., OH. They were the grandsons of Joshua Dorman as mentioned in his Worcester Co., MD will: JOSHUA DORMAN Will Date: 26 December 1806 Probate Date: 26 August 1814 To son Elijah Dorman, plantation. Son Milby Dormand. Grandsons Elijah Druskill, Joshua Druskill and Curtice Druskill. Daughter Mary Dormand. Wife Sarah Dorman. Wit; Gilly Druskill (died by 1814), John Barnett (died by 1814) and David Dykes. JBR 59

All I have at present is this abstract of Joshua's will. The actual will might provide additional clues. I have not been able to identify Gilly Druskill. Was this the father of the boys? Gilly, short for Gillis, may have been a man...I have found other men in MD with this name. If this were Joshua's daughter she would, undoubtedly, have been identified as such so I'm leaning towards Gilly as father of the boys.

Curtis (b. abt 1797) and Elijah (b. abt 1793) moved over, see 1850 census, to Dearborn Co., IN. Also in Dearborn Co., IN are Milby and Elijah Dorman. Curtis and Elijah are listed, almost always, as DUSKEY/DUSKY. Elijah married Mary "Polly" Hyland/Holland in 1817 Worcester Co., MD. Curtis must have married in MD too, Sarah his wife says she was b. MD. Their brother, Joshua, may had stayed in Worcester Co., MD. The 1850 Worcester census lists a Joshua Driskell age 62, b. MD.

A 3rd John Driskill (b. abt 1780) appears on the 1830 Highland Co., OH census. This John was married to Elizabeth Owens according to a published bio on grandson Joseph Driskill. In the bio, Joseph says John was born in Ireland, and Elizabeth was born in Maryland. He also mentions they came from Caroline Co., MD. Even though some of the details don't exactly match up, I would not rule out the daughter of Joshua Owens of Worcester Co., MD being Elizabeth (Mary Elizabeth?):

Owens, Joshua 4 Feb 1812w. 24 Mar 1812p. To wife Violate/Violet, lands. To sons Levin Owens, Ephraim Owens. Money to Benjamin Johnson Jr. to pay my daughter Polly Driskall as needed. Wit; Benjamin Johnson Jr, James Bassett, Hetty Newman. Will BK 13,pg.323

According to the bio, John and Elizabeth of Highland Co., OH had sons: Eleven/Levin and Ephraim. Daughters were: Hettie/Nettie, Ellen/Nellie, Ann/Maria, Elizabeth, Nancy and Jane.

Ebenezer Driskell was also in Highland Co., OH. More research is needed but see Shadrach Driskell for a theory.

A William (b. abt 1790 MD) appears to have come through Clermont Co., OH where he married Oct 28, 1814 Elizabeth Leonard. He then moved on to Tippecanoe Co., IN. So far, nothing links him directly to the other Maryland Driskell's.

For a little bit more information on the family of John & Catherine (Morris) Driskell see sons Lewis and John Jr.