Family talk:Mark Evans and Catherine Baxter (1)

Trying to determine relation of Mark Evans to Methusalem Evans [23 August 2019]

I am attempting to determine how Mark Evans, who was the first settler of Roanoke, Va, is related to Jenkin Evans, David Evans and Methusalem Evans who were early settlers of New Britain Township, PA. My questions are: - Were Mark Evans and Methusalem Evans brothers who had a father named John Evans who died in 1721? - Was Mark Evans born in 1690 Somerset Co. MD died 1748 (Age 58) Botetourt Co. Virginia (Augusta, VA) the same person as the Mark Evans who was in PA? - Was Methusalem Evans possibly born in VA/MD and not in Wales? - Has anyone come across any birth records for Methusalem Evans born 1696 whose father was John Evans?

Methusalem Evans (other spellings in references and documents include Mathusalah, Methuselah, Methusaleh, Methusala, Methusela, Methuslem, Mathusalem, Mutsusilah) who was my g*5 grandfather. He was born in 1696 (perportedly in Wales) and died 1779 at the age of 83. He is buried in the Montgomery Baptist Church cemetery in Colmar, PA with his wife Ann () and his daughters Sarah (who married Joseph Nash of Whitemarsh PA) and Rachel (who married Christian Harner). Also buried nearby in the same cemetery are Jenkin Evans and David Evans. Several sources had indicated Jenkin, David and Methusalem were "probably brothers."

Jenkin Evans married Alice Morgan. Alice Morgan Evans was the sister of Sarah Morgan who married Squire Boone. They were Daniel Boone's parents. There are also records showing that Methusalem Evans was a "next door" neighbor of Squire Boone when he lived in New Britain.

I believe the following events give a strong argument that Methusalem and Mark Evans were brothers, and ties them to the family of Joseph Nash and Sarah Nash of Whitemarsh (their son Daniel Nash was my G*3Grandfather) as well as to Jenkin Evans. I'd like to know if anyone has run into actual birth records for the children of John Evans who died in 1721, possibly including Methusalem.

• 1718 August 17, 1718 John Evan, Mark Evan and Methusalem Evans are witnesses to the marriage of Alice Morgan, daughter of Edward Morgan of Montgomery County, to Jenkin Evans at the the Gwynedd Friends Meeting House.

• 1720 Jenkin Evans is a witness at the marriage of sister in law Sarah Morgan to Squire Boone 23 SEP 1720 in Gwynedd Meeting House, Gwynedd, PA.

• 1721 Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine (vol. 22, no. 4) Page 13: #53: Letters of admin, to Mark Evans & Methusalem Evans of Co. of Phila. Yeom., on est. of JOHN EVANS 31 March 1721.

• 1721 John Evans [ELDER] died around 1721 Smith's Island,Accomack,Virginia; (was born about 1660 of Smith Island,Accomack,Virginia m abt 1681)

• 1723 Katherine Thomas married Mark Evans in Christ Church June 17, 1723. (church records)

• 1735 Anne Evans and Mathusalem Evans married June 6, 1735 First Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia (PA Archives)

• 1737 Mark Evans Returns to PA The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. 115, No. 1 (Jan., 1991), pp. 35-61 "…Examination of Mark Evans, April. 15, 1737. With his return to. Pennsylvania jurisdiction, Evans was rewarded with a commission as justice of the peace. ..."

• 1761 20 Aug 1761 - 2 Dec 1761 (Frederick Co, VA DB6:423-4) Methusalem EVANS and Ann his wife to Henry HARDING, both of Frederick Co, 2000 A, east side of South Branch of Shenando. s/Methuslem EVANS. Wit: Wm. GREEN, Frederick CONRAD, Jno. GREENFIELD. (Frederick Deed Books 5-8, Amelia Gilreath, Nokesville, VA, 1990)

• 1771 Mark Evans is listed as an Inmate in Chester County, PA records (PA Archives p. 760)

• 1779 Wills: Abstracts, Book R: 1777 - 1781: Philadelphia Co, PA; EVANS, METHUSLEM. Upper Dublin, Co. of Phila. January 2, 1779. April 3, 1779. R.176. Wife and Exec: Ann Evans.

• 1780 John Evans (son of Methusalem Evans) was one of the first Settlers of Nashborough, Davidson County, TN and was a signer of the Cumberland Compact in May 1780. He was NOT THE JOHN EVANS WHO WAS the first settler of Panther Creek. HE WAS THE JOHN EVANS WHO, IN 1786, WAS GRANTED 640 ACRES IN DAVIDSON COUNTY ALONG COOPERS CREEK IN THE AREA THAT IS NOW KNOWN AS INGLEWOOD IN NASHVILLE, TN.

• 1781 The Pennsylvania Gazette, November 28, 1781 "WHEREAS a certain JOHN EVANS (supposed to be at Mark Evans mill, in the State of Virginia) eldest son of METHUSELA EVANS , of the township of Upper Dublin, in the country of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, late deceased; who died without making any mention of the said John in his last Will and Testament, the said John being supposed gone in the Continental service at the time of his said father decease, and not since returned; therefore if the said John Evans is at present living, and will return to his former place of abode abovementioned, he will hear of something greatly to his advantage; as it is imagined he, the said John, is best entitled to the estate of his deceased father, it would be proper for him to give his attendance as soon as possible, as the deceased estate is going to ruin very fast. "

• 1809 John Evans son of Methuselah (Mutsusilah) and brother of Sarah Evans Nash writes will May 14, 1809, leaving his estate to his sister Sarah Evans Nash of Whitemarsh PA and her sons William, Joseph and Daniel Nash.--Joepmyers 21:35, 22 August 2011 (EDT)

Greetings,

I'm interested in the information on the TN John Evans you have listed in your genealogy.

I've been looking for a John Evans who (with brother Jesse J.) was original settlers in LA in Feb 1812. A year before, in 1811, a son was born in TN. Later census some of John's children have John himself being born in TN, which would be about 1770 (because he started having children early 1790's)

On the 1878 Davidson Co tax roll there is a Jesse, John, Jonathon, Polly, Robert, Thomas & Maj Evans.

Could our John Evans be the same?--Jmjj 08:55, 30 November 2011 (EST)

I have a good bit of information on John Evans (died 1720) and his son Mark Evans (born 1690, died 1748). Mark Evans was the half-brother of Methusalem Evans (born 1696, died 1788). I am willing to share information with anyone who might be related. Walter Evans (wevans1@augusta.edu)--EvansJohnWalt 18:29, 23 August 2019 (UTC)

John Evans [4 December 2011]

My John Evans of Davidson County TN was born in or near New Britain, Pennsylvania, the son of Methusalem and Ann Evans. He was probably born around 1745-1750. His sister Sarah, who married Joseph Nash, was born in 1749. The will of John Evans leaves his estate to his sister and nephews (William Nash, Daniel Nash and John or Joseph Nash. I don't have any record that this John Evans had any children. There were some other Evans men in the Nashville area around. I had thought maybe John married twice (thinking he his first wife died) but my John died a widower. This I base on the following passage from his will

I Request my executor hereinafter named to wall in with good Stone thirty feet Square for my graveyard on a place pointed out by me to Mr. Elisha Williams and Mr. Zachariah Stull and to take up the Remains of my wife buried at Craighead meeting house and placing her coffin in a new one to bring them and bury them by my side

The following are marriage records from the Nashville Archives. Note there are two entries for John.

http://freepages.history.rootsweb.com/~nashvillearchives/marref.html Marriage Records - Original Bonds and Licenses 1788-1831 John Evans m. Polly Thomas 8/24/1796 – bondsman Daniel Evans John Evans m. Rachel Harman 5/13/1802 – bondsman Benjamin Jasfry[?] Daniel Evans m Elizabeth Courtney 2/8/1794 – bondsman John Evans Robert Evans m Betsy Robertson 9/21/1797 – bondsman William Evans William Evans m Nancy Joslin 12/24/1799 – bondsman Robert Evans

If you found records for John with a wife named Polly past 1809 when my John died, it would seem the John Evans who married Polly would have been a different man. -Joe--Joepmyers 16:55, 4 December 2011 (EST)