Person:Andrew Rabb (1)

Will of Andrew Rabb

Page 294 - Will of Andrew Rabb of Fayette County, Pa., dated Aug. 27, 1804.

Wit: John McDowell, John C. Littlepage, Francis Crutchfield

Probated September 1804 Court.

Exec: James Wilson, Thomas Mason and Catharine Rabb

Beq: to son William 50 pounds currency of the state of Pennsylvania equal division with two shares each to wife Catharine and children Elizabeth Rabb, Catharine Rabb, Andrew Rabb and Lucinda Rabb, and one share each to Ann Newman, Margaret Barklette, John Rabb, Mary Wilson, Hannah Donlevy, Martha Rippey and Sarah Newman

except 500 pounds to son Andrew to finish his education

riding horse and young roan horse to wife

to Elizabeth bay horse colt

if needed to pay debts plantation named Millers recently purchased to be sold

wife to enjoy the present dwelling "as long as she is a widow"

"if my son John do not settle up for the property he got from me to the full satisfaction of my executors and executrix, then my son Andrew to have only 250 pounds".

daughter Elizabeth to have a saddle valued at $35 with a good bridle and "what clothing my wife may chose to give her out of my store".

[[Abstract of Wills and Inventories of Bath County, 1791-1842, Bruns, pg. 37-38].

Notes

From "Western Pennsylvania Genealogical Society Quarterly", Vol. 21, #1, summer 1994, pg. 33:

"The Andrew Rabb Family Of Fayette County", by Vic Wegenhoft & Bena Kirkscey.

Our ancestors, Andrew Rabb & his new family, arrived in the Fayette Co. area in about 1770. On 14 Dec of that year, Andrew received a warrant for 203 acres in what is now German Township (Horn 1945). On 15 Apr 1785, he obtained a second warrant for 235 acres in that township (Horn 1945). Here, on Brown's Run, he built & operated one of the earliest grist & saw mills in the area, as well as a distillery (Ellis 1882). The stone house, which he built near the mill site, remains in excellent condition & is occupied today. Scratched into the mortar of the chimney is the date "1773" (Newman & Newman).

Andrew was born in Pa., probably in Dunmore Township, Lancaster Co. about 1740 (DAR 1966). In his late twenties, on 1 Sept 1768 he married Mary Scott. They had nine children: Ann (b. 1769); William (b. 1770); John (b. 1772); Margarte (b. 1774); Mary (b. 1777); Hannah (b. 1780); Martha (b. 1782); Elizabeth (b. 1785); & Sarah (b. 1789) (Gilmore 1901).

...1776 to 1780 he served several tours of duty as a Captain in the Third Battalion of the Westmoreland Rangers (Pa Militia) in defense of the frontier (Pa Archives). In 1777 he was appointed Justice of the Peace in Westmoreland (Albert 1882). He continued to serve following the establishment of Fayette Co. from Westmoreland Co. in 1783. In addition, he was Justice of the new county's Orphans Court (Ellis 1882). In 1785 he was again appointed a Justice of the Peace & to the Court of Common Pleas for Fayette Co. (Minutes).

...manufacture of both flour & whiskey...James Dunlevy who may have been Rabb's son-in-law, was the distiller...(Ellis1882).

pg. 34... Once a year, flour & whiskey produced by the Rabb family was loaded on flat-boats, built at Andrew's sawmill...New Orleans market (Ellis 1882).

There, the flat-boats were sold for lumber & the return trip was made on foot or horseback by way of, in part, the Natchez Trace (Robinson 1936).

In 1791, a national excise tax...Whiskey Rebellion (1791-1794).

In Aug 1792, a meeting of delegates....opposing this tax (Ellis 1882). In response to a resolution adopted at this meeting, Andrew Rabb was appointed to a committee of correspondence...(Ellis 1882)....

Andrew's wife Mary Scott Rabb died in 1798 & may be buried in leckey Cemetery which is located north of McClellandtown, German Township (DAR 1934). Her children were then aged 9 to 29 years.

Almost two years later, on 27 Feb 1800, Andrew, then about 60, married Catherine Pentecost....Andrew & his second wife had three children:

Catherine (b. 1801); Andrew (b. 1802); & Lucinda (b. 1804) (Gilmore 1901)

On 5 Sept 1804, when his youngest was but an infant, Andrew Rabb, aged about 64 years, died at Hot Springs, Bath Co., Va. (DAR 1966)...arsenic posioning...by a female slave....white man as having put her up to the crime....(Gilmore 1901).

Andrew Rabb was buried at Hot Springs, Va. & records indicate that no tombstone was ever erected over his grave (Gilmore 1901). His will, written 11 Aug 1804 was also recorded in Bath Co., Va. on 11 Sept 1804.

Catherine, & his children by her, received twice the inheritance of his older children, most of whom were married by that time. (Will 1804)