Person:Isaac Ferree (9)

Smoke Ferree CD - November 2004

Notes: William Heidgerd, _The American Descendants of Chr*tien DuBois of Wicres, France_ (New Paltz, Ulster County, New York, 1968--), Part 1, Addition s, p. viii:

"D-47a Isaac Ferree, born 1725; died 1782; married Elizabeth LeFevre, born 1728, died 1804."

Indexed in Will Books and Intestate Records of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing County, 1974):

Ferree, Isaac, 1782, Book -, Volume. -, p. -. Order intestate record from Lancaster County

Posted at Genforum by Anne Puryear,

George Forbis (Forbush) Land Grant 12 January 1746 Augusta County, Virginia 400 acres on the north branch of the Shenandoah in the gap of the Mountain.

August 5,6 George Forbush and wife Olive sell for 110 pounds 5 shillings. 400 acres (as above) at or near the mouth of "Beaver Dam run".

Footnote: This tract was apparently in Brock's Gap in northwestern Rockingham.

George Forbush (born 1690?) with Morgan Bryan Sr. (born 1691) both sold land in Virginia and made their way to the Yadkin Valley (Rowan County, North Carolina) in the Fall of 1748. This is known as the Bryan settlement.

( Note: much has been written on this - research the Bryan's, Boones, Callaways and the Draper Manuscripts).

George Forbis Will, signed 2 November 1768 in Rowan County North Carolina names the following:

Wife: Olif Children: Robert Forbis, James Forbis, George Forbis, John Forbis, Elizabeth Jones, and Mary Bryan. Granddaughter: Olif Free (Who had not come of age)

Lancaster County, Pennsylvania 1733 Isaac and Daniel Ferree(Free) signed a Tavern Petition in Chester County, Pennsylvania.

Isaac established a Ferry on the Yadkin River in 1753, but already had a License from Anson County, North Carolina before that date. (Rowan County Court Minutes September 18, 1753) Isaac Free sold 677 acres to Patrick Logan in 1754, being on Joseph's Creek in Rowan County, North Carolina.

Isaac Free's estate was reported in the Court minutes of Rowan County in January 1759 and the April 25, 1761 minutes show that the widow, Elizabeth Free had married James Jones.

Jacob Free, 1 April 1785, Fayette County, Kentucky 740 acres adjoining his settlement on the west and 400 acres on the west branch of Cane Run.

Transcribed Letter written to Jacob Free (at Fort Pitt) in 1787 from James Jones and Elizabeth Forbis Free Jones discussing land. (Says mother and father)

Transcribed Letters written to Jacob Free (at Fort Pitt) in 1801 and 1803 from Rebecca Critchfield his sister who was living in Kentucky on Jacob's land with her daughter Olif. (Note: Rebecca married first John Marlett in Rowan County and second Palmer Critchfield. Records later show Palmer and wife Rebecca in Patrick County, Virginia)

Transcribed Letter written to Jacob Free (at Fort Pitt) from Aaron and Elizabeth Jones Spear (sister) in Kentucky, and proven daughter of James and Elizabeth Jones. Elizabeth and Aaron Spear subsequently return to North Carolina.

Opinion: It seems that Issac had at least three children at his death; Jacob, Rebecca, and Olif (Olive/Olivia). Since only Olif is mentioned in George Forbis will, it might appear that Isaac might have been married prior to Elizabeth Forbis; and Jacob and Rebecca being children from an earlier wife. It also appears from other estate settlements that Elizabeth Forbis does not die until after 1815 indicating that she may have been a great deal younger than Isaac Ferree. Another mystery to me is that the Ferree name continues to appear through the generations in the Jones family; but there does not appear to be any blood relation to a Ferree.

In addition - all Forbis children except Elizabeth go to Kentucky - marry Bryans etc. Mary Forbis married Morgen Bryan Jr. -sister-in-law to Rebecca and Daniel Boone.

Another Note: Francis Calloway moves from Bedford County, Virginia to Rowan County, North Carolina on his way to Wilkes County, Georgia. (late 1700s) leaving one son in Rowan County, North Carolina who names a son Ferree Calloway.

Email February, 2002

Mike, someone sent me the copy of what is on your line for Leah and William. I have not been able to access the information? However, Leah Ferree/Free was not married before William. I have tracked Philip's son Isaac (her father) to Patterson Manor in Virginia 1740 and then to North Carolina with the Forbushes (he married Elizabeth Forbush). He moved to Virginia at the same time Magdelena Ferree (his sister) and William Buffington moved there. He apparently moved with George Forbush and family to North Carolina about 1753 although Chaulkley states he sold to John Gilmore in 1771, Gilmore died in 1758 (land records) and the lease was transferred to his heirs in 1771. Many of the records in the New River Area (Beverely Patent, Fairfax), were burned. The information I have indicates Isaac sold his lease and moved before Braddocks defeat in 1755. If you have documentation that he was married to Elizabeth Lefevre before he married Elizabeth Forbish/Forbush/Forbes and any documented information of his children, other than Olivia married William Moore and Jacob (in the) Revolutionary War, with Lefevre or Forbush I would really appreciate it. I am trying to find any records that were not destroyed. Patterson Manor is the area that is now located in West Virginia. I have contacted most of the Counties and I am waiting on a response from Romney, West Virginia and Frederick County, in Virginia.

This information is documented by Court Records in Rowan County, North Carolina. The years missing are 1740-1753 in Virginia i.e. Leah and any other children, birth, marriage to Forbush and "death" of Lefevre. I question that he was married to a Lefevre. She is not the daughter of Isaac and Catherine Lefevre; there is no record of them having a child named Elizabeth.

Any help appreciated, Dorothea

Here is some of what I received from Rowan North Carolina.

1. September 14, 1753: Morgan Bryan (no wife signs-- lets Isaac Ferree ( both of Rowan County, North Carolina) have 141 acres on the north bank of the Yadkin River "near where road Goef from thence to Dan River; for 5 shillings-- the price being 24 pounds on the next day-- witnessed by Edward Hughes, William Bryan and William Bishop.

2. September 18, 1753: Lease & release from Morgan Bryan Sr. to Isaac Free approved by Esq. Edwd. Hughes.

3. September 19, 1753: " Isaac Free petitioned this court for a licence to support his ferry, Granted by Anson Court and that the Road already opened to be supported. Granted Geo Forbes and Edwd Hughs Esqr"

4. March 1753: The Commissioner appointed is "Edwrd Hughs Esqr in David Stewarts District".

5. March 23, 1754: Wm. Alloman and Isaac Free appointed Inspector to view the Prison of the County and to Enquire if ye Sd work be Compleated to order of the former Court".

6. March 23, 1754: The inspectors having made report to this court that sd work was compleatly done according to order except the finishing the facings and of the breaks of sd: prison and the better secureing the staples of the hasps of sd doors of sd prison "John Whitsett under Taker of said Prison Promising to make good the Sd Defecencys with all convenient speed It is Ordred and Agree'd by the Court that Sd Prison be and is hereby Recd from Sd. John Whitsitt by Jams, Carter and John Brand on Esqrs Comissioners apointed On that Behalf"

7. July 10, 1754: "Isaac Free his mark A swallow fork in the right earo and a half Penney in the upper Part of the lef ???????: upon the off Buttock"

8. July 12 1754; "James Carter Esqr. Together with his securitys Isaac Free, Geo. Cathey, Squire Boon, William Linvil, Edward Hughs, Wm Buse came into open court and acknowledged them selves jointly and severally in debtd ot Justices of the Court of Rowan in the sum of five hundred pounds proclamation money to be paid by them or their heirs on condition that the sd James Carter Esqr: do Lay out the 250 Pound Proclamation Money Committed to his Charge, for the use Mentioned in An Act of Genl. Assembly of this Province then the Above Obligation to be void"

9. Oct 9, 1754: This order is reversed at which time his security is Edward Hughes Esq., Isaac Free, Wm Sheppard, Geo. Cathey and Geo. Forbush.

10. June 19, 1754, Isaac Ferree --no wife signs-- lets Patrick Logan (both of Rowan County, North Carolina) have 667 acres on the west side of the north fork of Josephs Creek for 5 shillings- the price being 40 pounds on the next day-- witnessed by ????wagener(.) and John Parker and proved. (This had been granted said Ferree on Dec.7, 1753)

11. July 10, 1754: Lease and release from Isaac Free to Patrick Logan is acknowledge.

A Ferree descendant sent me the information I was looking for. Isaac Ferree's birthdate was 1725 which means he was 16 when he moved to Virginia with his sister, Magdelaine and William Buffington. He was in North Carolina and married to Elizabeth Forbush by 1753. He died in 1759 intestate and she settled his estate in 1761/62. She married James Jones 1762/63. Ref: (1) Lancaster County Record Book (2) Rowan North Carolina Court Records (3) Chaulkey's Chronicles (re Isaac Free)

Anyone may email me if you are looking for Isaac. -Dorothea Leonard

Isaac Ferree - as of 1 November 2005, there remains a question about whom he married. The other choice is found under Isaac Ferree 'Two' who is listed as his "brother" in the data base.

1. ↑ Michael Smoke <Msmoke@@msn.com>. Smoke, Michael.

   1002 NE 198th Street, Shoreline, Washington, USA, 98155, Mikesmoke@@Comcast.Net, 206-362-0504

2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} Michael Smoke <Msmoke@@msn.com>. Smoke, Michael.

   Date of Import: Dec 18, 2004

3. ↑ ^3.0 3.1 Ferree, Roberta North & Barbara, Data Records. (unpublished).
4.   Charles Heisterkamp, III, M.D..

   1949 Pine Drive, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA, 17601-5529, kamp3genealogy@netscape.net