Person:John Campbell (355)

FROM: Beers' Washington County, Pennsylvania:

(John Campbell) came from Scotland in the beginning of the sixteenth century, and settled in eastern Pennsylvania or New Jersey, where he died. (Page 722)

I have located a Last Will and Testament for John dated February 25, 1775 in Will Book C, page 314, York County, Pennsylvania which discusses each of the members of the family mentioned in this section. Accordingly, I am relatively confident that the family information pertaining to John's marriage to Ann(a), the children of the marriage, and his death in September, 1775 is accurate.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

From the Max A. Campbell book, The Ancestral Lineage of Matthew Campbell and Sophia (Barton) Campbell we read:

The first five children migrated to Washington County, Pennsylvania. William left in 1772 and the other four probably left shortly after the death of their father which was between February 25, 1774 and September 10, 1775. Their mother, Ann, also went to Washington County, Pennsylvania, probably with one of her children. This is confirmed by a record in the History of Cross Creek Graveyard and Cemetery, which says "An old stone, marked "I C" was supposed to mark the grave of the mother of William, John, James and Charles Campbell. She died and was buried here among the first interments in Cross Creek Graveyard." (pg. 21).

The route taken from York County to Washington County is unknown. One possible route may have been the Forbes Trail which is approximately the same as U.S. 30 today. Another route may have been northwesterly following the rivers and north of the hills and mountains. The Campbells would have had to join with others for protection against Indians and highwaymen regardless of which route was taken.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT

JOHN CAMPBELL

Will Book C-314

Volume C, Page 314 York County, Pennsylvania

February 25, 1775

In the name of God Amen, this 25th day of February and in the Year of Our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy four, I John Campbell of Windsor Township, York County, and province of Pennsylvania, Being sick and weak of body but of perfect mind and memory, Thanks be to God, therefore calling to mind the mortality of the body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die, do make and ordain this my Last Will and Testament: First of all, I allow my body to be buried in the earth in a decent manner at the discretion of my executors and my soul I recommend into the hands of Almighty God who gave it, nothing doubting but at the resurrection I shall receive the same again by the mighty power of God who gave it, and touching such worldly goods that it hath pleased God to endow me with in this life, I dispose of in the following manner; but first of all I allow all my lawful debts to be paid and I consult and ordain my dear wife Ann and my son John my sole executors of this my Last Will and Testament and I bequeath unto my dearly beloved wife Ann my best mare and colt and roaned horse, her choice of the cows and all the rest of the other movibles, except what the other three children VIZ: James, Charles and Ann, James I allow him the chesnut horse and two cows, three sheep, and three hogs; next, Charles the young “bea” mare, two cows, three sheep and three hogs and his bed and bedding and chest, and James is to have his bed and chest and my daughter Ann I allow two cows, three sheep, three hogs and black horse and chest, bed and bedding and at her mother’s decease to get twenty five pounds and Catrin Margaret and Jennet I allow them five pounds each of them at their mother’s decease. I allow my lands to be sold and the interest of the money I allow to my wife during her life and at her decease the moneys of the lands I allow to be equally divided among my four sons William and John and James and, only my son William is to have ten pounds more than any of the others and William son John I allow ten pounds. This I make and ordain my Last Will and Testament and I revoke all other wills and testaments by me before made. I John Campbell do acknowledge this my Last Will and Testament in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal the year and day first above written.

John Campbell SEAL

Signed sealed and delivered in the presence of us

Daniel Harkins

John Russell

William Allison

York County Js: Before us Samuel Johnston, Esquire, Deputy Registrar for the Probate of Wills and granting Letters of Administration in and for the County of York in the Province of Pennsylvania and Martin Eychelberger and William Scott, Esquires, two of his Majesties Justices of the Peace for the said County called to the assistance of the said Registrar personally appeared Daniel Harkens, John Russell and William Allison, the three subscribing witnesses to the above Instrument of Writing and the said Daniel Harkens on his solemn oath taken on the Holy Evangelists of Almighty God doth say that he was personally present and saw and heard the above named John Campbell sign seal publish and declare the foregoing Instrument of Writing as and for his Last will and Testament and that at the time of the doing thereof the said John Campbell was of sound and disposing mind and memory and that the said Daniel Harkens subscribed his name to the same as a witness in the said testators presence and at his request . And the said John Russell and William Allison, on their solemn oaths taken with the uplifted hand they conscientiously scrupeling the taking of an oath in the usual form, do say each for himself that they were separately present and saw and heard the said John Campbell declare and pronounce the above Instrument of Writing to each of them respectively but not in the presence of each other as and for his Last Will and Testament and the said John Russell doth say that the said John Campbell at the time of the doing thereof before him was of sound mind and disposing mind and memory and that he subscribed his name to the same as a witness in the presence of the said John Campbell and at his request and the said William Allison also saith that the said John Campbell at the time of the doing thereof before him was of sound and disposing mind and memory and that he subscribed his name as a witness thereto in the presence of the said John Campbell at his request.

Sworn and subscribed before us at York John Russell

this 10th day of September 1775

Saml Johnston Dep Reg William Allison

Martin Eychelberger William Scott

Be it remembered that the Samuel Johnston , Esquire, Deputy Registrar for the Probate of Wills and granting Letters of Administration in and for the County of York in the Province of Pennsylvania and Martin Eychelberger and William Scott ,Esquires, two of his Majesties Justices of the Peace for the said County called to the assistance of the said Registrar to hear, adjudge and determine the validity of the above Instrument of Writing, after having examined the said Instrument of Writing and also the minutes of a part of a Will which the said John Campbell, deceased intended to have made in his lifetime and duly considered the proofs and allegations as well of the witnesses to the foregoing Instrument of Writing as to the said minutes, do hereby adjudge and determine that the foregoing Instrument of Writing is duly proved to be the last Will and Testament of the said John Campbell, Deceased. In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands this 10th day of September 1775.

Saml Johnston Dep Reg

Martin Eychelberger

A True Copy

Saml Johnston Dep Reg

MEMORANDUM: That the Letters Testamentary in common form of the estate of John Campbell, deceased were granted to Ann Campbell and John Campbell, executors in the Last Will and Testament of the said John Campbell, deceased mentioned Inventory to be exhibited and filed in the Registrar’s office at York at or before the expiration of two months and an account or reckoning in one year from this time. Given under my hand and seal of said office at York the 10th day of September 1775.

Saml Johnston Dep Reg

Husband: John Campbell (b. abt. 1715) Wife: Ann Son: William (b. abt. 1741) Son: John (B. abt. 1743) Son: James (b. abt. 1745) Son: Charles (b. abt. 1747) Daughter: Ann (b. abt. 1749) Daughter: Catrin Margaret (b. abt. 1751) Daughter: Jennet (b. abt. 1753) Grandson: James (Son of William) (b. abt. 1767)