p 1 -
JOHN EVANS.
Evans, a native of Radnorshire, Wales, landed in Philadelphia in the year 1695, with his family, consisting of his wife, two sons Roger and John, and the latter's wife Lydia and their daughter.
Evans, m. They had two sons (1 and 2) Roger and John.
FIRST GENERATION
...2. John Evans.
d. April 26, 1740.
m. Lydia _____ ; she died December 23, 1735. They had a daughter who died soon after their arrival, and a son (5) John.
p 2 -
October 19, 1700, a warrant was issued to John Evans, late of Radnorshire, Wales, for 300 acres of land in New Castle County, Delaware, next or near Reece Thomas, executed February 8, 1701.
January 20, 1700, a warrant was issued for 100 acres on the old Mill Creek, next to the Proprietary's Manor, where he is now seated ; executed February 19, 1701.
Twelfth month fifth, 1701, James Powell, surveyor, gave an account to James Logan of the Welsh purchases and recommended that warrants be issued, inter alia, to John Evans for 100 acres.
September 29, 1714, the Commissioners of William Penn granted to John Evans of the County of Chester 100 acres of land on White Clay Creek, County of Chester, consideration twenty-two pounds ten shillings, being part of a tract of 30,000 acres surveyed for William and Letitia Penn, known as Stenning Manor.
March 14, 1722, John Evans of the County of New Castle upon Delaware River, purchased from Tobias Collett of London, haberdasher ; Daniel Quare of London, watchmaker and Henry Gouldney of London, linendraper, 200 acres of land on a branch of White Clay Creek in Chester County, Pennsylvania, consideration forty-three pounds.
August 4, 1725, John Evans, Sr., of London Britain, Chester County, Yeoman, and John Evans, Jr. of the same, conveyed to the Elders of the Church of Christ meeting at the Iron Hill, commonly called Baptists, all that tract of land in London Britain, already laid out for the purpose of erecting a house for diving worship, consideration of paying yearly the sum of one six pence sterling money if demanded on the day of St. Michael the Archangel.
1725, John Evans, Sr., was assessed in London Britain Township at ten shillings six pence, there being but one other rated as high and John Evans, Jr., was assessed five shillings six pence.
John Evans, Sr. and his wife Lydia were admitted members of the Welsh Tract Baptist Church by baptism in 1710 (I page 68).
John Evans, Dafydd Efan, Shon Evan, Lydian Efans were signers of the confession of Faith of the Welsh Tract Baptist Meeting, February 4, 1716.
p 3 - 4
WILL OF JOHN EVANS, SR.
In the name of God Amen. The thirteenth day of September in the year of our Lord God 1738, I, John Evans, Sr., of London Britain Township, in the County of Chester and Province of Pennsylvania, Yeoman, being ancient and much decayed in body but of perfect mind and sound memory, thanks be to God for the same, therefore calling to mind the mortality of my body, and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die, do make and ordain this for it is my last will and testament (irrevocably). That is to say first and principally I give and recommend my soul into the hands of God that gave it, and my body I comment it to the earth to be buried in a Christian-like manner after the discretion of my executrix herafter to be named, and as touching such temporal estate where with it has pleased God to bless me with in this life, I give, bequeath and dispose of the same in manner and form following, viz.:
Imprimus. I will that all debts which I owe or may herafter owe at the time of my death, together with my funeral expenses, to be duly paid in convenient time after my decease.
- Item. - I give and bequeath to John Evans, Jr., my grandson, Twenty-five pounds present currency to be paid him by my executrix when he is of full age.
- Item. - I give and bequeath my grandchild, Evan Evans, the sum of Twenty-five pounds when of full age.
- Item. - I give and bequeath to my grandchildren, George and Peter Evans, Thirty-five pounds to each of said sons, to be paid them when of full age, and if it shall happen that any of the said sons may happen to die in their nonage, the portion or portions to be equally divided betwixt the survivor or survivors of the said sons.
- Item. - I give and bequeath to my granddaughters, Mary and Lydia Evans, the sum of Twenty-five pounds to each of them, and likewise all my household stuff and furniture of my house to be equally divided betwixt said daughters when of age or married. If so be that any of them should happen to die in their nonage, the survivor to enjoy the whole.
- Item. - I give the filley of my sorrel mare to the said John Evans, Jr.
- Item. - I give the said sorrel mare to my grandson, Evan Evans.
- Item. - I give and bequeath unto my daughter-in-law, Jane Evans, all the remainder of the purchase money due to me from the estate where Peter McCathers now dwelleth thereon, and likewise I give and bequeath unto said Jane Evans, one ox-cart, four cows and a black horse called Rock, and I also give and dispose all the rents, profits and demands of another tract or farm, now in the tenor and occupancy of one Patrick Hamilton, to hold to her the said Jane, until such time as that they and the said Evan, George and Peter attain to their full age, and then I will that the said farm or tract of land be sold to the best advantage and the price or sales thereof to be equally divided betwixt them.
- Item. - I give to my well beloved friend Owen Thomas, Three pounds soon after my decease.
- Item. - I give my best suit of clothes to John Robinson and Five shillings apiece to Samuel Rankin and John Sliver and lastly I do hereby nominate appoint constitute and ordain my said daughter-in-law, Jane Evans, my only and sole executrix of this my last will and testament, of all and singular the remainder of my goods, chattels and credits, by her fully to be enjoyed and possessed forever, and likewise I do nominate and appoint my trusty friend, Reynold Howell to be as supervisor and trustee of this my last will and to see it regularly perfected and fully accomplished, revoking and disannulling all other wills by me heretofore made, ratifying and confirming this and none other to be for my last will and testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal the day and year first above written.
JOHN (his X mark) EVANS, SENR. Seal
p 4 -
Chester, May 27, 1740. Then personally appeared John Jones and John Rankin witnesses to the within will etc. Letters testamentary were granted to Jane Evans. An inventory of all and singular the goods, chattels and credits of John Evans, Sr., was filed May 16, 1740, amounting to 299 pounds, 7 shillings. Among other things were:
.......................... L - s. - d.
Wearing apparel .......... 8 - 16 - 6
13 pewter plates ......... 0 - 17 - 4
5 pewter dishes .......... 1
An old horse ............. 5
A mare and colt .......... 6
A black filley ........... 5
A chaff bed, bolster,
bedstead and clothing .... 1 - 5
p 5 -
A spinning wheel ......... 0 - 3
A feather bed, bolster
and rug .................. 4 - 10
3 cows ................... 9
2 yearling heifers ....... 1 - 10
John Evans, Sr. was an Elder of the Welsh Tract Baptist meeting.
