Rachel's husband John Hull was granted land on Pigeon Creek, Ohio County (now Washington Co.), Pennsylvania on Feb 10 1787.[1] He died about a year later, as there are receipts relating to the administration of his estate dated Jun 1788, and probate on his will was completed in 1790.[2] Rachel Hull is named as the administrator of his estate, and the executor was John Vannatta.
There is an Orphan's Court docket dated 1792 relating to the children of John Hull:
- Orphans Court Docket, Book A - Washington Co, Pennsylvania
Moses Hull and Elizabeth Hull both above the age of 14 years the minor children of John Hull late of Robinson Township deceased came into court and made choice of a John McDonald of Robinson Township as the Guardian of their persons & properties who was accordingly appointed by the court. John McDonald & Alexander Wright of Robinson Township were appointed by the Court Guardians of the persons & property of Rachel, John, Ruth, & Geisham, minor children under 14 years of age of John Hull late of Robinson Township, deceased. 24 Sept. 1792
There is an additional cover page for a probate file from 1792 concerning Rachel Hull, Administratrix of the estate of John Hull that names her as "Rachel Hall nee Vanata", however the cover page appears to be attached to the wrong file as the rest of the documents in the file relate to a William Hall and his wife Sarah Hall.[3]
A 1794 probate file documents the marriage of Rachel to John Vanatta and the transfer of guardianship of Rachel and John Hull's minor children to John Vanatta.[4]
Research Notes
It is reasonably certain that Rachel's maiden name was not Gossett. The Gossett name originated with "The Hull Family Register, Vol. 1, Descendants of Rev. Joseph Hull (1596–1665), The Immigrant, A Reprint and Continuation of The Hull Family in America" by Dave Boatman which has subsequently been shown to have many inaccuracies. In this case the marriage record that he referenced was for a John Hall, not Hull, and there is nothing to indicate that they might be the same person in spite of the name difference. Boatman also seems to have changed the maiden name of the Rachel in the marriage record as it is for Rachel Cogall, and not Gossett. It is not clear where he came up with the name Gossett. (Information received from the Hull Family Association Genealogist)
From Phyllis J. Hughes, Hull Family Association Genealogist: "I serve as Genealogist and Journal editor of the Hull Family Association. In past issues we have featured the family of John Hull and his wife Rachel. Although it has been reported in several places that Rachel's maiden name is Gossett, the Burlington Co., New Jersey marriage records would dispute this. The published marriage records say this: John Hall m. Rachel Cogall, 03 Sep 1764, Burlington Co., New Jersey. Therefore, it is my belief that John Hull of Robinson's Run, Washington Co., Pensylvania did not marry Rachel Gosset, even though it is certain that he did marry a Rachel. If you or your viewer's have any docmentation, other than some of the previously published records, that this John Hull m. Rachel Gossett, then I would welcome seeing the proofs. We also believe it is in error to say that this John Hull descends from the Rev. Joseph Hull as published in Dave Boatman's Hull Family Register. There seems to be no documentation for stating this. I have several large file drawers on the Washington Co., Pennsylvania Hulls and we have other very dedicated researchers who descend from these families and no one has been able to document their immigrant ancestor. Several of us have studied these Hull families in quite some depth."
https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Cogall-1
