Jamison Web Generation Two

2. ROBERT² JAMISON (Francis¹) (direct line ancestor of the author) was born 1745 in what is present–day Northern Ireland, probably in Buckna, County, Antrim. Robert died 24 August 1825 in Unity Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania,¹⁷ and is buried in the Old Presbyterian Cemetery, Pleasant Unity. The Old Presbyterian Cemetery is adjacent to the St. Luke’s Cemetery and sometimes burials are reported in St. Luke’s when Presbyterian is meant.¹⁸ Robert Jamison married ELIZABETH GAFF (probably her married name) in Mercersburg, Montgomery Township, Franklin County, Pennsylvania, 13 December 1773 by Reverend John King of Big Cove, Pennsylvania.¹⁹

Elizabeth [—?—] Gaff was born 1746 in northern Ireland. She died 1831 in Westmoreland County and is buried in the Old Presbyterian Cemetery, Pleasant Unity.²⁰ Mrs. Gaff lost her husband just before landing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with five children: “A stranger and widow in a strange land.”²¹ Elizabeth Gaff apparently was living in Franklin County, when she married Robert. Janet Martin, who married Robert’s brother John Jamison, lived in the Big Cove area of neighboring Fulton County.²²

The Gaffs
I have no information on Elizabeth (Gaff) Jamison’s parents nor what might have happened to the five Gaff children, if indeed Elizabeth Gaff was a widow with five children. There are no indications they were adopted by Robert Jamison. The Jamisons came to North America in 1764, meaning all the Gaff children would have been born by that year, assuming they came on the same boat as the Jamisons. Kepler (1979–80), speculates that all the children, except James Gaff, might have been of an age where they could soon take care of themselves. That would probably not be the case, assuming Elizabeth Gaff was nor born until 1746. There was an early James Gaff of Westmoreland County; he first appeared in the Westmoreland County records in the 1780s.²³ The 1790 federal census for Pennsylvania lists a James Gaff living in Hempfield Township, Westmoreland County, namely: James and 2 males under 16, and 5 females, ages not given.²⁴

The 1790 federal census also lists a William Gaff and family living in Bedford County, Pennsylvania,²⁵ and a Hugh Gaff²⁶ and John Gaff²⁷ and their families living in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. Since both Robert Jamison and his brother John married women from Franklin and Fulton Counties, one would suspect that Hugh and John and possibly William Gaff were related to Elizabeth (Gaff) Jamison, perhaps being brothers or brother–in–laws of Elizabeth. I have contacted two workers researching the early Franklin County Gaffs. Alnora E. Cromer, (email address by request), informed me that Hugh Gaff was born circa 1750 (foreign); died 21 November 1825 in Franklin County; married Mary Rule. Their children were (1) Elizabeth Gaff, born 1775; married Nathaniel Martin [note that John Jamison married Janet Martin, but her father was John Martin] who was born 1770; (2) John Gaff; married Sarah Rule; (3) Polly Gaff; and (4) William Gaff, born 26 April 1777 in Greencastle, Franklin County; died 1853 in Pennsylvania; married Isabelle Stits. Alnora reports her descent from Hugh Gaff in a GenServ report.²⁸ Doreen Carlson, (email address by request), writes that John Rule was the father of (1) John Rule, (2) William Rule, (3) Sarah Rule, who married John Gaff, and (4) Mary Rule who married Hugh Gaff (re John Rule’s will, as reported by Doreen Carlson). I can not resolve the disparity as to whether Mary Rule Gaff was Sarah Rule Gaff’s mother or her sister.

In another 1999 email to me, Doreen Carlson, cites a Gaff query²⁹ that lists a Martha Scott who married Hugh Gaff. Martha’ father was John Scott of Little Antietam in what is now Washington Township, Franklin County. Doreen reports that in the will³⁰ of David Scott, brother of Martha Scott Gaff, someone had added a note next to Martha’s name saying, “this is not the Hugh Gaff who married Mary Rule; it might have been his father or uncle. The Hugh Gaff who married Mary Rule served in Rev. 1780–81 . . .”

Both Alnora Cromer and Doreen Carlson have the Gaffs and Rules from the Conococheague area of Franklin County. But neither could find a Jamison associated with these Gaffs. I do feel, though, that our Elizabeth (Gaff) Jamison was related to the Franklin County Gaffs. Perhaps she married a brother or uncle of the Franklin County Gaffs; and as indicated in Boucher and Jordan, III, (1906), page 420, he died on the ship carrying his family to North America. However, I could find no primary source supporting Boucher and Jordan’s statement about Elizabeth (Gaff) Jamison being a widow. And Elizabeth Gaff Jamison was not mentioned as a widow in Jameson (1902) nor Jamison (1992).

Robert and his brother John Jamison came to Westmoreland County in 1769.³¹ According to Jameson (1901), page 111: “Robert took land near Pleasant Unity in present–day Unity Township, which was improved and planted with corn the first summer, and a cabin built. In the fall they stored their corn in the cabin, took their horses and went home to Franklin County, Pennsylvania. The next spring they returned with one of their sisters to keep house for them.” The sister probably was Roseanna Jamison.³² Robert and family were enumerated in Unity Township in 1790.³³ The farm of Robert was inherited by his son Robert and then grandson Joseph.³⁴ Robert was possibly in the Revolutionary War, as a private, but I do not have a source for this. Robert and Elizabeth were Presbyterians.

From Marriage and Death Notices from Newspapers 1808–1921, Westmoreland County Pennsylvania, by Agnes Campbell Tomichek, 1988: The Greensburg Gazette, 2 September 1825:

Died Wednesday, the 24th at his residence in Unity Township of a short but very severe illness, Mr. Robert Jamison, Sr., in his 80th year. He was the first settler on the farm where he has resided, ever since a period of 56 years.

Extract from Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, Registry of Wills, Book 2, page 135, number 854, 1826:

Robert Jamison of Westmoreland County.
Weak in body but sound mind.
Soul to my creator, body to earth.
To my beloved wife, her living in the mansion house with full liberty to go
and come.
To my son Robert Jamison–to find his mother in all necessaries for her
support.
To my son James Jamison–the land where he now lives as I have laid my survey. He is to sow one peck of flaxseed for his mother yearly.
To my daughter Peggy married to Sam Milligan $1.00.
Son William Jamison $1. 00.
dau Jean married to George Ander [Anderson] $1.00.
dau Elizabeth bay mare and other
Son Robert the land I now live on, and the rest of my personal property.
Exec. sons James and Robert Jamison.
Witnessed, James White, Robert Paterson.
Signed Robert Jamison
Proved 21 Oct. 1826.

The Old Presbyterian Cemetery, Pleasant Unity, where Robert and Elizabeth are interred was severely vandalized in September 1986. This from the Greensburg Tribune–Review, 24 September 1986:

CEMETERY VANDALS AT LARGE. State police from Greensburg are still trying to determine who erased history in the Pleasant Unity Presbyterian Cemetery by smashing tombstones and monuments dating from the 1700s and 1800s. Cemetery Association President Jim Gaut said the vandalism was committed during a clandestine beer party in the cemetery Sept. 13. Caretakers found beer cans and bottles smashed against tombstones and 15 to 20 headstones toppled and deliberately broken into small pieces [the accompanying photo shows several of the damaged stones; according to Marie F. Forehan, 503 Welty St., Greensburg 15601, who sent me the clipping, one of these was a Jamison stone]. Damage was largely confined to the Presbyterian Cemetery; damage to the adjacent St. Luke’s graveyard was minimal, Gaut said.
Some monuments weighing in excess of a ton each also were pushed over.
It wouldn’t have been so bad if they’d had their party and left the stones alone, Gaut said.
Gaut added that many of the historic stones cannot be replaced. Many were smashed beyond repair. ‘Even if we could reconstruct them, we don’t have any idea where they stood. The records were probably destroyed when the Presbyterian Church in Pleasant Unity was disbanded in the late 1920s or early 30s.
Most of the headstones were granite, marble or sandstone, but were in varying states of disrepair and were unreadable.
Gaut said the majority of people buried in the graveyard were members of either the Chambers or Fenton families. He said the association would be grateful for whatever information descendants could provide.

**Children of Robert and Elizabeth Gaff Jamison:**

+	9	i.	James³ Jamison, born 24 April 1775, probably Unity Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, but possibly in Montgomery Township, Franklin County, Pennsylvania; died 1853 in Cherrytree Township, Venango County, Pennsylvania; married Elizabeth Lloyd.
	10	ii.	Margaret (Peggy) Jamison, born 1778;³⁵ married Samuel Milligan.³⁶
	11	iii.	Francis Jamison, Francis “died in early life.”³⁷
	12	iv.	Jane Jamison, married George Anderson.³⁸ Several Ancestry.com World Tree projects list a George Anderson who married Jane Jamison.³⁹ Although none indicate the parents of this Jane Jamison, nor her dates, the Jane Jamison who married George Anderson, born in the “1750s or 1760s,” son of John Anderson (born 1731 in County Antrim, Ireland) and Elizabeth (Wilson) Anderson, was probably our Jane Jamison. This George and Jane (Jamison) Anderson had the following children (no information on dates or location): (1) John Anderson; (2) Francis Anderson; (3) Robert Anderson; (4) George Anderson; (5) Elizabeth Anderson; and (6) Margaret Anderson. Circumstantial evidence that Jane was of our Jamison also comes from some of the children’s names.
+	13	v.	William Gaff Jamison, born circa 1782, or 1784, or 1790; married Elizabeth Workman.
	14	vi.	Elizabeth Jamison, born 4 April 1789; died 12 April 1877.⁴⁰ In 1850 and 1860, Elizabeth was enumerated with her brother Robert and his family;⁴¹ listed below her name was a Sarah Jamison, born circa 1828. Elizabeth is buried in her father’s plot in St. Luke’s Cemetery.
+	15	vii.	Robert Jamison, Jr, One land record lists his middle initial as “S,” but do not confuse with Robert S. (Smith) Jamison, born 1835, a son of Hugh Jamison (#20). Robert, Jr., was born 31 January 1791; died 26 December 1886; buried in the Old Presbyterian Cemetery, Pleasant Unity, Pennsylvania; married Jane Workman.

3. JOHN² JAMISON (Francis¹), born 1749,⁴² in northern Ireland; died 1819; married JANET MARTIN, born circa 1753; died 12 February 1839.⁴³ Janet Martin was a daughter of John Martin of Big Cove, Fulton County, Pennsylvania. John Jamison, with brother Robert, came to Westmoreland County in 1769. He first shared land with Robert in Pleasant Unity but eventually took land in Hempfield Township, north of Robert’s farm. John settled on a tract of land on Dry Ridge, three miles southeast of Greensburg. The old homestead was inherited by sons Hugh and James. However by 1906, the land was owned by the Westmoreland Water Company, “the present reservoir covering the site of the original buildings.”⁴⁴

map of Westmorland County

Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, map showing approximate area of John and Robert Jamison's original claims in Hempfield and Unity Townships: (1) claim of John Jamison (#3); (2) claim of Robert Jamison (#2)..

John Jamison was in the Revolutionary War, a private and then Sergeant, 1779–1800, under Captain Noah Abraham.⁴⁵ There were three John Jamisons (as Jemisons) listed in the 1790 census. A Hempfield Township John Jamison was enumerated with one female.⁴⁶ I believe our John was enumerated in Washington Township, namely 2 males 16 and over, 1 male under 16, and 3 females.⁴⁷ But the household composition of the Salem Township John Jamison⁴⁸ (1 male over 16, 2 males under 16, and 5 females) cannot be ruled out as being our John.

Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, Registry of Wills, Unity Township, Book 1, page 454, number 660, 1819, extract of John Jamison’s will; those mentioned were

John Jamison, Unity, wife Jennet, sons Hugh Jamison, Benjamin Jamison, James Jamison, daughters Margaret Jamison, Jennet Jamison, Mary Jamison, son Francis Jamison, daughter Martha Jamison Thompson, son Robert Jamison, daughter Jean Jamison, son Hugh’s oldest son, John Jamison, and Robert Jamison, Jr., son of my brother Robert Jamison.

Extracts from Boucher and Hedley, I, (1918), pages 465–467, in the section The Capture of the Martin Family:⁴⁹

Janet’s [Janet Martin Jamison] life was the most romantic one, she having been captured by the Indians and rescued under circumstances the most perilous.” In November of 1755 an Indian band attacked the settlers of Big Cove, Fulton County [Pennsylvania], and captured Janet Martin, her mother, two brothers and three sisters. [Janet’s father and oldest brother were not in the area at the time]. One sister died in captivity. Her mother was eventually taken to Quebec and eventually was reunited with Janet, when a French merchant trading with the Indians secured her. After several years they made their way back to Pennsylvania. Janet’s two brothers and other sister were held captive for about nine years by bands of Delawares and Tuscaroras in western Pennsylvania. In 1764 they were released. The two brothers, James Martin and William Martin, took patent on two tracts of land in Sewickley Township, Westmoreland County. According to Boucher and Hedley: “The habit of life acquired by the Martin boys during their long years of captivity among the Indians, never forsook them. Though they made permanent homes on lands of their own, they had no inclination to labor or to improve their property, but spent most of their time in hunting, fishing and idleness.”

**Children of John and Janet (Martin) Jamison:**

	16	i.	Margaret³ Jamison, born circa 1775; died 12 May 1853; buried in Old Presbyterian Burial grounds, Greensburg; apparently did not marry. Westmoreland Courthouse Records, 1852–1855: Jamison, Margaret of Unity Township, daughter of John and Jeanet, died 12 May 1853 at her home in Unity of old age. Age about 78, buried in Old Presbyterian Burial grounds, Greensburg. Certificate returned by Jonathan man. Margaret Jamison left her entire estate to brother James.⁵⁰ This Margaret Jamison was probably the Margaret Jameson listed in the 1850 census for Unity Township,⁵¹ born circa 1775 and living with, presumably siblings, Jane Jamison, born circa 1777, Mary Jamison, born circa 1779, and James Jamison, born circa 1794.
	17	ii.	(tentative) Jane (Janet) Jamison, born circa 1777. This is tentative, based on the 1850 census; living with presumably siblings Margaret Jamison (confirmed as John’s daughter), and Mary (John and Janet did have a daughter Mary, according to John’s will).
	18	iii.	Mary Jamison, born circa 1779; she was alive in 1850, being enumerated in Unity Township, Westmoreland County, with presumably siblings Margaret Jamison, Jane Jamison and brother James Jamison.
+	19	iv.	Francis Jamison, born 1779; died 18 April 1846; married Hannah Lloyd.
+	20	v.	Hugh Martin Jamison, born circa 1785; died 1873; married Jane Stewart.
	21	vi.	Benjamin Jamison, born circa 1786–1790; died 21 May 1839, age 53, in Westmoreland County.⁵² Benjamin Jamison was mentioned in a quit claim deed⁵³ (along with brothers Hugh and James), being heirs of John Jamison, deceased, of Unity Township. Thirteen years later, after Benjamin would have been deceased, Hugh and James came before a Justice of the Peace in Westmoreland County to attest to Benjamin’s signature.⁵⁴Benjamin was on the 1828 tax list for Unity Township, listed as born circa 1790. In the 1838 tax list for Unity Township, his last record, he was listed with 90 acres. Benjamin and his brother John were in the December 1812 battle with Indians at Mississinewa (or Messissimma Town) (an Indian village, Dayton, Ohio area) during the War of 1812.⁵⁵ Benjamin probably did not marry.
	22	vii.	John Jamison, died 18 August 1813 at Fort Meigs. The following is from the Greensburg and Indiana Register, 1813, via Tomichek (1988): “Sat. Sept. 4. Died at Fort Meigs on the 18th inst. Sergeant John Jamison Greensburg Rifle Company, son of John Jamison, Unity Township.”
	23	viii.	Robert Jamison, born 1791.⁵⁶
	24	ix.	James Jamison, born circa 1794. In 1850, he would have been the James Jamison, listed as a carpenter, living with his sister Margaret Jamison (#16). Please note that he was not the James Jamison who I had reported married Lydia Hugus in my book The Oil Creek Flemings and related families of Venango County. See #39 of this web site
	25	x.	Martha Jamison, married [—?—] Thompson.⁵⁷

4. MARMADUKE² JAMISON (Francis¹), (called Duke),⁵⁸ born 1757 in northern Ireland; still alive in 1814. Marmaduke “… passed his summers on a farm in Mercer County, Pennsylvania, and having stored his gathered crops he took his horses and drove to Westmoreland County and spent the winter months in the families of his brothers.”⁵⁹ Marmaduke Jamison was listed as a renter in the 1788–1789 tax list for Unity Township.

This from History of Lawrence County, Pennsylvania,1770-1877, by S.W. and P. A. Durant, page 93:⁶⁰ [Note: Lawrence County was created from the southern part of Mercer County (and northern part of Beaver County) in 1849]:

“Plaingrove Township. A patent was issued to Marmaduke Jamison on the 13th of April, 1814. The land has since been in the hands of Francis Jamison, Marmaduke Jamison, Jr., John Christy, Archibald Glenn, John G. Glenn, John Barber and Andrew Glenn, and is now owned by G. W. White, David Hamilton, George B. Hamilton, William C. Glenn, J. Barber, Andrew Glenn, James Moore and Henry Brenneman.”

**Children of Marmaduke and [—?—] Jamison:**

	26	i.	Marmaduke³ Jamison, Jr., Lived in what would be present-day Lawrence County, Pennsylvania.
	27	ii.	(tentative) Francis Jamison, Lived in what would be present-day Lawrence County, Pennsylvania. His name is based on the above mentioned patent; possibly he was not a son of Marmaduke (Sr.).

5. FRANCIS² JAMISON, JR. (Francis¹), born circa 1760 in northern Ireland, died (tentative) circa 1807, probably in Franklin County, Pennsylvania; married (first), 26 November 1789, Elzabeth Gamble; married (second), 27 July1796, Margaret Milligan.

The following is from "Francis Jamison [Sr.] of Franklin County, Pennsylvania;" online at (http://mcquoidg.tripod.com/frm216.htm); date and author not known:

Mr. Jamison was in the Revolution. He resided in Westmoreland co., PA. for some time but later moved east to Franklin co., PA sometime prior to 1800. Mr. and Mrs. Francis Jamison were married in Carlisle, PA. by the Rev. Robert Davidson, D.D. In 1789 he was taxed in Westmoreland co. at 6 quid. Letters of Administration were granted to his spouse, Elizabeth Jamison, son, Francis Jamison, yeoman, and to Christian Stuff on July 4, 1807. Orphans court records Michael Cook as guardian of John, Polly, and Elizabeth Jamison December 19, 1809 all under the age of 14 years. On Dec. 11, 1810, Martin Wenger became their guardian in Warren [Township, Franklin County], PA. On May 14, 1811, Frederick Shearer of Peters township [Franklin County] was appointed by the court as their guardian.

Note that our Francis Jamison has also been reported dying 27 March 1823 in Ross County, Ohio. I could find no census records to support his presence in Ohio, although the related McCartney family (see #8, Mary Jamison) and related Kilgore family (see #7, Rosanna Jamison), first went from Pennsylvania to Kentucky and then to Ross County, Ohio. Francis was in the Revolutionary War.⁶¹ Francis⁶² was on the 1788–1789 tax list for Unity Township, listed as a renter. Either Francis (Jr.) and one female or Francis (Sr.) and one female was enumerated in Washington Township, Westmoreland County in 1790.⁶³

This from E. O. Jameson (1901), page 111:

Francis Jamison the youngest of the sons, served through the War of the Revolution. Subsequently with his wife and family, in company with his brothers–in–law McCartney and Kilgore and their families, he removed to some place in Kentucky and was not much heard from afterward. It happened however, during the War of 1812, that James and Robert, sons of Francis Jameson, and a son of Mr. Kilgore, the two last from Kentucky, all being soldiers in the army, these six cousins met at Fort Meigs, Ohio. [Meigs County, Ohio is in the south-eastern part of the state, bordering the Ohio River, south of Parkersburg.]

**Children of Francis and wives:^63b**

NN	i.	Francis³ Jamison.
NN	ii.	John Jamison; born circa 1795.
NN	iii.	Mary Jamison; born circa 1797.
NN	iv.	Elizabeth Jamison; born circa 1800.

6. MARGARET² JAMISON (Francis¹), born 1762 in northern Ireland; married (first) JOHN ROBINSON; married (second) JOHN PEEBLES,⁶⁴ died December 1797 in Westmoreland County. Apparently Margaret (Jamison) Robinson was John Peeples’ second wife. John Robinson was killed when he fell from his horse.⁶⁵

Children of John and Margaret (Jamison) Robinson:⁶⁶

28 i. Mary³ Robinson,

29 ii. Margaret Robinson, born circa 1770; died 1 June 1849 in Ohio; married John Johnston.

30 iii. Samuel Robinson, born circa 1771; died 21 June 1848 in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania; married Nancy Jack.

31 iv. Rosanna Robinson, born circa 1775; married David Gardner.

32 v. Francis Robinson, born circa 1777; died circa 1855 in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania.

33 vi. David Robinson, born circa 1778.

34 vii. Isabella Robinson, born before 1781; died circa 1815 in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania; married David Johnston.

35 viii. John Robinson, born circa 1782; died circa 1831 in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania; married Sarah [—?—].
Children of Margaret (Jamison) and her second husband John Peebles (possibly also Peoples):⁶⁷

36 ix. William Peeples,

37 x. Elizabeth Peeples.

38 xi. Mary Peeples.

39 xii. Agnes Peeples.

40 xii. Jean Peeples.

8. MARY² (MOLLIE) JAMISON (Francis¹). Information on Mary, her husband, and decendants, including dates and locations, is from Melody Summers Hull and the section Jamisons & McCartneys & Lemons of the web site "Thomas & Melody Hull."

Mary (Mollie) was born 23 March 1758; died (tentative) August 1846 in Iowa; married James McCartney; born 11 April 1745 in Londonderry, Ireland, died 1835 in Ross County, Ohio. James was a son of Isaac McCartney. James was in the Revolutionary War. The family lived mainly in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, and then Ross County, Ohio.

Children of James and Mollie (Jamison) McCartney:

NN i. Elizabeth³ McCartney; born 1779 in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania; died 1856 in Madison County, Indiana; married (first), 12 March 1799, Joseph Lemon, in Ross County, Ohio; born circa 1745 probably in Ireland; died 1809 in Ross County, Ohio. Elizabeth married (second) James Lee. .

NN ii. Isaac McCartney; born circa 1780 in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, died 1 January 1863; married Elizabeth Heath.

NN iii. Jane McCartney; born 1782 in Westmoreland County; died 1868; married Samuel McCafferty.

NN iv. John McCartney; born April 08, 1786 in Westmoreland Co., PA; died April 12, 1849; married (first) Elinor Dorhady; married (second) Margaret Wells; married (third) Margarer Cressy.

NN v. Marmaduke McCartney; born 1788 in Kentucky; died March 11, 1862; married Helen Baylor.

NN vi. William McCartney; born 22 November 1789 in Kentucky; died February 16, 1889; married Hannah Craig June 17, 1821.

NN vii. Andrew McCartney; born circa 1792 in Kentucky; married Nancy [—?—].

NN viii. Sarah McCartney; born in Kentucky; married, 10 October 1832, Archibald Caskey.

NN ix. Joseph McCartney; born 22 December 1802; died 1888; married (first) Mary McKee; married (second) Julia Painter.

For more detailed infomation on John and Mollie (Jamison) McCartney and for informartion on descendants of Joseph and Elizabeth (McCartney) Lemon, see the section Jamisons & McCartneys & Lemons of the web site "Thomas & Melody Hull."