James M. Davidson

Other Events:

• 1870 Census: 14 Jul 1870, Saint Louis, St. Louis Co., MO

Notes:

1870 Census:
St. Louis PO, p. 187
Davidson, Matthew     67  M  W  No business  ----  $200   Pennsylvania      citizen
---, James M.             27  M  W  R R Clerk      ----  $400   Pennsylvania          "
Bishop, Lizzie            15   F  W  Domestic Servant          Missouri          Parents foreign born

Other Events:

• 1830 Census: 1830, West Pennsboro Twp., Cumberland Co., PA
• 1840 Census: 1840, West Pennsboro Twp., Cumberland Co., PA
• 1850 Census: 30 Jul 1850, Newville, Cumberland Co., PA
• 1870 Census: 14 Jul 1870, Saint Louis, St. Louis Co., MO
• Alt. Death: 7 Dec 1878

Notes:

1830 Census:
p. 36
Matthew Davidson    021 010 200 0000 - 100 001 000 0000

1840 Census:
p. 73
Matthew Davidson     110 100 100 0000 - 111 000 110 0000
...
Joseph Ritner            100 120 001 0000 - 000 120 010 0000

1850 Census:
p. 279a
Matthew Davidson    51  M   None   ----  [---]
Isabel A.      "          16   F                            school
Alexander M.  "        12  M                               "
James M.       "          7  M                               "
Barbara Dunkle        20   F

1870 Census:
St. Louis PO, p. 187
Davidson, Matthew     67  M  W  No business  ----  $200   Pennsylvania      citizen
---, James M.             27  M  W  R R Clerk      ----  $400   Pennsylvania          "
Bishop, Lizzie            15   F  W  Domestic Servant          Missouri          Parents foreign born

Died:
Missouri, Death Records, 1834-1910 about Mathew Davidson
Name:      Mathew Davidson
Death Date:      5 Jan 1872
Birth Date:      abt 1799
County:      St Louis
Death Location:      St Louis
Race/Ethnicity:      White
Age:      73
Gender:      M (Male)
Widower
Cause: Apoplexy
Cemetery:  Ills

Matthew married Emily "Emilia" "Amelia" Woodburn on 28 Oct 1819 in Newville, Cumberland Co., PA. Emily (daughter of John Woodburn and Mary Skiles) was born between 1795 and 1800; died on 8 Mar 1846. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
Matthew DAVIDSON (m)  m: 28 Oct 1819  Emily WOODBURN Big Spring Presb Ch, Newville, Cumberland

Other Events:

• Court: 20 May 1766, ____, Cumberland Co., PA; Orphan's Court
• Court: 21 Dec 1770, ____, Cumberland Co., PA; Orphan's Court
• 1790 Census: 1790, West Pennsboro Twp., Cumberland Co., PA
• 1800 Census: 1800, West Pennsboro Twp., Cumberland Co., PA
• 1810 Census: 1810, West Pennsboro Twp., Cumberland Co., PA
• 1820 Census: 1820, West Pennsboro Twp., Cumberland Co., PA
• Will: 18 May 1825, West Pennsboro Twp., Cumberland Co., PA

Notes:

Court:
Notes from Mrs Guiles Flower [LSF] (found at Cumberland County Historical Society, Carlisle):

At the same Orphan's Court shown above, same date and source - Came into Court Margaret McNear, widow and relict of John Davidson late of Cumberland County deceased and prayeth the Court to appoint a Guardian over the person and estate of Matthew Davidson, aged 12 yrs. Court appointed John Myers Guardian.

Note on above, the wife of John Davidson as mentioned in his will was Ann. It is likely that the name of the wife was Margaret Ann and that she took the name Margaret when she remarried as she had evidently done with her husband one McNear. LSF

Court:
Notes from Mrs Guiles Flower [LSF] (found at Cumberland County Historical Society, Carlisle):

We find young Matthew Davidson again appearing in Court on the 21st day of December 1770. Docket 2, page 148 say (says record)

Came Matthew Davidson minor son of John Davidson of West Pennsborough twp deceased a minor above he age of 14 years and asked the Court to appoint John Davidson as his Guardian - the Court made the appointment as requested.

Note - John Davidson was the eldest brother of Matthew (see will of John the father) and, by previous court action, we know that in 1770 the son Matthew was aged 16.

1790 Census:
Hopewell, Newton, Tyborn, Westpennsboro Twps., p. 10
John Davidson         2-3-6-0-1
...
George Davidson     3-1-4-0-0
...
Matthew Davidson   1-2-3-0-0

Census Analysis: Matthew Davidson
Male > 16 : Matthew Davidson, b. 1754
Female     : Mary Blaine, b.
Male < 16 : John Davidson, b. ?
Male < 16 : ?
Female     : Ann Davidson, b. c. 1778
Female     : Mary Davidson, b., 1784-1790

1800 Census:
p. 118
Benjm. McKeehan       11111 - 13010 - 00
...
Jno. McKeehan Senr.   21201 - 00001 - 00
...
Mattw. Davidson           11101 - 11201 - 00
John Junkins                20001 - 11111 - 00
Geo. Davidson              01021 - 00101 - 21
...
Jno. Davidson Senr.      22201 - 10201 - 01

Census Analysis: Matthew Davidson  11101 - 11201
Male       > 45 : Matthew Davidson, b. 1754
Female   > 45 : Mary Blaine, b. bef. 1755
Male     16-26 : John Davidson, b. ?
Male     10-16 : ?
Male      < 10 : Matthew Davidson Jr., b. c. 1799
Female 16-26 : Ann Davidson, b. c. 1778
Female 16-26 : Mary Davidson, b., 1784-1790
Female 10-16 : ? Isabella Davidson, b. ?
Female   < 10 : ?

1810 Census:
p. 120
Mathew Davidson     01111 - 00200 - 0
...
William Davidson     20001 - 01101 -0
Joseph Crawford     10001 - 02001 - 0
George Davidson     01010 - 00010 - 0
George Davidson     10010 - 20010 - 0
...
John Davidson         01201 - 01201 - 0 -1

Census Analysis: Matthew Davidson  01111 - 00200
Male       > 45 : Matthew Davidson, b. 1754
Male     26-45 : John Davidson, b. ?
Male     16-26 : ?
Male     10-16 : Matthew Davidson Jr., b. c. 1799
Female 16-26 : Mary Davidson, b., 1784-1790
Female 16-26 : Isabella Davidson, b. ?

Ann Davidson, b. c. 1778

1820 Census:
p. 28
Martha Crawford     000 000 - 00011 - 0000
...
William Davidson    100 010 - 10010 - 0000
Matthew Davidson   000 101 - 00200 - 0100
Matthew Davidson   100 010 - 01010 - 0100
Joseph Crawford      000 001 - 00201 - 0100

Census Analysis: Matthew Davidson (Sr)  000 101 - 00200
Male       > 45 : Matthew Davidson, b. 1754
Male     18-26 : ?
Female 16-26 : Mary Davidson, b., 1784-1790
Female 16-26 : Isabella Davidson, b. ?

John Davidson, b. ?
Ann Davidson, b. c. 1778
Matthew Davidson Jr., b. c. 1799

Will:
Abstracts 1817-1825: Will Book I: Cumberland Co, PA
http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/pa/cumberland/wills/willbki.txt

DAVIDSON, MATTHEW, Senr., Westpennsboro. May 18, 1825. May 27, 1825.
Sons John and Matthew, Junr.
Two daus. Isabella Davidson and Ann Leckey.
Land adjoining John Myers and John Bucher, also William Davidson's heirs.
Dau. Mary McIntire.
Exs: Sons John Davidson, Esq. and Matthew Davidson, Junr.
Wit: Saml. Alexander, Wm. Davidson. I. 408.

Matthew married Mary Blaine before 1778. Mary was born before 1755; died on 19 Nov 1803 in West Pennsboro Twp., Cumberland Co., PA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Obituary: Aft 19 Nov 1803, Carlisle, Cumberland Co., PA; Kline's Gazette

Notes:

Obituary:
Died Mrs. Davidson - wife of Matthew in West Pennsborough township Nov 19th 1803

Other Events:

• Book Article: 1905, Chicago, Cook Co., IL; Biographical Annals of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania (The Genealogical Publishing Co.), p. 666-669

Notes:

The son of James Woodburn of Cumberland County, Pa. who lived in the area known as "The Richlands" in the northern part of what is now Dickinson township. It is thought that the family came from Ireland but when is not known.

John had a brother, Samuel who never married and is also buried in Newville Cemetery, the remains of their parents are believed to be buried in the old Seceder Church Cemetery, Dickinson township.

John Woodburn married Mary Skiles and had the following children:

James Woodburn b. 1 July 1788, married Eliza Jacobs.
Jane Woodburn b. 29 Nov 1790, married Alexander Davidson.
Samuel Woodburn b. 27 Mar 1791, married Elizabeth Weakley.
Skiles Woodburn.
Rebecca Woodburn b. 11 Aug 1802, married Archibald Thompson.
Thomas Smith Woodburn.
Emily Woodburn.

John Woodburn died 11 January 1846, at the age of ninety-two years and is buried in the same plot as his brother, Samuel who died November 1834.

Book Article:
JOHN H. WOODBURN. On March 27, 1772, James Woodburn, of Colerain township, Lancaster county, bought from Timothy Hosfield, of Bethlehem, Northampton county, 280 acres of land. The land is described in the deed as adjoining lands of Robert Dunning in Pennsboro township, Cumberland county. This is the first appearance of the Woodburn name upon the records of Cumberland county. The purchaser soon afterward removed to this property for the tax list of West Pennsboro the next year shows him taxed with this land and also with personal property. James Woodburn continues taxed with practically the same amount of land from that time down to 1786, when he disappears. The next year a John Woodburn, who for several years had been listed as "freeman" in West Pennsboro, is taxed with the same amount of land that James Woodburn had been taxed with, and continues taxed with it for some years to come. The fact that the property which belonged for so many years to James Woodburn descended to John Woodburn is a pretty safe indication that John was the son of James, and his natural and legal heir.

This John Woodburn lived in the locality known as "The Richlands," in the northern part of what is now Dickinson township. According to tradition the family came from Ireland, but whether before or after John was born cannot now be determined. The family seem to have first settled in Lancaster county. James, the father, probably died about the year 1787, leaving two sons, John and Samuel. He may also have had other children, but whether he did and who they were is not definitely known. Samuel never married, and for a number of years the two brothers lived together and jointly farmed the lands which they inherited from their father. Afterward they divided the estate, and each farmed his own portion. They belonged to what was long known as the "Old Seceder" Church, which stood near the "Stone House", in Dickinson township, and it is probable that the remains of their parents are buried in the graveyard of that Church. Samuel died in November, 1834, in his sixty-ninth year; and John died Jan. 11, 1846, at the great age of ninety-two years. Their remains rest in the same lot in the graveyard of the United Presbyterian Church at Newville.

This John Woodburn was the grandfather of John H. Woodburn, the subject of this biographical sketch. He married Mary Skiles, who died Jan. 16, 1836, at the age of seventy-two years, and is buried by the side of her husband in the graveyard at Newville. John Woodburn and Mary Skiles, his wife, had the following children: James, born July 1, 1788; Jane, born Nov. 29, 1790; Samuel, born March 27, 1791; Skiles; Rebecca, born Aug. 11, 1802; Thomas Smith; Emily.

James Woodburn, the eldest son, through association with the militia, acquired the title of "Colonel", and was long familiarly known as "Colonel Woodburn." On Jan. 20, 1814, he married Eliza Jacobs, and formany years lived on a farm on the north side of the Conedoguinet Creek, near what is known as Jacobs' Bridge. He had three daughters, one of whom, Jane, married James Paxton Woods. The other two were twins, Mary and Elizabeth, of whom Mary married Levi Trego, and Elizabeth married Jacob Trego. Levi and Jacob Trego were brothers.

Jane Woodburn, the eldest daughter of John and Mary (Skiles) Woodburn, married Alexander Davidson, who died Oct. 19, 1865. She died Aug. 1, 1879, and both are buried in the cemetery of the Big Spring Church at Newville.

Samuel Woodburn, the second son, while yet a boy, cut his knee and was so badly lamed that he had to walk with crutches during the rest of his life. He was a large, heavy man, and notwithstanding his lameness was quite agile. He took much interest in public affairs, and in 1833 Governor Wolf appointed him Register of Wills. In 1851 he was elected Associate Judge, and in 1856 re-elected. For a long time he lived on the property on the York Road in South Middleton township known as the Weakley farm. On Jan. 7, 1820, Samuel Woodburn married Elizabeth, daughter of James Weakley, by whom he had two children, a daughter who married a McColloch; and another, Mary S., who married Joseph McKee. His first wife dying he married (second) Jane Brown, by whom he had two children, Thomas, who died young, and Jane, who married Captain Thomas McGregor, of the United States army. Judge Woodburn died Oct. 7, 1860, and is buried in the Old Grave Yard at Carlisle. Rebecca married David Sterett. Emily married Matthew Davidson. Thomas Smith Woodburn, the youngest son of John and Mary (Skiles) Woodburn, was born April 20, 1807, on the Woodburn homestead in "The Richlands." He married Margaret Craighead, daughter of Thomas and Rebecca (Weakley) Craighead, a lineal descendant of the Rev. Thomas Craighead, who was the first pastor of the Presbyterian congregation west of the Susquehanna river in the Cumberland Valley. Her great-grandfather, John Craighead, in 1742, purchased a large tract of land upon the Yellow Breeches creek, four miles south of where Carlisle now is, upon which the family have lived through five successive generations. After his marriage Thomas S. Woodburn engaged at farming on the Woodburn farm in "The Richlands," where he continued to reside until his death. He died Oct. 11, 1839, while yet a young man, and his remains are buried in the graveyard of the United Presbyterian Church at Newville.

Thomas Smith and Margaret (Craighead) Woodburn had children as follows: John H.; Thomas Craighead, born Aug. 16, 1835; James Skiles, born April 9, 1837; Rebecca, born Jan. 7, 1839. After the death of Thomas S. Woodburn his widow married Major Joseph Trego, Jan. 11, 1844, and by him had four children. She died March 30, 1880, and is buried in Ashland Cemetery at Carlisle.

Thomas C. Woodburn, the second son of Thomas S. and Margaret (Craighead) Woodburn, became a lawyer and practiced at Baltimore, where he died. He left one daughter, who is now the wife of Joseph Miller, an engineer on the Philadelphia & Reading railroad, living at Harrisburg.

James Skiles Woodburn, the third son, was a member of Company F, 13th Pennsylvania Cavalry, and served three years in the late Civil war, nineteen months of which time he was a prisoner at Richmond and Andersonville.

Rebecca Woodburn, the only daughter, married Archibald Thompson, who settled at Amador City, California, where she died in 1902.

John H. Woodburn, the eldest child of the family, was born on the Woodburn ancestral home in "The Richlands," July 22, 1832, and lived there until he was almost eight years of age. Soon after his father died he went to the home of his aunts, the Misses Jane, Mary and Rachel Craighead, and there grew to manhood. He was educated in the country district school, and in the Academy at Newville, and later in the Burns Academy, which for some years existed where now is Elliottson Station. When about twenty years of age he began farming on the farm on which he still resides. It then belonged to his aunts, but afterward he bought 116 acres of it, erected new buildings upon it, planted trees and added other improvements which have made it a first-class modern farm, and also a very comfortable and beautiful home. Here he has contentedly lived since 1860, devoting himself to his family and quietly discharging the duties of a good citizen.

On March 22, 1860, Mr. Woodburn was married to Agnes L. Weakley, by the Rev. W. W. Eel, pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church of Carlisle. Agnes L. Weakley was a daughter of Nathaniel and Sarah (Bell) Weakley, and a lineal descendant of a James Weakley who settled upon the Yellow Breeches creek, in the territory now included in Dickinson township as early as 1724. To John H. and Agnes (Weakley) Woodburn came one child, Sallie Weakley, born June 5, 1861, who has always lived in the home of her parents. On Jan. 19, 1888, Sallie W. Woodburn was married to George Edmund Searight, the Rev. Dr. Norcross, pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church of Carlisle, performing the ceremony. George E. Searight is a son of the late Andrew K. and Amanda A. (Graham) Searight, and was born in South Middleton township, Sept. 25, 1861. He is a descendant of a Gilbert Searight, who, prior to the war of the Revolution, came from the North of Ireland and settled four miles west of Carlisle.

George E. and Sallie (Woodburn) Searight have the following children: Agnes Weakley, born May 31, 1890; John H. Woodburn, born Dec. 29, 1893. Mrs. Agnes Woodburn died Aug. 26, 1903, and her remains were laid to rest in Ashland Cemetery at Carlisle. During the following year, on June 9, 1904, George E. Searight died after a brief illness, and his remains were interred in Ashland cemetery. Since then the two grandchildren, and their mother, comprise all of the little family that are the care and pride of Mr. Woodburn's declining years.

John married Mary Skiles before 1788. Mary was born in 1764; died on 16 Jun 1836; was buried after 16 Jun 1836 in Newville Cemetery, Newville, Cumberland Co., PA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Mary Skiles may be the daughter of John Skiles and Mary Henderson.

Other Events:

• Will: 17 Sep 1754, West Pennsboro Twp., Cumberland Co., PA
• Will: 17 Sep 1754, ____, Chester Co., PA
• Probate: 18 Nov 1755, ____, Chester Co., PA

Notes:

Will:
Will Book A, page 32

"In the Name of God Amen! MADE THE 17th DAY of September 1754, I John Davidson of the township of West Pennsborough, County of Cumberland, Province of Pennsylvania, Yoeman, being very sick and weak of body but of perfect mind and memory thanks be given given unto God makes will etc-

1st and principally I give and recommend my soul into the hands of God who gave it and my body I recommend to the earth to be buried in a Christian like manner at the discretion of my Executors nothing doubting that at the General Resurrection I shall receive the same again by the Almighty Power of God" etc. gives names of heirs thus

First of all I give and bequeath to my well beloved wife Ann Davidson the one fourth part of all my personal estate in goods and chattels, and a horse and saddle and a bedding of cloaths besides the fourth part, after all my just debts and funeral expenses are legally paid, and whilst she continues my widow, she is to have the use and benefit of all my personal estate in lands and in lieut thereof she is to keep and maintain my well beloved children Ann, Margery, John, Samuel, William, and Matthew Davidson - (with) meat, drink and sufficient apparel, and to learn or cause to be learned, my sons John, Samuel, William and Matthew Davidson, to read the Bible plain, and to write a good legible hand, and to write bills, bonds and notes, and learn them Arithmetic, so far as to work the golden rule, or rule of three direct, both single and double rule direct and inverse.

Unto my well beloved son John Davidson my lower tract of land (bounded by John Dunnings tract and Ann Dunnings's tract and together with 79 acres of land adjoining one [?], the patent or deed of the plantation whereon I now live, together with a horse and [... over type ...] , lawful money of Pennsylvania when he came

"Imprimus I will and bequeath to my well beloved son William Davidson the one half of the plantations and the Mansion House wherein I now live and the other office houses thereon.

Item- I will and bequeath the other half of this said plantation to my well beloved sons Matthew and William and they shall keep their mother and provide for fire wood and other necessities during her widowhood and she is to live in the Mansion House during her widowhood. And I do allow my sons John, William and Matthew Davidson each of them to pay fifty pounds apiece when they come to the ages of twenty three years, to be given and for the use of my well beloved son Samuel Davidson in lieu of land. and

Imprimus - I will and bequeath to my well beloved son Samuel Davidson, the one fourth part of all my personal estate in goods, and chattels together with the sum of fifty pounds paid apiece to be paid by my sons John, William and Matthew when they come to the age of 23 yrs

And if any of my sons John, William or Matthew die before they come of age or be married and hath no issue of their own being under age then their part shall fall to my son Samuel Davidson, and if so he shall not have the money, viz fifty pound (from) each in lieu of the land. And if other of my sons die under age, the ones part that died last is to be equally divided between my two daughters Ann and Margery or the survivor if one of them be dead.

Imprimus - I give and bequeath the one half of my estate in good and chattels to be equally divided between my two well beloved daughters Ann and Margery Davidson, and I do order the land at Yellow Breeches Creek to be sold as personal estate.

Imprimus - I leave and bequeath to my beloved sis Elizabeth a yearling colt (more) come of Crogham's mare. I likewise constitute (and) make and ordain my masher[?] (perhaps William Thompson and John Byers  to be sole Executors of this my last will and testament and my brother John Thompson to be guarantee"

Signed
John Davidson - seal
Ann Davidson X (mark) with seal

Witnesses
William Lamond
Margaret Dalwood
Ann Fox

Will:
Chester County, Pennsylvania Wills, 1713-1825
Name:      Matthew Davison
Description:      Son
Prove Date:      18 Nov 1755
Book/Page:      A:32
Remarks:      John Davison of West Pennsboro Township, Cumberland Co., yeoman. 17 Sep 1754. Wife Ann. Children: Ann, Margery, John, Samuel, William and Matthew, sons, minors. Sister Elizabeth McCormick. Bro. John Thompson. Tract of land bounded by John Dunning's and Ann Dunning's tract. Exs., bro. William Thompson and John Byers.

John married Ann Martha Thompson before 1743. Ann was born about 1715 in ____, Lancaster Co., PA; died before May 1790. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]