George Ross, III

George Ross III, b. June 1, 1752, d. Lancaster, Pa., Nov. 13, 1832, m. *April 5, 1773, Mary Bird, daughter of Colonel William and Brigitte (Hulings) Bird. She was b. in Birdsborough, Pa., Dec. 23, 1753**, d. Lancaster, Pa., Jan 13, 1813. George Ross was chosen a member of the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania, in Oct 1787, and Vice President of the Council, Nov. 5, 1788, serving until Dec. 21, 1790. In 1791 he was commissioned by the Governor as Register of Wills and Recorder of Deeds for Lancaster Co., Pa., which office he held for eighteen years. He was known among the citizens of that County as "der Waisenvater." Issue (surname Ross): Ann, b. Lancaster, Pa., Jan 5, 1774, d. Lancaster, Pa., Dec 9, 1816, m. June 18, 1791, James Hopkins. Patton, b. Lancaster, Pa., March 13, 1778, ***d. s.p. Lancaster, Pa., March 10, 1845, m. June 15, 1805, Elizabeth Witmer, daughter of Abraham and Mary (Herr) Witmer. She was born near Lancaster, Pa., Dec 23, 1770, d.s.p. Lancaster, Pa., Nov. 26, 1836. .

Mr. Ross was a member of the bar of Lancaster, Pa., and at one time, was Recorder of that City. William Bird, b. Lancaster, Pa., April 6, 1782, d. unm. Lancaster, Pa., Feb. 13, 1828. He was elected County Commissioner of Lancaster Co., Pa., in 1817, and in 1821 was appointed Clerk of the Court of Quarter Sessions for that County. (Wm. Bird and his son Mark, Hopewell Furnace, Union Township, Berks Co., Penna. Magazine, 8:60, also 8:62, also 8:64, also 8:67.)

From Heitman's Historical Register of Continental Officers Ross, George, (Pa) Ensign 2nd Pennsylvania Battalion, March 20th, 1776; resigned 21st July 1776, to enter the Navy, and served as Captain of Marines (p. 9. 351) Ross, George, (Pa) Adjutant 2nd Pennsylvania Battalion, Jan 11, 1776; 1st Lieutenant 11th Pennsylvania, 13th Nov 1776; Captain .......Resigned 1st April 1778. From Pa. Archives, 2nd Series, Vol. X, pg. 80 - George Ross was appointed Adjutant, 2nd Pa. Battalion, Jan 11, 1776. Pa. Archives, 2nd Series, Vol. X, pg. 89 - George Ross was appointed 1st Lieutenant, 1776; promoted to Captain, 1777, appears on Roster as Captain, June 1777, resigned April 1, 1778. Wanted - Date and place of death of George Washington Ross, 3rd son of George Ross, Jr., he was b. April 24, 1788, married Elizabeth Witmer about 1812, and is said to have deserted his family and fled away from home. Date of death of Gertrude Ross, second daughter of George Ross, Jr. She was b. Jan 20th 1785, and is said to have died aged 12 years.

George ROSS III16 was born on 1 JUN 1752 in Lancaster, Lancaster Co., PA. He died on 13 NOV 1832 in Lancaster, Lancaster Co., PA.17 George was the last vice president of Pennsylvania under the constitution of 1776. He was chosen a member of the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania in October 1787, and Vice President of the Council 5 Nov 1788, serving until 21 Dec 1790. For 18 years he held the office of Register of Wills and Recorder of Deeds for Lancaster Co. He was known among the citizens as "de Waisenvater." George III was visited by Lafayette in 1825. George III resided on the northwest corner of Prince and Orange Streets, Lancaster, PA. He was married to Mary BIRD on 5 APR 1773 in St. Gabriel's Church, Amity Twp., Berks Co., PA. Mary BIRD was born on 23 DEC 1753 in Birdsboro, Lancaster Co., PA. She died on 24 JAN 1813 in Lancaster Co., PA. He brother Mark married her husband's father's sister. Their father was Col. William Bird and mother Brigitta (or Bridget) Huling (or Hulings). George ROSS III and Mary BIRD had the following children:

+66 i. Ann ROSS.

67 ii. Patton ROSS was born on 13 MAR 1778 in Lancaster, Lancaster Co., PA.18 He was baptized on 21 APR 1778 in Trinity Lutheran Church, Lancaster, Lancaster Co., PA. He died on 10 MAR 1845 in Lancaster, Lancaster Co., PA. He married Eliza (or Elizabeth)) Witmer 21 Jun 1805, in Lancaster Co., PA. She died 26 Oct 1836, age 56, in Lancaster, PA. She was the daughter of Abraham and Mary "Molly" (Herr) Witmer. In the 1800 census, there is a Paton Ross in Lancaster, Lancaster Co., page 40, with 1 male 16-26, 1 female under 10, and 1 female 16-26. Either his marriage date with Eliza/Elizabeth is incorrect or he was married to another woman before 1805. There is also the possibility that they were living together, unmarried. At death, he was the oldest member of the Bar in Lancaster. At one time he was Recorder of that city. 68 iii. William Bird ROSS was born on 6 APR 1782 in Lancaster, Lancaster Co., PA. He was baptized on 21 APR 1782 in Trinity Lutheran Church, Lancaster, Lancaster Co., PA. He died on 13 FEB 1828 in Lancaster, Lancaster Co., PA. He perhaps married Martha Klinger, or was unmarried. William Bird was elected County Commissioner for Lancaster Co. in 1817, and was appointed Clerk of the Quarter Sessions for that county in 1821. 69 iv. Gertrude Read ROSS was born on 20 JAN 1785 in Lancaster, Lancaster Co., PA. She was christened on 16 JUL 1785 in Lancaster Co., PA. She died on 17 MAY 1786. 70 v. George Washington ROSS was born on 24 APR 1788 in Lancaster, Lancaster Co., PA. He was christened on 5 MAR 1790 in St. James Church, Lancaster, Lancaster Co., PA. He married Mary Witmer Dec 1812. Their children were: George, born 4 Apr 1817 and died 1896, who married Elizabeth Binkley and left descendants in Ohio, Indiana and Michigan; and Mary Eliza, born 11 Mar 1814 and died 19 Nov 1906 in Philadelphia, who never married. She was the last descendant of George Ross, the "Signer," of the name Ross. 71 vi. Caroline ROSS19 was born on 15 FEB 1790 in Lancaster, Lancaster Co., PA. She was baptized on 23 NOV 1797 in Trinity Lutheran Church, Lancaster, Lancaster Co., PA. She died on 8 JUL 1848 in Philadelphia, PA. Caroline married Samuel Davenport Orrick 3 May 1821 in Lancaster, PA. He was born in 1795 and died 28 Mar 1850, and was manager of the Conowingo Furnace. They had one son, Newton, who married Elizabeth Lloyd. He died in Point Pleasant, NJ, 5 May 1887. Caroline was a member of St. James Episcopal Church, Lancaster, Lancaster Co., PA 72 vii. Thomas Mifflin ROSS was born on 12 NOV 1791 in Lancaster, Lancaster Co., PA. He died on 17 APR 1814 in Lancaster, Lancaster Co., PA. He did not marry. 73 viii. Robert Coleman ROSS was born on 20 DEC 1793 in Lancaster, Lancaster Co., PA. He died on 1 JUN 1818 in Lancaster, Lancaster Co., PA. 74 ix. Eliza Juliana ROSS19 was born on 25 OCT 1797 in Lancaster, Lancaster Co., PA. She was baptized on 23 NOV 1797 in Trinity Lutheran Church, Lancaster, Lancaster Co., PA. She died on 18 APR 1871 in Lancaster, Lancaster Co., PA. Eliza Juliana was called "Eliza" by family and friends. She married Dr. Abraham Carpenter 30 Apr 1823 (or 13 Aug 1820) in Lancaster, PA. Their eldest daughter Mary Ross Carpenter was baptized in St. James Church, Lancaster, 3 Apr 1827. She died 3 Sep 1829. They also had a daughter Caroline Orrick Carpenter, born 6 Nov 1828 and died 11 Apr 1900. Caroline married David G. Eshleman 14 Nov 1848. Their children were Anna Julia, born 24 Oct 1849, died 21 Oct 1879, who married John H. McMurdey 28 May 1872; Eliza Ross, born 13 Aug 1853, who married Frank M. Taylor 28 Nov 1876 and lived in Denver, CO; Harrietta Burrows, born 1 Oct 1856, who married E. G. Stimson 4 Jun 1879 and lived in Denver, CO; and George Ross, born 30 Sep 1864, who married Elizabeth Spencer 1 Jun 1893. 

George Ross, Jr. was a staunch patriot during the Revolution and was for some time Vice-President of the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania. In 1791 he was commissioned by the Governor, Register and Recorder, which office he held for eighteen years.

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