Hannah Eavenson

Hannah Eavenson (Woodward)

• Married: Thomas Eavenson was the son of Radulphus & Cicely Eavenson of Burland, Acton Parish, Cheshire, England (see instructions at bottom of page to view the will.) Thomas Eavenson married three times: (1) Hannah Woodward, and (2) Elizabeth Woodward who was presumably Hannah's sister, or at least her cousin. When he died in 1726 Thomas named a wife (3) Margaret in his will, but we do not know her surname. We do know from land records that Elizabeth was alive in 1717 so the marriage was after that date.

The theory that Edward Woodward of England, may be the progenitor of the Woodwards who settled in Chester County, Pennsylvania, is based on the close proximity of the Eavensons & Woodwards in time and place in Chester County, and that Elizabeth Woodward is documented as the daughter of Edward Woodward in her birth/baptismal record in Acton Parish, Cheshire, England

Children:

• Thomas Eavenson died young
• Ralph Eavenson born probably 1682 Cheshire, England; married Grace Arnold
• Richard Eavenson born 4/22/1684 Cheshire, England; married Jemima Newlin
• Mary Eavenson died 11/1686 Acton Parish, Cheshire, England burial 11/25/1686 Acton Parish

History

Children of Thomas and Hannah Woodward Eavenson

Some information that we have comes from Eavenson-Strickland and Allied Families, by Sexta Eavenson Strickland (Stein Printing Co, Atlanta, Ga, 1933). A birthdate of 1682 is given for Ralph Eavenson, which seems credible. She also gives a son Thomas, probably the eldest, who died young. Ralph and Grace Arnold Eavenson

Ralph Eavenson married Grace Arnold, daughter of Richard and Sarah Chamberlain Arnold. They had children: Jacob, Joseph, Hannah, and Phoebe (married James Guess.) Their daughter Hannah Eavenson married Richard Woodward, Jr., grandson of Robert Woodward. Ralph Eavenson died between March 24, 1744 and April 9, 1744 when his will was proven, and Grace died between November 11, 1746 and January 29, 1747 when her will was proven. Son Joseph died between March 12, 1745 and April 23, 1745 when his will was probated. Son Jacob died intestate and administration was granted to brother Joseph on February 12, 1745. The deaths of the two sons within a month of each other is curious, perhaps disease?

Will of Ralph Eavenson

To son Jacob the plantation formerly George Lees except 50 acres of the east end, he providing for his mother Grace during her widowhood. To son Joseph the plantation I now live on and the 50 acres above mentioned subject to provision for his mother. To daughter Phebe Eavenson and grandson Enoch Woodward my lot in Wilmington. To daughter Hannah Woodward 20 shillings. Executors: wife and son Joseph; witnesses: Jos. Eavenson, John Palmer, John Cheyney.

Will of Grace Arnold Eavenson

To Mary daughter of brother Thomas Arnold, 5 pounds. To grandson Enoch Woodward 5 pounds. To Stephen Hurly 2-10 pounds when 21. To Elizabeth Boss 2-10 pounds at 18. To grandson Joseph Gess 5 pounds. To all my brothers and sisters children a new Bible. To daughter Phebe Gess remainder of estate. Executors: son in law James Gess and John Palmer. Witnesses: Wm. Trimble, Jos. Eavenson, Jos Chamberlin

Will of Joseph Eavenson

To mother Grace Eavenson during life the plantation left me by my father Ralph Eavenson during life, afterward to my sister Phebe Guess also that plantation left by my father to my brother Jacob Eavenson. To kinswoman Mary Arnold 5 pounds. To kinsman Enoch Woodward, 1 pound. Remainder to mother. Executors: mother Grace Eavenson and brother in law James Guess. Witnesses. Henry Pierce, Josiah Arnold, John Cheyney. Richard and Jemima Newlin Eavenson

Son Richard Eavenson prospered. He married Jemima Newlin, daughter of Nathaniel and Mary Mendenhall Newlin [reported] on 8 dy 10 mo 1712 at Concord Monthly Meeting (meaning they were married shortly before that date.) Richard and Jemima inherited a large tract of land (913 acres) when Jemima's father died in 1729. Richard Eavensondied in Thornbury Township sometime between 8/20/1739 when he wrote his will and 11/19/1739 when it was proven.

Will of Richard Eavenson

Provides for wife not named. To son Nathaniel the plantation I now live on containing 352 acres in Thornbury and Westtown when 21, also the lot of land in the Valley where Jacob Taylor liveth being part of the 100 acres I bought of Jacob Wright. Refers to a tract of 100 acres leased to John Stanton for 999 years being a part of the Society land on Brandywine Creek, gives to wife during life and afterward to daughter Mary, also said daughter 100 pounds at 21. Remainder to wife son Nathaniel and daughter Mary. Gives to son Richard Eavenson, "if he recover from the illness he is now in," a desk and the dutch boy named Hance Adam Smith now living with him. Executors: brothers Ralph Eavenson and John Newlin. Witnesses: John Townsend, Edith Newlin, Kath. Eavenson.

From Chester County Pennsylvania Inventories we learn that Richard's estate included: Law Book called Country Justice; Shewings History; Prince Authors Poems; a Big Bible (possibly the one that had belonged to Thomas); William Smith's works in folio; Our Pennsylvania Law Book; Senecas Morals; the History of Queen Elizabeth; Echards Eccliastical History in two volumes; Abridgment of the English Chronicle; Barclays Apology; Universal Historical Dictionary in two volumes; Blackmore's Creation: Gentlemen Instructed: Elwoods Davideis; Jacob Beheme's The Election of Grace & Questions; Coles Dictionary; Robers Voyages; William Penn's Travels in Holland; The Knowledge of the World; The Wars of the Jews; Human Prudence; Echoes; Mary Molineux Poems; Ellis Pughs Book; Mesterkeiss poperis three volumes; 3 English Chronicles; Elizabeth Sirridge Book Gentiles Divinity; Two Journey's to Jerusalem; Arithmatick; The History of Pirates; Protestant Tutor; Aristotle; The English Physician; A navigation book; and General Epistle. Hardly the library of a simple carpenter (occupation given in land record above)! We would love to know what happened to these books.

Wife Jemima Newlin Eavenson died before December 25, 1753 when administration was granted to son Richard Eavenson.

The children named in Richard's will were

• Richard, born 5/3/1718
• Nathaniel born 1/28/1720,
• Mary, born 11/2/1721 (birthdates recorded at Concord MM per Concord Meeting Minutes 1684-1757.)
• Richard Eavenson married Alice Gilpin, daughter of Joseph and Hannah Glover Gilpin on 2/11/1739 at Concord Monthly Meeting. They had children: Esther 2/14/1740; Enoch 8/8/1741; Hannah 12/11/1742; Thomas 10/18/1744; Isaac 9/27/1746.
• Nathaniel Eavenson married Elizabeth Palmer, daughter of John and Martha Yearsley Palmer, at Christ Church on 3/20/1746. They had children: Martha (married Benjamin Johnson); Hannah (married Moses Cock and went to Ohio); Richard (died 1771); Rebecca (married Benjamin Jones); Jemima (married Benjamin Kirgan); and Elizabeth (married Anthony Morris.) Nathaniel Eavenson died before October 12, 1766 when administration was granted to Elizabeth Eavenson and Moses Palmer (Elizabeth's brother).

Sources

Thomas Eavenson Family - http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~mygermanfamilies/family/Eavenson.html