James Hepburn

• Reference: Ancestry Genealogy - SmartCopy: Aug 25 2017, 22:09:35 UTC

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Birth: 1747 County Donegal, Ireland Death: Jan. 4, 1817 Northumberland County Pennsylvania, USA

James Hepburn headstone photo courtesy of Lou Latsha of Northumberland County, PA.

Notes and Queries, Historical, Biographical and Genealogical, 1898, p. 142. James Hepburn of Northumberland. II, James Hepburn, eldest son of Samuel, after being engaged in business in Philadelphia for a short time, established himself at Northumberland about 1781, and opened a general store. John Cowden became associated with him as a partner. They prospered and built up a great business for that time, and their firm became widely known. They also did a private banking business, which was a great convenience to the people. James Hepburn, who was a man of much shrewdness and sagacity, became a great speculator in land and acquired many farms and improvements At one time he owned three hundred acres in what is now the center of the city of Williamsport. The firm Hepburn & Cowden was dissolved July 4, 1794, after having been in existence for more than ten years. Hepburn then continued business alone until his death, Jan. 4, 1817. His old partner also entered into the store business alone. John Cowden was appointed the first postmaster of Northumberland in 1795, and served until Jan. 12, 1837, a period of forty-two years, when he died having survived his old partner twenty years. As a typical Scotch-Irishman, James Hepburn was a rigid Presbyterian, and served as an elder in the Presbyterian church of Northumberland for many years. Governor Mifflin appointed him a Justice of the Peace in 1796, and he continued in office till near the time of his death. In his successful business career he accumulated a handsome fortune and died one of the wealthiest men of his time. After his death, his wife, Mary Hopewell moved to Williamsport and resided with her son, Andrew, until her death, May 1, 1826. She was buried in the Old Williamsport cemetery, but the remains of her husband rest at Northumberland, forty miles away. They had issure: i. Samuel, b Nov. 5, 1782; m. Ann Clay became a prominent member of the bar, and d. at Lock Haven, Pa., Oct. 16, 1865, leaving descendants. ii. Andrew Doz, b May 23, 1786; m. Martha Huston; became a prominent merchant and business man, and d. Williamsport, March 6, 1861, leaving descendants. iii. William b. May 17, 1789; d. Sept. 22, 1800. iv. James, b. May 17, 1789; m. Mary Hyatt; d. Dec. 25, 1835 in Philadelphia. Left two sons and seven daughters. v. John b Oct. 8, 1792; served in the war of 1812; m. Juliana Grant; d. Jan. 1838 at Columbia and is there buried. No issure. vi. Jane b. March 19, 1795; m. Francis C. Campbell, of Williamsport, and d. May 17, 1867, leaving descendants. vii. Mary b. May 6, 1797; m James Merrill and d. at New Berlin, Pa., June 3, 1825. No issure. viii. Hopewell b Oct. 28, 1799; m. Caroline Cauffman; d. Feb. 4, 1863 in Philadelphia. Left two sons and four daughters. ix. Sarah b Sept. 10, 1801; m. James Armstrong, a d. Feb. 20, 1829 at Williamsport. Had two daughters and one son – the Hon. William H. Armstrong.

The Hepburn Family of the Susquehanna Valley, John F. Meginness, 1894. James and William Hepburn were prominent and representative men in the West Branch Valley of the Susquehanna one hundred years ago. The latter came as early as 1773, from Ireland, and at once identified with the struggling pioneer settlers in their efforts to repel the savages. p. 58. James Hepburn and his wife Mary Hopewell had issue: i. Samuel, b. November 5, 1782; m. Ann Clay; d. October 16, 1865, in Lock Haven. ii. Andrew D., b. May 23, 1786; m. Martha Huston; d. March 6, 1861, in Williamsport. iii. William, b. May 23, 1786; d. September 22, 1800. iv. James, b. May 19, 1789; m. Maria Hyatt; d. December 25, 1855, in Philadelphia. V. John, b. October 8, 1792. Settled at Northumberland. Served as an ensign in Capt. William F. Buyers' company of Northumberland Blues, attached to the regiment of Lt. Col. George Weirick, 1st Brigade, 2d Division, commanded by Gen. Henry Spearing, war of 1812. Married Juliana, daughter of Col. Thomas and Deborah (nee Martin) Grant, of Sunbury, and d. January, 1838, at Columbia, Pa., and was there buried. His wife, b. May 13, 1798; d. March 8, 1844, at Philadelphia, and was buried by his side in the Presbyterian Churchyard, Columbia. No issue. vi. Jane, b. March 19, 1795; m. Francis C. Campbell; d. May 17, 1867, in Williamsport. vii. Mary, b. May 6, 1797; m. James Merrill; d. June 3, 1825, in New Berlin. viii. Hopewell, b. October 28, 1799; m. Caroline Cauffman; d. February 4, 1863, in Philadelphia. ix. Sarah, b. September 10, 1801; m. James Armstrong; d. February 20, 1829, in Williamsport.

Family links:

Parents:

 Samuel Hepburn (1698 - 1795)

Spouse:

 Mary Hopewell Hepburn (____ - 1826)*

Children:

 Samuel H Hepburn (1782 - 1865)*

 Andrew D Hepburn (1786 - 1861)*

 Jane Hepburn Campbell (1795 - 1867)*

 Mary Hepurn Merrill (1797 - 1825)*

 Hopewell Hepburn (1799 - 1863)*

 Sarah Hepburn Armstrong (1801 - 1829)*

Sibling:

 James Hepburn (1747 - 1817)

 Samuel Hepburn (1775 - 1801)*

*Calculated relationship

Burial: Riverview Cemetery Northumberland Northumberland County Pennsylvania, USA

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Created by: I Love Genealogy Record added: Mar 07, 2017 Find A Grave Memorial# 177091846 https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=hepburn&GSfn...