John Chenoweth, III

John Chenoweth II was the oldest son of John Chenoweth I and wife Mary Calvert. He was born 1706, probably in Pennsylvania, but England, Maryland or New Jersey have also been suggested.

John married Mary Smith. Her parents are unknown at this time. Some think she came from Pennsylvania, but the wedding was recorded on November 26, 1730 at St. John's Parish, Baltimore County, Maryland. John and family are found living on leased land in 1737 in the Middle River Hundred, next door to his brother-in-law, John Watson, husband of John's sister, Mary.

John Chenoweth and his wife Mary would have 9 known children, the first ones born in Maryland. Birthplace of the later children is disputed, being either Maryland or Virginia. John Chenoweth II's children form the largest body of known descendants in the family.

In 1762 John is known to have received a patent for land in Frederick County, Virginia from Lord Fairfax. (this later became Berkeley County and still later West Virginia). It is likely that John, however, along with his brothers William and Thomas, located in Frederick County, Virginia sometime before the death of their father in 1746. Indeed the last record of a John Chenoweth found in Maryland for several decades following is 1742, lending credence to the theory that the family moved somewhat together to Virginia.

The original site of the Cool Spring Presbyterian Church, built in 1764, was on a portion of the 314 acre grant, located on Runneymead Road (Rte.26) near present day Torytown. Since John owned this land at that time, he must have deeded the site for the church grounds.

Like his father, John was a blacksmith (see will posted below, where he bequeaths his tools to a son) and died with substantial land holdings in Virginia. In his 1770 will, written at about age 65, John mentions each of his 9 children and widowed wife, Mary. To his two oldest sons, William and John, he willed 248 acres of land on the Cacapon River in Hampshire Co. To Absolom, Thomas and Richard, he willed the lands upon which he lived, part of 314 acres patented from Lord Fairfax. At the time this land was in Frederick Co. near "Torytown", but in 1773 it would be just a couple of miles north of the border in newly formed Berkeley Co. To his son Arthur, he left "one schilling and three pence," about one dollar.

Within two generations all of John's descendants had left this part of Virginia, that was later to include Berkeley and Hampshire Counties., WV. A large group, including sons: Richard and Arthur, daughters: Elizabeth and Rachel, and 3 grandchildren: Jonathan, William and Absolom, Jr., went to Kentucky, mainly Jefferson Co. Three sons: William, John and Absolom died in Virginia, and their children went to Ohio, Kentucky and one, to Indiana. John's son, Thomas(3), after returning to Maryland, married there, and late in his life took his family to Botetourt Co., VA, before his death in 1780. John's grandson, John(4), moved and settled due west in what would be Randolph Co., WV. Many of the families of John associated with the Baptist Church.

In March of 1773, after John's death, heirs Mary, his widow, and sons Absolum, Richard and Thomas, along with their wives, sold the 314 and 23.5 acre parcels to a George Scott of Berkeley County.

Children of John Chenoweth II and wife Mary Smith:

• William b. January 08, 1731/32, St John's Parish, Baltimore Co., MD; d. Bef. September 01, 1772, Frederick Co., VA; m. (1) RUTH CALVERT, Bef. 1755, Hopewell MM, Clearbrook, Frederick Co., VA; b. Abt. 1730; d. Bef. 1772; m. (2) JANE ?, Aft. 1760.
• John b. November 13, 1735, Baltimore Co., MD; d. April 29, 1812, Hampshire Co., VA (now WV); m. (1) MARY ?, Bef. 1760; b. Bet. 1730 - 1743; m. (2) ELEANOR PARKE, Aft. 1760; b. Bet. 1735 - 1740; d. Bet. 1819 - 1820, Hampshire Co., VA (now WV).
• Thomas b. 1737, Baltimore Co., MD; d. May 08, 1780, Botetourt Co. VA; m. (1) RACHEL RUXTON MOORE, September 14, 1766, St. Geo's Parish, Baltimore Co., MD; b. January 08, 1747/48, Baltimore Co., MD; d. 1775, Baltimore Co., MD; m. (2) ANN CARROLL, August 10, 1777, Baltimore Co., MD; b. Bet. 1732 - 1752.
• Richard b. Bet. 1738 - 1748, Maryland or Virginia; d. June 1803, Jefferson Co., KY; m. MARGARET 'PEGGY' MCCARTY, Bet. 1771 - 1773; b. Abt. 1751, Hampshire Co., VA (now WV); d. Abt. 1839, Shelby Co., KY.
• Absolum b. 1745, Frederick Co., VA (now Berkeley Co., WV); d. April 12, 1773, Berkeley Co., VA (now WV); m. RUTH ?, Abt. 1765, Frederick Co., VA; b. Abt. 1745, Frederick Co., VA (now Berkeley Co., WV); d. Aft. 1779.
• Mary b. 1748, prob Frederick Co., VA; d. July 27, 1830; m. (1) LEVI ASHBROOK, 1768, Frederick Co., VA; b. 1738, Gloucester Co., NJ; d. September 01, 1794, Hampshire Co., VA (now WV); m. (2) JAMES MCBRIDE, 1804; b. Bet. 1734 - 1740, IRELAND; d. Abt. 1818.
• Elizabeth b. 1750, Frederick Co., VA; d. February 07, 1786, Jefferson Co., KY; m. JAMES STUART, Bef. November 1770; b. Bet. 1735 - 1750; d. Unknown.
• Arthur b. July 16, 1752, Frederick Co., VA; d. 1828, Columbus, Bartholomew Co., IN; m. ELSPA LAWRENCE, April 01, 1773, Frederick Co., VA; b. October 20, 1749, Frederick Co., VA; d. 1829, Bartholomew Co., IN.
• Rachel b. May 07, 1754, Frederick Co., VA; d. July 04, 1807, Jefferson Co., KY; m. KENNER SEATON, 1772, Berkeley Co., VA (now WV); b. March 13, 1753, Stafford Co., VA; d. July 29, 1829, Jefferson Co., KY.

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Will of John Chenoweth II Frederick Co., VA: dated November 3, 1770

I will that all my just debts and funeral charges be fully paid and discharged.

ITEM, I give and bequeth to my eldest sons William and John Chanoweth all my land and Plantation on Cancanon in Hampshire County to be equally divided between them to them thier heirs and assigns forever.

ITEM, I give and bequeth to my three sons Absalom, Thomas and Richard Chenoweth all my land and Plantation whereon I now live to be equally divided between them to them their heirs and assigns forever. The said land not to be sold during their Mother's natural life and they to pay the following legatees; my son Absalom to pay the sum of thirty pounds Virginia currency and my said son Thomas to pay the sum of twenty five pounds like currancy money and my said son Richard to pay the sum of twenty five pounds like current money the said _____and to do the remainder to be equall divided between my three daughters Elizabeth, Mary and Rachel.

ITEM, I give and bequeth to my son Arthur Chenoweth one schilling and three pence

ITEM, I give and bequeth to my daughter Mary one cow and calf and one featherbed and furniture

ITEM, I give and bequeth to my daughter Rachel one cow and calf and one featherbed and furniture.

AND LASTLY, I do hereby constitute ordain and appoint my loving wife Mary Chenoweth sole executrix of this my last will and testament revoking and making void all other former wills and testaments made at any time. Ratifying and confirming this only to be my last will and testament. It is here to be remebered that my son Richard is to have my Smiths tools to work with during his mothers natural life provided he stay and work on the Plantation and at her death the said tools are to be sold and the money to be divided between my three daughters and further my will is that after my just debts and funeral charges are fully paid and discharged the remainder of my moveable estate to be equally divided between my three daughters, Elizabeth, Mary and Rachel and in confimation of this to be my last will and testament I have hereunto set my hand and seal this third day of November 1770

                                         John Chenoweth X (Seal)

Signed sealed and acknowledged by the testators to be his last will and testament in the presence of us

• John Salisberry
• William X Salisberry
• M. Morgan

CODICIL

It is here to be remebered that before signed and sealed that the said testator doth give unto his grand daughter Mary Chenoweth, daughter of his eldest son William, one heifer called the mottled heifer, one ewe and lamb provided she stay with her grandmother during her said grandmothers natural life of until she becomes to age

Links to additional material:

• http://www.chenowethsite.com/ch0oth.htm
• http://www.chenowethsite.com/ch1j0.htm
• http://www.chenowethsite.com/chenwill.htm#john2
• CENSUS: 1737 (tax rolls) MD: Baltimore Co: Back River Middle Hundred, 1764 Rent Roll, VA: Frederick Co., VA

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n FamilySearch Family Tree

• John Chenoweth
• Gender: Male
• Birth: 1706 St George's Parish, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
• Marriage: Spouse: Mary Smith Nov 26 1730 St George's Parish, Baltimore, Maryland, British Colonial America
• Death: From Nov 3 1770 Frederick, Virginia, British Colonial America
• Parents: John Chenoweth & Mary Chenoweth (born Calvert)
• Wife: Mary Chenoweth (born Smith)
• Children:
• William Chenoweth
• Thomas Chenoweth
• Arthur Chenoweth
• Absolom Chenoweth
• Mary Watson (born Chenoweth)
• Elizabeth Stuart (born Chenoweth)
• Rachel Seaton (born Chenoweth)
• Richard Chenoweth
• Stephen Gregg Chenoweth
• John Chenoweth, III
• Siblings: Richard Chenoweth
• Arthur Chenoweth
• Thomas Chenoweth
• Ruth Peteet (born Chenoweth)
• Mary Watson (born Chenoweth)
• William Chenoweth
• Hannah Carter (born Chenoweth)
• William Chenowith
• Source: Click here to view record on FamilySearch
• Reference: FamilySearch Family Tree - SmartCopy: Apr 10 2018, 18:22:26 UTC
• Reference: MyHeritage Family Trees - SmartCopy: Nov 19 2020, 0:56:05 UTC

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• Reference: MyHeritage Family Trees - SmartCopy: Jul 12 2023, 20:11:16 UTC