Henry Kitchen

Note NI6575The Kitchen Family, D. Anger, 1993 By the time of the American Revolution Henry Kitchen was of age to be a combatant but there is no record of him having taken part on either side. It is possible that he had Loyalist leanings as did many residents of Sussex Co., New Jersey, including his Loyalist brother Andrew Kitchen who had a judgement against him by the Patriot side. Midway through the Revolution, possibly in 1778 at about age 28, Henry Kitchen married Rachel Hixon. Sometime after 1793 and before 1800, Henry Kitchen and family, probably accompanied by brothers Wheeler, Samuel, and John and their families, migrated from Greenwich Twp., New Jersey, to Northumberland Co. (later Columbia Co.), Pa. Here Henry and his family appear on the Census. In early 1801, several families, including brother John's, possibly brother Andrew and his family at this time, the Howell's , and others as well as Henry and his family continued the trek from New Jersey via Pennsylvania to Upper Canada to the head of Lake Ontario. Here they settled in the Township of Ancaster in Wentworth County. Shortly thereafter, Henry Kitchen petitioned for land. An Ancaster publication 'Ancaster's Heritage', produced by the Ancaster Township Historical Society in 1970 provides some light on the early settlement years in Ancaster: 'Henry Kitchen bought lot 37, Con. 1 from the Crown Patentee William Carress on Aug. 20, 1802, and he built his home on the south west corner of the lot, facing on the Governor's Road.. He bought lot 25, Con. 1 on March 6, 1804... The road allowance at the west boundary of this lot was known as Kitchen's Side Road... p. 233.' On the 1800 Census in Pennsylvania, Henry had nine children, and between the taking of the census and March of 1801 when he wrote his Land Petition in Upper Canada another child was born. Since only nine children were mentioned in Henry's Will in 1820, it is obvious that this child or an earlier child died before 1820. Henry died on Sept. 22, 1822, age 72 years, 7 months, and 21 days. He was buried at Zion Hill Cemetery. Last Will of Henry Kitchen ( copied from a file in the Ancaster Township Museum ). A memorial to be registered pursuant to the Statute in such case made and provided of a will bearing date the eighteenth day of February in the year of Our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty, which said will is in the following words. In the name of God, Amen. I, Henry Kitchen of the Township of Ancaster in the County of Halton, District of Gore, province of upper Canada, being weak in body but of sound and perfect mind and memory or you may say thus, considering the uncertainty of this mortal life and being of sound mind, blessed be almighty God for the same, do make and publish this my Last Will and Testament in the manner and form following, that is to say, first I give and bequeath unto my eldest son Andrew the sum of forty dollars I do also give and bequeath unto my second son Joseph the sum of forty dollars I do also give and bequeath unto my third son Henry the sum of forty dollars I do also give and bequeath unto my fifth son John the sum of five dollars I do also give and bequeath unto my eldest daughter Rachel the sum of five dollars I do also give and bequeath unto my second daughter Mary the sum of five dollars I do also give and bequeath unto my third daughter Sarah the sum of five dollars which said several legacies or sums of money I will and order shall be paid to the said Respective Legatees, within twelve months after my decease. I further give and devise to my youngest son Amos his heirs and assigns, one hundred acres of land being the north end of lot number 25 in the first concession of Ancaster, to him his heirs and assigns forever together with all the moveable property. I further Give and Devise to my fourth son William his heirs and assigns the remainder part of the Lot which he now Resides on if he still remains on the Lot then he is to pay one Half of the Legacies above named if he removes off immediately then he is not to pay any. Amos is to pay all the Legacies above named. I hereby appoint Henry my third son and Amos my youngest son sole executors of this my last will and Testament and hereby revoking all former wills by me made, which said will witnessed by Nathan Cummings of the Township of Beverly, yeoman, and John Kitchen of District of London, yeoman and this memorial is therefore desired to be registered pursuant to the said act by me, Amos Kitchen, one of the Devised and Executors in the said will mentioned, as witness my hand and seal this sixteenth day of October Eighteen Hundred and Twenty-one. Signed, sealed in the presence of James Durand, Jr. and Nathan Cummings. No 711 Co B, Memorial no 711 of Will Folios 249: 250 Registered the sixteenth day of October 1821 at two o'clock p.m. upon the oath of Nathan Cummings Lib B to 198 James Durand, Jr. Dy Registrar

Father; Wheeler Kitchen ( 1724-1785 ) New Jersey.

Mother; Mary Heath ( 1725-1792) New Jersey.

Family links:

Spouse:

 Rachel Hixon Kitchen (1756 - 1819)

Children:

 Andrew Henry Kitchen (1779 - 1828)*

*Calculated relationship

Inscription: aged 72y 7m 21ds

Burial: Zion Hill Cemetery Ancaster Hamilton Municipality Ontario, Canada Plot:

Father; Wheeler Kitchen ( 1724-1785 ) New Jersey.

Mother; Mary Heath ( 1725-1792) New Jersey.

Family links:

Spouse:

 Rachel Hixon Kitchen (1756 - 1819)

Children:

 Andrew Henry Kitchen (1779 - 1828)*

*Calculated relationship

Inscription: aged 72y 7m 21ds

Burial: Zion Hill Cemetery Ancaster Hamilton Municipality Ontario, Canada Plot:

• Note: There are too many Henry Kitchens associated with Amwell Township, New Jersey, US.