John Churchman (abt. 1665 - abt. 1725)

Born about 1665 in Saffron Walden, Essex, England

Ancestors

Husband of Hannah (Cerie) Churchman — married 28 Oct 1696 in Concord Meeting, Chester, Pennsylvania

Descendants

Died about May 1725 at about age 60 in East Nottingham Township, Chester, Pennsylvania

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Biography

John Churchman was a part of William Penn's Pennsylvania Settlers community.

John was a Friend (Quaker)

John Churchman was born from1665-1667.^[1] "John Churchman departed this life in the year 1724 about 57 years old and was buried at the Friends Graveyard, East Nottingham the same year the Brick Meetinghouse was built first." ^[2]

John Churchman and his future wife Hannah Seary or Cerie both came to America on the ship Amity, of London. John Churchman immigrated from Saffron Walden, Essex, England, Hannah Seary from Bedford, Oxfordshire, England. ^[2] Besides John Churchman, who was 17 years old, the other passengers on the Amity included Thomas Seary and his wife Sarah and their daughter Hannah, then about six years of age.^[2]

John Churchman and Hannah Seary or Cerie were married in 1696 in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.^[2]

John Churchman was one of the original owners of the 37 Nottingham Lots in Chester County, Pennsylvania (later in Cecil County, Maryland), owning lots 16 and 17.

According to a lecture given by Robert Warwick Day in 2001, "John Churchman came to Nottingham with his parents about 1705 and became a [Quaker] minister. He was legendary for his religious travels throughout the colonies, Great Britain and Europe and kept a journal that was later published. He also became quite wealthy and built a home which was almost considered pretentious for this small Quaker village."^[3]

Abstract of Last Will and Testament: John Churchman of Nottingham. Executed December 7, 1724. Proved May 10, 1725, Chester County, Pennsylvania. To eldest son George, part of my lott supposed to contain 150 acres. To son John, the plantation whereon I dwell including 70 acres since added by survey subject to a one-third profit a prendre in favor of his wife Hannah. To son Thomas, part of my lott supposed to be 250 acres. To 2 youngest sons, viz Edward and William, a tract of land which is run out upon Jordan, being about 300 acres. To 2 daughters Dinah and Susanna, a tract of land which is surveyed upon Chestnut Hill being about 300 acres, also £20 each. To 2 youngest daughters, Miriam and Sarah, £5 each at 18. Executors: Wife Hannah and son George. Witnesses: Aaron Coppock, Esther Brown, James Wright.^[4]

Sources

1. ↑ There is conflict between John being 57 at the date of his death and being 17 at the date of his boarding the Amity.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3} U.S.Quaker Meeting Records, Pennsylvania Chester, Nottingham MM, Births, Marriages and Deaths p18 Ancestry Record 2189 #1107342527
3. ↑ Day, Robert Warwick, "The Nottingham Lots and the Early Quaker Families, paper presented to East Nottingham Monthly Meeting, Calvert, Maryland" in The Nottingham Lots: A Tercentary Celebration 2001. (East Nottingham Trustees, 2001) Pages 17-26.
4. ↑ Chester County, Pennsylvania, Will Book A, p. 170 Available here

• John Churchman profile on Rootsweb available here
• The Churchman Family of Nottingham Lots, Michael Churchman

Acknowledgments

Thanks to Scott Givaudan for starting this profile. Click the Changes tab for the details of contributions by Scott and others.