James E Anderson (abt. 1700 - abt. 1741)

Born about 16 Apr 1700 in Skye, Scotland

Descendants

Died about 19 Feb 1741 at about age 40 in Chester, Pennsylvania

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Biography

Unsourced trees state that James was born on 16 April 1700 on the Isle of Skye in Scotland. He was the son of James Anderson. The book, The Church of Saint Peter in the Great Valley, however indicates that he was born in 1690.

Unsourced trees indicate that James died 19 Feb 1741 in Chester, Pennsylvania.

From The Church of Saint Peter in the Great Valley:^[1]

"There was also at least one Scot in the congregation -- James Anderson, from the Isle of Skye. His descendants say he ran away from home because his father threatened to thrash him for poaching. On his arrival in America, about 1707, as a seventeen-year old redemptioner, Thomas Jerman (or Jarman), the prosperous Quaker miller who had the Great Valley Mill, bought his indentured time and brought him to the Great Valley. Before his term of service had expired, Anderson had won the heart of Jerman's daughter Elizabeth. Father Jerman frowned on the match, so the young couple eloped as soon as Anderson had served his time. Jerman, constrained to make the best of the fait accompli, finally relented, forgave them and helped his son in-law buy 340 acres on Pickering Creek. Thither, in 1713, Anderson took his bride. At first they lived in a cave; later, Anderson built a log cabin where he lived until his death. Amongst other activities, he is said to have made moccasins for his friendly Indian neighbours. ...

"James Anderson's eldest son Patrick, afterwards a Vestryman of St. Peter's, bought the farm from his father about 1746. When Patrick was a Captain of Militia in the Revolutionary War, he borrowed heavily to pay for the equipment of his company. After the war, the Continental Congress failed to reimburse him and, in order to discharge his debt, he deeded a considerable part of his farm to the creditor who had advanced the money for military outfit. Throughout the eighteenth century the Andersons, father and son - two of the picturesque characters of St. Peter's - were active in church affairs."

1709 Arrival James Anderson immigrated to New England in 1709.^[2]

Marriage James Anderson married Elizabeth Jerman.^[3] Unsourced trees give the date 1711 for this marriage.

1741 James was mentioned in the will of his mother-in-law, proved 1 Oct 1741:"^[4]

Elizabeth Jerman of Tredyffrin. Widow of Thos. September 12, 1741. October 1, 1741. B. 93. To each of my grandchildren by my son in law James Anderson £10 as they come of age amounting to £80. To my grandson Patrick Anderson one cow. To daughter Mary Walker one cow. To daughter Elizabeth Anderson, wearing apparel. To granddaughter Margaret Walker, bed. To granddaughter Sarah Walker 2 ewes. Executor: son in law Enoch Walker and friends Robt. Jones of Merion and Thomas Thomas of Radnor, trustees. Witnesses: Stephen Evans, Samuel Hodge, John Potts."

Sources

1. ↑ The Church of Saint Peter in the Great Valley, 1700-1940: the story of a colonial country parish in Pennsylvania, by Eberlein and Hubbard, 1944. FamilySearch | Hathitrust
2. ↑ "U.S. and Canada, Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s". Place: New England; Year: 1709; Page Number: 9. Ancestry Record 7486 #1580805. Name: James Anderson; Arrival Year: 1709; Arrival Place: New England; Primary Immigrant: Anderson, James; Source Bibliography: WHYTE, DONALD. A Dictionary of Scottish Emigrants to the USA. Vol. 1. Baltimore: Magna Carta Book Co., 1972. 504p. 2nd pr., 1981.;
3. ↑ "Lancaster, Pennsylvania, U.S., Mennonite Vital Records, 1750-2014". Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 60592 #62101. Name: James Anderson; Relationship: Head; Elizabeth Jerman, Spouse.
4. ↑ "Chester County, Pennsylvania Wills, 1713-1825". Ancestry Record 4895 #15990. Name: James Anderson; Description: Son-in-law; Date: 12 Sep 1741; Prove date: 1 Oct 1741; Book Page: B:93

• Ayrshire, Scotland, Parish and Probate Records
• Boyd, Robert Buntein, Elizabeth
• Scotland, Select Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950
• U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970
• UK, Extracted Probate Records, 1269-1975

See Also

• FamilySearch: James E. Anderson (16 April 1700 – 16 July 1740) Note: not well sourced!