John Henry Biography

Introduction

John Henry first appears in the Tredyffrin records in 1785 as an inmate (married, without land) and with an occupation of blacksmith. He purchased a tract of 34 acres on the Conestoga road in 1788, and in the rest of the century made a number of other small purchases accumulating 59 acres by the end of the century. The 1798 glass tax shows them having a 23' x 18' stone house and a log smithshop. In 1811 they sold a number of the tracts and purchased a farm of 60 acres around the junction of Swedesford and North Valley Roads. John wrote his will in 1817 and died in 1823.

1788 John Henry of Tredyfrin, blacksmith, purchases 34 acres in Tredyffrin (Chester County deed E2-401, part of tract 1 below).
1789 tax 32 acres 1 horse, 1 cow
1790 census head of household, 2 males < 16yo., 2 females.
1791 tax 32 acres 1 horse, 2 cows
1792 purchases 6 acres of land (deed H2-419).
1793 purchases 3 acres of land (deed H2-415, tract 4 below)).
(no 1793 tax)
1795 tax blacksmith 34 acres (@ $7.67 valuation $260.78), buildings, 1 horse, 3 cows
1795 purchases 4 acres of land (deed M2-228, see tract 3 below)
1795 purchases 2½ acres of land (deed X2-128, along West Valley Road)
1796 purchases 17 acres of land (deed M2-470, part of tract 2 below).
1797 tax blacksmith 52 acres & improvements, buildings, 1 horse, 3 cows
1798 property return 1/30/1798, 52 acres, 2 horses, 4 cows
1798 Glass Tax: 59 acres, stone house 23’ x 18’, 1 floor; log barn 39’ x 17’; log smithshop 24’ x 16’.

Map of Tredyffrin tracts in 1798, showing 4 John Henry properties

1799 tax 60 acres, 2 horses, 3 cows
1800 census males: 1 10 – 16 years old, 1 45 years or older, 2 females 0 – 10 years old, 1 10 -16 years old, 1 45 years or older
1804 purchases 4 acres of land (deed Y2-11)
1810 census – no John Henry in Chester County?

1811 John & Catharine sell 4 tracts of land.

1811 purchased a farm of 60 acres from Thomas J. Walker, located around the junction of Swedesford and North Valley Roads.

1817 John writes his will.

1823 John dies.

1836 Ann & Peter Jacquett, Hannah and Mary Henry sell 60 acres of land (deed O4-211)

Will of John Henry, 1817

In the name of God Amen. I John Henry of the township of Tredyffrin in the County of Chester and State of Pennsylvania, yeoman being weak of body but of sound and disposing mind and memory blessed be God therefore do this fifteenth day of March One Thousand Eight Hundred and Seventeen do hereby make and ordain this my last will and testament and as touching my worldly estate where so with it pleased God to bless me.I give and devise my farm as follows In ? I order all my just debts and funeral charges to be paid and discharged. Item I give and bequeath to my loving wife Catharine the choice of my best beds and bedding and bedsteads also the choice of one of my cows. Item it is my desire that my executors sell the remiander of my estate so soon as they think it will sell to the best advantage Both real and personal they making a good & lawful title for the same. Item I give and bequeath to my son William fifty dollars, that is twenty five in one year after my decease and twenty five more in two years after my decease. I give Hannah Henry my daughter in law ten dollars to be paid in one year after my decease. I give and bequeath to my grand children Williams children to Catharine fifty dollars to John Henry one hundred dollars. To be paid them on their arriving of age if either of said children should die before they arrive of age the survivor to draw their share. Item I give and bequeath to my dear and loving wife Catharine the interest of one third of my estate during her natural life. Item I give the remainder and residue to my three daughters Hannah, Mary, and Ann to be equally divided between them share & share alike, and after the decease of their mother to draw her proportion share & share alike. In case any of my daughters should die in their minority the others to divide the stock alike and alike & lastly I do ? nominate constitute and appoint my three daughters Hannah, Mary, and Ann executors of this my last will and testament hereby revoking and ? all former wills by me made. Declaring this only to be my last will and testament.

In ? thereof I have ? to set my hand and seal this fifteenth day of march one thousant eight hunderd and seventeen 1817.

Witnesses William Thomas and John Davis

An inventory of the goods and chattles rights and credits of John Henry Deceased late of the township of Tredyffrin Chester County