A Long Line of Loves: February 2019

Andrew Moore arrived in 1723 at New Castle, Delaware, with his sons, James and Thomas, and daughters, Mary and Margaret, children of his first wife, Margaret (Wilson). They settled in Chester Co., Pennsylvannia, where he was a co-founder of the Sadsbury Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) and owned property, including a mill. Andrew, a widower, married again, Rachel Halliday, and had eight more children who survived to adulthood.

Andrew wrote his will February 1, 1753. He died July 5, 1753, and his will was proved August 14 1753. Andrew was a wealthy man giving generous amounts of money to his heirs and providing for his youngest children. If you have read any wills, you know that one of the first orders of business is to express that all debts be paid. Not so Andrew. Apparently, he had no debts. His concern for his younger children is evident in the stipulations that the three youngest sons learn a trade at about 16 or 17 years and that the bequests would be halved if, before coming of age, they married outside the Society of Friends or exhibited bad behavior. He names his wife, Rachel, and eldest son, James, as executors.

Daughter Margaret married Alexander Love, who was not a Quaker, which caused Margaret to be “disowned” from the Society of Friends. This meant that she was no longer in "unity" with the beliefs of the Society, not that she was shunned by family or other Quakers. She was still included in her father’s will. Margaret was given £5 plus an amount to be determined after the appraisal of Andrew’s property in 1760. Margaret and Alexander’s oldest son, Andrew, was to recieve £40 when he came of age at 21 (2 other grandsons named Andrew were given £5 each).

While the inheritance given to the older children is pretty straight forward, the provisions made for the younger children were more involved. Rachel was to have the income (and expenses) of the mill and plantation to support herself and the youngest five children until David, their youngest son, turned 16 (1761). At that time she would get 1/3 of the income from the mill and plantation plus continue to have rooms in the house and other privileges (her dower rights). And an appraisal was to be made of the mill and land to settle the estate. After all bequests had been paid out, including £200 to Rachel and £50 to each of the five youngest children (Robert, John, David, Rachel and Sarah), the remainder was to be divided between any living children. John and David were each given 1/2 of the mill and property plus £200 (presumably at age 21).

One might think that the estate would be settled once the appraisal was made and monies paid out as directed in Andrew’s will. However, John eventually decided he did not like the arrangement and sought to have it changed. This involved lengthy negotiations that were finally settled December 17, 1789, (Andrew Moore’s Will Part II).

Transcription in Chester County, PA, Will Book C, Vol 3 (1747-1755), pp. 430-433

p 430