McMasters Biographies

My preliminary research into the first McMasters family of Bucks County, Pennsylvania (circa 1740s) has identified four possible brothers and at least two sisters. A brief and sourced biography is found below along with at least 2-3 generations for each sibling, if known. The names immediately below are clickable to quickly navigate to the individual of interest. If you would like to learn more about the McMasters DNA project, please click here.

  1. Alexander McMasters
  2. James McMasters (d. 1806)
  3. John McMasters Sr. (d. 1768)
  4. Thomas McMasters
  5. Mary McMasters (1735-1784)
  6. Mrs. Joseph Parker Sr.

A map of relevant locations in Pennsylvania and New Jersey referenced in the biographies is below.

Map of the relevant locations in Pennsylvania and New Jersey for the McMasters of Bucks County

 

Alexander McMasters
Alexander appears to have resided primarily in Solebury Township, which is in central Bucks County across the Delaware River from Amwell Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey.[1] He was a weaver by trade but may also have been a farmer.[2] Alexander first appears in records in 1757 where it stated he borrowed money from Solebury resident Joseph Skelton in 1754.[3] While Alexander was married,[4] nothing is known about his wife or family. A Bucks County history book suggests he was present at the Wyoming Valley Massacre in Northeastern Pennsylvania in either 1763 or 1778 (the book reference is vague about which massacre it was), and Alexander escaped the massacre into Maryland before returning to Bucks County.[5] Records cease for Alexander after 1765.[6]

 

James McMasters (d. 1806)
James married Mary Simpson about 1761, which might explain why he appeared as both single and married on the 1761 tax list for Solebury Township.[7] He and Mary had six children: Hannah, John, Sarah, James, Mary, and Margaret. James was a lieutenant colonel in the Revolutionary War and played an important role in establishing the Presbyterian Church in Newtown.[8] He appeared to be more prosperous and industrious than his brothers. From 1765 to 1771, James operated a ferry and tavern along the Delaware River in Upper Makefield.[9] He appears to have been the only one of his siblings to own land, which he mortgaged 162.5 acres in Upper Makefield Township from Robert Forsman in 1772.[10] James died in 1806.[11]

  1. James McMasters (d. 1806), m. abt. 1761 Mary Simpson
    1. Hannah McMasters (1763-1838), m. Robert Merrick
    2. John McMasters (d. 1820), m1. 1784 Catherine Godfrey, m2. Nancy Ann Roberts
      1. Hannah McMasters (1784-1854), m. 1822 William Vanhorn
      2. Robert McMasters (b. 1787), m. Catherine
      3. William McMasters, m. Deborah Burroughs (b. 1786)
      4. Rachel McMasters, m. Henry Warner
      5. John McMasters, m. Mary Conard
      6. James McMasters, m. Ann Knowles
    3. Sarah McMasters (1774-1852), m. 1796 Solomon McNair (1769-1832)
      1. William McNair
      2. Sarah Ann McNair
      3. Solomon McNair
      4. Mary McNair
      5. Martha McNair
      6. James M. McNair
      7. Eliza McNair
    4. Mary McMasters
    5. Margaret McMasters

John McMasters (d. 1768)
During his life, John lived in three counties near Philadelphia: Bucks and Philadelphia Counties, Pennsylvania and Hunterdon County, New Jersey. He first appeared in Solebury in 1747 where he witnessed the will of James Paxon.[12] John was single in 1751[13] but married Lydia, widow of Christopher Search, around 1758 in Amwell, Hunterdon County.[14] It is uncertain if Lydia was John’s first wife, but John and Lydia had at least three children: John Jr., Thomas, and Margaret.

John and Lydia resided in Amwell, Hunterdon County, New Jersey from at least 1758 to 1761, probably near present day Rosemont.[15] In 1762, John and his family removed to Southampton Township, Bucks County probably because his tenancy in Amwell was under dispute.[16] John’s legal woes appeared to have followed him into Bucks County.[17] At some point after 1762, John moved to neighboring Byberry Township in Philadelphia County and died there in 1768.[18] It is unclear how long the family remained in the Byberry area after John’s death, but John Jr., Thomas, and their widow mother Lydia removed to Chester, Burlington County, New Jersey,[19] which is across the river from Philadelphia. John Jr. and his sister Margaret ultimately moved to Southwark, Philadelphia.[20] John McMasters Sr. was a skilled laborer at times working as a miller, millwright, carpenter, and wheelwright.[21]

  1. John McMasters Sr. (d. 1758), m. abt. 1758 Lydia (LNU – last name unknown[22])
    1. John McMasters Jr. (1758-1845), m1. 1782 Elizabeth Boxon, m2. Ann LNU
      1. Thomas McMasters (b. abt. 1809), m. Nancy Padgett
        1. Harriet A. McMasters (b. 1837), m. Benadetto Bruna
        2. Emily Jane McMasters (1838-1925), m. Calohill Chiswell Padgett
        3. Mary Catherine McMasters (b. 1841), m. William H. Campbell
        4. John Jack McMasters (b. 1843), m. Anna B. Trent
        5. Elizabeth McMasters (b. 1845)
        6. Sarah F. McMasters (1854-1924)
      2. Emily McMasters (1810-1852)
      3. John Wesley McMasters (1816-1861), m. unknown Perrine
        1. Harriet McMasters (b. abt. 1838)
        2. John McMasters (1840-1907), m1. Elmira Ellen Stackhouse; m2. Kate Mimm; m3. Sarah H. Bowden
        3. Female McMasters (1840-1840)
        4. Sarah A. McMasters
        5. Francis (Frank) McMasters (1844-1918), also known as Charles Ramsey, m. Isabella E. Reid
        6. Daniel McMasters (b. abt. 1845), m. Nancy Fleming
      4. Sarah V. McMasters (1819-1875), m. Neal Campbell (1813-1888)
        1. Neal Francis Campbell (1839-1900)
        2. William H. Campbell (1863-1909) (adopted)
      5. Harriet McMasters (d. 1850)
        1. Henry T. King (1828-1892)
        2. Sarah Harvey King (1832-1902)
      6. Ann Eliza McMasters (d. 1845)
    2. Thomas McMasters (1760-1844), m1. 1786 Elizabeth Palmer, m2. 1817 Nancy Ann Ward
      1. Sarah Mary Palmer McMasters (1788-1865), m. 1805 William Washington Hunter
    3. Margaret McMasters, m. 1782 John Flanigan
      1. William Flanigan

 

Thomas McMasters
Thomas first appears in records in Solebury Township and was there as early as 1747 or 1748.[23] Thomas was a farmer,[24] and he married prior to 1751.[25] Like the other early McMasters, he suffered from economic insecurities.[26] He removed to Warwick Township, Bucks County by 1771 and was a tenant farmer on Jonathan Bavington’s estate,[27] which was located on the border of Northampton Township. Thomas had at least four children: Sarah, Mary, William, and Robert. It is probable that he had a son named Thomas, who removed to Greene County, Pennsylvania with his descendants further moving to Wetzel County, West Virginia. The Edams family of Northampton Township, Bucks County appears to have been tightly associated Thomas McMasters’ family as son William lived with James Edams in 1782 and other members witnessed several documents with either James Edams or his son Hugh Edams.[28] Thomas’ grandson through daughter Sarah, named a child Sarah Jane Edams Gardner, and Thomas’ daughter Mary married William Boyd who twice served as a substitute in the Revolutionary War for Hugh Edams.[29] Thomas last appears in records in 1784.[30]

  1. Thomas McMasters
    1. Sarah McMasters (b. 1754), m. 1778 Carswell Gardner (1755-1840)
      1. Benjamin W. Gardner (b. 1790), m1. 1810 Amy Roney, m2 Sarah Holmes
    2. Mary McMasters (1755-1832), m. 1778 William Boyd (1753-1836)
      1. Margaret Boyd (b. 1780), m1. Edward Pollock (1766-1820), m2. Frederick Althouse
      2. Elizabeth Boyd (1784-1860), m. abt. 1809) John Wilson (b. 1784)
      3. William Boyd (1790-1875), m. Frances Whitney (1800-1876)
      4. John Boyd (b. 1796), m. Susannah Huffman (b. 1805)
      5. Jane Boyd (1798-1843), m. Benjamin McDonald (1788-1868)
      6. Mary Boyd (1801-1874), m. Ira R. Butler (1792-1884)
      7. Charlotte Boyd (b. 1805)
    3. Robert McMasters, m. 1777 Esther Palmer
      1. Hannah McMasters (1779-1864), m. James Dickson (1777-1856)
      2. Jane McMasters (b. 1785), m. 1801 James Jolly (b. 1779)
      3. Robert McMasters (b. 1787)
      4. Susannah McMasters (b. 1789), m. 1811 John Willard (1788-1866)
      5. Edward McMasters (1789-1883), m. 1816 Sarah Buckalew (b. 1796)
      6. Margaretta McMasters (1790-1888), m. 1815 Gerardus Wynkoop (1787-1870)
      7. Sarah McMasters (1806-1851), m. 1826 Lewis Vandergrift (1804-1879)
      8. Catherine McMasters, m. 1829 John W. Vandergrift
    4. William McMasters. He was a major in the Revolutionary War.
    5. Thomas McMasters, m. Elizabeth
      1. James McMasters (1780-1852), m. Elizabeth (b. 1795)
      2. Jacob McMasters (1784-1844), m. Delilah Estle (1785-1872)
      3. Thomas McMasters (1787-1854), m. Catherine Estle (1787-1870)
      4. Martha McMasters (1794-?), m. William Estle (1778-1858)

 

Mary McMasters (1735-1784)
While no records confirm Mary resided in Bucks County like her siblings, she did marry William Search about 1758,[31] which is the same time in which John McMasters Sr. (d. 1768) married Lydia, widow of Christopher Search. William Search was the son of Christopher Search though Christopher’s first wife, Priscilla Rittenhouse.[32] Mary (McMasters) Search had at least ten children: James, Lot, Christopher, John, Elijah, William, Margaret, Priscilla, Thomas, and Charles.[33] Records suggest she lived most of her years in the vicinity of Kingwood, Hunterdon County, New Jersey.[34] Mary was reportedly born in 1735 and died 1784.[35]

  1. Mary McMasters (1735-1784), m. ~1758 William Search (1736-1806)
    1. James Search (b. 1759), m. Elizabeth Moore
    2. Lot Search (b. 1760)
    3. Christopher Search (b. 1764), m1. Amelia Torbert, m2. Ann Miles
    4. John Search (b. 1768)
    5. Elijah Search (1770-1848), m. Sarah Hayes
    6. William Search (b. 1771)
    7. Margaret Search (b. 1773), m. David Crawford
    8. Priscilla Search (b. 1775), m. Jacob Crawford
    9. Thomas Search (b. 1777), m1. Jane Stephenson, m2. Hannah Harper
    10. Charles Search (b. 1779), m. Catherine Shaffer

 

Mrs. Joseph Parker Sr.
The name of the second sister is unknown, but she likely resided in Upper Makefield Township, Bucks County in the mid 1700s. Upper Makefield is just south of Solebury Township. She married Joseph Parker Sr., and together they had at least five children: John, Joseph Jr., Margaret, Elizabeth, and William. Mrs. Joseph Parker likely died before 1765 as Joseph Parker Sr. fathered a son Nathaniel Parker (b. 1765[36]) with Ann Edmonds.[37]

The identification of Mrs. Joseph Parker Sr. as a sister the above siblings is based on three key pieces of indirect evidence. First, autosomal DNA evidence from multiple descendants of Joseph Parker Sr. suggest a genetic connection with descendants across several of the Bucks County McMasters progenitors and a McMasters line from Antrim, Northern Ireland.[38] The second piece of evidence is a 1765 civil court case where James McMasters (d. 1806) and Joseph Parker Sr. were sued by John Ross for a £20 debt for goods and merchandise purchased in 1763 from Ross.[39] The third piece of evidence is a 1752 Quaker marriage record listing Joseph Parker and John McMasters among its attendees.[40] The two are listed sequentially in a list of 45 attendees. John McMasters is likely John McMasters Sr. (d. 1768). The Quaker marriage was between Benjamin Canby of Solebury and Martha Whitson of Amwell, Hunterdon County, New Jersey, which are two locations to which the other McMasters siblings are associated. Taken together, these items suggest a possible family relationship.

  1. Female McMasters, m. Joseph Parker Sr.
    1. John Parker (1755-1827), m. Mary Sump (1762-1817)
      1. William Parker (1785-1797)
      2. Frances Parker (1788-1821), m. 1817 Benjamin Marsh (d. 1823)
      3. John Parker (1794-1829), m. 1822 Mary Jane Quintin
      4. Charlotte Parker (d. 1829), m. William Livingston Prall
      5. Elizabeth Parker (1778-1815), m. Jonathan Smith
      6. Mary J. Parker
      7. Sarah Parker
    2. Joseph Parker Jr. (1759-1834), m. Susannah Reeder
      1. John Parker (b. 1789), m. Frances Kline (b. 1784)
      2. William Parker (1791-1856), m. Rachel Compton (1791-1869)
      3. Mary A. Parker (1793-1851), m. John Keagle (b. 1793)
      4. Job Reeder Parker (1795-1852), m. Eleanor Longan
      5. Charles S. Parker (1801-1867), m1. Elizabeth Carson (1801-1848), m2. 1850 Susan Maddox (b. 1813)
      6. James Parker
    3. Margaret Parker (1761-1848), m. Timothy Starkey (1765-1806)
      1. Mary Starkey (1778-1854), m. John Ely
      2. Benjamin James Starkey (1796-1843), m. Mary Ridgway
      3. Hannah Starkey (1801-1873), m. Jacob Dennis
      4. William Starkey (1802-1875), m. Hannah Warner
      5. Anna Starkey (1802-1874), m. Anthony Minster
    4. Elizabeth Parker (1763-1823), m. William Henry Starkey (1766-1836)
    5. William Parker (1766-1843), m. Mary Johnson (1767-1843)
      1. James Parker (b. 1788), m. Margaret Pearson
      2. Joseph Parker (b. 1794), m. Jane Slack
      3. John Parker (b. 1796), m. Amelia Vansant
      4. Robert H. Parker (1805-1889), m. 1834 Catherine Slack
      5. Mary Ann Parker (b. 1809)
      6. Harriet Parker (b. 1810)
      7. William S. Parker (b. 1814)
      8. Amos Parker (d. 1829), m. 1827 Mary Ann Plumly (b. 1806)

Sources
[1] Bucks County, Pennsylvania, Joseph Seilton [Skelton] v. Alexander McMasters (1757), Court of Common Pleas, Doylestown; originals held at the Bucks County Archives, Mercer Museum and Bucks County Historical Society, Doylestown, items no. 6111A and 6111B. And Bucks County, Pennsylvania, David Spear v. Alexander McMasters (1757), Court of Common Pleas, Doylestown; originals held at the Bucks County Archives, Mercer Museum and Bucks County Historical Society, Doylestown, item no. 6137.  And Bucks County, Pennsylvania, Thomas Craven v. Alexander McMasters (1764-1765), Court of Common Pleas, Doylestown; originals held at the Bucks County Archives, Mercer Museum and Bucks County Historical Society, Doylestown, item no. 7650. And Bucks County, Pennsylvania, James Clemmings v. Alexander McMasters (1759), Court of Common Pleas, Doylestown; originals held at the Bucks County Archives, Mercer Museum and Bucks County Historical Society, Doylestown, item no. 6461.
[2] Ibid.
[3] Bucks County, Pennsylvania, Joseph Seilton [Skelton] v. Alexander McMasters (1757), Court of Common Pleas, Doylestown; originals held at the Bucks County Archives, Mercer Museum and Bucks County Historical Society, Doylestown, items no. 6111A and 6111B.
[4] Bucks County, Pennsylvania, Poor Tax Lists 1721-1764, Alexander McMasters (1761), Solebury, p. 62; database with an image (www.familysearch.org), film 7899008.[5] Davis, William W.H., Warren S. Ely, and John W. Jordan (1905), History of Bucks County, Pennsylvania: From the Discovery of the Delaware to the Present Time (Volumes 1 and 2), New York, NY: The Lewis Publishing Company, p. 242.
[6] Bucks County, Pennsylvania, Thomas Craven v. Alexander McMasters (1764-1765), Court of Common Pleas, Doylestown; originals held at the Bucks County Archives, Mercer Museum and Bucks County Historical Society, Doylestown, item no. 7650.
[7] McNealy, Terry A., and Frances W. Waite (1983), Bucks County Tax Records, 1693-1778. Doylestown, PA: Bucks County Genealogical Society, pg. 30 (Joseph Skelton, Solebury, 1761).
[8] Marshall, Jeffrey L. (1990), Early History of Upper Makefield Township, Bucks Co., PA. New Hope, PA: Dodel Graphics, p. 11 and 66.
[9] Ibid, p. 58.
[10] Bucks County, Pennsylvania, mortgage, James McMasters to Robert Forsman (1772), Book 14, p. 161-163, Recorder of Deeds, Doylestown; database with an image (www.familysearch.org), image 365-366 of 511, film 8067823.
[11] James McMasters will was dated October 1806 and proven 29 November 1806. Source: Bucks County, Pennsylvania, estate file, no 3380, James McMasters (1806), Recorder of Wills, Recorder of Wills, Doylestown.
[12] Bucks County, Pennsylvania, estate file, no 572, James Paxon (1747), Recorder of Wills, Clerk of Orphans’ Court, Doylestown.
[13] McNealy, Terry A., and Frances W. Waite (1983), Bucks County Tax Records, 1693-1778. Doylestown, PA: Bucks County Genealogical Society, pg. 12.
[14] New Jersey, U.S., Abstract of Wills, 1670-1817, Christopher Search (1757), vol. 32, p. 284; database with an image (www.Ancestry.com), image 285 of 471; citing New Jersey State Published Archives Series.
[15] Hunterdon County, New Jersey, Abraham Cottnam v. John McMasters (1759), Court of Common Pleas Minute Books, Trenton; database with an image (www.familysearch.org), image 177 of 864, film 8218331. And Hunterdon County, New Jersey, Abraham Cottnam v. John McMasters (1759), Court of Common Pleas Minute Books, Trenton; database with an image (www.familysearch.org), image 266 of 864, film 8218331. And New Jersey State Archives, Supreme Court Case Files 1704-1844, Benjamin Howell v. John McMasters, tenant in possession (1761), Amwell, Hunterdon County, Case 17018; New Jersey Department of State, https://wwwnet-dos.state.nj.us/DOS_ArchivesDBPortal/index.aspx, accessed 21 August 2022. And Wilson, Rick T. (2023). Who was the father of Mary McMasters (1755-1832), who married William Boyd in 1778 in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Accessed 13 July 2023 from www.MyFamilyPattern.com; citing D’Autrechy, Phyllis B. (1992). Hunterdon County Place Names. Flemington, NJ: Hunterdon County Cultural and Heritage Commisssion, p. 53.
[16] New Jersey State Archives, Supreme Court Case Files 1704-1844, Benjamin Howell v. John McMasters, tenant in possession (1761), Amwell, Hunterdon County, Case 17018; New Jersey Department of State, https://wwwnet-dos.state.nj.us/DOS_ArchivesDBPortal/index.aspx, accessed 21 August 2022.
[17] Bucks County, Pennsylvania, lease of indenture, John McMasters to William Briggs, (1762), Book 10, p. 418-419, Recorder of Deeds, Doylestown; database with an image (www.familysearch.org), image 324-325 of 398, film 7898966. And Bucks County, Pennsylvania, William Pidgeon v. John McMasters (1765), Court of Common Pleas, Doylestown; originals held at the Bucks County Archives, Mercer Museum and Bucks County Historical Society, Doylestown, item no. 7568.
[18] Pennsylvania, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1683-1993, John McMasters (1768), case no. 53, Administration Files, no. 10-72, image 306-315 of 433; database with image, Ancestry (www.ancestry.com, accessed 6 September 2022).
[19] Burlington County, New Jersey, Tax Ratables, 1778-1822, John McMasters (1780), Chester; database with an image (www.familysearch.org), film 865464, image 570 of 1,005. And Burlington County, New Jersey, Tax Ratables, 1778-1822, Thomas McMasters and Lydia McMasters (1796), Chester; database with an image (www.familysearch.org), film 865464, image 576 of 1,005. And Burlington County, New Jersey, Tax Ratables, 1778-1822, Thomas McMasters and Lydia McMasters (1797), Chester; database with an image (www.familysearch.org), film 865464, image 585 of 1,005.
[20] Pennsylvania, Tax and Exoneration, 1768-1801, John McMasters (1783), Southwark, p. 359; database with image, Ancestry (www.ancestry.com, accessed 19 June 2023), image 360 of 631; citing Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission, record group 4, roll 336. And 1790 U.S. census, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, population schedule, Southward, p. 364, image 9 of 66, Jno (Porter) Flannagan; database with image, Ancestry (www.ancestry.com, accessed 1 November 2022); Family History Library Film 0568149.
[21] Bucks County, Pennsylvania, lease of indenture, John McMasters to William Briggs, (1762), Book 10, p. 418-419, Recorder of Deeds, Doylestown; database with an image (www.familysearch.org), image 324-325 of 398, film 7898966. And Bucks County, Pennsylvania, William Pidgeon v. John McMasters (1765), Court of Common Pleas, Doylestown; originals held at the Bucks County Archives, Mercer Museum and Bucks County Historical Society, Doylestown, item no. 7568. And Pennsylvania, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1683-1993, John McMasters (1768), case no. 53, Administration Files, no. 10-72, image 306-315 of 433; database with image, Ancestry (www.ancestry.com, accessed 6 September 2022).
[22] The maiden name of John McMasters Sr.’s wife, Lydia (widow of Christopher Search), is reported to be Lott, but online family trees do not support this supposition with documentation or inferences. While it is unclear where the surname Lott originated for Lydia, one possible explanation may be that earlier researchers misattributed the origin for one of William Search’s (1736-1806) sons named Lott Search. Lott Search was not biologically related to Lydia, as William Search was the son of Christopher Search and his first wife, Priscilla Rittenhouse. It is probable that the name of William’s son, Lott, originated from Priscilla Rittenhouse’s line as she has a brother named Lott Rittenhouse. Source: William Search and Mary McMasters Family Bible, published in 1834, Brattleboro Press office and sold by Lincoln, Edmonds & Co. and William Peirce, Boston, MA, in the possession of Anabel Rogers MacPherson, Portland Oregon; image and notarized transcription, Raymond F. Parish, notary public, Portland Oregon, 21 October 1980; citing “Public Member Trees,” database, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com, accessed 1 September 2022), “Cottle” family tree by Wm. Andrew Cottle, profile for Elijah Search (1772-1848), attached media originally shared by Wm. Andrew Cottle, 25 Jun 2014. And New Jersey, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1739-1991, Wm Rettenhousen (1761), vol. 13, p. 205-206; database with an image (www.Ancestry.com), image 124 of 627; citing New Jersey Department of State.
[23] Bucks County, Pennsylvania, estate file, no 548, Thomas Craig (1746), Recorder of Wills, Clerk of Orphans’ Court, Doylestown. And Bucks County, Pennsylvania, estate file, no 608, John Wells (1748), Recorder of Wills, Clerk of Orphans’ Court, Doylestown.
[24] Bucks County, Pennsylvania, William Montgomerie v. Thomas McMasters (1753), Court of Common Pleas, Doylestown; originals held at the Bucks County Archives, Mercer Museum and Bucks County Historical Society, Doylestown, items no. 5147A and 5147B. And Bucks County, Pennsylvania, Jeremiah Langhorne estate v. Thomas McMasters (1756), Court of Common Pleas, Doylestown; originals held at the Bucks County Archives, Mercer Museum and Bucks County Historical Society, Doylestown, item no. 5839.
[25] McNealy, Terry A., and Frances W. Waite (1983), Bucks County Tax Records, 1693-1778. Doylestown, PA: Bucks County Genealogical Society, pg. 12. And Bucks County, Pennsylvania, William Montgomerie v. Thomas McMasters (1753), Court of Common Pleas, Doylestown; originals held at the Bucks County Archives, Mercer Museum and Bucks County Historical Society, Doylestown, items no. 5147A and 5147B.
[26] McNealy, Terry A., and Frances W. Waite (1983), Bucks County Tax Records, 1693-1778. Doylestown, PA: Bucks County Genealogical Society, p. 63. And Bucks County, Pennsylvania, Jeremiah Langhorne estate v. Thomas McMasters (1756), Court of Common Pleas, Doylestown; originals held at the Bucks County Archives, Mercer Museum and Bucks County Historical Society, Doylestown, item no. 5839. And Bucks County, Pennsylvania, William Montgomerie v. Thomas McMasters (1753), Court of Common Pleas, Doylestown; originals held at the Bucks County Archives, Mercer Museum and Bucks County Historical Society, Doylestown, items no. 5147A and 5147B.
[27] McNealy, Terry A. (1990), Index to Bucks County References in the Pennsylvania Gazette, 1728-1789. Doylestown, PA: Bucks County Genealogical Society.
[28] Wilson, Rick T. (2023). Who was the father of Mary McMasters (1755-1832), who married William Boyd in 1778 in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Accessed 13 July 2023 from www.MyFamilyPattern.com.
[29] Pension Application, Carswell Gardner, Sergeant, Revolutionary War, “Declaration of Carswell Gardner in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7,1832”, dated 21 August 1832, Pension Application W.1409, Pension Office, War Department, Washington, DC; online database with images, Fold3 (www.fold3.com, accessed 19 November 2022). And Pension Application, William Boyd, Sergeant, Revolutionary War, “Declaration of William Boyd in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7,1832”, dated 9 April 1833, Pension Application S.22,127, Pension Office, War Department, Washington, DC; online database with images, Fold3 (www.fold3.com, accessed 31 July 2018).
[30] Bucks County, Pennsylvania, land deed, Andrew and Edith Gilkison to James Edams (1784), Book 22, p. 146-148, Recorder of Deeds, Doylestown; database with an image (www.familysearch.org), image 413-414 of 640, film 8067826.
[31] William Search and Mary McMasters Family Bible, published in 1834, Brattleboro Press office and sold by Lincoln, Edmonds & Co. and William Peirce, Boston, MA, in the possession of Anabel Rogers MacPherson, Portland Oregon; image and notarized transcription, Raymond F. Parish, notary public, Portland Oregon, 21 October 1980; citing “Public Member Trees,” database, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com, accessed 1 September 2022), “Cottle” family tree by Wm. Andrew Cottle, profile for Elijah Search (1772-1848), attached media originally shared by Wm. Andrew Cottle, 25 Jun 2014.
[32] New Jersey, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1739-1991, Wm Rettenhousen (1761), vol. 13, p. 205-206; database with an image (www.Ancestry.com), image 124 of 627; citing New Jersey Department of State.
[33] Ibid.
[34] See for example, Pension Application, Lot Search, Private, Revolutionary War, “Declaration of Lot Search in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7,1832”, dated 6 September 1847, Pension Application S.21961, Pension Office, War Department, Washington, DC; online database with images, Fold3 (www.fold3.com, accessed 14 July 2023).
[35] Find A Grave, database with images (https://findagrave.com, accessed 1 September 2022), memorial 198032769, maintained by CC (contributor 48986187), originally created by Zoe Tom (contributor 47000374); citing Prallsville Cemetery, Hunterdon County, New Jersey, USA.
[36] Pennsylvania, U.S., Septennial Census, 1779-1863, Lycoming County, Nathaniel Parker (1800), Lycoming Township, image 11 of 24; database with image Ancestry (www.ancestry.com, accessed 6 September 2022); citing Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, record group 7, box 1026.
[37] Bucks County, Pennsylvania, land deed, Richard Edmond estate et al. to Philip Miller (1796), Book 14, p. 423, Recorder of Deeds, Doylestown; database with an image (www.familysearch.org), image 570 of 691, film 8067827.
[38] DNA evidence privately held by the author for privacy reasons.
[39] Bucks County, Pennsylvania, John Ross v. Joseph Parker and James McMasters (1765), Court of Common Pleas, Doylestown; originals held at the Bucks County Archives, Mercer Museum and Bucks County Historical Society, Doylestown, items no. 7532-1 and 7532-2.
[40] Moore, James W. (1900), Records of the Kingwood Monthly Meeting of Friends, Hunterdon County, New Jersey. Flemington, NJ: H.E. Deats, p. 12-13.