Rev. Samuel DOAK

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• _UID: 7D28A17FDAA04D1181F747C3ACBCDC399C33

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"The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography", Volume 7, pub. 1897

DOAK, Samuel, founder and first president of Washington College, Tennessee (1795-1818), was born in Augusta County, Va., Aug. 1, 1749, son of Samuel and Jane (Mitchel) Doak. His parents, natives of Ireland, and of Scotch extraction, emigrated to America early in the last century, settling in Chester county, Pa., and later removing to Augusta county, Va. His father was a farmer, and the son's early life was hampered by poverty, although with an unquenchable thirst for knowledge he struggled manfully for an education.

At the age of sixteen he began the study of Latin under a Mr. Alexander, probably, Archibald, grandfather of the famous Rev. Dr. Archibald Alexander, who was at that time teaching school in this neighborhood, and in 1773 he entered Princeton College, where he was graduated in 1775. He at once began the study of theology, and was licensed to preach by the Hanover (Va.) presbytery, Oct. 31, 1777. He began his work among the frontier settlements of southwestern Virginia, in Washington county, and later at the Holston settlement, now part of Sullivan county, Tenn., where he remained two years.

While in search of a more promising field of usefulness, early in 1780, he met some settlers in the neighborhood of Salem, Tenn., who crowded about him and requested a sermon. Using his horse as a pulpit, he delivered so pleasing and helpful a discourse that they forthwith importuned him to remain among them. Here he remained and purchased a farm, lie immediately gathered the pioneer families under his ministry and their children under his tuition, forming the Salem Congregation. He built a log schoolhouse, and in 1783 obtained a charter from the legislature of North Carolina, which then embraced that portion of Tennessee; and again in 1785 he obtained another charter from the legislature of the stale of Franklin, in session at Jonesborough (now in Washington countv, Tenn.), on both occasions giving it the name "Martin Academy" in honor of Gov. Alexander Martin of North Carolina. Although there remains no record of his work in the school during the first twelve years of its existence, many young men educated by him subsequently became useful and eminent. One of them. Dr. J. G. M. Ramsey, in his "Annals of Tennessee" says that it was not only it the " first literary institution ever established in the Mississippi valley west of the Alleghanies," but also "for many years the only, and for still more the principal seat of learning in the western country."

During this period, however, Dr. Doak had continued as pastor of the Salem Church, which was one of the first in this region, and had also organized a number of other churches among the settlers. By an act of the legislature of the "Territory of the United Slates of America, South of the River Ohio," dated July 8, 1795, the school was chartered as a college, empowered to grant academic degrees; and in honor of George Washington, then for the second time president of the United States, it was called Washington College. From the minutes of the first meeting of the board of trustees, held July 23, 1795, it appears that the academy had received 420 acres of land on the Doe river from Col. Waightstill Avery, besides numerous contributions of money, and later Alexander Mathes donated a valuable tract of fifty acres ad joining the property of Dr. Doak, where the college building then stood, which is the site of the modern institution. In 1798 while in the East as commissioner of the general assembly, Dr. Doak collected the nucleus of a library, which he transported 500 miles across the mountains on pack horses; and in the same year the Avery lands were sold and the proceeds expended in globes, maps and other equipments. Dr. Doak resigned in 1818 after presiding over the institution for thirty five years, and soon after removed to Green county, Tenn., within the bounds of Mt. Bethel Church, where he aided his second son, Rev. Samuel Witherspoon Doak, in conducting Tuscirtum Academy, chartered as Tusculum College in 1844.

In character, Dr. Doak was possessed of rare firmness, dignity and decision', a natural leader of men and a great organizer. Through all the perils and hardships of pioneer life, he remained true to his noble purpose, and justly merits the title "apostle of learning and religion in the West." As a preacher he was original, bold, forcible, even entertaining; and as a teacher he was thoroughly well qualified, a good disciplinarian and a master in Latin, Greek and metaphysics. His creed was thoroughly Calvinistlc, and he taught and propounded it with an earnestness and lucidity calculated to fix its great truths upon the minds of the many young men trained by him for the ministry.

He was on several occasions delegate and commissioner of his synod, and in 1784 was a member of the constitutional convention of the proposed state of Franklin. He at that time furnished a clause providing for a university to be established by legislative enactment before 1787, and "to be endowed liberally." The degree of D.D. was conferred on him by both Washington and Greenville colleges in 1818. Dr. Doak was married in 1776 or '77 to Esther, daughter of Rev. John Montgomery of Virginia, and had two sons and four daughters. He died in Greene County, Tenn., Dec. 12, 1829.

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• _UID: 5603681A7F5D454E957AFAEC0A54646869BC

Notes:

Samuel is one of the early settlers of Augusta Co. VA, his family's immigration history is murky.

Elaine M Doak Special Collections Librarian/Archivist Pickler Memorial Library Truman State University, Kirksville, MO has put a lot of time into research.

"Here's what we've got on the 1st couple of Doak generations in America. There are basically 2 versions of the "transitional" generations.

One is that Samuel Doak, who remained in Ireland, had a son James who came to PA w/ wife Elizabeth and several children almost any year between 1720 & 1740 (depending on which source you read). The other version is that Samuel himself was the immigrant, same time span. I have yet to see any PROOF of either version. The truth is that we have no idea who the father of the group I call the "immigrant generation" was.

My brother & I went to Chester & Lancaster Cos PA summer before last & came up w/ a lot of nothing -- except more questions. Some records cited by earlier researchers do not exist. Those that do exist do not prove that the Doak family in that area during the 1720-40 time period was the same Doak family to later settle in Augusta Co VA. There are some similarities of given names which COULD indicate they are our Virginians, but they could also indicate they are the Doaks who are to be found a few years later further north in PA.

We did find a James Doke who signed a 1729 petition to create Lancaster Co out of Chester Co. This was the only reference to James we found. It's curious that while Doaks seem to repeat given names over & over, there are no Jameses in the Augusta Co group. That's not proof of anything; it's just an observation.

Some published sources cite a 1727 Chester Co Orphan's Roll which mentions Elizabeth Doak & son David. The County Archivist tells us that all records where were extant as late as about 1900 are still there but this particular entry could not be found. What was the REAL source of the original citation? Also, if Elizabeth's husband was James why would she & her son appear on an orphan's roll 2 years before he signed the 1729 petition? BTW, an orphan is a child whose father is deceased; the mother could still be living. We found a 1726 tax roll listing John Doak & Mother (again, no father?), but the name Elizabeth does not appear there or on any record we could find in either county.

The "immigrant generation" of siblings was Samuel, John, David (the youngest, probably born here), Thankful, Mary, Ann, & Robert. I think there may be a couple more names added to various versions; I seem to have forgotten to bring the list w/ me today. Of that group, we found POSSIBLE mention of John & Samuel in PA. We were unable to find Thankful's marr to John Finley which is supposed to be there, but PA didn't require marr licenses or bonds till the 1850s, so if the record is there it's probably in some church's files. It would be impossible to cover all of these lines, so I'm going to stick to ours.

It is highly unlikely that "Immigrant Sam", as we call him, and Jane Mitchell were married during the voyage from Ireland as is so often reported. If the Doaks in Lancaster Co were ours, they were there as early as 1726 when John & mother appeared on the tax roll. (We're assuming, of course, that this John and our Sam were brothers.) John also appears on 1733 & 1734 grand jury panels. The earliest record we found of Samuel was 1737, when he also was on the grand jury, so it's possible he immigrated as late as 1736 (even tho this was a lot later than mother & brother).
Sam's wife was Jane (confirmed by his Will), supposedly the daughter of Thomas & Eleanor Mitchell of Lancaster Co (not proved). If Jane was, in fact, Thomas & Eleanor's dau, evidence exists to suggest she was unmarried & living in her father's home in Lancaster at the time of his death--still unmarried AFTER the voyage. Thomas's Will (Lancaster Co Will Book A, Vol 1, pg 17) does not say she is unmarried, but seems to imply such by naming part of the family's livestock as hers, not her husband's. It also does not list her w/ the Doak surname. All this is strictly circumstantial, of course. The Will written 14 May 1734 lists the following family members: "...son John Mitchell & my Wife Elloner Mitchell...Elldest Daughter Martha..Second Daughter Mary ...[to] third Daughter Jean one two year Old mear and one year old Heffer and all the sheep Called her own...Fourth Daughter Jenat...my brother John Mitchell..."
1736 has been reported as Sam & Jane's marriage date; that seems to be in the ball park (their first child was born ca 1738) but it would have been in PA, not aboard ship. This is likely an unprovable date, as are their dates of birth. The Sam on the grand jury in 1737 had to have been at least 21, therefore born no later than 1716.

Sam & Jane moved to VA ca 1739; he sold his property in Lancaster no later than May of that year and began to appear in August Co records as early as 1740. His August Co property in Beverley Manor borders the west side of the present-day village of Greenville. Sam died there between 5 Nov 1771 and 19 May 1772, the dates his Will were written & proved in Court (Augusta Co Will Book 4, pg 497). The Will lists the following family members: "Jane my Dearly beloved Wife...Daughters viz Elinor, Mary & Isabel...son John...oldest son David...son Robert...daughters Jane and Elizabeth...son in law William Brown...brother in law John Finley..."You may read in the course of your research about a controversy over the wording of Sam's Will as copied to the Will Book, which reads "brothers in law John Finley and John Tate". While the word brother is plural, the "s" is in a different handwriting & different ink. Some say the plural proves the marriage of Sam's sister Mary to John Tate. When or why the "s" was added I don't know, but added it was. Since the original Will no longer exists, we don't know if the addition was an honest attempt to correct to record book to the actual wording of the Will or if it was added at a later date to prove the Doak-Tate marriage (as some suggest). Lyman Chalkley did not pick it up in his 1911 abstracts which gives one the idea it may have been added during the 20th Century."


LAND RECORDS

23-24 Sept. 1741. William Beverley, Esq., of Essex County to Samuel Doeg (Doak) of Orange County. Lease and release; for ?20 current money. 647 acres in Beverley Mannor... corner to John Mitchell... Alexr. Brackenridge's line... Pat. Campbell's line... (signed) W. Beverley. Wit: Francis Beatty, Patrick Hays, John Dobbins. 25 Sept. 1741. Acknowledged by Wm. Beverley, Esq. [Orange County Virginia Deed Book 6, p. 32]

Chalkely, Lyman. Chalkley, Lyman. Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish settlement in Virginia: Extracted from the Original Court Records of Augusta County, 1745-1800

Vol. 1
Page 314 13th August, 1747. Wm. Beverley to Samuel Brawford farmer, £6 current money Virginia; 200 acres in Beverley Manor; corner John Buchanan; corner John Mitchell and Samuel Doage. [Doak] Witnessed and proved as above.

Page 317 13th August, 1747. Wm. Beverley to John Mitchell, £20; 609 acres in Beverley Manor; corner to Samuel Brafford; John Buchanan's land; Patrick Campbell's land; crossing South River; Samuel Doak's land. Witnessed and proved as above.

Page 757 22d May, 1750. James Lynn to Andrew Lynn, 269 acres in Beverley Manor, Saml. Doak's line. Burner Hill; corner Jno. Teat [Tate] and Saml. Wilson. Teste: Andrew Cowan, Elijah McClenachan, John Ramsey.

Page 275 15th September, 1750. John Greer's nuncupative will--Debts to be paid to William Long, William Nul, John Kennedy, Nathaniel Patterson; son Alexander to be bound to a trade; one child to be bound to John Mitchell; one child to be bound to S D; oldest girl to go to some descent woman to learn housewifery. Executors, John Mitchell and Samuel Doak. Teste: James Cowin, Jno. Mitchell, Saml. Doak, Francis Beatey. Proved, 28th November, 1750, by Cowin and Beatey.

Page 505 19th August, 1751. James Lynn, architectus, to Samuel Braford, 269 acres in Beverley Manor; corner Andrew Lynn; corner Brownlee; corner George Breckinridge (Sarah, wife of James). Teste: Jno. Mitchell, Saml. Doack [Doak], Andrew Lynn.

Page 447 24th August, 1752. John Mitchell and Samuel Doage's [Doak] bond as guardians (appointed) of Rebecca, Alexander, Martha, Mary Greer, orphans of John Greer, deceased, with sureties Francis Beatey.

Page 272.--(undated, appears to be in May 1753) - Samuel Braford and Ann to Elizabeth Mateer (McAttore), alias Wright, widow. Sold by Beverley to Samuel Brawford in Beverley Manor, Cor. Samuel's tract purchased of John Buchanon; lines of John Mitchell and Samuel Doack. [Doak] Delivered to James Mateer, 1774. Teste: Wm. Finley, Wm. Wright.

Page 516.--15th August, 1753. John Brownlee's bond as guardian (appointed) to Alexander McNutt, orphan of James McNutt, with sureties Samuel Doake and Arthur Hamilton.

NOVEMBER 22, 1754 (331) Saml. Doak and John Mitchell, guardians of the orphans of John Greer--settled accounts.

Vol. 2 - APRIL, 1806 (A to B). - Peter R. Beverley vs. John Doake--Deposition of Thomas Mitchell. 14th October, 1805, aged 73, says: Samuel Doak lived on the land in dispute upwards of sixty years ago and John has lived on it ever since Sam's death. Deposition of Hugh Fulton, 14th October, 1805, aged 77, says: He was acquainted with Samuel, father of John. [This suit is referencing the land in Beverley Manor of Samuel Doak and his son, John Doak]

Chalkley, Vol I

WILL ABSTRACT

Page 497 - - 5th November, 1771. Saml Doak's will, farmer - - To wife, Jane; to daughter, Elinor, unmarried; to wife, to have disposal of all household furniture at her Pleasure to her 3 daughters, Elinor, Mary, Isbel; to son, John; to oldest son, David, plantation David now lives on as Robert Doak laid it off; to son, Samuel, plantation at head waters of Rockfish in Amherst; to son, John, plantation testator lives on; to son, Robert, tract testator formerly lived on in Rockfish, joining Capt. Crawford; daughters, Jane and Elizabeth. Executors, wife, Jane, son David, son-in-law Wm. Brown. Brother-in-law John Finley and John Tate to advise executors. Teste: John and James Mitchell, William Tate, Jr. Proved, 19th May 1772. by James Mitchel and the Tates. David Doack qualifies with John Tate. Nathaniel Steel.

COMPLETE WILL

Augusta County, Virginia - Will Book 4, Pgs 497-500

In the name of God Amen the fifth day of November 1771 I Samuel Doack of the Colony of Virginia and County of Augusta farmer being very frail and Weak in body but of Perfect mind and memory thanks be Given unto God therefore Calling unto mind the mortality of my Body & knowing that it is Appointed for all men once to die do make & Ordain this my Last Will and Testament that is to say Principally & first of all I give and recommend my soul into the hands of Almighty God that gave it and my Body I recommend to the earth to buried in decent Christian burial at the discretion of my Executors & as touching such Worldly estate wherewith it Pleased God to bless me in this life I give demise and dispose of the same in the following Manner & form

First I allow all my lawful debts to be Paid off the whole of my Personal Estate also I give and Bequeath to Jane my Dearly beloved wife (during her life time) the half of the land I now live on together with the half of all the Convenences thereunto belonging if she remains unmarried (except the Grass of one Acre & half in the upper Meadow which I bequeath to my Daughter Elinor while single).

My Wife is likewise to have the disposal of all the household furniture at her Pleasure to her three Daughters Viz Elinor, Mary & Isabel. She is also to have the Care of the Children except she Marry and then my son John is to have the Care of them, and Likewise her half of the land and Conveneances to become his Property.

Also I give & bequeath to my oldest son David the Plantation he now lives on as Robert Doack laid it off except a Part I have marked by a Straight line from a black oak and a hiccory at the east road to a hiccory & black oak at the Falling hill also the Creatures he now Possesses That I first Gave him are to be his Property.

Also I give and bequeath to my son Samuel my Upper Plantation at the head Waters of Rock fish in Amherst County Joining lines with the land formerly Colo Henrys also a horse Colt come of a Mare Called Bess.

Also I give and bequeath to my son John the Plantation I now live on I also allow my Negro Man Mick to be Continued on old Place between my Wife and my son John.

Also I give and Bequeath the Plantation I did live on in Rockfish Joining the land formerly Capt Crawfords to my son Robert also I allow him the Still in case he die without a lawfull Issue the said Still is to be between my son David & John to stand where she does now.

I also allow my son David & John to furnish my son Robert with Plow Irons & tackling for the same when he Pleases to Call for them.

Also I give and bequeath to my Daughter Elinor the Mare Called Banistre likewise a black Cow & Calf Marked with a crop off the left ear and a slit in the right also one ewe and a lamb with a Yearling sheep Marked as above & the remaining part of my Personal estate is to be equally divided Amongst my Wife and sons John and Robert and Daughters Elinor Mary and Isabell at their several Partings.

I also allow if John or Robert die without a lawfull Issue that the surviver may take his choise of the too Plantations the other Plantation to be sold and equally divided Amongst my daughters whether Married or unmarried.

Also I bequeath to my daughters Jane and Elizabeth Six Shillings apiece.

I also allow my sons David and John to Give my son Robert one half Year Schooling and if my Daughter Elinor die unmarried or Makeing a Will I allow her affects to be equally divided Amongst her four Sisters.

I Constitute make and Ordain my Well beloved Wife Jane & my son David and Son in law William Brown my sole Executrix and Executors and my very good Brother in law[s] John Finley and John Tate to give their Advice if need be. I do hereby utterly disallow revoke & disanul all & every other former Testaments Wills legacies bequethments and Executors named by me in any ways beforenamed Willed and bequeathed ratifying and confirming this & no other to be my last Will and Testament.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the Day and Year first above Mentioned

Signed Sealed Published Pronounced his
& Delivered by the said Samuel Doack Samuel Sm Doack /SS/
as his last Will and Testament in the mark
Presence of us the Subscribers
John Mitchel, Jas Mitchel, John Tate Jr, William Tate


At a Court held for Augusta County May the 19th 1772 This last Will and Testament of Samuel Doak dec'ed was Proved by the Oaths of James Mitchell John Tate Junior & William Tate three of the Witnesses thereto and Ordered to be Recorded and on the motion of David Doack one of the Executors therein named who made oath According to law Certificate is Granted him for Obtaining a Probate thereof in due form he haveing with Securitys entered into and Acknowledged their Bond According to Law
Test

Know all men by the Presents that we David Doack John Tate and Nathaniel Steel are held and firmly bound unto James Lockart John Poage Abraham Smith Samuel McDowell Justices in the Commission of the Peace for Augusta County for and in behalf of the Justices of the said County and their Successors in the sum of five Hundred Pounds to be Paid to the said Justices and their Successors which Payment well and truly to be made we bind ourselves and each of us our and every of our heirs Executors and Administrators Jointly & Severally firmly by these Presents Sealed with our seals and dated this 19th day of May 1772

The Condition of this Obligation is such that if the above bound David Doack Executor of the last Will & Testament of Samuel Doack dec'ed do make or cause to be made a true & Perfect Inventory of all and Singular the Goods Chattles & Credits of the said dec'ed which have or shall come to the hands Possession or Knowledge of him the said David Doack or into the hands or Possession of any other Person or Personages him and the same so made do exhibit or Cause to be exhibited into the County Court of Augusta at such time as he shall be thereunto required by the said Court & the same Goods Chattles and Credits and all other the Goods Chattles & Credits of the sd dec'ed which at any time after shall come to the hands or Possession of the said Samuel Doack or into the hands or Possession of any other Person or Persons for her [sic] do well & truly Administer According to law and further do make a Just and true Account of her [sic] Actings and doings therein when thereto required by the said Court and also do well & truly Pay & deliver all legacies Contained & Specified in the said Testament as far as the said Goods Chattls & Credits will thereunto extend According to the Value thereof as the law shall Charge then this Obligation to be Void otherwise to remain in full force & Virtue

Sealed & Delivered David Doack /SS/
in the Presence of John Tate /SS/
Nathaniel Steel /SS/

At a Court held for Augusta County May the 19th 1772 David Doack with John Tate & Nathaniel Steel his Securitys Acknowledged this their Bond & Ordered to be recorded

Samuel married Jane Mitchell ca 1737, Chester Co. PA. Jane (daughter of Thomas Mitchell and Eleanor (Helen)) was born ca 1711, Ulster, Ireland; died Aft 1772, Augusta Co. VA. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Will abstract:
The will of Thomas Mitchell (written 4 May 1734; probated 14 Nov. 1734, Lancaster Co, PA, Will Book A, vol 1, pg 17), Thomas mentions the following family members: "...son John Mitchell & my Wife Elloner Mitchell...Elldest Daughter Martha..Second Daughter Mary ...[to] third Daughter Jean one two year Old mear and one year old Heffer and all the sheep Called her own...Fourth Daughter Jenat...my brother John Mitchell..."

Notes:

For more information on this family see
http://sherrysharp.com/gentree/getperson.php?personID=I342&tree=Roots

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• _UID: 5FE039D2525241FBB2B810E7BB63C97DEF32

Notes:

The Doak Family migration history is murky and disputed.

"The Mathews (Mathes) Family in America" by Ida Christabelle Van Deventer -- Alexander Printing Co., 1925.

She writes that Alexander Mathews came with the Doak family in the Scotch-Irish immigration from Northern Ireland to Pennsylvania, with James Doak, his wife Elizibeth, and five children, Samuel, David, John, Robert and Thankful. They all emigrated from North of Ireland to America, landing in Newcastle, Delaware in 1708 and settled in Chester Co., PA.

Ralph Doak, a modern historian, disputes this as only a few groups of Ulster Scots emigrated to America before 1718. He cites William Henry Foote, who in 1846 published a work entitled, for the sake of brevity "Sketches of North Carolina:" During the course of this work it is disclosed that Samuel, father of Rev Samuel Doak (1749 - 1840) emigrated "very young." The elder Samuel was born around 1716 in Antrim, Ulster Ireland. So the Doaks migrated after 1720 as James' youngest son, Robert, was born in 1720 in Ireland.

The earliest record that may be James is in Lancaster Co. PA which until 1728 was part of Chester Co. The 1728 petition for the creation of Lancaster Co. was signed by Thomas Mitchell (Jane's father, who died in 1734) and a James Doke.

----------

Elaine M Doak Special Collections Librarian/Archivist Pickler Memorial Library Truman State University, Kirksville, MO has put a lot of time into research.

"Here's what we've got on the 1st couple of Doak generations in America. There are basically 2 versions of the "transitional" generations.

One is that Samuel Doak, who remained in Ireland, had a son James who came to PA w/ wife Elizabeth and several children almost any year between 1720 & 1740 (depending on which source you read). The other version is that Samuel himself was the immigrant, same time span. I have yet to see any PROOF of either version. The truth is that we have no idea who the father of the group I call the "immigrant generation" was.

My brother & I went to Chester & Lancaster Cos PA summer before last & came up w/ a lot of nothing -- except more questions. Some records cited by earlier researchers do not exist. Those that do exist do not prove that the Doak family in that area during the 1720-40 time period was the same Doak family to later settle in Augusta Co VA. There are some similarities of given names which COULD indicate they are our Virginians, but they could also indicate they are the Doaks who are to be found a few years later further north in PA.

We did find a James Doke who signed a 1729 petition to create Lancaster Co out of Chester Co. This was the only reference to James we found. It's curious that while Doaks seem to repeat given names over & over, there are no Jameses in the Augusta Co group. That's not proof of anything; it's just an observation.

Some published sources cite a 1727 Chester Co Orphan's Roll which mentions Elizabeth Doak & son David. The County Archivist tells us that all records where were extant as late as about 1900 are still there but this particular entry could not be found. What was the REAL source of the original citation? Also, if Elizabeth's husband was James why would she & her son appear on an orphan's roll 2 years before he signed the 1729 petition? BTW, an orphan is a child whose father is deceased; the mother could still be living. We found a 1726 tax roll listing John Doak & Mother (again, no father?), but the name Elizabeth does not appear there or on any record we could find in either county.

The "immigrant generation" of siblings was Samuel, John, David (the youngest, probably born here), Thankful, Mary, Ann, & Robert. I think there may be a couple more names added to various versions; I seem to have forgotten to bring the list w/ me today. Of that group, we found POSSIBLE mention of John & Samuel in PA. We were unable to find Thankful's marr to John Finley which is supposed to be there, but PA didn't require marr licenses or bonds till the 1850s, so if the record is there it's probably in some church's files. It would be impossible to cover all of these lines, so I'm going to stick to ours.

It is highly unlikely that "Immigrant Sam", as we call him, and Jane Mitchell were married during the voyage from Ireland as is so often reported. If the Doaks in Lancaster Co were ours, they were there as early as 1726 when John & mother appeared on the tax roll. (We're assuming, of course, that this John and our Sam were brothers.) John also appears on 1733 & 1734 grand jury panels. The earliest record we found of Samuel was 1737, when he also was on the grand jury, so it's possible he immigrated as late as 1736 (even tho this was a lot later than mother & brother).
Sam's wife was Jane (confirmed by his Will), supposedly the daughter of Thomas & Eleanor Mitchell of Lancaster Co (not proved). If Jane was, in fact, Thomas & Eleanor's dau, evidence exists to suggest she was unmarried & living in her father's home in Lancaster at the time of his death--still unmarried AFTER the voyage. Thomas's Will (Lancaster Co Will Book A, Vol 1, pg 17) does not say she is unmarried, but seems to imply such by naming part of the family's livestock as hers, not her husband's. It also does not list her w/ the Doak surname. All this is strictly circumstantial, of course. The Will written 14 May 1734 lists the following family members: "...son John Mitchell & my Wife Elloner Mitchell...Elldest Daughter Martha..Second Daughter Mary ...[to] third Daughter Jean one two year Old mear and one year old Heffer and all the sheep Called her own...Fourth Daughter Jenat...my brother John Mitchell..."
1736 has been reported as Sam & Jane's marriage date; that seems to be in the ball park (their first child was born ca 1738) but it would have been in PA, not aboard ship. This is likely an unprovable date, as are their dates of birth. The Sam on the grand jury in 1737 had to have been at least 21, therefore born no later than 1716.

Sam & Jane moved to VA ca 1739; he sold his property in Lancaster no later than May of that year and began to appear in August Co records as early as 1740. His August Co property in Beverley Manor borders the west side of the present-day village of Greenville. Sam died there between 5 Nov 1771 and 19 May 1772, the dates his Will were written & proved in Court (Augusta Co Will Book 4, pg 497). The Will lists the following family members: "Jane my Dearly beloved Wife...Daughters viz Elinor, Mary & Isabel...son John...oldest son David...son Robert...daughters Jane and Elizabeth...son in law William Brown...brother in law John Finley..."You may read in the course of your research about a controversy over the wording of Sam's Will as copied to the Will Book, which reads "brothers in law John Finley and John Tate". While the word brother is plural, the "s" is in a different handwriting & different ink. Some say the plural proves the marriage of Sam's sister Mary to John Tate. When or why the "s" was added I don't know, but added it was. Since the original Will no longer exists, we don't know if the addition was an honest attempt to correct to record book to the actual wording of the Will or if it was added at a later date to prove the Doak-Tate marriage (as some suggest). Lyman Chalkley did not pick it up in his 1911 abstracts which gives one the idea it may have been added during the 20th Century."


Another source for info
http://sherrysharp.com/gentree/getperson.php?personID=I5719&tree=Roots

James married Elizabeth Abt 1692. Elizabeth was born 1674, Ulster, Ireland; died Aft 1741, Augusta Co. VA. [Group Sheet]

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• _UID: 0C06703C824742969041711D24EA93C01FF7

Notes:

Location for where they lived was Ballymena or Ballynure, which are villages located in Antrim County.

Notes:

By 1720 Thomas Mitchell was in Donegal Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. He is listed as one of the early settlers in the Donegal region, being granted a license to trade with the Indians in 1727, and left his will in Donegal Township in 1734.

Will abstract:

Source: Lancaster Co, Pa, Will Book A, vol 1, pg 17.

The will of Thomas Mitchell (written 4 May 1734; probated 14 Nov. 1734, Lancaster Co, PA, Will Book A, vol 1, pg 17), Thomas mentions the following family members: "...son John Mitchell & my Wife Elloner Mitchell...Elldest Daughter Martha..Second Daughter Mary ...[to] third Daughter Jean one two year Old mear and one year old Heffer and all the sheep Called her own...Fourth Daughter Jenat...my brother John Mitchell..."

Will Transcript:

THOMAS MITCHELL / Deceased
May 4th: 1734 [May th: 1734 (no day shown)] IN the Name of God Amen I being weak of Body but in Perfit sence thought good to make my last Will and Testament I asigne my Soul to God who gave it me and my Body after my Decess to be desently Entered in the Meeting house Yard at the Discration of my Friends and well Beloved Son John Mitchell & my Wife Elloner Mitchell to be my Exetors & Administerators I do bequath and leave to my Wife Elloner Mitchell the Plantation while she is alive and the two working Horses with Plough and all Implements belonging therto and a Mare Caled Beefs [Bess] and three her choice of the Cows and two two year old Hefers and a Black Bullock and the Sheep But Jeam [but Jean's] till [at] her dispossel as [and] also the Houshold goods to her own Discretion amongst her Daughters And to my well Beloved Son my best Wearing Sutte of Apperell with Hatt and one Three Old Hefer and one Year Old Bullock and to my Elldest Daughter Martha the Black Horse and Brown Mare but not the foal She is now with and two two year old Hefers and one year old and to my Second Daughter Mary [McCary] one Cow besids the one called her own and one year old Bullock and the young Sorrel Mear
And to my third Daughter Jean one two year Old mear and one year old Heffer and all the sheep Called her own and and to my Fourth Daughter Jenat the Brown Mears foal and one year old Bullock and to her Mothers care and alow what Money is due to me when Sothe Pay'd for the Land I do leave to my Brother John Mitchell my Second best wearing Coat the above is the Last Will & Testament of Thomas Mitchell Late of Donnegal Dessesed as the same was Spoken by him in the Presents of us the Subscribers at which he was prevented by Death from Saying any moreWitness our hands this 14 Day of Nov. 1734.

Lancast. Co: The 14th. Day of November 1734 Then Personally appeared William Mitchell and James Cook and on their Oaths Did Declare that the within Will was written in the time of the last Sickness of Thomas Mitchell the Testator and in his Presence and at his Special Request as his Last Will and that at the time of the Pronounceing and writing thereof he was of Sound mind and Understanding according to the best of their Knowledge but that he was Prevented by Death from Saying anymore.


BE IT REMEMBERED that on the 14 Day of November A D 1734 The Last Will and Testament of Thomas Mitchell Deced was proved in due form of Law and Probate and Letters Testamentary were granted to John Mitchell and Elliner Mitchell Having first Sworn well and truly to Administer the said Deceds Estate and bring an Inventory thereof into the Registers Office in Lancaster Co. at or before the 14th. Day Dec. next And also to Render an Acct. where thereunto Lawfully Required Given under the Seal of the said office.

Thomas married Eleanor (Helen) 1707, Probably Ulster, Ireland. Eleanor was born ca 1681, Ulster, Ireland; died Bef 1771, Augusta Co. VA. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Will abstract:
The will of Thomas Mitchell (written 4 May 1734; probated 14 Nov. 1734, Lancaster Co, PA, Will Book A, vol 1, pg 17), Thomas mentions the following family members: "...son John Mitchell & my Wife Elloner Mitchell...Elldest Daughter Martha..Second Daughter Mary ...[to] third Daughter Jean one two year Old mear and one year old Heffer and all the sheep Called her own...Fourth Daughter Jenat...my brother John Mitchell..."

Eleanor was one of the first settlers of Augusta Co. VA, migrating there with her children in 1747.

Chalkley's

Page 330 13th August, 1747. Wm. Beverley to Helen Mitchell, widow, £6.8.6; 200 acres in Beverley Manor; Brackenridge's line; corner to Teat's line; corner to David Doak; John Lockhart's corner; John Teat's [Tate] land. Witnessed and proved as above.

Page 176. 1756: Processioned by John Tate and Samuel Doak, in Cap. James Mitchell's Company, viz: for Widow Mitchell [probably Eleanor Mitchell], for Wm. Thompson, for James Robinson, for Charles Campbell, for Saml. Brawford, for John Mitchell, for Saml. Doak, for Widow Fulton, for Robt. Alexander, for Nathl. and Robt. Steele, for David Hays, for Helen Mitchell and Jno. Tate, for David Doak, for James Cowan, for Robert Sayers, for John Campbell, for Pat. Campbell, for John Ward, for Widow McTyre, for John and Alex. Brownlee, for Saml. Steele, for Patrick Hays, for John Fulton, for Thomas Tate, for Robert Willson.

Page 198 20th November, 1759. Helenor (Helander) Mitchell to Robt. Mitchell, £5, 200 acres in Beverley Manor, Robt. Wilson s line; corner Jno. Teate [Tate], David Doack's land; Jno. Lockart s corner. Teste: James Kowan.

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