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Descendants of Peter Grosscloss, Sr.

Generation No. 2

2. PETER² GROSECLOSE, JR. (PETER¹ GROSSCLOSS, SR., JOHAN ADAM^A, PETER^B) was born 20 May 1757 in Derry Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. He married (1) FRANCES MESSERSMITH. He married (2) ELIZABETH SLUSS May 1782.

Notes for PETER GROSECLOSE, JR.:
During the Revolutionary War at the age of twenty in 1777, he lost an arm at the Battle of Brandywine. He was also at the Battle of Bunker Hill and served until the end of the war. Per the book "History of Bland County", he was known as One-Armed Peter. (These facts are in question by Clark Groseclose in the book "Grosecloses and Descendants in America", page 39. Peter Jr. was in the war, but Clark considers it unlikely that he was at the Battle of Bunker Hill or lost an arm in the war.)

The record of plats for Montgomery County shows that a survey was made on Sep 20, 1782 for Peter Groseclose for 400 acres lying in Montgomery County in Rich Valley on the North Fork of the Holston River.
There has been some confusion as to which Peter Groseclose received the 400 acres and which one the 272 acres. However, two deeds show that the 400 acre land grant to Peter Groseclose, signed by Patrick Henry then Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, was to Peter Groseclose Jr. while the 272 acre parcel was to Peter Groseclose Sr. The survey for Peter Jr's tract was made Sep 20, 1782 and the Grant was signed July 5, 1785. This Grant was recorded Aug 14, 1785 in Montgomery County.

Peter Jr. built a house on the North Fork of the Holston River in the 1780's. In about 1960 it was occupied by his descendant Benjamin Dodd Groseclose, but today it stands in disrepair. Peter's widow, Elizabeth Sluss Groseclose, built a dam and grist mill in 1814 about one hundred yards upstream from this house. On July 8, 1814 the Wythe County Court appointed a committee of twelve men to inspect the dam and grist mill on the North Fork of the Holston River in Rich Valley. Her son Jacob operated this mill and was known as Miller Jake.

From a Court record Peter Groseclose married Elizabeth Schlossin in the month of May 1782 (Sluss).

Per Vilette Ross - Elizabeth applied for a widow's pension in 1853. Peter had entered service from Pennsylvania. Her request was rejected because of insufficient proof of service. Apparently his discharge papers were lost and no records of when or how long he served.
This E-mail received March 13, 1998: "I found the information about Elizabeth Groseclose's pension being denied in a book on Rev. War pensions in the Allen County Library at Ft. Wayne, IN. I can't seem to find the exact title of the book right now, but I'll write exactly what was in the book. The words in the brackets are my words, because everything was just initials.

Groseclose Peter, esf(entered service from) PA (Pennsylvania), d. (died)
1805
      m. (married) 5/1782 Elizabeth who afp (applied for pension), age 87
      Smith Co., Va 1853
      wid (widow) PAR (pension application rejected), insufficient proof of
      svc. (service) F-R 4354-R1140

Peter Jr was killed by a falling tree in Rich Valley in the winter of 1805. He is buried in Sharon Lutheran Church Cemetery, Ceres, Wythe County, Virginia.

Notes for ELIZABETH SLUSS:
Elizabeth was shown in one record as Elizabeth Schlossin. (Per Debbie Barbee) - She was a Cousin to the Sluss family which was massacred by Indians in July 1799 in Rich Valley. She was married at sixteen and ended her life with fifty years of widowhood.

She appears as a widow in the 1810 Wythe County census, with the children at home as expected from the family shown here. She was enumerated between her brother-in-law Henry, and her son Adam. In the 1850 Smyth County Virginia census, at age 85 she was living with her son John.

Elizabeth was living in Smyth County when she applied for a Revolutionary War widow's pension, at 87 years of age. She stated she married after the war, and was a resident of Smyth County Virginia at the time of application. John S. Groseclose, a Justice for the County of Smyth took her affidavit on December 31, 1853. She applied under the Act of July 7, 1838. This John S. Groseclose was John Snavely Groseclose, her grandson through her son Adam.

Died in either Wythe or Smyth County, Virginia. Buried in Kimberling Lutheran Church Cemetery, Wythe County, Virginia.

Children of PETER GROSECLOSE and ELIZABETH SLUSS are:

9.	i.	ADAM³ GROSECLOSE, b. 26 March 1785, Montgomery County, Virginia; d. 27 June 1842, Smyth County, Virginia.
10.	ii.	PETER GROSECLOSE III, b. 05 September 1787, Wythe County, Virginia; d. 10 April 1853, Cripple Creek, Wythe, Virginia.
11.	iii.	MARIA KATTERINA GROSECLOSE, b. 24 July 1788, Wythe County, Virginia; d. 05 September 1866, Wythe County, Virginia.
12.	iv.	JACOB "MILLER JAKE" GROSECLOSE, b. 09 June 1791, Wythe County, Virginia; d. 30 November 1850, Ceres, Wythe County, Virginia.
13.	v.	JOHN GROSECLOSE, b. 12 August 1793, Wythe County, Virginia; d. 24 May 1869, Smyth County, Virginia.
14.	vi.	ELIZABETH GROSECLOSE, b. Abt. 1795, Wythe County, Virginia; d. Bet. 1855 - 1865, Virginia.
15.	vii.	CHRISTINA GROSECLOSE, b. Abt. 1798, Wythe County, Virginia.
	viii.	SOLOMON GROSECLOSE, b. Abt. 1800, Wythe County, Virginia; d. Aft. 1850.

Notes for SOLOMON GROSECLOSE:
In the 1850 Wythe Co census (page 313-B), a Solomin Groseclose, age 50, is shown in the household of Joseph Groseclose, who is this Solomon's grand nephew.

	ix.	SIMON GROSECLOSE, b. Abt. 1801, Wythe County, Virginia.
16.	x.	ELIAS GROSECLOSE, b. 12 March 1803, Wythe County, Virginia; d. 01 November 1856, Wythe County, Virginia.
	xi.	ANNIE GROSECLOSE, b. Bef. 1805, Wythe County, Virginia.

3. ADAM² GROSECLOSE (PETER¹ GROSSCLOSS, SR., JOHAN ADAM^A, PETER^B) was born Abt. 1759 in Derry Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and died April 1804 in Wythe County, Virginia. He married ELIZABETH KIMBERLING Abt. 1786 in Montgomery County, Virginia, daughter of HANS KIMBERLING and ELIZABETH KIRKSTATER.

Notes for ADAM GROSECLOSE:
From the book "Grosecloses and Descendants in America", by B. Clark Groseclose -
" Adam and Elizabeth both died in their early 40's, leaving eight children under the age of seventeen.
Adam died between Apr 2, 1804 when he made out his will, and May 8, 1804 when his will was proved and recorded, most likely in April based on the time it took to get to court."

Will of Adam Groseclose, Wythe County, VA.

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Judy Tillison Wright - KWright354@aol.com

Wythe Co. Va. February Court 1804 page. 280 Will Book

This Inventory and appraisement of the Estate of Peter GROSECLOSE deceased was
returned to court and moved to be recorded. Test. Fleming Twigg, D.C.(This
does say Peter, but the rest of the page is about Adam)
p.280-2

In the name of god amen. I Adam Groseclose of the County of Wythe, being sick
and weak in body but of sound mind and disposing memory for which I thank god,
and calling to mind the uncertainty of human life and being desirous to dispose
of all such wordly estate as it hath pleased god to bless me with, I give and
bequeath the same in manner following.

That is to say First after my payment of debts I give to my wife Elizabeth
Groseclose my two old mares, two cows, all my sheep and hogs and all my
farming utensils, Together with all my Household and kitchen furniture ,
my looms Three spinning wheels all my yarn flax and thread that is now on
hand and one third part of my Land, all to be enjoyed by her, for and during
the term of her natural life of widowhood, and after her decease or marriage,
I give the same to my children hear in after mentioned, equally to be divided
among them and to be enjoyed by them forever.

Secondly I give and bequeath unto my children, Barbara Groseclose, John
Groseclose,Martin Groseclose, Mary Groseclose, Jacob Groseclose, Elizabeth
Groseclose, Peter Groseclose and Absalomn Groseclose, each and and equal part
of all my Estate, both real and personal, to be enjoyed by them and their heirs
forever,

3rd It is my desire, that immediately after my decease, all my
property that is not hear particularly mentioned, be appraised and sold as
the law directs, if wife Elizabeth Groseclose, should incline to leave the
plantation where she now lives, it is my desire that my Executors should
bind my five sons above mentioned to trades, and lastly I do here by
constitute and appoint my friends Jacob Groseclose and Henry Huddle Executors
of this my last will and Testament hereby Revoking all other wills or
testaments by me heretofore made in Witness where of I have hereunto set my
hand and affixed my seal this 2nd day of April in the year 1804.
Adam (his mark) Groseclose

Signed sealed published and declared as and for the last Will and Testament of
the above named Adam Groseclose in presence of Peter Groseclose, Frederick
Ship (or Slup or Shep, etc) , Henry Groseclose, Jas. Davies

Wythe May court 1804

This last will and Testament of Adam Groseclose deceased was presented in
Court and proven by the oaths of Peter Groseclose, Frederick Slup (?) and Henry
Groseclose
Three of the witnesses thereto, and ordered to be recorded and there upon Jacob
Groseclose and Henry Huddle the Executors therein named personally appeared
in Court and took the Oath required by law and enter into bond, with John
Huddle and Jacob Goase their Securities in the sum of five Hundred Dollars,
conditioned as the law directs.

Probate therefore in due force is granted them. Teste Fleming Twigg, D.C.

An Inventory and appraisement of the estate of Adam Groseclose deceased made
on the 25th of May 1804

One two year old mare
One yearly Colt
two Cows and Calves
Two Cows,
one Cow and Bull
Two Stears and heifer
Four yearlings\
one Rifle gun
one kittle
one stove
Cherry tree plank
Jointer round Shavar and crose
An Apt. on John Kimberland
one Razor

Appraisers were Evan Davis , William Heay , George Kinder
Wythe June Court 1804 This Inventory and appraisement of the estate of Adam
Groseclose deceased was returned to Court and ordered to be recorded.
Sale of above inventory on page 183 amounted to 69 pounds 17 shillings 4
Executors of Adam Groseclose deceased were Jacob Grosclose and Henry Huddle.

(I wrote for will of Elizabeth Groseclose and Wythe Co. replied that there was
only an adm. Settlement Will Book 10 page. 368 and Will Book 11 page. 428.

(If anyone knows about Adam�s daughter Elizabeth, I would like to hear from
them.-Judy Wright at KWright354@aol.com)

From the book "Grosecloses and Descendants in America" by B. Clark Groseclose -
"Old Mt. Airy" notes that the Catherine Elizabeth Groseclose, (born June 1787, died Mar 27, 1858) who married John Adam Snavely, may have been Adam's oldest daughter. However, she is not positively identified from church baptism records, or in her father's will. If Catherine were a Groseclose, Adam is the only choice as her father. The oldest son of Peter Grosscloss, Sr., Peter Jr., had other children born in the summers of both 1787 and 1788, and Peter Sr.'s younger sons, Henry and Jacob, were not yet married. A difficulty with Catherine was that all of Adam's children except Catherine Elizabeth were mentioned by name in his will.
Just before final signoff on the plates for this book, Joseph Cameron, author of "Old Mt. Airy", informed me that he had positively identified Catherine Elizabeth as a Wassum, not a Groseclose. I chose not to delete her from the book because some of her descendants intermarried with Grosecloses. Laura Belle Staley on page 297 was her first descendant known to marry a Groseclose.

Children of ADAM GROSECLOSE and ELIZABETH KIMBERLING are:

KATHERINE BARBARA³ GROSECLOSE, b. 25 July 1788, Montgomery County, Virginia.

Notes for KATHERINE BARBARA GROSECLOSE:
Kimberling Church Baptismal Records:

Kath. Barbara Groseclose baptized September 21, 1788, sponsored by Henry Huddle and Catherina Kimberling.

17.	ii.	JOHN GROSECLOSE, b. 11 April 1790, Wythe County, Virginia; d. Bet. 1836 - 1837, Indian Creek, Lee County, Virginia.
18.	iii.	JOHN MARTIN GROSECLOSE, b. 30 April 1792, Wythe County, Virginia; d. 1864, Wythe County, Virginia.
	iv.	ANNA MARIA "MARY" GROSECLOSE, b. 20 October 1793, Wythe County, Virginia; d. 24 December 1852, Wythe County, Virginia; m. JOHN MICHAEL SPRACHER, 10 December 1815, Wythe County, Virginia.
	v.	ELIZABETH GROSECLOSE, b. Abt. 1796, Wythe County, Virginia; m. (1) PETER SPACHER; m. (2) PETER SPRACHER, 19 October 1820, Wythe County, Virginia.

Notes for ELIZABETH GROSECLOSE:
There is an Elizabeth Gose Groseclose, born January 28, 1796, died May 7 1874, buried in the Zion Lutheran Church Cemetery in Crockett, Wythe County, Virginia. Could this be Elizabeth?

	vi.	JACOB GROSECLOSE, b. 28 March 1798, Wythe County, Virginia; d. January 1817, Wythe County, Virginia.
19.	vii.	PETER GROSECLOSE, b. 1801, Wythe County, Virginia; d. Bef. 1850, Wythe County, Virginia.
20.	viii.	ABSOLEM GROSECLOSE, b. 21 December 1802, Rich Valley, Wythe County, Virginia; d. 09 January 1853, Virginia.

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