I have been researching the MONTGOMERY family for some years now, and have documented my ancestry back to ROBERT MONTGOMERY (d. January 22, 1827, Collierstown, Rockbridge County, VA), who married MARTHA CRAWFORD May 4, 1784, the daughter of James and Catherine (Howell) Crawford. All of my efforts to document Robert Montgomery's ancestry have been fruitless. I have done significant research in Cumberland and Franklin Counties, Pennsylvania, but have been unable to a make positive connection with the Humphrey Montgomery (d. 1799) of Collierstown. I have also read the works of other researchers who speculated that Robert was a son of Captain James Montgomery of Botetourt (Montgomery) County, cited in numerous accounts of French and Indian War activity, including Rockbridge (Augusta).
MONTGOMERY'S OF PENNSYLVANIA:
My specific personal interest is to conclusively prove/disprove an ancestry between the HUMPHREY MONTGOMERY, Sr. clan of Lurgan and Hopewell Townships, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, and the Montgomerys who arrived in Augusta (now Rockbridge) County, Virginia during the period 1778-1784. Family tradition has said that our family moved from Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, and that Humphrey Montgomery, Sr. was the father, or perhaps the grandfather, of our well documented Robert Montgomery of Rockbridge County, Virginia.
I have researched the court records of both Cumberland and Franklin Counties, Pennsylvania, and established that the Robert Montgomery, son of Humphrey, Sr., is not the Robert that I am seeking; this Robert seems to have moved from Lurgan Township to Peters Township, and his wife's name, Jane, is not the same as my Robert's in Virginia. My Robert of Rockbridge married Martha Crawford on 4 May 1784.
There was a Humphrey Montgomery, son of Thomas Montgomery (d. April 1785) and a member of the Middle Spring Presbyterian Church, who arrived in Rockbridge County, Virginia and married his cousin Jean Gay (Guy) (m. 10 Feb 1779), whose family had moved to the area at an earlier date; this is documented by
Thomas' will, which refers to a son Humphrey and a daughter Martha, who married Matthew Hannah and lived in Lexington, Virginia. Our family tradition says that this Humphrey and my Robert of Rockbridge County were related; perhaps they were cousins, or this Humphrey may have been an uncle. Family tradition also says that the Ramseys, Gays and Brattons, who also moved from Cumberland to Rockbridge County, married the Montgomerys, as evidenced by Humphrey's marriage to his cousin Jean Gay; it is said that Jean Gay's mother was a Montgomery.
Thomas Montgomery is well documented as the son of Humphrey, Sr., as well as being the brother of Robert, John, and William Montgomery. More time will be needed to research Franklin County records to determine if Robert had a son, Robert, Jr., who could be my ancestor who died in 1827, and is buried in Oxford Presbyterian Cemetery, Collierstown, VA.
The following Pennsylvania Montgomery family relationship has been documented:
> James Montgomery } possible brothers
> Samuel Montgomery } of Humphrey, Sr.
> Humphrey Montgomery, Sr, wife unknown
>>>> John Montgomery, wife unknown
>>>> Thomas Montgomery (d. 1785), wife Mary
>>>>>>> Humphrey Montgomery (d. Collierstown, 1799)
>>>>>>> Martha Montgomery Hannah
>>>> Humphery Montgomery, Jr, wife Mary
>>>> William Montgomery, wife Sarah
>>>> Robert Montgomery, wife Jane
I have read the deeds where Humphrey, Sr. received patents on land in Lurgan, later transferred that land to his sons Humphrey, Jr., William, and Robert, and where the sons later sold that transferred land. I have also read deeds for Thomas and John Montgomery; I have not seen deeds for Samuel and James Montgomery.
Please send e-mail if you have any documented sources which relates the Montgomerys of Rockbridge County.
|
The Robert and Martha (Crawford) Montgomery Family Home Page