Family Tree Maker's Genealogy Site: Genealogy Report: Gatchell/Getchell Descendants

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Gatchell/Getchell Descendants

Generation No. 4

11. JEREMIAH⁴ GATCHELL (JEREMIAH³, JOHN², UNKNOWN FATHER¹) was born 1679, and died 25 Feb 1748/49 in Marblehead, Essex County, Massachusetts. He married JUDITH NICHOLSON 18 Feb 1702/03 in Marblehead, Essex County, Massachusetts. She was born Abt. 1680, and died 04 Feb 1749/50 in Marblehead, Essex County, Massachusetts.

Notes for JUDITH NICHOLSON:
Marblehead, Massachusetts, cemetery records have been transcribed and recorded for on-line retrieval. The following two records have been transcribed for Jeremiah and his wife Judith. Given Jeremiah's age and the births of the children for Jeremiah and Judith, as recorded in the Essex County vital records, one has to assume the year for the death of Judith has been misinterpreted. A good bet is that she died in 1750, as opposed to the 1730 transcribed in these on-line records.

Stone ID: U174 Record Type: Cemetery

JEREMIAH GATCHELL
Age: 70y m d
Event Date: FEB 25, 1749,
Town: Marblehead, Cemetery: UNITARIAN,

Stone ID: U174 Record Type: Cemetery

JUDITH GATCHELL
Age: 71y m d
HIS WIFE,
Event Date: FEB 4, 1730,
Town: Marblehead, Cemetery: UNITARIAN,

Children of JEREMIAH GATCHELL and JUDITH NICHOLSON are:

32.	i.	ELIZABETH⁵ GATCHELL, b. 18 Dec 1703, Marblehead, Essex County, Massachusetts.
	ii.	JEREMIAH GATCHELL, b. 04 Nov 1705, Marblehead, Essex County, Massachusetts.
33.	iii.	ELISHA GATCHELL, b. 14 Dec 1707, Marblehead, Essex County, Massachusetts.
	iv.	SARAH GATCHELL, b. 22 Feb 1708/09, Marblehead, Essex County, Massachusetts; m. JOSEPH BALLISTER, 08 Feb 1727/28, Marblehead, Essex County, Massachusetts; b. Unknown.
	v.	MARY GATCHELL, b. Bef. 28 Sep 1712, Marblehead, Essex County, Massachusetts.
	vi.	RACHELL GATCHELL, b. Bef. 28 Aug 1715, Marblehead, Essex County, Massachusetts; m. ISAAC COLLIER, 05 Dec 1734, Marblehead, Essex County, Massachusetts; b. Unknown.
	vii.	JOSEPH GATCHELL, b. Bef. 01 Apr 1716, Marblehead, Essex County, Massachusetts.
34.	viii.	INCREASE GATCHELL, b. Bef. 15 Apr 1722, Marblehead, Essex County, Massachusetts.

12. ELISHA⁴ GATCHELL, SR. (JEREMIAH³, JOHN², UNKNOWN FATHER¹) was born Abt. 1682 in Marblehead, Essex County, Massachusetts, and died 1753 in Chester County, Pennsylvania. He married RACHAL WILCOX Bef. 27 Jun 1706 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, daughter of BARNABAS WILCOX and SARAH. She was born 1685 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and died 17 Feb 1760 in East Nottingham, Chester County, Pennsylvania.

Notes for ELISHA GATCHELL, SR.:
It appears that Elisha Gatchell came to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with his father Jeremiah Gatchell at the suggestion of Elizabeth Boude's brother Grimstone Boude, who moved from Massachusetts, first to Perth Amboy, New Jersey, and then to Philadelphia, where he kept a tavern.

Elisha Gatchell was settled in Philadelphia by 1704. He married Rachel Wilcox before June 27th, 1706, and was initially a shoemaker by trade in Philadelphia. He and his wife moved to Nottingham, near that Pennsylvania-Maryland border in 1715. Elisha was on the East Nottingham tax list from 1718 through 1753. In 1722, he joined the Quakers at the Friends New Garden Monthly Meeting in the Spring of 1722.
In Vol. 70 of the National Genealogical Society Quarterly, author A. Day Bradley cites the minutes of the New Garden Monthly Meeting dated 12 2mo. 1722: "Elisha Gatchell of Nottingham appeared att this meeting signifying his sincere desire to be joined as a member to this meeting, he believing ye to be ye truth which we make profession of which request of his being consider of was granted by the meeting."

Elisha Gatchell served as a Justice of the Peace for many years in Chester County, Pennsylvania, but this responsibility caused him repeated problems with the authorities in neighboring Maryland. As the result of an ongoing border dispute between Pennsylvania and Maryland, Elisha was arrested on multiple occasions and jailed by officials of Cecil County, Maryland.

The following record appears in the minute book of the Early Pennsylvania Land Records. At a meeting of commissioners held November 20, 1722, it is noted that both Isaac Taylor, surveyor of Chester County and Elisha Gatchel, a Justice of the Peace of the same county, were seized and jailed under the "pretence of their having invaded the Lands of or belonging to Maryland." Taylor and Gatchel appealed to the commissioners in Philadelphia, pleading that they were unjustly arrested "for no other Cause than their acting in their Stations in the Service of the Prop'r of the Province" of Pennsylvania. As a result of their situation, the commissioners agreed to help defray the expenses incurred by Elisha Gatchel and Isaac Taylor for their own defense. The minutes further state "it was then the Opinion of the Commissioners that some Money should be advanced to them out of the Prop'rs Estate to support and encourage them in defending their cause, whereupon Ł3 7s 10d was then paid to them, besides a Pistol given Thomas Reid towards paying for an Express to Philad'a on a like Occasion, four Pounds two Shillings paid Elisha Gatchell, expended by him for an Express to Annopolis and Philad'a."

Finally, the minutes state that a further sum of Ł10 should be advanced to Isaac Taylor and Elisha Gatchell toward "supporting their Charges under their Confinem't in Cecil county". The commissioners then agreed further help would be considered in the event additional action was taken by the government of Maryland in this case.

The "History of Chester County, Pennsylvania with Genealogical and Biographical Sketches", written by J. Smith Futhey and Gilbert Cope and published in 1881, details an account of a similar incident that occurred 15 years later:

"On June 29, 1737 (Saturday), Elisha Gatchell, Esq., of East Nottingham, being at the tavern of Thomas Hughes, in that township, there came five men on horseback, said to be from the Maryland garrison, commanded by Captain John Charlton, and after beating and abusing him, they took him with them on a horse belonging to Joshua Littler, which happened to be at the door. After crossing Susquehanna, they spent the night at one Nicholas Savor's, a mile or two beyond, and the next day went to a public-house kept by one Hickeson, where came John Copson, one of the provincial judges of Maryland, to whom Thomas Hughes had gone with dispatch the previous evening. Copson would have released Gatchell and bound over the others but for Nathaniel Rigby, a justice from Baltimore county. He was held to bail for his appearance at the Provincial Court of Maryland in October. The representations of both sides having been laid before the king in council, an order for the cessation of all tumults and prosecutions was received here soon after, and the agreement of 1732 was directed to be carried out. Under this, a provisional line was to be run, fifteen and a quarter miles south of Philadelphia, as far as the Susquehanna, beyond which it was to be but fourteen and three-quarter miles south of the same point."

Some researchers have indicated that Elisha Gatchell represents a separate immigration from England to America, unconnected to the original New England Gatchells and Getchells. If that is the case, he and his descendants are misplaced here as the son of Jeremiah Gatchell. However, the account "The Inter-Colonial Grimstone Boude and His Family" researched and written by Francis James Dallett, F. A. S. G., and published in "The Genealogist" (New York), Vol. 2, 1981, should put that suggestion to rest. This article is thoroughly researched and solidly substantiated by multiple, detailed references from court records found both in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and in Essex County, Massachusetts. It's a "must-read" for all descendants of Elisha Gatchell of Philadelphia and Nottingham, Pennsylvania, especially pages 82-85, which detail the family of Jeremiah Gatchell and Elizabeth Boude, the sister of Grimstone Boude. There's also a follow-up article published in "The Genealogist" (New York), Vol. 6, No. 2, Fall 1985, pages 232-243.

It is also interesting that family naming traditions used by Elisha Gatchell's descendants match closely to those names used by contemporary Gatchell families in Massachusetts. In particular, it's striking that the male given name of Increase and the female name of Tabitha both appear in Gatchell families in both Massachusetts and Pennsylvania in subsequent generations.

As to the parentage of Elisha Gatchell, a significant uncertainty remains. While it's certain that Jeremiah Gatchell of Marblehead was his father, there appears to be no direct evidence as to who his mother was and there appear to be two possibilities. The marriage of Elisha's father Jeremiah Gatchell to Hannah Saith is documented in "New England Marriages Prior to 1700" and was also reiterated to me in a letter written in 1979 by another genealogist by the name of Theodore Gatchell. Other researchers have documented her name as Hannah Smith. It appears most genealogists favor the "Saith" spelling as opposed to the "Smith" spelling. It's most likely this will remain uncertain forever.

There are no records of any births with this first marriage of Jeremiah Gatchell to Hannah Saith/Smith, although there are records that indicate Jeremiah Jr.'s birth as 1679. His tombstone indicates he was born in that year.

According to Francis James Dallett, F. A. S. G., and published in the article in "The Genealogist" (New York), Vol. 2, 1981, Elizabeth Boude was married to Jeremiah Gatchell some time before Aug. 1683, and many secondary references estimate that Elisha was born about 1682. That would seem to make Elizabeth most likely Elisha's mother, and Dallet states that conclusion when outlining the family of Jeremiah Gatchell and Elizabeth Boude. In his article, Dallet did not offer any direct evidence of Elisha's birth and proof as to who his mother might have been, so it appears he was assuming the Elizabeth Boude gave birth to Elisha and his older brother Jeremiah Gatchell, Jr. However, Dallet makes no mention of the Jeremiah Gatchell/Hannah Saith/Smith marriage, so it appears Dallet was either not aware of the Hannah Saith/Smith marriage record, or he discounted that marriage as another Jeremiah Gatchell. In the 1670s, however, no other Jeremiah Gatchell of marriageable age is known to be in New England at that time.

Perhaps Hannah died around 1682, possibly while giving birth to Elisha, and Jeremiah Sr. quickly remarried to Elizabeth. Such circumstances occurred frequently back then. However, given the apparent proximity in time of Jeremiah Gatchell's marriage to Elizabeth Boude and the apparent year of Elisha's birth, it seems most likely that Elizabeth Boude was Elisha's mother.

Children of ELISHA GATCHELL and RACHAL WILCOX are:

35.	i.	ABIGAIL⁵ GATCHELL, b. 11 Apr 1700, East Nottingham, Chester County, Pennsylvania; d. 1784, Chester County, Pennsylvania.
	ii.	ELIZABETH GATCHELL, b. 1705, East Nottingham, Chester County, Pennsylvania; m. (1) THOMAS HUGHES, 24 Nov 1726, East Nottingham, Chester County, Pennsylvania; b. Abt. 1705; m. (2) EDWARD MITCHELL, 24 Oct 1747; b. Abt. 1701, East Nottingham, Chester County, Pennsylvania.
36.	iii.	SARAH GATCHELL, b. 1706, East Nottingham, Chester County, Pennsylvania; d. 1738, Augusta County, Virginia.
37.	iv.	ELISHA GATCHELL, JR., b. 01 Apr 1711; d. 02 Jul 1789, East Nottingham, Chester County, Pennsylvania.
38.	v.	HANNAH GATCHELL, b. 1715, East Nottingham, Chester County, Pennsylvania; d. 07 Nov 1763, East Nottingham, Chester County, Pennsylvania.
39.	vi.	ESTHER GATCHELL, b. 1718, East Nottingham, Chester County, Pennsylvania; d. 04 Oct 1776, East Nottingham, Chester County, Pennsylvania.
40.	vii.	ANNE GATCHELL, b. 1719, East Nottingham, Chester County, Pennsylvania; d. 01 Oct 1766, East Nottingham, Chester County, Pennsylvania.

13. ELIZABETH⁴ GATCHELL (JEREMIAH³, JOHN², UNKNOWN FATHER¹) was born Abt. 11 Sep 1687 in Marblehead, Massachusetts. She married HENRY NICHOLS Abt. 1705 in Talbot County, Maryland. He was born Unknown.

Notes for ELIZABETH GATCHELL:
Since Elizabeth's parents named their last child Elizabeth, also, in April 1707, one might speculate that this Elizabeth Gatchell died in 1707 or thereabouts...possibly from childbirth, as she had two children and was married in 1705.

Children of ELIZABETH GATCHELL and HENRY NICHOLS are:

	i.		ELIZABETH⁵ NICHOLS, b. Abt. 1705.
	ii.		JEREMIAH NICHOLS, b. Abt. 1705.

14. DOROTHY⁴ GATCHELL (JEREMIAH³, JOHN², UNKNOWN FATHER¹) was born Abt. 23 Feb 1694/95. She married WILLIAM POTE 02 Jun 1715 in Marblehead, Essex County, Massachusetts, son of WILLIAM POTE and ANN GREENFIELD. He was born 1690 in Marblehead, Essex County, Massachusetts.

Children of DOROTHY GATCHELL and WILLIAM POTE are:

41.	i.	ANNE⁵ POTE, b. 12 Oct 1716, Marblehead, Essex County, Massachusetts; d. 23 Jan 1776, Falmouth, Cumberland County, District of Maine.
	ii.	WILLIAM POTE, b. 15 Dec 1718, Marblehead, Essex County, Massachusetts; d. Oct 1755, Falmouth, Cumberland County, District of Maine.
42.	iii.	GAMALIEL POTE, b. 11 Oct 1721, Marblehead, Essex County, Massachusetts; d. 1789, Falmouth, Cumberland County, District of Maine.
	iv.	JEREMIAH POTE, b. 18 Jan 1724/25, Marblehead, Essex County, Massachusetts; d. 23 Nov 1796, St. Andrews, New Brunswick, Canada; m. ELIZABETH BERRY, Abt. 1764, Kittery, York County, District of Maine; b. Unknown.
	v.	ELISHA POTE, b. 14 Jun 1728, Marblehead, Massachusetts; d. 1747, Louisbourg, Canada.
	vi.	INCREASE POTE, b. 15 Sep 1728, Marblehead, Essex County, Massachusetts; d. 1746, Louisbourg, Canada.
	vii.	SAMUEL POTE, b. Bef. 05 Oct 1731, Falmouth, Cumberland County, District of Maine; d. 12 Sep 1789, Marblehead, Essex County, Massachusetts; m. ANN SMETHURST, 23 Dec 1770; b. Unknown.
	viii.	THOMAS POTE, b. 25 Feb 1733/34, Falmouth, Cumberland County, District of Maine; d. 14 Apr 1817, New Gloucester, Cumberland County, District of Maine; m. SARAH MERRILL, 29 Jan 1757, North Yarmouth, Cumberland County, District of Maine; b. Unknown.
43.	ix.	GREENFIELD POTE, b. May 1736, Falmouth, Cumberland County, District of Maine; d. 29 Sep 1797, Freeport, Cumberland County, District of Maine.

15. INCREASE⁴ GATCHELL (JEREMIAH³, JOHN², UNKNOWN FATHER¹) was born Bef. 26 Mar 1699 in Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts. He married ELIZABETH CALFE 19 Oct 1722 in Boston, Massachusetts. She was born Unknown.

Children of INCREASE GATCHELL and ELIZABETH CALFE are:

	i.		THOMAS D.⁵ GATCHELL, b. Aft. 1722.
	ii.		ELIZABETH GATCHELL, b. Bef. 12 Feb 1723/24.
	iii.		MARGARET GATCHELL, b. Bef. 25 Jul 1725.

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