Notes for Joseph Penn: A deed of trust, the last will and testament of Joseph Penn, dated September 19, 1763, Spotsylvania County, VA. follows: "Whereas Joseph Penn is seized of a tract of land containing 265 acres, whereon he now lives, and also possessed of and entitled to sundry slaves, stock and household goods, and being aged and infirm, and having a large family to provide for, and being desirous of making a just settlement of his estate, and for the love and affection he has for his wife and children, lest he might be taken from the World suddenly when his senses or opportunity might not admit of making a will; This Indenture therefore witnesseth, that for making such a settlement -- in consideration of the sum of 5 shilling -- acknowledged -- to John Taylor, his heirs, exec., administrators, etc. -- all the said tract of land, all improvements, all salves, stock, and household goods and other personal estate, whatsoever of the said Joseph Penn, a particular accounting whereof is contained in the schedule annexed -- in Trust for the various uses hereinafter mentioned --That is to say: the land for the use of the said Joseph Penn for his life and after his death to the use of his son Phillip Penn and his heirs forever, and also a Negro man named Jacob to the use of the said son Phillip immediately, and to his heirs forever. -- Two Negro slaves, Daniel and Slander to the immediate use of son Moses and his heirs forever, and 2 Negroes Major and Judah to son Thomas and his heirs forever. Confirms the gift (previous) of a slave woman Frances, stock and household goods, to Larkin Gatewood, for the use of his daughter Catherine, Larkin's wife. A Negro girl Fanny, a feather bed and furniture to the immediate use of daughter Mary Penn, and ditto, a Negro girl named Rose and a feather bed and furniture to the immediate use of daughter Frances Penn forever. Two slaves, Dick and Lucy, 2 cows and calves, a feather bed and furniture, to the use of the said Joseph Penn, and after his death to his wife, Elizabeth Penn, if she survives him, and for her life, and at her death, or the death of the longest liver of them, to the use of John, Phillip, Moses, Thomas, Catherine, Mary, and Frances, children of the said Joseph Penn, to be equally divided. If Catherine (Penn) Gatewood should die without children, then her share to be divided among her brothers and sisters, but if she die leaving children, then to her children."
From Bob Allen, Penn researcher and descendant of Joseph Penn:
The names and birthdates of their children through Thomas Penn born in 1749 were recorded in the abstract of John Taylor Bible (except for the name of their eldest child, born on 13 Dec. 1736 which was obliterated from the abstract of the bible by 1903). For more information about the John Taylor bible see the notes to his son, John Penn. The fact that the child born on 13 Dec. 1736 was their son, John Penn, comes from the William Edmunds journal which states that John Penn (grandfather of his wife) was born on 13 Dec. 1736 and was the son of Joseph Penn and Mary Taylor. Also there is a 1761 Deed from Joseph Penn to John Penn "son of the said Joseph Penn" which proves that Joseph Penn had a son John who was not otherwise listed in the named children in the John Taylor bible abstract.
John Taylor, Sr., the father of Mary Taylor who married Joseph Penn, wrote his will on 16 March 1780 in Granville Co., NC on which he leaves property to the children of his deceased daughter, "John, Phillip, Moses, Thomas, Catherine and Mary". John Taylor, Jr., son of John Taylor, Sr., and brother to Mary Penn, wrote his will in Granville Co., NC on 23 Oct. 1787 in which he leaves property to the following nieces and nephews, children of his sister, Mary Penn: Moses Penn, Mary, Fanny Hunt. These two records combine together to add Mary Penn and Frances Penn to the list of children of Joseph Penn and Mary Taylor.
Joseph Penn wrote a Trust Deed (substitute will) on 19 September 1763 in which he names his wife, Elizabeth, and his children John, Phillip, Moses, Thomas, Catherine Gatewood, Mary and Frances. This supports the fact that his son Joseph Penn had died prior to 1763. It also raises some question about whether Elizabeth Penn and James Penn were living at that time.
His date of birth is an estimate based upon the fact that the first Caroline Co., VA Court record mentioning Joseph Penn was 10 May 1733 Court Order Book reference of "Lucy, a negro girl belonging to Joseph Penn is adjudged to be 12 years old. He then got married in 1735 and have his first child in 1736. There is one account from Josephine Easterliln which gave an exact date of birth of 11/17/1717.
Database: Spotsylvania, Virginia County Records, 1721-1800 Virginia County Records SPOTSYLVANIA COUNTY 1721-1800 DEEDS DEED BOOK F 1761-1766 page 232 Sept. 19, 1763. Joseph Penn of Spts. Co. to John Taylor of Caroline Co., in trust for the purposes hereinafter named. Slaves, lands, stocks, etc. For the sd. Joseph Penn, during his natural life, then to his son, Philip Penn; son Moses Penn; son Thomas Penn; daughter Catharine, wife of Larkin Gatewood; daughter Mary Penn; daughter Frances Penn; wife, Elizabeth Penn; "John, Philip, Moses, Thomas, Catharine, Mary and Frances, children of sd. Joseph." Witnesses, Uriah Edwards, James Chiles, Joseph Holloday, Thomas Green. Octr. 3, 1763.
Virginia County Records SPOTSYLVANIA COUNTY 1721-1800 DEEDS DEED BOOK G 1766-1771 page 253 Feby. 10, 1767. John Penn of Spts. Co. and Elizabeth, his wife, to John Holloday of same Co. £15 curr. 200 a. in Spts. Co. purchased by Penn of Philip Ballard and joining the lands the sd. Holloday bought of John Sartin, and the lands of Wm. Mays, and the patent granted Edmund Waller, etc. Witnesses, Jno. Holloday, junr.; Edwd. Chapman. March 2, 1767. View full context
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Virginia County Records SPOTSYLVANIA COUNTY 1721-1800 DEEDS DEED BOOK H 1771-1774 page 303 Jany. 25, 1773. Philip Penn and Martha, his wife; John Holloday, Senr., and Elizabeth, his wife; Uriah Edwards and Mildred, his wife, of Spts. Co. to Peter Stubblefield of sd. Co. £100 curr. 220 a. in Berkeley Par., Spts. Co. Jno. Holloday, junior.; Francis Cammack, John x Cam-mack. No date of Record. View full context
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Virginia County Records SPOTSYLVANIA COUNTY 1721-1800 DEEDS DEED BOOK H 1771-1774 page 303 Jany. 21, 1773. Philip Penn of Spts. Co. to McCall, Smillie & Co., Merchts., in Glasgow. £77 0s. 5 1/2d. curr. Mortgage. 237 a. left the sd. Philip Penn by his father Joseph Penn, Decd., etc. Witnesses, Jno. Ferrie, W. McWilliams, junr.; Peter Stubblefield. July 15, 1773. View full context
The Penn Family of Virginia, a chronilogical record 1915: 1771 jan21, Philip Penn of Spotsylvania Co. to ? , Merchants of Glascow. Mortgage left the said Philip Penn by his father Joseph, deceased.
More About Joseph Penn and Mary Elizabeth Taylor: Marriage: February 03, 1734/35
Children of Joseph Penn and Mary Elizabeth Taylor are:
+Phillip Penn, b. February 06, 1742/43, d. date unknown.
Joseph Penn (b. Abt. 1712, d. Bef. July 06, 1767)
Notes for Joseph Penn: