Mcdowell, Thomas

I initially doubted his parentage since his birth was not found in the same resource as his brothers''. His relationship is made clear through land deeds when named as a brother to a known son of William & Ruth.

Thomas and Jennet''s date of marriage is also listed on the SAR app by John Wilton McD.

John Neiper in the township of Little Britain County of Lancaster and State of Pennsylvania of the one part and Thomas McDowell in and of the township of Cecil County of Washington and state aforesaid of the other part. Witnesseth that the said John Neiper for and in consideration of four hundred pounds good and lawful money of said state to him in hand paid by the said Thomas McDowell ...(copy of deed on file).

Thomas McDowell in 1773 came to Washington county, first settling near the mouth of the north branch of Chartiers Creek, in Chartiers township, taking out a patent for 400 acres of land. In 1787 he purchased a patent of 899 1/2, acres in Mt. Pleasant township, from John Neiper, the assignee of Robert Downing, which was patented in John Neiper''s name January 3, 1788, described as lying near the headwaters of Chartiers Creek, and named Long Meadow. (Neiper''s name appears again later in KY, see notes on Thomas'' son John McD b 1765).

Tax: 1780 Little Britain, Lancaster Co, PA
Census: 1790 PA, Washington Co, page 186.

Mustered out of Lancaster Militia, Capt Whitesides. Thomas served with John Neiper/Neeper (see land records).

*Stulbs=Stubbs: There were many Stubbs family members living next to the McDowells in Lancaster Co, PA. Ben Stubbs later buys a horse from John McDowell in Bracken Co, KY in 1816.

Thomas McDowell, who, in 1787, came from his native county, Lancaster, Penn., to this county, where he bought a tract of wild land in Mt. Pleasant township, and hewed out a home for himself and family. He died in 1796. He married Janet Clark.

Thomas McDowell first settled near McConnell''s Mill, Chartiers township, and in 1779, took a patent for 400 acres in Mt. Pleasant township, now in the McDowell and Miller name. He died in this county, and was buried in Buffalo village. pg 1232

According to the 1896 McDowell Family memoir, Thomas and his mother sold the McDowell farm in Lancaster Co on 1 Jul 1786. This has since not worked based on land deeds found in Lancaster County. Thomas was a brother of James, brother-in-law of Elizabeth (Carmichael).

In Beers'' biographies of Washington County, PA, Thomas'' birth is 1730, however, after discovering birth records for his siblings in St Stephens Parish, Cecil Co, MD, and the land purchase in 1734 by his father in Lancaster Co, PA, Thomas must have been born in at least 1733.

PA Archives: Series 5, Vol. VII, page 567-8: Sixth Battalion of Lancaster Co, PA, Little Britain Twp, Lieut. John Neiper; Clerk - Thos Carmichael; 3d Class - Alex''r Carmichael; 4th Class - Mark McD, John Scott, Daniel Carmichael; 5th Class - Luke McD, Jos Stubbs; 6th Class - Wm McD, Alex''r McKnight; 7th Class - Vincent Stubbs, John McNight, James McD.

SAR App by John Wilton McD:
Name: Thomas McDowell
Birth Date: Jun 1730
Death Date: 19 Nov 1796
Death Place: Washington, Pennsylvania
SAR Membership: 41922
Role: Ancestor
Application Date: 8 Oct 1925
Spouse: Janet Clark
Children: James McDowell

Luke, James and Mark McDowell were also in Little Britain twp in 1780. I would like to discover who they are.

Taxables 1761 Octorara Hundred, Cecil Co, MD: This may be the Thomas who is on this tax list.

In a will made by Thomas McDowell and his wife Jennet, the following named daughters are mentioned: Hester Miller, Rachel Steel, Dina McKnight, Jane Clarke, Rebecca, Martha, Abigail, and sons: William, John, James and Joseph, and the grandson: Benoni *Stulbs. Thomas McDowell died in the year 1796, and was interred in the Buffalo Presbyterian church burying grounds in Hopewell township. (Beers pg 1261)

Proven 18 Nov 1797. Copy of will in file.

Account settlement:
Name: McDowell
[Thomas McDowell] 
Probate Date: 6 Jun 1799
Probate Place: Washington, Pennsylvania
Inferred Death Year: Abt 1799
Inferred Death Place: Pennsylvania, USA
Case Number: 4
Item Description: File Mc: 1796-1816, Mc7-Mc59; 1817-1818, Mc1-Mc5