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Thomas Janvier, II

 


 

        THOMAS JANVIER, II, child of Thomas and Sarah Janvier, was born in 1695, either in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania or New Castle, Delaware. The date of his death may have been 1750 (before 1776). The burial site is unknown. He was the eldest son of our immigrant Thomas I.
        It seems almost a certainty that he married Susannah (surname unknown).   The evidence that this is true seems clear from the notes of Margaret Janvier Hort: "1736 deed at Wilmington Court House recites that Penn granted land to Thomas Janvier, Gentleman, deceased and that he devised it to Thomas Janvier, grantee.   Thomas Janvier and his wife Susannah to Siegfriedus Alrich f 173." Conflicting data suggests that Thomas II married Mary Crosse in 1720 and that she was a younger half-sister of his mother Sarah. 
        Thomas II had two children for sure: Pierre (Peter) 1725 and Susannah 1729.  There is uncertainty if a Joseph (described as shipwright in Philadelphia in 1762) was the son of Thomas II or was from another branch of the family. 
        Thomas II as the eldest son of Thomas I inherited property and a major portion of his father's business enterprises, which were substantial. Thomas II and his mother Sarah were the executors of the estate.
        There is another error in the record keeping on the life of Thomas II. He is described by some as the Provincial Armourer in Philadelphia in 1758. This cannot be true if in fact he died in 1750. All we know for sure is that the died prior to 1776.
        We know that he was a shipping merchant and that he inherited his father's wharf storehouse and shipping business on "The Strand" of New Castle, Delaware.  Other information indicates that he provided guns during the French/Indian War to Gen. Bouquet.
        Pioneer Lexington lists on page 22 the following: The new fort at Lexington was built after the attack on Bryan's Station, August 14-16, 1782. "In this fort there was never but one house built, which was occupied by old Mr. January, then 105 years of age, and lady, who were too frail to move in haste, in case of alarm".  Old Mr. January must be linked to the family of Peter January, our ancestor, since Peter and his sons were so involved with the fort at Lexington at the period under discussion. The only logical reason for such a aged member of the family as old Mr. January to be on the frontier is that Peter had brought his elderly father along when the family moved to Kentucky from Pennsylvania.
        Thomas II was appointed by the Governor of Delaware as Clerk of the Supreme Court on Jan 4, 1823 when John Wiley resigned./Governors Register (1674-1851), pg. 483. On March 5, 1823 Governor issued Executive order to remove Thomas as Clerk of the Supreme Count (in pursuance of a resolution) of both Houses of Legislature passed on Feb 3, 1723. Copy to Thomas and recorded in Secretary's office.  
        In 1727 Thomas was appointed as Justice of the Peace in New Castle, Del. Governors Register (1674-1851). State of Delaware, Vol. 1. On July 2, 1733, he was again appointed by Governor as Justice of Peace in place of retired Evan Thomas. Governors Register.
        Letters of Administration: To brother, Isaac. Estate was settled on July 18, 1753.
        In 1748 (20 years after his father's death) he still owned the Strand property of his father. In 1730 he had a shop on the site of #13 and #15 on The Strand.
        Thomas II occupation is listed as "Cooper".  Thomas died before 1776.

The children of Thomas, II and Susannah Janvier:

Index The Children Date of Birth Notes
1. Joseph Janvier - No data available
2. Peter Janvier ca 1725 -
3. Susanna Janvier 06/26/1729 -

2.  PETER JANVIER, second child of Thomas, II and Susannah Janvier, was born Pierre Janvier. He Anglicized the name to Peter January at the time of the American Revolution. He was born in 1725, probably in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and died in Versailles, Kentucky in 1789. Peter and Deborah McMahon (originally listed as McMichan, but later records show McMahon) were married on April 2, 1753, Rocky Springs Society, Cumberland Co. Pa. by Rev.John Cuthbertson.
        There has been much confusion over Peter January, as there were two Peter January`s living in the Lexington, Ky. area at the same time. Over the years as more information and documentation have been obtained we have tried to keep  the records straight by calling our ancestor Peter Versailles January and the other one Peter Lexington January.
        Peter Versailles January and his wife, Deborah lived in the part of Fayette Co. Kentucky that became Woodford County in 1789. Rev. John Cuthbertson baptized his children at their home or at the home of friends when he came through. Peter's will is the first one recorded in Woodford Co., Ky. Will Book 1 Pg.l. Evidently Peter did not own is home in Woodford Co. His Son-in-law, William McConnell held the mortgage on his land in 1787.
        Peter is listed in George Rogers Clark And His Men Military Records, 1778-1784 as working on the new Fort in Lexington in April of 1781. Peter and his four sons, James Martin, Ephriam P., Samuel, and John all fought in the American Revolutionary War. A certified record by Hattie M. Scott, Frankfort, Ky. dated April 14, 1930 states: Peter January, born 1725, was an Ensign. 4th Batt., Phil. Dist., April 15, 1780 (Vol 2, page 305, Ser.6, Pa. State Archives; also Vol I, page 613, Ser. 5; Vol. II, page 349, Ser. 6).
        Peter's will dated 1787 mentions his wife Deborah and their then living children. Their children were: Sarah 1754; James Martin 1756; Ephriam P. 1759 Hannah 1762; Samuel 1765; John Irwin 1767; and Deborah 1771.
        The last gap in our knowledge about Peter and Deborah has been their burial site. After Peter, Ephraim, and James Martin moved to Kentucky in about 1780, Ephriam "pre-empted" 1000 acres of land in Jessamine County. On this land a Log Meeting House (Presbyterian) was built, which later burned. In 1803-1804 a stone church was built, the Ebenezer Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church to replace the Log Meeting House and in 1806 Ephriam and his wife Sarah deeded the site of one acre to the church and it no longer was part of their farm. Since Ephriam and Sarah are buried in the Ebenezer Churchyard Cemetery and there is two unmarked graves beside their burial place, we have assumed that these are the graves of Peter and Deborah. Peter died in 1789, thus he was buried there when the church was a Log Meeting house. Deborah died about 1759-1760.  On Sunday, September 9, 1990, the descendants of his four sons placed a marker on the graves of Peter and Deborah. 
         In 1750 Peter filed to legally change his name from Pierre Janvier to Peter January. Peters Township, Cumberland Co., Pa.
        Peter and Deborah are listed on Cumberland Co., Tax list from 1763-1776: 200 acres of land, livestock, etc. Property listed for sale in December 1783.  Sale is recorded on December 15, 1783.

The children of Peter and Deborah McMahon January:

Index The Children Date of Birth Notes
a. Nancy January - No data available
b. Sara January 05/05/1754 -
c. James Martin January 01/08/1756 -
d. Ephriam P. January 06/28/1760 -
e. Hannah January 1762 Christened 08/17/1762, Big Cove, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania
f. Samuel January 03/17/1765 -
g. John Irvin January 08/29/1767 -
h. Deborah January 1771 Christened 10/07/1771, Big Cove, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania

 


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