Individual Details
John Chenoweth
(1706 - 5 Mar 1771)
John was the oldest son, born 1706, probably in Pennsylvania or New Jersey before the family came to Maryland. Cora Hiatt claimed he and the next couple of siblings were born in England, but that seems unlikely. John married Mary Smith. Her parents are unknown at this time. Some think she came from Pennsylvania, but the wedding was recorded on November 26, 1730 at St. John's Parish, Baltimore County, Maryland. John and family are found living on leased land in 1737 in the Middle River Hundred, next door to his brother-in-law, John Watson, husband of John's sister, Mary. John Chenoweth and his wife Mary would have 9 known children, the first ones born in Maryland, the last ones in Virginia. They form the largest body of known descendants in the family. In 1762 John is known to have received a patent for land in Frederick County, Virginia from Lord Fairfax. (this later became Berkeley County and still later West Virginia). It is likely that John, however, along with his brothers William and Thomas, located in Frederick County, Virginia sometime before the death of their father in 1746. Indeed the last record of a John Chenoweth found in Maryland for several decades following is 1742, lending credence to the theory that the family moved somewhat together to Virginia.
Like his father, John is given to have been a blacksmith and died with substantial land holdings in Virginia. In his 1770 will, written at about age 65, John mentions each of his 9 children and widowed wife, Mary. To his two oldest sons, William and John, he willed 248 acres of land on the Cacapon River in Hampshire Co. To Absolom, Thomas and Richard, he willed the lands upon which he lived, part of 314 acres patented from Lord Fairfax. At the time this land was in Frederick Co. near "Torytown", but in 1773 it would just a couple of miles north of the border in newly formed Berkeley Co. To his son Arthur, he left one dollar.
Within two generations all of John's descendants had left this part of Virginia, that was later to include Berkeley and Hampshire Cos., WV. A large group, including sons: Richard and Arthur, daughters: Elizabeth and Rachel, and 3 grandchildren: Jonathan, William and Absolom, Jr., went to Kentucky, mainly Jefferson Co. Three sons: William, John and Absolom died in Virginia, and their children went to Ohio, Kentucky and one, to Indiana. John's son, Thomas(3), after returning to Maryland, married there, and late in his life took his family to Botetourt Co., VA, before his death in 1780. John's grandson, John(4), moved and settled due west in what would be Randolph Co., WV. Many of the families of John associated with the Baptist Church.
Like his father, John is given to have been a blacksmith and died with substantial land holdings in Virginia. In his 1770 will, written at about age 65, John mentions each of his 9 children and widowed wife, Mary. To his two oldest sons, William and John, he willed 248 acres of land on the Cacapon River in Hampshire Co. To Absolom, Thomas and Richard, he willed the lands upon which he lived, part of 314 acres patented from Lord Fairfax. At the time this land was in Frederick Co. near "Torytown", but in 1773 it would just a couple of miles north of the border in newly formed Berkeley Co. To his son Arthur, he left one dollar.
Within two generations all of John's descendants had left this part of Virginia, that was later to include Berkeley and Hampshire Cos., WV. A large group, including sons: Richard and Arthur, daughters: Elizabeth and Rachel, and 3 grandchildren: Jonathan, William and Absolom, Jr., went to Kentucky, mainly Jefferson Co. Three sons: William, John and Absolom died in Virginia, and their children went to Ohio, Kentucky and one, to Indiana. John's son, Thomas(3), after returning to Maryland, married there, and late in his life took his family to Botetourt Co., VA, before his death in 1780. John's grandson, John(4), moved and settled due west in what would be Randolph Co., WV. Many of the families of John associated with the Baptist Church.
Events
| Birth | 1706 | Pennsylvania or Maryland, United States |  | ||
| Marriage | 26 Nov 1730 | St. John's Parish, Baltimore, Maryland, United States - Mary M. Smith | | ||
| Will | 3 Nov 1770 | Frederick, Virginia, United States |  | | |
| Death | 5 Mar 1771 | Frederick, Virginia, United States | |
Families
| Spouse | Mary M. Smith (1713 - 1773) |
| Child | William Chenoweth (1731 - 1772) |
| Child | John Chenoweth (1735 - 1812) |
| Child | Thomas Chenoweth (1737 - 1780) |
| Child | Captain Richard Chenoweth (1738 - 1803) |
| Child | Absolum Chenoweth (1745 - 1773) |
| Child | Mary W. Chenoweth (1748 - 1830) |
| Child | Elizabeth Chenoweth (1750 - 1786) |
| Child | Arthur Chenoweth (1752 - 1828) |
| Child | Rachel Chenoweth (1754 - 1807) |
| Father | John Chenoweth (1682 - 1746) |
| Mother | Mary Calvert (1687 - 1737) |
| Sibling | Mary Chenoweth (1708 - 1746) |
| Sibling | Richard Chenoweth (1710 - 1781) |
| Sibling | Hannah Chenoweth (1713 - 1764) |
| Sibling | Arthur Chenoweth Sr. (1716 - 1802) |
| Sibling | William Chenoweth (1718 - 1785) |
| Sibling | Thomas Chenoweth (1720 - 1778) |
| Sibling | Ruth Chenoweth (1722 - 1760) |
Notes
Will
I will that all my just debts and funeral charges be fully paid and discharged.ITEM, I give and bequeth to my eldest sons William and John Chanoweth all my land and Plantation on Cancanon in Hampshire County to be equally divided between them to them thier heirs and assigns forever.
ITEM, I give and bequeth to my three sons Absalom, Thomas and Richard Chenoweth all my land and Plantation whereon I now live to be equally divided between them to them their heirs and assigns forever. The said land not to be sold during their Mother's natural life and they to pay the following legatees; my son Absalom to pay the sum of thirty pounds Virginia currency and my said son Thomas to pay the sum of twenty five pounds like currancy money and my said son Richard to pay the sum of twenty five pounds like current money the said _____and to do the remainder to be equall divided between my three daughters Elizabeth, Mary and Rachel.
ITEM, I give and bequeth to my son Arthur Chenoweth one schilling and three pence
ITEM, I give and bequeth to my daughter Mary one cow and calf and one featherbed and furniture
ITEM, I give and bequeth to my daughter Rachel one cow and calf and one featherbed and furniture.
AND LASTLY, I do hereby constitute ordain and appoint my loving wife Mary Chenoweth sole executrix of this my last will and testament revoking and making void all other former wills and testaments made at any time. Ratifying and confirming this only to be my last will and testament. It is here to be remebered that my son Richard is to have my Smiths tools to work with during his mothers natural life provided he stay and work on the Plantation and at her death the said tools are to be sold and the money to be divided between my three daughters and further my will is that after my just debts and funeral charges are fully paid and discharged the remainder of my moveable estate to be equally divided between my three daughters, Elizabeth, Mary and Rachel and in confimation of this to be my last will and testament I have hereunto set my hand and seal this third day of November 1770
John Chenoweth X (Seal)
Signed sealed and acknowledged by the testators to be his last will and testament in the presence of us
John Salisberry
William X Salisberry
M. Morgan
CODICIL
It is here to be remebered that before signed and sealed that the said testator doth give unto his grand daughter Mary Chenoweth, daughter of his eldest son William, one heifer called the mottled heifer, one ewe and lamb provided she stay with her grandmother during her said grandmothers natural life of until she becomes to age
Endnotes
1. Chenoweth Family Site from Colonial times to present day, Descendants of John Chenoweth & Mary Calvert, Jon D. Egge online [http://chenowethsite.com/], accessed 9/2006.
2. Chenoweth Family Site from Colonial times to present day, Descendants of John Chenoweth & Mary Calvert, Jon D. Egge online [http://chenowethsite.com/], accessed 9/2006.
3. Chenoweth Family Site from Colonial times to present day, Descendants of John Chenoweth & Mary Calvert, Jon D. Egge online [http://chenowethsite.com/], accessed 9/2006, from Tami Ramsey: 17 Dec 2000.
4. Chenoweth Family Site from Colonial times to present day, Descendants of John Chenoweth & Mary Calvert, Jon D. Egge online [http://chenowethsite.com/], accessed 9/2006.