Individual Details
John Kirk
(29 Jan 1692 - 9 Aug 1759)
He was a stone-mason (today he'd be called 'building contractor') and built the house known as the Kirk Homestead (still standing) in which he and his descendants lived for many years. He also built, in 1722, Graeme Park, the mansion of Pennsylvania's first Governor Keith, which has recently been restored and is a Pennsylvania Historical Site. It would seem logical that he might have built the Lukens house mentioned under Seneca Lukens in the Tabitha Lukens ancestors. Perhaps he might also have built the nearby Tyson Homestead (demolished ca. 1965) for his wife's brother, John Tyson.
Events
| Birth | 29 Jan 1692 | Darby, Pennsylvania | |||
| Event | 1712 | Abington township |  | ||
| Event | 12 Dec 1721 | Contract | | ||
| Marriage | 27 Aug 1722 | Germantown, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania - Sarah Tyson | |  | |
| Death | 9 Aug 1759 | Abingdon, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | | ||
| Occupation | stone-mason |
Families
| Spouse | Sarah Tyson (1698 - 1780) |
| Child | John Kirk (1723 - ) |
| Child | Rynear Kirk (1725 - 1799) |
| Child | Margaret Kirk (1727 - ) |
| Child | Elizabeth Kirk (1730 - 1820) |
| Child | Mary Kirk (1732 - 1761) |
| Child | Isaac Kirk (1735 - 1826) |
| Child | Jacob Kirk (1735 - 1829) |
| Child | Sarah Kirk (1737 - ) |
| Father | John Kirk (1660 - 1705) |
| Mother | Joan Elliott (1660 - ) |
| Sibling | Thomas Kirk ( - ) |
Notes
Event
in 1712 purchased, of John and Sarah Ironmonger, two hundred acres of land, upon which was a stone dwelling, for £260. This tract is in the northwest corner of Abington Township, and he subsequently bought five hundred and fifty acres in Upper Dublin Township.Event
"Know all Men by these presents that I Sir William Keith Baronet Governor of the Province of Pennsylvania am held and firmly bound unto John Kirk of the County of Philadelphia Mason in the Summ of One Hundred Pounds good and lawful Money of America to be paid to the said John Kirk his certain Attorney Executors Administrators or Assigns; To the which Payment well and truly to be made I bind myself my Heirs Executors and Administrators firmly by these presents. Sealed with my seal. Dated the Twelfth Day of December in the Eighth year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord King George Anne Domini 1721." (The original is in the Historical Society of Pennsylvania.)Marriage
John, who was a stone-mason by trade, came to Abington. In 1712 he purchased a tract of 200 acres of land in Abington, on the Upper Dublin line. In 1722 he built for Sir William Keith, then Governor of Pennsylvania, the historic mansion in Horsham, known as Graeme Park, still standing, though now unused. The solid walls of this old house remain a monument to his thorough work. He married at Abington Meeting, in the same year (1722) Sarah, daughter of Reynier Tyson, the Mennonite or Quaker immigrant, whose arrival at Germantown, with others of the Crefeld company, has already been mentioned.1722 Marraige Record of John KIRK and Sarah TYSON. - xerox copy - "Whereas John Kirk & Sarah Tyson having Declared their Intentions of Marraige with each other before two Mo. Meetings Enquirey being Made by Persons Appointed & found clear from all others on ye Acct of Marraige are Left to Accomplish ye same Orderly." (Swarthmore - Abington MM)
Death
To each of his sons he gave two hundred acres of land, and willed the remainder, where Dreshertown now stands, to be divided among his daughters.KIRK, JOHN. Abington, Co. of Philadelphia. Yeoman. July 30, 1759.
September 24, 1759. L.325.
Wife: Sarah. Children: Rynear, Isaac, Jacob, Sarah, Margret
Loofborow, Elizabeth Spencer and Mary Loofborrow. Brothers-in-Law:
Peter Tyson and John Lukens.
Witnesses: Derick Tyson, Peter Tyson, John Luken, John Lukens.
Endnotes
1. Colonial and Revolutionary Families of Pennsylvania, Volumes I-III 1911.
2. Miranda S. Roberts, Genealogy of the Descendants of John Kirk.