The Case Family of NY, NJ, PA, MD and KY – Part 2

~ karynfamilytree

This blog post is Part 2 of the blog series about the Case family (read Part 1 here). When we last left our intrepid Case folks, they had moved from Suffolk County, NY to Morris County, NJ, starting around 1740.

I’m now following the Theophilus Case 2, Ichabod Case, Joshua Case and other family lines who show up in Morris County around the same time. I’ll follow them through 1772 when some of them move to southwestern PA.

Remember, the point of this blog post series is to find the parents of Separate Case who marries Lydia Hendrickson. They likely marry around 1774 in Menallen, Fayette, PA (because that’s where her parents are and that’s the time their first child is born).

So, I’ll follow the Case families who go to Roxbury, Morris, NJ (and eventually go to Fayette, PA and Westmoreland, PA) in this blog post.

About the Location

  • The Black River Settlement in Morris County, NJ was populated mostly by people from Suffolk NY, Rye/Westcheser NY, and Connecticut.
  • The Black River, known as the Lamington River downstream of Pottersville, is a tributary of the North Branch Raritan River. It begins west of Morristown near Sunset Lake in Mine Hill, Morris, NJ. You’ll see it on maps as Black River/Lamington River.
  • Black River is the old name for today’s town of Chester, Morris, NJ
  • This is a big iron ore area and some settlers created mines and forges/furnaces along the rivers
  • The Lawrence Line, which divided “East Jersey” and “West Jersey” went through Chester. You’ll note on some Case property locations whether it’s East or West Jersey and helps to pinpoint that they lived right near the Lawrence line.

About the Churches

  • The Congregationalists (Puritans) were from Southold, Suffolk, NY area, with names like Case, Corwin, Swesey/Swayze, etc.
    • The Congregationalists of Black River organized their church in 1740, and erected a meeting house in 1747.
    • The First Congregational Church of Roxbury was formed by the people from Southold, NY (in 1823, it becomes the First Congregational Church of Chester, which still exists).
    • About the time of the building of this first church the excitement which caused the separation in the Congregational Churches of Connecticut and Long Island reached this settlement and a majority of the inhabitants became “Separates,” as they were then called.  A Separate Congregational Church was gathered which was ministered unto by Rev. Samuel Swayze, son of Judge Samuel Swayze Sr.  He was the first settled pastor. He also owned land adjoining Theophilus Case.
      • Perhaps this is where Separate Case gets his name?
  • The Presbyterians were from East Hampton, Suffolk, NY
    • The First Presbyterian Church of Black River was formed in 1745, and became the First Presbyterian Church of Roxbury
  • Case family members are buried in these cemeteries early on per FindAGrave: First Presbyterian Church of Morristown, First Presbyterian Church of Succasunna. Certainly there must be more unmarked Case graves during this 1740-1770 period.
  • There were also some “Rogerenes” – a mix of Separate Baptists and Quakers, similar to Shakers. They were in the Morris County area for a while, then moved to Schooley’s Mountain further west. Some Case people marry into the Schooley family.
  • During the Revolutionary War, people begin calling Black River “Chester”

Some Notes

  • Once we hit New Jersey and Pennsylvania in this time period, records are scarce unless you want to travel to the State Library in Trenton NJ, so much is ASSUMED based on things like migration patterns, who is a bondsman for whom, what history books say, naming patterns, etc.
  • All ideas are open to revision when new records appear, because this Case family often defies normal migration patterns — nephews migrate with uncles, and children are named for people the parents admire rather than parents, siblings and in-laws. Sometimes uncles take nieces and nephews with them when they migrate — and the father is known to still be alive, so their not orphans at all!
  • The land and court records come from the New Jersey Searchable Database.
  • For all these records, I used the spelling “as is” on the record, but with lots of typos.
    • Shadrack can be Shadrach, Shadrack, Shederick, etc.
    • Meshach can be Meshack, Messak, etc.
    • Reuben can be Reuben, Rubin, Ruban, Ruben
    • Theophilus can be Theophilis and is sometimes abbreviated to Theo or Theo’s (but not Thos – that stands for Thomas)
    • Christopher can be Christoph or Chris
    • Nathaniel can be Nathan or Nath’ll. But be aware that even in one family, you can have both a Nathaniel and a Nathan (like you can have both a John and a Jonathan).

Timeline

  • 1738
    • Morris County, NJ was created from Hunterdon, NJ. It’s possible there are early Case records in Hunterdon, but I haven’t seen any.
    • Just be careful, a German, Wilhelm Kaes/Kays/Case comes from Germany via Philadelphia and settles in Amwell, Hunterdon, NJ. He has records in Hunterdon as “William Kaes” or “William Case.” His family seems to stay in the Amwell area for quite a while but some move to Somerset County, NJ later. There is also a Kays family in Sussex County, NJ.
    • There are also Case family records in Essex, NJ and Monmouth, NJ, and New York City. I’m focusing this timeline on the Morris County NJ Case families because several Case men say they were born in Morris or served in the Rev War from Morris.
    • The History of Somerset County, NJ says the Case people in that book are the German ones from Hunterdon County, not the ones from Southold, NY, but you’ll see that’s incorrect because the Case brothers have a 1753 record in Somerset County, NJ near where it borders with Morris County.
  • 1740
    • Ichabod Case’s son dies in Southold, Suffolk, NY in Dec 1740, so Ichabod is still there.
      • Ichabod begins marrying around 1715, so if he has older children, they could marry starting around 1735 in Suffolk, NY and not necessarily come to NJ.
    • Theophilus Case 2 and Theophilus Case 3 shop at the Janeway store in today’s Bound Brook, Somerset, NJ, 1740-1744.
      • This is the first record of Theophilus 2 in New Jersey, so all kids born before 1740 are likely born in NY.
      • The Janeway Account book says Theophilus 3 would come into the store to pay for his father’s purchases. The book notes that they lived near Nathaniel Drake (the one who lives in Roxbury, not the other one who lives in Plainfield, Union, NJ)
      • https://archive.org/details/janewayaccountbo00styk/page/20/mode/1up?q=case
      • In 1749, Nathaniel “Nathan” Drake took the Oath of Allegiance at Morris County; there is no record for any Case men taking at Oath there at the same time. There is a village called Drakesville or Draketown in Roxbury Township. Nathaniel Drake dies in Roxbury in 1773.
      • I’m guessing Theophilus 3 is at least 18 in 1743 if he’s travelling from Roxbury to Bound Brook to pay Janeway, so he’s likely born before 1722.
    • Note a Janeway account book reference to an Eckbert or Eggbert Case near Black River. It says “delivered to Samuel Coleman” who had adjoining land to Theophilus Case in Roxbury, so I think this is Ichabod Case, not Egbert/Eckbert. 1742-1743
      • Hannah Case “Jr” would be Ichabod’s daughter, Hannah (mother is Hannah Goldsmith). Hannah is named in her father’s will. 1742-1743
      • Samuel Coleman died 1772, Roxbury, left a will. He is noted as an adjoining land owner to Theophilus Case.
        • His son, Samuel Coleman Jr, marries Abigail Pew, daughter of Abigail Case and William Pew.
    • NOTE: Chester Township wasn’t created until 1779. This entire area would have been “Roxbury Township” at this time.
    • History books tell us both Congregationalists and Presbyterians came to this area, Congregationalists from Southold, NY and Presbyterians from East Hampton, Long Island
    • In 1740, the First Congregational Church of Chester (formerly First Congregational Church of Roxbury aka Black River) was formed by Rev. Samuel Swayze (Swesey) of Southold, NY. It’s likely Theophilus Case came with these Southold settlers who started to come into the area in the 1710s.
      • Note that Samuel Swasey is an adjoining land owner to Theophilus Case in 1757
  • 1741
    • The Early Germans of New Jersey book (written 1895) says Theophilus Case was the Surveyor of Highways in 1741 in Morris County, NJ and that he’s probably the son of Theophilus Case of Southold, Suffolk, NY.
      • Note that there is also an “overseer” of highways, so Theophilus Case was acting as a surveyor, which is an educated skill to have. I never see him on land surveys, so he’s laying out roads not tracts of land.
      • The Early Germans book suggests that three brothers, Theophilus, Ichabod and John all left Southold and moved to Roxbury, NJ. The book does not mention Christopher or Butler, but they’re mentioned by Zophar Case in the 1881 history book.
      • Note: The Early Germans book has inaccuracies in it! It guesses at some of the Case family groupings which later are repudiated by someone’s will. Use it cautiously and double-check the records.
  • 1742
    • Ichabod Case and his daughter Hannah have records at the Janeway store in NJ beginning 1742.
      • There are no land records in the New Jersey Searchable Database for Ichabod, but when he purchases goods from the Janeway store, they’re sent via Samuel Coleman who lives next door to Theophilus Case 2 — so we can presume Ichabod lives near Theophilus, too.
  • 1743
    • Theophilus 3 travels to the Janeway store in Bound Brook to pay for his father (1743-1746). I’m guessing he’s at least 18 at this time, so born before 1722
    • Joshua Case marries Elizabeth Youngs in Southold, Suffolk, NY. This is not Joshua Case who married Deliverance Wells, they both have graves in the 1780s in Southold. It’s likely this is Joshua Case Sr who serves in the Rev War from Morris County, NJ and dies in Roxbury or Chester in 1777. I don’t see any records for him in NJ between 1743 – 1777, but his son Augustus Case’s Rev War app says Augustus was born 1759 in Roxbury, NJ, so Joshua in NJ by then.
  • 1745
    • The Presbyterian Church of Black River started in 1745, and formed into the First Presbyterian Church of Roxbury
  • 1749
    • An Oath of Allegiance is taken in Morris County, NJ. While some of the Case neighbors are on this list, the Case family is not.
    • Theophilus Case 2 – his first land record in Roxbury, Morris, NJ is in 1749. He has land records in Roxbury through June 1765.
      • He is the only Case with land records in the New Jersey Searchable Database in Morris County. There is no record of him BUYING this land in 1749 or SELLING it. I think he’s renting and buys it later. I’m not sure how complete the NJSDB records are, but these are for either grantee, grantor or surveys in Morris County.
      • He is listed as the owner of adjoining land. Neighbors are Isaac Norris, John Shinn, Samuel Coleman. (It’s Samuel Coleman Sr, who delivers the Case family goods from the Janeway store. His son marries into the Case family.)
      • Note: spelled “Theophilus Casey” in the NJ Searchable Database land records
      • This record says “East Jersey/Eastern Division” side of the Lawrence Line; When John Hamilton sells this 118 acres to George Ryerson Jr in 1745, it’s described as: At Rockaway below the old Indian Field on the north side of the Rockaway River. It’s the only time in NJSDB that the phrase “old Indian Field” is used in Morris County. In Bergen County, this same phrase is used to denote an old Indian settlement/plantation, Indian lands.
      • The Lawrence Line was a survey line dividing East Jersey from West Jersey. It ran diagonally from Egg Harbor NJ to Port Jervis NY, right through the middle of Morris County near Roxbury and Chester. Knowing this, we can pinpoint where people live based on whether their records are East Jersey or West Jersey — whether they’re on the eastern side or the western side of the Lawrence Line.
      • There is not a “grantee” record for Theophilus until 1757, which makes me think he might not own this land yet.
      • https://www.nj.gov/state/darm/EarlyLandRecordsPDF/PEASJ003_S2_p_304.pdf
      • In Southold, NY records: 15 Jul 1749 – Mashe Case died “at Black River.”
        • I can’t find a Black River in Suffolk,NY.
        • It’s the only reference to Black River in the Southold book.
        • Why would it be noted in the Southold records unless she has family there?
        • There are references to the Case family living near Black River in Morris County, NJ in the Janeway account book.
        • The settlement that the Southold people formed around Roxbury and Chester was called The Black River Settlement
        • Is this  a male or female? (Is it Marcy or Masey? It’s spelled Mashe in the record, but that name is not used elsewhere in the entire Salmon Records book. The book is a typed transcript; I have not seen this in hand-writing)
        • Is this the wife of Theophilus 2?
          • If yes, does he remarry? He would be in his 50s.
        • Or is this Marcy Osman, wife of William?
          • If yes, does he remarry? He would be in his late 20s or early 30s. (In which case, he marries “Masey” in Roxbury, Morris, NJ and all the rest of the kids are born in NJ beginning 1753. James IS born in NJ in 1760.)
        • Whoever the husband of Mashe Case is, if he remarries, then there could be kids born from 1750 onward in NJ.
        • https://archive.org/details/salmonrecordspri00salm/page/32/mode/1up?q=%22black+river%22
  • 1740s Summary
    • Theophilus 2 and Theophilus 3 leave Suffolk County, NY and are in Roxbury, Morris, NJ by 1740
    • Theophilus 2 has land in Roxbury
    • Ichabod Case in Southold, Suffolk, NY in 1740, and in Roxbury, NJ by 1742
    • Ichabod Case’s daughter, Hannah, in Roxbury
    • William Case marries Marcy Osman in 1741 Southold, NY. There are no more records for him in Southold after 1741 (his son James born 1760 in NJ per his Rev War app).
    • Mashe Case dies, possibly in Roxbury, Morris area.
  • 1751
    • Theophilus Case 2 noted as the owner of adjoining land, see NJSDB. Neighbors are Samuel Coleman, Martin Ryerson (the Ryersons are huge land owners and might not live on this tract).
    • In 1772/1773 there is a tax list for Springhill, Bedford, PA which includes William Case Sr and Nathaniel  Case Sr, but none for their sons. That means all Case sons who go to Fayette, PA are born after 1751, as the tax lists for PA are typically men 21 and older. If it’s 18 and older, then they’re born after 1754. (This tallies with William Case Jr’s Rev War application that says he was born 1753.)
  • 1752
    • According to the Case bio in the History of Trumbull County, OH, Meshach Case is born in Morris, NJ in 1752. He is the son of Butler Case Sr. The bio does not mention who Butler Case’s parents are.
      • It is presumed Butler Case Sr’s father is Theophilus Case 2 because Zophar Case says so in the 1881 History Book
      • Meshach is Butler Case Sr’s first child, so we can assume that Butler marries Elizabeth Carnes (of the Morris County family) around 1751. If he’s over 21 when he marries, he would be born before 1730.
      • Leonard Case bio says the Butler Case family from Morris County, NJ in 1778 to Westmoreland County, PA. (I don’t see a record of Butler being in the Revolutionary War from Morris County, though the first 2 years of the war he must be somewhere other than Westmoreland, PA. His wife’s Carnes brothers and cousins serve from Morris County, NJ.)
      • Since we know Meshach Case is born in Morris County, NJ in 1752, we can presume his brothers Butler Jr (around 1761) and Reuben (around 1762) are born in Morris as well.
    • Morris County Freeholder’s List, 1752, no Case men on this list, even though Theophilus has land records as early as 1749 in Roxbury and this list does include people from Roxbury.
      • Typically to be a freeholder in NJ, you have to own land and be a member of the church. (Often they mean Congregational Church, as it’s still a British colony.)
      • The Presbyterian Church was very big in Morris County at this time, but only a few Case records found in those churches.
      • So, there are two possible reasons why Theophilus and Ichabod aren’t on this freeholders list:
        • Either they’re renting land and don’t own it yet
        • Or they’re not members of the right church
        • Or the list is incomplete
      • The Genealogical Magazine of New Jersey; Volume 16, Number 3, Whole No. 65; July 1941, published November 1942
      • https://sites.rootsweb.com/~njmorris/history/freeholders1752.htm
  • 1753
    • William Case Jr born in 1753 per his Rev War app, son of William Sr. The application doesn’t say where he was born. But his brother James says he was born in NJ in 1760 per his Rev War app.
      • I don’t see any records for William Case Sr in NJ until he’s mentioned in his father’s will in 1762.
      • William Case Jr says in his Rev War application that during the war, he returned to his father’s home in the Redstone Settlement, Fayette County, PA
    • Theophilus, Reuben and John in Peapack Tract/Somerset NJ, talking about assigning land leases
      • https://archive.org/details/somersetcountyhi02hone/page/n203/mode/1up?q=%22theo.+case%22
      • This could be the three brothers, looking to lease land (Zophar Case says there were four brothers: Reuben, Butler, Theophilus and Christopher. Early Germans book says there’s also a John.)
      • All would need to be over 21, so all born before 1732.
      • But my best guess is this Theophilus 3 and his two brothers, Reuben and John, looking for farm land to lease. They’re all born in the early 1720s and would be adult men. Their father, Theophilus 2, only has 60+ acres, so not big enough to support the growing families.
      • We’re now in the territory of men Sr/Jr with overlapping names and dates.
        • And it was customary in records of this era to use “Jr” simply to mean “the younger of the two with the same name” so for instance, John Sr and John Jr doesn’t necessarily mean father and son. (This is always confusing to researchers!)
        • Who are these 1753 men?
        • THEOPHILUS – This is likely Theophilus 3.
          • The Theophilus who is in the Rev War from Fayette in 1778 is over 18 and SINGLE, so likely a “Theophilus 4,” born before 1760, too young to be leasing land in 1753.
          • There is no proof that Theophilus 3 has a son Theophilus 4, but I’ll call him that for now, just to keep the generations clear.
        • JOHN – This must be John Sr who has a court record in Morris County in 1760.
          • If he has a son old enough the be John JR on a 1767 court record, then JR is born before 1749 (say he’s at least 18 in 1767) and therefore John Sr marries around 1749 and born before 1728.
          • OR — “John Jr” is merely the younger of two John Case men in Morris County at the same time in 1767, and this might be the case. See 1767.
        • BUTLER – This is Butler Case Sr who goes to Rostraver, Westmoreland, PA, and is the grandfather of Zophar Case.
          • We know who Butler Case Sr’s children are because Zophar Case lists them in his diary.
        • REUBEN – Reuben would need to be at least 21 when renting land, so born before 1732.
          • He would be 42 when he has his first Rev War record under Captain William Harrod in 1780 KY.
        • I have “extra” Case men born around this time, who have records in Morris County, who could be the son of any of these brothers.
          • Theophilus Case 4, Joseph Case (who married Delilah Moore), Joseph Case (who married Elizabeth Nife), Isaiah Case and Aaron Case (who both go from Morris NJ to Wilkes, NC, and appear to be brothers) all need a father.
  • 1753
    • AFTER 1751 AND BEFORE 1753, SEPARATE CASE IS BORN. We know his children because of Simeon Hendrickson’s Baptism for the Dead in 1841, estate records in Nelson KY and Bullitt KY, marriage records in KY, and the 1772/1773 Springhill, Bedford, PA tax list. Here’s how I figured it out:
      • It appears Keziah Case is the eldest child of Separate Case and Lydia Hendrickson, and she’s over 45 in 1820, so born before 1775.  She marries in 1798 and might be slightly younger than this. No consent is given for her marriage, so at least 21.
      • That means Separate marries Lydia Hendrickson sometime around 1774 — her parents are in Menallen, Fayette, PA at that time (from 1770 through 1783). He’s likely around 21 at the time give or take a few years, so born around 1753. Even if he’s 18, he’s born before 1756.
      • He’s the right age to be in the Revolutionary War. (He appears to be about the same age as William Case Jr — but William Case Jr is mentioned in his father’s will, and Separate Case is NOT mentioned in that will, so Separate Case is not the son of William Case Sr.)
      • In Dec 1772, the tax list was taken for 1773 Springhill, Bedford, PA (which becomes Menallen, Fayette, PA). This is a tax list of men over 21, and the only men on it are William Case Sr and Nathaniel Case Sr. So either Separate is born after 1751 or his parents aren’t in Springhill in 1772. But we know he’s there by 1774 to get married.
      • DNA shows strong matches to Joseph Case m. Moore, Butler Case Sr, Christopher Case, William Case Sr, etc., so we know this is the family line.
      • Adult men around in Morris NJ at this time who could be the father of Separate Case:
        • Could be:
          • Reuben – Has records in NJ, goes to Frederick, VA then to Fayette, PA
          • Theophilus 3 – Has records in NJ, goes to Fayette, PA
          • John Sr – Has records in NJ. I don’t know what happens to him, does not go to Fayette, PA (but it is not uncommon in this family for nephews to travel with uncles)
          • Nathaniel Sr – Has no records in NJ, but we see him with William Case Sr in Springhill, Bedford, PA in 1772, and with his son Nathaniel Jr (and Reuben and Theophilus), first starting 1774 in Menallen, Fayette, PA
        • We can likely rule out:
          • Butler Case Sr (per Zophar Case’s list)
          • William Case Sr (has a will, names children)
          • Christopher Case is likely too young
          • Joshua Case Sr has a will in Morris, NJ and names children.
          • However… just because someone is not named in a will doesn’t mean they’re not a son or daughter; often fathers gave children land early and therefore had already received their inheritance. For now, I’ll take the will text “as is” and assume they are complete until new records prove otherwise.
        • Separate appears to name his first son John, and names a daughter Keziah (possibly for his cousin Keziah Case Corwin), if that matters
  • 1754
    • Joseph Case (m. Elizabeth Nife) is born around this time.
      • I don’t know if Joseph Case (m. Nife) is born in NJ or not.
      • I mention him because in 1781-1783 in PA, two men named Joseph Case overlap each other in the Fayette/Greene PA area (24 miles from each other) and both are YDNA Case men. They appear to be born about 3 years apart.
      • But Joseph Case m. Delilah Moore (b 1757) is in Menallen, Fayette, PA and Joseph Case m. Nife (b 1754) is in Morgan, Greene, PA (was Washington County). I’ll talk about them more as we enter the Revolutionary War years.
      • Joseph Case m. Nife – He is a YDNA match and trees say he is the son of Butler Case Sr. But Zophar Case has a diary and does not name Joseph as a son of Butler Case Sr. It’s possible he is a son of one of the Case men in Fayette or Washington PA in the 1780s. Or he came directly from NY or CT and is unrelated.
      • He first shows up in Washington, PA in 1781
      • Starting in 1786, this Joseph Case gets a land grant in Washington, PA in the area that becomes Morgan, Greene, PA. None of his children live long enough to say where Joseph was born, nor do they live long enough to have a 1850 census of their own. But grandchildren say that Ebenezer Case, son of this Joseph, was born in PA in 1776, and John Case born in PA in 1781.
      • Trees mistakenly says that this Joseph Case was in the Illinois Regiment under George Rogers Clark. That’s incorrect, it’s Joseph Case m. Moore who is under GRC and applies for land in Kentucky in 1781, while Joseph Case m. Nife is still in PA.
      • Interestingly, Joseph’s granddaughter is a Mormon, so their might be some LDS Baptisms for the Dead to look at:
      • https://archive.org/details/583PackerMurlandElishaHurdGrovesR3Updated5.24.11Renumbereddj_201304/page/n341/mode/1up?q=%22john+case%22
  • 1755
    • French & Indian War begins (through 1763). Sometimes soldiers are drafted from Morris County to serve along the Delaware River which was considered “frontier” at the time and subject to Indian incursion throughout this time.
    • Some Sussex County settlers on the Delaware River abandon their farms and move to safety in Morris County, NJ or Goshen, Orange, NY. Some return to their farms after the war, some do not.
    • A Captain Daniel Case is paid to help build two blockhouses in Peenpack, Orange, NY. That’s Daniel Case m. Wells, born 1701 in Southold, dies 1761 in Goshen, Orange, NY. Supposedly he’s the son of henry Jr, but I have him as the son of Theophilus 1
    • Naturally, this creates problems, because some of Joshua Case Sr of Morris County NJ’s sons are supposed to go to Goshen, Orange NY just 10 years after Daniel Case dies there and while Daniel’s children still live there. But I’ll leave that to Goshen, NY researchers to sort out!
  • 1757
    • Theophilus Case court record, Morris County
      • Theophilus Case vs. Nathan Cooper, debt
    • Theophilus Case, resurvey of land in Roxbury
      • 1757 – Grantee – 66.16 acres, Roxbury. Samuel Coleman and Samuel Swasey (Swesey, Swayze) adjoining. (This is either Judge Samuel Swayze Sr or his son, Rev. Samuel Swayze Jr)
      • (I think this is when Theophilus buys it and gets a clear survey during the process; hard to tell without specific land records)
      • TO: Theophilus Casey (sic)
      • SURVEY. 66.16 acres. Near the Line of Partition between East and West Jersey (aka Lawrence Line); Roxbury Township; Morris County.
      • LOCATIONS: East Jersey; West Jersey; Morris; Partition Line; Division Line; Line of Partition; Roxbury Township
      • I don’t see a record in the NJSDB for when he sells this land, but the records there are not complete.
    • Joseph Case is born in 1757 (the one who married Delilah Moore and is in Menallen, Fayette, PA with the others). According to his grandson’s biography (Joseph M. Case) in 1882, Joseph Case m. Moore/Greene born in Maryland in 11 Jul 1757 (and died 30 Aug 1809, age 52).
      • Are there any Case records in Maryland at this time? None that I could find easily that are identifiable, and Joseph M. Case might simply be repeating what was claimed in the Indian Affairs documents/filing of 1882 and 1906 (which is why it’s wise to NOT believe family stories without confirming them with facts!). It’s more likely the Joseph Case who married Delilah Moore was born in NJ or NY
      • https://archive.org/details/cu31924081311676/page/524/mode/1up?q=%22joseph+case%22
      • Can we prove he’s not the son of Shadrack Case of Montgomery, MD? If Joseph is born in 1757, he would be 21 by 1778 and SHOULD be on the Oaths of Fidelity with Shadrach Case in 1778 in Montgomery, MD. He is not. In fact, he never has any dealings with the Maryland Case family as far as I could find, and his children are born in PA not MD.
      • I suspect the Indian citizenship applications are incorrect (the 1906 one was rejected because they could not find a woman on the Cherokee rolls by that name) OR that Joseph Case had two wives, one a Moore from PA, and Delilah Green, because the same bio says Delilah is born 25 Dec 1776 (and died 28 Jun 1833, age 57), 20 years younger than Joseph. If this is true, she likely doesn’t marry until at least 1794. Joseph has children born before 1794 (Deborah is born in PA in 1784 per her 1850 census).
      • Yes, I can get into a whole discussion about the validity of the Indian claims documents, but I won’t. While one or two of Joseph Case’s descendants have 1% Native American DNA, the majority do not, and that means that it could come from any of their ancestor lines.
      • I think Delilah is a Moore, not a Green. This would also explain why Delilah is on the Power of Attorney for the estate of Mary Moore in 1817 Mercer, KY (she’s Mary Moore’s daughter and an heir to the estate) and why Joseph names a son Moore Case (in honor of his wife’s maiden name). All of their children are still alive in Jan 1817, so there is no reason for her to be on this POA unless she is an heir to Mary Moore.
      • Their daughter, Deborah Case, is born in PA in 1784 per her 1850 census
  • 1759
    • Augustus Case born 17 July 1759 at Roxbury NJ, per his Rev War application. He is the son of Joshua Case Sr and named in his will.
      • This is the first record I have of the Joshua Case family in Morris County, NJ and requires more research to see where he was between his marriage in the 1740s in Southold NY and his son’s birth in 1759 NJ.
  • 1750s Summary
    • Reuben, Butler and John Case look for leased farm land in Somerset, NJ
    • William Case Jr born to William Case Sr
    • Meshach Case born to Butler Case Sr
    • Separate Case born
    • Joseph Case m. Nife born (unknown location, might not be NJ)
    • Joseph Case m. Moore born (unknown location but likely NJ)
    • Theophilus Case 2 had land in Roxbury, Morris, NJ
  • 1760
    • John Case court record, Morris County, NJ
      • King vs. Nathaniel Drake
      • Indictment for Assault & Battery (on September 17, 1760, at Morristown, Nathaniel Drake is accused of assaulting John Case)
      • Nathaniel Drake is noted as living near Theophilus Case in the Janeway account book in 1740.
      • Nathaniel Drake of Roxbury is likely in his 50s at this time, so the idea of him assaulting an 14-year old seems odd, but it’s possible. It’s more likely to be John Case Sr rather than John Case Jr (aged 14) or John Case son of Joshua (aged 18)
    • James Case (m. Barden), son of William Case Sr per his will, is born New Jersey. In his Rev War app, he says he was born 12 Sept 1760 in NJ. James completes his Rev War application from Boone, Harrison, IN in 1833, age 72).
      • Serves from Fayette, PA near Uniontown. Son of William Case Sr (named in his will). 
      • This puts William Case Sr in NJ in the 1760s and William is named as the son of Ichabod Case in his will in 1762.
      • So, sometime between 1741 and 1760, William Case Sr moves from Southold NY to NJ.
    • Ichabod Case mention in Morris County:
    • Daniel Case born 15 May 1760 per his family bible, presumably son of Christopher Case.
      • He says he copied the entry from his father’s family bible, but doesn’t say who his father was.
      • But there are problems: the Christopher Case who dies in 1814 Frankford is 64 years old (born 1750)
        • This Sussex Register entry is a transcript. I need to find the original 1814 obituary in the Sussex Library. These newspapers are on microfilm in Frankford Township library branch, dated 29 Feb 1814
      • There is a big gap in kids 1769-1773 for Christopher Case. But since Christopher doesn’t go to Fayette, PA, I’ll leave his research to others.
      • Zophar Case in 1881 says that his grandfather, Butler Case Sr had three brothers: Christopher, Reuben and Theophilus. So there should be a Christopher born around 1737 and having kids 1759-1760, which would fit the bill for Daniel Case.
      • The earliest record for Christopher in Sussex County is 1780, so presumably Daniel is born either in Morris County or elsewhere. I don’t have records for Christopher in Morris County, only that Zophar Case says that Christopher is a brother of Butler and Reuben.
  • 1762
    • Ichabod Case writes a will (and presumably dies 1762) in Roxbury, Morris, NJ
      • HE LEAVES HIS HOUSE AND LAND to his wife. Does this mean he owns land? He can’t leave a rental property to his wife unless he has a Lease for Lives.
      • After her death, house and land to his son William.
      • But I see nothing in the NJSDB for any other Case land except Theophilus. Maybe he has a Lease for Lives and that’s what he’s leaving William. Or the NJSDB index is incomplete. Someone would need to check the original East Jersey/West Jersey land records to see what land this is.
      • He only seems to name the children from his third wife, kids born after 1725. He did have some children from his previous wives who die early. There’s nothing to say that he doesn’t have older sons who are already established and have their own farms. Some might be in NY and never came to NJ.
      • Writes will 22 Jul 1762, wife Hannah (house and land while widow), son William. Daughters Abigail, Hannah, Keziah (m. Jesse Corwin, but doesn’t say her surname in the will, she also goes to Fayette, PA and Nelson KY). Grandson Joseph Case when he is 21 (so born after 1741, but not son of William Sr who does not name a son Joseph in his will).
        • If Ichabod has a grandson Joseph born 1741-1762,
          • And if Joseph is not a son of William per William’s will
          • That means there’s another son, who had a son Joseph 1741-1762, and that son might be living or dead. (Ichabod is born around 1688, has three marriages, so likely to have more children. Trees say that Ichabod already has son John who stays in Southold.
          • Is Mashe Case who died in 1749 a man, father of Joseph?
          • Or is he Joseph son of Joshua (who dies 1777 in Morris County, has a will, and names a son Joseph)? It could be, but Joseph has an older brother, so why not name him? (Unless I got the “John Case” men mixed up, which is completely possible!)
          • Is he Joseph m. Moore/Green?  If yes, then he’s born 1757. Adult male Case men in Morris who are old enough to have a son Joseph born 1757:
            • brothers defined by Zophar Case:
              • Theophilus 3 (he’s known to be the son of Theophilus 2 per Janeway account, and I think Joseph names his first son Theophilus, so this might be a huge clue or a red herring)
              • Reuben (in Frederick VA by 1768, so Joseph would be from a first marriage because Reuben’s father-in-law writes a will and does not name a grandson Joseph Case, only three Case granddaughters)
              • Butler (but it’s not him, we know his kids)
              • Christopher (stays in NJ, but if Daniel is his son in 1760, the Joseph could be, too)
            • William Case Sr (we know he’s in NJ by 1760 because his son James says he’s born there. But William doesn’t name a son Joseph in his will)
            • Nathaniel Sr (another mystery man, I couldn’t find records for him in NJ but with the others in Fayette, PA by 1772)
            • Joshua (not him, he stays in NJ, has a son Joseph but it’s a second son, not a first son, and why would Ichabod skip a son? Joshua’s son Joseph seems to go to Goshen NY with two other brothers)
            • John Sr (a mystery man, alive in 1753 and 1760, then I don’t know what happens to him; his son old enough to have a court case as a an insolvent debtor in 1767/1768, BUT it’s possible that “John Jr” in 1767 is John, son of Joshua, JR meaning “the younger”)
            • An unknown son who is dead by 1762
        • And that means that one of these Case men is the father of “grandson Joseph” AND that Ichabod had more than one son (even though he only names one son in his will, the other possibly being dead by 1762).
        • OR it means William Sr is Joseph’s father, already gave him a legacy, so doesn’t need to name him in his will.
        • OR it means there’s a Case man back in Southold NY who is the son of Ichabod and this Joseph is also in NY in 1762, but there is not a Case male marriage in Southold NY that could be a father for a son born 1757 that also goes to NJ.
      • Record doesn’t say when Ichabod’s will was proven, so he dies sometime after July 1762.
      • I don’t know what happens to Abigail and Hannah. He does not list any surnames for them, so hard to know if they’re single or married.
      • I don’t know what happens to Ichabod’s widow Hannah. Trees say she dies in 1784, but no proof.
      • https://archive.org/details/calendarofnewjer00unse/page/73/mode/1up?q=%22case%2C+ichabod%22+
      • https://www.geni.com/people/Ichobod-Case/6000000003017311956
      • NOTE: there are no other Case mentions in Roxbury in the Calendar of New Jersey estates 1761-1770, which make me think these men leave the area and don’t die in NJ. These estate records are fairly complete for this time period in NJ.
  • 1763
    • The French & Indian War ends with the treaty of Fort Stanwix. Settlers begin to flock to central and western Pennsylvania now that it’s open for settlement. (Settlers were there previously, but it was illegal for them to be there.)
    • David Case m. Mary Dickerson, Morristown, Morris, NJ. Noted in Morristown Presbyterian Church records, he’s “of Roxbury.” By July 1772 in the Morristown, Morris, NJ area, he is dead.
      • He has one known daughter, Elizabeth, born around Jan 1771, baptized at the Morristown Presbyterian Church by Widow Case in July 1772, and dies in 1773.
      • His wife, Mary Dickerson Case, dies around 1774 in Morris County, NJ.
      • But if he marries in 1763, he’s likely to have kids born 1764, 1766, 1768, and these kids would be orphans.
      • It’s possible the David Case who shows up with Reuben Case, born around 1768, is David’s son and Reuben’s NEPHEW. David is not a common name in this Case family.
  • 1765
    • Theophilus Case’s last land record in Roxbury, Morris, NJ.
      • Does he die after this or move away?
      • 1765 – Resurvey request – 62.25 acres.
      • His neighbors are Samuel Coleman, Samuel Swasey/Swayze
      • This is a good record because it says he’s on the “West Jersey” side of the Lawrence line, so can look for his land records among the West Jersey Society papers and the Clement Papers (which are all in handwriting, so have to be searched page by page). The Lawrence Line boundary between East Jersey and West Jersey cuts diagonally through Morris and Sussex counties.
      • Book N, West Jersey Surveys, Folio (page) 99. PWESJ004
      • Some might be found at Monroe Library locked at home
      • NO record of him selling this land and no estate record
      • Theophilus Case 2 does not leave a will and there is no estate record for him 1761-1770 in New Jersey. It’s possible he leaves NJ, and does not die there. (By 1774, one of the Theophilus Case men is in Dunmore’s War from southwestern PA, but that’s 9 years later and is likely a much younger man)
      • I’ll check in the local library’s copy of Morris County Heirs To Estates book to see if there’s something there, but I believe that begins 1785, after the war and after they’ve left.
  • 1767
    • John Case Jr, assignee of Jonathan Dimon in Morris County court
      • John Turner vs John Case Jr, appeal to Samuel Grandin, JP on a debt of 6 pounds
      • Must be at least 21 to have contracted for a debt, so born before 1746
      • John Case JR debt case, Morris County, NJ, implies there’s a John Case SR still alive at this time. BUT…it’s possible that “John Jr” in 1767 is John, son of Joshua and JR meaning “the younger John Case” (and Joshua’s brother/cousin John is still alive)
    • King George III of England grants 25,000 acres of land near near Natchez, Adams, Mississippi (was “West Florida”) to Captain Amos Ogden of Morris County, NJ and Wyoming Valley, PA for his services during the French & Indian War. Amos Ogden sells 19,800 acres to brothers Richard and Rev. Samuel Swayze Jr, Caleb King, and a group of settlers from Morris County occupy this land, one of the “Jersey Settlements” that were springing up across the country. It would be interesting to discover if any Case men went to this Mississippi settlement because Theophilus Case disappears from NJ records around 1765.
  • 1768
    • 15 Aug 1768 – John Case, insolvent debtor in Morris County, NJ jail
    • Reuben Case witnesses a land transaction in Frederick County, VA
    • He is also a witness for the wedding of his sister-in-law, Rachel Barrett Walker at the Hopewell Friends MM (near Clearbrook, VA) in Frederick, VA the same year (so he’s married by 1768, and “Mary Case” also signs Rachel’s marriage record), with Sarah Case. (Mary is likely Mary Barrett Case, his wife, but I don’t know who Sarah Case is. It would help to find out who Sarah Case is, as she might be a daughter from a first marriage or a sister, and she’s not mentioned as an heir to William Barrett)
  • 1760s Summary
    • James Case, son of William Case Sr, born in NJ
    • Presumably William Case Sr is in Morris County, NJ area because
      • James says he was born in NJ around 1760
      • Ichabod names a son, William, in his will in 1762.
    • Theophilus Case 2 and John Case Sr have records in Roxbury, Morris County, NJ
    • John Case Jr has records in Morristown, Morris, NJ (debtor’s prison)
    • Presumably Nathaniel is in NJ, too – no proof, but he goes with William to Fayette, PA, and probably NOT a brother to William (not named in Ichabod’s will), so a cousin of some sort.
    • Ichabod Case writes will, 1762 in Roxbury, names wife, children including William and an under-age grandson, Joseph. William does NOT name a son Joseph in his will, so it’s possible Ichabod has a son who has died or is not living in NJ. It’s possible John Case from 1753 and 1760 is his son, and Joseph is his grandson via John.
    • Reuben Case goes to Frederick County, VA and marries Marry Barrett there by 1768. His wife has  Quaker records. He appears to go next to Fayette, PA, then Kentucky. (His daughter marries a Quaker in Frederick, VA).
  • 1772/1773
    • Starting in 1772, some Case men show up in Fayette, PA through 1774. Part 3 will cover the 1776 -1784 period in Pennsylvania, but I’ll outline NJ vs PA for the early 1770s here. This is also the time that some of Joshua Case Sr’s sons go to Goshen, Orange, NY.
    • NEW JERSEY:
      • David Case is baptizing children at the First Presbyterian Church of Morristown, Morris, NJ.
        • He must die before 1771 because his daughter, age 2 is baptized in Morristown and mother is “widow” in the record. She dies in 1772 or 1773 along with the child.
        • I don’t know how old he is, or if they had any additional children.
        • He might be from the Theophilus 1 line as some of that line name a son David.
        • He marries Mary Dickerson — when? It must be around 1769.
        • Both he and Mary die, and their daughter Elizabeth.
        • Reuben names a son David later.
    • PENNSYLVANIA:
      • Springhill, Bedford, PA (includes all of Fayette, Greene and Washington Counties) tax list
        • This would be for the tax list taken in autumn of 1772 for the tax year of 1773, before Westmoreland is created from Bedford
        • This area becomes Westmoreland County, PA in 1773
        • This area becomes Fayette County, PA in 1783
        • http://files.usgwarchives.net/pa/bedford/taxlist/1773-tax.txt
        • https://archive.org/details/3rdpennsylvaniaarch22harruoft/page/40/mode/1up?q=case
        • William Case Sr
          • (householder, later noted as being in Menallen, Fayette, PA with land/tax records)
        • Nathaniel Case Sr
          • (Inmates list, renter), also Dunmore’s War in 1774
          • Likely brother or cousin of William Case Sr
        • There are no other Case men in the western PA area at this time, (including Theophilus 3 and Reuben, who show up later). There is a “single men” list and there is no Case on it.
        • None of their sons are old enough to be on this list (taken in 1772) so all sons/males who show up in Fayette later are all born after 1751. This tallies with William Case Jr’s Rev War app: he says he’s born 1753
  • 1775
  • 1774
    • PENNSYLVANIA:
      • Reuben, William, Theophilus, Nathaniel Case Sr and Nathaniel Case Jr fight in Dunmore’s War from Fayette County, PA.
      • I’m not sure if it’s William Case Sr or Jr, but likely Jr
      • Nathaniel Case Jr must be born after 1751, because he is not on the 1772/1773 tax list with his father, but shows up on this army roster in 1774
      • So, the known “Sr/Jr” men in 1774 are William Sr/Jr and Nathaniel Sr/Jr. I’m not sure if there is a Theophilus Sr/Jr — I’ll explore that in Part 3.

In Part 3 of this series, I’ll pick up with the Case families in both PA and KY during the Revolutionary War.

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Published by karynfamilytree

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