Person Page - 73

     Catherine Eshleman married John Groff.² Catherine Eshleman was born in 1783.¹ She was the daughter of Martin Eshleman and Elizabeth Groff.¹ Catherine Eshleman died on 22 Feb 1838.¹ She was buried at Groff Cemetery, Quarryville, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.³
     She married John Groff, b. 17 Dec. 1789, d. 5 Nov. 1855.¹

     David Eshleman was born on 15 Jul 1780.¹ He was the son of Martin Eshleman and Elizabeth Groff.¹ David Eshleman died on 2 Feb 1855 at age 74.¹
     He is buried with his second wife in Byerland Mennonite Cemetery. He married (1) Catherine Reese(?) and (2) Sarah Byers (15 July 1802 - 28 Aug. 1864, age 62 years, 1 month, 13 days).¹

     Elizabeth Eshleman was born in 1775.¹ She was the daughter of Martin Eshleman and Elizabeth Groff.¹
     She married John Herr on March 25, 1794, and resided in the West.¹

     Feronica Eshleman was born in 1776.¹ She was the daughter of Martin Eshleman and Elizabeth Groff.¹ Feronica Eshleman married Andrew Rees on 25 Sep 1798.^2,1 Feronica Eshleman died on 11 Apr 1847.¹

     Jacob Eshleman was born on 12 Apr 1788.¹ He was the son of Martin Eshleman and Elizabeth Groff.¹ Jacob Eshleman died on 11 Oct 1832 at age 44.¹
     On 30 Jan. 1810, he married Ann Groff, daughter of Joseph Groff and Catharine Herr. She was born 17 Nov 1791 and died 2 March 1873. They resided in Butler Township, Cumberland County, Pa., until his death in 1842 when his widow returned to Lancaster County, Pa. They are buried in the Longenecker Reformed Mennonite Cemetery, Lancaster County.¹

     John Eshleman was born in 1766.¹ He was the son of Martin Eshleman and Elizabeth Groff.¹
     He married (1) Elizabeth Diffenbach and (2), on 1 April 1794, Maria Eshleman and later lived in Bedford County. Wilmer Eshleman had contacted Theopholis Eshleman of Rawlinsville, Pa, a great grandson of John who said that the John Eshleman home was in Bedford County, and that when John died and his estate was settled the two older brothers, David and Samuel, pushed the two younger brothers out. David later sold out and went to Iowa to be with Uncle Abraham.¹

     Maria Eshleman was born on 17 Jun 1781 at Lancaster County?, Pennsylvania?.¹ She was the daughter of Martin Eshleman and Elizabeth Groff. Maria Eshleman married Martin Hoover, son of Jacob Hoover Sr. and Barbara (?), on 23 Apr 1799 at Trinity Lutheran Church, Lancaster, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.² Maria Eshleman died on 6 Sep 1870 at Bedford County, Pennsylvania, at age 89.³ She was buried at Replogle Cemetery, Woodbury Township, Bedford County, Pennsylvania.³
     What is the evidence that Mary Hoover, “DIED Sept. 6, 1870, AGED 89 Years 2 M’s, 10 Days”^., wife of Martin Hoover, was also Maria Eshleman, daughter of the Martin Eshleman, above? The case is circumstantial but I know of no records which suggest otherwise. About Maria, the daughter, we know from her father’s will that she married a Martin Hoober. Martin Eshleman’s will seems to list his children in birth order and Maria, between David (b. 15 July 1780) and Catherine (b. 1783), agrees very nicely with Mary Hoover (b. 1781). Mr. Eshleman’s notes refer to photographs of the stones of both David and Catherine and it is probable that these stones are his source for their dates. Another Maria, wife of a Martin Hoover, buried in Lancaster County, has been eliminated by evidence she was a Miller.^4,5 Maria Eshleman had connections in Bedford County with, at least, her brothers John and Samuel who lived there before moving to Iowa.
The marriage of Maria Eshleman and Martin Hoover in 1799 fits well with their first known child, Martin, age 50 in 1850. Martin and Maria Hoover lived in Lancaster County, the home of Maria Eshleman’s family, until after 1820 (as we know from the records of their daughters Fannie Hoover Brown⁶ and Susannah Hoover Eshleman⁷ and from census records).

Maria Hoover is named as Maria Eshleman by Brumbaugh, although her dates there are b. 1778, d. Oct. 6, 1868⁸. Martin and Maria Hoover named their first two children Martin and Elizabeth (her parents). Six of their other eight children shared names with Maria Eshleman and her siblings (probably seven of eight, with Frances being a form of the same name as Feronica).
     Her obituary states:
     "Hoover -- On the 6th of September, in Middle Woodbury township, Bedford county, Pa., of infirmity of old age, Maria, widow of Martin Hoover, aged 89 years, 2 months and 1 day. The deceased was a faithful member of the Mennonite church. Funeral discourses were delivered by Jacob Snyder and J. Eshleman, from Jn. 5:25 - 29. D. H. Byers."⁹

     Martin Eshleman married Elizabeth Groff, daughter of John Groff and Anna Herr, on 17 May 1765 at First Reformed Church, Lancaster, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.¹ Martin Eshleman died in Jun 1808 at Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.²
     This name has a variety of spellings including Eshelman, Eshleman, Eschelman, and Aeschliman. Several people with some form of this name immigrated into Pennsylvania during the early eighteenth century. Presumably most of them came from Switzerland and Germany. Genealogists have worked for many decades on the origins of these families in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. There is no general agreement nor convincing presentation connecting this Martin to his ancestry. Here are a few of the results.

(A) Vida (Miller) Purcell³ describes a Peter Eshleman who arrived on 29 Aug 1733 with some of his children. His will names a son, Benedict. Purcell then begins with a Benedict Eshleman who came from Canton Berne, Switzerland in 1732 on the ship "Pennsylvania Merchant" and left a will naming Benedict as one of his two oldest children. She does not number this Peter as the first in the ancestral line but begins with Benedict, who died in 1780. This Benedict was the father of another Benedict who had a son Martin. This Martin is said to have been born in 1748 and died in Martic Township in 1795. He is said to have married Elizabeth Groff and had the children as named in the 1808 will of Martin Eshleman (plus a Benjamin at the end of the list). The line from Peter through Benedict and Benedict, Jr., to Martin is also outlined in the Wenger Book where Martin is given the dates 1775 - 1849 (with wife Elizabeth Groff, 1777 - 1821).⁴
(B) Hoffman⁵ begins this line with Peter Eschelman, b. 1683 in Switzerland, immigrated from Canton Berne, Switzerland, on the ship “Hope Greeley” and arrived in Philadelphia on 28 Aug. 1733 with four of his children. His oldest son Benedict had come in 1732 and is identified as the first Benedict, above, and continues down to Maria Eshleman, wife of Martin Hoover.
(C) "My genealogical goal is to prove who the father of Martin Eshleman of Martic was. All genealogists come to the conclusion that he was the son of Johannes who arrived in 1731 as a Redemptioner and Martin Mylin paid his head tax. But so far we cannot prove it."⁶

MARTIN ESHLEMAN is the earliest of this line to whom I [DWO] can make an adequately supported claim of connection.

When Wilmer Eshleman, then of Strasburg, Pennsylvania, donated his notes to the Lancaster County Historical Society (date unknown, but not earlier than 1942), he was of the opinion and hope that this Martin Eshleman could be shown to be the son of Benedict Eshleman, Jr., as above. Wilmer Eshleman was aware that “Martin of Martic” was married in 1765 and would have to be much older than the known children of Benedict, Jr. He could locate some trace of each of the other children of Benedict, Jr., except Martin, and no records of any earlier Martin and none of another Martin until “Martin of Martic” township named a son Martin. Thus, he could find no suggestion of any other origin for his ancestor, Martin Eshleman.

This Wilmer J. Eshleman, later of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, was a descendant of this Martin and Elizabeth (Groff) Eshleman through their son Samuel and was very interested in family history.⁶ At one point, he had identified Martin’s daughter Maria as the Maria Hoover (14 Jan. 1774 - 16 May 1847) wife of Martin Hoover (15 March 1773 - 3 Nov. 1853) buried in the Huber Cemetery, Providence Township, Lancaster County, but after getting information on Maria and Martin Hoover of Bedford County from Doris Olds, he was able to show the Maria Hoover in Lancaster County was Mary Miller, daughter of Peter Miller. He provided an abstract from the will of his "other" Martin Hoover of Martic Township, made 5 April 1849, probated 28 Nov. 1853, naming "my 5 children" as Martin Huber, Samuel Huber, David Huber, Susan Huber and Elizabeth Huber who were to get equal shares. He also provided the information from the 1850 census of Martic Township, showing Martin Huber, age 78, with Susanna, 52, Martin, 50, Samuel, 47, Elizabeth, 40, David 39, Benjamin Leepe, 14, and Ann Hart, 13. As further evidence, he provided an abstract of a deed⁷ from Martin and Samuel Huber, executors of Martin Huber, to Peter, Samuel, John and George Tawgert (maybe Tengert), children of Ann Denger. This was a Quit Claim in recognition of the fact that Ann Denger had a life interest in a tract deeded to Martin Huber from Peter Miller. Finally, notes from the will of Peter Miller of Martic Township: ⁸ "...Rest of estate including £ 262.10.0 for the land I conveyed by deed unto Martin Huber in trust for my daughter, Ann, the wife of George Tanger ... I have conveyed 13 acres more or less to my son-in-law, Martin Huber... Heirs: Peter; Maria married to Martin Huber; Susanna married to Jacob Gryder; Elizabeth; Catharine married to Isaac Herr; 6th part to be kept in trust for the use of Ann married to George Tanger".

W. J. Eshleman further stated “There can be no question as to Anna Herr (daughter of Issac who died 1747) being married to John Groff, by whom there were three children. The oldest was Elizabeth Groff who married Martin Eshleman of Martic at the First Reformed Church in Lancaster, May 19, 1765, although they were apparently Mennonite.”⁹

Mr. Eshleman later disproved the ancestry, still given by others, for Martin Eshleman of Martic Township. “The date of 1748 being Martin’s year of birth is incorrect, and was pulled from thin air by a local historian. If this were true he would have been ten years old in 1758 when Jacob Eshleman of Strasburg mentions him as ‘my borther[sic]-in-law’. ... Benedict Eshleman, Jr., had 8 children, born from 1767 to 1796.” "Benedioct Eshelman, Sr. and Jr. are not related to Martin of Martic, as far as we know. Benedict, Jr. had a son Martin, born 1775, whom we believe is buried in Longenecker's Reformed Mennonite Cemetary, died 1849."⁶

In 1980⁹, Wilmer Eshleman was convinced that Catherine, widow of Jacob Eshleman, had the maiden name Eshleman, not Herr as in the Herr genealogy. He said "The great question 'who was widow Catharine Eshleman who married Jacob Groff after his first wife, Anne Herr died?) [sic -- omit the closing parenthesis] The Herr Book says she was a daughter of Isaac Herr. Since Isaac mentions no daughter Catherine this is almost impossible. Jacob Eshleman of Strasburg mentions Martin Eshleman as his brother-in-law, so Widow Catharine must have been Catherine Eshleman, but who was their father?"
He later added "Jacob Eshleman an immigrant of Strasburg arrived in 1729. He married Barbara Barr in 1740 and had one son. After Barbara's death he later married Catherine ???? At his death in 1758, he mentions his widow Catharine, his brother-in-law Martin Eshleman and his brother-in-law John Eshleman and Anna. Who was Catherine, John and Anna? We don't know. But it is possible that Anna was the mother of Catharine, Martin and John. (No proof of this.)"¹⁰
Data from the Herr book:¹¹
     Catherine Herr, b. 19 Nov. 1727, d. May 9, 1781
      m. widower Jacob Eshelman on 15 Jan. 1745 (b. 9 Dec. 1707, d. 16 Dec. 1758)
      m. widower John Groff, 1761.
      m. widower Benjamin Groff, 23 March 1774
Benjamin Groff (127 - 1803) m. Elizabeth Barr (1725-1780) and he afterward married widow Catherine Groff, 23 March 1774.
In 1981, Mr. Eshleman, quoting from tbe Brackbill Register, said that Catherine Eshleman, died 9 May 1781, was a daughter of Abraham Eshleman.¹² I am puzzled by the fact that this clue does not appear in Mr. Eshleman's later work.

Some of this slowly growing collection of material on this part of the Eshleman family was published by Groff History Associates.¹³ Wilmer Eshleman and Doris Olds are credited with much of the Eshleman information important to this line. However, Mr. Eshleman was concerned about errors in this book in the section of the material attributed to him and wrote¹⁴ “As to the birth dates of Martin Eshleman and Elizabeth Groff, I believe they originated with Mrs. Dyke, who once told me she thought the dates used sounded about right to her so she used them, which means they were based on no more than her imagination. The book says Elizabeth was born in 1749 died 1888 which would make her 148 years old. I never condemn a person as we all make mistakes, but I believe the pages 196 and 197 came from the data of Mrs. Dyke and not Wilmer Eshleman.”

Mr. Eshleman’s wish for publication was at least partially granted. In 1988¹⁵, he wrote:^. “The Mennonite Historical Society is aware of my notes and wanted to publish some while I am still alive and sent their librarian out to get as much as possible, even though it is still unfinished. I am enclosing a copy to you even though I don’t have my own line completed. I would like to assemble all my notes but I am afraid it will never get done.”

The resulting article¹ is the best printed reference I know for this line. He was unable to confirm any history for Martin Eshleman prior to 1758 although he had collected some clues and felt that Martin was probably an immigrant. The following is part of the key section on this Martin Eshleman:
“Martin Eshleman (d. June 6, 1808) of Martic Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania is first documented in 1758¹⁶ as the brother-in-law of Jacob Eshleman of Strasburg, Pennsylvania. A portion of Jacob’s will reads as follows: ‘I give and device [sic] to my beloved Wife Catrina [Catharine] the Plantation and Tract of Land of One hundred & Eighteen Acres & a halfe ... I geave[sic] and bequeath unto my Brother in Law Martin Eshleman the Sum of Twenty Pounds .. I give and bequeath unto my Brother in Law John Eshleman the sum of Twenty Pounds ... I give to Anna Eshleman Two of my Cows of the middling price appraissed[sic] by my Executors.’ ...
“Because Jacob Eshleman named Martin Eshleman and John Eshleman as his brothers-in-law, his widow, Catharine, would certainly have been their sister. Jacob also willed two cows to Anna Eshleman, who possibly was an older woman and mother of Martin, John, and Catharine. In any event, we hear no more of this Anna. I am convinced that Martin Eshleman and John Eshleman (d. 1801), who went to Donegal Township, were brothers-in-law of Jacob Eshleman of Strasburg Township, who was married to their sister, Catherine.
“On March 30, 1765, Christley Groff and his wife Margaretha of Strasburg Township granted a mortgage for 56 acres of land to Martin Eshleman. On 17 May, 1765, according to records at the First Reformed Church in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Martin Eshleman married Elizabeth Groff. She was the daughter of “Swamp” John Groff (ca. 1715 - 1777) of Martic Township and Anna Herr, who was the daughter of Isaac Herr (d. 1747).
“About 1760 widower John Groff of Martic Township married Catherine Eshleman (b. ca. 1726), the widow of Jacob Eshleman of Strasburg Township. She bore him six Groff children: Benjamin (b. 1762), Joseph (b. 1763), Maria (b. 1767), Jacob (b. 1767), Martin (b. 1770), and Abraham (1773-1846). Catherine’s second husband, “Swamp” John Groff, died in 1777, leaving her a widow for a second time. She married for a third time Benjamin Groff of Lampeter and is said to have died in 1813. ¹⁷
“In 1777 in the militia records of Captain John Slaymaker’s Company from the east end of Strasburg Township appear the names of Jacob Eshleman, 3rd Class, and Martin Eshleman, 4th Class. In 1780 we find Jacob and Martin Eshleman recorded as members of Captain Alexander White’s Company. Also, in 1779 Martin Eshleman was a tenant of widow [Catharine] Groff in Martic Township, according to tax records. Only the name of Jacob Eshleman appears in later militia lists so that we can assume that Martin Eshleman and family had moved safely to the “Swamp” John Groff homestead.
“My ancestor, Martin Eshleman of Martic Township, died on June 6, 1808. I am almost certain that Martin and Elizabeth Eshleman were buried in the Groff-Eshleman cemetery in Providence Township. His son, Samuel Eshleman, and his son-in-law, David Martin ..., were his executors, and his inventory was worth £3,436. These siblings -- Martin, John, and Catherine, died within a span of twelve years.
“The house of Martin Eshleman was built of logs and is said to have been about seventy feet long. Because only half of the house had a cellar under it, it apparently had been built in two sections. A porch on the front and one on the back are said to have made an early frontier appearance because of the house’s elevation. It faced a meadow to the south and had fourteen rooms and an attic. As was the custom, the house had a large living room stretching to the full length of the house on the first floor. This large house was equipped with a large semidetached kitchen, fireplace, and bake oven. The roof was of wood shingles, which probably had originally been hand-split shakes.
“In later years boards covered the logs, and the kitchen became a utility room for washing, butchering, etc. After a day of butchering in 1946 the old homestead burned down and, because no trace of the freshly butchered hams was ever found, the origin of the fire was most suspicious. Today a modern house built on the site is the home of an Amish farmer.”

Martin Eshleman’s will was filed in Lancaster County as follows:

“I Martin Eshleman Senior of the township of Martick County of Lancaster and state of Pennsylvania” made his will on the 6th day of June 1808. He named thirteen children -- “eldest son John” got a life interest in land in Butler Township, Cumberland County which had been purchased from Eligah Galbraith; the rest was to be sold and twelve equal shares made for “son Martin ... son Samuel ...daughter Anna who is intermarried with Adam Thomas ... daughter Elizabeth who is intermarried with John Herr ... daughter Feronica who is intermarried with Andrew Reese [five pounds and subsequent annual payments for life, with residue to her children] ... daughter Susanna who is intermarried with David Martin ... son David ... one other equal twelfth part thereof I do give and bequeath to my daughter Mary who is intermarried with Martin Hoober, and to her heirs Executors, Administrators and assigns forever... daughter Catherine ... son Jacob ... daughter Barbara ... [and] son Abraham”. His son Samuel and son-in-law David Martin were exectors. The witnesses Jacob Graff and John Shaub and the executors appeared in Lancaster County Court on 20 June 1808 to file for probate of the estate of Martin Eshleman, deceased, late of Martic Township.¹⁸

The inventory of Martin Eshleman's estate was taken by Martin Barr and Jacob Groff on 24 June 1808. Some of the heirs were listed as receiving part of their legacy. They were: Martin Eshleman, Samuel Eshleman, Anna Thomas, Elizabeth Herr, Susanna Martin, Vironica Rees, David Eshleman and "Mary Huber part of her Legacy 15" 0" 0" [i. e. 15 pounds, 0 shillings 0 pence]. Catherine was apparently still single at the time of the will. The other children may have been minors who would not have gotten a distribution at this time.
ToDo.

     One source says:
     "Martin Eshleman was born in 1748 in Switzerland and died on 6 June 1808 in Martic, Lancaster Co, Pennsylvania."
     "Martin married Elizabeth Groff, daughter of John (Swamp John) Groff and Anna Herr, on 17 May 1765 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. (Elizabeth Groff ws born in 1749 and died in Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania.)
"Martin Eshleman arrived on the ship "Phoenix" October 1, 1754 with his two brothers John and Peter. There are very few records of him until he married Elizabeth Groff May 17, 1765. Martin and Elizabeth were married at the First Reformed Church in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and lived in the Strasburg area for a few years then moved to a farm just north of Quarryville, Martic Township and remained in Lancaster County the rest of their lives."
Although this clearly refers to "our" Martin Eshleman, the documentation for his emigration remains to be investigated.¹⁹

     Martin Eshleman Jr. was born on 3 Jan 1767.¹ He was the son of Martin Eshleman and Elizabeth Groff.¹ Martin Eshleman Jr. died on 3 Apr 1832 at age 65.¹
     He married Elizabeth Kendig, b. 2 May 1772, d. 30 Jan. 1854. They lived in Providence Township and are buried in the Groff-Eshleman Cemetery.¹

     Samuel Eshleman was born on 22 Oct 1770.¹ He was the son of Martin Eshleman and Elizabeth Groff.¹ Samuel Eshleman died on 3 Jul 1843 at age 72.¹
     On 19 March 1805, he married Nancy Ann Martin, b. 1 April 1773, d. 11 June 1855, a daughter of Christian Martin and Anna Bear. Samuel and Nancy are buried in Longenecker Reformed Memmonite Cemetery, West Lampeter Township, Lancaster Co., PA.¹

     Samuel Eshleman married Susannah Hoover, daughter of Martin Hoover and Maria Eshleman.^1,2 Samuel Eshleman died on 7 Feb 1879.¹

     Susan Eshleman was born in 1777.¹ She was the daughter of Martin Eshleman and Elizabeth Groff.¹ Susan Eshleman married David B. Martin on 27 Feb 1799.^2,3 Susan Eshleman died on 3 Mar 1812.¹
     On 27 Sept. 1799, in Lancaster County, she married David B. Martin, son of Christian Martin (1730-1803) and Maria Barr (1742 - 1828).^1,3

     Claude William Evans was born on 19 Dec 1898 at Richland County, Illinois.^2,3 He was the son of Dora Alice Bowers.¹ Claude William Evans married Artie Mae Poff, daughter of Ella C. Wells, on 2 Jun 1920.⁴ Claude William Evans died on 23 Nov 1975 at Olney, Richland County, Illinois, at age 76.² He was buried at Green Hill Cemetery, near Noble, Richland County, Illinois.²
     Their home was in Decker Township and he was a farmer.

     Everett Dale Evans was born on 14 Mar 1922 at Richland County, Illinois.¹ He was the son of Claude William Evans and Artie Mae Poff.¹ Everett Dale Evans appears in the Social Security Death Index as having died 24 Jun 1988 with the last place of residence listed as Noble, Richland County, Illinois. Everett Dale's SSN was issued in Illinois. Also, his birth date is given as 14 Mar 1922.²
     His obituary states:
     "Everett Dale Evans, 76, of Noble, IL., died Wednesday, June 24, 1998, at the Olney Care Center.
"Services were held at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, June 27, 1998, at Zirkle Funeral Home, Olney, IL. Brett Wright officiated. Burial was in the Crest Haven Memorial Park, east of Olney, IL. Full Military Rites were rendered by the Olney Veterans Association at the cemetery.
"Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Association.
"He was born March 14, 1922 in Decker Township, Richland CO.[sic], IL., the son of Claude Evans and Artie Mae (Poff) Evans. He married Edna M. Schrader, September 17, 1941, in Noble.
"He was a member of the Wynoose Liberty Church; and the Olney Memorial Post # 4226, Veterans of Foreign Wars; and a Veteran of WWII. Mr. Evans was a farmer.
"Survivors include his spouse, Edna Evans, of Noble, IL; two sons, Darell L. Evans, and wife, Barbara of Shelburn, IN., Donald R. Evans, of Noble, IL; one daughter, Carolyn Harvey, and husband, Gerald of Noble; seven grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
"He was preceded in death by his parents, one son, Kenneth Evans; and one granddaughter."³

     Kenneth Everett Evans was born on 5 Feb 1942 at Richland County, Illinois.¹ He was the son of Everett Dale Evans.¹ Kenneth Everett Evans appears in the Social Security Death Index as having died 18 Dec 1989. Kenneth Everett's SSN was issued in Illinois. Also, his birth date is given as 5 Feb 1942.²
     About 1978, he was living in Calhoun, Illinois, and was driving a truck.³

     Emanuel Evarts married Harriet E. Clark, daughter of Leonard Clark and Lucy Olds.¹

     Israel Everett married Abigail Morse, daughter of John Morse and Annas (?).¹ Israel Everett was born on 14 Jul 1651.¹ He died on 22 Dec 1678 at age 27.¹

     (child) Fairbank was born in May 1573.¹ (child) Fairbank was the child of George Fairbank and Sibyl Wade.¹ (child) Fairbank was buried on 21 May 1573.¹

     Abigail Fairbank was born c 1614.¹ She was the daughter of John Fairbank and Ellen Parker.¹

     Abram Fairbank was born on 22 Jan 1575.¹ He was the son of George Fairbank.¹ Abram Fairbank was buried on 23 Apr 1576.²

     Anna Fairbank was baptized on 31 May 1601 at Halifax Parish, Yorkshire, England.² She was the daughter of John Fairbank and Ellen Parker.^2,3 Anna Fairbank died b 4 Aug 1625.²

     Dorothy Fairbank was born in 1560?.¹ She was the daughter of George Fairbank and Sibyl Wade.¹ Dorothy Fairbank was buried on 24 May 1562.¹

     Dorothy Fairbank was baptized on 25 Mar 1553.¹ She was the daughter of Gilbert Fairbank and Jennett (?).¹ Dorothy Fairbank was buried on 18 Dec 1554.²

     Ester Fairbank was baptized on 27 Feb 1602 at Heptonstall, Yorkshire, England.¹ She was the daughter of George Fairbank and Mary Farrer.¹

     Genet Fairbank was baptized on 26 Apr 1552.¹ She was the daughter of George Fairbank and Sibyl Wade.¹ Genet Fairbank died young.¹

     Genet Fairbank was baptized on 28 Jul 1556.¹ She was the daughter of George Fairbank and Sibyl Wade.¹

     George Fairbank was baptized on 2 Aug 1562 at Halifax, Yorkshire, England.¹ He was the son of George Fairbank and Sibyl Wade.² George Fairbank married (2?) Mary Farrer, daughter of Richard Farrer and Margaret Blackburn, in 1593 at Heptonstall, Yorkshire, England.³
     "The license states that they were to be married at Heptonstall. Unfortunately, the first volume of Heptonstall Parish Records was lost or destroyed many years ago. The first marriage entered in the second volume (now called volume one) was dated Jan. 2, 1593/4, and the first baptism was July 8, 1599. Two children of George were mentioned in the baptismal records:
          1600 Nov. 30, Mary, dau. of George Fayrbank of Erringden
          1602 Feb. 27, Ester, " " " " "
"The daughter Mary was probably buried Dec. 11, 1620. No further record of has been found.
"We have no record of the children baptized between 1593, when the parents were married, and July 8, 1599, when baptisms begin in the new book. It is certain that Jonathan, born it is supposed in or about 1595, was one of the children."⁴

     George Fairbank was born c 1528.³ He was the son of Gilbert Fairbank and Jennett (?).² George Fairbank married (1) Sibyl Wade on 10 May 1551.¹
     "Although the Halifax parish register indicates that George fathered ten or eleven children, we are treating only ihis two sons, John and George, each of whom married three times and had children by each wife."⁴
     "... married first, May 10, 1551, 'Sibbell Wad' (Sibyl Wade), who died in childbirth and was buried May 21, 1573, at Halifax, Yorkshire. The child was buried the same day and probably in the same grave. He married second, Feb. 15, 1573/4, Jenet (or Johana) (Mawd) Brodlye (or Broadley), widow of John Broadley.
"No record of the settlement of his estate has been found. He was living in 1599 and his second wife was also then living. Pehaps he was the George Fairbank buried at Sowerby, March 29, 1610. The wife of Geroge Fairbank of Sowerby was buried Nov. 26, 1612."
"The baptism of Genet, Genet (again), Maria, George, Robert, and Susan, by his first wife, were recorded at Halifax. He had a daughter Dorothy, buried May 24, 1562, whose baptism is not included in the Halifax Parish Register. His oldest son and heir is not mentioned in the baptismal records. There is room for unrecorded children in 1554 and in 1560, and we tentively place John as born in 1554 and Dorothy in 1560."⁵
     Torrey quotes several land transaction naming George Fairbank.⁶

     George Fairbank was baptized on 24 Nov 1588 at Halifax Parish, Yorkshire, England.¹ He was the son of John Fairbank and unknown wife (?).^1,2 George Fairbank died in 1650.³

     Gilbert Fairbank married Jennett (?).² Gilbert Fairbank was born c 1505.¹ He was the son of John Fairbank.¹ Gilbert Fairbank died on 3 Mar 1577.¹
     He "made his will on his death bed, March 4, 1577/8 [note the discrepancy], and was buried the same day. An abstract of his will, which was proved April 16, 1578, is as follows:
"Gilbert Fairbanke of township of Sowerbie in diocese of York. To be buried in church or churchyard at Hallifax. My wife Jennett Fairbanke to have third part of my lands and goods according to custom of the country.
"One stott I have to be sold, price to be bestowed on sheep and these for the children of my children William, John, Hugh Fairbanke and Agnes Harryson and to the use of that child my daughter Elizabeth Brathwet is conceived with as they come of age. Sheep in the meantime to be ordered by George Fairbanke and Edward Fairbanke my sons. Rest of goods to my children unprovided for. The children of mine provided for have had such part of my goods as I was able to give them so they ought not to challenge any more of my goods.
"My wife to be executrix. Witnesses: James Metcalfe, clerk, George Fairebanke."³