Notes |
- Robert was the first Eachus in America. His presence is documented in a number of sources, including a history of "Chester & Delaware Counties," Gilbert & Cope: " The first ancester to appear on the records is Robert Eachus, who on December 5th 1704, purchased two hundred acres of land from Richard Thomas...... "
The Eachus family had been Tenant Farmers in Church Minshull and Minshull Vernon since the 13th Century, by the 17th century there was a lot of poverty and disease in the area and they would have had a hard life. One of the wealthier families in the Minshull area was the Minshul Family, they did a lot for the community including helping to fund the Church rebuild in 1702. In 1682 Thomas Minshul and his wife Margaret settled in Pennsylvania, and the family made money by sending ships to America with fee paying passengers. Many inhabitants of the area worked their passage to America on these ships. and it would have been easy for the Eachus family of Minshull, to arrange a trip for their cousin Robert to work his passage in this way. Family legend says that he sailed from Chester in 1700, which would fit perfectly with the Minsul ships. Another pointer is the fact that the coat of arms of the minshul family was a Turks Head. Robert's Grandson Phineas opened an Inn on his land and called it the Turks Head, The Turks Head was in the centre of what is now West Chester (corner of Gay Street & High Street).
The first mention of Robert Eachus in America is in 1704 when he delivered a deed of mortgage to Richard Thomas for 200 acres of land dated 6th day of December 1704. ( from the records of the courts of Chester County Pa 1697-1710)
According to the Tax records his first son John was born in 1707, and Ann in 1712, but according to the IGI he was not married untill 1713. There is no other evidence of this date and one of 1706 would be better suited to the facts. A date of 1707 in Birmingham Township, Chester, Pennsylvania, is given by some, and as Elizabeth's family were living in Birmingham township this is entirely possible, but I have found no evidence to support this.
Robert spent his life after 1704 as a farmer on his land in Goshen, and died between 3 December 1727, when he signed his will, and 26 nov 1728, when it was proved.
To his wife Elizabeth he left one half his Plantation where he lived containing 200 acres during her life. To his son John he left the other half of said Plantation and the whole of same at the death of his wife. To his son William he left 200 acres north of above land, and to have the liberty to work upon the same at 19. To his youngest sons Robert, Enoch and Daniel he left ?10 each at 14. To his three daughters Elizabeth, Ann and Alice he left ?5 each. His Executors were his wife Elizabeth and his son John .
Time Line:
Pennsylvania was settled in 1630 by Dutch pioneers who came up the Delaware Bay and river and settled at Gloucester point.
Swedes began to arrive about 1631, Their first landing was at New Castle, which they named Stockholm. King Charles II, in 1664, whose claim to New England gave him power to claim to the southward, he granted patent to his brother James, Duke of York and Albany. New York being named after the Duke. In 1675 the west part of this area was sold to one Edward Byllinge of the Society of Friends, to whom William Penn, soon afterwards, became a trustee. Penn, in his efforts to settle the estate of Bylling, became so well acquainted with the region of Pennsylvania and colonial settlements, as to be afterwards induced to purchase that for himself, by recieving it as an equivalent for claims due to his father, Admiral Penn. In 1677 the ship Kent arrived with 230 passengers. They landed at Raccoon Creek. Other vessels continued to follow to Jersey. In 1681 William Penn induced people to emigrate by selling them one hundred acres for 40 shillings (2 GB pounds - value in 2002 - 300 GB pounds). In the years after 1683 emigration increased, Pioneers came from England, Ireland, Wales, The Netherlands and Germany. One of these early pioneers was Robert Eachus
Archive;
Family Group Sheet (FG1/1)
Descendents Printed List (RG1/2)
Early History of the Eachus Family in Chester and Delaware Counties (A1-14)
Robert Eachus to Margaret Paul Vincent born 1963 Descendancy (FG1-17)
will dated 3 december 1727 proved 62 November 1728 (WI-6) & digital
|