William & Eleanor Sinnard

 


biography

 

 

Sinnard, William & Eleanor, born about 1761, he is the son of John and Elinor Sinnard of York County, Pennsylvania.

John and Elinor died in York County and left money to William in their wills: In 1766 his father left 3-0-0 to be paid to William when he came of age. In 1780 his mother left 10-0-0

William Shinard is listed on a May 27, 1778, return of York County Militia with three of his brothers. We have not been able to identify the unit he served in. The Pennsylvania Bureau of Archives and History at Harrisburg and the Historical Society of York County both confirm our information but find nothing additional. He is also listed in the Pennsylvania Archives Book Series, Volume II page 619.

He did not remain in York County as his name does not appear on tax rolls etc. as does his mother and brothers. We think he went to Western Pennsylvania shortly after his service in the Militia. William and his brother Thomas were in Washington and Allegheny Counties by 1780's.

William's first record in Western Pennsylvania is January 16, 1781. He witnessed a will for Jacob Johnston in Washington County. Hard to tell if name and Sinnard or Linnard, as S and L look the same in old records.

In 1781 and 1784 his brother Thomas Sinnard appeared on Fallowfield Township, Washington County tax rolls. William did not, guess he might have been living with Thomas?

On February 15, 1787, Joshua Griffin bite off a piece of William Sinnard's left ear in Washington County. Joshua's sister, Sarah, native of Washington County, later married Ichabod Corwin in Kentucky. The Griffins moved to Kentucky about the same time as brother Thomas. And Thomas' family had information about Sarah's wedding. The Griffins were friends with some of the York County Sinnards. Was William was making advances? (Entered in Washington County deed books, October 4, 1787,Vol 1D, page 104) A Genealogy teacher told me that criminals had part of an ear cut off in those days. Perhaps William just wanted this record made.

William purchased a piece of land February 16,1789, in Washington County from David and Esther Jamison. He sold the land November 29, 1797 to Ephraim Quimbey. He signed as William; no wife signed the papers with him. Deed does not give an identifiable location of land. (Mormon film ID#0862506, Allegheny County Deed Book IN, Page 22).

Have a missing person for years between 1789-1807. Was William on frontier in western Washington County?, In Kentucky with brothers John and Thomas?, Living with Eleanor's parents?

In August 1807 Allegheny County Court term a trial was scheduled for William Sinnard vs. D McNair. On September 23, 1809 William purchased 183 acres of land in Pitt Township, Allegheny County, from Thomas and Sarah Sands. The land was part of a tract called "Thomas Town". People who owned adjoining land were Joseph Reed, Charles Johnson, Hugh McDonald, Francis Wilson, Henry Morrow and Widow Taylor. (from Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Land Deeds Vol. 16, pages 334 to 338). This land is in Penn Township in the area now called Penn Hills.

Eleanor (Armstrong?) Probably born about 1782. The 1850 Census shows her as born 1782 in Pennsylvania.

William must have married Eleanor before 1814. Perhaps they were married about time of 1809 land purchase? When their first child was born about 1814, he would have been in his 50s. Eleanor in her 30's?

Family is listed in 1830 Wilkins Township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Census, page 160.
---1 male 70-80 years old, 1 male 15-20 years old, 1 male 5-10 years old;
---1 female 40-50 years old, 2 females 5-10 years old

Children of William and Eleanor are:
1) John M Sinnard born about 1814. No other information.
2) Margaret Sinnard born about 1817 who married Robert Steele. No other information.
3) Elizabeth Sinnard born about 1820, who married John J Reese, had four children, Elizabeth, William L, Joseph and John M. Elizabeth died in 1854, in Allegheny County.
4) William Armstrong Sinnard born abt 1822. Moved to Livingston County, Missouri.

William died March 22, 1839. He and Eleanor lived in Penn Township (Formerly Wilkins Township) Allegheny County, at the time of his death. He owned 180 acres and 132 perches of land, apparently just in his own name. Think this is same piece of land he purchased in 1809.

Widow Eleanor and son John were appointed as Administrators for the Estate. They made an Administrator's accounting for the Estate April 3,1840. No clues as to church or cemetery in accounting.

Land was amicably divided and partitioned among heirs June 7, 1845. Widow Eleanor and children John and Margaret sold their shares to son William Armstrong Sinnard. Information about this division of land was not recorded till June 20, 1863. Son William Armstrong Sinnard sold some of the land in 1863. Elizabeth who had married John Reese had died, and John Reese had sold his share of land to James Morrow who was to pay interest to Widow Eleanor in settlement of her dower right on the land. (Mormon film ID# 1497868, Allegheny County Orphans Court Division Volume 16 Pages 338, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Deeds, Vol. 163, page 257, date of record June 20,1863) Widow Eleanor, son John and daughter Margaret are listed on page 267 of 1850 Census of Wilkins Township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. Eleanor's place of birth was Pennsylvania.

1860 Census, Penn Township, Allegheny County, page 643, lists Eleanor as Ellen, and son John. Her daughter Margaret who married Robert Steele and son William's family, also listed on same page.

Western Pennsylvania history about Washington and Allegheny Counties: --Washington County formed from Westmoreland County in 1781.
----In 1786 Pittsburgh was still in Washington County and had a population of about 500.
--The Pittsburgh Gazette started publishing newspapers in 1786
--Allegheny County formed from Washington and Westmoreland Counties September 24,1788.
----Pitt Township was one of the original townships.
----Wilkins Township formed from Pitt Township in 1821.
----Northern part of Wilkins Township erected into Adams Township July 1850. In August 1850 ------name changed to McNair Township, later changed name to Penn Township.

Names from Washington County that match names our family interested in: Names appearing on 1781 Washington County tax rolls: John Armstrong of Cecil Township
Alexander Finley of Cumberland Township
James Blackburn a single man in Bethlehem Township.
John Morrow in Peters Township

Other names from other places William and his wife Eleanor had a son William Armstrong. It is interesting to note that the 1782 tax rolls of, Hopewell Township, York County, Pennsylvania include Nemhemian Armstrong with 60 acres of land. Nemhemian is also on the Hartford County, Maryland, 1790 census

Also the 1783 tax rolls of York County, Chanceford Township list Martin Armstrong with 108 acres and 7 inhabitants.

The 1790 census of York County, Hopewell Township lists John Armstrong with wife and son. A John Armstrong is also listed in 1791 Allegheny County tax lists. Perhaps Eleanor's maiden name was Armstrong.

Family members who did the main research: Roger Sinnard, Missouri, Myrle Sinnard, Illinois.
Summarized for the Internet by Roger Sinnard.

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