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biography
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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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