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THE BASKINS-BASKIN FAMILY - Raymond Martin Bell
Inventory of Francis Baskins' estateAn Inventory of the Goods and Chattels of Francis Baskins late of Paxton in the Countyof Lancaster deceased as they were equeally divided amongst the children of said Baskins at the decease of his widowTo his Improvement as valued per
John Bell & James Baskins £80 0 0
Paxton Nov 30th 1761
James Baskins Admr(Administrator's bond issued Aug 31-1761; bondsmen, Jas Baskins, Geo C Gibson, Thos Foster)
---------
Inventory of William Baskins' estate
A just and Ture Acct. of all and Singular the goods, Chattels 7 Credits of William Baskins, late of Juniata, in the County ofCumberland, Yeoman deceased which came to the hands or Possession of James Baskins, Administrator, of said estate of said deceased; Viz;-
| 6 Sheep |
sold for |
£ 1-19-0 |
| 3 Old Baggs |
ditto |
0-7-6 |
| 1 Black Stallion Colt |
ditto |
12-0-0 |
| 1 Cow and Calf |
ditto |
3-0-0 |
| 10 Yards Linnen Cloth |
ditto |
1-16-0 |
| cash received |
from James Mitcheltree |
0-5-0 |
| ditto |
from James English |
0-14-0 |
| One Colt |
sold for |
5-0-0 |
| One pot |
ditto |
0-11-0 |
| Cash redc |
from John Kislow |
2-10-0 |
| ditto |
from Francis Baskins |
9-6-0 |
| One bull |
|
2-0-0 |
| 9 Bushels Wheat |
|
1-13-9 |
| Cash recd. |
of George Clark, Jr. |
6-2-0 |
| |
|
_________ |
| |
|
£47-4-3 |
| Hangings for a bed |
|
1-12-0 |
| |
|
__________ |
| |
|
£48-16-3 |
A copy collected from two obscure papers
dated 1755
John Armstrong
D.Rr.
20th Feb; 1770 |
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THE BASKINS-BASKIN FAMILY - Raymond Martin Bell
Account of William Baskins estate
The Accompt of James Baskins Administrator of all and singular the Goods and Cattles Rights and Credits which were of William Baskins late of Cumberland County Yeoman deceased who died Intestate, as well of all and singular the Goods and Cattles Rights & Credits which were of said deceased at the Time of hi s Death which came to his Hands Possession or knowledge as of his payments and Disbursements out of the same as follows VIZ:
Imprimis
The said accomptant chargeth himself with all and singulau the Goods and Cattles Rights and Credits which were of the said deceased at the time of his death which came to his Hands Possesion or knowledge as is particularly metioned in an Inventory thereoff exhibited and remaining in the Registers Office at Carlisle amounting to £48 16 3 To 1600 ft of Pine Boards sold by the decd in his Lifetime for the Province Use for which the Adm recd £6 12 0
to a Bull held by Admr for which he charges himself but 40 p, which is at least 20 p less than his value 1 0 0
To a Mare not in the Inventory
To a Colt two years 7 0 0
old past not in the Inv. 4 0 0
To a Colt charged at £5 which the admr ws offered £7 for so that the Admr ought to be charge with the difference 2 0 0 the difference
To cash recd from John Kislow £3 10 which by mistake is harged in the inv. but £2 10 100 |
Item_______________________________
The said accomptant prays an allowance of his payments and Disbursements out of the same as follows Viz;
To chas paid the Regr for Letters Admn Fillg. Inventory Copy £1 2 6
to Cash paid Funeral Expences ) 6 4
| 1. |
" |
Samuel Hunter in discharge of note |
1 10 6 |
| 2. |
" |
John Chambers |
0 8 0 |
| 3. |
" |
John Murray |
1 16 4 |
| 4. |
" |
Robt. Potts |
0 5 0 |
| 5. |
" |
Saml. Ensworth |
0 13 9 |
| 6. |
" |
John Cowdon |
0 9 0 |
| 7. |
" |
Wm. Finley |
2 2 5 |
| 8. |
" |
Alex. McKennet |
0 6 5 |
| 9. |
" |
Geo. Clark |
0 15 0 |
| 10. |
" |
Francis Baskins |
1 15 6 |
| 11. |
" |
Duncan M'Cune |
3 7 0 |
| 12. |
" |
James Adams |
1 19 7 |
| 13. |
" |
Alex. Murray |
1 9 4 |
| 14. |
" |
Michael Parker in
dishcarge of a note |
1 7 0 |
| |
" |
John Boyd for
Stating this acct. |
0 7 6 |
| |
" |
the Regr for examning & passing this acct. copy &c |
0 15 6 |
20th of Feb 1770
John Armstrong D. Rr.
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THE BASKINS-BASKIN FAMILY - Raymond Martin Bell
Orphans Court Settlement
At an Orphans Court held at Carlisle for the County of Cumberland the fifteenth day of May in the Year of Our Lord one thousand Seven Hundred and Seventy before Jonathan Hhge, Andrew Calhoon, William Lyon, JOhn Holmes Esqrs Justices of the same Court &ca.
xxxx Came into Court James Baskins Administrator of all and Singular the Goods an cattels Land and tementents which were of William Baskins Late of Cumberland County Deceased who Died intestate & produceth in Court an Acct. of his adminstrationship which was passed & filed by Which it appears that there was in the hands of the Administrator a Ballance of forty two pounds Nineteen Shillings and Six pence Subject to Distributation According to Law and is as follows to it to the Widow of the said Decd. Fourteen pounds Six Shilings andSix pence to John Baskins Eldest Son of the Decd the sum of Eleven pounds Nine Shillings & two pence and one third of a penny to Moses SecondSon of Said Deceased the sum of five pounds fourteen Shilings and Seven pence and one sixth of a penny to MargetEldest Daughter of Said Deceased the Sum of five pounds fourteen Shilings and Seven pence andone Sixth of a penny. To Annes Second daughter of Said Decd the sum of five pounds fourteen Shilings Seven Pence and one Sixth of a penny being in full of the personal Estate of Said Deceased.
BY THE COURT
REcorded in Orphans Court Dkt. No.2, page 136-137.
- - - - - - - - - - - -
The tax lists for 1750-51 for the Narrows of Paxton (Lancaster Co) Pa contain these names:
| Widow Murray |
George Clark |
| Robert Armstrong |
John Mecheltree |
| John Armstrong |
Francis Baskin trader |
| Thomas Gaston |
John Clark |
| William Forster |
James Reed |
| Thomas Clark |
James English |
| John McKenndey |
John Gevins |
| Robert Clark |
James Baskins |
| Thomas Adams |
Thomas McKee |
| Halbert Adams |
John Kelton, collector |
| John Watt |
|
| William Baskins |
Freemen |
| George Wells |
Charles Williams |
| Francis Glass |
John Lee, trader |
This list has been printed in a number of histories with errors and omissions. In one place John is listed in error of James Baskins.
- - - - - - - - - - - -
Record of importations into Orange County, Virginia
July 24, 1740 William Baskins, John Pickens (Order Book II p 216)
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THE BASKINS-BASKIN FAMILY - Raymond Martin Bell
Redords of death:William Baskins - pa Gazette
James - will, carlisle, Pa.; wife Elizabeth - 1 of a, Carlisle
Francis - lettes of administration, Lancaster, Pa.; wife - tax list
Moses - 1 of a, Lancaster
Nancy McCoy - family Bible
Timothy Murphy - cour record, Sandwich, Ont.
George Baskins - tombstone
Mary Gray - will, Wayneburg, pa
Susannah Holden - fimaly Bible
Catherine Stephens - letter of son
Mitchel Baskins - tombstone
Robert Baskin - tombstone
Thomas Baskin - 1 of a, Hillsboro, O
Robert Baskin - 1 of a, Staunton, Va
John Baskin - will, charleston, S.C.
Hugh Baskin - will, Abbeville
James Baskin - 1 of a, Abbeville S.C.
Charles Baskin - will, Staunton, va
William Baskin - 1 of a, Abbeville
Burial Places ( )= no stone * Presbyterian
* Baskinville (Duncannon) - (James Baskin (Elizabeth Baskins), Mitchell Baskins, Margaret Baskins and Mitchell's sons
New Buffalo, Pa (Hill Church) - Robert Baskin, Cahtarine Baskin John Baskin
Addison N.Y. (Baldwin) - (Isiah Jones), William B. Jones
Evenezer (sout of Calion, O) - George Baskins, Rachel Baskins
Watkins Glen, N. Y. (Co Line) - John Diven, (Wm Baskins), Armstrong Baskins
* Dicks Gap (Perry Co, Pa) - (Margaret Smith)
Crawfordville, Ga - Alexander Stephens
Halifax, Pa - Oliver Baskin
Waverly, IA(Harlington) - Abner Baskins
Janesville, Ia (Orland) - George W. Baskins
Willington, S.C. - John Baskin
* Tinkling Springs, near Staunton, Va - (Charles Baskin)
* Rocky River Church, near Lowndesville, S.C. - (William Baskin Jr)
IllinoisLawrence Co 1830 census Lot Baskin age 20-30, wife, son, dau
Boone Co 1855 census Edmund Baskin age 20-30, wie, dau
Sons of James Baskins (d 1790 S C)
John died in S.C.; Thomas in Ala; Hugh in GA.
the other three sons as far as can be traced went to Ga.:
William 1800 to Jackson Co, possibly 1820 to Gwinnett Co
James S about 1805 to Wilkinson Co, posibly later to Houston Co
Robert was living in Elbert Co as early as 1808, as late as 1821
There is no complete record of the children of Wm, Jas S or Robt. |
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THE BASKINS-BASKIN FAMILY - Raymond Martin Bell
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THE BASKINS-BASKIN FAMILY - Raymond Martin Bell
1934 SUMMARY (Revised)
At the point in Pennsylvania where the Juniata River flows into the Susquehanna River lied two island. The large one of 677 acres is high and rocky and is kown today as "Haldean's Island>" The other one, 305 acres in size, is flat and alluvial and today is called "Duncan's Island," although it is no longer separated from the mainland. The large island has often benn called the "Big Island." the islands and the eas shore of the susquehanna lie in Dauphin (formerly Cumblerland) County.
The first record of th white man attempting t settle here was in 1733 when John Harris tried to settle at the mouth of the Juniata, but the Idians protested and he was forced to lave. In 1745 when david Brainard, a missionary, visited the big Island, then known as Juniata Island," he found a tribe of Conoy Indians living on it. Permanent settlement by the white man did not begin until 1750. The Big Island was warranted by the Properitaries in 1760. It was then known as "Baskins Island." At the southern tip wher eremains of an "Old Conoy Town." the Proprietaries also warranted Duncan's Island. A rough map of the region drawn in 1762 by Marcus Hulings gave th locationof th eearly settlers.
About 1750 three brothers, Francis, James, and william Baskins, took up land at the junction of the rivers. The Hulings map showed where they located. Francis settled on the lower end of the Big Island, where he claimed 150 acres. James took up land a tthe mouth of the Juniata on the west side, and soon established a ferry. In February 1767 he had been living there for sixteen years. The hamlet that grew up about the west landing was called "Baskinsville" - now upper Duncannon. The old burying ground on the bluff is still called the Baskinsville Graveyard." William Baskins took u land on Duncn's Island and also two other tracts; one of 238 acres (warrant issued to his heirs in 1766) in rye Township on the Little Juniata Creek; and a claim for 200 acres in the same towhship on the south bank of the Juniata River, several miles above th mouth.
The first record that we have of William askins is in 1;744 when he was one of the party which investigated the killings of Jack Armstreong, a trader, by the Indians. Then he probably lived at r near Paxtang. Abou this year he was married. the name of his wife doesn not appear in the records. In 1747-48 william Baskins was an ensign under CaptainThomas McKee in the associated Regiments of the West End of LancasterCounty on the Susquehanna River. In 1750 William Baskins with his wife and family moved t Duncan's Island where he erected a house. He was the first settler on the island and was listed in the 1750-51 assessments. Here they lived until the Indian outbrak following the Braddock defiat of July 1755, when all the settlers were driven to the forts for safety. William with his wife an dfive children, John, Moses, Margaret, Ann, and the youngest was forced to leave his home and go to Fort Hunter, while the Indians were on the warpath. As one of the defenders of the fort, he made sevral excursions with armed hbands from time to time to learn the intentions of the Indians.
In the following sumer there seemed to be a cessation of Indian attacks, and as William Baskins had a crop of grain on the island, with a hired man named McClean, his wife and two children, a gril of seven and a boy of three, he returned to harvest it. As nearly as we can ascertainit was July 29, 1756. While at work, the men were startled by warcries, Seeing that the Indians were hostile, the man McClean jumped into the river, wasm to a small island in the Juniata, known as "Sheep Island" hid and escaped. Baskins ran to the house,but while reaching for his gun, he was shot dead and scalped. The wife and two children wre carried away captive. |
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THE BASKINS-BASKIN FAMILY - Raymond Martin Bell
Margaret (Peggy), the girl of seven, was carried to the Miami country, then a wilderness in Ohio. She remained in capivity until November 15, 1764 when in accordance with a treaty after Bonquet's ictory, she was returned. She was one of "sixty prisoners surendered by the Indians" and "taken by Captain Charles Lewis from the English camp at the Forks of the Muskingum to fort Pitt."
The mother, according to all thehistories, when i the vacinity of Carlisle, escaped from the Indians and got safely bck tothe fort. Tradition says that the boy of three was carried to Canada where he was baptized, "Timothy Murphy." He was aftrwards discovered by Alexander Stephens, a cousin by marriage, who identified him by a peculiar mark on the head. Stephens told him ofhis famiy, and "Murphy" visited the old home. In 1812 his nephew, James Smith, visited him in Canada, where he owned an estate at Malden, Ontario. When the estate of William Baskin was settled in 1770, the boy was assumed dead, for his name does not appear among the heirs.
VThe "Widow" about 1765 married a neighbor, Francis Ellis. during the 1756 attacks all the buildings and fences on Duncan's Island were burned, and no one lived there for six or seve years. Aboaut 1762 the "Widow" rented the island to David Ross, who cleared 15 acres and erected a house. He was dirvin off by the Indians in 1763, but returned in 1765. In 1767 the former widow and her usband were living on one of his two farms on or near the Big Island. Francis Ellis, Sr. died in 1784 in Greenwood Township, cumberland county.
The estate of William Baskins was not settled until May 15, 1770, although letters of administration in Cumberland County had been issued to his brother, James, in September 1756. The inventory was copied from "tow obscure papers dated 1755." One item is "9 bushels wheat 1 £. 13 S. 7 P." Was it this that Williamgavie his life trying to secure? The Court found the total alance 42 pounds, 19 shillings, and 6 pence, anddeccreed to the "Widow" (name not give) 14£, 6S. 7 P. and to the children as follows: to John "eldest son," 11£, (S, 2P; to Moses "second son," to Margaret "eldest daughter," to Ann "Second Daughter" each 5£, 14S, 1P. both of the sons, John and Moses were then of full age, robably 25 and 23, respectively, with Margaret, 21, and Ann, 19.
In 1774 John was a blacksmith in District 96, South Carolina. That year Moses was assessed in Rye Township, Cumberland County. Margaret married John Smith. We have record of one of their children, James Baskins Smith, who was born along the Juniata River April 4, 1777. He lived in Perry County. A granddaughter of his, Miss annie P. SMith, was living at Lewistown in 1932. About 1773 Ann Baskins married Joseph Martin, sonof Smauel of Paxtang, and they established a home by the mills in the great bend of the Juniata, a few miles above the Big Island while their father was in the army "from which he nevr returned." Samuel was born September 17, 1775 and Joseph July 20, 1777. Samuel settled in Mifflin County, where his descendants wtill live. We know little about the home on the Big Island. AMong the neighbors we find the Hulings, Clark, Watts, Reed and Atkinson families.
James Baskins, brother of Wiliam, operated a ferry at the junction of the rivers of nearly forty years. He administrered the estates of William (1756) and Francis (1761). He warranted 200 acres of land at the mouth of the Juniata in 1766. He died at Baskinsville in January 1788 and was buried in the old cemetery of the bluf. His wife, Elizabeth ----, died in June 1792. James Baskins by his will probated at carlisle, February 11, 1788 gave to each of his daughtrs, Elizabeth McCoy, Cahterine Stephens, Sarah Dougherty, and Jane Jones, five pounds then after providing for life occupancy of his wife, he gave all the rest to his son, Mitchell, subject to maintenance of his son, Francis, for life, Mitchell Baskins |
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THE BASKINS-BASKIN FAMILY - Raymond Martin Bell
born October 6, 1754 died April 10, 1809, was a ferryman near Duncannon. He married Margaret ---- born July 5, 1769, died Decmber 9, 1814. Cornelius, a son, continued to operate the ferry. His descendants still live around Dunconnon. Catherine Baskins, eldest daughter of James, about 1766 married Alexander Stephens. After the Revolution he with his wife an dfamiy migrated to Wilkes County, Goergia, where he died in 1814, aged 87. Catherine Baskins Stephens died at Kettle Creek, Georgia in 1794. The youngest of their ten children was Andrew Baskins Stephens,who was born inPenna. in 1782 an died in Georgia 1826. Andrew was father of Aleander HamiltonStephens, vice president of the Confederancy.
The third brother, Francis Baskins died in August 1761. Letters of administration in Lancaster County were issued to his brother, James August 31, 1761. Frqancis was named in William's estate. He was assessed as a trader at the Big Island as early as 1751. His widow was assessed as "Widow Baskin," in Upper Paston Township until 1787. We have the name of one son, George, who in 1789 sold his share of the lower end of the Big Island which his father had improved, ut had nto warranted. Another son was William, of Dauphin county. robert, of Perry County, an Thomas of Northumberland county were likely nephews.
The fact that John Baskins migrated to SouthCarolina, and the stephens just over the line into Georgia would seem to lnk this Baskins family with the WilliamBAskin, who went frompennsylvania to the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia (Augusta County) about 1740. About 1767 he migrated to Abbeville,South Carolina. HIs sons were: Hugh, charles (1741-1822), James, John, william, and thomas. William and Mary Baskin were listed inaugusta county records as early as 1745 and as late as 1765. In 1750 William administered the estate of Robert Baskin. If robert was the brother of this wWiliam, he may have been an uncle of the Pensylvania brother. Descendants of theSouth Carolina William still live around Abbeville. And Andrew Baskin lived in Virginia as contemporary of William later going to Kershaw Co., S.C.
References: - Jones: History of Juniata Valley (1889), p. 59; Rupp;
History of Dauphin and other Counties (1846) p. 113, 338-339; Hain:
History of Perry County (1922) p. 49-51, 81-82, 120-121, 127-128, 395-396, 609-625, 1041-1042, 1045;
History of Susquehanna and Juniata Valleys (1886) p. 55, 72, 10 57-1058, 1068-1079, 1099 1135;Egle:
History of Dauphin and Lebaon counties (1883) p. 438-439; Egle:
Notes and Queries; First Series, Vol. 2 (1895) p 307; Hanna:
The Wilderness Trail Vol. 2 p. 387; Pa. Archives III Series, Vol. 1, 162. |
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THE BASKINS-BASKIN FAMILY - Raymond Martin Bell
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THE BASKINS-BASKIN FAMILY - Raymond Martin Bell
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