JAMES WHITEHILL was born in Northern Ireland, after his parents fled from Kilmaclom, Renfrewshire, Scotland, probably in 1699. He was born on February 1, 1700. He was probably trained as a blacksmith in Ireland. (James is listed as a blacksmith on the 1751 tax list of Salisbury twp., Lancaster Co., PA.) Probably between 1718 and 1723 he emigrated to the American colonies with a group which probably included his younger brothers, Thomas and John, landing probably at New Castle on the Delaware River.
He eventually settled in Pequea Twp., Chester Co., PA, on Pequea Creek, where he appears on the Chester Co. tax lists of 1724 and 1726. In 1729 this area became part of Salisbury Twp., Lancaster Co., PA. This was a short distance from the creek source and near the present site of the Pequea Presbyterian Church (probably founded in 1724; first meeting house built about 1724); also, near the old road called "King's Highway". James and his first wife (Anna Bradshaw) had one child named James, born in 1725, who married Abigail Miller, daughter of John and Ester (Moore) Miller and had issue. James's first wife died and he married Rachel Cresswell, who was born in 1709 and died 6-29-1795. They had eleven children.
He received warrants for 1100 acres of farm land. He owned land in Cumberland and Lancaster Counties. Some of the land in Cumberland Co. was later in York County. He owned 565 acres in Salisbury Twp., Lancaster Co. on what was then known as Whitehill's Run, later Henderson's Run.
In 1736, he was chosen assessor (the board of assessors and county commissioners constituting what was called, in Provincial times, the county board). He was elected county commissioner 1739-41; appointed Justice of the Peace, serving years 1736,37,41,45,49,52. He was also Judge of Lancaster County Court in 1745 and later (ref. Orphans' Court Records, also Road Docket Book 1729-42, Quarter Sessions Office Lancaster County Court House, Colonial Records and Pennsylvania Archives). He was a prominent person in Lancaster County.
James died February 2, 1766 and is buried in the Pequea Presbyterian Churchyard. His will was written Jan. 31, proved Feb. 8, 1766. (Will C-1-290) James and Rachel are both buried in Pequa Presbyterian Churchyard and have inscribed tombstones. It is, also, believed that his first wife is buried in the same grave as his second wife, as was frequently done in Colonial times.
He eventually settled in Pequea Twp., Chester Co., PA, on Pequea Creek, where he appears on the Chester Co. tax lists of 1724 and 1726. In 1729 this area became part of Salisbury Twp., Lancaster Co., PA. This was a short distance from the creek source and near the present site of the Pequea Presbyterian Church (probably founded in 1724; first meeting house built about 1724); also, near the old road called "King's Highway". James and his first wife (Anna Bradshaw) had one child named James, born in 1725, who married Abigail Miller, daughter of John and Ester (Moore) Miller and had issue. James's first wife died and he married Rachel Cresswell, who was born in 1709 and died 6-29-1795. They had eleven children.
He received warrants for 1100 acres of farm land. He owned land in Cumberland and Lancaster Counties. Some of the land in Cumberland Co. was later in York County. He owned 565 acres in Salisbury Twp., Lancaster Co. on what was then known as Whitehill's Run, later Henderson's Run.
In 1736, he was chosen assessor (the board of assessors and county commissioners constituting what was called, in Provincial times, the county board). He was elected county commissioner 1739-41; appointed Justice of the Peace, serving years 1736,37,41,45,49,52. He was also Judge of Lancaster County Court in 1745 and later (ref. Orphans' Court Records, also Road Docket Book 1729-42, Quarter Sessions Office Lancaster County Court House, Colonial Records and Pennsylvania Archives). He was a prominent person in Lancaster County.
James died February 2, 1766 and is buried in the Pequea Presbyterian Churchyard. His will was written Jan. 31, proved Feb. 8, 1766. (Will C-1-290) James and Rachel are both buried in Pequa Presbyterian Churchyard and have inscribed tombstones. It is, also, believed that his first wife is buried in the same grave as his second wife, as was frequently done in Colonial times.
JAMES WHITEHILL was born in Northern Ireland, after his parents fled from Kilmaclom, Renfrewshire, Scotland, probably in 1699. He was born on February 1, 1700. He was probably trained as a blacksmith in Ireland. (James is listed as a blacksmith on the 1751 tax list of Salisbury twp., Lancaster Co., PA.) Probably between 1718 and 1723 he emigrated to the American colonies with a group which probably included his younger brothers, Thomas and John, landing probably at New Castle on the Delaware River.
He eventually settled in Pequea Twp., Chester Co., PA, on Pequea Creek, where he appears on the Chester Co. tax lists of 1724 and 1726. In 1729 this area became part of Salisbury Twp., Lancaster Co., PA. This was a short distance from the creek source and near the present site of the Pequea Presbyterian Church (probably founded in 1724; first meeting house built about 1724); also, near the old road called "King's Highway". James and his first wife (Anna Bradshaw) had one child named James, born in 1725, who married Abigail Miller, daughter of John and Ester (Moore) Miller and had issue. James's first wife died and he married Rachel Cresswell, who was born in 1709 and died 6-29-1795. They had eleven children.
He received warrants for 1100 acres of farm land. He owned land in Cumberland and Lancaster Counties. Some of the land in Cumberland Co. was later in York County. He owned 565 acres in Salisbury Twp., Lancaster Co. on what was then known as Whitehill's Run, later Henderson's Run.
In 1736, he was chosen assessor (the board of assessors and county commissioners constituting what was called, in Provincial times, the county board). He was elected county commissioner 1739-41; appointed Justice of the Peace, serving years 1736,37,41,45,49,52. He was also Judge of Lancaster County Court in 1745 and later (ref. Orphans' Court Records, also Road Docket Book 1729-42, Quarter Sessions Office Lancaster County Court House, Colonial Records and Pennsylvania Archives). He was a prominent person in Lancaster County.
James died February 2, 1766 and is buried in the Pequea Presbyterian Churchyard. His will was written Jan. 31, proved Feb. 8, 1766. (Will C-1-290) James and Rachel are both buried in Pequa Presbyterian Churchyard and have inscribed tombstones. It is, also, believed that his first wife is buried in the same grave as his second wife, as was frequently done in Colonial times.
He eventually settled in Pequea Twp., Chester Co., PA, on Pequea Creek, where he appears on the Chester Co. tax lists of 1724 and 1726. In 1729 this area became part of Salisbury Twp., Lancaster Co., PA. This was a short distance from the creek source and near the present site of the Pequea Presbyterian Church (probably founded in 1724; first meeting house built about 1724); also, near the old road called "King's Highway". James and his first wife (Anna Bradshaw) had one child named James, born in 1725, who married Abigail Miller, daughter of John and Ester (Moore) Miller and had issue. James's first wife died and he married Rachel Cresswell, who was born in 1709 and died 6-29-1795. They had eleven children.
He received warrants for 1100 acres of farm land. He owned land in Cumberland and Lancaster Counties. Some of the land in Cumberland Co. was later in York County. He owned 565 acres in Salisbury Twp., Lancaster Co. on what was then known as Whitehill's Run, later Henderson's Run.
In 1736, he was chosen assessor (the board of assessors and county commissioners constituting what was called, in Provincial times, the county board). He was elected county commissioner 1739-41; appointed Justice of the Peace, serving years 1736,37,41,45,49,52. He was also Judge of Lancaster County Court in 1745 and later (ref. Orphans' Court Records, also Road Docket Book 1729-42, Quarter Sessions Office Lancaster County Court House, Colonial Records and Pennsylvania Archives). He was a prominent person in Lancaster County.
James died February 2, 1766 and is buried in the Pequea Presbyterian Churchyard. His will was written Jan. 31, proved Feb. 8, 1766. (Will C-1-290) James and Rachel are both buried in Pequa Presbyterian Churchyard and have inscribed tombstones. It is, also, believed that his first wife is buried in the same grave as his second wife, as was frequently done in Colonial times.
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