Our SNODGRASS Family
Personal Information Page for

Hamilton Vankirk 1809 - 
 

(c/o
John and Mary Vankirk)

h/o Elizabeth Snodgrass

The following information has been found and documented with respect to this individual. A great deal of my Personal Information can be credited to the hard work of Charlou Dolan and her Snodgrass Source Books. Thank you also to Suzie, Patty, and Mac. You have been fantastic!

On this page you will find

1850 Census Information
Signatory in the sale of land on January 4, 1858
Excerpts from Crumrine’s History of Washington County, Pennsylvania
Other
miscellaneous facts

1850 Federal Census
Jackson Township, Crawford County, Ohio

1850 Federal Census, Amwell Twp., Washington Co., Pa.; age 41, farmer, born Pa.

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Signatory in 1858 land sales

Deed Bk. 3-T, pg. 191: Robert C. Snodgrass & Eliza Agnes his wife, Phillip Lewellen & Sarah his wife, Hamilton Vankirk & Eliza his wife, Elisha Ely & Kesiah his wife, William Snodgrass & Rachel his wife, & Robert Jackson & Margaret his wife of the first part to Samuel Snodgrass --- &350.00 --- all their right, title, interest, property, claim --- a certain tract of land lying in Canton Twp., Washington Co., PA --- 96 acres & 22 perches the same being the 1/2 of the home farm of the late William Snodgrass deceased, together with all our right, title, interest and claim in --- the estate of James Snodgrass, under the will of the said William Snodgrass deceased --- Signatures acknowledged in Washington Co., PA: Robert C. Snodgrass & Eliza Agnes his wife, Philip Luellen & Sarah his wife, Hamilton Vankirk & Eliza his wife, Elisha Ely & Kesiah his wife, Robert Jackson & Margaret his wife --- Signature witnessed in City of Pittsburgh: Eliza A. Snodgrass.

Signatures witnessed in Crawford Co., OH: William Snodgrass & Rachel his wife (these signatures witnessed by Mary H. Snodgrass & John Franz) --- Recorded 4 Jan 1858.

Deed Bk. 3-U, pg. 66: Robert C. Snodgrass & Eliza Agnes his wife, Philip Lewellan & Sarah his wife, Hamilton Vankirk & Eliza his wife, Elisha Ely & Kesiah his wife, & William Snodgrass & Rachel his wife, & Samuel Snodgrass & Lesette his wife to Robert Jackson --- $2850.25 --- all their claim --- to a certain tract of land --- in Canton Twp., Washington Co., PA, adjoining lands with those of Joseph Clark, Richard Jolly, John Jolly, Joseph Clark, Samuel Snodgrass, & John McClain containing 96 acres & 122 perches --- being the 1/2 of the home farm of the late William Snodgrass, dec'ed, together with all our right --- to the estate of James Snodgrass under the will of his said father William Snodgrass, dec'd --- Signatures recorded in Washington Co., PA: Robert C. Snodgrass, Philip Lewellen & Sarah his wife, Hamilton Vankirk & Eliza his wife, Elisha Ely & Keziah his wife, & Samuel Snodgrass & Lesette his wife.

Signature acknowledged in City of Pittsburgh: Eliza A. Snodgrass.
Signatures acknowledged in Crawford Co., OH: William Snodgrass & Rachel his wife --- Recorded 4 Jun 1858.

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History of Washington County, Pennsylvania
Amwell Township

Boyd Crumrine, "History of Washington County, Pennsylvania with Biographical Sketches of Many of Its Pioneers and Prominent Men". Transcribed by Nola Elliott in June 1998. Published in July 1998 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com.

I have done a bit of editing from the original text as I found it too darned confusing. Hopefully I have the families correct now but if you find errors please let me know so that I can make corrections. I have omitted two other references to Hamilton Vankirk, because of the extensiveness of the text, which I’ll edit it at some other time. However, you can go to the above web site to view the Amwell Township information in its entirety. The text begins as such:

Amwell was one of the thirteen original townships erected in 1781, and at that time embraced its present territory and the present townships of Morris and Franklin. On the 13th of March, 1788, the township of Morris was erected, comprising the southwest quarter of this township. On the 23rd of April, 1792, the township of Canton was erected, taking from Amwell that part of its territory that lay north of Morris. Since that time its territory has remained the same, with the exception of a slight change in the boundary line between it and Strabane township in October, 1830.

The family of Hamilton Vankirk is contained within the text:

John, Henry, and _____ Vankirk, natives of New Jersey, all came to this county, and settled in Amwell township.

1-John Vankirk emigrated first, and purchased on the 10th day of December 1785, a tract of three hundred and fifty-nine acres of land of Abner Howell, which he patented Feb. 26, 1792. On this tract John lived till his death in 1798, and divided it among three of his sons, Jacob, Henry, and Joseph. He left four sons and three daughters, who were all born in New Jersey, Sarah, Jacob, and Henry by a first wife, Joseph, Elizabeth, John, and Catharine by a second wife.

1-Sarah Vankirk lived and died single;

2-Jacob Vankirk lived on the portion left by his father, and with his brother Henry, in 1808, purchased their brother Joseph's portion of the homestead. Jacob Vankirk married Elizabeth Lee, and their children were Enoch, Joseph, Leah, and Ann.  

1-Enoch Vankirk married Susan Caton, and to them were born nine children ---George, Sarah J., Matthias, Hugh, Mary A., Elisha, William, Jacob, and Sarah J. Caton. The first child named Sarah J. Caton died in infancy. The others all reside in Washington County except the youngest Sarah J. Caton, who lives in Ohio.

2-Joseph Vankirk, the other son of Jacob Vankirk, married Eliza Carter. They had six children, ---Joseph C., Hiram, Charles, William, Charlotte, and Ann Vankirk, all of whom live in Iowa.

3-Leah Vankirk became Mrs. John McLain, and lives in Franklin township;

4-Ann Vankirk married Walter G. Scott.

3-Henry Vankirk, brother of Jacob Vankirk, settled on the portion inherited from his father, and in 1808, with Jacob, bought Joseph's portion. He lived and died here leaving four children, of whom Johnand Mary are dead. Charles is living in the township; Mary became the wife of Elbridge G. Cracroft, who, after her death, married her sister Nancy. The latter resides in Washington.

4-Joseph Vankirk, son of John, after the sale in 1808, moved to Morris township. His children are all dead.

5-Elizabeth Vankirk, a daughter, married Samuel Lacock and settled in Amwell. Their grandchildren are residents of the township.

6-John Vankirk purchased a farm about a mile from the homestead, and left it to his son Hamilton. It now belongs to the estate of Dr. F.J. LeMoyne.

7-Catharine Vankirk became the wife of _____ Beebout, and settled in Amwell.

2-Henry Vankirk, brother of John, purchased two hundred and sixty-six acres of land of Sarah Gregg on the 29th October 1701, which was named "Red Thorn Bottom." On this tract he lived and died, leaving six children, all of whom were born in New Jersey.

1-William Vankirk remained there;

 2-Gideon Vankirk married Priscilla Kater;

3-Arthur Vankirk married Elizabeth Parkison; their children were Lucretia (Mrs. David Birch), Asher, Emma (Mrs. Joel Woods), Edward, Ralph, William, and Sarah (Mrs. John Cooper).

4-Henry Vankirk Jr. married Ruth Jolly, and settled on or near the homestead. Their children were Mary E. (Mrs. William Crispin), Dryden, Jane (Mrs. Oliver Cosart), Ruth (emigrated to Ohio, where she married), Susan (Mrs. James Cooper), Milton (who resides in Ohio), and Keturah (Mrs. Abraham Riggle);

5-John Vankirk;

6-Mary Vankirk;

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Other miscellaneous facts

Marriage Announcement, Elizabeth, d/o William of Canton Twp.
Marriage Records, Washington Co., Pa. Vital Records, Book #52

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