| The Johnson Family Book 2 -
Johnsons of St. George, Georgia
By Viva Jean Johnson Outterson
Chapter 3 Pages 61-76 THE CAUGHEYS OF LANCASTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
The Caughey family was well known and prominent in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania during the eighteenth century. The name is often misspelled and it is not uncommon to find the name spelled Cahey, Cahee, Cachy and Cauchey. The Caughey family was of Scottish heritage and was endowed with a strong work ethic and an abiding commitment to service to God and country. The family members were brave and possessed an aggressive heart, an initiatory attitude and thrived on the
challenges of the unknown. They were true to their Scottish heritage of independence and social commitment and epitomized the American pioneer spirit. The official records of the early 1700s of Lancaster County reveal that there were three brothers, Samuel, John and Francis, living in the area. The brothers perhaps had sisters but the records do not reveal their presence. This might have been expected as the history of the period frequently overlooked women and their
contributions. Each of the brothers worked to clear the land and develop successful farms. Each became a large landowner in Lancaster County. Samuel Caughey was born about 1725 and developed a farm in Colerain Township of Lancaster County. The Reverend John Cuthbertson, the first Reform Presbyterian minister in the New World, married Samuel Caughey and Esther Coulter in her father's home on May 8, 1752. Esther was born about 1728 to Mr. and Mrs. Nathaniel Coulter of Bart
Township. Samuel and Esther were parents to three sons: John, born in 1747; Samuel, born in 1751; and Nathaniel, born about 1755. Samuel in 1777 acquired land in Little Britain Township to add to his landholdings in Colerain. Samuel and Esther's son Samuel served as a private during the Revolutionary War. He served as a substitute in Colonel Boyd's Company under General Harrison at Fort Meigs, according to the Pennsylvania Archives, Series 5, Volume 7, page 662. This record also indicates
that Samuel was born in Ireland, which is incorrect. The Reverend John Cuthbertson married Samuel and Ellen Moore on September 5, 1780. This was the same minister who married Samuel's father and mother some twenty-eight years earlier. Son John served as a private during the Revolutionary War in the 1" Battalion of the Pennsylvania Militia from 1776 to 1782. Nathaniel, the youngest, stayed on the farm and assisted his father. Father Samuel died intestate in 1787 and the
brothers, Samuel and Nathaniel, appointed John as executor to handle the estate. John had married Sarah A. and was serving as an attorney in the city of Lancaster at the time of his father's death. Brother Samuel had moved to Allegheny County and Nathaniel had married and moved to Washington County. These counties are located in western Pennsylvania. John sold off the landholdings of his father and later joined his brothers in western Penn sylvania. The brothers all became quite successful in
their own right. Samuel Caughey who moved from Lancaster County to Allegheny County and later to Beaver County, Pennsylvania, was the subject of a story by Delos Duff in the publication, The Beaver Countian: The History 8 Lore of Beaver County, Volume II, No. I, 1991, published by the Resource 8 Research Center for Beaver County 8 Local History, Inc., 1301 7" Avenue, Carnegie Free Library, Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania. John John Caughey was born about
1722. Little is known about John except that he was married and had at least two children: a son James, born about 1750 and a daughter Elizabeth, born about 1759. In 1780, according to the tax rolls, James owned 230 acres of land in Colerain Township, valued at 290 pounds, and had personal property which included 4 horses, valued at 40 pounds, and 6 cows, valued at 18 pounds, on which he paid a property tax of 112 pounds. Elizabeth married her cousin Andrew Caughey, son of her Uncle Francis.
According to the Pennsylvania Archives, Series 3, Volume 20, page 609, father John paid taxes in 1782 in Middleton Township in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. It is thought that son James later sold his landholdings in Colerain and followed his father to Cumberland County. (Descendents of Caughey Brothers.
Click for a larger view.) Francis  Francis Caughey was born in 1728. Francis married Jean Scott, born about 1731. They had five children: John, born in 1752; Elizabeth, born about 1753; Eley, born about 1754; Jean, born about 1755; and Andrew, born in 1756. The family developed a very large farm in Bart Township in Lancaster County. On November 20, 1767, Joseph Miller sold Francis 167
acres in Bart Township. On January 3, 1771, Francis bought 135 acres of land in Bart Township from Robert Smith for 76 pounds according to the Lancaster Land Records, Book P, and page 125. For years the Francis Caughey family was heavily taxed for its large landholdings.
Francis and Jean's daughters Eley and Jean both married men by the name of Scott. Francis and Jean's daughter Elizabeth never married.
Francis and Jean's son, Andrew, served as a private at the Battle of Brandywine. In 1782 Andrew developed a small farm in Bart County and paid tax on his landholdings, a horse and two cows. He married his cousin, Elizabeth Caughey, daughter of his Uncle John Caughey. Later, Andrew and Elizabeth developed a farm in Colerain Township in Lancaster County, next door to his close family friend, Andrew Johnson. In February 1789 Andrew Caughey sold some of his landholdings in Colerain Township.
Andrew and Elizabeth had at least one son, Andrew, who was born September 22, 1791, in Lancaster County. Shortly after the turn of the century Andrew sold his remaining landholdings and moved to Erie County. Andrew and Elizabeth's son Andrew married Martha Canon, born about 1794. Martha was the daughter of Daniel Canon and Agnes McClellan. Father Andrew died in Erie County in 1828. Son Andrew and Martha had at least one son, Daniel Canon Caughey, born about 1820. Daniel married Martha
Jane McCreary, who was the daughter of David McCreary and Rebecca Taggart. Rebecca was the daughter of Cardiff Taggart. Son Andrew died in Erie County in 1865. (Descendents of John & Elizabeth
Caughey. Click for a larger view.)  Francis and Jean's son, John, served as an ensign in the
Pennsylvania Militia during the Revolutionary War. John married Elizabeth Kerr, who was born in 1765. John and Elizabeth were parents to nine children: Martha, born on October 16, 1784; Jane, born on March 7, 1786; Elizabeth, born on December 11, 1788; John, Jr., born on September 10, 1790; Francis, born on December 11, 1793; Rachel, born on March 22, 1795; James Kerr, born on March 6, 1797; Mary, born on July 9, 1799; and Ann, born June 12, 1804. Their daughters Martha and
Elizabeth never married; Jane married Samuel Coulter; Rachel married Samuel McConnell; Mary married James Kidd; and Ann married James Johnson. As mentioned earlier, the story of Ann Caughey and James Johnson is the subject of Ghapter Four.
Francis died in Lancaster County on December 23, 1803. Frances left a very simple will that is recorded in the Lancaster Records, Book L, Volume 1, and page 71. He
appointed his son John executor of his will. Francis left the family's plantation in Bart Township to his son John with the power to sell or convey any part of his real estate. John was instructed to provide for his mother 50 pounds, a milk cow, her bed and clothes. Further, Francis insisted that the family house remain for use by his wife, Jean, and his unmarried daughter, Elizabeth, until their deaths.
He also instructed John to provide 40 pounds each to his brother Andrew and sisters Eley, Jean and Elizabeth. Francis and Jean's son John inherited the family plantation in Bart Township and continued to develop it. Over a period of time and John expanded his landholdings and became owner of a vast amount of land. In 1811, John sold 75 acres and 60 perches (a perch is a square measure of land, 1 rod by 1 rod [a rod is 16.5 feet]) to son, John, Jr.
On June 14, 1819, John sold 77 acres and 15 perches to his son Francis for one dollar. The Grave of Elizabeth Caughey When John became aged, his son James took over the management and operation of
the plantation. Just prior to death, father John transferred large pieces of his property in Bart and Colerain Townships to his sons, Francis and John, Jr. Mother Elizabeth Kerr died on December 28, 1832. She is buried in the Middle Octorara United Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Bart Township of Lancaster County. Shortly after Elizabeth died, John followed her in death on May 26, 1833. John is
buried with Elizabeth in the Middle Octorara United Presbyterian Church Cemetery. The Grave of John Caughey In his will John bequeathed most of the family plantation to his son James with a small
land allocation to his son John, Jr. The following is a copy of father John's will. In the Name of God, amen! I, John Caughey, of Bart Township, Lancaster county, being of sound mind and memory, blessed by God for the same, I now make this my last will and testament revoking or making void all others prior to this date, as follows, viz….. Item. I give and bequeath to my loving wife, the interest on three hundred dollars per
year, and yearly, while she remains a widow, paid to her by my son James. It is my will that she occupies the east end of the dwelling house which is now occupied by my son James. It is my will that she is to have one cow kept for her, with liberty to raise a calf, and a pig or two, if she thinks proper. It is my will that she takes one bed, the choice of the beds and bedding, and the one-third of the household furniture, if she thinks
proper to take it. It is my will that my son James is to find his mother in twelve bushels of wheat and twelve bushels of corn per year, and yearly delivered to her in the bushel. It is my will that my dearburn is kept for the use of my wife, to convey her where and when she pleases. My son James is to find his mother in a sufficiency of firewood hauled and cut at the door. All the above I give and bequeath to my wife, as long as
she remains a widow, but if she marries again, it is my will that she only gets the sum of fifty dollars, paid to her by my son James. Item. I give and bequeath to my son James one hundred acres of land off the plantation I now live on, together with the house I now live in, and all other improvements belonging to the old mansion place and my son James is to have the above one hundred acres where he may think proper off the farm I now occupy. It is
my will that the remaining part of my land if either of my sons sees proper of the farm I now occupy to keep any part of the same, that they get it mearsured and appraised by three men and take it at the value set upon it. It is my will that after my decease that all my personal property is sold except the wheels, beds and bedding belonging to any of my daughters that may be unmarried at my decease. Item. I give and bequeath to my two daughters, viz. Jane intermarried with Samuel
Coulter, and Rachel intermarried with Samuel McConnell, the sum of two hundred dollars each, lawful money of Pennsylvania, and to each of my other daughters, viz. Martha, Elizabeth, Mary, and Ann, the sum of two hundred and fifty dollars each, like lawful money aforesaid, the above legacies not to be pushed or sued for until the expiration of two years. It is my will that after the above legacies are paid off, that the
overplue, if any there be, is to be equally divided between my three sons, viz. John, Francis, and James, and my daughters, viz. Martha, Jane, Elizabeth, Rachel, Mary, and Ann. It is my will that my executors are to pay each of my daughters their respective shares out of the remaining part of my land that is not willed and my personal property. And I do make, constitute, and appoint my three sons to be the executors of this my
last will and testament, viz. John, Francis, and James. In testimony whereof, I have here unto set my hand, the Twenty-Second day of March, One Thousand Eight Hundred and Twenty-Eight, 1828.
-John Caughey John and Elizabeth Kerr's son, John, Jr., was a veteran of the War of 1812. He served in Captain Neal's Company of the Pennsylvania Militia from September 1, 1814 until he
became ill on November 1, 1814. His brother Francis fulfilled John's military obligation as a substitute until December 7, 1814. The Reverend Joseph Barr, minister of the Middle Octorara United Presbyterian Church, married John, Jr. and Jane Baxter on March 11, 1824. Jane was born on July 9, 1803. Her family lived in Colerain Township. Just prior to his death, John, Jr.'s father transferred some of his landholdings in
Colerain Township to John, Jr. who later developed a very large and successful farm. John, Jr. and Jane established their family home on their farm in Colerain. Before his death, John, Jr. sold a large portion of the landholdings in Bart Township he inherited from his father. Jane died on March 7, 1860, followed by John, Jr. on September 26, 1861 or 1864. They are buried next to his father and mother in the Middle Octorara United Presbyterian Church Cemetery.  |
The Graves of John and Jane Caughey John, Jr. and Jane had a son John Baxter, born April 23, 1837, and a daughter Margaret E., born in 1834. It is not known if Margaret ever married. Baxter, as he was known, married Maggie, who was born on July 17, 1845. Maggie died in her twentieth
year on May 15, 1866, and is buried in the Colerain Baptist Church Cemetery. Baxter later married Laura McCullough on March 4, 1873. Laura was born April 14, 1852. In 1883, Baxter owned 25 acres of land in Colerain Township that was once owned by Robert Anderson who acquired it on January 30, 1757. In 1882, Baxter was serving as a judge. Baxter died on April 13, 1922, and Laura on July 29, 1930.
John and Elizabeth Kerr's son, Francis, was a veteran of the War of 1812 by virtue of being a military substitute for his brother John who became ill. Francis married Mary McConnell on March 16, 1819. Mary was born about 1796. Prior to his death Francis' father, John transferred some of his landholdings in Bart Township to Francis. Francis and Mary were very active in the affairs of the Middle Octorara United Presbyterian
Church in Bart Township and on September 11, 1831, Francis was ordained an elder in the church. Later, Francis and Mary moved their membership to the Colerain Union Presbyterian Church in Colerain Township. Francis and Mary made their home in Colerain where they had developed a very productive farm. The Colerain church records indicate that Francis Caughey and Mary McConnell had three daughters: Mary J., born
in 1824; Alice C., born on December 28, 1838; and Violet Elizabeth, born in 1824. The daughters were very active in the Colerain church affairs. It is believed that Mary J. and Alice C. never married. Violet Elizabeth became the wife of Mr. Whiteside. There is also reason to believe that Francis and Mary McConnell had a son, Francis, who took over the operation of the family farm. Father Francis retired from farming and became
the assistant burger (city clerk) in the city of Strasburg in Lancaster County, a position that he held in 1850. Francis died on October 8, 1853, followed by Mary who died about 1861. John and Elizabeth Kerr's son, James Kerr, helped his father in the operation of the family plantation in Bart Township and took over its management during his father's declining years. On Tuesday, February 17, 1824, the Reverend E. K. Dare joined
James Kerr Caughey and Jemima McConnell in holy matrimony. Jemima was born about 1800 and was a resident of Colerain Township. James inherited the family plantation upon his father's death in 1833. James and Jemima had children that included some boys. One son, John, was born about 1826. After probating his father's will in 1835, James transferred his landholdings to his brothers Francis and John and packed his family members and their belongings in a Conestoga wagon and headed
west to Medina County, Ohio. James' unmarried sisters, Martha and Elizabeth "Betsy", sister Jane, who married Samuel Coulter, sister Mary, who married James Kidd, and sister Rachel, who married Samuel McConnell, had already relocated to Medina County. Sister Ann, who married James Johnson, relocated to Wayne County, which adjoined Medina County. As mentioned earlier, the story of Ann Caughey and James Johnson is the subject of Chapter Four.
Most of the Caugheys were caught up in the western movement of the country, true to the pioneer spirit of the family. By 1835 only the families of John Caughey, Jr. and Francis Caughey remained in Lancaster County. The Caugheys who moved to western Pennsylvania and Ohio made notable contributions to their communities. Chapter 4 - The Johnsons of Wayne County, Ohio |
