Mendenhall:
1
Ancestors of John Mendenhall
Generation No. 1
1. Dr. John Mendenhall1,2,3,4,5, born May 05, 1770 in New Garden NC6; died
September 06, 1844 in Versailles, Switzerland, IN. He was the son of 2. Stephen
Mendenhall and 3. Elizabeth Rich. He married (1) Elizabeth "Betsy" Jennings7,8,9
1793 in Wilkes Co, NC. She was born Abt. 1777, and died June 05, 1817 in
Vevay, Switzerland, IN. He married (2) Martha Breckenridge Steele February
13, 1826 in Vevay, Switzerland, IN10. She was born Abt. 1770. She was the
daughter of Richard Steele and Martha McKamre. Notes for Dr. John Mendenhall:
John Mendenhall emigrated from North Carolina with his family , along with
several other Quaker families, to Urbana Ohio in about 1809. It is possible
that William Malin (the father-in-law of John's daughter Elizabeth) emigrated
at the same time. John was living in Urbana during the War of 1812 when a
hospital was established and John was placed in charge of the hospital. He
remained in Urbana until 1815 after hearing glowing reports (probably from
his son-in-law and daughter who had already moved to Vevay) of a town on
the Ohio River called Vevay, Switzerland County, IN. He was told that Vevay
had good prospects of becoming a flourishing city. John and several other
families moved to Vevay, traveling in covered wagons. It took them three
weeks to make the journey. Two years after arriving in Vevay John's wife,
Betsy, died and John remarried for a third time. (William E. Leonard shows
John first married to Ruth.) John married a widow, Martha (Steele) Bealle.
In his will he mentions his wife, Martha B., sons Miles & Ira, daughter
Martha Elizabeth and grandchildren, John, Ira, Joseph & Ann E. Malin.
He had one or more slaves, who were to be freed by the terms of his will.
The Mendenhalls and Malins were Quakers. His son, John, had died prior to
his father. John was a leading physician of Vevay, Indiana, and earlier listed
as one of the first physicians of Urbana, Champaign Co. OH. Leaving Urbana
2 he and Betsy moved to Vevay, where she died first (probably shortly after
moving to Vevay - 1817) and is buried in the Vevay Cemetery. John married
Martha second/third and he died at age 74 years in 1844 - his will was probated
in 1845. Taken from The History of Switzerland County: "Dr. John Mendenhall,
was for a long time the leading physician of Vevay; he emigrated from South
Carolina, with his family, in company with a number of Quaker families, to
Urbana, Ohio, about the year 1809. He was residing in Urbana during the war
of 1812, at which place a hospital was established for the sick and wounded
in the department, and he was placed in charge of the same. He remained in
Urbana until the year 1815, when, after hearing glowing descriptions of a
town on the Ohio River, called Vevay, with fine prospects of its soon becoming
a flourishing city, he with several other families, determined to remove
to Vevay. They came in covered wagons, taking about three weeks to accomplish
the journey. "On the 5th of June, 1817, two years after their removal to
Vevay, his wife (Betsy Jennings) died. He married his second wife, Mrs. Martha
B. Bealle, of Kentucky, on the 4th of February, 1826. During the remainder
of his life he resided in Vevay, leading a quiet and peaceful life. He died
on the 6th of September, 1844, aged seventy-four, honored and respected by
all who knew him." Unknown source (sent by Ann Stage): The next physician
who came to town was Dr. John Mendenhall, who came in 1815 or 1816, who commenced
the practice of his profession & had quite an extensive & lucrative
practice for many years in fact, until age prevented him from paying attention
to calls from the country any distance from town, & going about at night."
In THE HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY John is also listed as one of the members
of the Masonic Lodge in Urbana. "The present charter was issued January,
1815. At the first meeting thereafter, John Hamilton, JOHN MENDENHALL, Joseph
S. Carter were received January 14, 1815".During the March term, 1817, of
the circuit court in Vevay, John Mendenhall served on the jury that tried
and acquitted Jesse Murphy of murder. In the History of Switzerland
Co. (p. 1076/7) a story appeared about John Mendenhall (Presumably the Dr.
as his son would have only been 12 3 years old), and James Dalmazzo among
others: "Some time in the year 1819 there were in the prison bounds of this
county several persons against whom judgments were obtained, executions issued,
and the officer, not finding any property whereon to levy, had delivered
them over to the jailer; but the execution plaintiffs refusing to pay the
jailer for keeping them confined in the jail and feeding them, they gave
bond and security that they would not go outside the prison bounds, which
was within the limits of the town; and as most of them resided in town they
could live with their families. Among the number were Charles Henderson,
JOHN MENDENHALL, JAMES DALMAZZO, Edward Patton and John F. Siebenthal." John
also worked on a perpetual motion machine with George C. Knox and several
other mechanics. Their work was kept a secret and in the end the construction
project failed.
Champaign County Courthouse Records:
Record Book 3, page 340 - January 3, 1816
(from Apr/May/Jun 1999 Champaign County Genealogical Society Newsletter,
page 43)
Samuel Jacobs Petition of the Benefit of the Insolvent Act. Samuel Jacobs
of late firm of Lowry and Jacobs, petitions Common Pleas Court because of
a "variety of misfortunes he is unable to pay his debts and therefore he
prays that this court will grant him benefit oa an act entitled An Act for
the Relief of Insolvent Debtors, passed 2nd day of February 1805." Debts
owed to the firm of Lowrey and Jacobs are from: (follows is a list of 58
men, showing name and amount totalling $725.04. Among those listed is: John
Mending Hall $15.00.
THE WILL OF DR. JOHN MENDENHALL
Last Will & Testament John Mendenhall, State of Indiana Switzerland County
Be it ____ that at a term of the Probate Court of said County holden at the
Court House in the Town of Vevay in said County of the term November of said
court to wit, on the 11th day of November AD 1845. The last Will and Testament
of John Mendenhall deceased late of said
County was produced to said Court and by said Court admited to probate
and ordained of record in said court and which Will reads in the words
and figures following to wit ;
4
Vevay Ind. Jan 1 - 1835 -
"In the name of God amen I John Mendenhall considering the
uncertainty of this mortal life and being of sound mind and blessed be
Almighty God for the same I do make and publish this my last will and
testament in manner and form following (that is to say) First I give and
bequeath unto my beloved wife Martha B Mendenhall. the house and lot
No. 64 - all appriatances there unto belonging during her widowhood.
Then all the real estate I do bequeath to my daughter Martha Elizabeth
Mendenhall and lastly as to all the rest residue and remainder of my
personal estate goods and chattels of kind and nature soever. I give and
bequeath the same to my beloved wife Martha B Mendenhall, whom I
hereby appoint Sole Exceutorx of this my last Will & Testament hereby
revoking all former wills by me made. In Witness where of I have
hereunto set my hand and seal this the first day of January in the year of
Lord eighteen hundred and thirty five. John Mendenhall
I John Mendenhall do this Second day of January 1835 make and
publish this codicil to my last will and testament in manner following that
is to say I give to Liza a Black woman a home on the premises and to
have sufficiency of food and raiment and lodging. if sick to be taken
leave of that is to say as long as she lives. On these conditions if she is
willing to stay or live with the family so long but if she of her own will
makes choice of any other home and moves off and leaves the above said
premises then the abovesaid obligation to void and no further effect as
witness my hand and seal this Second day of January eighteen hundred
and thirty five. John Mendenhall (seal)
I John Mendenhall do this third day of January 1835 make and
publish this codicil to my last will and testament in manner following
(that is to say) I give Lyzaes son Greenup his freedom on these
conditions that is the said Greenup is to serve and be at the disposal of
his said Mistress during her natural lifetime, if so be that the said Martha
B Mendenhall shall decease previous two ___ years of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and thirty seven the said Greenup is to remain as
the servant of my daughter Martha E Mendenhall for the day of her
mothers decease to end of the year 1847 as above stated. Then after the
said term. the said Greenup is to be set at liberty, and made free of and
from all. all of my heirs Administrators ___. In witness whereof I have
henceto set my hand and seal this third day of January Eighteen hundred
and thirty five.
John Mendenhall (Seal)
I hon Mendenhall do this fourth day of January 1835 make and
publish this codicil my last will and testament in manner following. That
is to say I give and bequeath to my son Ira Mendenhall the sum of Fifty
Dollars. I give and bequeath to my son Miles Mendenhall Ten Dollars. I
5
give and bequeath to my Grand Children Malins, to say the sum of Five
Dollars to each one. That is say. John Malin 5. Ira Malin 5. Joseph
Malin 5. Ann E Malin 5. which said several legacies or sums of money I
will and order shall be paid to the said respective legatees within that is
to say my two sones, one year after my decease. and those several sums
of money paid to my other legates within three years after my decease.
And lastly is my desire that this my present codicil by annexed to and
made apart of my last Will & Testament, to all intents and purposes in
witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this fourth day of
January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred thirty five.
John Mendenhall
State of Indiana Switzerland County S.S.
I Edward Patton Clerk of the Probate Court of said County do
hereby certify that the above and foregoing is a full, true and complete
copy of the last Will 7 Testament of John Mendenhall late of said County
deceased. As admited to Probate and ordained of Record by the Probate
Court of said County. at the November Term of said Court in the year
1845 In testimony wereof I do here unto set my hand and affix the Seal
of said Court at Vevay this 11th day of Nove. AD 1845. Edward Patton
Clk
Following information received 24th June 1998 from Ann Stage (her line
comes down from Ann E. Malin, the daughter of Ira Malin and Elizabeth
Dalmazzo):
The following was handwritten from Ann's father. On the last page it
indicates it is from a letter written by Dr. WE. Baxter of Louisville, who
was the husband of Martha Mendenhall (the daughter of Dr. John
Mendenhall and his second wife, Martha Breckenridge Steele).
Letterhead: Carl M. Clark, M.D., Health Officer, Oakland City, Indiana
"John Mendenhall (M.D.) was the eldest of several children born (on
the Mendenhall Plantation, near Raleigh, N.C.) to Stephen and Elizabeth
(Ritchey [sic - actually Rich] of Phila.) Mendenhall.
"When still a [baby was written in and crossed out] lad, after the
death of his father he helped his Mother to manage the plantation, and at
night read medicine by the aid of light given off from pine-knots stuck in
a chink of the overseers log cabin; he afterwards earned his degree
(M.D.), a graduate of Philadelphia - one of the leading medical colleges
of the world; he was one of the heros of the Lewis & Clark Expedition,
1803-4; also a commissioned surgeon in service during the War of 1812-
6
15; afterwards chief-surgeon in charge of U.S. Hospital, Urbana, Ohio,
where a Committee (composed of veterans who served with him, 1812)
sent from Vevay, Ind., called on him and invited him to visit Vevay and
urged him to locate in Vevay; there was not at that time a resident
surgeon in the Ohio Valley between Ciniti., and Louisville. He accepted
the invitation, and was so impressed with the beautiful valley and the
wellbread
and talented Vevay folk that he located in Vevay and practiced his
profession in the extensive valley, attending to calls in surgeon on both
sides of the Ohio River. The residence and office of Dr. Mendenhall on
Pike St., facing the Court House Square on the north, was the finest
house constructed at that time (over 100 yrs ago) in Vevay; no building
restrictions were placed on the adjoining ground when disposed of; the
brick flouring mill afterwards was built on the adjoining lot.
"Joseph Steele (third son of Richard and Martha (Maka. Steele, see
Register KY Hist. Society 1904-5) married Miriam Boone, niece of Dan'l
Boone, KY pioneer; they made their home on the 3000 acre plantation
(given to them by Richard Steele) on Ohio River and Steele's Creek in
Gallatin County KY. Dan'l Boone and Joseph Steele had land interests
near Big Bone Springs (Boone Co.).
"The wife of Dan'l Boone made her home with Joseph and Miriam
Steele during the absence of her husband, Dan'l Boone, while he was on
an exploring expedition to Missouri in search of a New location for a
home. On Boone's return from Missouri to the Steele home he found a
very large (Colonial) side-board that admiring friends of Lexington and
Frankfort, KY, had made for him and had it sent down the KY, and up
the Ohio River to Steele's Landing by keel-boat; the side-board was too
large (and valuable) to take to the wilderness of Missouri. Wade H. Jack,
a merchant of Patriot Ind.; gave Boone a bay - mare, 100 yds of calico or
jeans and $100.00 in cash for the side-board. It is difficult to undertake a
brief writing without digressing, however, I will endeavor to connect the
matter and bring it to a close.
"Martha Breckinridge Steele was born to Richard and Martha
(Makamie) Steele on the Steele Plantation near Lexington KY (see
Steele, Lytle, Rowan KY, Hist. Register 1904 - 1905, etc.). Dr. John
Mendenhall while attending to a surgical case in Gallantin County, met
Martha Breckinridge Steele at the home of Joseph and Miriam Steele;
they were joined in holy wedlock 2-14-1826, and lived for many years in
the Mendenhall home (in Vevay) where their only daughter, Mrs. Martha
Mendenhall Baxter, was born and where Dr. Mendenhall died. His wife
Martha B. Steele Mendenhall was chiefly instrumental in raising the
necessary funds for the building of the Vevay Presbyterian Church; see
an extended notice of her death, 1865, in the Herald and Presbyter, by the
editor.
7
"Dr. Mendenhall genealogical chart appears in an old edition of the
Mendenhall Family Book (copy owned by a Cincinnati branch of the
family) Prof. A. Marshall Elliott, of the Johns-Hopkins Institute, a
number of years ago wrote that he was getting together data for a new
Mendenhall book.
"Two Mendenhall brothers were "lieutenants" of Wm. Penn; one,
Stephen I, settled in the N. Carolina, the other, John I, settled in Ohio.
"The youngest Dr. James Mendenhall, of Dr. John Mendenhall
(descendant of Stephen) of whom we write settled and practiced his
profession in Richmond, Ind. General John Mendenhall, graduate of
West Point, grandson of Dr. John Mendenhall, saw much service during
the Civil War. The artillery branch which he commanded still bears the
name, "Mendenhall Artillery", in the service. [Note: the writer appears to
be missing much information on the early Mendenhalls who were
connected to William Penn and the settling of Pennsylvania.]
"The writer has an attractive daguerreotype likeness of Dr. John
Mendenhall which he hopes to may find time to show to the members of
the S.C.H.S. at some future time.
"Dr. John Mendenhall was a Quaker, a member of the Society of
Friends. During his very active service in behalf of his country he must
have been truly unafraid if not a fighting Quaker; he was truly a staunch
character and a "Friend", the indians would not molest a Quaker; it was
evident from the fact at least that the north-west territory (now Montana,
Idaho, Oregon, etc.) indians did not "kill off" the Lewis & Clark
contingent when they had the opportunity to do so. I trust if was the
young, Quaker, surgeon John Mendenhall (here my hat comes off in
reverence) who, in the manner best known to the Society of Friends,
secured the service of the indian woman, who knew the way, to lead the
lost and almost starved Lewis and Clark expedition through the mountain
passes and over the torturous trail to the Pacific Ocean, finishing one of
the greatest pioneer undertaking, fraught with untold dangers, known to
the world, and one of incalculable benefactory to these United States of
America."
(Note at bottom of 5th page: "The grave of John Mendenhall is in Vevay
Cemetery. From a letter to Mrs. A.V. Danver of Vevay, Ind. from W.E.
Baxter, M.D. of Louisville, KY, 121 Bullitt St. - note is in different
handwriting and ink then the manuscript.) [Note, Dr. John would have
been about 33 at the time of the expedition.]
TIME LINE FOR DR. JOHN:
1770 Born in New Garden NC (Family moved to Springfield, then to
Deep Creek NC - John would have been about 20 at the time of the
8
move to Deep Creek.)
Sometime after that attended Medical School in Philadelphia
1803/4Connected to Lewis & Clark Expedition in some manner. (Age
~33)
1809 Moved to Urbana, Champaign, OH (Age ~39)
1812 Served as Surgeon - War of 1812 - Hospital at Urbana OH (Age
~42)
1813/4Urbana OH
1815 Moved to Vevay, Switzerland, IN (Age ~45)
1815 Charter member of Masonic Lodge - Vevay IN
1817 Served on Jury, Vevay IN - March (Age ~47)
His wife, Betsey, died - June
1819 Jail? listed along with James Dalmazzo
1826 Married Martha B. Steele (widow of Mr. Bealle) - visiting
Gallentine Co. KY (Age ~56)
1835 Wrote his will (Age ~65)
1844 Died at age 74
Information received from Ludd A. Trozpek: I think you can pretty much
discount the information in the letter from your cousin. Apart from the
fact that the name "Mendenhall" is unmentioned in any of the more or
less standard scholarly works I checked--a half dozen or so--the time line
as you state it is a little jumbled. Sacagawea was engaged with her
husband Toussaint Charbonneau, at Fort Mandan, in the Spring of 1805.
Lewis had left Philadelphia more than a year earlier. So far as I know,
there was no discussion in Phila. of hiring an indian woman of the Snake
tribe--though Lewis clearly planned on getting information from the
Indians.
The business about Sacagawea knowing the way and guiding the
expedition is a myth that is pretty solidly embraced by the romance
writers but no one who is a student of the expedition. Her contributions
9
were considerable, including assistance in getting horses from her native
tribe in Idaho,
assisting in some cases in finding food when game was short, and, really,
her mere presence with the party which convinced the Indians more than
anything that this was not a war party. In short, she did virtually
everything the men of the party did while carrying an infant child on her
back, nursing, and caring for him. As someone recently said to me:
"You've got to remember that Ginger Rogers danced every step Fred
Astaire danced--backwards in high heels!"
My guess--and it is only a guess--is that someone read a fictional
"account" of the expedition that had a made-up character named
Mendenhall, and made the connection that way. There are many such
novels and historical romances, many surprisingly facile in the
intermixture of fact and fiction; I have many of them here, but am not
familiar in detail with the plot lines, and, as they are unindexed, I cannot
easily check further on this possibility.
Ludd Trozpek, for the Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation
http://www.lewisandclark.org
discovery@lewisandclark.org
ltrozpek@tstonramp.com
Voice: 909-624-3679
FAX: 909-624-5632
. ROSTER OF 0HI0 SOLDIERS IN WAR OF 1812 125
Pages 328-329. Vol. I.
ROLL OF CAPT. SAMUEL HERROD'S COMPANY (County
Unknown).
Served from September 15, until October 15, 1812, and from August
1, until August 16, 1813.
Rank and Name: Private John Mendenhall
ttp://www.ohiohistory.org/onlinedoc/war1812/roster/1812
[Not sure if this is our John - unlikely to be his son, John, as he was born
in 1807 and would have been way too young.]
More About Dr. John Mendenhall:
Fact 1: January 01, 1835, Will written
Fact 2: November 11, 1845, Will Probated (Vevey, Switz, IN)
Notes for Elizabeth "Betsy" Jennings:
10
Betsy's headstone reads: "In memory of Betsy Mendenhall, the late
consort of Dr. J. Mendenhall, died 6/5/1817 aged 40 years."
It is possible that Betsy was from Philadelphia - perhaps Dr. John met her
when he was there studying medicine?
Generation No. 2
2. Stephen Mendenhall11, born November 23, 1744; died Abt.
1822 in Poss Wash. Co IN. He was the son of 4. Mordecai Mendenhall
and 5. Charity Beeson. He married 3. Elizabeth Rich October 18, 1769
in New Garden Mtg., NC.
3. Elizabeth Rich12, born April 24, 1751; died Aft. May 05, 1770.
She was the daughter of 6. John Rich and 7. Sarah Frazier.
Notes for Stephen Mendenhall:
Lived at New Garden Meeting (NC) until Springfield Mtg. setup. Then
they removed to Deep River by certificate dated Springfield 8/3/1799.
Removed to Lick Creek Mtg., Washington Co, IN by certificated dated at
Piney Grove Mtg. (SC) 2/18/1815 - Quakers.
According to the History of the Mendenhalls, Stephen married Elizabeth
Rick (sic)(actually Elizabeth Rich) and raised his family in Guilford,
N.C. He died in 1822 at age 84, in Clinton County, Ohio. He had
thirteen children.
Encyclopedia of Quaker Genealogy, Volume 1, by Hinshaw:
p. 788 - Deep River Monthly Meeting, Guilford Co. NC:
Stephen Mendenhall
Elizabeth Mendenhall
Ch: John b. 9-5-1770
Maris b. 6-28-1772; d. 10-8-1811?
Nathan b. 2-22-1774
Isaac b. 12-4-1775
Sarah b. 10-3-1777
Rachel b. 8-23-1779
Hannah b. 6-9-1781
Elizabeth b. 3-3-1783
Stephen b. 4-23-1785
p. 828: 1800, 1,6. Elizabeth & dt. Rachel, Hannah & Elizabeth, received
on certificate from Springfield Monthly Meeting, dated 1799, 8, 3.
11
p. 892: 1799, 8, 3. Stephen & family granted certificate to Deep River
MM.
1799, 8, 3. Elizabeth & family granted certificate to Deep River MM.
p. 913: 1824, 7, 28: Elizabeth & dts granted certificate to New Garden
MM, Indiana.
Stephen MENDENHALL, b.23 11M 1744/5 OS, Frederick co,VA;
d.ca.1822, Clinton co,OH;
[per gene.recs. at New Garden MM,NC;
also at Deep River MM,NC;
also at Springfield MM,NC;
removed to Richmond co,NC in 1799,
Charter Member of Piney Grove MM,
Marlborough District,SC in 1802;
mentioned in 1818 as member
of New Garden MM, Wayne co,IN
& West Grove MM, Wayne co,IN;
mentioned in 1821 as member
of Springfield MM, Clinton co,OH]
marr.(18 Dec 1769, New Garden MM,NC)
Elizabeth RICH, b.24 2M 1751 OS,PA;
dau of John RICH (ca.1723- ? ) &
Sarah FRAZIER;
[mentioned in 1818 as member
of New Garden MM, Wayne co,IN];
Children of Stephen Mendenhall and Elizabeth Rich are:
1 i. Dr. John Mendenhall, born May 05, 1770 in New Garden
NC; died September 06, 1844 in Versailles, Switzerland,
IN; married (1) Elizabeth "Betsy" Jennings 1793 in Wilkes
Co, NC; married (2) Martha Breckenridge Steele February
13, 1826 in Vevay, Switzerland, IN.
ii. Maris Mendenhall, born June 28, 1772; died October 08,
1801; married Obediah Harris November 11, 1795 in
Springfield Mtg. NC.
iii. Nathan Mendenhall, born February 22, 1774; married Ann
Harlin April 25, 1798 in Springfield Mtg. NC.
iv. Isaac Mendenhall, born December 04, 1775; died December
25, 1839 in Schuyler Co., IL; married Mary Love.
Notes for Isaac Mendenhall:
Subject:
12
Re: Mendenhalls
Date:
Mon, 14 Jun 1999 13:14:11 -0500 (CDT)
From:
DANIEL TREADWAY <treadway@netins.net>
Reply-To:
mendenhall-list@mendenhall.org
To:
Mendenhall Group <mendenhalllist@
mendenhall.org>
CC:
DANIEL TREADWAY <treadway@netins.net>
Isaac is my ancestor, born 4 Dec 1775 in North Carolina and
died 25 Dec
1839 in Schuyler County, Illinois, son of Stephen and
Elizabeth (Rich)
Mendenhall. I suspect the other two are his brothers,
Stephen Mendenhall
b 23 Apr 1785, and James Rich Mendenhall b 3 Jul 1795.
On Mon, 14 Jun 1999, Betty McMurphy wrote:
> Found these while looking for another surname, hope it
helps someone.
>
> http://www.rootsweb.com/~intippec/1830census3.htm
>
> TIPPECANOE COUNTY, INDIANA 1830
CENSUS
> RANDOLPH TOWNSHIP
> Page 129
> MENDENHALL, Isaac
> Page 130
> MENDENHALL, Stephen
> Page 131
> MENDENHALL, James
>
> Betty
>
v. Sarah Mendenhall, born October 30, 1777; died March
1859; married Jeremiah Kimbrough September 17, 1799 in
Rowan Co NC.
vi. Rachel Mendenhall, born August 23, 1779; married
13
Nathaniel Gibson.
vii. Hannah Mendenhall, born June 09, 1781; died March 16,
1818; married Uriah Moorman November 20, 1806 in Piney
Grove Mtg. SC.
viii. Elizabeth Mendenhall, born March 03, 1785; married
Nathaniel Gibson.
Notes for Elizabeth Mendenhall:
Nathaniel Gibson had married her sister, Rachel, first.
ix. Stephen Mendenhall, born April 23, 1785; married Sarah
Macy August 04, 1814 in New Garden Mtg., NC.
x. Eli Mendenhall, born April 23, 1787.
Notes for Eli Mendenhall:
Disowned by Quakers.
xi. Mordecai Mendenhall, born March 22, 1789.
Notes for Mordecai Mendenhall:
Disowned by Quakers.
xii. Thomas Mendenhall, born February 13, 1792; married (1)
Mary Caldwell; married (2) Patsy 1819.
xiii. James Rich Mendenhall, born June 03, 1795; died 1870;
married (1) Lydia Wright February 18, 1824; married (2)
Sarah T. Williams November 08, 1827 in Wayne CO IN.
Generation No. 3
4. Mordecai Mendenhall13,14,15,16, born 1710 in CHESTER
COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA17; died November 03, 1803 in Springfield,
Wilkes, NC. He was the son of 8. John Mendenhall and 9. Susannah
Pierson. He married 5. Charity Beeson May 21, 1735 in CHESTER
COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA17.
5. Charity Beeson, born 1715 in CHESTER COUNTY
PENNSYLVANIA17; died September 20, 1809 in GUILFORD
COUNTY NORTH CAROLINA17. She was the daughter of 10.
Richard Beeson and 11. Charity Grubb.
Notes for Mordecai Mendenhall:
According to The Mendenhall book: Mordecai Mendenhall and Charity
Beeson removed from New Garden PA to Hopewell VA by certificate
dated 9 month, 27, 1736. They remained there until 1751 at which time
they removed to the Cane Creek Meeting, Guilford County NC by
14
certificate dated 3 mo. 6, 1751. Mordecai's will is recorded in Guilford
Co. NC.
I Have Called You Friends (NC Quakers) by Francis C. Anscombe:
"Deep River Monthly Meeting ... As previously mentioned Friends were
here about 1750, & New Garden MM granted permission for a meeting
to be held regularly at "the home of Benjamin Beeson, except when it is
held at Mordecai Mendenhalls".
Mordecai MENDENHALL, b.ca.1711, Chester co,PA;
son of John MENDENHALL (ca.1688- ? ) &
Susannah PIERSON;
[at New Garden MM, Chester co,PA
on 27 9M 1736 gct Hopewell MM,VA;
at Hopewell MM, Frederick co,VA
on 6 3M 1751 gct Cane Creek MM,NC;
mentioned in 1752 as member of
Cane Creek MM, Orange co,NC;
Charter Member in 1754 of
New Garden MM, Rowan co,NC]
d. 3 Nov 1803, Wilkes co,NC;
[per gene.recs. at New Garden MM,NC;
death recorded at Springfield MM,NC;
aet upwards of 90 yrs]
marr.(21 May 1735, Leacock Mtg, Chester co,PA)
Charity BEESON, b.ca.1715, Lancaster co,PA;
dau of Richard BEESON (1684-1777) &
Charity GRUBB;
d.20 Sep 1809, Wilkes co,NC;
issue:
Proof that Mordecai is Son of John Mendenhall Jr.
Date: Thu, 30 Nov 2000 16:52:37 EST
From: Dkmcever@aol.com
Reply-To: mendenhall-list@mendenhall.org
To: mendenhall-list@mendenhall.org
Greetings again! I know that there are many descendants of the famed
Mordecai Mendenhall, including myself. Therefore, since I'm on the
15
proof kick (when am I not?) -- we also have proof that Mordecai
Mendenhall was the son of John Mendenhall Jr. (John Mendenhall the
Immigrant1, John Mendenhall
Jr.2, Mordecai Mendenhall3).
None of this may be news to most of you, but I thought a review of what
we DO know on these lines is helpful. I wish we could prove John
Mendenhall the III, but I have not found such airtight proof for that line.
In the marriage record of Mordecai Mendenhall and Charity Beeson at
Leacock MM in Lancaster County, PA, 1735, the very beginning of the
record states: "Whereas Mordecai Mendenhall Son of John Mendenhall .
. . " I'd call that pretty solid evidence. I found this record at (where
else)
Swarthmore, Film
MR-Ph 377, p. 106.
At the bottom of this marriage record is the list of witnesses. On the right
at the top of this list is the family of the bride and groom in this order:
"John Mendenhall Sr.
John Mendenhall
Richard Beeson
Charity Beeson
Suzanna Mendenhall
Aaron Mendenhall"
The reference to "Suzanna" Mendenhall below the bride's parents seals
the connection with John Mendenhall Jr. (son of the immigrant), as we
know that he married Susanna Pierson (daughter of Thomas Pierson the
Surveyor). Therefore they had to be Mordecai's parents. This is not
quite as airtight
proof as birth records (as far as BOTH parents is concerned), but it's
close, as the bride and groom's parents are always listed at or near the top
of the marriage witnesses. I am therefore very confident that we are on
solid ground here, and that Mordecai's parents are John Jr. and Susanna
(Pierson)
Mendenhall.
Why are there TWO John Mendenhalls, one being a "Sr.?" Though I'm
not positive, I believe that John Mendenhall Sr. at the top is John
Mendenhall the immigrant. Underneath his name is the groom's father,
John Mendenhall Jr. Then come the bride's parents, Richard and Charity
Beeson, and then the
16
groom's uncle, Aaron Mendenhall.
If any Mordecai descendants (or anyone else) wants to propose a
different interpretation of this list of names, I'm all ears!
--Dan McEver
I never trust transcriptions. I am only referring to the original documents
as displayed on microfilm at the Swarthmore Quaker library in
Philadelphia. By the way, only the couple would have gotten the original
marriage record, but the Quakers always rewrote the thing in full for their
own records after
the marriage took place. The marriage record of Mordecai Mendenhall
and Charity Beeson that I found is the "registered" version, or the version
that the Quakers re-wrote soon after the wedding. Considering the
Quakers' careful transcriptions, they can almost always be trusted, and
are just about as reliable as the "originals." As for the birth records I
referred to, they are all genuinely original.
Another "by the way" -- the births of John and Elizabeth (Maris)
Mendenhall appear to be in the handwriting of Thomas Pierson the
Surveyor (died 1722). There are many Concord minutes in his
handwriting as well. You can tell exactly when it starts and when it ends,
as no one could hold a candle to his beautiful handwriting.
As for whether I could post the documents to the list, I don't know if the
list could handle the high definition scans that I did of those documents.
I'm willing to try, however.
Thanks for asking,
Dan McEver
More About Mordecai Mendenhall:
Burial: November 04, 1803, Springfield, Wilkes, NC
Children of Mordecai Mendenhall and Charity Beeson are:
i. Richard Mendenhall, born September 01, 173717; died WFT
Est. 1738-182717
Notes for Richard Mendenhall:
17
Death of Richard Mendenhall
Date:
Thu, 7 Jan 1999 22:40:24 -0500
From:
"Chris L" <chrislast@abraxis.com>
Reply-To:
mendenhall-list@mendenhall.org
To:
"Mailing List Mendenhall" <mendenhalllist@
mendenhall.org>
I'm new at this so please bear with me and forgive me for
any genealogical
ignorance I may show here! (smile) I'm seeking
information on the death of
Richard Mendenhall b. November 01, 1737, d. October 10,
1773, son of
Mordecai Mendenhall and Charity Beeson. A couple of
things about his death
have caught my attention.
I've noticed that in every Mendenhall genealogy I've seen,
his death is
described as occurring during an Indian raid. The details of
the raid vary
in different accounts, and I was wondering if anyone had
anything
definitive.
I've always seen his death date shown as 10 October 1773.
It has been
listed as occurring in Crab Orchard, Ky in some accounts
and Lexington,
Fayette Co, Ky in oth