| Notes |
- ===Early Years===David Gorsuch was the youngest boy in a family of eleven children. His baptism was recorded in the register of St. Paul’s Church on 2 MAR 1734 just five years after the founding of Baltimore Town.<ref> Reamy, Bill and Martha. Records of St. Paul's Parish. Vol. I. Westminster, Maryland: Family Line Publications, 1988.</ref> It is difficult to tell exactly where he grew up in the Baltimore area, but he likely lived close to the three mills on the Jones Falls about two miles north of town owned by Jonathan Hanson. Hanson’s name appears as the appraiser of the estate of Charles Gorsuch, David’s father, on his inventory of 1748 and David would marry Hanson’s daughter about ten years later.<ref>Balt. Co. Inventories Box 11/26</ref> There is no record available for David’s marriage to Elizabeth Hanson, but it likely took place around the year 1759 when Elizabeth turned eighteen. All evidence for this marriage is gained from examining the many land records involving Elizabeth Hanson Gorsuch who inherited large tracts of land from her father and brothers.
===Land Records===
David’s marriage to Elizabeth must have been a very advantageous one. His new father-in-law may have provided the funds for David to purchase his own farm when he was just twenty-five. The tract called East Humphreys was purchased on 5 OCT 1759. David is called a farmer of Baltimore County in the deed for 122 acres for which he paid £100 sterling.<ref>Balt. Co. Land AL B/105</ref> His next purchase was a large grant of land he named Gorsuch’s Lot by patent in Frederick County in 1761. The tract was located along the Monocacy River and contained 525 acres.<ref>MD Patents BC 14/59</ref> This purchase may have been made as an investment for his only son, Charles Gorsuch, because it was advertised for sale twenty-one years later in the Maryland Journal 23 APR 1782. The property must have been rented to tenants over the years as it had two dwelling houses, a barn and a stable. The advertisement ends with the statement: “to purchase the whole or any part of said land, may know the terms, by applying to the subscriber, living within half a mile of Baltimore-Town.” David also made some real estate investments in Baltimore during the years 1761 thru 1770. He purchased a total of four lots in different parts of the city for which he spent a total of £200. He purchased one very large lot on Charles Street from his sister and her husband, George and Barbara Pickett.<ref>Balt. Co. Land BI/488; BI/490; BK/470; ALB/617</ref>. David’s final land acquisition was a farm called Stone’s Range. This farm had once been the plantation of George Cole, who was likely David’s uncle. The tract contained 194 acres and was purchased from all the heirs of George Cole via several different deeds. All together, David paid £206 for this farm. The descriptions of these tracts in the land records only mention stumps or trees and lengths in perches so it is difficult to determine where they were.<ref>Balt. Co. Land ALA/19,422; ALD/727</ref> By the time the American Revolution began in 1776, David owned about 310 acres about a ½ mile east of Baltimore, 525 acres in Frederick County and four lots in the city.
David’s property was valued at £670 pounds in the 1783 tax assessment for the Patapsco Lower Hundred. A typical farmer of this time period owned personal property valued from £100 to £500 pounds, so it would be reasonable to classify David Gorsuch as a well-to-do farmer.<ref> Main, Jackson. The Social Structure of Revolutionary America. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1965:110</ref>. According to this assessment, David Gorsuch owned 230 acres of land, twelve slaves, nine horses, and nineteen beef cattle. Only what were known as black cattle were taxed at this time. Cows kept for milk production were not taxable. David's household was rather large. Besides his wife and six daughters, there were four other persons listed under the column marked whites, a total of twelve whites living on the farm. There is a possibility the other whites were indentured servants, or distant relatives living with the family. The farm also supported a number of slaves, although five of them were under the age of fourteen.
===Life Style===
David and Elizabeth Gorsuch were the parents of eight children. Their only son, Charles, died sometime in 1781. His name is written with the year of death just below his father’s on the burial record of the family vault located in Green Mount Cemetary. On 10 MAR 1778 Charles placed the following advertisement in Dunlap’s Maryland Gazette: “TWENTY DOLLARS REWARD. Lost between Mr. Larch’s mill and Baltimore town, a small SILVER WATCH, with leather strap and a steel key—the watch was made by MARMADUKE STARR, London, No. 7058. Whoever gives information of the said watch, so that I get it in good repair, shall receive the above reward, paid by CHARLES GORSUCH, son of David.” The names of the daughters were all mentioned in the will of their father: Sarah, Elizabeth, Mary, Jemima, Kezia, Kerenhappuch and Anne.
David and Elizabeth were active members of St. Paul’s Parish. In 1763 he signed a petition related to the church along with his father-in-law, Jonathan Hanson. The petitioners were seeking the authority to impose a tax of less than three pounds of tobacco on the taxable inhabitants of the parish to hire an organist to play “the very good organ” at St. Paul’s Church.<ref> Peden, Henry C. Jr., Inhabitants of Baltimore County 1763-1774. Family Line Publications. Westminster, MD. pg. 9.</ref>
The following advertisement was placed in the Maryland Journal on 5 MAY 1775 by David: “FORTY SHILLINGS REWARD. Baltimore April 10, 1775. Ran away from the subscriber, living near Baltimore town, Maryland, the 3rd instant, a NEGRO GIRL, named Moll, about 16 or 17 years of age, low in stature, well fed and generally wears her hair filleted. Had on when she went away a white holland jacket, petticoat and apron . . .” He placed a far different ad in the paper on 15 MAY 1776: “TWENTY SHILLINGS Reward. Some time past was stolen from the subscriber a white silk, flowered bonnet, a woman’s large silk black cloak, sprigged and fringed, a pair of women’s carved silver buckles, a black ground chintz gown, some shifts, aprons, handkerchiefs, and caps of various sorts—and many other articles too tedious to mention. The THIEF is supposed to be a woman who goes by different names. Sometimes she calls herself Betsy Lloyd, and sometimes by other names. She appears to be about 20 years of age, is a good deal pot-marked, a lightish complexion, black hair and black brows, a thick well fed woman, of a low stature, speaks much, says she is an English woman, and affects great knowledge of the Welsh tongue.—All true friends of the public are expected to use their endeavors to detect this Adventurer, and bring her to Justice. And if any of the above goods should or may have been offered for sale, on giving notice and on conviction of the thief, shall receive the above reward, paid by DAVID GORSUCH.”
By 1779 David's oldest daughter, Sarah, had married Elijah Stansbury and given birth to David's first grandchild. Sarah died sometime before her father’s death in 1784. There is a slight mystery surrounding David and Elizabeth's second daughter who was named Elizabeth after her mother. In 1781, when Elizabeth Jr. was about seventeen, David’s wife leased a house from William Fell on the corner of Bond and Lancaster Streets in Baltimore. The grantees listed on this deed were Elizabeth Gorsuch, Sarah Stansbury, wife of Elijah Stansbury and Elizabeth Gorsuch both daughters of the first named Elizabeth. It was extremely unusal in 1781 for a woman to own property in her own name without the name of her husband also being listed. After the signature of William Fell is a note stating: In consideration of the regard I have for Elizabeth Gorsuch I consent to release all the rent for the within ground during Mrs. Gorsuch’s natural life but not longer. <ref>Balt. Co. Land WG G/416.</ref> Will Fell owned extensive properties in the Baltimore area and the area of Fell’s Point carries his name today. According to David’s will written in 1784, Elizabeth Jr. was living in this house with her son, William Gorsuch. The boy was only called by his name while the son of Sarah Stansbury was described as Sarah’s “lawfully begotten son.” <ref>Balt. Co. Original Wills</ref>
The inventory taken of David’s estate after his death gives more clues to the life style of his family. It was valued at £781, and over half of the total was the value of fourteen slaves. One of the most interesting items listed in the inventory account is an entry for house and school books valued at 25 shillings/3 pence. Were the Gorsuch children taught at home, if so by whom? Their mother, Elizabeth Hanson, always signed deeds with her mark, but David Gorsuch signed his will with a signature. There were no public schools in Baltimore at this time. The inventory also reveals that the family slept on feather beds which were a very valuable item in that era and were assessed according to the weight of the feathers they contained. They ate their meals from earthenware, tin or pewter plates instead of fine china. The women most likely made their own fabrics, as the inventory lists a supply of wool and cotton, as well as a weaver's loom.<ref> Balt. Co. Inventories Box 27/Folder 58</ref>
===Probate===
5 MAY 1784 signed; presented to the court 26 MAY 1784
I give the use of my three negroes named Simon, Gill & Moll to my wife Elizabeth Gorsuch during her widowhood. There is a lot of land on Fells Point made over by William Fell to my wife Elizabeth & my two daughters Sarah & Elizabeth after my wife's decease and now my daughter Sarah is already dead and left a living lawfully begotten son named Charles Stansbury who will inherit half of the said house and lot. I give to Charles Stansbury my grandson when he shall arrive to 21 my negro girl named LIddy 2-1/2. My daughter Elizabeth now inhabits the house under the direction of her mother. I give her twenty shillings and no more. I give to William Gorsuch son of my said daughter Elizabeth when he shall arrive 21 my negro child Rachel (age 3 mos.)
I give to my 3 daughters Mary, Jemima and Kezia my lot of land I bought of George Pickett and all my part of the land called Stones Range that lies on the south side of the road leading from Baltimore Town to William Smiths Mill. I give to my two daughters Kerenhappuck and Anne my two lots lying on Philpotts Hill and a tract of land called East Humphreys lying on Patapsco Neck. I give to Kerenhappuch my negro girl named Rose (age 5) and my negro girl named Jean (age 9) to Anne.
I give part of lot number 35 I had from Lancelot Watson and where Barbary Wilkinson now lives, after the decease of her and her heirs to my heirs. My tract of land lying in Frederick County called Gorsuch's lot containing 400 acres to be sold and the money used to provide the maintenance of my younger children and my wife.
It is my further will that my four negroes namely, Old Toney, Harry, Jack and Winder and the after increase of Moll to be at the disposal of my executors. Wife Elizabeth and friends Josias Pennington and William Askew executors.<ref>Balt. Co. Will Book Liber 4/3</ref>
[will abbreviated by Seely Foley].
There are three separate addministrations for the estate of David Gorsuch. The first administration shows the tract in Frederick County was sold for £600 and one of the lots in the city was sold for £80. The estate also received payments from creditors of over £155. The total value of the estate of 12 OCT 1786 was £1616.9.9. David’s funeral cost £26.16.3 and money owed by David was paid out in the amount of £228.19.10. <ref>Balt. Co. Administration Accounts 8/322</ref> The second accounting has additional income from the collection of debts and shows that two of the slaves were given to David’s daughters. Dick was given to Mary Jessop and his value of £80 was deducted as well as the value of £80 for Toney given to Jemima Gorsuch. David’s wife was remarried by this date so Elizabeth Weatherby took her third of £144.13.6 out of this valuation of the estate. The balance due the heirs on 21 AUG 1787 was £1010.7.5.<ref>Balt. Co. Administration Accounts 9/99</ref> The final accounting of the estate was made on 19 FEB 1794. By this time Elizabeth Gorsuch Weatherby was deceased and Josias Pennington was the sole surviving executor. This last accounting mentions two slaves named Jack and Rose paid to the guardian of Kerehappuch, James Stansbury.<ref>Balt. Co. Adm. Accts. 11/382</ref>
===Sources===
<references/>*Note All children are listed in: Barnes, Robert W. Baltimore County Families, 1659-1759. Baltimore, Maryland: Clearfield, 1989. Print.
© Seely Kenny Foley [[Kenny-549|Kenny-549]] 11:18, 17 February 2015 (EST)
Author: Seely Foley
|
My Family History
1734 - 1784 (50 years)
: Address
: Location
: City/Town
: County/Shire
: State/Province
: Country
: Not Set