Chapter 2: John Poston - The Immigrant

John Poston migrated from England early in the 18th century. He landed in Philadelphia and settled in Chester County, Pennsylvania. Chester and Lancaster Counties in Pennsylvania are separated by the Octoraro Creek, and it was on a branch of this creek in Chester County that John Poston settled. Concerning John Poston's life before his arrival in Chester County, his parentage, or his birthplace, actually, nothing is known. A John Poston sailed from Liverpool, England, 26 April, 1703 (New England Historical Genealogical Register, 65:50). He was from in or near Shrewsbury, Shropshire, and landed in St. Mary's County, Maryland (John Hamill Poston, His Ancestors and Descen-dants Chapter 1, Page 1). During years of research, this writer has found other Postons in England, all living in Shropshire, so it is reasonable to suppose that the ancestral home of the Postons was in Shropshire, England. We know nothing about the wife of John Poston. She is known only as Martha (from his will). Early records are scarce and we do not know when

4 Eric Chalmers Poston, Esq.

John Poston came to Pennsylvania. The first record is found in the Chester County Tax List for 1722. At that time, his land was in Sadsbury Township. The township later was divided and the part on which his land was situ-ated became Fallowfield Township. We do not know how long he had been living on the land since a survey was not made until 14 March, 1733. The warrant was returned to the Patent Office 9 May, 1744 (Land Warrants, Vol. A, No. 11, page 432, Land Record Office, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania), and 6 August, 1744, John Poston was granted a patent for 274 and 2 acres of land in Fallowfield Township on both sides of a branch of Octoraro Creek (Survey Book C, page 155, Patent Office, Harrisburg). !=or this land, he poid a little more thon '12 pounds.

WILL OF JOHN POSTON (Will Book 2, Page 222, Chester County) I, John Poston, Sr., living in the Township of Fallow-field and Chester County, being in perfect health and memory, knowing that it is appointed to all men to die and not know when, moveth me to make my last will and testament while the Lord favors me with life, health, sense, and knowledge. The first thing I desire, I give my soul into the hands of Almighty God who gave it to me and after my decease, I order my corpse to be decently interred at the discretion of my executors, and as touching such worldly goods as it has pleased God to bless me here with all, I order, inform, and dispose in the manner as followeth:

•My oldest son, Robert, I give to him the settlement he now lives on, and one sheep more after my decease. •For my son, John, I devise and give to him my real

estate, he paying out of it to my son, Anthony, the sum of 30 pounds, lawful money of Pennsylvania, within two years after my decease. •And also, I devise and give to my son, Anthony, all my movable goods and chattels, with 30 pounds from his brother, John. •And also, to my daughter, Ann, I leave to her according to her behavior, I devise and give to her five shillings. I except of the whole, that is to say, of the real estate and the chattels, and the third part of all profits that shall be made on the same, and with the use of my house while I and my wife live for maintenance. And further, I order my wife, Martha Poston, and my son, John, to be my executors, now revoking all other will or wills made by me but this to be my last will and testament, given under my hand and seal this 8th day of December, 1745. Witness: John Devor, Martha Dunn John Poston Letters of administration were granted to Martha Poston and her son, John, 8 June, 1747, and the will was probated the same date.

Children named in the will: •Robert •John •Anthony •Ann No further records of Anthony and Ann have been found. Ann probably married and her descendants may be living in Pennsylvania. Robert continued to live on his land in Oxford Township, just south of Fallowfield, as late as 1779 (Chester County Tax Lists). If Robert or Anthony had any sons, they migrated from Pennsylvania before

6 Eric Chalmers Poston, Esq.

1790. There are no Postons listed in the Pennsylvania census for that year. John married Margaret Baldridge, a daughter of William and Janet Holmes Baldridge, of Lancaster County.