John Mendenhall

  General Notes:

One of the first Mendenhalls to cross the Atlantic. Came with William Penn on
'The Welcome' in 1682 from the town of Deal, Sussex, England. The Commander
of the 300 ton ship was Robert Greenaway. See further info in 'Mendenhall
Ancestry' by Aaron B Mendenhall in file, copy courtesy of Earl Peirce.
According to Gale Honeyman *P* he was an original shareholder in the Concord
Mill in PA. In 1697 he and his wife gave to the Society
of Friends the site of the Concord Meeting House and the burial grounds.
Documentation from Earl Harvey Peirce lists Sources of Info as: 1.) Archives
FGR & TIB, FH Library, SLC, UT. 2.) Archives FGR shows Futhey & Cope,
History of Chester, Pennsylvania, D.A.R. Magazine, Vol 60 p 220, Compendium of
American Genealogy, Vol 5 Boston transcript. 3.) Algie Newlin, The Newlin
Family, 1965 FHL Call # 929.273 N461 5n.

Further info from Earl Peirce: Prosperity and Progress, Concord Township,
Pennsylvania, 1618-1983 Vol 1, The Colonial Legacy, by Robert P. Case PhD re:
early landowners. John Mendenhall acquired 300 acres in Concord, shortly after
arriving from England in 1683. The last parcel was sold in 1713. See further
info in the Mendenhall folder. Some evidence indicates he may have been part
owner, with William Brinton Jr, of the "Concord Mill". This mill was assessed
10 pounds in 1694. Was one of 5 mills in Chester County. He was the first
recorded individual to purchase land in Concord. He received a deed
from William Penn on 6 Feb 1683 for 300 acres.


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Notes

John bought 300 acres from William Penn on 14 Sep 1681 while still in
England, costing 6 lb. per 500 acres. On 6 Feb 1683 Penn requested a survey for
this land, which was laid out in Concord Township, John being the first
recorded purchaser of land in Concord. His patent is dated 27 Jun 1684.

It was probably in the autumn of 1682 that John made the voyage to PA. There
seems to be no record of the ship on which he made passage. It is likely that
it sailed from the port of Bristol. It is probable that he was accompanied by
his sister, Mary and his younger brother, Benjamin. He came to Concord township
in what was then Chester County, PA.

The Chester County court was held at the town of Chester on 17 Apr 1683. The
court records indicate that John Mynall was a juror, and at the same court John
Mendinhall was appointed constable for Concord, Liberty township.

A note written 6 Jul 1683 to J. Harding has been preserved saying:

If thou knowest any such man as John Minall, tell him he may expect a small
truss of cloth by ye shipp Francis & Mary, also a truss of goods by ye same
shipp for Jno. Kingman, both under ye charge Jno. Burns for delivery and of him
they must enquire for it when the said shipp comes. (Signed) John Hitchcock.

John Hitchcock of Bristol, England had close contact with the Mendenhall
family. In Concord Township, John was a close associate of John Harding. A
record of a somewhat later court session of the Chester County court indicates
that John Mendenhall and John Harding were accused of selling whiskey to the
Indians. It is possible that these young men might have done this as a means of
ensuring that the Indians would not steal their hogs.

John sold 100 acres of his tract to his brother-in-law, Thomas Martin on 27
Nov 1686. John placed the remainder of this tract in a trust for his three
young sons on 8 Mar 1692. John continued to enjoy the use of the property until
the sons reached their majority and did not prevent him from donating land for
the new Concord Meeting House, stables and graveyard on 13 Dec 1697.

John bought 250 acres in Concord Township from John Harding (who bought the
land from William Penn in England in September, 1681) which was surveyed to
Harding on 13 Feb 1683. John's patent is dated 26 Jun 1684. John assigned these
250 acres to his brother, Benjamin, in Jun 1686.

John was an original shareholder in the Concord Mill, one of five mills in
Chester County.

The deed by which John tranferred land to the Concord Monthly Meeting of the
Quakers follows:

Know all men by these presents that John Mendenhall of the township of
Concord in the County of Chester, yeoman, for the consideration of five
shillings amount money of Pennsylvania to him paid by Nicholas Newlin, Nicholas
Pyle both of the said Township, yeoman, George Pearce of the Township of
Thornbury in the said County, yeoman, and Peter Dix of Birmingham in the County
aforesaid, yeoman, the receipt whereof he doth hereby acknowledge, hath given,
granted, aliened, released, enscrolled and confirmed and by these presents doth
give, grant, alien, release, enscroll and confirm unto the said Nicholas
Newlin, Nicholas Pyle, George Pearce and Peter Dix all that piece of land
situate and being in the said township of Concord beginning at a corner marked
stake thence north north east twenty-six perches by the said John Mendenhall's
fence to a corner marked stake thence west north west eight perches and eleven
feet to a corner marked stake then south south west twenty six perches to a
corner marked stake standing by Birmingham Road thence by the said road, east
south east eight perches and eleven feet to the place of beginning together
with all the messuages, buildings and improvements to the said piece of ground
belonging and all the estate rights, title and property of him, the said John
Mendenhall, of, in and to the same and the previous ___ rents and profits
thereof to have and hold the said messuages, piece of land and all other the
premises hereby granted with the appurtenances unto the said Nicholas Newlin,
Nicholas Pyle, George Pearce and Peter Dix and their heirs forever to the uses,
intents, and services hereinafter mentioned and declared and to no other use,
intent or purpose whatsoever that is to say the said messuages lately erected
upon the said piece of ground to be and remain for a meeting house for the use
and services of the People of God called Quakers the other building now also
erected upon the said piece of land shall be for a stable for the service of
the said people as also all the said piece of land hereby granted shall
likewise be and remain for the use of the said people to bury their dead upon
said part or parts thereof and for such other uses as they shall see proper,
paying unto the said John Mendenhall and his heirs one pepper corn yearly
forever if lawfully demanded provided always and it is the true intent and
meaning of these presents and of all the parties hereunto that nothing the said
Nicholas Newlin, Nicholas Pyle, George Pearce and Peter Dix nor any of them,
nor any other person or persons who shall be declared by the members of the
monthly meeting of the said people called Concord Meeting and belonging to the
said Meeting House for the time being to be out of unity with them shall be
capable to execute this trust or stand seized of the premises to the said uses
nor have any right or interest in the said meeting house, stable and piece of
ground and other premises, nor any part thereof while they shall so remain and
that in all such cases as also when any of the above named trustees or any
other succeeding them in the said trust, shall happen to depart this life then
it shall and may be lawful to and for Friends in their said Monthly Meeting as
often as occasion shall require to make choice of others to manage the
aforesaid trust instead of such as shall to fall away or be deceased and the
said John Mendenhall for himself, his heirs and Executors doth covenant and
grant to and with the said Nicholas Newlin, Nicholas Pyle, George Pearce and
Peter Dix, their heirs and successors in the said trust by these presents that
the said messuages, piece of ground and other the premises hereby granted with
the appurtenances shall be and remain unto the said people of God called
Quakers forever for the uses and under the restrictions herein before mentioned
or intended, freely acquitted and discharged of and from all claims, title
troubles and encumbrances whatsoever had or done or which hereafter may be had,
suffered or committed by him, the said John or his heirs or by heirs their
means privily or procurement. In writing whereof he hath hereunto set his hand
and seal the thirteenth day of December, anno Domini, 1697.

(Signed) John Mendenhall

Sources

Macy Genealogy 1635-1868, Silvanus Macy, 1868

The Newlin Family, Ancestors and Descendants, Algie I. Newlin, 1965,
Box 8345, Guilford College, Greensboro, NC 27410

Cheryl Mendenhall, 9622 177th Avenue SE, Snohomish WA 98290,
mcgee@accessone.com

The Mendenhall Family, Thomas A. Valentine, 485 Ramsdale Drive, Roswell GA
30075, (404) 992-3581, 1994

John married Esther Maddock. (Esther Maddock was born on Oct 16, 1661 in Chesire, England and died in 1709 in Concordville, Pennsylvania.)

John next married Elizabeth Maris, daughter of George Maris and Alice Willsmith, on Jul 13, 1685 in Darby Meeting, Chester Co., PA.⁴⁴ (Elizabeth Maris was born on Jun 3, 1665 in Inkborough, Worchestire, England and died in 1708 in Chester County, Pennsylvania.)