James Black ¹

  General Notes:

1760 The Scotch-Irish settled in the Marsh Creek settlement that was to become Gettysburg about 1760. Conewago Settlement was called Digges Choice.3

Marriage before 1805 James Black married Jane Hamilton before 1805 in Pennsylvania. Undocumented notes say: IN GETTYSBURG. which makes sense as this was the biggest town in the area.

Cen1810 1810 James Black and Jane may appear on the 1810 census in Cumberland township, Adams county, Pennsylvania. James is over 26 as is wife. 4 male children all under 10 years old. These children would be John, William, (our line) Robert and James. The families of William Wilson and Robert McCreary appear on the same page. William Wilson could be the father of William Black's first wife Charlotte. The wife of Robert McCreary family is Anne, the sister of this James Black.4

Cen1820 1820 James Black may appear on the 1820 census in Cumberland, Adams county, Pennsylvania. This census reports James family as 1-4-0-0-1-0- 3-0-0-1-0 0-2. This indicates 1 male under 10; 4 males 10-16; 1 male 26-45; 3 females under 10; 1 female 26-45; engaged ag. Father James is the male 26-45 therefore born between 1775 and 1794. The 1 male under 10 is likely Franklin. The 4 males 10 to 16 are Robert, William, John and James. The 3 females under 10 are Matilda, Maria and Margaret. Wife Jane is the female 26 to 45.5

Cen1830 1830 James Black may appear on the 1830 U.S. Census in Mt Joy, Adams county, Pennsylvania, There is NO James in Cumberland but Mt. Joy and Cumberland may be the same place. 0-0-1-1-0-0-1. The male 40-50 would be James if he was born about 1781 and therefore about 49 years old. The male 15 to 20 would be son James who is purported to have been born about 1811 and therefore would be 18/19 on this census. The 10-15 year old male would be Franklin who, if born about 1818 would be 12 on this census. The 3 females 15-20 Matilda, Margaret and Maria while the 1 female 40-50 would be wife Jane.

We are assuming that this James is William Henry's father. William H. is not in the household as he is already married. Sons John and Robert are married by this time and therefore not in this household either.6

1834 James is listed as son of Henry in Henry Black's will of 1834. He is to receive $5 plus 1/8 of the residue of the estate after the other bequests have been fulfilled.1

Cen1840 1840 James Black may appear on the 1840 U.S. census for Cumberland township, Adams county, Pennsylvania This family is next door to William H. Black who is believed to be the son of this James Black. The household consists of 1 female 60-70 that could be Jane; 1 female 80-90 unknown who she is. Since the mother of James, Mary Weems died before 1834 this person is more likely the mother of Jane. One male 60-70 that must be this man. 2 males 20-30 one of whom could be James who shows on the 1850 as 39 and blind. The other is likely Franklin who would be about 22 on this census. Also one male 10-15 that can not be identified.7

Cen1850
1850 James Black appears on the 1850 census of Cumberland township, Adams county, Pennsylvania in Res 4, fam 4. James, the Elder is 69 years old, a farmer, with real estate valued at $1690. Wife Jane and blind son James plus a hired girl are in the household. Son William Henry is in res2/fam2.8

Will 6 April 1859 James Black left a will dated 6 April 1859 that was written at Cumberland township, Adams county, Pennsylvania, The will of James Black reads as follows:

I, James Black, the elder of Cumberland township, Adams county, being of sound and disposing mind, but in view of my advancing years and the uncertainity of life and in order that I may with ... ..... leave this mortal state whenever it may please almighty God to call me away, do make, ordain and publish this my last will and testament in manner following, to wit:

First I order and direct that all my just debts and funeral expenses be paid by my Executor as soon as convenient after my decease.

Second My will is that my dearly beloved wife Jane do retain so much of the furniture and household effect as she may choose for her use and comfort during her life including if she choose, the articles specifically bequeathed to Matilda.

Third I give and bequeath to my daughter Matilda Diehl my eight day clock and case and my silver Tablespoons after the use of these for life given to my widow as aforesaid.

Fourth I give and bequeath to my son James a .... bed, bedding, and bedstead.

Fifth I direct that my Executor sell my estate, real and personal, except what is hereinbefore disposed of, as soon as convenient after my decease and after paying my debts and expenses, as aforesaid, that he hold the balance in trust for the use of my beloved wife Jane during her life and provide for her out of the same a comfortable support in such way and place as she may prefer, providing for her whatever may be necessary for her comfort during life and for her attendance in sickness and burial after death.

Sixth After the decease of my said wife I direct that the balance of my estate be divided into eight equal shares and divided to and among my surviving children and the children of such as may have deceased, to wit: to Robert, William, John's children, Maria, James Matilda, Margaret and Franklin, each one share, and as I have advanced to my daughter Maria the sum of Fifty dollars which is entered in my book: my will is that the said sum be deducted from her share. And I also further direct that the share of my son Robert be held in trust by my Executor for the use of him and his family and paid and applied at his discretion to insofar (?) their use in such way that it may not be squandered in an unprofitable manner by him.

Lastly I appoint my trusty son-in-law, Frederick Diehl to be the Executor of this my last will hereby revolking and annulling any will heretofor made by me and publishing and declaring this as......... my last will and testament. Witness my hand and seal this sixth day of April, one thousand eight hundred and fifty nine.

Signed James Black Seal

Signed, sealed and declared to be his last will and testament in the presence of us who at the requuest and in the presence of the Testator have herewith subscribed our names as witnesses

R G McCreary
S.S. McCreary.9

S. S. McCreary is likely Samuel Smith McCreary the son of a sister of James Black, Anna. R. G. McCreary is likely the husband of this Anna, Robert.

Death 9 December 1859 James died on 9 December 1859 at Gettysburg, Adams, Pennsylvania.10
Burial James was buried in Evergreen cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.10

31 December 1859 The probate of this estate is Probate Number 3587 of Adams co. Pennsylania.

The Inventory record shows that personal property was sold for 334.51
Unreadable 2.27
Farm to Jacob Forney 2000.00
Corn and oats to John Scott 9.28
Total 2346.65

Final 19 August 1861.11,9

1863 The Farnsworth house in Gettysburg, Pennsylvannia was occupied by Catharine Sweeney and her daughter in 1863. There are 100 bullet holes in the side of this building that are still evident today. It is now a classy restaurant, bed and breakfast and a dinner theatre in the building at 401 Baltimore Street today. One of the previous owners was a Sarah Black and there is a room in the hotel named for her. Just how this Sarah Black is related to our Black line is not known at this time.12


Family Jane Hamilton b. between 1780 and 1781, d. 5 January 1863
Children 1. John Black b. bt 1804 - 1810, d. b 6 Apr 1859
2. **William Henry Black+ b. 21 Sep 1806, d. 19 Jan 1885
3. Robert Black b. b 1808, d. a 1859
4. James Black b. c 8 Jul 1810, d. 8 Feb 1873
5. Matilda Black+ b. c 1814
6. Margaret Black b. bt 1810 - 1815
7. Maria Black b. bt 1810 - 1815
8. Franklin Black+ b. c 1818, d. a 1859