Descendants of James Evans of Wales

Generation #2

James (¹James) Evans of Columbia Co PA

Research Notes:

The information for this Evans family is correct. However, this is not the Evans family who migrated c. 1728 to Licking Co OH.

The marriage for this James Evans and Anna Hess is proven by Anna's headstone found in Stone Methodist Church Cemetery, south of Evansville and west of Berwick, Columbia Co PA.

James Evans was born 4/9/1769 in Northampton Co PA, just down the road from Easton PA. Originally, the Evans family were Welsh Quakers. And by 1786, the extended Evans family migrated north and west from the Delaware River Valley to the Susquehanna River Valley.

In 1786 Evan Owen built the next [log cabin] on the site of the St. Charles hotel. Samuel Jackson, his relative by marriage, located on the opposite corner. Josiah Jackson was a hatter by trade, and conducted his business on Front street below Market. James Evans, a millwright by occupation, became the next resident. John Smith and Henry Traugh complete the number of those who arrived at Berwick about 1786. (p. 192)

    "Historical and Biographical Annals of Columbia and Montour Counties, Pennsylvania," 1887 <http://books.google.com/books> 23 November 2014.

Today, we could not fathom the many difficulties the family would have encountered during their journey from the Delaware to the Susquehanna. Having arrived at the Nescopeck Rapids, they "reached Catawissa with no adventures other than those usually incident to the overland journey, but were compelled to transport themselves and their goods from that point to their destination in canoes, and this occasioned no little inconvenience and delay." So, difficult terrain--swamps, mountains, rivers--bad weather, and Indian attacks were considered matter-of-fact when our ancestors pushed west.

Our James would have been seventeen by the time the family migrated. This would have been an appropriate age to assist in all the tasks necessary along the way. Having survived the arduous journey, the family built their log cabin at the site of Berwick. And, James' father, the millwright, constructed a mill just north on Briar Creek. Best guess our James worked at the mill until he was ready to start his own family.

James Evans came from Bethlehem PA to Evansville, Columbia county and took up a large tract of land. He built the first log mill in the village, which was later replaced by a larger one, the latter still standing, and in use as a dwelling. He ran the largest overshot wheel in Columbia county. Altogether he built twenty-three of the largest of the old mills in the county. He married a daughter of Ezra [William] Hess of Fishingcreek, and their children were: George; James; Ephraim [No], who married Nancy Evans [LNU]; Mary Elizabeth, wife of Solomon Bower [Maybe]; Ann, wife of George Zebner [No]; and William. Mr. Evans died in 1820, and he and his wife are buried at the Old Stone Church in Briarcreek township.

    "Historical and Biographical Annals of Columbia and Montour Counties, Pennsylvania," 1915 <http://books.google.com/books> 23 November 2014.

There are five Evans families found in the 1790 census for Northumberland county. Two of the families, Joseph and Nathaniel have adult males other than the householder. As persons, with the exception of the householder, are not enumerated by name, James may be one of the adult males in either the Joseph Evans or the Nathaniel Evans households. Therefore, James should be counted as enumerated in the censes.

Benjamin Evans, miller and justice of the peace, Nescopeck, was born in Briar Creek township, Columbia Co., Pa., July 14, 1820, a son of David and Nancy (Bonham) Evans. His paternal grandfather, John Evans, a Welsh Quaker, together with his brother James, they being both millwrights by trade, came from near Philadelphia to this county, becoming pioneers of the vicinity of Berwick, and erected several mills for a wealthy man named Rittenhouse.

    "Benjamin Evans," History of Luzerne County Pennsylvania, 1893" <https://archive.org/details/historyofluzerne00brad> 26 November 2014.

In 1793 in Northumberland Co PA, James married Anna Hess b. 5/22/1769 Northampton Co PA. Anna's extended family had only recently migrated from the same area of Northampton County. Did the Evans family's positive experience spark the Hess family's migration to the Susquehanna River Valley?

The early 1800s saw the growth of industry in Briar Creek Township. And, James the father as millwright and James the son as wheelwright were part of these new industries.

The manufacturing industries of Briarcreek at an early period present no special features. William Rittenhouse built the first mill in this region. It is still in existence, but has not been operated for many years. . .Evan Owen attempted to utilize the water power of the river, and built a grist mill on its bank, but the attempt was a failure. [Father] James Evans  engaged in a similar undertaking with better success, locating his establishment on Briar creek. Some half dozen houses clustered around this mill constitute the village of Evansville. . .The first representatives of their respective vocations in Berwick were Benjamin Doan, tailor; Abel Dally, chair-maker; Hiram Inman, tinner; Henry Traugh, tanner; the Browns, carpenters; Burlingame, cooper; Aquilla Starr, blacksmith; Bush, cloth-dyer; Joseph Stackhouse, butcher; Polly Mullen, weaver; Samuel Herrin, cabinet-maker; John Snyder, saddler; [son] James Evans, wheelwright; Roxana Cortright, milliner; Sleppy and Company, gunsmiths, and Marshall, silversmith. (p. 197)

     "Historical and Biographical Annals of Columbia and Montour Counties, Pennsylvania," 1887 <http://books.google.com/books> 23 November 2014.

James and Anna lived their lives on one of the Evans family properties in Columbia Co PA. And, James worked at the family's mill and as a wheelwright. James died 4/17/1849 and Anna died 2/4/1842. Both are buried in the Old Stone Church Cemetery, Briar Creek TWP, Columbia Co PA.

• Born 4/9/1769 Northampton Co PA

• Migrated 1786 w/ family to Briar Creek TWP, Northumberland (now Columbia) Co PA

• 1790 Northumberland Co PA Census: Enumerated w/ family

• Married 1793 in Northampton Co PA to Anna Hess b. 5/22/1769 Northampton Co PA

• 1800 Briar Creek TWP, Northumberland Co PA Census: James Evans p. 772

• 10/1806 Luzerne Co PA Record

• 1810 Northumberland Co PA Census: James Evans p. 237

• 1813 Columbia split from Northumberland Co PA

• 1820 Briar Creek TWP, Columbia Co PA Census: James Evans, Sr. p. 4

• 1830 Columbia Co PA Census: James Evans p. 141

• 1840 Columbia Co PA Census: James Evans p. 191

• Died 4/17/1849 Columbia Co PA

• 1849 Columbia PA Probate

• Buried Stone Methodist Church Cemetery, Briar Creek TWP, Columbia Co PA

Old Stone Methodist Church Cemetery
James Evans Died 4/17/1849 Aged 80 yrs	Anna, wife of James Evans and daughter of Wm & Catherine Hess Died 2/14/1842 Aged 72 yrs

    Children

    1. Mary Elizabeth Evans

• Born 6/1794 Northumberland Co PA

• Married c. 1812 in Northumberland Co PA to Solomon Bower b. 6/1784 Berks Co PA

• 1813 Columbia split from Northumberland Co PA

• Died before 1/1881 Briar Creek TWP, Columbia Co PA

    2. Ephraim Evans

• Born 6/21/1796 Northumberland Co PA

• 1813 Columbia split from Northumberland Co PA

• Married c. 1820 in Columbia Co PA to Nancy Evans "of Catawissa" b. c. 1800 Luzerne Co PA

• 1849 Columbia PA Probate

• Died 1873 Columbia Co PA

• Place of burial unknown

    3. James Evans Jr.

• Born 1799 Northumberland Co PA

• 1813 Columbia split from Northumberland Co PA

• Married c. 1824 in Pennsylvania to an unknown spouse

• 1830 Columbia Co PA Census: James Lewis p. 142

• 1849 Columbia PA Probate

• Died 6/1879 Luzerne Co PA

    4. William Evans

• Born 1801 Northumberland Co PA

• 1813 Columbia split from Northumberland Co PA

• Died 12/29/1824 Columbia Co PA

• Buried Stone Methodist Church Cemetery, Briar Creek TWP, Columbia Co PA 

    5. John Evans

Research Note: This John Evans is not the John Evans who migrated c. 1828 to Licking Co OH.

• Born c. 1803 Northumberland Co PA

• 1813 Columbia split from Northumberland Co PA

• Married c. 1820 in Columbia Co PA to an unknown spouse

• 1849 Columbia PA Probate

• Date and place of death unknown

    6. George Evans

• Born 12/18/1809 Northumberland Co PA

• 1813 Columbia split from Northumberland Co PA

• Worked at father's mill as a millwright

• Married c. 1835 in Columbia Co PA to Rebecca Shellenbarger b. 2/18/1815 Pennsylvania

• Built a tannery at Evansville PA

• 1849 Columbia PA Probate

• Died 7/5/1870 Briar Creek TWP, Columbia Co PA

• Buried Stone Methodist Church Cemetery, Briar Creek TWP, Columbia Co PA