Skip to main content

Fearless Females: Margaret Still

Lisa A Alzo of The Accidental Genealogist started the Fearless Females prompts for Women’s History Month. Throughout March, each day will feature a different female ancestor. Today’s prompt is: Do you have a favorite female ancestor? One you are drawn to or want to learn more about? Write down some key facts you have already learned or what you would like to learn and outline your goals and potential sources you plan to check. 

I’m not sure that Margaret Still is my favorite female ancestor but she is certainly the one I obsess over the most.  

Margaret is my 4x great grandmother. She got pregnant out of wedlock and her father, Charles Still, put her out on a farm in Goosetown, East Fallowfield Township, in Chester County. In a nutshell, I want to know who got her pregnant.  

What I know:
Margaret was born in 1788 to Charles and Margaret Rhoades Still, of Uwchlan Township, Chester County. She has three brothers: Charles, Henry and Jacob.
TIMELINE:
1788 - born in PA
1808 - son George born May 3rd
1823 - son David born
1827 - court records show David Phillips committed fornication against her.
1828 - as per Sheriff Deeds (online) she purchased 3 lots from the Kennedys in East Fallowfield Twp.
1830 - son George marries Sarah BING Dec. 30th
1830 - land records show Margaret sold son George 37 acres, a bldg, a horse and a cattle
1845 - son David marries Agnes Armstrong April 16th
1850 - census shows her living w/David and his wife and their son William in East Fallowfield Twp.
1851 - 23 Jan. she sold George land purchased on 2 Feb 1829
1870 - census shows her living w/David in Marshalton, East Fallowfield Twp.
1871 - 4 Dec wrote will
1872 - died in East Fallowfield Twp., Chester County, PA
1872 - 15 Aug. will executed 

Goals:
I want to know who fathered my 3rd great grandfather, her son, George David Still and his brother, David Still. I want to know who my 4th great grandfather is. I also want to know more about Margaret’s parents and brothers. 

Potential Sources:
The Chester County Archives and the old local newspapers may be of great help. 

Fearless Females is a daily prompt throughout March celebrating Women’s History Month 
© Jeanne Ruczhak-Eckman, 2015
Labels:

Comments

  1. Dana LeedsMarch 1, 2015 at 10:42 PM

    That sounds like a tough case! Thanks for reminding me of Lisa's Fearless Females. I'll have to go check it out.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Cousin RussMarch 2, 2015 at 2:18 AM

    Jeanne,

    Did you check the Quaker Records ?

    Russ

    ReplyDelete
  3. Genealogical GemsMarch 2, 2015 at 9:40 AM

    You're welcome, Dana! ...

    I have not, Russ. The family was not Quaker tho. Recently tied her parents to a Baptist Church in Vincent Twp. She and one son are buried at a Baptist Church as well. Her other son (my George) attended a ME Church but is buried in a Presbyterian Cemetery.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Coatesville's First Serial Killer

Young Alexander Meyer was a disturbed and angry young man with some major issues. He had failed sixth and seventh grade, and instead of having to repeat eighth grade again, he finally gave up on school. At age 16 he quit Downingtown Junior High. Meyer is not a relative, nor are his victims (that I am aware). I stumbled upon young Alex while reading Tortured Minds: Pennsylvania's Most Bizarre - But Forgotten - Murders by Tammy Mal. On 11 February 1937 Alexander Thweatt Meyer killed young Helen Moyer as she walked home from school in Coatesville along Modena Road. She was not his first. The jury was out only three minutes after hearing Dr. Michael Margolis' testimony on the death of Helen Moyer. The jury determined Meyer had murdered Moyer and should be held for first degree murder. The jury also condemned the parole system which had released Meyer back into the public, after having served just 14 months in Huntingdon Reformatory, for the murder of two other girls - Anna Blasc
4 comments
Read more

Thaddeus Stevens at the Lancaster Convention Center

Within the Lancaster Convention Center (Lancaster, PA) is a small section dedicated to Thaddeus Stevens and Lydia Hamilton Smith. The section is known as the Stevens & Smith Historic Site. It is scheduled for development this year. At the moment one can only get a glimpse of it through the Convention Center or by peeking in from the outside. Here at Queen and Vine Streets in Lancaster City, Pennsylvania, Thaddeus Stevens had his law office. Stevens was an abolitionist. An abolitionist is a person who favors the abolition of a practice or institution, especially capital punishment or (formerly) slavery. Stevens was born 4 April 1792 to Joshua Stevens and Sarah (Sally) Morrill in Danville Vermont. One of four children, he attended Vermont University from 1810 to 1812 when the War prompted its closure. He then went to Dartmouth, where he graduated in 1814. He then studied law and found himself set up in Gettysburg, PA in 1816. He practiced law there until 1828 when he found hi
Post a Comment
Read more

Living History Offers Opportunity to Step Back in Time

Have you ever wondered what it would have been like to work the fields on a plantation during the Revolutionary War? Or stroll through an 18th century village? Or fight in battle during the Civil War?  Living history  offers an interactive perspective which incorporates  historical  activities and dress providing a sense of stepping back in time. So, how can YOU step back in time? Rock Ford volunteer Nancy Bradley in the Study of the mansion Rock Ford Plantation, in Lancaster County, PA, will be hosting a Volunteer Tour Guide Recruitment Event on Sunday, 22 March. They need tour guides for its upcoming tour season.  Built circa 1794, Rock Ford was the home of Edward Hand and his family. Hand, an Irish immigrant and physician, served as Adjutant General to George Washington during the Revolutionary War.   Volunteer tour guides at Rock Ford bring the past to life for museum visitors. A tour guide can be any person aged 18 years and up. No experience is necessary, and trainin
Post a Comment
Read more