Genealogical Gems

Nine Pennsylvanians signed Declaration of Independence and Lancastrian attorney George Ross was among them. He was in fact the last representative from Pennsylvania to sign the Declaration. Born 10 May 1790 in Newcastle, Delaware, he was a son of the Reverend George Ross, rector of Episcopal Church, and Catherine Van Gezel. Ross was admitted to the Philadelphia Bar at the age of 20. The following year (1751) he began his own practice in Lancaster, where he was well liked and respected. On 14 August 1751 he married Ann Lawler, daughter of the widow Mary Lawler. The two had three children: George, James and Margaret. He was elected to represent Lancaster in the Pennsylvania Assembly (1768-1776) and the Continental Congress (1774, 1776-77).  He was vice president of the Pennsylvania constitutional convention in 1776 and a Judge of the Admiralty Court of Pennsylvania in 1779. He was also a member of the Saint Andrew’s Society of Philadelphia, a s...

I am reading John Loose's The Heritage of Lancaster. The late Mr. Loose was well known in genealogical/local history circles.  Since I've traced the hubby's family back to the original permanent settlers in the County, I figured it would be a good read. Hence this entry (and probably next Thursday as well) will be more of a scattered note taking than an actual article. The County was formed on 10 May 1729. That makes us 284 years old. To put that in perspective, Pennsylvania itself was form on 5 May 1681. That means the Commonwealth was less than a half century old when Lancaster was carved out of Chester County. The Herr/Mylin/Kendig families have long been credited as being the County's first permanent settlers. They settled in the Lampeter and Willow Street area, where the Hans Herr House is now a registered historical landmark. Loose points out that two other families have recently tried to claim that as well however his mention of them is little more than a...