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ABRAHAM LINCOLN 
 
 An American Migration 
 
Only 500 copies of this work have been 
 printed from type, of which this is 
 
 No. 2 
 
ABRAHAM LINCOLN 
 
 An American Migration 
 
 Family English Not German 
 
 WITH 
 PHOTOGRAPHIC ILLUSTRATIONS 
 
 BY 
 
 Marion Dexter Learned 
 
 Professor of the Germanic Languages and Literatures at the 
 University of Pennsylvania 
 
 
 WILLIAM J. CAMPBELL 
 
 PHILADELPHIA 
 
 IQ09 
 

 ■*• 
 
 Copyright, 1909 
 MARldN" DEXTER LEARNED 
 
 Press of 
 
 International Printing Co 
 
 Philadelphia 
 
 ICLA25 J -3 
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS 
 
 Page 
 
 Chapter I. 
 
 The Lincolns in New England and New 
 
 Jersey , 1-20 
 
 Chapter II. 
 The Lincolns in Pennsylvania 21-31 
 
 Chapter III. 
 Abraham Lincoln in Pennsylvania 32-56 
 
 Chapter IV. 
 Children of Abraham Lincoln, of Spring- 
 field Township, Chester County, Pa. . . 57-66 
 
 Chapter V. 
 Children of Mordecai Lincoln of Exeter. . 67-99 
 
 Chapter VI. 
 
 John Lincoln or "Virginia John," Son of 
 
 Mordecai of Exeter 100-1 17 
 
 Chapter VII. 
 Abraham Lincoln of Virginia and Ken- 
 tucky 1 18-129 
 
 Chapter VIII. 
 The Forms of the Name Lincoln 130-145 
 
ILLUSTRATIONS 
 
 Opposite 
 Page 
 
 Frontispiece — A. Lincoln 
 
 House of Mordecai Lincoln, of Exeter, as it Looks To-day 20 
 
 Will of Mordecai Lincoln, of Exeter, Pa. (First page) 26 
 
 Will of Mordecai Lincoln, of Exeter, Pa. (Second page) . . 28 
 Inventory of the Estate of Mordecai Lincoln, the Elder, of 
 
 Exeter, Berks County, Pa 28 
 
 Friends' Meeting House, Exeter, Berks County 30 
 
 Petition for Tavern License, Showing Signature of Abra- 
 ham Lincoln, of Springfield 44 
 
 The Will of Abraham Lincoln, of Springfield 54 
 
 Inventory of the Estate of Abraham Lincoln, of Springfield 56 
 
 Bill of Costs of Executing Elisabeth Crowl 72 
 
 List of Petit Jury Returned by Thomas Lincoln, Sheriff of 
 
 Reading, Pa 74 
 
 First Page of the Account Book of Abraham Lincoln, of 
 
 Exeter 80 
 
 Administrators' Account of the Estate of Abraham Lin- 
 coln, Son of Mordecai Lincoln, of Exeter (First page) . 86 
 Administrators' Account of the Estate of Abraham Lin- 
 coln, Son of Mordecai Lincoln, of Exeter (Second 
 
 page) 86 
 
 Administrator's Account of the Estate of Ann Lincoln, 
 
 Widow of Abraham Lincoln, of Exeter 88 
 
 First Two Pages of the Old "Lincoln Record" 92 
 
 Receipt Showing the Signature of John Lincoln 106 
 
 Deed of John and Rebecca Lincoln to Isaac Lincoln, Con- 
 veying Land on Linville's Creek in 1773 112 
 
 Deed of John and Rebecca Lincoln to Isaac Lincoln, Con- 
 veying Land on Linville's Creek in 1773 112' 
 
 Signature of Jacob Lincoln, Son of "Virginia John" 
 
 Lincoln 1 J 8 
 
 Old Lincoln House on Linville's Creek, Rockingham 
 
 County, Virginia 122 
 
 Signature of Abraham and Bathseba Lincoln, Grand- 
 father and Grandmother of President Lincoln 126 
 
Vlll ILLUSTRATIONS 
 
 Opposite 
 Page 
 
 Present View of Linville's Creek Where it Passes Through 
 the Original Lincoln Tracts 128 
 
 Marriage Certificate of Thomas Lincoln and Nancy Hanks 130 
 
 Marriage Bond and Certificate of Thomas Lincoln 132 
 
 Deed Showing the Correct Name of "Lincoln," Not 
 "Linkhorn" 134 
 
 Old Lincoln Cabin Near Springfield, Washington County, 
 Kentucky 136 
 
 The Cabin in Which Abraham Lincoln, the President, 
 Was Born February 12, 1809 138 
 
 Warrant Issued to Abraham Lincoln, in Kentucky, Show- 
 ing the Name "Linkhorn" 142 
 
 Survey of the first Warrant of Land to Abraham Lincoln 
 in Kentucky (then Virginia) 144 
 
 Map of the Migration of the Lincolns from Hingham, 
 Mass., to Kentucky 146 
 
PREFACE 
 
 The following researches into the family of Ab- 
 raham Lincoln, in America, are the outgrowth of 
 a suggestion made by Dr. G. Langmann, of New 
 York City, and were carried out by the encourage- 
 ment which he gave. In 1901, Louis P. Hennig- 
 hausen, Attorney-at-Law, in Baltimore, Maryland, 
 published in the Report for the Society of the His- 
 tory of the Germans, in Maryland, an interesting ar- 
 ticle entitled "Abraham Lincoln or Linkhorn" sup- 
 porting the view that Abraham Lincoln, the Presi- 
 dent of the United States, was descended from a 
 German family by the name of Linkhorn. The argu- 
 ment was built up with much skill and found quite 
 general acceptance among the Germans of America, 
 giving rise to German poetry on Lincoln, the Ger- 
 man President. In 1903, Dr. G. Langmann, wish- 
 ing to have the question investigated in detail, re- 
 quested the present writer to have some trained aca- 
 demic man from the University of Pennsylvania 
 examine into the records of Lincoln's origin, and 
 publish the results. Failing to find any one with 
 sufficient time to devote to a thorough investiga- 
 tion of the subject, the present writer undertook 
 the work himself. He examined all available rec- 
 ords in the several states through which the Lin- 
 coln family migrated to Kentucky, namely Mass- 
 
 (ix) 
 
X PREFACE 
 
 achusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, 
 Virginia, and that part of Transilvanian Virginia, 
 now known as Kentucky. In the course of the in- 
 vestigation, he unearthed and exploited much orig- 
 inal matter relating to the Lincoln family in their 
 American wanderings. 
 
 The simple question of settling the name "Lin- 
 coln," or "Linkhorn," and its origin soon assumed 
 the more extended form of a study of the Lincoln 
 family as a typical American migration. It is this 
 two-fold form of the investigation which is pub- 
 lished in the following pages. 
 
 The author wishes to express his indebtedness to 
 the following persons and institutions : 
 
 Former Governor S. W. Pennypacker, who al- 
 lowed the author to make use of his rich collec- 
 tion of manuscripts ; George F. Baer, President of 
 the Reading Railroad, who generously turned over 
 his notes on the Lincoln family in Berks County; 
 Louis Richards, President of the Berks County His- 
 torical Society, who gave access to his valuable 
 Note Books; B. F. Owen, of the Berks County 
 Historical Society, who assisted the writer in using 
 the Archives of the Society ; Albert Cook My- 
 ers, of Moylan, Pa., for valuable assistance and 
 the Exeter cut; George C. Beekman, of Red Bank, 
 New Jersey, for information touching the Bownes 
 and Saltars of that state; Major Armour, of 
 Harrisburg, Pa., who allowed the author to use 
 the Account Books of John Harris; General John 
 
PREFACE XI 
 
 E. Roller, of Harrisonburg, Virginia, who intro- 
 duced the author to the Lincolns in Rockingham 
 County, Virginia; Gilbert Cope, of West Chester, 
 Pa., who permitted the use of his valuable collec- 
 tion of Chester County papers; L. P. Hennighau- 
 sen, of Baltimore, for information concerning the 
 Lincolns of Maryland and Loudoun County, Vir- 
 ginia; Colonel R. T. Durrett, of Louisville, Ken- 
 tucky, who kindly furnished photographs of Lin- 
 coln documents; T. B. Fitzpatrick, of Hodgenville, 
 Kentucky, for the privilege of using photographs of 
 the Lincoln houses, published in his Lincoln Souve- 
 nir; the Librarians of the Historical Society of 
 Pennsylvania, the Historical Society of Virginia, 
 the Historic-Geneological Society of Massachusetts, 
 the State Library and Department of Public Rec- 
 ords, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; the Secretary and 
 his Assistant of the Department of Internal Affairs, 
 Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; the Office of Recorder 
 of Deeds, in Freehold, New Jersey, in Philadelphia, 
 West Chester, Reading and Lancaster, Pennsylva- 
 nia, in Elkton, Maryland, and in Stanton, Harri- 
 sonburg and Winchester, Virginia, and also the 
 Office of the Secretary of State, Trenton, New 
 Jersey, and the Archives in the Surveyor's Office at 
 Perth Amboy, New Jersey. 
 
 The following members of the Lincoln family 
 have aided in furnishing information and giving 
 access to original materials : 
 
 Dr. J. E. Lincoln, Lacy Spring, Va. ; Miss Kate 
 
Xll PREFACE 
 
 Pannebecker, of Linville, Va. ; Mrs. Parvin (nee 
 Lincoln), of Leesport, Pa.; Mr. David Lincoln, of 
 Birdsboro, Pa. ; Mr. Richard Lincoln and Harrison 
 G. Lincoln, and family, of Reading, Pa. ; Mr. 
 Francis H. Lincoln, of Boston, Mass. 
 
 As the aim of this study was not to furnish a 
 family tree of the Lincolns in America, which task 
 is being performed by the Geneologist, Mr. J. Henry 
 Lea, the author of this work was happy to be 
 able to turn over to Mr. Lea many of his geneologi- 
 cal notes relating to the date of John Lincoln's 
 migration to Virginia and the Lincoln epitaphs in 
 the old graveyard on Linvill's Creek, for incorpora- 
 tion into Mr. Lea's Ancestry of Abraham Lincoln, 
 and to receive in exchange some useful suggestions 
 from Mr. Lea. 
 
 The documentary character of this investigation 
 seemed to justify the printing of the most important 
 deeds and other original papers in full. An effort 
 has been made to give the exact text of these rec- 
 ords in the original orthography. In some cases it 
 was difficult to decide about the intended use of 
 capitals in the originals, particularly in the case of 
 the letters S and C, which were often written in 
 such a way as to leave it doubtful whether the let- 
 ters were intended to be large or small. Glaring 
 mistakes in the original text are usually marked 
 thus : [sic] 
 
 The Author. 
 Philadelphia, 
 Thanksgiving Day, 1908. 
 
ABRAHAM LINCOLN 
 
 AN AMERICAN MIGRATION 
 Family English not German. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 THE LINCOLNS IN NEW ENGLAND AND NEW JERSEY. 
 
 As the Germans have given currency to the the- 
 ory that Abraham Lincoln, the President of the 
 United States, was of German ancestry and de- 
 scended from a forebear by the name of "Link- 
 horn," in Pennsylvania, it has seemed worth while 
 to test this theory in the light of the records of the 
 Lincoln family. This study of the original docu- 
 ments relating to the Lincolns in the various signifi- 
 cant centres of settlement in the colonial period 
 makes it possible to follow the history of the mi- 
 gration of one of the most typical families in Amer- 
 ica and to trace the motives prompting the 
 migration. 
 
 Abraham Lincoln, the President, knew very little 
 about the history of his family, as is shown by a 
 passage in a letter which he wrote, while a Member 
 of Congress, in 1848, to Hon. Solomon Lincoln, of 
 Hingham, Massachusetts: "My father's name is 
 Thomas. My grandfather's was Abraham, the 
 
ABRAHAM LINCOLN 
 
 same as my own. My grandfather went from Rock- 
 ingham County, Virginia, to Kentucky about the 
 year 1782, and two years afterwards was killed by 
 the Indians. We have a vague tradition that my 
 grandfather went from Pennsylvania to Virginia, 
 and that he was a Quaker. Further than this I have 
 never heard anything. It may do no harm to say 
 that 'Abraham' and 'Mordecai' are common names 
 in the Lincoln family." 
 
 In an article contributed to Johnson's Encyclopae- 
 dia in 1859, Lincoln traces his ancestry, in a general 
 way, back to New England. He had only a faint 
 tradition of the connecting links in the migration of 
 the various branches of the family from New Eng- 
 land, and found the two chief arguments for his 
 New England origin in the family tradition that 
 they came from Massachusetts, and in the persistent 
 recurrence of certain Christian names in the Lin- 
 coln family, as we have seen in the letter quoted 
 above. This statement is particularly interesting, 
 as it reflects the crude condition of American geneal- 
 ogy, even in the case of the family of a President 
 of the United States, in the middle of the nineteenth 
 century. This brief and indistinct outline of the 
 Lincoln genealogy has been brought out into bold 
 relief since the President's tragic death, and many 
 missing links have been supplied by the genealogists, 
 so that we are now in a position to trace with cer- 
 tainty the lineage of the great martyr President. 
 Even a decade later a biographer of Lincoln 
 
AN AMERICAN MIGRATION 3 
 
 writes the following concerning the residence of the 
 Lincolns in Pennsylvania: "Where the Lincolns of 
 Berks County (Pa.) came from, no records have as 
 yet divulged, but they are believed to have been 
 Quakers, and to have escaped from the intolerance 
 of Massachusetts to the friendly soil of Pennsyl- 
 vania." * Although this confession of ignorance on 
 the part of the biographer appears to us now little 
 less than naive, it is worthy of note, as this indiffer- 
 ence and superficiality have not entirely disappeared 
 from American biography. 
 
 The name Lincoln is clearly connected with the 
 place and shire name "Lincoln" (Lind -f- Colonia) 
 in England and is easily traced in the local records 
 of Lincoln, as may be seen in the Lincoln Marriage 
 Licenses* recently published, in which are found the 
 following entries : 
 
 "[a. 1612] John Lincoln of Witherne, yeom., aet 
 50, & ffaithe Cooke, of Libble Carl- 
 ton, wid., aet. 34. appln. by Wm 
 Hundleby, of Witherne, yeom. 
 
 [a. 1623] Rich. Lincoln of the Bail of Lincoln, 
 yeom., aet. 28, & Susan Wood, of 
 same Sp r , aet. 26. appln. by nrancis 
 Walker, of same, yeom." 
 
 The researches of J. Henry Lea and J. R. Hutch- 
 
 * Cf. Biographical Sketch of His Excellency, Lincoln, 
 Late President of the United States. By Charles Henry 
 Hart, LL. B. (Reprinted from the Introduction to the Bib- 
 liographia Lincolniana. Albany, Joel Munsel, 1870. page 4.) 
 
4 ABRAHAM LINCOLN 
 
 inson, in a forthcoming work, have traced the Lin- 
 colns back to Robert Lincoln in England, about 
 1540, in an unmistakable line leading down to the 
 Lincolns of Hingham in England and of Hingham, 
 Massachusetts, in New England. 
 
 THE LINCOLNS IN MASSACHUSETTS. 
 
 The history of the Lincolns, as we have it now 
 from various sources, shows us that they came 
 from Hingham in England and settled at and 
 near Hingham, Massachusetts. The first settlement 
 at Hingham, Massachusetts, was made by the Rev. 
 Peter Hobart and twenty-nine others, who had land 
 apportioned to them by lot September 18, 1JJ35. 
 The next year, 1)536, lands were granted to the fol- 
 following Lincolns: Thomas Lincoln, the miller; 
 Thomas Lincoln, the weaver, and Thomas Lincoln, 
 the cooper. The following year, 1^37, land was 
 granted also to Samuel Lincoln, the brother of 
 Thomas Lincoln, the weaver.** 
 
 Thomas Lincoln, the miller, was born in England 
 in 1603, and died in Taunton, Massachusetts, in 1683. 
 He first settled in Hingham, Massachusetts, and re- 
 moved about 1652 to Taunton. He was called "the 
 miller" to distinguish him from the other prominent 
 Thomas Lincoln of Hingham, who was a large land 
 owner and was known as Thomas Lincoln, the hus- 
 bandman, thus making the fourth Thomas Lincoln 
 who settled in Hingham. This Thomas Lincoln, the 
 husbandman, came from Wyndham, England, in 
 
 ** Cf. the articles on the Lincoln Family by Shackford and 
 Egle, also Hart's Biographical Sketch of His Excellency 
 Lincoln, 
 
AN AMERICAN MIGRATION 5 
 
 1638, and married about 1642 Margaret, the daugh- 
 ter of Richard Sanger, of Hingham. In addition to 
 these four Thomases and Samuel Lincoln, two other 
 Lincolns settled in the same region: Stephen Lin- 
 coln, the brother of Thomas Lincoln, the husband- 
 man, and Daniel Lincoln. 
 
 Samuel Lincoln, who came over as a "servant" 
 or apprentice, seems to have been the most modest 
 of all the Lincolns in point of property. In the 
 Office of Rolls in London is found the following 
 reference to him : "Francis Lawes, born in Nor- 
 wich, Norfolk County, and lining weaver, aged — , 
 and Liddea, his wife, aged 49, with one child, Mary, 
 and two servants: Samuel Lincoen, aged 18 years, 
 and Ann Smith, aged 19 years — are desirous to pass 
 to New England to inhabit." These people went 
 to New England with William Andrews, of Ipswich, 
 Master of the ship John and Dorothy, of 
 Ipswich, and William, his son, Mr. of the Rose 
 of Yarmouth, April 18, 1637.* It was this Samuel 
 Lincoln, the "servant," who by the irony of democ- 
 racy became the progenitor of the family of Abra- 
 ham Lincoln, the President of the United States of 
 America. Samuel Lincoln thus came from Norwich, 
 England, in the year 1637, at th e a S e of„-i8 years. 
 He died May 26, 1690. He married Martha (Lewis), 
 who died April 10, 1693. Ten children were the 
 issue of this union. The eldest son, Samuel, became 
 the progenitor of Lincolns of prominence in Massa- 
 
 * Cf. Chicago Tribune, Apr. 14, 1883. 
 
 
6 ABRAHAM LINCOLN 
 
 chusetts. The fourth son, Mordecai, was born June 
 17, 1657, in Hingham, and died October 13, 1727, 
 in Scituate, Massachusetts.* This Mordecai was the 
 great, great, great grandfather of Abraham Lincoln, 
 the President. Mordecai Lincoln was a blacksmith 
 by trade, and established the first smelting furnace 
 in New England. He was a large contributor to- 
 wards the erection of the Iron Works at Bound 
 Brook, Massachusetts, which comprised as their 
 chief feature a Catalan forge for making wrought 
 iron.** There is record of him as a foot-soldier of 
 Hingham, Massachusetts, in 1679, and as a black- 
 smith in Hull about 1680. In the years 1680 to 
 1685 he is found among the taxables and is assessed 
 2/4 Bull, for money there in 1684. His land, or 
 residence, is mentioned in the deed given by Benja- 
 min Bosworth and his wife, Beatrice, to Robert 
 Gould Hull, December 14, 1682. His uncle, Thomas 
 Lincoln, the weaver, appears as witness of a deed 
 in 1698.*** 
 
 A deed in the possession of George Lincoln, of 
 Hingham, dated December 21, 1713, contains the 
 
 * Cf. Chicago Tribune, April 14, 1883. (Cp. Cincinnati 
 Gazette, Oct. 6, 1882, referring to Mr. S. Bernard Elliott, of 
 Pataskala, O., as having fixed the pedigree of President 
 Lincoln.) 
 
 ** Cf. James M. Swank, History of the Manufacture of 
 Iron in All Ages, and Particularly in the United States, from 
 Colonial Times to 1891. (Second Edition, Philadelphia, 1892, 
 page 505.) 
 
 *** Cf. Ms. Notes on the Lincoln Family in the Massachu- 
 setts Hist. Genealogical Society, Boston. 
 
AN AMERICAN MIGRATION 7 
 
 following information: "George Jackson, of Mar- 
 blehead, sells to Mordecai Lincoln, of Scituate, 
 "blacksmith," two parcels of salt-meadow land lying 
 and being in Cohassett, then the Township of Hing- 
 ham, one of which is bounded East by a brook or 
 river called Bound Brook." 
 
 Mordecai, the blacksmith, married Sarah, the 
 daughter of Abraham and Sarah (Whitman) Jones. 
 He moved first from Hingham to Hull, and about 
 1704 to the neighborhood of Scituate, where he 
 built his furnace for smelting ore. Mordecai and 
 Sarah Lincoln had the following children : Morde- 
 cai, Abraham, Isaac and Sarah— all born at Hing- 
 ham, Massachusetts — and Elizabeth and Jacob, born 
 at Scituate, Massachusetts. In 1727, Mordecai Lin- 
 coln, of Hull, willed his sons and executors, Isaac 
 and Jacob, his real estate in Hingham and Scituate. 
 To his other sons, Mordecai and Abraham, he gave 
 no pounds and 160 pounds, respectively, in money 
 and bills of credit. These were the sons, doubtless, 
 who had gone to settle in Monmouth County, New 
 Jersey, adjoining Middlesex, in which county (near 
 Woodbridge) the Massachusetts families of Usleys, 
 Moores, Hales, Rolfes, Pikes and others had settled. 
 
 It would appear that the Lincolns had found 
 their way to New Jersey and Maryland before 
 1700. There is mention of Lincoln's Inn, Middle- 
 sex County, as early as April 5, 1685, and March 
 4, 1 69 1 -2, showing that the name was fresh in the 
 
8 ABRAHAM LINCOLN 
 
 minds of the early settlers. In Maryland a num- 
 ber of important entries, particularly in the land 
 records of Cecil County, date back to the same 
 early period. The following entry, for example, 
 shows that there was already a tract of land in Cecil 
 County, called by the name of "Linckhorne," after 
 the manner of plantations in the South : 
 
 Maryland Ss/ Know all men by these presents 
 that wee Jonathan Linckhorne and Alexander 
 M cc Key [McKoy] of Cecell County planters have 
 leased Lett Assigned & Sett over unto W m Blay of 
 y e Said County ***** tract called Linck- 
 horne wch lies on y e East Side of y e Mill branch 
 [for a term of 99 years from date (April 27, 
 1704). Consideration £5000 of tobacco]. 
 
 Jonathan Linckhorn (Seal) 
 
 his 
 Alex r . M Mackey (Seal) 
 
 mark 
 Witnesses : 
 Wm Wilson 
 Peter Allaby 
 
 his 
 Jn° — Linckhorne 
 mark 
 
 [Recorded August 16, 1704. Copied in unbound 
 
 deed book pp. 188-189, Court House, Elkton, 
 
 Maryland.]* 
 
 Wm. Lincolne appears among the witnesses of 
 
 the will of Richard Wells, Sr., in Anne Arundel Co., 
 
 * From the notes of Albert Cook Myers. 
 
AN AMERICAN MIGRATION 9 
 
 Md., June 22, 1667, and Anne and Jon. Lincoln as 
 witnesses of the will of Nathaniel Garrett, Cecil Co., 
 Md., Apr. 27, 1688. 
 
 It is worthy of note that the names Lincoln (or 
 Linckhorne) and McCoy (or McKay), found to- 
 gether here in Maryland, and the names Lincoln (or 
 Lincon) and Schenck (or Shanks), found together 
 in New Jersey, are all met with again in the Valley 
 of Virginia in the latter half of the eighteenth 
 century. 
 
 THE LINCOLNS IN NEW JERSEY. 
 
 It cannot be reasonably questioned that Mordecai 
 Lincoln and Abraham, his brother, of Monmouth 
 County, New Jersey, were the two sons whom Mor- 
 decai Lincoln, of Hull, Massachusetts, mentioned in 
 his will in 1727. The circumstantial evidence is 
 quite convincing. First, the fact that the father 
 gave the children at home his land, but to the two 
 brothers, Mordecai and Abraham, their portion in 
 cash, would indicate that they had gone away from 
 home. Second, these two Lincolns, Mordecai and 
 Abraham, are not found in any records of that 
 period, except in those of Monmouth County, New 
 Jersey. Third, these two brothers, Mordecai and 
 Abraham, are found in New Jersey in a settlement 
 made by New Englanders, largely from Massachu- 
 setts. 
 
 The exact date of the settlement of Mordecai and 
 Abraham Lincoln in East Jersey has not been defi- 
 
IO ABRAHAM LINCOLN 
 
 nitely determined. The earliest record of a Lincoln 
 in New Jersey is a reference to Mordecai Lincoln 
 found in the will of Captain John Bowne, a mer- 
 chant of Middletown, New Jersey. The will is 
 dated September the 14th, 17 14, and shows that 
 Mordecai Lincoln was already married to Hannah 
 Saltar, daughter of Richard and Sarah (Bowne) 
 Saltar, of Freehold, New Jersey, and was evidently 
 settled there. In accordance with the terms of this 
 will, John Bowne bequeathed to his niece, Hannah 
 (Saltar) Lincoln, the sum of 250 pounds. The text 
 of the will runs as follows : 
 
 In the Name of God Amen This fourteenth day 
 of September in the year of Our Lord 1714, — I 
 John Bowne of Midletown Merchant being sick 
 and Weake in body but of perfect mind and mem- 
 ory thanks to God therefore but Calling to mind 
 the Mortality of the body and that it is appointed 
 [once] for all men once to die do make and or- 
 dain this my last Will and Testament; first and 
 principally J give and bequeath my soul into the 
 hands of God that gave it and my body J recom- 
 mend to the Earth to be buried in a Christian like 
 and decent Manner at the discretion of my Execu- 
 tors here after Named and as to my worldly Estate 
 J give and dispose of the Same in manner follow- 
 ing, Imprimus my Will is that all my Just debts 
 be all paid and discharged ; Item I give to my wife 
 Frances Bowne the Sum of four hundred pounds 
 money of the Province aforesaid in Right of her 
 Dowry Jtem J give and bequeath to my Sister Sa- 
 
AN AMERICAN MIGRATION I I 
 
 rah Saltar all my Plate and the bed whereon J 
 lye and furniture. Jtem J give to Gersham Mot 
 the the sum of two hundred pounds for the use of 
 his Children. Jtem J give to Joseph Dennis one 
 hundred and twenty pounds, to Ieremiah White 
 the sum of one hundred and twenty pounds, Jtem 
 to Thomas Saltar and John Saltar and Hannah 
 Lincon and to William Hartshorn's three Eldest 
 Chilldren the sum of two hundred and fifty pounds 
 to each of them. The Rest of my Estate both 
 Real, and Personall I Will to be Equally Divided 
 between my Brother Obadiah Bowne and my 
 Brother Richard Saltar, their Heirs and Assigns 
 for Ever, Whome I do hereby appoint Sole Ex- 
 ecutors of this my last Will and Testament Jn 
 witness whereof J have hereunto set my hand and 
 Seal the day and year first above written. 
 
 John Bowne. 
 Signed, Sealed and Delivered 
 
 in Presence of 
 
 James Paul 
 
 Joseph Dennis 
 
 Marget Commen* 
 
 [Affidavits of witnesses & certificates of Ro. 
 Hunter, Governor.] 
 
 Mordecai Lincoln is appears as "Mordecai Lin- 
 horn" among the mortgagors in the inventory of 
 Capt. John Bowne's estate in 1714. 
 
 Another reference to Mordecai Lincoln in East 
 
 * Will of John Bowne Sept. 14, 1714, Recorded in A 10 & 
 recorded with affidavits A 27, State House, Trenton. 
 
12 ABRAHAM LINCOLN 
 
 New Jersey, is found in a letter of John Saltar to 
 his uncle, Obediah Bowne, executor of Captain John 
 Bowne, dated April 25th, 1716. The part of the let- 
 ter in question runs as follows : 
 
 April 25th 1716. 
 Honord vncle Bowne 
 
 I have Sent by my father Such writings as were 
 in my hands & appurtaining to the Estate of my 
 dec d vncle Capt John Bowne. Neare fifty pound 
 in them my vncle had given to me, not many 
 weeks before he dyed, & time failing the property 
 of the debt was not altered in my Name soe be- 
 cause I cannot fairly pretend to proceed to Se- 
 cure myself w th out yor loane [ ?] I have thought fit 
 to remitt ye same to ye Estate. Haueing onely an 
 order to take Security for the Same to my owne 
 use from vndr his hand & Soe Expect y* yo will 
 be favorable to me on y t Score ; I depend on your 
 Courtesy y 1 which was given to me is not in y e 
 Inventary, I have alsoe Send a bond from John 
 Chenoath to my vncle vnder Such like Circum- 
 stances for ten pounds & not altered as was or- 
 dered & Intended to my brother Lincon — the 
 whole that is giuen and Secured to my brother 
 Thomas Mardden [Madden?] & my self amounts 
 in all to about four hundred & twenty pounds or 
 thereabouts *********** 
 
 Yor Ever faithful & obedient Nephew, 
 John Saltar* 
 
 * This letter was found in 1907 in the possession of Mr. 
 William Crawford, near Red Bank, N. J., who allowed the 
 present writer to photograph it. 
 
AN AMERICAN MIGRATION 1 3 
 
 The importance of this letter for us is to be found 
 in the fact that in it John Saltar calls Mordecai Lin- 
 coln, or Lincon, his brother, thus showing that Mor- 
 decai Lincoln's wife, Hannah Saltar, was John Sal- 
 tar's sister, and so establishing an important fam- 
 ily relation for the New Jersey record of the 
 Lincolns. 
 
 The next trace which we have of Mordecai Lin- 
 coln in East Jersey appears in a law suit begun by 
 Obediah Bowne in the Monmouth County court, 
 in the year 171 6, and continued for a period 
 of four years. The brief minutes of this trial are 
 still extant in the original manuscript Court Book in 
 Freehold, New Jersey, and afford such an interest- 
 ing glimpse into the Jersey court procedure of that 
 early time that they seemed worthy of insertion 
 here : 
 
 Court of Com Pleas Feb 28, 17 16 
 
 Obadiah Bowne 
 Adm r &c 
 u 
 Mordecaj Lincoln 
 
 Debt 
 £140 
 
 The Like Rule [Plaint. 20 Days to file Declar & 
 Defend 1 20 Days to give in Special Bail & to Plead 
 as the Law Directs] Nonsuit for Want of a 
 Proper Power of Attorney. 
 
■^ ABRAHAM LINCOLN 
 
 Court Session May 35, 1717 ( 8 a - m -) 
 
 Obadiah Bowne 
 Administrator &c 
 
 u 
 Mordecaj Lincoln 
 
 Debt 
 £140 
 
 After hearing Mr. Vernon for y e PI 1 & Mr Gor- 
 don for the Defend 1 Court allowed a Non Pros. 
 
 Court Aug 27, 1 7 19 
 Obadiah Bowne Adm r 
 u 
 Mordecaj Lincorn 
 
 Debt 
 
 £140 Non Est 
 
 Court 28 November 1719 
 
 Obadiah Bowne Adm r 
 
 of Elis : Bowne Deced 
 
 u 
 
 Mordecaj Linckorn 
 
 Debt 
 
 £140 Non Est 
 
 Obadiah Bowne Adm r 
 
 u 
 Mordecaj Lincon & 
 Richard Saltar 
 
 Debt 
 £140 
 
 Court May 27, 1720 
 
AN AMERICAN MIGRATION 1 5 
 
 Mr. Kinsey P Pit Ordered that the Sherif Bring 
 y e Body That the PI 4 Declare Twenty Days The 
 Defend 1 to Give Sp : Bail in the like Time. 
 
 Nonsuit to y e action u Saltar for Want of Let- 
 ters adminis & Nonsuit to y e action u Lincon 
 for Want of a Declar. 
 
 Court Aug 2.7. 1720 
 Obadiah Bowne Adm r 
 
 [u] 
 
 Mordecaj Lincon & 
 Richard Saltar 
 Debt 
 £140 
 
 Ordered that the Nonsuits in this action be set 
 aside that Lincon have Twenty Days time to give 
 Special Bail and that Each of them have Twenty 
 Days time to Plead, Mr. Kinsey to Declare against 
 Lincoln in the Same time upon Payment of costs 
 by Mr. Saltar the Action against Lincon With- 
 drawn by Consent of the PI 1 attorney. 
 
 In the jury which sat at the Court of Common 
 Pleas August 29, 171 7, we find Mordecai Lincoln, 
 Jonathan Borden and Benjamin Borden. 
 
 Mordecai Lincoln appears also in another suit 
 brought by him against John Liming, November 
 the 30th, 1 72 1, and continued until November 29th, 
 1722. The proceedure is briefly recorded in the 
 Court Book as follows, and shows that Mordecai 
 Lincoln, either in person or through his attorney, 
 transacted business in New Jersey at this time : 
 
l6 ABRAHAM LINCOLN 
 
 Court Nov. 30 1721 
 
 Mordecaj Lincon 
 
 u 
 
 John Liming 
 Debt 
 
 £.. 9.. — Non est 
 
 Court Mar 1 1721 
 
 Mordecaj Lincon 
 
 u 
 
 John Liming 
 Debt 
 
 in.. 9. — Non est 
 
 Court Nov. 29, 1722. 
 
 Mordecaj Lincon 
 
 u 
 
 John Liming 
 
 Debt Mr. P. Plaintif 
 
 in.. 9.. The Like Rule. 
 
 The last direct reference to Mordecai Lincoln as 
 resident in New Jersey is found in the following 
 deed issued by Richard Saltar to Mordecai Lincoln 
 under date of February 2d, 1720: 
 
 This Indenture made this Second Day of Febru- 
 ary in y e Sixth year of his Majestys Reign King 
 George &c over Great Brittain France and Ireland 
 Defender of y e faith &c Annoq Domini one thou- 
 sand seven hundred and twenty Between Richard 
 Saltar of the Towne of freehold County of Mon- 
 mouth and and [sic!] Province of New Jersey of 
 
AN AMERICAN MIGRATION 1 7 
 
 y e one Party and Mordecai Lincon of of [sic!] y e 
 Same of the other Party Witnesseth y* y e said 
 Richard Saltar for and in Consideration of y e 
 sum of one hundred and and fifty two Pounds 
 Curant Money of y e Province aforesaid to y e 
 said Richard Saltar by y e s d Lincon already in 
 hand Paid the receipt whereof he y e said Rich- 
 ard Saltar Does hereby owne and that he is there- 
 with fully Satis fyed and Paid and thereof and 
 therefrom Does hereby fully clearly and absolutely 
 aquit Release and Discharge y e said Mordecai 
 Lincon his Heirs Exts & adm s and every of them 
 forever, Hath given granted Bargained sould 
 aliened Enfeoffed Released and discharged and 
 by these Presence Doth give grant Bargain Sell 
 and Confirme unto him y e said Mordecai Lincon 
 his heirs and assigns forever all those Tracts of 
 Land & Meadow on Machaponix River & Gravill 
 Brook in the County of Middlesex, the first Tract 
 Is bounded on said Matchaponix River on y e 
 South by y e Pine Brook East by the Land now 
 or Late of Will m Estill on y e west, and by Land 
 unsurveyed on y e North also all that Tract 
 Bounded westerly by Gravill Brook Southerly by 
 the Land of William Estill from y e Mouth of 
 Long Meadow Run Easterly & Northerly by Land 
 unsurveyed. Also all y e Long Meadow. Upon y e 
 s d Long Meadow Run Bounded west by y e Last 
 Mentioned Tract of Land and all round y e other 
 side up Upland Unsurveyed In all containing four 
 Hundred are. [acres] More or Less besides allow- 
 ance for barron Land and High Ways with all the 
 Royaltys Proffets advantages Hereditaments & 
 
1 8 ABRAHAM LINCOLN 
 
 appurtenances to y e said Land and Meadow Be- 
 longing or in anywise apertaining also all y e 
 Estate Right title Interest claime and Demand 
 Whoever of y e said Richard Saltar of in & to 
 or out of y e Same on any Part of them as amply 
 and fully to all Intents & Purposes asy e same ward 
 [sic] conveyed and assured to him by a certain 
 Deed of Sale Bearing Date y e seventh Day of No- 
 vember Annoq Domini 17 17 from John Reid Es- 
 quire to have and to hold y e said Severall Tracts 
 of Land and Premises with their appurtenances 
 unto him y e said Mordecai Lincon his heirs and as- 
 signs to y e only Euse and behoof of y e said Morde- 
 cai Lincon his heirs and assigns forever and the 
 said Richard Saltar Doth for himself his heirs ex 9 
 and adm s to and with y e said Mordecai Lincon his 
 heirs and assigs [sic] Covenant Promise and agree 
 In y e Manner and forme following Viz: that the 
 Granted and Bargained Premises with y e ap- 
 purtenances are free and Clear of Incumbrances 
 and that y e said Richard Saltar hath good Right 
 full Power and Law full Authority to Sell and 
 Confirme y e Same In Manner aforesaid and y* y e 
 said Richard Saltar his heirs Ex s & Adm s Shall 
 and will forever warrant and Defend y e Same In 
 y e Peacable and quiet Possession and Seizen of 
 him the said Mordecai Lincon his heirs and as- 
 signs against all Persons whatsoever In Witness 
 whereof the said Richard Saltar hath hereunto 
 set his hand and Seale y e day and year first above 
 written. Richard Saltar (S) 
 
 Sealed and Delivered In the Presence of 
 Thomas Cox, R. Saltar Jun r . 
 
AN AMERICAN MIGRATION 19 
 
 April 5, 1727 Then appeared before John An- 
 derson Esq r one of his Magestys Councill for the 
 Province of New Jersey Richard Saltar Jun r a 
 Subscribing Evidence to the above written Instru- 
 ment who being Solemnly sworn on the Holy 
 Evangelists of Almighty God did declare that he 
 saw Richard Saltar therein Named Execute the 
 same as his Act and Deed. 
 
 Exam d by Tho s Barrow Sec. 
 
 In the year 1728 in the inventory of Elizabeth 
 Salter's Estate mention is made of a debt due Mor- 
 decai Lincon.* 
 
 NATHAN LINCOLN OF NEW JERSEY. 
 
 There is record in Sussex County, New Jersey, of 
 another Lincoln, Nathan by name, whom we have 
 not been able to trace elsewhere. The document in 
 question is the will of Nathan Lincoln (or Linken) 
 beginning and closing as follows : 
 
 "I, nathan Linken [Linkon?] of Sussex County 
 & Westrin division of ye province of New Jersey 
 
 Signed, sealed, published pronounced & deliv- 
 ered by the sd Nathan Linken to be his last Will 
 in presence of us 
 
 John Wood 
 
 her 
 Mary [X] Young, 
 mark 
 
 Brice Bicky." 
 
 * Cf. New Jersey Archives, First Series xxiii, p. 401. 
 
20 ABRAHAM LINCOLN 
 
 The will is dated August 7th, 1763. It was re- 
 corded January 14th, 1767. By a strange mistake, 
 the signature of the testator was misread as Nathan 
 Metopon, instead of Nathan Linken, and was calen- 
 dared under Metopon. It was only by accident that 
 the present writer discovered the identity of this 
 Metopon and thus discovered this third Jersey 
 Lincoln. 
 
 It lies beyond the purpose of this study to attempt 
 to trace the relation of this Nathan Lincoln to Mor- 
 decai and Abraham of Monmouth County, New Jer- 
 sey, on the one hand, or to the Maryland Lincolns 
 on the other. 
 
L_*X^^ r/ >^<^ 
 
AN AMERICAN MIGRATION 21 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 THE LINCOLNS IN PENNSYLVANIA. 
 
 Both Mordecai Lincoln and his brother Abraham 
 Lincoln migrated from New Jersey to Pennsylvania, 
 where they spent the remainder of their lives, each 
 rearing a numerous family. It is in Pennsylvania 
 that we find the most abundant information of the 
 Lincoln family. Scores of references to the Lin- 
 colns are still preserved in the land records of Har- 
 risburg, Philadelphia, West Chester and Reading, 
 as will appear in the documents printed below. 
 
 MORDECAI LINCOLN IN PENNSYLVANIA. 
 
 Mordecai Lincoln begins to appear in the Penn- 
 sylvania records in 1720 and we may suppose that 
 he migrated from East Jersey to Pennsylvania some 
 time, probably soon, after February 2nd of that year. 
 In the old burying ground near Allentown, Penn- 
 sylvania, is found an epitaph which reads "To the 
 Memory of Deborah Lincoln, Aged 3 yrs. 4 mos. 
 May 15, 1720." This probably refers to a child of 
 Mordecai and Hannah Lincoln. The name of Mor- 
 decai Lincoln is found in the tax lists of Chester 
 County, Pennsylvania, in 1720 and the following 
 years, as these extracts from the original lists will 
 show : 
 
22 ABRAHAM LINCOLN 
 
 1720 near y e Branches of the French Creek & 
 Brandywine 
 
 Mordecay Lncoln 3s. d. 
 
 1722 Nantmeal 
 
 Mordecai Lincoln 2s. 6d. 
 
 1724 Coventry 
 
 Mordecay LinColn 4 s - 4^- 
 
 1725 Coventry 
 
 Mordecay Lincolin 3s. d. 
 
 These tax lists show that Mordecai Lincoln was 
 assessed both in the township of Nantmeal and in 
 that of Coventry "near ye branches of the French 
 Creek & Brandywine." We learn further particu- 
 lars about his land in Coventry in another document 
 entitled "Articles of Agreement" between Samuel 
 Nut, William Branson and Mordecai Lincoln, dated 
 February 28th, 1723: 
 
 "Articles of Agreement Indented made and 
 Concluded the Twenty Eighth Day of February 
 Anno Doni 1723/4 Between Samuel Nut of the 
 Township of Coventry upon the French Creek in 
 Chester County Ironmonger of the first Part Wil- 
 liam Branson of the City of Phila. Merch*. of the 
 Second Part and Mordecai Lincoln of Coventry 
 afores d . Ironmonger of the Third Part In Man- 
 ner following that is to say — 
 
 Whereas The s d Samuel Nut William Branson 
 and Mordecai Lincoln Have at their Joint Charge 
 lately erected Built and provided one Dwelling 
 House and a Forge with Engines belonging to 
 
AN AMERICAN MIGRATION 23 
 
 their Iron Works besides other Buildings & Erec- 
 tions Situate Lying and being on a Certain Tract 
 of Land at French Creek afores d . * * * 
 Articles of Agreement Indented made and Con- 
 cluded the Twenty-eighth Day of February Anno 
 Doni 1723 Between Samuel Nutt of the Town- 
 ship of Coventry upon the French Creek in 
 Chester County Ironmonger of the first Part Mor- 
 decai Lincoln of Coventry afores d . Ironmonger of 
 the Second Part and William Branson of the City 
 of Phila. Merch 1 . of the third Part In Manner 
 following that is to say — 
 
 Know all men by these Pres s that I Mordecai 
 Lincoln of Coventry In the County Chester for 
 and in Consideration of the Sum of Five Hundred 
 Pounds of Current Lawful Money of America to 
 me in Hand paid by William Branson of Phila. 
 Merch*. The Receipt whereof I do hereby Ac- 
 knowledge and thereof do Exonerate Acquit and 
 for Ever Discharge the s d William Branson his 
 Heirs For Ever have bargained sold remised re- 
 leased and quitclaimed And by these Presents Do 
 Bargain sell remise release and for Ever quit claim 
 unto him the said William Branson his Heirs and 
 Assigns for Ever all and Singular the one full un- 
 divided third Part of One Hundred Acres of Land 
 as also one full undivided third Part of six Acres 
 of Land Together with all my Right Title Interest 
 and Claim whatsoever of in or to the afores d un- 
 divided Rights according to Articles of Aggreem 1 
 made Between Samuel Nutt of the one Part and 
 Mordecai Lincoln of the other part Together with 
 
24 ABRAHAM LINCOLN 
 
 all and Singular the Mynes and Minerals Forges 
 Building Houses Lands Improvements whatsoever 
 thereunto belonging or in any wise appertaining to 
 the only proper Use and Behoof of him the said 
 William Branson his Heirs and Assigns for Ever 
 in witness whereof I have hereunto Set my 
 Hand and Seal the fourteenth Day of December. 
 1725 mordecai Lincoln 
 
 Sealed & Delivered 
 In presence of 
 Jona Robeson 
 Jam Sheary* 
 
 Recorded by John Kinsey Jan. 4 1744/5. 
 
 The next reference to Mordecai Lincoln in Penn- 
 sylvania is a deed of Richard Saltar to Mordecai 
 Lincoln, dated May 26th, 1726. In this deed Mor- 
 decai Lincoln is mentioned as "of the County of 
 Chester in the prov'ce of Pensilvania." The docu- 
 ment runs as follows: 
 
 This Indenture Witnesseth That Richard 
 Saltar of Frehold in the County of Monmouth 
 & Prov ce of New Jersey Yeoman for and in Con- 
 sideration of the full and Just sum of pounds 
 
 in hand paid to the said Richard Saltar by Mor- 
 decai Lincon of the County of Chester in the 
 Prov ce of Pensilvania the Rec 1 whereof the 
 said Rich d doth hereby Acknowledge and is there- 
 with fully Satisfied Contented and paid & thereof 
 
 * Power of Attorney D. 2. v. 2, p. 370, Department of 
 Internal Affairs, Harrisburg, Pa. 
 
AN AMERICAN MIGRATION 25 
 
 and from every part & parcell thereof doth fully 
 clearly and absolutely Aquit Exonerate and dis- 
 charge him the said Mordecai Lincon his heirs and 
 Assigns forever Hath granted Bargained and sould 
 unto the said Mordecai Lincon his Heirs & assigns 
 forever All that Tract of Land lying in the County 
 of Midelsex in New Jersey aforesaid Beginning at 
 a Black Oak Tree marked on four sides standing 
 On the North side of a small slough or run w ch 
 is on the North side of a Farm formerly W m 
 Estell, from thence running North thirty nine de- 
 grees westerly Seventeen chains to Matchaponix 
 River thence down the same to the Mouth of a 
 Brook which is One of Robt Barclays Corners & 
 running from the first mentioned Black Oak Tree 
 att the Beginning South forty eight degrees East- 
 erly forty chains more or less to the reere Lines 
 of s d Estills Farme thence along the same North 
 & by East & half a point easterly to his corner 
 where a small run comes into the brook thence 
 down the Brook to the above named Barclays cor- 
 ner On Matchaponix River — Which Tract of Land 
 by Estimation One Hundred Acres more or less. 
 To Have and To Hold the said Tract of Land 
 with the appurtenances and privileges to the same 
 belonging or in any wise apertaining to him the 
 said Mordecai his heirs and assigns forever as 
 fully & amply to all intents purposes & Construc- 
 tions whatsoever as the same was made Over to 
 the said Richard Saltar by deeds of Sale from 
 Dugle Mackolom bearing date the fifteenth day 
 of July Anno Q D Domini 1719 and not other- 
 wise Jn Witness whereof J have hereunto Sett 
 
26 ABRAHAM LINCOLN 
 
 my Hand and Seale this Twenty sixth day of 
 May Anno Q. Domini 1726. 
 
 Richard Saltar (L. S.) 
 Sealed & Delivered 
 in the Presence of 
 her 
 Geo X Morlat 
 mark 
 
 Richard Saltar Jun 
 Ebenezer Saltar 
 
 April 5 th 1727 Then appeared before John An- 
 derson Esq 1- One of his Majestys Council for the 
 Province of New Jersey Richard Saltar Jun r who 
 being solemnly Sworn on the Holly Evangelists 
 of Almighty God did declare that he saw Rich- 
 ard Saltar above Named execute the same as his 
 Act and Deed. John Anderson Examined & 
 agrees with the original the word (Lincen*) in 
 the 11 th line underlined was by mistake in Re- 
 cording. 
 
 John Terrill Reg 
 
 In the year 1730 Mordecai Lincoln acquired of 
 Thomas Millard 303 acres of land (being a part of 
 the thousand acres granted to Andrew Robeson Feb- 
 ruary 20th, 1 718, willed by him to his son Jonathan 
 Robeson, and granted by the last named to Thomas 
 Millard, October 27th, 1729). 
 
 The name of Mordecai Lincoln appears among 
 the Justices of the Peace under date of March 5, 
 *73 2 ' l 733, and Dec. 3, 1733. 
 
 In 1735, Mordecai Lincoln's signature appears 
 
 * Cf. Record in Lib. 30 or D. 3, 130, Trenton, N. J. 
 

 
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 Will of Mordecai Lincoln, of Exeter, Pa. (First Page. 
 
AN AMERICAN MIGRATION 27 
 
 on the return of the reviewers of the road from 
 Schuylkill to Oley, as may be seen in the papers of 
 the Quarter Sessions of Philadelphia, 1735 and 1736. 
 
 It is clear from these documents that Mordecai 
 Lincoln migrated to Pennsylvania in or about the 
 year 1720, that he was an ironmonger and bought 
 land in that part of Pennsylvania where the iron 
 industry was developing and where it has continued 
 to flourish until the present day. He was thus fol- 
 lowing the tradition of his father who began the 
 iron industry in Massachusetts a generation before. 
 
 Mordecai Lincoln made his last will and testa- 
 ment February 22d, 1735. His signature was 
 affirmed and sworn to by two of the witnesses, Sol- 
 omon Coles and John Bell, June 7th, 1736, at which 
 time the testator was evidently deceased. It is likely 
 that he died late in May, 1736, as the will naturally 
 would have been proven soon after the death of the 
 testator. His mortal remains were buried in the 
 Quaker burying ground, near Oley.* The text of 
 the Will runs thus : 
 
 Jn the Name of God Amen J Mordecai Lincon 
 of Amity in the County of philad a in the province 
 of pennsylv 3 - being sick and weak in body but of 
 sound mind and Memory Do make this my last 
 will and Testament in manner and form following 
 revoking and hereby disanulling and making void 
 all other and former Wills and Testaments by 
 me made whether in word or Writing allowing 
 this to be my last will and Testament and no other. 
 
 * The Exeter Meeting is evidently meant. 
 
28 ABRAHAM LINCOLN 
 
 Jmprimis it is my mind that in y e first place my 
 Just debts be honiestly paid. 
 
 Jtem J give and bequeath unto My son Mor- 
 decai Linkon the half of my land scituate in amity 
 and to his heirs and assigns forever 
 
 Jtem J give and bequeath unto my son Thomas 
 Linkon his heirs and assigns forever the one half 
 of my Land in amity aforesaid. 
 
 With this proviso that if my present wife Mary 
 should prove with Child at my Decease and bring 
 forth a son, then J order that y e said Land be Di- 
 vided into three equall parts, And that Mordecai 
 shall have y e Lower most or South East part, and 
 Thomas the Middle most and the posthumus y e 
 uper part : 
 
 Jtem J give and bequeath unto my Daughters 
 Hannah and Mary a Certain piece of Land at Mat- 
 japonix allread settled on them by a deed of gift. 
 
 Jtem J give unto my son John Lincon a Certain 
 piece of Land Lying in the Jerseys Containing 
 three hundred acres, and to his heirs and assigns 
 forever. 
 
 Jtem J give and bequeath unto my Two daugh- 
 ters Anne & Sarah and to their heirs and assigns 
 forever one hundred acres of Land lying at Mat- 
 japonix in the Jersey, which Land J do order my 
 Executrix herein after Named to sell and divide y e 
 money equally between them. 
 
 And J do hereby further order and appoint 
 that if any one or more of my Children above 
 named should happen to dye before they arrive 
 to their full age then such share or shares of y e 
 
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 Will of Mordecai Lincoln, of Exeter, Pa. (Second Page.) 
 (Original in the City Hall, Philadelphia.) 
 

 
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 Inventory of the Estate of Mondecai Lincoln, the Elder of 
 Exeter, Berks County, Pa. 
 
AN AMERICAN MIGRATION 29 
 
 deceased shall be Equally Divided amongst y e 
 surviving Children. 
 
 Jtem J give and bequeath unto my beloved 
 Wife Mary all y e residue or remainder of My 
 Estate goods Chatties Quick & dead To be at her 
 disposall, and Liberty to remain on My planta- 
 tion] at Melar [ ?] Amity untill those my Chil- 
 dren are at their severall ages, the better to enable 
 my Wife to bring up all my Children without 
 wasting or embezeling what I have left them. 
 
 And J do hereby nominate and appoint my Wife 
 Mary Lincon my whole and sole Executrix of 
 this my last Will and testam[ent.] 
 
 And my loving friends and Neighbours Jonathan 
 Robeson and George Boone Trustees to assist my 
 Executrix in & seeing this my Will and Testa- 
 ment well and truely perform [ed] according to y e 
 true Intent and Meaning thereof. 
 
 The within named Mordecai Lincon did sign 
 publish pronounce and declare that this present 
 writing was his last will and Testament y e 22 
 day of ffebruary A° Dom 1 1735 
 
 Jn the presence of us Mordecai Lincon 
 
 Jsrael Robeson 
 
 Solomon Coles aff 7th June 1736 
 
 John Bell Iur eod 
 
 Philad a June 7th 1736. Then personally ap- 
 peard Solomon Coles and John Bell two of the wit- 
 nesses to the foregoing Will & the sd Solomon 
 on his solemn affirmation & the sd John Bell 
 on his Oath did severally declare they saw & 
 heard Mordecai Lincoln Sign Seal publish and 
 
30 ABRAHAM LINCOLN 
 
 declare the same Will to be his Last Will & Testa- 
 ment and that at the doing thereof he was of 
 sound mind Memory and understanding to the 
 best of their knowledge. 
 
 Coram Pet Evans Rec Gen 
 
 The widow of Mordecai Lincoln transfered her 
 power of attorney January 17, 1742, to her son- 
 in-law, William Tallman, of Amity Township. This 
 is the instrument : 
 
 Know all Men by these presents that Mary 
 Rodgers of Exeter in the County of Philad a in 
 the Province of Pensylvania whole and Sole Ex- 
 ecutrix of Mordecai Lincon my deceased Husband 
 (by Virtue of his last Will and Testament were 
 Jmpowered to make Sale certain Lands as by the 
 said Will will at Large Appear) Know ye that I 
 the said Mary Rodgers for divers Good causes 
 and considerations me thereunto moving Have 
 placed made Ordained Constituted & appointed, 
 and in my stead and place have put and Authorized 
 my son in Law William Tallman of Amity in the 
 County aforesaid, yeoman, my True and Layfull 
 Attorney for me and in my Name and to my use 
 and Behoof, to Enter into all these Lands Con- 
 taining One hundred Acres lying on Matjaponix 
 in East Jersey with all their Rights members and 
 appurtenances thereunto belonging to Enter all 
 and every part & parcel thereof for me and in my 
 Name to Survey and for me and in my name to 
 bargain Sell Lease or grant to such person or per- 
 sons & for such Estate for Life Inheritance or 
 
AN AMERICAN MIGRATION 3 1 
 
 Otherwise & for Such Sum or Sumes of money 
 as by my said Attourney shall be though [t] meet 
 and requisite to the utermost & best comodity and 
 profit of me, and deed and deeds of the same 
 grants and Estates so to be made for me and in 
 my Name to Seal and as my deed to deliver unto 
 the parties to whome the same shall be so made, 
 And Acquittances & other Discharges for me and 
 in my Name to seal and deliver Hereby giving 
 and granted unto my said Attourney my whole & 
 full power and Authority in touching and concern- 
 ing the premisses to do— Execute proceed and fin- 
 ish in all things in as Large and Ample manner 
 and form as J myself might or Ought to do if J 
 were personally present, And Ratifying & allow- 
 ing whatsoever my said Attorney shall Lawfully 
 Act and do according to the True Jntent & meaning 
 of these presents, Jn Witness whereof J have here- 
 unto set my hand & Seal the 17th day of January 
 A . D°. 1742. 
 
 Mary Rogers (ss) 
 Sealed and delivered 
 
 in the presence of us 
 Geo : Boone — Roger Rogers 
 
 Be it Remembered that On the 17th day of Jan- 
 uary 1742. before me George Boone Esq 1 " One of 
 his Majesties Justices of the peace for the City 
 & County of Philad a came Mary Rodgers and 
 acknowledged the within power of Attourney to 
 be her deed — Witness my hand y e day of Year 
 above written. 
 
 Geo: Boone (ss) 
 
32 ABRAHAM LINCOLN 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 ABRAHAM LINCOLN IN PENNSYLVANIA. 
 
 Abraham Lincoln, the brother of Mordecai, also 
 migrated to Pennsylvania and settled in Springfield 
 Township, Chester County, in or about the year 
 1729, and died there in 1745. He was a blacksmith 
 as well as a yeoman. The following records, refer- 
 ring to him, have been found in the documents still 
 extant. 
 
 Abraham Lincoln or "Lincon" is mentioned as 
 one of the 22 Jurors in the General Quarter Sessions 
 of the Peace, of Monmouth County, New Jersey, 
 Nov. 22, 1720. With Robert Lawrence and Cor- 
 neles van Horen he made an inventory of Peter 
 Gordon's personal estate May 13, 1725.* 
 
 The first appearance of Abraham Lincoln's name 
 in Pennsylvania is found in a deed issued by Thomas 
 Williams, of Freehold, New Jersey, to "Abraham 
 Lincon of Springfield, in the County of Chester and 
 province of Pennsylvania" under date of January 
 16, 1729. From this document we learn that Abra- 
 ham Lincoln by a "bargain of Sale" for one year 
 had already occupied the tract in question which 
 was situated on Crum Creek. It would thus appear 
 that Abraham Lincoln moved to Pennsylvania in 
 January or March, 1728, as we may suppose his 
 occupancy followed quickly upon the "bargain of 
 
 * Cf. New Jersey Archives, First Series xxiii, p. 190. 
 
AN AMERICAN MIGRATION 33 
 
 Sale" which seems to have been dated January 15th, 
 1728. The deed, recorded in West Chester, Pa., 
 runs as follows : 
 
 "This Indenture made the Sixteenth day of 
 Ianuary in the Year of our Lord one Thousand and 
 Seven hundred and Twenty nine (thirty) Between 
 Thomas Williams of freehold in the County of 
 Monmouth and Prov e of New Jersey Yeoman of 
 the one part and Abraham Lincon of Springfield 
 in the County of Chester and province of Pennsyl- 
 vania Yeoman of the other part Witnesseth that 
 the said Thomas Williams for an in Considera- 
 tion of the sum of Three hundred and Twenty 
 pounds Lawful money of America to him in hand 
 paid by the s d Abraham Lincon the receipt where- 
 of is hereby acknowledged and thereof doth 
 acquit & forever Discharge the said Abra- 
 ham Lincon his heirs and assigns by these pres- 
 ents Have Granted bargained sold aliened enfe- 
 offed released & Confirmed and by these presents 
 do grant bargain sell alien en feoff e release and 
 Confirm unto the said Abraham Lincon his heirs 
 & assigns all that Tract of Land Situate in Spring- 
 field aforesaid Containing three hundred acres 
 withe allowances of Ten acres on the hundred 
 all the Messuage or Tenement & Plantation thereon 
 Beginning at a White Oak standing bv Crum 
 Creek thence north fifty five degrees Easterly by 
 Bartholomew Coppocks land three hundred and 
 sixty seven perches to a Post thence south Thirty 
 five degrees Easterly by Thomas Taylors land one 
 hundred and Twenty eight perches to a Black Oak 
 thence south fifty-five degrees West by George 
 
34 ABRAHAM LINCOLN 
 
 Lowns Land four hundred and Twenty Seven 
 perches to Crum Creek thence along the said Creek 
 on the Several Courses thereof To the place of Be- 
 ginning Containing three hundred and Thirty acres 
 Together with all the Houses out Houses Edi- 
 fices Buildings Gardens orchards mines minerals 
 Wods undwoods Medws [sic] Marshes Swamps 
 criples ways waters waterCourses fishings fowlings 
 haukings Huntings Rights Libertys Priviledges Im- 
 provements hereditaments & apurtenances whatso- 
 ever thereunto belonging or in any wise appertain- 
 ing of all which said Land and premises hereby 
 Granted with their appurtenances the said Abra- 
 ham Lincon is now in actual Possession by force 
 and Virtue of a bargain and Sale to him thereof 
 made by the said Thomas Williams for the Term 
 of one Year as by an Indenture in that behalf 
 made bearing Date the day next before the day 
 of the date hereof may apear and the Reversions 
 and remainders rents Issues and profits thereof 
 and all Deeds Writings and Evidences whatsoever 
 Concerning the same To Have & to Hold the said 
 Messuage or Tenement Plantation and three hun- 
 dred and Thirty acres of land and premises hereby 
 Granted or mentioned so to be with their Appur- 
 tenances unto the said Abraham Lincon and his 
 heirs to the only proper use and behoof of the 
 said Abraham Lincon his heirs and assigns for- 
 ever under the Yearly Quitrent hereafter accru- 
 ing to the Lord of the fee thereof and the said 
 Thomas Williams & his heirs the s d Messuage or 
 Tenement three hundred and Thirty acres of Land 
 
AN AMERICAN MIGRATION 35 
 
 Hereditaments and premises hereby Granted with 
 their Appurtenances unto the said Abraham Lin- 
 con his heirs and Assigns against him the said 
 Thomas Williams, and his heirs & against him the 
 said Thomas Williams [any] persons whomsoever 
 Lawfully Claiming or to Claime by from or under 
 him or his heirs shall and will Warant and Defend 
 forever by these presents and the said Thomas 
 Williams for himself and his heirs doth Covenant 
 Promise and Grant to and with the said Abraham 
 Lincon his heirs & assigns by these presents 
 Thatt he hath in himself Good rightfull Lawful 
 and Absolute Power and Authority to Grant bar- 
 gain sell & Convey all the said Messuage or Tene- 
 ment Plantation land & premises hereby Granted 
 with their Appurtenances unto the said Abraham 
 Lincon his heirs and assigns in manner aforesaid 
 and thatt the said Abraham Lincon his heirs and 
 assigns shall or Lawfully may from time to time 
 and at all times hereafter forever freely quietly & 
 peaceably have hold Occupy Possess and Enjoy 
 the s d Mesuage Plantation Land and premises and 
 every part thereof with the Appurtenances & re- 
 ceive and Take all the rents Issues and profits 
 thereof without any manner of Lett Suit Trouble 
 or Molestation whatsoever by any person or per- 
 sons whomsoever and also that the said Mesuage 
 land and premises with their appurtenances now 
 are and from time to time forever hereafter shall 
 remain Continue and be unto the said Abraham 
 Lincon [and] his heirs free and Clear and freely 
 and clearly aquited and discharged of & from all 
 
36 ABRAHAM LINCOLN 
 
 and all manner of former & other bargains Sales 
 Gifts Grants Jointures Devises Mortgages Intails 
 Rents Arrearages of Rents [ ?] little charges or In- 
 cumbrances whatsoever the proprietors Quitrents 
 hereafter acrueing for the same only Excepted and 
 lastly that he the said Thomas and his heirs and 
 assigns and all and every other person & persons 
 Whomsoever Lawfully Claiming or to Claim the 
 said Messuage Land and premises hereby Granted 
 shall and will from time to time and at all times 
 hereafter upon the request Cost and Charge in the 
 Law of the said Abraham Lincon his heirs or as- 
 signs make do Execute and Acknowledge or Cause 
 so to be all & every such further and other reason- 
 able act & acts Deed or Deeds Device or Devices 
 in the Law for the further and better assuring and 
 Confirmation of the said Messuage Land & Plan- 
 tation hereby Granted with their appurtenances 
 unto the said Abraham Lincon his heirs and as- 
 signs as by him or them or by his or their Counsel 
 Learned in the Law shall be reasonably Devised 
 advised or Requred [sic] 
 
 In Witness whereof the said Thomas Williams 
 hath hereunto set his hand and affixed his Seal the 
 day & Year first abov Written. 
 
 Thomas Williams (Seal) 
 
 Sealed and Delivered 
 by the said Thomas 
 Williams in the pres- 
 ence of 
 
 Robert Lawrence 
 John Coward — 
 
AN AMERICAN MIGRATION 7,? 
 
 Be it Remembered the fourteenth day of Sep- 
 tember 1747 Before me Benjamin Shoemaker Esq r 
 one of the justices &c personally Came and ap- 
 peared William Lawrence of the City of Philadel- 
 phia Merchant and the within Written Indenture 
 
 his 
 subscribed Thomas (X) Williams to Seal & 
 
 mark 
 
 with the names Rob 4 Lawrence & John Coward 
 &c." 
 
 [W. Lawrence attested the signature of his father 
 Robert and the deed was recorded Aug. 22, 1785.] 
 
 This same year, 1729, and later, we find the name 
 of Abraham Lincoln among the taxables of Chester 
 County, as the following excerpts from the originals 
 show : 
 
 1729 Springfield 
 
 Abraham Lincon 14 s. d. 
 
 1730 Springfield 
 
 Abraham Lincon 12 s. d. 
 
 The name Abraham Lincoln continues to be 
 written this way until 1739, when we have the fol- 
 lowing entry : 
 
 1739 Springfield 
 Abraham Linghorn 
 
 1740 Springfield 
 Abram Lincoln 
 
 Abraham Lincoln, of Springfield, before migrat- 
 ing from New Jersey, owned two considerable tracts 
 of land in Monmouth County, New Jersey, as may 
 be seen from the land records. One of these tracts, 
 
38 ABRAHAM LINCOLN 
 
 containing 240 acres, was granted to him by Safety 
 Borden, February nth, 1722, and the other tract, 
 containing 200 acres, was granted him by Abraham 
 Vanhorn, March 25th, 1725. After purchasing the 
 tract in Springfield Township, on Crum Creek, from 
 Thomas Williams, Lincoln sold both of the above 
 tracts in East Jersey to Thomas Williams, April 29, 
 1730, for the sum of 590 pounds. The following 
 deed relates the brief title and sets forth the condi- 
 tions of sale: 
 
 This Indenture, Made the Twenty ninth day 
 of April in the third Year of the Reign of Our 
 Sovereign Lord George the Second by the Grace 
 of God of Great Britain France & Ireland King, 
 Defender of the Faith &c. Anno Domini One 
 Thousand Seven hundred & thirty Between Abra- 
 ham Lincon of the County of Monmouth in the 
 Eastern Division of the Province of New Jersey 
 Blacksmith of the one part And Thomas Wil- 
 liams of the Same County Yeoman of the other 
 part Witnesseth that the said Abraham Lincon 
 for & in Consideration of the Sum of Five Hun- 
 dred & Ninety Pounds Current Money of the Said 
 Province to him in hand Paid before the Enseal- 
 ing & Delivery of these Presents by him the said 
 Thomas Williams the Receit whereof he the Said 
 Abraham Lincon doth hereby acknowledge & him- 
 self to be therewith fully & Entirely Satisfied 
 Contented & Paid & thereof & of & from every 
 Part & parcel thereof Doth fully clearly & abso- 
 lutely Acquit Exonerate & Discharge him the 
 Said Thomas Williams his Heirs Executors Ad- 
 
AN AMERICAN MIGRATION 39 
 
 ministrators & Every of them forEver by these 
 presents Hath granted bargained & Sold Aliened 
 enfeoffed & Confirmed And by these Presents 
 Doth fully clearly & absolutely Grant Bargain 
 & Sell Alien en feoff e Release Convey & Con- 
 firm unto him the Said Thomas Williams his 
 Heirs & Assigns forEver All those two Tracts 
 of Land Scituate Lying & Being near Cross- 
 weeks in the County aforesaid herein after Abut- 
 ted Bounded & Described Viz : All that Tract of 
 Land which was Granted & Confirmed unto him 
 the Said Abraham Lincon by deed from Safety 
 Borden bearing date the Eleventh day of Febru- 
 ary Anno Domini 1722 Containing Two Hundred 
 & forty Acres be the Same more or less Begin- 
 ning at a Stake Standing in the Clear Land, which 
 is a corner of Benjamin Bordens Land Twenty 
 five Chains from Burlington Path & Ten Chains 
 Eastward of the Land in possession of Richard 
 Borden & Running North North West Twenty 
 three Chains Sixty five Links to the South East 
 Corner of Abraham Vanhorns Land And from 
 said Beginning Stake Running North Seventy 
 Seven Degrees Easterly Forty & two Chains, Then 
 South East to Burlington Path & North Easterly 
 along the Path to the Pines & following the Pines 
 to the corner of John Limings Land Then South 
 Seventy Seven Degrees West along said Limmings 
 line to the above named Vanhornes land and 
 following said Vanhornes lines to the South 
 East Corner of his Land as above mentioned 
 Bounded North Westwardly by Vanhorns & 
 Limmings Land South Westwardly by Benja- 
 
40 ABRAHAM LINCOLN 
 
 min Bordens Land South Eastwardly partly by 
 Benjamin Borden & partly by Burlington Path 
 North Eastwardly by the Pines And also All that 
 tract of Land which was granted & Confirmed 
 to him the Said Abraham Lincon by Deed from 
 Abraham Vanhorn bearing Date the Twenty fifth 
 day of March Anno Domini 1725 Containing Two 
 Hundred Acres — Beginning at a stake Standing 
 in the rere of the Lott of Land formerly Job 
 Throckmortons of which Lott this Two Hundred 
 Acres is part, which Stake Stands Ten Chains 
 from the South Westernmost Corner of the Said 
 Lott & from thence running South South East 
 Fifty One Chains & thirty five Links Thence North 
 Seventy Seven Degrees Easterly Thirty One 
 Chains & twenty Links to the Line of Land lately 
 Sold to James Borden, Thence North North West 
 Eleven Chains & an half to a Maple Tree 
 by a Brook marked on four sides Thence up the 
 said Brook Ten Chains & forty Links to where the 
 Line of the said Land sold to James Borden cross- 
 es said Brook Thence North North West Thirty 
 seven Chains & one Rodd Thence South seventy 
 seven Degrees Westwardly Forty two Chains to 
 the Place where it Began Bounded Southerly Ten 
 Chain short of the Land on which Richard Bor- 
 den formerly lived, Easterly by the first above- 
 mentioned Tract of Land Northerly by the Land 
 Sold to James Borden Westerly by the Rere Line 
 of said Lott Together with all & all manner of 
 Housings Buildings Edifices Structures Barns 
 Stables Orchards Fencings Feedings Improve- 
 ments Pastures Meadows Woods Trees Waters 
 
AN AMERICAN MIGRATION 41 
 
 Brooks Springs Ponds Pools Pits Easements Pro- 
 fits Commodities Royalties Liberties Advantages 
 Emoluments Hereditaments & Appurtenances 
 whatsoever To the said Two Tracts of Land Be- 
 longing or in any manner of Ways thereunto Ap- 
 pertaining And also all the Estate Right Title 
 Interest Possession Property Claims & Demand 
 whatsoever of him the said Abraham Lincon & 
 his Heirs as well in Law as in Equity of in or unto 
 the said Two Tracts & Granted & Bargained Prem- 
 ises with the Appurtenancies with the Reversion & 
 Reversions Remainder & Remainders thereof & 
 of every part & parcel thereof as fully & amply to 
 all Intents Constructions & Purposes whatsoever 
 as the same was Granted & Confirmed unto him 
 the said Abraham Lincon in & by the two Deeds 
 before mentioned Relation to the Same being had 
 more fully & at large may Appear To Have and 
 to Hold the said Two Tracts of Land & Granted 
 & Bargained Premises with all & singular the 
 Rights Members & Appurtenances to the same be- 
 longing unto him the said Thomas Williams his 
 Heirs & Assigns for Ever To the only proper 
 Use Benefit & behoof of him the said Thomas 
 Williams his Heirs & Assigns for Ever Yeild- 
 ing & Paying therefore Yearly and Every Year 
 hereafter unto the said Abraham Lincon his 
 Heirs & Assigns for Ever as an Acknowledg- 
 ment for the first mentioned Tract of Land upon 
 the Feast of St. Michael the Arch-Angel the 
 Sum of One Penny good & Lawful Money, 
 when the same shall be legally Demanded upon 
 the Premises And he the said Abraham Lin- 
 
42 ABRAHAM LINCOLN 
 
 con for himself his Heirs Executors & Admin- 
 istrators Doth Covenant Promise Grant & Agree 
 to and with him the said Thomas Williams 
 his Heirs & Assigns by these presents in man- 
 ner & form following Viz*: That at the time 
 of the Sealing & Delivery hereof he the said Abra- 
 ham Lincon is Lawfully Seized of the Said Two 
 Tracts of Land as above bounded & all & singular 
 & every the Premises & Appurtenances thereof of 
 a good, sure, pure, perfect & absolute Lawful 
 Indefeazable Estate of Inheritance in the Law, 
 in his proper Demesne as of Fee without any Con- 
 dition or Limitation of any Use or Uses Estate or 
 Estates in or to any person or persons whatsoever 
 so as to Alter Change Charge Defeat Determine 
 or make Void the Same, or any part thereof And 
 that he the Said Abraham Lincon hath in himself 
 good Rightfull Power and absolute Lawful Au- 
 thority to Grant Bargain & Sell the same & 
 Every part thereof unto him the Said Thomas Wil- 
 liams his Heirs & Assigns for ever in manner 
 aforesaid And that the same now is free & from 
 time to time & at all times hereafter Shall remain 
 & be free & clear to him the Said Thomas Wil- 
 liams, his Heirs & Assigns for Ever from all & 
 all manner of former & other Gifts Grants Bar- 
 gains Sales Leases Mortgages & of & from all- 
 other Titles Troubles Charges Demands & Incum- 
 brances whatsoever had made Committed done or 
 suffered to bedone by him the Said Abraham Lin- 
 con or any other Person or Persons whatsoever by 
 from or under him so as to Alter Change Charge 
 Defecit or make Void this Same. 
 
AN AMERICAN MIGRATION 43 
 
 His Rents or Services that for the last men- 
 tioned Tract Shall become due to the Lords Pro- 
 prietors only Excepted And Further he the Said 
 Abraham Lincon for him-self his Heirs Executors 
 & Administrators Doth hereby Covenant Promise 
 Grant & Agree the Said Two Tracts of Land & 
 Granted & Bargained Premises with the Appur- 
 tenances unto him the Said Thomas Williams & 
 his Heirs & Assigns, against him the Said Abra- 
 ham Lincon & his Heirs & all & Every other 
 Person or Persons whatsoever lawfully laying 
 claim to the same or to any part or parcel thereof 
 shall & will Warrant & for Ever by these Pres- 
 ents Defend In Witness whereof he the Said 
 Abraham Lincon hath hereunto Set his hand & 
 Seal the day and year first above written 
 
 Abraham (L. S.) Lincon 
 
 The written within Instrument 
 Sealed & Delivered in the presence of 
 Benj. Price Law r Smyth 
 
 An old document, the petition of Mordecai Tay- 
 lor of the township of Springfield for a tavern 
 license, contains the signature of Abraham Lincoln. 
 This petition sets forth so vividly the primitive con- 
 ditions of the Great Road leading from Darby to 
 Springfield in 1743, that it is printed here: 
 
 Chester Co. To his Majesties Justices of the 
 peace at the Court of General Quarter Sessions 
 held at Chester the 31st day of August Annoq 
 Domini 1743 — 
 
 The Petition of Mordecai Taylor of the Town- 
 ship of Springfield — 
 Humbly Sheweth 
 
44 ABRAHAM LINCOLN 
 
 That whereas your Petitioner living on the Great 
 Road leading from Darby to Springfield & so 
 into Conostogoe Road being a Commodious place 
 for a House of Entertainment and no Tavern 
 being within four Miles of him, And Travellers 
 daily travelling that Road And People going back 
 and forward sometimes Twenty or Thirty Wag- 
 gons of a Day And Calling at your Petitioners 
 House, which is a great Trouble & Expense to Yo r 
 Petit 1 " Therefore he prays that your Honours 
 would be pleased to grant him a Recommendation 
 to the Governor for a Lycence Accordingly And 
 your Petit 1 " as in duty bound shall ever pray 
 
 Mordecai Taylor. 
 
 We whose names are hereunto subscribed being 
 well Acquainted with the above Petitioner believe 
 him to be a suitable person to keep a Public house 
 of Entertainment And prays that You would be 
 pleased to grant him a Recommendation to the 
 Governor for a Lycence Accordingly 
 
 B Davis Joseph Powell Jos : Levis 
 
 Thomas Taylor Bartholomew Coppock 
 
 John Owen Mordecai Massey '"Vn^Jl-Cyt , 
 
 Jn° Levis James Rhoades 
 
 Abr m Lincon John Rhoads 
 
 M Maddock Thomas Fall 
 
 James Crozer Joseph Maris 
 
 Jno Gibbons Bernhard Van Leer 
 
 Jos. Harvey Jsaac Collier * 
 
 * From the collection of Mr. Gilbert Cope, who kindly 
 furnished the writer with a photograph of the Petition. 
 
''/• : V^'W/^, //£/,, 
 
 «t £4L 
 
 I y.«**M y<.,,,, J£M £% ,//;.../. 'I/-,,./ , 
 
 1 $?~ ^ ;; ' g -fy^' 1 ' '•■';•/, 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 ^., 
 
 ^^%r,,v /£ 
 
 /UtiCt,' 
 
 
 l^->.- // //Cl. (sst,* 
 
 
 
 W£0T/ 
 
 YiJisJty 
 
 
 
 Petition for Tavern License, Showing Signature of Abraham 
 
 Lincoln, of Springfield. 
 (Original in the Possession of Mr. Gilbert Cope.) 
 
AN AMERICAN MIGRATION 45 
 
 In the year 1744 Abraham Lincoln, of Spring- 
 field, bought property in Elbow lane in the city of 
 Philadelphia, from William Clare and from John 
 Clare and John Clare's sister, Esther. In his will 
 Lincoln mentions a property bought of Humphrey 
 Clase (Classe) in the same city. In the deeds to the 
 y-y Clare properties, Lincoln is spoken of as "Yeoman 
 of Springfield, Chester County." The relation of 
 Humphrey Clase in the transaction appears in the 
 deeds which follow. The deed of William Clare 
 conveying this portion of the tract in question and 
 received from the estate of his father (William 
 Clare, deceased), here follows in its essential parts: 
 
 This Indenture Made the Twenty Ninth day 
 of March in the year of our Lord one thousand 
 seven hundred and forty four Between William 
 Clare of the City of Philadelphia in the Province 
 of Pennsylvania Cordwainer of the one part and 
 Abraham Lincon of Springfield in the County of 
 Chester Yeoman of the other part Whereas in and 
 by certain Indentures of lease and release bearing 
 date respectively the twenty third and twenty 
 fourth days of June 1720 made between Joshua 
 Carpenter of the said City Gentleman and Eliza- 
 beth his wife of the one part and John Rakestraw 
 of the same City Carter and Ruth his wife of the 
 other part he the said Joshua Carpenter and Eliz- 
 abeth his wife did for the considerations therein 
 mentioned grant release and confirm unto the said 
 Iohn Rakestraw and Ruth his wife A Certain 
 piece or parcel of ground situate lying and being 
 
46 ABRAHAM LINCOLN 
 
 in Philadelphia aforesaid Containing in front or 
 breadth on Elbow Lane thirty seven feet and in 
 length forty four feet Bounded northward with 
 Elbow Lane aforesaid Eastward with George Em- 
 len's lot Southward by the back of Chesnut Street 
 lots and westward with other ground of the said 
 Joshua Carpenter with its appurtenances to hold 
 to them the said Iohn Rakestraw and Ruth his 
 wife their heirs and assigns forever Yielding and 
 Paying yearly and every year unto the said Ioshua 
 Carpenter his heirs and assigns the rent or sum of 
 two pounds nine shillings and four pence lawful 
 money of America at the rates appointed by the 
 late Act of Parliament for ascertaining the rates 
 of foreign coin in the Plantations of America * * 
 [recital of earlier title] ******** 
 Now this indenture witnesseth that for and 
 in consideration of the sum of fifty pounds law- 
 ful money of the Province aforesaid unto the said 
 William Clare party thereto well and truly paid 
 by the said Abraham Lincon at or before the seal- 
 ing and delivery of these presents the receipt 
 whereof is hereby acknowledged and thereof doth 
 acquit and forever discharge the said Abraham 
 Lincon his heirs executors and administrators for- 
 ever he the said William Clare party hereto Hath 
 granted bargained sold released and confirmed 
 and by these presents Doth grant bargain sell re- 
 lease and confirm unto the said Abraham Lincon 
 in his actual possession now being, and unto his 
 heirs and assigns All that the said westernmost 
 tenement new erected on the said piece of ground 
 before described on the south side of Elbow Lane 
 
AN AMERICAN MIGRATION 47 
 
 Containing thirty seven feet by forty four with a 
 proportionate part of the said piece of ground 
 thereunto belonging ********* 
 In Witness whereof the said parties to these 
 presents have hereunto interchangeably set their 
 hands and seals the day and year first above 
 written 
 
 William Clare (Seal) 
 Sealed and Delivered 
 in the Presence of us 
 
 Harry Travers Ioseph Breintnall 
 
 [Signature of Grantor acknowledged March 30 
 1744. Recorded April 29 1835] 
 
 The deed* of John Clare and Humphrey Clase (the 
 husband of John Clare's sister Esther) conveying the 
 shares of John and Esther to Abraham Lincoln ex- 
 plains the appearance of Humphrey Clase in the 
 transaction, and shows that Abraham Lincoln, of 
 Springfield, bought at least three of the four shares 
 of the tract of ground left by William Clare, Sr., to 
 his four children, George, William, Jr., John and Es- 
 ther (who married Humphrey Clase) : 
 
 This Indenture Made the nineteenth day of 
 November in the year of our Lord one thousand 
 seven hundred and forty four Between John Clare 
 of the City of Philadelphia Cordwainer and Abigal 
 his wife and Humphrey Classe of the said City 
 
 * Deed Book 60, p. 601 ft, City Hall, Philadelphia. 
 
48 ABRAHAM LINCOLN 
 
 Mariner and Esther his wife (sister of the said 
 Iohn Clare) of the one part and Abraham Lincon 
 of Springfield in the County of Chester Yeoman 
 of the other part Whereas in and by a certain 
 Indenture of lease and release bearing date the 
 twenty third and twenty fourth days of Iune one 
 thousand seven hundred and twenty made between 
 Ioshua Carpenter of the said City Gentleman and 
 Elizabeth his wife of the one part and Iohn Rake- 
 straw of the said City Carter and Ruth his wife 
 of the other part he the said Ioshua Carpenter and 
 Elizabeth his wife for and in the Consideration 
 therein mentioned did grant release and Confirm 
 unto the said Iohn Rakestraw and Ruth his 
 wife A Certain piece or parcel of land situate 
 lying and being in Philadelphia aforesaid Con- 
 taining in breadth upon Elbow Lane thirty 
 seven feet and in length forty four feet Bounded 
 northward with Elbow Lane aforesaid east- 
 ward with George Emlen's lot southward with 
 the back of Chestnut Street lots and west- 
 ward with the other ground of the said Ioshua 
 Carpenter with the appurtenances to hold to them 
 the said Ioshua Rakestraw and Ruth his wife their 
 heirs and assigns forever Yielding and paying 
 yearly and every year unto the said Ioshua Carpen- 
 ter his heirs and assigns the rent or sum of two 
 pounds nine shillings and four pence lawful money 
 of America at the rate appointed by the late act of 
 Parliament for ascertaining the rates of foreign 
 coins in the Plantations in America on the twenty 
 
AN AMERICAN MIGRATION 49 
 
 fourth day of Iune yearly forever with clauses of 
 reentry and distress for non payment And Where- 
 as in and by a certain Indenture bearing date the 
 first day of July 1721 (And Recorded at Phila- 
 delphia in Deed Book vol 2 page 204 &c) made 
 between the said Iohn Rakestraw and Ruth his 
 wife of one part and William Clare of the said 
 City Cordwainer father of the said Iohn Clare of 
 the other part they the said Iohn Rakestraw and 
 Ruth his wife for the consideration therein men- 
 tioned did grant release and confirm unto the said 
 William Clare his heirs and assigns all that the 
 above mentioned and described piece or parcel of 
 land with a certain messuage or tenement there on 
 built and erected by the said Iohn Rakestraw To- 
 gether also with all and singular other the build- 
 ings improvements ways alleys passages waters 
 water courses rights easements rights liberties 
 privileges hereditaments and appurtenances what- 
 soever thereunto belonging and the reversions and 
 remainders rents issues and profits thereof and 
 all the estate right title interest use possession 
 property claim and demand of them the said Iohn 
 Rakestraw and Ruth his wife of in and to the 
 hereby granted premises and true copies of all 
 deeds evidences and writings concerning the prem- 
 ises to be had and taken at the proper costs and 
 charges of the said William Clare his heirs or 
 assigns which last recited Indenture contains a 
 covenant on the part of the said William Clare his 
 heirs and assigns well and truly to pay and dis- 
 charge yearly forever the said rent of two pounds 
 
50 ABRAHAM LINCOLN 
 
 nine shillings and four pence And Whereas the 
 said William Clare after having built and erected 
 another messuage or tenement on the said de- 
 scribed lot of ground made his last will and testa- 
 ment bearing date the seventeenth day of the 
 fourth month one thousand seven hundred and 
 thirty two wherein he disposed of his estate in the 
 world viz. I give and bequeath unto my beloved 
 wife Esther Clare all my real and personal estate 
 goods and chattels whatsoever to have the full 
 and free use of them during her life and after her 
 decease to be divided equally amongst all my chil- 
 dren Item I make my aforesaid wife full and 
 sole executrix of this my last will and testament 
 And Whereas the said Executrix survived the said 
 testator some time and is since deceased and there 
 upon the children namely George Clare William 
 Clare Iohn Clare and Esther Clare by Indenture 
 bearing date the Sixteenth day of October 1742 
 and then intended to be recorded [Recorded in 
 Book 9 Vol. 5 page 10 1 &c] and an amicable par- 
 tition and division of the said Estate whereby it 
 was agreed among other things that the said Iohn 
 Clare and his said sister Esther shall hold enjoy 
 and have the Easternmost which is the largest of 
 the two tenements erected on the said piece of 
 ground of thirty seven feet in breadth by forty 
 four feet in length with a proportionable part of 
 the same piece of ground Together with the ap- 
 purtenances which Easternmost Tenement and the 
 ground thereto belonging are bargained and sold 
 and intended to be hereby conveyed unto the said 
 
AN AMERICAN MIGRATION 51 
 
 Abraham Lincon his heirs and assigns. Now this 
 indenture witnesseth that the said Iohn Clare and 
 Abigail his wife and Humphrey Clase and 
 Esther his wife for and in consideration of the 
 sum of one hundred and twenty pounds lawful 
 money of Pennsylvania to them in hand paid and 
 secured to be paid the receipt whereof is hereby 
 acknowledged Have and each of them hath 
 granted bargained sold released and confirmed and 
 by these presents Do and each of them Doth 
 grant bargain sell release and confirm unto the 
 said Abraham Lincon and to his heirs and assigns 
 All that the said Easternmost tenement and the 
 ground thereunto belonging situate on the South 
 side of Elbow Lane as aforesaid Together with all 
 the ways alleys waters water courses rights [ ?] 
 easements rights liberties privileges hereditaments 
 and appurtenances thereunto belonging or in any 
 wise appurtaining and all the estate right title in- 
 terest use possession property claim and demands 
 of them the said grantors or either or any of them 
 of in or to the hereby granted premises and true 
 copies of all deeds evidences and writings concern- 
 ing the same to have and to hold the said Eastern- 
 most tenement situate on the south side of Elbow 
 Lane and a proportionable part thereto belonging 
 of the said lot of ground of thirty seven foot by 
 forty four foot hereditaments and premises hereby 
 granted or mentioned or inteded to be granted 
 with the appurtenances unto the said Abraham 
 Lincon and his heirs to the use and behoof of the 
 said Abraham Lincon his heirs and assigns forever 
 
52 ABRAHAM LINCOLN 
 
 Subject to a proportionable part of the said recited 
 rent of two pounds nine shillings and four pence 
 And the said Iohn Clare and Abigail his wife and 
 Humphey Clase and Esther his wife the hereby 
 granted premises against them and each of them 
 and all persons lawfully claiming under them unto 
 the said Abraham Lincon his heirs and assigns 
 shall and will warrant and forever defend by these 
 presents And the said Iohn Clare for himself his 
 heirs executors and administrators and for the 
 said Abigail his wife and the said Humphey Clase 
 for himself his heirs executors and administra- 
 tors for the said Esther his wife do respectively 
 covenant promise and grant that they the said Iohn 
 Clare and Abigail his wife and Humphey Clase and 
 Esther his wife shall and will at any time or 
 times hereafter at the reasonable request cost and 
 charges in the law of the said Abraham Lincon his 
 heirs or assigns make execute and acknowledge 
 or cause so to be all and every such further and 
 other reasonable act and acts deed or deeds device 
 or devices in law for the further and better assur- 
 ance and confirmation of the said tenement and 
 proportionable piece of ground hereditaments and 
 premises hereby granted as mentioned to be grant- 
 ed with the appurtenances unto the said Abraham 
 Lincon his heirs and assigns (under the propor- 
 tionable part of rent aforesaid) as by him or them 
 or his or their counsel learned in the law shall be 
 reasonably devised advised or required In Wit- 
 ness whereof the said parties to these presents have 
 
AN AMERICAN MIGRATION 53 
 
 hereunto interchangeably set their hands and seals 
 the day and year first above written 
 
 Esther Classe (Seal) 
 
 Humphrey Classe (Seal) 
 
 Iohn Clare (Seal) 
 
 Abigail Clare (Seal) 
 
 Sealed and Delivered in 
 
 the Presence of us 
 Jos Howell Joseph Brentnall 
 
 The Twentieth day of November 1744 
 
 Before me Joshua Maddox Esquire one of the 
 Iustices &c came the within named Iohn Clare and 
 Abigail his wife and Humphey Classe and Esther 
 his wife and acknowledged the with in written 
 Indenture to be their and each of their act and 
 deed and desired the same may be recorded And 
 the said Abigail and Esther being of full age and 
 apart examined willingly consented. 
 
 Witness my Hand and seal the day and year 
 aforesaid 
 
 Recorded April 29th 1835 
 
 Josh. Maddox (Seal) 
 
 Abraham Lincoln made his will April 15, 1745. 
 He died a very few days later, for the inventory is 
 dated April 30, 1745. Both the will and the inven- 
 tory are interesting documents and shed much light 
 upon the history of this branch of the family. Abra- 
 ham bequeathed his estate as follows : 
 
54 ABRAHAM LINCOLN 
 
 J Abraham Lincon of Springfield in the County 
 of Chester in the Province of Pensilvania Black- 
 smith being sick and weak in body but of well dis- 
 posing mind and Memory Praise be given to Al- 
 mighty God therefore but in Consideration of the 
 Uncertainty of this Mortal state and not knowing 
 how it may please the Lord to deal with me at 
 this time do make and Ordain this my last Will 
 and Testament in Manner and form following 
 First and Principally I recommend my Soul into 
 the hands of God that gave it and my body I com- 
 mit to the Earth to be buried in a Christian like 
 and decent manner at the discretion of my Execu- 
 tors and as Touching such worldly Estate as it 
 hath pleased the Lord to bestow upon me I give 
 and dispose thereof as followeth Imprimis my 
 will is that in the first place all my Just debts and 
 funeral Expenses be duly paid and discharged 
 Item I give to my son Iohn all and singular the 
 Land and Premises with the Appurtenances / it 
 being part and parcel of the Plantation whereon 
 I now dwell / Lying on the North East side of the 
 Road leading to Chester to hold to him my said 
 son Iohn his Heirs and Assigns for ever but if my 
 son Iohn should happen to dye before he Attains 
 to the age of Twenty one Years then my will is 
 and I give all the said Land unto my son Abraham 
 his Heirs and Assigns forever Item I give and de- 
 vise unto my son Iacob all the Residue of this my 
 Plantation Situate on the South West side the 
 Road aforsaid with all and Singular the Ap- 
 purtenances to Hold to him my said son Iacob his 
 Heirs and Assigns for ever Provided also and 
 Upon Condition Nevertheless that my son Iacob 
 
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 The Will of Abraham Lincoln, of Springfield. 
 (Original in City Hall, Philadelphia.) 
 
AN AMERICAN MIGRATION 55 
 
 Builds a Brick dwelling House for the Use of my 
 son Iohn at some Convenient place on the 
 land devised to my son Iohn as aforsaid at 
 some time within the Term of Ten Years after the 
 date of this my Will which House shall be Seven- 
 teen foot Square from out to out Cellar'd Under 
 and Carried Up two story high with a Cedar 
 Roof and Windows Suitable to the Building Item 
 I give and devise Unto my son Mordecai if he 
 Returns into this Province within the Term of 
 Seven Years Next after my decease all that Mes- 
 suage or Tenement which I purchased of William 
 Clayer Situate in the City of Philadelphia to hold 
 to him my said son Mordecai his Heirs and As- 
 signs forever but if it should so happen that my 
 son Mordecai shall not Return before the expira- 
 tion of the Term aforsaid then my will is and I 
 do give the said Messuage or Tenement Unto my 
 son Isaac his Heirs and Assigns forever Provided 
 Nevertheless that my son Isaac pay or cause to 
 be paid Unto my son Mordecai if in Case he Re- 
 turnes at any time after the Seven Years aforsaid 
 the sum of ffive Pounds of Law full money of 
 Pensilvania Item I give devise and bequeath Unto 
 my daughter Rebecca my other Messuage or Tene- 
 ment in the City of Philadelphia / Ioyning to the 
 other before mentioned / which I Purchased of 
 Humphry Clase and Iohn Clayor to hold to her 
 my said daughter Rebecca and to the Law full heirs 
 of her body for ever but if she should happen to 
 dye before the Age of Twenty one Years or with- 
 out Issue then my will is and I give the said Mes- 
 suage or Tenement Unto my son Isaac his Heirs 
 
56 ABRAHAM LINCOLN 
 
 and Assigns for ever Item I give Unto my daugh- 
 ter Sara my best feather bed with furniture as also 
 the one half part of the Linnen Usually kept in 
 my large chest Item I give Unto my son Abraham 
 the sum of Thirty Six Pounds which I lent him 
 some time since and further my will is that all 
 the Residue of my Estate after debts and Funeral 
 Expenses paid as aforsaid and Sufficient for the 
 Maintenance of my son John Untill he Arrives to 
 the Age of Fourteen Years / as well Real as Per- 
 sonal whatsoever and wheresoever I give Unto my 
 two sons / to witt / Abraham and Isaac to be di- 
 vided in two Equal parts or portions share and 
 share alike and I Nominate Constitute and Ap- 
 point my two friends / to witt / Robert Taylor of 
 Marple in the County of Chester aforsaid and 
 Ioshua Thompson of Ridley in the County afor- 
 said Executors of this my last will and Testament 
 and I Revoke disanul and make void all and 
 every other will and wills by me at any time here- 
 tofore made and do Ratifie & Confirm this and no 
 other to be my Last Will and Testament In Wit- 
 ness whereof I have hereunto sett my hand and 
 seal this ffifteenth day of April in the Year of our 
 Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and fforty 
 ffive. — Abraham Lincon 
 
 Signed Sealed Published and delivered by Abra- 
 ham Lincon the Testator to be his last will and 
 Testament in the Presence of Us. 
 
 Emanuel Lownes aff 
 
 John morton Jur 24 April 1745 
 
 Jsa. Pearson affirm 
 
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 Inventory of the Estate of Abraham Lincoln, of Springfield. 
 
AN AMERICAN MIGRATION 57 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 CHILDREN OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN, OF SPRINGFIELD 
 TOWNSHIP, CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA. 
 
 The records contain important traces also of the 
 children of Abraham Lincoln, of Springfield, Ches- 
 ter County, Pennsylvania. As we have seen from 
 the will of Abraham, he left the following children: 
 Mordecai, Abraham, Isaac, John and Sarah. Mor- 
 decai is mentioned in the will as absent from home, 
 John and Sarah as minors. The testator seems par- 
 ticularly solicitous about his young son, John, as 
 may be seen in the wording of the special provisions 
 of the will in his case. One can read between the 
 hues the father's anxiety as to the boy's reaching 
 his maturity. In case he grows to manhood, the 
 testator directs that a proper house be constructed 
 for his son John. The specifications as to the size 
 and quality of this house are very precise. It must 
 be seventeen feet square, two stories high, and have 
 a cedar roof. 
 
 The first document so far found referring to 
 Abraham Lincoln, the son of Abraham of Spring- 
 field, is a deed dated May i, i 744 , i n which John 
 Fordham and his wife Hannah, of the city of Phila- 
 delphia, convey a piece of ground on the north side 
 of Jones' alley, in the city of Philadelphia, to "Abra- 
 ham Lincon of the same city cordwainer." That this 
 Abraham was not the Abraham of Springfield, but 
 
58 ABRAHAM LINCOLN 
 
 the son of the latter, is clear from the fact that he 
 is called "cordwainer" and mentioned as living in 
 Philadelphia. This is further corroborated by a 
 deed of "Abraham Lincon cordwainer" to "Isaac 
 Lincon Carpenter" dated May 1, 1745, after the 
 death of Abraham of Springfield. The deed of 1744 
 runs thus : 
 
 This Indenture Made the first Day of May 
 in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hun- 
 dren and forty four. Between John Fordham late 
 of the City of Philadelphia but now of the Island 
 of Jamaica Upholsterer, and Hannah Fordham of 
 the City of Philadelphia aforesaid Wife of the 
 said John Fordham. of the one part and Abraham 
 Lincoln of the same City Cordwainer of the other 
 Part. 
 
 Whereas Abraham Bickley late of Burlington in 
 the Western Division of the Province of New Jer- 
 sey. Merchant deceased Father of the Said Han- 
 nah Ford — by his Last Will and Testament in 
 Writing duly executed bearing Date the thirteenth 
 Day of October in the Year of our Lord one 
 thousand seven hundred and Twenty five did Give 
 & Bequeath unto his Daughter Hannah, divers 
 Lands Tenements & Hereditaments (of which the 
 Piece of Ground herein after particularly men- 
 tioned & described is Part) To hold to the said 
 Hannah, her Heirs & Assigns for ever. Under the 
 yearly Quitrent & Reservations accruing to the 
 Proprietor for the same as by the said Will since 
 duly proved Reference being had thereto more 
 fully may appear. [Here follows Letter of 
 Attorney] 
 
AN AMERICAN MIGRATION 59 
 
 And whereas the said Hannah Fordham hath 
 by Virtue of the said Letter of Attorney from the 
 said John Fordham her Husband as well as in her 
 own Right contracted and agreed with the said 
 Abraham Lincon for the Sale of the Fee Simple 
 and Inheritance of the said Piece of Ground 
 herein after particularly described Subject to the 
 Rent herein after mentioned and to indemnify the 
 same And the said Abraham Lincon his Heirs Ex- 
 ecutors and Administrators of and from the Pay- 
 ment of the said Mortgage Money and Every 
 Part thereof. 
 
 Now this Indenture Witnesseth that now in Pur- 
 suance of such Agreement as aforesaid And for 
 and in Consideration of the Payment of the Rent 
 and Performance of the Covenants hereinafter 
 reserved and contained on the Part and Behalf of 
 the said Abraham Lincon his Heirs and Assigns 
 to be paid done and performed They the said 
 John Fordham by his said Attorney the said Han- 
 nah his Wife have granted bargained sold released 
 and confirmed and by these presents do grant bar- 
 gain sell release and confirm unto the said Abra- 
 ham Lincon His Heirs and Assigns all that Piece 
 of Ground situate on the North side of Jones's 
 Alley in the City of Philadelphia aforesaid con- 
 taining in Front on the said alley thirty three feet 
 and Seven Inches and extending back or North- 
 ward Thirty Foot Bounded Eastward with other 
 Ground of the said John Fordham and Hannah 
 his Wife now in the Possession of George Hard- 
 ing Southward with the said Alley. Westward with 
 other Ground of the said John Fordham, and 
 
60 ABRAHAM LINCOLN 
 
 Hannah his Wife and Northward with the Ground 
 formerly belonging to James Porbuee * * * 
 Yielding and Paying heretofore unto the said John 
 Fordham and Hannah his Wife and to his Heirs 
 and Assigns of the said Hannah the yearly Rent 
 or Sum of Seven Pounds Ten shillings and nine 
 Pence lawful money of the Province of Pennsyl- 
 vania aforesaid on the first day of May in each 
 vc3.r for ever ^ ^ ^ ^ 
 
 And also that the said Abraham Lincon his 
 Heirs or Assigns shall & will within the space of 
 Two Years next ensuing the Date, hereof, at 
 his and their own proper Costs and Charges 
 cause to be erected built and finished in or upon 
 the said hereby granted Piece of Ground and 
 Premises one good Tenantable Dwelling House of 
 Brick or Stone two Stories High above ground 
 with a cellar under the same. * * * [Re- 
 corded April 10, 1767.] 
 
 Another important document bearing upon the 
 sons of Abraham Lincoln, of Springfield, is a deed 
 of mortgage dated September 14, 1747, in which 
 "Jacob Lincon, of Kingsess [ing], in the County of 
 Philadelphia Sithemaker and Anne his Wife and 
 Abraham Lincon of the City of Philadelphia, cord- 
 wainer" mortgage Jacob Lincoln's plantation in 
 Springfield township to Jacob Duche for the sum of 
 200 pounds. The text of the document follows : 
 
 "Be it Remembered that the fourteenth Day of 
 September Anno Dom 1747 the Mortgage here- 
 after mentioned was produced Before Thomas 
 
AN AMERICAN MIGRATION 6l 
 
 Greene Esq 1 " one of the Provincial Iudges and 
 thereupon Came Jacob Lincon and Anne his Wife 
 and Abraham Lincon who acknowledged the s d 
 Writing to be their Deed and Desired y e same 
 might be recorded the s d Anne thereunto Volun- 
 tarily Consenting she being of full age Secretly 
 and apart Examined and the contents of y e s d 
 Writing read unto her w ch said Mortgage is re- 
 corded in y e Office for recording of Deed in y e s d 
 County the Thirtieth Day of October Anno Dom 
 1747 in these Words (viz) 
 
 This Indenture made the fourteenth Day of 
 September in the Year of our Lord one thousand 
 seven hundred and forty seven Between Jacob 
 Lincon of Kingsess in the County of Philadel- 
 phia Sithemaker and Anne his Wife and Abraham 
 Lincon of the City of Philadelphia Cordwainer 
 of the one part and Jacob Duche of the City of 
 Philadelphia Merch* of the other part Whereas 
 the s d Jacob Lincon in and by a Certain Obligation 
 or Writing Obligatory under his hand and seal 
 bearing Even Date herewith standeth Bound unto 
 the s d Jacob Duch'e in the sum of Two hundred 
 Pounds Law full money of Pennsylvania condi- 
 tioned for the Payment of one hundred pounds 
 Lawful money aforesaid Together with Lawfull 
 
 Interest for y e same in manner following, to say 
 
 * * * 
 
 Ye said Jacob Lincon and Anne his Wife and 
 Abraham Lincon * * * Have Granted Bar- 
 gained sold released and Confirmed and by these 
 Psents [sic] do Grant Bargain Sell release and 
 Confirm unto y e s d Jacob Duch'e and to his heirs 
 
62 ABRAHAM LINCOLN 
 
 and assigns All that his y e s d Jacob Lincon's Mes- 
 suage Plantation and Tract of Land thereunto Be- 
 longing Situate in Springfield Township in y e 
 County of Chester Lying on the South West side 
 of y e road Leading from Springfield Meeting 
 House to the Burrough of Chester & Lying be- 
 tween the s d road & Crum Creek and extending 
 from the said Creek by Bartholomew Coppocks 
 Land North fifty five Degrees Easterly to the 
 afores d road and from y e said Road to the 
 s d Creek south fifty five degrees West by George 
 Lownes Land Containing one hundred and eighty 
 acres or there about be the same more or less 
 (which Abraham Lincon y e farther of y e s d 
 Abraham and Jacob Parties hereto by his Last 
 Will and Testament of the 15th Day of April 
 1745 Devised unto this s d son Iacob in free * * *" 
 [Recorded in the Court House, West Chester 
 Pa.] 
 
 An indenture, dated February 14, 1754, informs 
 us concerning a third son of Abraham Lincoln, of 
 Springfield, namely, Isaac Lincoln, who with his 
 wife, Mary, conveyed to George Westcott of the 
 same city, brazier, a certain piece of ground willed 
 by Abraham Lincoln of Springfield to his son Isaac, 
 and situated on the south side of Elbow lane. This 
 same document gives important information as to 
 Mordecai Lincoln, the absent son of Abraham of 
 Springfield. It appears here that Mordecai did not 
 return within the seven years allowed by the will, nor 
 at any time afterwards up to the date of this deed, 
 a period of nearly ten years. Thus the property 
 
AN AMERICAN MIGRATION 63 
 
 willed to Mordecai was divided between Abraham 
 and Isaac Lincoln, as directed by their father's will. 
 The text of the indenture follows below : 
 
 This Indenture Made the Fourteenth day of 
 February in the year of our Lord one thousand 
 seven Hundred and fifty four Between Isaac Lin- 
 con of the City of Philadelphia Carpenter and 
 Mary his wife of the one part and George Wescott 
 of the said City Brazier of the other part Whereas 
 in and by a certain Indenture bearing date the 
 twenty ninth day of March in the Year 1744 be- 
 tween William Clare of the said City of Philadel- 
 phia Cordwainer of the one part and Abraham Lin- 
 con of Springfield in the County of Chester Yeo- 
 man who was the father of the said Isaac Lincon 
 of the other part reciting as therein is recited he / 
 the said William Clare for the consideration therein 
 mentioned did grant release and confirm unto 
 the said Abraham Lincon A Certain messuage or 
 tenement and lot or piece of ground situate in 
 the City on the South side of Elbow Lane &c. * * 
 * * and the said Abraham being so thereof 
 seized and did make his last will and testament in 
 writing bearing date the fifteenth day of April 1745 
 and therein divided All that messuage or tenement 
 which he purchased of William Clare situate in the 
 said City unto the said testators son Mordecai if he 
 returned into the Province of Pennsylvania within 
 the term of seven years to hold to him the said 
 Mordecai his heirs and assigns forever But if it 
 should happen that his son Mordecai shall not re- 
 turn before the expiration of the term of seven 
 
64 ABRAHAM LINCOLN 
 
 years aforesaid then the testators will is and he 
 doth give the said Messuage & testament unto 
 his said son Isaac his heirs and assigns for- 
 ever Provided nevertheless that his son Isaac 
 pay or cause to be paid unto the said Mor- 
 decai if in case he returns at any time after 
 the seven years aforesaid the sum of five pounds 
 lawful money of Pennsylvania as [at?] in and 
 by the said last recited Indenture and last will 
 relation being thereunto had respectively ap- 
 pears and shortly after the making of the tes- 
 tament aforesaid he the said testator died And 
 the said Mordecai did not return into the said 
 Province within the term aforesaid limited nor at 
 any time since So that the estate in the premises 
 is vested in the said Isaac Lincon as divided by 
 the Instrument aforesaid Subject nevertheless to 
 the payment of the said five pounds unto the said 
 Mordecai if in case he shall hereafter arrive in 
 the said Province Now this indenture witnes- 
 seth that the said Isaac Lincon and Mary his wife 
 for and in consideration of the sum of sixty five 
 pounds lawful money of Pennsylvania unto them 
 well and truly paid by the said George Wescott 
 * * * do bargain sell * * * A certain 
 piece of ground being the westermost part of the 
 aforesaid thirty seven foot * * * bounded 
 
 northward with Elbow Lane &c * * * 
 
 Isaac Lincon 
 
 Mary Lincon 
 
 [Receipt also signed by same 
 
 Acknowledged Feb 14, 1754 
 
 Recorded Apr. 29, 1835] 
 
AN AMERICAN MIGRATION 65 
 
 John Lincoln, the young son of Abraham Lincoln 
 of Springfield, died without issue and his land passed 
 to Abraham, his brother, and was divided by him, 
 Abraham, between his daughters, Rebecca and Hes- 
 ter. Rebecca married James Carter, a merchant of 
 Philadelphia, and Hester died young. 
 
 Isaac Lincoln, the son of Abraham of Springfield, 
 married Mary Schute December the 30th, 1746. 
 Jacob Lincoln, son of Abraham of Springfield, mar- 
 ried Ann Rambo, June, 1747. Jacob died June 5, 
 1769, aged 44 years, and was buried at Kingsessing 
 Swedes Church. 
 
 In Old Swedes Church, Philadelphia (O. S. C. 
 P.), First Baptist Church, Philadelphia (F. B. C. 
 P. ) , St. Michael's and Zion Churches, and in Christ 
 Church, Philadelphia (C. C. P.), we find the follow- 
 ing records of Lincoln marriages, which we arrange 
 here in chronological order, with the reference to 
 the church in parenthesis : 
 
 Lincoln, Daniel, and Mary Medley, June 2, 1742 
 
 Lincon, Isaac, and Mary Shute, Dec. 31, 1746 
 (C. C. P.). 
 
 Jacob Lincoln and Ann Rambo, June 1747. Jacob 
 died June 5 1769 aged 44 years, buried 
 at Old Swedes, Kingsessing. Anne died 
 Feb. 8, 1 8 19, aged 94 years, buried at 
 same place. 
 
 Children: Moses, Catarina (b. June 16. 1751), 
 John (b. Feb. 1, 1756, m. Elizabeth Neal 
 or O'Neal Oct 8, 1781), Rebecca (b. 
 Dec. 11, 1757), Mary (b. Aug. 17, 
 ^63) > Jacob (b. Apr. 1766). 
 
66 ABRAHAM LINCOLN 
 
 Lincon, Rebecca, and Joseph Rush, Sept. 19, 1750 
 
 (C. C. P.). 
 Lincoln, Rebecca, and James Carter, Mar. 7, 1763 
 
 (F. B. C. P.). 
 Lincoin, Margaret, and James Gregory, July 17, 
 
 1769 (C. C. P.). 
 Lincon, Sarah, and Samuel Pastorius, Nov. 28, 
 
 1771 
 John Linkhorn and Elizabeth O'Neal Oct. 8, 1781 
 
 (O. S. C. P.). 
 Barbara Kinch 
 Lincorn, Elizabeth, and John Hart, July 7, 1791 
 
 (O. S. C. P.). 
 Lincoln, Jacob, and Mary Taylor, April 11, 1792 
 
 (O. S. C. P.). 
 Lincoin, Moses, and Barbara Kinch, Mar. 19, 
 
 1795 (O. S. C. P.). 
 
 Lincoln, Benjamin, and Ann Cowan, May 19, 
 1806 (C. C. P.). 
 
 The Parish Register of Christ Church, Philadel- 
 phia, contains the following : 
 
 "Christenings 1735 Aug 3. Mordecai Son of Ab- 
 raham and Rebecca Lincoln age 15 
 years" 
 "1748 April 13 Lincoln, negro slave of Robert 
 
 Grove adult" 
 "1749 Feb. 11 John son of John & Catharine Lin- 
 coln born Dec br 17. 1749" 
 
AN AMERICAN MIGRATION 67 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 CHILDREN OF MORDECAI LINCOLN OF EXETER. 
 
 Having followed the traces of Abraham Lincoln 
 of Springfield and his children in the counties of 
 Chester and Philadelphia, we return to Mordecai 
 Lincoln of Exeter and trace his family in Berks 
 County, Pennsylvania, and in Virginia and Ken- 
 tucky, down to Abraham Lincoln, the President of 
 the United States. 
 
 It will be remembered that Mordecai Lincoln of 
 Exeter, Pennsylvania, son of Mordecai of Hull, 
 Massachusetts, provided in his will for three sons, 
 Mordecai, John and Thomas, and conditionally 
 for a posthumous child. This posthumous child, as 
 the documents will show, was born Oct. 18 (O. S.), 
 or Oct. 29 (N. S.), 1736, after his father's death, 
 named Abraham and received his share of his 
 father's estate in accordance with the provisions of 
 the will. Mordecai of Exeter made his surviving 
 wife, Mary, his executrix and appointed his friends, 
 Jonathan Robeson and George Boone, to assist her 
 in settling the estate. 
 
 MORDECAI LINCOLN, SON OF MORDECAI OF EXETER. 
 
 The earliest references to Mordecai Lincoln, son 
 of Mordecai of Exeter, show him to be unmarried. 
 
68 
 
 ABRAHAM LINCOLN 
 
 In the tax lists of Berks County his name appears 
 
 as follows: 
 
 £ £ s d Township 
 Single 1754 Mordecai Lincoln 9 Exeter 
 
 Married 
 
 1757 
 
 Marthicai Lingcoln 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 and half tenement 
 
 20 
 
 
 
 Exeter 
 
 1758 
 
 Mordecai Lincoln 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Tent y 2 
 
 20 
 
 
 
 Exeter 
 
 
 Special Assessment 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 for the same year 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 
 1759 
 
 Lincoln, Mordecai 
 
 10 
 
 15 
 
 
 Exeter 
 
 1759 
 
 Mordecai Lincoln 
 (County Tax) 
 
 12 
 
 
 
 
 1760 
 
 Lincoln, Mordecai 
 
 15 
 
 
 
 Exeter 
 
 1761 
 
 Lincoln, Mordecai 
 
 15 
 
 3 
 
 9 
 
 Exeter 
 
 1763 
 
 Lincoln, Mordecai 
 
 22 
 
 5 
 
 
 Exeter 
 
 1765 
 
 Lincoln, Mordecai 
 
 21 ] 
 
 11 
 
 6 
 
 Exeter 
 
 1766 
 
 Lincoln, Mordecai 
 
 18 
 
 4 
 
 6 
 
 Exeter 
 
 The name of Mordecai Lincoln (or "Lincorn") 
 appears frequently in the old manuscript account 
 book kept by Abraham Lincoln, his brother, from 
 1755 to 1778. On the first page of this book is 
 written: 
 
 Abram Lincoln | Beginning to Doy et at] Mor- 
 decai Lincorns y e 21 th of y e third month| In the 
 year 1757. 
 
 The following entries appear at different times 
 during this year 1757 and later: 
 
AN AMERICAN MIGRATION 69 
 
 Mordecai Lincoln D r | to four Days mak- 
 ing Shingels 
 Mordecai Lincoln | to two days and a x / 2 
 
 Reaping £0 5s 6d 
 
 Mordecai Licln to one days work 020 
 
 Mordecai Lincoln for one days work 020 
 Mordecai Lincoln to one days work 020 
 
 and cash [ ?] 
 
 Mordecai Lincoln to one y 2 days work 010 
 Mordecai Lincoln to 2 A of a days work 016 
 Mordecai Lin [coin] to work 
 Mordecai Lincoln to 3 days and a half 
 
 work 070 
 
 Mordecai Lincoln to One days sawing Jn 
 
 exchange of Work 
 Mordecai Lincoln to Cash 020 
 
 1759, May Mordecai Lincoln to a Half a 
 
 bushel of flax sade 026 
 
 June Mordecai Lincoln to three Bushel 
 
 of Buck Wheat 6 
 
 1770 April y e 10 th C r 
 Mordecai Lincoln 
 C r by work at the Rase 
 apil [sic] 10 th by 2^ days work 
 April y e 14 th no [=anno] 1770 Cr by work 
 
 on the Rods 
 Mordecai Lincoln 1 hand 
 Mordecai Lincoln Mikel Syser & Jacob 
 Battle is to Maintane two Thirds of y e 
 Rase from y e first of march to the Six- 
 teenth of October yere af ter yer 
 1778 October Cr by work dune at the Ras 
 24 th Mordecai Lincoln 1 hand 
 
yO ABRAHAM LINCOLN 
 
 1779 
 
 April 3 
 
 Mordeca [sic] two hand one d day & Self prt" 
 
 The land records of Berks County contain refer- 
 ence to a number of transactions of Mordecai Lin- 
 coln, as the following list will show : 
 
 Grantor Mordecai Lincoln, Oct. 16, 1766, Grantee William 
 
 Tallman, Asst, book 6, page 330. 
 Grantee Mordecai Lincoln, Apr. 11, 1769, Grantors Abra- 
 ham et al., Exeter, book 14, page 543. 
 Grantor Mordecai Lincoln, Apr. 11, 1769, Grantee Jacob 
 
 Bechtel, Exeter, book 14, page 545. 
 Grantor Mordecai Lincoln, Apr. n, 1769, Grantee Michael 
 
 Seyster (= Zeister), Release, book 15, page 5. 
 Grantee Mordecai Lincoln, May 9, 1769, Grantors Thomas 
 
 and Abraham Lincoln, Exeter, book 11, page 307. 
 Grantors Mordecai & Abraham Lincoln, May 16, 1770, 
 
 Grantee Michael Zeister, Exeter, book 6, page 504. 
 Grantor Mordecai Lincoln, Mar. 29, 1773, Grantee Mary 
 
 Rogers, Sch. River, book iB, page 535. 
 Grantor Mordecai Lincoln, May 22, 1784, Grantee Jno. 
 
 Spohn, Exeter, book 9 ,page 54. 
 Grantor Mordecai Lincoln, Oct. 30, 1784. Grantee Henry 
 
 Huyett, Ex. Com. Bk. P., book 1, page 163. 
 Grantors Mordecai Lincoln et al., July 4, 1789, Grantee 
 
 Rebecca Nagle, Exeter, book 12, page 4. 
 
 There is a reference to Mordecai Lincoln in the 
 deed books of Berks County, Pennsylvania, show- 
 ing that he and his wife, Mary, conveyed to Mary 
 Rogers, of Reading, a certain property originally 
 belonging to the estate of his father Mordecai Lin- 
 coln of Exeter. The deed which is dated March 
 29, 1773, begins and ends as follows: 
 
 This Indenture Made the 29th day of March 
 in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hun- 
 dred and seventy three Between Mordecai Lin- 
 
AN AMERICAN MIGRATION Jl 
 
 coin of Exeter Township in Berks County and 
 Province of Pennsylvania Yeoman and Mary his 
 Wife of the one part and Mary Rogers of the 
 Town of Reading in y e County and province 
 aforesaid Widow of the other part [Here fol- 
 lows the recital of the title, the essential part of 
 which runs : "And the said Thomas Millard and 
 Barbara his Wife by Jndentures of Lease & re- 
 lease bearing date the 9 th & 10 th days of May 
 Anno domini 1730 did grant and Confirm the 
 same One Thousand acres of land and premises 
 unto the said Mordecai Lincoln the Elder in fee 
 [then follows the recital of the will of Mordecai 
 Lincoln of Exeter, "the elder" and the conditions 
 of sale by Mordecai Lincoln (Junior) and his 
 wife Mary to Mary Rogers] 
 
 her 
 Mary M Lincoln (Seal) 
 
 mark 
 Mordecai Lincoln (Seal)* 
 
 In the Account Books of John Harris we find this 
 interesting entry : 
 
 1785 Linkhorn in Town Dr. £ s d 
 
 June I st To Sundries brought from 
 
 Folio 169 687 
 
 To 27 Bundles Rye Straw Lent 
 May 21 1790 Reed the opposite acco 1 in full £6.8.7. 
 
 This was evidently Mordecai Lincoln, son of 
 Mordecai of Exeter, who appears in a deed dated 
 July 4, 1789, as a resident of Dauphin County, Pa. 
 Mordecai settled later in Fayette County, Pa. 
 
 * Cf. Deed Book I. B., 535 et seq., Reading, Pa. 
 
7 2 ABRAHAM LINCOLN 
 
 THOMAS LINCOLN, SON OF MORDECAI OF EXETER. 
 
 The second son of Mordecai Lincoln, the elder, 
 of Exeter, was Thomas Lincoln, who took a promi- 
 nent part in the affairs of Berks County, Pennsyl- 
 vania. His name appears in the early tax lists 
 with the following assessments : 
 
 Berks Co. Tax List £ £ s. d. Township 
 
 1757 Thomas Lingorn 6 Amity 
 
 1758 Thomas Lincoln 16 4 Exeter 
 
 1758 Thomas Lincoln 15 
 
 his Tennant 5 
 
 20 1 10 Exeter 
 
 1759 Lincoln Thomas 7 10 6 Reading 
 
 1759 Lincoln Thomas 15 126 Exeter 
 
 1760 Tho' Lincoln 9 Reading 
 1760 Lincoln Thomas 6 9 Reading 
 
 In 1758 he was made sheriff of Berks County, a 
 fact which strangely enough escaped the officials of 
 the same county some years ago, when they had the 
 calendar of sheriffs printed, but omitted the name 
 of Thomas Lincoln. The present writer had the 
 peculiar pleasure of rediscovering Sheriff Thomas 
 Lincoln and identifying his signature in old lists of 
 jurors returned by him while sheriff. The original 
 bond given by Thomas Lincoln, as newly elected 
 Sheriff to the King, is duly recorded* and may be 
 reprinted here as a document of interest : 
 
 Know all Men by these Presents that We 
 Thomas Lincoln of Exeter Township in the 
 
 *In Commission Book A No. 2, p. 268-9. (Department 
 of Internal Affairs, Harrisburg, Pa.) 
 
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 I'Y/l Jr<?e c/^ 7 t/ant/l' me t/*u ,/ 
 i J /a rnr $#/i t ........ C 
 
 ??0 fns fafir*t,-r <>/ *™ 
 
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 3 
 
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 s 
 
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 jfw, offlif#fai£ 
 
 Bill of Costs of Executing Elisabeth Crowl. 
 (Original in the Possession of Louis Richards, of Reading, Pa.) 
 
AN AMERICAN MIGRATION 73 
 
 County of Berks Esq r Jsaac Levan of Ex- 
 eter aforesaid Gent, and William Boone of the 
 same place Gent, are held and firmly bound unto 
 our Sovereign Lord George the second by the 
 Grace of God of Great Britain France and Ire- 
 land King Defender of the Faith &c a in the Sum 
 of three hundred Pounds Current Money of Penn- 
 sylvania to be paid to our said Sovereign Lord the 
 King his Heirs or Successors to which Payment 
 well and truly to be maide We do find our Selves 
 each and every or any of Us for and in the Whole 
 our each and every or any of our Heirs Execu- 
 tors and Administrators respectively Jointly and 
 Severally firmly by these Presents Sealed with 
 our Seals Dated the fifth Day of October in the 
 thirty second year of the Reign of our said Lord 
 the King & in the Year of our Lord one thousand 
 and seven hundred and fifty-eight. 
 
 The Condition of this obligation is such That 
 Whereas the above bounden Thomas Lincoln on 
 the second Day of October Jnstant was Elected 
 Sheriff for the said County of Berks for the en- 
 suing Year by the Freemen of the said County 
 according to an Act of Assembly of this Province 
 passed in the fourth year of the Reign of Queen 
 Ann entitled an Act for Regulating Elections of 
 Sheriffs & Coroners As by a certain Jndenture 
 bearing Date the second Day of October Jnstant 
 made or mentioned to be made Between Thomas 
 Lincoln Coroner of the said County of the one 
 Part & Joseph Boone Sebastian Levan Mounce 
 Jones Benjamin Talbert Ganis Dickinson & 
 Henry Snyder Freeholders of the said County 
 
74 ABRAHAM LINCOLN 
 
 of the other Part Gentlemen Freeholders of the 
 Said County of the other Part Relation bearing 
 thereunto had appears now if the said Thomas 
 Lincoln by himself or his Lawful Deputy shall 
 and do well and truly perform his Duty & Trust 
 in the said office of Sheriff when thereunto law- 
 fully and thoroughly Qualified according to the 
 Tenor of the Affirmation which he shall make 
 for the due Execution of his said Office Or else 
 to be and remain in full Force and Virtue to the 
 Uses Jntents and Purposes in the said Act — men- 
 tioned and appointed And to no other Use Jntent 
 or Purpose whatsoever Thomas Lincoln (Seal) 
 Jsaac Levan (Seal) Will m Boone (Seal) Sealed 
 and Delivered in the Presence of Us C. Brockden, 
 Rob 1 Harper. Acknowledged at Philadelphia the 
 fifth day of October A°. D 1 . 1758 Before me W m 
 Coleman, Recorded 6 th Day of October, 1758. 
 
 The records of the Prothonotary's office in Read- 
 ing contain many papers executed by Thomas Lin- 
 coln during his term as sheriff. The accompanying 
 list of jurors* and the very interesting case of the 
 hanging of a woman, will serve as specimens, both 
 of his work and of his signature. 
 
 The following transactions of Thomas Lincoln 
 appear in the land records of Berks County, 
 Pennsylvania : 
 
 * The "List of Jurors" was found by the co-operation of 
 the Prothonotary and his aides. The original of the execu- 
 tion account is in the possession of Louis Richards, Esq., of 
 Reading, President of the Bucks County Historical Society, 
 who kindly permitted the writer to have it photographed. 
 
y n 
 
 > ' ■ s , / • ■ 
 
 ,,, L /r rrt*r0?i>*' • fits, 
 , ',. y.rt„ £,„/'■ 
 
 i - • 
 
 /a 
 
 ,3 Y*fi* ^T'" 
 
 u 'ft****** 
 
 ,. te« .'* -''' "■' ' ''' ' 
 
 „ ft ny <&*/& ) 
 
 / 
 
 Sj 
 
 List of Petit Jury Returned by Thomas 
 Lincoln, Sheriff of Reading, Pa. 
 
AN AMERICAN MIGRATION 75 
 
 Grantor Thomas Lincoln, Dec. 29, 1757, Grantee William 
 
 Tallman, Schuylkill, book 6, page 327. 
 Grantor Thomas Lincoln, Feb. 15, 1759, Grantee Richard 
 
 Wistar, Hereford, book 5, page 373. 
 Grantor Thomas Lincoln, Nov. 4, 1760, Grantee Michael 
 
 Zeister, Exeter, book 2, page 178. 
 Grantee Thomas Lincoln, Sept. 9, 1761, Grantor Hans 
 
 Adam Epler, Reading, book 9, page 435. 
 Grantor Thomas Lincoln, Nov. 14, 1761, Grantee Adam 
 
 Scheier, Reading, book 3B, page 265. 
 Grantee Thomas Lincoln, May 14, 1762, Grantor David 
 
 Henderson, Reading, book 4, page 265. 
 Grantor Thomas Lincoln, Nov. 28, 1763, Grantee Jacob 
 
 Rowbold, Reading, book 9, page 437. 
 Grantor Thomas Lincoln, Mar. 14, 1764, Grantee Conrad 
 
 Bower, Reading, book 4, page 267. 
 Grantee Thomas Lincoln, May 4, 1774, Grantor Mary 
 
 Rogers, Discharge, book iB, page 536. 
 
 The following document gives us a specimen 
 of the business transactions of Thomas Lincoln, 
 Sheriff: 
 
 To all People to whom these Presents shall 
 come I Thomas Lincoln late Sheriff of the County 
 of Berks in the province of Pennsylvania send 
 Greeting Whereas by a writ of Fieri Facias to 
 me directed bearing Teste the Fifteenth Day of 
 February in the Thirty second Year of the King's 
 Reign (1759) issuing out of the Court of Com- 
 mon Pleas of the County aforesaid I was Com- 
 manded That of the Goods and Chattels Lands 
 and Tenements which were of Rudolph Berkey 
 late of the said County Yeoman deceased other- 
 wise lately called Rudolph Pierge of Maxataneya 
 twship Philadelpa County Yeoman at the Time of 
 
j6 ABRAHAM LINCOLN 
 
 his Death in the hands of Richard Wistar late 
 of my County Merchant Acting Executor of the 
 last Will and Testament of the said Rudolph 
 Berkey in my Bailiwick I should Cause to be 
 levied as well a Certain Debt of One Thousand 
 Pounds lawful Money of Pennsylvania * * * * 
 Now Know ye that I the said Thomas Lincoln 
 late Sheriff of the County of Berks aforesaid for 
 and in consideration of the aforesaid Sum of One 
 thousand and Ten pounds unto me well and truly 
 paid by the said Richard Wistar at and before 
 the ensealing and delivery hereof the Receipt 
 whereof I do hereby Acknowledge and thereof do 
 Acquit and for ever discharge the said Richard 
 Wistar his Heirs Executors and Administrators 
 by these presents have granted bargained Sold 
 Aliened released and Confirmed And by force and 
 Virtue of the last recited Writ and of the Laws 
 of this province in such Case made and provided 
 do grant bargain sell alien release and Confirm 
 unto the said Richard Wistar and to his Heirs and 
 
 Assigns All those the above described Messuage * 
 
 *************** 
 
 In the deed of Thomas Lincoln to Michael Zeister 
 we have important information of Thomas Lincoln's 
 land : 
 
 This Jndenture made the fourth Day of No- 
 vember in the Year of Our Lord one thousand 
 seven hundred and sixty Between Thomas Lin- 
 
 * Deed Book 5, p. 373 et seq., Recorder's Office, Read- 
 ing, Pa. 
 
AN AMERICAN MIGRATION yj 
 
 coin of the Town of Reading in the County of 
 Berks in the Province of Pennsylvania Esquire 
 and Elizabeth his Wife of the one part And 
 Michael Zeister of the same Place Sadler of the 
 other part Witnesseth that the said Thomas Lin- 
 coln and Elizabeth his Wife for and in Consid- 
 eration of the Sum of one thousand pounds law- 
 ful Money of Pennsylvania to them in hand paid 
 by the said Michael Zeister the receipt whereof 
 is hereby acknowledged have given granted ali- 
 ened released enfeoffed and confirmed and by 
 these presents do give grant bargain and sell 
 alien release enfeoff and confirm unto the said 
 Michael Zeister and his heirs a certain Tract and 
 parcel of Land situated in Exeter Township in 
 Berks County aforesaid Bounded by the follow- 
 ing lines to wit * * * * thence by Land of Ab- 
 raham Lincoln and other Land of the said Wil- 
 liam Tallman * * * * Containing by Computa- 
 tion three hundred and three acres be the same 
 more or less [Being part of a Tract of one thou- 
 sand Acres of Land which Tobias Collet Daniel 
 Quair and Henry Goldey by Deed Dated the twen- 
 tyeth day of February Anno Domini 171 8 granted 
 to a certain Andrew Robeson in ffee And which 
 the said Andrew Robeson by his Last Will 
 devised to his son Jonathan Robeson in ffee 
 * * * and which the said Jonathan Robeson 
 by Deed Dated the twenty seventh day of Octo- 
 ber Anno Domini 1729 granted to a certain 
 Thomas Willard in ffee And which the said 
 Thomas Millard by Deed dated dated the tenth 
 
78 ABRAHAM LINCOLN 
 
 day of May Anno Domini 1730 granted to Mor- 
 decai Lincoln (the Father of the said Thomas 
 Lincoln) in free One third part of which One- 
 Thousand-Acre-Tract the said Mordecai Lincoln 
 by his Last Will and Testament dated the twenty 
 second day of February Anno Domini 1735 
 
 Tho. Lincoln (Seal) 
 
 Elizabeth Lincoln (Seal)* 
 
 The following refer to sales of property made to 
 or by Thomas Lincoln in Reading: 
 
 This Jndenture Made the fourteenth Day of 
 November in the year of our Lord one thousand 
 Seven Hundred & sixty one Between Thomas Lin- 
 coln of the town of Reading in the County of 
 Berks and province of Pennsylvania Gentleman 
 and Elizabeth his wife of the one part and Adam 
 Scheir of the said town of Reading Carpenter of 
 the other part Whereas the Hofible Thomas Penn 
 & Richard Penn Esquires Proprietories in * * * * 
 1752 did Give Grant Release and confirm unto a 
 Certain Francis Morgan * * * * Lot of Ground 
 situate in the Town of Reading aforesaid and 
 Marked in the General Plan of the said Town 
 N° 404 * * * * 
 
 And Whereas the said Francis Morgan and 
 Jane his wife by Deed indented under their Hands 
 and Seals bearing date the thirteenth day of No- 
 vember in the year of our Lord one thousand 
 
 * Deed Book 2, 175 ff., in Recorder's office, Reading, Pa. 
 
AN AMERICAN MIGRATION 79 
 
 seven hundred and sixty one for the Considera- 
 tion therein Mentioned did Grant and Confirm 
 unto a Certain Thomas Lincoln and to his Heirs 
 and Assigns All that the above Mentioned and 
 Described Lot of Ground N° 404 With the Ap- 
 purtenances &c* 
 
 This Indenture made the Fourteenth Day of 
 March in the Year of our Lord one Thousand 
 Seven Hundred and Sixty four Between Thomas 
 Lincoln of Reading in Berks County and Prov- 
 ince of Pennsylvania Mason and Elizabeth his 
 Wife of the one part And Conrad Bower of the 
 same Place Inn Keeper of the other part &c.** 
 
 [Consideration 130 pounds, 7^2 acres.] 
 
 Thomas Lincoln appears also, even more fre- 
 quently than Mordecai his elder brother, in the old 
 Account Book of Abraham Lincoln, their youngest 
 
 brother, as the following entries will show : 
 
 £ s d 
 1756 Thomas Lincoln to 3 days work at 
 
 2 s Pr day 060 
 
 Thomas Lincoln C r by one Quir 
 
 and a y 2 of Paper 010 
 
 Tho s Lincoln to one day and a half 030 
 Tho s Lincoln fife days and a halfs 
 
 work Dt o 11 o 
 
 Tho s Lincoln to one weeks Work o 12 o 
 Tho s Lincoln to one day and ^2 
 
 halfs work o 7, o 
 
 * Deed Book 3 B, pp. 265 et seq. 
 ** Deed Book 4, pp. 267 et seq. 
 
80 ABRAHAM LINCOLN 
 
 Tho s Lincoln to one days work 020 
 Tho s Lincoln Dt for work 010 
 
 Tho s Lincoln to Cash Lent o ? ? 
 
 Tho s Lincoln dt upon Ballans 
 
 March y e first 007 
 
 Tho s Lincoln to sawing 6 foot 013 
 1758 Tho s Lincoln to sawing 5 days at 
 s d 
 at 2.. 6 per Day o 12 6 
 
 Decmbr 30 Tho s Lincoln to one 
 
 half Days work 010 
 
 Jany Tho s Lincoln to one 
 
 Days wriding [writing?] 026 
 
 ABRAHAM LINCOLN, SON OF MORDECAI OF EXETER. 
 
 The third son of Mordecai Lincoln, the elder, of 
 Exeter, was John Lincoln, or "Virginia John," as 
 tradition has handed down his name. Inasmuch as 
 it is through him that the migration of the Lincoln 
 family is continued into Virginia and in his descend- 
 ants to Kentucky, it will be more convenient to treat 
 him last and to consider his youngest brother, Abra- 
 ham, next before leaving the traces of the family in 
 Pennsylvania. 
 
 The records of Abraham Lincoln, the posthumous 
 son of Mordecai the elder, of Exeter, and his de- 
 scendants are preserved fortunately in an old family 
 book, or "Lincoln Record," as we shall call it 
 here. This book, still preserved in manuscript, is 
 one of the precious heirlooms of the descendants of 
 Abraham Lincoln. The MS. contains, in the first 
 part, the record of the family of Abraham Lincoln 
 

 
 £T ■♦ 
 
 
 ,N/ 
 
 
 
 7&S x 
 
 
 
 
 
 .'?. *r< 
 
 
 First Page of the Account Book of Abraham Lincoln, of Exeter 
 (Original in the Possession of Richard Lincoln, of Reading, Pa. I 
 
AN AMERICAN MIGRATION 8l 
 
 and, in the second part, the record of the Boone 
 family.* The Record appears to have been first 
 kept by posthumous Abraham Lincoln, then by 
 his sons Mordecai and Thomas, and then by Thomas' 
 son, John D. Lincoln and others. It was copied some 
 years ago by Harrison P. Lincoln, who had blue 
 prints made and furnished a number of them to 
 libraries and individuals. 
 
 The Lincoln Record is very precise in its data as 
 the entries, concerning Abraham Lincoln and Anna 
 Boone, his wife, will show. The text of the Lincoln 
 part of the "Lincoln Record" is printed in full at the 
 end of this chapter. 
 
 The name of Abraham Lincoln, the posthumous 
 son of Mordecai, the elder, of Exeter, like that of 
 his brothers, appears in the tax lists of Berks County 
 Pennsylvania, as the following, taken from the orig- 
 inals, now found in the possession of the Berks 
 County Historical Society, will show : 
 
 writing o ?Z e LhZL eC * d 0i , ^ B ?,° ne fanii] y in the hand- 
 in ^4^^t^^ T ^^^jjfz gss 
 
 eS y n«lT 1Cal S ° Ciety - ft C0 "^" S thefollowSg FnTer- 
 
 C tob?r.l el D.T 7 n 3 e 3 . [SOn ° f SqUlre & SaraH B °° ne] WaS born 
 
 He and the Rest of their Family left Exeter nn th» r at 
 1750, and moved to North Carolina where they settled pX 
 at Present he ,s settled on the Ohio at Kentucky 7 '^ But 
 
 Time. 7 t0bCr 2 °- The " Daniel came to ^e us. the first 
 
 Wife 7 ftiSr r Son y Mt, TI \ Cn Daniel B °° ne < with Re becca his 
 V^^M^J'^^^^, ^ « Charette 
 
82 ABRAHAM LINCOLN 
 
 £ £ 
 
 s. d. ' 
 
 Township 
 
 1758 Abraham Lincoln 
 
 
 
 [Single Men] 
 
 1 
 
 
 (Special Assessment) 
 
 
 
 1759 Lincoln Abram 
 
 
 Exeter 
 
 1759 Abram Lincorn 
 
 
 
 [Single Men] 
 
 
 
 1760 Lincoln Abram 18 1 
 
 7 
 
 Exeter 
 
 1 76 1 Lincoln, Abram* 
 
 9 
 
 Exeter 
 
 1763 Lincoln Abram 20 
 
 5 
 
 Exeter 
 
 1765 Lincoln Abraham 19 1 
 
 8 6 
 
 Exeter 
 
 1766 Lincoln Abram 18 
 
 4 6 
 
 Exeter 
 
 The following entries of transactions of Abraham 
 Lincoln appear in the land records : 
 
 Grantor Abraham Lincoln, Dec. 29, 1757, Grantee William 
 
 Tallman, Sch. River, book 2B, page 43. 
 Grantors Abraham Lincoln et al., Apr. 11, 1769, Grantee 
 
 Mordecai Lincoln, book 14, page 543. 
 Grantors Thomas and Abraham Lincoln, May 9, 1769, 
 
 Grantee Mordecai Lincoln, Exeter, book n, page 307. 
 Grantor Abraham Lincoln, May 26, 1769, Grantee William 
 
 Tallman, Exeter, book 7, page 195. 
 
 The first of these documents gives such important 
 information that it seemed well to print it here. 
 From it we learn the title to the land before Morde- 
 cai, the elder, of Exeter bought it, and also the fact 
 that Abraham Lincoln was the posthumous son of 
 Mordecai, the elder : 
 
 * This assessment was probably made in 1760, as the 
 Lincoln Record says Abraham Lincoln married Anna Boone 
 July 10, 1760. 
 
AN AMERICAN MIGRATION 83 
 
 This Indenture Made the twenty ninth day of 
 December in the Year of our Lord one thousand 
 seven hundred and fifty seven Between Abraham 
 Lincoln of Exeter in the County of Berks In the 
 Province of Pennsylvania Yeoman of the one part 
 and William Tallman of the same place Weaver 
 of the other part Whereas by Certain Indentures 
 of Lease and Release dated the Nineteenth and 
 Twentieth days of February in the Year of our 
 Lord one thousand seven hundred & Eighteen 
 made between Tobias Collet Citizen and Haber- 
 dasher of London Daniel Quair of London and 
 Henry Goldney of London Linnen Draper of one 
 part and Andrew Robison then of Roxburrow in 
 the County of Philadelphia Yeoman of the Other 
 part and Recorded in Philad a . in Book H Coll. 4. 
 page 118 & they the said Tobias Collet Daniel 
 Quair, and Henry Goldney for the Consideration 
 therein Mentioned Confirmed unto the said An- 
 drew Robison in free A Certain Tract of Land 
 Lying on the East side of the River Schuylkill in 
 Philadelp a . County Beginning at a Beech tree by 
 the said River Schuylkill and Running thence 
 North twenty degrees East four hundred and 
 twenty Perches to a Corner Stone thence North 
 Seventy degrees West ffour hundred and twenty 
 perches to a post then South Twenty Degrees West 
 two hundred and Ninty Perches to a Hickery Tree 
 marked Standing on the Bank of the said River 
 then down the same on y e Several Courses thereof 
 to the place of beginning Containing one thousand 
 Acres of Land [and a Certain Tract of Six Hun- 
 
84 ABRAHAM LINCOLN 
 
 dred Acres Lying on the West Side of Schuylkill 
 with the Appurtenances] The said Two Tracts of 
 Land to be holden by the said Andrew Robison 
 his heirs and Assigns Under the Yearly Quit Rent 
 of one Bever Skin on the first day of March for- 
 ever and the said Andrew Robison being So 
 Seized of the said Premises Dyed did by his Last 
 Will and Testament bearing date Anno Domi 1719 
 Give unto his third Son Jonathan Robison the 
 above Described one thousand Acres of Land with 
 y e Appurtenances And Whereas Andrew Robison 
 Eldest Son and heir at Law of the said Andrew 
 Robison the Testator in and by a Deed Poll under 
 his hand and Seal duly Executed for y e Consid- 
 eration Therein Mentioned did Grant Release Quit 
 Claim and Confirm unto the said Jonathan Robi- 
 son all the said one thousand Acres of Land with 
 the Appurtenances To hold to him the said Jona- 
 than Robison His Heirs and Assigns forever as 
 by the said Deed dated the tenth day of January 
 A: D: 1726 may Appear And Whereas by Cer- 
 tain Indentures of Lease & Release Tripartite made 
 between Jonathan Robison and Elizabeth his wife 
 of the first part Mordecai Lincoln of y e second 
 part and Thomas Millard of y e third part the 
 said Jonathan Robison & Elizabeth his Wife 
 and Mordecai Lincoln by Indentures of 
 Lease and Release dated the Sixth and Seventh 
 days of Octobed 1729 did Confirm y e said one 
 thousand Acres of Land unto Thomas Millard in 
 ffee And the said Thomas Millard and Barbara his 
 Wife by Indentures of Lease and Release dated 
 
AN AMERICAN MIGRATION 85 
 
 the Ninth and tenth days of May A . D°. 1730 did 
 Confirm the same One thousand Acres of Land 
 unto the Above Named Mordecai Lincoln y e Elder 
 in fee and being so Seized thereof dyed Who 
 by his Last Will and Testament dated the 22 day 
 of February A: D: 1735 and Registered in y e 
 Registers Office in Philad a . June 7. 1736 did give 
 and Bequeath unto his Son Abraham Lincoln 
 [Party to these Presents] the one third Part of 
 the said one thousand Acres of Land to be taken 
 from the West End thereof which hath been Ami- 
 cably Done Now This Indenture Witnesseth 
 that the said Abraham Lincoln for and in Consid- 
 eration of the Sum of Nine Pound Current Money 
 of Pennsylvania to him in hand paid by the said 
 William Tallman at and before y e Sealing and 
 Delivery hereof the Receipt thereof is hereby ac- 
 knowledged Hath granted bargained and Sold 
 Aliened Enfeofed and Confirmed and by these 
 presents doth grant bargain and Sell Alien En- 
 feofe & Confirm uneo the said William Tallman 
 and to his heirs and Assigns forever A Certain 
 Messuage Tenement and Piece of Land [part of 
 the one third part of the above Described one 
 thousand Acres Beginning at an Ash tree Stand- 
 ing on the West bank of the Great Creek in a line 
 of Thomas Lincolns Land thence by y e Same 
 North Seventeen Degrees and a half East thirty 
 one Perches to a Black Oak & a Corner thence 
 by s d Abraham Lincoln's Other Land the three 
 following Courses and distances Viz. North Sev- 
 enty two degrees and a half West Eight perches 
 
86 ABRAHAM LINCOLN 
 
 to a hickory and South twenty Nine Degrees 
 West Thirty one perches and a half to a post 
 thence South Seventy two degrees and a half 
 East twelve perches & Six tenths to the place 
 of beginning Containing two Acres of Land To- 
 gether with all wood Underwoods Ways Waters 
 Water Courses profits commodities Advantages 
 Hereditaments and Appurtenances whatsoever 
 unto the Above Described Piece of Land belong- 
 ing or in any wise appertaining and the Reversion 
 And Reversions Remainder and Remainders 
 Rents Issues and Profits thereof and all the Es- 
 tate Right title Jnterest Claim and Demand of 
 him the said Abraham Lincoln in and to the prem- 
 ises herein Mentioned or Intended to be Men- 
 tioned and every Part and Parcell thereof 
 And the said Abraham Lincoln for himself his 
 heirs and Assigns doth Covenant promise and 
 grant unto the said William Tallman and to his 
 heirs and Assigns that he the said William Tall- 
 man for himself his heirs and Assigns shall have 
 the Sole priviledge and Power to draw and Con- 
 vey [According as he his heirs or Assigns shall 
 think fit for the sufficient Watering the said Piece 
 of Land out of the Above Mentioned Great Creek 
 or any part of said Creek that is near the bounds 
 of said Two Acres of Land To have and to 
 hold the said Messuage Tennament and Piece 
 of Land and all and Singular the premises And 
 Priviledges aforesaid and every part and Clause 
 thereof with the Appurtenances unto the said 
 William Tallman his heirs and Assigns to the only 
 
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 Administrators' Account of the Estate of Abraham Lincoi n Son of 
 Mordecai Lincoln, of Exeter. (First Page. ) 
 
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 Administrators' Account of the Estate oe Abraham Lincoln, Son of 
 Mordecai Lincoln, of Exeter. (Second Page.) 
 
AN AMERICAN MIGRATION 87 
 
 proper Use and behoof of him the said William 
 Tallman his heirs and Assigns for Ever Under 
 the proportional part of the Yearly Quitrents 
 from hence forward accruing unto the Chief Lord 
 or Lords of the ffee thereof And the said 
 Abraham Lincoln for himself And his heirs doth 
 Covenant with the said William Tallman his 
 heirs and Assigns that the said Abraham Lin- 
 coln and his heirs the above Mentioned Messuage 
 Tennament and Piece of Land Hereditament 
 Premises and Priviledges and every Part and 
 Clause thereof with the Appurtenances unto the 
 said William Tallman his heirs and Assigns 
 Against all persons whatsoever Shall Warrant 
 and forever Defend By these presents And fur- 
 ther that he the said Abraham Lincoln and his 
 heirs and every Other Person and Persons and 
 his and their heirs any thing having or Claiming 
 in the said Messuage and Piece of Land And 
 Priviledges above mentioned to be hereby Grant- 
 ed or any Part thereof shall and will at all times 
 hereafter upon the Reasonable Request and at 
 the Cost and Charges of the said William Tall- 
 man his heirs and Assigns Make do and Exe- 
 cute or Cause to be all and every such further & 
 other Lawfull and Reasonable Act and Acts 
 thing and things Device and Devises Conveyance 
 & Conveyances in the Law whatsoever for the 
 further and better assuring & Confirming of 
 y e Above Mentioned Piece of Land & Priviledges 
 with the Appurtenances unto the said William 
 Tallman his heirs and Assigns forever as by his 
 
88 ABRAHAM LINCOLN 
 
 or their Counsil Learned in the Law shall be 
 Reasonably Devised Advised and Required In 
 Witness whereof the said Abraham Lincoln hath 
 hereunto Set his hand and Seal dated the day 
 and year first above writen. Abraham Lincoln 
 (Seal) Sealed and Delivered in the presence of 
 Us John Powell Benj a . Parks Received the day of 
 the date of the Above Writen Indenture of the 
 Above Named William Tallman The Sum of 
 Nine Pounds being in full the Consideration 
 above Mentioned J say Received Abraham Lin- 
 coln John Powell Benj a . Park (indorsed thus) On 
 the Eighteenth Day of Aug*. Anno Domi 1759 
 before me Jonas Seely Esq r . one of the Justices 
 &c for the County of Berks Came y e within 
 Named Abram Lincoln and Acknowledged the 
 within Indenture to be his Act and Deed and De- 
 sird the same May be Recorded as such in Tes- 
 timony where of J have hereunto Set my Hand 
 and Seal the Day & Date above written Jonas 
 Seely (Seal) (and further indorsed thus) 
 
 To All People to Whome these presents 
 shall Come Know ye that we Mordecai Lincoln 
 and Thomas Lincoln of Exeter in the County of 
 Berks in the Province of Pennsylvania [Sons of 
 Mordecai Lincoln Deceased and Within Men- 
 tioned] for divers good Causes and Considera- 
 tions us thereunto Moving have Remised Re- 
 leased and forever Quit Claimed and By these 
 presents do Remise Release and for Ever Quit 
 Claim unto William Tallman [within Mentioned] 
 his heirs and Assigns for Ever all that Messuage 
 
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 Administrator's Account of the Estate of Ann Lincoln, Widow 
 of Abraham Lincoln, of Exeter. 
 
AN AMERICAN MIGRATION 89 
 
 Tenement And Piece of Land of two Acres with 
 the priviledges and Appurtenances and every part 
 thereof [Which in the Within Indenture is Speci- 
 fied Mentioned or Intended to be Mentioned] To 
 have and to hold all and Singular the said Mes- 
 suage Tennament and Piece of Land and Privi- 
 ledge with the Appurtenances unto the said Wil- 
 liam Tallman his heirs and Assigns forever 
 And all the Estate Right Title Interest Claim and 
 Demand whatsoever of us the said Mordecai 
 and Thomas Lincoln and of each of us our heirs 
 and each of our heirs and Assigns or any Other 
 Person or Persons Claiming or to Claim by from 
 or Under us or Any of Us of in and to the 
 thereby Granted Premises & Privileges or any 
 Part thereof In Witness whereof we have here- 
 unto Jnterchangeably Set our hand & Seals This 
 twenty Ninth Day of December in the Year of 
 our Lord one thousand Seven hundred and fifty 
 Seven Mordecai Lincoln (Seal) Thomas Lincoln 
 (Seal) Sealed and Delivered in the presence 
 of Us John Powell Benj a . Parks Berks County ss 
 Be it remembered that on the twenty fifth Day 
 of October Anno Domini 1774 Before me the 
 Subscriber One of His Majesty's Justices of the 
 Peace of the County of Berks Came Benjamin 
 Parks of the Town of Reading in the said County 
 Joiner and (being one of the People called Quak- 
 ers) on his solemn Affirmation according to Law 
 did declare that he saw the Above Named Mor- 
 decai Lincoln & Thomas Lincoln Sign Seal and 
 as their Act and Deed respectively deliver the 
 above Instrument of Writing and that the Name 
 
90 ABRAHAM LINCOLN 
 
 Benj a . Parks thereto Subscribed is of this Affirm- 
 ant's proper Hand Writing and was by him Sub- 
 scribed as a Witness to the Execution thereof 
 (John Powell the other Witness Signing his 
 Name as Witness at the Same time) And at the 
 Same Time Came also to the above named Thomas 
 Lincoln and Acknowledged the above Instrument 
 of Writing to be his Act and Deed and desired the 
 same might be recorded as such According to Law 
 Witness my Hand and Seal the Day and Year 
 aforesaid James Read (Seal) Recorded and this 
 Record and the Original diligently compared and 
 found to Agree exactly Word for Word and Fig- 
 ure for Figure the Twenty Sixth Day of October 
 Anno Domini 1774. 
 
 The old Account Book of Abraham Lincoln shows 
 that he ran a sawmill, which stood on the race run- 
 ning through the land of the brothers, Mordecai and 
 Abraham Lincoln. The earliest reference in the 
 account to the sawmill is found in the following 
 entry made in the year 1758 : 
 
 Mordecai Lincoln to one half days sewing Jn 
 
 exchange of Work 
 
 £ s d 
 
 Thomas Lincoln to Sawing of 60 foot 010 
 
 The mill account continues on into the seventies, 
 showing that Abraham carried on a steady business 
 at the mill. 
 
 In the land records the following references to the 
 race and the sawmill are found : 
 
AN AMERICAN MIGRATION 91 
 
 "that nothing herein before mentioned expressed 
 or contained shall in any wise prevent or hinder 
 the said Mordecai Lincoln and Abraham Lincoln 
 their Heirs Executors Administrators or Assigns 
 or any of them from having or enjoying all the 
 Liberties and Privileges to which they are respec- 
 tively intitled to by Virtue of certain Articles of 
 Agreement Dated the first Day of April Anno 
 Domini one thousand seven hundred and fifty 
 eight made between Abraham Lincoln George 
 Henton, Mordecai Lincoln and Thomas Lincoln 
 concerning a Water Saw Mill now erected and 
 made on the Land of the said Mordecai Lincoln 
 and Abraham Lincoln their Heirs and Assigns re- 
 spectively are or shall be entitled to relative to 
 the Water of the said Creek & Water Course 
 aforesaid by Virtue of the Said recited Award] 
 Said Mordecai Lincoln (Seal) Abraham Lincoln 
 (Seal)" 
 
 ***** North five degrees East Eleven Perches 
 to a Black Oak on the said Race thence on the 
 same North four Degrees West Ten Perches to 
 a White Oak Bush on Abraham Lincoln's Line 
 thence by the same Abraham's Land South sev- 
 enteen Degrees and a half West one hundred 
 and nineteen Perches to an Ash Tree, on the West 
 Bank of the Great Creek (being a Corner of the 
 said Abraham and Thomas Lincoln's and Wil- 
 liam Tallman's Land) thence Crossing the Said 
 Creek by Thomas Lincoln's Land * 
 
 a nH Alni S T d T men t- is a ., Deed T of Sale by William Tallman 
 and Anne Tallman, his wife, to Jacob Bechtel Oct. 16, 1766. 
 
9 2 
 
 ABRAHAM LINCOLN 
 
 The old Account Book of Abraham Lincoln, the 
 posthumous son of Mordecai, the elder, of Exeter, 
 is extant. It begins with 1756 and continues quite 
 regularly until 1772 and after that with considerable 
 gaps until 1779. The book affords an interesting 
 glimpse into the daily occupations of the Lincolns, 
 Boones, Hintons, Rogers and other families of Berks 
 County before the Revolution. It is a rare document 
 as an original source of Pennsylvania history. The 
 MS. is 3 11/16 x 6 1/8 inches in size and 
 contains 41 leaves. The book now belongs to 
 Richard Lincoln, of Reading, Pennsylvania, who 
 allowed the present writer to make use of it. 
 
 Abraham Lincoln was a man of importance in his 
 community. The Commission Book for the years 
 1 758- 1 783 shows that he was elected County Com- 
 missioner October, 1772, and served till 1779. He 
 appears as Sub-Lieutenant in Berks County, March 
 21, 1777. 
 
 He was elected to the Assembly as follows : 
 
 October 28, 1782. 
 October 27, (?) 1783. 
 October 25, 1784. 
 October 24, 1785. 
 
 He served as assemblyman on the very impor- 
 tant Committee of Grievances and was an important 
 champion of the rights of the people in every meas- 
 ure that affected the delegation of the power of the 
 people. This was particularly noticeable in constitu- 
 
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 ^". >„//;, A,// KS, V/ y //>„;;,;/ 
 
 A.-' ' sis' 7 ' 
 
 
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 y* iD.//6}j7~i i 
 
 
 ertfifttt, fl-irso 1 1 '//■} //.( /'/ /ft- <rA ' /■/. '•' 
 
 
 First Two Packs of the Old "Lincoln Record." 
 (Original in the Possession of Harrison ('.. Lincoln, of Reading, Pa.) 
 
AN AMERICAN MIGRATION 93 
 
 tional discussions of 1785-6. Abraham Lincoln 
 was chosen to make the address to Washington in 
 Philadelphia after the close of the Revolution. He 
 also took part in the Constitutional Convention of 
 1 789- 1 790.* 
 
 As the Account Book shows, he was Super- 
 visor of Roads and evidently entrusted with the re- 
 pairs of the school house in 1771, showing probably 
 that he was Chief School Commissioner. Abraham 
 Lincoln died January 31, 1806, and was buried at 
 Exeter. Ann, his wife and widow, died April 4, 
 1807, and was buried also at Exeter. The estates of 
 both Abraham and Ann were settled by their chil- 
 dren, as the accompanying photographic reproduc- 
 tions of the administrators' accounts with their sig- 
 natures will show. 
 
 LINCOLN RECORD. 
 
 Abraham Lincoln (son of Mordecai Lincoln 
 and Mary his Wife) born on the Second Day of 
 the Week, at 7.. O Clock in the Afternoon on 
 the 18 th of October, Old Style, Anno Domini 
 1736: or, A. D. 1736 October 29, New Style. 
 
 Anna Boone (Daughter of James Boone and 
 Mary his Wife) born on the First Day of the 
 Week, about 5.. O'Clock in the Afternoon, on 
 
 * These facts relating to Abraham Lincoln's activity as a 
 member of the Assembly are taken from a most interesting 
 unpublished paper by Dr. A. H. Shearer, of Dartmouth Col- 
 lege, who kindly allowed the present writer to make them 
 public. 
 
94 ABRAHAM LINCOLN 
 
 the 3 rd of April, Old Style, Anno Domini 1737: 
 or, A. D. 1737 April 14 th New Style. 
 
 Abraham Lincoln and Anna Boone were Mar- 
 ried on the Fifth Day of the Week, on the 
 10 th of July A. D. 1760 when his age was 23 
 Years 8 Mon. 11 Days and her Age was 23 " 2 
 " 26 " — he being 5 months 15 Days & 22 Hours 
 older than she. 
 
 N. B. The Style was altered in the Year 
 1752. The 2 nd of September was the last day 
 in the Old Style; and next day instead of ac- 
 counting it the 3 rd of September it was accounted 
 the 14 th of Sept. next day the 15 th &c 
 
 Here follows the Times of the Births of the 
 Children of Abraham Lincoln & Anne Lincoln his 
 Wife, with the Differences of their Ages set down 
 likewise. 
 
 I st Mary Lincoln, (Daughter of Abraham Lin- 
 coln & Anne Lincoln) Born the 15 th of September 
 Anno Domini 1 761, on the Third Day of the Week, 
 about 10.. o'Clock at Night. 
 
 2 nd Martha Lincoln, (Daughter of Abraham 
 Lincoln & Anne Lincoln) Born the 25 th of January 
 Anno Domini 1763, on the Third Day of the Week, 
 about 10.. o'Clock in the Morning. 
 
 Martha being iY.. 4M.. 9D.. 12H. younger than 
 Mary. 
 
 3 d Mordecai Lincoln, junior, (son of Abraham 
 & Anne Lincoln) Born the 11 th of January Anno 
 Domini 1765 on the Sixth Day of the Week about 
 15 Minutes after Seven in the Morning. 
 
AN AMERICAN MIGRATION 95 
 
 Mordecai being iY.. 11M.. 16D.. 21H.. 15 Min. 
 younger than Martha. 
 
 4 th James Lincoln (son of Abraham & Anne 
 Lincoln Born the 5 th of May Anno Domini 1767, 
 on the Third Day of the Week, at or about 10.. 
 o'Clock in the Morning. 
 
 James being 2Y.. 3M.. 24D.. 45m. younger than 
 Mordecai. 
 
 5 th Anna Lincoln, (Daughter of Abraham & 
 Anne Lincoln Born the 19 th of April Anno Domini 
 1769, on the 4 th Day of the Week, at 7. o'Clock in 
 the Morning. 
 
 Anna being iY.. 11M.. 13D.. 21H. younger than 
 James. 
 
 6 th Rachel Lincoln (Daughter of Abraham Lin- 
 coln & Anne Lincoln) Born the 24 th of March 
 A. D. 1 77 1, on the First Day of the Week at 19 
 Minutes past 6.. o'Clock in the Morning. 
 
 Rachel being iY.. 11M.. 4D.. 23H.. younger 
 than Anna. 
 
 7 th Phebe Lincoln (Daughter of Abraham Lin- 
 coln and Anne Lincoln) Born in Anno Domini 
 1773 January 22 d . on the Sixth Day of the Week 
 at 5 Minutes past 8.. o'Clock at Night. 
 
 Phebe being iY.. 9M.. 29D. : 13H. : 46m. younger 
 than Rachel. 
 
 8 th Anne Lincoln (Daughter of Abraham & 
 Anne Lincoln) was born in Anno Domini 1774 
 October 19 th on the Fourth Day of the Week, at 
 25 minutes past 11.. o'Clock in the Morning. 
 
 Anne being 1 Y. : 8M. : 26D. : 15H. : 20m. younger 
 than Phebe. 
 
96 ABRAHAM LINCOLN 
 
 Rachel Lincoln (the 6 th child of Abraham & 
 Anne Lincoln) departed this Life on the Fourth 
 Day of the Week, at 50 Minutes past 1 o'Clock in 
 the Afternoon, and on the 19 th day of July, A. D. 
 1775 ; aged 4Y. : 3M. : 25D. : 7H. : 31m. and was 
 interred at Exeter the next Day. 
 
 9 th Thomas Lincoln (son of Abraham & Anne 
 Lincoln) was born on the Fourth Day of the Week 
 at 10 Minutes past two in the Morning, and on the 
 12 th Day of March A. D. 1777. 
 
 Thomas being 2Y. : 4.M. : 20D. : 14H. : 45m. 
 younger than Anne. 
 
 10 th John Lincoln (son of Abraham & Anne 
 Lincoln) was born on the Fifth Day of the Week 
 at ten Minutes past three in the Morning, and on 
 the 21 st Day of October A. D. 1779. 
 
 John being 2Y. : 7M. : 9D. : iH. younger than 
 Thomas. 
 
 Abraham Lincoln (son of Mordecai & Mary 
 Lincoln) departed this Life, at his House in 
 Exeter, on the 6 th Day of the Week at 15 minutes 
 past 7 in the Morning an d on the 31 st of January 
 A. D. 1806 aged 69 Y. : 3M. : iD. : 7H. : 15M. and 
 was interred at Exeter on the 2 nd of February on 
 the First Day of the Week. 
 
 Ann Lincoln (Widow of Abraham Lincoln) de- 
 parted this Life in Exeter on the 7 th day of the 
 Week, at 10 minutes past 2 in the afternoon and on 
 the 4 th of April A. D. 1807 aged 69 Y. 11M. 21D. 
 14H. 10m. and was interred at Exeter on the 6 th 
 of April on the 2 nd day of the Week. 
 
 Julian Mayberry born the 5 th Day of February 
 A D 1780. 
 
AN AMERICAN MIGRATION 97 
 
 Mordecai Lincoln & Julian Mayberry were Mar- 
 ried the 5 th of May A. D. 1812 on the 3 rd day of 
 the Week at 8 O'Clock in the afternoon. 
 
 1. Rachel Lincoln (daughter of Mordecai & 
 Julian Lincoln) was Born the 6 th of May A. D. 
 
 181 3 on the 5 th day of the Week, at 6 o'clock in 
 the Afternoon. 
 
 2. Ann Lincoln (Daughter of Mordecai & 
 Julian Lincoln) born the I st of August A. D. 1814 
 on the 2 nd Day of the Week at 50 Minutes past 2 
 o Clock in the Morning. 
 
 Ann being iY. : 2M. : 24D. : 14H. : 50m. younger 
 than Rachel. 
 
 3. Abraham M. Lincoln (son of Mordecai & 
 Julian Lincoln) born the I st of August A D 1814 
 on the 2 nd Day of the Week, at 48 Minutes past 6 
 o Clock in the Morning. 
 
 Abraham being 3H. : 58m younger than Ann. 
 Ann Lincoln (Daughter of Mordecai & Julian 
 Lincoln) departed this Life on the 4 th of August 
 
 1814 on the 5 th Day of the Week at 8 o Clock in 
 the Morning Aged 3D. : 7H. : 12m. 
 
 Abraham Lincoln (son of Mordecai & Julian 
 Lincoln) departed this Life on the 8 th of August 
 
 181 5 on the 3 rd Day of the Week at 10 o.Clock at 
 Night Aged iY. : oM. : 7D. : 15H. : 12m. 
 
 4. Margaret Lincoln (Daughter of Mordecai & 
 Julian Lincoln) born July 21 AD 1817, 40 minutes 
 past 5 O Clock in the Morning And departed this 
 Life 1817 on the 13 th Day of August at 24 minutes 
 past 3 o Clock in the Morning. Aged 22D. : 21H. : 
 44m. 
 
98 ABRAHAM LINCOLN 
 
 5. Margaret Lincoln (Daughter of Mordecai & 
 Julian Lincoln) born May 12 th 1820 at o o Clock 
 and 48 Minutes in the afternoon. 
 
 Mordecai Lincoln (Son of Abraham Lincoln & 
 Anne his Wife) Departed this Life in Exeter 
 Township the 12 th day of September on the 5 th 
 day of the Week about 10 minutes before 6 o Clock 
 in the afternoon A D 1822 Aged 57Y. : 8M. : iD. 
 When he had Lived with his Wife 10Y. : 3M. 7D. 
 
 Julian Lincoln Widow of Mordecai Lincoln 
 Departed this life in Allentown Lehigh Co. the 6 th 
 Day of March on the 7 th day of the Week about 
 12 o Clock noon A D 1858 Aged 78 Y. : iM. : iD. 
 
 Margaret Lincoln & Bartholomew Barto were 
 Married Dec 7 th 1841 Her Age being 21Y. : 8M. : 
 7 D. 
 
 Alice Delia ven daughter of Abraham Dehaven 
 from Lancaster Co. and wife of Thomas Lincoln 
 was born June 25 th 1770. She departed this Life 
 Dec 29 th 1836 Aged 66 Y. 6M. 3D. 
 
 Thomas Lincoln departed this life Dec 27 th 1863 
 Aged 86Y. 9M. 15D. 
 
 Martha Lincoln daughter of Thomas & Alike 
 Lincoln departed this Life Oct. 12 th 1858 at 9 
 o clock in the morning Aged 46 Y. : 10M. : 20D. 
 (called also Martha Kaub) Grave is 6 th in 5 th row 
 at Exeter Meeting. 
 
 John D Lincoln son of Thomas & Alice Lin- 
 coln was born Jan 1 181 5 on the I st day of the 
 Week. 
 
 [Book is here defaced, but it appears to be a 
 record of a 2 nd Marriage of Thomas Lincoln to 
 
AN AMERICAN MIGRATION 99 
 
 Hannah E , who was born the 7 th of March, 
 
 1827, near Douglassville— Harrison P. Lincoln.] 
 
 John Lincoln son of Abraham Lincoln, departed 
 this life on the 4 th Day of April 1864 Aged 84Y 
 5M. 21D. 
 
 James Lincoln son of Abraham Lincoln died in 
 Carnarven Twp. Berks Co. in Morgantown 3 rd 
 day of Week between 8 & 9 o'Clock in the morn- 
 ing A D i860 Aged 93 Y. 7M. 6D. 
 
 Interred at Morgantown 13 th . 
 
 David J. Lincoln died April 10 th 1886 at Birds- 
 borough Aged 70 years. 
 
 Children of John D. & Sarah Lincoln. 
 
 1 Ametia Born March 28 1838 
 
 2 Alfred " Apr 21 1839 
 
 3 Harrison H. Born July 28 1840 
 
 4 Elizabeth " Nov 20 1841 
 
 5 John " Mar 7 1843 Died July 19 
 
 1876 
 
 6 Richard Born Dec 5 th 1844 
 
 7 Martha " " 12 th 1846 
 
 8 Ann (or Anna) Born Feb 16 th 1849 
 
 9 Sarah " May 24^1851 
 
 10 Mary " Apr 24 th 1852 
 
 11 Oscar " Feb 16 1855 Died Apr 
 
 25 th 1857 
 [Book is here defaced but record appears to 
 read that John D Lincoln married Sarah Solbert 
 or Gilbert on Jan 2 th 1837 and that he died Jan 27 
 1868— Harrison P. Lincoln]* 
 
 * The copy made by Harrison P. Lincoln, now found in 
 the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, has been used in con- 
 nection with the original manuscript Lincoln Record. 
 
IOO ABRAHAM LINCOLN 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 JOHN LINCOLN OR "VIRGINIA JOHN," SON OF 
 MORDECAI OF EXETER. 
 
 It is with John Lincoln, the third son of Mordecai 
 Lincoln, the elder, of Exeter, that the Lincoln line 
 continues its migration from Pennsylvania into Vir- 
 ginia, the Great Valley and the Middle West. It 
 has been possible to trace the track of this migration 
 in the land records and other documents. 
 
 According to the will of his father, Mordecai Lin- 
 coln, the elder, of Exeter, John Lincoln received his 
 share of the estate his father's land in New Jersey. 
 So whatever land he possessed in Pennsylvania had 
 to be acquired by purchase in some form. The earli- 
 est mention of John Lincoln in the land records of 
 Pennsylvania is found in proprietary grant dated 
 June 28, 1746, and runs as follows: 
 
 THOMAS PENN & RICHARD PENN 
 
 Esquires true and absolute Proprietaries and 
 Governors in Chief of the Province of Pennsyl- 
 vania and Counties of Newcastle Kent & Sus- 
 sex upon Delaware To all unto whom these Pres- 
 ents shall come Greeting: 
 
 Whereas in Pursuance of a Warrant dated the 
 Twenty eighth Day of Iune one thousand seven 
 hundred and forty six there was surveyed unto 
 Iohn Lloyd A certain Tract of Land situate in 
 
AN AMERICAN MIGRATION IOI 
 
 Union Street in the County of Berks Beginning 
 at a marked black Oak Thence by vacant Land 
 South West seventy nine Perches to a Post South 
 East one hundred and eight Perches to a Chest- 
 nut Oak and North East seventy nine Perches 
 to a Post Thence by John Lloyd's other Land 
 North West one hundred and eight Perches to 
 the Place of Beginning Containing Fifty Acres 
 and forty nine Perches and Allowance of Six 
 Acres Pr Cent for Roads & Highways As in and 
 by the said Warrant and Survey remaining in the 
 Surveyor Generals Office & from thence Certified 
 into our Secretaries Office more fully appears and 
 Whereas the said John Lloyd in and by his Deed 
 or Articles of Agreement dated the ninth day of 
 October one thousand seven hundred and forty 
 six did grant bargain & sell all his Right to the 
 said Warrant Land & Improvements with the Ap- 
 purtenances unto John Lincoln then of Caernar- 
 von Township Yeoman his Heirs & Assigns for 
 ever As by the said Deed now produced appears 
 Now at the Instance and Request of the said 
 John Lincoln that we would be pleased to grant 
 him a Confirmation of the same know Ye that in 
 Consideration of the sum of Three Pounds fifteen 
 Shillings and eleven Pence lawful Money of Penn- 
 sylvania to our Use paid by the said John Lin- 
 coln (The Receipt whereof we hereby acknowl- 
 edge and thereof do acquit and for ever Dis- 
 charge the said John Lincoln his Heirs and As- 
 signs by the Presents) and of the yearly Quitrent 
 hereinafter mentioned and reserved We have 
 given granted released and confirmed and by 
 
102 ABRAHAM LINCOLN 
 
 these Presents do give grant release and confirm 
 unto the said John Lincoln his Heirs and As- 
 signs the said Fifty Acres & forty-nine Perches 
 of Land as the same are now set forth bounded 
 and limited as aforesaid With all Mines Minerals 
 Quarries Meadows Marshes Savannahs Swamps 
 Cripples Woods Underwoods Timber and Trees 
 Ways Waters Watercourses Liberties Profits 
 Commodities Advantages Hereditaments & Ap- 
 purtenances whatsoever thereunto belonging or 
 in any wise appurtaining and lying within the 
 Bounds & Limits aforesaid [Three full & clear 
 fifth Parts of all Royal Mines free from all De- 
 ductions and Reprizals for digging & refining 
 the same and also one fifth Part of the Ore of 
 all other Mines delivered at the Pitsmouth only 
 excepted and hereby reserved] and also free 
 Leave Right and Liberty to and for the said 
 John Lincoln his Heirs and Assigns to Hawk 
 Hunt Fish & Fowl in & upon the hereby granted 
 Land and Premises or upon any Part thereof To 
 Have and to Hold the said fifty Acres and forty 
 nine Perches of Land & Premises hereby 
 granted (except as before excepted) with their 
 Appurtenances unto the said John Lincoln his 
 Heirs and Assigns To the only Use & Behoof of 
 the said John Lincoln his Heirs and Assigns for 
 ever To be Holden of us our Heirs & Succes- 
 sors Proprietaries of Pennsylvania as of our 
 Manor of Ruscombe in the County of Berks 
 aforesaid in free & common Soccage by Fealty 
 only in Lieu of all other Services yielding and 
 Paying therefore yearly unto us our Heirs and 
 
AN AMERICAN MIGRATION 103 
 
 Successors at the Town of Reading in the said 
 County at or upon the first day of March in every 
 year one half Penny Sterling for every Acre of 
 the same Or Value thereof in Coin Current ac- 
 count according as the Exchange shall then 
 be between our said Province and the City 
 of London to such Person or Persons as shall 
 from Time to Time be appointed to receive the 
 same And in Case of Nonpayment thereof within 
 ninety Days next after the same shall become due 
 That then it shall and may be lawful for us our 
 Heirs and Successors our and their Receiver or 
 Receivers into and upon the hereby granted Land 
 & Premises to Reenter & the same to hold 
 and possess until the said Quitrent and all ar- 
 rears thereof Together with the Charges accruing 
 by means of such Nonpayment & Reentry be fully 
 paid and discharged Witness John Penn Esquire 
 Lieutenant Governor of the said Province Who by 
 Virtue of certain Powers & Authorities to him for 
 this Purpose inter alia, granted by the said Propri- 
 etaries hath hereunto set his Hand and caused 
 the Great Seal of the said Province to be here- 
 unto affixed at Philadelphia this seventh day of 
 Iune in the year of our Lord one thousand seven 
 hundred and sixty five The Fifth Year of the 
 Reign of King George the Third over Great Brit- 
 ain &c and the Forty seventh year of the said 
 Proprietaries Government Iohn Penn (L. S.) Re- 
 corded the 10th day of Iune, 1765. 
 
 A very important deed, dated November 8, 1748, 
 
104 ABRAHAM LINCOLN 
 
 in which John Lincoln conveys his land in New Jer- 
 sey to William Dye, gives us much valuable infor- 
 mation, showing that he was the son of Mordecai, 
 the elder, of Exeter, and a weaver by trade, then 
 living in Caenarvon, Lancaster County, Pennsyl- 
 vania : 
 
 This Indenture made the eighth day of No- 
 vember in the twentyeth second year of the 
 Reigne of our Soveraigne Lord George the Sec- 
 ond of Great Brittain france and Ireland King 
 Defender of the faith &c in the Year of Our 
 Lord one thousand seven hundred and forty 
 eight Between John Lincon of the Township Car- 
 narvon in the County of Lancaster and Province 
 of Penselvania weaver the son and Heir of Mor- 
 decai Lincon deceased of the one part and Wil- 
 liam Dye of the County of Middlesex yeoman of 
 the other Part Witnesseth that the said John 
 Lincon for and in Consideration of the Sum of 
 Two hundred pounds current money of New Jer- 
 sey at eight shillings p ounce to me in hand paid 
 by him the said William Dye the receipt whereof 
 he the said John Lincon doth hereby acknowledge 
 and himself to be therewith satisfied contented & 
 paid and thereof and of and from every part and 
 parsal thereof doth fully clearly and absolutely 
 acquit exonerate and discharge him the said Wil- 
 liam Dye his Heirs Executors Administrators and 
 assigns for ever Hath Granted bargained Sold 
 aliened Convaid and Confirmed unto him the said 
 William Dye and to his Heirs and assigns forever 
 All that Tract of Land scituate lying and being in 
 
AN AMERICAN MIGRATION 105 
 
 the said County of Middlesex Beginning where 
 the Land formerly Walter Benthals crosses 
 Crarnberry brook from thence along said Ben- 
 thals line towards the Post Road to the Land for- 
 merly Robert Burnets And from thence along 
 said Burnets line in breadth so far that a parallel 
 line to the foresaid line of Benthels from the said 
 Burnets line to said Cranberry brook do contain 
 three hundred acres thence along the course of 
 said Benthals line to Cranberry brook and from 
 thence down the Brook to where it began Bound- 
 ed Westerly by the Land formerly said Benthals 
 Northerly by Land formerly Robert Burnets 
 Easterly by Land formerly belonging to Herricon 
 and Southerly by Cranberry brook with all and 
 all manner of Houses Building [s] Mines Minerals 
 and Appurtenances and previliges whatsoever of 
 him the said John Lincon as well in Law as in 
 Equity of in or unto the said three hundred acres 
 of Land with the Reversion and Reversions Re- 
 mainders of the Same To Have and to Hold the 
 aforesaid Three hundred acres of Land with all 
 the bargained Premises with the Appurtenances 
 unto him the said William Dye his Heirs and 
 assigns for ever to the only proper use benefit 
 and behoof of him the said William Dye his 
 Heirs and assigns And he the said John Lincon 
 for himself his Heirs Executors and administra- 
 tors by these Presents in manner following viz 
 That he the said John Lincon at the time of the 
 Sealing & Delivering hereof hath in himself 
 good Right full Power and lawful Authority to 
 
106 ABRAHAM LINCOLN 
 
 Grant bargain Sell Convey the said Three hun- 
 dred acres of Land unto the said William Dye in 
 manner as aforesaid and that the same is and shall 
 continue free and clear from all incumbrances 
 whatsoever and will Warrant secure and Defend 
 the said William Dye his Heirs and assigns for 
 ever In Witness Whereof I have hereunto Set 
 my hand and Seal the day and year abovesaid. 
 John Lincon (L: S) Signed Sealed and Deliv- 
 ered in Presence of us John Brainerd, Ebenezer 
 Hayward Memorandum that on the 24th day of 
 May 1750 John Lincon party to the within writ- 
 ten Instrument appeared before me Andrew John- 
 son one of His Majesty's Council for the Prov- 
 ince of New Jersey and acknowledged that he 
 executed the same as his voluntary act and Deed 
 of the therein mentioned And w Johnson 
 
 The name of John Lincoln appears in the early 
 tax lists of Berks County, Pennsylvania, as the fol- 
 lowing assessments will show : 
 
 £ £ s. d. Township 
 
 1754 JohnLincorn 38 96 Union 
 
 1758 John Lincoln 6 1 6 Amity 
 1758 John Lincoln 
 
 Nov 29 1758 4 6 Amity 
 (Special Assessment) 
 
 1758 John Lincoln 10 15 Union 
 
 1759 Linckcoln John 10 15 Union 
 1759 Lincoln John 1 Amity 
 
 (Single Man) 
 1759 Lincoln John 6 9 Amity 
 
_. w 
 
 ~ H 
 
 cr 
 
 ft Cfi 
 
 n 
 o 
 
 ft -; 
 
 
 
 O 
 
 3 
 
 H 
 11 
 M 
 
 ?£ 
 
 3 z; 
 
 ft > 
 
 G 
 
 O 
 o 
 < 
 
 ft 
 
 3 T 
 O ,__ 
 
 ft 
 
 3 
 
 *<: 
 
 o 
 ?r 
 
 ft 
 
AN AMERICAN MIGRATION 
 
 107 
 
 12 
 
 
 
 Union 
 
 8 
 
 12 
 
 
 Amity 
 
 13 
 
 19 
 
 6 
 
 Union 
 
 12 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 16 
 
 4 
 
 
 Amity 
 
 8 
 
 12 
 
 
 Amity 
 
 16 
 
 4 
 
 
 Amity 
 
 13 
 
 19 
 
 6 
 
 Amity 
 
 17 
 
 4 
 
 3 
 
 Amity 
 
 13 
 
 9 
 
 6 
 
 Amity 
 
 1760 Lincoln, John 
 1760 Lincoln [John?] 
 
 1760 Lincoln [John?] 
 
 1761 Lincoln Jn°. 
 
 [married men] 
 
 1762 Lincoln John 
 
 1762 Lincoln John 
 
 1763 Lincoln John 
 
 1763 Lincoln John 
 
 1764 Lincoln John 
 
 1765 Lincoln John 
 
 Although John Lincoln is mentioned in the land 
 papers as weaver by trade, he had other forms of 
 occupation. The following receipt, dated June 10, 
 1754, shows that he was engaged in the business of 
 hauling, at least at times : 
 
 Reed from Aquila Jones Sepr. 19th I753 one 
 Ton Pigmetal w ch J promice to Deliver to 
 M r . Sam 11 Seely at his forge on acct of Jno 
 Potts Esq r 
 
 Witness 
 
 Jn° Sullivan John Lincon 
 
 There are a number of records of land transac- 
 tions by John Lincoln in the land papers of Berks 
 County, as the following will show : 
 
 Grantee John Lincoln, June 13, 1748, Grantor John Loyd 
 and wife, Robeson, Lane. Co., book 8, page 400. 
 
IC)8 ABRAHAM LINCOLN 
 
 Grantor John Lincoln, May 17, 1763. Grantee Jacob 
 Redcay, Robeson, book 8, page 402. 
 
 Grantee John Lincoln, June 14, 1763, Grantor John Camp- 
 bell, Amity, book 4, page 319. 
 
 Grantor John Lincoln, May 20, 1765, Grantee Henry Leer, 
 Amity, book 4, page 323. 
 
 Grantee John Lincoln, May 27, 1765, Grantors William 
 Boone, Jeremiah Boone, book 4, page 321. 
 
 Grantor John Lincoln, June 13, 1765, Grantee Jacob 
 Redcay, Union, book 8, page 404. 
 
 According to these deeds, John Lincoln and Re- 
 becca, his wife, disposed of their important tracts of 
 land between 1763 and 1765, as follows: 
 
 1. They sold to Jacob Redcay, May 17, 1763, 120 
 acres of the land granted to John Lincoln by the Pro- 
 prietary authority June 13, 1748, for the sum of 
 300 pounds. 
 
 2. They sold to Henry Lear, May 20, 1765, one 
 tract of 125 acres and another of 36 acres for 4 
 pounds per acre. 
 
 3. They sold to the aforesaid Jacob Redcay, June 
 x 3> : 765> 50 acres and 49 perches for the sum of 
 120 pounds. 
 
 Thus they sold altogether 331 acres and 49 perches 
 of land for the sum of 794 pounds in all, during 
 these two years. 
 
 Meanwhile John Lincoln had bought of John 
 Campbell, of Amity township, 36 acres of land for 
 100 pounds, and of William and Jeremiah Boone, 
 sons and executors of George Boone, of Exeter, 125 
 
AN AMERICAN MIGRATION IOQ. 
 
 acres for the sum of 160 pounds. Thus he had in- 
 vested during those two years 260 pounds in land 
 and realized 794 pounds from sales of land, leaving 
 a net cash balance of 534 pounds. 
 
 It is significant that the name of John Lincoln 
 disappears from the Berks County records about 
 1765. The question naturally arises : What became 
 of him? The answer to this question is easily found 
 in the land records of Virginia. An original deed 
 found in the Recorder's Office of Staunton, Vir- 
 ginia, and dated June 21, 1768, furnishes the desired 
 inf ormation : 
 
 This Indenture made the twenty first day of 
 June in the year of our Lord one thousand seven 
 hundred and sixty eight Between Zachariah and 
 Lydia Moses (Mases?) and Mary McKoy [Mc- 
 Kay?] their wifes [sic] Robert and James McKoy 
 [McKay?] of the County of Fredrick and Colony 
 of Virginia of the one part and John Lincon of 
 the County of augusta and Colony aforesaid of 
 the other part — witnesseth that the said Zacha- 
 riah and Lydia Moses and Mary McKay for and 
 in consideration of the sum of five shillings cur- 
 rent money of Virginia unto them in hand paid 
 by the said John Lincon at or before the sealing 
 and Delivery of these Presents the Receipt where- 
 of is hereby acknowledged hath granted Bar- 
 gained and sold and by these Presents doth grant 
 bargain and sell unto the said John Lincon a tract 
 of Land containing six hundred acres more or 
 Less lying and being in the County of Augusta 
 
HO ABRAHAM LINCOLN 
 
 on Linwils Creek being a Parcel of twelve hun- 
 dred acres granted by Patent to McCoy Duff 
 Green and Hite by Patent Bearing date the twen- 
 ty six day of March 1739 and by them convey to 
 Robert McKay by Deeds of Lease and Release 
 dated the nineteenth and 20th days of June 
 MDCC46 and recorded in the County Court of 
 Augusta and by the said Robert McKay &c and 
 devised to the aforesaid Zachariah McKay and 
 Lydia Moses and Mary McKay their wifes [sic] 
 by his Last will and Testament Bearing Date the 
 day of MDCC duely Proved and 
 
 Recorded in the County Court of Augusta the 
 said tract being bounded as followeth to wit Be- 
 ginning at a Black oak the south side of a ridge 
 corner to Tunis Vanpelt Land in original line N°. 
 54 . W. 662 Poles containuing that cost to the 
 Origenial [sic] Line thence N°. 37 degs. Et. 108 
 poles to Bomans Line in the Original line 
 thence S°. 26 W. 80 Poles to an off set in the 
 Original Line Running thence with the said Line 
 S°. 39 W. 108 Poles to the Place of Beginning 
 and all houses Orchards ways Waters Water- 
 courses profits commodities hereditaments and 
 appurtenances whatsoever to the said Premises 
 hereby granted or any part thereof belonging or 
 in anywise appertaining and the Reversion and 
 Reversions Remainder and Remainders rents Is- 
 sues and Profits thereof to have and to hold the 
 said six hundred acres more or Less of Land and 
 all and singular other the Premises is hereby 
 granted with the appurtenances unto the said John 
 
AN AMERICAN MIGRATION III 
 
 Lincon and his Executors and administrators and 
 assigns from the day before the date hereof for 
 and During the full term and time of one whole 
 year from thence next ensuing fully to be com- 
 plete and ended Yielding and Paying therefore 
 the rent of one pepper on Lady day next 
 
 if the same shall be Lawfully Demanded to the 
 Intent and purpose that by Virtue of these Pres- 
 ents and of the statute for transferring uses into 
 Possession the said John Lincon may be in actual 
 Possession of the Premises and to be thereby en- 
 abled to accept and take a grant and Release of 
 the Reversion and Inheritance thereof to him and 
 his heirs In Witness whereof the said Zachariah 
 and Lydia Moses and Mary McCoy their wifes 
 Roberd and James McCoy hath hath hereunto set 
 their hands and seals the day and year first above 
 written. 
 
 Zachariah McKay. (L. S.) 
 
 Moses McKay. (L. S.) 
 
 Robert McKay. (L. S.) 
 
 James McKay (L. S.) 
 
 Sealed and Delivered 
 in the Presence of 
 
 Michael Waren. 
 
 his 
 John [8] Jackson, 
 mark 
 
 John Poage. 
 
 At a Court held for Augusta County August the 
 1 6th, 1768. 
 
 This Lease from Zachariah McKay Robert Mc- 
 
112 ABRAHAM LINCOLN 
 
 Kay Moses McKay and James McKay to John 
 Lincon was Proved by the oaths of the Witnesses 
 thereto and Ordered to be Recorded. 
 
 Test John Madison 
 
 Copied from Deed Book No. 15 Page 50 
 
 Clerk's Office of the Circuit Court for Augusta 
 
 County, Virginia. 
 
 Harry Burnett, Clerk. 
 
 [The record shows that the sum of £250 was 
 paid. The forms of the name 'McKay' and 'Mc- 
 Koy' (as written at the beginning of the deed) 
 are, of course, identical.] 
 
 It is clear from the deed that John Lincoln had 
 migrated to Virginia between the years 1765 and 
 1768. The fact that the signatures of John Lincoln 
 and the mark of Rebecca Lincoln, his wife, are 
 identical in the land documents of Berks County, 
 Pennsylvania and in those of Augusta County, Vir- 
 ginia, leaves no possible doubt of the identity of the 
 persons themselves. The signature of John Lincoln 
 in the Virginia deed of 1773 is very poor, but never- 
 theless legible. By an omission easily explained, the 
 usual mark or sign of Rebecca's "mark" was not 
 affixed to the document here reproduced, but that her 
 signature was certified to is indicated in the re- 
 corded deed. It was our good fortune to find a par- 
 ticularly good specimen of John Lincoln's signature 
 in an old receipt found in the collections of Ex-Gov- 
 ernor Pennypacker, who generously allowed it to be 
 reproduced in this work. In the light of these docu- 
 

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 ^ 
 
 
 
 Deed ok John and Rebecca Lincoln to Isaac Lincoln, Conveying 
 Land on Linville's Creek in 1773. 
 
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 f 
 
 Deed of John and Rebecca Lincoln to Isaac Lincoln, Conveying 
 Land on Linville's Creek in 1773. 
 
1 
 
 AN AMERICAN MIGRATION II3 
 
 ments, the current statement that John Lincoln went 
 to Virginia to settle about 1750, at the time when 
 Daniel Boone left Berks County, Pennsylvania, for 
 the South, must be considered incorrect. Never- 
 theless, it was in the track of Daniel Boone that 
 John Lincoln found his way to Virginia and the 
 tradition that Daniel Boone stopped for a time on 
 Linvill's Creek in Augusta (now Rockingham) 
 County, Virginia, doubtless reflects important his- 
 tory in connection with the migration from Penn- 
 sylvania to Virginia. Moreover, the intimate rela- 
 tions of the Lincolns and the Boones in Berks 
 County, Pennsylvania, give us the motive for such 
 migration at this time. 
 
 The land records of Virginia show also how John 
 Lincoln distributed his land in Augusta County to 
 his sons. In the following deed, dated August 12, 
 1773, he conveys to his son, Isaac Lincoln, 215 acres 
 of his 600 acre purchase of 1768, as the text of the 
 document will show : 
 
 This Indenture made the Twelfth day of 
 August in the year of our Lord one thousand 
 seven hundred and Seventy three Between John 
 Lincoln and Rebeca his wife of Augusta County 
 & Colony of Virginia of the one part and Isaac 
 Lincoln of the County and Colony aforesaid of 
 the other Part Witnesseth that for and in consid- 
 eration of the sum of Twenty Pounds Current 
 mony of Virginia to the said John Lincoln in hand 
 Paid by the said Isaac Lincoln at or before the 
 
114 ABRAHAM LINCOLN 
 
 Sealing & delivering of these Presents the receipt 
 he doth hereby Acknowledge & thereof doth re- 
 lease acquit and Discharge the said Isaac Lincoln 
 his Executors & Administrators by these Presents 
 that the said John Lincoln Hath Granted Bar- 
 gained sold Aliened released and Confirmed & 
 by these Presents doth Grant Bargain Sell Alien 
 release & Confirm unto the sd. Isaac Lincoln (in 
 his Actuall Possession now being by virtue of a 
 Bargain and Sale to him thereof made by the 
 said John Lincoln & Rebecca his wife for one 
 whole year by Indenture bearing date the day 
 next before the day of the date of these Presents 
 and by force of the Statute for Transfering uses 
 into Possession/ and his heirs one Certain Tract 
 or Parcel of Land Containing 215 acres Lying 
 and being in the County of Augusta on Lenvels 
 Creek being Part of Twelve Hundred acres 
 Granted to McKay Duff Green and Hite by Pat- 
 tent Bearing date the 26th. day of March 1739 
 and was by them Conveyed to Robert McKay by 
 deeds of Lease and Release Bearing date the 19th. 
 and 20th. days of June 1746 & recorded in the 
 County Court of Augusta & was by the said Rob- 
 ert McKay Devised to Zachariah McKay Mosses 
 McKay Robert McKay and James McKay by his 
 Last will and Testament dated the 7th. day of 
 Octobed 1746 and recorded in the County Court 
 of Augusta and Six hundred Acres Part of the 
 Twelve hundred acres was Conveyed by the said 
 Zachariah McKay and Lydia his wife Mosses 
 McKay and Mary his wife Robert McKay and 
 
AN AMERICAN MIGRATION 115 
 
 James McKay unto the [said] John Lincoln by 
 deeds of Lease and release bearing date the 21st. 
 and 22nd., days of June, 1768 and recorded in the 
 County Court of Augusta and Bounded as follow- 
 ed, to wit :— Beginning at a Black and white oake 
 Saplings on the old line Corner to his Brother Ab- 
 rahams Land & thence south 31 degrees west 16 
 poles to 2 white oake Saplins thence south 54 
 degrees east 240 Poles to the Creek a Marked 
 walnutt a Corner to the said Abrahams Land 
 north 86 degrees east 13 poles Crossing the Creek 
 to 2 Locusts thence North 39 degrees 8 poles to 
 a Black and white oak Saplins south 62 degrees 
 East 360 Poles to a Black oak Saplin on the old 
 Line north 60 degrees east 5 poles to 2 white oaks 
 an old Corner thence north 22 degrees east & 
 80 poles to 2 white oaks thence north 65^ de- 
 grees west 360 poles to the Creek & the same 
 Course 252 poles to the Beginning and all houses 
 Buddings Orchards ways water water Courses 
 Profits Commodities Hereditaments and Appur- 
 tenances whatsoever to the said Premises hereby 
 Granted or and Part thereof Belonging or in 
 any wise appertaining and the reversion and 
 reversions Remainder and Remainders Rents 
 Issues & Profits thereof and also all the es- 
 tate right title Interest use Trust Property Claim 
 and demand and whatsoever of them the said 
 John Lincoln and Rebeca his wife of in and to 
 the said Premises and all deeds Evidences & 
 writings touching or in any wise Concerning the 
 same To have and To hold the Lands hereby Con- 
 
Il6 ABRAHAM LINCOLN 
 
 veyed and all and Singular other the Premises 
 hereby Granted & released and every Part and 
 Parcel thereof with their and every of their Ap- 
 purtenances unto the said Isaac Lincoln his heirs 
 and Assigns forever To the only proper use and 
 Behoof of him the said Isaac Lincoln his heirs 
 and Assigns forever and the said John Lincoln 
 and Rebeca his wife for themselves there heirs 
 Executors and Administrators doth Covenant 
 Promise & Grant to and with the said Isaac Lin- 
 coln his heirs and Assigns by these Presents that 
 the said John Lincoln and Rebeca his wife now 
 at The time of Sealing and Delivering of these 
 Presents is Seized of a good sure Perfect and 
 Indefeasible estate of Inheritance in fee Simple 
 of and in the Premises hereby Granted and re- 
 leased and that they have Good Power and Law- 
 ful and Absolute Authority to Grant and Convey 
 the same to the said Isaac Lincoln in Manner and 
 form aforesaid and that the said Premises now 
 are and so forever hereafter shall remain and be 
 free and Clear of and from all former and other 
 Gifts Grants Bargains sales Dower rights and 
 title of dower Judgments Executions Titles 
 Troubles Charges and Encumbrances whatsoever 
 made done Committed or suffered by the said 
 John Lincoln & Rebeca his wife or any other Per- 
 son or Persons whaostever [sic] (the Quit Rents 
 hereafter to Grow due and Payable to our Sover- 
 eign Lord the king his heirs and Successors for 
 and in Respect of the Premises only excepted and 
 Foreprized) And Lastly that the said John Lin- 
 
AN AMERICAN MIGRATION I 17 
 
 coin & Rebeca his Wife and there heirs all and Sin- 
 gular the Premises hereby Granted & Released with 
 the Appurtenances unto the said Isaac Lincoln 
 his heirs and Assigns against them the said John 
 Lincoln and Rebeca his Wife and their heirs & 
 all and every other Person & Persons whatsoever 
 shall warrant and forever defend by these Pres- 
 ents In witness whereof the said John Lincoln 
 and Rebeca his wife have hereunto set their hands 
 and Seals the day and year first Written. 
 
 John Lincoln, (L. S.) 
 
 her 
 Rebeckah R. Lincoln, (L. S.) 
 mark 
 
 Signed Sealed & Delivered— 
 In the Presence of — 
 Josiah Davison 
 
 his 
 Cornelius [B] Briant 
 mark 
 her 
 Ann (.) Briant. 
 mark 
 
 At a Court held for Augusta County August the 
 I 7&» 1773. 
 
 This Release for Land from John Lincoln and 
 Rebecah his wife to Isaac Lincoln was Proved 
 by the Oaths of the witnesses thereto and Ordered 
 to be Recorded. 
 
 Teste John Madison 
 A copy Teste : Harry Burnett, Clerk. 
 
Il8 ABRAHAM LINCOLN 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 ABRAHAM LINCOLN OF VIRGINIA AND KENTUCKY. 
 
 Turning now to John Lincoln's son, Abraham, the 
 grandfather of President Lincoln, we find him also 
 carrying on extensive land transactions in Augusta 
 County, Virginia, and later in Kentucky. In addi- 
 tion to his land mentioned in the deed to Isaac Lin- 
 coln, his brother, given above, he buys additional 
 land. In a deed dated September 6, 1779, he buys 
 of Holten Munsey and Else, his wife, a tract of 52 
 acres of land for 500 pounds: 
 
 This Indenture Made the sixth day of Sep- 
 tember in the year of our Lord one thousand 
 and Seven Hundred and Seventy Nine Between 
 Holten Muncey and Eles [Else?] his Wife of the 
 County of Rockingham and the State of Virginia 
 of the one part and Abraham Lincoln of the County 
 Afore Said and the State of Virginia of the Other 
 Part Witnesseth that for and in Consideration 
 of the sum of five Hundred Pounds Current 
 Money of Virginia in hand Paid to the said Hol- 
 ten Muncey and his Wife by the said Abraham 
 Lincoln at Or before the Sealing and Delivery 
 of these Presents the Receipt whereof they Doth 
 hereby Acknowledge and thereof doth Release 
 Acquit and discharge the Said Abraham Lincoln 
 his heirs and assigns by these presents he the 
 Said Holten Muncey hath granted Bargined Sold 
 Aliened and Confirmed and by these Presents 
 doth grant Bargain Sell Alien and Confirme rent 
 
AN AMERICAN MIGRATION I IO, 
 
 [unto?] the said Abraham Lincoln his heirs and 
 Assigns for Ever one Sertain tract or Parsel of 
 land Containing fifty two Acres lying and being 
 on Linvils Creek in the County of Rockingham 
 and Bounded as followeth Viz Begining at a white 
 Oak on Said Lincolns Line thence Crossing the 
 tract S. 42 W. 104 poles to A white Oak thence 
 S. E. 34 Poles to A wite [sic] Oak tree and two 
 Saplins thence N. 76 E. 76 Poales to a Locast 
 Steak thence S. 52 E. 41 Poales to a Locast stake 
 thence North 36 E 55 Poales to 2 Small hickeries 
 thence with the old Line to the Beginning Corner 
 Containing fifty two Accres Be the Same More 
 or Less Being formerly Convaid to the Said Hol- 
 ten Muncey by Tunis Vanpelt and Thomas Bri- 
 
 ant by Deeds of Leas and Releas dated 
 
 the said tract of Land being Part of A larger 
 Tract of Seven thousand and Nine Acres Granted 
 to Jost Hite Robert McCoy Robert Green and 
 William Duff By Patent Bearing Date the twenty 
 Six day of March 1739 and all houses Buildings 
 orchards Ways waters water Corses profits Com- 
 modities Hereditaments and Appurtenance What- 
 soever to the Said Premises hereby Granted or 
 Any Part Thereof Belonging to or in Any Wise 
 Apertaining and the Reversion and Reversions 
 Remainder and Remainders Rents Issues and 
 Profits there of and also all the Estate Right Title 
 Use Trust Profit or Claim or demand Whatso- 
 ever of him the Said Holten Muncey of In and to 
 the Said Premises and all Deeds Evidences and 
 Writings Touching or in Any Wise Concerning 
 the same to have and to hold the Lands hereby 
 Conveyed and all and Singular other the prem- 
 
120 ABRAHAM LINCOLN 
 
 ises hereby bargained and Sold and every part 
 and parcel thereof with their and every part of 
 their appurtenances unto the said Abraham Lin- 
 coln his heirs and assigns forever to the only 
 proper use and Behoof of him the said Abraham 
 Lincoln & of his heirs and assigns forever and 
 the said Holton Muncey and Alee [=Elsi] his 
 wife for themselves their heirs and assigns by 
 these presents that Holton Muncey [and] Alee his 
 wife now at the Time of Sealing and Delivering of 
 these presents is Seized of a good Sure perfect and 
 Indefeasable Estate of Inheritance in Fee simple 
 of and in the said premises hereby granted and 
 that they have good power Law full and absolute 
 Right and Authority to grant and Convey the 
 same to the said Abraham Lincoln in manner 
 and form aforesaid and that the premises now 
 are & so forever hereafter shall Remain and be 
 free and Clear of and from all others and former 
 gifts grants Bargains Sales Dower Right and 
 Title of Dower — Judgments Executions Titles 
 Troubles Charges and Incumbrances Whatsoever 
 Made Done Committed or Suffered by the Said 
 Holton Muncey or Alee his Wife or any other 
 person or persons Whatsoever (The Assessment 
 hereafter to grow Due and payable to the Collec- 
 tor for the time being for the use of the Common- 
 wealth of Virginia) for and in Respect of the 
 premises only Excepted and and [sic] foreprized 
 and the said Holton Muncey and Alee his wife and 
 their heirs and all and Singular the premises here- 
 by granted with their appurtenances unto the said 
 Abraham Lincoln his heirs and assigns against 
 them the said Holton Muncey and Alee his Wife 
 
AN AMERICAN MIGRATION 121 
 
 and their heirs and all and every other person or 
 persons Whatsoever Shall and Will Warrant and 
 forever defend by these presents and Lastly that 
 the said Holton Muncey and Alee his Wife and 
 their heirs and every other person or persons and 
 their heirs anything Having and Claiming in the 
 premises herein before Mentioned or Intended to 
 be hereby Bargained and sold shall and Will from 
 time to time and at all times hereafter at the 
 Reasonable request and at the proper Costs and 
 Charges in the Law of him the Said Abraham 
 Lincoln his heirs or assigns make do and execute 
 or procure to be made done and executed all and 
 every such farther and other Reasonable Act and 
 Acts thing or things conveyances assurances for 
 their Better and more effectual conveying and 
 assuring the premises afforesaid with their and 
 every of their apurtenances unto the said Abra- 
 ham Lincoln his heirs and assigns as by the said 
 Abraham Lincoln his heirs or assigns or their 
 Council Learned in the Law shall be Reasonably 
 advised Devised or Required. In Witness where- 
 of the said Holton Muncey and Alee his Wife 
 have herewith set their hands and Seals the day 
 and year first above Written. 
 
 holten Munsey (Seal) 
 her 
 Elsi [X] Muncy (Seal) 
 mark 
 Sealed and Delivered 
 
 In the presence of 
 John Heaton ^wm^^wtt 
 Chas Mair f \- y •:. 
 
 Jacob Lincoln 
 
122 ABRAHAM LINCOLN 
 
 At a court held for Rockingham County the 22 
 Day of November 1779 This Deed of Bargain & 
 Sale for Holton Muncy to Abraham Lincoln was 
 proved by the Oaths of the witneses thereto & 
 ordered to be recorded 
 
 Test. Pet'. Hog C. R. c. 
 
 Monsey 
 
 to 
 
 Lincoln No & Sale 91 
 
 Record d & Exam d 
 
 ? Ervin C. R. C. 
 
 Recorded in Burnt Records 
 Deed Book No. O page 53 
 C. H. Brunk D. C. 
 
 [The correct form of the name in this deed 
 seems to be 'Holten' although toward the end of 
 the deed it is written 'Holton.' It will be noted 
 too that the last name is written 'Munsey' 'Mun- 
 cey,' 'Muncy.' In like manner the wife's name 
 is written 'Eles,' 'Alee,' and 'Elsi' (in the signa- 
 ture).] 
 
 The next year, 1780, we find a most important 
 land transaction of this Abraham Lincoln, the son 
 of "Virginia John," recorded in a deed dated Feb- 
 ruary 18, 1780. By this document Abraham Lin- 
 coln and his wife, "Batseb" (Bethsheba), sell to 
 Michael Shanks and John Ruef, also of the same 
 county (now Rockingham), 250 acres (part of the 
 original purchase of John Lincoln), for the sum of 
 5000 pounds. This price seems very high, but it 
 
 / 
 
AN AMERICAN MIGRATION 1 23 
 
 must be remembered that Abraham Lincoln paid half 
 that price (10 pounds per acre) for the 52 acres 
 bought the year before. The text of the deed fol- 
 lows: 
 
 This Indenture made the Eighteenth day of 
 Feberuary [sic] in the Year of our Lord one 
 thousand Seven Hundred and Eighty Between 
 Abraham Lincolen of the County of Rockingham 
 and State of Virginia and Bersheba [Bethsheba? 
 not Barbara as the deed book has it] his wife of 
 the one part and Michel shanks and John Reuf 
 [Ruef] of the county and State aforesaid of the 
 other Part Witnesseth that for and in consid- 
 eration of the sume of five Thousand Poundes 
 Current money of Virginia in hand paid unto the' 
 said Ab m Lincolen By the Said Michel shanks 
 at or Before the sealing and Delivery of these 
 presents the Receipt whereof they doth hereby 
 acknowledge and and thereof doth Release 
 aquit and Discharge the Said Michal [sic] shanks 
 his Heirs and assigns by these presents he the 
 said Ab m Lincolen hath Granted Bargained Sold 
 Alien'd and Confirmed and by these presents 
 doth grant Bargain sell alien and Confirm unto 
 the said Michal shanks and their heirs and as- 
 signs for ever one Certain Tract of Land Con- 
 taining two hundred and fifty acres Being a part 
 of twele [twelve] hundred acres Granted to Mc- 
 Kay Duff Green and Hite By patent bearing Date 
 twenty six dayes [sic] March 1739 and by them 
 Convey'd to Robert McKay by Deeds of Lease 
 and Release bearing date the nineteenth and 
 
124 ABRAHAM LINCOLN 
 
 twenty Dayes of June 1746 and by the Said Rob- 
 ert McKay Devised to the afor said Zacha- 
 riah mcKay Moses McKay Robert McKay 
 and the aforsaid McKayes convey to John Lin- 
 colen six hundred acres of the forsaid Land by 
 Deed of Lease and Realse [sic?] bearing Date 
 the twenty Second day of June 1768 and John 
 Lincolen Conveyed apart of this within mentioned 
 two hundred and fifty acres to Abraham Lincolen 
 and Tunis Vanpelt Thos Bryan and Holten Mun- 
 cey Conveyed the Rest the said Land to abrm 
 Lincolen Lying and being on the North side of 
 Linvils Creek Beginning at a Locust Stake and 
 walnut stump on the North side of Linvils Creek 
 thence along the old Line South thirty seven De- 
 grees West Seventy Eight Poles to a black oak 
 corner to Tunis Vanpelt North fifty five and a 
 half Degrees West one hundred and twenty four 
 poles to white oak one [sic] said line: south forty 
 two Degrees West one hundred & four Poles to a 
 whit oak South East thirty Poles to white oak 
 and two Sapplins North Seventy six Degrees 
 East seventy six Poles near to a white oak South 
 twenty five Degrees East forty one Poles to a 
 locust Stake North thirty six Degrees East fifty 
 eight Poles to two smal Hicorys south fifty five 
 y 2 Degrees East one Hundred and Thirty six 
 poles to the Creek near a sycemore [sic] and 
 thorn thence down the Creek the several courses 
 to a walnut to his B r Isaces [sic] line North 
 fifty four Degrees West two hundred and 
 forty Poles to two small white oak North thirty 
 one Degrees East sixteen Poles to a black oak 
 
AN AMERICAN MIGRATION 12 e 
 
 Saplin on the old lin * * * with all Houses 
 Buildings orchards wayes water Courses Profits 
 Commoditys Hereditaments and appurtenances 
 whatsoever to the Said Premises hereby granted 
 or any part thereof Belonging or in any wise ap- 
 pertaining and the Reversion and Reversions 
 Remainder and Remainders Rents Issues & 
 Profits thereof and also all the Estate Right Title 
 use Trust Property or Claim or Demand whatso- 
 ever of him the Said Abraham Lincolen of In 
 and to the Said Premises and all Deeds Evi- 
 dences and writings Touching or In any wise 
 Concerning the same To Have and to Hold the 
 land hereby conveyed and all and Singular other 
 the Premises hereby Bargained and sold and Ev- 
 ery Part and Parcle thereof with their and every 
 of their appurtenances unto the said man Michal 
 shanks His Heirs and assigns for Ever to the 
 only proper use and Behoof of them Michal 
 Shanks and of his heirs and assigns for ever and 
 the Said Abraham Lincolen and Bashaba his wife 
 for them selves theire Heirs and assigns by these 
 Presents Ab m Lincolen and his wife at the time 
 of the Sealing and Delivery of these Presents 
 is Seized of a good Sure Perfect and Indefeaz- 
 able Estate of Inheritance In fee Simple of and 
 In the said premises Hereby Granted and he 
 Hath good Power and Lawfull and absolute 
 right and authority to grant and Convey the 
 same to the said Michal Shanks In manner and 
 form aforsaid and that the premises now are and 
 so for ever hereafter shall remain and be free 
 and clear of and from all former and other Gifts 
 
126 ABRAHAM LINCOLN 
 
 Grants Bargains Sales rights titles of Dowers 
 Dower Judgments Executions Titles Troubles 
 Charges and Incumberances whatsoever Made 
 done Commited or Suffred By the said Ab m 
 Lincolen and Basheba his wife or any other per- 
 son or persons whatsoever the assement [assess- 
 ment] hereafter to grow dwe [due] and Pay- 
 able to the Collectors for the Time being for the 
 use of the Commonwealth of Virginia for and 
 In Prospect of the Said Premises only Excepted 
 and forprized and the said Ab m Lincolen and 
 Bathsheba his wife and theire Heirs all and sin- 
 gular the Premises hereby granted with the ap- 
 purtenances unto the said Michal shanks His heirs 
 and assigns against them the said Ab m Lincolen 
 and Bathshaba his weife [sic] and theire heirs and 
 all and Every other Person [or] Persons whatso- 
 ever shall and will Warrent and for Ever Defend 
 by these Presents and Lastly that the said Ab m 
 Lincolen and Bathshabe his weife and theire Heirs 
 and Every other Person or Persons and theire 
 Heirs any thing having and Claiming In the 
 Premises herein before mentioned or Intended to 
 be hereby Bargained and sold shall and will from 
 time to time and at all Times hereafter at the 
 Reasonable Request and at the proper cost and 
 charges in the Laue of them the Said Michal 
 shanks His heirs or assigns make do and Exe- 
 cute or Procure to be made done and Executed 
 all and Ewery such further and other Reasonable 
 Act and acts thing or things Conveyances and 
 assurances for theire further Better and more 
 Effectual, Conveying and Assuring the Premises 
 
AN AMERICAN MIGRATION 1 27 
 
 aforsaid with their and Every of their appurten- 
 ances unto the said Michal Shanks His Heirs and 
 assigns as by the said Abraham Lincolen his heirs 
 or assignes or their councils Learned in the Laue 
 shall be Reasonable advised Devised or Required 
 in Witness whereof the said Abraham Lincolen 
 and Bathsheba his weufe [sic] Hath Hereunto set 
 theire hand and seal the day & year first above 
 
 written 
 
 Ab m Lincoln 
 
 Batseb Lincon 
 Seal'd and Deliver'd 
 In Presence of 
 
 Charles Mair 
 Solomon Mathews 
 George Chrisman 
 
 At a court held for Rockingham County the 26 
 Day of June 1780 This Deed of Bargain & Sale 
 from Abraham Lincoln & Bersheba his Wife to 
 Michael Shanks was proved by the Oath of 
 Charles Mair & George Chrisman & by the Sol- 
 emn affirmation of Solomon Mathews the wit- 
 nesses thereto and ordered to be recorded by the 
 Court. Pet'. Hog C. R. C. 
 
 This sale was made about the time Abraham Lin- 
 coln purchased land in Kentucky. The next record 
 we have of him is found in the Land Office of Larue 
 County, Kentucky. The original grant is repro- 
 duced here and shows the form "Linkhorn" which 
 has given rise to the theory of the German origin 
 of Lincoln. Abraham Lincoln soon went with his 
 
128 ABRAHAM LINCOLN 
 
 family, including his son Thomas, the father of the 
 President, to settle in Kentucky (then a part of 
 Virginia). 
 
 The following additional land transactions of the 
 Lincolns are recorded in the deed books of Harrison- 
 burg, Virginia, before 1802: 
 
 Grantee Jacob Lincoln, Aug. 28, 1778, Grantor Tunis 
 
 Vanpelt, book 00, p. 344. 
 Grantor Isaac Lincoln, Apr. 24, 1779, Grantee John 
 
 Kring (?), book 000, p. 345. 
 Grantor Isaac Lincoln, Apr. 24, 1779, Grantee Philip 
 
 Rimel ( ?), book 000, p. 345- 
 Grantee John Lincoln, Apr. 28, 1787, Grantors John 
 
 Thomas et ux., book 00, p. 362. 
 Grantee John Lincoln, Sept. 28, 1790, Grantor Robert 
 
 Harrison, book 00, p. 371. 
 Grantors Thomas Lincoln et ux., July 25, 1791, Grantee 
 
 Jacob Lincoln, book 000, 373. 
 Grantee John Lincoln, Apr. 28, 1794, Grantor Henry 
 
 Whisler, book 00, p. 25. 
 Grantee John Lincoln, June 28, 1796, Grantors Henry 
 
 Nave et ux., book 00, p. 160. 
 Grantee John Lincoln, Oct. 28, 1796, Grantor Jacob 
 
 Casner, book 00, p. 181. 
 Grantee Jacob Lincoln, Oct. 16, 1797, Grantors Thomas 
 
 Vance et ux., book 00, p. 252. 
 Grantee Jacob Lincoln, July 16, 1798, Grantor Thomas 
 
 Leach, book 00, p. 298. 
 Grantors John Lincoln et ux., June 21, 1801, Grantee John 
 
 Raider, book 000, p. 433. 
 
 The following early epitaphs were found in the 
 old Lincoln Burying Ground on Linville Creek : 
 
 To the I Memory | of | Jacob Lincoln S r who 
 was born on the 18 th day of November 1751 
 
13 
 
 JO 
 
 M 
 
 73 
 
 W 
 
 z 
 
 H 
 < 
 
 o 
 
 O: 
 
 SB . 
 
 ■ o 
 
 8* 
 
 r g 
 
 > M 
 
 o - 
 
 > 
 
 73 
 73 
 
 ffl 
 
 71 
 
 H 
 
 a 
 
 O 
 
 c 
 
 X 
 
 w 
 
AN AMERICAN MIGRATION i 2 Q 
 
 and I departed this life on the | 20 th day of Feb- 
 ruary 1822 I aged 71 years 9 Months | and 2 days 
 Sacred | to the Memory of | John Lincoln I 
 who departed this life | on the 13th [ ?] day of 
 July 1818 I aged 35 years | and 5 months and 4 
 days. 
 
 Abraham Lincoln | Born March 15 | 1799 I 
 Died June 18. 1851 | Aged 52 years 2 mo's I & 
 29 days. 
 
 It will thus appear that the interests of the Lin- 
 coins in the Linville Creek Region were extensive. 
 Later it was complicated by the arrival of other 
 members of the Lincoln family from Pennsylvania. 
 Mordecai Lincoln, son of Mordecai the elder of Exe- 
 ter, settled in Union Township, Fayette County, and 
 died there in 1812. Most of his children seem to have 
 gone to settle in the Valley of Virginia. Michael 
 Lincoln, the son of Thomas, son of Mordecai, the 
 elder, of Exeter, settled in Buffalo Valley. Hananiah 
 Lincoln, son of Mordecai of Exeter, after serving in 
 the 1 2th Pennsylvania Regiment in the Revolution, 
 joined Daniel Boone's settlement in Kentucky,' 
 Sarah Lincoln, daughter of Mordecai of Exeter,' 
 married Joshua Davis, of the Juniata Valley. 
 
I30 ABRAHAM LINCOLN 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 THE FORMS OF THE NAME LINCOLN. 
 
 The argument in support of the theory that Abra- 
 ham Lincoln was sprung from a German family by 
 the name of Linkhorn (written also Lincorn, Linck- 
 orn, Linckhorn), was based primarily upon this sup- 
 posable German form of the name, and, secondly, 
 upon the fact that Abraham Lincoln, the President 
 of the United States, was descended from a family 
 of that name in Berks County, Pennsylvania. It 
 will now be in place to discuss the validity of this 
 argument in the light of the documents already pre- 
 sented in the foregoing pages. 
 
 The documents relating to the Lincoln family, 
 ranging all the way from Massachusetts to Ken- 
 tucky, exhibit the following well authenticated forms 
 of the name Lincoln. In Masachusetts we find "Lin- 
 coln," "Lincoen," a form in Abraham Lincoln's 
 direct line. In the New Jersey documents we find 
 "Lincoln," "Lincon," "Lincen," "Lincorn," Linc- 
 korn." In Pennsylvania we find "Lincoln," "Link- 
 coin," "Lincolin," "Lincorn," "Lingorn," "Lin- 
 korn," "Linkoln," "Linkoon." In Maryland we 
 find "Lincoln," "Lincolne," "Linckhorn." In Vir- 
 ginia we find "Lincoln," "Lincolen," "Lincon." In 
 Kentucky we find "Lincoln," "Linkhorn." Thus 
 summing up the important forms we have the fol- 
 

 -■/ 
 
 
 
 . %r>^ria 4 
 
 4. 
 
 £*r Wry 
 
 
 >/. 
 
 "+•*? • '' < 
 
 ~— — +• 
 
 *-r ci — 
 
 y7Z if* '■S</>'*^ /***<' 
 
 f-J, // l I *~^ ^ A '. I £ fa Y, ty ^ 
 
 
 
 
 //*_ /%£*&.'#?.'• 
 
 Marriage Certificate ok Thomas Lincoln and Nancy Hanks. 
 { By the Courtesy of Col. R. T. Durrett.) 
 
AN AMERICAN MIGRATION 131 
 
 lowing: Lincoln, Lincolne, Lincolen, Linkcoln, 
 Lincon, Lincoen, Lincen, Linckon, Linkon, Link- 
 hoon, Linkom, Linkhorn. In addition to these 
 forms of the name, that of "Linton" also has been 
 considered as synonymous with "Lincoln," but as 
 it seems, only sporadically, if at all. 
 
 As we have seen, the name and family of Lincoln 
 have been traced back to New England and thence 
 back to Old England, to the neighborhood of Hing- 
 ham, whence a number of the New England settlers 
 came to Massachusetts and here formed a settlement, 
 which likewise was called Hingham. The name Lin- 
 coln itself is one of frequent occurrence in English 
 records, and is applied both to persons and to places. 
 It is usually derived from the two words Lind and 
 Colonia, which as a compound, under the laws of 
 euphonic change, would give Lincolonia and Lin- 
 colne or Lincoln. 
 
 The correct and, at the same time, the most per- 
 sistent form of the name is Lincoln. All the other 
 forms are but natural variations in the speech of the 
 people or in the orthography of the scribe. There 
 seems to be no evidence that any of the forms of the 
 name are of German origin. The form which gave 
 rise to the theory of Lincoln's German ancestry was, 
 of course, Linkhorn and its variations, which occur, 
 as we have seen, over almost the entire territory 
 through which the family migrated. 
 
 In order to make the argument clearer, let us ex- 
 amine the various forms of the name and their iden- 
 
I32 ABRAHAM LINCOLN 
 
 tity, from the philological point of view. The form 
 Lincolne explains itself, as a variant spelling quite 
 common in the colonial and earlier records. The 
 form Linkoln is simply a more phonetic spelling 
 with "k" instead of hard "c." The form Linkolen 
 is the same form with the liquid made more vocalic 
 by the addition of an "e" before the "n," which is 
 a very common characteristic of the folkspeech. The 
 form Lincoin or Line en is simply a vocalization of 
 the liquid "1," which is also a common phonetic phe- 
 nomenon. The forms Lincon, Linckon, Linkon, all 
 represent the same sound and exhibit a form of the 
 name in which the liquid has become silent and thus 
 dropped in the pronunciation as well as in the 
 orthography — also a well-known phenomenon in the 
 folkspeech. The pseudo-German forms, Linkhorn, 
 Linkom, Lincorn, which seem to offer the most diffi- 
 culty, are really very simple, well authenticated pho- 
 netic changes which are found in the literatures and 
 are still going on in the speech of both Germanic and 
 Romanic peoples, namely, the simple interchange of 
 liquids, in this case the substitution of r for /. 
 Thus we see that all of the forms of the name Lin- 
 coln are natural variants, entirely in keeping with the 
 traditions of English speech and orthography. 
 
 Having disposed of the pseudo-German form of 
 the name, let us consider the occurrence of it outside 
 of the Lincoln family. If the presumable German 
 forms, Linkom, Lincorn, etc., were German, we 
 should naturally expect to find them occurring as 
 
— — g ^^.--^ i. „ ^u^ i ». .j . . ■■■ ■< 'w ■■^tyuu' . ■ 
 
 ^.,.,/Vf«.' fry //**»■>* J., A ,„J5% A*/ for ■' ' ■ •■.trtrr- 
 
 ./< *,„,....•> (,„,„.,*/> ,*~...y ■■///»/>■*■/ ^- V ' ^ '' 
 
 ^ ... '.'•..■ 
 
 ......... 1 , ■ -f-^jittt.,^. ,•_ a, . „ ^ y^,.-a fa.k.. . T . . . .. --.. ...-xr... | ... . .. ,.. . A 
 
 y/a /«. or /t cti/<*< /{•. 
 
 //tLs A lit #/*■*< &4-itnf. $, / 
 
 Marriage Bond and Certificate of Thomas Lincoln. 
 (By Courtesy of Col. R. T. Durrett ) 
 
AN AMERICAN MIGRATION 1 33 
 
 independent German names in lists of German set- 
 tlers or in German communities, where they could 
 not possibly be confused with the English name Lin- 
 coln. A diligent search, however, in the directories 
 of the most German communities of Pennsylvania, 
 has failed to produce a single occurrence of the 
 name, not identical with that of Lincoln. Neither 
 city directories, nor land papers, nor other local rec- 
 ords seem to contain any such German name. 
 
 That these supposed German forms of the name 
 are all clearly understood to be variations of the 
 name Lincoln, is amply attested and positively dem- 
 onstrated by the documents themselves, and particu- 
 larly by the signatures, which show that all these 
 variations of the name are identical with the forms 
 Lincoln and Lincon, which often occur in two or 
 three forms in the same document. The final incon- 
 testible proof of the identity of the forms Linkhorn, 
 etc., with Lincoln, etc., however, is found in two doc- 
 uments in the land records. One of these documents 
 is a deed dated May 26, 1726, conveying land from 
 Richard Salter, of New Jersey, to Mordecai Lincon 
 (or Lincen). The document contains this statement 
 in regard to the form of the name Lincen or Lincon : 
 
 John Anderson Examined & agrees with the 
 original the word (Lincen) in the 11 th line under- 
 lined was by mistake in Recording. John Terrill 
 Reg (see p. 26 above). 
 
 This shows clearly the identification of the form 
 
134 ABRAHAM LINCOLN 
 
 Lincoln, which is the normal form recognized by the 
 scribe in this document, and the form Lincen or 
 Li neon. 
 
 The other document mentioned above furnishes 
 the clinching argument for the identity of the sup- 
 posed German form of the name with the usual 
 English form, Lincoln. The document in question 
 is a deed recorded in City Hall, Philadelphia, bear- 
 ing date April 4, 1794, and conveying land from 
 Philip Price and Hannah, his wife, of Kingsessing 
 Township, Philadelphia County, to Abraham Linck- 
 horn, of the same township. This document con- 
 tains the following notable passage : 
 
 "N. B. The surname of the second party to 
 this Indenture has been mispelled through Mis- 
 information to the Scrivener, tho commonly pro- 
 nounced as it is speled above, it is written 
 Lincoln." 
 
 Thus the name Lincoln, like the family, is not 
 German but English. The tradition which has taken 
 such a hold upon the German American mind as to 
 give rise even to German poetry on Abraham Lin- 
 coln as a German, must be considered as without 
 historic foundation. 
 

 .y . 'cTyQ- //• -- ■ / • - --.'•" 
 
 / ' ' ' ' ' jts /^**>6>t6K, 
 
 c /A ' .§'—***& 
 
 / J?' '''."'''"'■' '-'A'/, ".v-"* as&fti ayitft) a/«rt>t , .'/// <&*%£„ v4%, S 
 
 
 
 1 y&*ffi4Z .:< . 
 
 -' 
 
 ■■'<'•' . ,-><• . 
 
 Deed Showing the Correct Name of "Lincoln," not "Linkhorn." 
 (Original in City Hall, Philadelphia.) 
 
AN AMERICAN MIGRATION 1 35 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 THE LINCOLN MIGRATION TYPICALLY AMERICAN. 
 
 One of the most important results of genealogical 
 research in this country is, or should be, the new 
 light shed upon colonization and settlement in 
 America and the motives prompting migration to 
 new lands. It will appear from the foregoing re- 
 searches that the Lincoln family is one of the most 
 typical and significant in American history. 
 
 The motive prompting the migration of the Lin- 
 colns through the various provinces reflects in each 
 instance an important fact in the history of our 
 early settlements. In the first movement of the Lin- 
 colns from Hingham and other parts of England, 
 they were prompted by the widespread desire to seek 
 a more favorable sphere of activity in the new 
 world. They formed part of a larger company of 
 emigrants who acquired land in the colony of 
 Massachusetts. It was one of those concerted emi- 
 grations from a particular locality in the Old World 
 with the purpose of making a compact settlement 
 in the new land beyond the sea. 
 
 It can be clearly seen that the Lincoln family, like 
 most large families, represented a variety of occu- 
 pations. One was a yeoman, another a miller, 
 another a weaver, all alert to the opportunities of 
 improving their several trades in the new environ- 
 
I36 ABRAHAM LINCOLN 
 
 merit. So we have Thomas Lincoln, the yeoman or 
 husbandman, Thomas Lincoln, the miller, Samuel 
 Lincoln, the weaver, or at least the hired-man, or, 
 probably more exactly, the apprentice of a weaver. 
 As subsequent events indicate, the blacksmith trade 
 was doubtless understood and practiced by some of 
 the family. 
 
 It is the trade and industry of working iron which 
 seems to furnish a clue to the motive of the sons of 
 Mordecai Lincoln of Hull in their migration from 
 Massachusetts to New Jersey. Their father, Mor- 
 decai of Hull, had already become an important 
 factor in the iron industry of Massachusetts, having, 
 as we have seen, a considerable share in the erection 
 of the iron works at Bound Brook, Massachusetts, 
 and having brought the iron industry to the highest 
 point of perfection in the colony at that time by 
 building a Catalan forge for making wrought iron. 
 It is significant that Mordecai Lincoln and Abraham, 
 his brother, sons of Mordecai of Hull, migrated to 
 that part of New Jersey in which iron had been 
 found — the Red Bank region — evidently with the 
 expectation that they might be able to develop the 
 iron industry in New Jersey. In addition to 
 their interests in iron, they naturally acquired land 
 in the new settlement and became important land- 
 owners as well as ironmongers. We find Mordecai 
 Lincoln mentioned later as ironmonger in Pennsyl- 
 vania, and Abraham we find designated as 
 "blacksmith", in addition to their occupation as 
 yeomen. 
 
V 4 
 
 A" | # v '• . .,' - . -r ' ' ' " ■ 
 
 ,.- '+,. ..' , *»' -<J. ..'.. f . .. ' •" '• 
 
 -fc~i — _^ *■■-,.;« _._ /" • 
 
 OLD LINCOLN CABIN. 
 
 Tfl/i» SPR/HG-r/E-LD WASHINGTON m u M r y_ K V 
 
 (By the Courtesy of Mr. Thomas B. Kirpatrik, of Hodgenville, Ky. 
 
AN AMERICAN MIGRATION 1 37 
 
 It is therefore, more than a simple accident, or 
 coincidence, that we find Mordecai Lincoln taking 
 up land later in the French Creek region, that part 
 of Pennsylvania in which the iron industry was 
 developing and in which he erects a forge and car- 
 ries on extensive iron operations, thus deserving the 
 appellation of "ironmonger" in the old deed. In the 
 case of Abraham, who settled in Springfield Town- 
 ship, Chester County, Pennsylvania, other motives 
 may have operated to determine the place of his 
 settlement. In the early land records of Philadel- 
 phia County, we find the name Saltar before 1700, 
 showing that the Saltars had purchased land in 
 Pennsylvania. As Mordecai Lincoln had married 
 Hannah Saltar, it is quite likely that his attention, 
 as well as that of his brother, Abraham, had been 
 directed by the Saltar connections to the counties of 
 Philadelphia and Chester, and that both might have 
 settled nearer Philadelphia but for the fact that Mor- 
 decai wished to carry on the industry of mining and 
 smelting iron, and so sought out the region of iron 
 deposits along French Creek. 
 
 In the case of the sons of Mordecai Lincoln, the 
 elder, of Exeter, Pennsylvania, son of Mordecai of 
 Hull, Massachusetts, we find some of the old tradi- 
 tional trades re-appearing, as for example in John 
 Lincoln, who is mentioned in the land record as 
 "Weaver", showing that he had the trade of the 
 great-great grandfather Samuel Lincoln, the weaver- 
 apprentice and immigrant in Massachusetts. 
 
I38 ABRAHAM LINCOLN 
 
 The migration of the Lincolns from Pennsylvania 
 to Virginia and other parts of the South and West, 
 reflects one of the most important movements of 
 American population — the movement along the 
 Great Valley and across the mountains into the 
 valleys of the Ohio and the Mississippi. It is along 
 this route that the migration of the Lincolns moved 
 from Berks County, Pennsylvania. 
 
 As early as 1 710, the Swiss and Palatine Germans 
 under the guidance of De Graffenried settled at New 
 Bern, North Carolina, but were soon afterward 
 attacked by the Indians and massacred or dispersed. 
 The survivors took refuge in Virginia and formed a 
 settlement at Germanna in 1714. The eyes of the 
 Virginians had already been opened a hundred years 
 before to the excellent qualities of the German set- 
 tlers as artisans and farmers. Governor Spottswood 
 now encouraged the Palatines to settle on his lands. 
 Even before 1720 the provincial council of Virginia 
 had devoted special attention to a general plan of 
 settling Palatines in the uplands of Virginia. 
 
 In this year, 1720, John van Meter, a trader from 
 the Hudson River region in New York, made a pros- 
 pecting tour through the South Branch region of 
 Virginia. 1727 Isaac van Meter, the son of John, 
 visited the same region of Virginia. Meanwhile, 
 isolated settlers seem to have taken up land in the 
 Valley of Virginia. Adam Miller appears to have 
 settled there near Massanutting in 1726 or 1727. In 
 the year 1730, Isaac van Meter, and John his 
 brother, sons of the elder John, received patents of 
 
AN AMERICAN MIGRATION 1 39 
 
 land from Governor Gonch, of Virginia. John van 
 Meter patented 10,000 acres at the forks of the 
 Shenandoah (Sherando or Shenando) and Cedar 
 Creek, Cedar Lick and Strong Lick, and 20,000 
 acres farther below. Isaac van Meter patented 
 10,000 acres in the lower valley. 
 
 In the year 1728 a serious event turned the atten- 
 tion of Pennsylvania settlers toward Virginia. In 
 this year the Indians made a hostile attack upon the 
 settlement of Falkner Swamp and Goschenhoppen. 
 The settlers of Cold Brook Dale sent a petition to 
 Governor Gordon, of Pennsylvania, asking him to 
 protect them against the savages. Many of the 
 settlers, feeling insecure in Pennsylvania, began to 
 look for more favorable conditions in other prov- 
 inces, and naturally turned their eyes in the direction 
 of Maryland and Virginia, toward which settlers 
 were beginning to move along the eastern slopes of 
 the Blue Ridge. 
 
 In the year 1732 Jost Hite (Justus Heid), a na- 
 tive of Strassburg in Elsass, purchased land of the 
 Van Meters on the Opequon Creek and settled some 
 sixteen families from Lancaster County, Pennsyl- 
 vania. Among the names of these settlers were, 
 George Bowman, Jacob Chrisman, Paul Froman 
 (all three sons-in-law of Hite), Robert McKay, 
 William Duff and Peter Stephen. They took the 
 route of the old Monocacy Road, by way of Har- 
 per's Ferry, and settled five miles to the north of the 
 present Winchester. In 1733 Jacob Stauffer (or 
 Stover) received a grant of 5000 acres of land in 
 
I4O ABRAHAM LINCOLN 
 
 the Gerando (Shenando) region, farther up the ^ 'Jt 
 valley, toward the present site of Harrisonburg. The 
 old name of Strasburg, was Staufferstadt, and per- 
 petuated the name of this early settler. In 1736 
 Peter Bowman appears among the settlers, and in 
 1738 Peter Franciscus. In 1746 we find William /> 
 Lenivell (or Linvill) taking up land along the Lin- 
 ville Creek, which now bears his name. 
 
 A glance at the names of these early settlers in & , 
 
 the Valley of Virginia, and the references in the Rm^W-S- 
 land records show that many of them came from 
 what was old Lancaster County, Pennsylvania (in- 
 cluding later Lancaster, York and Lebanon). The 
 earlier names, like "Bowman", "Franciscus", 
 "Funk", point directly to the early settlers in the 
 Pequea region of Lancaster County (then Chester 
 County) of 17 10. Likewise the name "Lenivell" 
 or "Linvill" is one of frequent occurrence in Lan- 
 caster County, covering entire pages of the old deed 
 books in the Recorder's office. 
 
 The contact between John Lincoln and this early 
 migration to Virginia is twofold. In the first place 
 John Lincoln owned land in Caernarvon Township, 
 Lancaster County, as well as in Amity and Union, 
 Berks County, and naturally came into touch with 
 the residents of that region who were migrating to 
 Virginia. In the second place he had a special 
 instance of such migration in his adventurous 
 neighbor and friend, Daniel Boone, of Oley. 
 
 Daniel Boone, of Oley, had set out with his 
 father and kinsman from Berks County, Pennsyl- 
 
AN AMERICAN MIGRATION 
 
 141 
 
 vania, in 1750, with a view to settling in the Great 
 Valley. They took the usual route by Harper's 
 Ferry and passed up the Shenandoah Valley. Tradi- 
 tion says— in this instance it doubtless reflects 
 history— that the Boones tarried a while on Linville 
 Creek, six miles north of Harrisonburg, Virginia. 
 In the following year, 1751, the Boones pressed on 
 through the Valley of Virginia to the Yadkin region, 
 where Squire Boone, Daniel's father, chose a claim 
 at Buffalo Lick, at the junction of Dutchman's Creek 
 and the north point of the Yadkin. 
 
 The ties of friendship between the Lincolns and 
 the Boones in Berks County were drawn closer by 
 the marriage of Abraham Lincoln, the posthumous 
 son of Mordecai, the elder, of Exeter, to Anna 
 Boone, July the 10th, 1760. It was thus natural 
 that John Lincoln, or "Virginia John", as he was 
 later called, and his kinsmen should be informed 
 of the wanderings of the Boones in the Great Valley. 
 Thus the motive of John Lincoln's migration to 
 Virginia is easily found. He, unlike the other sons 
 of Mordecai Lincoln, the elder, of Exeter, was not 
 attached to the soil of Pennsylvania by inheritance 
 but by the purchase of land, having received his part 
 of his father's estate in New Jersey, and afterwards 
 sold it for cash. Then, too, the opportunities of 
 acquiring large tracts of land in the Valley of Vir- 
 ginia at a moderate price, and the fact that his 
 kinsmen and neighbors, the Boones, had already 
 migrated thither furnished further incentive. 
 
142 ABRAHAM LINCOLN 
 
 The exact date of John Lincoln's migration from 
 Berks County, Pennsylvania, to Augusta County, 
 Virginia, cannot be fixed, but it must have been 
 between 1765, the year in which John Lincoln's 
 name ceases to appear in the tax lists of Berks 
 County, and 1768, the year in which he appears as 
 a resident of Augusta County, Virginia. As we have 
 seen he sold the major part of his land in Pennsyl- 
 vania between the years 1763 and 1765. It is quite 
 likely that he went to Virginia in 1765 or 1766, and 
 like the Boones tarried in the Linville Creek region 
 until he could decide upon a place of residence. 
 Instead of following the Boones on to the Yadkin, 
 he purchased land on Linville Creek from the 
 McKays (or McCoys) and others who had received 
 an original grant. As the land records show, John 
 Lincoln later in life conveyed his land to his sons. 
 
 It will be remembered that Daniel Boone set out 
 from North Carolina for Transylvanian Virginia, 
 that region which is now known as Kentucky. In 
 1773 the Boones, with their families, left the Yadkin 
 to settle in the land then recently explored by Daniel 
 Boone, and met with the disastrious massacre in the 
 Cumberland Gap. Meanwhile this region, which 
 had been entered twenty years before by Governor 
 Spottswood, now attracted the attention of the 
 Washingtons — George Washington and his brothers 
 — of the Lees, and even of Benjamin Franklin. 
 Hundreds of settlers began to pour in through the 
 Ohio Valley, and founded the town of Louisville. 
 

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 /;;, 
 
 * 
 
 ;/ : • ::^1 
 
 j .jl^SS in Co.miaeraiionl i 
 
 '. * ; ..; &< urre'nt Money m'n 
 ft: (?i,- ; wncrcOl to tiK 
 
 •y iSjKc-ir* or iYlfighs, 
 
 the Quantify of fro-i't.-s^yi i>t<^%^^t p 
 •Acres x>f Land, due unto tfce (aid Mhrtf&a*^. 
 
 tir Sum oi'0VU,fi^<<)r<-dTV(n{ty /vtu**.oi \ ^ 
 1 into the publick Treafuijf; tTic Payment 
 ifurer hath been duly ttrtihcji bv Lhe .Auditors £'4 
 
 ^Ijfi 1 5i5o of pubiick 'Accel ts, and their Certificate receiLd into ih. Land t4$ 
 &lj§|0£icc. GIVjlN under my Hand, and life .Val f '.he faid 
 j KySpfacc, en tin's -^ wit -Day of ^^>j^> fr^C-in the g* 
 SlSn'car One Thoufa d Seven Hundred and -<^< <* < ^£, ff> 
 
 Sk ^S i ui* £ car One Th o 'J fa 
 
 J Seven Hundred and -<^c' t? 'szs&tj 
 
 Ifel • ' '*" : ' HSR 
 
 Warrant Issued to Abraham Lincoln, in Kentucky, Show inc. hie Name " Linkiiorn." 
 
AN AMERICAN MIGRATION 1 43 
 
 Early in the year 1780, three hundred so-called 
 family boats are said to have arrived at the Falls of 
 the Ohio. The Legislature of Virginia passed laws 
 for the protection and encouragement of the new 
 settlers. 
 
 Naturally, the cismontane Virginians were eager 
 to seize the opportunity of acquiring new fertile 
 lands at the normal price of forty cents per acre. 
 It was in the midst of this rush for land in the Ohio 
 Valley, in the year 1780, that Abraham Lincoln, of 
 Linville Creek, Virginia, purchased four hundred 
 acres of land in Transylvanian Virginia, for the 
 sum of $160, and soon afterwards, having disposed 
 of his land on Linville Creek, as we have already 
 seen from the old deed, set out for the Valley of the 
 Ohio. The original warrant for this purchase of 
 four hundred acres, is here reproduced in fac-simile 
 and will speak for itself. The survey is dated May 
 7< 1785- 
 
 In addition to this purchase, Abraham Lincoln 
 owned other lands in Kentucky. According to the 
 researches made by Colonel Reuben T. Durrett, of 
 Louisville, Kentucky, Abraham Lincoln owned the 
 following tracts of land in that region : 
 
 1. A tract containing four hundred acres, on 
 Long Run, a branch of Floyd's Fork, in Jefferson 
 County, entered May 29th, 1 780. 
 
 2. A tract of eight hundred acres on Green River, 
 near Green River Lick, entered June 7th, 1780. 
 
144 ABRAHAM LINCOLN 
 
 3. A tract of five hundred acres in Campbell 
 County, surveyed September 27, 1798, and patented 
 June 30th, 1799, but taken up before his death in 
 1784. 
 
 The tract of 500 acres, entered by Daniel Boone 
 in his Field Book, would seem to indicate still an- 
 other purchase of land in the present Kentucky by 
 Abraham Lincoln. The warrant is No. 5994 and 
 Boone's survey entry is dated December 11, 1782. 
 A fac-simile may be found in Nicolay and Hay's 
 Abraham Lincoln. 
 
 The tradition that Abraham Lincoln went to 
 North Carolina is doubtless a reminiscence of the 
 route which he took to his newly acquired lands in 
 the present State of Kentucky. He followed nat- 
 urally Boone's Wilderness Road, and probably joined 
 a company of settlers going that way at the time. 
 
 Thus we have followed the Lincolns in their 
 wanderings to the West, that region now known as 
 Kentucky, then still a part of the old territory of Vir- 
 ginia. Abraham Lincoln was killed, as tradition has 
 it, in 1784, by the Indians, while at work with his 
 sons, Mordecai, Josiah and Thomas, in the clearings. 
 The older boys ran for help, Mordecai to the house 
 for the gun, and Josiah to the fort for men. Morde- 
 cai returned with the gun in time to shoot the Indian 
 who was just about to scalp his six-year-old brother, 
 Thomas. This Thomas was the father of Abraham 
 Lincoln, the President of the United States. 
 
 It was the irony of American migration which 
 
£j oov^e-tjt c/_ >v> CcX^^UyA. oi^n. iuWvArHt /t~e Cocoes rf 
 
 -«^s 
 
 £Vr~ 
 
 Mt /lift** i~^f n ^#y /*£///r #A«, J(a~+». £ffC 
 
 Survey of the First Warrant of Land to Abraham Lincoln in 
 
 Kentucky (then Virginia). 
 
AN AMERICAN MIGRATION 14c 
 
 reared the great emancipator of the slaves on the 
 Blue Grass soil of Kentucky. Abraham Lincoln 
 was in a peculiar sense the heir of all the great Amer- 
 ican traditions. Sprung from an English family 
 which had been inured to the hardships of New 
 England, tarried among the early Dutch and English 
 settlers of East Jersey, taken root and thrown among 
 the Germans and Quakers of Pennsylvania, shared 
 the adventures and perils of the frontier life of Vir- 
 ginia and Kentucky, Abraham Lincoln was the best 
 example of that sturdy, fearless American citizen- 
 ship, great not because he made far-seeing plans of 
 self-glorification, but because he possessed that in- 
 herent heroism and devotion to duty which pre- 
 pared him for all emergencies, even those of civil 
 war, and won for him the enduring names of Eman- 
 cipator of American Slaves and Martyr President of 
 the Republic of Freemen. 
 
Map of the Migration of the Lincolns from Hingham, Mass., to Kentucky 
 
 The Marks X Indicates Hingham, Mass., Red Bank, N. J., Coventry, Pa., 
 Linville's Creek, Ya., and Hodgenville, Ky. 
 
INDEX OF LINCOLNS REFERRED TO IN 
 THIS WORK 
 
 Lincoln, Abraham, President i, 2, 6, 67, 145 
 
 Lincoln (Lincon), Abraham, of Exeter 67, 68, 70, 77 
 
 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 85, 86, 87, 88, 90, 91, 92, 93, 141 
 Lincoln, Abraham, son of Abraham, of Springfield, 
 
 54. 57. 58, 61, 62, 67, 136 
 
 Lincoln (Lincon), Abraham, of Springfield 7, 9, 32, 33 
 
 34. 35. 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43- 44. 45 
 47. 48, 51, 52, 53. 54. 57, 60, 63 
 
 Lincoln, Abraham, of Va 2, 118 et seq., 134, 143 et seq. 
 
 Lincoln, Abraham M 97 
 
 Lincoln, Anna (Boone) 81, 93 
 
 Lincoln, Ann, daughter of Mordecai and Julian 97 
 
 Lincoln, Ann, daughter of John D 99 
 
 Lincoln, Ametia no 
 
 Lincoln, Alice Dehaven 9 8 
 
 Lincoln, Alfred pg 
 
 Lincoln, Anne g 
 
 Lincoln, Anne, daughter of Abraham, of Exeter 95 
 
 Lincoln, Anne, daughter of Mordecai, of Exeter 28 
 
 Lincoln, Anna, daughter of Abraham, of Exeter 95 
 
 Lincoln, Bathseba 
 
 Lincoln, Catarina 65 
 
 Lincoln, Daniel, of Mass 5 
 
 Lincoln, Daniel, of Pa 65 
 
 Lincoln, David J pg 
 
 Lincoln, Deborah 21 
 
 Lincoln, Elizabeth, daughter of John D 99 
 
 Lincoln, Elizabeth, wife of Thomas, of Berks 77, 78 
 
 Lincoln, Elizabeth, of Scituate 7 
 
 Lincoln, George, of Hingham 6 
 
 Lincoln, Hannah, daughter of Mordecai, of Exeter 28 
 
 Lincoln, Hannah (Saltar) 10, 11, 13, 21 
 
 Lincoln, Harrison H 99 
 
 Lincoln, Harrison P 81, 99 
 
 Lincoln, Isaac, of Hull 7 
 
 (147) 
 
I48 INDEX 
 
 Lincoln, Isaac, son of Abraham, of Springfield, 
 
 55, 56. 57, 58. 63, 64, 65 
 
 Lincoln, Isaac, son of "Virginia John" 116, 128 
 
 Lincoln, Jacob 65 
 
 Lincoln, Jacob, of Scituate 7 
 
 Lincoln, Jacob, son of Abraham, of Springfield, 
 
 54, 60, 61, 62, 65 
 
 Lincoln. Jacob, son of "Virginia John" 121, 128 
 
 Lincoln, James, son of Abraham, of Exeter 95, 99 
 
 Lincoln, John, son of Abraham, of Exeter 96, 99 
 
 Lincoln, John, son of Abraham, of Springfield. .54, 56, 57, 65 
 
 Lincoln, John, son of Jacob 65 
 
 Lincoln, John, son of John D 99 
 
 Lincoln, John ("Virginia John"), son of Mordecai, of Exeter, 
 28, 67, 80, 100, 101. 102, 104, 105, 106. 107, 108 
 
 109, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 122, 140, 141, 142 
 
 Lincoln, John D 81, 98, 99 
 
 Lincoln, John, of Witherne 3 
 
 Lincoln, Jon 9 
 
 Lincoln ( Linckhorn ) , Jonathan 8 
 
 Lincoln (Linckhorne), Jn» 8 
 
 Lincoln, Julian (Mayberry) 97- 98 
 
 Lincoln, Margaret, daughter of Mordecai and Julian 97 
 
 Lincoln, Margaret (2), daughter of Mordecai and Julian. . 198 
 
 Lincoln, Martha, daughter of Abraham, of Exeter 94 
 
 Lincoln, Martha, daughter of John D 99 
 
 Lincoln, Martha, daughter of Thomas and Alice 98 
 
 Lincoln, Mary, daughter of Abraham, of Exeter 94 
 
 Lincoln, Mary, daughter of John D 99 
 
 Lincoln, Mary, daughter of Mordecai, of Exeter 28 
 
 Lincoln, Mary (Medley) 65 
 
 Lincoln, Mary (Rogers) 28, 29. 30, 31, 67, 70, 71 
 
 Lincoln, Mary, wife of Isaac 62, 64 
 
 Lincoln, Mordecai, of Exeter (and Monmouth) 7, 9- 10 
 
 11, 12, 13, 14- 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 
 
 26, 27, 29, 30, 67, 68, 70, 71, 72, 78, 80, 84, 89, 92 
 
 93, 100, 104, 129, 136, 137 
 
 Lincoln, Mordecai, of Hull 6, 7, 9, 67- 136 
 
 Lincoln, Mordecai, son of Abraham, of Exeter 94, 98 
 
INDEX 
 
 149 
 
 Lincoln, Mordecai, son of Abraham, of Springfield, 
 
 55. 57. 63, 64 
 Lincoln, Mordecai, son of Mordecai, of Exeter, 
 
 28, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 81, 82, 85, 91, 129 
 
 Lincoln, Moses .■ 65 
 
 Lincoln (Lincen or Lincon), Nathan 19, 20 
 
 Lincoln, Oscar <pg 
 
 Lincoln, Phebe, daughter of Abraham, of Exeter 95 
 
 Lincoln, Rachel, daughter of Abraham, of Exeter 95 
 
 Lincoln, Rachel (2), daughter of Abraham, of Exeter 96 
 
 Lincoln, Rachel, daughter of Mordecai and Julian 97 
 
 Lincoln, Rebecca, daughter of Abraham, of Springfield.. 55 
 Lincoln, Rebecca, wife of "Virginia John,".. 112, 115, 116, 117 
 
 Lincoln, Richard, of the Bail 3 
 
 Lincoln, Richard, son of John D 99 
 
 Lincoln, Robert 4 
 
 Lincoln (Lincoen). Samuel, the immigrant 4, 5 
 
 Lincoln, Sara, daughter of Abraham, of Springfield 56 
 
 Lincoln, Sarah, daughter of John D 99 
 
 Lincoln, Sarah, daughter of Mordecai, of Exeter 129 
 
 Lincoln, Sarah, of Hull 7 
 
 Lincoln, Hon. Solomon 1 
 
 Lincoln, Stephen 5 
 
 Lincoln, Thomas 1 
 
 Lincoln, Thomas, of Exeter, 
 
 28, 67, 70, 72, 73, 74, 75. 76, 77, 79. 80, 82, 85. 89. 90. 91 
 
 Lincoln, Thomas, the cooper 4 
 
 Lincoln, Thomas, the husbandman 4, 136 
 
 Lincoln, Thomas, the miller 4, 136 
 
 Lincoln, Thomas, son of Abraham, of Exeter 96, 98 
 
 Lincoln, Thomas, the weaver 4, 6 
 
 Lincoln (Lincolne), Wm 8 
 
 Lincoln's Inn 7 
 
 Lincoln, the name 130 et scq. 
 
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