1659 On 7 of month 9 [November], Thomas Curtis, son of John Curtis, was born based on records of the Chesterfield Monthly Meeting in Derbyshire, England. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]
1677 Elizabeth Ellis was the only daughter of Thomas Ellis. "The families of Robert Stacy and Samuel Odas and Thomas Ellis and John Batts, servant sent by George Hutchinson, came on this ship" [the Flyboat Martha]. [6]
1682 Elizabeth Ellis's father died and he had a whitesmith shop (similar to a sheetmetal worker, working with iron without a forge). She was placed in the home of John Brown.
1684 Thomas Curtis [Curtice] was named on the assessment list for Burlington County, New Jersey as owning 300 acres. [7]
1685 6th m. (August). Return of survey for Thomas Curtis, of 150 acres on the South branch of Birch Creek, adjoining Peter Harvey. [8]
1686 This deed could refer either to father John and this Thomas, or to brother John and a nephew Thomas: "By deed of 10 August 1686, John Curtis of Assiscunck Creek in West Jersey, yeoman, conveyed to his son Thomas Curtis, for L50 current money of Old England, the tract of 347 acres, "being ye plantation of ye said John Curtis taken up and surveyed to ye said John Curtis at a place formerly called Mount Pleasant, now called by ye said John Curtis Ogston, in ye first tenth in ye Province of West Jersey, [etc.], "to ye use of ye said Thomas Curtis and to ye heirs of his body by him lawfully to be begotten, forever. And, for want of such issue, immediately after ye decease of said John Curtis and Anne His wife and ye said Thomas Curtis, and ye survivors of them, to ye use of David and Jonathan, the sons of ye said John Curtis, equally to be divided betwixt them, and to their heirs and assigns forever." [9] [10] [11] [12]
1688 On 17 of month 4, John Sharp and Elizabeth Paine were married at Burlington. Witnessed by Thomas Curtes, and others. [13]
1688/89 On 21February, Thomas Foulke, son of Thomas Foulke, of Chesterfield, married Elizabeth Curtis, daughter of John Curtis, of Ogston, at Chesterfield. Witnessed by Thomas Curtis and others. [14]
1690/91 On 17th, 11th month, at a meeting of the commissioners (of Pennsylvania), Thomas Curtis, perhaps this one, requested that in lieu of the grant he had received for 20 feet on the bank on the proprieter's land at the north end of Philadelphia, he may have a lot in the third street from Dellaware next to William Geetch, he not being able to build a wharf on the bank as required.. It was granted, 33 foot in breadth. [15]
1692 Thomas Curtis, perhaps this one, and many others, signed a letter, written by William Penn, against a tax of one penny per pound to be imposed by the Pennsylvania Assembly. [16]
1694 On 1 of month 8. Thomas Curtis and Elizabeth Ellis declared their intention of mariage for the first time at the women's meeting in Burlington. [17] [18]
1694 On the 21st of month 9 (November), Thomas Curtis, of Ogston (son of John), and Elizabeth Ellis, of Burlington, daughter of Thomas, deceased, were married at the house of John Brown [19]. Witnesses--John and David Curtis, Thos. Revell, John Warren, Michael Newbold, Wm. Wood, Michael Buffin, Richard French and others [20] [21] [22] [23] [24] [25] [26].
1694 Thomas Curtis was named executor for the estate of his father, John Curtis on 21 February 1694/95. He was of Mt. Pleasant, Mansfield Twp, Burlington County, New Jersey when bond was made. [27] [28] [29]
1697/98 On 21 February, Thomas Curtis served on the grand jury for the Burlington Court of Quarterly Sessions. [30]
1697 The will of James Newbold was witnessed by Thomas Revell. The inventory was made by Thomas Cortis, perhaps this Thomas Curtis, and John Brown of Burlington County, New Jersey. [31]
1698 Jonathan and Thomas Curtis were named as sons-in-law in the will of Thomas Cross, wheelwright of Burlington County [this compounds the ambiguity of the deed in the 1686 note above]. [32]
1700 In May, Thomas Curtis was appointed tax assessor for Mansfield Twp, Burlington County, New Jersey, to correct existing problems with tax collection [fraud]. [33]
1701 On the 4th day of the first month, a mill road for John Brown and Thomas Curtis following from their land through Richard Gibbs to Michael Buffins Creek, then to John Underhills land, and so on to the mill. [34]
1701 On 4 of month 7, Richard French, Thomas Curtis, and David Curtis signed a statement that they had been drawn in to a group that caused a riot breaking down the doors of the prison, but that they did not aid or abet or participate in the activity. [35]
1701-2 March 14. Deed. John Ridges of London, citizen and skinner, by his attorney Samuel Jenings of Burlington, merchant, to Josiah Southwick and Edward Gaskitt, both of Burlington County, yeomen, for 871 acres in Burlington County, on Northbranch of Northampton R., between John Crosby, Thomas Ollive, Wm. Budd, the Widow Parker, a branch of Birch Creek, Thomas Curtis, Peter Harvy, Isaac Homer, Jonathan ffox and Nathaniel Cripps. [36]
1707 The will of Nathaniel Paine, of Mansfield Twp, mentioned a plantation at Mount Pleasant adjoining Isaac Gibbs and Thomas Curtis. [37]
1715 An example of the social support system is shown by the Chesterfield town meeting which resolved: "At our towns meeting held at John Moors by vertue of a warent ye 23 day of the feirst month 17 16-17 for the township of Chesterfield the freeholders and Inhabetors being their meet did by majority of voits did agree that mary Wheatcraft should be let to Thomas Curtis for him the s'd Thomas to keep the said Mary Wheatcraftfor a certain sum of money so that she shall no more be charge to the said Township that shall anyway a crew during her life time as will apeare, so a bond from the said Thomas curtis at the s'd meating of the freeholders and Inhabitors did agree that assessment should be maid to pay the s'd Thomas Curtis for keeping the said mary Wheatcraft and to pay Richard Harison for keeping the old Hugh (Parriot). In order their unto wee who weard meet at the said meeting did chues sessors to sess the said tax whose name are Thomas foulks, ...". [38]
1720 Feb 26. Thomas and Elizabeth Curtis, perhaps this couple, witnessed the will of Joshua Fretwell in Mansfield Twp, Burlington County. [39]
1720 July 17. Gauntt, Hananiah, of Springfield Township, Burlington County, will of. Children Daniel, Zebulon, Mahitable Staples and Mary Webb. Real and personal estate. Executors son Zebulon and son-in-law Thomas Staples. Witnesses Edward Barton, Joseph Allinson, Tho: Scattergood. Proved November 17, 1721. On 1721 Nov. 15, inventory of the personal estate, 221.6; made by Thomas Curtis, perhaps this one, and John Scholey. [40]
1722 Thomas Curtis and Richard French made the inventory for the estate of Michale Buffin of Mansfield Twp, Burlington County. [41]
1728 Thomas Curtis, perhaps this one, and John Curtis witnessed the will of John Butcher of Mansfield Twp, Burlington County. [42]
1731 Thomas Curtis, perhaps this one, was among those who refused to repurchase his land when Colonel Coxe declared that Hopewell Twp belonged to Coxe: "In 1731, calamity befell these honest and hard working settlers when "Col. Coxe and other heirs of the late Dr. Coxe" declared that most of Hopewell belonged to them, a claim without an honest basis, e.g., improper surveys or failure to pay -- but the West Jersey Society lacked a court record proving Dr. Coxe's transfer to them. ... Those who failed to repurchase their own farms then received "Writs of Ejectment" which called them "Tenants" and "Tresspassers" on Coxe's land! On April 22, 1731, in an impressive show of unity, fifty of the earliest settlers of Hopewell entered into a written agreement and solemn compact to stand by each other and test the validity of Col. Coxe's claim. They hired an attorney, Mr. Kinsey, and filed a counter suit naming CoL Daniel Coxe as sole defendant." [43] [44] [45][Thom Curtis was named among the fifty who hired an attorney, "The Coxe Trials, 1733, Fifty Men's Compact", Virginia Everitt, Clerk of the Hunterdon County Court, Flemington, New Jersey, citing C.H. Records, Vol. H:46. Research of Gloria Padach]
1732 The will of Thomas Curtis, yeoman, dated 25 Dec 1732 in Mansfield, Burlington County, names Wife, Elizabeth, personal estate. Eldest son, John, "he having the greatest part of my plantation entailed upon him by my father." The plantation was Ogston [NGSQ 1971, p 245]. Children - Elizabeth, Jonathan, Joseph, and Ann, wife of Thomas Pancoast. Grandson--Joseph Pancoast. Meadow bought of James Craft and "land surveyed to me by my father's right of property," also meadow bought of Robert Hunt and Joseph Shreve. Executors--wife and sons Jonathan and Joseph. Witnesses--Joseph Pancoast, Thomas Folkes, Jun'r, and John Pancoast. Proved May 17, 1748 by Jonathan and Joseph Curtis surviving executors. [46]
1732 On 25 April, Letters of administration were issued to John Curtis for the estate of Thomas Curtis, late of New Hanover, Burlington County, New Jersey. [47]
1748, 17th day, 3rd mo. (May). Inventory, £28; made by Thos. Folkes and John Pancoast. [48]
Research Notes:
Mary Curtis, daughter of Thomas [perhaps this Thomas or his uncle] and Jane Curtis was born 19th day, 1st month [March],1682/83. [49]
"Joseph Curtis, father of Elizabeth (Curtis) Kirkbride, was a son of Thomas Curtis, of Ogston, Burlington county, and his wife, Elizabeth Ellis, married at Chesterfield, November 21, 1694 ; grandson of John Curtis, one of the earliest English settlers in West Jersey, owning one-fifteenth of a Proprietary right in the Province, and serving as a member of Assembly in 1682-83-84-85, and holding commission as a Justice in 1690, and until his death in 1695." [50]
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