Joseph recieved a pension from service in the revolutionary war. Stated in application that he arrived in America in 1770
THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF JOHN PENLY: BORN ABT 1640
THE NEXT IMPORTANT ITEM IN THE RECORDS OF THE GLOUCESTERSHIRE PENLEYS IS THE WILL OF JOHN PENLY OF HORSLEY, GRANDFATHER OF JOSEPH PENLY OF DANVILLE, MAINE. THE TEXT AS GIVEN HERE WAS COPIED FROM THE ORIGINAL DOCUMENT AT THE PROBATE REGISTRY IN GLOUCESTER.
IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN, THE NENETEENTH DAY OF MARCH, 1726, I, JOHN PENLY OF THE PARISH OF HORSLEY IN THE COUNTY OF CLOUCESTER, BLUE DYER, BEING WEAK IN BODY, DO MAKE AND ORDAIN THIS MY LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT IN THE MANNER AND FORM FOLLWING.
ITEM MY WILL IS THAT MY DEBTS AND FUNDERAL EXPENSES SHALL BE FIRST PAID.
I GIVE UNTO MY LOVING WIFE MY DWELLING HOUSE AND PREMISES WITH THE DYHOUSE AND ALL MY WORKING TOOLES DURING HER NATURAL LIFE, AND AFTER HER DECEASE, i GIVE THE ABOVE SAID DWELLING HOUSE AND PREMISES AND DYHOUSE, SCITUATE IN THE PARISH OF HORSLEY, AND NOW IN THE POSSESSION OF ME THE SAID JOHN PENLY UNTO MY SON WILLIAM PENLY, AND TO HIS HEIRS, FOR THE TERMS OF THE LEASE I HOLD THE ESTATE BY. LIKEWISE I GIVE TO MY LOVING WIFE ALL HOUSEHOLD GOODS DURING HER NATURAL LIFE, AND AFTER HER DECEASE UNTO MY CHILDREN EQUALLY DIVIDED.
I GIVE UNTO MY SON WILLIAM PENLY THE MEADOW ADJOINING TO MY DYHOUSE WITH GUY'S ORCHARD THAT IS NOW SET FORTH TO HIM AND HIS HEIRS FOR THE TERME OF THE LEASE I HOLD THE ESTATE BY, UPON CONDITION THAT MY SON WILLIAM PENLY DO PAY OUT OF THIS MEADOW AND ORCHARD THE SUME OF ONE HUNDRED POUNDS TO MY DAUGHTER ANN PENLY WITHIN FIVE YEARS OF THE DATE OF THESE PRESENTS, AND MYWILL IS THAT IF MY SON WILLIAM PENLY DO NOT PAY THE SUM OF ONE HUNDRED POUNDS WITHIN THE TERM OF FIVE YEARS, THEN MY WILL IS THAT I GIVE THE ABOVE MENTIONED MEADOW AND ORCHARD TO MY DAUGHTER ANN PENLY, TO HER AND HER DISPOSING.
MY WILL IS THAT MY WIFE MARY PENLY SHALL ENJOY AND RECEIVE THE RENTS AND PROFITTS OF THE MEADOW AND GUY'S ORCHARD FOR THREE YEARS IMMEDIATELY AFTER MYDECEASE.
UNTO MY SON EDWARD PENLY MY TWO TENEMENTS THAT ARE NOW IN THE POSSESSION OF WM. FARMILOE AND JOHN WAKLY WHICH I LATELY BOUGHT OF JOSEPH GUY WITH THE GARDEN THEREUNTO BELONGING, LYING IN THE PARISH OF HORSLEY, TO HIM AND HIS HEIRS FOR THE TERMS OF THE LEASE, BUY MY WILL IS THAT MY WIFE SHALL RECEIVE THE RENTS AND PRIFITTS TILL MY SON EDWARD DO ATTAIN THE AGE OF ONE AND TWENTY YEARS TOWARDS FINDING OF HIM CLOATHS AND MAINTENANCE, AND TO MY SON EDWARD PENLY TEN POUNDS WHEN HE ATTAINS THE AGE OF ONE AND TWENTY YEARS.
UNTO MYSON THOMAS PENLY MY DWELLING HOUSE WHERE ONE ANN SOULS LIVES, TO HIM AND HIS HEIRS FOR THE TERM OF THE LEASE, BUT MY EXECUTOR SHALL RECEIVE THE RENTS AND PROFITTS UNTIL HE DO ATTAIN THE AGE OF ONE AND TWENTY YEARS, AND i LIKEWISE GIVE TO MY SON THOMAS PENLY TEN POUNDS WHEN HE ATTAIN THE SAME AGE.
UNTO MY SON JOHN PENLY MY DWELLING HOUSE WHEREIN ONE JOHN SANDURS NOW LIVETH, WHICH SAID HOUSE i BOUGHT OF ONE SAMUEL BISHOP, MY WIFE TO RECEIVE THE RENTS TILL MY SON JOHN PENLY ATTAIN THE AGE OF TWENTY AND ONE YEARS.
UNTO MY SON BARNABY PENLY THAT TWO INCLOSURE TYNEINGS LYING AND BEING AT ROCKNESS HILL IN THE PARISH OF HORSLEY WITH THIRTY POUNDS OF GOOD AND LAWFULL MONEY, BUY MY WIFE IS TO RECEIVE THE RENTS AND PRIFITTS TILL MY SON BARNABY PENLY SHALL ATTAIN TO THE AGE OFN ONE AND TWENTY YEARS.
I GIVE UNTO MY BROTHER THOMAS PENLY THE SUM OF FIVE POUNDS TO BE PAIDE TO HIM WITHIN TWELVE MONTHS AFTER MY DECEASE, AND I MAKE AND ORDAIN MY BROTHER THOMAS PENLY MY ONLY AND SOLE EXECUTOR OF THIS MY LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT, REVOKING ALL FORMER WILLS.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF I HAVE HEREUNTO SETT MY HAND THE DAY AND YEAR ABOVE WRITTEN.
JOHN PENLY "X" HIS MARK
SIGNED SEALED AND DECLARED BY THE SAID JOHN PENLY IN THE PRESENCE OF ELIZABETH SMITH "X" HER MARK JOHN PANTING EDWD. WEBB.
PROVED 6 MARCH 1727/28 BY THOMAS PENLY THE EXECUTOR.
THE ABOVE JOHN PENLY WAS PROBABLY A GRANDSON OF THE FIRST JOHN PENLY OF HORSLEY, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, THE LINE CANNOT BE TRACED. THERE IS NO RECORD OF HIS BAPTISM, MARRIAGE OR BURIAL IN THE PARISH REGISTERS. SINCE HE HAD LIVED LONG ENOUGH TO BECOME A PROSPEROUS DYER AND TO AMASS QUITE A BIT OF PROPERTY, HE WOULD SEEM TO HAVE BEEN WELL ALONG IN YEARS WHEN HE DIED. HIS WIDOW, MARY PENLY, WAS MARRIED ON MARCH 19, 1729 TO THOMAS HARRIS OF AVENING AT NEWINGTON BAGPATH, GLOUCESTERSHIRE, BUT THERE IS NO FURTHER RECORD OF HER.
ALL OF HIS CHILDREN, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF WILLIAM WERE MINORS AT THE TIME OF HIS DEATH. NO BAPTISMAL RECORDS EXIST TO TELL US THEIR EXACT AGES. IN FACT, THERE IS NO FURTHER RECORD OF ANY OF THEM EXCEPT WILLIAM AND JOHN. WILLIAM MAY HAVE BEEN THE WILLIAM "PENDLEY" WHO MARRIED MARY WEBBAT NEARBY MINCHINHAMPTON ON OCTOBER 12, 1710. JOHN'S SON WILLIAM MOVED ACROSS THE HILLS TO THE NEIGHBOURING PARISH OF ULEY WHERE HE DIED IN 1749. THE BIRTHPLACE OF HIS CHILDREN THOMAS, JOHN, WILLIAM AND EDMUNC IS UNKNOWN, BUT THERE WERE BURIED IN ULEY, AND TWO OF THEM MARRIED AND HAD FAMILIES THERE ACCORDING THE THE ULEY PARISH REGISTERS.
NOTES ON JOHN PENLY, JR.
JOHN PENLY, SON OF JOHN AND MARY PENLY OF HORSLEY, WAS BAPTIZED AS A "ADULT PERSON" THREE WEEKS PRIOR TO HIS MARRIAGE TO REBECCA PAVEY (SEPTEMBER 7, 1743). JOHN AND REBECCA LIVED ALL THEIR MARRIED LIFE IN NAILSWORTH AS FAR AS IS KNOWN, BUT THEY WERE BOTH BURIED IN NYMPSFIELD CHURCHYARD.
THE STORY OF JOSEPH PENLY, AND HOW HE CAME TO AMERICA IN 1770.
IN THE SEVERAL VERSIONS THAT HAVE COME DOWN TO US OF JOSEPH PENLY'S REMOVAL TO AMERICA, IT IS NOT EASY TO SEPARATE FACT FROM FICTION. SOME YEARS AGO, A STORY WAS WRITTEN ABOUT HIM AND PUBLISHED IN LEWISTON, MAINE. SOME OF THE FACTS CONTAINED IN THIS ACCOUNT OF HIS EARLY LIFE ARE TRUE WHILE OTHERS HAVE BEEN PROVEN TO BE FALSE. IN HIS APPLICATION FOR A PENSION FOR HIS SERVICE IN THE REVOLUTIONARY ARMY DURING THE WAR. JOSEPH STATES HE WAS BORN IN ENGLAND AND HE CAME TO AMERICA IN 1770. THIS DOCUMENT WITH JOSEPH'S SIGNATURE CAN BE SEEN AT THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES BUILDING IN WASHINGTON, D.C. THE WAR DID NOT BEGIN UNTIL 1775, SO THE STORY OF JOSEPH BEING SEIZED BY A PRESS-GANG AND HURRIED ABOARD A WAR-SHIP TO FIGHT IN THE WAR OF THE AMERICAN REBELLION CANNOT BE TRUE. HE MAY HAVE BEEN KIDNAPPED, BUT NOT TO FIGHT IN A WAR WHICH HAD NOT YET BEGUN.
WHAT IS CERTAIN IS HE CAME TO AMERICA IN 1770 ON A SHIP FROM LONDON WHERE HE WAS STAYING WITH A RELATIVE. This ship was the British Man-of-War, The Rainbow. THIS RELATIVE WAS HIS ELDER BROTHER, WILLIAM, A HATTER. THIS BUSINESS OF WILLIAM'S MAY HAVE BEEN IN THE FAMILY BEFORE HE WENT TO LONDON AND CONNECTED WITH THE INDUSTRY CARRIED ON BY HIS FAMILY IN NAILSWORTH. WILLIAM WAS ONLYL 21 YEARS OLD IN 1770, AND HE MAY HAVE LEARNED THE TRADE FROM ANOTHER MEMBER OF THE FAMILY, PERHAPS AN UNCLE, WHO WAS IN THE BUSINESS BEFORE HIM. THIS IS MERELY A CONJECTURE, OF COURSE, BUT THERE MAY HAVE BEEN PENLYS LIVING IN LONDON WHO SOLD THE CLOTH MANUFACTURED BY RELATIVES IN NAILSWORTH.
ONE THOMAS PENLY WAS BURIED IN ST. HELEN'S CHURCHYARD, LONDON, DECEMBER 1, 1755. COULD THIS THOMAS HAVE BEEN THE BROTHER OR SON OF JOHY PENLY, DYER, OF HORSLEY?
THERE IS NO RECORD OF THE LOCATION OF WILLIAM'S HAT-SHOP IN 1770, BUT SOME YEARS LATER, IN 1797, THE LONDON DIRECTORY GIVES THE ADDRESS OF WILLIAM PENLY, HAT-MAKER, AS 67 KING STREET, BOROUGH, WHICH MEANS IT WAS IN SOUTHWARK ON THE SOUTH BANK OF THE THAMES. THE NAME OF THE STREET HAS BEEN CHANGED TO NEWCOMEN STREET, BUT THE HOUSE NUMBERS ARE THE SAME. THE OLD PLACE IS STILL THERE, JUST OFF HIGH STREET IN SOUTHWARK AND NOT MORE THAN TEN MINUTES WALK FROM LONDON BRIDGE. THERE ARE LIVING QUARTERS OVER THE SHIP, AND THIS MAY WELL HAVE BEEN THE PLACE WHERE JOSEPH WAS STAYING AT THE TIME OF HIS DISAPPEARANCE. NO FURTHER RECORD OF WILLIAM PENLY HAS BEEN FOUND TO TELL WHETHER HE WAS MARRIED OR WHEN HE DIED.
JOSEPH WOULD HAVE BEEN AT THE MOST, ONLY FIFTEEN YEARS OLD AT THAT TIME. WHETHER HE WENT ABOARD THE SHIP OF HIS OWN ACCORD OR WHETHER HE WAS "ESCORTED" BY A HUSKY SEAMAN WHO THOUGHT HE WOULD BE A USEFUL MEMBER OF THEIR CREW, THERE IS NO WAY OF KNOWING. ONE VERSION OF THE STORY SAYS HE GOT INTO CONVERSATION WITH A SEAMAN DOWN BY THE THAMES DOCKS, WHO INVITED HIM ON BOARD THE VESSEL TO LOOK IT OVER, AND YOUNG JOSEPH BECAME SO INTERESTED IN EVERYTHING HE SAW HE DID NOT NOTICE THE SHIP WAS IN MOTION AND HEADED DOWN THE THAMES UNTIL IT WAS TOO LATE. IT IS DOUBTFUL A BOY OF HIS AGE WOULD HAVE DELIBERATELY GONE ABOARD THE SHIP HAD HE KNOWN IT WAS ABOUT TO SAIL AWAY FROM ENGLAND.
THE VESSEL WAS IN ALL PROBABILITY A MAST CARRIER GOING OUT TO THE AMERICAN COLONIES TO PICK UP A LOAD OF MAINE PINES AND TAKE THEM BACK TO ENGLAND AS MASTS FOR THE ROYAL NAVY. THE TALL STRAIGHT PINES FROM THE FORESTS OF MAINE AND NEW HAMPSHIRE WERE HIGHLLY PRIZED AS MATERIAL FOR MASTS, AND THE FACT THAT FREEPORT, MAINE WAS ONE OF THE PLACES WHERE THESE PINES WERE LOADED ONTO THE CARRIERS FROM ENGLAND CONFIRMS THE THEORY THAT JOSEPH CAME TO MAINE ON A MAST CARRIER AND NOT ON A WAR-SHIP. THERE IS A PLACE IN FREEPORT WHICH IS STILL KNOWN AS "MAST LANDING".
WHAT JOSEPH'S DUTIES WERE DURING THE VOYAGE IT IS NOT KNOWN, BUT ONE ACCOUNT SAYS HE WAS FLOGGED FOR SOME OFFENCE AGAINST DISCIPLINE AND THIS EMBITTERED HIM AND MADE HIM DETERMINED TO ESCAPE, IF POSSIBLE, RATHER THAN REMAIN WITH THE SHIP AND RETURN TO ENGLAND. WHILE ANCHORED OFF THE COAST NEAR FREEPORT, AT THAT TIME A PART OF NORTH YARMOUTH IN THE PROVINCE OF MAINE, JOSEPH AND A COMPANION NAMED LAKE WENT ASHORE ONE NIGHT IN ONE OF THE SHIP'S BOATS. A SEARCH PARTY FROM THE SHIP WENT ASHORE TO LOOK FOR THEM, BUT THE BOYS REMAINED HIDDEN IN THE WOODS UNTIL THE SHIP SAILED AWAY. THEY LIVED ON BERRIES AND WHATEVER ELSE THEY COULD FIND, INCLUDING A TURKEY WHICH THEY CAUGHT WITH A FISH HOOK AND GRASSHOPPER NEAR A CABIN IN A CLEARING.
IF JOSEPH WAS CARRIED AWAY FROM ENGLAND AGAINST HIS WILL, WHY DID HE NOT CONTROL HIS TEMPER AND RETURN WITH THE SHIP TO ENGLAND WHERE HE MIGHT ESCAPE AND FIND HIS WAY BACK TO NAILSWORTH? POSSIBLYL HE FELT THIS WOULD BE TOO DIFFICULT. HAVING BEEN IMPRESSED INTO THE MERCHANT MARINE, HE HAD PROBABLY DISCLOSED HIS PLACE OF ORIGIN, AND HE WOULD HAVE BEEN FOUND EVENTUALLY AND PUNISHED FOR HIS "DESERTION". HE WOULD BE SAFER AND HAVE A BETTER OPPORTUNITY IN NEW ENGLAND. WE ARE TOLD PEOPLE WERE A BIT SUSPICIOUS OF THE TWO YOUNG STRANGERS AT FIRST, BUT THEY WERE WILLING TO WORK AND SO MADE A PLACE FOR THEMSELVES IN THE SETTLEMENT. LATER JOSEPH MADE THE ACQUAINTANCE OF A MAN WHO TAUGHT HIM THE COBBLERS TRADE.
WHEN THE REBELLIOUS COLONISTS TOOK UP ARMS AGAINST THE MOTHER COUNTRY SOME FIVE YEARS LATER, JOSEPH WENT TO FALMOUTH (PORTLAND) AND ENLISTED IN THE REVOLUTIONARY FORCES. IN HIS APPLICATION FOR A PENSION YEARS LATER, HE CLAIMED EIGHT MONTHS SERVICE IN 1775, THREE MONTHS FROM SEPTEMBER 1779 AND EIGHT MONTHS IN 1780-81. WE CANNOT BE SURE WHAT HIS TRUE SENTIMENTS WERE IN THIS AFFAIR WHICH DIVIDED FAMILIES, FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS WHO HAD BEEN SETTLED IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES FOR SEVERAL GENERATIONS. AN ABLE-BODIED YOUNG MAN OF ENGLISH BIRTH, HE COULD NOT REMAIN NEUTRAL WITHOUT COMING UNDER SUSPICION OF BEING UNSYMPATHETIC TO THE REVOLUTIONARY CAUSE (HISTORY TELLS US WHAT HAPPENED TO THOSE WHO DID REMAIN LOYAL TO THE CROWN), AND AN ATTEMPT TO JOIN THE BRITISH REGULARS IN BOSTON WOULD HAVE BEEN DANGEROUS TO ONE IN HIS POSITION. REGARDLESS OF HIS OWN POLITICAL VIEWS AND PATRIOTIC SENTIMENTS, HIS BEST INTERESTS HAD TO BE CONSIDERED, AND THESE SEEMED TO LIE WITH THE CAUSE OF THE DISAFFECTED COLONISTS.
TRADITION TELLS US THAT JOSEPH RETURNED TO ENGLAND ON A VISIT TO HIS FAMILYL TO CLAIM A LEGACY WHICH WOULD GO TO ANOTHER MEMBER OF THE FAMILY IN THE CASE HE FAILED TO CLAIM IT. HE IS SUPPOSED TO HAVE BROUGHT BACK A SISTER TO AMERICA AT THE SAME TIME. FROM GRANDMOTHER PAVEY'S WILL WE KNOW THAT SHE LEFT A PROPERTY TO HIM IN NAILSWORTH AND THAT THIS PROPERTY WAS TO GO TO HIS BROTHER JAMES IF JOSEPH DIED. WE ALSO KNOW HE HAD A SISTER HANNAH, WHO WAS UNDOUBTEDLY THE HANNAH PENLY WHO MARRIED JAMES ALLEN ON AUGUST 27, 1790 (ACCORDING TO THE NORTH YARMOUGH RECORDS). WHEN THIS TRIP TO ENGLAND TOOK PLACE IS NOT KNOWN. HIS WAR RECORD SHOWS HE WAS NOT IN THE SERVICE OF THE REVOLUTIONARY ARMY BETWEEN THE END OF 1775 AND SEPTEMBER 1779. DID HE PERHAPS TO BACK TO ENGLAND SOMETIME DURING THIS PERIOD? HE CAME OF AGE PROBABLY IN 1776 OR 1777, AND THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN THE BEST TIME FOR HIM TO RETURN HOME TO CLAIM HIS PROPERTY.
A TRIP TO ENGLAND AND BACK AT THIS TIME WOULD HAVE BEEN DIFFICULT. "THE HISTORY OF PARIS, MAINE" STATES THAT "JOSEPH PENLY WAS A BRITISH SOLDIER DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR". IS THIS A MISTAKE, OR DID HE TO TO ENGLAND IN 1776 AND RETURN TO AMERICA AS A SOLDIER IN THE BRITISH ARMY, DESERTING SOMETIME BEFORE SEPTEMBER 1779 WHEN HE SERVED FOR ANOTHER TERM WITH THE REVOLUTIONARY ARMY? IN THIS CASE, HOW COULD HE HAVE BROUGHT HIS SISTER HANNAH TO AMERICAN WITH HIM? IT SEEMS MORE LIKELY THE VISIT BACK HOME TOOK PLACE AFTER THE WAR, SOMETIME BETWEEN 1784 AND 1790.
ON MAY 17, 1780 JOSEPH MARRIED ESTHER (FOGG) JOHNSON AT FREEPORT. SHE WAS NEITHER THE FIANCEE NOR THE WIDOW OF HIS COMPANION IN ESCAPE OF TEN YEARS PREVIOUS, BUT THE WIDOW OF JOSHUA JOHNSON WHOM SHE MARRIED BEFORE THE WAR AND BY WHOM SHE HAD TWO DAUGHTERS, ESTHER AND ELIZABETH.
ESTHER FOGG WAS BORN AT FREEPORT JANUARY 31, 1754, THE DAUGHTER OF BENAIAH AND ESTHER (PARKER) FOGG. HER PATERNAL GRANDPARENTS WERE BENONI AND MARRY (GRIFFIN) FOGG. THE FOGGS WERE FROM HAMPTON, NH WHERE BENON'S GRANDFATHER, SAMUEL FOGG (BORN IN ENGLAND) HAD SETTLED ABOUT THE MIDDLE OF THE 17TH CENTURY. ESTHER'S MATERNAL GRANDPARENTS WERE CAPTAIN JAMES AND SARAH (IRESON) PARKER.
JOSEPH AND ESTHER PENLY LIVED THE FIRST TWELVE YEARS OF THEIR MARRIED LIFE AT STROUT'S POINT IN FREEPORT, AND HERE EIGHT CHILDREN WERE BORN TO THEM. LATE IN 1792 OR IN THE EARLY SPRING OF 1793, THE FAMILY MOVED TO PEJEPSCOT CLAIM, LATER CALLED DANVILLE IN ANDROSCOGGIN COUNTY, WHERE TWO MORE CHILDREN WERE BORN. IT IS INTERESTING TO NOTE JOSEPH GAVE TO HIS CHILDREN THE NAMES OF HIS PARENTS, BROTHERS AND SISTER HANNAH, BUT OMITTING HIS SISTER MARY.
ESTHER DIED IN DANVILLE SEPTEMBER 13, 1796 WHEN HER YOUNGEST CHILD, HAMES, WAS ONLY THREE MONTHS OLD. SHE WAS PROBABLY BURIED SOMEWHERE ON THE PENLY PROPERTY, BUT THE EXACT LOCATION OF HER GRAVE IS UNKNOWN. THE GRAVE OF HER FIRST HUSBAND HAS NEVER BEEN LOCATED, AND IT IS PRESUMED HE WAS KILLED DURING THE WAR AND BURIED ELSEWHERE.
JOSEPH MARRIED (2ND) THANKFUL MOODY ON FEBRUARY 24, 1797. SHE WAS BORN IN FALMOUTH JUNE 4, 1770, THE DAUGHTER OF HOUCHIN AND DORAS (COX) MOODY. THANKFUL BROUGHT UP JOSEPH'S YOUNGER CHILDREN BY HIS WIFE ESTHER AND HAD SIX OF HER OWN. JOSEPH LIVED A QUIET LIFE AS A FARMER. HE WAS A TAX COLLECTOR FOR THE TOWN OF DANVILLE IN 1819-20 AND 1822-23. HE DIED JUNE 6, 1844 AT THE AGE OF 88, ACCORDING TO THE INSCRIPTION ON HIS STONE, AND IS BURIED AT PENLEY'S CORNER IN SOUTH AUBURN, FORMERLY A PART OF DANVILLE. HIS WIDOW THANKFUL DIED MAY 28, 1862, JUST A WEEK BEFORE HER 92ND BIRTHDAY, AND IS BURIED BESIDE JOSEPH IN THE FAMILY CEMETERY.
SEE REBECCA (PAVEY) PENLY FOR MENTION OF JOSEPH IN THE WILL OF HIS GRANDPARENTS. JOHN, ELDEST SON OF JOSEPH AND ESTHER PENLY, WAS BORN AT STROUT'S POINT IN FREEPORT MAY 5, 1782. HE WAS A BOY OF TEN WHEN THE FAMILY MOVED TO PEJEPSCOT CLAIM. HE MARRIED TWICE AND RAISED A LARGE FAMILY OF CHILDREN WHO HAVE LEFT MANY DESCENDANTS.
More Information on Capt. John Penley
CAPTAIN JOHN, AS HE WAS CALLED, WAS, TO QUOTE THE HISTORY OF ANDROSCOGGIN COUNTY, "A MAN OF EXEMPLARY CHARACTER, STERLING INTEGRITY, JUST AND HONORABLE IN ALL BUSINESS TRANSACTIONS, AND WAS ESTEEMED BY ALL WHO HAD THE HONOR TO KNOW HIM."
HE MARRIED IN SEPTEMBER 1802 DESIRE DINGLEY, DAUGHTER OF WILLIAM AND SARAH (JORDAN) DINGLEY, BORN IN DANVILLE FEBRUARY 8, 1783, WHO BORE HIM 13 CHILDREN. CAPT. JOHN SETTLED BY 1820 IN THE PART OF DANVILLE (NOW SO. AUBURN) WHICH IS NOW KNOWN AS PENLEY'S CORNER, AND HERE HE BUILT THE HOUSE WHICH HE OCCUPIED UNTIL HIS DEATH. HE GAVE THE LAND FOR THE BURYING GROUND WHERE HE AND HIS FATHER AND MANY OF THE FAMILY ARE BURIED, AND HE ERECTED THE ADJACENT MEETING HOUSE, CONTRIBUTING GENEROUSLY TO ITS MAINTENANCE DURING HIS LIFE AND LEAVING A BEQUEST OF $1,000 FOR ITS CARE AT HIS DEATH.
HIS WIFE, DESIRE DIED APRIL 11, 1834 AT THE AGE OF 51 YEARS, AND IS BURIED IN THE PENLEY'S CORNER YARD. CAPTAIN JOHN MARRIED (2ND) LATE IN 1834 JULIA WAGG, DAUGHTER OF WILLIAM AND DEBORAH (STROUT) WAGG, BORN MARCH 3, 1813. AT HIS DEATH ON JANUARY 10, 1873, CAPTAIN JOHN LEFT AN ESTATE VALUED AT WELL OVER $100,000. HIS WIDOW JULIA DIED JULY 30, 1892 AND IS BURIED IN THE LOT WITH HER HUSBAND AND HIS FIRST WIFE AT PENLEY'S CORNER. THEY HAD FIVE CHILDREN.
FROM THE GENEALOGY OF REV ROBERT PENLEY.
JOHN WAS BORN NEAR STROUT'S POINT IN FREEPORT, ME., THEN INCLUDED IN NORTH YARMOUTH. HE BECAME A RESIDENT OF PEJEPSCOT PREVIOUS TO ITS INCORPORATON, AND HIS LONG LIFE SAW THE END OF ITS MUNICIPAL EXISTENCE.
HE WAS A BOY OF 10 WHEN THE FAMILY MOVED IN 1792 TO PEJEPSCOT. HIS OPPORTUNITIES FOR EDUCATION WERE SLIGHT IN BOTH PLACES, BUT HE DID NOT LET THIS HAMPER HIM.
HE ALWAYS LIVED ON A FARM; SOMETIMES OWNING AND OPERATING AS MANY AS EIGHT OR TEN, BUT THE PURCHASE AND SALE OF HORSES AND CATTLE WAS THE OCCUPATION IN WHICH HE WAS ESPECIALLY INTERESTED AND TO WHICH HE GAVE MUCH ATTENTION.
ONE OF THE PIONEERS IN SENDING MAIN CATTLE TO THE BRIGHTON MARKET. ONE OF HIS DROVES WAS THE SECOND DRIVEN OUT OF STATE TO THAT MARKET.
FOR MANY YEARS HE HELD THE POSITION IN THE STATE MILITIA WHICH GAVE HIM HIS TITLE.
HE REPRESENTED THE TOWN IN THE LEGISLATURE IN 1824 AND 1836.
HE WAS ONE OF THE ORGANIZERS OF THE AUBURN BAND.
WHILE HE WAS NOT A CHURCH MEMBER, HE WORSHIPPED AND WAS INTERESTED IN THE FREE BAPTIST.
CAPT. JOHN AND A MEMBER OF THE DINGLEY FAMILY WERE INVOLVED IN BUILDING THE PHOENIX BLOCK AT MAIN STREET AND COURT STREET IN 1855. HE WAS ALSO INVOLVED IN THE FORMATION OF THE BANK. THE DANVILLE BANK WAS ON THE FIRST FLOOR.
MERRILL "ANDROSCOGGIN, ME, P. 680 - 1891 "MAINE HIST. & GEN RECORDER V. 2 P 120-123 "BREWSTER GEN" "MAYFLOWER DESCENDANTS" TO JACOB, JR (164) _________________________________________________________________
Joseph recieved a pension from service in the revolutionary war. Stated in application that he arrived in America in 1770
1860 Census for Auburn, Androscoggin Co., Maine as Thankful Penley, age 90 born in Maine as female in household of Enoch Penley.
Name as William Penlly Vickery, b 4 oct 1816 in Maine by Ross Seifert
Name as Lucy Jane Vickery, b 16 nov 1818 by Ross Seifert