Hi:
Still trying to sort it all out;<BR>
Russ<BR>
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Served as an Asst. Apothecary in the Southern Hospital during the Revolutionary War and was known as "John" and also known as "Michael".<BR>
(source: Genealogical Abstracts of the Revolutionary War Pension Files, Vol 1: Virgil D. White, Abstractor, p. 544)<BR>
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A daughter of William married John Kearns and probably moved from Lancaster County, PA to Elizabeth Township, Allegheny Co, PA about 1788. John Kearns patented land there 1 October 1788.<BR>
(source: Book "The Means Family" Addenda Chapter 1, Land Records, FHL at Salt Lake UT)<BR>
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John Lived in MD in 1778 where his first son, Thomas, was born. <BR>
(source: Ruth Terrel Email 82a547@pta6000.pld.com)<BR>
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US Census 1790 - lists one male over 16 (John, the father), three males under the age of 16 (Thomas, John, and Joseph) and four females (Mother and daughters - Mary, Margaret and Jane)<BR>
(source: First census of the US, page 264)<BR>
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He was killed in a fight with Indians about 1791.<BR>
(source: Ruth Terrel, email 82a547@pta6000.pld.com)<BR>
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On September 7, 1795, the following children of John Kearns, deceased, chose to have guardians appointed for them as they are under age:<BR>
Thomas, minor son, choses Robert WILSON until he (Thomas) is age 21 years.<BR>
Mary, daughter under 21, choses James PEDEN as her guardian until she is 21.<BR>
John, Margaret, Jand and Joseph Kearns, all under 14 years of age, have Isaac GRIER and Thomas BURNEY appointed by the court as their guardians.<BR>
(source: Copy of will in possession of Dave Norris email dnorris@erols.com)<BR>
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In March 1796, John MEANS, the administrator of John KEARNS' will and John's widow, Lydia (now the wife of John MEANS) return to court with the accounting of the distribution of funds thusly:<BR>
70..0.9 pounds (US courts not dealing in dollars yet?) minus the 8..75.0 pounds distributed and the 0..15.9 pounds being the expenses of the court, they have a balance of 60..10.0 pounds to be distributed according to the law.<BR>
(source: Orphans Court Dockets, March, 1796, Vol. 1; 1789-1820, p. 24, LDS-FHC Microfilm # 866288)<BR>
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On April 6, 1819, the heirs of John Carnes, deceased: Joseph NORRIS and his wife Margaret (CARNES); John CARNES and his wife Jane, Thomas COPLIN and his wife Jane (CARNES) and Joseph CARNES and his wife Susannah, all of Allegheny Co., except Joseph Norris who is from Ohio, sell to John MEANS land in Elizabeth Twp. for $145. This land is from the original patent of Robert WILSON in 1788 (PA Patent Book #13; p. 348) who in turn sold 83 acres of it on Apr. 6, 1819 to these heirs of John Carnes according to a contrct which he and John had entered into prior to the latters death. This land was divided among John Carnes heirs so that Margaret Norris, Jane Coplin and Joseph Carnes got 4/7th of it. The heirs sign their names thusly; Joseph and Susannah KEARNS; John and Jane KARNES; Thomas and Jane COPELAND. Witnessed by: Joseph Elrod and William Elrod.<BR>
(source: April 6, 1819, #COP-0039, copy in files of Cora Ott - email Arocmae@aol.com)<BR>
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On April 7, 1819 the heirs of John CARNES release to each other the division of land agreed upon:<BR>
Thomas CARNES and Mary, his wife, along with James GREER and Mary (CARNES), his wife got 35 and 1/2 acres and 11 perches as their 3/7th share; while John CARNES; Joseph NORRIS and wife Margaret (CARNES) ; Thomas COPLIN and wife Jane (CARNES); along with Joseph CARNES and his wife, Susannah receive 8 acres and 156 perches as well as 57 acres and 69 perches as their 4/7th share. <BR>
(source: Recorded at the Allegheny Courthouse on May 15, 1819 by William Elrod - # COP-0040, copy in the files of Cora Ott - email Arocmae@aol.com)</FONT></HTML>

++++Lived in MD at time of son Thomas` birth. However, 1850 census Williams County, Ohio lists Thomas as being born in Ohio