I belong to the Cumberland County Historical Society, but don't get to use their library often. It is 'closed stacks' so very frustrating! I like to browse! There are lots and lots of William Evans in early PA, records. DAR Patriot Index does list one that was a Colonel - b 1712, died 1783. Married Sarah Smith Rogers. Some of the SE PA Evans were Quakers and some were Welsh Baptist - most lived within 50 miles or so of Philadelphia. As the Welsh moved west, many joined the Presbyterian Churches that were already established. Here are some more clues for your files: Chester County Will Abstracts EVANS, MORRIS. Vincent. March 4, 1783. March 17, 1783. To brother James Evan £5, etc. To sister Mary Lloyd. To sister Lettice Thomas £5. To Elinor Guest, daughter of William Gronow £5. To John Gronow, son of William Gronow, £5, etc. To Mary McGee, daughter of William Gronow £5. To Lewis Gronow, son of William Gronow, £5. To my granddaughter Elizabeth Fitzsimmons £5. To granddaughter Lettice Fitzsimmons £5 at 18. To wife Lettice all remainder of estate, real and personal. Executors: Wife and John Ralston. Wit: Robert Ralston, David (x) Evans, William West. [Notice the use of the name Lettice/Lettie, again. Possible clue there as Lettice was not a common name.] EVANS, WILLIAM, ESQ. Vincent. June 12, 1783. July 25, 1783. To daughter Mary, wife of William Rodgers, £350, diamond gold ring, etc. To daughter Sarah Evans £500 at 21, also cows and sheep and household goods. To son Jesse my plantation in Vincent whereon brother David Evans now lives, also 10 acres of woodland when 21. To son William my plantation in Frederick Co., Maryland known by the name of Pleasant Meadows whereon Michael Dodson now lives when 21. With rev. in case of death to my children, Mary, John, Sarah and Jesse and Sarah Eachus, share and share alike. £200 to be paid to Sarah Eachus for clothing and schooling son William until he is 15, when he is to be put to a trade. Also make provision for her during life. To Elizabeth Batman £15, etc. To sister Elinor, wife of John Dodson, cow. To brothers David and James all wearing apparel. To grandchildren Sarah and Charles Rogers, a heifer, etc. To son John all remainder of estate. John Ralston and John Whelen guardians of children. Executors: Robert Ralston, Owen Thomas, son-in-law William Rodgers, son John. Letters to 3 first named. Wit: Alex McCaraher, John Neiler, Jacob Coover. [This would appear to be the William who was a Colonel.]

Thanks to everyone who so kindly contributed to my "Evans" research. William Evans was purported to be Welsh. Michele ----- Original Message ----- From: "Carolyn K Shearer" <cks@pa.net> To: <PAPERRY-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, August 11, 2004 6:38 PM Subject: Re: [PA-Perry] Evans, Linn, Elliott > I belong to the Cumberland County Historical Society, but don't get to use their library often. It is 'closed stacks' so very frustrating! I like to browse! > > There are lots and lots of William Evans in early PA, records. DAR Patriot Index does list one that was a Colonel - b 1712, died 1783. Married Sarah Smith Rogers. Some of the SE PA Evans were Quakers and some were Welsh Baptist - most lived within 50 miles or so of Philadelphia. As the Welsh moved west, many joined the Presbyterian Churches that were already established. > > Here are some more clues for your files: > Chester County Will Abstracts > EVANS, MORRIS. Vincent. > March 4, 1783. March 17, 1783. > To brother James Evan £5, etc. To sister Mary Lloyd. To sister Lettice Thomas £5. To Elinor Guest, daughter of William Gronow £5. To John Gronow, son of William Gronow, £5, etc. To Mary McGee, daughter of William Gronow £5. To Lewis Gronow, son of William Gronow, £5. To my granddaughter Elizabeth Fitzsimmons £5. To granddaughter Lettice > Fitzsimmons £5 at 18. To wife Lettice all remainder of estate, real and personal. Executors: Wife and John Ralston. > Wit: Robert Ralston, David (x) Evans, William West. > [Notice the use of the name Lettice/Lettie, again. Possible clue there as Lettice was not a common name.] > > EVANS, WILLIAM, ESQ. Vincent. > June 12, 1783. July 25, 1783. > To daughter Mary, wife of William Rodgers, £350, diamond gold ring, etc. To daughter Sarah Evans £500 at 21, also cows and sheep and household goods. To son Jesse my plantation in Vincent whereon brother David Evans now lives, also 10 acres of woodland when 21. To son William my plantation in Frederick Co., Maryland known by the name of Pleasant Meadows whereon Michael Dodson now lives when 21. With rev. in case of death to my children, Mary, John, Sarah and Jesse and Sarah > Eachus, share and share alike. £200 to be paid to Sarah Eachus for clothing and schooling son William until he is 15, when he is to be put to a trade. Also make provision for her during life. To Elizabeth Batman £15, etc. To sister Elinor, wife of John Dodson, cow. To brothers David and James all wearing apparel. To grandchildren Sarah and Charles Rogers, a heifer, etc. To son John all remainder of estate. John Ralston and John Whelen guardians of children. Executors: Robert Ralston, Owen Thomas, son-in-law William Rodgers, son John. Letters to 3 first named. Wit: Alex McCaraher, John Neiler, Jacob Coover. > [This would appear to be the William who was a Colonel.] > > > ============================== > Gain access to over two billion names including the new Immigration > Collection with an Ancestry.com free trial. Click to learn more. > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=4930&sourceid=1237 >