| History of George Mefford and Malinda Masters Back to Contents Back to Masters Ancestors History Index
Writing a family history is not an exact science. The following represents our most current findings, as well as some "best guesses" based on family tradition. If you have additional and/or different findings, please contact us. It is our hope to provide accurate and factual information, so all help is appreciated! Marriage and Children It has been reported that George Mefford and Malinda Masters married on 27 July 1779 at Redstone, Fayette Co, PA, but as yet, we have been unable to find records of the marriage. To the best of our knowledge, they had 13 children born between 1781 and 1808: Andrew, Nancy Ann, Samuel, John, Nathan, Mary, Elizabeth, George, Sarah, Lydia, Thomas, Joshua and Caleb. See Descendants and Family Group Sheet George's Parents and Siblings According to most recent findings, George Mefford was born 25 Sep 1751, or shortly after arriving in America, rather than at sea, as has been reported elsewhere, and was christened 17 Nov 1751 in Christ Lutheran Church, York, Pennsylvania. His parents, George Conrad and Anna Magdalena Meffert, had apparently arrived in Pennsylvania 16 Sep 1751 on the ship "Brothers" which had sailed from Rotterdam, and his father took the "Oath of Allegiance" to the King of England on that date. Estate records in Washington Co, PA for George's father name four children: George, Elizabeth, Jacob and John. There are birth and baptismal records in Pennsylvania German Church Records of Births, Baptisms, Marriages, Burials, Etc, Volume 1, pp. 22, 45 (Baltimore, 1983), originally published before 1900 by the Pennsylvania German Society, for two children who appear to be George's siblings, Jacob and Elizabeth, although the surname is spelled quite differently: Johann Jacob Mayfarth Maria Elizabeth Mayfart We have no other information at present for Elizabeth and Jacob. (References: Harold Meeker- Adams Co. Hist. Soc., Gettysburg PA: birth; Elizabeth Mefford Henning - LDS IGI batch C506861 sheet 0632: christening; Thirty Thousand Names of German, Swiss, Dutch, French and other Immigrants in Pennsylvania, by Prof. I. Daniel Rupp: ship passenger records; Harold Meeker- Estate Records 1781-1796 and Deed Records 1782-1785 Washington Co, PA). Malinda's Parents and Siblings See: Masters Ancestors
Revolutionary War Service George Mefford is on record as having served during the Revolutionary War from Washington Co, PA. Serving in the same company were Lot Masters, Nathan Masters, John Riggs and Thomas Mills. (Source: Pennsylvania Archives, Sixth Series, Vol. II, p202). On to Kentucky George's first recorded visit to Kentucky was in Spring of 1783. He returned in 1785, reportedly floating from the area know known as Brownsville, PA, down the Ohio River on a "flatboat" with his family and settled near the present town of Maysville, and was appointed one of the six trustees for that town, the third established in Mason Co. by the Virginia Legislature. The others were: Daniel Boone, his cousin Jacob Boone, Henry Lee, Arthur Fox and Thos. Brooks. "Visitors in 1783. In May, 1783, Jacob Drennon, John Riggs, Thos. Mills, Lot Masters, and Geo. Mefford, came down the Ohio river to the district of Kentucky, to locate and improve lands, and leaving their canoe at or near the mouth of a creek since called Crooked creek, proceeded into the country, to the east and south forks of Cabin creek, and then along a buffalo trace to the waters of the North fork of Licking. They made some locations on the East fork of Cabin creek, at one place cutting the initials of Geo. Mefford's name on a honey locust tree. Deposition of John Riggs, Oct., 1797." Brown County, Ohio Our branch descends from 12th child Joshua and his first wife, Susannah Hodgkins, or Hodkins, daughter of James Hodgkins Sr. and wife Hannah of Pleasant Twp, Brown Co, Ohio, formerly Clermont Co (one source states Hannah Alford or Alforet, but so far this is unconfirmed). Joshua's brother Thomas married Eleanor Hodgkins, sister of Susannah, and both families resided in Brown Co. See also Hodgkins Family Genealogy. John Mefford, brother of George, and wife Elizabeth reportedly first settled near Limestone, Kentucky (present day Maysville) before settling across the river in Adams Co, Ohio, near the present day town of Ripley. This area became Brown Co in 1818. John and Elizabeth had seven children, most of whom resided in Brown Co, where their parents are buried: George, Ann, Polly, Henry, Rachel, Sarah Jane and Malinda. A good account of some descendants of John and Elizabeth has been published in Treasures of Pisgah and Levanna, Ohio, by Carl N. Thompson, and I believe there was an earlier publication called The Mefford-Pangburn Reunion or similar title. Perhaps someone can offer correct info on this. (References: History of Brown County Ohio, by Beers, Treasures of Pisgah and Levanna, Ohio, and Historical Collections of Brown County, Ohio by Carl N. Thompson) |
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