I realized that my dad's family had lived in the area since 1725. There was even a member of my mom's family that lived there in 1800. This means that Richard Menown (my 6th great-grandfather on my mom's side of the family) lived in the same town at the same time as Samuel Wylie (my 3nd great-grandfather on my dad's side of the family). The last time that I visited Elizabeth, Pennsylvania was in 2006. In 2013 there were about 1500 people living in the little town. The population hasn't varied much since 1850 (at least). It is, therefore, likely that Samuel and Richard knew and interacted with each other.
Here's what I know about Samuel Wylie:
- Born in 1754, most likely in Ireland - He served in the Revolutionary War - His wife, Flored, was born in Elizabeth, PA - By 1779 he was living in Lancaster, PA - He lived in Mifflin for the majority of his life - Many of his children lived in Elizabeth, PA - He died in Elizabeth in 1814. - He is buried in Round Hill Cemetery. |
Here's what I know about Richard Menown:
- Born in 1741 in Down, Ireland - His children were born in Ireland - He came to America as an adult - In 1800, when he was 59 years old, he was living in Elizabeth. - He died in Elizabeth in 1812. - He is buried in Round Hill Cemetery. |
It's strange to think about these two families living in the same small community. Another family member, David Findley (my 6th great-grand uncle on my mom's side...his sister was Jane Findley. Jane's granddaughter married the grandson of Richard Menown.) is on the 1790 census as living in Elizabeth, PA too! How funny that all of these families were living around each other, but their descendants didn't marry each other for generations (and by that point they were living somewhere else). My parents got married in 1979 - that's 165-167 years after their ancestors died - the same ancestors that lived in the same tiny town 1,476 miles away from where my story begins.