Joseph Workman, Sr. & Phebe McRay McMahon, 1736-1813
Family history in this section was compiled by Phil Hayes.The original content of his treatise entitled A WORKMAN FAMILY HISTORY: from Jans William to Melvrie is presented herein without alteration.
Birth:
In 1736, Joseph, Sr., was born one of possibly eleven children (all boys) of Abraham Workman and Annetje Anna Smith in Somerset County, NJ.
I have found listed in different sources the following brothers: Benjamin (b. c 1729), Samuel (b. c 1731), Jacob (b.17d0), Abraham and Andrew (b.1742), George (b.1744), William P. (b, c 1746), John (b. ?), Isaac (b. ?), and Stephen (b. ?).
Somerset County, New Jersey
Modern map for reference only.
Somerset County, circa 1850
Childhood/Bachelorhood:
Joseph, Sr.’s childhood was spent in Somerset County, NJ. The family probably lived in the vicinity of Raritan.
By 1756, when Joseph was 20, Abraham and Anna were living in Chester County, Pennsylvania. Joseph may have still been living with, or near, them since he was not married until 1761. He did serve two stints in the Chester County militia during that time.
Raritan, circa 1860
Chester County, PA, circa 1850
Education:
Details are unknown.
Military:
Joseph served in the Chester County, Pennsylvania, militia during colonial times.
Sayre says in his book. Some Branches of the Workman Tree (page 65), “Pennsylvania Archives,’ Series 5, Volume 1, gives a record of a 6 May 1758 enlistment in Chester County, Pennsylvania, in Captain Paul Jackson’s Company for the Pennsylvania Regiment of the following: “Joseph Workman, laborer, 5’8”, of thin visage, age 21....”
Sayre also notes the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission records which show, “‘Provincial Service’ of a Joseph Workman who enlisted as a private in Captain Charles Stewart’s Company 22 April 1759 at Chester, Pennsylvania....” (My underlines)
Occupation:
Joseph, Sr.’s occupation is a bit of a mystery; although, in his younger days, he was listed as a laborer in the militia.
It doesn’t seem that he could have been a farmer during his prime due to all the frequent moves and travel. He may have farmed in later life at Burkes Garden since he lived there some twenty years, or more, after 1789.
There is a possibility that Joseph may have been a surveyor; or, may have worked in some way with survey crews. He may have even been a land speculator, or land agent. This insight arose from the fact that he lived in the period when western Pennsylvania, western Maryland, western Virginia, western North Carolina, and the Ohio Valley were the unsettled frontier. Early in life, he enlisted in the militia and probably traveled to the frontier where he could have become acquainted with survey teams. There was a great deal of land speculation in those days just before the Revolution which, in turn, required many survey teams to travel into the frontier lands. This was, after all, the time of Daniel Boone (1734-1820).
One of Joseph, Sr.’s older sons, James, was just such a man who worked with survey teams and traveled almost continually from place to place around the frontier as it moved. He may have been following in his father’s footsteps. Moreover, James’ younger brother Joseph, Jr., became a land speculator, among other things.
Marriage:
On August 4, 1761, Joseph, Sr., married Phebe McRay McMahon in the Christ Lutheran Church in York County, Pennsylvania. The marriage was listed in the church records; but, apparently, there are no listings of them in the county records.
Married Life, Phebe:
Joseph and Phoebe had ten children: Abraham (b. 1761–Washington Co., PA; James (b. c 1763–York Co., PA); Nimrod (b. c 1765 –York Co., PA), Anne (b 1768 –PA); Joseph, Jr. (b. [1770]–PA), Thomas (b. 1722 [? ‘72] –PA); Jacob (b. c 177d –MD), Moses (b. c l777 –Washington Co., PA); Isaac (b. c 1780 –PA), Phoebe c 1799 –VA). Note that these births span the Revolutionary War (?) –My question.
Judging from the children’s places of birth, Joseph and Phoebe moved around a great deal, especially for a family limited to foot or horseback travel.
In 1761, Joseph and Phoebe were in York, PA, when they were married. They may, or may not, have been living there at the time because their son Abraham is listed as born in Washington County, PA, in 1761.
In 1763, they may have been living in York, PA.
From 1768 through 1773, they may have been living in Pennsylvania.
Around 1774, they may have been living in Maryland.
Around, 1776, Sayre says that Joseph settled west of Fort Cumberland, Maryland, with five of his brothers. Note here that this was the year of the Declaration of Independence.
Around 1777, they were back in Washington County, PA.
Up until around 1785, they were probably in Pennsylvania.
In 1785, Joseph received two land patents; 400 acres in Washington County, PA, and 300 acres in Westmoreland County, PA, according to the Pennsylvania Archives, Series 3, Volume 26. (These counties are around Pittsburgh.)
In 1787, Joseph appears on the Montgomery County, Virginia, tax lists. It should be noted here that Montgomery County, at that time, included all of what is now southwestern West Virginia from Pt. Pleasant to Glen Lyn, VA. That is to say, all the area south and west of the Kanawha and New Rivers. [See 1771 map.]
“About 1788”, Sayre says, “Some records and family tradition indicate that all or some of Joseph and Phoebe Workman’s family migrated to North Carolina... and singly returned to Virginia. They may have been led there by John Workman, who according to census listings settled in Orange County...” The current map of North Carolina shows Orange County immediately west of Durham, although that may not necessarily be pertinent for the 1700s.
Around 1789, Sayre says that Joseph and Phoebe may have settled at Burkes Garden, Wythe County, VA. The area was later included in the new county of Tazewell when it was formed around 1801.
In 1793, ‘96, ‘97, ‘99, and 1800, Joseph appears on the Wythe County, Virginia tax lists.
Joseph may have been one of the petitioners for the formation of Tazewell County, VA. He is listed as one of the early settlers of Wythe County.
In 1802, ‘03, and ‘05, Joseph is listed on the Tazewell County tax lists after the formation of Tazewell County, VA. In 1805, he is listed as “exempt of taxes due to old age and infirmity.” Note here that the Lewis and Clark Expedition was during this period.
In 1813, Joseph, Sr., passed away.
In 1815, only “Pheby” Workman is listed on the Tazewell County tax records.
Joseph, Sr., moved his family around so much that it is difficult to know just where they were actually living at any given time. Ordinarily, the date and place of birth of children are reasonable indications of where a family lived at a given time; but, with this family, one wonders whether they were actually living in the reported county of birth, or whether they merely reported the births of their children wherever the births happened in their travels.
Washington County, PA
Cumberland, Allegany County, MD
Montgomery County
Burkes Garden, Tazewell County, VA
Religion:
Joseph, Sr.’s religious affiliation is unknown; although, he may have belonged to the Lutheran Church, since that is the denomination in which he was married in York County, Pennsylvania.
Health:
Details are unknown.
Death:
In 1813, Joseph died in Burkes Garden, Tazewell County, VA.
In the summer of 2003, a personal walk through the old Lutheran Church Cemetery at Burkes Garden did not result in locating Joseph’s grave. Many of the older head stones were illegible, however.