George Churchman
- Sex:
M
- Born:
October 28, 1730 in Nottingham, Chester County, PA
- Died:
November 18, 1814 in West Nottingham, PA
- Buried:
At the Brick Meetinghouse on the 20th day.
- Notes:
George, his son John, and several others in his family were surveyors. The name George Churchman is found on many aged documents.
From "Dictionary of Quaker Biography": In 1750 George succeeded his father as clerk of Nottingham Mo. Mtg., for 20 years. He was a pioneer in promotion of schools for Friends, including Westtown School. In 1762 he opened a school in East Nottingham, Pa. It lasted 10 years. In 1780 George opened a second school in East Nottingham, but it was short-lived.
George was tall and well-proportioned, with an athletic physique. He enjoyed innocent pleasantries. He educated his children himself in "higher branches." He also enjoyed narrating early traditions of Nottingham. His home was a place of entertainment for Friends.
From "History of Chester County, PA." (page 304): About 1790 George Churchman, a prominent member of the Society of Friends, founded a boarding school in East Nottingham for the advanced education of your women, with a view to their qualifications as teachers. Suitable buildings were erected, and the school conducted for a few terms, but it was overshadowed by the Westtown Boarding School, and finally closed. The place was long known as the "Institution".
According to "Dictionary of Quaker Biography", Hannah was born in Goshen, Pa. and was the daughter of Mordecai James and Gaynor Lloyd James. She was brought up by her step-mother, Dinah James. In 1752 she married George Churchman. In 1778 she became an elder. In 1789 Hannah fell and received an injury which confined her for three months, after which she frequently went to meetings -- even to Y. Mtg. in Philadelphia, but soon died in her 62nd year. Hannah stated, "What a precious thing it is to live in love and peace, and to die in it."
Father: John Churchman, b. August 4, 1705 in Chester Township, Chester County, PA
Mother: Margaret Brown, b. March 13, 1707 -- d. July 28, 1770
Family 1: Hannah James, b. March 11, 1728 in Goshen, Chester County, PA. -- d. October 16, 1789 -- daughter of Mordecai James and Gainer Lloyd
May 28, 1752 at East Nottingham Meeting House
- John Churchman, b. May 29, 1753 -- d. July 17, 1805
- Mordecai Churchman, b. March 13, 1755
- Edward Churchman, b. February 6, 1757
- Micajah Churchman, b. December 20, 1758 -- d. January 1, 1788
- Margaret Churchman, b. December 17, 1760
- Gainor Churchman, b. November 20, 1762
- George Churchman, b. December 29, 1764 -- d. March 14, 1837
- Joseph Churchman, b. October 15, 1767
- Hannah Churchman, b. October 27, 1770 -- d. November 25, 1770
- Hannah(2) Churchman, b. August 30, 1772 -- d. February 4, 1855 -- buried in Eastland, Lancaster County, PA.
Sources:
- "History of Chester County, Pennsylvania" by Futhey & Cope. Philadelphia 1881. pages 497-498
- "Churchmans of Kentucky" by Charles R. Churchman
- "Descendants of Sarah Lloyd and Gainor Lloyd" by John J. Parker, The Chester County Historical Society, West Chester, PA.
- "Dictionary of Quaker Biography" from the Library of the Religious Society of Friends in Britain at Friends House, Euston Road, London, NW1 2BJ
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