Wednesday, October 8, 2025

William Haycock/Heacock, My First DAR Patriot

                                                       William Haycock/Heacock

1716 – 1800

Patriot #A206644


 


The Heacock name has been found spelled many different ways.  In the documents used by the DAR to prove William’s patriotism, it was spelled Haycock.  There are other records of him with the Heacock spelling. In referring to any document, I will use the spelling in that document.  In general, I will use Heacock. 

William was born the fourth child of English Quaker immigrants Jonathan Heacock and Ann Till on 13 January 1716/17 in Marple, Chester (now Delaware) Co, Pennsylvania.  His parents came from Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, England in 1711 finally settling in Chester Co, Pennsylvania in 1718.  These dates come from the Quaker records for when the Heacocks left Wolverhampton with a removal certificate and presented this certificate in order to join the Chester Quaker meeting. The seven years’ time between is not documented but it is supposed that they did not immediately settle in Chester and may have moved around a bit or rented before buying land in Marple where William was born.  William had two sisters, Mary and Ann, and three brothers, John, Jonathan and Joseph, all born in Pennsylvania. 

In 1739, William purchased 100 acres in Rockhill, Bucks County from Thomas and Richard Penn, sons of William Penn, and built several mills. A sawmill, an oil mill, and nearby a grist mill.  This area had been known as “The Bog” or "The Great Swamp" but was later found to have very rich and fertile soil and named Richland. In 1745, William purchased an additional 50 acres in Rockhill and again in 1747, 100 more acres in Rockhill. One of William’s mills is still standing today and is occupied by a family counselor office.  William also built a house in 1748 which stood across from the mill. It burned down in 1906 but was rebuilt.  The mill stayed in the family for several generations.    

In 1746, William married Ann Roberts through the Gwynedd Monthly Meeting in Bucks County.  They would have 9 children:

Jeremiah        1747-1797

William         1749-1814

Ann               1750-1823

Mary             1752-1770

Jesse 1           1754- 1763

Alice              1756 – 1835

Jane                1758-1816

Jonathan         1760 – 1828     m. Hannah Davis   -  the line that we are descended from

Jesse 2            1763-1841        would inherit the Saw/Oil Mill

Many Tax Records were found recording what William paid and for what.  Specifically, the years 1779, 1781 and 1782, years during the Revolutionary War, were used to prove him as a Patriot.  These specific taxes were called Supply Taxes and were used to support the Continental Army during the war.  Bucks county taxes and other contributions were significant in supporting the war effort.  The taxes were paid to the state and in turn each state sent its tax quota to the Continental Congress.  At first the taxes were on freemen over the age of 21and land but would later cover trades, personal property, mills, plate, horses, cattle or anything that could be sold for ready money. Other taxes were also collected in Bucks County on luxuries like liquor, carriages and billiard tables. Quakers, in most cases and in compliance with their religious beliefs, would not serve in the military. Having stated that, I have found several Heacocks of this family who did serve during the Civil War and a southern family who owned slaves. 

The first census of the United States was not taken until 1790. Two William Haycocks are found living in Rockhill Twp, Bucks Co at that time.  They would be William and his son William in separate households.  The 1800 census lists only one William Heacock so it was likely taken after William Sr died, which was on 12 Apr 1800 at home in Rockhill.  William’s youngest son Jesse inherited the sawmill after his father died. William Sr’s wife Ann is not listed as a head of household in the 1800 census. Ann would have been 82 at the time and lived until 1807.

William Heacock’s lengthy and detailed will was probated on 8 May 1800 and his wife Ann was left all of the furniture and 100 pounds in gold or silver money, as well as directing that his son Jesse live on his 147 acres with his mother until her decease or remarriage at which time the property be sold, with Jesse keeping the mill.  He also gave instructions on the distribution of the proceeds of that sale amongst his children and grandchildren. He was likely buried in Bucks Co, exact location unknown.

William Haycock's Proofs for DAR

 


1779 Supply Tax - owned 70 acres in Richland,  value -700lb, paid 16lb,9shillings



1781 tax in Rockhill 160 acres and a sawmill - 1 horse, 4 cattle - Value 392lb - paid 4 lb,10shillings


1782 Tax paid  Rockhill Twp - paid 8 shillings 6 pence


William Haycock and Ann Roberts Quaker marriage declaration


Ann Roberts Heacock Quaker birth record

William Haycock's mill and property location in West Rockhill Twp, Bucks Co, PA


William Haycock's mill - photo shared by Michael J Beauchamp


1831 map of Rockhill Twp with location of mill marked as "S & Oil M" and "J. Heacock" below, this would be Jesse Heacock



Bucks Co in 1831 - Rockhill Twp in Northwest Bucks



  The Mill today - Google Earth photos

  

  Current occupants

Some older photos of the mill




         1899



William Heacock home built 1748, burned down in 1906 but rebuilt home today is below



photo shared by Michael J Beauchamp


*****************************************************************************

William Haycock/Heacock’s Descendant Lineage for my DAR membership

Son of William

Jonathan Heacock was born in Rockhill, Bucks Co, Pa on 11 Apr 1760 and died in Haverford, Delaware Co, Pa on 21 Dec 1828. Jonathan married Hannah Davis on 21 Oct 1783 in Haverford, Delaware Co, Pa. In 1782, Jonathan was listed as a single man on a tax list for Bucks Co.  Jonathan was a Quaker and in the tanning business and lived in Haverford for his entire married life. They are buried in Delaware Co, Pa and were members of the Haverford Meeting.  Their 10 children were:

Joseph D        1784 – 1867 He was a surgeon in the either the Mexican War or the War of 1812, moved to Alabama and had 4 sons in the Confederate Army, he and at least one of his sons are recorded as owning slaves

Martha            1786 – 1867

Jesse D           1788 – 1851

Reece             1791 – 1866

Anna               1794 – 1865

Mary               1797 –  1886

Davis              1799 – 1885   m. Mary Williamson – our line

Jonathan         1802 – 1858

Eli                  1805 – 1842

Lewis             1808 – 1823

Proofs



William Heacock's Will  1800 - son Jonathan Heacock



1783 Quaker record of marriage declaration for Jonathan Heacock and Hannah Davis


Jonathan Heacock's Quaker death record


Hannah Davis Heacock  Quaker death record



***************************************************

Grandson of William

Davis Heacock was born on 16 Dec 1799 in Haverford, Delaware Co, Pa and died on 1 Dec 1885 in Washington Co, Indiana. He was a Quaker and a farmer. He married Mary Williamson about 1822. They had 6 children all born in Haverford at the farm.  According to a Haverford Meeting Record Book, Davis may have been disowned at some point. No reason or date was given and a member could be taken back into the faith  if  later was judged an acceptable member again.  About 1848, they sold the farm and moved to Indiana, living in Henry Co, Rush Co and finally Washington Co. In 1858, Davis was the co-builder of the Phillips Schoolhouse near Salem, Indiana.  Davis and his son James were also teachers at the Phillips school.  In 1870 Davis and his wife are found living in McLean Co, Illinois but moved back to Indiana in 1873 with their son James where they passed away.  They are buried in the Highland Cemetery in Salem, Washington Co, Indiana. Their children are:

Elizabeth W               1825 -1866  - died in Illinois

Emily D                     1828 – 1893

James Williamson     1833 1910 – m. Sarah Nixon – our line

Jesse Davis                1836 – 1919 - served in the Civil War Union

Mary Ann                  1840 – 1913

Joseph D                    1846 -1876 – married and stayed in Illinois

Proofs


Davis Heacock birth record  and disowned for ?


Davis Heacock gravestone


1850 Census Ripley Twp, Rush Co, Indiana showing Mary as Davis's wife and her age


Mary Williamson Heacock's gravestone

*****************************************************

Great Grandson of William

James Williamson Heacock was born in Darby, Delaware Co, Pa on 25 Oct 1833 and died in Salem, Washington Co, Indiana on 4  Jan 1910.  He married Sarah Nixon on 21 May 1861 at her home in Washington Twp, Washington Co, Indiana. In 1855, he moved with his parents to Highland, Washington Co, Indiana. 10 years later, they moved to Benjaminville, McClean Co, Illinois where his three children were born. James and his brother Jesse were listed on a Civil War Draft Registration record on June of 1963 in Washington Co, Indiana. James never served but Jesse did.  James' family remained there until 1873 and later they took possession of Spring Hill Farm in Washington Co, Indiana where he farmed and raised fruit on the “Spring Hill Farm”.  The Spring Hill Farm originated with an 1814 land grant to Matthew Coffin, who passed the property to his daughter Priscilla Hunt in 1815 who in turn sold it, in 1843, to her son in law Toms Nixon, father of Sarah Nixon Heacock. In 1874, James and Sarah Heacock acquired the deed to the farm and later in 1898, deeded it to their son Foster.  James at one time was the assessor for Washington Co. and also worked as an appraiser for Washington Co’s Farmers Insurance Co.  He and his wife are buried in the Quaker cemetery at Blue River. Their children are:

Elmer Ellsworth    1862 – 1934

Semira Elizabeth   1865 – 1879

Foster James         1869 – 1939 – m. Clara Alice Martin – our line

Proofs



James W Heacock's Death certificate showing his birth and death date

James Heacock and Sarah Nixon marriage


Sarah Nixon Heacock's Death certificate with birth and death dates



Three generations of William Haycock's descendants
James Williamson, Foster James and Floyd Hanley Heacock

********************************************************

2nd Great Grandson of William

Foster James Heacock was born in Benjaminville, McLean Co, Illinois on 22 Sep 1869 an died in Dayton, Montgomery Co, Ohio on 3 May 1939.  He married Clara Alice Martin on 10 Aug 1896 in Washington Co, Indiana.  Clara died on 6 May 1917 and he married for a second time on 21 Aug 1919 in Bedford, PA to Margaretta Blackburn. 

“Foster moved to Washington Co., Indiana when he was 4 years old from McLean Co., Illinois. He graduated from the Northern Indiana Normal School at Valparaiso in 1893 from the commercial department. He taught 4 terms in Washington county schools and moved to New Castle, Pa. in 1894 and then to Butler, Pa (near where I now live). where he was the principal of Butler Business College until May 1897. Foster moved back to Washington county where he was appointed to serve on the Board of County Charities Corrections for one year. Foster served in this capacity without compensation. He was also the secretary of the Washington County Historical Society in 1914 and was helpful in getting information for the county history published in 1916. Foster was a noted agriculturist and was head of the Heacock Fruit Company which was widely known for the quality of it's orchard products. He owned "Spring Hill Farm" in Washington Co. Indiana as well as the "Friendly Fruit Farm" in Clearville, Bedford Co, Pa. At the time of his death, he was Superintendent of the Waynesville, Ohio Friends Home. “ Source - "Centennial History of Washington County, Indiana", Warder W. Stevens, 1916, B.F. Bowen Co., Inc, Indianapolis, Indiana. pg 824.  Foster held several patents for equipment useful in orchards as well. 

Foster was buried with his first wife in the Quaker Blue River Hicksite Cemetery in Washington Co, Indiana.  Foster and Clara ‘s children are:

Lawrence (twin)  1898 – 1966

Florence (twin)     1898 -1984

Marian                  1900 – 1900

Oliver James         1902 – 1995

Floyd Hanley        1905 – 1989 – m. Mary Elizabeth Arnold – our line

Helen Blanche      1908 – 2000 - lifelong Quaker and the family historian

Proofs

Foster Heacock's Death certificate showing birth and death dates

Foster Heacock and Clara Alice Martin marriage certification


Clara Alice Martin Heacock's death certificate with birth and death dates


*******************************************************

 3rd Great Grandson of William

Floyd Hanley Heacock was born in Canton, Washington Co, Indiana on 15 Jan 1905 and died in Bedford, Pa on 21 Jun 1989.  He married Mary Elizabeth Arnold on 4 Jun 1928 in Bedford, Pa.  Floyd moved with his family to Bedford, Pennsylvania after the census of 1920. They lived on a farm near Clearville called the "Friendly Fruit Farm", where they raised apples and peaches from about 1920-1938. Their produce won many ribbons. The Heacock's would live at the farm except in the winter, when they would move into Bedford and rent a house. Floyd would often walk from the farm in Clearville into Bedford. He also worked as a soda jerk in a local drug store. He graduated from Bedford High School in 1924 and went on to take a radio correspondence course. This course was a graduation gift from his father. It was after taking this course that he began his job with ATT, in 1926, at the switching station at the corner of East John St & S Wood St. This building is now the Bedford Library.  His starting salary was $20 a week. He worked at ATT until his retirement in 1968 after 42 years of service. About 12 or so years after he was married, Floyd, a birthright Quaker, converted to his wife’s Catholic faith.  Floyd also had a side business of repairing radios and televisions. He was known as the "TV Doctor" in and around town. His son John relates that Floyd owned the first television in Bedford. Floyd was also affectionately known as "Taters" and always had a vegetable garden in his backyard on East John St.  Floyd and Elizabeth are buried in the St Thomas Cemetery in Bedford.  Their 8 children are:

John Floyd                1929 – 2016  m. Kathryn Carole Bonadio – my line

Margaret Theresa      1930 – 2019

Mary Elizabeth         

Frederick Eugene      

Ruth Ann                   1939 – 2011

Catherine Alice          

Joseph Ralph             

James Foster              

Proofs


Floyd Heacock and Mary Elizabeth Arnold's Marriage application


                  Death certificates showing their birth and death dates which I will not post here.

******************************************************

4th Great Grandson of William

John Floyd Heacock was born in Bedford, PA on 5 Jul 1929 and died in Pottsville, Schuylkill Co, Pa on 22 Mar 2016. He married Kathryn Carole Bonadio in Lock Haven, Clinton Co, PA on 28 Aug 1954.   John grew up in Bedford where he developed interests in Stamp Collecting, Flying, Science Fiction, Horse Racing and the Space Race, he being Bedford's resident expert on the Russian Sputnik flight and was able to spot it in the night sky. He attended Bedford High School where he excelled in wrestling and became the school's first state champion in that sport (1945). John wrestled in the 112 lb. weight class. He also played football and was a member of the 1945 undefeated championship team and was a member of the High School Band playing the Cornet. John was an Honor student and scholar athlete. Some jobs held were as an attendant at the ESSO station on the PA Turnpike at the Bedford Midway Rest Area, where they would use the underground tunnel which connected the two opposite rest areas at that location; working at the Bedford airport digging ditches to help drain the runway and painting the identifier of "Bedford" on the hangar roof for which he was paid in flying lessons in Aeronca Champs and T-Craft Aces; working for Paul Logue helping remodel the elementary school; working for his uncle, Gene Davidson, in his machine shop during World War 2 helping machine parts for aircraft carriers and pilot evac kits. John also holds his private pilots license which he received after flying his first solo flight at the age of 16. After graduation, he attended Parks Air College in St. Louis, Mo. as an ROTC student for one year and then transferred to Lock Haven State Teacher's College in Pa, where he also wrestled and participated in the NCAA Wrestling Tournament. John was in the Army for two years during the Korean War and was stationed in Japan as a radio operator in the 101st Airborne, earning the Good Conduct Medal, United National Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, Army Superior Unit Award, and the Army Award for Public Service. After his marriage to Carole Bonadio of Lock Haven, Pa in 1954 he took a teaching/coaching job at Central Bucks Jr High School in Doylestown, Bucks Co, Pa. only about 16 miles from where his DAR ancestor lived. After a year there, he returned to Bedford to teach math at Bedford high school for five years. John also helped coach the wrestling and football teams in Bedford. During this period, he attended summer classes and received his Master’s degree from Penn State. In 1960, he began teaching math for Penn State at its Schuylkill Campus in Pottsville, Pa. During his tenure in Pottsville, John was a private Math tutor, helped with the local Spelling Bee and helped with the then College Boards Exams (SAT). He retired early, in 1978, due to a disability. He lived with his wife, Carole, a retired social service aide, in Pottsville.  In 2007, John was inducted into the Bedford County Sports Hall of Fame. And in 2014, into the Pennsylvania Wrestling Hall of Fame. John passed away on March 22, 2016 in Pottsville, PA. John and Carole are buried in the St Johns #2 Cemetery in Pottsville, Pa.  Their children are:

Ann Marie           DAR 

Teresa Helen       

Thomas William   1960 - 1960

Dianne Elizabeth   

Proofs

Church marriage certificate for John Heacock and Carole Bonadio

Also their Birth and Death certificates - not posted


Four more generations of William Haycock's Descendants
Floyd, John, Ann, Amy& Tommy


*********************************************************

5th Great Granddaughter of William - DAR member Jacob Ferree Chapter

Ann Marie Heacock was born in Bedford, Bedford Co, Pa. She married Thomas Sinton in Pottsville, Schuylkill Co, PA.  Ann lived in Bedford until she was about 5 years old. The family moved to Pottsville, PA and she began Kindergarten at the Jackson St school. Beginning with the first grade she attended St John the Baptist Parish School and graduated from 8th grade there.  Her high school years were spent attending Nativity BVM High School in Pottsville.  She and Tom lived in Cressona, Pa and welcomed their first child.  Tom enlisted in the US Air Force and the family moved to Rantoul (about an hours drive from where her ancestors lived in McLean Co) and where they had their second child, then to Summerfield, Illinois, where they spent about 6 years. Opportunity knocked and they moved to Virginia Beach, Va where Tom worked for Douglas Aircraft Co on contract to the US Navy.  While living in Virginia Beach, Ann became a volunteer  tour docent at the historical Lynnhaven House c. 1725  for three years.  After 7 years, the family moved one more time, to Pittsburgh, Pa (just a two hours' drive from Bedford) where Tom worked for USAirways (now American Airlines) until his retirement. Ann was a full time Mom until she began working briefly for Hechingers as a cashier, two years at Ames Dept store and finally for almost 21 years as a receptionist for Dr Robert Hodes OD.  Their children are:

6th Great Grandchildren of William 

Amy Melissa                  m. Cullen Matthew Flanders

Thomas Ellsworth Jr      m. Amanda Lee Schiller

Proofs

Birth and marriage certificates - not posted

*********************************************************

7th Great Grandchildren of William

Hannah Cathryn  Flanders   m. Mitchell Edward Miles

Ethan Robert Flanders         

Dylan Thomas Flanders       

Nathan Thomas Sinton       

Emily Kaye Sinton              

Luke Ryan Sinton


And the latest generation of William Haycock's descendants
John and Carole Heacock and  their great grandchildren


***********************************************************


Please give credit and post a link to my blog if you intend to use any of the information written here. My blog posts are © Ann M Sinton 2025. All rights reserved

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

No comments:

Post a Comment

William Haycock/Heacock, My First DAR Patriot

                                                        William Haycock/Heacock 1716 – 1800 Patriot #A206644   The Heacock name has be...