Family Chart No:  0680-0605    

Husband: William Masters, SR
Born: 1720-35	Place:
Died: 1810	Burial: New Madrid, Missouri Territory
Father:  Richard Masters
Mother:  Mary

   

Married:

Place:

   

1st Wife: Elizabeth
Born:	Place:
Died:	Burial:
Father:
Mother:

  Children of William & Elizabeth:  

Child 1:	Jesse Masters	Sex:	M	Born:	before 1755
Child 2:	William Masters, JR	Sex:	M	Born:	1757,Sussex,Co.NJ
Child 3:	Benjamin Masters	Sex:	M	Born:	1758-59,Sussex Co. NJ
Child 4:	Richard Masters	Sex:	M	Born:	ca 1770,Sussex,Co.NJ
Child 5:	? Other ch. no names	Sex:		Born:
Child 6:		Sex:		Born:
Child 7:		Sex:		Born:
Child 8:		Sex:		Born:

  

2nd Wife: Catherine
Born:	Place:
Died:	Burial:
Father:
Mother:

  Children of William & Catherine:  

Child 1:		Sex:		Born:
Child 2:		Sex:		Born:
Child 3:		Sex:		Born:
Child 4:		Sex:		Born:
Child 5:		Sex:		Born:
Child 6:		Sex:		Born:
Child 7:		Sex:		Born:
Child 8:		Sex:		Born:

    Biography:   When 2nd wife Catherine settled the estate, she mentioned "older" and "younger" children. The "older" children are presumed to be the those listed above.
 
William was a yeoman like his father, of Newton, NJ. He appears on the 1780 & 1781 tax rolls at Hardyston in Sussex Co. NJ. The 1790 Washington Co., PA Census includes William and his family.  The family consisted of 3 males over age 16 and 2 females.  In 1802, he was in Prairie Charles Twp, New Madrid, Louisiana Territory. (Source. FIRST SETTLERS OF MISSOURI TERRITORY, VOL, 2,p. 84, & 144).  Other Masters shown as First Settlers of New Madrid District are:  Abner, Lemuel, Henry, John, Robert, Jesse, Samuel, and Richard  all were Masters's. All were claiming land grants by 1811.  William died interstate in 1810 leaving his wife, Catherine, & several "school children" plus older children (none named).  Catherine paid the school master's bill, funeral bills, etc.  She soon married mr. Hobbs and paid some bills as Catherine Hobbs.  William's estate.  Catherine Masters was appointed as admnistratrix.  She, Richard Masters, and Thomas Willburn were held accountable for the estate by Michael Amouroux, Judge of Probate-20 Feb. 1810.  WAYWANDA LAND PATENTS.  Queen Ann gave land patents to citizens in 1703.  Fourteen men recieved the Waywanda Patent.  The Waywanda Land Patent area included portions of current Sussex Co., NJ and Orange Co. NY.  A Mr. Rokeby recieved one of the land patents that was located in both states/counties.  Boundary lines were poorly defined. Property boundaries overlapped and people engaged in "border wars". Even the Quakers, a peace loving religious group, became involved in the "border wars". Property Boundaris of the Wauwanda Lands were so poorly defined, 210,000 acres were claimed by both New York and New Jersey. William owned some of the Waywanda Land that had been patented and was located in the disputed area.  2 of his sons William JR and Richard, returned to NJ from Pennsylvania in 1792 to resolve the boudary disputes and sell his land. Richard and his brother, Benjamin, moved to Gurensey Co. , OH in 1802.  William Jr. remained in NJ until 1805, and then, he too, moved to Gurensey Co.  This gives one an idea of the complications involved in getting deeds to the property and selling the land.
    Credits & Sources:  
William's Rev. War Pension file;  HISTORY OF SUSSEX & WARREN COUNTIES, NJ; by James P. Snell, 1881.-- Book " FOOTPRINTS WEST " copyright 1990 researched  by Doyle Fenn, 9510 Twin Oaks, Manvel, TX  77578, Printed by Family History Publishers, 845 South Main, Bountiful, Utah  84010
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