Oswin Musgrave

Oswin Musgrave was born in Cumberland, England, about 1640. He was the son of a John or James Musgrave of Cumberland. In 1665, he is found in Ireland, where he married Elizabeth (unk). Elizabeth was born in Belfast, Ireland. Oswin died in Pennsylvania prior to 1687.

Records of the time are scarce and mostly lost due to the high incidence of fire, so we do not yet know the specifics of how he got from England to Ireland, and then on to Pennsylvania. One theory put forth was that the family had come to northern Ireland improverished, having being proscribed after the English Civil War for their royalist loyalties. An 'Ossman Moosgrave' paid one hearth tax in 1664, County ofArmagh,Ballynegirne, Oneilland West,Ireland. Source: Hearth Money Roll,Co. Armagh,1664, p.47. This meant that he had one hearth in his home.

One prevalent theory is that sons John and Moses, having made their way in Pennsylvania, paid for the transportation of rest of the family from Ireland to Pennsylvania. We do know that Oswin Musgrave was in Pennsylvania by 1681, for he owned land at that time. Also, in 1683, he purchased 100 acres of land there.

The Pennsylvania Archives Map dated1681for Chester PA -- This map shows three creeks emptying into Delaware River. The Oswin Musgrave farm is shown on Ridley creek between Wm. Edwards and Burroughs properties in what was labeled "middle township" above Chester. In 1689, the county of Chester shows Oswin with 100 acres for taxing.

His wife Elizabeth is listed in the early records several times --

• She was also asked to give consent to marriage of Moses in 1697 according to the Quaker records.
• in 1687 on Holmes' Map as living on a specific piece of land;
• Chester court records in 1691 indicate she sold land;
• again in 1687, the Chester County court records as being on a jury;
• and on the first month of 1697/98 ( that is the way it is written) she appeared in court again on charges of selling with no liscense liquors in small measures.

It is thought that Oswin and his wife, Elizabeth were buried on their farm in Chester County, Pennsylvania. The farm they owned has since been lost to time and no search of the land has found any graves on the land. It is concluded that they both are buried there, since a search of all other local cemeteries have no record of them being buried elsewhere. Elizabeth and Oswin were Quakers and their religious practices at that time prohibited marking graves. (It was a vanity as G-d knew where you were.) So we must say she died "sometime after 1697. Interestingly, Quakerism in Ireland was promoted by William Edmundson (1627-1712) who was born at Little Musgrave, England.

Children of Oswin Musgrave and wife Elizabeth:

• Moses Musgrave - born 1667 in Ireland and died 1726 in Chester, Pennsylvania
• John Musgrave - first of this line to come to America -- born in 1669 in Ireland and emigrated to America as an indentured servant 1682. After his service was completed, he settled in Sadbury, Pennsylvania.
• Thomas Musgrave - died in Darby, Pennsylvania
• Abraham Musgrave - died in Darby, Pennsylvania
• Aaron Musgrave

Links to additional material:

• http://www.musgravia.4t.com/Musgrave/oswin.htm
• http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GScid=2253780&GRid...
• http://boards.ancestry.com/surnames.musgrave/1.21.198.1/mb.ashx
• http://myweb.cableone.net/mpbeall/MUSGRAVE-ROBINSON