Christopher Day, Sr.

© March 2005

Compiled by Teresa Martin Klaiber

22937 Long Branch Road, Rush, KY 41168

tklaiber@deliverancefarm.com

In correspondence to this compiler, J. Edward Day wrote, two years prior to his death, "At the time I wrote my genealogical compilation in 1959 I had not gotten back further than the Bucks County Christopher. Now I know that his parents were Christopher Day and Elizabeth Gowland, married January 30, 1677 in Easton, Yorkshire England." There is a baptism in the records of Eston for Christopher Day the son of Christopher 22 March 1689, which was be thought to be Christopher who migrates to America. However that entry is followed by the burial of Christopher son of Christopher on 8 July the same year also recorded at Eston.

Christopher Day, Sr. would only be only nine years old when the first recorded land purchase we have of a Christopher Day occurred in 1689 in the Province of Pennsylvania within Bucks County. The purchase was from Arthur Cooke for a portion of a 2000 acre survey. The History of Bucks County, Pennsylvania mentions an Arthur Day and Richard Day as landowners in Plumstead, Bucks County that J. Edward Day had not connected to the family either and warrants further research.

The first record  that we can positively identify as our ancestor, Christopher Day begins with the purchase of 50 acres of land from Clement and Thomas Dungan in Plumstead Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania in 1708. On November 6, 1714 The Pennypack Baptist Church of Philadelphia notes the baptismal record of Christopher Day and wife Martha. Several publications incorrectly reference the Church as Pennyback Baptist Church. The Dungans were also members of the church.

Pennypack Baptist Church in northeastern Philadelphia was first known as Lower Dublin Church. The Church was built in 1688 along Pennypack Creek with the elder Thomas Dungan as an early minister for a company of Welsh and Irish Baptists. Pennypack or Pennepek is a Delaware Indian word which translates to water not having a current. Membership grew including meetings in Salem and Burlington in New Jersey. 

Christopher and Martha had six known children. He appears on the 1722 tax list for Bucks County, Pennsylvania and according to J. Edward Day was a witness at a Quaker wedding on 17 March of that year. In 1730 he was appointed assessor and overseer of the poor. In 1731 he paid 21 pounds 6 shillings on his acreage.

Christopher wrote his will 1 September 1746. He left his wife Martha the mansion house, spring house, household goods, two cows, her riding horse, side saddle and warming pan. He set aside 100 perches for a burial ground. He left the orginal 50 acres where son Christopher where he was then living. Matthew received 50 acres off the opposite end of the tract. He made sure that his wife received a sum each year from Christopher as well as fire wood. The residue of this estate went to Matthew. Each of the other children were to receive five pounds. Christopher died March 6, 1748 and was buried in the cemetery about one mile from Cross Keys, Bucks County, Pennsylvania.

 

 

Children of Christopher and Martha Day

i. Matthew Day, married (1) Ann --?--; married (2) Mary Felle 08 May 1770.

ii. Joseph Day, died 1781; married Dorothy --?--.

iii. Ursula Day, died 03 April in Bucks County Pennsylvania; married Samuel Fenton.

 

iv. Abigail Day, born Abt. 1708 in Plumstead Township, Bucks County Pennyslvania; married Patrick Poe 28 November 1728 in Christ Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; born in Ulster, Ireland; died Bet. 1758 - 1759.

v. Nathaniel Day, born Abt. 1716 in Plumstead Township, Bucks County Pennsylvania; died March 1754 in Frederick County, Virginia; married Susan Wylie.

vi. Christopher Day, Jr, born Abt. 1723 in Bucks County Pennsylvania; died 1763 in Bucks County Pennsylvania; married Sarah --?--; died Bet. 1788 - 1789 in Bucks County Pennsylvania.