He married Mary Calvert about 1705, possibly the daughter of John Calvert, born 1648 near Belfast, and Judith Stamper.
Their children were:
John and Mary probably emigrated from the British Isles about 1715, and settled on Gunpowder River, near Joppa, Baltimore County, Maryland, on an estate belonging to the Calverts which was called "Gunpowder Manor," possibly heired by Mary and her father. John and Mary lived there almost thirty years and raised their family of eight children and, because of their long residence here, the place gradually became known as Chenoweth Manor.
He was identified as a gentleman, blacksmith and surveyor.
"John was a skilled blacksmith, and to us that term today would mean he was a manufacturer, for in those days every article used that was made of iron was made in the blacksmith shops: farming implements, plows, wagons, harrows, etc., axes, hammers, shovels, spades, etc., all kinds of chains, and even the nails were made at the shops and sold at 25 cents per 100. Many men worked at the shops and there were always apprentice boys learning the trade. Such was the life of John and his sons, while the farming was done mostly by the negro slaves.
"John always appeared as a man of means, and after his children were married, and the grandchildren began to fill the Old Manor house, it was decided that the different families must have homes of their own. So it was arranged that his eldest son, whose name was also John, and his two youngest sons, William and Thomas, should go to Virginia, where it seemed a good place to locate.
"Here is where the division of the family came, and a century later tradition said there were three brothers, who came from Wales and settled in Virginia, while another version was that John Chinoweth and his two sons, Arthur and Richard, had come and settled in Maryland. These traditional stories were not cleared up until a few years ago, when a synopsis of the will of John was secured, which gave the names of all his children. It was given thus: In Frederick County, Virginia, on April 11, 1746, John Chinoweth, blacksmith, made his will, probated May 6, 1746. Witnesses were Joseph Stanley, Mary Stanley and William Jolliffe. He mentions wife (not by name), children, John (eldest), Richard, Arthur, William, Thomas, Mary Watson, Hannah Carter, and Ruth Petitt; grandson, John Watson, Jr.; son-in-law John Petitt. Son, Thomas Chinoweth, and James Carter were appointed executors.
"From this will it is shown that he must have been visiting his sons in Virginia, for there are no land grants, patents, or deeds showing that he ever purchased any land there, while the grants, patents and deeds do show the land possessions belonging to the sons in Virginia, also, of the two sons who remained in Maryland.
"John died leaving his family well provided for."
John CHINOWETH was born about 1706, the eldest son of John Chinoweth and Mary Calvert. Records following his birth seem consistently to use the name Chennerworth.
As John Chennerworth, he married Mary Smith at St. George's Parish, Baltimore County, Maryland on 26 November 1730.
Their children, as Chennerworth, were:
He was a farmer and lived at Chenoweth Manor, on Gunpowder River, near Joppa which was then the County Seat. When the large Manors began began gradually to break up, as each head of a family wished a plantation of his own, John decided to try Virginia. The next record of the family was in Frederick County, Virginia where his brother William secured the first land in 1752, apparently John's brother Thomas also secured land, and land grant records then show John's land: John Chenoweth, 248 acres of land in Frederick County, dated November 3, 1762. Book E. 268. (signed) Fairfax--Governor. John Chenowith, 314 acres in Frederick County, dated October 5, 1764. Book M. 309. Fairfax--Governor.
On this land he reared his family, and the last record we have is his will, as follows:
"John Chenowith made will in Frederick County, Virginia, on November 3, 1770, probated March 5, 1771. Witnesses were John Salsbery, William Salsbery and M. Morgan. He mentions wife, Mary, who is appointed executrix, eldest sons, William and John, who receive land in Hampshire County, on the Cacapon; sons Absolom, Thomas and Richard, who receive land on which the testator lives; son Abraham (probably an error for Absolom, as he is not heard of again); son Arthur; daughters Elizabeth, Mary and Rachel; son-in-law James Stuart; granddaughter Mary Chenoweth, daughter of eldest son, William, whose legacy is conditioned on her remaining with her grandmother until she becomes of age. Son, Richard, is to receive testator's smith's tools."
Arthur CHINOWETH was born in 1716 near Joppa, the son of John Chinoweth and Mary Calvert. "It is claimed by some that he was the first Chenoweth born in America, but of that we have no record. This date was recorded in an old Bible, the property of his son Samuel...
"Arthur was married about 1738 to a lady who, Nimrod [H. Chenoweth of Dayton, Ohio, reported in 1892] says: 'Her maiden name was Sapphira,' but the will and St. Thomas' records gives it 'Safira;' ... however the dates of this early period are very hard to find. (From another source it appears to be Sapphira Hooker.)
"St. Thomas' Parish was built in 1743 and was located some distance above Pikesville on the old pike. It was first known as a 'chapel of ease for the forest inhabitants.' In 1745 Lord Baltimore made Thomas Cradock the first rector. In 1755, after the defeat of Braddock at Pittsburgh, large parties of Indians passed near St. Thomas' Parish plundering and murdering. The men of the congregation carried their guns to church with them. Arthur Chinworth was vestryman off and on from 1749-60 at this Parish, and it is here that his children's births are recorded.
"... You have already heard much of Joppa, the ancient county seat. Now that Baltimore Town began to make a little stir on the Patapsco, it was decided to change the county seat to this bustling place, so in 1767 a brick courthouse was build near Jones' Falls, on Calvert street. Just as once every road led to Joppa, so now everyone traveled to the new county seat to transact business affairs. Arthur Chinworth was the first receiver of taxes in this new courthouse. The Revolutionary War gave Baltimore Town a start, and from that time it became the town of promise.
"... The first land records we have belonging to Arthur are in 1741, about the time of the breaking up of the Chenoweth Manor, is the Patent 'Arthur's Lot,' forty-three acres, and in 1747, 'Arthur's Addition' one hundred acres, also in 1747, 'Arthur's Addition' two hundred and forty acres; in 1769 Arthur Chinworth from D. L. L. one acre, and his land grants are as follows: 1757, Arthur Chinworth from Samuel Hooker--Conveyance--part William's resurvey one hundred and twenty-five acres Liber B. B., Number I, Folio 666--1763, Arthur Chinworth from Charles Ridgely--Conveyance--Matthew's Forest fifty acres Liber B. Number L., Folio 306--1763, Arthur Chinworth from Bozaleel and Elijah Owings--Conveyance Gilead, one hundred and fifty acres, Liber B. Number L, Folio 409--1769, 'Huckleberry Hill,' one acre--1770, Arthur Chinworth to Arthur C. Junior, three acres.
"Arthur Chinworth of Baltimore County made will 4 December 1800, probated 7 April 1802. He mentions sons, Richard, Samuel, Thomas; daughter Ruth Butler; granddaughter, Elizabeth, daughter of Richard. Son Richard is appointed executor. As he had given his other children most of his estate during his life, personal property only remained, consisting of slaves."
Their children, apparently all born at St. Thomas, Baltimore County, Maryland, were:
William CHENNERWORTH was born at St. George's Parish, Baltimore County, Maryland on 8 January 1732, the son of John Chinoweth and Mary Smith [also IGI].
He first married Ruth Calvert "from the House of the Baltimores of Maryland" in 1754 at Hampshire, Frederick County, Virginia.
Their children (who were all recorded as Chenoweth) were:
After the death of Ruth, he married Jane ?, in Frederick County [IGI].
Their child was:
His will was probated in Frederick County, Virginia in 1772. "He mentions wife Jane, sons John, Jonathan and William, and daughter Mary. He refers to Mary's deceased mother, so we know Jane is not his first wife and from other sources we learn that Ruth Calvert, his first wife, had the four children."
Arthur CHENOWETH (Jr.) was born 31 March 1740, the son of Arthur Chinoweth and Sapphira (or Safira) Hooker.
He married Elspa Lawrence in 1773.
Their children (all born as Chenoweth) were:
Arthur's "war record is with his brother John's and is as follows: The Maryland line dates from 16 September 1776 to the end of the war. In the Muster Roll of Maryland Troops Volume 1, the following names appear: John Chinworth, Sergeant. Discharged 1 July 1779; Arthur Chinworth, Corporal. Discharged 1 July 1779. They were in Rawling's Regiment. This Regiment was formed by resolves of Continental Congress 23 January 1779. The were ordered to repair to Fort Pratt." "The land grants and deeds show Arthur to have the following tracts of land: 1810 Chenoweth Enlargement, one hundred and seventy-two and one-half acres. 1770 Arthur to Arthur Jr., three acres. 1790 Arthur to John Sutton, ninety and one-half acres. 1783 "Arthur's Folly" twenty acres. 1797 Arthur from Henry Silson. 1770 Arthur Jr., from Arthur Sr., sixty-five acres. 1778 Arthur Jr., from Arthur Sr., part of 'Gilliad' seventy-six acres." He died at . The above information was reported by Mrs. Hiatt as coming from the Bible owned by Arthur, then by his son John, then by John's son Louis R.
William CHENOWETH was born on 10 June 1760 in Frederick County, Virginia, the son of William Chennerworth and Ruth Calvert.
He served in the Revolutionary War, reaching the rank of Major, and appeared on Pottenger's Creek in Kentucky in August or September 1779.
1780. He entered land in Nelson County for services as a permit for land to Major William Chenoweth, issued by Patrick Henry, Governor of Virginia, by virtue of a land office treasury warrant, number 5080, issued on the 22nd day of May 1780. "There is granted by said Commonwealth unto William Chenoweth, who ---- of John Ray, who was of Samuel Meade, a tract of land containing 600 acres--survey dated May 15, 1784, in Jefferson County, Virginia." Grant Book 5, page 327.
On March 5, 1781, in Jefferson County, Kentucky, he was appointed administrator of the estate of David Henton, who drowned in the Ohio River at the time of the Van Meter migration to Kentucky.
In October 1781 at Hardin, Nelson County, Kentucky, he married the widow, Mary Van Meter Henton, who was the daughter of Jacob Van Meter. (Mary was born 11 February 1757 and died 29 June 1832.) Their children were:
"The Chenoweth children, like their parents before them, appear to have been restless, with a desire to 'move on,' a trait found in many of the pioneers, searching for a place to 'put down roots.' ...two of them went to Texas and died there. Three joined the emigrations to early-day Illinois: Abraham, Jacob Van Meter and James Hackley, who settled in Pike County in that state. In that area they joined with others from the Severns Valley section of Kentucky, members of the Vertrees, Haycraft, Hobbs and other related families, whose parents and grandparents had been among those who had, a half-century earlier, brought civilization to the future Hardin County. There was much inter-marrying among those early families, which continued in later generations."
William died on 16 April 1828 at his home in Nelson County, Kentucky, near Dateville and about ten miles from Barstown, the county seat. He was buried at Wilson Creek Baptist Church, built on land which he gave for church and which was organized in 1801. The graves of William and Mary are well preserved and marked with stones.
Their home is also standing, a large stone house and the spring where they kept milk, is arched over with stones and in good condition.
Abraham CHENOWETH was born on 27 December 1785 in Nelson County, Kentucky, the son of William Chenoweth and Mary Van Meter.
He passed his childhood and youth in Nelson County. He was a skilled mechanic and tanner.
He married his second cousin once removed, Rachel Chenoweth, daughter of Arthur Chenoweth and Elspa Lawrence.
Their children, the first five born at Nelson County, Kentucky and the last four at Columbus, Indiana, were:
After the birth of five children they removed to Indiana in 1820, remaining in Johnson County two years, and from there to Columbus, Indiana, where he established a tannery and in the fall of 1832 removed to Clinton, Indiana, and 1836 came with his family to Illinois, settling in Perry Township, Pike County, Illinois.
Abraham died on 10 April 1861 and Rachel on 29 December 1864, both at Perry, Illinois where they were buried.
Rachel CHENOWETH was born on 30 December 1789 at Nelson County, Kentucky, the daughter of Arthur Chenoweth and Elspa Lawrence.
She married her second cousin once removed, Abraham Chenoweth, at Nelson County, Kentucky on 25 March 1812.
After the birth of five children they removed to Indiana in 1820, remaining in Johnson County two years, and from there to Columbus, Indiana, where he established a tannery and in the fall of 1832 removed to Clinton, Indiana, and 1836 came with his family to Illinois, settling in Perry Township, Pike County, Illinois. Abraham died on 10 April 1861 and Rachel on 29 December 1864, both at Perry, Illinois where they were buried.
William CHENOWETH was born on 24 August 1814 at Nelson County, Kentucky, the son of Abraham Chenoweth and Rachel Chenoweth.
He married Sarah Shoemaker on 15 May 1834 in Clinton County, Indiana.
Their children were:
"He was one of the Forty-Niners who left Perry, Pike County, Illinois, in a wagon-train for the California gold fields in the late spring of 1849. He died on 25 July 1849 and was buried near the Great Salt Lake in Utah.
His children were all minors at the time of his death. Milton Hay, then a Pittsfield attorney, uncle of John Hay, the noted diplomat, was appointed in the Pike county court as their guardian.
Later, in 1856, the children's uncle, Miles B. Chenoweth, became their guardian. David Johnston, Milton Cheek and Edwin C. Hutchinson were the court-appointed appraisers of William Chenoweth's Pike county estate following his death on the plains."
Abraham Van Meter CHENOWETH was born 2 September 1835, the son of William Chenoweth and Sarah Shoemaker (the census reports his name as Abe Chenoweth and the marriage record gives A. V. Chenoweth) [CENS, IGI].
He married Martha Jane Dickinson.
Their children were:
Apparently a widower or divorced, he married Sarah J. Jenkins in Linn County, Missouri on 29 March 1866 [IGI].
Their children, all born in Lynn County, Missouri, were:
Abe was a farmer and Sarah a housekeeper in 1880 in Benton, Linn County, Missouri.
He died on 12 July 1905 at Purdin, Linn County, MO.
Mary Magdalene CHENOWETH was born 15 May 1867 at Purdin, Linn County, Missouri, the daughter of Abraham Van Meter Chenoweth and Sarah J. Jenkins [CENS-1880 Federal].
She married Agron Valerian McQuown on 4 December 1887 at Purdin, Linn County, MO.
They divorced prior to 1906.
She married (2nd) Silas A. Bale (born 26 June 1871) on 19 December 1907. They had no children.They resided in Brookfield, Linn County.
She died on 8 July 1936, probably in Linn County.