8. | Daniel F. Ashcraft, Sr. was born on 14 Aug 1698 in Stonington Township, New London, Connecticut, British Colonial America (son of John Ashcraft and Mary Burrows); died on 9 Oct 1755 in Berkeley County, Virginia, United States. Notes:
Daniel and Elizabeth were living in Buck Co., Pensylvania by 1728. He lived in Frederick, Maryland until 1750. Daniel was killed by Indians in 1766 at then Sleepy Creek, Berkley Co., Virginia (WVA).
There is speculation that Daniel was born about 1706 and came from Lancashire, England.
"In June of 1720 h e was in jail accused of killing an Indian, son of Wampaneag. Joshua Hempste ad noted in his diary that he had been on the "jury of inquest upon the body of the Indian which died last night of the wound he received from Daniel Ashc raft on Thursday last on his forehead with a stone." Daniel was tried in Sep tember. An Indian squaw testified at the trial that she saw Wampaneag's so n load a pistol and threaten to kill
Ashcraft. (This squaw was later whipped by the Indians for informing.)
Shortly after this, Daniel left Conn. In one genealogical account, Daniel went to sea and never returned to Groton. Ind eed there is no further record of him in Conn. In 1726 Daniel was in Wrights town
requesting a land transaction. No evidence exists that he collected a 2 0 pound inheritance from his father in 1732."
"On the 10th of May, 1732 Dani el was in Wrightstown ( in Bucks County, PA near the Delaware River) selling 220 acres of land to William Allen for 200 pounds lawful money of Pennsylvani a. This act would indicate that
Daniel had been here for several years. Aga in on 14 June 1734 he sold another 120 acres for 160 pounds to William Allen of Philadelphia. This tract was described as containing houses, barns, build ings, gardens,
orchards on Neshaminy Creek adjoining Richard Mitchell and Jonathan Cooper. This attractive sounding piece of land was south of Wrightstow n close to the present day Philadelphia. Again on 24 October 1737 Daniel
A shcraft granted to James Dean 120 acres of land in Wrightstown - this land ha d been purchased from Dennis and Peter Purcell. James Dean sold this same la nd 26 Feb 1742/3 to Ichabod Wilkerson."
"Daniel witnessed a will of Mary Straw hen of Bethlehem in County of Hunterdon, New Jersey, 7 January 1738, proved 1 0 Septmeber 1740. Dennis Purcell was Mary's son-in-law."
"Family tradition dictates the Daniel married Elizabeth Lewis, circa 1723, but no evidence of t his marraige has been found, although there is ample proof that he was marrie d to an "Elizabeth"."
"We next find evidence of Daniel and his family in the S leepy Creek area of what is now West Virginia. Although this section of the country was not open to settlement until the early 50's, we find some of the Lewis family (i.e. David and Henry) here as early as 1753 and 1756."
"Daniel 's last land transaction took place in 1755 and between then and 9 October of that year he was killed by Indians. The encounter that he had with the Indi ans was documented by the newspaper."
"The "Maryland Gazette" of Thursday 9 Oc tober 1755 reports, "Daniel Ashloff (sic) who lived near Town Creek, a few mi les this side of Col. (Thomas) Dresap"s, says that he and his father and othe rs were attacked
by Indians, who killed all but Daniel. Mr Stoddert wanted t o go in pursuit but the others would not. He has applied to Major Prather fo r a detachment of militia. Less than a year later "The Maryland Gazette"
r eports the death of more family members. "A letter from Col. Cresap mentions Indians killing Abraham Johnson, Jacob Ashcraft (Mary Johnson's husband), an d James Lowry, a peddlar, Daniel Ashcraft was missing."
"In 1766, Ephraim and Felix Ashcraft claimed the Sleepy Creek property,as heirs of the widow Ashcr aft. Descriptions of this land indicate that not only Ephraim and Felix live d on the Sleepy Crkk propery but John and
Ichabod as well and within a mile o f each other. The men believed to be the sons of Daniel maintain close relat ionships throughout their lives."
"Because there is a great deal of evidence t o suggest that Daniel had 8 sons (as well as three daughters).
Daniel married Elizabeth Lewis about 1723 in New Jersey or Pennsylvania, United States. Elizabeth was born in 1702; died before 1791. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]
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