History - Settlers

Descendants of Thomas Vail

28. John⁴ Vail, Jr. (Samuel³, Samuel², Thomas¹), eldest son of Samuel Vail, was born April 21, 1708 in Westchester County, New York, and died May 17, 1754 in Plainfield, New Jersey. He married (1) Margaret Laing December 16, 1731 in Woodbridge, Middlesex New Jersey, daughter of John Laing and Elizabeth Shotwell. She was born December 09, 1710 in Piscataway, Middlesex New Jersey, and died Bef. 1751. He married (2) Mary Laing October 08, 1751, daughter of John Laing and Elizabeth Shotwell. She was born 1717 in Somerset, New Jersey, and died February 15, 1764.

Children of John Vail and Margaret Laing are:

Samuel⁵ Vail, born October 24, 1732; died December 08, 1753 in Plainfield, Union County New Jersey.

ii.

John Vail III, born August 29, 1734 in Plainfield, New Jersey; died January 13, 1814 in Green Brook, Somerset New Jersey.

iii.

Daniel Vail, born March 07, 1735/36; died 1823 in Basking Ridge, N. J.

iv.

Isaac Vail, born November 27, 1737 in Piscataway, Middlesex County New Jersey; died Bet. April 01 - 20, 1770 in Plainfield, Union County New Jersey.

David Vail, born June 06, 1740 in Green Brook, Somerset New Jersey; died August 07, 1823 in Plainfield, New Jersey.

vi.

Jacob Vail, born July 03, 1742; died July 08, 1823 in Westfield, Essex (now Union) Co., N. J. Dwelt at Basking Ridge, Somerset Co., N. J., and later with his nephew Dr. Israel (6) Vail near the Windmill in Westfield, Essex (now Union) Co., N. J., and there died 8 July, 1823. He is buried in the Friends' Burying Ground at Plainfield, N. J. Jacob (5) Vail never married.

vii.

Abraham Vail, born September 22, 1744 in Green Brook, Somerset New Jersey; died September 11, 1824 in Somerset, Union County New Jersey.

viii.

Benjamin Vail, born October 03, 1745; died October 05, 1820 in Essex County, New Jersey.

Children of John Vail and Mary Laing are:

Joseph⁵ Vail, born August 12, 1752 in Plainfield, Union County New Jersey; died in near Dunellen in Somerset Co., N. J. Joseph Vail and three of his seven older half-brothers, John, "the 3rd," David and Abraham, lived on adjoining farms in Somerset Co., N. J., on the westerly side of the Greenbrook road, while his four other half-brothers, Isaac, Daniel, Jacob, and Benjamin Vail owned farms at Basking Ridge, N. J., near the residence and valuable estate of Lord William Alex. Sterling.

ii.

Christiana Vail, born February 01, 1753 in Plainfield, Union County New Jersey; died Bet. February 28 - December 31, 1776. She married John Webster, Jr. February 28, 1776; born November 22, 1750.

Notes

Mary Laing:

The second wife of John (4) Jr. was Mary Laing, younger sister of his deceased wife Margaret. For this breach of the discipline of Friends they were both disowned by that religious Society the 15 December, 1751, the marriage having taken place before the 17 October, 1751. Mary (Laing) Vail made satisfactory acknowledgment of her fault to the Monthly Meeting and was restored to membership the 19 May, 1757. She was born in 1717.

WILL OF JOHN (4) VAIL, JR.

      This Will is recorded in Lieber E. 181 Trenton, N. J., 10 June, 1754.

      The following extracts are from the printed letter of Alfred Vail, under date of 21 September, 1852.

      "I, John Vail, of the Borough of Elizabeth in East New Jersey * * *

      "Item. I give and bequeath unto my well beloved wife Mary Vail her Riding Roan Mare and side saddell and all the Household Goods that she brought with her and three pounds sixteen Shillings in money at eight shillings the ounce. I also give her the sum of One hundred and fifty Pounds money at eight shillings the ounce to be paid to her in four years time after my decease. * * *

      "Item the remaining part of my moveable Estate I equally divide amongst my eight Sons, viz John Vail, Daniel Vail, Isaac Vail, David Vail, Jacob Vail, Abraham Vail, Benjamin Vail, and Joseph Vail, each one to share and Share alike. (Note; Samuel (5) Vail, the first born son, had died in August, or in December, 1753. The date of this Will is 1 May, 1754).

      "I will and direct that Plantation whereon I now live be divided into Eight lots * * * viz; all of my Lands below the mountain * * * to my four sons * * * to my eldest Son John Vail, son David Vail, son Abraham Vail, and son Joseph Vail; * * * and if wife will se good to put up a house and live upon the land that I have given to my son Joseph Vail, I give her the House and income of said House and five acres of land" for her lifetime * * * which house and land he gives Mary Vail "in full of her right of dowery and not else." * * * each of the four above named sons to have an "equal number of acres both of the lower and upper Lot abovesd." If any of these four sons "should Dye without issue lawfully begotten
under the age of twenty and one years," the share of such deceased son "I give unto the remaining or surviving Sharers or partners in my home Lands, abovesaid they to share and share alike both in the Plain and Mountain pine Lot" etc.

      "Item my Lands in Baskingridge Township I do hereby impower my Executor * * * * to divide into four equal Lots * * * each lot an equal number of acres." These four equal Lots he gives to his four sons Daniel Vail, Isaac Vail, Jacob Vail, and Benjamin Vail; and in case of their death without lawful issue (as above) such son's share is to be divided equally among the surviving sons (as above).

      "Item I will and direct that each of my eight above named sons shall pay unto my daughter Christien (sic) the sum of eight pounds money at eight shillings the ounce apiece in all sixty four pounds to be paid to her when she arrives to the age of twenty one years * * * and in case any son refuses or neglects to pay his Eight Pounds to his sister Christien, as above, the Executors are empowered to sell enough of such son's land as will pay the share of that son to his sister.

      "Item my negro fellow to wit Dick I leave to his liberty to live with any of my children or where he will.

      "Lastly I * * * appoint my trusty friends viz my brother Steven Vail and Abner Hamton to be Executors" etc.

      "In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this first day of the fifth month called May in the Year One thousand seven hundred and fifty four."
Witnesses: David Coriell.                                     (signed) JOHN VAIL.
Micaiah Dunn.
Mary (her X mark) Muller.

      This Will was proved before Tho. Bartow the 4th June, 1754,---

      Stephen Vail and Abner Hamton, the Executors, being of the people called Quakers did solemnly affirm, etc.

      Probate granted by Gov. Belcher in the usual form, dated 4 June, 1754.

29. Stephen⁴ Vail (Samuel³, Samuel², Thomas¹) was born April 10, 1710 in Westchester County, New York, and died October 17, 1777 in Green Brook, Somerset County New Jersey. He married Esther Smith Abt. January 17, 1732/33 in Plainfield, New Jersey, daughter of Benjamin Smith and Sarah Shotwell. She was born January 04, 1712/13 in Woodbridge, New Jersey, and died 1777 in Woodbridge, New Jersey. Miller and farmer, commr. of Middlesex and Somerset Co., N.J. Considered to be the "Founder" the "Ohio" class of the Vail family.

Children of Stephen Vail and Esther Smith are:

Shubell⁵ Vail, died January 30, 1770 in Plainfield, Union County New Jersey.

ii.

Esther Vail. She married James Russell in Winchester, Virginia, U.S.A..Removed to Ohio

iii.

Thomas Vail, born March 09, 1733/34 in Green Brook, Somerset New Jersey; died WFT Est. 1756-1837 in New Jersey, U.S.A..

iv.

Benjamin Vail, born June 06, 1736 in Green Brook, Somerset County New Jersey; died in New Jersey, U.S.A..

Stephen Vail, Jr., born August 23, 1738 in Plainfield, New Jersey; died September 14, 1738 in Plainfield, Union County New Jersey.

vi.

Stephen Vail, Jr., born December 19, 1739 in Green Brook, Somerset County New Jersey; died Bet. April 18 - December 25, 1808 in Lemon Township, Butler County, Ohio.

vii.

Abigail Vail, born April 14, 1742 in Green Brook, Somerset New Jersey; died Bef. 1809 in Redstone, Fayette, Pennsylvania.

viii.

Abraham Vail, born June 12, 1744 in Green Brook, Somerset County New Jersey; died Bef. January 10, 1840 in Menallen T'w'p., Fayette Co., Pennsylvania.

ix.

Sarah Vail, born June 12, 1744 in Green Brook, Somerset County New Jersey; died WFT Est. 1747-1840. She married Richard Hankerson WFT Est. 1747-17They both embarked at New York for Charleston, S. C., and were never heard from thereafter.91; born WFT Est. 1721-1756; died WFT Est. 1747-1835.

Samuel Vail, born August 23, 1754 in Greenbrook, Somerset, New Jersey, U.S.A.; died April 12, 1846 in Middletown, Butler County, Ohio, U.S.A..