A Place That Matters

      

           Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.  Why?  It’s a historical place in our country’s history – a part of the American Revolution.  How does it relate to our family history?  My husband’s ancestors owned Pawling Farm along the Schuylkill River and Perkiomen Creek.  It played a critical role in the winter encampment in 1777-78 by serving as a commissary for the troops.[1] 

We did a road trip last year that took us to Valley Forge. 

While driving, we went through an intersection that was named “Pawling Road”.  I recognized the name as being one of my son’s ancestors.  That’s when he did a Google search and learned some information about Pawling Farm.  The Farm was originally purchased by Henry Pawling in 1719 from Edward Farmer.  It remained in the Pawling family until it was sold to Samuel Wetherill Jr in 1826.[2]  It became part of the National Park Service in 1984.

So, which Henry Pawling was this?  Still working on untying the knots.  We have immigrant Henry who had a son named Henry and had two grandsons named Henry.  The next generation had three Henrys.  So that’s at least four generations.  Are there any beyond that?  Haven’t completed my research.  To get back to our immigrant, here is a brief synopsis that makes me believe it is son, Henry:

Immigrant Ancestor Henry Pawling was born circa 1650 in Padbury, Buckinghamshire, England and died 30^th October 1692 in Marbletown, Ulster, New York.  He married Neeltje Roosa, daughter of Albert Heymans Roosa & Wynte Ariens, on 3^rd Nov 1676 in Kingston, Ulster, NY.  They had eight children, all born in Marbletown, Ulster, New York:

·      Wyntie Pawling, born 1679.  Married Richard Brodhead in 1698.

·      Jane Pawling, born 1680.  Married Jan Cock in 1706.

·      John Pawling, born 1681.  Married Aagje DeWitt in 1712.  (This is my husband’s 7^th great grandfather).  Died 1733 in Perkiomen, Philadelphia Co, PA.  John & Aagje had seven children – only 3 were sons (Henry – b 1713, John – b 1717, & Joseph – b 1722 in Perkiomen).

·      James Pawling, born 1683 and died c1691.

·      Albert Pawling, born 1685.  Married Catherine Beekman in 1726.  He died in 1745.

·      Anna Pawling, born 1687.  Married Tjerck DeWitt, brother of Aagje who married John.

·      Henry Pawling Jr, born c1689, died 1739 in Lower Providence Twp, Philadelphia Co, PA.  Married Jacomyntie Kunst in 1714.

·      Mary Pawling, born 1692.  Married Thomas Van Keunen.

So, based on immigrant Henry’s birth and death information, he was not the Pawling that acquired the farm near Valley Forge.  However, he did have a grant of land in Philadelphia County, PA.  This makes me believe that Henry Jr could easily be the person that purchased the land.  I have a conflict of information that says Henry purchased land and brother, John, acquired the land grant.  Another source says the reverse.  In either case, he’s the only Henry that would be of legal age to acquire the land in 1719.

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[1] https://ruralpennsylvanian.com/the-historic-pawling-farm/ accessed 16 July 16, 2025

[2] https://austinsar.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/The-Pawling-Farm-at-Valley-Forge.pdf accessed 16 July 16, 2025