It had been a long and arduous journey from County
Antrim in Ireland to America for James McMasters. Nevertheless, his life in
Pennsylvania over the past fifteen years had made that seem like child’s play.
During that time, he and his wife had seven children together and buried two of
them. Finally, last year, he had lost his wife just after she delivered their
eighth baby into the world.
2 “My children need a mother,” he told his neighbors.
As a consequence, James set about the task of finding them one.
3 In the pursuit of that objective, he soon met a
remarkable young lady named Susanna Cann who lived just over the border in
nearby Delaware. Susanna was the granddaughter of the immigrant John Cann of
West Jersey. And, although she was not the prettiest girl around, she was ten
years younger than James and strong enough to shoulder the responsibilities
that he needed her to assume.
4 “James McMasters wants to marry me, Papa,” she told
her father. “I know, he asked for my permission this morning,” he replied.
“What did you tell him?” she demanded. “I told him that I would talk with you.”
5 “Well?” she asked in exasperation after several
minutes of silence. “Do you want to marry him?” he asked.
6 “He has four small children, and they will need a
great deal of care and attention,” Susanna began. “The older children can help
you with the younger ones,” he responded. “I am not sure how I feel about
taking on another woman’s children,” she confessed.
7 “You will have to settle that in your own mind, but
you should not forget that you are twenty-five years old,” he reminded her.
“What does my age have to with this?” Susanna demanded. “Do you want to have a
family of your own?” he asked. There was silence.
8 Susanna and James were married at the end of October
in 1750 at the Old Swede’s Church in Wilmington, Delaware. Although they were
from sturdy Quaker stock, both families had drifted away from that faith over
the years and were more concerned at present with life in the here and now than
in life in the hereafter.
9 “I think that we should leave the past behind us and
make a new beginning for ourselves,” James announced at the beginning of the
following year. “What do you mean?” his already pregnant wife demanded.
10 “I hear that there is good land available in
Carolina,” he told her. “Who told you that?” “George Hobson” “The wheelwright?”
“Yes, he is talking about moving his family there.” “When?” “As soon as they
are able.”
11 James, however, did not want to wait. Thus, they
loaded their belongings into a wagon and began the long trek southward. Susanna
had their first son together along the way to their new home. David was born in
the bed of the wagon.
12 When they finally reached Chatham County, James
immediately began felling trees and building a log cabin to shelter them
against the cold of the approaching winter. Over the years that followed, James
and Susanna added five more sons and welcomed the Hobsons as their neighbors.
13 In 1765, she was expecting again. “I hope that this
one is a little girl,” she told James. “I need sons to help me with this work,”
he protested. “I know,” Susanna sighed. “Don’t worry – it seems as though that
is all I can deliver!”
14 She was right. Their sixth child was another boy.
They named him Jonathan (after David’s friend in the Bible). And Susanna never
did get her daughter. Their final two children together were also boys!
15 Now these are the generations of James McMasters of
Ireland:
16 James and Susanna McMasters were the parents of
eight sons, and one of them was named Jonathan.
17 Jonathan McMasters married Hannah Hobson, and they
had a son named John.
18 John McMasters married Charity Foust, and they had
sons named William and John.
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