Descendents of James Jordan (1760-1844)
James Jordan, son of John and Margaret Jordan, was born in Delaware. When he was still a child his family moved to Morristown New Jersey, and he lived there until, in 1777, he enlisted as a private soldier in the 2nd New Jersey Regiment of the Continental Army. His regiment was to see action at the battle of Monmouth. After being discharged in 1781, he returned to his mother’s home in Morristown where, in 1788, he married Margaret Armstrong.
Sometime later, the couple moved to Chester County, Pennsylvania where they had three children (John, Margaret, and Ephraim). And in 1801 the family moved again, this time to Plum Township (later Monroeville) in Allegheny County Pennsylvania. They settled on 180 acres in the Queen Drive area near the McCully farm; there they were to have two more children (James and Elizabeth). James Jordan is one of eight veterans of the Revolutionary War who are buried at the Cross Roads Cemetery in Monroeville.
Three of James’ grandsons: James M., Michael, and Thomas, were to serve in the Union Army in the Civil War, and after the war the Jordans continued to farm in the area.
James (1828-1889), as the eldest, inherited the family farm. After a few years he and his wife Ellen had to sell the Jordan farm. He then found work as a farm laborer, before moving to Turtle Creek, where he did various odd jobs including working at the local stone quarry.
Michael (1830-1909), had served in the 5th Regiment of the Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery, and was by profession, a blacksmith. He later moved from the area.
Thomas (1836-1908), who had served in Company K of the 7th Pennsylvania Volunteers, chose not to work the farm with James after the war, but instead hired out his shares of the farm. Later he began to work as a farm laborer, but was injured in a farm accident on the Maxwell farm. He then worked as a carpenter and ran a small truck farm. He and his wife, Josephine, eventually separated and Thomas went to live in a house in Pitcairn from which he continued to run his truck farm and dairy. Thomas was to serve as a Street Commissioner in Pitcairn in the early 1900s.
Over time the Jordans were to intermarry with many of local families including the Jaes, the Cashdollars, the Langs, and the Zimmermans. Many of the family were members of the local Crossroads Presbyterian Church, and the Bethel United Presbyterian Church of Monroeville.
________________________________________
Sources:
Notes on the Jordan Family (2007). Courtesy of Sharon Wallhausen
On the Trail of a Patriot (2006). Sharon Wallhausen
Pension Record of James Jordan, The National Archives #W8225