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George Slough ( 1738 - 1811) m. Ann Gibson m. Catharine Gee/Gieg George, the eldest of Philip and Anna's six children, is thought to have been born about 1738. The evidence for this is the known date of the parental marriage (1737) and by dated events in George's early life. He was the only child of age in 1759 when his widowed mother was planning to remarry and had petitioned the Orphans Court for guardians for her younger children. These were troubled years for the family. Their mother, Anna Hertzel Slough had remarried a widower, Philip Gross. There ensued a lasting antagonism between the Slough children and the new stepfather, even though the two families had been close before Philip's death. Philip moved in and assumed control of the Slough farm. The younger Slough children were put out to guardians whereas his own children lived with him and Anna. The bitter family estrangement never diminished, even after his death since his will passed the Slough homestead on to his own children. In 1769, a younger brother, Jacob Slough petitioned the court for division of their father's estate. It is a matter of record that George did not participate in this event. The genealogy cited above states that George had "probably died" since there was no further record. One may speculate that George's way of handling the family problem was simply to move out, since he was of age. In any event, by then George was in his 30's, married a second time, had started a family and was farming in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. George Schlauch married, first, Ann Gibson. There is little information on this marriage. Ann died young, and they evidently had no children. George married, second, Catharina Gigh (Gee) of Philadelphia ? in 1764. The marriage is documented [3] as follows: Marriage of George Schlauch of Caernarvon Township and Catharina Gigh, daughter of Adam Gig of Brecknock Twp. on 28 August 1764. (Source for Footnote (3): Records of Pastoral Acts, Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, New Holland, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.) The Slough and Gee families (with variant spelling of both names) seem to have been close, since other references in the same church record appear over these years: Joh. George Schlauch and Maria Catharina Giegin witnesses for the baptism of Maria Catharina Gieg born 4 Apr 1762, of Hieronimus and Rosina Gieg. Marriage of Barbara Schlauch, daughter of Michael, of Brecknock Township, to Johannes Geigle [not a member of the Gieg family] widower of Caernarvon Twp. on 9 Nov 1761. Marriage of Michael Gieg, son of Adam of Brecknock Twp. to Anna Rosina Rettig, daughter of Jacob, on 9 March 1762. Also supporting the notion that George was a son of Philip, consider the common practice of the time of naming children after their paternal aunts and uncles. Of George's eleven children, five given names are repeated from his own brothers and sisters, Rosina, Mary, Catharine, Jacob, and Johann. George settled first in the vicinity of Norristown. He was a successful farmer and eventually accumulated over three hundred acres of prime land in Lancaster County in the German Valley. In 1788, George sold the farm and moved to Canada. It is hard to imagine what motivated him to do this. [Note: There are indications as a result of early research that a brother of George's was a "loyalist", British sympathizer, before and during the Revolutionary War. Near the end of the war, and in the years following, the British government provided land grants in Canada for many of these families since life in America for those branded as loyalists was not at all easy. It could be a reason why George and his family moved to Canada.] Canada, after all, was the frontier, and travel through the wilderness was a terrible hardship, only to arrive at forested land. To start all over again, George was now about 50 years old with a family of ten children, four of whom were under 10 years old! One would think his thoughts of pioneering adventure were by now left behind. It must have been the irresistible attraction of land. These were the years following the war when the Crown was struggling to cope with tens of thousands of refugees and displaced soldiers in Canada. There was plenty of new land to settle them on, but few knew even the basics of survival and self-support through farming. Canadian envoys were sent to recruit successful farmers to help with the problem in exchange for generous grants of land. George must have been one who accepted the invitation of King George III of England to migrate to Canada. In an affidavit dated 22 March 1797, made by his daughter, Elizabeth Slough Bessey petitioning for land in her own name, she states that her father, George Slough immigrated to Canada in 1789, placing him among the earliest of the settlers to do so. George's formal petitions for land were dated 1797, but he and his sons were clearing land in Pelham in 1793. The Crown Grants were confirmed in 1802. George subsequently acquired through grants and purchase extensive land, eventually totaling about one thousand acres. Johan George Slough died in Pelham Township, Lincoln County, Ontario in 1811. He left a considerable estate which was divided among his wife and children. His will gave the home farm to his second son, John George, provided that he would provide for his mother, unless she wished to live with any of her other children. The farm was identified as Lots 2 and 3 in the Fifth Concession of Pelham Township. The will names his ten other children, granting each of them thirty-six Pounds eleven Shillings New York Currency, less any amounts he had previously advanced to them. The Last Will and Testament of George Slough (from the files of John Burt on Slough, in possession of Brian Slough): I, George Slough, of the Township of Pelham, County of Lincoln, yeoman, being weak of body, but of sound mind and memory calling to mind the mortality of that body do constitute and ordain this my last will and testament, first my just debts and funeral charges to paid. I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Catherine all the said maintenance that was agreed between me and my son George when he took my farm off my hands the twenty-fifth day of March in the year of our Lord one-thousand eight hundred and nine, likewise ten pounds New York currency to be paid to her immediately after my decease and she may at any time after my decease go and reside with any of her children still receiving the before mentioned maintenance from her son George, likewise any of my property on the farm where I now live she may receive for her own use during her life. I give and devise to my son George the farm whereon I now live, it being composed of Lots No. 2 and 3 in the fifth Concession of Pelham to him his Heirs and Assigns forever, he complying with aforesaid agreement (that is to say) to maintain his mother during her natural life, and paying to each of my children thirty-six pounds, eleven shillings New York currency as soon as he conveniently can after my decease. I give and bequeath to my son Michael the sum of thirty-six pounds 6 shillings New York by deducting therefrom two pounds five shillings New York by I give and bequeath a like sum of thirty-six pounds eleven shillings New York to my daughter Rosina. I give and bequeath a like sum of thirty-six pounds and eleven shillings NYCY to my daughter Elizabeth, deducting therefrom Nine pounds NYCY. I give and bequeath a like sum of thirty-six pounds eleven shillings NY CY to my daughter Mary, I give and bequeath a like sum of thirty-six pounds eleven shillings NYCY to my daughter Barbara deducting therefrom the sum of four pounds NYCY. I give and bequeath a like sum of thirty-six pounds eleven shillings NYCY to my daughter Phoebe deducting therefrom eight pounds five shillings currency forth said. I give and bequeath a like sum of thirty-six pounds eleven shillings to my daughter Catherine deducting therefrom the sum of twenty-five pounds eight shillings NYCY. I give and bequeath a like sum of thirty-six pounds, eleven shillings NYCY to my daughter Julianna deducting therefrom the sum of twelve pounds NYCY. I give and bequeath a like sum of thirty-six pounds eleven shillings NYCY to my daughter Susannah. I bequeath a like sum of thirty-six pounds eleven shillings NYCY to my daughter Christiana, and as to the remainder of my personal estate not yet mentioned in my will I order my execute or to divide it equally amongst all my children or their heirs. I constitute and appoint my son Michael and my son-in-law Jacob TICE my joint executors to this my last will and testament, revoking all others by me made, and declaring this to be my last will and testament. In the presence of the three subscribing witnesses, this twenty-second day of November in the year off our Lord one thousand eight-hundred and eleven, Signed by George Slough and 3 witnesses. Q: Bob Keith, Rootsweb
Erika Elisabeth
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