HomeMy WebLinkAboutnobles family history (1).pdf Gopied from Arthur Nobles ( 9/3/1989 )
Historian's copy
E A R L Y H I S T O R Y
O F T H E F A M I L Y
0 F
N O B L E S
F R O M 1 8 1 0
Assembled by J. Arthur Noble
1964
H I S T O R Y O F T H E
F A M I L Y I N P E N N
S Y L V A N I A P R I O R
T O 1 8 1 0
Assembled by J. Arthur Noble
1969
WITH OLD FAMILY ANECDOTES ,
AREA CHARACTERS AND HOUSE
LOCATIONS
EARLY HIMAY OF THr1' FA ILY OF NOBLES
John Nobles was born February 8, 1752, birthplace unknown. His wife
was Elizabeth Nobles, born June 28, 1752, birthplace and maiden name unknown.
The first Federal Census of 1790 shows John Robles to be a resident of
Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with a wife and five children. The family name
appears as "Nobles".
On June 81, 1809, John Nobles purchased of Villiam Ross, of Yilksbarre,
Pennsylvania, a tract of land in the present Town of Enfield, Tompkins County,;
New York (then part of the Town of Ulysses, Seneca County) for V1900.00. John
Nobles' address is stated in the deed as the Township of Newport, Luzern
County, Pennsylvania, which is a few miles south of the City of Y ilksbarre.
(E:)ok D of Deeds, pages 403-405, Seneca County Clerk'& office).
By this time, Johxi and Elizabeth had six children: Apphia, 29, born
in 1780; Timothy S., 27, born 1782; John, 25, born 1784; Betsy, 23, born 1786
Charles, 20, born 1789 and Squire J., 17, born 1792.
In the fall of 1809, Timothy B. and Squire J. journeyed up to Enfield
to look over the property which their father had purchased, then returned to
Newport Township to report to their father.
In the spring of 1810, John, Elizabeth and three sons, Timothy B,,
Charles and Squire J., moved up to Enfield to settle on the new property.
Apparently, none of the other children came along. No records concerning
them can be found in this area. The travelara probably cure up the Susquehanna
River to Owego Settlement, thence by newly constructed road to Ithaca and from
Ithaca to the property in Enfield on the Indian trail that than ran past the
—two_
southern boundary of the property from Ithaca to Montour Falls.
John and his sons cleared off a plot of land and built a log cabin on
a site across from the present location of the old Robles District schoolhouse
in ghat was then entirely forest land; the balance of the land was then t'radually
cleared of trees and stumps for cultivation.
On November 13, 1810, Squire J. and Charles took oath before Bkenjamin
Pelton, First Judge of the Court of Common Pleas for Seneca County, as the sub—
scribing witnesses to the deed, which was recorded in Seneca County clerk's
office on December 8, 1810.
The 400 acres purchased by John Nobles was the mayor portion of Kilitary
Lot No. ?3 in the present Town of Enfield which contained a total of something
over 600 acres. This Military Lot had been balloted to John padrick, deceased
Revolutionary War soldier who had died in that rear on May 31, 1777. Pursuant to
a resolution granting patents to deceased soldiers,, the patent to Lot No. 73, less
100 acres reserved to the State, was delivered to .Tames Abeel, for Thomas Collins,'
Administrator of John Padrick; was conveyed to James Sutton, of Exeter, Luzern
County, Pennsylvania; by him conveyed to William Ross and Putnam Catlin, both of
Wilkesbarre, Pensulvania, on December 11, 1798; by Patna Catlin to William
Ross, excepting 150 acres, more or less, on flay 6, 1806 and by Filliam Ross to
John Nobles, as before stated.
Between 1811 and 1827, John nobles disposed of the property in parcels.,
conveying 60 acres in the northeast corner to Charles in 1811; 90 acres in the
northwest corner to Timothy B. in 1813; the homestead Farm of 100 acres, on
which John resided, to Squire J6 in 1825; three smaller parcels, totaling; about
60 acres to parties outside the family at various tines during this period; and
three-
the balance of the property to Charles in 1827 about two weeks after the death
of his wife, Elizabeth.
Elizabeth Nobles died on October 31 1827, and was buried in the old
Ramsey Cemetery located about a half mile due east of the homestead. John
Nobles died on January 19, 1832, and was buried beside his wife. Their head-
stone, elaborately engraved, is still in place.
Of the children, an old bible record shows that John Jr. died on August .
1�
,14, 1814, place unknown; of Timothy B. and Charles only, the following is known
at present. The State Census of 1825 shows both Timothy B. (husband, wife,
3 daughters and 6 sons) and Charles (wife and several children) as residents of
the Town of Enfield. On June 4, 1825, Timothy B. Nobles and Joanna Nobles# his
wife, deeded 90 acres to Roger Brown who delivered to Timothy B. a mortgaged for
V50.00. A discharge of this mortgage was acknowledged by Timothy B. Nobles in
To:apkins County on November 25, 1830. Th--reafter, all local records relating to
Timothy B. Nobles ctase, County Clarke records contain deeds dated in 1811 and
1818 from Charles Nobles and Susannah Nobles, his wife. The State Census of 1830 3c
1835 show Charles to be a resident of Enfield, with a wife, 2 sons and 1 daughter.
On February 25, 1836, Charles Nobles and Lavinia, his wife (apparently a second
wife) deeded the last of his property in Lot No. 73 to Pardon Brown and this
constitutes the last record of any kind concerning Charles in Tompkins County.
Family legend states that "Grandpa (Squire J. Nobles) had two brothers who went
out west"o
When John Nobles and his family arrived in Enfield in 1810, there was
only one other family in the vicinity of the Nobles property. In 1806, James
Rumsey, a Revolutionary War soldier and carpenter, purchased about 100 acres
of land about one-half mile east of the Robles property. He cleared a small
plot of land, built a log house and moved his family into it in 1807. One of
—four—
his nine children was a daughter, Hannah Rumsey, born March 17, 1800, in Aurora,
New York; a previous home of the Rumsey family,
On November 3, 1815, Hannah Rumsey, 15 years of age, married Squire J.
Nobles, aged 23. Their first child, Anson C. Nobles, was born February 24, 1817.
About this time, Squire J. Noble.a built a house on the land later deeded to him
by his father, John, on the site now occupied by the Arthur S. Nobles homestead
It is possible that John and Elizabeth Nobles lived in this house with Squire J.
and his family in the last years of their lives. This house was removed in 1893
by Anson Nobles (a son of Arthur S. Nobles) to rake way for the present old home—
stead structure.
The children born to Squire J. Nobles and Hannah Rumsey Nobles ware2
Anson C. Nobles born February 24, 1817 died April 28, 1901
Georg® H. Nobles born March 10, 1819 died September 20, 182.1
Jane (Travis) born November 14, 1822 died Rovember 25, lE??3
John A. Nobles born January 11, 1825 Died February 26, 1875
Joshua W. Nobles Born July 1, 1827 died August 8, 1828
Charles R. Nobles born November 22, 1830 died July 9, 1891
Arthur Selkirk Nobles " December 29, 1833 died April 17, 1913
Hannah (Charles) born August 24, 1836 died July 11, 1891
Martha (Ervay) born March 24, 1839 died January 31, 1892
Mary E. (Weatherby) born April 15, 1841 died February 17, 1914
Squire J. Nobles died at home on January 12, 1.878, in his 86th yerr. His
wife, Hannah, died on March 2, 1879, in Schuyler County, New York.
Soms. of their many descendants have since been known by the name "Noble",
Assembled by J. Arthur Noble
Ithaca, N. Y.
1964
III`tTC'ZY OF TH;, FAT:ILY OF fi'.i 3L%S IN F N11SYLVANIA
PRIOR TO 1P10
A sketch of the History of the 'Evoming t'alley and Docurientary Evidence
Connecting the Nobles Family with the Area
John Nnbles was an early settler in that part of Pennsylvania along
the 3usc.uehanna River known as the t-yoming Vallev in that part of the valley
lyinc within LuzerrieCounty, and that part of the County now the Township of
Hcumort, about nine riles southwesterly from :,:ilkes-Barre.
The documentary evidence included in thi sketch was obtained during
a stay in the Area September 23-26, 1969, fro-r material gathered at the
Yyoming Historical and Geological Society and the Count }louse in Wilkes-
Farre and a trip to the Township of Newport.
The early history of this section is one of strife, bloodshed and
title disputes. The seeds of dissension were sown originally by the acts
of King Charles II who, in granting the Connecticut Charter in 1662, gave
Connecticut land with the same northern and southern boundaries as at
present but, .like many of the charters of thgt time, it extended their
domain westward to the Pacific Ocean "except any portions then possessed
or inhabited by any other Christian prince or state". This excluded the
New 'Netherlands, long occupied by the Dutch, but, excluding this, extended
westward, taking in the northern portion of Pennsylvania and continuing
wart, the w-astYnrd south line runnir4, through a point Just north of the
forks of the Susquehanna and including in its territory the Wyoming
?=alley. In 16�l, King Charles gave another charter to `• illiam Penn which
ovcrlirped the Connecticut chartar lands in Pennsylvania. Connecticut,
claiming to be the first in time, held this part of the 'enn charter to
be v;id.
In the middle of the lfith century, the people of Connecticut eyed
this area with longing. ;xploring, parties were sent out in 1750 and after
t. .c-,r arrived in the valley, they never fort of what they saw. The f:yoming
Valley was one of woodland and meadow, level plains and rollin,- plains,
1?r,e hills on either side with the Susquehanaa River wrindit�; through it.
The Delaware Indians hold the eastern side and the Shawanese the western
side, and at the foot of the Valley were the Nanticokes. This exploration
and subsequent explorations resulted in makinZ the beauty of the place
known throughout New England.
In 1753 the Connecticut people formed an association :mown as the
Susquehanna Comrany, made up of about 600 persons, -most from Connecticut,
sorre from Rhode Island and some from Massachusetts. In 1754, the Corrrany
sent agents to Albany to meet with the Six Rations and purchase the land
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and Pennsylvania vent agents, including; ,^niariin ~rankl _n, to the ;Fame
meeting to resist the rurchase. -,he :^e5j-staricc was not succcssful and
the Susquehanna Corr.pany obta;ned the .Land for 2000 rounds.
In 1762, 200 settlers and families c-ine into the valley. They
sowed and reaped their first crop. Suddenly the Indians attacked and
killed and scalped some of the settlers. �'ost of tF,e oth-rs ret.--ned
to NewEn;-
gland, some to other sett.lemicnts in Pennsylvania. The valley
:,rs vacant for six years.
In 176n, the Fern family prevailed ur_on the :-"ix Rations to
disclaim the sale to the Susquehanna Con- n7 and deed the di�--T-uted
area to the Penns.
In 1769, the Susquehanna Company sent 40 men into the valley.
Thav built a blockhouse and called it "Forty Fort" and were '"ollowed
by 200 more settlers. The Penns had nntici"Ited them and had already
established soma of their n nber in the territory. The stage was set
for the conflict between the two factions called the Fennamitc Wars.
The first phase ended in 1771. The Fenns were defeated by the Yankees
and driven out and peace prevailed in the valley for four years. Conn-
ecticut designated the valley a part of New 'Enjland, called it 1•:est-
moreland, a part of Litchfiald County, Connecticut. The Yankees then
poured into the valley. The Penn-Amite 'ar was resumed in `1775. The
Penns were defeated again and the people of 0yoning enjoyed their
valley for three years in peace during the early part of the tx:erican
7evolution.
One of the townships in the area, Newport Tormsllip, was first
settled by Ya jor Prince Alden in 1772. Prince lden wade his it move-
mant on Newport Creek and his first location kr:.s in what is now a ptirt
of Nanticoke Borough, or very close to it. His settlement was the
cause of the coming of the first settlers in what is now Nanticoke
Borough. About one-third of the Borough of Nanticoke, the south part,
has been taken from Newport To•�rn,hip. It is in this township that
John Nobles settled.
In 17TI, a large body of Tories _nler the coms:snd of Colonel
John ',3utler (called "Indian Butler"), accorr,pniecj by Indians of the
Six Nations led by Joseph Brant, the Yohawk sachem, invaded the valley.
"any of the able-bodied men of the valley were in the Continental Army.
1'any of those left were old or very young, and all were undisciplined.
They left their fort to meet the enemy but were defeated by cuparior
nurbers and most of them massacred by the Indians. This occurred on
July 3rd. The surviving defenders asser:blel at ":brty Fort" but were
obliged to surrender. The articles of surrender provided that the
inhabitants be .allowed to occupy their fam-s in peace and '3utler pro-
mised to restrain the savages. He had little control ovor them. Fe
Persuaded many to withdraw but those who remained went through the
entire valley, burned every house and barn and shot and scalpedevery
person who did not escape to the hoods. The valley %-as comr.letely
annihilated. Thus ended the Battle of ldyoming and the Wyoming Mas.-acre.
i
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kdithin two months, the settlers begin to return to harvest what
was left of their crops, but the Indians, no lon�,er an army, still
remained in bands and continued to make raids and com.:ait atrocities
which continued for years.
When the Revolution ended, Pennsylvania arpealed to the Contin-
ental Congress to settle her dispute with Connect .cut. In 17g2, Congress
anrointed a five man court for the ::urrose. The court awarded the dis-
ruted territory to Fennsylvania. The award is known as the "Decree of
Trenton". Connecticut acquiesces}. However, the decree settled only the
aua3tion of political jurisdiction and the ri;ht of the Connecticut
settlers to retain their lots anci farms was left undecided.
At this point, we first find reference to the family of Nobles.
In a publication known as"The Susquehanna Papers" (Wyoming Historical
and Geological Society) is found the following:
"Connecticut Settlers Agree-rent -- ?tie the subscribers do
hereby covenant and agree to and with each other to
,jointly petition the Assembly of the State of New York
for a tract of land situated on the waters of the Sus-
quehanna and within the limits of said State sufficient
for us, the subscribers, our families .and those who were
distressed and Drove from here by the Savages in 1778
and who do hereby arpoint Obadiah Gore our agent with
full power and authority to apply to the Governor and
Senate of said State or to the General Assembly or to
any board within said State proper to make application
for lands aforesaid and in our names and hehalf to
petition etc. accordinF to his best discretion. In
Testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands at
Westmoreland the 12th day of Pebruary, 1783."
Signed by (among many others) "JOHN NOBELLS"
"JEDIDIAH NOBELLS"
"TIN.OTHY B. NOBELLS"
(Note: (The "John Nobells" is probably the one with whom
we are concerned. The "Tinothy R. Nobells"' must be a
predecessor to TiTnothy R. Nobles, a son of John Nobles)
In 17°3 the Pennsylvania Assembly approved a plan to oust the
Connecticut settlers. They resisted. Militia action followed; thus
ensued a renewal of the Pennanite tar. The landowners were ejected,
their cattle driven off, barns burned and the Pennsylvp.nia c1^iiants
put in possession. These events were largely denounced by the people
of the state and the State Council or Censors. The Assembly was
forced to enact measures restoring the Connecticut settlers to their
-4-
lands. The old settlers were perfectly willinr- to live under the Penn-
lvania Constitution provided that their 1.-nd .:a9 secure and they did
not sympathize writh a plan of the Susouehan-na Cnmpany to set up a new
state in the Wyoming Valley.
In "The Susquehanna Paners", noted as a "list brn:nd with copies
of letters between the Pennsylvania Comnis;ions and the Claimants,
exchanged in April 1783" is the follcwing:
"A List of Wyoming -,ettlers Divided According to Political
Outlook. Exec Corr. 173-')4. A list of householders of
the different settlements at ::yo7ing who wish to support the
laws of Pennsylvania."
Signed by (among others) "JOHN r1knBLES"
"DIAH NOBLES
"JAYLES NOBLES"
In 1787, the Legislature of Pennsylvania gassed an act called
"The Confirming .Act of 1787" which provided that every Connecticut
claimant who was an actual settler before the Decree of Trenton would
have his title confirmed. The Pennsvlvania claimants were to be given
other lands of equal value in other territory of the state. The act
reouired the Connecticut people to present their claims within 8 months
and reo wired commissioners to examine the clams. The Wyoming settlers
met in grass meeting to accept or reject the act. After a stormy session,
:narked by hand to hand combat, they voted acceptance.
In the "Newport Township Records", the original being in the
possession of Wyoming Fistorical and Geological Society, is found the
follme.ring: (dated June 13, 1787)
"Newport Township - At a meeting legally warned and
had at the house of Prince Alden, Saturday, .Tune 9,
1787, made choice of Mr. Prince Alden, moderator, and
Mason F. Alden, Clerk.
"Resolved, whereas the survey of the township was
utterly lost at the distructionof this settlement,
it is, therefore, resolved that a committee of 3
persons be appointed to carefully inspect into and
ascertain the proprietors and actual settlers of
the town of Newport at or before the Decree of
Trenton"
(The c- imittee were to "Allot out of the 3rd division.
of 300 acres to each proprietor)
The persons who w.:7re residents and found fic ba entitled
to lots, as reported by the com. ittee were (Lmong others)
"JOHN NOBLES - No. of rights, 8; No. in 2nd Tier, 5 acres,
19; No. in 3rd division 150 acres, 18; No. in 2nd division
1CO acres, 44.
i '
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Prince Alden and John F. Schott were designated agents to
lay out the lots of land or to act ns surveyers and Shubert
+edlock and E'lisha Bennett were chain bearers and axnen.
(On September 15, 179C, ?•:illia;n Jackson, Isaac Bennett and
Silas Smith were arpointed to care for the pubiie lands.
John Hege:nan was arpointed to revise the town records. It
was voted that each proprietor in elections should be
entitled to cast as nn.ny votes as he had "rights".)
On April 1, 1790, the "Confin,ing Act" was repealed, declared to
deprive the Pennsylvania citizens of land unconstitutionally, and, instead,
lawsuits were provided for. For B ,years there were ;zany la;.'suits but the
Connecticut settlers continued to occupy their lams undisturbed. Only
one lawsuit was ever tried and it eventually died in the Supreme Court of
the United States.
In 1799, the General Assembly of Pennsylvania passed the "Compromise
Axt". Both the -Pennsylvania and Connecticut claimants ware to jive up
their titles to the Common:tealth; the Pennsylvanians were to be paid for
theirs in money and the Connecticut claimants who were actual settlers
and owners before the "Decree of Trenton" were to have their land back
at "2.00 per acre for the best land down to 8-113 cents for the worst.
The Connecticut settlers released their lands but the Pennsylvania Spec-
ulators would not. In 1802 another act was passed which allowed the
Commissioners to give title to the Yankees whether or not the Pennsyl-
vania speculators released their titles.
In 1{'07 another act was passed which provided that the Connecticut
claimants were not obliged to have been occupiers before the "Decree of
Trenton", and the Pennsylvania claimants could release and be paid in
money if they had acquired title any time before the "Confirming Act of
17P'7".
1745 certificates were issued to the Connecticut settlers and the
troubles of ±yoming were ended.
The following are taken from the "Newport Township Records" now
in the posses ion of the Wyoming Historical and Geological Society in
''ilkes-Barre:
February 19, 1805 - "Meeting legally warned and held at the
school on the Middle Road"
It was resolved that:
11. An article of agreement b,:! drawn to bind each and every
proprietor to abide by the corners ofr;antgomery}s erecting
when he surveyed the Township of Newrrort.
2. That three men be arrointed to bind the proprietors, their
heirs or assigns of the Township of i+ewnort that they shall
abide by the original lines and corners of said lots.
3. That Yessrs. Silas Jackson, James Stewart and John Nobles
be the three persons above arrointed.
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4. That John 'Foble_s_ be the person to take the article to the
rrorrietors rd let him or them sic.n the same if they will
of their own free will a.n(4 ?ccord."
"Article of Agreement m=.:de and concluded on, by and between the
subscribing owners and claims nts of land in the ToV^.iship of
Newport in the County of Luzarne in the State of Pennsylvania
this 25th day of February, 1P05.
:whereas there has diffic»lties arisen among the subscribers
about the different surveys made in said township and are
especially dissatisfied with the survey made under the auth-
ority of the commissioners appointed under the Act of April
4, A. D. 1799, entitled An Act Offering Compensation to the
Pennsylvania Clai,-nants and now for the settling in an amicable
manner any difficulties that might arise under the same, it
is hereby agreed by us the said subscribers, certified by our
signing and sealing this instrument of %-.Titing, that we will,
each and every one of us, our heirs and assigns, be governed
by the corners of land as fixed in said Township by William
Montgomery Jr. , surveyer to the Commissioners under the
Confirming Act so called.
And the the due r°nrformance of the above agreement we do each
of us bind ourselves, our heirs and assigns in the penal sure
of 12,000, monies of the United States.
In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands and seals
the day and year above written."
Some of the signers are: Silas Jackson 1dathan ihipple
James Stewart Martin Vandyne
John Nobles Abraham Smith Jr.
Benjamin Perry John Fairchild
Yatthew Covel Abrahan Smith
Anderson Dana James Mullen.
January 3, 1806 - "At a meeting legally warned and held at
the schoolhouse" it was resolved:
"That the interest of the public monies be appropriated to
the benefit of education.
"That six trustees be appointed to set off the township in
three ' chool Districts as they shrill think proper.
"That idilliam Jackson, Michael Hoffman, Jonathon Smith,
Conrad Line Jr., Yartin Vandyne and John Noble be appointed
as above mentioned and make report to the next meetirio`'.
-7-
The trustees re Tort is dated January 6, 1P06. The school
districts ware laid out :�s 112:orth :jistrict, South l;istrict, West
^istrict. It is signed by the trusters a;�T_ intcd irciudir; "John
Nsoble",
August 31, 1PO7. Meeting at the schoolhouse. It w,s resolved:
11mhat three men be apcointed as a co ;�ittee to go to the
Com isAoncrs and make known to them cur difficulty and after-
wards to wait on the surveyors vAnich the Commissioners shall
send to rectify any error or r,istake that has been onade in the
survey of our land.
"That John Fairc"ild, Jonathan Smith and John PI' lea be
ap7ointcd a committee for said purpose.
"That 4_13 me-ting bo adjourned until Saturday, f.eptember
5 at 4 Oc F. Mom"
"Met agreeable to ad,jourrr+ent on the 5th inst and (it was
voted) thznt this meeting be adjourned and that this meeting
be dissolved on account of a surarior number and better
inforM_ation".
The famil ly narre a ,ove is set out as it appears on the records,
once "Nobells", twice "Moble", gAnerall-v "�?obles". It may be that
the variations from "Nobles" were mistakes in the records; errors
in copying the signatures.
As previously noted in a sketch of 111-rly History of the
Fmily of Nobles", assembled in 1964, John ?bobles, wife, Elizabeth,
and sons, Timothy B., Charles r.nd Squire J. obles left the Township
of Newport in 1810 to settle in the To,m of Ulys:;es, Seneca County
(now the Town of :infield, Tompkins County), New York. Apparently,
the other children, Ar_.ghia, Betsy and John, Jr. remained since no
record of then is found in the new area.
A record concerning; Neeq-o:~t Township - "Owners of lane: tracts
nrior to 1809" states:
NORL'',S, JOHN - 57 acres and 40 T'crchcs and allowance of
6%; certified to John Nobles under the Act of 1799; re-
surveyed 20 Sept. 1502, Rk. 9, pace 71; Fntent to `-ra.
Ross 19 Feb. IP12 and recorded in Patent Book fi, Faj.e
47-Let 19, Second Tier, First Division.
hOB > , JOHN et al - 122 acres, 25 perches and allow
ance of 6%. Certified to John Nobles (-for 7/4th) and
I `
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"No Title" (for 2/9ths) under the Act of 1799. Re-surveyed
10 September 1802, Book 7 page 217 (for 7/9ths) �:nd re-
surveyed 10 September 1802, Book 7 page 223 (for 2/9ths).
Lot 14, Second Division: Patent to Solomon Dotter January
31, 1816 recorded in Patent Book H page 614.
Regarding early records of the area: 1752-1772, the territory of
Luzerne County was included in Northampton County and all the records of that
period are at the Courthouse at Easton, %ennsylvania. Records for 1772-1786
are at the Courthouse in Sunbury (in Inventory of the County Archives of
Pennsylvania, No. 48, Northampton County and in Inventory of the County
Archives of Pennsylvania, No. 49, Northumberland County.
Respecting the son of John Nobles, John Nobles, Jr., who did not
come with the family to Infield and whose death record in an old family
bible is Eiven as August 20, 1814, his grave was located in Newport
Cemetery, the oldest cemetery in Newport Township, located about one and
one-half miles from the town of Wanamie. The headstone and footstone are
in perfect condition and well engraved. On the headstone there appears
the following:
Sacred
to the
Memory of
JOHN NOBLES who was
Born July llth 1784
And was Married
October the 6th 1807
And died August
the loth 1814
and the footstone is marked "J. N." Newport Cemetery is small, vary
attractive and well kept, surrounded by a fence. Strip mining and the
resultint; tailings hava made the adjacent area on all sides extremely
dismal
A search of the office of the Register of Kills in the Court-
house ih Wilkes-Barre (Old Registers of ::'ills Index-Luzerne County-1-2)
revealed the following:
Intestates & Executors & Sureties Bond Penalty Inventory
T,�stators Administrators
NOBLES Jr. JOHN Christianna Nobles Christian August 29, 0600 20 aept.1814
William Belles Sawer It 1814
James Reeder
It is indicated that there was no will and that Christianna Nobles and
William Belles were Administrators,
f
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A further .search of the ?-gi Ater of ':ills (Docket No. 1) :avenled
another reference to the Nobles family i.r a partition proceedinf- involv-
ing the ;-;state of �ammuel Jackson. A Sheriff's return certified that an
in,uisition bss had of 12 men who found that the land in que=,tion could
not be divided wit-out prejudice and who valued the land at :�`560. Then
there appears the following: (Inquisition taken 0 CT. 24, 1801)
"Remonstrance. John Nobles of Newnort, by hie Attorney, Rosewell.
t-ellass Fsq. stating; that all concerned rk,.r notice the doings of
the '11heriff on the Lattee of ',amuel Jackson, deceased, may not
prejudice hig claim on the lands to be partitioned and Fraying
may order that this notice may he put on file. t:hich prayer
was granted by the Court".
This refers to .John Nobles the elder an:i not to John :Nobles Jr.
although the gravestone of the Latter leaves off the "Jr."
An attempt was made to search the records of births and deaths
at the Courthouse but it was found that all recor-Jo of this kind prior
to the 1?COs w.re lost in a flood.
A search at the Courthouse for deeds, mortgages and other records
involving title revealed only deed records as follows:
rlihu Avery ) Dated: September 3, 1787
to ) Recordedt Kay 8, 1790 ( -arranty)
John Nobles Jr. ) Book 5, Pare 311
"---I, Slihu Avery of New London in the County of New
London and Colony of Connecticut" (in consileration of 24
pounds) "do E-ant to JOM NTOBL S JR. of New Landon"--
1/2 right of land in the To mship of Newport in the Susqu-
ehanna purchase" Acknowledged at i,ontville, Now London Co.
November 24 1787.
Joserh Bradford et al ) Dated: Cct. 4, 1798,
to ) Recorded: Book 6, Page 329
John Nobles )
"Joseph Bradford, S, ,ruel Bradford, ------Bradford,
Penjamin Bradford, Mary Holmes, all of Yontville in New
London County, and (others), (in consideration of 50 Founds)
received of MIN MOBLai, of tho °Down of Ne4�ort, County of
Luzerne and State of Pennsylvania" conveyed "all right, title
to all the lots of lands which have been laid out to Cant.
John Bradford, deceased, in the To-,mship of Nc-::rrort in the
County of Luzern and `state of Pennsylvania".
-lc-
Ri-arding t:he first deed :,ihcrein the ,.r_ntee t.rFLars as "John
Nobles cannot refer to «he ,Tohn N'::61tAc jr. w o was `?ot n in
17`?: and dim3 it lel4, V%o would K7,rc been of an of only thref: as
of the date of the deed. It n_ rob^bly refers to his father, the orig-
inal settler in the Township, John Nobles.
Rusgpll Foot ) Dated: October
to ) Recorded: coos: 6, PAz-3 330
John Nobles )
"Ruseell Foot, of Co? cheRter,dnunty of '16'5w Lon,-'on and ^tote
of Connecticut, in considr ratlon of : 100 received of JORN
of Newport, in tho County of Luzerne and State of
Fennsylvaria" (conveye to him., his heirs and assigns)
"all estate, rizht title and int�rest smith I have or ought
to hAve to any It ndv in said "e;rort which did belong; to
nv father, Charles Foot, late of Colchester, which 1 claim
as beirtfi one of the heirs of the Estato of said Charles
Foot, deceased, and likeAise .4dmir.istrator of the Estate
of said Charles Foot, deceased, with the sz,ma E-ower of
claiming, recovery and disposini, of any land- in s=id T oim
of 2-0:,vport as I myself could do if par::ormily present%
John Nobles ) Dated: June 29, 1799
to ) Recorded: Aug. 14, 1800
Jacob Fullen ) Hook 7, P&i;e 39
"JOH11I 'It UB S, of the Township of Newport in the County of
Luzerne and State of Ponnsylvar..ia, cnd ':LIZABETH, wife of
said John" (in consideration of 50 2;o-mds)"received of
Jacob Vullen" conveys e. lot of land in Tolmohin of 2 ryhport,
to wit: Lot 44 in the Second Divisioh, contninim, 100 a.cris
more or less.
(Signed by John Nobles and Elizabeth
Nobles signed by her nark)
Heni-j Cotterer and) Dated:Cctober 23, 1813
Susannah his wife ) Recorded: Book 15, Fajre 290
to )
JOPI N4)BU;s )
Henry Potterer, of the Township of Newport, etc.
and Susannah, his wife conveys to JOW41 :K:BL-.S, of the
Township of Newport, etc., in consideration of I300.009
land in said Township being part of Lot two. 22 in the
Second Tie:, Firat Division, contalning 24 acros and
521 perches, "and being part of a tract which the Common-
wealth of Pensylvania, by Patent bearing elate Nov tuber. 13,
1812, enrolled in Rolls Office in Patent Hook H No. 7, page
610 granted to said Henry Dotterer in fee"
-11-
John Nobles ) Dnted October 22, 1P12
to ) Recorded: Augiist 3., 1815
John Nobles Jr. } Book 16, page 239
"John aloblws, of the Township of Ulysnen in the County of
S neca and State of New Fork, in consid�raticn of Z-400
paid by John Nobles Jr. of the 'io�nBhip of i.ecd ort
grants "All that tract in the Township of Newrort known
by No. 17 in the 2nd Tier of the lst Division of lands in
said Township, containing 50 acres wore or less.
Signed by "John Nobles"
"Elizabeth Nobles"
:itnessed by
Hubbard Allen (by mark)
squire J. nobles
Acknowledged in Luzern County November 2. 1812-by Hubbard
Allen, one of the witnesses.
(Whether Elizabeth Nobles actually signed her dams or the
above is a mistake and she really signed by mark,, as she
did on occasions before and after the date of this deed,is
unknown)
The above contains all the information that could be
be obtained in Luzerne County from the records that were availablet
respecting the connections of the 1141obles fadly with Pennsylvania;
or containing evidence that they originally came from Connecticut.
In one book regarding the history of Connecticut is
found the following reference:
"Meeting of the Covernor and Council in New London,
June 1% 1720----- ' he Indians being asked who they
are that intruded upon their land (named five other
persons) and "John Nobles" "
"Hearing to be after the o^enin; of the Superior
Court in New London in this month"
T,ht this hearing John Nobles declared he had shown
his title to the comet ittee and—therefore the
Indians have no reason to complain".
This could refer to an ancester of our John Nobles.
-12-
The Connacticut Census of 1790, London County, shows the
following listed under the nvae "Nobles":
Name Kills 16 it over tales under lh ." za19s inch
head of fnriiy
James NODlta#
James Nobles 2nd 1 2 4
i+illiam. 'Nobles 1 3 3
Diah Nobles* 1 2 5
Mary Nobles 1 3
Thal nAmcss "James Nobles" and "Diah Uablen" (or "Jedidiah
Nobles")arpear in the records of Luzerne County set out on pies
3 and 4 above.
Further searching will be necessary to carry the family history
back into the ConnUcticut era.
Assenbled Se fteober and October
1969 by J. Arthur Noble.
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RECOPD OF THE FA°'ILY OF PdO-,�LS3
1752 - 1969
NA.} PJRTII DATE PLACE D„ATH DATE PLACE
JOHN NOBLES Feb. 8, 1752 Jan. 19, 1"32 Enfield, N. Y.
ELIZABETH NOBLES June 28 1752 Oct. 3 1827 Enfield N. Y.
Arrhia Nobles Aug. 28, 17PO
Timothy B. Nobles Jan. 24, 17P2
John Nobles July 11, 1784 Aug., 10, 1814 Town Newport, Pa.
Betsy Nobles Apr. 4, 1786
Charles Nobles Apr. 3, 1789
SQUIRE J. NOBLES Sept.30, 1792 Town of Newrort,"a.Jan. 12, 1878 Enfield, N. Y.
,QUIRE J. NOHLLS Sept. 30, 1792 Jana 12, 1�'78 - Enfield, N. Y.
HANNAH RUVSEY NOBLES March 17, 1800 Cayuga COunty,N.Y. Ilarch 2, 1879 Schuyler CO.,N.Y.
Anson C. Nobles Feb. 24, 1817 Enfield, N. Y. April 28,1901 Enfield, N. Y.
George H. Nobles Mar. 10, 1819 Enfield, 11. Y. Sept. 20,1821 Enfield, N. Y.
Jane Nobles (Travis) Nov. 14, 1822 Enfield, N. Y. Nov. 25,1873
John A. "'obles Jan. 11, 1825 Enfield, N. Y. Feb. 26,1875 Enfield, N. Y.
Joshua I<. Nobles July 1 , 1827 Enfield, N. Y. Aug. 8, 1828 dnficld, N. Y.
Charles R. Nobles Nov. 22, 1830 Enfield, N. Y. July 9, IP91 Infield, N. Y.
ARTHUR SELKIRK NOBLES Dec. 29, 1833 infield, PI. Y. Apr. 17, 1913 -Enfield,, 14. Y.
Hannah Nobles (Charles) AuI;. 24, 1836 Enfield, Id. Y. July 11, 1891
Martha Nobles (Ervay) Mar. 24, 1f39 Enfield, N. Y. Jan, 31, 1892
Mary E. Nobles
(Weatherby) Apr. 15, 1841 Enfield, N. Y. Feb. 17, 191.4 Enfield, N. Y.
ARTHUR SELFIRK NOBLES Dec. 29, 1P33 Enfield, N. Y. Apr. 17, 1913 `nfield, 'N. Y.
SARAH A. (rRVAY)IIOBLES Dec. 4 1833 Nov. 9 1R75 Enfield N. Y.
Anson Nobles Arr. 29, 1857 Enfield, N. Y. Aor. 15, 1933 Enfield, N. Y.
Truman Nobles Jan. 8, 1859 -Enfield, N. Y. 1•11ar. 10, 1904 Ithaca, N. Y.
Juliaette Nobles July 28, 1862 Enfield, N. Y. Aug. 19, 1964 Enfield, 14. Y.
Byron Dunkirk Nobles Nov. 26, 1865 Enfield, N. Y. Dec. 4, 1944 Olean, N. Y.
JOHN ARTHUR NORLES Oct. 1, 1°75 Enfield, N. Y. Feb. 6, 1930 Ithaca, N. Y.
JOHN ARTHUR NOBLES Oct. 1, 1_^75 Enfield, N. Y. Feb. 6, 193" Ittti^c-, N. Y.
RCSE MAE (VAN BERGEN)
NOBLE Anr. 11 1p1 18 Chicago I11. Jan. 14, 1966 1th.:c,- N. Y.
.John Arthur Noble, Jr. May 20, 1909 Chicago, Ill.
JOHN AP.TIILR N09LE, JR May 20, 1909 Chicago, I11.
DOP,IS (VEIT) NOBLE Arr.24, 1918 Ithaca, N. Y.
Julie Noble Sept.21,1946 Ithaca, N. Y.
JULIE NOBLE GO"IEZ 6ept.21,194 Ithaca, N. Y.
FR.ED JOS .PH G0:'EZ Anr. 20,1945 Denver, Colo.
John Noble Gomez Nov. 6, 1969 Ithaca, N. Y.
Briar Jo. Gomez Oct.14,1972 Ithaca,2l.y.
RECORD OF THE FA:'ILY OF NO5LE3
1752 - 1969
NA.}TE PIRT{i DATE PLACE DEATH DATE PLACE
JOHN NOBLES Feb. 81 1752 Jan. 19, 1832 Enfield, N. Y.
ELIZABETH NOBLES June 28, 1752 Oct. 3, 1827 Enfield, N. Y.
Apphia Nobles Aug. 280 1780
Timothy B. Nobles Jan. 24, 1782
John Nobles July 11, 1784 Aug. 10, 1814 Town Newport, Pa,
Betsy Nobles Apr. 4, 1786
Charles Nobles Apr. 3, 1789
SQUIRE J. NOBLES Sept.30, 1792 Town of Navrort,na.Jan. 12, 1878 Enfield,_ N. Y.
`QUIRE. J. NOBLES Sept. 30.9 1792 Jan. 12, 1r,78 Lnfield, N. Y.
HA2INAH RUhSLY ;iOBLE.S r:arch 17, 1800 Cayuga County,N.Y. ISarch 2, 1879 Schuyler Co.,N.Y.
Anson C. Nobles Feb. 24, 1817 Enfield, id. Y. April 2%1901 Enfield, N. Y.
George 11. Nobles Mar. 109 1819 Enfield, N. Y. Sept. 20,1821 Enfield, N. Y.
Jane Nobles (Travis) Nov. 14, 1822 Enfield, N. Y. Nov. 25,18,73
John A. :``obles Jan. 11, 1825 Enfield, N. Y. Feb. 2601875 Enf eld, N. Y.
Joshua I%% Nobles July 1 , 1827 Enfield, N. Y. Aug. 82 1828 Lnfield, N. Y.
Charles R. Nobles Nov. 229 1830 Enfield, N. Y. July 9, 1891 Enfield, N. Y.
ARTHUR SELKIRK NOBLES Dec. 29, 1833 Enfield, 11. Y. Apr. 17, 1913 Enfield, 14. Y.
-'annah Nobles (Charles) Aug. 240 1836 Enfield, N. Y. July 112 1891
.iartha Nobles (Ervay) Naar. 24, 1839 Enfield, N. Y. Jan. 310 1892
Nary E. Nobles
Weatherby) Apr. 15, 1841 Enfield, N. Y. Feb. 17, 1914 Enfield, N. Y.
ARTHUR SELFIRK 140BLES Dec. 29, 1833 Enfield, N. Y. Apr. 17, 1913 infield, N. Y.
SARAH A. (r PiVAY)NOBLES Dec. 4, 1833 Nov. 9, 1875 Enfield, N. Y.
Anson Nobles Apr. 290 1857 Enfield, N. Y. Apr. 15, 1933 Enfield, N. Y.
Truman Nobles Jan. 82 1859 Enfield, N. Y. I;ar. 102 1904 Ithaca, N. Y.
Juliaette Nobles July 29, 1862 Enfield, N. Y. Aug. 191 1864 Enfield, N. Y.
Byron Dunkirk Nobles Nov. 2611 1865 Enfield, N. Y. Dec. 41 1944 Olean, N. Y.
JOHN ARTHUR NOBLES Oct. 1, 1875 Enfield, N. Y. Feb. 6,' 1938 Ithaca, N. Y.
JOHN ARTHUR NOBLES Oct. 12 1875 Enfield, N. Y. Feb. , 193" Ithaca., N. Y.
RCSE MAE (VAII BERGEN)
NOBLE Arr. 11, 1888 Chicago, Ill. Jan. 14, 1966 Ithaca, 4. Y.
John Arthur Noble, Jr. May 20, 1909 Chicago, Ill.
.TOWN ARTHUR NO3LE, JR Hay 20, 19C9 Chicago, Ill.
DORIS (VEIT) NOBLE Anr.24, 1918 Ithaca, N. Y.
Julie Noble Sept .2101946 Ithaca, N. Y.
M ._
ULiE NOBLEGO:iEZ SePt.21,194 Ithaca, N. Y.
QED JOS:,PH MME? Aar. 20,1945 Denver, Colo.
John Noble Gomez Nov. 6, 1969 Ithaca, N. Y.
Briar Jo . Gomez Oct.14,1972 Ithaca,ll.y,
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. day of yin _ the year of our
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�'►'st part, for and in consideration of the sum;
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aid b the said art of The second part, the receipti
n hand p y p w
b � these resents, do M`release, remise and
and quit clairried ; and , r
sion now hein�-, and t P heirs and assigns for ever ,fL
)asses r� F
It
Al
ertenances thereunto belonging, or in any wise appertaining ; and
P.
and profits then eof; and also all the estate, right, title, interest, claim
>rXi law or eqilil of, in and to the above ba'rbained premises, anal every a
eirs and assi(yns,-to the sole and proper use, benefit andbehoof of the
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h� euntolnterchangeably seal
set their hands and s the day and year
+, ,Z Os3I. DEED OF 3-00 `ACRE AR 2 w
„
1TTo ;,QU RE J. NOBLES
11 1825'
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