The early Maxwells of Lancaster Ct. PA present the usual problems - no
records/documentation in the 1740s. In the 1750s, there appear to be unrelated Maxwells.
First available tax list is 1751 which shows "James Maxfeel" and "Robert
Maxfell" paying taxes.
Robert Maxwell b. 1713 ( age 39 on tombstone) died 1752 lived in Drumore Lancaster Ct. PA
and is buried in the Chestnut Level Presbyterian Church. His wife was Catherine ?.
Orphans Court March 7 1755 Lancaster Ct. PA appointed Samuel Boyd, Robert McElhenney and
William Montgomery guardians of Robert's minor chidren: James (oldest), Samuel,
Robert, Margaret, John, Thomas and Francis. Catherine married second James Porterfield.
The names of the children of Robert and Catherine are virtually identical to the names of
the children of Henry Maxwell m. Agnes Carson, with the exception of Francis Maxwell
(explained below) and Walter (son of Henry) named after his grandfather Walter Carson.
My great interest in this Robert Maxwell is because a Henry Maxwell was a witness to his
will. The next record anywhere in PA of Henry Maxwell is a (what became) Franklin Ct.
PAwarrant in 1753 if memory serves. Our speculation is that the witness Henry was a
nephew or brother of Robert Maxwell d. 1752, and, after his death, struck off for new
land which happened to be adjacent to the land of John Carson (proven son of Walter and
Agness Carson) and Walter Carson (married Mary Carson, daughter of Samuel Carson m. Jane
Patterson of Chester Ct. PA , this Samuel Carson proven relative of Walter m. Agness
Carson (parents of Agness Carson m. Henry Maxwell). Walter Carson of Franklin Ct. not
yet proven to be the son of Walter and Agness Carson but most probably was their son.
Robert Maxwell d. 1752 was listed as the brother in law of Francis Campbell of York Ct.,
and predecessed him. The Campbell will also states that Samuel Boyd of Drumore is the
uncle of Francis Campbell. Whether Catherine Maxwell, wife of Robert, was a Campbell or a
Boyd or whether the wife of Francis Campbell was a Maxwell is unknown.
Three sons of Walter and Agness Carson went to the Carolinas (John in Rutherford, Walter
in York Ct. SC, and William who in a letter is said to be in the Carolinas by 1783 whom
I've never found).
Catherine (wife of Robert Maxwell) Porterfield and her husband and some of Robert's
children went first to North Carolina.
James Maxwell, the oldest son of Robert, inherited his land by 1759, then sold it later
and "is lost". Most likely this James was born in 1743 (he appears on tax list
of 1759, probably at age 16, and then as owner in 1761, age 18). Samuel Maxwell son of
Robert oved to Guilford Ct. NC, married Elizabeth Work 1768, and died there. Samuel
appears on the tax list in Drumore in 1763 as a Freeman, so probably 16 or 18 that year.
Robert Maxwell, son of Robert Maxwell, is mentioned in the will of his brother John, and
appears to have gone to the Carolinas with his mother and step father. Margaret Maxwell,
daughter of Robert, is mentioned in the Orphan's Court Lancaster 1761 as being above
the age of 14 to choose a guardian (Samuel Steel).
John Maxwell, son of Robert, died Augus 1809 Wilkes County Georgia, never married. He
mentions his brother Robert, brother Thomas, brother Francis, brother David Porterfield.
Thomas and John were in Georgia 1790.
Francis Maxwell appeared on the 1768 tax list in Rowan Ct. NC, listed in the home of Henry
Work who was the brother of Elizabeth Work, wife of the brother of Francis, Samuel
Maxwell, in Guilford NC.
Back to Lancaster: The second Maxwell listed in 1751 is James Maxwell, who continues ot
live in the same place and is on the tax rolls through 1769 (well after when the
Porterfields/Maxwells left and James Maxwell, son of Robert, had sold land) and beyond.
There is also a Robert Maxwell on the list in 1769 NOT related to Robert m. Catherine, in
Little Britain. The daughter of James Maxwell of Lancaster Alice maried Samuel Ramsey,
appeared to be only child.
That's the sum total of what I know about Lancaster Ct. PA Maxwells. And, I doubt
that anyone will ever find any information about them before 1751 because none of the
records exist.
Josette Maxwell
Boone NC