I can not give you specific answers, but I can tell you the VAN METER family
is well documented from New Amsterdam through Chester Co, PA and on into VA.
I also can tell you why the VAN METER family would be found in Vincennes,
Knox, IN.
Sometime after the death of her first husband, Elijah HARBOUR, Prudence
PUSEY m. Thomas FLOWER in Pittsylvania Co, VA. Prudence's parents were
Robert PUSEY and Magdalena VAN METER. They had 10 dau, and one son William
FLOWER. In other accounts of the Sarah HARBOUR TURMAN & Benjamin TURMAN
family of Sullivan Co, IN, they had no sons. I have a copy of a deed where
William lists his parents as Thomas and Prudence FLOWER. Why would he do
that, refiling it after the courthouse in Vincennes burned, and Thomas and
Prudence were both dead? Well, it has to do with a land deal that Thomas was
involved in along the Wabash River, where he was purported to have purchased
62,000 acres of land from a Pierre GAMELIN in 1783. The sale was found
illegal, but wound its way through the court system until the 1830's.
Many of the relatives and friends of Thomas found their way to Knox Co. IN,
ie: TURMAN, HENDERSHOT, NASH, REDMAN, BERRY, GARRETT, HUNT.
The last entry I find for Robert PUSEY was 1803 (I believe) in Bourbon Co,
KY where Thomas sells him much of his belongings. I think Thomas wqs trying
to raise money to claim his land again.
(My computer hard drive has been giving me fits, crashing twice in the last
4 months. I can't get my Reunion program back on until it recognizes my CD.)
In the history of the TURMAN family, one of the descendants talks about
Grandma PUSEY being taken away by her family when Grandfather PUSEY had died
to be taken care of. The author assumed by other members of the VAN METER
family. Could be, but when Magdalena's father (I think Issac) died, he gave
her something preposterous like 10 shillings. Didn't like her choice of
husbands maybe?
There is also some talk about the fact that Prudence had inherited the area
of VA that included Harper's Ferry, and was forced to sign it over during
the capture of Robert and Magdalena by the Pawnees in 1766?. Robert lost his
land during the four years he was held for ransom.
Krealyn Brecht
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From: "Robert A. Moore" <mick(a)sierra.net>
To: INKNOX-L(a)rootsweb.com
Subject: Van Meter Family
Date: Mon, Jul 26, 1999, 3:05 PM
Dear Listers:
Any information on the Van Meter/Van Metre Family of Knox County, Indiana
will be welcomed. Joseph Van Meter and his wife Elizabeth Joseph and their
children. Married circa 1837 Knox County, Indiana.
Children: Nancy, Mary, Joseph, James, John, Jacob, William, Elizabeth,
Isaac, Charles, Washington and Eunisa. Thanks for any input.
Robert A. Moore
Nevada