Judge James Moore

Judge James Moore¹

• Birth*: 1730¹
• Marriage*: 1752; Principal=Elizabeth Whitehill¹
• Death*: 31 March 1802¹
• Burial*: Brandywine Manor churchyard, Chester Co., Pennsylvania¹

Notes

• Immigration*: Emigrated at about age nineteen from northern Ireland.¹
• Note*: Judge James Moore of Chester County was the uncle of brothers William Moore of Reading and Samuel Moore of Lebanon, and he was the father of the David Moore with whom William Moore of Reading was frequently associated.
  
  A biographical sketch of Judge James Moore and his son James, written in 1888, makes assertions about the Irish origins and genealogy of this Moore family. The author uses the terms "tradition" and "without...uncertainty." This must be read as family tradition, passed down over at least three or four generations.
  
  The author states "William Moore, who removed from Scotland to the north of Ireland, and was one of the defenders of Derry in 1689...Judge Moore, who was born in 1730, may have been a younger son, but I believe he was a grandson of this man...He was the first of the family to emigrate to America, and the only one of his generation. At different times eight nephews and one or more nieces were welcomed to his home...These are all descended from William Moore, of Derry, without any missing link in the chain of descent, or uncertainty, as in the case of their uncle. One nephew, Samuel Moore..."¹
• Note: Emigrated at about age nineteen from northern Ireland.
  
  Settled in Chester County Pennsylvania.
  
  Possessed of several large farms bordering on Springton and Brandywine Manors.
  
  Member Presbyterian, church of the Forks of Brandywine.
  
  Death "sudden and unexpected"
  
  Public life:
  
  On 23 May 23 1770 he was appointed justice of the General Quarter Sessions of the Peace, and of the Court of Common Pleas for Chester County.
  
  On 20 Dec 1774 he was chosen a member of the Committee of Safety of Chester County.
  
  On 26 Dec Dec 1775 appointed a member of committee to represent the county in the Provincial Convention.
  
  On 31 Mar 1777 made a justice of the peace, resigned 17 Nov 1781.
  
  Representative from Chester County to the General Assembly 1781. Re-elected in 1784, 1785, 1786, 1787, and 1788.
  
  On 6 Nov 1782 reappointed justice of the peace.
  
  On 13 Dec 1783 elected a member of the Council of Censors.
  
  In 1790 one of County Commissioners.
  
  On 17 Aug 1791 appointed an associate judge of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.¹
• Note: Judge James Moore died intestate.
  
  Probate records index:
  
  Decedent: Moore James
  Residence: W. Nantmeal
  Date Death: blank
  Date Granting Letters: 24 June 1802
  To whom Granted: William Moore [of Reading] & David Moore [his son]
  Amt of Bond: £11474
  Sureties: Wm Henderson, Sam'l Craig
  Date filing inventory: 24 Jun 1802
  Date filing account: 27 Dec 1821
  No of papers: 4937 [docket #]
  Will book & page: blank
  Administrator docket page: 2 484
  Remarks: blank²
• Note: James Moore estate file.
  
  File includes:
  
  Bond of Administration (image 337)
  - Filed 24 June 1802
  - Signatures of William Moore and David Moore
  
  Inventory (image 333)
  - Filed 24 June 1802.
  - Signatures of William Moore and David Moore
  - Physical items $1170.
  - He was owed $14110 from mostly his sons James insolvent, John and David.
  - A right to 4100 acres of land in the Seventeen Township, Luzerne County.
  
  Account (image 331)
  - "Account of the administration of David Moore and William Moore Administrators of James Moore Esq of West Nantmeal Township Decd. and now exhibited by said William Moore surviving administrator...".
  - So David died between 1802 and 1821
  - Signed by Wm. Moore 27 Dec 1821.
  - Totaling $23,922.06.
  - A female slave "July" was free and manumitted. Philip Price surety $66.67.
  - Rent on Northumberland farm.
  - A plantation sold by sheriff in 1803 the afsd. Wm. Moore having incumbrance on it purchased it for £560 in consideration of £100 agreed to wait for his money and in the year 1808 sold it to Rank for £1500[?] in installments
  - Act of the Legislature of 1820-1 for the relief of the heirs of James Moore (Decd.) $947.21.
  - Debt of James the son as insolvent
  - Debt of John the son
  - Debt of David³
• Note: Acts of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania passed at a session which was begun and held at the borough of Harrisburg on Tuesday, the Fifth day of December in the year of our lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty.
  
  chap. 37 p. 49
  Chap. XXXVII. "An act for the releif of the heirs of James Moore, deceased, and for other purposes."
  
  $943.69⁴