BACK TO THE ROOTS
JOEL BAILY AND ANN SHORT
Joel Baily was baptized on 29 January 1658 Bromham Parish,
Wiltshire, England.<6>,<7> Joel is first recorded in
Pennsylvania in a warrant for land: "At the request of Joel
Bayly on behalf of Daniel Bayly in right of William Smith, of
Brumhamhouse, Purchaser, that we would grant him to take up
one hundred twenty five acres of Land in the County of Chester
These are therefore in the Proprietary's Name to Will and
Require thee forthwith to Survey or Cause to be Surveyed unto
him the said Number of Acres in the aforesaid County where not
already taken up according to the method of townships
appointed by the Governor he seating & improving the same
within six months from the date of Survey and make return
thereof into the Governor's Secretary's Office. Given at
Philada the 25th of 9th month 1684"
William Smith, of Bromhamhouse, in the County of Wilts, was a
purchaser of 1250 acres of land from William Penn by
deeds...dated 1 and 2 March, 1681. Of this he conveyed 125
acres to Daniel Bayly, of Westbrook, in the parish of Bromham,
weaver, by deeds of 18 & 20 October 1681. Joel Baily, as
attorney for Daniel Baily, conveyed the [125 acres] to John
Radley 6 June 1695 (Deeds dated 6 December 1713, Abstracts of
Chester County Land Records, Vol. 1, page 176).
There is no documentary evidence as to when Joel came from
England. Lists of the ships exists, but no passenger lists,
although those who boarded goods subject to duty were
recorded. A possible explanation can be derived from the
following information: William Withers of Bishops Cannings,
Wiltshire, purchased 500 acres from William Penn (Shepperd,
Passengers and ships, page 203), and conveyed the land to his
son Thomas Withers on 22 Jan 1682 (Cope, page 11). Thomas
reportedly came over in 1683 and took up the land in
Chichester Township according to Gilbert Cope. In 1685 Joel
Baily received judgment against Thomas Withers in the Chester
County Court for unpaid wages [4 pounds, 11 shilllings and 8
pence]. It thus appears probable that Joel came over with
Thomas Withers as a servant. James Claypoole, treasurer of
the Free Society of Traders, sent Ralph Withers of Bishop
Cannings, Wiltshire, to Upland as his deputy treasurer.
Claypoole loaded goods aboard the ship "Jeffrey" on 9
September 1682. In letters, James Claypoole mentioned that
"10 servts" were aboard the "Jeffrey" (Pennsylvania Magazine
of History and Biography, Vol X, pages 197 et seq.); six of
those servants have been idenitifed (see Passengers and Ships,
page 59, footnote 113). Ralph Withers, probably a relative to
William Withers, died "soon after his arrival". Letters of
administration were issued for his estate 12 March 1683
(Penna. Archives, 2nd Series, XiX, page 383). It is a
possibility that Thomas Withers also came on the "Jeffrey".
If Joel Baily came over as his servant, he was also aboard
that ship which arrived at Upland before the end of October
1682
Joel subsequently purchased 150 acres in Midletowne [sic]
Township from Thomas Nossiter and his wife Ann per deed dated
15 12mo 1692. He later purchased another 50 acres on the other
side of the creek, in Ashton, from John Nield, deed dated 1
1st month 1694.<8> He married Ann Short, daughter of ___ Short
and Miriam Ingram, after 11 April 1687 Chester Co., PA;
intentions were first announced at the monthly meeting for
Chichester and Concord on 14 March 1686/87. Second intentions
were announced at Birmingham on 11 Apr 1687. No marriage
certificate was recorded, so the exact date of their marriage
is not known. Joel was appointed constable of Middle Town on 9
March 1698.<9> In the latter part of 1698 he moved to Ashton
Township and became a member of the Concord Meeting. On 10
January 1703 he was appointed, together with John Lea, as a
representative to the Quarterly Meeting from the Concord
Meeting.<10> Joel was appointed Constable of Ashton on 29
February 1704.<11> At the monthly meeting for Chichester and
Concord on 11 December 1704, "Joel Bayly Layd his intention of
his and his familyes Removall to New-wark [now Kennet]
Monthing Meeting desiering a Certificate from this meeting".
The request was granted at the next meeting on 12 Feb
1704.<12> On 24 February 1708 Joel was appointed Constable for
Marlborough Township. Newark [now Kennet] Meeting records show
that Joel and Sam'l Graves were appointed overseers of the
meeting on 3 September 1709 until further order. Joel was
appointed one of the overseers for the preparative meeting of
Kennett on 6 December 1712; he served until 6 Mar 1714 when
John Miller was appointed to take his place.<13> He and Ann
Short were named in a deed on 8 September 1713 Chester County,
PA, by which 50 acres was conveyed to Thomas Dutton.<14> He
witnessed the will of John Miller on 17 August 1714; it was
proved 8 Dec 1714. He mentions wife Mary, sons Joseph, James
and William, and daughters Martha, Sarah, Elizabeth, Susanna
and Elinor, and son-in-law Joseph Hutton. The will was
witnessed by Joel Baily, Gayen Miller and John Wily. Joel was
named as co-executor of the will of Alexander Stewart, his
son-in-law. Alexander left him a "Sorrel pacing mare" in this
will. Gayon Miller and Joel Bailey [sic] were appointed
"friends to take care of burials" for Kennett meeting.<15> He
witnessed the marriage of Daniel Baily and Olive Harry on 16
March 1721 Goshen Meeting, Chester Co., PA; Newark Monthly
Meeting records of 7 January 1720 report: "Daniel Bailey
requests of the Meeting a Certificate of marriage to Chester
Monthly Meeting; therefore this meeting appoints William Webb
and Thomas Wickersham Junior to make inquiry into his
clearness to marriage and conversation and produce a
certificate at the next meeting." And on 4 February, 1720, it
is recorded "Pursuant to the sd order the Friends appointed
have produced a certificate to this meeting signifying Daniell
Baily's clearness in marriage from all other persons except
Olive Harry; which being here read and allowed of by the said
meeting."<16> "Joell Baily in the behalfe of himselfe and
family requests a certificate of removall to Newgarden monthly
meeting" according to the Kennett records of 3 September 1726.
He and his family were received by Newgarden meeting on 31
December 1726. He left a will on 10 December 1728 Marlborough
Twp., Chester Co., PA; his listed the following specific
bequests: (1) To my son Daniel, eight pounds to be paid within
one year "of my deceas"; (2) To son Isaac, four pounds to be
paid within one year; (3) To son Joel, ten pounds to be paid
within one year; (4) To son Thomas, 193 acres in Marlborough
Township, Chester County [of 400 acres he had purchased from
Richard Barnard], as well as "one horse he taking his Choys of
all I have", and fifteen pounds to be paid by son Josiah
within one year; (5) To son John, 207 acres of the land
purchased from Richard Barnard; (6) To son Josiah "my now
Dweling plantation" of 100 acres, (7) To daughter Mary ten
pounds to be paid within one year and a "Chest of Draws"; (8)
To daughter Ann, ten pounds to be paid within one year and
"one fether bed and furniture"; (9) To granddaughter Ann
Stewart, ten pounds to be paid within one year.
He directed his "moveable estate to be sould and after my
Just debts and before mentioned Leguses is paid if there shall
any over plush be Left it shall be equealy devided between all
my Children".
Sons Thomas and Joel were nominated as executors. The will was
witnessed by John Strode, Richard Hayes and Joseph Taylor.
In a codicil dated 9th day 12th month 1731-2, Joel directed
that Josiah was to pay to his sister Mary Harlan an additional
ten pounds, and that sons Thomas and John would each receive
one-half of the 400 acres purchased from Richard Barnard. The
codicil was witnessed by John Strode, Wm. Webb, John Hope and
George Carson.<17>,<18> He died in 1732 Chester Co., PA. His
estate was probated on 8 April 1732 Chester Co., PA; letters
of administration were issued to his sons Thomas and John.
The estate was appraised at 366 pounds, 11 shillings, and 9
pence.<19>
3. Ann Short. Ann is generally accepted as one of the
passengers who accompanied William Penn to Pennsylvania on the
ship "Welcome". One of the most completely researched works
states it is "highly probable" than Ann Short was such a
passenger. George F. McCracken, The Welcome Claimants Proved,
Disproved and Doubtful: With An Account of Some of their
Descendants (Publication of the Welcome Society of
Pennsylvania, No. Genealogical Pub. Co, 1970). The argument is
as follows: Isaac Ingram, a proven passenger on the "Welcome"
died en route. In his will he left to "my Sister Miriam Short
lately deceased her three Children Adam, Miriam, & Anne Short
all that Thirty pounds lying in Ambrose Riggs hand...to be
equally divided between them (viz) Tenn pounds apiece further
it is my will & minde that my Sisters Children aforesaid have
all the goods on board the Welcome equally divided between
them". The assumption is made, as there was no provision for
the sale of the goods on board for transport of the proceeds
to England, those named were also on board the ship.
Other circumstantial evidence is that Miriam Short is recorded
as a resident of Chester County shortly after the "Welcome"
arrived, and married George Thompson, a proven passenger. The
marriage was conducted by Lawrence Carolus Lockenius, a
Lutheran clergyman, and was somehow contrary to the laws of
the province. Charges were brought against Thompson, but were
dismissed when no one appeared to testify against him on 14
Feb 1682/3. By 6 11mo 1684, Miriam had a child and was
receiving public assistance. It is not known if George had
died or had abandoned her. She later married William White of
New Castle County, whose will was probated on 14 September
1703. Her third marriage took placed on 30 November 1704 at
Chichester, when she married Aaron Coppock of Aston Township
who died 10 10mo 1726.
It has been said the only noteworthy aspect of this particular
ship was that William Penn was aboard, making his first trip
to his American property. In July, 1682, the ship's master,
Robert Greenway, began to load the ship in preparation for the
trip. In August newspaper articles noted that Penn had "taken
leave" of his friends and was preparing to board the "Welcome"
to make the trip in the company of five other ships. On
September 2nd another paper noted that Penn had sailed two
days earlier with "a great many Quakers" to settle
"Pensilvania". During the trip many of the passengers
suffered from smallpox, and approximately 30 died, including
the above mentioned Isaac Ingram (and perhaps Miriam Short,
the mother of Ann, as she is "late deceased" per Isaac's
will?).
Records of the Court of New Castle on Delaware, Book B, p.
437, note the following: "On the 27th day of October 1682;
arrived before yr Towne of New Castle in Delowar from England
William Penn Esqr. Proptry of Penlivinia... ye said William
Penn Received possession of ye Towne of New Castle ye 28th of
Octobr 1682." She was born England. She married Joel Baily,
son of Daniel Bayly and Mary ___, after 11 April 1687 Chester
Co., PA; intentions were first announced at the monthly
meeting for Chichester and Concord on 14 March 1686/87.
Second intentions were announced at Birmingham on 11 Apr 1687.
No marriage certificate was recorded, so the exact date of
their marriage is not known. She died Chester Co., PA. She and
Joel Baily were named in a deed on 8 September 1713 Chester
County, PA, by which 50 acres was conveyed to Thomas
Dutton.<20>
Ahnentafel Courtesy of K. William Bailey
Click
here to see first four generations of descendants of Joel &
Ann Short Baily of Chester Co, PA