Verner/Varner Genealogy by Foy Varner, Jr.

CHAPTER ONE

Samuel Verner (aka Varner), Immigrant (born ca 1660 - died 1725)

Note: This research by Foy Varner, Jr. on Samuel Verner/Varner consists of many sections. At the end of each section (scroll down), there is a link to the next section in sequence, and that is followed by a list of links that can be used to get to any other section.

Introduction

Samuel Verner, aka (also known as) Varner, is believed to have been my earliest known Verner/Varner forebear. He was born in the mid-1600s, based on his having leased land in 1691/2 in the Parish of Loughgall in County Armagh, Ireland (now Northern Ireland) and having died in 1725, so I list his birth as ca 1660. County Armagh was one of nine counties that comprised the old Province of Ulster. The present-day country of Northern Ireland contains six of those counties. We do not know Samuel's birthplace, but evidence about the other Verners in Ireland suggests that he was probably born in Ireland or near Edinburgh, Scotland. Likewise, we have not proven his wife/wives, his children other than his son David, his parents, the origin of his family, or his religious beliefs. His near-forebears (near in time) were probably Scots and were probably Presbyterians. He sold his leases in County Armagh in 1722; immigrated to America by 1724; settled on Pequea Creek in Chester (later Lancaster) County, PA; and died by September 1725. He probably died on his land on Pequea Creek, but the exact time and place of his death and burial are not known. Several people showed in the records who might have been other children of Samuel, but David is the only proven child. David will be the subject of Chapter Two. Samuel probably had more than one marriage and probably had children by more than one wife. His father was probably a man named Henry Verner, who died in Antrim County in 1683, leaving a widow named Isabella and sons named Benjamin, Samuel, and David. Henry's parents might have been a couple named John and Prudace Verner, who held land in Ireland in 1650.

I tried to organize this chapter in a way that will minimize confusion. I first present what is known about Samuel, a possible wife, and his possible children. In that section, I also discuss the change from the Old Style or Julian Calendar to the New Style or Gregorian Calendar, which is necessary to understand modifications of certain dates. Then, I jump back in time and discuss the origins of the Verner families, including their apparent migration from France to England and Scotland before 1600 and some history of that period. Next, I provide some historical background about the migration of the Scots to the northern part of Ireland in the 1600s, the conflicts of that period, and the subsequent migration to America. That is followed by a discussion of some of the the early Verners in Ireland and the man who I think was probably Samuel's father. Then, I discuss what some previous authors have written, and, finally, I present a brief summary to close the chapter. Appendix 1-A contains a transcript of the 1722 lease, and Appendix 1-B contains a timeline of information that helps to track some of the people of that time.

Continue to the next section Samuel in Ireland
Links to all sections of Chapter 1
  • Introduction
  • Samuel in Ireland
  • Samuel in America
  • Calendar Change
  • Possible Children of Samuel
  • Origins of the Verner families of Scotland and Ireland
  • Historical Background
  • Verner families in Ireland in the 1600s and later
  • What other authors have written
  • My assessment and summary
  • Appendix 1-A
  • Appendix 1-B
  • Timeline
  • Additional Information
    Return to the Verner genealogy page regarding John Verner (1725-1798/99)
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