Samuel Means and Grizzle [Unk]

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Husband Samuel Means ¹

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           Died: 26 Feb 1746 2
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Wife Grizzle [Unk] ¹

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           Died: Nov 1746 2
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Children

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1 F Nellie Means ¹

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2 F Margaret Means ¹

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3 F Jane Means ¹

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4 F Isabella Means ¹

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5 M Andrew Means ¹

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6 M Samuel Means ¹

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7 M Adam Means ¹

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8 M John Means ³

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           Born: Abt 1745
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           Died: 3 Oct 1795 - Paxton Twp, Dauphin Co, PA 4
         Buried:  - Paxtang Church Cemetery, Paxtang, Dauphin Co, PA

         Spouse: Martha Ramsey (Abt 1751-1849) 4

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General Notes: Husband - Samuel Means

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The tradition that has passed from one generation to the next among the descendants of John Means, who is said to have settled in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, about the year 1720, that three Means brothers came to this country from Ireland together and settled in what was then one of the three counties that William Penn organized in 1682, seems to be confirmed by the records of Bucks and Dauphin counties. It is probable that they were of the second colony of Scotch-Irish that landed at Boston in the year 1718-the first, known as the Londonderry colony of 319 families, which sailed in five vessels from Londonderry, Ireland, in March of that year; the second colony landed at Boston Oct. 14, 1718. It is known that some of these colonists settled in Pennsylvania after having wintered at Boston and it seems probable that the Means brothers were among the latter colony. George Means, of Clarion County, Pennsylvania, wrote in 1853 that John Means and family of children came from County Fermanagh, Ireland. It is now known that John Means died near Makefield, Bucks County, in 1739, and Hugh Means died near Bensalem, in same county, in 1745, and Samuel Means died in Dauphin County, in 1746. Robert Means, who also came over in 1718 and wintered at Falmouth, now Portland, Maine, and died at Old Orchard, Maine, Dec. 29, 1769, in his eightieth year, may have been another brother, but the relationship cannot now be ascertained.
The will of Samuel Means was probated in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, March 9, 1746. It mentions his wife Grizzle, who is made one of the executors, his daughters Nellie, Margaret, Jane and Isabella, and his sons Andrew, Samuel, Adam and John. There is a tradition in this family that two girls, Martha and Mary Means, were captured by the Indians. The men of the family were all away at the time: the home was burned and an infant child of one of the sisters was dashed to pieces before their eyes. The mother could not travel fast enough and she was cruelly put to death. The sisters were compelled to marry Indians who entertained themselves and their friends by hearing the sisters sing. They often sang the 137th Psalm, which is very applicable to their case. One task imposed upon them was the gathering of wood, which enabled them to leave camp for some time. They finally conceived the idea of escaping by means of this absence. They built a rude shelter of branches, and every time they went out carried something along, staying away a little longer than usual and making some excuse on their return until at last they escaped and in time came back to their own people.

1 —, Biographical Annals of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: The Genealogical Publishing Co., 1905), Pg 227.

2 —, Biographical Annals of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: The Genealogical Publishing Co., 1905), Pg 228.

3 —, Biographical Annals of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: The Genealogical Publishing Co., 1905), Pg 92, 227.

4 —, Biographical Annals of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: The Genealogical Publishing Co., 1905), Pg 92, 228.