New for 2010
Charles Steelman ("I")
Birth date not known; estimated ~1700-1710. Also, reported ~1697.
Married 1st to Margaret Scull, and 2nd to Mary Adams,^ possibly in the early 1740’s.
Will filed 1775; administered 1779
Died: 1779
Parents appear to be Peter Steelman and Gertrude __
Family Records: none identified
Margaret Scull
Born: not determined
Died possibly before 28 August 1739**
Parents: Peter Scull & __
Source: Arthur Adams in his “The Steelman Family”
Mary Adams^
Born: not determined
Died: Living 1779
Parents: Jonathan and Barbara Adams^
First name appears in 1774 and 1775 probate.
Parents: Jonathan and Barbara Adams; After Jonathan Adams died in 1727, widow Barbara married Stephen Morris.
Brother Matthias Steelman married a sister to Mary Adams.
Source: Jerry Uekermann *
* From Jerry Uekermann, an Adams researcher, as pointed out by Glenn Bingham, email 2 March 2012. The “Jonathan” name is passed down in later generations of both Charles and Mathias Steelman.
This revision 4 March 2012, J. R. Murphy, www.planetmurphy.org.
Clues Unraveling this Steelman Line
Thanks go to reoccurring Gloucester County names which helped so much to unravel this line were:
Amariah Lake who shows up big-time in key records
Mare Run, a creek
The Scull family
Thomas Champion who may be separate from Tuckahoe River Champions
Elisha Ashton whose name was used to name our later Steelman descendants
Daughter Gartery (Gartara or Gartrey) Steelman whose name should link to the wife of Peter Steelman in future research.
Deeds stating Charles Steelman, Senior or "I" had a son named Charles Steelman, who was left out of Senior's 1775 will.
Glenn Bingham for pointing out useful South New Jersey information.
Placement of Geographical Names Found here
Cranberry Creek empties into the north bank of Great Egg Harbor River about 9 miles NW of today's Sommer's Point, a town in New Jersey.
Gravelly Run empties into east bank of the Great Egg Harbor River about 4 miles SES of May's Landing.
Mare Run empties into the west bank of Great Egg Harbor River about 5 miles WNW of May's Landing.
South River empties into the west bank of Great Egg Harbor River about 9 miles south of May's Landing, but parallels G.E. H. River almost to May's landing before turning from the west.
Chandler's Run – not determined.
Details for Charles Steelman "I"
1731 January 5: "Margaret Scull married Charles Steelman on 5 January 1731. She probably died before 28 August 1739.* Charles Steelman mentions wife, Mary in his will dated 9 September 1775 and proved 24 February 1779.** The will of Peter Scull, father of Margaret (Scull) Steelman proves they had at least one child: Gartrey Steelman."***
*NJA:30:422; ** NJA:34:495; *** From Atlantic County Historical Society, Volume 1, Number 1, page 226
1737 March 5 - Gloucester County: "Account (of John Chester, deceased) shows payments" to 23 persons including Marg. Steelman.
Calendar of Wills – 1730-1750, Liber 6, page 85.
1737 June 12 Gloucester County, New Jersey: Peter Steelman – granted by deed of gift to Charles Steelman 10 acres of land as described: Bounded by a cedar swamp on one side and a cove of flats and fronts the River of Egg Harbour....
(Before) 1739 August 28: Margaret Scull (Steelman) probably died before this date.*
*NJA:30/422
1742 September 8 – Gloucester County: Edmond Illiff deeded Charles Steelman 100 acres of land on the side of the Great Cranberry Swamp...
1749 January 18 – Gloucester County: Charles Steelman was deeded 50 acres of land and flats as described: Lying in SW corner of the said 10 acres...to a pine tree standing by Great Egg Harbour River against a cove of flats...to (another) Charles Steelman's land....
1751 January 18 and 1757 December 10 – Gloucester County: Two tracts of land, both of one survey of 70 acres surveyed to John Budd and sold to Peter Benton and from said Benton to Solomon Manning and from said Manning to Charles Steelman at two different times. The first deed is dated 18 January 1751; the 2nd dated 10 December 1757, beginning at a stake standing a little above...the mouth of Gravelly Run...to Sawings line, to the Little Cranberry Swamp, binding the same to the said Steelman's line and binding thence to the river and down the said river by the several courses...containing a number of unknown acres.
(Dates not determined) – Gloucester County: Charles Steelman purchased several more lands which are described below in “Deed Sources for Charles Steelman.” Dates of these purchases have not been determined.
1778 Great Egg Harbor Township tax ratables include:
Charles Steelman, Jr. 50 acres improved and 50 acres unimproved land; 2 horses, 3 cattle, 2 hogs
Charles Steelman, Sr. 200 acres; 2 horses, 6 cattle, 4 hogs
(email courtesy of Glenn Bingham, 12 July 2009
(Before) 1779 February 24: Charles Steelman “I” died, and our first indication is in his probate – see below. Mary, his wife was still living.
Deed Sources for Charles Steelman "I"
Deeds of
Charles Steelman of 1774 Great Egg Harbor River/Mays Landing
(Abstracted) This indenture made 12 August 1774 from Charles Steelman of Great Egg Harbor Township, Gloucester County, Province of West New Jersey to Stephen Morris of same place, house carpenter of the other part for 80 pounds...five following tracts of land and marsh and cedar swamp lying in the named township and county between Egg Harbour and South River.
First tract: Bounded by a cedar swamp on one side and a cove of flats and fronts the River of Egg Harbour...became the property of said Steelman by deed of gift from Peter Steelman, dated 12 June 1737 containing 10 acres.
Second tract: Lying in SW corner of the said 10 acres...to a pine tree standing by Great Egg Harbour River against a cove of flats...to said Charles Steelman's land...50 acres of land and flats and allowance for roads. The said land became the right of said Steelman by deed dated 18 January 1749.
Third tract: Side of the Great Cranberry Swamp...50 acres of land which became the property of said Steelman by a conveyance of 100 acres of rights from Edmond Iliff (probably Iliff^), the deed dated 8 September 1742
4th & 5th tracts. Both of one survey of 70 acres surveyed to John Budd and sold to Peter Benton and from said Benton to Solomon Manning and from said Manning to Charles Steelman at two different times. The first deed is dated 18 January 1751; the 2nd dated 10 December 1757, beginning at a stake standing a little above...the mouth of Gravelly Run...to Sawings line, to the Little Cranberry Swamp, binding the same to the said Steelman's line and binding thence to the river and down the said river by the several courses...containing a number of unknown acres.
...Interchangeable set their hand and seals the day and year above written 1775. (Signed) Charles (x) Steelman, Mary (x) Steelman. Witnessed: Rudduck Townsend, John (x) Steelman, Barbary (or Barbay) "X" Steelman.. On 6 Mary 1776, personally appeared before, John Hinchman, Esq., one of the Judges of Gloucester County Pleas. John Steelman witnessed the within deed. He doth say that he was present and saw Charles Steelman, Mary his wife, the within grantors sign, seal and deliver written instrument of conveyance as their act of deed. He therein mentioned and at the same time he saw Rudduck Townsend, the other witness, subscribe his name as a witness. (Signed) John "x" Steelman. Acknowledged the day and date above said before me – John Hinchman. Recorded 7 October 1823.
Gloucester County, New Jersey Deed Book KK 1823-1824, page 399.
Gloucester County Loan Office and Mortgage Registration: Stephen Morris (his mark) of Great Egg Harbour Township., 35 pounds for 150 acres (five tracts) in the same place on Great Egg Harbour River, bounded by Joseph Sawin, Amariah Lake, Richard Somers, and James Caruthers, being the same land purchased by the mortgagor from Charles Steelman by deed dated 12 August 1775.
(New Jersey Archives.org abstracts 1776 on line).
Comment: Date of deed to date of recording was 46-48 years later.
Later Deeds Linking Charles Steelman "I" to Others
3 July 1799 Gloucester County: Deed from Charles Steelman the Elder of Weymouth Township, Gloucester County, N.J. to Elisha Aston of the same place, sawyer of the other part, for $40, a certain piece or lot of land lying in the Township of Weymouth, part of 200 acres of land that Charles Steelman, deceased, purchased of Thomas Ireland and Elias Smith, and the said Charles Steelman, deceased by his last will and testament gave and bequeathed unto his son Charles Steelman the within grantor....beginning...of the hill above said Elisha Aston house...black oak on the bank...binding the edge of the swamp...containing 10 acres. (Signed) Charles Steelman, delivered in the presence of Elias Smith, Joseph ("x") Sawin(?), Joseph Smith, came 4 June 1814 personally came before me John Steelman, one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleases in and for the County of Gloucester. Recorded 4 October 1815. (Deed Book W, page 274)
Comment: Notice this is another deed recorded into county files years later.
14 May 1814 Gloucester County, New Jersey: Charles Steelman of Hamilton Township,, Gloucester County, State of New Jersey deeded to Jonathan Steelman, his son, of the aforesaid place....for $15...certain tract of cedar swamp in Hamilton Township, near the head of Mare River (Mare looks like Quare) containing 4 acres...of a survey made by Japhet Leeds to and for James Steelman, his return...by virtue of a deed of conveyance dated 29 December 1749, the said James Steelman conveyed the same among other land unto Charles Steelman, deceased, who being thereof so seized deceased Intestate, and Charles Steelman the party aforesaid being the eldest son and heir at law because lawfully seized of the same reference to the originals....to hold the said 4 acres of Cedar Swamp... (Signed) Charles (x) Steelman. Signed, sealed, delivered in the presence of John Steelman, James (x) Champion of Gloucester County. On 3 June 1714, before me the subscriber John Steelman one of the Judges of the Court of Common Please in Gloucester County. Charles Steelman the Grantor...Recorded 22 June 1814. (Deed Book T-445)
4 June 1814 Gloucester County, New Jersey Charles Steelman of Hamilton Township,, Gloucester County, New Jersey deeded to James Schley (should be Ackley^) of the same place, for $25, ...a certain lot or tract of land situate in Hamilton Township...bounded as follows:...point of land on the southwest side of Mare Run, a little below the public bridge over the same...to Abner Gaskill's lot...containing 39 acres. Of which this land was granted in part of 159 acres surveyed to Edmund Steff and from him to Samuel Harrison and from said Harrison to Nathan Lake and from said Lake to Amariah Lake who conveyed the same unto Charles Steelman by deed dated 1 January 1755 and devised the same by his last will and testament unto his son Charles Steelman, the present (person) granted. (Signed) Charles (x) Steelman. Witnessed by John Steelman and Jonathan Steelman, Gloucester County on 4 June 1814. Recorded 5 October 1819. (Deed Book EE, page 219)
Will and Probate of Charles Steelman who died 1779
9 September 1775 Gloucester County Will (abstracted), Renunciation, and Inventory for Charles Steelman of Great Egg Harbor, Gloucester County, yeoman; will of. Names wife Mary Steelman, 1/3 of moveable estate, Son, John (Steelman), and my daughter, Barbary (Barbara) Steelman,, all this plantation where I live and 42 acres of meadow, lying a little below Chandlers Run that I bought of Elisha Smith; also the plantation on southwest side of the river, on the upper side of the "lain." Son, John, 1/3 of the cedar swamp that I bought of Amariah Lake. John and Barbery to maintain my son, David, during his life. Daughter, Gartery, 5 shillings. Daughter, Mary, 5 shillings. Daughter Margit, 5 shilllings, Daughter Phebe, 5 shilling. Executors – John Steelman and Barbery Steelman. Witnesses – Amariah Lake, Prisilla Ireland. Proved 24 February 1779. Probate to Samuel Burton, husband of Barbara Steelman.
24 February 1779. Renunciation by John Steelman, in favor of his sister, and her husband (Barbara and Samuel Burton).
13 February 1779. Inventory in pounds 689.6.0 made by Amariah Lake and Thomas Champion. Inventory showed 8 head of cattle, 2 horses and wagon, 7 hogs, plow, various household goods and furniture, 10 acres of green rye on the g round, spinning wheel. Liber 20, page 371.
Children of Charles Steelman "I"
(1). Gartery (or Gartrey, Gartre, Gartara) Steelman (~1731) was probably the first child of Charles and Margaret Steelman. Whether there were more children by this couple is not known at this time. Gartery is in a Richard Somers account book for January 1774: Folio 75, Gartre Steelman (email courtesy Glenn Bingham, 19 July 2009). possibly did not marry.
1739 November 7 – Gloucester County, New Jersey: Will of Peter Scull of Great Egg Harbor, Gloucester County, yeoman; will of: Wife Jane. Sons – Peter Scull, Philip Scull, Samuel Scull (the home plantation and 216 ½ acres, one-third of which fronts upon the river line), Daniel Scull (216 ½ acres between Peter and Samuel Scull, one-third upon the river line), David Scull (likewise) and John Scull. Daughters – Marey Lake, Pashance Truax, Elizabeth Tounsen, Ann Scull. Granddaughter – Gartrey Steelman. Executors – Nathan Lake, Samuel Scull. Witnesses – John English, Daniel Scull, Benjamin Utter, James Marsh. Affirmed 7 November 1739.
(Lib. 4, page 207, New Jersey Colonial Documents, Calendar of Wills, Volume 2, page 422)
(2). John Steelman
(3). David Steelman
(4). Barbara (Barbery) Steelman (reported born 13 October 1752) married Samuel Burton in Gloucester County 11 December 1777.
(5). Margrit Steelman
(6). Phebe Steelman. Was Phebe the wife of Elisha Ashton? “Phebe Stealman” is in a Richard Somers account book for December 1773: Folio 68. (email courtesy of Glenn Bingham, 19 July 2009). Glenn adds that "it is unusual for a woman to have an account unless she is widowed; however, these don't seem to be widowed, so some other explanation might need to be forwarded."
(7). Charles Steelman ("II")'s birth date is not known, but estimated ~1740-50, with little to base a date. He disappears in 1814 and may have (1) died outside of Gloucester County (2) or sold off his lands in 1814 and went to live with one of his children. The name of his wife has not surfaced at this time. See his chapter for details.