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(First, a note about William Penn -- for historical reference to the life and times of our ancestor, William Cloud.)
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William Penn (1644-1718) was born to privilege, being the son of Admiral Sir William Penn. He converted to Quakerism in his twenties and soon envisioned a society that was godly, virtuous and exemplary for all of humanity. He married in 1672 and, in 1677, traveled to Holland. That year he wrote the "Concessions and Agreements" charter for a group of Quaker colonists who were settling in the newly acquired New Jersey. Among its provisions were the right to trial by jury, the freedom from arbitrary imprisonment for debt, and edict against capital punishment. Penn also strongly argued for religious freedom, writing "no Men. . . hath Power or authority to rule over Men's Consciences in Religious matters." This document has been called "the first clear statement in American history of the supremacy of the fundamental law (universal rights) over any statutes that might be enacted"
All the while, he had been planning and working for his utopian society and by 1681 he had been granted 45,000 acres of land in the New World. On March 4, 1681 he obtained the charter for Pennsylvania, and in August 1682 he gained the rights to Delaware from his friend James, the Duke of York. He helped finance his venture by selling tracts of land, calling it a "holy experiment" which he predicted would become "the seed of a nation." He imagined a "free ... sober and industrious people" living by their own laws. In 1682 he sought to delineate these laws in the First Frame of government. Penn first arrived at his new colony in the fall of 1682. It was at this time that he supposedly signed his famous treaty with the Delaware (Leni Lenape) at Shackamaxon. The first treaty document in existence is dated July 15, 1682 in which Penn obtained land from Idquahon and several other Leni Lenape leaders. In the next year Penn brokered at least eight additional land transactions with the Delaware. He returned to England in 1684 and didn't return to Pennsylvania until 1699.
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William Cloud was born in 1621 in Devizes, county Wiltshire, England. County Wiltshire is well known for Stonehenge, though that relic is predated by the ancient circles at Avebury and also by the tomb known as the West Kennet Long Barrow, which was built over 5000 years ago. Ancient Wiltshire was also the scene of important battles between the Celts and Saxons, and again later between the Saxons and Danes, culminating in Alfred's final victory at Edington, Wilts., in 878 AD. Its chalk hills lack adequate water and are inhospitable to farming and so it became a region known for its textiles, with Calne having many woolen mills. It was in Calne, in the 1770's, that Dr. Joseph Priestley discovered the element oxygen. Devizes was a "newer" town than the others in Wiltshire, having been founded after the Norman conquest.
William Cloud's purchase of land from William Penn is recorded on October 7, 1682. That land is in what became Concord township, Chester county, Pennsylvania. Though he was advanced in age at the time of his purchase, being 61 years old at the time, he soon gathered his family and left upon the arduous voyage to the New World. Nothing is known as to why he chose to leave Wiltshire, and little is known about the family's political or religious beliefs, though they were apparently Quaker or Friends. The loading of the "Unicorn" was mentioned in the London Gazette of June 22, 1682 under a Bristol dateline of June 17th as ship "now ready to take in Goods and Passengers and to sail the next month [for] Pensilvania (sic) and New-Jersey" those interested in taking passage were directed to apply to Thomas Goldney or John Dudlestone in High Street or to the Master. The London Impartial Mercury noted that in Bristol a ship was "fitting out for Pensylvania on board which 40 Quakers together with their families will imbarq (sic)." It further reported that "tis said that they carry over with them 300 pound-worth of half-pence, and farthings which in that Collony (sic) go current for twice their value and 'tis added that some discontented Presbyterians will Likewise accompany them." Twelve days latter the same paper reported that the ship "full graught (sic) with quakers bound for Pennsylvania is ready to sail."
William Cloud imported a number of items for trading purposes and brought with him an indentured servant, Jacob Willis. [25 August] William Cloude: 4 cwt. wrought iron; 3 pieces qty. 120 yds. Wnglish linen; cwt. lead shot; 3 doz. bodices; 150 made garments; 1 1/2 cwt. brass and copper manufactured;1/2 cwt. pewter; 3 samll saddles; 3 pieces English fustians; 2 cwt. nails; 6 doz. Irish stockings. Bristol Port Book E/190/1144/1
Upon arriving in America, he lived on his land in Concord township and became a member of the Chichester Friends Meeting. "William Cloud (Clowde), Yeoman, from Seene, Wiltshire, was a First Purchaser of 500 Acres, (9 Mo.1681) which were laid out on the south side of Naamans's Creek, Chester County. While his lot in Philadelphia in right of his being an F.P. was warranted and surveyed in 1683. In 1691 Wm. Cloud conveyed 200 acres to his sons Joseph and John Cloud; three years later Joseph conveyed his rights to "his brother John Cloud." In the "Blackwell quitrent rolls" compiled by Receiver General and former Deputy Governor John Blackwell from December 1689-March 1689/90. William Cloud is listed as having 250 taxable acres in Chester County as well as 49 feet of frontage on lot in Philadelphia for which he paid a quitrent of 2s.
The will of William Cloud of Concord was proved in 1702. In it he mentions his sons, William, Jeremiah, Joseph, John and Robert. Of these, Joseph came over as a servant to John Bezer, and received his 50 acres of land in Caln township, where he was living in 1709. (Caln township is still in existence and is also in Chester county, Pennsylvania.) John, William and Jeremiah resided on Naaman's Creek for some time. William Jr. was living in Caln in 1715, and died there in 1720. His eldest son, Joseph, was there in 1719, but probably at Pextang after this (Paxtan Twp. is now in Dauphine county, near Harrisburg, it was part of Lancaster Co. when it was formed in 1729 and then became Dauphine Co. when it was formed). Joseph Sr. married Mary Moore, widow of Richard, and mother of Thomas and John Moore. He died in1739.
His will reads: "I, William Cloud of Concord Sem, in county of Chester, being aged and well stricken in years, do give unto my son WILLIAM CLOUD 100 acres of my purch. land; to my son JEREMIAH CLOUD 200 acres of my purchased land, to sons, JOSEPH, JOHN and ROBERT CLOUD one English shilling if demanded; to my grand daughter, HANNAH CLOUD, daughter of JEREMIAH CLOUD, all the rest of my estate, both real and personal, she to be Executrix. Son Jeremiah to be Overseer." Wits: Robert Pyle, Ann Pyle, Sadie Pyle (Register of Wills, Phila).
One of Isaac Cantrell's descendants stated in 1928 that Isaac first married Talitha Cloud and that she was the granddaughter of William Cloud, of Wilts County England, who bought 500 acres of land from William Penn, came over in 1682, landed at Philadelphia, and after tarrying awhile in or near Philly he went far into the woods, settling at length, in what is now the town of Concord, in Delaware Co PA. His house just across the state line from New Castle Co.
The Cloud Family - Thomas Maxwell Potts --
William Cloud of Calne, Wilshire, England was probably born at least as early as 1630. (Handwritten note to the manuscript gives date of birth as August 7, 1621, son of Robert Cloud and Joan Norys.) He was a member of the Religious Society of Friends. The earliest mention of him that has been noticed is found in Bese's Suffering of Friends, Vol II, Chapter II, page 89,, wherein it is stated that William Cloud with others were at a meeting at Calne, held May 16, 1660, that the meeting "was broken up by a party of Soldiers, who came with Swords drawn, and Pistols cockt, and violently haled out those that were met, and when asked for their Warrant, shewd their Swords, Saying 'This is our Warrent.'"
On 12 mo. 7, 1680, he attended a monthly meeting of Friends, held at Marlborough, as a representative from Calne Meeting; but in 1682 he seems to have come under the censure of Friends for "disorderly walking contrary to the truth". This matters was continued at the next meeting 7 mo. 4, 1682, and no mention of the matter is made in further records.
On September 8 & 9, 1681, William Penn granted to William Cloud, 500 acres of land to be laid out in Pennsylvania. William Cloud and his family came to Pennsylvania in the latter part of 1682. This land was laid and surveryed to the sothward of Naamans Creek, but it was afterward discovered to be in New Castle County, Delware. On July 20, 1713, the same was confirmed unto his heirs by a new patent.
It seems that William Cloud did not himself settle upon this tract of land, but lived in Concord Tonwship, Chester County, PA.
William Cloud, Sr., seems to have been a member of the Chichester Friends Meeting. Though he does not sem to have taken an active part in the meeting, he was a contributor toward the erection of the meeting house and the cost the graveyard about 1685.
Deed (About 1691) William Cloud, Sr of county of Chester to 2 of his sons, John Cloud and Joseph Cloud. William Cloud for 8 pounds in 2 payments the first 4 pounds paid 1 December 1690 anda the second four pounds to be paid on 25 Mach 1691 and for care lodging for his natural life grants to John Cloud and Jospeh Cloud a tract bounded by Naamans Creek containing 200 acres being a tract granted to William Cloud Sr. on 9 September 1681 by William Penn. Signed William Cloud, Sr. Delivered in the presence of John Childs, William Cloud, Francis Chadsey & Jacob Chandler. (Chester County Land Records A1:B124)
William Cloud, Sr., died about 1702. The Will of William Cloud of Concord and County of Chester, "beign aged and well stricken in years," was made 7 mo. 20, 1700, and was proven 25, 1702. It is recorded in the Registers Office at Philadelphia in Will-Book B, page 244. It is however, imperfectly recorded. A reference to the original will on file shows the following bequests:
Impris, makes void all former wills.
2ndly, gives to son William, 100 acres of purchased land.
3rdly, to son Jeremia, 200 acres of purchased land.
4thly, to sons Joseph, John, and Robert, each one shilling.
5thly, I give to my daughter Susannah Lukens liveing in old ingland one ingllish shillling or ye vallue thereof in Coyen Corent, if demanded.
Lastly, to grand-daughter Hannah Cloud, daughter of Jeremiah, the residue and names her as executrix. His son Jeremia to be overseer in trust.
The witnesses were Robert Pyle, Anne Pyle, and Sarah Pyle. The inventory was made October 17, 1702, by John Buckley and Wa: Marten.
Pennsylvania Wills, 1682-1834
CLOUD, WILLIAM, SR. Concord, Chester Co.
July 20, 1700. August 25, 1702. B. 244.
Sons William, Jeremiah, Joseph, John and Robert. Daughter Susannah
Lukens living in England. Granddaughter Hannah, daughter of Jeremiah
Cloud. Witnesses: Robert Pyle, Ann Pyle, Sarah Pyle.
History of Chester County - Futhey & Cope - p. 500 (vol 2)
Cloud, William of Calne, in Wiltshire, England purchased land October 7, 1682, wich was afterwards laid out in Concord township. The will of William Cloud, of Concord, "being aged and well stricken in years," was proved in 1702, in which he mentions his sons, -- William, Jeremiah, Joseph, John, and Robert. Of these Joseph came over as a servant to John Bezer, and received 50 acres of land in Caln township, where he was living in 1709. John, William, and Jeremiah resided on Namaans Creek for some time. William was living in Caln in 1715 and died there in 1720.
William came from Wiltshire, England, with sons Joseph, Robert, Jeremiah, William, Jr. and John. Received a land grant from William Penn, 1681; settled at New Castle, DE 1682; later a member of the Chichester Meeting, Chester Co., PA. Spouse Susan died in England in 1663. Dau. Susanna married a Mr. Lukens in England abt 1673.
Pennsylvania Wills, 1682-1834
CLOUD, WILLIAM, SR. Concord, Chester Co.
July 20, 1700. August 25, 1702. B. 244.
Sons William, Jeremiah, Joseph, John and Robert. Daughter Susannah
Lukens living in England. Granddaughter Hannah, daughter of Jeremiah
Cloud. Witnesses: Robert Pyle, Ann Pyle, Sarah Pyle.
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1621 - Bef 1702 (< 81 years)
