Bell Anthology - Dorsey Pentecost

The Raymond M. Bell Anthology

When Did Dorsey Pentecost Die?
One of the leading citizens in southwestern Pennsylvania during the Revolutionay period was Dorsey Pentecost. He is first listed in Frederick County, Virginia in 1768. In 1769 he acquired land in Rostraver Township, Westmoreland County, and likely moved there with his wife, Catherine Beeler, soon after their 1770 marriage. In 1777 he moved to what is now Linden, North Strabane Township, Washington County. He represented Washington County in the Supreme Executive Council 1781-1783, and was judge 1783-1786. His name appears in many civil and military records. He was involved in land transactions from Illinois to Virginia. A full account of his life is given in Mary A. F. Diener's THE HONORABLE DORSEY PENTECOST, ESQUIRE, Fresno, California 1978. She was unable to find data on Dorsey's death. Best evidence is that he died in Kentucky in the spring of 1793. In the 1790 census he was living in (North) Strabane Township. On November 4-1790 the sheriff sold his farm to Levi Hollingsworth, Pentecost's land partner. When the 1793 tax list was made about December 1792, Dorsey was taxed for 1500 acres, 4 horses, 2 cows. The last of many civil actions involving Dorsey Pentecost is dated March 1793, when his attorney appeared for him. On March 20-1793 Dorsey wrote from Jefferson County, Kentucky to Governor Isaac Shelby. When Thomas Scott, Methodist circuit rider, preached in July 1793 at Catherine Pentecost's, she was a widow. The farm is listed in her name in the 1794 tax list. Absalom Baird bought the farm from Levi Hollingsworth and on February 17-1795 sold it to Catherine with a life interest. At her death it was to go to the children. In the 1796 tax list Catherine paid taxes on 1 house, 5 cabins, 2 horses, 1 cow. The 1798 "window Tax" shows her house to be log, 35 x 16, 1 1/2 stories, 3 windows, 12 panes. `Letters of administration on the estate of Dorsey Pentecost were issued September 15-1806 to son, Joseph. The time lag was not unusual. Widow Catherine Pentecost died December 15-1829, aged about 80. Dorsey Pentecost's grandson in the Draper Papers (10E107) said that his grandfather died in Kentucky. We can surmise that Dorsey on a business trip to Kentucky died there in the spring of 1793.`

When Did Dorsey Pentecost Die?

One of the leading citizens in southwestern Pennsylvania during the Revolutionay period was Dorsey Pentecost. He is first listed in Frederick County, Virginia in 1768. In 1769 he acquired land in Rostraver Township, Westmoreland County, and likely moved there with his wife, Catherine Beeler, soon after their 1770 marriage. In 1777 he moved to what is now Linden, North Strabane Township, Washington County. He represented Washington County in the Supreme Executive Council 1781-1783, and was judge 1783-1786. His name appears in many civil and military records. He was involved in land transactions from Illinois to Virginia. A full account of his life is given in Mary A. F. Diener's THE HONORABLE DORSEY PENTECOST, ESQUIRE, Fresno, California 1978. She was unable to find data on Dorsey's death. Best evidence is that he died in Kentucky in the spring of 1793. In the 1790 census he was living in (North) Strabane Township. On November 4-1790 the sheriff sold his farm to Levi Hollingsworth, Pentecost's land partner. When the 1793 tax list was made about December 1792, Dorsey was taxed for 1500 acres, 4 horses, 2 cows. The last of many civil actions involving Dorsey Pentecost is dated March 1793, when his attorney appeared for him. On March 20-1793 Dorsey wrote from Jefferson County, Kentucky to Governor Isaac Shelby. When Thomas Scott, Methodist circuit rider, preached in July 1793 at Catherine Pentecost's, she was a widow. The farm is listed in her name in the 1794 tax list. Absalom Baird bought the farm from Levi Hollingsworth and on February 17-1795 sold it to Catherine with a life interest. At her death it was to go to the children. In the 1796 tax list Catherine paid taxes on 1 house, 5 cabins, 2 horses, 1 cow. The 1798 "window Tax" shows her house to be log, 35 x 16, 1 1/2 stories, 3 windows, 12 panes.

Letters of administration on the estate of Dorsey Pentecost were issued September 15-1806 to son, Joseph. The time lag was not unusual. Widow Catherine Pentecost died December 15-1829, aged about 80. Dorsey Pentecost's grandson in the Draper Papers (10E107) said that his grandfather died in Kentucky. We can surmise that Dorsey on a business trip to Kentucky died there in the spring of 1793.

This article was transcribed by Jean Suplick Matuson of Plano, TX in August 1998.

Raymond M. Bell Anthology Genealogy in Washington Co., PA

Published with permission of Raymond M. Bell.