But I have not found any record of immigration for him. So his origins are shrouded in mystery. There is a family legend that every Obney is America today is descended from this man. If you are one of them, I'd love to hear from you!
Our very first official record of James Obney is the 1781 Tax Exoneration List for Robinson Township, Washington County Pennsylvania. He also is listed on the 1786, 1787, 1788 and 1789 versions of the tax lists. He is listed as a single man, owning a horse. There is no record of him ever owning any property.
However, our James and his horse did militia service, he is listed in militia records for Westmoreland and Washington County. He went on the ill-fated Sandusky Expedition in May of 1782, in Captain William Bruce's Company:
Reproduced from Pennsylvania Archives Series 6, Volume 2
There are also records of his militia service stretching from 1782 through 1792. He served as a Ranger of The Frontier (see PA Archives Third Series, Vol XXIII, pages 198-220), which meant that he was one of the brave men who patrolled the wilderness areas along the frontier and between forts and blockhouses, looking to prevent attacks on the settlers by marauding indians.
James Obney appears on the first US Federal Census in 1790 as 'James Abbeny', in that portion of northern Washington County that was taken in 1788 to form Allegheny County. He is listed with his wife, Susannah Morris Obney. They had no children yet, as they were married February 9, 1790.
In 1791, a petition was circulated by the inhabitants of Allegheny County, and our James signed as 'James Obeny'.
On the 1800 US Federal Census, James is listed in Fayette Township, Allegheny County, in an area that is probably around where Pinkerton Run is located, along the border of present-day North Fayette Township and Collier Township. This what Pinkerton Run Hollow looks like today:
By 1800, James and Susannah had a family of 4 boys and 2 girls: James born about 1791, John in 1793, Elizabeth in 1795, the twins Thomas and Susannah in 1796, and William in 1799.
In 1810, the family was listed in Robinson Township, Allegheny County Pennsylvania. I believe they were in the same location as the 1800 census, only the border had changed as townships were created and /or merged. They are shown now with 5 sons and 2 daughters, son Richard McClure Obney being born in 1806.
James Obney died on Feb 28, 1811. This fact was recorded in his widow Susannah's pension application in later years. I have not yet been able to locate his burial place, if we were ever able to do so, James Obney would be eligible for a veteran's Revolutionary war headstone, based on his militia service.
James Obney was my greatx5 grandfather.
Feel free to send me an email, jdynbttn@gmail.com
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