Abraham Bush

On September 9th, 1657 an order was recorded in the Lancaster County Court to issue a certificate to Thomas Powell for the transport of Abraham Bush, Peter Elmore, George Spencer, and Sara Bannister to the colony. Abraham appears to have worked for Powell for a period of time as an indentured servant in order to repay the cost of his transport.

Sometime around the end of his indenture Abraham married a woman named Martha (possibly Merriman) and had several children. In July of 1663 Richard Merriman gifted 200 acres of land to Abraham at the head of Morattico Creek with the condition that the land be passed to Abraham's son, Daniel Bush. It is speculated that Merriman made the gift because Martha was his daughter.

Abraham and Peter Elmore must have done well for themselves during their indenture because in April of 1664 they received a joint patent for 300 acres of land on the north side of Lancaster County for the transport of six people to the colony. The names of their headrights were not listed.

Daniel Bush apparently died before 1668 because Abraham sold the land and Martha gave her consent on the deed acknowledging the inheritance. Martha Bush died about 1669 and Abraham remarried to the widow Ann Alexander. Ann already had at least one son named William, who was named in Abraham's will.

Whether Richard Merriman was his former father-in-law or not, Abraham continued a relationship with him and in 1677 the two were jointly awarded a patent for 437 acres for the transport of nine people to the colony.

In March of 1679 Abraham Bush petitioned the County Court for tax relief. His request was granted because "the saide Bush being upwards of sixty yeres of age and haveing a greate charge to mainteine and noe servt. to worke for hym..."

Abraham wrote his will in February of 1687 and it was proven that August. He left his plantation land to his wife and instructed it should go to his youngest son, Isaac, at her death. He left 75 acres each to sons George, Abraham and John and another parcel of land to his son Thomas. He directed that his livestock, horses and household items be divided between his wife, sons and daughters.

In the name of God Amen. This being the last Will and Testament of my Estate as followeth,vizt. First, I doe give unto my loveing Wife, An Bush,this Plantacon I now live on and the Neck of Land thereto belonging for her life time and after her decease it to fall unto my youngest Sonne Isack. And I doe alsoe give unto my Sonne, George Bush and my Sonne,Abraham Bush,seventy five acres of land a peice lying all together joyneing the land of Job Hill up towards the Dry Bottom. I doe alsoe give unto my Sonne,John Bush,seventy five acares of land joyneing upon the Branch and the Neck I left my Wife, and if my Sonne, Isack,should dye without leaveing lawfull issue behind him the land to fall unto my Daughter, Charity Bush, after her Mothers deceased,and after the decease of my Daughter,Charity,to fall to my Daughter, Elizabeth Bush,and after the decease of my Daughter, Elizabeth Bush, the sd. lande to fall unto the next heire: Alsoe I doe give unto my Sonne, Thomas Bush, one Neck of Land comonly called Peumen Neck unto him and his heires for ever. But is in case the ad. Thomas Bush should die without the leaveing of lawfull issue,the land to fall unto ye next heire: Alsoe I doe order it thus that if in all my Sonnes die without leaveing any lawfull issue behind them, then the whole divident of land to be equally divided between William Alexander and my Daughters. And if my Daughters dye without leaveing any issue then the whole dividend of land to dedound to him forever, and his heires forever. Item. I doe order it then that my Sonne, George,shall stay and work with and for his Mother two yeares and work for her and then he is for himself,alsoe my Sonne Abraham,work for his Mother three yeares then he shall be himselfe: Further, I dispose of my Cattle as followeth, vizt.,First I doe give unto my Wife, one cow called Starr and three steeres & a bull. And Alsoe I doe give my Daughter, Marsi Bush, one Cow and all her female increase forever. Alsoe two pewter dishes and for all the rest of my Pewter unto my Wife. Alsoe all the other household moveables alsoe my Wife is to have all the Bull Calves of my Sons Cattle. The time they stay with her for her use: Alsoe, I doe give my Sonne, Thomas,one cow called Liley and her increase forever. Alsoe to my sone, George, one cow called Cherry with all her female increase for ever. Alsoe to my Sone, John,called by the name of Mad Braines one Cow and all her female increase for ever. Alsoe my old white mare named Bess unto my Wife & increase for ever and her heirs. Alsoe to my Sone, George, one Sorrell Mare called Jone, shee and all her increase for ever, excepting the first fold the sd. Mare bringeth to good bee it horse or mare & that for my Sonne, Thomas Bush. Also my Sonne, John, one black horse called Fanney. Alsoe unto my daughter,Marsy Bush,one bay Mare called Bonney,shee & all her increase for ever. Alsoe unto my Sonne, Abraham, one Roane mare with a bald face called Old Jeane & all her increase for ever. Alsoe I doe order it thus that my Daughter, Marsy, shall stay with her Mother the space of three years except she marryes in the sd. space, if not maryed in the sd. space shee to be cleared at the three yeares end. As Wittness my hand & seale this fourteenth day of February 1686/7.

Ann Bush did not live long after the death of Abraham. She wrote a will in August of 1689 and it was proven the following February by her son, William Alexander.