The paper trail goes only as far back as John Calhoon; our first ancestor in this line to arrive in America. His wife’s name is given as Janet in his will. There is weak evidence for her maiden name being Walker, and stronger genetic evidence that there is Walker ancestry in the family. In relation to Rev. Thomas Calhoon it is noted that “The grandfather and grandmother of Mr. Calhoon emigrated from Ireland, and settled in Pennsylvania.” It follows that his great grandparents were also among the Scots-Irish seeking respite from the struggles of British controlled Northern Ireland in the early 1700s.
William Henry Egle, State Librarian of Pennsylvania, records in Notes and queries: Chiefly relating to Interior Pennsylvania, Third Series, Volume 1, (1887), that there were three Calhoun families present before independence in Paxtang, PA. This sort of jibes with what was noted by David Thomas Calhoun that “3 C. bro’s went from Penn to S.C..” The family of James Calhoun went south and settled in Virginia. William and his family stayed in Pennsylvania for several generations. There is a possibility that our family at some point lived in South Carolina, however, direct evidence shows only a southern movement through Virginia and then North Carolina and beyond. There is, at present, no unequivocal evidence that they were brothers.
John Calhoon died in Pennsylvania. His will clearly documents his three children, George, Janet (married Andrew Lycan), and Rebecca (married Samuel Simpson). The text of his will is in dialect, though not written by him; he only leaves his mark. To his son he leaves his clothes “with ye half of a Grea Wab”. I dearly wish I knew what a “Grea Wab” was and how one could receive only half of one.
JOHN CALHOON. Deceased. I, John Calhoon of ye Township of Paxton and County of Lancaster being week and seek of Boddy yte and perfect Mind and Memory and Caling to mind ye mortality of ye body and ye it is appointed for all men once to die and after ye Judgement. Therefore I do commit my Soul to God who gave it and my body to be buried in a Christian and Defent Manner at ye discretion of my Executors Nothin Douting but I shall recover ye saim again at ye Resurection and last day and as for what worldly goods ye Lord has blessed me with I do give and bequith in ye following manner and form. First I do give and bequeath to Janet Calhoon my Well Beloved Wife my house and Improvement with all other goods and Chattels. Secondly I do give and bequeath unto George Calhoon my Beloved Son of my Body Close with ye half of a Grea Wab. Thirdly I do give and bequith to Jenet lechins [sic] Twinty Shillings Also I do give and bequith to Rebecca Simpson Twenty Shillings. Likewise I do Constitute and ordain Timotha Shaw and Allexander McElheney Executors of this my last Will and Testament Revoking all other Wills whatsoever as Witness my hand and Seal this 20th day of September in ye year of our Lord God 1754. his Wittnesses her John JO Calhoon Joseph Shearer Agnefs W McIlheney mark mark Lancaster FS. November the 6th 1754 Before me the Subscriber and Robert Thompson, Adam Simon Kuhn and Thomas Holliday Esquires three of the Justices of the Peace for the County Aforesaid called to my afsistance to decide the matter of the Caveat entered in my Office by Samuel Simpson and George Calhoon and after hearing the parties it was Ordered that the said Will be proved and that Letters Testamentary be granted thereon. Whereupon Jofeph Sharer and Agnefs McIlheney the Witnefses to the said Will were called and Sworn and on thier Corporal Oaths did dispose and say that they were present and saw and heard John Calhoon the Testator with named Sign Seal Publish and declare the within writing as and for his last Will and Testament and that at the doing thereof he was of Sound and siposing Mind Memory and Understanding according to the best of their Knowledge Observation and Belief. Edw. Shippen D. Reg’r. BE IT REMEMBERED that on the 6th day of November 1754 the last Will and Testament of John Calhoon, Deceased, was proved in due form of law and on the 5 th day of December Probate and Letters Testamentary were granted unto Timothy Shaw and Alexander McElheney (the Executors named in the said Will) they being first duly qualified well and truly to Administer the said Decedants Estate and bring an Inventory thereof into the Registers Office at Lancaster on or before the fifth day of January next. And also to render an account when thereto lawfully required. Given under the Seal of the said Office. Edw. Shippen D. Register. — transcribed from copy at Lancaster County Archives