Moses first wife, Lydia Lamborn, wrote letters that have been preserved. These provide information and details of a kind often missing for those who lived in the frontier regions of North America in the 17th century. On the other hand, the origins of Moses are a bit of a mystery to me. Some family trees have him as the son of a Thomas Marshall (1745-1819 and Ann Cox (1745-1798) who lived in Chester County, PA and were members of the New Garden Quaker Meeting. Other accounts, however, indicate that Moses was born in Germany and spent his early years there.
According to an unverified online source, Moses was present at the Quaker wedding of George Lamborn and Martha Marshal on December 2, 1790, and there there are meeting notes in which Moses is listed in a way that suggests he was considered a family member. Specifically, he is described as being “listed on the right side.” I don’t know whether this refers to a seating arrangement or to the layout of written notes. Be that as it may, it seems he was “on the right side” along with George & Martha Lamborn, Robert Lamborn, Thomas & Ann (Cox) Marshall, Robert Lamborn Jr., Hannah Marshall, Susannah Marshall, David Lamborn, Lydia Lamborn, Ann Pennock, and Pamela Marshall. In 1791, Moses married Lydia Lamborn, and the ceremony was performed by a magistrate rather than in a Quaker meeting. Records of the New Garden Monthly Meeting show that Moses and Lydia were disowned by that meeting on February 4, 1792. [1]
By 1793 (perhaps earlier) Moses and Lydia had moved west and were living near the Monogahela River in what was then Fredericktown, Washington County, PA. They had two sons, James and John Lamborn. According to The Genealogy of the Lamborn Family, “Judging from old sayings and records we have come to the conclusion that Moses was a blacksmith and followed the trade for a living. For when Lydia Lamborn (24) was being talked to by her father before her elopement with Moses, she said ‘Father, I wouild rather live with Moses Marshall in a corner of his blacksmith shop than with Ennion Cook in a palace.’ This saying is vouched for in Mary Ann Dawson’s (116) statement, who had often heard the expression when quite young, which is conclusive that he was a blacksmith; and when Robert (2) cried out in the night ‘David, David, (20) Tid’s gone!’ he was sending one blacksmith to chase another, as David was also a blacksmith.” [2]
This same source includes transcriptions of letters written by Lydia, which I’ve reproduced below with only one change to correct a date that was obviously wrong.
18th of the Sixth month, 1773
Dear Father — I may inform thee we unexpectedly received lines by the hand of our neighbor, Lewis, which was a great satisfaction to us, it being the first we had had since we have been so far seperated. I expect in the course of one or towe years more if I live to see you again, I should have come with Jesse Townsen at this time only we are about building and expected if we have good luck to live in it this fawl. I can say with safety, I beleive we have a prospect of doing very well hear if we are industress and careful. We have now got three prentiss and a very great plenty of work. I believe we might have work for as many more. Sister Parmela lives with us and follows the trade, and as for myselfe I never was heartier in my life than I have been since I came to this contery, and am very well contented, I wish for my brother George hear, for he might doe so much better hear than he will their; dont think it is because I am hear myselfe, far be it from me to even wish for any of you if I did not think it to your advantage. I conclude with my affectionate love to thee and all my friends and relations, and among the rest Old Eve. This from thy daughter,
LYDIA MARSHALL
Our little Sune grows finely; he runs about.
Frederick Town, Washington Co.
The 4th of the Eighth month, 1793
Dear Sister. — I may inform thee I received thy letter by Cousin Samuel, which they live about eight miles off. I have been much confined at home this some time, for my little boy has been very poorly this some time, but is now giting better, and the rest of the famely is all well; as for myselfe I never was heartier in my life than I have been since I came to this contery. We live in a pleasant place close by the river called Monnongahala, and a great number of boats goes to Caintuck and other places on this river; and I may inform thee that Esther Towsen is married to one of the name of Morgan, and lives in this town, and the keep taverin. She was in hear this morning and desired me to send her kind love to thee and famely. Have not much more to ad at this time. I conclude with my affectionate love to thee and brother, with thy little children. This from thy sister.
LYDIA MARSHALL
Frederick, Eight month 24th, 1793.
Respected Sister — I embrace this opportunity to inform thee we got safe to our journey’s end with much less diffeculty then I expected. The child stude the journey admirable, was very good all the way. I may say I never lost one our’s sleep with it since it was born. Not time to write much more at present. I conclude with my kind love to all my relations as if named. Inform Sister Susanna than I heard from the Widow Nicles, and she is well, and likewise David Grave I seen; they live about eight miles of. Give my kind love to unkel Francis and his famely. I conclude with very kind love to thee. I expect to have another opertunity and shall rite more frely.
LYDIA MARSHALL
After Lydia died, Moses married Mary Adams. Between 1799 and 1827, the had 15 known children: Moses, Lydia, Joseph, Robert, Albert, Benjamin, Charles, Lewis, Thomas, Gallatin, William, George, Mary, Eliza and Permelia. Sometime around 1810, Moses and Mary moved to Columbiana County, Ohio. [2]
[1] This information is from a message sent on October 14, 2005 by Allan Gillignham to the RootsWeb PABUCKS mailing list. At the time when this post was first written, that message could be seen at http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/PABUCKS/2005-10/1129390536. That URL is no longer valid. However, as of January 2021, that message can be seen at https://mlarchives.rootsweb.com/listindexes/emails?listname=&thread=18453534.
[2] Gladden, Sanford Charles (1969) The Durst and Darst Families of America, Vol II. Original publisher unknown. Republished 2013 by the Boulder Genealogical Society. Preview of p. 679 with information about Moses Marshall at https://books.google.com/books?id=lmCiBQAAQBAJ : accessed September 19, 2015.