John Lucas Platted Lucasville, But Who Is the Town's Namesake?

William Lucas

We in the Lucasville Area Historical Society have been busy working on events to commemorate the Bicentennial of Lucasville in 2019. We acknowledge John Lucas platted the town in 1819, thus establishing the village of Lucasville. And, in fact, many members of the Lucas family came to Ohio from Virginia to establish residence shortly before that time.

Now, I realize I am a little slow at times. And, I understand that John is considered the founder of the town. However, I always assumed that Lucasville was named for the founder, John Lucas … that is, until I read the following entry in Henry T. Bannon's volume Stories Old and Often Told: Chronicles of Scioto County, (1927):

“Lucasville – Named for Captain William Lucas, pioneer”

If this is correct, and I cannot verify any dispute to this assertion, then Lucasville owes its moniker to a captain and his lady, but not to Captain John, who served in the War of 1812. Instead, Captain John Lucas evidently named the town in honor of his father and his mother, William Lucas and Susannah Barnes.

Now, in order to establish the origin of the true “Lucas” ville, Ohio, and its roots, one must follow generations of three Edwards.

So, I must digress …

*Historical Note – After the restoration of the British monarchy in 1660, there was a wave of violent attacks and imprisonment of Quakers, owing in part to Charles II’s redoubled efforts to quell any sedition or heresy following the bloody Civil War and ensuing Interregnum. The Quaker movement, which had grown substantially since the early days of its founder, George Fox, sought a solution involving William Penn’s recent purchase of land along the east bank of the Delaware River (then called the South River) in the newly formed colony of New Jersey.

In 1677, the Kent was the first of four ships to sail from Kingston up Hull to what later became the city of Burlington, NJ, laden with Quaker settlers. That first winter, the first make-shift meeting house was made from the ships’ sails at Burlington, and soon after the village of Crosswicks was settled 15 miles to the north.

I can say with earnest reflection that the Lucas family – whose American roots begin with Robert Lucas from Deverill, Wiltshire, England – has a strong, distinguished character. It was Robert who ventured to sail for America.

Robert Lucas, one of the four sons of David Lucas (birth date circa 1594) and Amanda McHan (birth date circa 1598), was born in Deverill, England (circa 1630).

Robert Lucas arrived at Philadelphia on April 4, 1679, in the "Elizabeth and Mary" of Weymouth. Robert married Elizabeth Cowgill (date and location unknown). Robert's wife arrived in July 1680 with her eight children – John, Giles, Edward, Robert, Elizabeth, Rebecca, Mary and Sarah – in the ship "Content" of London, Wm. Johnson, master.

Robert Lucas was among the founders of Bucks County. He received a grant of 177 acres of land on the west side of the Delaware from Edmond Andross, Governor General under the Duke of York, and it was confirmed by patent from William Penn on May 3, 1684.

* Historical Note – Bucks County is one of the three original counties created by colonial proprietor William Penn in 1682. It is situated north of Philadelphia and bounded by the Delaware River to the southeast. Washington Crossing Historic Park marks the point where George Washington’s army crossed the river to engage in a pivotal attack during the Revolutionary War. Pennsbury Manor, colonist William Penn’s estate, is downriver.

Robert Lucas was a Justice of Upland Court, 1681; member of Provincial Assembly, 1683, 1687 and 1688; and a member of the first grand jury in Pennsylvania, summoned 3mo. 2, 1683.

Robert died in 1704 in Bucks County, then British America. Elizabeth died circa 1712.

Edward Lucas, the son of Robert Lucas and Elizabeth Cowgill, was born on May 14, 1659. 

The land of Robert Lucas was then devised to his son, Edward Lucas.

Edward married Bridget Scott of Widington, Essex, England, on July 3, 1700, at the house of Thomas Lambert, in New Jersey, under the care of Chesterfield Friends' Meeting.

Edward later became Supervisor of Highways for Falls Township in 1730. The couple had eight children. Edward and Bridget's children were Mary (Lucas) Margerum, Mercy (Lucas) Bailey, Edward Lucas II and Ann (Lucas) Hutchinson. Edward died May 4, 1740, in Falls Township, Bucks, Pennsylvania. Bridget died June 21, 1748.

* Historical Note – The Chesterfield Meeting, also known as the Crosswicks Meeting, was settled in 1680. The first log meeting house was built in 1692. The year 1684 also marked the sale of six acres to Frances Davenport, a Crosswicks Quaker and New Jersey Assemblyman, who gave the property for use by the Quakers. This six-acre tract is still owned by the Quakers.

The second meeting house, of brick, was built in 1706. Thomas Chalkley, a Friends minister who had recently emigrated to Pennsylvania, spoke to a "very large meeting" held under the trees at Crosswicks. There Edward Andrews was "mightily reached" and in time built up Friends in the area of Little Egg Harbour. (Rufus M. Jones, The Quakers in the American Colonies.1911), 388.)

During the Revolutionary War, the meeting house was used to house troops from both sides, with the understanding that the soldiers were to keep the meeting free for Sunday worship by the Quakers. the meeting house was used briefly as a barracks by the Hessians. During a skirmish at the North Crosswicks bridge, a cannon ball fired by the rebel troops was imbedded in the meeting house wall.

At the 1827 Separation, the Hicksites retained possession of the meeting house. The Orthodox first built a frame meeting house in 1831 on Ward Avenue in Chesterfield, replaced by a brick one two years later. It is now the home of the Chesterfield Township Historical Society. (“300 Years of Quaker Meetings in Burlington County, NJ” – mimeographed pamphlet prepared by Burlington County Library.)

Edward Lucas II, the son of Edward Lucas and Bridget Scott, was born on December 24, 1710.

Edward II married Mary Darke, who was not Quaker. The marriage was not approved of and Edward II was disowned for marrying out of unity. Sometime prior to 1740, Edward II and Mary moved to northern Virginia where Edward had purchased land from Lord Fairfax.

The farm in Virginia was located at Pack Horse Ford, about three miles from the settlement of Mecklenberg (Shepherdstown) on the road to Charles Town (now West Virginia). It contained three springs on what was later called “Lucas Run” or “Rattlesnake Run.” The family were early settlers of the region.

Mary Darke died in 1743, leaving four small children (One – John Lucas – had died in infancy in 1736).) The surviving chilren were Elizabeth Lucas (age 8),, Edward Lucas (age 5), Robert Lucas (age 3), and William Joseph Darke Lucas (age 1). Edward II would marry two more times before his death in 1777, in Jefferson County, Virginia (now West Virginia).

Elizabeth Corn (Corne? Korne?) married Edward II widower of Mary Darke, about 1744. She lived until at least February 17, 1765, when her youngest child John Lucas was born. Elizabeth and Edward became the parents of twelve more children, born in Jefferson county. (12 seems exceedingly high to this author.)

William (Joseph Darke) Lucas, the son of Edward Lucas II and Mary Darke, was born January 18, 1742.

William Lucas served in the French and Indian War under William Darke (later General) and in 1776, William Lucas became a first lieutenant in Captain William Morgan's company of volunteers that reinforced Washington in New Jersey. The men enlisted for three months, but a request by General Washington was “cheerfully granted.” Early in March 1777, the group was defeated by a superior force of the enemy at the Battle of Piscataway, New Jersey. Shortly after, their term of service having expired, the volunteers were honorable discharged.

According to his contemporaries, Lucas was praised for his bravery, coolness and "true moral courage.” He was said to be “the bravest of the brave.” Colonel Morrow often said that “for coolness, self-possession, and true moral courage he had no equal in his regiment.”

*Historical Note – Captain William Morgan’s Company fought in the engagement against the British in March 1777 at Piscataway. The following describes the action:

“Our company had voluntarily entered the service for three months. All but three or four of them stayed three or four more days over that time, as Gen. Washington, by a messenger to the company had requested us to stay eight days longer and as the captain was then absent I spoke to the company pressing them upon their honor not to leave us before the morning of the fourth day, which most of them complied with.

“In that three month’s tour we were stationed near at the enemy’s quarters, and kept them from pillaging and foraging as far as we were able. In New Jersey in the winter of ’77 early in March had a short though sharp conflict with the enemy which was then called the battle of Piscataway under the command of Col. Thurston, (I think Charles Thurston) where we were overpowered by vastly superior numbers prepared for us with cavalry, infantry and artillery.”

(Danske Dandridge. “Historic Shepherdstown.” The Michie Company, Printers, Charlottesville, Virginia. 1910.)

William married Susannah Barnes, sister-in-law to James Rumsey, whose steamship experiments took place on the Potomic River, at Shepherdstown in Virginia (present-day West Virginia.) William and Susannah had five children: General William Lucas, Jr.; Susannah Buckles; Robert Lucas, Governor of Ohio and First Governor of Iowa Territory; John Lucas, Founder of Lucasville; and Samuel Lucas.

William built a large a large stone, L-shaped, 2-story house near Shepherdstown, known as "Linden Spring." The house is on the National Register of Historic Places and is significant as the childhood home of Robert Lucas (1781-1853), Governor of Ohio and first territorial governor of Iowa.

In 1781 William became a captain who organized for protection against the Indians. William married Susannah Barnes (also known as “Parker'), sister-in-law of James Rumsey, the noted American inventor and pioneer in steam engineering and navigation.

Around 1800, William moved to Scioto County, Ohio, William's wife, Susannah, died May 4, 1809, in Scioto County, Ohio, and was buried in the Lucasville Cemetery. William died July 2, 1814, in Lucasville and was buried with her.

* Historical Note – William Lucas's brother Edward also had a very famous grandson named “William.”

William Lucas (November 30, 1800 – August 29, 1877) was born at "Cold Spring"near Shepherdstown, Virginia (now West Virginia). He attended the village schools and Jefferson College at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. He went on to graduate from Tucker Law School in 1825, being admitted to the bar the same year.

Lucas commenced practice in Shepherdstown before moving to Charles Town, Virginia (now West Virginia) in 1830 and continued practice there as well as engaging in horticultural pursuits.

Lucas was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates in 1838 and 1839 and was elected as a Democrat to the United States House of Representatives in 1838, serving from 1839 to 1841 and being unsuccessful for reelection in 1840. He was elected back to the House in 1842, serving again from 1843 to 1845 and once again being unsuccessful for reelection in 1844.

Afterwards, Lucas resumed practicing law and engagements in horticultural pursuits and was a delegate to the Virginia Constitutional Convention in 1850 and 1851. He was one of four delegates elected from the northern Valley delegate district made up of his home district of Jefferson County as well as Berkeley and Clarke Counties.

William Lucas died at his estate called "Rion Hall" in Jefferson County, West Virginiaon August 29, 1877 and was interred in Zion Episcopal Churchyard in Charles Town, West Virginia.

Lucasville

I guess “Lucasville” as in “Lucasville, Ohio” could be a generic name for a family of American settlers; however, I am writing this to report that one source confirms that the town was named for Captain William Lucas. Perhaps someone will find research that denies this claim. Please inform me of any needed postcripts to this entry. From England to Pennsylvania to Virginia to Ohio – the road of one family to Scioto County is quite storied and full of ancestors who made their mark on history.

The American Lucas Thread to Lucasville

Robert Lucas and Elizabeth Cowgill – Edward Lucas and Bridget Scott – Edward Lucas II and Mary Darke – William Joseph Darke Lucas and Susannah Barnes (namesakes of Lucasville)