Edward and Rebecca Bishop

There was a long-running boundary dispute between the colonies of Delaware and Maryland, a dispute not settled until 1775. Before then, the approximately twelve miles on the southern side of Sussex County, DE was considered to be Worcester County, MD. Both before and after, families such as the Brasures and Bishops could be found on both sides of the boundary line.

If we assume that Edward was at least 16 years old when mustered into the Continental Army on 1 May 1781, with the 1800 Census indicating a birth year between 1755-1774, and the 1810 a year before 1765, his birth year must have been between 1755-1765. According to one report, he came to the Colonies from Oxford, England.

He was mustered into the Continental Army on 1 May 1781 in Worcester County, MD.[1]

8 Jul 1785: Rebecca Stevenson posted her bond as administrator of the James Stevenson estate in Worcester County, MD.[2] The marriage of Edward and Rebecca must have occurred between this bond and 23 Jul 1786, when they both submitted the inventory. There are no surviving records of Worcester County marriages before 14 Apr 1795; all were burned. At least one researcher, Elizabeth Morgan Gray, believes that Rebecca's maiden name was also Stevenson/Stephenson, that she was the daughter of Joseph and Rachel Stephenson.

23 Jul 1786: He and wife Rebecca submitted an inventory of the estate of James Stevenson in Worcester County.[3]

Edward is listed in Reconstructed 1790 Census of Delaware, in Baltimore Hundred, Sussex County.[4]

1800 Census, Sussex County, DE: Edward was listed with 1 male under 10, 2 10-16, 1 26-45; 2 females under 10, 1 10-16, 1 16-26, 1 26-45, 1 over 45.[5] Was the 16-26 female the daughter of Rebecca and James Stevenson? Was Edward's mother or mother-in-law the over 45 female? Also appearing on the Sussex Census were Jacob and William Bishop, the latter 26-45.

1810 Census, Sussex County, DE: Edward was enumerated with 1 male 16-26, 1 26-45, 1 over 45; 1 female under 10, 2 10-15, 1 over 45.[6] The younger males aren't the correct ages. Joshua would have been age 21, Littleton 20, and Ebe 15. Is this perhaps not our Edward and Rebecca?

1820 Census, Baltimore Hundred, Sussex County, DE: The Edward Bushop household consisted of 1 male over 45; 1 female 10-16, 1 over 45.

c. 4 November 1826: Edward Bishop died intestate in Sussex County, the estate being probated on 11 May 1830.[7]

14 Mar 1836: Son Joshua bequeathed Good Success in Baltimore Hundred, Sussex County, to his son James Henry Bishop with the condition that James Henry pay his grandmother, Rebecca Bishop, for the tract.[8]

Children of Edward and Rebecca Bishop: Five are listed in the probate proceedings for Edward's estate.

Littleton Robbins Bishop (1790 - 1 Dec 1860; m. 1st Margarette J. McGee, m. 2nd Hulda Blades.

1840 Census, Worcester County, MD: Dolly Hudson was enumerated with 3 males 5-10, 1 10-15, 3 15-20, 1 20-30; 1 female 10-15, 1 30-40, 1 40-50. They're listed between [sister-in-law] Comfort Bishop and Arthur Townsend, close to Jesse Brasier.[9]

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Any information is only as reliable as its source. Evaluate the following sources accordingly.

[1] Maryland Historical Society, Archives of Maryland: Muster Rolls and Other Records of Service of Maryland Troops in the American Revolution 1775-1783, p. 372

[2] Dryden, Worcester County, Maryland Administrators Bonds and Inventories 1783-1790, p. 25

[3] Dryden, p. 25

[4] DeValinger, Reconstructed 1790 Census of Delaware, p. 57

[5] Jackson, Delaware 1800 Census, p. 12, from original p. 394

[6] Sussex County 1810 Census, p. 430

[7] Edith Pierre, from Sussex County Vol. A59, p. 179-180

[8] Dryden, Worcester County, Maryland Wills, p. 9, from F60-61