My Genealogy Hound

THE OGILBY FAMILY. The Ogilbys of Pennsylvania are of Quaker ancestry and of English nationality. On coming to America they located near Philadelphia and lived there through several generations. In that part of the State, on Feb. 3, 1775, a Joseph Ogilby married a Susannah Martin, and they as parents furnish a starting point for this biography. This Joseph Ogilby was a member of the Carpenter’s Hall Association of Philadelphia, and his name is found among the list of members that hangs in the main room of this very historic building. He was elected as a member of said association in 1773 and remained in same until his death.

Joseph and Susannah (Martin) Ogilby had issue as follows: Justinian, born Dec. 10, 1776: John, born Dec. 16, 1778; Joseph, born Nov. 28, 1780; Joshua, born July 27, 1782, and Rebecca, born July 18, 1785. This Ogilby progenitor died on July 12, 1809, presumably near Philadelphia. His wife, Susannah (Martin) Ogilby, died at the home of her son. Joseph Ogilby, at Lancaster, Pa., on Sept. 27, 1823, aged nearly eighty-six years.

Joseph Ogilby, the third son of Joseph and Susannah (Martin) Ogilby, was born on Nov. 28, 1780, at Winchester, Va. The fact of his having been born at Winchester was due to the following circumstances: His father and mother were sojourning in that vicinity for the benefit of the latter’s health and while doing so Joseph Ogilby became interested in some important improvements — according to a certain tradition he was architect of the first Winchester court house — which required his remaining there for a time. It was while his parents were residing there temporarily that the second Joseph Ogilby was born. Soon afterward the family returned to Philadelphia, or rather its suburbs, where the senior Ogilby had a country place. On March 13, 1804, the second Joseph Ogilby married Margaret Comly, a member of a prominent Quaker family. She was a daughter of Joseph and Catharine (Willet) Comly, and was born near Philadelphia, Aug. 15, 1780, and died in that city Dec. 4. 1857, at the home of a daughter, Mrs. Mary Edwards. After his marriage Joseph Ogilby settled at Lancaster, where he became prominent in business affairs and for more than thirty years was cashier of a branch of the United States Bank located in that city, at the corner of Prince and Orange streets. During the war of 1812 the treasure of the United States was secreted in the vaults of this bank, being hauled there in wagons from Washington, D. C. The second Joseph Ogilby died on Feb. 17, 1840, and is buried at Lancaster.

Joseph and Margaret (Comly) Ogilby had issue as follows: Willet, Charles, Susan, Joshua, Joseph, Mary, Samuel and Edward Franklin. Besides these there were four sons who died in infancy.