384–385. James Galbraith was born in Ulster, Ireland, in 1703, and died in East Pennsboro, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, on June 11, 1786. Elizabeth Bertram was born in Newcastle-on-Tyne, Pennsylvania, in 1713, and died in East Pennsboro Township, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, on February 2, 1799. They were both buried in Derry Church graveyard. They were married in Christ Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, April 6, 1734. She took the name Elizabeth Galbraith. He is the son of James and Rebecca (Chambers) Galbraith. She is the daughter of William, (Rev.) and Jane (Gillespie) Bertram. They had eight children:
| i. | William Galbraith was born in 1736. He married Margaret Buchanan in Carlisle in 1754. She was the daughter of Robert and Jane Buchanan. From p. 26, sect. 2,of The Galbraith Families of Donegal... (GFD): William and Margaret were married by John Casper Stoever, Rev., an itinerate Lutheran minister, despite their being Scotch-Irish Presbyterian. In March, 1754, the Orphans Court in the York Co. courthouse (James lived there until 1761) is record of James acting as guardian for his son and daughter-in-law, William and Margaret, since they were underage. Therefore, their marriage was likely an "social necessity". In 1755, James, thru a friendship, got his son (which had to be William because of his age) the job of deputy surveyor in Cumberland Co. Later York Co. records show Galbraith deeds involving both Bertram (of Lancaster Co.) and William ("of Baltimore, Maryland"); since Bertram's son, William, was too young at the time, this William was very likely his brother. Gilbreath, Galbreath, Galbraith by Elmer C. Gilbreath, as extracted in GRD p. 34, sect. 5, states that this William Galbraith served with the militia of Cumberland Co. and died there in 1789. (However, this source has many errors, including the name of William's wife.) | |
| ii. | Bertram Galbraith was born in Derry Township, Lancaster (now Dauphin) County, Pennsylvania, on September 24, 1738, and died in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, on March 9, 1804. He married (1) Ann Scott, (2) Henrietta Hulings, and had 11 children. He was a noted surveyor. Much information on Bertram Galbraith and his descendants is given in The Galbraith Families of Donegal..., particularly starting on page 34 of section 5. | |
| iii. | Robert Galbraith [#192]: He was born in Derry Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, about 1742, and died in Allen Township, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, in 1793. | |
| iv. | Thomas Galbraith was born about 1742, and died in Ft. Ligonier, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, in 1785. He married Elizabeth Shannon(?). | |
| v. | Elizabeth Galbraith was born about 1744. She married Charles Torrance. | |
| vi. | Dorcas Galbraith was born about 1746, and died in 1810. She married John Buchanan. | |
| vii. | John Galbraith was born about 1748, and died in 1802. He married Mary McCauley; they had nine children. Her name is often seen written Mary McCullough. | |
| viii. | Andrew Galbraith was born in 1750, and died in 1806. He married Barbara Work, they had ten children: eight daughters, and two sons who died young. |
James was about 15 years old when he arrived in Pennsylvania with his father and brothers.
James was appointed the county lieutenant during the Revolution but was only able to serve a few months since he was an old man. He also served in the French and Indian War.
Per The Galbraith Families ..., section 1, page 4, James acquired a tract of land close to the church glebe (operating land) in what is now Derry Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, on Spring Creek; the warrant for it was granted on March 13, 1737. He became a man of note on the frontier and the early provincial records of Pennsylvania contain frequent reference to him. He was elected sheriff of the county in October, 1742, and for many years was one of the justices for Lancaster County. He served as an officer during the Indian Wars of 1755–63. Towards the Revolutionary period, he moved to Cumberland County.
Elizabeth Bertram was "a woman of rare accomplishment and excellence".
On page 11, section 3,of The Galbraith Families of Donegal ..., is found:
James Jr.'s Will [the James who is the subject of this page] A28 Book EF page 117, Cumberland Co., PA.
Written in East Pennsboro 27 May 1782 and probated 3 August 1786.
Negro, stock and all residue and remainder of personal estate to wife Elizabeth.
To son Betram: The land he now lives on in Dunnegal(sic) Twp. William: has had his share of the estate Thomas: has had his share of the estate Robert: land in Allan Twp. with mills and 2 stills. Robert to pay to his daughters Elizabeth 150 Pounds, Agnes 75, Mary 75. John: the old tan yard of 175 acres and adjoining 222 acres. Andrew: land where James now lives, 350 acres. Daughter Dorcas wife of John Buchanan. Daughter Elizabeth wife of Clarence Torrence. Executors: Wife Elizabeth and son Bertram.
John and Andrew to provide sufficient fire wood to Elizabeth during her life tim and hall(sic) in her hay and grain and put it in the barn.
Codicil—8 Dec. 1784: to change payment of Robert to dau. Elizabeth to 100 Pounds and "negro boy David to remain with son Robert during his life and at his decease to be at disposal of my wife". (Note: does this indicate that Robert was not well and James expected him to die before his wife Elizabeth?)
See a discussion on the page of James and Elizabeth's son, Robert, concerning
some all-too prevalent errors in the lineage of James and Robert.