Family/Spouse: Unknown. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Joseph RICH was born on 16 Apr 1786 in Cecil, Washington, PA; and died.

Notes:

Joseph and Sarah had 12 children over a period of many years. Their son, Thomas, was next to their youngest child. (C-1343)

Joseph married Sarah COULSON on 27 Feb 1742 in W. Nottingham, Chester, PA. Sarah (daughter of Thomas COULSON and Martha WILEY) was born in 1725 in W. Nottingham, Cecil, MD; died in 1777 in , Cecil, MD, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Thomas came with his father to Germantown, PA as an infant. He later moved to West Nottingham, in what is now Cecil Co., MD. He built his home on a grant of 184 acres on Octoraro Creek. The glass and hardware for the home came from England. The structure was a part of the Coulson family until the year 1900. It was situate on very fertile land and named "Coulson's Old Garden" befitting the naming custom in Maryland at the time. He raised wheat and corn on his plantation. Thomas and his wife Martha were the only Coulson's listed who witnessed the marriage of his sister, Margaret to John Coppock in 1731 at the W. Nottingham MM, Cecil Co., MD. (C-1302) Thomas was buried in the Friends burial ground at West Nottingham. It is the oldest grave still marked in the cemetery with the inscription "T.C. 1763". He died a wealthy man with an estate that included a smithy, carpenter's shop, a richly furnished home, two slaves (one named Joan) and extra land in Little Britain Twp., Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania In his will, he names wife, Martha and six sons and two daughters. (C-1339, 2149)

Thomas married Martha WILEY in 1725 in W. Nottingham, Cecil, MD. Martha was born in 1699 in W. Nottingham, Cecil, MD; died on 7 Jun 1775 in , Chester, PA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Although I've seen second hand sources stating that Joseph and family immigrated to Philadelphia, PA in 1704, there is a deed record dated Dec. 2, 1696 where a Joseph Coolsen witnesses the sale of 8 acres of land by Randolph Croxen of Chester (Co., PA) toThomas Powell in Chester Co., Pennsylvania I know that the spelling varies, but that spelling was only phonetic in those days. I personally believe that this Joseph is one and the same as our Joseph. (C-2136) At any rate, Joseph received a license to run a tavern or inn on March 28, 1704. He is on record as having sent one of his children to study at school with Pastorius, the founder of Germantown. He paid into the school fund from 1706-1708. Joseph and Margaret's children were Thomas, Margaret, and Samuel. Samuel died at age six weeks. A second son born in 1748 was also named Samuel. Both Margaret and Thomas raised large families, some of whose ancestors intermarried. At the marriage of Margaret Coulson to John Coppock, Joseph and Margaret were listed as Margaret's parents of Germantown, Philadelphia, Province of Penn. Her parents were already deceased at this point in time though the marriage record does not state that. Her parents are, however, missing from the witness list for the wedding as would be expected. (C-467, 2020) He is buried at the old Hood Cemetery in Germantown. Up till 1920, his stone was still visable and was the oldest standing in the cemetery. It's inscription read, "Here lyeth the body of Joseph Coulston, once husband of Margaret Coulston, Son of Capt. Thomas Coulston of Hartshorn in old Derbyshire, England who departed this life the first day of February 1707/8, ages 38 years and 8 months. It is highly likely that this stone was placed there years after his death as Quakers would not have listed a Feb. date, but a month like 12mo 1707. They also did not use gravestones in the 18th century. (C-2020) Charles Coulson Rich, a well known early Mormon Church Leader, is a descendant of this line. (C-620, 1442)

Joseph married Mary Margaret EVANS before 1689. Mary (daughter of Jane HODGES) was born about 1667 in Hartshorn, Derbyshire, ENG; died in 1715 in Germantown, Philadelphia, PA, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]