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Although the story handed down in the family claims that Jared brought his family to Fork Ridge in what is now Marshall County, WV from Waterbury, CT around 1797 to settle a land grant he received for his service in the Revolutionary War, that was not the case. There was a Jared Terrill who lived in Waterbury and received a grant for his Revolutionary War service, but he was definitely not our Jared.
Our Jared was born in Newtown, Fairfield County, Ct and was baptised in Newtown Church on Aug. 19, 1744, and was the son of George Terrill and Abigail Hine. He married Sarah Shepard who was born in Newtown about 1742 and was the daughter of John Shepard and Mary Pierson, and great granddaughter of the Rev. Peter Prudden, the spiritual leader of the Milford colony that Jared's great grandfather, Roger Terrill helped settle.
There is no surviving record that our Jared fought in the Revolutionary War. The land on Fork Ridge that he settled originally consisted of 4,000 acres owned by John Mills, who was also from Fairfield County, CT. Mills purchased the land in nine parcels between 1780 and 1785. He sold 1,000 acres to Thomas Chambers, who may also been from Fairfield County. Chambers then sold the same 1,000 acres to Jared.
Jared's son, George, was the first to arrive on Fork Ridge in 1786 according to tax records. He probably paid the taxes for his father. On Jan. 8, 1787, Jared had the land surveyed. The 1787 tax list shows a Jarrett Terril and two males living in the household. There is no record of any Terrills in the 1790 Ohio County tax list, but he did pay taxes in Fairfield County. Jared finally received the deed from Gov. Henry Lee of Virginia on Sept. 19, 1793.
Exactly when Jared brought the rest of his family is unknown, however his son Peter married Esther Pearce in Ohio County on March 18, 1793, and his granddaughter, Clarissa Terrill, married Luke Scammahorn in Ohio County on Jan. 8, 1794. Daniel Terrill and his wife Sarah were the last to arrive around 1797.
The truth about Jared Terrill's settlement on Fork Ridge is just beginning to be uncovered, and it reveals some interesting facts about the early settlement of Marshall County.
Exactly when Jared and Sarah died is unknown. Jared made his will on Aug. 1, 1799. On Sept. 6, 1802, George Terrill and his wife Mary sold their 100 acre inheritance to James Riggs.
After Jared and Sarah's deaths, the family scattered. Only Daniel and his sister Rhoda (Terrill) Brown remained in Marshall County.
On Dec. 4, 1809 Abner Terrill and his wife Jemimah sold their 100 acre inheritance to Daniel. In 1820 they were living in Campbell County, Ky. By 1830 they were in Rush County, Indiana where they died.
Peter Terrill was living in Belmont County, Ohio when he sold his 100 acres to Elija Burris on March 24, 1809. His "trusty brother" Eli acted as attorney.
On March 27, 1809, Edmound Terrill and his wife Sally sold 120 acres he and brother Ezar had inherited to John Stewart.
On April 2, 1811 Eli and Keziah Terrill sold their 100 acres to Daniel Terrill, and moved to Caldwell County, Ky. where Eli died in 1815/16. Eber Terrill and his wife Barbara may have accompanied them to Caldwell County. They sold their inheritance to Daniel Terrill on May 16, 1811. Eber was the administer of Eli's will which was filed in Princeton in Caldwell County.
There is no deed of conveyance for John Terrill and his wife Catherine or any record of what became of them.
Abner Terrill's deed contains a reference to George that he was deceased. Whether he died in Marshall County or elsewhere is unknown.
George and Mary had a son named Jared who was left an inheritance in Jared's will. There is no record of what became of him. Jared's will which was transcribed in 1914 from a copy made by clerk of court Moses Chapline, also refers to a son of George as "Jevie". This is almost certainly a misreading of "Jerred" by the typist.
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