John Depue & Phebe Shay

John was born May 4, 1780 to Benjamin-2 (24) and Osee Stivers Depue (21) in Mount Bethel, PA. He was the first of eight children with three brothers and four sisters. His father was a farmer and bought land in Layton in 1791. John came with him to Sandyston Township as a boy.

On March 13, 1800 John (19) married Phebe Shay (18) 18, born November 29, 1782. She was the daughter of Timothy Shay and Mary Drake of Sandyston Township. They were married by Peter Van Neste, Justice of Peace. (Book A, Vol. 1, Newton Hall of Records)

John too was a farmer and from his obituary was well respected, pious and a pillar of the M.E. church. He and Osee had thirteen children and he lived to a ripe old age of 86.

They settled on a farm later owned by Evan Bevans. (Benjamin Hursh history) Records show he did not inherent his father's farm, so either was given a piece of his father's property or bought his own.

John and Phebe had 13 children, including our ancestor Elisha:

Phebe died January 28, 1849 at age 66 and is buried in the Layton cemetery. There is no record of her death certificate in the state records.

The 1850 census lists John (age 70) as a farmer. Living with him is John S. 30, Mary 27, Catherine Eaton 21, and Lewis Nelson 1. Catherine might have been hired help, which was common at the time.

John lived on another 17 years dying on May 6, 1866 at age 86. He was born during the Revolutionary War in which his father served and lived through the Civil War in which his grandson served.

John's New Jersey Herald obituary dated May 17, 1866: 'May 6, near Hainesville, age 86 years. He was for more than 40 years an acceptable member of the M.E. Church. He was a pattern of piety, an ornament to the church and constantly maintained a most dignified Christian character. But God has called him home. His friends have lost a wise, safe counselor and the church a ripe Christian. A great company followed him to his grave.'

JRR saw their stones in the Layton Cemetery in December 1979. Inscription is: "John Depue born May 4, 1780, died May 6, 1866, ae 86 years and 2 days' and 'Phebe, wife of John Depue, died January 28, 1849 ae 66 years, 1 month and 29 days."

• Sandyston Township Info & Map
• Letter from E. Walters to John Depue, 8/6/1979
• Letter from E. Walters to John Depue, 8/21/1979 with Nelson Depue Bible Records
• DAR Lineage book Volume 59, p. 138
• Benjamin Hursh History per Ann C. Turner, 1/18/1980
• Loren Depue Bible
• http://www.sandystontownship.com/sandyston_township_009_010.htm