12 for ’26: Amos Gorrell, Sr. in Beaver County, Pennsylvania

Amos Gorrell, Senior, was born perhaps on 7 August 1804 in Beaver County, Pennsylvania.[1] He married Leah Wollam on 24 May 1827 in Columbiana County, Ohio by William Reed.[2] Columbiana County is just west of Beaver County. He died 14 September 1890 in Ross County, Ohio.[3]

The questions to answer in this session are: When did he purchase real estate? When did he move to Ohio? I’ll be looking at census, tax, and deed records, and searching in full-text search.

1830s
Amos did not appear in the 1830 census, even though he was married with a wife. Likely, he lived with a parent. Four Gorrell households were enumerated in 1830 Beaver County.

• Samuel Gorrell had one male age 30 to 39 and one female aged 40 to 49 with one male under 5.[4]
• James Gorrell had one male 40 to 49 and a male 15-19.[5]
• Sarah Gorrell had one male 15 to 19, and 20 to 29, one female 15 to 19, 20 to 29, and 50 to 59.[6]

And on the previous page:

• Joseph Gorrell had one male 20 to 29, 3 males under 5, and 1 female 20 to 29.[7]

If Amos was born in 1804, he would be 26-27 years old in 1830. Only Sarah’s household had a male Amos’s age. This census enumeration does not have listings in pseudo-alpha order, so these are likely neighbors and possibly family.

He appeared first in Beaver County tax lists in South Beaver, where other Gorrell men were taxed. He was taxed in 1830 on a horse worth $20.[8] Then, he was taxed in Fallston Borough under several different spellings. Different things were taxed in different years.

Beaver County Tax List 1830-1837**
Date	Surname	First Name	Taxable item	Taxable item	Taxable Item		Township/ Burough	Total tax
1830a	Garrol	Amos	occupation 75	1 horse 35			So. Beaver	24 3/4
1831b	Gorrel	Amos	one cow 10	occupation 75			Fallston	24
1832c	Gorrell	Amos	occupation 50				Fallston	05
1834d	Girrel	Amos	occupation 50				Fallston	5
1835e	Gorrel	Amos	1 house & lot 200	occupation 50		school 31	Fallston	25
1836f	Gurrel	Amos	1 house & lot 200	1 cow 8	occupation 50	school 38	Fallston	25
1837g	Garrol	Amos	1 cow 8	occupation 50			Fallston	20
a. Beaver County, Pennsylvania, tax list, 1830, Fallston, p. unkn, Amos Garrol; Beaver County Genealogy and History Center, Beaver, Pennsylvania. b. ibid, 1831, Fallston, p. unkn, Amos Gorrel. c. ibid, 1832, Fallston, p. unkn, Amos Gorrell. d. ibid, 1834, Fallston, p. 11, Amos Girrel. e. ibid, 1835, Fallston, p. 13, Amos Gorrel. f. ibid, 1836, Fallston, p. 14, Amos Gurrel. g. ibid, 1837, Fallston, p. 14, Amos Garrol. **These records were photocopied for author by a member of the society. They did not photocopy the first page to show the headings. These records are a duplicate copy of the originals, housed elsewhere. Author had viewed these records in 2016 but did not copy all pages.

On 11 February 1834, Amos purchased a lot in Fallston for $100 from Andrew and Catharine Kelso. It was described in more detail as:

“Being lot no. 12 in Anderson Square, beginning at a corner on Second street adjoining lot sold to Samuel Duncan, thence south sixty-five and a half degrees east twenty-three perches or thereabouts to land of James McIlroy, thence south twenty-five and a half degrees east thirty-four feet, thence south sixty-four degrees east one perch, thence south thirty-three and half degrees east seven feet, thence north sixty-five and a half degrees west twenty-one and three fourth perches or thereabouts along a twenty feet alley to Second Street thence up said street forty feet to the place of beginning.”[9]

Fallston lay on the west side of Beaver River across from Brighton. This crop of an 1860 map shows only a few streets in Fallston, but quite a bit of industry built along the river in the north part of town.[10] There is not enough information on the map to determine where Amos’s land was located.

On 13 September 1836, Amos purchased 124 acres of land situated in South Beaver and Ohio Townships with a mortgage of $496 from the Famers and Mechanics Bank, land described as:

“Beginning at the southwest corner at a post, thence by land of said Bank N89E 159 perches, 5/10 to a post, thence by land of William Shearer, N148 perches to a post, thence by land in the possession of Jacob Todd S80W 165 perches to a white oak grubb, thence by land in possession of same, S1W 116 perches to the place of beginning, containing 124 acres and allowance (being part of a larger tract survey by warrant dated 14 Apr 1792 for Dr John Redman and by deed dated 1 Dec 1818, recorded on 3 Apr 1819 in Deed Book E, pages 418-20, conveyed by William Griffith and Aby his wife and John B Wallace and Susan his wife unto the Farmers and Mechanics Bank . . ).”[11]

The mortgage was recorded in a separate book, between Amos Gorrell of Fallston and the Famers and Mechanics Bank. He had the obligation in the sum of $992 for the payment of $496 as follows: $248 due on 1 Sept 1837, and $248 due on 1 Sept 1838 with interest.[12]

In reviewing the tax list, Amos began to be taxed on property in 1835, which coincides with the purchase of the lot on Fallston in 1834. However, he did not appear on the South Beaver tax list, nor the Ohio Township list until 1838. He was taxed in 1838, 1839, and 1840.

Beaver County, Ohio Township Tax List 1838-1840**
Date	Surname	First Name	Taxable item	Taxable item	Taxable Item	Taxable Item		Total tax
1838a	Girrel	Amis	124 acres	1 horse 25	1 cow 10	Occupation		1.58
1839b	Gorrel	Amos	124 acres	1 horse 25	1 cow 10	occupation 100		24
1840c	Gorrell	Amos	124 acres 496	1 horse 25	1 cow 10	Occupation 100		05
a. Beaver County, Pennsylvania, tax list, 1838, Ohio Twp, p. unkn, Amis Girrel; Beaver County Genealogy and History Center, Beaver, Pennsylvania. b. ibid, 1839, Ohio Twp, p. unkn, Amos Gorrel. c. ibid, 1840, Ohio Twp, p. unkn, Amos Gorrell. **These records were photocopied for author by a member of the society. They did not photocopy the first page to show the headings. These records are a duplicate copy of the originals, housed elsewhere. Author had viewed these records in 2016 but did not copy all pages.

On 10 September 1839, Amos and his wife Leah, of Ohio Township, sold 24 acres of land for $240 to Henry Syberts of the same township. The description of the land is as follows:

“Beginning at the great Road leading to New Lisbon, thence south by said road 41.5 E 17.4 perches to a chestnut, thence S by said road 70 E 69.6 perches to a post, thence S by said road 73.5 E 18.4 perches to land belonging to Robert McFarland, thence north by land of said McFarland 1 E 61 perches to a white oak sapling, thence S by land of ____ 79 W 100.2 to the place of beginning, containing 24 acres & 81 perches strict measure. Being part of larger tract surveyed 14 Apr 1792 for Dr John Bedman . . .”[13]

1840s
In 1840, Amos was enumerated in Ohio Township. He had 2 males under 5, 2 males 5 to 9, 1 male 10-14, and himself, at 30-39. He also had one female 10 to 14, and one 40 to 49, which would be Leah. That totaled eight members, with two working in agriculture.[14] He was not enumerated in Fallston, suggesting he lived on the land in Ohio Township and not the lot in Fallston, though he was taxed for it. However, Elizabeth “Gurrel” was enumerated in Fallston as a female 30-39 along with another female of the same age range.[15] Perhaps he was renting the property to her. I don’t know how this person fits in the family, if they do.

On 11 December 1841, Amos and Leah of Ohio Township sold 15 acres of land in South Beaver to William McKay of South Beaver Township with this description:

“Beginning at the southeast corner by the land of Joseph Fullerton N1E 75 perches to a post, thence by the land of Jacob Todd S79W 36.3 perches to a post, thence by the land of Henry Sibert S1W 61 perches to a post, thence by the state road S73.5E 14.3 perches to a post, thence by said road S82E 21.5 perches to the place of beginning, containing 15 acres two perches neat measure.”[16]

So, they first sold 24 acres to Sybert and now 15 acres to McKay. This deed called the area South Beaver instead of Ohio township. However, the first deed mentioned both townships, so perhaps the land straddled both and this piece is only in South Beaver. This map shows the New Lisbon Road that seems to straddle the two townships.[17]

On 23 March 1844, Amos and Leah sold land in Ohio Township to James Simpson of Alleghany County for $1160. It is described as:

“Beginning at a post and running thence by land of Jacob Todd S1.25W 116.5 perches to a post, thence by lands of George Wilson and William Sheerer, E162 to a post, thence by land of William Sheerer, N1.75E 74.4 perches to a post, thence along the Lisbon road and by lands of Mrs. Baines and George Wilson, N80.5W 21.5 perches to a post, thence by road and lands aforesaid N74.75 W 14 perches to a post, thence N73W 18.4 perches to a post, thence N77W 68.7 perches to a post, thence N74W 16.9 perches to a chesnut stump, thence N41W 17.5 perches to a post, thence S79W 14.8 perches to a post, and place of beginning, containing 95 acres and 36 perches strict measure.”[18]

I believe this was the rest of the land that Amos had purchased in 1826, though the numbers do not add up. He purchased 124 acres. He sold 24 acres to Henry Syberts in 1839 and sold 15 acres to William McKay in 1841. That would have left 85 acres. However, he just sold 95 acres to James Simpson. I need to plat the original land and then plat the sales on top and see what I get.

Amos was still taxed for land in Fallston Borough from 1842 to 1846.  

Beaver County Tax List 1842-45
Date	Surname	First Name	Taxable item	Taxable item	Taxable Item	Taxable Item	Township/ Burrough
1841a	Gerl	Amis	1 house& lot $250				Fallston
1841b	Gorrel	Amos	92 ac land	2 horses	1 cow	occupation	Ohio
1842c	Gerrol	Amos	House & lot $150				Fallston
1842d	Gorrel	Amos	92 acres	2 horses	1 cow	Occupation	Ohio
1843e	Gorrel	Amos	House & lot $150				Fallston
1843f	Gorrell	Amos	92 acres	2 horses	1 cow	Occupation	Ohio
1844g	Gorrel	Amos	House & lot $150				Fallston
1844h	Gorrel	Amos	92 acres	1 horse	1 cow	Occupation	Ohio
1845i	Gorrel	Amos	House & lot $150				Fallston
1845j	No entry						Ohio
1846k	Garrel	Amos	House & lot $150				Fallston
1847l	No entry						Fallston
a. “Beaver County, Pennsylvania, U.S., Tax Records, 1832-1925,” imaged, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/61334/images/fallston1841-5 : accessed 10 July 2026) > Fallston Township > image 16 of 1133, 1841, p. 11, Amos Gorrel; citing Beaver County Genealogy and History Center, Beaver, Pennsylvania. b. “Beaver County, Pennsylvania, U.S., Tax Records, 1832-1925,” imaged, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/61334/images/ohiotwp1841-015 : accessed 10 July 2026), Ohio Township, 1841, p. 28, Amos Gorrel; citing Beaver County Genealogy and History Center, Beaver, Pennsylvania. c. Beaver County, Pennsylvania, tax list, 1842, Fallston Borough, p. 15, Amos Gerrol; Beaver County Genealogy and History Center, Beaver, Pennsylvania. d. “Beaver County, Pennsylvania, U.S., Tax Records, 1832-1925,” imaged, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/61334/images/ohiotwp1842-011 : accessed 10 July 2026), Ohio Township, 1842, p. 21, Amos Gorrel; citing Beaver County Genealogy and History Center, Beaver, Pennsylvania. e. Beaver County, Pennsylvania, tax list, 1842, Fallston Borough, p. 13, Amos Gorrel; Beaver County Genealogy and History Center, Beaver, Pennsylvania. f. “Beaver County, Pennsylvania, U.S., Tax Records, 1832-1925,” imaged, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/61334/images/ohiotwp1843-012 : accessed 10 July 2026) > Ohio Township > 92 of 1517, 1843, p. 23, Amos Gorrell; citing Beaver County Genealogy and History Center, Beaver, Pennsylvania. g Beaver County, Pennsylvania, tax list, 1842, Fallston Borough, 1844, p. 13, Amos Gorrel; citing Beaver County Genealogy and History Center, Beaver, Pennsylvania. h. “Beaver County, Pennsylvania, U.S., Tax Records, 1832-1925,” imaged, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/61334/images/ohiotwp1844-012 : accessed 10 July 2026) > Ohio Township > image 132 of 1517, 1844, p. 20, Amos Gorrel; citing Beaver County Genealogy and History Center, Beaver, Pennsylvania. i. Beaver County, Pennsylvania, tax list, 1842, Fallston Borough, 1845, p. 15, Amos Gorrel; citing Beaver County Genealogy and History Center, Beaver, Pennsylvania. j. Negative search, “Beaver County, Pennsylvania, U.S., Tax Records, 1832-1925,” imaged, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/61334/images/ohiotwp1845-013 : accessed 10 July 2026) > Ohio Township > images 167-168 of 1517, 1845, p. 25-27, no Amos Gorrel; citing Beaver County Genealogy and History Center, Beaver, Pennsylvania. k. Beaver County, Pennsylvania, tax list, 1842, Fallston Borough, 1846, p. G, Amos Garrel; citing Beaver County Genealogy and History Center, Beaver, Pennsylvania. l. Negative search, “Beaver County, Pennsylvania, U.S., Tax Records, 1832-1925,” imaged, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/61334/images/fallston1847-7 : accessed 10 July 2026) > Fallston > images 152 of 1133, 1847, p. 12, no Amos Gorrel; citing Beaver County Genealogy and History Center, Beaver, Pennsylvania.

From the tax list entries, it looks like Amos sold his Ohio Township land on or after 1844 and the Fallston Borough land on or after 1846. I have found the deed of the sale of the Ohio Township land to James Simpson in March 1844. I have not found a deed disposing of the Fallston land.

This was the end of Amos and Leah in Pennsylvania. Next time, Ohio.

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[1] Birth calculated from age at death as stated on tombstone: 86y 1m 7d. Find a Grave, database with images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/42660773/amos-gorrell : accessed 2 Jul 2026), image of tombstone of Amos Gorrell (unknown-1890), memorial created by Penny Cox Brown with tombstone photo by Penny Cox Brown; citing Denver Cemetery, Denver, Ross Co, Ohio.

[2] Columbiana Co, Ohio, marriages, v. 2, p. 273, Amos Gorrel to Leah Wollem, 1827; imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:9392-S5NP-Q : accessed 7 Sep 2025), IGN 004017338, item 320 of 751.

[3] Find a Grave, database with images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/42660773/amos-gorrell : accessed 2 Jul 2026), image of tombstone of Amos Gorrell (unknown-1890), memorial created by Penny Cox Brown with tombstone photo by Penny Cox Brown; citing Denver Cemetery, Denver, Ross Co, Ohio.

[4] 1830 U.S. census, Beaver Co, Pennsylvania, Ohio Twp, p. 244, line 6, Samuel Gorrel.

[5] 1830 U.S. census, Beaver Co, Pennsylvania, Ohio Twp, p. 244, line 7, James Gorrel.

[6] 1830 U.S. census, Beaver Co, Pennsylvania, Ohio Twp, p. 244, line 9, Sarah Gorrel.

[7] 1830 U.S. census, Beaver Co, Pennsylvania, Ohio Twp, p. 243, line 8 from bottom, Joseph Gorrel.

[8] Beaver County, Pennsylvania, tax list, 1828, South Beaver Township, p. 10, Amous Gorrell; Beaver County Genealogy and History Center, Beaver, Pennsylvania.

[9] Beaver Co, Pennsylvania, deeds, v. S, p. 297-98, Kelso-Gorrell, 11 Feb 1834, recorded 12 Dec 1839; imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSNL-SHLZ : accessed 5 Jul 2026), IGN 008084691, images 465-66 of 603. 

[10] Map of Lawrence and Beaver counties (Philadelphia : Wm. J. Barker, 1860); imaged, Library of Congress (https://www.loc.gov/resource/g3823l.la000764/ : accessed 5 July 2026), Library of Congress, Geography and Map Division.

[11] Beaver Co, Pennsylvania, deeds, v. S, p. 294-95, Farmers & Mechanics Bank to Amos Gorrell, 13 Sep 1836, recorded 12 Dec 1839; imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSNL-SCL7 : accessed 5 Jul 2026), IGN 008084691,image 463 of 603.

[12] Beaver Co, Pennsylvania, deeds, v. O, p. 193, mortgage, Amos Gorrell to Farmers & Mechanics Bank, 1836; imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSFM-965Y : accessed 5 Jul 2026), IGN 008036088, images 433 of 583.

[13] Beaver Co, Pennsylvania, deeds, v. S, p. 191-92, Amos & Leah Gorrell to Henry Syberts, 1839; imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSNL-SCM4 : accessed 5 July 2026), IGN 008084691, images 409-10 of 603.

[14] 1840 U.S. census, Beaver Co, Pennsylvania, Ohio Township, p. 188 (stamped), line 9, Amos Gorrell.

[15] 1840 U.S. census, Beaver Co, Pennsylvania, Fallston Borough, p. 215 (stamped), line 5 from bottom, Elizabeth Gurrel.

[16] Beaver Co, Pennsylvania, deeds, v. U, p. 39-40, Gorrell to McKay, 1841; imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSNL-99GG-S : accessed 5 July 2026), IGN 008084692, image 320-21 of 560.

[17] “A correct map of Beaver County,” by Hugh McCullough, 1817, https://beaver.pagenweb.org/pdfs//4mile/images/bcmap.jpg.

[18] Beaver Co, Pennsylvania, deeds, v. W, p. 96-98, Amos & Leah Gorrell to James Simpson, 1844; imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSNL-QNXX : accessed 10 Jul 2026), IGN 008084693, images 340-41 of 629.

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