The LDS Ancestral file lists an alternative birth date as "abt 1768", location is NY. There is no valid evidence that that Robert Elder is Joseph's father as reported in the Ancestral File.

The LDS Ancestral File lists sons James (b. abt 1822) and John (b. abt 1824) as being sons of Joseph. For this to be correct, they had to be born when father Joseph was at least 63 and, as much as 73 years old. Mother Elizabeth would have been of comparable age. It is probable that the two men referred to in the Ancestral File were sons of one of Joseph Elder's sons with Adam and James ruled out on basis that their offspring are quite well documented.
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Joseph Elder was listed for two consecutive years on the Washington County, VA Personal Property Tax Rolls.

1788 Elder, Joseph: Number of white levies, 1; number of blacks above 12 years of age, 0; number of horses, mules, etc., 0.
1789 Elder, Joseph: Number of white levies, 1; number of blacks above 12 years of age, 0; number of horses, mules, etc., 2.

There were no entries for Joseph Elder either before 1788 or following 1789. [Source: "Washington County,Virginia Personal Property Tax Lists, Vol. 1, 1782-1786, 1788-1790," abstracted by Thomas Jack Hockett, New Papyrus Pub. Co., Athens, GA, 2004.]

Several other persons with Elder surnames frequently were listed on the Washington County property tax rolls between 1783 and 1793. Among them were Robert, Andrew, James, John & Mary. An abstract of a will was also observed - not recorded - that named Andrew, James, Mary and possibly John and Robert but not Joseph as being heirs to the estate. My conclusion is that Joseph probably is not closely related to these other Elders. The lack of earlier records naming him and his wife's family suggest that they may have originated from outside the area. Either they moved on after being on the tax rolls for two years or their property was judged to no longer lie within the jurisdiction of the county.
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Two deeds filed in Sulliuvan County, TN confirm that Joseph Elder received two tracts of land along Reedy Creek in 1809.

Page 475

STATE OF TENNESSEE
COMMISSIONERS OF E. TN LAND GRANT NO: (Not given)
TO
EDWARD LEVEADEN

Date: March 8, 1809
Consideration: An entry made in the Surveyor's Office of the 6th District of No. 249, founded on a warrant of No. 2917, issued to the Commissioners of E. TN to Edward Leveaden for 100 acres dated January 13, 1809. Entry dated March 8, 1809 which is assigned by Leveaden to John Kennedy and by Kennedy to Joseph Elder, the enterer.
Description: Granted by the State of TN to Joseph Elder a parcel of land containing 100 acres in Washington District on the waters of Reedy Creek; being surveyed May 27, 1809.
To be affixed at Knoxville, Oct. 29, 1811 by Gov. Wilie Blount, R. Houston, Sec.
Recorded in my office Oct 29, 1811. Edw. Scott. Reg. of E. TN
Aug 26, 1814, tax paid on with land grant.
Test: Mattw Rhea, C.S.C., by his deputy.
Regst: Feb 22, 1815.

Page 476

STATE OF TENNESSEE
JOHN CARTER LAND GRANT NO: (Not given)
TO
JOHN COCKRAN

Date: March 8, 1809
Consideration: An entry made of No. 248, dated March 8, 1809, founded on a warranty of No. 1825 issued by John Carter to John Cockran for 100 acres of land dated Feb. 3, 1780 and adjudged valid May 2, 1807 and assigned by Cockran to Joseph Elder, the enterer.
Description: Granted to Joseph Elder and his heirs a tract of land clontaining 100 acres in Washington District on the waters of Reedy Creek, surveyed May 27, 1809.
To be affixed at Knoxville, July 2, 1810 by Gov. Willie Blount, R. Houston, Sec.
Recorded July 2, 1810. Edw. Scot. Reg. of E. TN.
Aug. 20, 1814, tax paid on within grant.
Test: Mattw Rhea, C.S.C., by his deputy.
Regst: Feb 22, 1815.
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The following abstract of a deed may have been Joseph Elder's sale of property he possessed before removing to for Butler Co., OH.

Page #273

Joseph Elder :
to : DEED OF WARRANTY
William Thompson :

Date Nov. 10th 1812
Consideration: A valuable consideration
Amt of Land: Amt not stated
Location: Sullivan Co. Tennessee
Discription: A tract of land on the waters of Reedy Creek along a line formerly John Thompsons and Pendleton's old Patent line.
Witnesses: John Sinclair, Amos Sinclair
Proven: By John Sinclair, Amos Sinclair Sullivan Co., TN, Feb.1813.
Test: Mattw Rhea C.S.C.
Regst: Feb. 15, 1813.

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Joseph Elder is listed as a witness to a deed of sale (for $300) of a negro boy slave named Winson, about 13 years of age, by David Shaver to Philemon Bohanon. Registered Nov 17, 1808. Source: "Sullivan County, Tennessee Deed Book Number 5, 1807-1808, 1834-1838," Historical Records Project, Works Progress Administration, Project No. 65-44-6502, Jan 8, 1932, page 38.
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Joseph and Elizabeth Elder are thought to have initially lived in Washington County, VA where a record of their marriage exists. Joseph is mentioned on the tax lists there in 1788 and 1789. Little else has been found to link Joseph Elder with Washington County, Virginia Their children born by 1791 report their birthplace as being Virginia. Those born later report Tennessee. Joseph was involved in land transactions along Reedy Creek in the Washington District of Sullivan County, Tennessee in 1809 and 1813. This evidence suggests that Joseph may have moved his family from Virginia to Tennessee between 1891 and 1894 when the first Tennessee-born child was reported. But, this is complicated by the fact that the area in question was in a state of flux during this period with respect to which state claimed the territory. The following information was taken from the introduction to Volume 1 of the abstracts of the Sullivan County, TN Deed Books. The area that is now known as Sullivan County, TN was first in the District of Washington County, State of North Carolina in 1777 except for the region north of the Holston River which was thought to be located in the state of Virginia until 1779. This latter area would include Reedy Creek and the town of Blountville, both of which are associated with Joseph Elder. Sullivan County was established in 1779 in the State of North Carolina. In 1784, North Carolina ceded almost all of what later became Tennessee to the National Congress. From 1784 to 1788, Sullivan County was in the area which became known as the State of Franklin (Frankland). In 1790, the area was known as the Western Territory South of the Ohio River. Tennessee finally became a state in 1796. During this same period, the boundary between the states of Virginia, North Carolina and (what later became) Tennessee was also subject to change and negotiation. Thus, persons living in areas near the borders of these states occasionally found themselves subject to jurisdictional changes without actually relocating their homes. It is possible, but not proven, that this may have happened in the case of Joseph Elder. Tracing the movement of the Joseph Elder family during this period is also complicated by the fact that most records of Sullivan County for this period were destroyed in the Battle of Blountville during the Civil War.
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Based on the date for the sale of lnd by Joseph Elder to William Thompson (see above), Joseph moved his family to BNutler Countyh, Ohio near the end of 1812.


The 1820 US Census, Butler Co., OH, Hanover Twsp., pg. 62, microfilm #181393 enumerated the Joseph Elder family as: male 10-16 = 1, male 16-18 = 1, male 16-26 = 3, male > 45 = 1; female 10-16 = 2 , female 16-26 = 1 and female >45 = 1. Four male members were reported as being engaged in agriculture.

The 1830 US Census, Rush Co., IN, no twsp. listed, pg. 269, microfilm #7715 enumerated the Joseph Elder family as: male 70-80 = 1; female 70-80 = 1.

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Joseph Elder was listed as an original purchaser of land in Rush Co., IN. [Source: Original Rush County Indiana Land Owners, Part I. Original Purchasers from USA (from Tract Book at Rush Co. Courthouse, Rushville, IN, pg. 23, May 20, 1828) by Maurice Holmes, Shelbeyville, IN, Jan 1975. Viewed at Wisconsin Historical Society, April 27, 2001. Call number: F532, R 95, H 6. ]

Holder of land patent: Accession/Serial #:IN0520__.182 ; BLM Serial #:IN NO S/N ; State: INDIANA.
Aliquot Parts: E1/2SE
Sec/ Blk : 17/
Twnshp: 13-N
Range: 9-E
Fract. Sect. : No
Meridian: 2nd PM
State: IN
Counties: RUSH

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Mentioned in Rush Co., IN probate records of a bill to answer as to an advancement. [Source: Rush County, Indiana, Complete Record of Probate, Book #5 1846-1847, p.82 via Court Records of Rush County, Indiana 1822-1857 by Maurice Holmes, March 1975 viewed at Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison WI, 27 April 2001. (Call No. F532, R95, H59.)] : "In a bill as to answer to advancements are: Joseph Elder and wife Elizabeth both deceased and Adam Elder; Fielding Gardner and wife Nancy; Eli Hill and wife Mary; Benjamin Elder; George Thomas and wife Elizabeth; Andrew Elder; John Doty and wife Rosannah both deceased in 1846; Isaac, Elizabeth, Mary, Franklin, Mahala, Margaret and Emily Doty. James Elder is also deceased having died in 1840 leaving these heirs: Robert Birge and wife Elizabeth; Joseph, John, William and James Elder; Peter Miller and Eliza Ann his wife - late Eliza Ann Elder and Robert, Gabriel, and Rosa L. Elder, and the following Margaret Birge, Elizabeth Birge, Catherine Birge, Joseph Birge and Sarah Graves children of Margaret Elder. May Term 1847. " (Full text of Holmes' entry is also located in D.L. Sorby's files.)

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Joseph Elder's will is recorded in Rush County, Indiana Wills Record, Vol. 1, pgs. 121-123. It can also ve viewed on LDS microfilm # 1, 631, 803.

Joseph Elder bequeathed all of his land - described as the East half of the Southeast quarter of Section 17, Township 13, Range 9 in the District of Lanas - to his wife Elizabeth. He also willed to her all of his personal property in the house and outdoors. Upon her death, the residue was to be divided equally among his children. he designated his wife Elizabeth Elder to serve as Executor of the estate. The will was dated 18 October 1829 and was witnessed by Landay Hurst, Margaret Morrison and Ann Burgess. Joseph Elder signed with his mark. The will was subsequently presented to Robert Thompson, Clerk of the Rush County Circuit Couty on 23 May 1837 by the above-listed witnesses who swore as to its validity and affixed their signatures in verification thereof.

A photocopy of Joseph Elder's will is in D.L. Sorby's personal files.Page: pg. 475 & pg. 476.Page: pg. 99.Page: pg. 106

• Married: 6 AUG 1785 in , Washington, VA ⁶
• Note:

  
  Mentioned as being husband and wife (both deceased) in Rush Co., IN probate records of a bill to answer as to an advancement. [Source: Rush County, Indiana, Complete Record of Probate, Book #5 1846-1847, p.82 via Court Records of Rush County, Indiana 1822-1857 by Maurice Holmes, March 1975 viewed at Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison WI, 27 April 2001. (Call No. F532, R95, H59.)] (Full text of Holmes' entry in D.L. Sorby's files.)

1. John Elder b: 1787 in VA
2. James Elder b: 1789 in VA
3. Rosannah Elder b: 1791 in VA
4. Adam* Elder b: 15 APR 1794 in TN
5. Elizabeth Elder b: 17 JUL 1797 in TN
6. Susannah Elder b: 1798 in TN
7. Andrew Elder b: 5 JUL 1799 in Tenn
8. Samuel Elder b: 1800-1810 in Rush, IN.
9. Mary Elder b: ABT 1802 in , , TN
10. Benjamin Elder b: ABT 1802 in , , TN
11. Margaret Elder b: 25 OCT 1802 in TN
12. Nancy Elder b: 6 AUG 1808 in , , TN
13. Rachel Elder b: 1810 in TN
14. James Elder b: ABT 1822 in (See note)

1. Text: James C. Elder via Fern Doyle, April 5, 1999. PA location from "Morley and Blanchard Families", Lucill V. J. Whiteturkey and Verna R. Lerdall, Sooner Printing Co. Oklahoma City, OK, p. 152.
2. Text: "Morley and Blanchard Families+, Lucille Verna Johnson Whiteturkey and Verna Rae Whiteturkey Lerdall, Sooner Printing Co., Oklahoma City, OK, 1998, pg. 152 .
3. Text: James C. Elder via Fern Doyle, April 5, 1999.
4. Text: "Sullivan County Deed Book," Vol. 6, 1809-1815, abstracted b y Helen Carter, Works Progress Administration Records Project # 465-44-3-115, Oct 1, 1938. Viewed at the Virginia State Library 1 Aug 2006, call 3 F443.S8; E26, V.6
5. Text: "First Land Owners of Sullivan County, Tennessee," compiled & published by Mrs. John Vineyard. Viewed at North Carolina State Library, Raleigh, NC. Call Number: GR 929.3/T2su/V7834.
6. Text: Washington County Virginia Marriages, Ministers Returns, 1776-1855, abstracted by Marty Hiatt & Craig Roberts Scott, Iberian Pub. Co., Athens, GA, 1994, pg 43. Viewed at NC State Archives, 8/6/02 GR929.3, V8Was, H153W.