Rynear Tyson was born about 1735, the oldest son of Peter Tyson and Mary Roberts. He grew up in Abington, where his father was a carpenter, farmer and mill-owner. Rynear married Mary Cleaver in 1760 at Abington Meeting. She was the daughter of Isaac Cleaver and Rebecca Iredell.  Of the six daughters of Isaac and Rebecca, four married Tysons. Not surprisingly, the witnesses at the wedding of Rynear and Mary included many Tysons and Cleavers. In the marriage record Mary was described as a seamstress.

In 1769 Rynear and Mary were living in Abington, paying tax on 185 acres there.1 Besides the acreage, he paid tax on five horses and four cows. In the census of 1790, Rynear had ten people in his household.2 Rynear and Mary attended Upper Dublin Friends Meeting, a meeting for worship under the auspices of Abington Monthly Meeting. In 1774 Abington meeting reported that Rynear Tyson, son of Peter, had been drinking strong liquor to excess and suing a Friend at law. Testimony was prepared against him and he was disowned.3 This would explain why the children of Rynear and Mary did not marry as Friends.4 At least three of their children lived to young adulthood but died unmarried.

Mary died in 1787, at the age of forty-six. Rynear remarried, to a woman named Elizabeth, whose last name is not known. Since he had been disowned, the marriage was not recorded by Abington or Upper Dublin. In November (11^th month) 1793 he wrote his will.5 He left a legacy of £12 per year for Elizabeth, plus £250 to each of his daughters Mary and Hannah, to be given to them when they reached the age of eighteen.6 The residue of the estate was to be divided among his eight living children: Peter, Rynear, Jacob, Benjamin, Thomas, Jesse, Mary and Hannah. The sons Peter, Rynear and Jacob were to be the executors.

Rynear died three years later, in 1796, just five years after his father, who had lived to be ninety-one. The inventory of Rynear’s estate shows him to have been a prosperous farmer. He owned a silver watch, silver cream jug, a clock, and more.7 The value of the estate came to £662. Elizabeth was not happy with the terms of his will and filed a caveat against it.8 In spite of her caveat, the sons were appointed executors, and they filed an account in March 1797, showing a balance of £2236 for the legatees after the debts had been paid.9

The next generation, sons of Rynear and Mary, were not successful in passing on the family name.  Five of them either died young or died unmarried. Peter and Benjamin were the only sons to leave descendants, and Benjamin only had one son.

Children of Rynear and Mary10

Peter, born 8^th month 1762, died in 1830, married in 1768 Martha Kimble, daughter of William and Sarah. Peter was disowned by Abington meeting in 10^th month 1786 for going out in marriage with the assistance of a “hireling priest”.11 In 1793 his father Rynear conveyed a house and 73 acres to him, on the Welsh Road, one miles east of Three Tuns.12 Peter also owned land on the Butler Pike, which became part of his estate. Peter died in 1830 before the census was taken. Martha died in 1832. A record of her death appeared in the records of Upper Dublin Preparative Meeting.13 Peter and Martha were buried at Upper Dublin Friends. Peter’s estate was administered by his brother-in-law David Thomas.14 Children of Peter and Martha: Rynear, Sarah, Mary, William, Rebecca, Peter, Jesse, Martha.15

Rynear, born 10^th month 1763, a twin with Isaac, died in 1805 unmarried. He left a will,  describing himself as a lime burner, the grandson of Peter Tyson. Why didn’t he call himself the son of Rynear?16 In the will he gave legacies to his nephew Rynear, sisters Mary Hallowell and Hannah Thomas. He left his house and land in Abington to his brothers Peter and Benjamin. His brothers Isaac, Jacob, Thomas and Jesse were dead before him.

Isaac, born 10^th month 1763, a twin with Rynear, died in 1784.

Jacob, born 3^rd month 1768, died in 1795, unmarried and intestate.

Benjamin, born in 9^th month 1770, died in 1849, married Grace —. Benjamin moved to Philadelphia and became an iron monger.17 They had only one known child, a son John, who married Rachel Tyson.18 In 1826 Benjamin petitioned the Orphans’ Court of Montgomery County on behalf of his granddaughter Hannah, daughter of his deceased son John. Grace died in 1834.19 Benjamin Tyson, died in 1849; they were buried at Abington.20

Mary, born 1^st month 1774, died about 1856, married William Hallowell after 179721. They lived in Abington, where William worked as a carpenter. He died in 1824, leaving her with five children. He left a will, naming her and the children.22 After he died she lived with her daughter Mary.23 She died about 1856, since an Orphans’ Court petition in 1857 referred to her.24 She left two children Peter and Mary. Three other children died before her. Children: Peter, Mary, Hannah, Rebecca, and Grace.

Thomas, born 9^th month 1776, died intestate and unmarried.

Jesse, born 11^th month 1779, alive in 1799, died before 1824.25

Hannah, born 2^nd month 1783, died 1817, married David Thomas, son of Jonathan and Alice26.