The never ending search for Joseph Orris in Pennsylvania continues. Over the last few months I have ordered Cumberland County records through my local Family History Center. These include tax records, Election Records and also some probate records from Perry County.
I found A Joseph Orris in the Tax Records for Cumberland County in the early 1840s, but there is no way to verify just from these records that he is THE Joseph Orris we have all been searching for for 20 years now. Sadly, the records only list head of Household. There are other Orris' in the vicinity that may provide clues or further avenues for Research. Personally, I strongly believe it is him, but I need more proof beyond a gut feeling.
The Tax Rolls for the the mid 1840s have no Joseph in them.
The Election Records were a hopeless mess that I could not make any sense out of so they will need more time.
I found the will of Henry Orris of Perry County. He seems to be the favored father among those on Ancestry who don't do their own research to verify the work of others. The will makes no mention of a son Joseph. There are certainly many reasons someone is left out of a will, and there are clues to connect Henry to our Joseph such as a prevalence of common family names. But No concrete evidence that will lead me to add him as a father to Joseph.
I will transcribe the Henry Orris will and scan and post the Tax Records as soon as I can. Though that may be 4 weeks or so.
I also want to add individual entries for each Orris and Runyon Sibling. A summer Project. I also want to get out on the road to Kentucky and Iowa, maybe in August.
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