William Fife Senior, the brother of John Fife, The Pioneer, joined John on the frontier when William was about 56 year of age. William Senior's 1720 date of birth has been estimated by the family. He died in 1794 - not 1799 as it has often been recorded and how it is inscribed on the memorial marker in the Bethel Presbyterian Church Cemetery. His Last Will & Testament was probated on November 29, 1794.

It's often recorded in family history that the three Fife brothers, John, William, and Matthew were born in Fifeshire, Scotland. They emigrated to settle on a farm in Archill, County Tyrone, Ulster.

Brothers John and William migrated at separate times to America; first John and, in a later year, William. The dates of their American immigration have not been verified. While proof will likely remain elusive, one can conjecture that, like thousands of fellow Ulster Scots of the time, the two brothers were induced by the promise of land in a new country - and ocean passage costs that would be fully paid following a contract for a few years of indentured service. Refer to link: Scotch Irish.

According to family tradition, William was living in the Philadelphia area in 1769. In 1776, he, wife Jane and their family settled in Upper St. Clair Township, Allegheny County on a 386-acre tract of land adjacent to his brother John's homestead. William held a Pennsylvania Patent called "Fifer's Delight".

Curiously, descendants of William Senior often persist in referring to him as "Captain Billy". There is no record whatsoever that would attribute military rank to William Senior. Neither is there any indication that he had any militia service during the Revolutionary period. You are invited to visit the link: Evidence Versus Family Myths.

The cemetery records of the Bethel Presbyterian Church have been researched at Pittsburgh's Carnegie Library. The burial records include brother John, but do not include the names of William or his wife, Jane. Because William's date of death would have been correctly recorded (and noted by the family) had he been buried at the Bethel Church cemetery, it's likely that William was buried elsewhere. It's possible he is interred at an earlier burial ground used by the congregation and referred to in a church history published in 1936.

A replacement grave marker for William, however, has at one time been placed in the historical section one of the Bethel Church cemetery, likely by direct descendants as a memorial. The marker incorrectly attributes Revolutionary War service to him, and is inscribed with the wrong date of death. Refer link: Evidence Versus Family Myths.

William Senior's Will, signed with his mark, includes the following stipulations:

"I bequeath to my well beloved wife Jane a decent and comfortable living off the Plantation till her death. And if any thing should happen that she must live separate from my son James I allow her the new room, a milk cow, fother, a horse to ride where necessary besides her bed chest and wheel."

"Secondly, I bequeath to my son John all my body cloathes."

"Thirdly, I bequeath my daughter Agnes twenty shillings."

"Fourthly, I bequeath to my son William the equal half of this Plantation as it is already laid off to him."

"Fifthly, I bequeath to my son Bartholomew Dimes twenty shillings."

"Sixly, I bequeath to my son James the other half of the Plantation on which I live as already laid out with all my horses, cows, sheep and hogs and ganning utensils."

Children of Jane & William Fife Senior

I have no information as to why the lineages included in the 1890 Fife Family Reunion booklet excludes two names mentioned in the Will: (1) daughter Agnes and (2) son Bartholomew Dimes. Nor can I account for daughters Nancy and Jane who Vance includes, but the William's Will excludes. The 1890 Vance document makes no mention of Jane, the wife of William Senior.

According to the 1890 Fife Family Reunion booklet, the children of William Fife were John, William, James, Nancy McLoney, and Jane Dennis. As a result of cousin marriages, a large number of William's descendants are also from John Senior.

John married Elizabeth Fife, his first cousin and daughter of John Fife. Their children were all born in Pennsylvania, but the family moved to Columbiana County, Ohio in 1804. John died in 1817. Elizabeth died in 1839. (Their dates of birth are unknown.)

William married Margaret Fife, his first cousin and daughter of John Fife. He was born 03/17/1757, and died in May 1838. She was born 06/16/1760, and died in November 1825.

James married Mary McGowan. James was born 06/24/1764, and died 03/04/1841. Mary was born 12/04/1767, and died 04/06/1832.

Nancy married John McLoney. Her dates of birth and death are unknown. John was born in 1738, and died 02/24/1823.

Jane married James Dennis. No birth or death dates are known.