Welcome to our family's history pages. Within these
pages you will find all of the descendants of our family back as far as
we know. So let's get started with what we have found . . . .
~ P R E F A C E ~
The Longs are an old and quite large family,
emigrating from France; some going to Scotland, some to Ireland,
others to America. An interesting tale is told of the reason they came
to America.
It is well known that the Longs were at the defense
of Londonderry. They closed the gates, December 1688, in the face of
King James' Army until August 1689. Henry Long was the Mayor of
Londonderry shortly after the siege. For political reasons the Longs
were dispossessed of their property, the King giving same to his
favorites, along with titles of nobility. As years passed by the Longs
became again prosperous. The agent of the absentees, who spent their
time away in London, or on the continent, called to collect the rent.
On 'Hospitable Thoughts Intent', a fine dinner was served, to which he
was invited. At the close of the meal, the agent arose and said, "You
seem to be prosperous in every way, you can afford silver on your
table, so your rent will be increased." The reply was, "No, we will go
to America."
Samuel, James and Andrew Long sailed for America
and settled in Cumberland Valley, Pennsylvania.
Samuel, the forefather of Crawford Long, who was
the discoverer of ether as an anesthetic, went to Georgia in 1788.
**Note: A statue of Crawford Long stands in the United States Capitol
Building. **
The first descendents of the Longs were John and
Jennie Long who came from Ireland in 1726. They had issue: John, Mary,
James, Elizabeth and David. John married Mary Taft and had issue:
John III was born September 1747; James born June 27, 1749; Betsy
born December 11, 1750; Anna born June 14, 1752; Sara bone April 2,
1754; Matthew born May 8, 1756; Robert born October 14, 1759; Aaron
born September 18, 1760; David born August 10, 1761; Mary born
August 6, 1765; Abner born September 28, 1767; and Reuben born
September 14, 1769.
David Long stated the Longs came from Scotland. His
parents, John and Jennie and sons John and David. David married Martha
Woodward, December 17, 1747. A copy of his will dated February 10,
1784, gives his children as David, Stephen, William, John, Martha,
Jemima, Anna and Sarah and speaks of John as a minor.
A Nicholas Long served in the American
Revolution in the Virginia Regiment; was Sergeant, November 1776; 2nd
Lieutenant, November 1777 and retired September 30, 1778. Nicholas
Long, known to be our ancestor, was married to a Miss Crawford. They
were the parents of Laton Long. Nancy Langfit was the mother of
Rebecca Jane Gibson. Laton Long and Rebecca Jane Gibson were married
December 4, 1845, in Virginia. They had 10 children; John, Louisa,
Lewis, Laton and Rebecca Jane were twins, Adam, Mary, James, Annie and
Robert.
The following are their descendants:
