Kenneth Freeman Mosman in a manuscript, New Evidence about the Ancestry of John Mossman (Mss A 6208) 1999, at the New England Genealogical Society records a summation that provides plausible and persuasive argument in support of Robert Mossman of Ballanahinch Co. Down being the great grandfather of immigrant John Mossman of America (1718-1802) who died on son William Herdman Mossman's tract at Mossmantown, Mercer County PA in 1802 buried at present day Rocky Ridge burial ground. The 3 male descendants of Sir James Mosman, namely, Robert, James & John, sons of John Mosman & Isobel Gardner; his great grandchildren born respectively 1620, 1626 & 1628 baptized at St. Cuthbert Presbyterian Church on Edinburgh's Royal Mile. It is conjectured, the 3 brothers migrated to Ulster after the death of their father John Mosman in 1633 sometime betwixt 1650-1663. The strain of a fatherless family and hard socio-political conditions led to their emigrating to Ulster Ireland. . Thus, Robert Mossman, great grandson of Sir James Mosman, Crown Jeweler of Mary Queen of Scots, christened at Saint Cuthbert’s, Edinburgh 16 Jul 1620, is conjected to be the same Robert Mossman, residing at Ballianahinch Co. Down IRE in 1663. Three conjectural generations of his descendants resided near Killyleagh in that county, namely, Samuel, James and John Mossman. Support for that conclusion comes from the Townland of Mallacarron, Co. Tyrone where a Samuel Mossman died in 1724 and where his conjectured grandson resided in 1766, forty-two years later, confirmed by a land lease & release at Aughnacloy and a Religious Census of Agnoloo Parish. Thus, Co. Tyrone was the heretofore unknown relocation of John Mossman’s family, say after 1757, and likely the birthplace of his three youngest children, namely John b. c1759, Lillias b. c1763 and William Herdman b. 1765. The Mossman Family is next recorded in of Mercer Co. Pennsylvania.
William Herdman Mossman was commissioned a Capt. in the 135th PA Militia 1807-1811. Between 1808-1808 William was commissioned by the PA Militia 16th Division in northwest PA to make 26 drums which were used in the War of 1812. He owned large tracts of land in the NW corner of West Salem Twp. Mercer Co. OH near the Ohio border at Kinsman. Mossmantown was on his 427 acre tract including a shoe & spinning wheel factory that he built. Robert Gillis Mossman was a businessman in Greenville, proprietor of cabinet & furniture factory , woolen mills, saw mills, tannery & grist mill on Shenango above Main St.. Robert built the 1st Erie Canal boat in Greenville ‘Milnor Roberts’ which was christened at Greenville’s 4 Jul 1840 jollification. Robert was sheriff of Mercer Co. in 1836. Dr. Beriah E. Mossman brother-in-law of Dr. Reuben E. Breiner, graduated from Western Reserve Medical School in 1864. Degree of Doctor of Medicine University Pennsylvania 1879 1st honor man of 1st class. 1885-1889 served as a US pension examiner. Surgeon to the Erie & Bessemer Railroads and Medical Examiner for several prominent insurance companies. Dr. Robert Gillis Mossman, s/o Dr. Beriah Mossman also graduated from Ivy League U. PA Medical School and was a 1st Lt in the Medical Corps in WWI.
